1st Test: Chanderpaul guides WI to 256/5

New Delhi: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (111 not out) hit an authoritative century to help West Indies reach 256-5 on Sunday on the opening day of the first Test against India at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi.

At stumps on the first day, Carlton Baugh was giving Chanderpaul company on 19 off 45 deliveries. The duo have so far added 56 runs for the sixth wicket in 13.4 overs. Chanderpaul smashed seven fours and two sixes during his 24th Test century to douse the enthusiasm of an inexperienced Indian bowling attack.

Chanderpaul enhanced his already impressive record against India by scoring his seventh century against the



team and the second in consecutive Tests after also getting one in their last game in Dominica in the Caribbean in June this year.

Opting to bat first, Indian spin duo of Pragyan Ojha and debutant Ravichandran Aswhin threatened to run through the visiting side's top-order but Chanderpaul along with Kraigg Brathwaite provided some stability to the West Indies batting. The duo added 108 runs for the fourth wicket to frustrate the Indian bowlers, especially in the second session.

Brathwaite scored a patient 63 off 212 balls before MS Dhoni pulled off a smart stumping off Ojha to bring an end to his hard-fought innings. Brathwaite's knock was very crucial from the West Indies' point of view as Ojha and Ashwin were beginning to pose problems for the batsmen early in the match.

Brathwaite got his runs with nudges and steers through the third-man region, Chanderpaul looked intent on attacking the bowlers, especially the spinners, against whom he was not afraid to go down the wicket.

After the tea break, Chanderpaul looked more intent and carried foff from where he left before tea. Brathwaite, meanwhile, got to his fifty, his second in this form of the game, with a push to mid-on.

Earlier West Indies got off to a poor start as Ojha struck twice in the opening session and Ashwin took a wicket in the first over after lunch to put India on the top. Ojha dropped Kieran Powell (14) off his sixth delivery off his first over but made amends when he returned to trap the batsman leg before in his next over.

The turn Ojha generated prompted Dhoni to press Ashwin, who made his Test debut alongside paceman Umesh Yadav, into service from the other end and the pressure paid off.

Ojha struck again in the 24th over when the in-form Kirk Edwards (15) drove forwards to give the spinner a return catch. Ashwin got his first Test wickets when he took the important scalp of Darren Bravo (12) when the left-hander shaped for a cut shot. The batsman played too close to the body and was clean bowled.

Ashwin also dismissed experienced batsman Marlon Samuels in the third session by inducing an edge that was collected neatly by Dhoni behind the stumps.

(Full scorecard)

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