- 2 days ago
Step back into the summer of 2006 when Brian Lara, one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, played one of his most determined and match-saving knocks in Test cricket. In the 2nd Test at Gros Islet, St. Lucia, West Indies were staring at defeat after India posted a mammoth 588/8 declared. Lara, dismissed for just 7 in the first innings, walked in under immense pressure at 1 for 2 in the second.
What followed was a masterclass in patience, technique, and leadership. Lara batted for 377 minutes, facing 307 balls for his 120 runs—his second slowest innings for a score above 50. He curbed his natural flamboyance, defended with precision, and constructed a vital 129-run partnership with Shivnarine Chanderpaul. This gritty effort helped West Indies escape with a draw at 293/7.
This wasn’t a typical Lara century filled with cover drives and attacking flair—it was about saving the match, leading from the front, and showing the cricketing world the value of temperament and timing. At 36, Lara reminded everyone that true greatness isn’t just about flair—it’s about delivering under pressure.
👉 Watch this video to relive one of the most underrated yet iconic knocks in Test history. A true captain’s innings. A moment of pride for every West Indies fan.
🔖 Hashtags:
#BrianLara #CricketLegends #WestIndiesCricket #TestCricket #Lara120 #IndiaVsWestIndies #GrosIslet2006 #CricketHighlights #CricketHistory #CaptainKnock #ShivnarineChanderpaul #MatchSavingInnings
What followed was a masterclass in patience, technique, and leadership. Lara batted for 377 minutes, facing 307 balls for his 120 runs—his second slowest innings for a score above 50. He curbed his natural flamboyance, defended with precision, and constructed a vital 129-run partnership with Shivnarine Chanderpaul. This gritty effort helped West Indies escape with a draw at 293/7.
This wasn’t a typical Lara century filled with cover drives and attacking flair—it was about saving the match, leading from the front, and showing the cricketing world the value of temperament and timing. At 36, Lara reminded everyone that true greatness isn’t just about flair—it’s about delivering under pressure.
👉 Watch this video to relive one of the most underrated yet iconic knocks in Test history. A true captain’s innings. A moment of pride for every West Indies fan.
🔖 Hashtags:
#BrianLara #CricketLegends #WestIndiesCricket #TestCricket #Lara120 #IndiaVsWestIndies #GrosIslet2006 #CricketHighlights #CricketHistory #CaptainKnock #ShivnarineChanderpaul #MatchSavingInnings
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00:00Brian Lara's innings of 120 runs against India in the second test at Cross Islet in June
00:062006 was a true display of resilience and leadership.
00:11After being dismissed for just seven in the first innings, Brian Lara redeemed himself
00:16with a determined knock in the second innings, facing a massive Indian total of 588 for eight
00:22player.
00:23His 120 runs came of 307 balls in 377 minutes, including just 10 boundaries, a clear departure
00:31from his usual flamboyant style.
00:34This was not a typical Brian Lara innings filled with flair, but a cautious, patience effort
00:40aimed at saving the match.
00:41It was his second test century against India and one of his slowest innings for a score over
00:4750, showcasing immense discipline and temperament.
00:50He skillfully defended, resisted temptation and batted through pressure to ensure West
00:56Indies avoided defeat thanks to his grit and support from Chandrapal.
01:00The West Indies finished on 293 for seven, securing a hard-fought draw.
01:05Brian Lara knocks to doubt not on for his style, but it's for substance a captain standing tall
01:11with his team needed him most.
01:13So let's watch extended highlights of Brian Lara innings.
01:16The West Indies captain Brian Lara has arrived at the crease, probably having to put his
01:21pads on pretty quickly because two consecutive ball dismissals for the West Indies top order.
01:29Fantastic record for Brian Lara.
01:35Patel on a hat-trick.
01:41Outside off.
01:47Patel on a hat and getting it through, favourite area.
01:54Yeah.
01:55The gap found, it's really so good Lara, eases the ball between mid-off and extra cover,
01:59they've come back for a third.
02:02Tumble by Mohamed Case gave the batsman the opportunity.
02:22Oh, Andy!
02:26Gimbin, leg before, Lara goes.
02:29Well, the West Indies have lost their third wicket, Anul Comble strikes very quickly.
