Borchersen shreds fragile Bermuda

If Bermuda's defeat in the first of this two-match series could be put down to jet-lag, there was no mistaking that they were again easily outplayed by Denmark at Brondby's Svanholm Park. The margin of Bermuda's defeat was seven wickets, even greater than yesterday, and the flaws in many aspects of their game was all too apparent.

Yesterday they were caught cold and never recovered from sliding to 39 for 7. Today they were put in and with Thomas Hansen, their seven-wicket tormentor in the first game, absent with a sore knee, they scored freely against the new ball. But the introduction of David Borchersen turned the game on its head as Bermuda, cantering at 27 for 0, lost four wickets for 21 runs.

Only James Celestine appeared up for the challenge, and his 78 was the bedrock of the Bermuda innings. Henrik Hansen, ineffective with the new ball, was a changed man with the old and his comeback spell was of 4 for 17 as the innings collapsed for a second time, from 154 for 5 to 176 all out in the 49th over.

Once again Freddie Klokker started confidently, adding 88 for the first wicket with Carsten Pedersen. Pedersen's dismissal was quickly followed by two more wickets, and at 107 for 3 Bermuda had a glimmer of hope. They were, however, bludgeoned into submission by Lars Hedegaard who smashed an unbeaten 50 off 35 balls, and with Klokker chipping away at the other end, Denmark eased to victory with more than six overs in hand.

This was supposed to be a gentle warm-up for Bermuda ahead of a stiffer challenge in the Netherlands. As it is, unless something remarkable happens in the trip south, this fledgling side is in for a tough time.