Bermuda clinched their spot in the final round of ICC World T20 Qualifier with two matches to spare in dramatic fashion at White Hill Field yesterday.

Coach Herbie Bascome’s side beat the United States by four wickets with man-of-the-match Deunte Darrell smashing two sixes off leg spinner Hayden Walsh, including one straight down the ground to seal the victory with seven balls to spare.

Bermuda were coasting at one stage in their run chase but lost a number of wickets trying to hit out against the US spin bowlers to leave the match hanging in the balance.

Requiring 15 from the last two overs, Darrell belted three sixes in an unbeaten knock of 30 from 23 balls and dominated a seventh-wicket partnership with Onias Bascome to steer Bermuda home.

“That was a great finish,” Janeiro Tucker, the assistant Bermuda coach said.

“When Deunte got up he said, ‘I’m the finisher, I’m going to finish it’, and that’s what he did. He hit two great sixes and he finished it for us.”

Terryn Fray, the Bermuda captain, added: “Two sixes in the over; that’s what you want.

“That was an excellent finish and you can’t ask for anything better than that.”

Set a target of 142, opener Okera Bascome laid the foundation for the run chase, stroking four sixes and a two fours in his 35 from 16 balls.

“The ball was coming on nicely, the wicket was playing good and I just had to back myself,” Bascome said. “I know I have the power and strength to hit it over the ropes, so when it’s in my slot I just have to take it.”

Malachi Jones also came good with the bat, smashing three sixes in a knock of 27 from 19 balls after being promoted to the No 3.

“I just tried to stay over a run a ball and maximise anything that was in my little zone,” Jones said.

“I was looking for a quick 30 off ten and managed to get 27, so I guess I did all right.”

Sussex all-rounder Delray Rawlins chipped in with 12 from 11 balls and Kamau Leverock 16 from 13 to keep the run chase on track before the US spinners applied the brakes.

Slow left-arm bowler Karima Gore posed the biggest challenge on the way to figures of three for five off four overs.

“I’ve played against a lot of those guys before and they are all smart bowlers,” Leverock said.

“If you can’t get them away they will keep you tied down.”

Despite the US’s valiant effort in the field, Bermuda held their nerve at the crease when it mattered most to punch their ticket to the final round of the ICC World T20 Qualifier in Dubai in October and November.

“We are a good team and the boys just showed how good they are,” Rawlins said.

“This is a talented group but also very skilful with a lot of cricket smarts and we showed that chasing down a potentially tough total we actually made look real easy.”

Onias Bascome continued his fine form with the ball to help restrict the US to 141 for nine after Bermuda sent them in to bat.

Bascome kept the batsmen guessing on the way to figures of three for 32.

“You can’t give them consistently one ball,” Bascome said. “You have to change it up, especially on that wicket which does a lot for you.”

Rawlins claimed two for 22 with his slow left-arm while seam bowler George O’Brien Jr and Jones also picked up two wickets each.

Walsh topped scored for the US with 26 from 28 balls while Steven Taylor chipped in with 23 from 30 and Xavier Marshall, the former West Indies player, 17 from 12. The US were pegged back at 85 for five in the fifteenth over but recovered to post a decent total.

“My hat goes off to these guys who deserve everything they get,” Tucker said. “Bermuda needs to give these guys a lot of praise for what they accomplished today.”

Lloyd Smith, the Bermuda Cricket Board president, added: “These guys have shown a lot of guts and a lot of heart over the last couple of weeks. What they have put in they are getting out.”

ICC T20 WORLD CUP AMERICAS QUALIFIER

United States

White Hill Field (Bermuda won toss): Bermuda won by four wickets

X M Marshall c Leverock b O’Brien 17

†M D Patel c Rawlins b Jones 6

S R Taylor c Douglas b Onias Bascome 23

S Sohal lbw b Jones 5

Aaron Jones b Rawlins 4

H R Walsh b Rawlins 26

T P Allen c Darrell b Onias Bascome 7

C J Gannon c Rawlins b Onias Bascome 2

T K Patel not out 14

*S N Netravalkar c Jones b O’Brien 12

K Gore not out 4

Extras (nb 1, w 20) 21

Total (9 wkts; 20 overs) 141

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-28, 3-38, 4-43, 5-85, 6-98, 7-106, 8-111, 9-126.

Bowling:

O’Brien 4-0-38-2; Jones 4-0-26-2; Rawlins 4-0-22-2; Trott 2-0-11-0; Onias Bascome 4-0-32-3; Douglas 2-0-12-0.

Bermuda

Okera Bascome b Gore 35

*T S Fray c Walsh b Gore 8

M O Jones st M D Patel b T KPatel 27

D M W Rawlins c Gore b TK Patel 12

K S Leverock b Walsh 16

D A P Darrell not out 30

A C Douglas st MD Patel b Gore 3

Onias Bascome not out 7

Extras (lb1, nb 2, w 1) 4

Total (6 wkts, 18.5 overs) 142

G H O’Brien, †S Smith, R J Trott did not bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-45, 3-69, 4- 87, 5-111, 6-117.

Bowling: Netravalkar 3-0-33-0; Gore 4-2-5-3; Allen 1-0-17-0; Taylor 3-0-29-0; Gannon 1-0-8-0; T K Patel 4-0-19-2; Walsh 2.5-0-30-1.

Umpires: Jacqueline Williams (West Indies), Harry Grewal (Canada).

Reserve Umpire: Emmerson Carrington

Match Referee: Reon King (West Indies).