KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, CMC – Kamau Leverock made an explosive return from suspension by spearheading a 58-run win over Jersey as Bermuda eased their ICC World Cricket League Division Four relegation worries at Kinrara Academy Oval yesterday.
After being omitted from the first two matches which Bermuda lost heavily – following an as-yet-unexplained expletive-laden outburst during practice on Saturday – all-rounder Leverock provided the early impetus in his side’s 242 off 49.2 overs with a boundary-filled 66 and then took a crucial top-order wicket to earn the Man-of-the-Match award after Jersey subsided to 184 all out in the 43rd over.
Having been sent in, Bermuda were given a flying start – with 32 off two overs – by openers Leverock and Okera Bascome. Leverock flayed two sixes and a four in the first over from Cornelis Bodenstein and his partner followed suit in the second delivered by Anthony Hawkins-Kay.
Bascome went for 21 with 52 on the board and Leverock followed him back to the pavilion at 110 in the 16th over, having struck eight fours and three sixes in his 43-ball innings.
Captain Terryn Fray kept the scoreboard ticking over by hitting three fours in his 87-ball 56 and other useful contributions came from veteran Janeiro Tucker (23), Tre Manders (23) and vice-captain Dion Stovell, who chipped in with 19 before he was last out in the final over.
Off-spinner Stovell, who claimed four for 33, made the early breakthrough in Jersey’s reply, dismissing Peter Gough for four before Leverock (1-34) claimed the vital wicket of Nat Watkins for eight.
Ben Stevens, who earlier claimed three for 42, was Jersey’s top scorer with 42 – trapped lbw by Tucker for 42 – while Nick Ferraby made 31 and Bodenstein, last man out for 30, as Stovell wrapped up with the innings with two wickets in successive deliveries.
Bermuda next take on Vanuatu, currently bottom of the standings after three defeats, today.
In yesterdays other games, unbeaten leaders Denmark defeated hosts Malaysia by 33 runs, while Uganda thrashed Vanuatu by 81 runs, despite Captain Andrew Mansale’s 69, after Mohammed Irfan made a half-century and then snapped up three wickets.
