West Indies batsman Brian Lara was poised to break Allan Border's record for most Test runs after blasting an unbeaten double-century on the opening day of the third and final Test against Australia in Adelaide on Friday.
Lara toyed with the Australian attack, scoring 202 not out and registering his 31st Test hundred to take his career tally to 11,163 runs, just 11 behind Border's record of 11,174.
His brilliant innings helped the tourists, already 2-0 down and facing the prospect of a series whitewash, reach stumps in the healthy position of 352 for seven after slumping to 53-3 before lunch.
All rounder Dwayne Bravo made 34, wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin 27 and West Indian captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul chipped in with 25 although there was little argument about who had led the fightback.
Lara, playing possibly his final Test on Australian soil, came into the match on the back of a string of modest scores but was clearly in the mood for something special on a hot and humid day at Adelaide Oval.
He joined Border as the only players to score 11,000 Test runs when he eased his way to 39 then raised his half-century off 92 balls.
The left-hander raced to his century off 144 deliveries when he dispatched Australia's fastest bowler Brett Lee to the boundary twice in one over.
He got to 200 off 261 balls when he again hooked Lee to the fence then ended the day on 202 from 266 balls in six hours, featuring 20 boundaries and poised for another world record.
The 36-year-old from Trinidad already holds the world record for the highest individual Test (400 not out) and first-class (501 not out) scores.
The tourists had been in deep trouble before Lara's rescue mission when Lee ripped through the top-order in the morning session and leg-spinner Stuart MacGill made a hole in the middle-order after lunch.
SURPRISE BALL
Lee dismissed Wavell Hinds and fellow opener Devon Smith in the sixth over of the day then Ramnaresh Sarwan before lunch.
Hinds, recalled to the team when Chris Gayle was left out after undergoing a minor heart operation, fell for 10 when he was caught by Matthew Hayden at gully with a ball that lifted sharply and caught the Jamaican by surprise.
Smith departed in the same over for seven, also caught by Hayden at gully after he had been given a life when Shane Warne dropped him at slip off Glenn McGrath.
Sarwan threw his wicket away for 16, hooking a bouncer from Lee straight down the throat of Andrew Symonds at fine leg, before Lara and Chanderpaul steadied the innings with a 68-run partnership.
Chanderpaul also looked set for a big score until he edged a catch off part-time seamer Symonds to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
Bravo followed his century from the second Test in Hobart with an adventurous 34 before he tried to flick MacGill behind his legs but got a leading edge that flew to Ponting at cover.
MacGill claimed a second wicket when Dwayne Smith, who replaced the injured Marlon Samuels, skied an attempted drive to the safe hands of Symonds.
West Indian wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin was trapped leg before wicket by McGrath for 27 in the final few overs leaving Daren Powell, on seven not out, with Lara at stumps.
Scoreboard:
West Indies 1st innings:
W. Hinds c Hayden b Lee 10
D. Smith c Hayden b Lee 7
R. Sarwan c Symonds b Lee 16
B. Lara not out 202
S. Chanderpaul c Gilchrist b Symonds 25
D. Bravo c Ponting b MacGill 34
D. Smith c Symonds b MacGill 14
D. Ramdin lbw b McGrath 27
D. Powell not out 7
Extras (b-1 lb-3 nb-5 w-1) 10
Total (for 7 wickets, 90 overs) 352
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-19, 3-53, 4-121, 5-237, 6-263, 7-333.
To bat: F. Edwards, C. Collymore.
Bowling: G. McGrath 22-2-80-1 (nb-2), B. Lee 20-1-96-3 (nb-3 w-1), A. Symonds 16-5-44-1, S. Warne 17-1-73-0, S. MacGill 15-2-55-2.
