White Hill Field (Canada won toss): Bermuda (2pts) beat Canada (0) by 86 runs

Bermuda have taken a giant step towards qualification for the T20 Cricket World Cup by beating favourites Canada in the opening game of the Americas Regional Qualifier.

Captain Delray Rawlins and man of the match Kamau Leverock led the way with knocks of 66 and 83 respectively, as the island’s two star cricketers bludgeoned the Canada bowlers to all corners of White Hill Field on the way to helping their team post 181 for nine in their allotted 20 overs.

From there it was over to the bowlers and the returning Cejay Outerbridge blasted through Canada’s top order, removing their top three batters in a sparkling spell.

Outerbridge, playing his first international match since 2018 was supported by Zeko Burgess, who picked up two wickets, as did Rawlins with Derrick Brangman and Leverock both grabbing a wicket apiece as Bermuda bowled out their opponents for just 95 in 17 overs.

It was Bermuda’s first win over Canada in international cricket since June 2008, when they defeated the Canadians by 11 runs (D/L method) in their own backyard and Rawlins was delighted with the excellent start to the campaign.

“It’s a nice feeling and there has been a lot of hard work that’s gone into that,’’ Rawlins said.

“It’s a long way to go, one game at a time. Five more games left and we’re locked and we’re looking to push on.

Rawlins and Leverock put on 97 runs for the third wicket and Rawlins was keen to pay tribute to his partner.

“We just played and I wasn't really thinking about too much,” Rawlins said.

“We just tried to be positive and credit to Kamau. That was a serious innings and deserving of the man of the match definitely.

“We’ve got to give everything and the boys set the tone early, diving around and stopping balls. That’s what it takes to win games

“We could have won by two runs and I would still have the same feeling. For me a win is a win and I’m just very happy that we got over the line and we’ve done it the way we did. It was pleasing.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, one ball at a time, not thinking too far ahead and keep playing the way we know how to play.”

Outerbridge made a huge impact on his return to the international scene and was delighted with his efforts.

“It’s always good to get a good start and it’s a good win for us to start the campaign,’’ Outerbridge told The Royal Gazette.

“That’s the main objective and just follow through after that. It was not my first time playing Canada so I knew that I had to come hard and give my all.

“We just have to continue on from today, putting in 100 per cent effort and go form there. We just have to give it our best, put our best foot forward for the rest of the tournament and come out on top.”

Leverock and Rawlins gave Bermuda a brilliant start after being asked to bat, as the home team raced to 62 for two in the powerplay.

The left-handed pair tore apart the Canadian bowling attack and batted for the bulk of the Bermuda innings to give the team a formidable score, with 200 appearing achievable until Kaleem Sana rocked the Bermudian batters with three wickets in the penultimate over to finish with four for 23.

Canada did not even have a sniff at the target once Outerbridge struck with his first ball to remove Aaron Johnson. The left arm seamer followed that up with the dismissals of Navneet Dhaliwal and Nicholas Kirton to leave Canada reeling at 14 for three.

Burgess and Rawlins weighed in with two wickets apiece as Canada folded with three overs to go, with their top six batters failing to achieve double figures, the highest score coming from Nikhil Dutta with 27.

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