Birthday special: Brian Lara – Five most spectacular knocks by the West Indian legend

Brian Lara was a batsman who demolished bowling attacks with mastery and emerged as one of the greatest batsmen that the game of cricket has ever seen. In a career that lasted more than a decade and a half, the batting maestro scored over 10,000 runs in both ODI as well as Test match cricket. While he plundered 11953 runs in the whites, Lara amassed 10405 runs in coloured clothing. As the legendary willow wielder turns 52 today, let us take a look at the top 5 knocks of Brian Lara in international cricket.

5) 156 vs Pakistan (ODIs)

In January 2005, batting legend Brian Lara demolished the Pakistan bowling attack and scored a breathtaking 156 off just 138 deliveries. His innings was studded with 12 fours and 5 sixes. Lara’s sensational batting display allowed the West Indies to post a total of 339/4 on the board.

In reply, the Pakistan side could muster only a total of 281/9 on the board, as the West Indies romped home by 58 runs. And, Lara was awarded the Player of the Match award for his classy innings.

4) 169 vs Sri Lanka (ODIs)

Let us travel to the year 1995 to delve into this classic played by the ‘Prince of Trinidad’. West Indies locked horns against Sri Lanka at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and Lara dished out a classic that will not be forgotten. The batting maestro scored a belligerent 169 at a strike rate of 131.01, to power the West Indies to a total of 333/7.

The match was a cliffhanger, as Sri Lanka posted 329 in reply, and went down by just 4 runs. Hashan Tillakaratne scored a century for the Sri Lankan outfit.

3) 277 vs Australia (Tests)

In January 1993, Brian Lara walloped the Australian bowlers in the land of the kangaroos. At the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Lara pulverized the Australian bowling attack and scored a masterly 277 off 372 deliveries. Lara’s innings was studded with 38 glorious hits to the fence.

In the high scoring encounter, Australia posted a total of 503 runs in their first innings. The West Indies replied with a total of 606. Australia ended their second innings with their scorecard reading 117/0 and the match ended in a draw.

2) 400* vs England (Tests)

In April 2004, Brian Lara achieved a feat that has since not been beaten and might stand as a record that might never be broken. The West Indies batting legend recorded the highest ever individual score in the history of Test match cricket and scored 400*. Powered by this record-shattering innings from Lara, the West Indies ended their first innings with a total of 751/5 on the board.

Lara scored 43 fours and 4 sixes, in a marathon batting effort that lasted 582 deliveries. In reply, England were bowled out for just 285 and were asked to follow on. In the second innings, England managed to play out 137 overs and scored 422/5 as the match ended in a draw.

1) 153* vs Australia (Tests)

In March 1999, Brian Lara played arguably the greatest knock ever in the final innings of a Test match against a bowling attack consisting of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie. Let us get into the facts first.

Australia batted first and posted a total of 490 on the board. In reply, the West Indian side was bowled out for 329. The kangaroos suffered a batting collapse in the second innings and were bowled out for just 146. And, that meant that the West Indian outfit needed 308 for victory.

As wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Lara held one end up and took the fight to Australia. And in the end, he scored an undefeated 153* to help his side get home with just 1 wicket to spare. And surely, this masterpiece from Lara will go down as the greatest knock ever played by him in his legendary career.