Bermuda's lack of bowling depth again cost them dearly as they suffered their fourth straight one-day defeat of the current African tour against Canada today.

Having posted a respectable 235 for eight in their allotted 50 overs, including a half-century from top scorer David Hemp (55), Bermuda were unable to defend that total as Canada romped to a five-wicket victory thanks mainly to man-of-the-match Sunil Dhaniram who plundered 63 off 42 balls and an unbeaten 58 from Ashish Bagai.

Janeiro Tucker bowled superbly for Bermuda, taking two for 23 in 10 economical overs, while Dwayne Leverock returned one for 39 off 10, but the rest of the attack were woefully below par.

Bermuda's efforts, however, weren't helped by the late withdrawal of pacer Kevin Hurdle who went down with a stomach bug shortly before the match, and a back strain suffered by Ryan Steede, who managed just four overs.

Hurdle's replacement, Stefan Kelly, was particularly wayward, giving up 33 runs in 3.5 overs, although he did snare the late wicket of Dhaniram, while the normally reliable Saleem Mukuddem conceded 52 off 10 overs and David Hemp 41 off eight.

Put into bat after losing the toss, Bermuda got off to a rapid start, thumping 54 off the first 10 overs, although opener Kwame Tucker fell in the very first over, fending a rising delivery from pacer Henry Osinde into the gloves of wicketkeeper Ashif Mulla without scoring.

But Dean Minors continued to impress in his new role as opener, lashing three fours and two sixes in his total of 37 while with Irving Romaine banged six fours and one six in a knock of 36 as the pair put on 71 for the third wicket.

After they departed it was left to Hemp (55) and Janeiro Tucker (27) to keep the scoreboard ticking over while Mukuddem contributed a valuable unbeaten 20, coming in at number eight.

Four-day skipper Clay Smith, Hasan Durham and Rodney Trott sat out the game.

Canada had lost their previous seven one-day internationals, including three to Bermuda, who in turn suffered a 3-0 whitewash to Kenya earlier this month.

Bermuda can make amends today when they take on Holland at Sedgars Park here in Potchefstroom.

Full report in tomorrow's Gazette.

SCOREBOARD

BERMUDA v CANADA

Scoreboard after yesterday's one-day international between Bermuda and Canada at Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom:

Canada won the toss:

BERMUDA

Kwame Tucker c A.Mulla b H.Osinde 0

Dean Minors st A.Bagai b S.Dhaniram 37

Stephen Outerbridge lbw Osinde 4

Irving Romaine c and b S.Dhaniram 36

David Hemp lbw K.Sandher 55

Janeiro Tucker b K.Sandher 27

Lionel Cann c D.Chumney b S.Thuraisingam 8

Saleem Mukuddem not out 20

Ryan Steede lbw S.Thuraisingam 6

Dwayne Leverock not out 8

Extras (1b, 11lb, 5nb, 17w) 34

Total (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 235

Did not bat: Stefan Kelly

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-30, 3-101, 4-108, 5-166, 6-181, 7-202, 8-223

Bowling: H.Osinde 6-1-34-2; U.Bhatti 8-0-39-0; S.Thuraisingam 8-1-36-2; S.Dhaniram10-1-38-2; G.Codrington 10-0-38-0; K.Sandher 8-0-38-2

CANADA

Desmond Chumney c S.Mukuddem b J.Tucker 38

Ashif Mulla b Mukuddem 30

Ashish Bagai not out 58

Abdool Samad lbw b Leverock 21

George Codrington c D.Minors b J.Tucker 10

Sunil Dhaniram c D.Minors b S.Kelly 63

Don Maxwell not out 4

Extras (1b, 6lb, 8w) 15

Total (for five wickets, 47.5 overs) 239

Did not bat: Umar Bhatti, Sanjay Thuraisingam, Kevin Sandher, Henry Osinde

Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-81, 3-117, 4-138, 5-229

Bowling: R.Steede 4-0-27-0; S.Mukuddem 10-1-52-1; S.Kelly 3.5-0-33-1; D.Hemp 8-0-41-0; J.Tucker 10-2-23-2; D.Leverock 10-1-39-1; I.Romaine 2-0-17-0

Man of the match: Sunil Dhaniram (Canada)

Umpires: Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe), Jeff Luck (Namibia)

Match referee: Mike Proctor