Oman 254 all out

Bermuda 256-2

Bermuda shrugged off the threat of relegation to Division Three of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League at Potchefstroom University on Saturday, thanks to a polished unbeaten century from the prolific David Hemp and Rodney Trott's four-wicket haul that guided the Islanders to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Oman.

Ex-Glamorgan skipper Hemp blasted 124 from 125 balls in 194 minutes and shared in a match-winning 180-run second-wicket stand with Stephen Outerbridge (91) – the third highest partnership of the tournament – that carried Bermuda to the brink of victory in this crucial World Cup qualifying play-off match.

Outerbridge fell nine runs shy of a maiden one-day century when he failed to pick an arm ball from left-arm spinner Tariq Hussain and was bowled.

But an unbroken third-wicket stand of 38 from 27 balls between Hemp and Glenn Blakeney (17 not out) saw Bermuda safely home with ten deliveries to spare.

Since being promoted to the top of the order, the runs have flowed freely from the bat of Hemp who currently tops the batting averages at 129.00 and has amassed the most runs (387) in the tournament so far.

His 124 over the weekend is the fourth highest individual tally and marked his second century in his last three visits to the crease.

Outerbridge, who is averaging 51.60, is currently the competition's sixth highest run-getter with 258 runs and has two half-centuries to his credit.

Bowling unchanged from the northern end of the ground, off spinner Trott bagged four for 43 – his second four-wicket haul of the tournament – while fast bowler Stefan Kelly had two for 49 to lead the Bermuda attack.

Trott has now taken 14 wickets overall – the second most in the tournament – at an average of 17.29.

Netherlands all-rounder Edgar Schiferli, who blasted –41 runs of just 17 balls against Bermuda last week, is the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 16.

Bermuda's convincing win over Oman went to some way towards easing the pain of losing their one day international (ODI) status and failing to qualify for the 2011 World Cup earlier in the week.

The Island's second victory of the tournament also made the Bermuda Cricket Board $350,000 richer and enhanced their chances of Intercontinental Cup qualification.

It also guaranteed that Bermuda cricket will benefit from the $300 million the ICC are set to pump into cricket below the Test level over the next two years for development purposes.

Oman elected to bat after winning the toss and raced to 106 for two before left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock (one for 26) and medium pacer Outerbridge (one for 41) applied the brakes.

Trott was then burdened with keeping the Oman batsmen under wraps in the middle overs and he proved more than equal to task.

The Bailey's Bay skipper bowled down a nagging line and was rewarded with four unanswered wickets, including that of top scorer Sultan Ahmed (62) who was spectacularly grabbed at mid-on by Hemp to trigger a slide that saw three wickets tumble for 14 runs.

Opener Hemin Desai carved a belligerent 58 from just 51balls, tailender Amir Ali 53 from 50 balls and Zeeshan Siddique 41. But two reckless run-outs coupled with Trott's guile eventually pulled the plug on the Oman innings and left them perhaps another 30 runs short in the end.

In reply, Hemp once again led from the front in his thriving role as opener.

The Bermuda vice-captain was in full control throughout and whenever the Oman bowlers dropped short or offered width he capitalised with total disdain.

Hemp reached his half-century in 91 minutes off 60 balls and shortly after cut loose by smashing successive boundaries off seamer Desai's first over.

He also targeted spinners Ali, Siddique and Hemal Mehta who were all lofted over the boundary ropes for massive sixes.

Hemp drove right arm seamer Farhan Khan to the deep cover boundary to bring up the hundred-run partnership between himself and Outerbridge off –110 balls in 79 minutes and eventually reached triple digits just moments before Bermuda opted for the batting power play.

At the other end Outerbridge was no less sparkling and after playing himself in brought up his half-century off 66 balls in 81 minutes.

He faced 126 balls and helped himself to nine boundaries and along with Hemp frustrated a blunted Oman attack with some excellent running between the stumps before another gem of an innings came to an abrupt halt.

Seamers Farhan Khan (one for 47) and off spinner Awak Khan (one for 33) were the pick of a varied Oman attack that used nine bowlers in vain.

Bermuda face Uganda today at Senwes Park in another play-off to decide ninth and tenth positions in the competition.

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