After being whitewashed in their opening Federation Cup match, Bermuda's girls came back in the best possible way yesterday -- recording the Island's first ever 3-0 victory.

Coming after the defeat to Costa Rica, the win over Panama was even more impressive given the trying circumstances the team faced at the Carlisle Bay Club in Antigua.

Firstly, Tara Lambert had to endure a gruelling two hour-plus match against Maria Elena Gittens before triumphing 7-5, 7-6 (7-4).

Then as the heat of the Caribbean day reached its height, Zarah DeSilva went on court to face Anais Marie Moreno, achieving victory 6-1, 6-3.

But the real drama was saved for the final match, which pitted DeSilva with Federation Cup debutante and the youngest player ever to represent Bermuda, 14-year-old Sasha Fisher.

The pair took on Gittens and Alexia Lysel Marquez winning in three sets, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-2.

The weather took its toll on DeSilva who needed to see the trainer when she was overcome by the heat at 3-1 in only the first set -- leaving the inexperienced Fisher to take charge.

Kelly Holland, Bermuda's non-playing captain, said: "I put Sasha with Zarah for her first match so she would have someone experienced to play with and actually they had to do a little role reversal because although Zarah played well Sasha had to do a lot of the work.'' In the first match Lambert, playing at number two, played for two hours and 15 minutes before clinching the win over Gittens -- her first singles Fed Cup victory.

"The girl (Gittens) played a very steady game with a lot of spin and Tara had to really be quite steady and play kind of a different game,'' Holland said.

"The girl had a pretty unorthodox game so it was a mental battle and it was good for Tara to come through that because sometimes it can be very frustrating.'' DeSilva's singles game masked what lay ahead for Bermuda's number one player.

"That was a clear win for her, the other girl was definitely young and inexperienced,'' Holland said.

The initial breakthrough had acted as a catalyst for the other matches, she said.

"It had everybody psyched up, definitely,'' she said. "I think we almost knew we were going to win today, but knowing it and doing it are two different things. They managed to apply everything and they did well.'' The win puts Bermuda in second place in their group after two days of the round-robin stage of the tournament.

Costa Rica lead the way on six points having won both their matches 3-0, Panama have two points, a point behind Bermuda, and the hosts, Antigua, trail in last with one point.

"The 3-0 victory puts us in a better position for tomorrow (Thursday),'' said Holland. "We can't come first because Costa Rica are too far ahead but the three-love victory today almost seals coming second. But we are not counting our chickens before they are hatched because we have to play Antigua.'' However, Holland said the girls would go into the day highly optimistic.

"We have beaten them several times in the past and Panama beat them and we beat Panama so we have confidence,'' she said.

The captain said she had yet to decide who would play today, and much depended on how the girls' bodies cope with the rigours of yesterday.

"Since Zarah had a little heatstroke today I have to wait and see,'' she said. "I might have to change the line-up, but I usually make that decision around dinner time and let the girls know before they go to bed. Then we just see how everybody is in the morning and we go according to plan unless somebody is not feeling well.'' If DeSilva does not make it today, Holland has the option of playing number three player, Shonette Wilson -- a player in her 30s who has yet to make her Fed Cup debut.

Victory today would seal second place for Bermuda in their group, something they might even achieve if they lose 2-1, provided Costa Rica can beat Panama 3-0.

Second place would mean Bermuda would be playing off for fifth to eighth positions in the 15-nation Americas Group II tournament in their final two matches on Friday and Saturday.

Young hero: Fourteen-year-old Sasha Fisher, who won a tense doubles match in her Fed Cup debut with partner Zarah DeSilva in Bermuda's 3-0 win yesterday.