Delray Rawlins picked up two for 14 and smashed 52 off 17 balls to record the quickest half-century in T20 Internationals for Bermuda as the team ran out comfortable ten-wicket winners over Panama in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier on Thursday.

Rawlins was one of the outstanding Bermuda bowlers, together with fellow left-arm spinner Derrick Brangman (three for nine), off spinner Dominic Sabir (three for ten) and fast bowler Zeko Burgess (two for ten) as Panama were bundled out for 69 in 16.5 overs.

The former captain then put on a blistering display with the bat, striking three fours and six sixes. His unbroken opening partnership with Onias Bascome (21 not out) took Bermuda over the line in just 4.5 overs.

With five points and a superior net run-rate Bermuda, who play Brazil in their last match of the qualifiers on Saturday, have all but qualified for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Americas Region Final with a game left to play.

“I’m happy to contribute to the team’s victory,” Rawlins told The Royal Gazette. “Obviously, the whole objective is just to win and that’s what we came to do.

“We restricted them to a total that we felt we could get pretty quickly and that’s what we tried to do. The plan to keep them to a low total that we could get as quick as possible.

“The bowlers started really well. Zeko Burgess and Luke Horan, then everyone else backed them up and followed up behind. It was a good wicket to bat on. We just took advantage of it and we were happy to get the win in no time.”

Panama never got going after winning the toss and choosing to make first use of the track at North Field, National Sports Centre.

Burgess picked up two early wickets before the spinners got in on the act. Opening batter Parth Patel had the highest score of 22 for Panama before he became one of Brangman’s three wickets.

Rawlins and Brangman set off at a blistering pace in the run chase. Brangman offered a chance when on seven off the bowling of Panama vice-captain Nathan Ingleston, but Parth Ahir could not execute the catch.

At the other end, Rawlins was cleanly striking the ball and struck Irfan Hafejee for a six to finish the match with 93 balls remaining. The left-hander bettered the 21-ball 50 he notched up against Argentina in Buenos Aires, in February 2023.

Rawlins has now joined Australian trio Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis and Tim David, Nepal's Rohit Paudel and Aasif Sheikh, Paul Stirling (Ireland), Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands), Chris Gayle (West Indies), Quinton De Kock (South Africa), Liam Livingstone (England), Heinrich Gericke (Malta), Abhishek Sharma (India) and Asif Ali (Bahrain) to make a fifty off 17 deliveries.

Bermuda captain Terryn Fray commended the team for following up the big win over Belize with another polished performance against Panama.

“It was a great win,” he said.

“Delray Rawlins and Onias Bascome batted really well and Derrick Brangman, Dominic Sabir and Zeko Burgess bowled well. Charles Trott and Luke Horan bowled really well, they didn’t get any wickets, but I thought they bowled extremely well.

“It was good to just get out there and get the game over and done with. I think we’ve clinched now and I don’t think it matters what happens against Brazil.

“Obviously, we’ll look to win that final match, but we’re happy to get that one out the way and move on to the next round.”