Samuels’ comeback ‘double’ put Jamaica in charge

Feb 07, 2011 Sports

Guyana set massive 359 to win

By Sean Devers in Jamaica
In association with Western Union & Jamaica Pegasus

On the 66th birth anniversary of the late Jamaican Reggae great Bob Marley, Marlon Samuels yesterday hit his second First-Class ton for Jamaica on a ground where he scored his first six years ago to put Jamaica in a strong position to push for a win against Guyana on the final day of their opening round four-day Regional cricket match at the Alpart ground today.
Samuels celebrated with 30th birthday on Saturday with a classy 51 and yesterday converted it into his 7th century and second double hundred on his return to First Class cricket after a two-year ban.
His scintillating unbeaten 250, which lasted 320 balls, 431 minutes with 22 fours and seven sixes, spearheaded the three times defending champions to 391-4 declared, 39 minutes after Tea in their second innings after they began the penultimate day on 128-2.
Set 359 to win from 21 overs yesterday and at least 90 on the final day today, Guyana, who took first innings points by making 183 in reply to Jamaica’s first innings 150, reached 58-0 by the close yesterday.
The South Americans need another 301 runs for their first win against Jamaica since their 51-run win at Chedwin Park in 2006. Rajendra Chandrika (37*) and Shemroy Barrington (19*) were the not out batsmen for Guyana with Chandrika in particular playing some lovely shots including a scorching square-driven boundary off the lively Jerome Taylor and a effortless six off Tamar Lambert.
Both openers were rarely troubled on a track which has remained good despite the odd ball keeping low and the task today for Guyana will be to bat out the day with positive but sensible batting to avoid defeat.
In bright sunshine, the biggest crowd of the match watched as Jamaica resumed with a lead of 88 with Samuels on 51 and Brendon Nash on five and the pair added 97 for the third wicket before Nash, who made 25 from 131 minutes and 83 balls, retired hurt with a thigh strain at 204-2.
Samuels, in his 68th First-Class game, looked ominous from the start yesterday when he cut Veerasammy Permaul behind point and dumped him over mid-off for boundaries in the day’s second over and was the reason many of the fans turned up yesterday.
The right-hander, aiming for a Test recall against Pakistan in May did not disappoint. With Two centuries from his 29 Tests and his only other century at this level for Jamaica being 160 against the Windward Islands in 2005, he reached his ton with a cut off Esuan Crandon for his 12th four.
A sumptuous cover drive was followed by a savage pull as Samuels took consecutive boundaries off Royston Crandon, while a silky cover driven boundary off Brendon Bess was a delight to watch as Samuels, who took 186 balls and 236 minutes to reach his century, looked in top form.
With Jamaica pressing to score quickly to give them enough time to try for a come-from-behind win, Lambert (5) was taken at gully by Royston Crandon off his elder brother’s bowling at 220-3. By Lunch the hosts were 222-3 with Samuels unbeaten on 116 and the lead 189.
After lunch Samuels looked rock solid and smashed Esuan Crandon through the covers and then steered him behind point for consecutive boundaries and the vocal crowd went wild.
With rain threatening and Guyana looking to restrict the scoring, Samuels changed gear and hooked Esuan Crandon for three thumping fours in succession, the last one taking him past his previous highest score for Jamaica.
Samuels dominated the 4th wicket partnership with Wavell Hinds with superb batting and after hitting a six off Royston Crandon he easily deposited Permaul over extra cover in the next for another six and poised for the photographers as his swagger became more pronounced as his fantastic innings progressed.
The Guyanese did not bowl badly and all of the batsmen except Samuels struggled to score freely on a flat track and heavy outfield. Hinds, who managed just 21 from 70 balls in his 105-run partnership with Samuels, was bowled by Bess for 21 at 325-4.
Samuels pushed Bishoo for a single to deep-mid on to post his double from 277 balls, 380 minutes with 20 fours and four sixes and by Tea Jamaica were 331-4 with a lead of 298. Samuels was unbeaten on 202 and David Bernard on three.
After Tea Samuels ‘opened up’ with an array of vintage shots hitting Permaul for two sixes and a four in one over and when he reached his 250 the declaration was made with him seven short of his highest first class score which was made in Australia.
This was the first time since 2001 when Chris Gayle and Leon Garrick, who both scored double centuries in a record unfinished 425 first wicket stand against the West Indies ‘B’ at Jarrett Park, that a Jamaican had scored a Regional double century.
With the Guyana openers looking set the first hour could be an important one to the outcome of the match.

SCOREBOARD
Jam 1st innings (150)
Guyana 1st innings (183)
Jamaica 2nd innings (O/N 128-2)
D Hyatt c Barrington b E Crandon                        17
S Jackson b Bishoo                                                49
M Samuels not out                                              250
B Nash retired hurt                                                 25
T Lambert c R Crandon b E Crandon                      5
W Hinds b Bess                                                      21
D Bernard not out                                                   15
Extras (b-6, w-1, nb-2)                                             8
Total (for 4 wickets declared)                            391

Fow: 19, 107, 220, 325,
Bowling: E Crandon 18-0-72-2, Bess 14-0-53-1,
Bishoo 26-1-87-1, Permaul 35.4-8-115-0, R
Crandon 16-2-50-0, Fudadin 2-0-8-0

Guyana 2nd innings
S Barrington not out                                                19
R Chandrika not out not out                                    37
Extras (nb-2)                                                              2
Total (for no wicket off 21 overs)                         58

Bowling: Taylor, Cotterrell 4-0-15-0, Bernard 3-0-9-0,
Lambert 4-1-17-0, Brown 5-1-9-0