A defiant knock from Scotland's Fraser Watts and another stellar spell of bowling from Bermuda's Dwayne Leverock meant honours were pretty even after day one of the ICC Intercontinental Cup match at the National Stadium in Bermuda on Thursday.

Opening the batting, Watts battled his way through a tough opening spell by George O'Brien and Stefan Kelly. He eventually made 93 before Leverock – surely now the form spin bowler of the Associate world – had him caught by Stephen Outerbridge, just seven short of what would have been his third first-class century.

Leverock bowled a marathon 37 overs in the day and took four of the seven wickets that fell, all of which were batsmen in the top six. Following on from his 10-wicket haul in the recent victory over Canada in King City, Ontario, Leverock is proving that, despite turning 37 next Monday, he is in the form of his life.

Scotland put on 42 for the first wicket but struggled after that to put any meaningful partnerships together. Only Majid Haq, who was 44 not out at the close, put up any real resistance as Rodney Trott (2-54) and O'Brien (1-31) played their part for the home side.

Scotland managed to get to 240-7 by the close but with 96 overs bowled in the day, it was pretty slow stuff. The morning of day two will be crucial and if Majid can work well with the tail to post a good total it could be curtains for Bermuda.

But if Leverock finds his groove early, the sizable home support could have something to cheer about in what is now a very nicely poised match.

ICC Intercontinental Cup (Day One)
Hamilton, Bermuda

SCOTLAND (first innings)
F Watts    c Outerbridge b Leverock 93
D Lockhart      c Edness b Leverock 22
Qasim Sheikh     c Edness b O'Brien 13
R Berrington      st Edness b Trott 11
C Smith     c and b Dwayne Leverock 17
N McCallum               b Leverock 25
Majid Haq                   not out 44
S Weeraratna      c Bascome b Trott  2
G Goudie                    not out  9
  Extras             (1lb, 4nb, 2b)  7
  Total      (7 wickets, 96 overs) 240 

FOW: 42, 66, 114, 141, 182, 208, 227

G O'Brien        16.3  5   31  1
S Kelly            15  4   32  0
Leverock           37  7  100  4
Pitcher             3  1    6  0
Trott              19  2   54  2
Romaine           0.3  0    1  0
Outerbridge         5  2    9  0