Samuels' 7th test ton and 10th wicket partnership keep Windies in 2nd test vs England

By Patrick R. Anderson

After a one hour delay and regular outbursts of rain in St. George's, Grenada, the West Indies managed to score 299 all out in between the rain drops on the second day of the 2nd test against England, who clawed their way to 74-0 in reply to marginally take the advantage in the pivotal test.

Resuming on 5-188 with 34-year-old Marlon Samuels on 94 and skipper Denesh Ramdin on 6, it would be about 4 hours before Samuels painstaking - but necessary -  7th test century, 103, came up on the board. The stylish right hander batted for 4 hrs and 56 minutes all told, faced 228 balls to demonstrate his patience and resolve, and stroked 14 wonderful boundaries.

Samuels has a healthy 62.88 batting average against England in tests, while averaging a career 36.27. There is no doubt Samuels has taken a likiing to England's bowling, which is why Jimmy Anderson celebrated and gave Samuels a rowdy send off after he was caught in the slips by Ian Bell for 103.

He added 94 for the 6th wicket with his skipper Ramdin who went on to score 31. Stuart Broad who bowled a little above 90 mph, had a burst in the afternoon to slice through the Windies batting, reducing them from 5-223 to 9-247. But even then, this appears to be a fighting West Indies, as the norm would be to collapse and be all out, but Devendra Bishoo, 30, and Shannon Gabriel 20 not out, put on 52 for the last wicket to push West Indies to 299 all out. They added 170 runs for their 5-wickets after slumping to 5-129 on the first day.

Broad was rewarded with 4-61, Anderson ended with 2-47, Chris Jordan 2-65, Moeen Ali 1-47 and Ben Stokes who riled up Samuels, took 1-66.

But England hit back late Wednesday, posting their highest opening stand since the Ashes in December 2013.

Skipper Alastair Cook 37 and Jonathan Trott 32 saw England into the shed at 74-0, 225 runs behind the West Indies. Cook was lucky though, he was dropped at short leg by Jermaine Blackwood when on 17, this against leg spinner Devendra Bishoo who troubled Cook. It was a sharp chance though, off the full face of the back at ankle height bouncing off Blackwood's hand.

Scores entering Thursday's 3rd day, West Indies 299 all out; England 74-0.