Bermuda claimed their first win in the ICC World Cricket League Division Four tournament after Kamau Leverock returned in style to inspire them to a 58-run victory over Jersey at the Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday.

Leverock, who missed the first two matches because of disciplinary reasons in the wake of an outburst in training, was named man of the match after scoring 66 as Bermuda posted 242 all out off 49.2 overs.

Dion Stovell then took four for 44 off 8.5 overs as Jersey were dismissed for 184 off 42.5 overs.

The victory boosts Bermuda’s hopes of moving clear of the two relegation spots. Clay Smith, the Bermuda coach, was thrilled with the response of his players after successive defeats by Denmark and Uganda.

He admitted his team is fighting for pride in their remaining matches against Vanuatu and Malaysia.

“Although we had some outstanding performances from Kamau, Terryn [Fray] and Dion, today’s win was a total team effort,” Smith told The Royal Gazette. “Everybody worked hard in the field and several players contributed in the batting and bowling departments.

“We dug ourselves a hole but we’re fighting with every bone in our body to turn this around.”

Leverock opened the batting with Okera Bascome, adding 52 for the first wicket in just 4.4 overs as Bermuda were put into bat. Leverock looked like a man on a mission as he smashed eight fours and three sixes off 43 balls. Bascome departed for 21 from 13 balls before Leverock brought up the 100 with captain Terryn Fray as they added 58 for the second wicket.

Fray hit 56 off 87 balls after Leverock departed on 110 for two to the first ball of the sixteenth over. Janeiro Tucker and Tre Manders both made 23 to keep the score moving, with Tucker departing on 152 for three and Fray out on 198 for four in the 38th over.

Manders was next out on 201 before Stovell scored a useful 19 from 21 balls to help Bermuda reach a respectable total.

Nat Watkins and Ben Stevens both claimed three wickets for Jersey. Elliot Miles took two for 37 as first change after breaking up the opening stand by bowling Bascome with his fourth ball.

Jersey had a poor start in their run chase as new-ball pair Leverock and Stovell took early wickets before Charles Trott struck to leave Jersey in trouble at 32 for three.

Tucker broke a promising stand between Nick Ferraby and Stevens, who was out lbw for 42.

Stevens was the top scorer for Jersey, while Ferraby made 31 from 54 balls before Cornelis Bodenstein delayed the Bermuda victory with a stubborn 30 at No 9. He was finally removed by Stovell, who picked up two more wickets in his second spell to wrap up the win.

“Last night we had a long discussion, stressing the importance of today’s game,” Smith added. “We knew we could not afford to lose today’s game or we would be relegated.

“Our backs were against the wall and I had to find something to motivate the players and help them see the positive in a bad situation. I came across a Martin Luther King Jr quote that I shared with them that said: ‘Only in the darkness can you see the stars’.

“It highlights the dark times when all seems lost or when things appear at their worst, you can find a beacon of light in the world that can steer you back on course. I asked which one of the players is going to be the star that shines upon us and steers us out of trouble. Today, we had a lot of stars; all 14 players put their hands up and worked for each other from ball one right up to the end. Now we have to come back and do the same thing tomorrow.”

Bermuda play winless Vanuatu in another must-win match today, with Smith emphasising that the Pacific Islanders will not be taken lightly.

“Tomorrow is a different game, a different team, but the approach and mentality has to stay the same,” Smith said.

Denmark remain unbeaten at the top of the table after defeating Malaysia by 33 runs, while Uganda are second following an 81-run win over Vanuatu.

The Danes scored 179 in 49 overs and then restricted Malaysia to 146 in 45.3 overs. Uganda posted 222 for eight against Vanuatu, who were dismissed for 141 in 47 overs.

SCOREBOARD

Kinrara Oval, Kuala Lumpur (Jersey won toss): Bermuda (2pts) beat Jersey by 58 runs

Bermuda

K Leverock c Gough b Watkins 66

†O Bascome b Miles 21

*T Fray c Gough b Stevens 56

J Tucker b Miles 23

T Manders c Dunford b Watkins 23

C Trott c Jenner b Stevens 7

S Outerbridge c Dunford b Stevens 6

D Stovell b Bodenstein 19

M Simmons b Watkins 5

J Robinson lbw b Perchard 0

C Outerbridge not out 3

Extras (lb 3, nb 1, w 9) 13

Total (49.2 overs) 242

Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-110, 3-152, 4-198, 5-201, 6-209, 7-215, 8-223, 9-225.

Bowling: Bodenstein 8.2-0-50-1; Hawkins-Kay 2-0-28-0; Miles 10-0-37-2; Stevens 10-0-42-3; Perchard 9-0-46-1; Watkins 10-1-36-3.

Jersey

N Watkins c Outerbridge b Leverock 8

P Gough c Tucker b Stovell 4

B Stevens lbw b Tucker 42

J Jenner c sub b Trott 3

N Ferraby c Manders b Tucker 31

†J Dunford c and b Stovell 19

C Bisson b Trott 17

A Hawkins-Kay c Stovell b Robinson 11

C Bodenstein b Stovell 30

*C Perchard c Trott b Stovell 13

E Miles not out 0

Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 3) 6

Total (42.5 overs) 184

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-13, 3-32, 4-81, 5-105, 6-114, 7-141, 8-147, 9-184.

Bowling: Leverock 8-1-34-1; Stovell 8.5-0-33-4; Outerbridge 3-1-14-0; Trott 7-0-32-2; Robinson 8-1-38-1; Tucker 8-0-31-2.