Skipper Albert Steede helped the Bermuda cricket team restore some of its lost pride after two losses when he hammered 109 yesterday to give his team a 56-run victory over Melbourne CC at Melbourne's cricket ground in a 50 overs game.

It was a welcome victory for the Bermuda team and their first on a five-game tour of the Caribbean island.

The Bermuda team was predictably on a high last night after suffering two emphatic defeats against Jamaica's Red Stripe team -- the first by nine wickets and the second by 144 runs.

Melbourne are the Jamaican Premier Division champions but their line-up was somewhat depleted without a few of their national team players -- notably opening batsman Robert Samuels and West Indies Test bowler Courtney Walsh who captains them in the Red Stripe competition.

Steede ignited the spark for Bermuda with a flourishing century, steadying their innings after his opening partner Dexter Smith was bowled on the first ball of the day by Deron Dixon.

But with Steede leading the way Bermuda managed to reach their highest total of the tour. He joined Clay Smith (52) in a second-wicket stand of 82, partnered Arnold Manders (40) to put on 80 for the third wicket and then teamed up with Jeff Richardson and added a further 57 for the fourth wicket.

Steede, who had scored just eight in each of his two previous matches, faced 127 balls and stroked 12 fours and three sixes during his stay at the wicket that lasted for 166 minutes.

Clay Smith faced 82 balls and hit five fours and a six in 78 minutes while Manders was most severe as he required just 39 balls and slammed four sixes and two fours in 45 minutes.

Shane Lodge was the top Melbourne bowler with two wickets for 25 runs.

Opening batsman Aubrey Wollston led Melbourne batsmen with a sterling 61 before he was sensationally run out when Jeff Richardson, fielding at back-ward point, made a brilliant return to wicket-keeper Dean Minors. He faced 51 balls, struck eight fours and two sixes while batting for 78 minutes.

By the time Wollston was out Melbourne, who raced to 48 off just 12 overs, had been given a decent start at 100 for three, and the match was still very much in the balance.

However, spinners Bruce Perinchief and Arnold Manders and seamer Clevie Wade combined to take seven wickets to knock the stuffing out of the home side -- despite seven dropped catches by Bermuda and an eighth-wicket stand of 48 between Lodge (29) and Kirk Ebanks (21 not out). Perinchief had three for 42, Manders two for 24 and Wade two for 31.

Also among the runs for Melbourne were Deron Ebanks with 16, Junior Fender 15 and Dixon 11.

ALBERT STEEDE -- Hammered 109 runs.