Kandy, Sri Lanka – Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the West Indies batting stalwart, made a return to form on Thursday with a typically patient 54 as the Windies reached 244 for 5 on the second day of the 3rd ERI Test match at the Pallekele Stadium.
Chanderpaul, in his 219th Test innings, hit three boundaries to record his 55th Test half-century. He was defiant for 145 balls and it took a superb one-handed catch by Mahela Jayawardena off Ajantha Mendis to send him back.
The former ICC International Cricketer-of-the-Year and Brendan Nash added 99 for the fourth wicket as the second consecutive day was affected by heavy rain and bad light. Nash showed some enterprise and ended the day on 62 not out. He reached 1000 Test runs in the process.
Speaking after day’s play Chanderpaul said he was happy to be back among the runs again.
"I did not get many runs in the first couple of innings so I was very happy to get some today. Nash has been batting well on tour so far and he came in to join me and was going really well. I decided I had to support him and play that kind of role. I knew I could not play ‘freely’," said Chanderpaul.
"The aim was to help build a good score and keep the innings going. I summed up the situation and realised I needed to stay there and try to build a big total. It was not easy batting out there but I just wanted to stay as long as possible for the team," Chanderpaul said.
The Windies entered the decisive 3rd Test level 0-0 following draws at Galle International Stadium and the R Premadasa Stadium. During the first Test Chanderpaul became just the second West Indian, after Brian Lara, to score 9000 Test runs. He said overall the team was working hard to get something out of the series and he was happy with the work being put in.
"Right now we have clear team plans and goals as a team. We keep working towards them. The coach has come to the team and has brought a new kind of enthusiasm. It will take some time, nothing happens overnight, but we know what we want to achieve and how we plan to get there," Chanderpaul said.
"We have worked hard so far and we believe we can get something out of this series… two days gone so far in this match, and what we have to do is bat as long as we can, put as many as we can on the board and have a go at them after that."
The third day’s play on Friday will start at 9.45 am (12.15 am Eastern Caribbean Time/11.15 pm Thursday Jamaica Time).