BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, (Reuters) - Brian Lara just missed out on a double-century as he became West Indies' all-time leading Test runs scorer, yesterday, in the second Test against Zimbabwe.
Lara's 191 out of a total of 481, however, could not stop Zimbabwe fighting their way back into the game as they recovered from 31 for three to close the second day on 173 without further loss.
Craig Wishart was unbeaten on 86 with Mark Vermeulen 60 not out. Zimbabwe also took the last seven West Indies wickets for 130.
Lara, who recorded a 22nd Test century, was at the crease for four and a half hours and faced 203 balls, hitting 23 fours and four sixes.
In commanding form, the West Indies captain attacked all the bowlers while showing neat footwork against the slow bowlers.
CONSECUTIVE SIXES
He hit two consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Ray Price, the first over extra cover and the next back over the bowler's head.
The left-hander went into the match with 8 434 runs, 106 behind Viv Richards' total of 8 540.
Lara was 77 not out overnight, and passed Richards in the 11th over of the day with a cover drive for four off Price.
He batted beautifully before lunch and seemed set for a successful afternoon only for fast bowler Andy Blignaut to dismiss him with the second ball of the second session, a wide delivery which Lara, reaching, cut to Craig Wishart at slip.
Lara leapfrogged England's Alec Stewart and Richards to go from ninth to seventh on the list of all-time run-scorers, with only Steve Waugh of Australia and India's Sachin Tendulkar ahead of him among current players.
West Indies, resuming on 282 for three, were dismissed nine overs after lunch, the innings lasting 107 overs.
Price took five for 199 from 43 overs while Blignaut took four for 86.
Lara and overnight partner Ramnaresh Sarwan took their fluent partnership to 190 before Sarwan fell for 65 to a catch by Vermeulen at silly point off Price.
Zimbabwe took the new ball in the 20th over of the day and soon handed it to Price, who had Shivnarine Chanderpaul well caught by Wishart at slip for 15 with his fifth delivery.
Television replays suggested the ball had come off the pad.
Fast bowler Heath Streak then angled a delivery across the left-handed Ridley Jacobs and had him caught at second slip for one and Zimbabwe took their fourth wicket of the first session when Blignaut trapped Omari Banks in front for three. Lara, who boasts five previous Test scores over 200, was eighth man out.
ZIMBABWE SLIDE
Zimbabwe's slide began with the 11th ball of the innings when Vusi Sibanda, on two, stopped on a drive and offered a simple return catch to fast bowler Fidel Edwards.
Three overs later Gripper dragged a delivery from fast bowler Dillon onto his stumps to be bowled for one, and Zimbabwe were 31 for three when Edwards bowled Stuart Carlisle off the edge for 11.
Wishart and Vermeulen stopped the rot with some careful batting. Wishart batted for almost three hours, faced 132 balls and hit 13 fours and a six.
Vermeulen called for a runner before tea after being struck behind the knee by a ball from Merv Dillon.
List of top 10 West Indian run-makers in Test history
LONDON, England (Reuters) - List of top 10 West Indian run-makers in Test history after Brian Lara moved up to top place during the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, yesterday. (+ denotes current Test players):
MATCHES INNINGS RUNS
1. Brian Lara + 98 171 8,625
2. Viv Richards 121 182 8,540
3. Gary Sobers 93 160 8,032
4. Gordon Greenidge 108 185 7,558
5. Clive Lloyd 110 175 7,515
6. Desmond Haynes 116 202 7,487
7. Rohan Kanhai 79 137 6,227
8. Richie Richardson 86 146 5,949
9. Carl Hooper + 102 173 5,762
10. Everton Weekes 48 81 4,455
List of top 10 run-makers in Test history
LONDON, England (Reuters) - List of top 10 run-makers in Test history after West Indies captain Brian Lara moved up to seventh during the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, yesterday. (+ denotes current Test players):