But by Sunday evening the names of Antoine Jones and Conrad Lister were etched in sporting history.

As the sun set over Bukit Jalil outside Kuala Lumpur and the celebrations from Bermuda's small housing complex vibrated around the Commonwealth Games Village, bowling's two "unlikely lads'' quickly became the talk of the town.

Silver medals draped around their necks -- the first ever worn by Bermudian sportsmen -- Jones and Lister seemed bemused by all the attention, almost apologetic for their unexpected success.

If second place at the Pyramid Lanes against the might of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and 10 other nations came as a monstrous shock to everybody else, it seemingly didn't surprise the bowlers themselves.

"We always thought we were capable,'' said Jones, who rolled a magnificent last game of 255 to take the silver out of third-placed Australia's reach.

"We've been saying all along that we had a chance, but I guess no-one was listening.'' Without Bermuda's number one bowler Dean Lightbourne in the team, some might have felt Jones and Lister arrived here just to make up the numbers in a sport never previously played at the Games but introduced at Malaysia's insistence because of its huge popularity in these parts.

And there even appeared to be some justification for that view as the two keglers got off to an inauspicious start.

Disappointing scores of 158 and 180 in the second game by Jones and Lister respectively left them well down the field and while they improved steadily over the next four games to move up to fifth, there was still no indication of what lay in store as Malaysia, Australia, Singapore and South Africa seemingly vied for honours.

But suddenly both players, Jones in particular, hit a hot streak which catapulted them ahead of all but the hosts and had TV commentators drooling in appreciation.

Jones finished with games of 248 and 255 and Lister with 230 and 201.

In the final decisive game, with Australia hot on their heels, the pair nailed strikes in five of their first six efforts.

Jones finished with an eight-game series of 1,705 for an average of 213.13 and Lister with 1,624 for a 203 average.

That put them on 3,329, well behind gold medallists Malaysia (3,552) but 100 clear of Australia (3,229).

"These guys just came from nowhere,'' enthused one Australian broadcaster as the tournament reached a thrilling climax. "And I don't think I've ever seen anybody so cool under pressure. The `big man' just keeps knocking `em down. I think we're witnessing something really special.'' Lister conceded the pressure at the end had been almost unbearable, but was delighted with the way they handled it.

"We knew destiny was in our hands. We've been in this position before at previous tournaments and not known how to close it out but our experience helped us today.

"I was just trying to play a supporting role because I felt a little tight down the stretch. But Antoine bowled extremely well and I knew if I covered my spares and hung tight we would be in the thick of things.

"The figures were good today. We like to compare it with golf. When you shoot 200 that's par, anything over is better than par. Today we shot well under par.'' With the mixed doubles following today -- Lister will partner June Pitt and Jones team up with Bobbie Ingham -- and the singles scheduled for Tuesday, the Bermudians were playing down their chances of more medals.

"My cup is full and so is my partner's, but we can still make some adjustments and maybe improve,'' said Lister. "We'll just take it as it comes.'' Earlier Pitt and Ingham finished seventh out of a field of 12 in the women's doubles with respective scores of 1,470 and 1,529 for a 2,999 total.

Gold went to Australia, silver to Malaysia and bronze to England.

EYE ON THE BEAM -- Bermuda's Leila Wadson is all concentration as she completes her beam exercise at the Commonwealth Games yesterday. See page 22 for gymnastics, swimming, shooting and squash round-up BOWLING BOW