Bermuda believes in the power of 11

After Sunday’s loss to the US, Bermuda held a team meeting and it was decided the squad would be stacked with batsmen against Oman.

It worked like a charm as tailenders Treadwell Gibbons and Jacobi Robinson added a much-needed 55 runs to Bermuda’s score.

That swung the momentum in the match.

Nepal can expect more of the same when they take on the hosts at St David’s at 10:30am in the Pepsi World Cricket League Division 3 match. 

For Bermuda, a victory would signal it remains in contention to be promoted; for Nepal, a loss would signify they are now fighting for survival to avoid the drop to Division 4.

Bermuda captain Stephen Outerbridge told the Bermuda Sun the squad is in good spirits. 

He said: “It’s always good to get a win on local soil and hopefully we can carry the momentum through to the next game against Nepal.”

He said playing back-back-to-back matches at St David’s, a venue Nepal has yet to play on, offers a slight advantage.

“It may give us a little upper edge, but there is very marginal difference in the standard among the teams. A game could change with just one good catch or one bad decision.”

He said Bermuda knows firsthand how momentum can swing a match.

Enjoy

In Monday’s contest Treadwell Gibbons and Jacobi Robinson wagged the tail end to give the team a much-needed additional 55 runs. That gave Bermuda’s bowlers a lift just before lunch and the Bermuda cricketers were able to enjoy their lunch having Oman at 11/2.

He said that was set up in part by switching the squad to have 11 men who can bat. 

“All those players normally bat a little higher up for their club teams. At this level, every single run that we can get is an added benefit. 

“That’s the strategy we’re using right now and hopefully that works tomorrow (today) as well.”

He pointed to Malachi Jones’ bowling before the lunch break as key.

“They were probably key to go into lunch with no wickets down and for us to get in and start chipping in to their middle order that early in the innings really set the tone for the remainder of the game. 

“Jacobi and Traddie gave us the momentum and everything just spilled over to the bowling. 

Outerbridge said Nepal has some good spinners so Bermuda will take a slightly different approach to the match. “But it will come down to the team that bats the best.

“We’ve just got to really focus on what we’re doing and not the opposition. If we get our processes right — if we bat well, bowl well and field then Nepal, I don’t see any reason why we can’t come up victorious.” n