LONDON, England, CMC – Former West Indies batting maestro Brian Lara rolled back the years with a stroke-filled cameo in his return to competitive cricket on Sunday.
The 41-year-old left-hander, who quit international cricket three years ago, dazzled with a 32-ball 37 but could not prevent Marylebone Cricket Club from sliding to a six-run defeat to Pakistan in a Twenty20 tour match at Lord’s.
Briefly evoking memories of his glittering career, Lara cracked five fours batting at number three as MCC reached 159 for five, falling just short of Pakistan’s 165 for five.
He helped post 94 from 62 balls for the second wicket with Australian left-hander Aiden Blizzard who cracked a top score of 73 from 59 balls with six fours and three sixes.
Showing he had lost precious little since his retirement from the game, Lara unveiled a wide array of strokes as he initially dominated the partnership with Blizzard 15 years his junior.
His knock eventually ended when the pacy Umar Gul yorked him with the MCC on 101 for two in the 13th over.
Lara is contemplating a return to the Twenty20 form and could turn out in the lucrative Indian Premier League next year.
Earlier, Umar Akmal top-scored with 51 for Pakistan after they won the toss and chose to bat, as former Black Caps all-rounder Chris Harris snared three for 26 for the MCC.
