Multan, November 21:

Master batsman Brian Lara rewrote record books today and smashed a century before lunch as the West Indies built a strong lead against Pakistan in the second Test.

Lara’s unbeaten 196 led West Indies to a commanding 509-5 at stumps on the third day and overshadowed his teammate Dwayne Bravo’s brilliant 89. The West Indies now leads by 152 runs after Jerome Taylor’s five-wicket haul had restricted Pakistan to 357. Lara hammered 21 boundaries and seven big sixes in his superb strokeplay.

Lara joined three Australians — VT Trumper (1902), CG Macartney (1926) and Sir Don Bradman (1930) — along with Pakistan’s Majid Khan (1976) as the only other batsmen who scored centuries before lunch in Test history.

The pair of Lara and Bravo put on 200 runs which bettered the West Indies previous best fifth wicket stand of 185 runs against Pakistan between Collie Smith and Everton Weekes at Bridgetown in 1957-58.

Openers Chris Gayle (93) and Daren Ganga (82) both missed their hundreds and were trapped lbw by Danish Kaneria after the visitors resumed at the overnight 151-0.

SCOREBOARD

PAKISTAN — 1st Innings: 357

WEST INDIES — 1st Innings (overnight 151-0)

C Gayle lbw b Kaneria 93

D Ganga lbw b Kaneria 82

B Lara not out 196

R Morton lbw b Gul 5

S Chanderpaul c Razzaq b Nazir 14

D Bravo c Khan b Kaneria 89

D Ramdin not out 4

Extras: 26 (9b, 10lb, 7nb)

Total: 509/5

FoW: 1-162, 2-220, 3-281, 4-302, 5-502

Pakistan bowling: Gul 33-12-80-1, Nazir 22-2-81-1, Kaneria 41-6-159-3, Razzaq 17-4-64-0, Hafeez 23-2-68-0, Malik 11-1-38-0