November 30, 2001	Friday	Ramazan 14, 1422

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COLOMBO, Nov 29: Brian Lara took centre stage with a superb 178 not out as West Indies built the platform for a formidable total against Sri Lanka in the third and final Test on Thursday.

The Trinidadian left-hander spurred West Indies to 327 for three at the close on the first day, giving his side a fine start in their attempt to salvage some pride from a series in which Sri Lanka have a 2-0 winning lead.

Lara’s second hundred of the rubber, and 17th in Tests, was made with effective support from Ramnaresh Sarwan, who scored 69, and captain Carl Hooper, who hit an unbeaten 52.

As Lara passed 7,000 runs in Tests, he was in his element as he mastered the off-spin of Muttiah Muralitharan, who tormented the touring team in the first two Tests.

Lara paced his innings beautifully, hitting 20 fours and a six during a stay of 337 minutes in which he faced 285 balls. He reached three figures in 187 minutes off 159 deliveries.

Choosing to bat first on a placid pitch, West Indies made the worst possible start when Chaminda Vaas snapped up openers Darren Ganga and Chris Gayle for 17.

Gayle was caught behind off the fourth ball without scoring and Ganga was trapped lbw for six.

After that it was Lara who took the spotlight for the rest of the day, denying Muralitharan a wicket as he reeled off 32 overs and conceded 98 runs.

Lara put on 194 in 213 minutes for the third wicket with Sarwan, who batted in some discomfort after being hit on the back of his head when he ran into a throw.

Sarwan was run out after facing 162 balls and hitting 10 fours, but Lara and Hooper than added 116 in an unfinished fourth wicket stand.

Hooper completed his second half-century of the series in 102 minutes off 62 balls with eight fours.

Lara, who scored 178 in the first test at Galle, took his aggregate for the series past the 500-run mark during his flawless innings as Sri Lanka used eight bowlers in an unavailing effort to dislodge him.