Grainville, St Saviour, Jersey (Uganda won toss): Uganda (2pts) beat Bermuda (0) by 153 runs

Bermuda completed an ignominious campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B with only a solitary point from 15 matches after a comprehensive beating by Uganda on Saturday.

The culmination of what the global pandemic turned into a three-year odyssey was a batting performance that began with dogged resistance but ended in the same limp capitulation that had depicted most of this summer in which the much delayed second and third legs were contested.

The arrival of Indian coach Niraj Odedra on an initial short-term deal has conjured some improvements, but they are far too minimal from the calamity of Uganda to the one-sidedness of Jersey to suggest any degree of permanence.

This match encapsulated that in so many ways and ultimately shines a damning light on the state of the game domestically and those more experienced players left behind who have abandoned the national programme either for personal reasons or because of the Bermuda Cricket Board’s decision to go in a new direction with the coaching set-up.

For many of those who made themselves unavailable, there should be no way back — not forgetting that it was they who got Bermuda into an 0-4-1 hole from the first leg in Oman in the first place — but what the BCB must figure out, and fast, is how many of those that have been turned to in reserve warrant persevering with at this level.

Uganda surprised the few observers in attendance when they won the toss and batted, despite having to make much ground on leaders Jersey on net run-rate. Conventional wisdom and most mathematical scenarios suggest that they should have fielded, dismissed Bermuda for as low a total as possible, and then scored the runs rapidly.

As it turned out, with Jersey beating Italy by 145 runs at nearby Farmers Cricket Club Ground in St Martin after scoring a commanding 349 for four to virtually lock down the single qualifying place from Challenge League B, the East Africans’ decision proved a moot one.

Save for Kamau Leverock’s early dismissal of Simon Ssesazi for ten, beaten for pace and caught behind attempting to pull a lifting ball, Uganda were in control with the bat.

The burly Ronak Patel, in at No 3 with Uganda 11 for one, shared in successive century partnerships to grind down a Bermuda team that did not bowl badly but produced few wicket-taking balls.

Patel and opener Arnold Otwani had put on 141 when the latter was caught by Charles Trott off Jamar Stovel for 58. New man Riazat Ali Shah settled quickly and helped Patel to lift the pace as they added a rapid 136 in 11.2 overs.

The partnership ended when Patel, who had been suffering more from the sweltering conditions than the Bermuda bowling attack, retired hurt on 121, having hit 15 fours in 122 balls — the fourth century made in five matches against Leverock’s men in Jersey.

Shah soon after became the third legal wicket to fall, his 59 coming off only 42 balls, and a particular highlight for Bermuda was Jabari Darrell’s one-handed grab, turn and direct-hit run-out off his own bowling to send back Dineshkumar Nakrani.

Leverock, as he has done most of this tournament, led the Bermuda bowling with two for 70 from his ten overs, while seamer Charles Trott and wrist spinner Cameron Jeffers were wicketless but bowled with good economy.

Chasing 315 for victory never seemed an option for Bermuda. They should take comfort in a first opening partnership in excess of 50 from any of their 15 matches in this series — but in the context of the match, it was excruciatingly slow.

When Terryn Fray (26) ran himself out for the second time in Jersey — to go with running out Zeri Tomlinson in the Kenya match, it must be added — the score was 55 from 16.5 overs. The virtually strokeless Ras Solomon Burrows used up 64 balls for his 15, and when Tomlinson was run out for 16 — this time his own fault — to a sharp piece of fielding by Kenneth Waiswa, Bermuda were already requiring ten runs an over with 20 remaining.

It was a hopeless situation for Leverock to manage from the other end, but he showed his difference in class by thumping ten fours and a six in his 44-ball 58.

The Bermuda captain would be disappointed in how it ended, though, falling to a cut shot for the fourth time in five innings. By that time, two more wickets had perished to horrific shots — Dominic Sabir bowled first ball and Steven Bremar Jr swinging with all his might to be caught inside the circle for one.

When Leverock went five runs later to put a seal on a collapse from 121 for two to 135 for six in 26 balls, the end for Bermuda was predictably near.

Off spinner Frank Akankwasa quickly claimed the final four wickets to finish with five for 19 in 4.5 overs.

Leverock, in the post-match interview, again emphasised how much this tour, like the one that preceded it in Uganda in June, was a learning experience for the newcomers to international cricket.

“We’ve only had two or three guys that are regular players in these last two tours due to availability issues,” he said. “So hopefully the young guys learnt and next time if they get an opportunity, they take it.”

While Sabir didn’t show it against Uganda, the captain believes that he showed the most promise.

“Dominic has probably impressed me the most in these last five games,” Leverock said of the 19-year-old who could not bowl today because of back spasms. “He looks like he’s starting to learn his game and he’s starting to figure out what it’s like to play international 50-overs cricket.”

The rest remain a work in progress, and it is for the BCB to determine how long the learning curve should be allowed to extend.