ST JOHN'S, Antigua, (Reuters) - West Indies captain Brian Lara became the first man to score 400 in a Test innings as the home side took a stranglehold on the third day of the fourth and final match against England yesterday.
Lara, who had earlier passed Matthew Hayden's world record individual Test score of 380, swept off-spinner Gareth Batty for a single to backward square leg to reach the mark before declaring on 751 for five.
A tired looking England side then stumbled to 171 for five at the close of play, still 381 runs short of the follow-on target. Andrew Flintoff was not out on 37, while Geraint Jones was unbeaten on 32.
Lara's epic innings lasted under eight hours, including 43 fours and four sixes.
He was the holder of the world mark of 375, scored on the same ground against the same opponents in 1994, before it was eclipsed by Australia's Hayden against Zimbabwe in Perth last October.
Struggling for form with just 100 runs in six innings as England stormed to a 3-0 series lead, Lara reached 380 with a straight six off Batty before sweeping him for four next ball to break the record.
He leapt in the air with delight before being congratulated by England's players as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
The left-hander then kissed the ground before play resumed.
``It's hard to believe,'' he told Sky Sports after being given a guard of honour by his team-mates as he walked off.
``It's a great feeling. It's dampened a bit by the series result but we are going to press for a win.''
SURVIVED APPEAL
With West Indies resuming on 595 for five, Lara, 313 overnight, looked good early on but appeared to become a little edgy as the record moved in sight.
England captain Michael Vaughan brought the field in to tempt Lara to hit over the top and he did just that, smashing him over mid-on to reach 372.
Lara then survived an appeal for a catch behind off Batty, and the nerves were clearly visible as he almost attempted a suicidal single next ball.
After reaching 374, Lara then equalled Hayden's mark with a sensational six, before a four from the next ball helped him regain the record.
Lara became only the second man after Australia's Donald Bradman to make two Test triple centuries when he passed 300 on Sunday.
On 390 at lunch, Lara reached his 400 with a deft sweep to fine leg, before declaring at the end of the over.
In reply, England lost Vaughan, caught by Jacobs for seven off Pedro Collins, though replays suggested the ball had not touched anything on its way through to the wicketkeeper.
Marcus Trescothick fell for 16, caught by Jacobs off Tino Best, and when Nasser Hussain was yorked by Best for three, England slipped to 54 for three.
Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe put on 44 for the fourth wicket but both men fell on 98. Butcher was bowled by Collins for 52 and Thorpe top-edged to Collins off Fidel Edwards for 10.
Lara spoilt his copybook just a little late on when he dropped Flintoff on 27, trying to throw the ball up in celebration and dropping it behind him.