Bermuda last month, the national squad left a bit of a sour taste in his mouth.

But, while Bermuda's 2-2 record in Jamaica has not given him a sweet tooth, there has been enough progress on the just-completed tour for the former West Indies Test great to be significantly impressed.

Thursday's 111-run defeat of Lucas Cricket Club meant that Bermuda go into the final stages of preparation for the ICC Trophy Tournament in Kenya next month on a high.

Crushing defeats to the Jamaican national team threatened to disrupt the harmony within the team but skipper Albert Steede led from the front with centuries against Melbourne Cricket Club and Lucas CC to even their record.

The remaining match against Kensington Cricket Club was abandoned by rain after Bermuda were 33 without loss in the ninth over.

Holding split time with the team as well as working with Jamaica on a consultant basis. The void in talent between the two teams was clearly apparent, Jamaica's quality further showcased with a fine Geddes Grant Shield one-day win over Guyana at Sabina Park on Wednesday, which the Bermuda players witnessed.

"I've definitely been impressed with what I have seen since the Bermuda team arrived in Jamaica,'' said Holding. "I think the guys are definitely motivated. It seems as if they realise that there is a task ahead of them and they are working towards getting to Kenya and performing.

"I know in Bermuda I was very critical of the fitness or lack of fitness that I saw in most of the players but I think the guys have been working a lot harder at that and they look a fit bunch of fellas.'' The first match against Jamaica saw Bermuda bat first and make 146. Jamaica won by nine wickets with Delroy Morgan scoring 85 not out and Richard Staple 53 not out.

Charlie Marshall was Bermuda's most impressive batsman early on as he faced up to the pace attack before being hit trying to hook an Anthony Andrews bouncer.

He left to go to hospital -- the only time a Bermuda player's health appeared at risk -- but precautionary X-rays proved that the Bailey's Bay star was fine. He returned to finish with 30 and continued through the remainder of the tour.

Arnold Manders struck Bermuda's first half-century, a hard-hit 52 before he was run out by an excellent piece of fielding by Staple.

The second match at Kaiser Park in Montego saw an improved bowling performance, though Courtney Walsh (42 not out) and Robert Haynes (67 not out), did much to undermine that with a bludgeoning attack that produced 75 runs in the last four overs from Kenny Phillip and Noel Gibbons as Jamaica reached 254 for eight.

A pedestrian start by openers Allen Richardson and Dexter Smith brought on primarily by tight, first-class bowling, put Bermuda behind the eight ball as only 35 runs were made from the first 17 overs. By the mid-point of the innings, it was a lost cause and it gave Clay Smith a chance to show his pedigree with 38 not out in his first match. Bermuda closed on 110 for six in 50 overs.

A sterling 109 from Steede served as the basis of the opening tour win after a freak first-ball dismissal of Dexter Smith when the ball deflected from thigh pad to batting glove to wicket.

Number three Clay Smith raced to 52 and Manders hit a breezy 40 as Bermuda compiled 244 for six against Melbourne.

After a few nervous moments, Bermuda prevailed by 56 runs with left-arm leg-spinner Bruce Perinchief taking three for 42, Manders two for 24 and Clevie Wade two for 31. The low point of this match was that seven chances were put to ground.

The fourth match was abandoned when the uncovered wicket at Kensington was ruled unsuitable after a brief but heavy shower.

That set the stage for the finale when Bermuda came up against Lucas, who fielded four Jamaica Under-19 players.

Dexter Smith (45) and Steede put on 109 for the opening stand in the first 25 overs of a 45-over contest.

Steede and Clay Smith added the exact amount for the second wicket as the scoring rate increased and a late flurry from Manders (29 not out) carried Bermuda to the highest total of the tour -- 257 for three.

When Steede was finally out to a perfect yorker, he had made 110, thus completing a rare two centuries on tour by a Bermuda player.

Noel Gibbons, who has not had much time with the bat, again showed his worth with the ball by claiming three for 29, including a double-wicket maiden in his first over. He finished the tour as the leading wicket-taker with five.

Stand-by player Quinton Burch, who was an inspirational presence, claimed two for 27 in sharing the new ball with Terry Burgess and off-spinner Del Hollis atoned for a tough fielding day with two for 35.

Holding added: "I think all the Bermuda team needs to do now is go back to Bermuda and just practise. ..get in as much practice as possible.

"It is not going to be very easy to get in many games of the calibre they played against Jamaica between now and Kenya. But at least the guys who played Jamaica know exactly what level of cricket that was and they know that they have to put in a lot of practice to really perfect their art for Kenya.

"Everybody has made a few mistakes here on tour. They know what the mistakes are and hopefully they will learn from their mistakes. That is the important thing, that the guys learn from the mistakes they make.

"Like I said in Bermuda, I don't think the Bermuda squad needs to be taught cricket. What they need is to get themselves together as a unit, realise what the task is all about and work towards that task. And I think I can see a change in attitude where that is concerned.'' Bermuda's captain Steede learned game by game on tour and appears to be growing into the job, if his recent form is anything to go by.

"I'm quite pleased with the tour,'' said the 25-year-old, who will be player/coach of St. David's after the Kenya commitment. "We came here to learn and I am sure that every player has learned a few things. Hopefully, what we have learned we can actually perfect on and take back to Kenya for this upcoming tournament.'' Steede added that his biggest concerns are the bowling and fielding. "The bowling and fielding can be worked on. I think the batting is coming along.

We've set a few goals in our batting and I think we are starting to come along in that department quite well.

"I think we are going to work harder on field placing and where I want the bowlers to bowl line and length. Hopefully, over the next three weeks, we can improve on that aspect of our game so that when we go to Kenya we can bowl a good line and length.'' Steede's two centuries came after successive scores of eight against Jamaica when he rarely resembled the swashbuckling presence that has dominated local bowling in recent years.

"I'm quite pleased with my performances,'' he said. "It's just unfortunate I couldn't make some big runs in the important games, the Jamaica matches.'' In Bermuda there is a consensus that the captaincy and Albert Steede is a bad fit. For a while, there appeared to be some legitimacy to that claim. But Steede wants to prove he is as tough as nails and prepared to lead Bermuda into the World Cup for the first time.

"I think it's the public who feels the captaincy will affect my game.

Mentally, I'm fine and the team has supported me in everything I have done, so I have no complaints and my performance has spoken for itself.'' Steede's best performances have come as an opening batsman. The timing could not have been better as there is concern over a knee injury that limited first-choice opener Wendell Smith to just one match in Jamaica.

It is a position Steede may consider making permanent if it continues to be in the best interests of the team.

"With our team, it's very flexible and I think it's just another option we have,'' he said. "We are just going to try to get to our strengths and I think maybe the opening position for me will be an asset for our team.

"When I've opened we've scored in excess of 200 runs. It's a thing to think about and hopefully we'll continue to score these big runs.'' The Bermuda team returned to the Island early Sunday morning and are home for three weeks before flying to Africa on January 29.

ALBERT STEEDE -- Two centuries on tour. Picture: Dellmar.