RYAN STEEDE recorded his best bowling analysis in nine years to help Atherstone Town to a vital two-wicket victory over Kenilworth in the Warwickshire Cricket League last weekend. The lanky medium-pacer's conquering moment came during a week of achievement for Bermudians in England, as Chris Foggo scored his second century of the season and Yours Truly capped a prolific week with a maiden hundred in these parts.

Nevertheless, the significance of Steede's six for 52 is uppermost because it came in league play, with his club tottering near the foot of the first division table. In a match reduced to 37 overs a side because of rain, the 26-year-old bowled unchanged for 18 overs, his longest spell at any level, and produced a level of consistency that had deserted him for much of the past month.

Kenilworth reached 150 for eight in their allotted overs and soon had the home side in trouble in their reply. Noel Gibbons continued his good form with the bat with 34, as Atherstone recovered from 12 for two but, when he was out to a "hometown" leg-before decision, the nerves set in. "A few of the youngsters that came through good," Steede, who was run out for four, said. "One of them, Robert Ball, made 50-odd not out from number six to see us through in the final over." While Steede continues to struggle to come to grips with batting in English conditions, his bowling has been a revelation for Atherstone, who might be in a spot more bother without the former Bermuda Under-19 player's 21 wickets at 20.76. Saturday's was his best bowling performance since the 1993 Knockout Cup semi-final when he claimed six for 27 as St. George's beat Southampton by ten wickets at Devonshire Recreation Club.

"This made me feel really confident," Steede said. "I've believed in myself since I've been here but looking at the last six games, I had taken only six wickets from 50 overs. To come back and get six from 18 made me feel really proud, especially to get their overseas pro (the younger brother of Douglas Marillier, the Zimbabwe off spinner) out for the second time this season."

The timing of the victory for the Ratcliffe Road club was such that the 20 points kept them in eighth place on a weekend when the favourites were brought down to earth. Dorridge, the runaway leaders, were beaten by two wickets away to Nuneaton, the fifth-placed team, and Coleshill, in second place, lost by five wickets at home to Aston Manor, who are determined to get out of the second relegation spot, one place below Atherstone.

In the Surrey County League first division, Pyrford continued their march toward Surrey Championship status, but the nature of their ten-wicket victory over Byfleet meant opportunities for OJ Pitcher and Chris Foggo to shine were limited. Indeed, Pitcher claimed one wicket during a tidy spell in his last match before heading back to Bermuda in an attempt to reclaim his place in the St. George's Cup Match team. Pyrford's league lead remains at 11 points because Kingstonian, the pre-season favourites, were similarly rampant in an eight-wicket win at home to Frimley.

Pitcher flew to Bermuda with his parents, as well as Foggo's mother and sister, and that is when life became more interesting for the St. David's and Bermuda wicketkeeper-batsman. In the Evening Standard Trophy third round against Haymault & Clayhall, of the Hertfordshire League premier division, the 20-year-old was run out with facing a ball, his third duck of the summer. But the good news was that BWIA recorded a thumping 113-run win, having scored 261 in 49.4 over, with Junior Maxwell, the nephew of Brian Lara, making a high score of 62. BWIA's quarter-final opponents are High Wycombe, of the Berkshire League premier division, with the team due to be strengthened by the return of Roland Butcher from Barbados and the inclusion of Joseph Grant, a former Jamaica pace bowler who is presently on the books of Essex.

Foggo's personal disappointment was short-lived as he returned on Monday to make 102 for BWIA against the visiting St Paul's XI from Antigua. Foggo, who opened the innings, hit 15 fours and a six before succumbing to a catch on the boundary as the BWIA run chase - 239 in 40 overs was the target - came up five runs short. "That was a top innings," Frank David, the BWIA manager, said, "the best I have seen in a long time."

Next on the agenda for Foggo, notwithstanding Pyrford's procession through the Surrey County League that endures tomorrow with a match away to Croydon MO, is a Western Union Trophy third-round match against Holmwood on Sunday.

Last but not least is the most incredible sequence Yours Truly has experienced since the 1994 ICC Trophy in Kenya, where run-making seemed more like a right than a privilege. A Surrey Championship third division match for Southern Railway on Saturday was sandwiched by appearances as a guest player for The Mote CC, from Kent, on Thursday and Monday.

The first fixture was against Windward CC, a visiting club from Barbados who were completing an 11-match tour spread over three-and-a-half weeks. The match was at The Mote, which is a well-groomed and picturesque facility, befitting an out-ground for the Kent county side. Windward batted first and made 156 for six from 40 overs. The reply was surprisingly facile with Mark George, The Mote's overseas professional from Australia, and I putting on 130 in 23 overs before I retired hurt on 53 with a minor finger injury.

Although an eight-wicket victory was achieved a short time later, with George making 74, Windward completed the tour with the promise of producing quality players in the near future. Most prominent were the teenaged opening bowlers who were as quick as anyone I recall from my final playing days in Bermuda. With any touring team you have your senior statesmen, and it was from them that the names of Colin Blades, George Rock, Tyrone Smith, Ian Moe and, albeit from the younger generation, David Greenidge, were bandied about with a measure of reflection and respect.

Saturday saw a league match at home against Ashford. It began superbly with Railway making 269 for five declared in 41 overs, of which I made 79 before being caught off the final ball going for a big hit. We gave ourselves two hours and 20 overs to achieve the result but were put on the back foot by a superb rearguard action. In fact, when the 20 overs came up, Ashford were 169 for three and had to fancy their chances with a century partnership under way. But two wickets in quick succession turned the match our way and, when the ninth wicket fell with six overs remaining, a fine victory looked in the offing. Needless to say, the last pairing held firm and a winning draw was the frustrating result. Strangely enough, after a fourth straight draw, we have improved to third place and are 17 points out of a promotion spot with seven matches to go.

Finally, on Monday, came the coup de grace; again as a guest player for The Mote, but playing away in an all-day fixture to Reigate Priory as part of their cricket week. Another lost toss, and the quality of the Surrey Championship premier division club shone through as they proceeded to 118 for one in 30 overs at lunch. However, The Mote appeared to have lunched better and the spinners took a stranglehold, forcing the home side to use 60 overs before declaring at 216 for six. We were left with one hour and 45 minutes plus 20 overs to gain a result, and won with one ball to spare, the left-hander from Bermuda hitting 111 not out. It could not have been scripted much better - a bowling attack featuring players one step away from county level, one of the finest grounds in Surrey that will cap the cricket week on Sunday by hosting a match with Richie Richardson's Lashings CC, who include Shoaib Akhtar, Brian Lara, Jimmy Adams, and a perfectly timed run chase.

I could not ask for more. Well, perhaps, Epsom Salts to help to rejuvenate an aching body.