Lara’s century steers Windies to draw

West Indies finished the fifth and final day of the second test on 294 for seven, still 79 runs short of making India bat again.

Lara struck 120, his highest test score against India, compiled from 307 balls with ten boundaries. He received able support from Shivnarine Chanderpaul (54) and Dwayne Bravo (47) in his match-saving effort. India struck a major blow when they removed Lara in the 11th over after tea, off-spinner Virender Sehwag winning a close lbw decision.

But Bravo then dug in with the lower order to deny the visitors, who were also thwarted by the loss of the entire fourth day to poor weather.

Ian Bradshaw scored just a single but stayed at the crease for 40 balls, surviving confident lbw appeals from Munaf Patel and Anil Kumble, before eventually being trapped dead in front in the penultimate over by Patel.

Bravo and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin batted sensibly together for 9.1 overs after losing captain Lara, before Bravo fell to a smart bat-pad catch by Yuvraj Singh off leg spinner Kumble.

Ramdin scored a fighting 19 not out off 62 deliveries, surviving a chance 15 minutes before the close when India captain Rahul Dravid parried an awkward, dipping catch at second slip off the admirable Patel to the boundary. India scored 588 for eight declared in their first innings and then bowled the West Indies out for a meagre 215.

India enforced the follow-on and if it had not been for the showers that washed out Tuesday’s play, they would have had two days and a session in which to bowl the hosts out for a second time.

India managed to get rid of the experienced Chanderpaul an hour into the second session when the left-hander skied a pull off a Kumble full toss to Irfan Pathan at mid-on. Chanderpaul made 54 in a 129-run fourth-wicket stand in 29.4 overs with Lara.

Kumble was the most successful of the Indian bowlers with three for 98 in 42 overs.West Indies began the day on 43 for one, having to survive for 109.3 overs and needing to reach 373 runs to make India bat again. Lara steadily chipped away at both targets, going into lunch on 66 not out.