While ground staff in Bermuda were battling against inclement weather for the Americas Select tour matches to go ahead, Warwick Workmen’s were enjoying the best of the Canadian sunshine.

Warwick were in Ontario for their end-of-season tour, playing three matches against Derek Perera’s Ontario Cricket Academy.

Last Friday, the Canadian side won by nine wickets in a 40-over contest at Courtneypark Cricket Ground. This was after Warwick were bowled out for 91 in 26.1 overs, which their opponents chased down at the loss of one wicket picked up by Staphen Dill.

On Monday, the last day of matches, the two teams clashed twice in T20 matches at Mavis Cricket Ground.

Former Bermuda player Malachi Jones was the star of the show for Warwick with an unbeaten 63 off 41 balls, which saw the Bermudians chase down their target of 130 in 14.2 overs. Jones opened the batting with guest player Tre Manders, who made 20, while Cory Burgess contributed 26 not out.

OCA had earlier made 129 for eight, thanks to 58 from opening batter Gurjaap Singh. Marcus Johnson was pick of the Warwick bowlers with three wickets, with the duo of Burgess and Jacobi Butterfield getting two each.

In the second encounter, Lorenzo Tucker’s side lost by five wickets. In a tweaked batting line-up, Jones and Manders top scored with 36 each down the order. Warwick’s total of 141 proved not enough to defend as OCA chased it down in 17.1 overs.

“It was a really high-spirited tour,” Tucker said. “We had very good team bonding for the players, and a good experience for a lot of the guys.

“The results were not that paramount because it was an end-of-season tour. We weren't preparing for anything back in Bermuda, unlike in 2019 when we were preparing for Western Counties.

“The first game, we didn't really show up at all, it was a 40-over game and we only scored 91 runs. In the second match, we came in with a better attitude and we had our team in regular batting order, and we really dominated them.

“In the second T20, we decided to give a chance to guys who don't normally get time to bat, that’s why Malachi and Tre batted down the order.”

Dill, the Warwick captain, was pleased by the spirit of togetherness displayed by the players on the trip.

“It was very nice to see the gelling and the camaraderie between so many different personalities coming together on a cricket tour,’’ he said.

“We played against an academy, so they actually play cricket on a daily basis. It was nice to talk with a few of them and their perspective on the game. They had all sorts of specialists that we don’t really have in Bermuda.”

While Warwick have just been promoted to the Premier Division in the 50 overs competition, they are heading to the First Division in the Athene T20 League and they go in search of their first win of the season when they face St George’s at White Hill Field in their last T20 assignment on Saturday.

“It’s always tough for Warwick at this time of the year because most of our players are students overseas,’’ the captain said.

“The promotion alone speaks volumes of how the team has grown. I believe two times prior to this we were runners-up and this is the first year that we have outright won it.

“I've been at Warwick for eight years and this is one of our biggest accomplishments, so I’m really proud of that.”

Tucker is eyeing consistency in the hope of maintaining their status in the Premier Division in the two formats.

“Our ultimate goal is to be up in both,’’ he added. “We came up in the 50 overs, we’re down in the T20, next year we want to stay up in the 50 overs and get promoted in the T20.”