Lara holds fort as
Windies slump to 135-6

Neil Manthorp in Kingston (Jamaica)

Brian Lara once again stood between the West Indies and total humiliation on the first day of the fifth Test against South Africa at Sabina Park as the home side slumped to 135 for six at tea.

Lara was unbeaten on 62, with Mervyn Dillon on nought, but the world record-holder's half century, which came from 111 balls with eight boundaries, will have to grow substantially if the home side are to avoid another abject batting performance on a good pitch.

Three wickets fell in each of the first two sessions with South African captain Shaun Pollock striking twice in successive overs in the afternoon after the home side reached 53 for three at lunch.

Marlon Samuels (3) gave Allan Donald his third wicket with an edge to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher before Pollock induced an appalling shot from captain Carl Hooper, who hooked a well-telegraphed bouncer straight to a highly-advertised fielder at deep square leg to depart for 25.

Pollock followed that with another edge to Boucher to remove Ridley Jacobs for a six-ball duck and the situation should have been even worse for the home side when Dillon survived a straightforward chance to Boucher, also off Pollock.

The morning session witnessed the worst possible start for the West Indies when opener Leon Garrick slashed the first ball of the match from Donald to Pollock in the gully to become just the second player ever to be dismissed by the first ball of a test on debut.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (7) edged a Jacques Kallis delivery to Boucher and Donald struck again in his second spell just before lunch when opener Chris Gayle (25) perished for the fourth time in the series by cutting a delivery to gully.

Lara, however, looked in majestic form as the wickets tumbled around him and his batting appeared to increase in freedom as the quality of his partners decreased.

Scoreboard at tea on the first day of the fifth and final Test between West Indies and South Africa:

West Indies first innings
L Garrick c Pollock b Donald 0
C Gayle c Kemp b Donald 25
S Chanderpaul c Boucher b Kallis 7
B Lara not out 62
M Samuels c Boucher b Donald 3
C Hooper c Kirsten b Pollock 25
R Jacobs c Boucher b Pollock 0
M Dillon not out 0
Extras (b-4 lb-7 w-2) 13
Total (for six wickets) 135

Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-21 3-50 4-54 5-107 6-111

To bat: D Ramnarine, C Cuffy, C Walsh

Bowling (to date): Donald 13-4-16-3 (1w), Pollock 15-9-17-2, Kallis 13-4-28-1 (1w), Kemp 10-1-30-0, Adams 8-1-33-0

South Africa: G Kirsten, H Gibbs, J Kallis, D Cullinan, N McKenzie, L Klusener, M Boucher, S Pollock, J Kemp, A Donald, P Adams.

Mail Cricket Editor