Selangor Turf Club, Kuala Lumpur (Bermuda won toss): Vanuatu (2pts) beat Bermuda (0) by 31 runs

Bermuda will spend the next three years in the global 50-overs wilderness after a humbling defeat by Vanuatu, who picked up their first points in the Super Six stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League Play-off.

Chasing a modest target of 154, Bermuda for the second straight match succumbed to spin as they collapsed with their last seven wickets going for 61 runs in 14 overs.

Head coach Cal Waldron could not disguise his frustration after a performance that places in jeopardy Bermuda’s access to funding from the world governing body in the next World Cup cycle.

“Another day, another indifferent performance,” Waldron told The Royal Gazette. “We started off well taking wickets early and then we just gave them 40 runs too many.

“We let the pressure off them in the field settings, they got comfortable and they scored runs with ease.

“We then failed to apply ourselves with the bat. It was a very undisciplined performance chasing a very low total. Three hundred balls; we could have gave 150 dot balls and still won the match.”

With afternoon rain forecast, Bermuda opted to field after winning the toss and that decision paid immediate dividends, with seamers Jermal Proctor and Cejay Outerbridge quickly among the wickets.

Proctor found the edge of Nalin Nipiko’s bat in the third over, giving wicketkeeper Jarryd Richardson a regulation catch, and three balls later trapped Jarryd Allan in front for two.

Outerbridge added to the procession in the next over, also having his man caught behind, Clement Tommy gone for one and Vanuatu reeling at five for three.

Such was Bermuda’s dominance, Vanuatu managed only 16 runs in the first powerplay with no boundaries scored.

Captain Joshua Rasu and Andrew Mansale, two of five holdovers from the Vanuatu XI that beat Bermuda at the 2018 World Cricket League Division Four tournament in Malaysia, showed their experience in rebuilding the innings with a partnership of 53 for the fourth wicket in 18 overs.

However, the introduction of off spinner Dominic Sabir ended Mansale’s resistance, as he was bowled for 35, to be quickly joined back in the pavilion by Ronald Tari (2), who was bowled by the recalled Allan Douglas Jr.

Vanuatu were still in trouble at 61 for five near the midway point.

Rasu was desperate for support, and he found useful partnerships with Junior Kaltapau (9), Patrick Matautaava (23) and Williamsing Nalisa (15) taking the score slowly to 146 for eight when he was caught behind for 53 off captain Delray Rawlins.

The innings ended three overs later, with Nalisa run out and Tommy Cutler (3) bowled by Douglas, with Vanuatu making 153 in 47 overs.

Derrick Brangman (two for 22), Proctor (two for 21) and Douglas (two for 36) led the bowling with Rawlins, Sabir and Outerbridge picking up one each.

In reply, Bermuda lost an early wicket with in-form batsman Terryn Fray caught at first slip for four in the first over.

Tre Manders’s dreadful form continued as he chased a wide one to be caught in the covers for four to make the score 23 for two.

Chris Douglas was playing fluently but was deceived by a slower ball to be given out leg-before when he had made 23 and Bermuda uncomfortably placed at 37 for three after seven overs.

Vanuatu soon brought on their spinners and this signalled the beginning of the end for Bermuda.

Kamau Leverock drove loosely to deep mid-off for seven and Rawlins was given out caught at the wicket as he defended, the ball ballooning in the air off bat and pad according to the umpire, for a top score of 31.

Jarryd Richardson went for one six too many to be caught at long-on for 13 and Douglas well caught at second slip, hitting across the line for seven.

Bermuda, who needed to win the match in quick time to improve on a poor net run-rate, were scoring quickly but at 101 for seven after 17 overs had carelessly left the back door open for the Pacific Islanders.

Late in the Vanuatu innings, Dominic Sabir was taken to hospital complaining of chest pains, but the all-rounder returned in time to bat at No 9.

He lasted only five balls, though, driving weakly to mid-on for four, and Derrick Brangman’s innings ended similarly with a catch given to mid-wicket for 17.

Cejay Outerbridge (0) was the last man out, leg-before, leaving Proctor unbeaten on seven as Bermuda were bundled out for 122 inside 25 overs.

Veteran left-arm spinner Tim Cutler, who is a few weeks shy of his 42nd birthday, took four for 35 and fellow slow bowler Raju, named the player of the match, claimed two for 36 to back up his half-century.

A displeased Rawlins said: “I thought [the target] was more than chaseable. We were on course. A few dismissals were a bit soft and a few average decisions as well. That’s how it goes; you have to move on.”

Asked about a Bermuda rebuild over the next three years, Rawlins said: “Everyone needs to be involved and go again with some of the youngsters in this team and some good-quality youngsters at home.

“We have a few years to groom them and make sure they’re ready for the next phase.”

Bermuda’s final match is against Bahrain on Saturday starting at 9.30pm Bermuda time.