Lara strikes a definal ton as Test heads for draw

St Lucia, June 14 (UNI) Brian Lara hit his 32nd Test century, to lead the West Indian resistance and the hosts were on track to pour cold water on India's hopes to win the second Test on the fifth and final day here today.

At tea, West Indies were at 221 for four by tea with skipper Lara unbeaten at 110 and Bravo on 14.

In one of his more patient knocks, Lara played the spinners and the seamers with utmost caution. With the southpaw still at the crease, Indian hopes of sealing a victory diminished at each passing ball.

India need six more wickets in the last session to go one-up in the series.

Earlier, Indians took two wickets in quick succession to put West Indies on the backfoot but Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (54) gelled together to steady the ship. The latter departed to a pretty ordinary delivery by Anil Kumble to become the only Indian success in the second session.

The pitch was assisting slow turn but the duo were settled.

Chanderpaul and Lara completed 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Chanderpaul also reached his 37th test fifty. He had started to look dangerous as of the 14 hundreds that Chanderpaul had hit, five of them has been against India.

Chanderpaul, however, had a slight loss in concentration and tried to hit a full toss from Kumble out of the ground but only managed to hole it to Irfan Pathan at mid-on.

Chanderpaul stayed on the crease for three hours for his 54 and raised 129 runs partnership with Lara.

Skipper Lara was undeterred by the fall of wicket and after Chanderpaul, Dwyne Bravo stayed almost for an hour with his skipper to put the team into a comfortable position.

Earlier, It was a gripping first session's play in which both the bowlers and the batsmen came out with equal honours.

India claimed two early wickets in the morning on the last day to press for a result. After the fourth day's disappointment when not even a single ball was delivered due to hostile weather, play started half an hour early today.

India made the most of the early start and sent back Darren Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan in the first 30 minutes of the play itself.

Indian skipper Rahul Dravid started with spin from both the ends.

Darren Ganga was foxed by a beauty from Anil Kumble. Ganga couldn't read a googly from the veteran leggie and left the ball alone, only to see the ball rock the top of his stumps. Ganga made 26.

Dravid replaced Sehwag with Munaf Patel to test the new batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan. Sarwan was edgy in his brief stay. He survived couple of loud shouts from Anil Kumble and also a caught behind appeal from Patel. Munaf produced a beauty that was pitched on the off stump swung away a bit to carry a thin edged to keeper Dhoni.

Sarwan departed for one and West Indies were struggling for 52 for three.

The downfall of Sarwan brought the hosts' most experienced pair at the crease in the form of Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

An interesting battle between bat and ball ensued as the two tried to stay together at the crease against some tight bowling by the Indians.

Lara was resolute in holding on to his wicket but the masterful batsman was also troubled by Anil Kumble and Irfan Pathan. On a wicket where balls were keeping low, Lara used the crease to his advantage. He took his stance one yard outside the crease to negate any appeals for lbw.

Lara's ploy worked for a while as he survived two loud shouts from Pathan. Custodian Dhoni stood up to Pathan, that drew Lara back to his crease. Lara was lucky against Kumble as twice inside edges just missed his stumps.

Playing anchor Lara reached his 48th Test fifty. Chanderpaul at the other end gave excellent company to his skipper as the two raised the first fifty partnership of the innings for Windies. After his usual shaky start, Chanderpaul settled down well and played few excellent cover drives to the fence. At least 98 overs will be bowled today.

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