02:35And the West Indies really up against it here, smiles on the faces of the Indians.
02:41Glumness all around the Bocajoa Stadium.
02:48And he isn't happy, Brian Lara, as he goes off.
02:52And India couldn't be happier if they wrote the script themselves.
02:56The sport pitches just inside the line above stump and straightens.
03:02Only question is whether or not it was high enough or rather low enough to hit the stumps,
03:10the bounce.
03:13But pitched in line.
03:17Brian Lara, he's gone for seven.
03:19It's 55 for three.
03:20Only strike for India, but Brian Lara, the champion batsman, comes in.
03:23Well, he's showing the opposition that he can lead by example.
03:28Here he is, under difficult circumstances, batting at number three.
03:31Normally see Sarban batting at number three.
03:38Better trouble.
03:40He's taking the challenge up Brian Lara to get some runs up front.
03:44But very fortunate to get off the mark.
03:48Good delivery from Patan.
03:53Well, what happened here?
03:54All over the place, the footwork playing away from his body there, inside edge.
04:00Oh, and that's just missed the off stump.
04:04That's a position where you don't often see Brian Lara to be.
04:07So far across.
04:09Good stop.
04:18This was much better timing from Lara.
04:21We're in the seven dollars decide to come in at number three, which I think is good.
04:2861 innings there.
04:29Look at that average.
04:30Just under 60.
04:31He's had the best average, batting at number three.
04:35Mind you, 51 is not bad at number four either.
04:41But I've just been told it's been 19 innings, second innings.
04:46But he hasn't made a 50.
04:49He's really has struggled.
04:54He has got seven centuries batting in the second innings.
04:58But of late, that's the important point of his form recently of late is a concern.
05:04There it is there, first in 64, second innings 37.83.
05:26There are these kind of players, Lara Tendulka haunting.
05:31Once they get off to a start, the start to middle the ball could be problems for the bowling side.
05:37And this is always good.
05:55It's time to get off to a point.
05:59It's time to get off to a point of a time.
06:02Let's start to the over four dot deliveries I suppose not too many Western Estonian you
06:25are in the best position to comment on batsmen between the ages of 35 to 40 not that Larry's
06:33anywhere near 40 is about 37 batting I would suspect in the main gets more difficult with
06:43age talking to Jeffrey Dujan during one of the breaks in play we talked about Clive Lloyd
06:52who averaged almost 60 between age 35 and 40 Desmond Haynes average in the middle 40s between
07:01age 35 to 38 when he retired has to work a lot harder for his runs naturally
07:08the more he bats the longer Lara bats the more the less movement he tends to make and see there as the ball
07:17moves though the pads are in line whoo hoi gotta be a wide shoulder is a no balls no ball for height
07:25certainly lost control
07:47lost control will be considered a beamer if he does it again he can't bowl in the
07:56innings anymore I think it's a good call it's a good call indication from Simon
08:03Toffle the Swedish Empire but his pad in line and was a judge like before that
08:10first delivery made sure he played it with his bat
08:17the first innings the bat had no chance of getting to the ball the partner right in
08:27the line but judge like before and that's well hit full toss and a full toss to someone a brand
08:40Larris class is going to get hit for four
08:51at all the time in the world to pick his gap comes it sometimes goes to rain
09:00slips and India on the offensive run straight away to Lara
09:09slips and India on the offensive run straight away to Lara
09:22I hope he runs there at least two
09:29good positive strides of the ball there and open the blade up
09:46he's one of the rare batsman modern-day players who not only can quickly get onto the back foot but
09:53also Ron Lara can quickly get onto the front foot a lot of modern-day players are front foot players
09:58yeah just like that quick single for run out here makes it easy
10:06just thought there might have been a fumble in the hand
10:12oh yeah be one there
10:22oh it's worth a shout as well we've got some wise heads as well to replace us Tony Koja and Jeffrey Dugan
10:32thank you Dean Jones and here's the replay of that previous delivery just got a neck onto it
10:42not dissimilar to the way he got her in the first innings Lara to come late
10:46and they'll pick up a single here
11:12no one in that point area just a short backward point so he'll be trying to encourage Brian Lara to
11:24play the ball square to try and cut or as he did in Antigua to reach for that drive
11:30comfortable to all that space on the leg side
11:43was on the same line but Lara just closing the face of the bat on it didn't look too much in control
