A thundering man-of-the-match innings of 93 by Janeiro Tucker and a four-wicket haul from the irrepressible Dwayne Leverock carried Bermuda to a 46-run victory over the Northern Cricket Union President?s XI in their first ever match on Irish soil yesterday.

But it?s unlikely either coach Gus Logie or his players will read too much into a result that while convincing was always expected.

The President?s XI, a selection of some of the best club players in Northern Ireland, boasted two professionals among their ranks and a few others with international experience.

But at NCU president Robin Walsh?s own admission, it wasn?t a team that would remotely trouble the full Irish national side, who Bermuda face in their opening ICC Trophy match on Friday this week.

That said, nothing could be taken away from Clay Smith?s men who did everything that was required of them on the picturesque tree-lined Mall ground in the centre of Armagh, some 30 miles outside Belfast.

While their innings again failed to get off to the best of starts, two wickets falling inside the first 12 overs with just 30 runs on the board, the middle order came good with Tucker thumping three huge sixes ? one of which smashed through the rear windscreen of a car in nearby parking lot ? and 13 fours in a disciplined but highly entertaining knock that laid the foundation for victory.

Then Leverock made sure there would be no way back for the home team as he ripped through their middle order with by far his best performance of the tour so far.

Yet it wasn?t his bowling but a truly remarkable catch on the boundary which had all the locals as well as his team-mates talking about the Big Man after the game was over.

With Indrajeet Kamtekar, one of the two pros in the side, already having reached his half-century and threatening to pose Bermuda serious problems, his blast down the ground to long-on off the bowling of Tucker had ?boundary? written all over it until the galloping Leverock ran a full 20 yards before diving full length and hanging one-handed onto a breathtaking catch.

That might have been the highlight, but there were also plenty of other positives from which the team can draw comfort, not least a crisp fielding display which saw Albert Steede hold two excellent catches, another three-wicket return from paceman Ryan Steede and the continued good form of Irving Romaine who kept his tour average well in the 40s with another accomplished knock of 36.

Bermuda?s innings, however, was built around Tucker who along with Dean Minors rescued the side from what might easily have deteriorated into an embarrassing collapse.

Together they put on 110 runs after the early order had again failed to come to grips with a no more than mediocre attack.

While it had been expected that coach Logie might experiment with a new opening partnership, he again opted to pair Albert Steede with OJ Pitcher for the third time in the last four games, suggesting this might be his preferred combination when the tournament gets underway.

However, only four overs had passed when Steede (5) got a thick edge to a Simon Stokes delivery and was comfortably caught by Michael McComish.

Saleem Mukuddem, promoted up the order to three, fared no better as he was sent back for four, mistiming a pull shot into the hands of McComish, again off Stokes.

Pitcher and new bat Romaine seemed set to repair that early damage as they upped the run rate and carried the score to 62 before an attempted quick single saw Pitcher (22) narrowly fail to make his ground.

Within three more overs, Bermuda were tottering. Having belted a six and four fours in his short stay, Romaine (36) was clean bowled by Stuart Kidd and skipper Smith managed just nine, including two fours, before he was caught on the long-on boundary by McComish off Kamtekar.

At 93 for five, there might have been some concern in the Bermuda camp. But they needn?t have worried.

Tucker quickly took command of the NCU attack, bludgeoning shots to all corners of the ground with Minors (17) playing an impressive supporting role at the other end.

A towering six over the sightscreen brought up Tucker?s half-century in the 37th over, and three overs later the Southampton Rangers skipper clobbered another boundary to complete the 100 partnership.

But ten runs later Minors lofted into the hands of Kamtekar off David Simpson, and just when it seemed new bat Lionel Cann (10) was ready to continue where his team-mate left off he was unluckily given out to a catch by McCollum off Niranjan Godbole at mid-off from what was clearly a bump ball.

Delyone Borden?s batting woes continued as he suffered another duck, bowled by Godbole, but with the total now 220-7 and Tucker inching ever closer to his century, Bermuda remained in a strong position.

However, just seven runs short of his ton, and having faced 77 balls, Tucker?s attacking instincts finally got the better of him as his straight drive off Stokes towards long-on sailed into the safe hands of Kamtekar.

Far from being disappointed at missing out on what would have been Bermuda?s first century on this tour, Tucker was delighted he?d finally come good with the bat.

?I felt great out there today,? he said. ?I was seeing the ball very well. ?

The century doesn?t matter at all. I was able to help the team, and that?s the main thing. And I enjoyed it today.?

Leverock (15) and Ryan Steede (3) safely played out the remaining four overs, a six and a four from Leverock in the final over ensuring a target of 250 for the Irish.

While the home team lost their first three wickets with just 22 on the board, Kamtekar (54), McComish (31) and last man out Godbole (62) meant Bermuda wouldn?t have everything their own way. But with Leverock (four for 36 including two maidens) picking off wickets at regular intervals, including two in four balls, the score required always appeared just out of reach.

Steede (three for 46 off eight) was effective although somewhat expensive, Mukuddem (two for 14 off 7.1 including three maidens) again made a big impression while both Borden (nought for 46 off nine) and Cann (nought for 31 off five) were, like Steede, more costly than they would have liked.

Tucker was the sixth bowler to be used, claiming one for 25 off four.

Today Bermuda will work out in the nets in preparation for their final warm-up match against Oman tomorrow at Saintfield, just outside Belfast.