Lara (71*) Sizzles in North Victory
Double world-record holder Brian Lara was in top form Saturday as his North teammates won Saturday after just three days play in the Gerry Gomez Memorial North/South Classic.
In his first competitive cricket match in months, batsman Lara blasted a boundary with 71 not out to lift North to victory over South. Since the four-day match ended early, organizers planned for the teams to play a one-day match Sunday with 50-overs a side.
Resuming Saturday on 17 for one with a victory target of 111, North started badly when it lost the talented Lendl Simmons for 11, with the score on 21 for two.
Lara turned the game on its head, however, producing a sparkling innings to wrap up the victory by eight wickets.
The 33-year-old had been out of action since September, when he fell ill during the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. Lara missed subsequent tours of India and Bangladesh. It is still unclear what illness he had.
The final scores in the match were South 176 and 92, and North 158 and 114 for two. The left-hander drove pacer Marlon Black the first ball, and was particularly severe on the burly fast-bowler. Despite the bowlers maintaining good line and length, Lara slammed 11 fours in all, eight of them in his 53-ball half century, in just 59-minutes.
His innings was a complete contrast to his 34 in the first innings, when he prodded and played with more caution, as he took his time for batting practice out in the middle.
Lara said he played aggressively Saturday to test his readiness for the World Cup, which starts Feb. 9 in South Africa.
"In the first innings I wanted to bat long and tried to make a big score, but that didn't happen. So in the second innings I just felt good and wanted to play a few shots to see how good my form was," Lara said.
When Lara was on seven, he struck four consecutive boundaries to move quickly into the 20s, hammering the quicker bowlers and spinners with equal efficiency and precision.
He brought up his 50 with another majestic boundary, with a ferocious drive off leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine.
On 57, he was put down in slip by South skipper Darren Ganga and slammed an additional three boundaries, the last of which secured the victory.
North won with Lara 71 not out, and Dwayne Bravo not out on 25. Medium pacer Ricardo Paty, who took eight wickets in the match was named man of the match.
* Culled from an Associated Press report.