Plucky Bermuda steal it
Cricket Web Blue Preseason Cricket
"It was a great performance by Bermuda, but a poor showing by our batsmen. We didn't get enough," said Liam Camps at the post-match ceremony. Cricket Web Blue were humbled dramatically by Bermuda, with the home side winning a close encounter by 5 wickets with 5 balls remaining. Though the Blues would have been confident in scoring 246-8, given the carnage they inflicted with the ball just a day before, it simply was not enough against a spirited Bermuda chase.
Ben Wilshere was key in the Blue total. His 99 deserved the acclaim of a century, though he was dropped by Leverock on 73. On a pitch that so many other batsmen struggled to time the ball and threw away starts, Wilshere showed good application and a keen awareness between the wickets. He and Sean Fuller (61) added 98 for the fourth wicket after the top order came undone at 37-3. Camps came to the crease at 135-5 and could not play with the same freedom as he had the day before. Instead he was watchful and his tactic backfired, as he failed to accelerate when needed, instead out for a tame 29 from 54 balls. Fast bowler Hurdle finished the pick of the bowlers on the day, boasting 4-37.
Bermuda would have been relieved to face a Blue bowling attack lacking Matt Smith and Ryan Dunn. They showed that relief with an extremely comfortable start against pacy bowling that lacked direction. Too often the batsmen were allowed to leave balls outside offstump in the early overs, settling in nicely at the wicket before cutting loose to post 78 for the first wicket. May-Quinlan found success for Blue in removing pitcher with a good slower ball. Fuller then resumed his task of making the old ball speak of reverse swing. He did so to the effect of three wickets, but the Bermuda middle order contributed solidly in that time, whilst Clay Smith continued to play exceptionally at the top of the order.
The chase was perfectly paced, and when Janeiro Tucker faced up to Fuller for the start of the 48th over, 23 runs were needed off the final 18 balls. Tucker quickly transformed the equation, swinging consistently across the line and collecting 15 runs from the first 4 balls of the over. Fuller dismissed Lionel Cann with the 5th, but the damage was done. The Tucker brothers collected six singles off May-Quinlan's next over - the 49th - and left themselves needing just 1 run from the final over. Fuller attempted a yorker but it was pushed out by Janeiro Tucker to seal a big win for Bermuda.
Cricket Web Blue 246-8 (50 overs)
BL Wilshere 99, SE Fuller 61, LA Camps 29
K Hurdle 4-37, DCC Borden/RD Steede 2-46
Bermuda 247-5 (49.1 overs)
CJ Smith 78, OL Pitcher 37, JJ Tucker 31*
SE Fuller 3-50, JP May-Quinlan 1-40
Bermuda won by 5 wickets.
Man of the Match: JJ Tucker