Lara praises under-fire Samuels by AFP

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 6th March 2007

 

West Indies skipper Brian Lara heaped praise on Marlon Samuels, who has been at the centre of a police probe into alleged links with a bookmaker, after the batsman hit a century in the World Cup warm-up win over Kenya.

 

Lara said the unbeaten century was "special" and that Samuels was a potential match-winner.

 

Samuels's innings helped the hosts to a total of 268 for five and a 21-run victory.

 

"Every time Marlon scores runs you can expect something special from him and again on Monday he played a very good innings for us and you just have to hope that he carries on," Lara said.

 

"At this present time he's getting more of an opportunity and he's making full use of it.

 

"One of the things we stress is to try and find more match-winners in the team and he's sort of finding his way to that level."

 

Samuels' inclusion in the 15-man World Cup squad came as no real shock despite being accused by Indian police of having passed on team information to a man suspected of being a bookie, Mukesh Kochar, during last month's one-day series in India.

 

But police said there was no evidence money had changed hands and it had only brought it to the notice of cricket authorities because it was a violation of the ICC's code of conduct, which bars players from dealing with bookmakers.

 

Samuels has admitted he has known Kochar for the past six years but did not believe he was a bookmaker.

 

Meanwhile, Lara has demanded more intensity from his team.

 

"It was a warm-up for the team and of course, it lacked the intensity, especially at the time when we took the field, the guys were getting three per over. Some guys were playing their first game for quite some time."

 

The West Indies' next warm-up match is on Friday against India here and Lara predicted that his side will put on a stronger performance in that game.

 

"India are much more formidable opponents and a team that we'll be looking to get that psychological advantage over," said the skipper.

 

"The guys will be looking to working their way into their stride and working towards Friday."

 

Kenya captain Steve Tikolo said he was disappointed by his team's narrow defeat.

 

"We did well up front but we let them get away in the end," said Tikolo, one of his team's main contributors with 34, along with Collins Obuya (53) and Ravindu Shah (41).

 

Samuels hit seven fours and two sixes before he retired on 100, as West Indies set Kenya 269 to win.

 

A handful of the Kenyan batsmen got starts, but no one was able to carry on, as the visitors were restricted to 247 for seven from their allocation of 50 overs.

 

West Indies, the world champions in 1975 and 1979, have been drawn with Pakistan, Ireland, and Zimbabwe in Group D of the tournament in Jamaica.

 

Kenya, surprising semifinalists in 2003, challenge England, New Zealand, and Canada in Group B to be contested in St. Lucia.

 

The 2007 World Cup officially opens on Sunday at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium in Jamaica.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)