Cricket: Lara threatening big finale

He didn't always look comfortable in the dark and cold of McLean Park yesterday but there was at least a glimpse of the Brian Lara on show that the world has come to know and love.

Although yesterday's unbeaten 75-minute stay at the crease is not an innings he's likely to recount over a few rums in years to come, the 36-year-old master batsman is at least still at the crease when he had been in danger of quietly slipping out of the country without firing a shot in what is his final tour of New Zealand.

Lara was unbeaten on 28 - 21 runs more than his combined total on tour to date - and Daren Ganga not out on 31 when the gloom forced the players from the field after only 27.2 overs of play and the West Indies 95 for 1.

It was a largely meaningless opening day of the final test, robbed mainly by the fact that more than four hours of play were lost yesterday because heavy rain throughout the week meant the outfield was deemed too dangerous but also because the series is already won and the tourists are probably dreaming of warmer climes.

The only real point of interest when Stephen Fleming won the toss and elected to bowl was whether Lara might be able to break his shocking run of scores here before he pulls stumps on his brilliant career.

He was almost undone by another Shane Bond rocket on leg stump and was also tickled up by a couple of Bond bouncers late in the day as he worked hard to keep his wicket. However, he also hit three boundaries, including one cover drive complete with the trademark Lara flourish.

Lara's Trinidad and Tobago teammate Ganga sensed last night Lara was on the verge of a big score.

"A lot of people expect Brian to get a century every time he goes to the crease," he said.

"He's very upbeat and knows his next best innings is around the corner. He's already starting to show that he's coming out of the rut he was in and I'm sure you're going to see something special from Brian Lara."

Perhaps only the Black Caps, searching for their first-ever 3-0 series win in test cricket, would hope this isn't the case.

There had been a danger there would be no play at all yesterday, despite the fact only one brief shower breezed over the ground. The umpires ruled that the outfield was too dangerous until common sense prevailed, the boundary ropes were brought in 5m on the main stand side and the players eventually traipsed out to the middle at 3pm.

Daniel Vettori indicated the Black Caps had been keen to start earlier. "We didn't think the conditions changed that much but when they brought the boundaries in it eliminated a cause of concern," he said. "We wanted to get out there and play cricket because when there's no rain about, it seems strange just sitting there waiting for things to dry."

Chris Gayle seemed intent on making up for lost time as he smacked five boundaries in a brief 32-minute stay before he slapped one off Chris Martin to short cover, into the hands of Peter Fulton.

Gayle had been particularly punishing on James Franklin, who was too short and wide on the surprisingly slow McLean Park pitch and the only consolation for the laconic opening batsman was that he could take up a position beside the heaters to get warm.

Ganga and Lara, who moved up the order from his usual position of No 4, then set about digging in to give the Windies a good start.

They will hope today dawns warm and sunny - if for no other reason than we can see Lara go out flourishing rather than floundering.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY