Replying to the visitors’ first innings total of 211, the home side lost Darren Bravo to a catch at the wicket off Kyle Jarvis in the first hour, giving the opening bowler his third wicket. However Samuels joined fellow-Jamaican Chris Gayle and the pair proceeded to accelerate the scoring with a succession of boundaries, forcing Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor to ring the changes in pursuit of a breakthrough.

Samuels brought up his 18th Test half-century just before the interval but perished in the last over to the break, driving loosely at Hamilton Masakadza to be caught behind for and give Zimbabwe hope into the afternoon.