Bermuda will adopt World Cup semi-finalists South Africa's one-day strategy as they bid to get their first victory in the Red Stripe Bowl, which starts in Jamaica next Wednesday.

The 14-man squad was meeting at Police Field last night to go over the eight-page plan, developed in association with South Africa middle order batsman Daryll Cullinan during his coaching stint on the Island during the summer.

Part of the strategy involves focusing on the pivotal three or four players who make the three opposing teams -- the hosts, Guyana and the Windward Islands -- really click.

"We've got to identify the top guns and eliminate them if we can,'' said coach Allan Douglas. "It's what teams do to Brian Lara -- they'll concentrate on putting balls into his rib cage -- and it's what the West Indies and top teams like Australia and South Africa have done to opposing captains. They really go hard after them.

"You find that most of the teams in the Red Stripe have three or four really good players and the rest just play around them.

"I'm confident we can make a big impact.'' The other main approach will be to ensure the team retains the same attitude whether batting first or having a total to chase.

"It's very important we have the same mindset whatever we're doing,'' added Douglas. "The main thing is to prevent the lower order from having to get runs too quickly. The game should be in hand by the time you get to the lower order.

"You want them to be having to get a more comfortable five or six runs per over rather than 11 or 12.

"The other thing is understanding the wickets and conditions. In a place like the West Indies where you wouldn't expect the ball to be swinging as much early on as in England, we've got to be looking to get 60 to 75 runs on the board in the first 15 overs.

"Then between the 15th and 40th overs it's important that we pick up as many singles as possible.

"Our batting has improved a lot and I think we can be looking to get scores of 220 or 230 and that can be very competitive.'' First opponents Jamaica have included a number of all rounders (see separate story) but Douglas believes his side has batting in depth: likely number nine Peter Philpott, primarily a left arm spinner, was the only player to notch a century and a five-wicket haul in the recently completed league season here.

"I think you could say we have quite a number of all rounders,'' added Douglas, "although, admittedly, they may not be of quite the same quality.'' Preparations for the tournament continue tonight with a net at Cleveland and after a day off tomorrow, the players will take on a Prison Officers side in a practice match at Royal Naval Field on Saturday.

The team will fly out for Kingston on Monday, arriving at their hotel base there in mid-afternoon. The following day they will travel by road to Mandeville, a city about 90 miles west of Kingston and known as the island's summer capital, and a 20 minute drive from the picturesque Alpart ground.