With their chances of qualifying for next year’s Intercontinental Cup final already gone, Bermuda’s batsmen will attempt to spend an entire day at the crease today to avoid defeat after rain washed out the entire third day’s play of their match against Kenya at the Nairobi Gymkhana ground yesterday.

That was the message from captain Clay Smith as he and his team-mates clambered inside the team bus for the 15-minute ride back to their hotel early in the afternoon — when a decision was taken to abandon play.

With only one team going through from each of the two groups, in order to qualify for next year’s final Bermuda went into their match with Kenya needing to secure the maximum 20 points, followed by an equally resounding victory over Holland in their final Intercontinental Cup match which begins on November 21.

Two wins with maximum points would have brought them level with group leaders Canada — who are sitting pretty on 40 points with a game in hand.

But when Bermuda were dismissed for only 133 on the first day, and the Kenyans passed that score for the loss of only three wickets to secure the six, first innings points, it became mathematically impossible for Bermuda to catch the group leaders — with Clay Smith’s men now playing only for pride in a competition which has never been their top priority.

Meanwhile, heavy rain continued to fall over the pitch throughout yesterday morning, turning sections of the outfield into a quagmire.

Umpires Tony Hill and Buddhi Pradan decided shortly after 2 p.m. local time that, even if the weather improved, playing conditions were too dangerous.

With just one day remaining and a result highly unlikely — Bermuda trail the Kenyans by 53 runs with eight second innings wickets intact — Smith said their priority would be on building the batsmen’s confidence rather than attempting to pull off what would be the unlikeliest of victories.

“We have to bat and put ourselves in a position where we can’t lose,” said Smith.

“It’s highly unlikely that we can bat and then bowl them out in one day, so if we can, we’ll try and bat the whole day out and use the day for batting practice. We’re still more than 50 runs behind. It would be a tall order to get a win at this stage.

“It’s frustrating though because we’ve come here to play cricket and I know the Kenyans will be a little disappointed because they were hoping to come away with a win. But for us, now it’s about getting some groundwork in preparation for the one-dayers.

“We’ll come back tomorrow, hopefully it will be a better day and we can make a respectable total.”

And the captain said he had no qualms about the umpires’ decision to call off play more than four hours before the scheduled close even with signs that the weather was about to improve.

“It’s very dangerous out there,” added Smith.

“It would be impossible. We’ll just come back tomorrow and plug away as best we can.”

It became clear early yesterday that the game would again be seriously interrupted as rain lashed across the city, allowing the players to remain in their hotel rooms until well after the scheduled start.

When the rain abated shortly after 10 a.m. groundstaff worked furiously to dry the outfield but their efforts were in vain as the heavens opened again late in the morning.

That drenching left the two umpires with little option but to cancel play for the day, although under different circumstances they could have waited until 5 p.m. to make that decision.

“There were eight or nine areas on the field that were waterlogged,” explained umpire Hill.

“Even with some sun and wind, it wouldn’t have dried out sufficiently.

“We consulted with the teams, and although we could have waited until 5 p.m., there was no point. It would have been quite dangerous out there.”

Play is scheduled to resume at 9.30 (2.30 a.m. Bermuda time) today, but with yet more rain forecast, another delay is probable.

Opener Kwame Tucker (3) and David Hemp, yet to get off the mark, will continue Bermuda’s second innings on 19-2 after Stephen Outerbridge (14) and nightwatchman Dwayne Leverock were dismissed in the penultimate over of Monday’s play.

Bermuda totalled 133 in their first innings and Kenya replied with 205, Saleem Mukuddem snatching career-best figures of six for 50.

Turn to Page 19 to see the Out of Africa Notebook.