An opening double century stand from openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul has lifted the West Indies into the ascendancy against Zimbabwe in the first Test match in Bulawayo.
In control for large periods across day one and two, the pair’s biggest threat seemingly came from inclement weather, though rain only could delay the success of the pair who were both close to their best with the bat.
Brathwaite (126*) brought up his century first, reaching the milestone with a late cut through the slip cordon off the bowling of Wellington Masakadza. Not to be outdone, Chanderpaul brought up his maiden Test century in just his third Test match, calmly pushing Victor Nyauchi into the leg-side.
Chanderpaul’s hundred was also the first Test century scored by a West Indies opener outside of Brathwaite since 2013, breaking a streak of a dozen unmatched hundreds from his partner.
As a result of their efforts, the pair joined elite company in their achievement, compiling just the West Indies’ tenth opening wicket double-century stand since their first-ever Test back in 1928.
West Indies Test double century partnerships for the first wicket
| Partnership | Runs | Opposition | Ground | Start Date |
| Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes | 298 | England | St John’s | 12 Apr 1990 |
| Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes | 296 | India | St John’s | 28 Apr 1983 |
| Sherwin Campbell, Adrian Griffith | 276 | New Zealand | Hamilton | 16 Dec 1999 |
| Chris Gayle, Kieran Powell | 254 | New Zealand | North Sound | 25 Jul 2012 |
| Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes | 250* | Australia | Georgetown | 2 Mar 1984 |
| Allan Rae, Jeffrey Stollmeyer | 239 | India | Chennai | 27 Jan 1949 |
| Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes | 225 | New Zealand | Christchurch | 22 Feb 1980 |
| Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul | 221* | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 4 Feb 2023 |
| Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle | 214 | Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 19 Jul 2001 |
| Roy Fredericks, Lawrence Rowe | 206 | England | Kingston | 16 Feb 1974 |
Rather fittingly, Daren Ganga, who accompanied Chris Gayle to the West Indies’ other opening double-century stand in Zimbabwe (214 in 2001 at the same ground), was on the call when the pair passed his figure.
The stand is the first double-century opening stand for the team in Test cricket since 2012, and the fifth away from home.
Perhaps making the feat more remarkable, just 17 fours and a six have been hit by the pair at stumps on day two, with Zimbabwe’s bowlers toiling to no avail across the two days.
The hosts’ five-pronged attack have 20 maidens to show for their efforts, with Masakadza’s 0/30 from 16 overs the most economical of the group (1.87).
