Basseterre, St Kitts – Marlon Samuels made a successful return to the Test match stage with the bat on Saturday with a well-measured half-century. The right-hander scored a classy 57 off 124 balls with seven fours and two sixes, as the West Indies reached 184-8 on the second day of the Second Digicel Test at Warner Park.
The hosts are 88 away from Pakistan’s first innings score of 272, with two wickets in the bag. Left-hander Ravi Rampaul (15 not out) and Kemar Roach (10 not out) will carry the fight into the third day on Sunday. They have so far put together 26 runs for the eighth wicket.
Samuels said he felt he played well for his 10th Test half-century on a pitch, which challenged batsmen on both sides. He however was disappointed he did not go on to get three figures.
"This was my first innings on my return to Test cricket and I conditioned my mind to play a long innings for the team. It was a good feeling to go out there and play the way I did for the team but I’m not totally satisfied. I have been getting big runs since I came back into First Class cricket for Jamaica and I was looking to carry on and go all the way today," he said after the day’s play.
"I was hitting the ball very well. I came into this match with a lot of runs behind me and my confidence is high. Right now in my life, my form is a state of mind. I don’t think my form will leave me at this moment and I am just stroking the ball the way I like and getting into the groove."
The 30-year-old added: "I reached 50 and my goal was to go on and get a hundred. I was thinking once I got to three figures the team would be a good position and we would get the lead. I wanted to be there to get the target for the team."
Samuels said he has faith that Roach and Rampaul along with last man Devendra Bishoo can get the Windies close to the required target.
"I was talking to Roach when we were together, and I told him to believe. He is a guy who can bat and he is showing that. I believe in the guys to do the job for the team and take us close to the runs we need to get for the lead. We’re still in the game. There is a lot of cricket left to be played."
Play on Sunday will start at 9.30 am (8.30 am Jamaica Time).
West Indies lead the two-match Digicel Test Series 1-0 following their victory by 40 runs in the First Digicel Test at the Guyana National Stadium.