Canberra – Uncapped left-hander Tagenarine Chanderpaul all but pencilled his name in for the opening cricket Test in Perth when he struck a high-quality hundred on day two of the West Indies’ four-day “pink-ball” tour match yesterday at Manuka Oval.
The 26-year-old son of Test legend Shiv Chanderpaul made 119 – his sixth first-class century – as West Indies, replying to the Australian Prime Minister XI’s 322, reached 234-7 in their first innings at the close of play.
On his first overseas tour, the left-hander faced 293 deliveries and punched 13 fours and a six – a combination of crisp off-side drives and adventurous on-side strokes – en route to his landmark.
Given that regular opener John Campbell is missing the series through suspension, Chanderpaul’s form could see him partner captain Kraigg Brathwaite at the top of the order for next Wednesday’s opening Test.
“It was a bit tough but I got through the new-ball up front. I tried to get a score and keep things going and try and score when I can,” Chanderpaul said afterwards. (CMC)