BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, (Reuters) - A record stand of 359 between double centurion Shivnarine Chanderpaul (245) and Ridley Jacobs (149) took West Indies to a dominant position on day two of their four-day game with Free State yesterday.
By stumps, Free State had stumbled to three for two in reply to West Indies massive first innings total of 618 all out.
Chanderpaul and Jacobs stretched their partnership past the record for the fifth wicket in South African first-class cricket, overtaking the 341 compiled by Eric Rowan and Paul Gibb for Transvaal against North Eastern Transvaal in 1952-53.
Jacobs was out leg-before to Cliffie Deacon after batting for just over six hours, facing 286 balls and hitting 15 fours.
Chanderpaul's marathon effort came to an end shortly afterwards when he was bowled by Dillon du Preez. His runs came in almost eight hours off 369 balls and included 31 boundaries.
The West Indies batting effort folded quickly after Chanderpaul's departure but Free State made a desperate start to their reply, losing two wickets in the three overs permitted before fading light brought play to a premature close.
WEST INDIES first innings (o/n 342-4)
C.Gayle lbw b Deacon 9
D.Ganga c Schoorn b McLaren 19
R.Sarwan c Schoorn b Deacon 51
B.Lara c Arendse b McLaren 72
S.Chanderpaul b Du Preez 245
R.Jacobs lbw b Deacon 149
W.Hinds lbw b Du Preez 38
C.Baugh c and b Du Preez 4
M.Dillon c Beukes b Tshabalala 5
R.Rampaul c Botha b Tshabalala 0
C.Collymore not out 0
Extras: (b-7, lb-7, nb-9, w-3) 26
Total: (all out, 168.3 overs) 618
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-54, 3-130, 4-197, 5-556, 6-589, 7-607, 8-618, 9-618.