ST JOHN'S (Antigua), Feb 27: Man-of-the-Match Abdool Samad smashed 83 off 86 balls to lead Canada to a three-wicket win over Bermuda in the Tri-Series tournament.

It was Bermuda's second defeat in two games having lost their opening match to Bangladesh and it left them in no doubt about the huge task which awaits them in their World Cup debut next month.

It was Samad's highest international score and sent the Canadians into their final match with Bangladesh, whom they beat in the 2003 World Cup, here on Wednesday in a confident mood.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Bermuda made 206 for eight with middle-order batsman Lionel Cann top-scoring for the second match running with 42.

Kevin Hurdle made a quickfire 22 to help Bermuda edge past 200.

Seamer Umar Bhatti was the pick of Canada's attack taking 4 for 45 from 10 overs.

When Canada batted, they lost two quick wickets but Samad and Ian Billcliff (48) steadied the ship with a third-wicket stand of 82.

Scoreboard

BERMUDA:

D.A. Minors c Mulla b Bhatti 19

O.L. Pitcher c Bhatti b Dhaniram 14

K. Tucker c Barnett b Bhatti 1

D.L. Hemp b Davison 7

I.H. Romaine c Davison b Sandher 26

S. Mukuddem c Bagai b Codrington 30

L.O. Cann st Bagai b Bhatti 42

D.C. Borden not out 16

K. Hurdle c Billcliff b Bhatti 22

M. Jones not out 7

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3, W-15) 22

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 206

FALL OF WKTS: of 1-24, 2-26, 3-40, 4-50, 5-107, 6-126, 7-164, 8-188.

DID NOT BAT: D. Leverock.

BOWLING: Bhatti 10-2-45-4 (3w); Cummins 9-2-40-0 (5w); Davison 10-3-20-1; Dhaniram 10-2-23-1 (5w); Codrington 6-1-20-1; Sandher 5-0-51-1.

CANADA:

G.E.F. Barnett c and b Hurdle 2

A.M. Samad lbw b Borden 83

A. Bagai c Hemp b Mukuddem 9

I.S. Billcliff c Leverock b Borden 48

J.M. Davison c Hemp b Leverock 13

A.A. Mulla c Hemp b Borden 31

S. Dhaniram c and b Borden 1

G.R. Codrington not out 9

U. Bhatti not out 1

EXTRAS (W-8, NB-2) 10

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 44 overs) 207

FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-53, 3-135, 4-157, 5-177, 6-179, 7-204.

DID NOT BAT: A.C. Cummins, K. Sandher.

BOWLING: Hurdle 10-0-48-1 (2nb, 1w); Mukuddem 8-0-35-1 (2w); Jones 5-0-43-0; Leverock 10-2-45-1; Borden 9-0-30-4 (5w); Romaine 2-0-6-0.

RESULT: Canada won by three wickets.

UMPIRES: R. Dill (Bermuda) and R.E. Koertzen (South Africa).

MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Abdool Samad. —AFP