A quickfire hundred from opener Xavier Marshall highlighted the first day of the third and final Trial game at the Melbourne Oval to select Jamaica’s team for the upcoming four-day regional cricket competition.

Marshall’s innings was laced with 19 fours and three sixes on a pitch which again seemed to favour the batsmen.

He was particularly brutal on the front foot, executing drives down the ground as well as through mid-off and the cover region before he was bowled by spinner Nkruma Bonner for 125 off 148 deliveries.

Marshall, who from his teenage years has been touted as one of the more talented batsmen in the region, attributed his knock to determination.

“I wanted to spend some time at the crease; I batted from session to session. I was a bit frustrated in the second game where I threw away my hand when I was on 69 and I learned from that and I decided that when I reached 60 I was going to continue (to triple figures). I just have to continue working hard,” he said.

Fellow opener Zeniffe Fowler made a fighting 47, but was then cut down by left-arm spinner Andre Dwyer, while John- Ross Campbell made only one and Shawn Findlay was sent back for eight.

Captain Tamar Lambert played serenely for 46 before he was run out, and it was left to Carlton Baugh Jr (47 not out) and Daren Powell (53 not out) to again push the fielding team on the backfoot with an aggressive, unbeaten stand of 103 for the sixth wicket.

Baugh Jr hit seven fours in his 67-ball knock, while the hard-hitting Powell has struck five fours and two sixes so far. Both will resume today with Lambert’s XI on a comfortable 348-5.

Bonner was David Bernard Jr XI’s best bowler with 2-31 from 16 overs, while Dwyer and pacer Andre Russell finished with a wicket each.

National coach Junior Bennett again lauded the batsmen for making use of the favourable conditions yesterday.

“Batting-wise it was another good day. Some players got starts and Xavier carried on and made a good hundred; he was positive right throughout,” said Bennett.

He however defended the display of the bowlers and felt that in general they had made a good effort on a placid pitch.

“Some of the bowlers stuck to the task as it was difficult for them. The pitch is good and the outfield is fast and small, so getting 340-odd in a day is not impossible,” he added.