Cricket: Vintage Lara lifts Windies

BRIAN LARA scored the fourth highest score of his Test career as West Indies carried the fight to Australia in Adelaide.

After an intriguing second day's play, the third Test of the series was delicately poised - in contrast to the first two matches, both won by an innings by the record-breaking Aussies.

The home side ended the day 180-3 in their first innings, still 211 runs behind the tourists' total of 391.

West Indies' score was underpinned by Lara's vintage contribution of 182, almost half his team's runs.

Former skipper Lara, 31, cracked 29 fours and a six in a six-hour stay.

Lara added 46 to his overnight score before off-spinner Colin Miller found an edge and Mark Waugh took a regulation catch at slip just before lunch.

West Indies had started the second day at 274-4 and looked to be heading towards a score of about 450.

But Lara's dismissal triggered another collapse and they lost their last five wickets for 37. Miller, 36, who has played just 15 tests and bowls a mixture of medium pace and off-spin, mopped up the tail to finish with 5-81.

He will start the second innings on a hat-trick after dismissing the last two West Indians, Ridley Jacobs and Courtney Walsh, in successive balls.

Aussie paceman Jason Gillespie also bagged five wickets when he added nightwatchman Mervyn Dillon in the first over of the morning. Australia, whose innings victory in Perth gave them a world record 12th straight Test win, quickly set about erasing the deficit.

Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater both scored half-centuries as they put on 156 for the first wicket.

Hayden made 58 before he was run out at the non-striker's end for the second time in the series. Slater went for 83 after he miscued a ball from debutant Marlon Samuels and was caught by Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Australia lost their third wicket when Justin Langer edged to slip.

Copyright 2000 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.