Bermuda 194 all out; Oman 160 all outInterim national coach Arnold Manders breathed a huge sigh of relief after watching his players sweat it out for a hard fought 34-run victory against Oman in this Pepsi ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division 3 clash at Lords yesterday.

Bermuda’s bowlers successfully defended a total below 200 runs on a spacious pitch to improve the hosts’ record to 1-1 and put their 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup qualifying bid back on track.

“This win puts us back in the tournament with all of the results that happened today, so we still have a chance of winning or finishing in the top two,” a relieved Manders said. “It was a good win and I was very pleased.”

Medium fast bowler Malachi Jones was at his absolute best, varying his line and length to lethal effect to keep the Oman batsmen honest at the crease. Jones returned superb figures of three for 29 from ten overs with an economy rate of 2.9 and tossed down a maiden for added measure.

The Willow Cuts man was the main catalyst behind a collapse that saw Oman reduced to 52 for six after 13 overs, with all of the bowler’s wickets arriving in his first spell with the new ball from the southern end of the ground.

He made the initial breakthrough in the first over of the innings after taking a return catch to dismiss opener Iqbal Ghazanfar for a two-ball duck. Jones struck again eight overs later when he had Ramesh (8) caught by David Hemp who took a low catch to his right at second slip. He then completed an impressive three-wicket haul after having Kaleem Aamir (8) caught by Jacobi Robinson at mid on in the 11th over after the batsman failed to pick a slower delivery.

However, Jones’ outstanding display in the field did not go without controversy which stemmed from his run out of Oman opener Siddiqui Zeeshan (12). Jones removed the bails at the non-striker’s end during his delivery stride as Zeeshan backed up out of his crease. Following a brief consultation between the umpires the batsman was shown the dreaded finger.

Though legal, ‘Mankading’ is generally considered to be against the spirit of the game.

“Whatever the umpires decide we have to go with it,” said Oman manager Jameel Zaidi, taking the incident that occurred in the seventh over of the innings all in stride.

Jones’ new ball partner Dion Stovell (2-41) and fellow off spinners Rodney Trott (2-13) and Robinson (2-36) claimed the remaining Oman wickets to fall to hold their end of the bargain.

At 91 for 7 Oman seemed dead and buried. However the tail wagged with top bat Ali Amir (58 not out) dominating a 42-run ninth-wicket partnership with Hemal Metha (11) that threatened to carry their team safely across the line.

Bermuda skipper Stephen Outerbridge’s gamble to bring third change bowler Robinson back for a second spell in the 40th over paid off as the off-spinner removed Oman’s last two batsmen to seal his team’s morale-boosting win. Robinson had Metha caught behind by wicketkeeper Jason Anderson after getting a faint edge and last man Ansari Munis grabbed by sub fielder Tre Manders on the mid -wicket boundary.

Earlier, Bermuda received useful contributions throughout their order after being sent in to bat.

At one stage the hosts were wobbling at 143 for 8. But a timely 37 run tenth-wicket partnership (the highest stand of the innings) between top scorer Treadwell Gibbons Jr (33) and Robinson (22 not out) ultimately put the match beyond Oman’s reach. Gibbons’ 45 -ball knock contained five fours while Robinson thumped three fours and a six before his partner was stumped behind to end the innings with 35 balls remaining.

Wicketkeeper Jason Anderson (29), Chris Douglas (21), Stovell (16), Outerbridge (15), Lionel Cann (16) and Jones (14) all made promising starts but failed to go on.

Man of the Match Amir (3-34) led his team’s bowling attack that allowed their hosts to get out of jail at a crucial stage of the innings.

“Bermuda was 73 for five and that was the time when we needed to put more pressure on them,” added Zaidi. “Some of our bowlers bowled some loose deliveries and our fielders were a bit relaxed, which gave Bermuda a chance and they came up to 194.”