Bermuda Under 19s lost their opening tour match in Trinidad yesterday, going down by eight-wickets to Connection Wanderers at Gilbert Park.

Batting first, the tourists posted 124 for nine after the introduction of leg spinner Silvar Gooljar triggered a colossal slide that saw Bermuda lose their last seven batsmen for the addition of 29 runs in a match reduced to 35 overs.

Wanderers, in reply, easily overhauled their opponent's modest total with 24 balls to spare.

"This was our first competitive game in a few months and so a lot of our players were a bit rusty. But the guys are okay and if we could've scored around 150 we might have won the match," commented Under 19 assistant coach Andre Manders.

Bermuda's decision to bat first seemed to be pay off as openers Chris Douglas (18) and Pierre Smith (16) produced 36 runs for the first wicket.

Wanderers, though, gained control of proceedings as Malachi Jones (five) and Lamar Richardson (0) were both dismissed cheaply to leave the tourists fluttering at 52 for three.

But a timely 43-run, fourth-wicket stand between Regino Smith (16) and skipper Rodney Trott, who thumped 30 off 48 balls, steadied the ship and steered Bermuda back on course.

Trott proved to be the mainstay of his team's innings and as long as he hung around, Bermuda's hopes of posting a formidable total always looked within reach. But just as the St.George's all rounder began to cut loose, the Islanders were dealt a heavy blow as Trott was taken just inside the boundary ropes attempting to retain the strike on the final ball of seamer Nick Donald's last over.

From here leg spinner Gooljar took over and sliced through the order with consummate ease as Bermuda completely lost their way in the middle.

Gooljar finished with remarkable figures - four for 16 off five overs, with seamer Donald (two for 22) providing solid support.

Having been presented with an asking run rate of under four per over, Wanderers encountered few obstacles in their path in pursuit of Bermuda's total, with Chris Hails' unbeaten half century powering the Island's hosts to their required target.

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