Double delight for Chanderpaul

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Shivnarine Chanderpaul equalled his best Test score as West Indies remained in control on day two of the first encounter against Bangladesh.

The veteran was 203 not out when captain Darren Sammy declared at tea with his side 527 for four in Dhaka; Denesh Ramdin had become the innings’ third centurion and ended unbeaten on 126 following opener Kieron Powell’s 117 yesterday.

Bangladesh responded to reach 164 for three by stumps, Tamim Iqbal leading the way with a typically fluent 72.

The hosts’ bowlers kept things tight in a morning session that Chanderpaul began on 123 and Ramdin with 52. The former was fortunate to see an early edge drop short of the slips and the latter had to be quick on his feet to beat a direct hit.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul's second Test double century highlights an intriguing day as West Indies took control against Bangladesh in Dhaka

Ramdin resumed after lunch on 84 and tiptoed into the 90s with a succession of singles. Having moved to 98 by edging Shakib Al Hasan for four, he reached three figures via a flicked two through square-leg.

The wicketkeeper had celebrated his previous two Test centuries by producing pre-planned notes from his pocket, but decided against a repeat performance today.

Attention then shifted to Chanderpaul, needing 25 for his second five-day double-century - which arrived with a cut for two off debutant spinner Sohag Gazi.

Three singles saw him match his previous top score, compiled against South Africa in 2005, and his 372-ball innings contained 22 fours. Ramdin, meanwhile, hit 11 fours and a six in 236 balls as the pair put on 296.

The hard-working Gazi was the pick of Bangladesh’s eight bowlers with 3-145 from 47 overs, with Shahadat Hossain taking the only other wicket.

Bangladesh lost Junaid Siddique for seven when he edged a nasty throat ball from Ravi Rampaul to slip but Tamim responded by hammering four boundaries off the next over, from Tino Best.

New man Shahriar Nafees joined in the fun by twice dispatching Rampaul to the fence. Three boundaries came from Sammy’s first over and two more off Rampaul brought up a blistering fifty partnership in 36 balls.

But after taking yet another boundary off Rampaul, exuberance got the better of Nafees and he fenced a short ball to keeper Ramdin to depart for 31 from 27 deliveries.

Tamim, undeterred, charged Sunil Narine and lofted a six to reach a 38-ball half-century, also featuring eight fours, before clearing the rope again two balls later to bring up the hundred.

He hit two more boundaries off Rampaul but was then becalmed, with frustration taking its toll as he toe-ended Sammy to Narine at mid-on.

Naeem Islam and Shakib, with 27 and 16 not out respectively, calmed things down thereafter, adding an unbroken 45 in 13 overs by the close.