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BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Hemp: Bermuda has a must-win game tomorrow

9 s Bermuda's Lionel Cann leaves the field after being clean bowled by PNG captain, Rarua Dikani, for 24 runs (1)

David Hemp said his side's task at the World Cricket League Division Two tournament was simple after their humbling 43 run defeat to Papua New Guinea today - they must beat Hong Kong tomorrow.Chasing 232 to win, Bermuda slumped to 188 all out after losing their last six wickets for 83 runs and we were well beaten by a PNG side who outplayed them in every area.Tony Ura's quick-fire 52 got PNG off to the perfect start, and he was ably supported by Mahuru Dai (44) and Vani Morea's unbeaten 46.For Bermuda, Damali Bell and Dion Stovell picked up two wickets each, while Delyone Borden was the pick of the bowlers, taking three for 43.Despite a lax bowling display, Bermuda will have fancied their chances of chasing down the total. However, only Dion Stovall (42) and Chris Foggo (41) made any real impact with the bat, while man of the match Dai took two wickets and conceded just 34 runs from his ten overs as PNG's spinners strangled Bermuda in the middle overs.Hemp and his men spent more than an hour locked in their dressing room after the defeat, and had a lengthy discussion about their failings in all areas of the game.With Hong Kong beating Uganda in their opening match, Bermuda must beat them if they are to avoid being cut adrift early on. Another defeat would leave them staring down the barrel of relegation to Division Three.“It (the defeat) is not the end of the world,” said Hemp, “but now we know in no uncertain terms what we've got to do, and people have been told in no uncertain terms what they've got to do.”From almost the first ball Bermuda looked off colour against PNG, and the malaise ran throughout the side from Stefan Kelly's insipid bowling performance, to a poor team fielding display, to another batting collapse.“It's one game, we obviously have to win tomorrow, which gets us back in a winning mentality if you like, and then obviously we have to beat Uganda, and we'll asses ourselves from there,” said Hemp.“All we are thinking about now is having a bit of a think on the discussion (we had) tonight. The players will go back and think bout their performance today, the role they are expected to play, and they can play, otherwise they wouldn't be asked to play that particular role.“And then we'll come back tomorrow and make sure we tick the boxes that we didn't tick today.”Kelly will certainly have to up his game, especially as he seems likely to have to lead the bowling. MalachI Jones managed just three overs today, before breaking down with a side injury.The bowler, who was in a considerable amount of pain, is having an MRI scan this evening to determine the extent of the injury, and Bermuda are hoping that he hasn't done any serious damage.In today's other games, Hong Kong stunned Uganda, beating them by 26 runs. Mark Champman's unbeaten 70 held Hong Kong together after they had collapsed to 104 for six, as they were eventually all out for 204.Uganda then made the worst possible start when opener Arthur Kyobe was out first ball, and despite a valiant half century from Roger Mukasa, they fell short.In the battle of the big guns, UAE sneaked past Namibia in a thrilling game, winning by just one wicket.Chasing 177 to win, UAE collapsed to 99 for seven, before skipper Khuram Khan (54*) and last man Ahmed Raza (20*) put on 33 for the final wicket to see their side home with more than six overs to spare.* Tomorrow, PNG face UAE, while Uganda take on Namibia. Bermuda meanwhile face Hong Kong in their must win encounter.The match starts at 3am Bermuda time, and you can follow all the action live with The Royal Gazette.