Bermuda’s women’s World Cup qualifying hopes were shattered in South Africa yesterday as the Islanders suffered a massive 179 run loss against Papua New Guinea.

Batting first, Papua New Guinea put Bermuda’s wayward attack to the sword on the way to rattling up an impressive 223 for nine in their allotted 50 overs.

Well-known women’s footballer Chevonne Furbert led Bermuda’s bowling with figures of three for 50 off ten overs.

In reply, Bermuda crawled to 44 all out in 30.2 overs, with Mary Ellen Jackson top scoring with a determined eight off 27 deliveries.

Twelve of the Island’s runs came by way of extras while three batsmen failed to bother the scoreres.

Earlier in the week Bermuda’s women’s team made headlines across the globe for all the wrong reasons when they were skittled out for a woeful 13, with opponents South Africa requiring only four ‘legal’ deliveries to polish off the required runs for victory.

Bermuda’s tour of South Africa is reported to have been rife with internal bickering among the ranks, with coach Allan Douglas calling for a major shakeup on the team’s return.