12:00most innings were in almost identical statistical position as they are now in the first innings over 55 for three in the first innings
12:0752 for three when they
12:1452 for three when they
12:16they'll get runs here
12:1850 for three when they
12:22they'll have a minimum for them is 116 they had 18 overs on the
12:29position as they are now in the first innings over 55 for three in the first innings
12:3352 for three when they
12:37the third day they've come back to day 98 available to India today or available to them to save it
12:52to where you want to look at it
13:07struggle to get that number of overs throughout the series in fact
13:11there's a leg by a signal
13:18and it's the over 60 for three
13:26that's a typical Lara shot finding the gap between mid-off and extra cover for four
13:32lovely fooling drive
13:50hasn't looked in particularly good touching the series brand Lara
13:55a long stint at the wicket should do him a world of good
14:00it's really the first delivery that he's timed this morning
14:04is
14:06a
14:08a
14:10a
14:11a
14:12a
14:13a
14:14a
14:34Oh
14:42in the view of 64 for three
14:46yeah
14:50I think to hurry stretch right out Chanda Paul to the right of you for a show
14:57that was the judgment of Lara that he's a left-hander so had to pick up with his
15:02right hand transfer it and just getting home at full stretch
15:12yeah and it's good to see these kinds of runs being taken that's even though it's
15:17up a mammoth total to chase and and overhauling it is not that important the
15:25batsmen have to be positive
15:32exactly off the middle about tomorrow just to stifle the shot of catch gets two
15:40runs for it
15:42genuine outside edge
15:52it's looking to hit it square but with more of the bat than that
15:59leading run the score in test cricket against the bowler with number four on
16:13the all-time list of wicket-takers tremendous contest between two of the
16:17outstanding players of the contemporary game of game of all time ready
16:24and that's gone through
16:32one reach all the way
16:40throw back to the bowler but strong through she
16:43you know I haven't seen much of her in this test match so far from the boundary
16:50Vikram Singh not the greatest athlete in the world
16:56to squeeze through along the ground
17:03just complete the second run
17:06all that does is undo the matter of survival
17:23but what I think positive can mean it's just the pitching outside
17:30so hitting well outside the off stump and playing a stroke so that's not an issue
17:36really for an umpire
17:38putting the bat alongside the pad
17:41putting the bat alongside the pad
17:45Kumbay very keen on getting wide isn't he
17:50very wide
17:52umpire has to make his mind up whether that's a stroke or not
17:57pretty tough to give that anyway
18:02it's not a bad stroke from that area just to go into that positive thing before the over is complete
18:17it's it's really a matter I think of working very hard to try and score off the good deliveries
18:24the deliveries and the links that Kumbay wants to bowl we heard him talking a lot about bounce
18:31obviously gone on a straighter line to Lara no open patan
18:42and they would have wanted continuous play throughout yesterday's play yesterday there was no play at all possible
18:51and that would be have been a source of disappointment for the Indians not so for the West Indians
19:00coming in check at five this point with this team he had two ball one
19:04but I thought I had four from the East
19:07oh
19:08oh
19:09straighter line
19:11and as he got outside the line above stuff and he's certainly boiling a lot straight in the silver
19:20well
19:21let's just see where it hits him that's the first point
19:24it's outside off and I think that that's the way Lara plays it again it comes back to Lara making it very clear to the umpire he was wanting to play a stroke it
19:36oh
19:37oh
19:38oh
19:39wow what's happened there
19:40inside a true that the legs of Dhoni
19:43or around that vicinity anyway
19:46and we've spoken about this as soon as the bat gets too horizontal you're depending on the bounce
19:53and that pass perilously close to the stomps got to try to hit the bat with as much of the surface
20:04nice little glide down the third man the skipper has a bit of feeling here Rahul Dravid and they'll get three
20:16that brings the hundred up for the West Indies in the second innings
20:25again misses those stumps
20:31you're gonna have a bit of luck in here and there but he's using most of it
20:37that's 50 for Brian Lara it's a streaky way to get there but it's 50 nevertheless and we thought that
20:51Cumbly would give him this delivery again and he's got exactly the same result
20:56end of the over 114 for three
21:17and he's holding for three
21:34Oh
21:42Interesting Lara tends to try and get well forwarders chander Paul is standing up Lara gets the gloves therefore a lot lower
21:51Yeah
21:54Now he's got that away well
