Dhaniram helps restrict Bermuda to 237

Canada 14 for 0 trail Bermuda 237 (Outerbridge 79, Dhaniram 4-70) by 223 runs
Scorecard

Canada's bowlers gave their side the advantage on the first day of the Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda by dismissing the visitors for 237. Steven Outerbridge's 79 was the only substantial contribution for Bermuda as Canada's new-ball attack wrested the initiative with early breakthroughs before left-arm spinner Sunil Dhaniram's four wickets helped wrap up the tail.

Henry Osinde gave Canada the perfect start by trapping Chris Foggo lbw for a duck off the third ball of the match. It got better when Eion Katchay, opening the bowling in the injured Umar Bhatti's absence, struck in his first over as well: Oronde Bascome was lbw for another duck and at 1 for 2, Bermuda's decision to bat had backfired.

James Celestine and Outerbridge combined to add 77 runs for the third wicket, a partnership which helped Bermuda recover to a certain extent through its aggressive approach. It was broken, however, by Dhaniram who had Celestine lbw for 47, off only 56 balls, as he tried to play across the line.

Outerbridge held the middle-order together but although Irving Romaine, Rodney Trott and Jekon Edness got starts, none of them carried on to make substantial scores. Romaine was snared by Osinde, who induced an edge with a full ball outside off stump after bowling a couple of off cutters. Osinde later pulled out of the attack because of a hamstring problem.

The turning point, however, was Outerbridge's dismissal, which was brought about by an athletic leaping catch by Ian Billcliff at cover. Bermuda were 180 for 5 and their position deteriorated in the first hour after tea. They lost three wickets during that period and Dhaniram had a hand in all of them: he had Trott lofting a catch, caught and bowled Ryan Steede, and ran out Stefan Kelly. The last pair, Dwayne Leverock and George O'Brien, managed to add 21 in quick time before Dhaniram had O'Brien caught at the boundary.

Canada's openers, Geoff Barnett and Abdool Samad, played the seven overs remaining in the day with caution and finished on 14 without loss.