Undefeated centuries by opener Wavell Hinds and new captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul led the West Indies to 347 for three against South Africa in dominating the first day of the opening Test at Bourda on Thursday.
Hinds blasted a career-best 188 and Chanderpaul was at 102 not out in a brilliant 241-run fourth-wicket stand that put the pre-Test woes of the West Indies firmly on the backburner.
”West Indies cricket has been in the papers a lot negatively of late,” Hinds said. ”I think the only way to put that right was to come out and play well and show the people what we were worth.”
Hinds, dropped by the national squad during a humbling series in South Africa a year ago, cracked 30 fours and two sixes as he batted throughout the day for his fifth Test century.
Chanderpaul, who won the toss on a perfect batting surface, reached his 12th century in his 80th Test and first as captain.
Fittingly, it was on the same home ground where he made his debut against England almost 11 years ago to the day.
Andre Nel led the visitors’ attack with three for 50 off 18 overs. The tall fast-bowler gave South Africa the early initiative as he reduced the home team to 24 for two after a half-hour.
Nel snared the wickets of Devon Smith (11) and Daren Ganga for a duck in the day’s sixth over. Both batsmen edged to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher. Left-hander Smith’s thick deflection was held at full stretch, while Ganga’s snick was held low down.
Hinds, then at 13, offered his only chance in the next over from Charl Langeveldt, but Herschelle Gibbs grassed a stinging slash at gully.
Hinds and fellow Jamaican Donovan Pagon, on his debut, revived the innings in an assured third-wicket stand of 82.
Pagon, a tall right-hander, stroked 35 in just less than two hours before Nel returned to claim him just after lunch.
The 22-year-old Pagon struck seven fours off 72 balls before he scooped a catch to short extra cover.
The West Indies withstood the breakthrough and emerged after a short rain interruption to reassert their dominance through some thrilling strokeplay from Hinds and Chanderpaul.
The introduction of spin accelerated the run rate as Hinds went after Nicky Boje to good effect.
Hinds brought up his century a half-hour before tea when he lofted his 133rd delivery for his 16th boundary. He also hit one six in passing three figures.
The pair took tea at 186-3 and exploded after the break, with Chanderpaul emerging from a cautious start.
The 30-year-old soon passed his half-century as the partnership grew in stature.
South Africa skipper Graeme Smith could find no bowler to match the threat of Nel, and all of his bowlers were put to the sword.
Hinds, whose driving either side of the wicket was superlative, passed his highest Test score of 165, and eclipsed his previous best first-class effort of 175 as a first-day crowd of 7 000 warmed to the occasion.
The focus shifted to Chanderpaul as murky conditions closed in late in the day.
The left-hander, already with three centuries in six Tests at this venue, chose to ignore the umpires’ offer to go off for bad light.
And his confidence was proved correct as he brought up his century with successive fours off Langeveldt’s first over with the second new ball.
He had time to acknowledge the cheers, stoop and kiss the pitch before he finally marched off for poor light with the South Africans 9,1 overs short of their quota.
The wiry Chanderpaul struck 15 boundaries off 172 balls. — Sapa-AP