''Distracted'' Samuels relieved after scoring a ton

Montego Bay, Jamaica, Mar 7 (UNI) West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels, whose involvement in an alleged match-fixing incident, is being investigated by Nagpur Police and ICC Anti-Corruption Unit of ICC is relieved that he came up with a big score despite having ''lot of distractions''.

''It's a good feeling to score a hundred coming from a lot of distractions,'' Samuels said after hitting a century in West Indies warm-up win against Kenya in an obvious reference to the match-fixing incident.

''I've had a lot of distractions in my career and I know how to take the negatives and turn them into positives, the greatest thing was the support I have received from the crowd both in Kingston and in the country, it was delightful,'' he was quoted as saying by the West Indies Board website.

Samuels also said that he is ready to take centrestage as West Indies look to write history by winning the showpiece event at home.

Captain Brian Lara has been saying all along that for the West Indies to lift the World Cup his team needs to find more match winners among the ranks and beyond himself and the other big names -- Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Lara's message has been getting through to his teammates but none more so than Samuels. In the last three games that the West Indies won, Samuels scored 100 not out (against Pakistan), 98 (against India) and 100 against Kenya yesterday.

''I am aware of it, the captain spoke to me and said he is looking for match winners and I told him I have no problem doing that,'' said the 26-year-old.

''The captain asked for match winners and he is giving me the chance and I'm relishing the opportunity.'' UNI