MULTAN, Pakistan (Reuters):

West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels says he considers his unbeaten 99-ball century against Pakistan in the fourth one-day international (ODI) in Multan yesterday as a special knock, especially since he stayed to the end of the innings and ensured that the Windies were home safely in overhauling the Pakistani total of 209.

"It's a special knock because of the situation and because to still be there at the end as the team pulled it off. It was a special team effort and it's a lovely feeling to play an innings like that," he said.

It was Samuels' second ODI century for the Windies, but he says he relished more the chance of batting higher in the innings.

"The big relief was not scoring the hundred, but it is that I have been getting the opportunity to bat at four now. I'm just trying to make the best use of it right now.

Bat at any position

"I don't have a problem batting anywhere in the order, it's what the team requires at the time, I don't mind going out there and trying to pull off games especially when the situation gets tight, but most of the time you fail more than succeed at number seven."

He added: "At number three or four where I have been batting for Jamaica you get to assess the situation, and it's always good for a batsman to assess the situation and know what the pitch is doing and know what shots to play and what shots not to play."

The middle-order batsman had not been among the runs for some time, but he said that did not deflate his self-belief.

Always confident

"I'm always confident even though I wasn't getting any runs down the order in the last couple of innings, especially in ICC Champions Trophy and the DLF Cup in Malaysia, but I back myself in the field and when bowling. I was just waiting for the opportunity to get an early knock to use up the confidence I have in the field."

He has been contributing significantly in the bowling department more than batting and says it's important.

"My bowling is very important to me, it is lovely to know you do three things on a cricket field. It is difficult to stay out of the game that way. My bowling is in good form, my fielding as well is in good form and I was just waiting for my batting to come back."

Commenting on next year's World Cup to be staged in the Caribbean, Samuels said: "We've been playing very good (one-day international) cricket as a team this year and the team spirit is high. We have a few games against India before the World Cup so we will look to win those games, prepare properly and go to Sabina Park in Jamaica and start the first game against Pakistan on a high."