Son of legendary West Indies player Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul has ensured that he is in radar of selectors for the Test tour with his maiden century representing West Indies in First-Class match. Chanderpaul did not just have interesting numbers but a stance so unique that it made bowlers scratch their heads. Now, his son has made it clear that he is ready to don the big boy pants when West Indies take on Australia in the first Test of the two-Test series starting November 30 at Perth Stadium.
Against Prime Ministers XI in the four-day warm-up game, Tagenarine opened the innings for West Indies after the hosts scored 322 in the first innings. Opening the innings alongside experienced campaigner and skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, the southpaw impressed with his approach against the new-ball bowlers at Manuka Oval, Canberra.
The 26-year-old got lucky a few times as the odd outside edge escaped wicketkeeper Josh Inglis's gloves or the fielders in the slip cordon. The openers got West Indies off to a decent start with a 94-run partnership on Day 2. But Brathwaite missed his half-century as he got bowled by Mark Steketee.
Prime Minister's XI made a terrific comeback and put the tourists under pressure with three quick wickets. Joel Paris got Nkrumah Bonner for a three-ball duck whereas Devon Thomas and Kyle Mayers departed for single-digit scores to off-spinner Todd Murphy.
Meanwhile, Tagenarine had got to his half-century from 126 deliveries. Wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva came into bat and the fall of wickets was stemmed. Tagenarine continued at his pace and frustrated the Aussie bowlers. In the third session, he got to his maiden century for West Indies (in First-Class cricket) with consecutive boundaries off Ashton Agar.
Murphy's persistence paid off and he got the better of Da Silva who scored 25 runs from 80 deliveries. The new ball was taken and Joel Paris got the wicket of Roston Chase (10). Tangerine could have remained not out on Day 2 but he got dismissed by Paris in the last over of the day's play. He edged one to wicketkeeper Inglis.
Tagenarine scored 119 runs from 293 deliveries including 13 fours and one six. He is the only batter so far, who has hit a six in the match. He helped West Indies reduce the trail to 88 runs as they had 234/7 on the board.
It will be interesting to see if Tagenarine gets the nod to make his Test debut as West Indies have been way below par in the format they used to dominate in another era.
