Still, Panama came out in determined fashion and grabbed a wicket with the first ball of the run chase. But Marc Taylor took the game away from Panama with a swashbuckling 52 off 36 balls. Howard Roye weighed in with 33 as Bahamas raced home in just 18 overs.

On the neighbouring Owru Kul ground, hosts Suriname revived their challenge with a 112-run victory over the Turks and Caicos Islands. However, after choosing to bat first, it looked as though the Turks and Caicos team were heading for the points when they reduced Suriname to 106 for 7 after 22 overs.

Wayne Williams spun Suriname into deep trouble with an impressive 10-over spell which brought 5 for 40. With their team in trouble two Surinamese teenagers, Douglas Charles and Arun Gokoel, batted with enormous maturity and tenacity to add a 115 for the eighth wicket. Their efforts lifted Suriname to 249 for 8, but Turks and Caicos didn’t go down without a fight.

While Donavan Matthew was at the crease the game was in the balance. However, with his dismissal for a fine run-a-ball 73, legspinner Troy Dudnauth stepped into the spotlight and mystified the remainder of the batting, taking 4 for 29 to give.

The final round of fixtures has Suriname taking on Bahamas, while Panama will play the Turks & Caicos Islands next door at Owru Kul. Suriname will need an extraordinarily comprehensive win to have any chance of overtaking the Bahamas on net run rate, and will also be hoping for a Turks & Caicos win over Panama, which would give the hosts second place no matter what their result against Bahamas.