USA and Canada record thumping wins

USA 89 for 1 (Johnson 48*, Massiah 25*) beat Bahamas 88 by nine wickets
Scorecard

United States shook off the loss of Clayton Lambert, the former West Indies opener who was ruled out through injury, and demolished Bahamas by nine wickets at Somerset CC.

Sent in to bat, the Bahamians started brightly enough, with opening pair Dwight Weakley and Lester Taylor putting on 22 useful runs. However, a succession of wickets and some fine attacking bowling by USA reduced Bahamas to 53 for 6, before Garcha Blair and Mario Ford added 29 for the seventh wicket. With their stubborn resistance broken, USA mopped up the tail to bundle Bahamas out for 88 in 25.3 overs.

Charles Reid produced fine figures of 3 for 35 while Islam, Javed and Amin picked up two wickets apiece. For Bahamas, Blair top-scored with 21.

The USA reply got off to a disastrous start, losing Afzaluddin in the first over. But with net run-rate being vital in such tournaments, as USA learnt so well with their triumph at the recent Six Nations Challenge, Mark Johnson and Steve Massiah tore into the Bahamian bowling attack, reaching the low target in a mere 9.3 overs to register a nine-wicket win.

Johnson, later named Man of the Match, finished unbeaten on 48, including five fours and three sixes, while Massiah finished with 25 not out. The blitz, however, was not enough to take USA above Canada on the championship table on superior net run-rate, with the Canadians also registering a resounding 197-run win over Argentina.

But it certainly sets up a spicy encounter between the two North American rivals at St Davids tomorrow. Both teams know that a loss tomorrow will almost certainly cost them the championship, so the game takes on a cup-final atmosphere.

The Bahamas meet hosts Bermuda at the National Sports Centre, and after two heavy defeats, will be hoping for a better performance from their batsmen and a better allround showing on the day.

Canada 294 for 9 (Chumney 112) beat Argentina 97 by 197 runs
Scorecard

Canada flexed their muscles with a massive 197-run win over a hapless Argentina side at the National Sports Centre. Having won the toss, and inserted the Canadians on a wicket still containing moisture from overnight rain, the Argentines might have hoped to put up a stiff challenge.

However, Desmond Chumney and John Davison, the captain, put Canada firmly in control with a forceful opening stand of 137 before Davison was stumped off the bowling of Donny Forrester, the Argentine captain. Davison's 64 included five fours and two sixes.

Chumney marched on to record the first century of the 2004 Americas Championships, eventually being smartly caught and bowled by Billy MacDermott, the young off-spinner, for a commanding 112. His innings included seven fours and three sixes.

With Chumney's departure, at 215 for 5, Argentina fought back gamely, and restricted Canada to 294 for 9. Donny Forrester (3-64) and Billy MacDermott (3-40), the two offspinners, pulled the game back to a certain extent in the face of some aggressive batting.

The Argentines, not at ease at any point of time, lost wickets at regular intervals thanks to a mixture of some penetrative bowling and indiscreet strokeplay. At 64 for 8 Argentina were headed for the lowest-ever total in the championships history. But some lusty hitting by the big-built Malcolm Van Steeden, who top-scored with 25, almost got Argentina to the 100-mark.

Argentina fell three short, all out for 97 in the 29th over, as Canada romped to a massive 197-run win. Davison finished with 3 for 36 with his offspinners and completed a fine all-round performance, but it was Chumney who got the Man-of-the-Match award for his fine century.

Canada will take on the USA, in what is sure to be a pivotal game in the race for the championship, while Argentina will clash with Cayman Islands. That will be Argentina's last chance to perhaps challenge for the fourth place qualifying spot.

Bermuda 218 for 5 beat Caymen Islands 217 for 9 (Hinds 78) by five wickets
Scorecard

In the pick of the days games, hosts Bermuda edged out the Cayman Islands with a five-wicket win, with just five balls to spare. Set 218 for victory, the Bermudians found the going tough and relied heavily on their experienced captain, Clay Smith, and Charlie Marshall, the veteran, to give them a critical victory in the race for qualifying positions.

OJ Pitcher, who had turned out as the hero yesterday, fell the total on 30. Cunningham bowled Borden with the total on 61 with the match still evenly poised. All the while, though, Glenn Blakeney was steadily compiling valuable runs, and his 63 proved to be a solid platform for the Bermuda innings.

Coming together with Bermuda on 112 for 3, Smith and Marshall used all of their experience and thwarted the Caymans with a resolute partnership .Their partnership of 72 took Bermuda within relatively comfortable reach. Marshall departed for a well-made 36, and Cann fell soon after, but Clay-Smith steered them home with five balls to spare. He was unbeaten on 58, and the worthy Man of the Match.

Sent in to bat, the Caymans got off to a poor start, and were reduced to 66 for 5, and struggling to set a respectable target. However, coming in at No. 7, Franklin Hinds stroked an outstanding 78, including six fours and five sixes. A partnership of 44 between Hinds and Lawrence Cunningham (27) took the Caymans to 110, and then a magnificent fightback with Ryan Bovell (32) helped them to a fighting total of 217 for 9.

Dennis Archer was the pick of the Bermuda bowlers, taking 2 for 40 in 9 overs, while Delyone Borden, the youngster, impressed with 1 for 29 in 10 overs. Bermuda will take on the Bahamas tomorrow and a win will ensure joint top-spot along with the winner of the Canada - USA clash. Meanwhile, Cayman Islands will meet Argentina, in a game that will mostly decide the fourth and final qualifying place.