CAPE TOWN, Jan 4: Brian Lara scored one of the most stubborn hundreds of his career as West Indies fought back on day three of the third Test against South Africa on Sunday.

Lara's 115 helped his side reach 427 in reply to South Africa's 532, a deficit of 105. By stumps, South Africa were 38 without loss in their second innings.

Shortly after tea Lara glided Andre Nel to the third man boundary to become the fastest man to 9,000 runs in Test-match history. He reached the landmark in his 177th innings, two innings fewer than India's Sachin Tendulkar who passed 9,000 during his unbeaten double century against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Lara is the fifth to reach 9,000 Test runs, joining an elite club of Tendulkar, Allan Border, Sunil Gavaskar and Steve Waugh. The master batsman was happy with the achievement but quipped: "In the context of the game I have to look past that though and think of stretching it way past 9,000."

Lara was last out, bowled by Nel after nearly five and a half hours at the crease. The dismissal gave Nel his first five-wicket haul in Tests, the paceman ending with five for 87.

Lara's 24th Test century was a study in concentration and restraint. He took West Indies past the follow-on mark of 333, unleashing his trademark attacking strokes only on the rare occasions he was offered anything genuinely loose.

The captain spent just over an hour in the 90s and 25 minutes on 99, eventually reaching his hundred by hooking Jacques Kallis for six. In all, he faced 238 balls and hit 16 fours and a six.

Lara had come to the crease in the fourth over of the day after overnight centurion Chris Gayle was lbw padding up to Shaun Pollock. After racing to his century on day two off only 79 balls, Gayle's 116 came in just over two and half hours. He faced 120 balls, striking 20 fours and a six.

Ramnaresh Sarwan followed soon afterwards for 44, slapping a long-hop from Nel straight to backward point as South Africa's bowlers dominated, conceding only 13 runs in the first hour.

Kallis claimed the wicket of Wavell Hinds, caught behind for 13, but after debutant Dwayne Smith (20) edged Nel to second slip shortly after lunch, Lara received good support throughout the afternoon.

Ridley Jacobs (23), Vasbert Drakes (20) and Dave Mohammed, who made an entertaining 36 on his debut, all played their part. South Africa batted out their 10 overs at the end of the day with only one alarm when skipper Graeme Smith, on four, mis-hooked but was dropped on the boundary by Adam Sanford. South Africa won the first two Tests of the four-match series.

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