Ganga 110, Chanders 102 in WI tour opener

HARARE: West Indies batsmen Daren Ganga and Shivnarine Chanderpaul warmed up for their imminent Test series when they completed centuries on the opening day of a three-day tour match against Zimbabwe ‘A’ yesterday. Ganga lashed 21 fours in the top score of 110 from 189 balls in four-and-a-half hours, and Chanderpaul gave essential support with 22 fours and one six in a run-a-ball 102 retired in just over two hours to lift West Indies to a formidable 404 for five declared after they chose to bat. Zimbabwe ‘A’ reached 31 without loss when stumps were drawn at the Takashinga Sports Club. Ganga and Chanderpaul shared 173 for the fourth wicket after the visitors had slumped to 93 for three in the final hour before lunch.

After Chanderpaul retired and Ganga was caught behind off Stuart Matsikenyeri in the final half-hour before tea, it was a free-for-all and Marlon Samuels, with 11 fours and two sixes in an undefeated 66, and Ridley Jacobs, with seven fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 55, indulged themselves. Earlier, West Indies had lost opening batsman Wavell Hinds in the first 15 minutes of the day when he was caught close to the wicket off Travis Friend for five. Fellow opener Chris Gayle batted for close to an hour to strike five fours, but just when it looked like he was getting into the swing of things, he was caught behind off Jordane Nicolle to leave the tourists 55 for two. Stand-in captain Ramnaresh Sarwan was bowled by Nicolle for 17 to slow the West Indies down prior to the lunch interval, but Ganga and Chanderpaul carried them to 140 for three at the interval.

The two emerged to continue with their strong arm tactics and were within reached their landmarks well before the tea break that came with the score 302 for five with Samuels and Jacobs in the early stages of an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 126. Teenaged fast bowler Ravi Rampaul is on debut for the West Indies, getting into the line up when Mervyn Dillon was omitted because of a slight shoulder ailment and Ridley Jacobs came in as a last-minute replacement for Omari Banks, who has stomach problems. Jacobs was included to offer him batting practice ahead of next week’s first Test. Brian Lara as well as fast bowlers Corey Collymore and Fidel Edwards, had been omitted from the 12 on Wednesday.