West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara has been cleared of serious injury after being struck in the neck by the ball during his side's seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Champions Trophy semifinal today.
Lara fell to the ground after being struck by a delivery from Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who had produced several 150 km/h deliveries in his opening salvo.
Lara appeared to lose sight of Akhtar's second delivery, turned away and was struck on the side of the neck.
Akhtar rushed up to try and help but Lara, who had made 31 from 30 balls, remained on the ground for several minutes before being led off the pitch and had to retire hurt.
The ICC quoted West Indies physiotherapist Andrew Simpson saying Lara suffered a short spell of dizziness and a slight headache after leaving The Rose Bowl in Southampton but had been cleared of serious injury by the ground medical doctor.
Inzamam-ul-Haq gambled and lost as Pakistan were thrashed.
Strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar tried to salvage something with two wickets within seven balls of a furious opening spell and a brute of a lifter in his second, which felled Brian Lara and forced him from the field.
But Pakistan, routed for 131 in 38.2 overs on Wednesday, were always struggling after their skipper Inzamam surprisingly opted to bat first in conditions favouring seam and swing.
West Indies, who take on England at The Oval on Saturday in the climax of the 12-team event, also had to work hard on the Rose Bowl surface but cruised home with 21.5 overs left.
Ramnaresh Sarwan, the man of the match, top-scored with 56 not out.
Replacing Lara at the post-match awards ceremony, he said: "Brian is resting in the dressing room but don't worry, he's going to be fine (for the final).
"We were very surprised when they chose to bat."
"We took a chance," Inzamam said of the decision. "200 would have been a difficult total to chase but West Indies bowled really well."
Pace bowler Dwayne Bravo, with two wickets and two run-outs, and occasional medium-pacer Wavell Hinds, with two wickets in four balls, instigated the collapse as the last seven batsmen fell for 31.
Pakistan never fully recovered after opener Salman Butt, on his one-day international debut, fell for a second-ball duck.
Neither West Indies nor England have ever reached the final of the Champions Trophy, the largest one-day tournament outside the World Cup.
