Param Veers Sports Complex, Ground 1 (Argentina won toss): Bermuda beat Argentina by 78 runs

Bermuda completed an underwhelming campaign at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Americas Qualifier with a comprehensive victory over Argentina yesterday in Rydal, Georgia.

In what was essentially a battle for the wooden spoon, Bermuda experienced one or two hairy moments early in a match reduced to 31 overs a side because of a weather-affected late start before running out clear victors.

Sa-Qui Robinson was the star of the batting performance with 42 from 56 balls, with two fours and two sixes, which helped to rescue Bermuda from an uncertain 47 for four.

Robinson put on 73 for the fifth wicket with captain Zeri Tomlinson (35) to take the match away from an Argentina side whose form had given no suggestion that a score in excess of 100 would be attainable.

Although they showed signs of fight in the early order when it was their turn to bat, the horrors of being shot out for 19 and 34 by the United States, and for 23 by Canada were revisited when they collapsed from 52 for two to 66 all out.

The chief architect of the Argentine demise was Luke Horan, whose return for a second spell conjured memories of his heroics at Colts Cup Match last year, when his six for one rescued victory from certain defeat.

Here, he needed only four — and the first three were claimed in successive balls for the memorable only hat-trick of this tournament.

The Warwick all-rounder made it four in five balls when he wrapped up the match in 15.5 overs to finish with four for 14.

The haul confirmed Horan’s status as bowler of the tournament with 12 wickets.

Callum MacFarlane contributed with three for nine and Robinson took two for 26 to confirm his nomination as man of the match.

The US, who had already clinched the lone qualifying spot for the World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe next year, completed a perfect tournament with a seven-wicket defeat of Canada after dismissing them for 93.