JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, CMC – Bermuda hopes of another berth at a Cricket World Cup took another blow when they crashed to their second loss of the ICC 2011 qualifiers with a 60-run loss to Afghanistan yesterday.

Half-centuries from Karim Sadiq and Norooz Mangal guided Afghanistan to 239 for nine off their 50 allotted overs after they won the toss and chose to bat.

Bermuda then seemed on course for an easy win when Glenn Smith Blakeney and Stephen Outerbridge carved out half-centuries of their own to propel their side to 125 for two in the 35th over.

But leg-spinner Samiullah Shinwari snatched four for 28 in a devastating spell as Bermuda lost their last eight wickets for 54 runs to crash to a disappointing loss at the Potchefstroom Cricket Ground.

Meanwhile Ireland, coached by former West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons, hammered Oman by 116 runs at the Stan Friedman Oval while former Guyana batsman Sunil Dhaniram shone again as Canada beat Uganda by five wickets.