Marlon Samuels ... made his second Test century against South Africa in the final Test. - File

IT TOOK more than five years for Marlon Samuels to score his second Test century and while he welcomed the milestone, his team, the West Indies, did not have an enjoyable time celebrating it.

Samuels, whose first Test century, 104, came against India in 2002, struck his second, 105, in a losing effort for the West Indies in the third and deciding Test against South Africa last week. Despite the loss, Samuels did enough to be named The Gleaner's Top Performer of the Week for the third straight time.

Though the West Indies lost the Test, Samuels and Dwayne Bravo batted for nearly three hours together, trying to keep the West Indies' flame alight in a fifth-wicket partnership of 144. However, when Samuels lost his stand-in skipper Bravo leg before wicket to Dale Steyn for 75 (117 balls, 13 fours) the end was near.

By this time, Samuels was 19 away from his hundred and Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy to come, he was sure not to run out of partner.

Defence breached

Shortly after reaching his century, Steyn returned and Samuels slapped the first ball dismissively to the point boundary for his 18th four, but the next was a wicked delivery, fast and on a perfect length and straightening enough to breach his defence and trim his off stump.

In the end, Samuels, who faced 190 balls, had batted for 4 1/14 hours.

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