Canada Under-17s 173-7 Canada's youth team picked up their third straight win on their Bermuda tour yesterday after Nathan Richards' 45 not out made the difference between victory and defeat at Sea Breeze Oval.

Coming to the wicket in the 35th over at 113-6, Richards swung a match that was still very much in the balance back in Canada's favour with a dashing knock that included four sixes and two fours.

The young fast bowling allrounder from Victoria, British Columbia proved himself a very capable number eight as he smashed two sixes off one over from spinner Philip (PJ) Thomas to ruin his figures and then twice lifted Jacobi Robinson out of the ground to end the match with less than five overs remaining.

Richards added 44 for the unbroken eighth wicket with Vadesh Seepersad as the Bermuda youngsters tried desperately for the breakthrough.

One error in judgement for captain Kamen Tucker was not bringing back Dion Stovell for a second spell of seam. He had impressive first spell figures of three for seven from seven overs with two maidens.

Thomas bowled impressively for 10 overs of off-spin, finishing with two for 45. He held a firm return catch to dismiss opener Robbie Chatterpaul for 18 and then bowled Ajay Minhas for 16 to make it 107-5.

Thomas also held a good catch at square leg to dismiss captain Ashish Bagai off Kanas Tuzo for 13 six runs later as the local youngsters kept on the pressure.

Tuzo supported with two for 30 off 10 overs, after Stovell finally got the breakthrough when he claimed two wickets in the 19th over following an opening stand of 55. Gibran Rahaman was trapped lbw for 24 and Devin Persaud was bowled behind his legs in the same over without scoring.

Earlier, the match promised to be a short one when Canada, winning the toss and deciding to bat second for the first time on the tour, had the West All-Stars in deep trouble at 9-3 by the fourth over.

Harindra Chandrasena had all three wickets, bowling Edness in his first over and then snapping up Kamen Tucker and Dion Stovell in his next. A fourth wicket stand of 59 turned things around as opener Quinton Jones and Roland Rhones batted together for 18 overs to repair the damage. Jones lasted for 127 minutes for his 30 which came off 100 balls while Rhomas scored 22 from 62 balls.

Tuzo, a left-hander, played some delightful strokes in his top score of 37 which came in 52 minutes. He hit four fours and a six off 41 balls.

After he departed, Jacobi Robinson (12), Shane Hollis (15) and Lamar Caines (11) kept up the fight in the tail before Hollis was brilliantly run out by Aneel Nauth when his throw from deep mid-off hit the stumps at the bowler's end.

The 170 posted was the highest by a local team so far against the young Canadians, though it wasn't enough to bring them victory as Canada won an exciting contest.

Chandrasena was their best bowler with three for 18 from eight overs while Gitu Hassan had two for 14 from five overs of spin and Ajay Minhas two for 46.

Richards had an economical spell of one for 22 from 9.4 overs.

The final match of the tour is today at Southampton Oval when Canada meet Bermuda for the third time. They have a 3-1 record from their four matches so far.

On the back foot: Bermuda's youngsters continue to struggle against their Canadian counterparts. Today the national teams play each other again, but yesterday The West All-Stars failed to make an impression.