Terryn Fray: Bermuda Ready For Busy 2027
Terryn Fray, the Bermuda national cricket team captain, believes his side have laid solid foundations as they prepare for a busy schedule of tournaments next year.
Bermuda won the recent North American Cup, defeating host nation Cayman Islands by 42 runs in the final at the Jimmy Powell Oval in George Town.
The victory followed Bermuda’s qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier next year after they finished first at the Sub-Regional Americas Qualifier A on home soil in June.
“We weren’t really tested [at the Sub-Regional Americas Qualifier] and knew we had to bring our A-game to Cayman, who had beaten us in the previous Americas Regional Final [in June last year],” Fray told Bernews.
“We were happy to get the matches in and come away with the trophy.
“The guys are enjoying playing for the national team. The morale was great around the group. Everyone was in a good space.”
The batter said he was proud of the way the team bounced back from their opening game of the competition, when they lost to Cayman by two wickets.
In the final, which was reduced to 15 overs per side because of bad weather, Isaiah O’Brien scored 43, while Kwasi James was the pick of Bermuda’s bowlers with three for 17.
“We didn’t start off as we wanted to, but we ended up getting things done [in the final match],” Fray said.
“We had a few days sitting around in the hotel doing nothing [with three games abandoned because of rain] and had to adjust to the conditions.
“The wickets in Bermuda are slow and low, but when we got out there, they were the complete opposite and quite bouncy.
“We didn’t acclimatise as quickly as we would have liked because we couldn’t get outside.
“We didn’t let defeat in the first game affect us, though.
“It’s fine margins in T20. One good knock or one good bowling performance can take the game away from you.”
Bermuda became the second team to win the North American Cup after the United States, who missed this year’s competition because of an ICC suspension, and will host the next edition of the tournament in June next year.
They also have the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, next summer, with cricket set to make its debut at the multi-sport event, and the ICC Americas Final Qualifying Round in the Cayman Islands towards the end of next year.
“We need to carry this momentum into the next competition,” Fray added.
“There will be a lot of anticipation around the next North American Cup.
“We’re excited despite it being eight months away.
“We will look to use the Pan Am Games as a preparation for the Sub-Regional qualifier. It will be interesting to see what happens as it clashes with Cup Match.”
