COLOMBO, Sept 17: Brian Lara was admitted to hospital with suspected hepatitis shortly after hitting a century in West Indies’ 29-run win over Kenya in their Champions Trophy pool 3 clash Tuesday.

Lara, who hit 111 off 120 balls in a West Indies’ total of 261 for seven, showed signs of discomfort during his stay at the crease.

Lara’s illness took the gloss off a win that still gives the West Indies hope of reaching the semifinals, although it will take a Kenyan victory over for South Africa for that to happen.

The left-hander looked far from his best and was dropped three times on 37, 45 and 61.

He also received the benefit of the doubt when, on 32, he appeared to late-cut a ball from leg-spinner Collins Obuya into the gloves of wicket-keeper David Obuya only to be given not out when the decision was referred to third umpire Asoka de Silva.

In between those let-offs Lara still managed to produce some trademark flowing drives as he scored his first hundred in any form of cricket since returning to action after dislocating his left elbow in a collision with Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu in December 2001.

The hundred was also his 15th in One-day Internationals and his first in that form of the game since January 2001.

Lara faced 120 balls and hit eight fours and two sixes, but even he struggled on occasion to time the ball on a surface that appeared slow and also offered help to the spinners.

The West Indies innings had got off to a rapid start thanks to Chris Gayle (33) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (43) as they added 60 for the first wicket inside the first 12 overs after Carl Hooper won the toss.

Successive partnerships of 55 between Lara and Chanderpaul, 64 between Lara and Hooper (20) and then 57 between Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan (20) helped establish a sizeable score.

West Indies were also indebted to a late flourish from Wavell Hinds, who slammed 20 from only six balls as 93 were added in the final 10 overs of the innings.

In reply, Kenya captain Steve Tikolo produced a high-class innings of 93 to keep his side in contention.

Tikolo cut, drove and later improvised cleverly in the most attractive innings of the day.

He reached his 50 from only 47 balls and thoroughly deserved to reach three figures only to be bowled by Mervyn Dillon as he went in search of team glory in the closing overs.

As the asking rate increased, successive Kenyan batsman fell in a vain pursuit of the target and the final four wickets tumbled for just 13 runs as they were bowled out for 232 in the final over.

Kenya were left to reflect upon some sloppy out-cricket. In addition to the three chances they put down from Lara, the Africans also dropped Chanderpaul twice and were guilty of several mis-fields.

The next match in pool three is Kenya’s clash with South Africa on Friday, with the winner likely to progress to the semi-final where they will play the winners of pool two, involving England, Zimbabwe and India.