Bermuda's national cricket team slumped to their second loss of the Americas Cup at the hands of highly-touted Canada in Argentina yesterday.

Once again sent in to bat first, the Bermudians rallied from a nightmarish 59 for six to 166 all out in the 48th over but this was not enough to stop the rampant Canadians who sped to 167 for two in 39.2 overs.

For coach Mark Harper this demise must have been particularly bitter as his men went down to a side captained by his Guyanese compatriot Nicholas deGroot - incidentally his wife's nephew - and another Guyanese, Faisal Samad, spearheaded Canada's batting onslaught. Both deGroot and Samad previously represented Guyana's senior national team.

"We're obviously disappointed to lose but I think we have a lot of young players now learning their trade and you have to be patient with them and hope that, as time goes on and they get more exposure, they will fulfil some of their obvious potential.

"Canada is a very good team. However, I think most of our guys acknowledge there's not a massive gap between the Bermudas and the Canadas. It's just that the guys have to put in a little more application and learn from their mistakes," said Harper in the wake of defeat.

Manager Tom Wainwright echoed these sentiments.

"Some players just didn't apply themselves like they should have and the bowlers didn't bowl up to standard. We should have gotten more runs. The runs were there but we just didn't take advantage," he reasoned.

Despite a good start, Bermuda were soon in trouble at the crease, plummeting from 34 for two to 59 for six before wicketkeeper Chris Foggo (62 off 101 balls) and Wendell White (44 off 90 balls) restored some respectability with a seventh-wicket stand of 78 from 90 balls that took the score to 137 for seven when White was out. Foggo was next to fall, leaving Bermuda on 153 for eight.

"We had a very good start. We were scoring five runs an over which was great but we just kept losing wickets.

"The positive thing that came out of today was Chris Foggo's batting. It was a very mature innings that held our batting together and he withstood a lot of pressure. Also, in the past, Bermuda would fold up in a situation like that (59 for six). At least today we ended up with a respectable total," noted Harper.

Left-arm spinner Kevin Sandher proved the scourge of the Bermudian batsmen, snapping up five for 11 off his ten overs at the Belgrado ground.

"It was a good performance. The track was conducive to spinning and I got into my rhythm early. The guys fielded well and took some good catches," said the 21-year-old bowler, the offspring of a Canadian mother and Indian father.

Despite losing a wicket to the second ball when opener Ishwar Maraj was bowled by Herbie Bascome, Canada - who have qualified for next year's World Cup in South Africa - were off to a flyer, posting 100 in just 12 overs. In the vanguard of their assault on the Bermudian bowling was Samad who raced to 59 before retiring hurt. He was supported by Ian Billcliff who made an unbeaten 45 and Muneeb Diwan with 39.

Harper said the Bermudians were still upbeat going into today's match against the other favourites in this competition, the United States.

"We are hopeful we can play to our potential and probably pull off an upset," he said.

Bermuda play their final fixture tomorrow against host nation, Argentina.