Bermuda slumped to their second successive defeat in the one-day series against Kenya yesterday, outplayed and out-thought in a seven-wicket reverse which again demonstrated how much work is required as they continue their build-up to next year?s World Cup.

Unlike their loss on the same Mombasa Sports Ground a day earlier, where they went down by 79 runs, it was an inept bowling performance rather than their batting that let the side down.

Kenya?s inspirational skipper Steve Tikolo and Tanmay Mishra both eased their way to unbeaten half-centuries in a stand worth 103 which sealed the win and the series for the host side, but in truth the damage had been done long before they arrived at the crease.

Having managed to post a reasonable target of 183, after overight rain had delayed the start of the match by one and a half hours and reduced the overs to 42 per side, Bermuda saw all that good work undone in a matter of minutes as Kenya?s openers smashed 29 runs off the first three overs and brought up the 50 inside seven overs.

That lightning start, thanks mainly to the wayward bowling of Kevin Hurdle, who gave up 55 runs in his seven overs, allowed Tikolo and Mishra to guide their team to an unhurried and untroubled victory.

There were, however, some high points for Bermuda after they won the toss and chose to bat. Dean Minors, moved into the opener?s slot to replace Stephen Outerbridge, responded with a well-crafted 29, Janeiro Tucker (50) compiled the first half-century for a visiting player on this tour, and new recruit David Hemp finally showed his prowess with the bat, hitting a polished 41 which included two towering sixes, one of which flew into the visiting side?s enclosure, scattering his team-mates. Teenager Malachi Jones also showed promise with an attractive innings of 23.

But after Kenya openers Maurice Ouma (18) and David Obuya (27) laid into the Bermuda attack with a brutal early assault, there was never much doubt about the result.

Ouma was the first to go in the fourth over, trapped lbw by Mukuddem, and the latter struck again in the eighth over to remove Obuya the same way. But by then 50 valuable runs had already been posted.

The introduction of spinners Dwayne Leverock and Hasan Durham slowed Kenya?s progress considerably, Leverock picking up the only other wicket to fall, that of Tony Suji as his attempted sweep sailed into the hands of Hurdle.

The big man was particularly impressive, taking one for 33 in his nine overs with two maidens, while Durham also checked the run rate with his seven-over spell which yielded 29 runs without reward.

However, after Tikolo had been dropped by Hemp in the deep as the skipper skied a delivery off Hurdle when he was still in single figures, there was never much chance Bermuda could pull this match out of the fire.

Together Tikolo and Mishra, requiring little more than three runs an over, bided their time, picking off the bad balls and ensuring