Two West Indies batsmen wrote their names in West Indies’ cricket history in the historic Third and final Digicel Test against India in Dominica recently.
First it was middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul who became the first West Indies capped Test player and Kirk Edwards, who joined a list of 13 West Indian batsmen including three other Barbadians, Collie Smith, Gordon Greenidge and Dwayne Smith to score a Test century in his debut Test match.
Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit declared Chanderpaul a citizen of Dominica for his resilient batting in the second innings for a masterful 116, his sixth Test century against India.
The Guyanese-left hander batted for 501 minutes, faced 343 balls and hit just five fours.
Chanderpaul and fast bowler Fidel Edwards defied the Indian bowlers for 157 minutes and l06 balls before Edwards was out for his highest score of 30. Last man Devendra Bishoo lasted just six balls as West Indies ended on 322.
India was set a competitive score of 180 to win off 47 overs but after losing three wickets captain Mehandra Singh Dhoni called it a day with 15 overs left in the day’s play.
Dhoni said the gamble was quite high and ran the risk of losing the series. West Indies lost the series.
Newcomer Kirk Edwards scored 110 on his debut to become the 13th West Indian batsman to score a century on debut.
Man of the Series was Ishant Sharma who captured 22 wickets, while Chanderpaul was voted Man ofthe Match.
