Bermuda failed by two runs to defeat the Windward Islands in a thrilling opening round Shell/Sandals Zone A limited overs matches at Enmore Group yesterday.

The Windwards made 209 off 49.5 overs after they won the toss and batted, and in reply Bermuda reached 207 all out off 50 overs. The Windwards joined defending champions Guyana on two points. Guyana defeated Barbados in the other game at Bourda by seven wickets.

Bermuda made a spirited effort to achieve an upset win but needing six runs off the final over bowled by fast bowler Nixon McLean they fell short.

No runs were scored off the first delivery of the final over, a single came off the next while Arnold Minors was caught and bowled off the third delivery.

One run came off the fourth ball, the penultimate delivery was a maiden ball while Bruce Perinchief was run out off the final delivery, attempting a second run off a shot to fine leg.

For Bermuda, cousins Clay Smith (52) and Glenn Smith (54) shared in a vital fourth-wicket stand of 83 runs which not only held their team's innings together but also seemed to tilt the game in their favour as they pushed the score to 153 before they were separated.

The next best effort came from Arnold Manders, who made 23 while earlier, Charlie Marshall got 21.

Fast bowlers Cameron Cuffy (3-33) and Casper Davis (3-34) were the leading bowlers for the Windwards while McLean took two for 41.

Earlier the Windwards' batsmen were restricted by good out cricket by the Bermuda fielders. All-rounder Roy Marshall thumped 44 off 40 balls with three fours and two sixes while captain Junior Murray was run out for 40 off 72 balls and Ussah Pope made 30 to hold the innings together.

The principle wicket-takers were Barbados-born swing bowler Roger Blades, a policeman in Bermuda, who captaured four for 30 off 9.3 overs and Manders with two for 34 from 10.

Afterwards there were tears in the Bermuda dressing room as the players took the defeat to heart.

"The guys felt it big time,'' said coach Allan Douglas when contacted last night at the team hotel. "But there is nothing to be ashamed of, they showed a lot of resilience.

"I saw five guys with their heads bowed down and sheading tears while two others stayed outside and wouldn't come in. It's just that they put in such an effort.

"They feel they let themselves down. They were disappointed because they got so close. We knew we could beat them.'' Bermuda have made two changes to today's team for the match against Barbados, with the injured Glenn Smith and Bruce Perinchief (both pulled muscles) being rested in hopes of being fit for the match on Tuesday. In to take their places are Clevie Wade and Jeff Richardson.

"We know we can compete,'' Douglas insists. "Before we used to always be in awe, but we're not concerned about that now.'' The two matches in Zone B in Jamaica saw Leeward Island beat Trinidad and Tobago by eight wickets and Canada pick up their first points when rain forced a no-result in thier match against Jamaica.

The Jamaicans scored 268-5 in 50 overs and Canada were 17-1 off 12 overs in reply when a heavy downpour forced the umpires to abandon play.

Trinidad, missing Phil Simmons, could only manage 116 off 48.5 overs as Keith Arthurton claimed four for 25. In reply, the Leewards reached 117-2 with Stuart Williams scoring 50 and Arthurton 44 not out.

CLAY SMITH -- First Bermudian to score a half-century in the Shell/Sandals competition.

SCOREBOARD WINDWARDS V BERMUDA Windwards D.Joseph b Braithwaite 4 J.Sylvester run out 9 J.Pierre c Tucker b Manders 28 U.Pope c Trott b Manders 30 J.Murray run out 40 R.Marshall c Steede b Blades 44 M.McLean c Braithwaite b Blades 6 D.Thomas c Steede b Blades 21 R.Lewis c Trott b Blades 2 C.Davis c (sub) Wade b Tucker 0 C.Cuffy not out 6 Extras (6-lb, 13-w) 19 Total (all out, 49.5 overs) 209 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-29, 3-70, 4-115, 5-148, 6-159, 7-189, 8-202, 9-202.

Bowling: R.Blades 9.5-0-28-4 (2-w); A.Braithwaite 3-0-16-1 (9-w); J.Tucker 9-0-45-1 (1-w); B.Perinchief 8-0-29-0 (1-w); A.Manders 10-1-34-2; C.Smith 10-1-51-0.

Bermuda A.Steede b Cuffy 9 C.Smith run out 52 R.Trott c Joseph b Cuffy 2 C.Marshall lbw b McLean 21 G.Smith b Davis 54 J.Tucker c Pope b Davis 3 A.Manders c and b McLean 23 D.Minors c Joseph b Davis 8 R.Blades c McLean b Cuffy 8 A.Braithwaite not out 1 B.Perinchief run out 2 Extras (9-lb, 12-w, 3-nb) 24 Total (all out, 50 overs) 207 Fall of wickets: 1-1-17, 2-24, 3-70, 4-153, 5-162, 6-165, 7-185, 8-203, 9-204.

Bowling: C.Cuffy 10-2-33-3 (2-w, 3-nb); M.McLean 10-1-41-2 (6-w); C.Davis 10-1-34-3; R.Marshall 10-1-32-0 (1-w); D.Thomas 6-0-30-0 (1-w); R.Lewis 4-0-28-0 (2-w).

CRICKET: Shell/Sandals Tournament