Bermuda v USA - No Result leaves title in the balance

After a serious of weather related interruptions, the eagerly awaited key clash between Bermuda and the United States was abandoned as a no result at the Maple Leaf CC in Toronto, Canada.

With the final round of fixtures scheduled for tomorrow, Bermuda hold the edge with a four point advantage over the USA, but with a superior net run rate, a USA win over Canada will see them snatch the title away from the Bermudans.

Bermuda won the toss and put the USA in to bat, and they tasted early success as Roopnarine departed without scoring. But opening bat Sushil Nadkarni and skipper Steve Massiah continued their outstanding form with the bat, and set out about compiling a brilliant second wicket partnership of 168 that threatened to take the game away from Bermuda.

Nadkarni eventually fell for an classy 83, off 101 balls with 8 fours, while Massiah was dismissed for the first time in the tournament, for an outstanding 81, made off 87 balls with eleven scintillating fours.

When a rain interruption came for the second time, after the game had already been reduced to 40 overs a side, USA were poised to set an imposing target at 213 for 4 in the 35th over. Pick of the Bermudan bowlers were George O'Brien, with 2 for54, and Saleem Mukuddem, 1 for 38. After a lengthy and frustrating delay, the Bermuda challenge got underway with a revised target of 163 in 24 overs in their sights. The fiery USA attack grabbed two early Bermudan wickets, however, a mere 2 overs and 2 balls into their innings, with the score on 12 for 2, the batsmen accepted the light offered by the umpires, and when it was no longer possible to fit in the minimum 20 overs required to constitute a match, the game was sadly abandoned as a no result.

This leaves Bermuda on top of the table with 14 points, having completed their games, with the USA in second spot with 10 points, and needing to beat Canada tomorrow to claim the Americas Championship. Their superior net run rate would mean the title going to them ahead of Bermuda as a USA win over Canada would leave both teams on 14 points. There will surely be plenty of Bermudan support for Canada tomorrow as the 2006 tournament draws to an exciting close.