Tagenarine Chanderpaul boosts Test hopes with Canberra century
Paceman Joel Paris and spinner Todd Murphy have claimed three wickets each for the PM's XI to reduce the West Indies to 234 for 7 in the four-day tour match
AAP
24-Nov-2022
Tagenarine Chanderpaul celebrates his century • Getty Images
West Indies 234 for 7 (Chanderpaul 119, Murphy 3-27, Paris 3-31) trail Prime Minister's XI 322 (Renshaw 81, Harris 73, Joseph 4-65, Chase 2-72) by 88 runs
Son of a gun Tagenarine Chanderpaul has boosted his chances of a Test debut against Australia by producing a hard-fought century against the Prime Minister's XI.
Chanderpaul, the son of West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, scored 119 off 293 balls on Thursday to lift his side to 234 for 7 at stumps on day two of the pink-ball match in Canberra.
Victoria offspinner Todd Murphy also pushed his case for a spot on Australia's tour of India next year claiming 3 for 27 in an impressive display, while Western Australia left-arm paceman Joel Paris also claimed three scalps.
The PM's XI made 322 in their first innings, leaving the four-day clash delicately balanced.
Chanderpaul was the second-highest run-scorer in West Indies first-class cricket this year, averaging 73.16 while also starring for the country's A team.
The 26-year-old's knock against the PM's XI has put his name up in lights ahead of the first Test against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium, starting November 30. Even before the tour match began, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite backed Chanderpaul to succeed at Test level.
Chanderpaul's dad carved out a decorated 164-Test career in which he averaged 51.4 and scored 30 centuries. His son now wants to make a name for himself.
"I try and be myself," Tagenarine said. "I can't be him, so I can only be myself. Fingers crossed [I get picked for the first Test]. I'll try to get some runs if I'm selected."
The PM's XI added a further 25 runs to their overnight score of 297 for 9 before Mark Steketee was last man out for 15. Paceman Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the touring bowlers with 4 for 65, while spinner Roston Chase finished with 2 for 72.
The tourists made a bright start to their innings, moving to 94 without loss following strong efforts from Chanderpaul and Brathwaite. But when Brathwaite chopped on a Steketee delivery, it sparked a collapse of 4 for 44 as West Indies began to wobble.
WA paceman Joel Paris found the edge of Nkrumah Bonner's bat to send him packing for a duck before spinner Todd Murphy bowled Devon Thomas and then trapped Kyle Mayers eight overs later. Chanderpaul held the innings together, striking 13 fours and one six on the way to posting triple figures.