Holland 91; Bermuda 94-4<$>In a performance reminiscent of nothing seen previously on this five-week tour of Africa, Bermuda crushed already-crowned champions Holland by six wickets in the final ICC Tri-Series match at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Saturday.

Inspired by pace pair Kevin Hurdle and Saleem Mukuddem, who claimed seven wickets between them, Bermuda mowed down their opponents for just 91 in 26.4 overs and then rattled off the required runs in little more than an hour, requiring just 17 overs to record their first one-day victory of an otherwise disappointing tour.

Astonishingly, the match was all over before the scheduled 1.30 p.m. lunch break, David Hemp leading the run chase with an unbeaten, boundary-laden 36.

It was a stunning reversal of form for a team who had lost their previous six ODIs and just four days earlier had been battered by the Dutch by eight wickets.

No doubt stung by coach Gus Logie’s biting criticism following Thursday’s defeat to Canada which condemned them to last place in the series standings, no matter what Saturday’s result, the players looked hungrier, livelier and more focused than during any of their earlier games.

Some observers would have argued that Holland, having already won the tournament and with nothing to play for but pride, might have taken their foot off the accelerator, but the disappointment on the faces of their players and coaches at the end of this humiliating reverse suggested otherwise.

On a lively strip offering plenty of assistance, Hurdle, erratic for much of this tour, exploited the conditions superbly to finish with three for 30 off his 10 overs, including three maidens, while Mukuddem, later adjudged man-of-the-match, was equally effective, claiming four for 40 off 10 overs with one maiden.

Holland’s cause wasn’t helped by the retirement of skipper Luuk van Troost who was taken to hospital with what was first suspected as a broken right arm but later diagnosed as badly sprained, after being struck by a ball from Hurdle.

But none of their bats looked comfortable against Bermuda’s two pacemen, who produced by far their most penetrating bowling of the series.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Holland appeared to be cruising along comfortably enough at 16 without loss when Hurdle landed the first blow, Bas Zuiderent (7) mistiming his shot and lofting the ball down to third man where Stefan Kelly held the catch.

In the next over, first slip Dwayne Leverock stooped low to take an excellent catch which earned Mukuddem the wicket of Eric Szwarcynski (10), and at 25 for two Holland might have <\h>sensed this wasn’t going to be their day.

But it wasn’t until the 10th, 11th and 12th overs that Bermuda’s two pacemen really asserted their authority, helped in no small part by wicketkeeper Dean Minors, as four wickets tumbled for the addition of just three runs.

Daan van Bunge (9) hoisted Mukuddem over the square leg boundary for six and then attempted a similar swipe on the next ball only to see his middle stump removed.

From the other end Hurdle dismissed the classy Ryan ten Doeschate for 12 thanks to a brilliant diving catch from Minors, and having injured himself in the process and receiving treatment, the veteran ‘keeper then sent Tim de Leede back to the pavilion for a first-ball duck and offered Hurdle the chance of a hat-trick.

New bat Peter Borren denied him that honour, but just eight balls later he became the next victim, caught by Clay Smith at second slip off Mukuddem for nought, and after 12 overs the Dutch were in dire straits at 48 for six.

Van Troost’s retirement added to their troubles as he was helped off the field in obvious pain after being struck on the right forearm by a short-pitched Hurdle delivery which looked to be rising over the batsman’s head but instead stayed low.

And when Holland’s 16-year-old Alexel Kervezee — who recently signed a contract to play for English county side Warwickshire next season — was caught by Stephen Outerbridge at mid-wicket off Mukuddem for 12 with the total on 65, they were in real danger of failing to reach their previous lowest one-day total of 86.

Some lusty blows from tailender Mark Jonkman (15) spared their blushes on that count. But after Kelly removed Jonkman’s middle stump in the 24th over it was left to Leverock to wrap up the innings as last man Muhammad Kashif (1) drove into the hands of Hurdle.

Required to score at less than two an over, Bermuda provided a couple of scares along the way, but between them skipper Irving Romaine (23) and Hemp (36 not out) made absolutely sure this was one win they wouldn’t let slip away.

Smith fell in the first over, trapped lbw by ten Doeschate for a duck, Minors (7) hooked into the hands of Szwarcynski off Jonkman and Outerbridge (11) was held at mid-on by Zuiderent off de Leede, leaving Bermuda wobbling at 24 for three.

But after Hemp had survived a loud appeal for lbw off his first ball from ten Doeschate, he and Romaine quickly dispelled fears of any further collapse.

Off that same over, Romaine belted the Essex county player for three boundaries, and off the same bowler’s next over Hemp stroked three effortless fours to put the target within sight.

Romaine appeared unlucky to be given out lbw off a de Leede delivery that looked to be drifting down the leg side.

However, new bat Janeiro Tucker and Hemp wasted no time in wrapping up a memorable win, Hemp smashing Kashif for a four and a six off consecutive balls and Tucker driving the same bowler for four to end the match.