MARLON SAMUELS’ counter-attacking half-century has led a West Indies recovery against Australia in the eighth match of the Ballr Cup tri-nation series at Kensington Oval today.
With the hosts struggling on 31 for three, Samuels joined forces with Denesh Ramdin to produce an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 85 that raised West Indies to 116 for three after 25 overs.
Samuels’ unbeaten 60 has come from 57 balls and included nine fours and a six over long-off against fast medium Scott Boland.
Ramdin has lent useful support in batting solidly to be undefeated on 24 off 47 balls.
Australia’s new ball attack of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood posed problems for West Indies at the start, removing Johnson Charles (0), Darren Bravo (15) and Andre Fletcher (9) in the first ten overs.
Samuels and Ramdin initially dug in to halt the slide before growing in confidence to play a few aggressive strokes against an attack that has looked significantly less menacing.