Date-stamped : 30 Mar97 - 14:23
Saturday, March 29, 1997

Chanders: It's for Cheddi

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (AFP) - Guyanese batsman Shivnarine
Chanderpaul was basking in the glory here yesterday after making
his first Test century in 19 appearances for his country against
India on Thursday in the Third Test.

In his 30th Test innings in which he made 13 half-centuries,
Chanderpaul had always missed out on a Test century, despite
making 1,334 runs at a healthy average of 53.30.

However, the 22-year-old finally came off the list of the best
Test batsmen never to have made a century on Thursday and will
continue when play resumes today , following the rest day for
Good Friday, on 102 not out and the West Indies on 240 for
seven.

"It's the greatest feeling I had in a long time," was his first
reaction when asked about his breakthrough. "And it's nice to
get it back again, the feeling of making hundreds. I enjoyed
that, and I must say thanks to Curtly Ambrose who encouraged me
and told me to keep going and going...he helped me to carry on,"
he added.

It was a century of which he always dreamed, and it was no
surprise when he dedicated it to the late President of Guyana,
Dr. Cheddi Jagan, and his parents.

He indicated that the support he gained from the crowd spurred
him past his highest previous Test score which was a pair of
82's. "The crowd helped alot, alot," he jubilantly repeated.
"...To know that the crowd is behind you and they are all out
there for you to get that 100, it's great. I mean, I've been
waiting for this moment a long time and for them to be cheering
me on, I really felt good," he added.

It has taken Chanderpaul three years to accomplish the landmark.
After making his Test debut at the age of 19, when he scored 64
against England at Bourda Oval in his native Guyana in 1994, he
has moved from strength to strength.

Last season, he scored a record-breaking 333 against Jamaica in
the Red Stripe Cup, and then was given the large responsibility
of batting at number three during the West Indies tour of
Australia. "It does not matter where I bat, I just go out there
and do the job that I am told to do," he stated.

"I hope that I keep doing well and making hundreds if I can.
Everytime I get in the 80s I was doing something wrong. But on
Thursday I just blocked and blocked and kept looking for singles
until I got there," he added.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (http://www.trinidad.net/express/)

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