Samuels hits 260 as West Indies take command
Marlon Samuels smashed a magnificent 260 to guide the West Indies
into a commanding position against Bangladesh on the third day of the
second and final Test in Khulna on Friday.
The 31-year-old Jamaican notched his maiden double century, putting
on a 326-run stand for the third wicket with Darren Bravo (127) and
another 177 for the fourth wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who ended
the day 109 not out.
Denesh Ramdin finished not out on four.
The run-feast gave the West Indies a healthy 177-run lead over
Bangladesh’s first innings total of 387 -- a position of strength from
where they will look to force a series win after taking the first Test
in Dhaka by 77 runs. Samuels thrived on a lifeless pitch before being
caught at point off a rising delivery from paceman Rubel Hossain,
falling just one short of Ramnaresh Sarwan’s 261 not out -- the highest
by a West Indian batsman against Bangladesh -- made at Kingston in 2004.
The right-handed batsman hit 31 fours and three sixes during a
dominating 455-ball knock. The seasoned Chanderpaul was not left far
behind, as he reached his 27th Test hundred in the dying moments of the
day when he steered spinner Sohag Gazi for a single towards mid-off,
following up on his 203 not out in the first Test.
The 146-Test veteran has so far hit ten fours and a six off 206
balls. The Samuels-Chanderpaul stand also improved the previous best for
a fourth wicket against Bangladesh, erasing the 176-run stand involving
Samuels and Sarwan in Dhaka ten years ago.
Samuels survived a confident leg-before shout off paceman Hossain’s
first over after lunch before steering the same bowler for a single to
complete his double hundred.
AFP |