Bermuda captured a maiden North American Cup title, defeating Cayman Islands by 42 runs on Sunday at Jimmy Powell Oval in George Town, Cayman Islands.

After losing more than an hour due to persistent rain, the match was reduced to a 30-over affair ― 15 per team ― with Bermuda sent in to bat on what captain Terryn Fray noted as a “good track”.

Fray’s words initially appeared prophetic as Bermuda scored 12 runs in the first over and had moved to 14 without loss after two overs. However, the fast start proved deceptive as the hosts adeptly used the pitch’s slowness, making batting laborious.

After a first-over blast from openers Dominic Sabir and Delray Rawlins that accounted for 12 runs, Bermuda’s munitions cooled appreciably as just five runs came from the next two overs and Sabir was removed for just four, caught at long on attempting to pull Vick Dhaniram.

Rawlins and No 3 Kamau Leverock (18) set about rectifying matters with a 20-run second-wicket partnership spearheaded by the latter but after smashing a massive six over the long-off boundary, Leverock went to the well once too often, splicing the next delivery from Adrian Wright to Malcolm Ramlogan, who took a catch above his head while back-pedalling through cover.

Wickets tumbled at regular intervals as Bermuda stumbled to 77 for five, with captain Terryn Fray (seven), Rawlins (ten) and Charles Trott (three) all making the journey back to the players' pavilion.

This set the stage for Isaiah O’Brien to arrive as the saviour of the innings, as he accelerated the scoring rate, finding a home beyond the long-on boundary.

While wickets continued to crash around him, including a hat-trick of victims ― Zerai Tomlinson (three), Derrick Brangman (zero), and Kwasi James (zero) ― at the hand of Romario Edwards, O’Brien flourished as if batting on another track.

The youngster carved five sixes and two fours, tallying 43 runs from 22 balls before being caught driving the last ball of the innings, a full toss from Romeo Dunka down the throat of Adrian Wright.

Edwards returned remarkable figures of three for six from two overs, while Ramlogan took two for 22 and three others ― Dunka, Wright and Dhaniram ― claimed a wicket each.

Asked about lifting the batting during a crucial period, O’Brien credited the advice he received from Rawlins.

“At that moment it was more about getting the runs and once Delray told me that my game ain't playing cute and to stand up and hit the ball, so I did that,” said O’Brien, who earned Man of the Match honours.

Having set a target of 102 for the home nation to chase, Bermuda appeared similarly vulnerable as in the countries’ initial round-robin contest. However, such proved far from the reality.

Cayman struggled from the outset, making the pitch look as if it were filled with landmines, with their bats either flailing at air or finding ill-advised contact points.

Opening batter Sachin Diwangana (two) played around a Delray Rawlins delivery, hinting at the horror to come. The senseless run-out of Jermaine Baker (four), Cayman’s best player, confirmed it.

Bermuda’s bowlers exposed the fragility of the middle order and a non-existent tail, bundling the Caymanians out for a mere 59 runs.

Every bowler used took at least one wicket with Kwasi James, for the second consecutive game, the leading scalp-taker.

James returned figures of three for 17 from three overs. He was ably assisted by Brangman, who took two for 10, while Rawlins, Leverock and Kevon Fubler each took one wicket.

After presenting birthday wishes to veteran wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith, Fray singled out O’Brien and noted the win as a bright ending to a dreary week.

“We didn’t get off to the start we wanted in the power play, but sometimes that happens in cricket,” Fray said during the post-match awards ceremony. “Then I think the momentum carried on a bit.

“It wasn’t really an easy wicket to get in and sit on, but Isaiah seemed like he was playing on something completely different.

“Kudos to him. He actually put his hand up for us today and got us to a total that we were pretty confident that we could defend.”

Rawlins was named Player of the Tournament for taking seven wickets.

“Yeah, I think I’m pretty happy with this, but the main thing was to win the trophy,” said Rawlins. “The boys played well today and it was nice to get over the line..”