Brian Lara started the 2003 World Cup in Southern Africa the way he, his team and his fans wanted him to - with a spectacular hundred against a top South Africa attack comprising Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Lance Klusener.

Lara walked in with West Indies struggling at 4-1 in five overs. He was dropped by Jacques Kallis at second slip off Ntini in the next over. By the seventh over, it was 7-2.