Marlon Samuels frustrates wasteful England in Grenada despite early inroads

Marlon Samuels' half-century handed West Indies a lifeline and left England rueing missed opportunities after disrupted first day of the second Test in Grenada.

The 34-year-old finished 94 not out at the close after helped the hosts recover from 74 for 4 as England took full advantage of early swing and poor stroke-play from the West Indies batsman.

Chris Jordan took 2-40 while there were wickets for James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes in bowler friendly conditions at the National Cricket Stadium.

But Samuels and Darren Bravo (35) provided much needed bouts of resistance for the home side, who scored slowly and lost batsman at regular intervals as they toiled on the opening day though they will be encouraged by a tea session where they kept their opponents at an arm's length.

England will be left considering a failure to make further inroads which included three dropped chances with Stokes, Gary Balance and Alastair Cook the guilty men, butchered opportunities which could yet come back to haunt the tourists who fell short of victory in Antigua in the first test.

Early morning rain which delayed the start and losing the toss meant the West Indies were unable to maintain the momentum they had built in keeping England three wickets short of victory on day five of the opening match, and soon the tourists were into their stride once again.

In overcast conditions, it took just seven balls for Anderson to work his magic with the swinging ball, producing a delivery which darted in at Kraigg Braithwaite (1) and castled the opener in emphatic fashion.

Devon Smith made 15 before a routine edge off Jordan sailed into the gloves of Jos Buttler and when Bravo found the hands of Cook and Shiv Chanderpaul's lapse drive off Stokes was hit straight to the recalled Moeen Ali at gully, the West Indies were threatened to collapse.

Samuels and first Test centurion Jermaine Blackwood put on 55 for the fifth wicket before Jordan and England successfully reviewed a not out lbw decision, which saw the latter depart for 26 in the tea session.

One heartening sign heading into day two for the West Indies was seeing Samuels reach his 22<sup>nd Test match half-century and while Ramdin (6 not out) offered very little in the form of an offensive approach, the home side can at least feel optimistic they can set a commendable first innings score.

Bad light drew an end to play with West Indies 188 for 5, a sub-par total which nevertheless left England frustrated by the failure to capitalise on early scalps and make full use of the conditions which are set to even out over the course of the match.