Bermuda crushed by Uganda as Jersey advance
JERSEY, Channel Islands (CMC) — Bermuda’s woeful, three-year, ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League B campaign ended with another ignominious defeat at Grainville Cricket Ground in St Saviour on Saturday when Uganda thrashed them by 153 runs.
After three legs of the tournament, which began in Oman in 2019, continued in Uganda in June and ended in Jersey, Bermuda had a solitary point to show from 15 matches after an abandoned game against Kenya.
Bermuda’s fifth defeat in Jersey was on the cards after Uganda — the eventual tournament runners-up behind Jersey — piled up 314 for four in their 50 overs, led by the burly number three Ronak Patel who retired hurt on 121 after striking 15 fours in 122 balls – the fourth century made in five matches against Bermuda in Jersey.
Captain Kamau Leverock was again Bermuda’s best bowler with two for 70, and he also led from the front with the bat at number three, thumping 10 fours and a six in his 44-ball 58 before falling to a cut shot for the fourth time in five innings in Jersey.
Off-spinner Frank Akankwasa claimed the final four wickets to finish with five for 19 in 4.5 overs as Bermuda were bundled out for 161 in the 41st over.
Trying to put a brave face on defeat, 27-year-old Leverock said: “We’ve only had two or three guys that are regular players in these last two tours, due to availability issues.
“So hopefully the young guys learnt, and next time if they get an opportunity, they take it.”
Jersey booked their place in the next stage of qualifying for the 2023 Cricket World Cup despite a four-wicket defeat by Kenya in their final match on Sunday.
Jersey now progress to the 2023 World Cup Qualifier play-offs – with the top two countries from the six taking part moving on to the final stage of qualifying in Zimbabwe next summer.
Jersey topped the league on net run rate after tying with Uganda on 22 points.
Bermuda’s cricket at international level has been in the doldrums since qualifying for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean under then Coach Gus Logie, the former West Indies Test batsman having since returned to the country to coach club side Bailey’s Bay.