WEST INDIES skipper Brian Lara said his back-to-the-wall century was partly inspired by the Trinidad and Tobago soccer team's gritty draw with Sweden at the World Cup.
"Watching the Soca Warriors, they had to battle for 90 minutes for a draw. We had 98 overs to do it," Lara said. "That was sort of the reason why we got out there and tried to do it.
"I wasn't concentrating on a hundred. I just thought that I needed to bat for as long as possible.
"I enjoyed the innings. I think it showed me the patience I needed for the rest of the series."
Lara's match-saving 120, his 32nd Test century, lifted the Windies to 297 for seven at stumps and forced a draw in the second match of the four-Test Digicel series, at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia yesterday.
His Indian countyerpart, Rahul Dravid, whose team had amassed 588 for eight declared in their first inings, said he was proud of his team despite being unable to force a win.
The West Indies' task was made easier as all of Tuesday's penultimate day was rained out.
"I thought we played very good cricket in this match," Dravid said. "It was always going to be difficult to win in four days because it was a low and slow wicket.
"I think we did a great job to get in the position we did at the end. Unfortunately, we lost 90 overs on the fourth day."
