SHIVNARINE CHANDERPAUL is affectionately known throughout the cricketing fraternity as ‘Tiger’.
There was definitely no love in the way he ripped the Barbados bowling attack to shreds though, as Guyana ended day three of their fifth round regional four-day match at Kensington Oval in the driver’s seat yesterday.
And once again, Barbados’ poor fielding was to blame, as Kenroy Williams failed to hold onto an easy chance at extra-cover when Chanderpaul was just seven.
It allowed Chanderpaul to notch his 61st first-class century and help catapult Guyana to 441, 124 more runs than Barbados’ first innings total of 317.
Having to bat out the remaining four overs, Barbados ended the day on five for one, losing Omar Phillips in the third over, caught at forward short leg as he prodded forward uncertainly to a delivery from off-spinner Narasingh Deonarine.
It has left Barbados in a daunting position, having to bat the whole of today’s final day if they are to avoid defeat.
But the story of the day belonged to the 37-year-old Chanderpaul, who together with Brandon Bess, who scored 33, put on 115 for the last wicket to essentially bat Barbados out of the game.
The partnership was a Guyana record, surpassing the previous one of 86, which was set by Cyril Browne and Berkeley Gaskin back in 1937-38 against Trinidad and Tobago.
Chanderpaul, who finished unbeaten on 125, and Bess came together after Barbados fast bowler Christopher Jordan had ripped through the visitors’ middle order.
Resuming on 187 for three and steadily building to 242 for four, Guyana collapsed to 307 for eight, still 11 short of attaining first innings honours.
Jordan accounted for the wickets of Sarwan, who was out for 58, caught at second slip by Williams, Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul and Ronsford Beaton, in fairly quick succession, to end with figures of five for 77 from his 31 overs.
It was his first five-wicket haul for Barbados, and a welcomed performance in the absence of fast bowlers Tino Best and Kemar Roach, who are on West Indies duty, and Fidel Edwards, who is in South Africa.
And even after Guyana had secured first innings, when their ninth wicket fell with the score on 326, the Barbados bowlers would have been looking to wrap up the innings shortly after.
Chanderpaul and Bess had other ideas though.
The duo frustrated the Bajans for a shade over two-and-a-half-hours, which spanned 39 overs, as captain Shamarh Brooks used eight bowlers during his attempt to dislodge them.
Chanderpaul was his usual self, mixing solid defence with occasional aggression, while Bess was content to give his captain most of the strike, although he was not afraid to play his shots when given the opportunity.
On a good pitch, and against a flat bowling attack, Chanderpaul worked the ball into the gaps, protecting Bess for the early part of his innings, choosing only to run on the fourth or fifth balls of the over.
He brought up his 50 after 168 minutes with an exhilarating cover-drive that raced away to the boundary ropes for his seventh four.
Bess joined in on the action too, clouting Ryan Hinds for a four and then a huge six over long-off, as they took the score up to 388 by the tea break, with Chanderpaul on 81 and Bess on 28.
Bess too benefited from a stroke of luck with the score on 396, when Sulieman Benn put down his second catch of the match at slip in the fourth over after tea, off the bowling of the luckless debutant Miguel Cummins.
By then, Chanderpaul had moved into the 90s, and a pull of Jordan that raced away for four carried him to 97, and the score past 400.
He brought up his milestone with a superb cover-drive that raced away to the ropes, raising his bat in the air as those in attendance stood to give him a standing ovation.
By the time Benn had Bess lbw to claim his first wicket, the damage had long been done, as they disappointingly trudged off the pitch.
Chanderpaul’s unbeaten innings lasted for 322 minutes, in which he faced 232 balls and struck 13 fours.
