December 15, 2003	Monday	Shawwal 20, 1424

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JOHANNESBURG, Dec 14: Brian Lara broke a Test match record on Sunday by hitting 28 runs in an over to help steer West Indies away from trouble on the third day of the first Test against South Africa.

Lara put left-arm spinner Robin Peterson to the sword in the penultimate over of the day, driving for four, six, six, four, and four, and then cutting the last ball for four.

The previous record was 26 conceded by Younis Khan of Pakistan against New Zealand’s Craig McMillan in 2000-01 in a Test in Hamilton. McMillan hit five fours and a six.

At stumps on Sunday, Lara was 178 not out with the West Indies on 363 for six in reply to South Africa’s first innings of 561, still 198 runs in arrears.

Lara, the West Indies captain, has been the wicket for six hours, facing 239 balls and hitting 28 fours and two sixes. It is his 23rd test century.

Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who scored 34, shared a stand of 125 for the fourth wicket that stemmed the tide after South Africa’s bowlers delivered a hostile morning session.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings) 561 (J.H. Kallis 158, G.C. Smith 132, M. van Jaarsveld 73, H.H. Gibbs 60).

WEST INDIES (1st Innings, overnight 87-1):

W.W. Hinds c Peterson b Nel 10

D. Ganga c Peterson b Ntini 60

R.R. Sarwan c Boucher b Pollock 21

B.C. Lara not out 178

S. Chanderpaul b Ntini 34

R.D. Jacobs c Boucher b Ntini 4

V.C. Drakes lbw b Kallis 21

M. Dillon not out 6

EXTRAS (B-12, LB-10, W-2, NB-5) 29

TOTAL (for six wkts, 121 overs) 363

FALL OF WKTS: 1-43, 2-94, 3-141, 4-266, 5-278, 6-314.

TO BAT: C.H. Gayle, C.D. Collymore, F.H. Edwards.

BOWLING (to-date): Pollock 30-7-65-1 (2nb); Ntini 26-7-72-3 (2nb, 1w); Nel 26-9-58-1; Kallis 22-6-53-1 (1w); Peterson 13-2-76-0; Smith 4-0-17-0.—Reuters