BRIAN Lara hit the second highest score of his career to put him in sight of another world record as West Indies progressed relentlessly towards an imposing first-innings total in the final Test.

The West Indies captain exploited the best batting surface of the series and an England attack weakened by an illness to Matthew Hoggard to hit a brilliant 288 and guide his side to a commanding 529 for five by late afternoon on the second day.

His efforts during a compelling day's action at the Recreation Ground virtually ruled out England's attempt to become the first side in history to whitewash West Indies in the Caribbean and salvaged important local pride after their demoralising defeats in the opening three Tests.

But it also put Lara within reach, provided he does not run out of partners, of the world record individual Test score of 380 set by Australia's Matthew Hayden against Zimbabwe at Perth last October.

Hayden's effort finally took the record away from Lara, who scored 375 against England at this same venue 10 years ago, and the West Indian captain was similarly dominant yesterday after resuming on 86 and passing the second highest score of his career of 277 recorded against Australia at Sydney in 1992-3.

He gave notice of his intentions from the first delivery of the day, driving Hoggard through the cover for four, and went on to share a major partnership with Ramnaresh Sarwan while both Ricardo Powell and Ryan Hinds kept him company long enough to allow him to chalk up the milestones.

Although England claimed wickets during a second day extended to 105 overs to make up for time lost to rain on Saturday, they came at too high a price for West Indies to be restricted to a modest total and Lara dominated the day as he had done so spectacularly 10 years previously.

He hit two sixes off spinner Gareth Batty and never looked threatened by England's attack, which was weakened by the absence of Hoggard from just after lunch after he contracted the same stomach bug which ruled Ashley Giles out of this Test.

Even with Hoggard, England had taken 32 overs to claim their first breakthrough of the day and by the time fast bowler Steve Harmison ended Sarwan's innings 10 short of his century, he had helped forge a productive 232-run partnership with Lara.

All-rounder Powell, playing only his second Test as a replacement for the axed Shivnarine Chanderpaul, lasted only 53 minutes but was still able to forge a half-century stand with his captain as West Indies continued to progress at just short of four an over.

Powell fell miscuing an attempted pull off Simon Jones which flew down to Nasser Hussain at third man, but England could still not unsettle Lara as he marched towards a double hundred for the seventh time in his Test career.

Lara had taken only four overs yesterday morning to claim his 25th Test century, his first against England as West Indies captain and his fourth in the last nine Tests, reaching the milestone by cutting Hoggard for two before raising his bat to accept a standing ovation.

Even after reaching his century he continued to dominate his rapidly-increasing partnership with Sarwan, contributing 101 to their 150 stand and 129 to their double hundred stand as England's bowlers became increasingly frustrated with their inability to restrict his strokeplay.

Sarwan was happy to play a supporting role although he did break out of his disciplined innings briefly shortly before the new ball was taken when he smashed off-spinner Gareth Batty to the mid-wicket boundary and two deliveries later charged down the pitch and hit him for a straight six.

The West Indies' captain continued to be the dominant force, however, and the closest England came to ending his destructive display was via a run-out after he had progressed to 127.

Steering Jones down to third man, Lara turned for an ambitious second run but under-estimated Hoggard's throw from the deep which he only just beat back to his ground after umpire Aleem Dar consulted the third umpire to check.

Despite numerous changes in the bowling line-up, including a rare bowl for himself, England captain Michael Vaughan was forced to resort to the new ball to end their partnership when Harmison got the ball to lift more than expected and Sarwan edged to Marcus Trescothick at first slip.

Powell, a veteran of West Indies' one-day team, did not seem to have altered his tactics to suit the longer form of the game and set about punishing any loose balls from England's tiring attack and raced to 23 in 39 balls before attempting one aggressive shot too many.

That setback did not seem to inhibit Lara, though, and just four overs later he raced to his double hundred by hitting Batty for a six and a four off successive deliveries before receiving a standing ovation by clipping a single to reach the milestone off 260 balls including 22 fours and a six.

Even the loss of Hinds, who gave a return catch to Batty as he tried to advance down the pitch, did not seem to bother Lara and after passing 250 for only the third time in his career, he accelerated to reach the second highest total of his career and in sight of that world record once again.