BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Elegant stroke-maker Marlon Samuels hit a fluent half-century but fell in the final over before lunch to leave West Indies in a bind on the second day of the first Test against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

The right-hander carved out 51 but nicked a drive at medium pacer Hamilton Masakadza through to wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva, as West Indies stumbled to the break at 144 for five.

His dismissal ended an ominous partnership of 63 with Shiv Chanderpaul who was unbeaten at the interval on an enterprising 25.

Seamer Kyle Jarvis, who accounted for Darren Bravo for 11 in the eighth over of the morning, has taken three for 27.

Resuming the day at Kensington Oval on 18 for two, West Indies pushed on through opener Chris Gayle and Bravo, who extended their third-wicket stand to 35 before being separated.

The left-handed Gayle stroked 40 from 76 balls with eight fours while Bravo, who never really settled, soaked up 32 balls and counted two fours.

He reeled off exquisite cover drives off Tendai Chatara and Jarvis but then needlessly sparred at one on a length and was taken behind with the score on 43.

Gayle and Samuels then added 38 for the fourth wicket in quick time off just 46 balls, with both batsmen unafraid to play their natural attacking game.

Samuels, in his first game of the year since recovering from a serious eye injury, faced 74 balls and hit nine fours and a six – a pull over mid-wicket off leg-spinner Graeme Cremer.

Gayle, meanwhile, smashed Chatara for two boundaries in the right-armer’s ninth over – the first a firm cut and the second, a fierce drive through mid-off.

Chatara gained revenge immediately after the drinks break, however, when he got one to jump from off a length for Gayle to glove a simple catch to captain Brendan Taylor at second slip.

Samuels and Chanderpaul put the Zimbabwe bowling to the sword in an entertaining stand before Samuels’s ambition cost him with two balls left before lunch.

Chanderpaul has so far faced 36 balls and struck four boundaries.