DHAKA, Bangladesh (CMC):

Stylish right-hander Marlon Samuels stroked his fifth one-day international (ODI) century as West Indies beat Bangladesh by four wickets yesterday to halt a two-game losing skid and haul themselves back into the five-match series.

Entering the contest at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium with an embarrassing series loss hanging over their heads, West Indies limited the Tigers to 227 all out off 49.1 overs before marching to their target off 47 overs, to secure the crucial win.

Samuels, short of runs in the ODI series, returned to his best when it mattered most, carving a superb 126 from 149 balls with 17 fours and two sixes.

Samuels batted patiently while also exploiting some wayward bowling by the seamers, although he had a close call on 95 and was dropped at slip.

He was particularly severe on Rubel Hossain, the right-arm seamer, who was given the 45th over, with West Indies needing 34.

Samuels punished Hossain scoring 24 runs in the over, including three fours and two sixes.

His 126 is his highest score and fourth century in ODIs, and is also his third century on the subcontinent.

Highest score

Also, Samuels' century is the sixth by a West Indies batsman in ODIs against Bangladesh and the highest score by a West Indies batsman against Bangladesh.

His dismissal came too late as West Indies were only six away from victory with four overs to spare.

However, it was his partnership with opener Kieran Powell, in for his first match for the out-of-form Lendl Simmons, that formed the foundation for the Windies triumph after they lost prized opener Chris Gayle cheaply.

The pair put on 111 for the second wicket with the left-handed Powell getting 47 from 59 balls with four fours and a six.

The stand between Powell and Samuels is the joint highest second-wicket stand for West Indies against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh now lead the series 2-1. The fourth ODI is tomorrow in Dhaka.

BANGLADESH

Fall of wickets: 1-57 (Tamim Iqbal, 12.2 overs), 2-61 (Naeem Islam, 12.4), 3-67 (Anamul Haque, 14.3), 4-78 (Nasir Hossain, 17.1), 5-110 (Mominul Haque, 22.4), 6-168 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 36), 7-171 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 38.3), 8-210 (Mahmudullah, 46), 9-225 (Abdur Razzak, 48), 10-227 (Sohag Gazi, 49.1).

Bowling: Rampaul 4-0-19-0 (w1), Sammy 9.1-0-46-2 (w2), Narine 10-0-37-4 (w2, nb1), Permaul 10-0-40-2 (w1), Gayle 10-1-36-1 (w7), Pollard 2-0-21-0 (w1), Smith 3-0-14-1, Samuels 1-0-7-0.

WEST INDIES

C Gayle c wkp Mushfiqur Rahim b

K Powell st Mushfiqur

M Samuels c Mahmudullah b

Did not bat: V Permaul, S Narine, R Rampaul.

Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Gayle, 4 overs), 2-126 (Powell, 26.3), 3-158 (Bravo, 33.4), 4-171 (Smith, 37.4), 5-182 (Pollard, 39.5), 6-222 (Samuels, 46.1).

Bowling: Sohag Gazi 9-1-36-0 (w2), Mashrafe Mortaza 6-0-34-2, Rubel Hossain 5-0-42-0 (w1), Abdur Razzak 10-0-34-2, Mahmudullah 9-0-43-1 (w4), Naeem Islam 5-1-21-1, Mominul Haque 3-0-9-0.

Result: West Indies won by four wickets.

Series: Bangladesh lead five-match series 2-1.

Man of the Match: Marlon Samuels.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: Enamul Haque, Ranmore Martinesz

TV: Anisur Rahman.