Zimbabwe vs West Indies: Records galore as Chanderpaul slams 207* and Brathwaite 182

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 18:27:52 GMT

The name Chanderpaul has a rich presence in West Indies cricket history, and Tagenarine Chanderpaul carried the legacy forward by becoming just the tenth player from the region to convert his maiden Test hundred into a double-ton. The opener was a study in concentration during his unbeaten 207 off 467 balls, helping the visitors declare on 447 for 6 on day three of the first Test against Zimbabwe.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Chanderpaul together racked up multiple records as Bulawayo finally saw a full day’s play with the sun shining brightly after two rain-hit days. In reply, Innocent Kaia led the way with an unbeaten fifty on debut and Zimbabwe moved to 114 for 3, still trailing West Indies by 333 runs. With 99 overs lost to rain and West Indies managing to score just 221 runs in 89 overs across the first two days, they needed to up the rate to have any chance of forcing a result, and Brathwaite took on the challenge.

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Kraigg Brathwaite and Chanderpaul racked up multiple records for West Indies

He was proactive from the get-go and brought out a number of shots that were at odds with his naturally defensive style of play. He struck Richard Ngarava for three successive fours in the third over of the day before slamming Victor Nyauchi for two more. Brathwaite hit six fours in his first 16 balls of the day, and soon brought up a third score in excess of 150 in Test cricket. He was rather agricultural in his shot-making, often moving in his crease and looking for gaps on the on side, a method probably inspired by Zimbabwe’s seven-two off-side heavy field.

Chanderpaul was more measured in his approach and collected a four only in the 21st over of the day. But he rotated the strike at every chance possible. Zimbabwe also had their moments in the extended first session. There were a couple of close run-out appeals against Chanderpaul, while debutant wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga missed a stumping chance when Brathwaite was on 159. Soon after, Brad Evans failed to hold on to a tough chance to his right in his follow-through with Brathwaite on 167.

ZIM vs WI: Brathwaite and Chanderpaul tons extend West Indies' grip on another curtailed day

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 16:34:00 GMT

Zimbabwe vs West Indies: After a wet outfield claimed the first two sessions on day 2 in Bulawayo, gritty centuries from Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul saw West Indies extend their grip on the first Test against Zimbabwe.

Only 51 overs were played on a rain-curtailed opening day, and West Indies – resuming from 112 for 0 – made the most of the 38 overs on offer on the second. Overnight rain meant that even though covers were off early on Sunday, the outfield was not fit for play and after several inspections, it was decided that the game would begin after tea. Both batters began the day on 55, and while Chanderpaul began to rotate strike better than on Saturday, it was Brathwaite who got the first couple of boundaries away.

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West Indies is in a really good position after 2nd day of 1st Test Match

With more than three sessions in the game already lost, the two openers upped the tempo, increasing the run rate from 2.03 on day 1 to 2.86 on day 2. The Zimbabwe bowlers toiled away again, but for the second day in a row, they had no wickets to show. Brathwaite brought up his 12th Test century in 226 balls in the 82nd over with a late cut past slip off left-arm spinner Wellington Masakadza. His knock was predominantly about strike rotation and showcased excellent communication with Chanderpaul when running between the wickets.

He scored just five boundaries while making his century; the lowest boundary count in a Test century since 2002 is four. Throughout the two days, Brathwaite and Chanderpaul took risky singles, even after playing the ball to close fielders. This meant Zimbabwe had a few opportunities, but nothing clear cut, as the two openers kept the scoreboard ticking despite not being able to find the boundary with the kind of regularity they would have liked.