PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Chris Gayle paid tribute to Marlon Samuels after his compatriot helped guide West Indies to a second one-day international series win under his captaincy.
Samuels (left) and Chanderpaul got the job done. Photo: AP |
Samuels scored 54 not out, ending a lean spell in Tests and ODIs, in a match-winning partnership of 107 with the dependable Shivnarine Chanderpaul (52 not out), as West Indies chased down a reduced total of 125 from 25 overs to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead over Sri Lanka.
‘It was scary to lose three wickets but Chanderpaul and Samuels came to the party and we have to give credit to all the team for the way they played today,’ said Gayle.
‘He showed a lot of maturity out there today,’ Gayle said of his fellow Jamaican.
The hosts had been in deep trouble at 18 for three when Samuels came to the crease.
Gayle (11), Dwayne Bravo (2) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (1) were all back in the pavilion having perished to the medium-pace of Nuwan Kulasekara (3-28).
But for the second match in a row the Sri Lankans could not find a way through Chanderpaul’s defences, and he raced to a half-century in 40 balls.
Samuels followed suit in the same Kulasekara over, punching the air in delight and embracing his batting partner.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene admitted the Duckworth-Lewis victory target had left his team with an uphill task.
‘The only we we could have won was by bowling them out, but we couldn’t get the breakthrough and penetrate their middle order,’ he said.
Coach John Dyson said: “The guys did a sensational job overall. We bowled well and fielded well. There were a couple little errors that we would like to avoid, but overall the fielding effort was very, very good.
“When we batted, the experience of Chanderpaul and Samuels was perfect. They batted superbly.”
The third one dayers is in St Lucia tomorrow.
It was Dyson’s first series victory in One-day Internationals as West Indies coach following a 5-0 drubbing in South Africa.
“Every series is important. I’ve always said that at international level, your aim is to win the series,” Dyson said.
“Our group has been working hard for some time and I’m really pleased for them that they’ve been able to put it together in front of their home crowd. “
Dyson also lauded the contribution of Samuels. “I’ve been saying all along that in the nets Marlon has looked in great form. Within himself, he has been relaxed and confident about his ability,” Dyson said.
“It was a superb innings he played under a bit of pressure because of all the talk that has been going on and because we lost a couple of wickets with the new ball.
“He played the match perfectly. It just goes to show that Marlon has great skill.”
Chaderpaul is in a fine vein of form and with the Australians visiting next month, things, for once look good for the West Indies.
Related Videos
