Tamar Lambert cracked an unbeaten 142 as his XI ended the first day in the first of three trial matches on 306 for six wickets at Up Park Camp yesterday.

Lambert’s attractive knock comprised of 21 fours and five sixes from 216 balls faced against mostly tidy bowling from David Bernard Jr’s XI. Lambert was fluid throughout and was particularly aggressive against pacer Jason Dawes who ended wicketless for 77 runs off 13 overs.

Bernard Jr was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets for 42 runs off seven overs, while spinner Odean Brown toiled away for 17 overs to finish the day with one wicket for 42 runs. Krishmar Santokie, Wavell Hinds and Shawn Findlay also finished with one wicket a piece.

Opener Zeniffe Fowler went early leg before wicket to Santokie for nine, while his partner Danza Hyatt was caught by Jason Dawes off the bowling of medium pacer Bernard Jr for 20. Lambert was ably assisted by young batsman Horace Miller who made an even 50 off 106 balls before driving in the air to mid on off Findlay’s lively medium pace. West Indies representative Xavier Marshall raced to 30 at a run-a-ball but was then caught by Bernard Jr off the bowling of Odean Brown, while Donavan Sinclair made just 15 before he too was dismissed by Bernard Jr.

Another West Indies representative, Carlton Baugh, was then adjudged leg before wicket for 14 late in the day. Nikita Miller ended the day on 11 and will rejoin his skipper at the wicket when play resumes today at 10:00 am.

National coach Junior Bennett had high praises for Lambert after his knock. “I think he played a very mature innings. He showed application, grit and determination and he seems to be in good form,” he said, while adding that the stocky middle order batsman has improved his physical condition since he was controversially dropped from the Jamaica one-day squad which played in Guyana last month.

Bennett also highlighted the fact that despite the flat pitch, the bowlers had put in decent work to restrict Lambert’s XI to that score. “I think they bowled fairly well. It’s not a pitch you get a lot of assistance from,” said Bennett.

Lambert expressed satisfaction after the day’s play ended and said he was all concentration out in the middle. “It was a good batting strip and I had to apply myself. I was very impressed with my concentration level because I concentrated right to the end (of play). Hopefully tomorrow (today) I can continue in that frame of mind,” he noted.

Lambert, while admitting that he was not in ideal physical condition last time around, said he has been working hard to achieve greater fitness. “I’ve been doing a lot of work with the physical trainer David Bernard Snr and I must give thanks to him. He has pushed me to the end (in training). The last tournament I wasn’t in because my fitness level was low. I’m trying to get myself fitter and fitter and I know I’m getting there,” he pointed out.