DHAKA, (Reuters) – West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit his second ever double century and Denesh Ramdin struck an unbeaten 126 as the tourists took command of the first test against Bangladesh today.
West Indies declared their first innings at 527 for four just before tea on the second day after Chanderpaul reached 203 to equal his career best innings.
The hosts responded in typically aggressive manner and lost three wickets to leave them on 164-3 at the close.
Tamim Iqbal, who led the Bangladesh attack, was the last man out, caught by Sunil Narine at mid-on off Darren Sammy for 72 from 71 balls.
Earlier, West Indies’ Ravi Rampaul took the wickets of opener Zunaed Siddique (seven) and Shahriar Nafees, who made a quick-fire 31 off 27 balls, but Tamim was unperturbed.
The left-hander brought up his 12th test 50 off only 38 balls when he charged off-spinner Narine down the track for a six and struck an almost identical six three balls later to help Bangladesh past the 100-run mark in 13.4 overs.
The hosts, who still need 164 runs to avoid the follow on, slowed down after Tamim’s dismissal as Naeem Islam, unbeaten on 27, survived alongside Shakib Al Hasan (16 not out).
West Indies dominated the first two sessions and added 166 runs to their overnight 361-4 without losing another wicket.
Chanderpaul, resuming on 123, survived a few anxious moments as a catch fell short of the slip cordon and a short ball from paceman Shahadat Hossain rubbed his shoulder before reaching the slips.
He reached his double century with two runs off a delivery from off-spinner Sohag Gazi and West Indies waited only one more over to declare.
Chanderpaul, who joined West Indies’ Garry Sobers on 26 test centuries, faced 372 balls and struck 22 fours during his more than 7-1/2 hours at the crease.
“If you noticed I didn’t score too many test 200s. I only had one before this game, so it is always pleasing to get past that landmark,” Chanderpaul told reporters.
“(But) Sir Garry is Sir Garry. Being level on centuries with Sir Garry is always good but I cannot be Sir Garry,’ he added.
“I have played a lot more games than Sir Garry but it’s a great honour to be with Sir Gary.”
He added 296 runs for the fifth wicket with Ramdin, a record partnership for West Indies in Bangladesh, with the wicketkeeper having earlier completed his third test century after resuming on 52.
The pair built on the foundation provided by opener Kieran Powell, who was out for 117 on the opening day.
Scoreboard at close on the second day of the first test between Bangladesh and West Indies at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat.
West Indies first innings (overnight 361-4)
C. Gayle c Mahmudullah b Gazi 24
K. Powell b Gazi 117
D. Bravo c Rubel b Gazi 14
M. Samuels c Gazi b Shahadat 16
S. Chanderpaul not out 203
D. Ramdin not out 126
Extras (b-5 lb-12 w-2 nb-8) 27
Total (four wickets; 144 overs) 527 declared
Did not bat: D. Sammy, S. Narine, V. Permaul, T. Best, R. Rampaul.
Fall of wickets: 1-32 2-74 3-106 4-231.
Bowling: Sohag Gazi 47-7-145-3, Shahadat Hossain 21-3-85-1 (nb-7), Rubel Hossain 18-0-89-0(w-1 nb-1), Mahmudullah 14-0-45-0, Shakib Al Hasan 34-4-104-0, Naeem Islam 8-1-24-0, Nasir Hossain 1-0-8-0, Tamim Iqbal 1-0-10-0 (w-1).
Bangladesh first innings
T. Iqbal c Narine b Sammy 72
Z. Siddique c Bravo b Rampaul 7
S. Nafees c Ramdin b Rampaul 31
N. Islam not out 27
Shakib Al Hasan not out 16
Extras (b-4 lb-4 w-1 nb-2) 11
Total (three wickets; 36 overs) 164
To bat: M. Rahim, Mahmudullah, N. Hossain, S. Hossain, S. Gazi, R. Hossain
Fall of wickets: 1-25 2-88 3-119
Bowling: Ravi Rampaul 8-0-49-2 (nb-1), Tino Best 7-1-31-0(w-1), Darren Sammy 5-0-21-1, Sunil Narine 10-3-40-0 (nb-1), Veerasammy Permaul 3-2-1-0, Chris Gayle 3-0-14-0
