T20 QUALIFIERS

Canada and Bermuda claim final T20 Qualifier berths as USA crash out

by Bertus de Jong • Last updated on

Delray Rawlins returned to national colours and played a part in Bermuda's success. © Getty

Hosts Bermuda completed their second win over favourites USA in the space of five days to secure the final slot at the T20 World Cup Global Qualifier alongside Canada. The more-fancied United States recorded only a single win over the Cayman Islands in their first four games at the ongoing Americas Regional Finals at Hamilton, leaving them with an insurmountable five point deficit with two rounds to play.

Canada and Bermuda are thus arithmetically assured of progression to the global tournament, to be held in the UAE in October, though which of the two will claim the honours at the Americas Qualifier itself is yet to be decided. The pair are the final two countries to win through a regional qualifying process which began with the first Sub-regional qualifier at Buenos Aires in February of last year, winnowing down some sixty countries to the eight regional qualifiers who will be joining hosts UAE at the 14-team tournament together with Scotland, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Oman and Ireland, who secured their berths by qualification for the 2016 WT20 but failed to achieve direct qualification for the World Cup itself through the rankings.

Whilst Canada and Bermuda will take the two Americas qualifying slots, Jersey saw off 17 other sides to claim the sole European berth, finishing just ahead of Germany on net run rate at the European finals at Guernsey in June. Papua New Guinea bagged their slot going unbeaten through East Asia Pacific qualifying, and Namibia and Kenya claimed the initial two African slots at the Africa final at Kampala in May. Finally Singapore claimed the remaining Asia slot ahead of the more-fancied Nepal at the Asia finals in July, while Zimbabwe's suspension allowed for a third surprise qualifier, Nigeria taking the extra African place on the strength of their third place finish at the Africas qualifier.

Despite home advantage and the return to national colours of the prodigal Delray Rawlins, the star all-rounder and England prospect having been out of the side for some time owing to commitments at Sussex, Bermuda started the week as outsiders. With Terryn Fray taking over the captaincy from Dion Stovell, who was belatedly ruled out owing to an injury sustained at the climax of the traditional Bermuda Cup Match earlier this month, the tiny island nation were widely expected to come a fighting third at best in the four-team event.

But depsite an intensive period of preparation the newly resurgent USA side, who claimed ODI status for the first time at World Cricket League Division 2 earlier this year, sank to a shock opening defeat at the hands of the hosts in the the first match of the tournament on Sunday, Rawlins setting up the six-run win with 63 off 53 from number 4. The Americans, in their first outing under the direction of the newly-appointed coaching team that took over from Pubudu Dassanayake last month, managed a streaky 10-run win on DLS over the Cayman Islands before sinking to defeat against traditional rivals Canada in their third match, leaving them needing to win all their remaining matches to have a realistic hope of a top two finish.

The hosts meanwhile have had a stroke of luck when the rain intervened to wash out a near-certain defeat at the hands of Canada, who were 40 without loss after four overs chasing a target of 83 when the heavens opened. A straightforward six-wicket win over the Caymans put Bermuda in a strong position ahead of their rematch with the USA however, knowing a win would see them through with two matches to spare.

Bermuda almost frittered the chance away, conceding no less than 21 extras to allow the States to amass a competitive 141-9 despite another lacklustre effort with the bat. Okera Bascome and Malachi Jones would put Bermuda well ahead of the game after the break, hitting 35 off 16 and 27 off 19 respectively, but the American spinners fought back hard in the middle overs, the veteran leggie Timil Patel and 21 year-old slow left-armer Karima Gore especially impressive as Bermuda stumbled to 117-6 at the end of the 17th over - a wicket maiden from Gore who finished with figures of 3 for 5 in 4. It would not be enough. Even with both Rawlins and the equally dangerous Kamau Leverock back in the shed, the USA could not contain the hosts. Number six Duente Darrell hit Hayden Walsh for two straight sixes in four balls to seal the win with seven balls to spare.

For the United States, who many had tipped to make it through qualification to the World Cup itself, failure to even reach the qualifier is a remarkable setback, and a staggering turnaround in form for a side that had seemed to be on the up, having apparently put their long-running administrative woes behind them. Meanwhile for Bermuda, who reached the global qualifer for the first time since 2013, the result will be cause for jubilation on a tiny cricket-loving island who have had few results worth celebrating in recent years.

© Cricbuzz

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