GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Fri. Apr. 1, 2005: No one really missed Brian Lara or the six other experienced players on opening day of the first 2005 test match between South Africa and the West Indies cricket side yesterday. Infact, the day belonged to newly-appointed Guyanese-born captain Shiv Chanderpaul and Jamaica’s Wavell Hinds. Both slammed centuries on opening day of the Digicel Home Series test match at Bourda, to leave their side standing strong at 347 for 3 overnight. Hinds hit his fifth test century after a 14-month absence finishing the day unbeaten on 188 alongside his skipper Chander, who hit an unbeaten102 to become only the third captain, in his first test, to complete that feat. Chanderpaul won the toss early on yesterday morning and elected to bat on what experts are touting as a flat, dead pitch for bowlers and a haven for batsmen. The side then lost two quick wickets in openers Devon Smith (11) and Daren Ganga, a duck leaving the Windies tottering on 24-2. But once Hinds took the crease, along with Donovan Pagon, there was no denying the recovery effort was underway. But Pagon went for 35 bringing the 30-year-old skipper to the crease. Together, he and Hinds commanded the day’s play, much to the glee of fans. Bowling for the South Africans, the pick of the bowlers was Andre Nel, who bagged all three wickets for 50 runs. Play resumes this morning. THE CONTRACT DISPUTE SAGA Meanwhile, the West Indies Cricket Board yesterday acknowledged it has received correspondence from the attorney of both Ramnaresh Sarwan and Christopher Gayle indicating that the two have terminated their personal endorsement contracts with Cable and Wireless. The Board said it has submitted the correspondence to its legal counsel for advice. Cable & Wireless, also announced it has released the six – Sarwan, Gayle, Fidel Edwards, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith and Ravi Rampaul – from their endorsement contracts to clear the way for them to be included back in the squad. And the West Indies Players Association lashed out at the Board in another press statement yesterday, calling for a Commission of Inquiry into the administration of West Indian cricket in general and specifically the process by which the contract with Digicel was entered into. SCOREBOARD West Indies first innings W. Hinds not out 188 D. Smith c Boucher b Nel 11 D. Ganga c Boucher b Nel 0 D. Pagon c Kallis b Nel 35 S. Chanderpaul not out 102 Extras (lb5, w2, nb4) 11 TOTAL (for three wkts - 80.5 overs) 347 Fall: 1-24, 2-24, 3-106. Bowling: Ntini 15-2-71-0 (nb2), Nel 18-6-50-3 (nb1), Langeveldt 16.5-3-49-0 (nb1, w1), Hall 8-3-27-0, Kallis 8-0-66-0 (w1), Boje 7-0-39-0, Smith 8-0-40-0. Reprinted from hardbeatnews.com