IIOBART. Dec 11: The enigmatic Brian Lara exploded into a double-century of runs Monday.
showing he si ill has a magic bat but doing little to dispel the mystery ol his hamstring injury. reports AFP.
Lara, after a string of first-class failures on the Australian
tour and despite hurting his shoulder in the course of his innings, smacked 231 for the West Indies against Australia A.
It was an innings of the highest quality against Australia s second-string bowling — a feast of audacious stroke play.
Yet this was the player whose hamstring defies specialists predictions of rapid cure. whom coach Roger Harper the previous evening was only hoping would be fit for Friday s Third Test, and was so indisposed Sunday that he did-ii I come in until the Windies ware reeling at 80 for five.
By the time he was out. in the last over before tea. he and Ridley Jacobs (131) had put on 365 runs for the sixth wicket and ensured that, barring an imaginative declaration, the match will peter out into a batting practice draw Tuesday.
The West Indies were bowled out for 492 in the last over before slumps in reply to Australia A's 439 lor nine declared
Norm.ilb k iiIhia -makers, let alone double centurions, talk to the media al the end of the day.
Lara refused, letting his bat and on-field demeanour do the talking.
However the West Indies team physiotherapist Ronald Rogers said in a statement that Lara had strained his left shoulder muscle while attempting a hook shot.
Rogers said Lara's hamstring’ had not hampered him during the innings, but would continue to be monitored.
"With treatment during the remainder of the week. Brian should be fine to take his place in Friday's Test." he said.
Lara looked physically uncomfortable early in his innings Sunday, but batted with more freedom Monday.
While he sometimes limped a little between the action, there was nothing wrong with his footwork and he occasionally sprinted between wickets.
Not that he had to often. His 342-minute innings contained an extraordinary 40 fours, one five and two sixes.
His progress from 100 to 150 contained only three runs which weren't boundaries, a period that encompassed his most savage assault in which he hit an over from Test pace-man Andrew Biclicl for six fours, all but one of them authentic strokes that went exactly where he intended.
Australia A captain Damien Martyn said there was "definitely something wrong" with Lara’physically.
"But he's great to watch if you're not the fielding captain, he's a class player." Martyn said.
The question of whether Lara will play in Adelaide certainly seems to have been answered.
How lie'll deal with Glenn McGrath, his serial tormentor, is another question.
With all the Lara pyrotechnics. Jacobs' fine innings was largely overlooked.
The wicketkeeper who’s playing this match .as a spe-
-xnatlst bntsincn. ris one of the few of rtlie Windios /players who's showed real fight with the bat in the Tests.
On Monday he hit 15 fours and a six in a 373-minute supporting role.
Lara finally fell cutting Brad Hodge, (he seventh and last bowler tried by Martyn.
Hodge, a very occasional spinner, then bowled Jacobs and went on to take 4-17 from I 1 overs as the Windles innings meandered pointlessly to a conclusion.
SCOREBOARD
Scorecard after the third day of the four-day tour cricket match between Australia A and the West Indies at Bellerive Oval on Monday:
AUSTRALIA A: First innings 439 for 9 declared (J Maher 150. M Love 76; M Samuels 3-100. C Stuart 3-1 10)
WEST INDIES: First innings Campbell c Oldroyd b Nash 9 Ganga c Oldrovd b Bichel 18 Hinds c Bichel b Nash 40
Adams c Love b Innesa O
Samuels c Haddin b Nash 9
lacobs b Hodge 131
Lara c Love b Hodge 231
Browne c Martyn b Hodge 21 Black st Haddin b Hodge O
Stuart not out 8
Jeremy lbw b Bichel 9
Extras: (b-1, lb-8. nb-7) 16
Tola): (All out In 154 4 overs) 492
Fall of wickets; 1-14. 2-50 3-50. 4-73. 5-80. 6-445. 7-452. 8-452. 9-479
Bowler O M R W
Bichel 38.4 10 148 2
Nash 28 3 81 3
Inness 27 10 94 I
Oldroyd 33 13 75 q
Katich 16 3 6'2 0
Martyn 1 060
Hodge 11 5 17 4