Reuters
West Indies' Marlon Samuels drives against South Africa on the opening day of the first Test in Port Elizabeth. Samuels made 94.

JAMAICAN MARLON Samuels starred for the West Indies on the first day of their Boxing Day Test match against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.

Samuels' innings of 94 helped the West Indies to 281 for four at the end of the first day and it is with this performance that he has been voted The Gleaner's Top Performer of the Week.

Samuels was dismissed just six short of his century; his second-highest Test score behind his only century (104) against India in Kolkata in 2002.

The Melbourne Cricket Club batsman batted patiently and carefully for 267 minutes and faced 195 balls.

He also had two reasonably good partnerships - 64 for the third wicket with Runako Morton (33) and 111 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (106), which helped the West Indies to an eventual total of 408.

South African dangerman Dale Steyn finally removed Samuels, who provided Jacques Kallis with the second slips catch.

"I felt really pumped up at the crease today. I felt like a warrior carrying the charge for the team," Samuels said.

"(Andre) Nel is a warrior on the field and on the field I'm a warrior too. It (banter) worked in my favour. He gave me a few words which really got me hyped up and I would like to 'thank' him for that. He got me going," said Samuels.

- AP