---

An injection of youthful enthusiasm has helped Bermuda recover the sparkling limited overs form, on the tour of Trinidad, which ended with a thrilling tie last night on a last ball boundary.

Newcomers like Treadwell Gibbons jnr, Steven Bremar and Azeem Pitcher breathed life into a team that had struggled for form since the glory of the ICC Trophy in Ireland last June.

But it was old-hand Dean Minors, possibly the player of the tour, who helped them to yesterday’s tie. Minors, promoted to opener for the Twenty20 matches at the tail end of the tour, blasted 49 to set up an impressive 144 for nine in 20 overs. With victory in sight, Bermuda succumbed to a last ball boundary and had to settle fo a tie.

Team manager El James said Bermuda had really taken to the shorter format of the game and was all set for the World Cricket Classic which they kick-off against the West Indies on Sunday.

And he insisted the opposition, which included several Trinidad internationals, was at least as good, if not better, than the UAE side, which beat Bermuda 5-0 in a series in Dubai earlier this year.

“We’ve upped our game and things are starting to come together.

“The young blood we have brought in have breathed a new energy into the game. They’ve brought a new mood, a new attitude and their youthful enthusiasm has been contagious.

“Treadwell Gibbons has done very well at the top, Bremar has looked good, we’ve had some really good starts, which hasn’t always happened in the past.

“We’ve played some quality opposition and done well.” He said the players were still learning at every level, particularly Twenty20, but their two matches had equipped them well for the coming tournament.

“It's a learning experience but there is so much enthusiasm in this team right now, which is great to see. They are keen to get in the nets and to learn as much as possible. Some of them were in the nets at quarter-to-seven this morning. That kind of enthusiasm is a dream for the coach.”

[[In-content Ad]]

---