KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Out-of-favour West Indies opener Xavier Marshall cracked his second consecutive trial match hundred Sunday as he continues his build up for the 2010 West Indies first-class season starting next month.
Marshall stroked an aggressive unbeaten 110 as Tamar Lambert’s XI closed their second innings on 201 for six – an overall lead of 345 entering the final day of the four-day Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) trial match at Melbourne.
The 23-year-old right-hander had scored 125 in his side’s first-innings total of 427 and Dave Bernard’s XI replied with 283.
Resuming on 168 for three, Bernard’s side added another 115 runs on Sunday with only No.9 batsman Bevon Brown (50) scoring well against medium pacer Shawn Findlay (3-51) and leg-spinner Odean Brown (3-69).
Marshall, a part-time off-spinner, bagged two for 14.
When Lambert’s XI began their second innings, Marshall, who last played for West Indies at the ICC World Twenty20 Championship in England in June, sustained his first innings form with another splendid knock.
He struck seven fours and nine sixes and helped push his side into an impregnable position.
The match, which ended yesterday is the last trial before an 18-man squad is selected for the reigning champions to start final preparations for the WICB Regional Four-Day Cham-pionship.
