Lara rediscovers his form

Lara cuts loose against Zimbabwe

West Indies 364-6 at close of day one

Brian Lara fired a warning to England ahead of the first Test, after smashing a superb century against Zimbabwe at Arundel.

The left-hander brought up his ton off just 93 balls to reach a magnificent 176.

Lara shared a 176 run third wicket partnership with opener Sherwin Campbell who finished on 141 not out, before the West Indies collapsed from 331-2 to 364-6 at close of play.

The former West Indies captain, who had only amassed 13 runs in his four previous tour innings, came to the wicket shortly after lunch with his side poised precariously at 55-2.

After playing and missing at his first ball, he then hit a number of boundaries through the covers and fired medium pacer Pommie Mbangwa over the leg-side boundary twice.

He was eventually sent back the pavilion by left-arm seamer Bryan Strang, who took 3-49 and triggered a middle-order collapse.

Strang also dismissed skipper Jimmy Adams (0) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (1).

Opening bowler Neil Johnson gabbed the early wickets, claiming Adrian Griffith lbw for six and Shivnarine Chanderpaul caight at second slip by Alistair Campbell for 17.

Scorecard

West Indies first innings

S.Campbell not out 141
A.Griffith lbw b Johnson 6
S.Chanderpaul c Campbell b Johnson 17
B.Lara b B.Strang 176
J.Adams c Goodwin b B.Strang 0
R.Sarwan lbw b B.Strang 1
R.Jacobs lbw b Mbangwa 0
M.Nagamootoo not out 7

Extras (b-2 w-4 nb-10) 16
Total (for six wickets) 364

Fall of wickets: 1-9 2-55 3-331 4-331 5-333 6-338

To bat: N.McLean, F.Rose, C.Collymore

Bowling (to date): Nkala 13-2-73-0, Johnson 22-9-58-2, B.Strang 21-7-49-3, Mbangwa 21-4-73-1, P.Strang 17-3-55-0, Viljoen 10-1-54-0

Zimbabwe: T.Gripper, C.Wishart, M.Goodwin, N.Johnson, A.Flower, A.Campbell, D.Viljoen, M.Nkala, P.Strang, B.Strang, P.Mbangwa.