Marshall helps to restore some pride
A swashbuckling innings of 66 by captain Charlie Marshall, improved fielding, marked by an outstanding catch by Hasan Durham and good team work combined to give Bermuda's cricketers a 68-run victory over the Bahamas yesterday in the Americas Cup in Argentina.
Playing on an astroturf surface at San Albano ground - an hour's drive from Buenos Aires - the Bermudians, invited to bat for the second successive time, compiled 196 for nine off their 50 overs and then dismissed their opponents for 128 in the 43rd over.
It was a welcome celebration for coach Mark Harper and the entire Bermudian entourage who had on Tuesday recorded a total of 59 en route to being beaten by the Cayman Islands for the first time in history.
"It's always good to win but we need to keep identifying what we did well and the areas we need to improve.
"We are looking forward to our other games and we're hoping that we can make an impact on the tournament from here onwards. It's very competitive and the playing conditions have made it very challenging. We're taking it one day at a time," said Harper, speaking from the team's hotel after yesterday's win.
In Bermuda's turn at the crease, Marshall led by example with a whirlwind knock of 66 off 44 balls; wicket-keeper Chris Foggo contributed 25 from 54 balls and Wendell White made 20. There were also good knocks by O.J. Pitcher, Dwayne Leverock and Durham.
Marshall and Pitcher shared a vital 55-run partnership - the two coming together when things seemed a bit uncertain at 63 for three in the 23rd over.
"The skipper batted very well, in his usual style. His innings was decorated with a few sixes - about three or four. He really accelerated the scoring rate and held things together. There was also another partnership of 25 between Leverock and Durham towards the end.
"It was a better (batting) performance though we were hoping to score a minimum of 200 runs. I think we should have scored 40 or 50 more runs but we lost some wickets carelessly and had some run outs," said the coach, assessing his team's effort with the bat.
He noted that the Bermudians were "more comfortable" on the astroturf because the ball "came through a lot more evenly and didn't stop and hold up like yesterday (Tuesday)".
Harper was also generally pleased with the bowling which was spearheaded by Herbie Bascome and Dennis Pilgrim. The latter took three wickets for 14 off six overs while Bascome's opening spell of six overs for 12 runs and two wickets did the initial damage and pegged back the Bahamians.
They were ably supported by Pitcher who also took two wickets and Leverock who conceded 18 runs from his 10 overs while taking one wicket.
The tale of butterfingers, which proved to be the Bermudians' undoing against the Caymans, did not unfold against the Bahamas as the Island's players held all chances that came their way.
One of those opportunities was singled out for Harper's praise.
"Durham had an exceptional catch running about 15 or 20 yards to his left. It was really good. Our catching and ground fielding in general were much better today."
However, as concern about catching evaporated another problem reared its ugly head - wides.
"We bowled 27 wides. That was way too many and that's a concern," he said.
The coach also said his players "went to sleep a little bit" after pinning back the Bahamas and allowed them about 30 runs too many before finally delivering the knockout punch.
Contrary to previous reports, Bermuda will play hosts Argentina today, the United States tomorrow and Canada on Saturday.