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Are Bermuda's problems at the top of the order a thing of the past?

The two opening positions have been Bermuda's problem spots since qualifying for the World Cup.

At least a dozen different players - including former physio Daniel Morgan, fast bowler George O'Brien and all-rounder Delyone Borden - have been tried out in a desperate search for the right formula.

But so far no-one has managed to make the position their own.

But coach Gus Logie said yesterday the performances of Kwame Tucker and Stephen Outerbridge had given him hope that the search could finally be over.

And Outerbridge, who was desperately disappointed to fall three runs short of his maiden international century against Cayman on Wednesday, is determined to prove him right.

He said he hoped he and Kwame, who scored an unbeaten hundred against Argentina, could start to perform well as a partnership - as well as individually.

"With me, I always felt it was a matter of time. When a chance came it was important to take it and yesterday was the perfect time to do that. Lionel, the finisher, was out injured and it was up to me to try and stay there. People always talk about the opening spot being there to be taken, it's a matter of taking your chances."

He said playing at University in the U.K. had helped improve his patience and shot selection. Those were the attributes that punctuated his long innings against Cayman - his highest score for his country.

"Kwame and I have both done well individually but we haven't really had a big partnership yet," he added.

Coach Logie believes a century partnership from the pair is just around the corner and he backed them to give his side the kind of solid base at the top of the order that had been lacking in recent months.

He said good performances from the openers would free up stroke players like Lionel Cann and Irving Romaine to do the damage in the middle order.

"They are a left and right hander and complement each other very well. I think it is only a matter of time before they have a big opening partnership."[[In-content Ad]]

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