DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, CMC – Bermuda’s fairytale start to the ICC World Cup Twenty20 qualifiers ended when they were crushed by eight wickets by the Netherlands at the ICC Academy ground here yesterday.
Bermuda, who began the tournament with Group B victories over Scotland and Denmark, were no match for the Dutch, despite an explosive half-century by skipper Janeiro Tucker.
Tucker smashed seven fours and two sixes in his 25-ball 51 and Lionel Cann made 33 in Bermuda’s 144-8 but South African-born openers Stephan Myburgh and Wesley Barresi made light of their task, adding 108, as the Dutch cruised to victory with four overs to spare.
Myburgh hit seven fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 78 from 53 balls while Barresi’s 45 from 32 balls included three fours and three sixes.
Slow bowler Jacobi Robinson was Bermuda’s only successful bowler, taking 2-27 from four overs.
Bermuda next play on Wednesday when they face Afghanistan, who ended Papua New Guinea’s unbeaten run with a six-wicket victory via the Duckworth/Lewis method after heavy rain lashed the ground in Sharjah.
PNG rattled up 167-6 in their 20 overs before Afghanistan were set a revised target of 69 from seven overs — which they achieved off the final ball.
The United States (128-8) suffered their second defeat in three starts, losing their Group A match to Namibia (163-4) by 35 runs.
Pick of the US attack were Guyana-born off-break bowler Karan Ganesh (2-14 from four overs) and Jamaica-born left-arm medium pacer Elmore Hutchinson (2-31 from three).
Left-hander Steven Taylor, born in Florida of Jamaican parents, made 44 at the top of the US order but found little support. Former West Indies slow bowler Neil McGarrell chipped in with 21 not out at number nine but it was too little too late against the African side, who earned their first win of the tournament.
Unbeaten Ireland top the group after securing their third victory, edging hosts United Arab Emirates by five runs in Abu Dhabi.
Sixteen countries are competing in the tournament with the top three in each group advancing to next year’s World Cup proper in Bangladesh.
Summarised scores
Group A
Namibia (163-4) beat United States (128-8) by 35 runs
Ireland (138-5) beat United Arab Emirates (133) by five runs
Group B
Netherlands (145-2) beat Bermuda 144-8) by eight wickets
Afghanistan (72-4) beat Papua New Guinea (167-6) by six wickets, D/L method. Target 69 in seven overs.
