A 71-run partnership between late innings heroes stars Lionel Cann and wicketkeeper Dean Minors was not enough to save Bermuda from defeat against Scotland in the ICC Trophy semi-final today.

Joining up at the crease when Bermuda were reeling at 88-7, Cann and Minors took the total to 169-8 before Cann was stumped by Lockhart off the bowling of Watson.

Minors, who ended the innings unbeaten on 53 and hammered three sixes, then teamed up with Dennis Archer and Dwayne Leverock to steer Bermuda to a respectable 219-9 as they completed their 50 overs at Milverton in the Republic of Ireland.

But Scotland, unbeaten in the tournament, proved too strong for Bermuda, racking up 222 runs for four wickets off with three and a half overs to spare.

First change bowler Archer, who had not been featured much in the tournament so far, struck early, taking three wickets as Scotland got off to a slow start. They were 78-3 off 21 overs, with a run rate of 3.73 when rain drove the teams off the pitch at 4.12 p.m. Ireland time.

When the teams rerturned it was a different story.

Cedric English led the way for Sotland with an unbeaten knock of 75, while former England test player Gavin Hamilton contributed 59 before being caught by Clay Smith off the bowling of OJ Pitcher with the Scots on 197-4.

Dougie Brown (17) then joined English at the crease and they knocked off the winning runs.

Archer was the most successful of the Bermuda bowlers, taking his three wickets for 40 runs off 10 overs, while spinner Dwayne Leverock, who had been the hero in earlier matches and opened the bowling today, failed to take to his wickets tally although he bowled tidily, giving up 45 runs off ten overs.

Bermuda will now play old rivals Canada in the competition for third place while Scotland go into the final against Ireland, who defeated the Canadians by four wickets.

Bermuda v Scotland

9 July 2005

Milverton

ICC Trophy Semi Final-2

Toss: Bermuda won the toss and elected to bat

Umpires: Kevin Barbour (Zim), S. Hameed (Ind)

Notes: off field for rain at 16.12 hrs. Details to be advised.

Latest update at: 4:44 PM (Ireland time)

BERMUDA

Delyone Borden c Wright b Hoffman 8

OJ Pitcher lbw Hoffman 6

S. Mukaddem b Williamson 8

C Wright 4 0 37 0

I. Romaine c Watson b Brown 1

Albert Steede lbw Blain 31

C Smith ct Lockhart b Blain 3

JJ Tucker b Hoffman 4

Dean Minors not out 53

Lionel Cann st Lockhart b Watson 45

Dennis Archer ct Hoffman b Maiden 10

Dwayne Leverock not out 1

Extras (b 2, lb 17, nb , w 30, p ) 49

Total (9 wkts, 50.0 overs) 219

FOW: 1-24 (OJ Pitcher) 2-25 (Delyone Borden) 3-26 (I. Romaine) 4-67 (S. Mukaddem ) 5-74 (K Smith) 6-88 (Albert Steede) 7-88 (JJ Tucker) 8-169 (Lionel Cann)

Bowling

P Hoffman 9 3 28 3

D Brown 10 4 23 1

G Williamson 6 0 17 1

J Blain 10 3 26 2

R Watson 6 0 41 1

G Maiden 5 0 28 1

SCOTLAND

SCOTLAND

P Hoffman ct sub b Archer 27

F.Watts ct Minors b Archer 7

R. Watson ct Minors b Archer 7

Cedric English not out 75

Gavin Hamilton ct C. Smith b Pitcher 59

Dougie Brown not out 17

Extras (b 1, lb 8, nb , w 21, p ) 30

Total (4 wkts, 46.5 overs) 222

FOW: 1-28 (F.Watts) 2-41 (P Hoffman) 3-52 (R. Watson) 4-197 (Gavin Hanilton)

Bowling

S. Mukaddem 10 2 45 0

Dwayne Leverock 10 0 43 0

Dennis Archer 10 2 40 3

J Tucker 8 1 40 0

D. Borden 6 1 23 0

OJ Pitcher 2.5 0 22 1