Cricket: Lara stakes claim to Richards' mantle

(First Edition)

BRIAN LARA hit a rapid 128 to inspire West Indies to a resounding 124-run win over Pakistan in the South African triangular one-day series yesterday.

Lara, scoring his first international limited-overs century, hit 20 fours in reaching his total off 126 balls. It was a performance that raised hopes among some commentators that the West Indies have found a successor to Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge.

Lara and Phil Simmons shared a second-wicket partnership of 197 to help West Indies to 268 for 5 at the end of their 50 overs. The third 50 of the innings was scored off just 38 balls.

Waqar Younis attempted to stem the tide of runs in his final five overs, dismissing Lara, Richie Richardson and Gus Logie. But the runs still kept coming and he finished with figures of 3 for 53 from his 10 overs.

The Pakistan captain, Wasim Akram, who dropped a catch from Simmons when he had made 10 of his eventual 70 runs, managed only 1 for 41.

The Pakistani batting never looked like matching the West Indies' run-rate, with only Javed Miandad looking confident in making 67.

Ian Bishop dismissed the opener Aamir Sohail for 14 and Shoaib Mohammad for a duck to leave them two down with only 20 runs on the board. Ramiz Raja shared a 75-run partnership with Miandad but after he was run out for 34, the remaining batsmen collapsed, none of them reaching double figures.

Bishop ended with 4 for 32 and Carl Hooper 3 for 27.

The result left all three sides in the series, Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa, equal on points with two matches each remaining before the final.

TRIANGULAR SERIES (Durban): West Indies 268 for 5, 50 overs (B C Lara 128, P V Simmons 70). Pakistan 144 for 7, 46.5 overs (Javed Miandad 67; I R Bishop 4-32). West Indies win by 124 runs.