Date-stamped : 17 Oct95 - 10:32 3NAT-SHJ Match #5: West Indies v Sri Lanka Sharjah, 16 October 1995 Brian Lara blasted an explosive 169 as West Indies cut loose to amass 333 for seven in their 50 overs against Sri Lanka in the Sharjah Champions` Trophy cricket tournament on Monday. It was Lara`s highest score and his sixth century in 91 one-day internationals, surpassing the 153 he hit against Pakistan here in the 1993 Champions` Trophy. Lara`s 169 came off just 129 balls and included 15 fours and four sixes, one each off Sanah Jayasuriya and Muttiah Mur- lintharan and two in succession off Aravinda de Silva. Lara came in after opener Stuart Williams had been dismissed for two and dominated the hapless Sri Lanka attack right from the start. After Sherwin Campbell was out for 10, Lara shared a third- wicket stand of 96 runs in 100 balls with captain Richie Richardson, added 60 runs for the fourth wicket in 69 balls with Phil Simmons and 89 for the fifth in 59 balls with Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Lara, driving and pulling with conviction, hit his first 50 in 47 balls with nine fours and a six. His 100 came in 90 balls (10 fours, one six) and his 150 in just 111 balls (14 fours and four sixes). He looked set to break the world record of 189 of compatriot Viv Richards but played across the line and was bowled by Kumar Dharmasena. Chanderpaul ended the West Indies innings with a flourish, scoring sixes off the last two balls from Pramodiya Wickremasinghe. Chanderpaul finished with 62 not out off 45 balls, which in- cluded two fours and three sixes. Source :: Reuter Contributed by Vicky (VIGNESWA@ecs.umass.edu) ====> more Tillekeratne Nearly Upstages Lara in Trophy Thriller West Indies pulled off a dramatic four-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy on Monday despite a compelling fightback inspired by a century from Hashan Tillekeratne. Tillekerate's innings of exactly 100 almost upstaged a thunderous, career-best 169 from Brian Lara that powered West Indies to seemingly unassailable 333 for seven in their 50 overs. But Sri Lanka made such an outstanding recovery from 103 for five that they pressed West Indies until the final over before being dismissed for 329 with three deliveries left. Sri Lanka, needing eight runs with one wicket left from the 50th over bowled by paceman Andy Cummins, got three from the first two deliveries before Tillekeratne struck the third ball into the hands of Stuart Williams at deep mid-wicket. "I never thought it would be so close a match," said West Indies captain Richie Richardson. "Our score, we thought, was a winning one, but I congratulate Sri Lanka for their tremendous efforts." Tillekeratne led Sri Lanka's brave attempt with the support of opener Roshan Mahanama (76) and Chandika Hathurusinghe (45), almost stealing the spotlight from Lara. Lara's sixth century, and highest score, in his 91st one-day international beat his 153 against Pakistan here in the 1993 Champions' Trophy. The Trinidadian left-hander made his 169 off just 129 balls, striking 15 fours and four sixes, one each off Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan and two in succession off Aravinda de Silva. Lara came in after opener Williams had been dismissed for two, and dominated the hapless Sri Lanka attack right from the start. After Sherwin Campbell was dismissed for 10, Lara shared a third-wicket stand of 96 in 100 balls with Richardson, added 60 for the fourth wicket in 69 balls with Phil Simmons and then plundered 89 for the fifth wicket in 59 deliveries with Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Driving and pulling with conviction, Lara reached his first 50 in 47 balls with nine fours and a six. His 100 came in 90 balls (10 fours, one six) and his 150 in 111 balls (14 fours and four sixes). He looked set to beat the world record one-day international score of 189 by fellow West Indian Viv Richards until he played across the line and was bowled by Kumar Dharmasena. Chanderpaul ended the innings with a flourish, scoring sixes off the last two balls from Pramodaya Wickremasinghe to finish with 62 not out off 45 balls, which included two fours and three sixes. Pakistan play Sri Lanka on Tuesday in