Lara century spares Windies’ blushes in the face of dogged Irish attack

BRIAN LARA spared the West Indies’ blushes with a majestic century as the tourists limped to 242 all out against Ireland in Belfast.

Skipper Lara hammered the ball to all corners of the pitch in a run-a-ball hundred for the Windies who nevertheless failed to see out their 50 overs in the face of a dogged Irish attack.

Lara's 106, which was compiled off just 99 balls in a fraction over two hours, was a rare ray of sunshine for the tourists famously bowled out by the Irish for just 25 runs back in 1965.