MCC 209-6 Bermuda 135 Bermuda suffered their second loss in as many days as another batting collapse doomed the home side against the visiting Marylebone Cricket Club at White Hill Field yesterday.
Set a modest target of 209, the local batsmen were devastated by the MCC seam attack led by Dean Kruis and Stephen Andrew, who claimed five wickets between them as Bermuda tumbled to 135 all out.
And coach Winston Reid was none too pleased with the performance with the bat, one which saw just a single front-line batsman manage more than 20.
"Today was a pathetic batting display,'' said Reid following the match. "We talked about it before we went out there ... having 209 runs to get from 300 balls, that's a lot of balls to spare.
"Go out there, put your heads down, bat and pick up your ones and twos. And what I saw instead was some batsmen go out there, hit the ball in the air and walk off, they didn't care a damn about what happened, and that's unacceptable.'' Vice-captain Clay Smith was again the primary scorer, following up his century a day earlier with 25 yesterday before he was out attempting to pull an Andrew delivery to square leg, only to be crowded into offering a spiralling top edge that Ian Hampshire took comfortably.
Smith faced 43 balls in his innings, hitting four boundaries while participating in a 37-run third wicket partnership with skipper Charlie Marshall (15), the team's highest.
However, other than lusty hitting from last man Herbie Bascome who made 25 from just 10 balls, including two sixes and as many fours after the die had well been cast, the failure was complete.
Londoner Andrew, the fourth bowler used, proved the most successful, accounting for Smith, Marshall and Richard Basden (14), while South African born Kruis grabbed the prized wicket of Albert Steede (14). Andrew ended with figures of three for 26, while Kruis took two for 30.
Grabbing single wickets were Tim Kirk, Paul Strang and Bazid Khan.
"Today we had to get 210 in 300 balls on a big field with a lot of gaps, and all we had to do was go through the gaps,'' said Reid, noting how a lot could be learned from watching their opponents.
"But what happened was that we tried to hit the balls over the top, unlike the MCC, who played a lot of the balls on the ground.
"Consequently we lost, because you can't keep hitting the balls in the air on big fields and expect to get away with it. At some time you're going to mis-hit and get out.'' Earlier, Bermuda's bowling attack did well to limit MCC to a modest score as they kept a tight rein on the potentially explosive line-up on a somewhat damp wicket.
The opening tandem of Bascome and Richard Basden, for the most part, kept a lid on openers Philo Wallace (25) and Steve Marsh (35), although young Bazid Khan was an entirely different story.
The 20-year-old from Lahore, Pakistan, displayed a style and grace with the bat beyond his years as he stroked his way to a top score of 71 from 96 balls, including six boundaries.
Bermuda bats `pathetic' From Page 33 Khan added 69 for the second wicket along with Marsh, and then put on a further 71 with Paul Strang (36) before being finally dismissed by Bascome going for a big hit.
Bascome ended with two wickets, as did first change, Dennis Pilgrim, while Basden and Dwayne Leverock took one each.
"The bowling over the two days I thought was good, but the batting left a lot to be desired,'' said Reid. "However, I'm positive that the guys can bat a lot better than they did, but we need to concentrate a bit longer. If we can't concentrate then we're in trouble, and today we didn't concentrate at all and disregarded the game plan we talked about.'' Today is a rest day for each team, before the pair do battle again tomorrow at Somerset Cricket Club.
Safe hands: Bermuda wicketkeeper Kwame Tucker collects outside the off stump as MCC batsman Steve Marsh elects to leave during yesterday's match at White Hill Field.
