7/13/2008 4:28:00 PM Battling Bermuda beaten by Scotland
Outerbridge - Classy hundred
Match Details
Scotland 282 all out (Watts 93, Leverock 6 for 120) and 196 for 9 declared (Watts 83, O'Brien 3 for 39) beat Bermuda 106 all out (Foggo 53, Nel 4 for 27) and 265 all out (Outerbridge 113, Lyons 4 for 55) by 107 runs.
Classy Stephen Outerbridge scored a superb maiden international hundred as Bermuda fought to the end before finally succumbing to a 107 run loss against Scotland today.
There was no disgrace in defeat for Bermuda as Irving Romaine's side showed reserves of character to claw their way back into a game that had looked set to be a one-sided rout for the Scots.
And though the visitors were celebrating at the end with a raucous rendition of 'Flower of Scotland' in the away changing room, the day belonged to Outerbridge.
Seldom can anyone have scored a more deserved century.
The young left hander has always been one of Bermuda's brightest talents.
But after several years of touring, going to academies, attending a cricket school in England, even he was beginning to wonder if he would ever turn his potential into results.
"It was a big deal for me," said Outerbridge, after reaching triple figures by dispatching consecutive full tosses from Scotland spinner Ross Lyons to the boundary for four.
"It's been a long time coming and I've taken a lot of abuse from Bermuda people, saying I was a waste of money, but it shows if you do invest in your people, what can happen.
"I did doubt myself many times. But hopefully that has changed after this."
Outerbridge's 113, which came from 250 balls and included 13 fours, was the bedrock of Bermuda's second-innings total of 265 all out as they fought back from the brink of a thrashing to achieve respectability in their first home game in four years.
Scotland had set them a virtually impossible victory target of 373 after declaring their second innings on 196 for 9 on Saturday afternoon.
Given the disastrous collapse in the first-innings, were Bermuda were bowled out for 106 after Scotland had posted 282, getting even half way there on a third and fourth day wicket looked impossible.
The Scots had elected not to force the follow-on to avoid the perils of batting fourth on this strip, which turned and bounced throughout and got better for the bowlers as time went on.
But Bermuda persevered. And Outerbridge, ably supported by Rodney Trott (28) and Irving Romaine (27) showed that patience and application has it's reward.
When he was finally dismissed for 113 after edging a Deward Nel delivery that moved away off thee seam to wicket-keeper Colin Smith, it was only a matter of time before the Scots could clinch victory.
But George O'Brien and Dwayne Leverock gave the small crowd something to cheer with a last wicket stand of 45 that included some lusty blows, particularly from O'Brien, who belted a brisk 32.
After the game Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine said he was proud of the way his boys had battled back.
He said the experience they had gained and the character they had shown would stand them in good stead for the battles ahead.
"I'm very pleased with the way we batted in the second innings. To score 250 batting fourth was a great fightback.
"We're only going to get stronger after this," he added.
Scotland skipper Fraser Watts, who scored 83 in the second innings to add to his first innings 93, congratulated Bermuda on their fight back and hailed them as a 'team on the up'.
He said he was pleased with the way his side had gone about their business in tough conditions - with the heat and humidity of Bermuda a far cry from the cloud and drizzle of their homeland.
"We've done really well. Bermuda's a good side playing at home. We've had to grind it out at times but we stuck to our game plan and got the win."
