Delray Rawlins scored a career best 121 — his maiden century in T20 Internationals and highest score by a Bermudian in international cricket — for Bermuda to clinch qualification from the ICC T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Qualifier when they defeated Brazil by 146 runs on Saturday.

Rawlins, who picked up the player of the match against Brazil, batter of the tournament and player of the tournament accolades, faced 66 balls, dispatched six fours and eleven sixes. He surpassed the 103 by Kamau Leverock when Bermuda saw off Panama in Argentina in February 2023.

Aided by Rawlins’ knock, Bermuda posted 220 for four, their joint third best score in this format of the game. Luke Horan took four wickets for 13 runs, debutant Nzari Paynter had two for 15 and Derrick Brangman two for 17 as Brazil were bowled out for 74 in 16 overs.

“I’ve got a couple of 90s before so to finally get the monkey off the back is pretty pleasing,” Rawlins told The Royal Gazette.

“I’m just happy with the win and the fact that we’re through to the next round. I tried to challenge myself in this tournament to see if I can get some record of note, I’m happy that it came off today and we were able to get the win.

“Obviously, the expectation was for us to win and to qualify but we still had to do the job and we’ve done in pretty convincing style.

After Bermuda won the toss and opted to make use of the track at North Field, National Sports Centre, Rawlins, whose previous best score was 91 against Argentina in 2023, could have been dismissed on one. Luiz Goncalves had the ball bounce out of his hands and go for a six off the bowling of Luiz Moras in the second over.

With that let off, the left-hander went on the rampage and together with Onias Bascome, took Bermuda to 50 in the fourth over. The partnership was broken when Bascome was bowled by Moras.

Rawlins, who struck a 17-ball 52 in the win over Panama on Thursday, further built partnerships with Dominic Sabir, Isaiah O’Brien and Horan before the former captain was dismissed by Luis Henrique at the start of the last over.

“The approach was a little bit different from the other day,” Rawlins said.

“Different wicket and different bowling attack, but the intent was still the same. The idea was just to try to maximise and also be smart in certain areas, in the end we were able to get over the line comfortably.”

Chare Smith, one of the three players brought into the starting XI, found the early breakthrough by getting Henrique caught by Horan five balls into the Brazil run chase.

Horan got two wickets at the end of his first over to put himself on a hat-trick. When the 17-year-old came back for his second over, Brazil captain Michel Assuncao survived.

The wicket taking continued for Horan as he struck in his third and fourth over to finish with his best figures. Once the pace bowler was finished with his overs, Brangman and Paynter mopped up the remaining Brazilian batters.

“I’m just happy to be taking wickets and scoring runs for the team,” Horan said.

“It was exciting for me, we had a decent crowd and a couple of friends giving us support. The wicket was turning quite a lot for the spinners, but for me it wasn’t moving laterally that much.

“I think just being able to back yourself, go full and straight, just be able to hit the lines is the main thing.

“I missed out on a hat-trick on the coming back over, but it’s all right, I would take a four for any day of the week.

“When you get 200 on the board, you’ve got a lot of opportunities with the bowlers, just to sort of back yourself, back your line and your length.”