By Marlon Munroe
National middle-order batsman Assad Fudadin slammed a century to pace the National Squad to 287-8 at the close of the first day’s play of the three-day trial match at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary against a Rest Team.

Fudadin, who scored 106, featured in a 134-run, third wicket stand with Vishal ‘Cheesy’ Singh who made 68.

However, after being comfortably placed on 182-3, The National Squad suffered a middle-order collapse before Esaun Crandon, batting at number eight, and number 10 Trevor Benn shared in an unbeaten 46-run ninth wicket stand.

Crandon was unbeaten on 43 and Benn on six at stumps.

The next best partnership was 25 for the first wicket between Trevon Griffith (8), who was selected in the West Indies Under-19 World Cup team scheduled for January 15 in New Zealand, and former WI youth batsman Rajendra Chandrika (31).

Batting first after winning the toss on a slow Eve Leary pitch that offered some invariable bounce to the bowlers, the National Squad were 48-2 when Fudadin strode to the wicket.

Fudadin and Singh decided to dig in and make the bowlers toil.

Fudadin, who was dropped on 32 made the bowlers pay striking four sixes and 10 fours before he was caught by Wasim Haslim off the bowling of pacer Keyron Fraser.

Singh, who played the supporting role to Fudadin eventually reached his half century before becoming one of off spinner Stephen Latcha’s three wickets.

He struck eight fours and faced 168 balls.

Royston Crandon (7), Deon Ferrier (2), wicketkeeper Derwin Christian (1) and Veerasammy Permaul (7) all fell cheaply as the Rest Team sought to pull things back.

Latcha finished with figures of 3-40 from 19 overs while Totaram Bishun ended with 2-91 from 23 overs.