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Irving Romaine's swashbuckling century went in vain as Bermuda slumped to a 65 run loss on Duckworth/Lewis against hosts Namibia at Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek yesterday.

Namibia ended on 268 for eight with Bermuda 211 in the first of two 50 over matches.

Batting at number 10, the former Bermuda skipper belted an even 100 off 74 balls in a blistering knock that included seven fours and six sixes.

Romaine came to the crease in the 25th over with Bermuda wobbling at 86 for eight and added 82 runs for the tenth wicket with last man Stefan Kelly (eight not out) that kept the tourists in with a fighting chance of pulling off victory.

The big hitting Bailey's Bay batsman also added a whirlwind 43 runs in less than six overs with Malachi Jones (22), who also batted lower down the order, for the ninth wicket.

Earlier first change bowler Justin Pitcher claimed three for 45 to help restrict the Namibians, who at one stage were motoring along at more than five runs per over, to what seemed a reachable target.

But in reply Bermuda lost their first wicket (Chris Foggo) without bothering the scorers.

Things quickly went from bad to worse as the tourists found themselves reeling at 62 for six in the 20th over.

That Bermuda made a fist of it lower down the order owed much to Romaine's aggressive knock, which went some way toward lifting the gloom from his team's Intercontinental Shield meltdown against Namibia earlier in the week.

Others in double figures were opener Fiqre Crockwell (20) and skipper David Hemp (13). Right arm seamer Christi Viljoen led the Namibian bowling with figures of four for 45.

Bermuda made early inroads after sending their hosts into bat with the dismissal of opener Gerhard Rudolph (three) in the second over.

But the joy was short-lived as a 71-run second wicket stand between opener Raymond Van Schoor (39) and number three Sarel Burger (91) put the hosts back on top.

Bermuda's bowlers managed to stem the flow of runs in the crucial middle overs.

But knocks of 56 and 41 not out from Gerri Synman and Nicholaas Scholtz carried Namibia to an insurmountable total before rain curtailed their innings at 48.3 overs.

The teams will face off again today in Windhoek in the second and final 50 over contest.[[In-content Ad]]

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