21:56Still hasn't reached a boundary normally would find that Lara would get to the boundary with that shot
22:04It's got two for it
22:07The interesting thing is when you get a spinner that is pitching and
22:13Getting the ball to turn that way for two to Lara if you've got no man on the offside
22:19You really want to have the bet whereas we don't there. There's no man in there close on the offside
22:26You want to have the bet behind the pad we'll talk about that after the over and perhaps when
22:34Lara's facing so I think in 122 for three
22:36Oh
22:45Now this one is a little shorter that's why the one of the pitches and turns
22:51It gets the edge Lara plays that quite nicely
22:55That's just a little lucky she's losing his balance a wee bit when it gets into leg stump there
23:06You'd need the odd slice of luck on a pitch like this as a batsman to bet for a long time
23:12That's why of course when you lose a wicket you can lose two or three quite quickly
23:16Oh
23:18Now you can see the bat tucked in behind the pad there
23:23And I think if the ball pitches and then moves away to the slips you want to have the bat behind there that one
23:30The slight angle is a problem for me though. I'd like to see them the same
23:36The same angle the pad and the bat
23:38Otherwise what happens at pictures it'll sometimes brush the front pad and then go on to the bat that one didn't brush the pad
23:53Well, he's got that through
23:55He sit through the covers and gets a boundary for it
24:01Not a difficult boundary for Lara
24:03I'm just over pitching well, he has come round the wicket and i'm pleased as i say
24:10To see him doing that. I think he gets a better chance of dismissal, but you've got to get the length right of course
24:16You can see round the wicket now which is too full
24:20If he can still get the ball to just move away from Lara which is what he was doing from the other side of the crease
24:28Then lbw and the catch behind still is in play
24:33And the over Lara keeps the strike one thirty four three
24:52And I'll come late
24:56Dallara
25:01Pushing
25:03Now we'll see
25:11More runs
25:15Outfield it slowed down because of the rain
25:18Lara picks it two more
25:29Stop that single around the corner
25:33Much quicker through the air
25:38Anil kumle
25:47Getting very close to the footmarks getting a little bit of rebounds
25:50Sloppy it's got Brian Lara off strike now
26:09Dive too early
26:16Dive too early
26:17The other day
26:18Okay
26:20I think I'll see you guys
26:22I think I'll see you guys
26:23I think I'll see you guys
26:24it was a noise but it was the bad
26:35well did he get a bad on this let's have a look
26:41I might have come off the thigh pad
26:54I did get a long way across can see the middle and leg stump impact was around
27:09middle and leg that can be given no chance for an LBW bowling that water the crease
27:19that's what he's doing Brian Larry's well aware of the laws of the game gets his
27:24pads outside the lawn okay why he's pulling it and how can any umpire give
27:28that out we can't
27:36reaction was to go for the sweep shot or the slot sweep and then changed his mind
27:42Brian Lara straightforward was it doing too much big stride in getting forward
27:49hits him in line hits him in line and he's shaking his head I didn't hit it we
27:55know that hit your pad first
27:58the flipper but that to me was a very close call it's the stride that saving
28:09them it's a long stride out this is in line hits him in line the long stride
28:16creating that element of that but it's not bouncing too much this picture nothing
28:20we'll clip the beers
28:28as we see a good afternoon to Jeremy Corny hello Jeffrey
28:34well that was in the air to me that shows the danger of trying to drive out of a rough area
28:51just a bit of turn just enough to get that outside edge would have been a very good catchers very sharp
29:02see that brand Lara has been very positive very strategic in the way he's gone about
29:17counteracting the Indian ballers it's going to be pressure on to the very last ball of this innings
29:31will he be up to it rest of the West Indian batting has proven itself to be quite fragile
29:41just a loose little period of play that often happens when you're reestablishing yourself it's the
29:54tumbling kind of leg break with the scrambled scene Lara doesn't really look to play that off the back
30:01foot nice and straight it was a cut stroke he was after always difficult with the angle being closed to
30:09the leg spinners not sure if there was any batting that and there was just a bit of an inside edge and very catchable well it was it was certainly a
30:16a bet pad
30:25that's the other way of playing the ball to play it through the league
30:31through the league through the legs and around that whole area but deliberately play the balls but here is the one this is a chance because your
30:53This is a chance because Yuvaraj is on his heels.
