Bermuda's Federation Cup team were celebrating again last night after recording their second straight win at the expense of hosts Antigua.

The home side suffered under the brunt of Bermuda's female youth brigade who recorded a 2-1 victory to add to the 3-0 defeat of Panama a day earlier.

The result allows Bermuda the opportunity to battle for a place in the top five of Americas Group II as they finished runner-up to Costa Rica in Group C.

The Costa Ricans move on to fight for a top-four placing.

Bermuda will face highly-ranked Bolivia today with the winners going on to play either Chile or Guatemala for fifth position.

Team captain Kelly Holland took great pride in the team's result.

"We're celebrating right now, it was a really good day for us,'' said Holland, who similarly guided the side to victories over Panama and Antigua last year.

"This year we're making history because we're vying for positions five through eight, and we've never gotten closer than 10th.'' First to take the court yesterday was number two player Sasha Fisher, and she did not disappoint despite falling behind early.

Fisher surrendered the first set 4-6 to Francine Harvey-Greaux, but showing a steely courage she fought back to take the next two sets 7-5, 7-5 in what turned out to be a marathon lasting two-and-a-half hours.

Making the victory all the more remarkable was the fact that Fisher was down 3-5 in each of the last two sets.

The second match featured Bermuda number one Zarah DeSilva, and she appeared to be cruising towards her second triumph of the tournament when she took the opening set against Niki Williams 6-4.

However, this time it was Williams who showed supreme reserves as the Bermudian wilted in the heat. The Antiguan took the next two sets 7-5, 1-6.

"They had a battle in what was a very good match under very hot conditions,'' said Holland. "Niki ran everything down, but Zarah played equally well.'' Best finish for Fed Cup team From Page 19 The scene was thus set for an intriguing doubles decider although Mother Nature threatened to rain on the parade, with a downpour delaying the match for a couple of hours.

When the time came it was Shonette Wilson and Tara Lambert who teamed up to dispose of the tandem of Williams and Lorna-Mae Lewis in rapid fashion, strolling to a 6-2, 6-0 triumph.

"They just creamed them ... they trounced them in decisive fashion, I don't think they missed a shot and only made one or two unforced errors the whole match,'' said Holland. "They were just superb.'' Today perhaps presents the toughest proposition of all as Bolivia rate number one of the countries involved and Holland was bracing for a difficult affair, although she remained optimistic.

"We have our work cut out for us,'' she said. "It will be a higher level of tennis for the girls and they'll have to step it up, but that's what we're here for -- to play against a higher level so that we can lift ours.'' Zarah DeSilva: Ended up on the winning side despite a three-set defeat in singles.