Bermuda 256-6

USA 152

Stung by a shock defeat to Cayman Islands on Tuesday, Bermuda's youth cricketers rebounded emphatically yesterday to trounce the USA by 104 runs in the Americas Under-19 Cricket Championships in Toronto, Canada.

The assault was led by the trio of Delyone Borden and Oronde Bascome - with the bat - and Shane Hollis with the ball.

Taking first knock, the Bermudians amassed an impressive 256 for six with Borden firing an unbeaten 75 and Bascome supporting admirably with 56 while Jacobi Robinson contributed 23 towards the end of the 50 overs.

Bascome - fresh from his first 50 for St. George's in domestic cricket two weekends ago - shared in a 52-run stand with Mishael Paynter for the second wicket and then in a vital 140-odd partnership with Borden for the third wicket.

The Bermudians completed the task by routing the USA for 152 on the last ball of the 49th over.

Picking up where his team-mates left off, Hollis undermined the North Americans' reply, snapping up six for 27 in ten overs. Rodney Trott chipped in with two for 19, also off ten overs.

The outcome lifted team spirit immeasurably after the Bermudians lost by 96 runs to the Caymans in their opening fixture. Lots of laughter and chatter could be heard as the squad spoke to The Royal Gazette last night during the bus ride back to their hotel.

"They were 100 percent better than yesterday. The application was there and they were more committed.

"The things we were telling them before this tournament started I guess didn't sink in but the loss yesterday (Tuesday) must have got underneath their bonnet. Today they batted with some sense and caution and saw out the 50 overs," said assistant coach Arnold Manders.

He also complimented his team's showing in the field though there is still room for improvement.

"The performance in the field today was a bit better than yesterday. We gave up an extra 30 or 40 runs against the Caymans but today they were sharper. At the end they let it slide a bit because they knew they were winning but I think the USA got about 20 or 30 runs too many."

Asked if he thought complacency was to blame for the result against the Caymans, he replied candidly: "I think that might have been it, I'm not going to lie."

He said all the players were disappointed in how they capitulated against the other islanders in the tournament and were determined to compensate for it.

"I think they are putting their best foot forward now. We still have a few players who haven't given us what we need but, hopefully, for the next two games they will come on board and help us qualify."

The threesome in the vanguard of yesterday's victory were pleased to be on the winning end of the game.

"I felt pretty good. My main goal was to contain the batsmen and pick up a wicket here and there. As I bowled tight the wickets began to fall," said 19-year-old Hollis.

The Somerset right-arm medium pacer expressed confidence for the remaining matches as did 18-year-old Borden who arrived at the crease after the fall of two quick wickets. Given the mini-crisis, the number four batsman decided "to just take the singles and put away the bad balls".

"The spinners bowled tidy and I had to pick the gaps. I felt I batted well but I could have done better by putting away more bad balls," said the St. David's player.

Bascome echoed similar intentions, saying he tried to keep his wicket intact and support his batting partners.

Following today's rest day, Bermuda faces two final and important clashes against Argentina tomorrow and Canada on Saturday. They still have a chance of qualifying for the Under-19 World Cup, especially with the Caymans losing to the hosts by two wickets yesterday.

"If we can beat Argentina and Canada we are in with a shot because everybody would have lost one game and it would go down to net run rate.

"We need a convincing win against Argentina and another one against Canada," explained Manders.

The assistant coach said his boys are capable of succeeding if they play to their full potential.

"We can beat both Argentina and Canada but they have to do all three aspects of the game excellently - bowl well, field well and bat well. If they can do that we should beat both."