Bermuda 149-7

Scotland 131 all out

Bermuda’s confidence received another tremendous jolt following today’s stunning 18-run victory against tournament favourites Scotland at the ICC World Twenty20 2014 Qualifying tournament in Dubai.

Bermuda successfully defended what seemed to be a total well within Scotland’s reach to get their campaign off to a winning start at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Chasing 150 for victory, Scotland were dismissed for 131 on the penultimate ball of the match when Bermuda skipper Janeiro Tucker trapped tailender Neil Carter (three) leg before wicket.

Carter’s dismissal was the culmination of a seismic batting collapse that saw Scotland’s last seven wickets tumble for a measly 23 runs in just five overs.

Left-arm spinner Derrick Brangman ignited the slide when he had top scorer and Scotland skipper Kyle Coetzer (37) stumped by wicketkeeper Kwame Tucker in the 15th over.

Janeiro Tucker and fourth change bowler Jacobi Robinson then claimed six wickets between them to keep the pressure on the middle and lower order batsmen before the curtains came down on the Scottish innings.

Off-spinner Robinson was the pick of Bermuda’s bowling with three for eight off two overs while Tucker took three for 22 off 3.5 overs with his gentle seam.

Despite losing two wickets in the first two overs of the innings, Scotland appeared to be firmly on course at 109 for three before Brangman made the big breakthrough to send Coetzer on his way back to the pavilion.

Richard Berrington (29) and Robert Taylor (26) were the only other Scottish batsmen in double figures while there were 14 extras that included 13 wides which might have caused some concern among the Bermuda coaching staff.

Bermuda made early inroads defending a low total in the field after Scotland opener Calum Macleod (0) was run out by Malachi Jones without facing a delivery on the fourth ball of the innings.

Bermuda were celebrating again after Kamau Leverock had English County player Matthew Machan (5) caught by Brangman in the next over to leave Scotland reeling at two for eight.

Scotland eventually regained their footing with Berrington and Coetzer adding 57 runs for the third wicket, the highest partnership of the match, and Coetzer and Taylor adding a further 44 for the fourth wicket before the bottom fell out.

Brangman, one of five players in Bermuda’s line-up making their international T20 debuts, claimed two for 29 while seamer Kamau Leverock took one for 24.

Earlier, Bermuda overcame a top order slide before posting a total beyond Scotland’s reach.

Opener Dion Stovell led the way with a blistering knock of 29 from 20 balls that contained four boundaries.

Middle order bats Lionel Cann and Allan Douglas Jr also made vital contributions.

Cann belted a boundary-filled 27 from 25 balls while Douglas thumped an equally robust 21 from 11 balls to increase the run rate after Bermuda were 79 for four in the 13th over.

Jones (15) and wicketkeeper Kwame Tucker (12 not out) kept the runs flowing towards the end of the innings.

Stovell and fellow opening bat Tre Manders (seven) produced Bermuda’s highest partnership, adding 36 for the first wicket before Bermuda lost four wickets in the space of eight overs for 43 runs.

Off spinner Majid Haq (two for 23) and seamers Iain Wardlaw (two for 39) and Gordon Goudie (2-16) claimed a two wickets each for Scotland.

Bermuda will look to build on their promising start to the tournament when they face Denmark in their second Group B match at the ICC Academy Ground tomorrow.