The Island bowed out of the ICC Trophy in the semi-finals but there was still a Bermudian in the final.

Not for the first time in his blossoming career as an umpire, Roger Dill distinguished himself in the Ireland tournament and was selected as reserve/third umpire for the grand finale between Ireland and Scotland.

It was a signal honour for the former Western Stars player who, prior to the July 13 final, stood in eight games, including a warm-up fixture.

?I was very excited. It was a privilege to be recognised like that. I was quite pleased,? said Dill, adding that his role was minimal as the third-umpire technology for run-outs was not in use.

?I was there mainly to assist in the event of an umpire getting injured or anything like that, then I would have had to stand (in), but everything worked out okay.?

While that was a memorable experience it was no more so than learning that, while he was out in the middle on July 7, his country were busy qualifying for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Given that Bermuda were in Group A, he was assigned to Group B matches and his line-up of fixtures were as follows: USA v Namibia (warm-up), Scotland v Oman, Denmark v USA, Holland v Namibia, Holland v Canada, Namibia v Oman, Denmark v Holland, Oman v USA and the final (reserve umpire). Nonetheless, he followed the team?s progress and became increasingly happy at the prospect of the Island advancing to the World Cup in the West Indies.

?We?ve been hoping for something like this for years and being up there when it happened made it even more enjoyable.?

On the historic day, Dill was standing in the Namibia-Oman match but kept abreast of Bermuda?s progress against the USA via loudspeakers which would announce results in other games periodically.

?We had the Internet set up and I found out the score at lunch when I came in and then, later in the afternoon, they said a score which sounded like Bermuda were close to winning but I didn?t actually know if they had made it until I came off the field,? he recalled, adding that he congratulated his successful compatriots later that night.

The fireman, who turned 48 while officiating in the Holland-Canada match on July 5, acknowledges that this turning point in Bermudian cricket could also benefit him significantly as he is likely to get greater umpiring exposure internationally.

?It?s wonderful, not only for me, but for all the Associate umpires. One of the Associate umpires (from Indonesia) stood in the final with one of the umpires from the International panel and he performed very well.

?It showed the high degree of umpiring among the Associate members. So that was a big boost for us and it?s encouragement for the rest of us Associate umpires,? he noted, adding that teams turned in highly favourable appraisals of the umpires.

As for the quality of matches, it was ?quite good? in Dill?s opinion. He also praised the upkeep of the grounds, hailing the pitches as ?true and well prepared?.

The Bermudian?s two favourite games were Canada?s thrilling run chase against Holland, which required the Duckworth-Lewis regulations after a rain break, and the high-scoring clash between the USA and Oman to determine ninth and tenth place.

In the latter match, the USA scored 345 for six and Oman replied with 348 for seven in 49.1 overs while the Canadian eked home off their penultimate delivery in a match twice affected by rain.

First, it was shortened to 35-overs-a-side with Holland scoring 187 for nine. Canada?s innings was further abbreviated and they were asked to get 160 in 30 overs. They eventually reached their goal, totalling 162 for eight in 29.5 overs.

?Those were two really good matches ? a lot of excitement and runs,? stated Dill, who was only able to glimpse a little of one Bermuda match; their opening loss to Ireland.

Were there any particularly difficult decisions?

?Quite a few but no real controversial decisions. There?s a difference between difficult decisions and controversial ones,? he stressed, adding that it was advantageous to have the white ball as umpires could see it better in the Irish conditions.

?It was quite often overcast and dark and you were able to see the deviations off the ball easier.?