If Bermuda can beat the Windward Islands in today's Red Stripe Bowl that will be an achievement in itself, giving them their first triumph in four years' particpation in the tournament.

But it is likely to be a slightly hollow victory as there was the opportunity for so much more. When it really mattered, though, the team failed to live up to expectations, as they slumped to defeat against Guyana in their second game yesterday, and out of the tournament.

Defending champions Guyana, fielding a weaker team than in last year's competition, despatched Bermuda by eight wickets, passing their meagre target of 102 in just 18.2 overs.

It was humiliating stuff as Guyana's openers, Nicholas De Groot and Gonsalves, one eye on the deteriorating weather, confidently dismissed Bermuda's bowling attack, making 44 and 46 respectively.

But the damage had been done much earlier, with Bermuda's batting failing to come up to scrutiny.

Notwithstanding a couple of debatable umpiring decisions, some of that batting was careless, if not neglectful, as they lost two early wickets, recovered and then slumped from 78-3 to 80-6 in the space of one over.

Only three batsmen reached double figures, Charlie Marshall, whose 43 saved the side from greater indignity, Dennis Archer and Richard Basden.

Those statistics left skipper Marshall seething immediately after the punishing defeat.

"I'm disappointed from my point of view because I feel like I'm the one who has always got to be performing with the bat,'' he said. "I just need some assistance from my own players. The batsmen didn't apply themselves.'' Later, after arriving back at the team's hotel much earlier than he would have liked, his criticism was more measured, but equally stinging.

"Our approach is just not professional enough,'' he said. " I have confidence we can compete at this level but when we get into the games we don't perform.

"I don't know whether it's nervousness or what. But these are the best players in Bermuda. We've been to Canada -- the Board has given us every opportunity to do well, yet we are still making the same mistakes.

"We have some quality players but some, especially the senior players, are not pulling their weight.'' Marshall continued: "I stressed to the players the night before how important this game was. But some seem to think they're on holiday.'' Bermuda were on the back foot almost from the word go, as opener Dexter Smith, who had barely given himself time to attune to the pace of the pitch, let alone that of Test quickie Reon King, tried an ill-conceived hook and was caught at square leg by Sarwan.

Albert Steede was a little less fortunate, leaning back to cut Kevin Darlington, finding the meat of the bat but also the sharp hands of Mohammed Nagamootoo, who gleefully accepted the chance at gully.

But Marshall and Dennis Archer steadied the ship and then began to make useful passage, adding 41 before Archer was adjudged lbw to one from Darlington that cut back but seemed a little high.

Archer had struck three firm boundaries in his innings of 23 while Marshall, in his usual belligerent fashion, was helping himself to a couple of well-struck sixes.

Left hander Basden did not look in great touch, alternately wafting unsuccessfully outside the off stump and clipping singles through mid wicket.

But like Smith against Jamaica, he was finding it difficult to give his captain the strike.

Nonetheless, the pair added 30 to take the score to 78 and could have been looking at a total in the 180 range, when medium pacer Keith Semple, accurate but innocuous-looking, produced an over that changed the complexion of the game.

First Basden, overbalancing, was smartly stumped, then Aaron Adams and Kwame Tucker came and went within three balls of each other, both lbw victims.

Clarkie Trott was dropped at mid-off off his first ball from Semple, who had not been granted a bowl in either of Guyana's previous matches, but worse was to follow with the score on 92.

Marshall pushed for a single just behind square on the leg side and there seemed little danger as he ran to the non-striker's end. Nagamootoo's swift pick-up and direct hit from his throw seemed too quick for even Steve Bucknor, who did not appear to be in a position to give a decision with any degree of accuracy. But after a short delay the Test umpire belatedly sent Marshall on his way.

"I know I was over the line,'' Marshall protested later, " that's why I stayed on the field. But you get no favours from the umpires in the Caribbean and that is what I've been trying to drill into the players.

"Dennis's was also a hard decision, but guys have to understand they have to play with their bats more.

"I was disappointed that the batsmen didn't listen to the instructions of their captain. I told them Semple was just bowling stump to stump and not to hit across the line, but they seemed determined to work him away on the leg side.'' Trott's dismissal summed up Bermuda's day. After clumping Semple for four over mid on, he senselessly took on leg spinner Nagamootoo and lost.

What Bermuda were looking for at that point was players to stick around to at least help them use up their 50 overs, but Trott couldn't resist and after shaping for a couple of big hits, Nagamootoo tossed one up even higher and the batsman fell into the trap, getting so far under the ball that the bowler had time to run back 20 yards and take the catch himself.

SCOREBOARD BERMUDA D.Smith c Sarwan b King 1 D.Archer lbw b Darlington 23 A.Steede c M.Nagamootoo b Darlington 1 C.Marshall run out 43 R.Basden st wk V.Nagamootoo b Semple 10 A.Adams lbw b Semple 0 K.Tucker lbw b Semple 0 C.Trott c and b M.Nagamootoo 7 P.Philpott lbw b McGarrell 5 H.Durham b McGarrell 1 H.Bascome not out 1 Extras (3-w, 3-nb, 4-lb) 10 Total (42.1 overs) 102 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-7, 3-48, 4-78, 5-78, 6-80, 7-92, 8-99, 9-102 Bowling: R.King 7-3-7-1; K.Darlington 9-3-15-2; N.McGarrell 7.1-1-28-2; M.Nagamootoo 9-1-30-1; K.Semple 10-2-13-3 Guyana M.De Groot c Trott b Durham 44 A.Gonsalves lbw b Durham 46 K.Semple not out 8 Sarwan not out 5 Extras (1-w) 1 Total (for two wickets, 18.1 overs) 104 Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-94 Bowling: H.Bascome 4.1-0-19-0; C.Trott 3-0-20-0; H.Durham 6-0-34-2; P.Philpott 2-0-8-0; R.Basden 3-0-23-0 Umpires: N.Malcolm and S.Bucknor Man of the match: Keith Semple (Guyana) Albert Steede: Unlucky to get out from a well struck shot.