Tagenarine Chanderpaul made an unbeaten double century after setting a new West Indies record of 336 for the first wicket with Kraigg Brathwaite yesterday before the tourists declared at 447-6 in the first Test against Zimbabwe.
The opening stand at the Queens Sports Club in the southwestern city of Bulawayo surpassed the 298-run partnership shared by Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes against England in 1990. Zimbabwe were 114-3 in reply at stumps on the third day - 333 runs behind - with Innocent Kaia, one of five Test newcomers in the team, unbeaten on 59 having struck nine fours.
The final delivery of the day saw one skipper dismiss another as Brathwaite clean bowled Craig Ervine for 13 with a deceptively quick ball.
“The guys played well and congrats to Tage on his maiden century. Good to see him convert it to a double. It was a really good partnership with the captain,” said all-rounder Jason Holder.
“Good to see them not only lay down the foundation but also take it really deep. I don’t want to talk about the team plan, we just need wickets.
“We need to be ruthless. Need to start well tomorrow, get a few early wickets and hopefully press them,” he added.
Brathwaite made 182 before being trapped leg before while Chanderpaul, the son of former West Indies skipper Shivnarine, finished on 207 not out after hitting a six to reach a double ton in only his third Test outing.

SCOREBOARD
West Indies I Innings
K. Brathwaite lbw b Masakadza 182
T. Chanderpaul not out 207
K. Mayers b Mavuta 20
R. Reifer c Kaia b Mavuta 2
J. Blackwood c Tsiga b Mavuta 5
R. Chase c Ervine b Mavuta 7
J. Holder c Tsiga b Mavuta 11
J. Da Silva not out 3
Extras (b6, nb3, w1) 10
Total (6 wkts dec, 143 overs) 447
Fall of wickets: 1-336 (Brathwaite), 2-373 (Mayers), 3-383 (Reifer), 4-389 (Blackwood), 5-413 (Chase), 6-435 (Holder)
Bowling: R. Ngarava 20-4-69-0 (1nb), V. Nyauchi 27-6-73-0, B. Evans 24-3-74-0 (2nb), W. Masakadza 31-8-85-1, B. Mavuta 41-5-140-5
Zimbabwe I Innings
I. Kaia not out 59
T. Makoni c Mayers b Joseph 33
C. Chibhabha c Da Silva b Motie 9
C. Ervine b Brathwaite 13
Extras 0
Total (3 wkts, 41.4 overs) 114
Fall of wickets: 1-63 (Makoni), 2-84 (Chibhabha), 3-114 (Ervine)
Bowling: K. Roach 7-1-23-0, A. Joseph 9-1-25-1, K. Mayers 4-2-8-0, G. Motie 13-7-25-1, J. Holder 5-0-18-0, R. Chase 3-0-10-0, K. Brathwaite 0.4-0-5-1
Toss: West Indie.