30:56He's not looking to come forward and he's short.
30:58You see, it takes him a while to change his balance to go forward.
31:07And that's a typical Lara stroke.
31:13And an excellent piece of fielding.
31:18He could still have gone for four.
31:23Was he in contact with the boundary when he made contact with the ball?
31:39From this angle, we can't see if his foot was.
31:48Oh!
31:49Come shot!
31:50Now, did that come from Paird?
31:57What's Asad Ralph going to say here?
32:00He's going...
32:01He's taken a very long time over it.
32:04And he's finally signalled at leg buys.
32:08But there were lots of glove around that area as well.
32:12And a cry of catch.
32:13All of the first two wickets this morning.
32:19And that's where he struck again from Brown Lara.
32:30Over pitch delivery.
32:32And he's got the treatment.
32:35Lara saw the length here.
32:37The initial press forward and then the rearrangement getting further forward to allow him to get into a good drive in a favourite area.
32:48Length is really important.
32:55The interesting thing also about length...
32:58Now, let's just look at Kumblo when he bowls over the wicket.
33:02You can see there all the deliveries are hitting the stumps.
33:05He's landing on the good part of the pitch.
33:07And that's Brian Lara at his best.
33:13He's very strong through that area.
33:17Gives it a full swing of the bat.
33:19And that's well struck.
33:30Beautifully timed.
33:32We won't get four for it.
33:33Outfield is a little bit heavy.
33:36With all the rain that we've been having.
33:40Well, a part-timer is going to over pitch occasionally.
33:43And probably can't bowl long spells either.
33:46Kumblo can.
33:47He's used to it.
33:47Say why I can't so much.
33:52You can see those areas on the left arm over that's been created.
34:01That's a better delivery.
34:05Force Brian Lara to reach for it.
34:07It's the end of the over.
34:08It's 181 for three.
34:13And Lara's got it through.
34:15We'll come for a second here.
34:17So now it's Lara with the youngsters.
34:22With whom he plays for Trinidad and Tobago.
34:24Bravo and Ramden.
34:26The keeper to come next.
34:28Then the bowlers.
34:29It's a big responsibility on Lara.
34:33But also on Bravo and Ramden.
34:36Now there will be a number of legs before appeals today.
35:02And he's over from Saywag.
35:11189 for four.
35:1371 over is gone.
35:15Three slips, a gully and a short backward point.
35:30And that's offline.
35:33He's played nicely through midwickets.
35:35He'll get four for this.
35:36And Lara goes on to 96.
35:41And the captain leading from the front.
35:48Just his eighth boundary in a long stay of 322 minutes.
35:55Beautifully balanced at the time of executing the shot.
35:58Also the bottom hand coming into play.
36:00In the slow outfield the ball raises away to the fence.
36:12It's a good delivery.
36:15More on the line that he would have wanted to start it.
36:17Munaf Patel.
36:19Treat it with the requisite respect.
36:21And Lara on the brink of his 32nd century in test cricket.
36:35Only a second against India.
36:38Would you believe it?
36:39And this could go, this could go all the way.
36:49When he pull it in.
36:52He's taken two and he'll settle for that.
37:02He'll get one, he'll push for a second.
37:05Decides against it.
37:09Return from Vikram Singh.
37:12Not a good one.
37:13Could possibly have got there.
37:14He's left on 99.
37:25And there's number 32.
37:28Brian Lara goes to 100.
37:30He's batted for this one.
37:39He's batted.
37:40Concentrated.
37:42He's worked very hard for it.
37:45He's 32nd 100 in test cricket.
37:51Magnificent knock under the circumstances.
37:54But he's not celebrated a great deal.
37:56He knows he's got to carry on.
