Papua New Guinea 83 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA -- Janeiro Tucker rescued Bermuda from ICC Trophy tournament extinction with one of the truly commanding performances to date at the University of Malaysia Ground yesterday.

In hitting only the third century of the tournament, 104, the 22-year-old helped Bermuda climb from the eerie depths of 42 for five in the 11th over.

Tucker put on 45 runs for the sixth wicket with skipper Albert Steede (10) and then 52 with wicketkeeper Dean Minors (17) to first bring respect to the Bermuda total and then set a challenging target. Tucker then picked up two of the first three Papua New Guinea wickets to fall, setting the table for left arm spinner Bruce Perinchief to claim four for 33.

The 120-run win was mandatory for Bermuda as it kept them ahead of Hong Kong on net run rate. Both teams have four points from two victories and a defeat but Bermuda have still to play unbeaten Group D leaders Scotland, which could set the stage for a three-way tie.

Scotland have a chance to beef up their net run rate -- already the best in the group at 1.44 -- when they meet Italy today in a warm up for the clash with Bermuda at Royal Selangor Club on Sunday. Bermuda have a net run rate of 1.34 which is sufficiently higher than Hong Kong's (0.34), meaning that the "Just win baby'' approach for the Scotland game should do for a place in the quarter-final round robin.

The last eight was the furthest thing from the minds of the Bermuda players less than an hour after they were sent in by Papua New Guinea.

In a new-look opening partnership, Dexter Smith and Glenn Smith got the nod but that union was broken after only seven balls when the latter chopped an inswinging delivery onto his stumps.

One over later Clay Smith was sent back for two as a late moving leg-cutter drew an edge caught behind.

The bleeding did not stop there as Dexter Smith (14), Charlie Marshall (four) and Arnold Manders (seven) followed in quick order bringing Tucker in for the innings of his career.

To hear consultant Bobby Simpson say it, "Janeiro has arrived. He has always had the talent but now the common sense is there as well.'' Tucker's was an innings of graft mixed with excellent stroke play. His first half century came from 88 balls with eight boundaries. He had one or two lapses of concentration but dug deep to find the resolve needed to bat through the 90-degree heat into the final over.

The shot he brought the century up with was not from the top shelf, an inside edge for three, but the fact that not one other batsman crossed 20 speaks volumes for his dominance.

"He was the main one, without him we'd be coming home on the next flight. he really pulled us out of this one,'' said tour manager Rudolph Lawrence. "This is my third ICC tournament and I can say that this was the best century I've ever seen by a Bermuda batsman.

Tucker finished with 13 fours and two sixes from 137 balls. The ever reliable Perinchief also contributed what would prove to be another vital 12 runs.

Buoyed by Tucker's efforts, Bermuda went into the field with the purpose that was missing in their previous outings.

The youngster set the tempo by trapping Vuiyagi lbw for one and Roger Blades struck the next over when he bowled James Maha for nine.

From 10 for two in the second over, Papua New Guinea never looked likely to threaten Bermuda's total.

Their only form of resistance was provided by number six Ipi Moria, who threw caution to the wind in his knock of 38, which included two sixes and two fours.

Riding the coat-tails of two lives Moria went to the well once too often and was caught by Blades at extra cover off Perinchief who summarily completed the rout by bowling Gaudi with the next ball. Tucker claimed two for 13 to assist Perinchief and Blades two for 14 while debut boy Del Hollis, in his second tournament, also captured a wicket in his first over.

Bermuda have an early morning training session today in preparation for the Scots.