Shivnarine Chanderpaul stars for Windies

Shivnarine Chanderpaul recorded the 25th century of his Test career as West Indies reached 449-9 before declaring on day two of the opening Test against Australia in Bridgetown. The veteran batsman finished unbeaten on 103 after being supported by useful contributions from Darren Bravo (51) and captain Darren Sammy (41). Australia were left to face an awkward hour before the close, but openers David Warner (27no) and Ed Cowan (13no) safely negotiated the 9.5 overs to leave the tourists on 44-0. Starting the day on 179-3, Bravo and Chanderpaul added a further 61 to the score before Australia finally made the breakthrough. Soon after becoming the third batsman of West Indies' first innings to pass 50, Bravo was on his way back to the pavilion after slashing a Shane Watson delivery straight to Mike Hussey in the gully. Narsingh Deonarine (21) and Carlton Baugh (22) helped keep the scoreboard ticking over before Sammy provided more of an attacking impetus to power his side past 350. He smashed three sixes and four fours off just 35 balls before the fireworks fizzled out when he pulled Ben Hilfenhaus to Cowen at deep mid-wicket. Boundary Chanderpaul forged on, however, and his boundary off the first ball of the third over after tea helped the hosts go beyond 400. The left-hander survived a close call later in the same Nathan Lyon over when Australia reviewed an lbw appeal. Two balls after that spinner Lyon did make a breakthrough, but it was that of tail-ender Kemar Roach, who was well caught at slip by Michael Clarke for 16. Chanderpaul was still five runs away from his ton when the West Indies lost their ninth wicket as Fidel Edwards skied a Warner delivery to Hussey. However, the 37-year-old was not to be denied and he reached three figures six overs later before the declaration was made soon after, with Devendra Bishoo the other not out batsman on 18. Chanderpaul had faced 248 balls and struck nine fours and one six in his century. West Indies would have been hoping to build on the strong position with a couple of Australian wickets before the close, but Warner and Cowan confidently started their side's response with few scares.