saved Bermuda from a whitewash in their second Davis Cup tie in Bolivia yesterday.

Collieson -- ripped apart 6-1 6-0 earlier in the day in his number one singles match by Rodrigo Vallejo -- and Evans were staring defeat in the face and an overall loss of 3-0 against the Dominican Republic at 5-3 down in the third set.

But they reeled off four games in a row to down the young pairing of Johnson Garcia and Victor Estrella 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

In the other singles match, Michael Way suffered a three set defeat at the hands of Sixto Commacho 6-4, 1-6, 3-6.

"They showed a lot of team pride,'' said captain Steve Bean of the double pairing's effort.

Bean, speaking from his hotel room shortly before deciding on the line-up for today's crucial match with Panama, added: "The Dominican Republic are probably one of the stronger teams in the group and we played quite well overall.

"Michael was right in it and it was only one service break in the third set that did it. He had a chance to go 4-2 up in that set but he played a ball that was going out.'' The youthful Collieson's misfortune was to come up against "probably the best player in the tournament'', said Bean.

"Vallejo was really good. He's satellite circuit calibre without a doubt. At least James got some revenge in the doubles.'' Ricky Mallory, meanwhile, was reduced to the role of spectator yesterday. "He has an injured neck,'' said Bean. "But we're hoping to get him out on the tennis court at the latest by Saturday.'' Saturday's games will ultimately decide Bermuda's fate. Promoted from American Zone Group IV last year, Bean is desperate for his team to avoid a swift return.

Victory against Panama today would go some way to assuring safety. Panama were also beaten by the Dominican Republic earlier in the week and with El Salvador looking easily the strongest team in the division, the meeting will decide which team from the parallel division the Island will have to play off against at the weekend.

"Those will be the important matches,'' conceded Bean. "I've always said we were coming out here with the intention of surviving in Group Three.'' Meanwhile, in the Federation Cup, Bermuda's women were on the end of another discouraging result in their third tie of the competition in Monterey, Mexico, yesterday.

Number one Danielle Paynter suffered a 6-2, 6-1 reverse against her Costa Rican opposite number Melissa Mendieca, while another Melissa -- Golfin -- put paid to Liz Osborne 6-3, 6-0.

However Paynter and Alison Towlson put up a battling performance in their doubles match against Golfin and Paula Almeida, losing 6-4 in the final set.

The Island pairing had shown their mettle, coming from behind to square the match 7-5 in the second after facing two match points against them.

Osborne, who witnessed the encounter, said from her hotel room in Mexico: "It was a very good match, very even and a real battle.'' Bermuda have now lost all three ties in the American Zone Group Two competition, but Osborne, who along with Towlson is making her Federation Cup debut in the tournament, added: "The key thing is that the other sides we've played have been very consistent. It's a learning process.'' She said the team were hoping for success in today's tie with Antigua and Barbuda, who they beat last year.