Colombo, Sept 17: Star batsman Brian Lara scored a fine century as West Indies after a quiet start posted 261 for six in a group c league match against Kenya in the Champions Trophy cricket tournament here today. Lara, who looked tired and dehydrated due to the hot and humid conditions, compiled a 120-ball 111 with eight fours and two sixes for his 15th one-day hundred after West Indies had elected to bat.
Openers Chris Gayle (33) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (43) put on 60 runs in 11 overs but the West Indian run-rate suffered after the loss of their first wicket.
It was only after the 40th over that Lara and skipper Carl Hooper (20) started the process of acceleration. Hooper did not stay for long, but Lara, who had taken more than 80 balls for his first fifty, smashed his second fifty off just 34 balls.
He was finally dismissed when he attempted a big hit against Kenyan captain Steve Tikolo, only to miss the line and see the ball crashing into his stumps.
Tikolo was the most successful of the Kenyan bowlers claiming two wickets 49 runs from his seven overs but it was former captain Maurice Odumbe who bowled the most impressive spell to contain the West Indian batsmen during the middle overs. Odumbe sent down 10 overs for just 21 runs while taking the wicket of Chanderpaul who was caught by David Obuya for 43 which included four hits to the fence. Bureau Report