USA will be team's toughest test yet
Bermuda Under-19s 218-9
Cayman Islands –Under-19s 103
Bermuda Under-19 coach Andre Manders has warned his team ahead of today's showdown with the USA that they will have to bring their 'A' game to beat the tournament favourites.
Manders' men have also made a winning start to the Americas Championships in Canada after completing a convincing 115-run victory over Cayman Islands yesterday.
But their taskmaster coach is still not satisfied with his players and knows they must improve their batting having survived a middle-order wobble against their Caribbean counterparts.
"Our bowling has been very good so far but our tailenders had to get us out of trouble against Cayman and that's something we need to improve upon," he said.
"We're pleased to have won our two opening games (Argentina and Cayman Islands) but we need to cut out our silly mistakes."
Perennial favourites USA have impressed Manders during his scouting missions in Toronto this week and he knows his team will have to be at the top of their game to preserve their undefeated run.
"There's no doubt USA are a strong side and I've been impressed with what I've seen," said Manders. "They have an Australian and a South African playing for them and they're going to be a big challenge for us.
"Do I think we can beat them? Yes, but we will need to bring our A-game in terms of our batting, bowling and fielding."
Having already put Argentina to the sword on Monday courtesy of Chris Douglas' spin, Bermuda won the toss and batted first with openers Terryn Fray (26) and Regino Smith (34) putting on a 56-run partnership for the first wicket.
Man-of-the-match Deunte Darrell ensured the scoreboard kept ticking over adding 33, but Monday's match winner Douglas failed to find his rhythm with the bat and made just seven.
At 180 for nine after 42 overs, Bermuda looked as though they were in a spot of trouble but their tail wagged and clawed them to a respectable total of 218.
Bermuda's bowlers made short shift of Cayman Islands' batting with Joshua Gilbert claiming three for 25, Lateef Trott two for 13 and Darrell two for 18. Chris Douglas (one for six) and Greg Maybury (one for 17) also chipped in to secure the victory.
Manders is hoping for sunshine today with Toronto's chilly weather catching Bermuda cold. "It's been very cold over here and we had to get our boys some sweaters," he said.
"Apparently it's a bit warmer tomorrow (Wednesday) and that should suit us a bit more."
Bermuda play Bahamas on Friday and Canada on Saturday.