CAPE TOWN – West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin has described as “uncalled for” the shot played by stylish middle order batsman Marlon Samuels that cost him his wicket in the second innings of the third Test against South Africa which ended on Tuesday.
Samuels’ dismissal sparked a batting collapse in which the last six wickets fell for the addition of only 33 runs as the Caribbean side plunged from a promising position of 184 for four to 215 all out.
Samuels, who top scored with 74, cracked under pressure during a phase in which he scored only four runs from 28 balls before attempting to go big down the ground only to be caught at mid-on.
“Not really harsh words but for one of our senior batters to play a shot like that when he was in . . . it was an uncalled for shot,” Ramdin told journalists at the post-game news conference.
“He was one of the guys who was set and could have gone on and make a difference today for us. Himself and Chanderpaul they had a good partnership. It was difficult for a new batter to come in and face those deliveries”.
Samuels struck nine fours and two sixes and shared an 87-run 4th-wicket partnership with Shivnarine Chanderpaul who was run out on 50.
The Windies batting collapse allowed South Africa to complete an easy eight wicket victory and a two-nil series win over the visitors.
“I think we just missed the moment. That’s the moment in the game where everything fell away,” said West Indies coach Stuart Williams, referring to Samuels’ dismissal.
“This is international cricket and we just have to seize the moment. You have to respect your opposition at all times and we didn’t do that.”
Samuels remains the highest run-scorer for West Indies in South Africa for a second tour in succession and is expected to play a key role in the One Day and T20 series, which start on Friday in Cape Town.
