LONDON (CMC) - West Indies double world record holder Brian Lara kept his position as the world's number one batsman this week after his outstanding first innings century against Pakistan in the second Test in Kingston last weekend.

Lara lashed a compelling 153, with 20 fours and two sixes - in the West Indies loss at Sabina Park - and retained top spot in the LG International Cricket Council (ICC) batting rankings this week ahead of South Africa Jacques Kallis.

His captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul sustained his top-10 ranking, but slipped one place down to number nine as the Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq climbed to number eight after propelling his side to their 136-run victory at Sabina
Park with an unbeaten second-innings century.

India kept two batsmen in the top five, Rahul Dravid at three and Virender Sehwag (fifth), sandwiching the Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who is fourth.

Chris Gayle, at 24th, and Ramnaresh Sarwan (26th) are the only other West Indies batsmen in the top 30.

LG ICC Rankings

BATTING

1 Brian Lara (WI)
2 Jacques Kallis (SA)
3 Rahul Dravid (IND)
4 Ricky Ponting (AUS)
5 Virender Sehwag (IND)
6 Damien Martyn (AUS)
7 Adam Gilchrist (AUS)
8 Inzamam-ul-Haq (PAK)
9 Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI)
9 Marcus Trescothick (ENG)
24th Chris Gayle (WI)
26th Ramnaresh Sarwan (WI)

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