the final round-robin match of the three-team tournament. Source :: Reuter Contributed by Syed.Ali (sma@dcs.ed.ac.uk) ====> more Report by Bandula Molligoda It was so near and yet so far for Sri Lanka. Needing five runs for victory in the last four balls Tillekeratne swung Cummins and had the horror of seeing Williams clutching a catch above his head that seemed to be going for six, and with it ended Sri Lanka`s victory bid and one of the best fight backs seen in one- day cricket as Sri Lanka went down to the West Indies in a Singer Champions Trophy match here on Monday. In reply to the huge West Indians Score of 333 for 7 Sri Lanka managed a gallant 330. When Sri Lanka took strike they set about their task in deter- mined fashion and the runs flowed freely as Jayasuriya lent into the bowling while Mahanama preferred to keep his end up. With the dismissal of Jayasuriya, Aravinda, Sri Lanka`s "master blaster" continued the run chase blasting a quick twenty. With his dismissal in came wicket keeper Kaluwitharane to set the ground alight with some audacious stroke play. He made a dashing 32. Sri Lanka then lost Gurusinha and Ranatunga cheaply. Tillek- eratne then joined Mahanama who was going well and began to char- ter the course from where Sri Lanka could look for victory. With the dismissal of Mahanama for a well played 74, Hathurusinghe joined Tillekeratne and continued the good work and took Sri Lanka close to a victory that alone stage did not seem possible considering the big score made by the Windies. At the end Sri Lanka were destined to lose by just four runs. Tillekeratne played an innings that he will not forget for a long time to come. It was a century made in adversity and one that will long be remembered by the West Indies. It was a batting lullaby by the elegant lefty hander Brian Lara which sent the Sri Lankans to sleep on the field. His stroke play was sweet music and the Lankans apparently preferred to listen to the sound of ball and bat as he sprayed it all over. When West Indies won the toss and batted they lost opener Willi- ams at 6 for 2 and Campbell at 37 for 10 and that was all the success Sri Lanka could achieve as Lara and skipper Richardson took control to batter and bruise the Lankan bowlers and send them on a leather hunt. Brian Lara played one of his best one-day innings to take his side to a record score. His was an explosive 169. He was lucky to be let off by a diving Kaluwitarne when on 10 off Hathurusinghe. Other than for that blemish Lara`s in- nings was full of glittering strokeplay. He was no respector of either pace or spin. With majestic strokes and twinkle toes footwork he completely took control and caressed or lashed the ball to the boundary or over it as and when he liked. While he was at the wicket he made batting look such an easy art. There was no field that could be set to curb or lure him into false strokes. Once the ball made contact with the bat it sped to the boundary leaving the fielders standing and applauding. His square cutting and driving on either side of the wicket was pure magic and when he wanted to hit the ball over the ropes or out of the ground he did it with sweet timing. His more experienced skipper Richardson was content to play second fiddle and provide Lara with most of the strike and watch the mercurial Lara going like a house on fire. Lara and Richardson put on 96 for the third wicket in 100 balls. Lara`s 169 was made in 129 balls with 15 fours and 4 sixes. It was Lara`s highest one-day score and his sixth cen- tury in 91 one-dayers. In the 1993 champions` trophy here, Lara lashed 153 against Pakistan. With Simmons, Lara put on 60 for the fourth wicket in 69 balls and with Chandrapaul he put on 89 runs for the fifth wicket in 59 balls. Lara`s scoring went like this: 50 in 47 balls with 9 fours and a six. His 100 came in 90 balls (10 fours, 1 six) and his 150 in 111 balls with 14 fours and four sixes. When he looked like brushing aside compatriot Viv Richards` 189 he was bowled by Dharmasena playing across. Chandarpaul too made merry against a fired Sri Lankan attack to score 62 not out. Source :: The Daily News (http://sri.lanka.net/lakehouse/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)