Bermuda 201 -8 dec & 165;

USA 297-9 & 183

Another pathetic batting performance condemned Bermuda to a 114 run loss against USA with 23 overs to spare on the third and final day of the Intercontinental Cup at the National Sports Centre yesterday.

Set a target of 280 at a run rate of 3.1 runs per over and a minimum of 88 overs to achieve their winning objective, the bulk of Bermuda's batsmen made a complete hash of things as they succumbed to 165 all out in 68.3 overs, to hand USA a maiden win in the inaugural tournament.

All Bermuda's hard work in the morning session - which saw the Island seize the opposition's last six wickets for only 42 runs came undone at the seams.

Any thoughts of victory quickly dissipated as Bermuda lost their first five wickets before the first water break after lunch as a USA attack - led by right-arm pacer Howard Johnson and all-rounder Charles Reid - ripped the heart out of the Island's top order.

For the second time in as many days, Bermuda's batsmen lacked the necessary mental approach and technique required to keep their opponents at bay.

Both opener Stephen Outerbridge (0) and Delyone Borden (13) failed to use soft hands on the bat handle when the need arose while the explosive bat of Glenn Blakeney (one) remained dormant playing at the highest level.

Middle-order batsmen Wendell White (12) and Salem Mukuddem even came in for heavy criticism around the grounds as they were both dismissed cheaply at a time when much of the Island's fading hopes of success hinged on their bats.

It was again left for skipper Clay Smith (65) and burly all-rounder Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock (23) to pick up the pieces. Together the pair provided stability to the innings by featuring in a sixth-wicket stand of 42 runs which came to an abrupt end 30 balls before tea when a brief lapse in concentration cost Leverock his wicket.

Smith would battle on to score his second half-century of the three-day match off 139 balls (seven fours) and as long as he remained at the crease, Bermuda's slim hopes of salvaging at least a draw remained alive. But the skipper's dismissal - after facing 161 balls in 195 minutes - would signal the end as Bermuda's batting woes continued with the last three-wickets falling in the space of four runs.

But tail-ender Dennis Archer did contribute an unbeaten 20 at the rear.

Johnson, the pick of the USA bowling, recorded his second five- wicket haul (five for 34) on his team's ten-day tour of the Island to take his overall match figures to seven for 70 while swing bowler Reid and right arm leg spinner Nasir Javed seized two wickets apiece.

Twenty-four year old Guyanese national Steve Massiah received the man of the match award for a sparkling century (104) in the first innings, though Leverock's overall match figures of nine for 150, including six maidens from 48.2 overs gave the USA player a good run for his money.

Bermuda will now have to rely on a convincing win over Canada in their remaining Intercontinental Cup match in Toronto next month if they are to have any chance of advancing through to the semi-finals of the competition in the United Arab Emirates in November.

“It's very disappointing to lose because we bowled them (USA) out for a very respectable total and to chase 279 in over 80 overs I thought we had a realistic chance of coming away with a win,” said a visibly dejected Bermuda skipper after the game.

“But unfortunately again we didn't get off to a good start and that really pegged us back from jump. And then towards the end when it looked as though we could salvage something we ended up falling apart. So it's very disappointing.”

Having to play five matches in six days last week and then a three-day encounter against USA this week, was very demanding on the players, said Smith.

“It's something that we are not used to and I expected our players to be mentally fatigued - but I'm very proud of them.

“But that's cricket. If you look earlier in the tournament (Americas Championships) our top order was firing on all cylinders and then right at the end they went into a slump and fell apart. But that's cricket and you can't expect the same players to make runs day in and day out. They are going to fail sometime and when they do then that's where other players have to step up to the plate,” he added.

Smith conceded Leverock's dismissal five overs before tea, shifted the momentum back in USA's favour.

“It was big dismissal simply because Leverock (Dwayne) has the mentality to bat extremely long and knows the value of the game,” he said. “He's very tight with his batting and to lose him I think that's when the game swung, even though I still thought Archer (Dennis) and myself had a chance of pulling it off before I had a very unfortunate dismissal.”

Smith's dismissal in the 66th over was the second time this season he has padded up and left a delivery alone, only to have the ball turn square and topple his bails.

Despite suffering a lost in their first Intercontinental Cup match, Bermuda still received 17 batting and bowling points for their effort.

Now Bermuda will have to quickly put the past behind them and begin focussing on next month's international commitment in Toronto.

“We will have to regroup and look at our long-term plan. We have a few youngsters and other players that weren't a part of this game and so we look forward to having them come onboard in the future. When we go to Canada it will be a matter of us letting it all hang out because we have nothing to lose,” added Smith.

A total of 71 minutes of play was lost yesterday morning to rain but when the covers were removed and USA, poised at 141 for five overnight, resumed their second innings, in Leverock, the visitors found a man on a mission.

Bowling his traditional left-arm leg breaks from the southern end, Leverock accounted for four of the last six USA wickets to tumble in the innings in only 7.2 overs of work to temporarily provide a glimmer of hope for those gathered around the plush grounds.

The remaining USA wickets fell in only 14.2 overs, the last four for 19 runs in 29 minutes as the gifts kept showering in for Leverock who celebrated his 33rd birthday the previous day. He was backed up by Western Stars team mate Mukuddem and Mackie Crane who each took a wicket.

US opener Mark Johnson, batting with 16 stitches just above his upper lip after he was struck in the face by a rising Mukuddem delivery in the first-innings, seemed to take his frustration out on the local bowling attack. Johnson top scored with a robust 46 on day two, middle-order bat Nasir Javed 40, fellow opener Jignesh Desai 32 and Aiijaz Ali 28.

USA were dismissed in their second innings for 183 in 46.2 overs just ten minutes before yesterday's luncheon interval, while Bermuda's second innings came to an end at exactly 6 p.m., much to the pleasure of the victorious Americans who return home today.

“I thought Clay (Smith) batted really well and made a game out of it,” commented jubilant USA skipper Richard Staple.

“For one moment it (match) could have gone either way but once we got him (Smith) out it became a little easier for us.”

Staples also paid tribute to team-mates Massiah and Johnson for their match-winning performances.

“Johnson has been a champion for us during the course of this tour - he bowled his heart out,” he said. And Massiah (Steve) showed a lot of maturity batting for us in the first-innings. He set the stage for us as his innings was crucial to our success as well.”