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Bermuda ended their 20-20 World Cup qualifying campaign with a crushing defeat against Canada to finish last in the six-team tournament.

After losing to the Scots and coming out on the wrong end of a nailbiting rain-affected clash with Ireland, Bermuda suffered their heaviest defeat of the tournament in the fifth and sixth place match yesterday.

Only OJ Pitcher (15) and Stefan Kelly (11 not out) made double figures as they stuttered to 70 all-out in their 20 overs.

Then Geoff Barnett, with 31 from 34 balls, guided Canada past their victory target with more than nine overs to spare.

Senior players sit

Earlier Gus Logie had left out senior players Irving Romaine, Dwayne Leverock and David Hemp and selected a young side with Rodney Trott as skipper.

But Bermuda struggled without their experienced players succumbing to an eight-wicket defeat.

On Monday they had briefly threatened to upset Ireland and make the semi-finals in a tumultuous seven-over thrash.

George O'Brien, one of the bright points of the tournament for Bermuda with immaculate figures in all three games, and Stefan Kelly had ripped through the Irish top order, leaving them reeling on 23 for 4. The Irish staged a mini-recovery before the rain came and cut their innings at nine overs, leaving them on 43 for 7.

The target was adjusted to 46 under the Duckworth/Lewis method, but Bermuda botched the run chase with no batsman making double figures as they fell to 41 for 8 in their nine overs - a 5-run defeat.

Earlier they had lost to Scotland by eight wickets. In spite of an impressive unbeaten 37 from Stephen Outerbridge and 20 from Hemp, Bermuda posted a low total of 99 for 7.

Scotland were pegged back by O'Brien (2 for 11 in his four overs) but still made the target with more than two overs to spare.

In Group B Kenya and Holland qualified for the semis. The Irish beat the Kenyans and Holland beat Scotland, leaving Ireland to face the Dutch in the final.

But the rain intervened again and the two teams shared the trophy.

Scotland beat Kenya by nine wickets in the third and fourth placed match to qualify along with Ireland and Holland for the 20-20 World Cup.[[In-content Ad]]

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