Bermuda v England

from Arnos Vale, St. Vincent

England 286-8 (50 overs)

Bermuda 45 all out (after 22.2 overs)

Bermuda slumped to their lowest-ever score in a one-day international and their largest margin of defeat as their batsmen could find no answer to an England pace barrage this afternoon.

The Bermuda bats were skittled out for a miserable 45 in just 22.2 overs, losing by a massive 241 runs.

Their previous lowest score in an ODI had been 106 against Canada in a rain-restricted match in Nairobi, Kenya, just last month.

But their dismal performance today might be spared a place in the record books as each team were allowed to rotate a total of 13 players in the field, meaning the ICC will not consider this World Cup warm-up match as an official contest.

Regardless, Bermuda's players will now be under no illusion about the enormity of the task they face when the World Cup group games begin in Trinidad in less than two weeks' time.

Having restricted England to 286 for eight in 50 overs, Bermuda might have been confident of at least posting a respectable result.

But a combination of fiery bowling from a five-pronged pace attack and some sloppy shots left the Bermuda innings to tatters, David Hemp (11) being the only bat to reach double figures.

The next highest total - eight - could be found in the extras column.

England bowler Jon Lewis at one point had taken three wickets without conceding a single run and finished his four-over spell with figures of three for seven.

Andrew Flintoff claimed two for three off 2.2 overs and James Anderson, who snared three catches, also returned figures of two for eight off five.

Liam Plunkett had one for 13 off five, Sajid Mahmood one for 10 off four and spinner Mony Panesar one for one off two overs.

Earlier Bermuda spinner Dwayne Leverock had bowled brilliantly, taking two for 32 off ten, but it soon became clear that this game was the mis-match many had feared it would be.

Full report and quotes in tomorrow's Gazette.