St. Kts: Lara's captaincy on the line

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) - Ramnaresh Sarwan scaled new heights as a Test batsman from Guyana in a monumental partnership with compatriot Shivnarine Chanderpaul, to put the West Indies on course for a crushing victory over Bangladesh on the third day of the second and final Cable and Wireless Test yesterday.

Two weeks away from his 24th birthday, the classy right-hander compiled an unbeaten 261, featuring in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 262 with Chanderpaul as the home team declared their first innings at a mammoth 559 for four, 40 minutes after tea.

Facing a huge deficit of 275 runs, the tourists stumbled to 66 for three in their second innings, needing another 209 runs just to make the West Indies bat again as they seek avoiding a heavy defeat that would give the Caribbean side the brief series 1-0.