Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit his second Test double century to help the West Indies declare their first innings at 527-4 on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka, reports AFP.
The 38-year-old left-hander batted with composure to equal his highest Test score of 203 not out as the touring batsmen dominated a hapless Bangladesh bowling attack before captain Darren Sammy declared at the tea break.
Denesh Ramdin, who remained not out on 126 for his third Test hundred, ably supported his partner as the pair added 296 for the fifth wicket stand -- a new record in all West Indies-Bangladesh series.
Chanderpaul drove spinner Sohag Gazi towards point for two to complete his double ton off 367 balls which had 22 boundaries. He had also scored 203 not out against South Africa at Georgetown in 2005.
He took his helmet off to acknowledge the cheers from a small crowd and team-mates before bending down to kiss the ground. In all he batted for 457 minutes, faced 372 balls and hit 22 fours.
Chanderpaul's stand with Ramdin beat the previous best of 262, incidentally involving him and Ramnaresh Sarwan at Kingston eight years ago.
Both frustrated the Bangladesh bowling in the two sessions after the West Indies resumed at their overnight score of 361-4, looking to bat out their opponents in the first of two Tests.
Ramdin, 52 overnight, looked unperturbed in the company of his illustrious partner, reaching his century with a boundary and a flick for two off spinner Shakib Al Hasan. He took 208 balls and hit nine boundaries in the milestone. He hit 11 boundaries and a six.
Debutant Gazi was the pick of bowlers with 3-145. Paceman Shahdat Hossain took the other wicket.
Scorecard:
West Indies (overnight 361-4)
Chris Gayle c Mahmudullah b Gazi 24
Kieran Powell b Gazi 117
Darren Bravo c Rubel b Gazi 14
Marlon Samuels c Gazi b Hossain 16
Shivnarine Chanderpaul batting 203
Denesh Ramdin batting 126
Extras: (B-4, LB-13, NB-8, W-2) 27
Total: (For 4 wkts in 144 overs dec) 527
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-74, 3-106, 4-231
Bowling: Gazi 47-7-145-3, Hossain 21-3-85-1, Rubel 18-0-89-0, Mahmudullah 14-0-45-0, Shakib 34-4-104-0, Islam 8-1-24-0, Nasir 1-0-8-0, Iqbal 1-0-10-0.
