Star batsman Glenn Blakeney could make a much-needed first appearance at the ICC Americas Championship in Florida today as Bermuda look to bounce back from Thursday's 81-run loss to the USA that has left their title defence hanging in the balance.

Blakeney has been sidelined through a knee injured he suffered during fielding drills earlier in the week but is said to be now nearing match fitness and hoping to play against cricket minnows Argentina.

"At this point in time we are still hopeful that he can play. The physio (Craig Brown) feels that with another day's rest he wil be okay and so we are hoping to have him ready for Saturday's match," Bermuda coach Gus Logie told The Royal Gazette.

Last Thursday's loss was hardly the result Bermuda would have hoped for as it has now left them with very little margin for error – facing the daunting task of bolstering their run rate and relying on other results to go their way, as was the case two years ago in Toronto.

"We can still win this tournament . . . but we still have a lot of catching up to do," Logie said.

"Our guys realise they still have some way to go to reach their full capabilities and I am sure they will be able to pick themselves up."

As anticipated, Bermuda's Americas title defence got off to a flying start with convincing wins over minnows Cayman Islands (won by 73 runs) and Surinam (won by 224 runs) before they were carved up by the Americans on Thanksgiving Day.

In order to retain their title, Bermuda must win their remaining fixtures against Argentina (today) and Canada tomorrow and also rely on the latter to beat USA today – all the while increasing their run rate considerably.

So far on tour, in-form batsman Lionel Cann, all-rounder Stephen Outerbridge and off-spinner Delyone Borden have stood out among the crowd.

In three visits to the crease, Cann has piled up 203 runs at an average of 101.50 while Outerbridge has 142 at an average of 47.3.

Skipper Irving Romaine (50), former Glamorgan captain David Hemp (51), Outerbridge (62) and Cann (101 and 78) are the only Bermuda batsmen to score half- centuries on tour thus far.

Borden continues to lead the Bermuda bowling with eight wickets for 56 runs and his six -wicket haul (six for 17) against Surinam remains the best bowling performance to date.

Outerbridge has held a team-high three catches.

Another personal milestone has seen seamer Justin Pitcher officially open his wicket account at this level. The St.David's all-rounder – one of five Islanders in Bermuda's squad – combine with Dwayne Leverock to dismiss opener Sushil Nadkarni during Bermuda's loss to USA, his first scalp as a senior national squad member.

ICC Americas Championship

Standings

W L NR Pts

Canada 3 0 0 6

USA 3 0 0 6

Bermuda 2 1 0 4

Cayman Islands 1 2 0 2

Argentina 0 3 0 0

Surinam 0 3 0 0