Samuels hit half-century; Windies set 242-run Target for Pak

Kingston, Mar 13 (UNI) Marlon Samuels hit a timely 63 as the West Indies overcame a slow start to post a challenging 241 in the World Cup opener against Pakistan here today.

Mired in a match-fixing controversy last month, Samuels chose to silence his critics with an emphatic show with the bat.

His 70-ball effort and a 91-run crucial fourth-wicket partnership with skipper Brian Lara (37) steered the hosts clear after they were in troubled waters with three wickets down and just 77 on scoreboard in 25 overs.

In fact it was a much-improved show by the West Indian middle order altogether as against their sudden collapse in the warm-up match against India with most of their top-guns contributing with the bat today.

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