ZIM vs WI: Kraigg Brathwaite, Tagenarine Chanderpaul enter elite club after sensational opening stand

The West Indies got off to a sensational start in their first match of the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe. Thanks to the fabulous knocks from both openers, skipper Kraigg Braithwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, West Indies were able to put up a partnership of 221 at the end of day two.

The pair’s biggest threat seems to be the weather, as the Zimbabwean bowlers were helpless against Braithwaite and Chanderpaul. Braithwaite reached his century first, as after the end of day two, he stands strong at 126*. Chanderpaul, however, reached his maiden century playing just his third Test match.

While Tagenarine's father, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, took 52 innings to reach his maiden Test century away from home, the 26-year-old took just five innings to score his first century. Chanderpaul scored 101 runs at the end of day two in 291 deliveries as both batters dominated Zimbabwe's bowling attack.

Braithwaite and Chanderpaul enter record books

As a result of the fabulous knocks by the duo, the West Indies openers put up a 221-run stand and joined an elite club. The pair's accomplishment put them in exclusive company as it marked the tenth first wicket double-century partnership for the West Indies since their maiden Test in 1928.

In two days, Chanderpaul and Braithwaite hit just 17 fours and a single six in their remarkable innings. Zimbabwe’s bowlers have struggled on the first two days of the first Test, and things do not seem to look up for them in the days to come.

The highest opening stand for the Windies belongs to Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes when they put up the highest first-wicket partnership back in 1990, when West Indies played against England. The duo put up a massive partnership of 298 runs. One of the partnerships on the list is that of Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga, when the two collectively scored 214 runs during a Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo itself in 2001.