Samuels gunning for big Windies total

By CMC.

ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC - Middle order batsman Marlon Samuels says his main goal is to help put West Indies in a winning position against England when the second test enters its 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 for five when bad light stopped play with 70 overs bowled.

Samuels has already anchored two crucial half century partnerships including  an unbroken 6th wicket stand of 59 with captain Denesh Ramdin who is six not out.

“Hopefully we could put on a very big partnership and set the team tomorrow. Getting that hundred is a milestone but the most important thing is to put the team in a winning position,” said Samuels.

“So I Guess I will have to take my guard all over again when I make a hundred because I am definitely looking to carry on as long as possible for the team”.

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 off 58 balls with five boundaries.

“It was just like English condition. 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 at 9:45 am on Wednesday (8:45 am Jamaica Time).