St.George?s? teenage opening batsman Oronde Bascome has become the fourth Bermudian cricketer in three years to benefit from a Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) education initiative.

Bascome has been accepted at the prestigious Cardiff/Glamorgan Centre of Cricketing Excellence based at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC).

The Saltus Grammar School student will join fellow Bermudians Jekon Edness and Stephen Outerbridge at the academy next September.

?It is an honour and a privilege to be afforded this opportunity. And I intend to take full advantage of the educational and cricketing options now available to me,? Bascome told reporters during a press conference held at BCB headquarters yesterday.

?I recognise the importance of this programme and the responsibilities that I am now accountable for as I represent not just myself, but my family, club and country. And I thank the BCB wholeheartedly for this incredible opportunity.?

Bascome?s mother, Carla, daughter of former St.George?s skipper Gregg (Brutus) Foggo, also praised the Board for their efforts.

?I would like to thank the BCB for affording Oronde this opportunity of a lifetime and also all of those people that have been there to support him,? she said. ?I am very happy and proud of Oronde.?

Oronde?s father, Herbie Bascome, who stood down as St.George?s skipper at the end of last season, added: ?I am very proud of Oronde?s commitment to the game and pleased to see that the Board has taken this opportunity to give him a chance to succeed in whatever he hopes to accomplish both in academics and in sports.?

Already there is anticipation in the East End that Herbie and Oronde will become the first father and son duo to play together on the same Cup Match team this summer.

Bascome, 18, is captain of Bermuda?s Under-19 national team due to depart for Barbados next week to compete in the annual Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Tournament.

The youngster, who recorded one of the season?s fastest half centuries (50 runs off 31 balls) against Somerset Bridge at Wellington Oval last weekend, is currently enjoying his best ever season in top flight cricket.

He has already demonstrated he is quickly maturing into a fine all-round cricketer, having so far scored two centuries this season.

Last month saw Bascome narrowly miss becoming the first local batsman to score centuries in both innings of a two-innings match, the East Ender falling seven runs shy of the milestone against Western Stars after recording his first ton (101) in top flight cricket in the first innings.

?Oronde is a gifted sportsman who has represented his country in both football and cricket,? BCB president Reginald Pearman noted.

?Of course, we at the BCB are particularly proud of his cricketing achievements as he has not only excelled on a national level but equally on an international level.

?Along with other numerous awards, the fact that he was voted MVP at the ICC Under-19 Regional Americas (tournament) in 2005 attests to his remarkable talent.

?By securing a place at the UWIC, Oronde will now be able to gain significant cricketing experience whilst also furthering his education.

?It is a great opportunity for him in every aspect and all of us at the BCB wish him the best of luck.?

Bermuda national team seamer Ryan Steede shone brightly with the bat in a losing cause playing for Atherstone Town Cricket Club last Saturday at Great Barr in the UK.

Steede scored an unbeaten 57 in the Adders? eight-wicket loss to league leaders Bronze.

The Bermudian came to the crease with his team wobbling at 38 for five, and only through his determined efforts were Atherstone able to post a respectable 127 in 29.4 overs.

Steede then accounted for one of only two Bronze wickets to fall at a cost of 23 runs.