‘New’ Windies rattle up 347/3

GEORGETOWN: Opener Wavell Hinds blasted a career-best unbeaten 188 and captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul add-ed an undefeated century yesterday as the West Indies reached 347 for three on the opening day of the first cricket Test against South Africa at Bourda. The 28-year-old Hinds cracked 30 fours and two sixes as he batted throughout the day after Chanderpaul won the toss. Chanderpaul, in his 80th Test and first as skipper, contributed a 102 not out. The left-handed pair added 241 unbroken in a brilliant fourth wicket stand that put the West Indies woes on the backburner.

The West Indies squad is missing star batsman Brian Lara and six other top players deemed ineligible by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) because of a contract dispute. “West Indies cricket has been in the papers a lot negatively of late,” Hinds said. “I think the only way to put that right was to come out and play well and show the people what we were worth.” Andre Nel led the visitors’ attack with three for 50 off 18 overs. The tall fast bowler gave South Africa an early initiative as he reduced the home team to 24 for two after half hour. Nel snared the wickets of Devon Smith (11) and Daren Ganga in the day’s sixth over. Both batsmen edged to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

Hinds, then 13, received his only chance in the next over from Charl Langeveldt, as Herschelle Gibbs grassed a stinging slash. But Hinds and fellow Jamaican Donovan Pagon,  on his debut, revived the innings in an assured third wicket stand of 82. Pagon, a tall right-hander, stroked 35 in just under two hours before Nel returned to claim him just after lunch. The 22-year-old Pagon struck seven fours off 72 balls before he scooped a catch to short extra cover. The West Indies withstood the breakthrough and emerged after a short rain interruption to reassert their dominance with some impressive batting from Hinds and Chanderpaul. The introduction of spin accelerated the run rate as Hinds went after Nicky Boje with good results.

Hinds brought up his fifth Test century half hour before tea, when he lofted his 133rd delivery for his 16th boundary. He also hit one six. The pair took tea at 186 for three and exploded after the break, with Chanderpaul emerging from a cautious start. The 30-year-old soon passed his half century as the partnership grew in stature. South African skipper Graeme Smith could find no bowler to match the threat of Nel and all his bowlers were put to the sword. Hinds, who drove to either side of the wicket, passed his highest Test score of 165 and also eclipsed his previous best First-Class effort of 175 in front of a first day crowd of 7,000.

The focus shifted to Chanderpaul as murky conditions closed in late in the day. Chanderpaul, already with three centuries in six Tests at this venue, chose to ignore the umpires offer to go off for bad light. He proceeded to reach his 12th Test century with successive fours off Langeveldt’s first over with the second new ball. He had time to acknowledge the cheers, stoop and kiss the pitch before he finally marched off for poor light with the South Africans 9.1 overs short of their quota. The wiry Chanderpaul, who made his debut on this ground 11 years ago, struck 15 boundaries off 172 balls. (AP)