No one expected us to do well: Chanderpaul

West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul urged fellow centurion Wavell Hinds to pile on more runs when the first Test against South Africa resumes on Friday.

Hinds made a career best 181 not out on the first day on Thursday as the West Indies racked up 347 for three after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

Chanderpaul scored 102 not out and shared 241 with Hinds for the unbroken fourth wicket. The stand was the highest for the West Indies' fourth wicket in Tests against South Africa.

"We lost a couple of wickets, and Wavell stuck it out," Chanderpaul told a news conference. "Let's hope he can go bigger tomorrow."

Chanderpaul was satisfied with his team's performance, particularly as the West Indies were without former captain Brian Lara and six other experienced players because of a sponsorship dispute.

"We're a young team, and nobody expected us to do what we did today," Chanderpaul said.

Opener Hinds said he was mindful of laying a firm foundation for the rest of the innings.

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Hinds, the vice-president of the West Indies Players' Association, denied reports that he was close to pulling out of the match because of the sponsorship dispute.

"West Indies cricket is bigger than all of us, without it we are nothing," he said. "I came to Guyana with all the intentions of playing and representing the West Indies to the best of my ability."

Fast bowler Andre Nel took three for 50 and said the South African attack needed to improve their performance.

"We didn't bowl as well as we could have, and the ball went soft," Nel said. "We knew what to expect, but perhaps we didn't adapt to the conditions well enough -- we need to bowl better as a unit.

"They played well, but we didn't bowl as well as we should have."

However, Nel had not given up hope of dismissing the West Indies before they batted South Africa out of the match.

"Tomorrow's a new day, and if we take quick wickets we can turn it around," he said.