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We should aim for 400 - Chanderpaul

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who starred on the opening day of the deciding Test at McLean Park with an unbeaten 100, has said West Indies should aim for at least 400 to put pressure on the home side

Cricinfo staff
19-Dec-2008

Brendan Nash: "They bowled really well to me, they tied me down but Shiv gave me a lot of confidence from the non-striker's end when I watched him play" © Getty Images
 
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who starred on the opening day of the deciding Test at McLean Park with an unbeaten 100, has said West Indies should aim for at least 400 to put pressure on the home side. In getting to his 20th Test century, Chanderpaul shared a crucial partnership of 163 for the fifth wicket with newcomer Brendan Nash, whose 74 was also his maiden Test fifty.
Their stand helped West Indies recover from a shaky 74 for 4 at lunch after winning the toss on a good batting strip to 258 for 6.
"Tomorrow [Saturday] we have to try and get as many as we can," Chanderpaul said. "We have to try to get to 300 and look towards 350 and maybe 400.
"It was pretty tough and I knew they would not make it easy for us. I knew I had to work hard and stick around to see what could happen. I'm happy to reach my 20th Test century and as always I will just keep on going."
Chanderpaul was full of praise for Nash, whose 162-ball knock featured plenty of runs square of the wicket on both sides. "Nash played a beautiful innings. Playing in just his second game, he understood what was required and came out and played his natural game and we managed to get out of a tough position."
Nash, who was watched by his family at the venue, said batting with a senior pro gave him a lot of confidence. He also admitted his disappointment at getting out with a century for the taking. He fell to the new ball off James Franklin, spooning an easy catch to Daniel Flynn at short cover. That sparked off another wicket, that of Denesh Ramdin, and exposed the tail.
"They [New Zealand] bowled really well to me, they tied me down but Shiv gave me a lot of confidence from the non-striker's end when I watched him play," Nash said. "He seemed to know how and when to put the pressure back on the bowlers and hit a few boundaries to take the pressure off us and that helped a lot.
"I'm happy I was able to get a good score and help the team. I was however disappointed when I got out. It was the wrong time to get out for the team and obviously I was close to a personal milestone. All in all, not a bad position to be in looking back at the trouble we were in just before lunch."