Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for Ireland's Under 19's in Malaysia, an inept fielding display, followed by a late order collapse saw Bermuda emerge deserved 20 run winners at the Royal Selangor Club.

It had all began so well for the Irish, Andrew Britton taking a wicket with the 5th ball of the game, and when fellow new ball bowler Richard Keaveney had Smith caught behind, Bermuda were 15 for 2 and thoughts of another early finish were to the fore.

Christopher Douglas (27 off 39 balls) rode his luck before edging Keaveney to present Dougherty with a regulation catch at slip, and Gregory Maybury lasted just 5 balls, before being trapped lbw by Ben Ackland.

A match winning partnership of 106 in 23.1 overs between skipper Rodney Trott (64) and Malachi Jones (58) then took Bermuda from a precarious 65 for 4 to a much healthier 171 for 5. Both hit 7 fours, and Jones also hit a huge six. They also ran very well between the wickets, taking advantage of a strangely lethargic Irish fielding display.

There were chances to break the partnership - skipper Greg Thompson put down a difficult return chance with 85 on the board, and 22 runs later Stuart Poynter missed a stumping opportunity, Trott being the beneficiary on both occasions.

A late flurry of wickets saw 4 fall for 19, as James Hall (3-44) came back well, but 32 crucial runs were added in the last 4 overs, thanks to 26 from Jordan De Silva. 221/9 was always going to be a difficult ask on a slow wicket, and so it proved.

Chris Dougherty survived a huge lbw shout first ball, getting the slightest of edges on one which kept alarmingly low. Paul Stirling wasn't so fortunate, being harshly adjudged lbw as there was a distinct sound of wood, with the total on 7.

Ben Ackland and Dougherty steadied the innings, adding 91 for the 2nd  wicket before Ackland was lbw attempting to sweep the impressive Christoper Douglas. He made 37 from 79 balls, hitting 5 boundaries.

A clearly tiring Chris Dougherty was joined by James Hall and the Bermuda spinners, backed by clever field placing, and committed fielding turned the pressure up. 35 runs came between the 27th and 37th over, increasing the run rate to 7 an over.

That forced Dougherty to take a risk, but he only succeeded in picking out Maybury at long off, giving Douglas another wicket. His 70 came from 108 deliveries and contained 6 boundaries.

James Shannon (12) and Hall (25) both looked to inject some life into the run chase, and added 28 in 23 balls, before they were both dismissed in identical fashion - bowled by Christopher Douglas in the space of 2 balls. Panic had clearly set in by that stage, and although Andrew Balbirnie (18 from 16 balls) threatened briefly, the Irish had left it too late.

It was perhaps fitting that the innings should be completed with two run outs, as it was in that area that the game was clearly won by Bermuda.

Christopher Douglas (5-40) won the Man of the Match Award, and Rodney Trott (2-37) also bolwed well. The Bermudan tactics of taking the pace off the ball worked a treat, as their off spinners bowled a total of 29 overs taking 7 wickets for 123.

For the Irish, they now move on to Johor, and a probable clash with the West Indies. Defeat there would leave them facing a play off fixture to avoid the wooden spoon. For victors Bermuda, a much easier prospect in store with the challenge of Papua New Guinea.