Samuels puts West Indies on course for victory
August 5th, 2012 - 5:04 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Aug 5 (IANS/CMC) Marlon Samuels defied a dropped chance and the “distraction” of the Olympics women’s 100 metres final being shown at the ground to score a pivotal 52 that fortified the West Indies’ bid for a series-clinching victory over New Zealand in the second Test here.
The hometown hero, a century-maker in the first innings, struck seven fours from 103 balls in 157 minutes, after he was dropped early in his innings, as the Windies reached 135 for four in their second innings - still 71 runs adrift of victory - at the close on the third day - and with an eye on the weather as Tropical Storm Ernesto approaches the island, CMC reports.
Samuels put on 74 for the third wicket with Assad Fudadin to stabilise the innings Saturday, after the Caribbean side made a shaky start to the chase, when left-handed openers Chris Gayle and Kieran Powell were dismissed cheaply.
Both he and Fudadin fell in the final session, after play came to a standstill to allow the viewing of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s historic victory in the women’s 100 final in London on the Sabina Park electronic scoreboard in the ground.
It left veteran left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul, not out on 20, and night-watchman Kemar Roach, not out on 10, to bat through the final five overs of the day.
This followed disciplined bowling from West Indies - led by Narsingh Deonarine - as the New Zealanders were dismissed for 154 in their second innings about an hour after lunch.
The part-time off-spinner ended with a career-best 4-37 from 22 overs, frontline off-spinner Sunil Narine finished with 3-19 from 12 overs, and Tino Best snared 2-44, as only Dean Brownlie with 35, passed 20 with the bat for the Black Caps on the day.
The West Indies lead the two-Test series 1-0, following a nine-wicket victory in the first Test, which ended last Monday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
They are making a bid to complete their first series sweep, since Ridley Jacobs’ side beat Bangladesh 2-0 close to a decade ago.
–IANS/CMC
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- Edwards out, Ramdin returns as Windies vice captain - Jul 23, 2012
- Roach, Gayle fire West Indies to victory - Jul 30, 2012
- Edwards replaces Rampaul for Jamaica Test - Jul 31, 2012
- Bishoo dropped, in-form batsman Fudadin gets the nod - Apr 20, 2012
- Narine bursts back as Windies clinch series - Jul 02, 2012
- Roach leads Windies demolition of Black Caps - Aug 03, 2012
- Narine undermines New Zealand as Windies win series 4-1 - Jul 17, 2012
- West Indies look for confidence booster in tour match - Jun 02, 2012
- India A hammer West Indies A to level series at 1-1 - Jun 30, 2012
- Samuels to join Windies squad in England - May 08, 2012
- Shillingford nabs five but Kiwis battle to draw - Jul 23, 2012
- No Bravo for warm-up match against Black Caps - Jul 15, 2012
- Samuels, Ramdin hold West Indies together - Jun 10, 2012
- Gayle, Powell centuries give Windies control - Jul 28, 2012
Tags: ann fraser, black caps, brownlie, caribbean side, chris gayle, electronic scoreboard, final session, hometown hero, left hander, marlon samuels, night watchman, pryce, ridley jacobs, sabina park, series sweep, shelly ann, tropical storm ernesto, vivian richards, wicket victory, windies