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West Indies openers become first pair in cricketing history to bat on all five days


image-ldwl65f5Kraigg Brathwaite & Tagenarine Chanderpaul create history

A significant event took place in the recently concluded Test match between West Indies and Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. West Indies openers, Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, achieved a landmark feat that had never before been accomplished in the annals of cricket.

After West Indies won the toss and elected to bat, the openers took to the crease and, despite inclement weather conditions on the first day, managed to score 55 runs each without being dismissed. 

The following day saw both Brathwaite and Chanderpaul reach the coveted milestone of a century, with Brathwaite finishing on 116 and Chanderpaul on 101.

The third day saw Brathwaite eventually being dismissed for 182, while Chanderpaul remained steadfast and notched up a formidable 207 not out. 

The West Indies declared their innings on 447, and Zimbabwe took to the crease, with former England player Gary Ballance scoring a century of his own.

As the fourth day came to a close, Zimbabwe declared their innings on 379, and the West Indies openers returned to the crease for the final day of play as they saw the 13 overs of play unscathed with 21 runs on the board. The duo add on 11 runs to the overnight total on Day 5 before Chanderpaul was cleaned up by by Brad Evans for 15.

It was here that the true magnitude of their achievement was realized. Brathwaite and Chanderpaul had batted for every single day of the Test match, a feat that had never before been achieved in the 145-year history of the sport.



Coming to the game, undeterred by the void left by the departure of Gary Ballance, who had scored a marvelous ton in the first innings, Zimbabwe persevered through the demanding test posed by the West Indian spin bowling duo of Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase, to ultimately secure a hard-fought draw in the series opener. 

Despite being presented with a Herculean task of achieving a target of 272 runs in a minimum of 49 overs, after West Indies' skipper Kraigg Brathwaite declared their second innings at 203 for five, Zimbabwe navigated through their innings with determined grit, ultimately ending at 134 for six, before the curtains were drawn on the day's play. 

Chanderpaul was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for his brilliant double century in the first innings.


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