Param Veers Sports Complex Ground 2 (Bermuda won toss): Bermuda beat Argentina by 237 runs

Bermuda began their campaign at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Americas Qualifier in impressive fashion today with a thumping win in Rydal, Georgia, just outside Atlanta.

After a very early stumble upon taking first strike, Zeri Tomlinson’s side asserted their superiority thanks initially to the batting of the captain and Keegan Jones in establishing the first century partnership of the tournament — and then with a maiden international fifty at this level from Luke Fulton.

Confronted with a mammoth target of 319, Argentina were never at the races.

Off spinner Sa-Qui Robinson did as he pleased after being given the new ball, and bowled an unchanged ten-over spell that brought five for 13 as well as a calamitous run-out.

The Argentinians did muster a modicum of pride by frustrating Bermuda for nine overs for the final wicket, which carried their score from 33 for eight — No 5 bat Luciano Lopresti having already retired hurt — to 81 all out.

With favourites United States and Canada locking horns near by on the No 1 Ground, Bermuda knew this was an opportunity to lay a marker — especially with newly minted Cup Match stars Tomlinson, Luke Horan and Isaiah O’Brien in tow.

But the “Big Three” were somewhat overshadowed on this day by their less-vaunted peers, with Horan out cheaply for 16 off 12 balls, while O’Brien hit his first ball for four and was out stumped on the next.

With opener Callum MacFarlane back in the pavilion for 21, Bermuda found themselves in the precarious position of 51 for three inside six overs.

Tomlinson, who scored 35 from 61 balls, restored calm in the company of Jones with a stand of 103 that effectively won the match.

Jones went on to a fine 73 from 68 balls, with seven boundaries, putting on an additional 48 with Robinson (26) and then 91 with Fulton, who was in at No 7.

Fulton, better known as a strike bowler, but restricted from doing so because of a serious shoulder injury, showed he can handle the bat at this level.

After a circumspect start, he cut loose to make a team-high 74 from 60 balls, with six fours and three sixes.

Callum McIntosh’s unbeaten 24 ensured Bermuda got past the 300 mark, which seemed at the time more than enough.

Left-arm seamer Muhammad Abaidullah was the pick of the Argentina bowlers with four for 57 from nine overs.

The best that could be said of the Argentina innings before the late rearguard was that it survived an opening spell from Horan, thought so highly of by coach Clay Smith that he took the new ball for St George’s in Cup Match last week.

However, it was at the other end where there was pandemonium, as the South Americans had no answer for Robinson.

Effectively four wickets fell in as many balls, including the retiring batter, as the guts were suddenly ripped out of the Argentina response at 19 for six. At the back end of this burst were two wickets for the pacy Jahmi Douglas.

What appeared a virtual procession stalled at the fall of the eighth wicket, as Alvaro Minardi (22 not out) and Abaidullah (18), the Nos 10 and 11, showed the fight that was missing from most who came before them.

It was not until Horan was brought back for his fifth over that the final curtain was drawn, bowling Abaidullah with his second ball to bring an end to proceedings.

Tomorrow, the competition will be no doubt stiffer, as the opponents are the host nation, who opened with a commanding, 65-run win over Canada.