With the openers failing, Brian Lara, returning to the international stage after a four-and-half-months break, made an early entry into the playing arena. He received a peach of a delivery first up; the ball from Mkhaya Ntini opened him up, took the edge and only just eluded the hands of a diving Jacques Kallis at second slip. That was the only break Lara was to need on the day. He settled in nicely and in the company of Shivnarine Chanderpaul began the recovery.