THE right-handed trio of Xavier Marshall, David Bernard Jnr and Marlon Samuels showed good batting form during a Jamaica squad match yesterday as players continued their preparation for the West Indies Cricket Board Caribbean Twenty20 (WICB CT20) tournament.

Batting for Wavell Hinds’ XI, openers Marshall and Bernard Jnr belted Brenton Parchment’s XI bowlers to all sections of the ground in a stand of 144 at Kensington Park.

Marshall, who struck 85, was characteristically swashbuckling with 10 fours and three massive sixes off 61 deliveries.

Though less aggressive than his opening partner, Bernard Jnr kept the scorers busy with three sixes and two fours in his 51 off 41 balls.

Though normally a middle-order batsman, the all-rounder has consistently been asked to open since Trinidadian Augustine ‘Gus’ Logie took over as head coach of the team.

Samuels also continued his rich vein of form in the squad matches by smashing a sumptuous 50 from just 19 balls. The elegant batsman tore into pacer Jerome Taylor and spinner Dennis Bulli to push Hinds’ XI to 203 for five in 20 overs.

Bulli ended with three for 50 off four overs, while Andrew Richardson ended with one for 29, also off four.

Taylor, who recently recovered from long-term hip and back injury, bowled relatively well, but ended wicketless off his four overs for 35 runs.

Chasing an improbable target, Parchment’s XI found the going tough against Hinds’ XI bowlers and were restricted to 132 for four off their 20 overs.

Opener Kenar Lewis topscored with a run-a-ball 39 against stifling spells from spinners Odean Brown (two for 21) and Xavier Marshall (one for nine). Seamer Krishmar Santokie was also impressive at the top of the order, taking one wicket for 18 runs.