Marlon Samuels was the chief destroyer for the West Indies on Day 2 of their warm-up match against a SA Invitational XI.

Marlon Samuels evidently has another gear. On Day 1, the free-scoring West Indian batsman raced to 103 off 102 balls. On Day 2, he put his foot to the floor, reaching the 150-mark in 135 deliveries and surpassing 200 in just 174.

Samuels was in commanding touch, smashing even the most experienced bowlers in the South African lineup to the boundary. He retired out on 203. This sparkling innings included 32 4s and four 6s.

He was well supported by Devon Smith (174), and together the pair amassed 360 runs for the third wicket. This performance will surely lend Smith, the man tasked with filling the void left by the injured Chris Gayle, some confidence ahead of the Test series against the Proteas.

While the result rarely matters in these warm-up fixtures, the tourists are now well placed to win this encounter by an innings. The West Indies failed to maintain the momentum after Samuels and Smith retired, but still managed to post a mammoth total of 508.

Bad light stopped play an hour before the scheduled close. The SA Invitational will have 95 overs to survive on the third and final day of play.

DAY 2 SCORECARD
West Indies (1st innings) 508 – Devon Smith 174, Marlon Samuels 203, Tabraiz Shamsi 3-106
SA Invitational XI (2nd innings) 17/0 – Dominic Hendricks 8*, Gihahn Cloete 9*.
SA Invitational XI trail by 366 runs

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