AS Derbyshire prepared to leave the Caribbean and return to snowy England at the end of their Barbados tour, they were cheered by news of another Test hundred for overseas signing Shivnarine Chanderpaul in Dominica.
The West Indies left-hander completed his 28th Test century as his side took a hold of the second Test against Zimbabwe. With Chris Gayle also passing three figures, they were 381-8 at the end of day two, a lead of 206.
Chanderpaul, who will join Derbyshire in time for the start of the new season on April 10 at the beginning of a two-year contract, made 108. It was his third century in his last five Test innings and he needed to show all his customary patience at the crease.
"It was a pretty tough day, hard work," he said. "You could see it was not an easy wicket to bat on,
"The ball was bouncing and turning a lot and you had to really dig in. Some of the balls were bouncing, some were keeping low, you weren't always certain what the ball would do so you had to stay watchful and patient and wait on the bad balls."
The West Indies left-hander completed his 28th Test century as his side took a hold of the second Test against Zimbabwe. With Chris Gayle also passing three figures, they were 381-8 at the end of day two, a lead of 206.
Chanderpaul, who will join Derbyshire in time for the start of the new season on April 10 at the beginning of a two-year contract, made 108. It was his third century in his last five Test innings and he needed to show all his customary patience at the crease.
"It was a pretty tough day, hard work," he said. "You could see it was not an easy wicket to bat on,
"The ball was bouncing and turning a lot and you had to really dig in. Some of the balls were bouncing, some were keeping low, you weren't always certain what the ball would do so you had to stay watchful and patient and wait on the bad balls."