Bermuda?s senior national cricket team were crowned champions of the ICC Americas Region for the first time in history in Toronto on Saturday as nearest rivals USA came up woefully short in their final match against hosts Canada at King City.

The Americans needed only a win against the Canadians to clinch a second overall Americas title, but instead suffered a humiliating ten-wicket defeat at the hands of the host country.

Under the captaincy of Irving Romaine, Bermuda peeled off three straight victories against Canada, Argentina and Cayman Islands, and then received two-points for their abandoned contest against USA on Friday to give them a total of 14 points from their four matches.

?I just want to congratulate the captain (Irving Romaine) and all of the players for their support and they way they handled themselves throughout the tournament,? Bermuda coach Gus Logie stated.

?They deserved to win the championship and demonstrated all of the qualities we have been looking for, for most of the tournament.?

Bermuda began their march to glory by handing Canada a narrow 11-run defeat at the Toronto Cricket Club exactly seven days ago, before comfortably defeating Argentina by 109 runs and Cayman Islands by 93 runs.

Just weeks after qualifying for the 2007 World Cup, Bermuda clinched the ICC Intercontinental Cup Americas group in Toronto.

Now twelve months later the Island is celebrating yet another major achievement under Logie?s watch.

Moments after Canada?s crushing defeat of USA confirmed Bermuda as victors of the biennial regional tournament, coach Logie thanked those among his support team.

?I would first like to take this opportunity to thank the manager of the team, Mr Lionel Tannock, who has gone beyond the call of duty because no job was ever to big or small for him,? Logie said.

?Our physio, Mr.Craig Brown, also worked extremely hard. Not only for Bermuda?s players, but also for the opposition?s players as well.

?I also want to congratulate Herbie (assistant coach Bascome) for the enthusiasm he brought to the team. I thought he brought to our team a strong, quality work ethic and certainly gelled well with the players. And I congratulate him for that.

?But all in all I thought this was truly a great team effort and I give thanks to all of the team?s supporters, and also to Canada.?

Bermuda?s latest triumph went a long way towards erasing a disappointing showing at the inaugural Stanford 20-20 Tournament in Antigua last July.

And the way the team has rebounded in recent weeks is nothing short of exceptional.

?Like I?ve always said, winning and losing is all just a part of the process moving forward. And we are going to win some matches and also lose some matches,? Logie continued.

?But whenever we lose it?s not the end of the world. We just have to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again.

?Then, whenever we do win, we just have to make sure we have both feet on the ground knowing that we are stepping stones. Not only for the players that are playing now, but also for the young ones coming up because they are the future.

?So it?s important we leave a legacy behind for them to be proud of, and also to continue.?

Bermuda Cricket Board chief executive Neil Speight who attended Saturday?s match involving Canada and the USA with coach Logie, applauded Bermuda?s cricketers for the manner in which they rebounded after suffering a heavy loss to Canada in the Intercontinental Cup.

?I think it?s a telling sign,? he said.

?Obviously we had the four day game first in the Intercontinental Cup where the Canadians played very well and we were unable to hang on for a draw.

?But to see the team bounce back as they did not necessarily at full-strength, I think it?s testament to the work that Gus and the squad have been doing.

?It?s also nice to see that we are beginning to show some added depth and to beat Canada on their own turf gave us momentum going through the whole tournament. And so it was well deserved and I think a pat on the back for Gus and the guys that was much needed.

?It?s a good feeling, but we must remain focused on our long term goals.

?We want to be competitive in the World Cup and also win the ICC Trophy in 2009. And I think this is another step in the right direction.?