England 142-2 The last time Bermuda met England in the International Youth Tournament on home soil, the hosts came out nine wicket winners in the championship match of 1985.

Twelve years later England turned the tables with this eight wicket win at Sea Breeze Oval yesterday.

England thus began the defence of their title in solid fashion. But for Bermuda the defeat marked their second in as many days.

Even though the England team is made up mostly of under-17 players, they still looked good enough in all departments to be serious challengers for the title which will be decided on Sunday.

After restricting Bermuda to 139-9 in their 50 overs, the visitors needed just 27.2 overs to reach their target after Graham Napier and captain Robert Key put on 66 for the first wicket in just 11 overs.

Napier -- who has a summer contract with county team Essex and has already made his first class debut (against Cambridge University this season) -- was denied a half-century when Justin Robinson held a diving catch at short extra-cover to leave him on 48.

Napier faced just 31 balls and hit seven fours and two sixes as he found the small confines of Sea Breeze Oval, as well as the Bermuda bowling, to his liking.

Key, on a full-time contract with Kent County Cricket Club, carried his bat to the end, finishing with 55 not out from 85 balls. Michael Gough finished on 16 not out, having put on 57 in 12.2 overs with his captain for the third wicket.

Bermuda's other wicket was the run out of Giles Haywood after he decided to take up the challenge of a second run off Coolridge Durham at mid-wicket and was beaten by the throw to the bowler's end.

Bermuda had to rely on opener Chris Foggo and number seven bat Jaja Millett to do the bulk of their scoring as the batting collapsed under some tight England bowling.

Foggo put on 21 for the first wicket with Coolridge Durham in eight overs but once again the breakthrough resulted in a collapse as four more wickets fell in the space of nine overs to leave them in serious trouble at 46-5 after just 17 overs.

The batting order was reshuffled after the opening day defeat to Ireland but captain Travis Smith (1), Azeem Pitcher (2), Ricardo Brangman (2) and Quinton Sherlock (0) all failed to last long enough to worry the England bowlers and fielders.

However, there was still hope with 15-year-old Foggo at the crease and he and Millett set about repairing the damage with a defiant stand. They stayed together for 27 overs and added 64 for the sixth wicket with Foggo becoming the first Bermuda batsman to score 50 in the tournament.

The right-hander faced 131 balls and was at the crease 163 minutes before James Hemmings -- the son of former England spinner Eddie Hemmings -- returned for his second spell and picked up his only wichet in the 44th over of the innings.

Millett followed 25 runs later for a patient 38. Durham was the only other batsman in double figures, scoring 11.

Richard Logan claimed three for 23 and Chris Hewison three for 28 to lead the England bowling.

SAFE -- Bermuda batsmen Jaja Millett appears to offer a chance but on this occasion the ball came off his pad and not his bat. Millett went on to score 38 in a losing cause at Sea Breeze Oval.

Photos by Arthur Bean NEAR MISS -- Bermuda's Chris Foggo lets an England fielder know he's too close for comfort during yesterday's clash at Sea Breeze Oval. Foggo was Bermuda's high man with 52.