Param stars as Singapore clinch thriller against Bermuda
Having beaten higher-ranked Scotland in the tournament opener, Singapore were reduced to 41/4 chasing Bermuda's 149/7, and in danger of conceding their advantage on the points table. However, Param stuck around for an attacking half-century, in a game where none of his team-mates went beyond 26.
The team got off to a poor start, losing opener and star player Surendra Chandramohan in the first over to George O'Brien when he missed the flick and was struck on the knee roll. They slipped further when Rohan Rangarajan was bowled three overs later, and Aritra Dutta's resistance was broken, thanks to Kamau Leverock's spectacular one-handed take at backward point.
Singapore win!
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 20, 2019
Heartbreak for Bermuda, who fought hard all match, but Navin Param's 41-ball 72* helped Singapore recover in the chase and seal a five-wicket win!
Absolute scenes here in Dubai! pic.twitter.com/AVJuTvL5X5
In the ninth over of the chase, with Singapore still needing over 100 runs to win, it looked like Bermuda had the game in their grasp. However, Amanpreet Singh and Param had other plans. While Manpreet dropped anchor at one end, Param took it upon himself to play the attacking role. The duo rotated strike well, with Param making the most of being dropped in the 17th over on 45, Terryn Fray unable to hold onto a tough chance at mid-off.
Bermuda broke the 79-run fifth-wicket stand in the 18th over as Manpreet charged down the track to skipper Dion Stovell, was beaten in flight and stumped. His partner's departure did not break Param's concentration, though. The determined youngster hit Stovell for two fours in the same over to take the equation down to 19 off 12 balls.
Leverock started the penultimate over well, conceding only a couple of singles off the first two balls, but dragged the length back and was punished as Param flat-batted him over the sightscreen for this third six.
Refusing to budge under pressure, Param scooped the first ball of the final over for a huge six over fine leg and took a quick single, allowing Janak Prakash to hit the winning runs.
Earlier in the day, Bermuda struggled to get going. The top order crumbled, reduced to 29/3 in the eighth over. The pair of Janeiro Tucker and Deunte Darrell came to their rescue with a 55-run stand for the fifth wicket. Prakash's double strike in the 17th over broke the stand but Tucker stayed firm to bring up a fine fifty.
Singapore now have two wins in two games and will play the Netherlands on Tuesday, while Bermuda, who have lost both their games so far, will take on Kenya on Monday.