The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Marlon Samuels comes good

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Thursday, Dec 27, 2007
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Marlon Samuels comes good

PORT ELIZABETH: Marlon Samuels just missed a century on Wednesday, leading West Indies to 281 for four before bad light stopped play early on the first day of the first Test against South Africa.

Samuels was dismissed for 94, his second-highest Test score behind his only century against India in Kolkata in 2002.

He batted carefully for 267 minutes and faced 195 balls in partnerships of 64 with Runako Morton and 111 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (43 batting), which saw the West Indies gain the upper hand after South African captain Graeme Smith sent the visitors in to bat at St. George’s Park.

Dale Steyn finally took Samuels’ wicket, inducing a drive to a swinging ball for Jacques Kallis to take a flying catch at second slip.

Good start

Samuels’s effort consolidated the start given to the West Indies by its captain Chris Gayle who hit 66 (13 x 4) in a good opening partnership of 98 with Daren Ganga.

South Africa’s bowlers eventually managed to slow the run rate which had threatened to get out of hand while Gayle was batting, and Harris’ 1-44 was the best return. Steyn, Ntini and Nel also took a wicket each. — Agencies

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