Canada 271

Bermuda 270/8

Bermuda's lapses in the field returned to haunt them in the most bitter of ways as they suffered an agonising one-run defeat by hosts Canada in the final game of the Americas Under-19 World Cup Qualifier in Toronto.

Saturday's match - worthy of being the tournament climax - swung in one direction, then the next and back. It came down to the last ball of the 50th over and, with Bermuda needing two to eclipse the Canadians' score of 271 in 47.5 overs, Shane Hollis missed the delivery which went through to the wicket-keeper who threw it in the air gleefully.

Inexplicably, Hollis and his batting partner, Loren Marshall, did not even attempt running a bye which could have earned the Island a tie and therefore a share of the points and the glory. Thus, Bermuda finished on 270 for eight, losing by the narrowest of margins.

This meant they finished the tournament in third place (out of five teams), behind winners Canada, who qualified for the 2004 Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, and the Cayman Islands who beat Bermuda in their first match.

“I was very disappointed that we didn't tie the game. I really can't explain that. They didn't run off the last ball which was very strange. I think they were probably concentrating on the two runs (to win) and because the batsman didn't hit the ball they didn't run.

“They should have just run because the wicket-keeper caught the ball and threw it in the air. If they had run a single he would have had to catch the ball and then throw at the stumps and the bowler was half-way down the pitch anyhow,” said national coach Mark Harper, recalling the dramatic end for The Royal Gazette.

Clearly still emotional about the result as well as the tournament overall, he disclosed that everyone was “upset” after the game, especially to come so close to victory and snatch defeat.

“Whenever you lose it's disappointing but, yes, I'd have to say it was much more disappointing to get that close and lose the game.

“It just proves that with a little more effort we could have won the tournament because Canada was undoubtedly the team to beat. They made the running from the word ‘go'.”

Also, the knowledge that Bermuda had only themselves to blame made things all the more frustrating.

“A lot of times Bermuda shot themselves in the foot. Even though it was a great effort there were times during the Canadian innings where we were very lethargic; our bowling and fielding were not as they should have been.

“We were not sharp at all.

“We bowled the most loose deliveries for the tournament in that game and it came back to haunt us. We were capable of playing much better,” said Harper, giving a candid assessment.

This slip in standards followed a promising start where the Island boys had Canada at 25 for two off seven overs.

“In the next seven overs they were about 90 for the same two (wickets).

“We had misfields and (bowled) full tosses and that kind of thing.”

Jacobi Robinson took three Canadian wickets for 45 runs in eight overs, while Kian Butterfield bagged three for 37 from 4.5 overs and Delyone Borden, three for 46 off ten overs.

Bermuda's response to the hefty target began badly when in-form opener, Dion Stovell, was controversially run out early in the innings.

“A lot of people felt he made his ground very easily and the umpire thought otherwise.

“Obviously, it was a setback. He is our top batsman and, chasing such a sizeable total, we were hoping he would have made a good contribution. But, the guys put that aside and went on,” said the coach.

The other opener, Oronde Bascome, rose to the challenge with a sparkling 68 from 98 balls while Robinson, enjoying a stellar all-round performance, hit a whirlwind 67 off a mere 33 deliveries. Captain and wicket-keeper, Jekon Edness, pitched in with 32 and Mishael Paynter produced 26 as Bermuda gained momentum.

However, it was not be the fairytale conclusion they wished for, leaving the team, who returned home yesterday, to ponder what might have been if, as Harper put it, some players had shown a “little more commitment”.

Apart from slackness in the field, he felt the youngsters could have turned the strike over more frequently while batting.

Reflecting on the first-round, surprise defeat by Cayman Islands which also proved vital in the points standings, the coach said that, having witnessed the game between the USA and the Caymans, the Bermudians clearly thought they would roll over the other Island team easily.

“We were a bit rusty in that game. We dropped about five catches and then when we went to bat the conditions changed.

“It became overcast and the light was not as good and their fast bowler performed very well and we didn't respond to that pressure,” he explained, referring to Caymanian Troy Taylor who snapped up seven wickets for 12 runs in seven overs.

Still, he highlighted many positives from the tournament, including the revelation of Bascome as a classy opener.

“Oronde Bascome has really developed into a quality opening batsman. I am sure if he keeps developing he should go on to bigger and better things.

“He has been doing pretty well this season and he took that form into the competition. He was able to overcome his duck in the first game to play three very valuable innings for us,” said Harper of the St. George's player.

Robinson also came in for high praise, particularly for his brilliance with the bat against the Canadians.

“He played a very good innings. We sent him in at number seven and he batted well. He struck a lot of boundaries and ran well between the wickets. He hit the ball into the gaps well and, in partnership with Jekon and Butterfield, exploited the weak fielders.”

Borden's all-round prowess and Edness' efficiency behind the stumps were also hailed by the coach who added that others contributed at various stages to the Island's cause.

Edness and Stovell earned the Best Wicket-keeper and Best Batsman prizes respectively in the competition's awards ceremony. Every country also selected their Player of the Tournament and Bascome was Bermuda's pick.

“I hope these guys will learn from this experience. I think we're just lacking that killer instinct. They tend to take a lot of things for granted - that they're going to go out there on the day and it's going to be all right and sometimes they don't pay full attention to the advice they are given,” said Harper.

See Scoreboard Page 22.