President Ali congratulates young Chanderpaul on maiden Test ton

Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s dream start to Test cricket continued on Sunday as he notched his maiden century on day two of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

The phenomenal effort by the young Guyanese was met with congratulatory words from President Dr. Irfaan Ali.

President Ali, via his official page, stated, “Congratulations to Tagenarine Chanderpaul on his maiden Test century (101 not out) in the ongoing match against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo.”

Chanderpaul has thus far faced 291 balls and struck 10 fours and one six, in what is just his fifth Test innings.

The previous 12 Test centuries by a West Indian opener came from his skipper, Kraigg Brathwaite.

Chris Gayle scored a century against Zimbabwe in 2013 and from June 2014, all Test hundreds by a West Indian opener came from Brathwaite.

The duo, who seem match-made for the grind of Test cricket, have put on 221 for the opening stand as only 89 overs were possible over two days due to rain.

Brathwaite made his 12 Test century and is currently on 116 (246 balls; 7x4s).

As a result of their efforts, the pair joined the elite company in their achievement, compiling just the West Indies’ tenth opening wicket double-century stand since their first-ever Test back in 1928.

The stand is the first double-century opening stand for the team in Test cricket since 2012, and the fifth away from home.

‘Tage’ on the go

The young Chanderpaul got his chance in the Test side on the recent tour to Australia where he managed to walk away with an average of 40 with scores of 51, 45, 47, and 17 after cracking 119 and 56 in the practice match against the formidable Prime Minister’s XI.

The purple patch started with the Guyana Harpy Eagles in the West Indies Four-Day Championship where he ended the five-round competition as the second-leading run-scorer to Brathwaite.

Chanderpaul complied 439 runs at an average of 73.16 and had two centuries in his eight innings.

According to a stat from ESPNcricinfo, the legendary Shivnarine Chanderpaul took 52 innings and nearly eight years to score his maiden away Test century.

His son, Tagenarine, took just five innings.

Brathwaite recently stated in a recent press briefing, “Tage, I think he is World-Class”.