The left-hander hit two sixes and seven fours in his 24th Test hundred, and seventh against India, as the West Indies recovered from 72 for three to reach 256 for five in their first-innings at stumps after winning the toss. Chanderpaul has so far added 56 runs for the unbroken sixth-wicket stand with Carlton Baugh, who was unbeaten on 19.
Chanderpaul, Brathwaite frustrate India
Chanderpaul, who scored a century in his last Test against India in Dominica in July, received valuable support from teenager Kraigg Brathwaite (63), who defied the Indian attack for more than four hours.
The veteran batsman reached his hundred in the last session when he swept left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for a single.
The 37-year-old never looked in trouble against India’s bowling attack as he played impressive shots during his 167-ball knock, lofting Ojha and debutant off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for sixes. Brathwaite, who turns 19 next month, hit just four boundaries in his patient 212-ball knock for his second Test half-century in four matches before being stumped by captain MS Dhoni off Ojha.
India’s inexperienced bowling attack struggled on a slow pitch after taking three wickets for 72 runs as Brathwaite and Chanderpaul put on 108 for the fourth wicket to steady the visitors.
Fast-bowler Ishant Sharma, who went wicketless, was returning to the side after recovering from an ankle injury while Ojha played his first Test in a year. Ashwin and seamer Umesh Yadav made their Test debuts.
Ojha finished with three for 58 off 29 overs while Ashwin took two for 79 off 25 overs.
Chanderpaul was happy with his day’s work.
“The wicket was pretty good so I wanted to bat aggressively,” he said. “Ojha and Ashwin bowled well even though there wasn’t much help in the wicket. Brathwaite was unfortunate to miss out on a hundred after crossing 50. He was playing according to his own game plan.”
Ojha admitted that the lifeless pitch combined with Chanderpaul’s batting frustrated India’s bowling.
“There wasn’t much help in the pitch,” he said. “Chanderpaul played a great innings. Braithwaite’s wicket gave pleasure because I beat him in flight.”
Earlier, the morning session saw Ojha trapping opener Kieran Powell (14) leg-before in his second over and then holding a return catch to dismiss Kirk Edwards (15) before accounting for Brathwaite in the last session.
Ashwin got his maiden Test wicket when he dismissed Darren Bravo, who was bowled while attempting to cut in the first over after the lunch-break. He then had Marlon Samuels (15) caught behind for his second victim.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2011.
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