West Indies vs England, 2nd Test: Marlon Samuels gunning for big 1st innings total

Marlon Samuels

St. George's (Grenada), April 22 (IANS) Middle-order batsman Marlon Samuels said his main goal is to help put the West Indies in a winning position against England when the second Test enters the second day at the National Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.

Samuels is unbeaten on 94, six runs away from his seventh Test century, as West Indies recovered to 188/5 when bad light stopped play with 70 overs bowled. Samuels has already anchored two crucial half-century partnerships including an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 59 with captain Denesh Ramdin, who is 6 not out, reports CMC.

"Hopefully we could put on a very big partnership and set the team tomorrow. Getting that 100 is a milestone but the most important thing is to put the team in a winning position. I will have to take my guard all over again when I make a 100 because I am definitely looking to carry on as long as possible," said Samuels.

The experienced right-hander has so far batted for four hours and faced 186 balls which pulled the innings around after the home side slipped to 74/4 after lunch and then 129/5 in the final session on Monday. Earlier, Samuels added 55 for the fifth wicket with Jermaine Blackwood, who made 26 with five boundaries.

"It was just like English conditions. I scored a lot of runs in England so I gave it an English approach by leaving alone a lot of balls and let the ball come to me as late as possible on a slow track with ball moving around," he said.

"I like a battle and going out to bat knowing that the conditions are difficult with the English players talking a bit, it kind of motivate me more to dig deep and try to bat out the entire day and put West Indies in a very good position."

Due to the rain on Tuesday, play will start earlier on Wednesday.