Jimmy Powell Oval (Bermuda won toss): US beat Bermuda by ten wickets

Marcus Scotland’s fine half-century for Bermuda was in vain as they were beaten by the United States in the North American Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Scotland, who carried his bat, scored 57 off the same number of balls and provided exactly half of Bermuda’s runs as they finished their 20 overs on 114 for seven after batting first.

But the US opening batters Saiteja Mukamalla and Shayan Jahangir went to town on Bermuda’s bowlers, knocking off the runs in just 14 overs to progress to the final, where they will play Canada on Sunday.

Scotland, who was playing just his second T20 international and replaced Terryn Fray at the top of the order after the captain returned to Bermuda to attend a wedding, spoke to The Royal Gazette about his display and what he had learnt from the tournament.

“It was pretty difficult to start as the US bowlers are very consistent and disciplined, so I was just trying to make the most of what I was getting,” Scotland said.

“The biggest difference between the five teams on show at the North American Cup is batsmanship and it’s no surprise that the US and Canada perform well with the bat as they take advantage of the powerplay.

“That’s something that we, including myself, need to work on and take advantage of the two fielders out because once that field is spread out there are going to be less boundaries flowing.”

Scotland will return to Bermuda and start the domestic T20 season for St David’s next weekend and has high hopes for the season.

“As far as St David’s, I want to contribute as much as possible and win everything, that’s the goal,” Scotland said.

“As far as Bermuda is concerned, I hope my form for St David’s keeps me in consideration for the tournament in June in Canada.”

Bermuda stand-in captain Sinclair Smith won the semi-final toss in Cayman and opted to bat, with openers Marcus Scotland and Alex Dore making a quick start as Bermuda finally found their boundary hitting.

Scotland and Dore both played aggressive shots with the latter hitting a huge six over the bowling of Ayan Desai as Bermuda hit 27 off the first 2.3 overs before losing their first wicket when Dore went for another big hit but found only the hands of Mukamalla.

Despite Dore’s dismissal it was clear that Bermuda intended to more be aggressive and Onias Bascome, back in the side at No 3, was not content with dot balls as Bermuda took the game to the United States.

Bascome’s five runs came at a run a ball before he was bowled by left-arm spinner Milind Kumar as he tried to play a big shot.

That brought the experienced Delray Rawlins in at 34 for two after four overs and he lasted just three balls, going for a duck after falling victim to a poor leg before wicket decision with the ball seemingly going down leg side.

Jarryd Richardson scored three before falling to a fantastic boundary catch by Ali Sheikh as Bermuda fell from 34 for two to 45 for four after seven overs.

Dominic Sabir, who was named man of the match in two of Bermuda’s four group games, came in at No 6. His partnership with Scotland showed signs of blossoming with some decent running between the wickets, although not without a couple of shaky moments, as Bermuda moved on to 56 for four at the halfway stage.

They put on 27 runs for the fifth wicket before Sabir went for a big hit off spinner Yasir Mohammed but was caught inside the circle by Desai.

Allan Douglas Jr, who had been struggling for runs the entire tournament, hit a fantastic four off the first ball he faced but scored just one off the next seven balls before being the second Bermuda batter to be dismissed in questionable fashion.

Douglas was called out by the third-leg umpire after being stumped by wicketkeeper Jahangir but replays appeared to show that his foot had never moved from behind the line.

Captain Smith made three with Brangman not out on four the man standing at the close of the innings alongside Scotland.

In response, the US hit ten runs off Delray Rawlins’s first over to set the tone of their run chase. Jermal Proctor’s first delivery was struck by four and two balls was hit for six by Mukkamalla as the pre-tournament favourites wasted little time in attacking Bermuda’s bowling.

Proctor, who has bowled well in this tournament, saw his first over go for 22 runs and was not helped by at least three pieces of poor Bermuda fielding as USA scored 32 off the first two overs.

Rawlins, who went off the field injured, was replaced by Zeko Burgess but he could not stem the flow of runs, with Mukamalla smashing a huge six of the fourth ball of his over.

Douglas Jr was next into the firing line and conceded just four off his over while also missing out on a return catch.

The US were halfway to Bermuda’s total of 114 after just 5.3 overs, with the two opening batters never really looking like losing a wicket. Mukkamalla continued to smash Bermuda’s bowlers to all parts of the Jimmy Powell Oval, bringing up his fifty off just 30 balls.

From there it was just a matter of time until the US knocked off the runs with Mukkamalla finishing on 72 not out and Jahangir 35 not out as Bermuda’s opposition reached their total in 14 overs.