tour of Barbados, with an emphatic seven-wicket win over the Barbados Under-19 national team.

A devastating spell of medium-pace by Bailey's Bay youngster Jermaine Outerbridge sparked the Bermuda side on to victory as he tore the heart out of the Barbados middle order.

Scores: Barbados Under 19 111, Bermuda 112 for three.

Outerbridge finished with figures of five for 26 from just over nine overs, validating his inclusion as a late replacement for Charlie Marshall, still recovering from a mild heart attack.

Skipper Albert Steede's decision to bring Outerbridge and Clevie Wade into the attack proved more than effective after the Barbados openers had shown early resistance.

Wade's contribution was a three-wicket haul at a cost of 30 runs while another young player, Diallo Sharrieff, also picked up one wicket.

Getting Bermuda off to a superb start when it came time to bat were Ricky Hill and Dennis Archer, combining for a half-century opening stand.

This partnership was dominated by the fluent strokes of Hill who scored 47, while Archer (15) played more of a supporting role.

Anxious moments came with the dismissals of Hill, Archer and an out-of-form Andre Manders (one), but Steede (23) and Wade (20) saw the Bermuda through to victory with an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership.

Steede said that overall he was pleased with his team's performances, but that there was still plenty of work to be done.

"Things are going along much better (since the first game loss).

"We're lacking in the bowling department, but in the other two we're doing quite well, as far as our batting and fielding.'' On the pressures associated with this being his first tenure as team captain...and a young one to boot, Steede indicated that he had endured few problems and was able to consult with his more experienced team-mates in times of crisis.

The Bermuda Cricket Board of Control yesterday announced the withdrawal through injury of Simon Base from English county team Derbyshire who are set to tour the Island later this month.

Base has been replaced in the party by Alastair Richardson, a fast-medium right-arm bowler and middle-order batsman.

CHECKING THE SCENERY -- Bermuda captain Albert Steede, left, and Noel Gibbons during a vital stand in Tuesday's two-wicket win over Barbados Police.

Picture: Gordon Brooks .