Bermuda’s final match of the Under-19 World Cup Qualifier Americas Region ended in a farce on Saturday as a substandard pitch deprived players and spectators of a full day’s cricket at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City, Toronto.

The trouble with the south-east pitch began on the first day of the tournament a week ago when Bermuda took on the United States.

Of the five squares at the ground only the north-west field had been approved for ICC play, however, because of overnight rain flooding ensued and it was decided to attempt play on the south-east pitch.

The match eventually took place as a 20-overs contest with the outfield borderline acceptable with many sawdust patches highlighting areas that were still damp. The US chased down Bermuda’s 103 for eight for the loss of four wickets.

The next day the US played Canada on the same pitch and after being sent in, the home side posted 63 all out — in 47.5 overs.

Batsman Akash Gill was struck on the head by a delivery that reared up from a good length that forced him to retire. In reply, the US fell to 38 for six in the seventeenth over but managed to crawl home in 25.4 overs.

The pitch offered inconsistent and dangerous bounce as well as variable pace as batting became an ordeal. One would have thought that no further matches would have taken place there.

Fast forward to Saturday and with another local match taking place on the ICC approved north-west field, Bermuda took on Canada on the same south-east pitch. Having won the toss — and with every confidence that enough time and sunshine had occurred for proper preparation — Bermuda elected to bat.

How wrong they were as in 27.4 overs they had been bowled out for 44 with ten extras topping the scoring. Not one Bermuda player made double figures as the ball hit several batsmen from a good length. Coincidentally, Akash Gill who had been hit against the US claimed four for 17 and Aran Pathmanathan three for four.

Canada, hoping to increase their net run rate, attacked from ball one safe in the knowledge that despite the pitch they would not be bowled out for less than 44. Four overs later the match was over for the loss of two wickets to catches off Bermuda’s fast bowler Nirobi Smith Mills.

Peter Della Penna of the highly respected ESPN Cricinfo felt compelled to post on Facebook from the match about the pitch: “I didn’t think I would see anything worse than what was on show for the USA v Canada match on Tuesday but this is coming close.”

Clay Smith, Bermuda head coach, said: “I don’t even know what word to use. Shocking? Horrendous? It was appalling. I don’t know how you can play an international tournament on a wicket like this.

“It’s not just us. Look at the scores the other day when Canada and US played. I’m at a loss for words. You get balls rolling along the ground and next ones shooting over your head, the wicket turning square. It would be difficult for a senior team to play on.”

Della Penna summed it all up after the match by tweeting: “King City should never again host an ICC event.”