Fudadin hits century but Rest team in control
DESPITE a belligerent century from stand-in skipper Assad Fudadin along with a half-century from Vishal Singh, the National XI were fighting to regain control at the end of the first day of their three-day practice game against a Rest team at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, yesterday.

When umpire Eddie Nicholls offered bad light to the batsmen, the National team which was selected for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)-sponsored President’s Cup four-day competition last Monday, were 287-8, thanks to Fudadin’s 106 (117 balls; 10×4, 4×6) and Singh’s 68 (133balls, 8×4).

At the close of play, national all-rounder Esaun Crandon was unbeaten on 43 (3×4, 1×6) and Trevor Benn 6, against the bowling of Stephen Herman Latcha and Totaram Bishun who took 3-40 and 2-91 from 19 and 23 overs respectively.

Earlier, Fudadin, who was leading the team in the absence of appointed skipper Sewnarine Chattergoon who was given a leave of absence from the management team, won the toss but lost both Trevon Griffith 8 and Rajendra Chandrika 31 (4×4) to be 48-2.

The in-form 24-year-old Fudadin, who had earlier this year led the Berbice Inter-county team to a clean sweep of all Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior competitions, joined forces with Singh and the two added 134 for the third wicket.

Fudadin reached his ton from 108 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes, three off Latcha and the other a top-edged pull to fine leg off discarded national all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, who had seen Anthony Bramble grass an easy chance off the same batsmen before he had reached his ton.

The Rest team did account for Fudadin shortly after he passed his century, caught by Wasim Haslim off Keyron Fraser for his 106, while Singh who took 101 balls and struck five fours in his 50, was caught by Trevon Garraway at long on off Bishun – a rebounded catch for the fielder who had dropped the same batsman in the same position in the bowler’s previous over.

A lapse in concentration along with reckless batting accounted for the lower order of the national team’s batting as they slipped from 182-3 to 241-8 in the space of 15.4 overs, losing the wickets of Royston Crandon (7), Dion Ferrier (2) and Derwin Christian (2).

Some rearguard action from Esaun Crandon, who hit Bishun over long on for a maximum, followed by a four in the same position in one over, followed by another four off Latcha, coupled with stern defence from Benn, helped guide the national team to their total which was made off 82 overs, when light was offered.