'It wasn't a fluent knock' - Lara

Something about the statistic that Brian Lara's 48th Test fifty was only his first in Pakistan doesn't sound right. It's true enough, though in his defence, his 129th Test was only his fifth here. And were a thesis to be written on the grandeur of his batting, his 61 today would make its way in only as an aberration, proof that even a man as polished as Lara can grime it out when the need is there. Wherein lies another clue, not oft-revealed, to his legend.

A few demons were present as he arrived; his own uncertain form, a strange, deceitful pitch and 41 for 2 on the board. Initially there was much movement at the crease, even his shuffles and leaves carrying a flourish. Whether he was gauging his own form, or the just the pitch, bowlers and situation, it only added to the intensity of the innings.

Slowly, he felt his way with some stout defence and if it doesn't appear as natural and correct as that of Rahul Dravid, it is no less effective. In attack, of course, his aesthetic appeal is unique but only a glimpses of that emerged. He was content, instead, to dink singles to point, an area he generally scorches with cuts and drives. And that too, only when he was not busy leaving or padding to spin.

Until his 43rd ball, fluidly driven square for a third four, the only boundaries had actually come from the edge of his bat. "It wasn't a fluent knock," he admitted later. "It was a scratchy sort of innings. We were under pressure and I was trying to rebuild the innings and our score."

Pakistan didn't fall for this scratchy malarkey; this is Lara after all, they thought. He of the 400, the 375 or the murderous 153 at Sharjah. Why else would they keep a long-on and long-off in place even as he struggled and the West Indians tottered? Appropriately, in the circumstances, his highest score in Pakistan came from an under-edged four, though the half-century landmark was celebrated with an authentic cover drive two balls later.

A flick off Danish Kaneria later and Lara's groove was threatening an appearance, but he fell in the only way great batsmen often do: to great deliveries. "I would've loved to have stayed on for a big one but I got a very good ball. I think credit is due to the Pakistan bowlers who bowled very well today."

That they did, but as well as acknowledging a pitch generous to bowlers, Lara bemoaned the lack of those around him prepared to apply themselves as he so dearly did. Dwayne Bravo's careless drive to mid-off, prompting Lara into a memorable teapot impersonation, and Denesh Ramdin's poorly-executed and ill-timed sweep might have been on his mind when he lamented: "We didn't apply ourselves as well as we should have. The pitch did do more than I thought but there were some soft dismissals. After a good start, we just went downhill and we should've done a lot better."

Now they play catch up, delicately balancing the need for wickets with that of run-saving. Jerome Taylor's spell as the smog descended though provided some light for a dreary day, as Lara acknowledged. "The bowlers were unlucky. Early morning they will get help from the moisture and Taylor especially looked very good. He is really coming of age now and we also have [Corey] Collymore. The pitch will deteriorate more but we have to restrict Pakistan and put some runs on the board first."

If, as he suspects, the pitch will worsen, then he will, for the umpteenth time in his career, be expected to play a critical role later on. "It was nice to get runs and just dig in. I feel in decent form," he threatened, "and that augurs well for the rest of the series." Not so well for Pakistan's attack.