The part-time off-spin of Chris Douglas was too much for the Cayman Islands as Bermuda made a winning start to the defence of their ICC Americas Championship title in Florida yesterday.

Douglas, who also scored 39 in Bermuda's total of 220-7, took four wickets for just 18 runs to help his side to a 73 run win after Cayman could only manage 147-9 in reply.

While Douglas will get the plaudits, it was David Hemp who set the foundations for the Bermuda victory, scoring 51 off 59 balls at the end of the innings.

He and Stephen Outerbridge (39) put on 61 in a fifth wicket partnership that rescued Bermuda from the nervy position of being 123-4.

More solid than explosive, Hemp's innings, which included just three boundaries, was exactly what Bermuda needed after they had slipped from 96-1 to being four down.

However, on a low and slow pitch, Bermuda's score was more than enough to see off the Cayman Islands, and coach Gus Logie was more than pleased with his side's efforts.

"It was good to get a win in tough conditions," said Logie. "We knew going into the game that the guys were short of match practice. Obviously some of them have been in Australia, and their fitness levels were good, but the guys in England (Stefan Kelly, Stephen Outerbridge, and Jekon Edness) have been short of cricket.

"We told them to go out and play the conditions, to judge the pitch and play accordingly. The wicket was low and slow, and in the end the experience of David Hemp told because he came in and got the runs that we needed.

"We knew that 220 would be a good score on that wicket, it hasn't been played on for some time, and in the end we bowled and fielded well."

After posting a decent score, Bermuda still had plenty of work to do, and the bowlers all played their part, with Delyone Borden conceding just seven runs from his seven overs.

"The spinners all showed their quality, Leverock, Borden and Trott all squeezed Cayman, and then Chris Douglas was the surprise package," said Logie. "We did well to apply the pressure and that was pleasing to see."

Despite the convincing nature of the win however, Logie believes there are still some things that his side need to work out, and quickly.

"We had a good start at the top of the order, but we want the guys at the top to then go on and get hundreds, and not leave it to the ones later on to have to get all the runs," he said.

"It's fine getting a start, but you then need to go on and build on that. But we bowled well, fielded well, and the team is looking good at the moment."

Next up for Logie's men are Surinam today, and having lost heavily to America yesterday, Bermuda should be firm favourites to win their second game of the tournament.

"We know they will be feeling a little bit under the weather and we have to take advantage of that," said Logie.

"But we are going to make some changes to the side without disrupting the balance too much.

"There are plenty of games this week, so we need to make sure people are fresh, so Leverock and Kelly will step out, and Justin Pitcher and Tamauri Tucker will come in."

Bermuda innings

C Douglas lbw M Wight 39

L Cann lbw R Bovell 24

O Bascome st R Sealy b A Morris 19

S Outerbridge run out (Sealy) 39

I Romaine lbw A Morris 16

D Hemp not out 51

J Edness b R Bovell 11

R Trott b K Bazil 1

D Borden not out 2

Extras (13lb, 13w, 2nb) 18

Total (for seven) 220

Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-96, 3-96, 4-123, 5-184, 6-213, 7-218

Did not bat: D Leverock, S Kelly

Bowling: M Bryan 8-0-45-0, T Taylor 5-0-21-0, R Bovell 10-0-42-2, A Morris 10-1-30-2, M Wight 7-0-33-1, K Bazil 10-1-46-1

Cayman Islands innings

A Hall c S Outerbridge b R Trott 27

R Sealy c D Leverock b D Borden 21

R Roach c D Borden b R Trott 0

S Gordon run out (S Kelly) 20

P Best c O Bascome b C Douglas 29

M Wight st J Edness b C Douglas 10

R Bovell c O Bascome b Douglas 3

A Morris c L Cann b I Romaine 3

K Bazil c I Romaine b C Douglas 4

T Taylor not out 10

M Bryan not out 5

Extras (4lb, 9w, 2nb) 15

Total (for nine) 147

Fall of wicets: 1-49, 2-50, 3-52, 4-102, 5-106, 6-115, 7-121, 8-122, 9-130.

Bowling: S Kelly 5-0-19-0, D Leverock 10-1-30-0, D Borden 7-3-7-1, R Trott 8-1-34-2, I Romaine 10-1-23-1, C Douglas 8-1-18-4, S Outerbridge 2-0-12-0.