Bermuda made a sensational start to the ICC T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier after edging the United States by six runs in a match that went down to the final over yesterday.

The US required 14 off the last over replying to Bermuda’s 141 for seven, but came up short as Kamau Leverock was equal to the task, bowling at the death to seal the deal for the home side at White Hill Field.

In the second match yesterday at White Hill Field, Canada beat Cayman Islands by 84 runs.

Delray Rawlins starred for Bermuda, leading a fightback on the way to a polished 63, which laid the foundation for the home team’s match-winning total.

“We did a good job today and it started with Delray,” Terryn Fray, the Bermuda captain, said. “He played some amazing shots and got us off to the start we needed for the first half.

“In the bowling, George [O’Brien Jr] bowled really well up front followed by Rodney [Trott], Delray and Kamau, of course, to end the game for us.

“Our expectation was to win, so we came out here and gave it our all and knew what we could do as a team.

“We have some really strong performers and we backed ourselves.”

Sussex all-rounder Rawlins came to the crease in the second over with US seam bowler Jasdeep Singh on a hat-trick after removing Leverock and Fray with successive balls.

Rawlins delighted the crowd with some exquisite stroke play, helping himself to two boundaries off Singh’s second over with a glorious cover drive and a reverse sweep. He rode his luck at times with one or two mistimed shots falling safely before bringing up his fifty in the fifteenth over with a single off a free hit after a Singh no-ball.

Rawlins’s 53-ball innings, which included six fours and three sixes, finally came to a halt after he was caught at short third man attempting another reverse sweep.

The US picked up two more wickets after Rawlins departed, but the damage had already been done.

“I haven’t played at home for a long time, so I just wanted to have a look and see how things were going,” Rawlins said.

“Once I felt like I was moving nicely I could pick my balls to hit and luckily it came off in the end. I knew my areas that I really wanted to hit the ball and I just stuck to that.”

Okera Bascome (21), Onias Bascome (20) and Allan Douglas Jr (14) were the remaining Bermuda batsmen in double figures, with Singh and fellow seam bowler Cameron Gannon the pick of the US bowling with two wickets each. The US got their reply off to a solid start with former West Indies Test player Xavier Marshall and Jaskaran Malhotra producing an opening stand of 25 before O’Brien made the breakthrough in the fifth over, removing Marshall and Steven Taylor in successive balls.

“We just tried to go hard in the power play and George proved again why he always finds his way back in the team,” Rawlins added.

“He is a class act and he showed it today with probably two of their bigger wickets.”

Bermuda’s bowlers kept the pressure on in the middle overs and were backed up by some brilliant fielding to set up an intriguing finish.

Leverock sent down two wides with his first balls but then got his angles right after making the necessary adjustment to finish the job off.

“The umpire didn’t give me too much outside off,” Leverock said. “The batsman was walking cross so I just tried to push it a little bit wider,” he said.

“That’s when you go to plan B.”

O’Brien took two for 14 to lead Bermuda’s attack while middle-order batsman Aaron Jones topped the US scoring with 39 from 29 balls.

The tournament continues today at North Field, National Sports Centre, with Bermuda facing Canada at 11am and the US taking on Cayman Islands at 3pm.

FIRST MATCH

ICC T20 WORLD CUP AMERICAS QUALIFIER

Bermuda v United States

White Hill Field (Bermuda won toss): Bermuda (2pts) beat the United States (0pts) won by six runs

Bermuda

† Okera Bascome c Allen b Gannon 21

K S Leverock b Jasdeep Singh 0

*T S Fray c Taylor b Jasdeep Singh 0

A C Douglas c Netravalkar b Allen 14

D M W Rawlins c Jasdeep Singh b Gannon 63

Onias Bascome b Walsh 20

M O Jones not out 7

D A P Darrell run out 2

J E Pitcher not out 5

Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 4, w 2) 9

Total (7 wkts 20 overs) 141

G H O’Brien, R J Trott did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-12, 3-41, 4-69, 5-125, 6-129, 7-133.

Bowling: Netravalkar 3-0-24-0; Jasdeep Singh 4-1-37-2; C J Gannon 4-0-21-2; Taylor 2-0-12-0; Allen 2-0-11-1; Walsh 4-0-25-1; Patel 1-0-8-0.

United States

† X M Marshall c Darrell b O’Brien 4

J S Malhotra c O Bascome b Leverock 38

S R Taylor b O’Brien 0

M D Patel run out 3

Aaron Jones c Rawlins b Jones 39

H R Walsh c Rawlins b Pitcher 21

T P Allen c Darrell b Rawlins 9

N K Patel not out 5

C J Gannon not out 3

Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 10) 13

Total (7 wkts; 20 overs) 135

*S N Netravalkar, Jasdeep Singh

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-25, 3-39, 4-65, 5-100, 6-124, 7-124.

Bowling: O’Brien 4-1-14-2; Rawlins 4-0-26-1; Pitcher 3-0-26-1; Trott 4-0-31-0; Leverock 4-0-26-1; MJones 1-0-10-1.

Umpires: Nigel Duguid (West Indies), Harry Grewal (Canada).

Reserve umpire: Jacqueline Williams (West Indies).

Match referee: Reon King (West Indies).