Part-time medium pacer Stephen Outerbridge achieved a milestone in Pretoria, South Africa last weekend.

The Bailey's Bay stalwart claimed career-best bowling figures of five for 27 off just seven overs to inspire Bermuda to a –71-run win over a High Performance Centre University XI.

"It was the first time I have ever claimed five wickets in a match and I actually kept the game ball.

"And to get a first five-wicket haul playing for Bermuda made the accomplishment all the more special," Outerbridge told The Royal Gazette.

"The wicket we played on (High Performance Centre University of Pretoria) was a bit damp because we had a lot of rain.

"There was a lot of movement in the wicket and I was able to put the ball in the right areas and wait for the batsmen to make a mistake."

Outerbridge will now look to carry on in the same vein during Bermuda's final practise match in Pretoria today before they relocate to Johannesburg ahead of Saturday's official World Cup qualifying warm-up with fellow ICC Associates Namibia.

He continued: "It seems as though I have picked up a new role in the team and I knew before we arrived here that were probably short of one or two seamers. But I have basically put my hand up because this is probably the biggest tournament of my life and I just want to give it my all whether I am bowling, fielding, batting or even bringing out the water."

Next month's World Cup qualifiers promises to be something special for the University of Wales and Cardiff student as it will mark his debut in the tournament previously referred to as the ICC Trophy.

Outerbridge was studying in the UK when Bermuda qualified for a maiden World Cup in Ireland in 2005 under the captaincy of Janeiro Tucker but did take part in the World Cup itself two-years later in the West Indies.

Apart from the loss through injury earlier this week to opening batsman Chris Douglas, the Bay cricketer reckons his team's preparations have gone fairly smoothly on the African continent.

"We are progressing and everyone is focussed on the big prize," he said.

During their stay at the High Performance Centre Bermuda's cricketers have had the opportunity to size up fellow Associates Kenya and Scotland.

However rather than dwell at length over their opponents, Outerbridge and his team-mates have focussed on themselves instead in the hopes of ironing out any chinks in their armour.

"It's all about getting things right in our own squad first," he added.

"Once that is achieved, then we can begin to focus on our opposition."

Among those expected to come into Bermuda's squad for today's match are left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock and all-rounder Janeiro Tucker.