ICC Intercontinental Cup and Shield

CANADA v BERMUDA On 8th August 2005, the ICC suspended the USA’s membership and they were therefore excluded from the Intercontinental Cup. They were replaced by the Cayman Islands. the country that finished fourth in the 2004 American Championships. With the ICC deciding that the National Stadium in Hamilton, Bermuda, no longer met the requirements for first-class international cricket and the Cayman Islands also having no suitable ground, it was decided to play all three matches in the America Group at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club ground over a two-week period in August. New captain and former Sri Lankan Test cricketer, Pubudu Dassanayake opted to field first on winning the toss and Bermuda were soon in trouble on a heavily-grassed pitch against the pace attack of Umar Bhatti (left-arm) and Henry Osinde (right-arm) losing four wickets for only 13 runs. Only Clay Smith showed any ability to master the bowling with a fighting half-century which he reached by audaciously striking Umar Bhatti over long on for six; Bhatti exacted immediate revenge by bowling him next ball. For a short while Smith was supported by Janeiro Tucker in a stand of 39 for the fifth wicket but, otherwise, Bermuda’s batsmen were unable to cope as Umar Bhatti took eight wickets in a superb display of inswing bowling, four falling to catches by Ashish Bagai in an excellent display of wicketkeeping. Surprisingly, Dassanayake chose Umar Bhatti as his opening partner but after a quiet start during which 29 runs were made, Canada collapsed after tea, four wickets falling for six runs, against tight bowling from Salem Mukuddem (three for 34 off 11 overs) and Dwayne Leverock (one for 26 off 14 overs with 5 maidens). Bagai came to the rescue, completing an excellent day by helping Canada to 149 for six at the close, when he was undefeated on 72 which included ten fours. Sunil Dhaniram helped add 55 for the fifth wicket before being bowled by Hassan Durham, who finished the day with two for 23 off eight overs. Canada began the second day in a reasonably strong position, a lead of 24 with four wickets in hand, but Bagai added only four to his overnight score before falling to the left-arm spin of Leverock who then proceeded to run through the tail. Despite some resistance from George Codrington, Canada were restricted to a first-innings lead of 82. This seemed ample when Bermuda fared no better in their second innings, losing three wickets for 22 runs. Again Smith showed resolve and first with Mukuddem and then Tucker gave Bermuda a lead of 34 before being trapped leg-before by the left-arm spin of Dhaniram; his 45 runs had taken 123 balls, a strike rate of 36.5. Tucker and Dean Minors then produced the most convincing batting of the match. With Umar Bhatti and Osinde needing to be rested, Canada’s four spin bowlers sent down 50 overs; although they conceded only 94 runs, they gained no help from the pitch and rarely looked likely to get a wicket. By the end of the day, Bermuda had advanced to 209 without further loss, a lead of 127 runs. Bermuda added a further 26 runs on the last morning before Minors was defeated by Don Maxwell but Tucker went on to complete his century and skilfully take most of the strike, When he was bowled by Osinde to leave Bermuda nine wickets down for 286, he had batted for just over three and three-quarter hours and acquired 123 runs at a strike rate of 63.0. Canada were then frustrated by a last wicket stand of 25 as Leverock and Hurdle again defied the bowling; they had been involved in a 27-run tenth-wicket partnership in the first innings. Requiring 230 runs from 68 overs, Canada were still favourites to win the match, but Bermuda’s opening bowlers clearly had other ideas and took the first four wickets for only 17 runs. Dhaniram and Bagai regained the advantage in a stand of 53, Dhaniram being particularly aggressive, making his 35 runs from 35 balls with five fours. Both fell with the score in the 70s but Codrington and Qaiser Ali brought Canada within range of the target with a partnership of 91. It was a painstaking affair with Codrington managing a strike rate of 38.4 and Qaiser Ali 49.0. With the score on 164, Codrington became the first of three victims for Durham but, provided Qaiser Ali could protect the tail, Canada were still in with a chance. Just as it was looking as though he would succeed, he was adjudged run out by the narrowest of margins. Durham picked up the last wicket to give Bermuda a victory by 48 runs, a deserved but somewhat unexpected result given that Canada were last year’s finalists and were playing at home and Bermuda had finished a dismal third in the American Group the previous year. Janeiro Tucker deserved the Man-of-the-Match award since it was his century that turned the match in Bermuda’s favour. 68 ICC Intercontinental Cup 2005