BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):Strokemaker Marlon Samuels celebrated his return to full fitness with a typically elegant half-century on the second day of the three-day tour match against Zimbabwe here yesterday.

The right-hander struck 55 as the High Performance Centre tallied 213 for seven in reply to Zimbabwe's 255 for eight declared, at the Desmond Haynes Oval.

Leg-spinner Graham Cremer staked his claim for a spot in the final XI for the first Test with five for 74.

Samuels has been kept out of action ever since he suffered a serious eye injury while playing in the Australia Big Bash in early January. He top-edged a short ball from Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga into his face.

Sidelined for the one-day and Twenty20 series against Zimbabwe, Samuels readied himself for next week's start of the first Test at Kensington Oval with an innings that required 80 balls in 104 minutes, and contained 10 fours.

Zimbabwe 1st Innings

255 for eight dec. (Masaskadza 112; Warrican 2/48)

HPC 1st Innings

To bat: K Roach, S Cotterrell.

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-15, 3-89, 4-89, 5-127, 6-144, 7-212.

Bowling: Jarvis 13-3-37-2, Meth 16-6-38-0, Chatara 9-3-35-0, Cremer 21-2-74-5, Price 14-6-23-0, Williams 2-1-5-0.

Position: HPC trail by 42 runs with three wickets standing.

Toss: Zimbabwe.

Umpires: N Duguid, G Brathwaite.