Minors steers Bermuda to victory

Bermuda 153 for 7 (42.3 overs, Minors 46*, Davison 3-18) beat Canada 157 for 9 (Codrington 45*) by three wickets (D/L target 150 off 44 overs)
Scorecard

George Codrington on his way to 45 not out, an innings which was almost enough to bring Canada victory © ICC

A gutsy unbeaten 46 from wicketkeeper Dean Minors guided Bermuda to a three-wicket victory over Canada in a game they appeared to have thrown away at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad. The result means that Bermuda and Zimbabwe, who play tomorrow, will meet in Saturday's final while Canada head home.

Chasing a modest 150 to win in 44 overs, Bermuda looked to have squandered their chance as they slid to 89 for 7 when Lionel Cann, no mug with the bat despite batting at No. 9, joined Minors. But the pair saw off John Davison, who took 3 for 18 in his nine overs, and then scored with ease off the remaining bowlers as the weaknesses in the Canadian attack became all too evident.

What had gone before was quite the opposite as Bermuda stumbled to 32 for 3 before the second rain shower of the day sent the players off for a short time. When they resumed, Bermuda had a revised target but immediately lost another wicket and Davison pinned down the middle order. However, as soon as his allocation of overs had been used, the game turned on its head.

For the second day in succession, Canada had troubles of their own when they batted, and it seemed that once again they would fail to reach three figures. Davison got things off to a brisk start with 22 off 16 balls, but as soon as he fell, the wheels came off the innings, and four wickets went for 23 runs to leave Canada on 55 for 5. A second mini-collapse saw them teetering on 91 for 8, but George Codrington and Kevin Sandher added 30 for the ninth wicket and Codrington and Henry Osinde added a further 36 - the highest stand of the innings - for the tenth.

Codrington showed the virtue of patience on his way to 45 not out and with Osinde ensured they at least batted out their allocation of overs. But in the end, it wasn't quite enough.

Tomorrow's match gives Bermuda a chance to size up Zimbabwe before the final and gain some more much-needed experience. Canada, meanwhile, will be bitterly disappointed at their showing in the first outings in ODIs. They face Kenya and Bermuda in July, but will need to show a serious improvement then as the World Cup draws closer.