Bermuda's week in the sun

Bermuda's place in the spotlight
It has proved to be a huge fortnight for Bermudian cricket - not only did they play host to the West Indian squad who were preparing ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, but their Select XI also beat the visiting Barbados team by six runs in the final match of the Bajans' four-game tour.

Bermuda's last-wicket pair, Dwayne Leverock and Jacobi Robinson, lifted the Bermudian XI from from a paltry 145 for 9 to 225 all out. Leverock then combined with Chris Foggo (three wickets apiece) to limit Barbados to 219. An emotional Bermuda captain, Clay Smith, told Bermuda's Royal Gazette newspaper: "This was unbelievable - it brought tears to my eyes."

The three sides were all competing in a three-team tournament, and in their earlier match, Barbados had beaten West Indies by eight wickets with more than 18 overs to spare. In their own game against West Indies, Bermuda's bowlers performed credibly, restricting Lara's men to 167 for 8 from 50 overs, albeit on a difficult pitch. The home batsmen, however, struggled on a two-paced strip and were skittled for 70 - Mervyn Dillon the destroyer, taking 4 for 12 off 10 overs.

As if that was not enough excitement, it also transpired that the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control will be seeking an overseas coach when Mark Harper moves on in early 2005. Harper, a former Guyana captain, was not retained by the BCBC when his three-year contract expired at the end of August.

We think an overseas coach is the best option for us to qualify for the 2007 World Cup," Neil Speight, the chief executive, told BTTW. "We will be sorting out the finances and then appointing a coach in early 2005."

American mystery
United States Cricket Association officials will tell you it's amazing who you can bump into while on the London tourist beat.

In the United Kingdom for their national team's ICC Champions Trophy campaign, USACA officials have been busy away from the practice nets. The end result may prove that travelling can broaden one's outlook. Clarification in BTTW's next edition.

The Middle East Gulf Cup
The Persian Gulf countries which created such a stir at the ACC Trophy earlier this year will meet next month in Kuwait for the Middle East Gulf Cup.

Kuwait, who won the inaugural Gulf Cup in January, will again host Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. To ensure a competitive tournament, the ACC Trophy champions United Arab Emirates will not be participating.

Oman shocked the non-Test world by reaching the final of the ACC Trophy, which ensures their qualification for the ICC Trophy in Ireland next year.

Meanwhile, the picturesque Royal Bangkok Sports Club will host the ACC Emerging Nations tournament in February 2005, involving Thailand, the Maldives, Bhutan and Brunei.

Guernsey channel their energies
Guernsey won the recent 2004 Four Islands Tournament with a comprehensive 60-run victory in the final against the Isle of Man. This followed an eight-wicket win by Guernsey over the same opposition in the group phase on the previous day. The defending champions, the Isle of Wight, clinched third place with a 140-run against Jersey.

After major rain disruptions earlier in the week, the last two days were thankfully blessed with dry weather and there was no doubt that the effects of Duckworth-Lewis in the early group games had still resulted in the two strongest teams reaching the final.

In the final itself, Guernsey opener Tim Duke compiled a fine unbeaten 97 and was unfortunate to lose the strike for the last two balls of the innings, when he missed out on what would have been a well-deserved century. He and Banerjee put together a good second-wicket partnership before Banerjee was caught behind off Pearce for 32.

This only brought the in-form Jeremy Frith to the wicket and he displayed his full repertoire of shots, including sweeps and reverse-sweeps in making a brilliant 77 off 72 balls. Divan van den Heever then smashed a quick 32 in partnership with the accelerating Duke, to post an imposing total of 261.

The Isle of Man's reply got off to a poor start as Guernsey pacemen van den Heever and Matt Jeffery ripped out the first three wickets for just 22. Jaco Jansen and Graeme Garrett then put on a stand of 79 to give them some hope before the veteran off-spinner Gary Rich bowled Garrett. Although Jansen batted well for his 84, he received little support as Rich claimed three more victims to claim a comfortable Guernsey victory.

In the third-place play-off, the Isle of Wight posted 267 for 9 in 50 overs, thanks mainly to a whirlwind 56 off just 23 balls from Steve Allwood, including seven sixes. John Nelson also scored 56 from a more sedate 47 balls, and the imposing target proved well beyond Jersey. They were dismissed for 123, with the Isle of Wight's miserly pair of Freestone and Goldsmith taking four for 25 between them in 20 overs. David Piesling

Final
Guernsey 261 for 5 (Duke 97*, Frith 77) beat Isle of Man 201 (Jansen 84, Garrett 46, Rich 4-44, van den Heever 3-32) by 60 runs

Third place play-off
Isle of Wight 264 for 9 (Allwood 56, Nelson 56, Fletcher 47, Blackburn 3-62) beat Jersey 123 (P.Gales 38, Freestone 3-14) by 141 runs

Batting award Jeremy Frith (Guernsey)
Bowling award Scott Pearce (Isle of Man)
Allrounder award Ami Banerjee (Guernsey)

In the next edition, we hope to bring you season-ending Cup final action from Bermuda, report on the Mexican invasion of Texas at the Houston Memorial Sixes, and all the frivolity of Chinese cricket's biggest event, the Shanghai Sixes. To send information about what is happening in your country, please email bttwcricinfo@yahoo.com.au; to contribute a scenic shot for 'Ground of the Week', please email bttwphotos@yahoo.com.au.