USA eye outright win

USA 141 for 4 (Johnson 46, Leverock 3-34) and 297 for 9 dec lead Bermuda 201 for 8 dec (Smith 62, Nasir 3-62) by 237 runs
Scorecard

The USA will take a commanding lead of 237 runs with six wickets in hand into the final day's play of their Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda. On the second day at the National Sports Centre, they finished at 141 for 4 in their second inningsm after Bermuda had declared their first innings closed on 201 for 8.

The home side carefully navigated their innings on a pitch that has occupied the minds of the batsmen for what it might do rather than what it is doing. Bermuda started the day's play at 18 for 0, having already faced 13 overs. By lunch, the scoring rate had only improved slightly, but four wickets had fallen. It took a brilliant knock from Clay Smith, the captain, to start a recovery.

His innings of 62 off 142 balls finally ended when he miscued a hook shot back to Howard Johnson, the bowler. But the eighth wicket partnership with Dwayne Leverock produced 67 runs, and brought the home side close to attaining the maximum bonus points for scoring 200. Once that target was reached, the Bermudans declared, with 3.1 overs remaining and two wickets intact.

But any hopes of Bermuda picking up early wickets were firmly quashed by Mark Johnson and Jignesh Desai, the two USA openers. Both took turns in smashing the opening bowlers to the boundary at will. The injured Johnson led the way, stroking 3 fours and 2 sixes in his knock of 46. The scoreboard ticked over rapidly, with the 100 put up in the 21st over.

Leverock, the left-arm spinner, continued his fine allround display, though, capturing the wickets of Steve Massiah (12), the first innings centurion, and Richard Staples, the captain. However, Naseer Javed and Aijaz Ali got together and put on an unbeaten 38 as the lead swelled to a commanding 237.

With the hard hitting Clayton Lambert and the very capable Charles Reid left to bat, the third morning should be an interesting one. The USA must give themselves enough time to bowl Bermuda out, as only an outright win will give them any chance of advancing to the semi-finals in Dubai, after an earlier defeat to Canada.

As for Bermuda, they must hope for a draw here, and victory when they meet the Canadians in Toronto next month.