37:57He's still.
38:14His legs.
38:16He'll get one.
38:18He's a feeling by Patan on the boundary.
38:20And a good throw.
38:21to Martellaro he's trying something different than after going wide of the
38:31crease string in line they've got to have a plan in there I cannot have
38:41lara on strike most of the time and score runs freely
38:51that's where he's from that's where he likes it that was four runs from the
39:05minute it left the bat I have to stand up and take a bar
39:11they're just a shot this is the normal lara a treat to us
39:32might go to the boundary might just stop inside beautifully weighted I'll get
39:38three I just remember back to the last test match on the last session India
39:44needed seven wickets they only got six in the last session so I think there's a
39:49few twists in this game yet look how far he's putting down the crease amazing get
39:57a wicket one would think that those overs will be complete before the five o'clock
40:01time
40:03Laura pulls away now the same drop sure
40:13come back for a third
40:21India won't mind Lara playing shots
40:23just fiddled that one around a come so slow off the pitch even though he's
40:31batting good two to three feet out of his crease he's still
40:53working hard here the ground sink
40:58still think he's best option of getting Lara out is trying to entice Lara it's
41:08driver ball on the up hopefully this second you ball you ball get a bit of
41:12bounce maybe seam away for that very wide bat of Brian Lara at the moment now he's
41:19into his seventh hour in this innings Brian Lara is better for three hundred and sixty
41:24seven minutes
41:31didn't quite time that ends the over three hundred and forty three for four
41:37bravo has received criticism for playing across the line of the ball trying to hit
41:46again to spin into the leg side in the past and it's just criticism as well but
41:50notice folks notice that today he's very rarely done it he's restrained himself
41:54beautifully
42:02I think it was good for him in this precious situation to be batting with
42:06Brian Lara who's spoken about how well Lara has batted but bravo's part in this
42:11place with only random to come Bradshaw up to this point it's a very important
42:16innings as well
42:21well it's full enough to work across this time
42:26stopped
42:29by Patel
42:41there was an appeal like this in the last over Brian Lara is laughing I reckon he thinks he might have gotten outside the line let's have an appeal like this in the last over Brian Lara is laughing I reckon he thinks he might have gotten outside the line
43:09let's have a look to see
43:11let's have a look to see
43:16oh it's a lot closer this and depending on your perspective he's just struck on the line
43:22just a little part of the ball is in line with off stump 252 for four
43:30Bangar
43:39good God love the beginning is over LBW cyborg
43:47now there is going to be a question here where is he struck again we've seen some very close appeals
43:52close appeals as he struck in line with the stumps or is he struck outside the
43:57line of off stump let's have a look
44:07struck outside the line of off stump struck outside the line of off stump
44:13even further away than the previous appeal and that could be classed as
44:18brian lara inning of 120 run against india in the second test at cross isle at
44:30st lucia in june 2006 was a brilliant exhibitions of patience leadership and
44:36mental toughness coming in at a crisis point with western days at 2-4-1 brian
44:42lara had the burden of leading his team out of trouble as captain and senior
44:47best man he rose to the occasions with a composed knob that was less about flair
44:52and more about survival facing a strong indian bowling attack featuring anil
44:57kumble munaf patel and irfan batan brian lara showcased remarkable control he
45:04played each delivery on its merit and used clever footwork against the spinners
45:08and time the ball well of the seamers his short selection was disciplined and he
45:13resisted the temptation to play extravagant strokes instead he focused on
45:18building partnership especially a valuable 129 run stand with shiv nara and
45:23chander paul which was key in the saving the match this was one of the brian
45:28lara's slowest centuries but it was one of his most meaningful he anchored the
45:33innings with majority putting team needs above personal flair the west indies thanks
45:38to his calm presence managed to end the match securing a draw after being under
45:43immense pressure brian lara century at cross highlight was not just a number on
45:48the scoreboard it was a statement at the age of 36 he showcased that true
45:53greatness lies in the adaptability and resolve
45:57this innings proved that even the most elegant stroke makers can dig deep when
46:02needed and in doing so brian lara once again
46:05hashed his name among the greatest to ever play the game
46:09if you like this video please comment share and subscribe thanks for watching
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