ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (Reuters) - West Indies captain Brian Lara became only the second man to score two triple Test centuries yesterday, smashing 313 not out to destroy England's chances of a series whitewash in the fourth and final Test.
Almost exactly 10 years after he set a then-world record of 375 against England on the same ground, Lara produced a scintillating innings as West Indies plundered 595 for five at the close of the second day.
Lara, who resumed the day on 86, hit 34 fours and three sixes, passing his 300 shortly before the close and prompting a standing ovation from the packed St John's crowd.
He is 68 short of beating Matthew Hayden's record score, set against Zimbabwe last October. Lara joins Australia's Don Bradman as the only man to achieve the feat on more than one occasion.
Ridley Jacobs was unbeaten on 47 at the close and Ramnaresh Sarwan hit 90.
From the moment he smashed Matthew Hoggard for four from the first ball, Lara was determined to wipe away memories of the first three Tests, all won comprehensively by England.
Having made just 100 runs in six innings, Lara reminded everyone of his talent with superb stroke play and immense concentration.
On the odd occasion he did play and miss, Lara set the record straight with another boundary soon afterwards and England's bowlers, including Gareth Batty who went for two towering sixes, were made to toil with little reward.
Lara reached his hundred from 131 balls with a cut for two through the covers. One of only two real scares of the day came when, on 127, he attempted a second run to Matthew Haggard at third man.
Although the throw was a direct hit, Lara just made his ground.
At the other end, Sarwan passed 50 for the 20th time in Tests but he fell 10 runs short of his century, edging Harmison to Marcus Trescothick at slip to end a partnership worth 232.
Ricardo Powell, who replaced Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the side, made 23 and Ryan Hinds chipped in with 36 as Lara passed his 200 with a six, four and a single in consecutive balls from Gareth Batty.
That took him alongside Englishman Wally Hammond in second place in the all-time list of double century makers with seven, behind Australia's Don Bradman, who tops the list with 12.
As the day wore on, Lara began to look a little tired but he found a second wind to pass the 250 mark with a flashing drive over cover for his 27th boundary.
Batty almost caught Lara off his own bowling when on 293, but the ball went through his hands for four. The West Indies captain reached his 300 with a quick single off Batty.
WEST INDIES first innings (overnight 208-2)
C.Gayle c and b Batty 69
D.Ganga lbw b Flintoff 10
B.Lara 313
R.Sarwan c Trescothick b Harmison 90
R.Powell c Hussain b S.Jones 23
R.Hinds c and b Batty 36
R.Jacobs 47
Extras (lb-2, w-2, nb-3) 7
Total 595
Fall of wickets: 1-33 2-98 3-330 4-380 5-469
To bat: T.Best, C.Collymore, P.Collins, F.Edwards.