Chanderpaul and Jacobs leave Free State tottering

Free State 3 for 2 trail West Indians 618 (Chanderpaul 245, Jacobs 149, Lara 72, Sarwan 51) by 615 runs
Scorecard

Shivnarine Chanderpaul: his first double hundred © Getty Images

A record-breaking partnership between Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ridley Jacobs put the West Indians in a commanding position of their match against Free State at the end of the second day's play at Bloemfontein. The West Indians were finally dismissed for a daunting 618, and then in the final three overs of the day reduced Free State to 3 for 2.

Chanderpaul smashed 245 and Jacobs 149 as they took their stand to 359, breaking the first-class record in South Africa for the fifth wicket of 342, held by Eric Rowan and Paul Gibb for Transvaal against North-Eastern Transvaal in 1951-52.

Free State's second-string attack toiled for almost two sessions without a breakthrough as Chanderpaul and Jacobs cut loose, and when Wycliffe Deacon finally trapped Jacobs leg-before, it was the first wicket in over day. From then on in the bowlers had a better time as the West Indians lost their last five wickets for 29 runs as they pushed for quick runs.

Free State were left with a tricky three overs to face, and within nine balls they were two wickets down as Jonathan Beukes and Rayno Arendse were both dismissed.