Bermuda Under 19s 144

Trinidad Under-17s 145-9

Bermuda’s young cricketers endured their second narrow defeat this week when they were pipped at the post by a strong Trinidad Under-17 side yesterday at the Sir Gary Sobers International Schools Tournament in Barbados.

Having limped to what, on paper at least, looked a distinctly modest total of 144 after becoming bogged down in the early overs, Rodney Trott and his bowling attack came to the party once again with yet another disciplined display which had the Trinidadian’s reeling at 126 for nine with five overs of the 40 remaining.

A 19-run partnership between Trinidad’s last pair saw them home at the death, however, leaving Bermuda to reflect on another potential victory which had slipped from their grasp.

Trott won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket which promised to deteriorate as the day wore on. But an inability to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the face of Trinidad’s collection of accurate spinners left Bermuda’s middle order bats with far too much to do in the latter stages of the innings.

Opener Terryn Fray top-scored for Bermuda with a ponderous 42 off 81 deliveries, while fellow opener Chris Douglas also took a long time compiling his 21 off 41 balls.

Trott scored 30 off 54 balls while Khiry Furbert was left 15 not out at the end.

Having performed well but without much luck in the previous two games, World Cup star Malachi Jones got among the wickets this time around — bowling with excellent pace and accuracy in recording figures of three for 21 off his eight overs.

Having contributed with the bat, captain Trott also got in on the action with the ball, taking three for 24 off eight while seamer Jordan DeSilva claimed one for 18 off seven.

“We should have won that game really, but overall we’re pretty happy with the way things are going — we’ll certainly be ready for the World Cup qualifiers in Canada,” said assistant coach Arnold Manders last night.

“We knew from the beginning that our batting was what needed the most work. Today we just got stuck at the beginning and our strokeplayers in the middle order had to go in with around ten overs to go and start hitting straight away.

“Trinidad a three good left-arm spinners and one leg-break, googly bowler who didn’t give us much, but we didn’t take as many singles as we should.

“This whole tournament is excellent preparation though and we’re giving everybody in the squad a chance to impress.”

Bermuda take on Antigua Under-19s today — their fourth match out of a total of eight.

The Americas Championship-bound squad won their opening game against a Queen’s Park Combined side but have now lost back to back games against Dominican Schools and Trinidad.