Bermuda wins against Papua New Guinea

MONDAY, MARCH 19: Bermuda won its first match in dramatic fashion today at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier when it beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) by five wickets.

Janeiro Tucker hit three sixes in the last over and gave Bermuda the win with three balls remaining.

The team did have some cloud around this silver lining as both Lionel Cann and Dion Stovell were disciplined by the ICC for dissent.

PNG won the toss and elected to bat. They scored 155 runs, which required a run rate of 7.55 per over for Bermuda.

Stovell again was masterful with the ball as he claimed two wickets for 21 runs in his four overs. Sammy Robinson also did well as he claimed two for 27, while Justin Pitcher was one for 35.

Stovell and Fiqre Crockwell opened the batting for Bermuda forming a first wicket partnership of 39 and a solid run rate of 9.75. Stovell had 31 with Crockwell scoring 13 runs.

Cann was third in and scored 15 runs, but it was the partnership of captain David Hemp (30) and Janeiro Tucker (52no) that helped position Bermuda for the victory. Their fourth wicket stand netted Bermuda 55 runs.

It was then left for Tucker to play the hero by blasting three big sixes.

The win moved Bermuda off the bottom of the points table past Denmark in Group A. The team has one Group match last against Afghanistan before a place game.

Both Stovell and Cann received official reprimands for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during their side's 24-run loss against Nepal.

The ICC reported Stovell and Cann both pleaded guilty to the Level 1 offence and accepted the proposed sanction by ICC Match Referee David Jukes. The pair was found to have breached Article 2 Section 2.1.3 of the ICC Code, which relates to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision during an International Match".

Stovell and Cann were given out LBW in the fourth over of the match and were excessive in delaying their departure from the crease. This was considered a show of dissent, a fact accepted by both the players. As Stovell and Cann pleaded guilty and accepted the proposed sanction, there was no need for a formal hearing.

The charge was bought by on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Mark Hawthorne. Interestingly, Hawthorne was one of the referees for today’s match against PNG.

Mr. Jukes said: “One can understand Messrs. Cann and Stovell's disappointment but they should make their way more promptly from the crease once they have been given out by the umpires and not linger so long in future. I hope this reprimand and warning will remind them both to always respect the umpires' decision.”

All Level 1 breaches for this event carry a minimum penalty of a reprimand and/or the imposition of a fine up 50 per cent of the applicable match fee. As with other breaches at this level, the ICC Match Referee's decision is final and binding.