PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa), Dec 26: Marlon Samuels and captain Chris Gayle played contrasting innings as the West Indies belied their underdog status on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at St George’s Park on Wednesday.

Gayle hit an explosive 66 and Samuels made a watchful 94 as the West Indies reached 281 for four at the close after being sent in to bat on what proved to be an easy-paced pitch.

Opening batsman Gayle hammered his runs off 48 balls in his first innings since injuring his right hamstring against Zimbabwe 26 days ago.

Mainly through Gayle, who was a doubtful starter until declaring himself fit shortly before the start, the West Indies raced to 130 for two at lunch but the scoring rate slowed during the afternoon as the South Africans opted for containment and the West Indian batsmen dug in.

Samuels and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were particularly careful as they eked out a 50-run partnership off a slow 163 balls. But the rate picked up and they made the stand worth 100 off only another 58 balls.

Samuels seemed set for only the second century of a 25-Test career as he moved imperiously from 67 to 92 in nine balls, with three fours each off Andre Nel and left-arm spinner Paul Harris.

But the second new ball was his undoing as he launched an extravagant drive against Dale Steyn’s fifth ball and Jacques Kallis leapt to his right at second slip to hold a spectacular catch.

It was consolation for Steyn, who twice thought he had dismissed Samuels, who was caught off a no-ball by Graeme Smith at first slip when he had 14.

Samuels did not initially hear the call from umpire Aleem Dar and started walking towards the pavilion. Six runs later he gloved the ball to A.B. de Villiers, also at first slip, but the ball had looped off his right glove, which he had taken off the bat.

Samuels batted for 267 minutes, faced 195 balls and hit 12 fours.

Gayle and Daren Ganga put on 98 for the first wicket in just 16 overs but both were out within the space of three balls.

Ganga edged a drive at a wide ball from Andre Nel and was caught behind by Mark Boucher after making 33 off 57 deliveries with four fours.

In the next over Gayle cracked left-arm spinner Paul Harris’ first ball of the match through extra cover for four but was then caught at slip by Jacques Kallis when he attempted to drive the next ball. He hit 13 boundaries.

Runako Morton and Samuels put on 64 for the third wicket but it became slow going before Morton was caught at backward point off Makhaya Ntini for 33 off a ball that bounced higher than expected and looped off a thick edge.

Gayle barely managed a jog in his pre-match fitness trial but after a discussion with coach John Dyson he took his place as West Indian captain for the first time in a Test match.

He put the injury to the test when he scored his first run with a sharp single off Steyn, having to dive to make the crease, but then played a typical Gayle innings, pounding the ball mainly off the back foot with minimal footwork to race to his half-century off 42 balls.

Scoreboard