West Indies' Brian Lara juggles a football during a practice session at National Stadium in Karachi yesterday. - Reuters

KARACHI, Pakistan (CMC):

West Indies captain Brian Lara is keen for his team to avoid dropping its standards for the crucial third and final cricket Test against Pakistan, following a performance he described as one of the best on foreign soil "in a long, long time".

The visitors dominated for most of the second Test in Multan but were forced to settle for a draw and now must win in Karachi to earn a share of the series.

"We have to talk about it and impress on the team that it's necessary to go out there and do it again," Lara said on the eve of the match, which got under way last night.

Positive performances

The 37-year-old also conceded that this West Indies side has often followed positive performances with a below-par effort.

"We are aware of the situation. It's just a matter of letting it unfold over the next five days and see if we can put not just five days of cricket together, but 10 days."

Lara said that the Multan performance was the best overseas showing, fielding apart, he could remember since a 10-wicket victory over Australia in February, 1997. That win was inspired by a Lara century and five-wicket hauls for Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.

"I can't really recall having such a very good Test match, maybe back to the win in Perth in early 1997, against one of the major Test-playing countries," Lara said.

"That is optimism in itself. I feel we are on the road to something.

"Having them under pressure for 14 out of 15 sessions was definitely something to behold," the West Indies captain said of the second Test.