Veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit his 25th Test century as the West Indies piled-up 449 for nine declared to take a firm grip on the first Test against Australia in Barbados on Sunday.
At stumps on the second day at Kensington Oval, Australia had reached 44 without loss with openers Ed Cowan on 27 and David Warner on 13.
Chanderpaul had batted for 386 minutes for his unbeaten 103, becoming the leading run scorer in Tests at the Kensington Oval, while skipper Darren Sammy thrilled the crowd with a quickfire 41.
In the morning, Australia took the new ball as soon as it became available, but it did not seem to provide any more movement than the old one.
Michael Clarke had a gully and a short backward-point in place to Darren Bravo, and the plan worked when he played a tentative shot to the slower pace of Shane Watson, the ball going straight to Mike Hussey in the gully. Bravo’s slow trudge off the field showed his clear disappointment after his innings of 51 had been brought to an end.
Narsingh Deonarine was playing his first Test for two years, but Australia once again had a clear plan.
They served him up with the odd short ball and their preparation paid off. On 22, he was caught in two minds to a shorter delivery from Ryan Harris and as he turned away, the ball came off the edge and went high to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who took his second catch.
After lunch, Carlton Baugh had moved on to 22 when he started off for an impossible single after Chanderpaul had turned the ball to square-leg.
However, Harris swooped and his direct hit dismissed the West Indies wicketkeeper.
This brought in Sammy and the West Indies captain was intent on attack. He had only been at the crease a few minutes when he smashed Nathan Lyon for three boundaries in four balls. He then ducked into a Watson delivery and needed several minutes of attention.
Next ball, still not fully recovered from the blow, Sammy powered the ball back over Watson’s head for six. Both teams were showing aggression and the next few overs thrilled the crowd as Australia goaded Sammy, who hit back with another four and two more enormous sixes.
In the end, another short of a length ball from Ben Hilfenhaus saw him play uppishly to Cowan at square-leg.
The West Indies skipper had hit 41 off just 36 balls; Chanderpaul only scored 8 in their 53-run partnership.
Chanderpaul survived a close DRS decision on 85, the only one of the innings, when Lyon thought he had trapped him LBW. Two balls later Lyon had his first wicket when skipper Clarke took a sharp catch at first slip, but it was Kemar Roach on 16 that gave the chance.
With Chanderpaul on 95, Fidel Edwards threw away his wicket when he holed out a David Warner long-hop to Mike Hussey.
Fortunately for the Windies veteran, Devendra Bishoo was good enough to put on 28 for the next wicket to allow Chanderpaul to celebrate another century.
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