losses in their three match weekend trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

After scoring just 37 runs in 23 overs in their opening match on Good Friday in reply to the US Select team's total of 133 in 34 overs, the Bermuda team bounced back to win the second match on Saturday against a Central Florida XI.

However, the third match, against a South Florida XI, was also lost.

The tour began with a day-night match at the spring training ground of the New York Yankees which was attended by about 1500 spectators. Matting was laid on grass on the outfield and Bermuda coach Allan Douglas said there were some problems adjusting to the bounce off the matting as the ball only came a few inches off the surface.

The US Select, containing a number of West Indians such as former Test player Faoud Bacchus, Ed Lewis of Antigua, Jamaican Hilton Gordon and Roger Denny of Barbados, were restricted to 133 by the bowling of Roger Blades, Del Hollis, Clarkie Trott, Hasan Durham and Lionel Cann who each claimed two wickets.

Blades finished with two for eight, Hollis two for 20, Durham two for 32, Trott two for 23 and Cann two for 45.

There was a marked improvement in the second match the following day when Bermuda batted first and scored 172-4 from their allotted 40 overs and then limited Central Florida to 156-9 in 40 overs.

Captain Albert Steede was the high man for Bermuda with 57 while his opening partner Curtis Jackson scored 34. Graham Fox and Lionel Cann were not out on 27 and 22 respectively.

In the bowling department, Clarkie Trott, who shared the new ball with Blades, claimed two for 37 off eight overs, Cann two for 17 off eight and Durham two for 45 off eight. Blades gave up 24 in his eight overs and Hollis 29 from eight, both failing to take a wicket.

The tour ended with a second match at the Brian Piccalo Park, this time against the South Florida XI. Again batting first, Bermuda notched up 136 in 38 overs as number six bat Dean Minors led the scoring with 44 and Blades reached 15. South Florida lost just three wickets in reaching their target.

"We learned a lot about how to adjust,'' said Douglas who was pleased with what he saw from different members of the squad. "We saw a lot of good things in Daniel Cann. He and Derek Hurdle played well.

"With Graham it was interesting to see him and I was very impressed with him.

When players are selected you get to see a different side to them and they were eager to do well. In Blades, when he gets super fit, we will see a match winner.'' Jackson, of Cleveland, opened the batting in all three matches alongside Steede, while Clay Smith, Glenn Smith, Fox, Cann and Minors was the usual batting order with most of them playing in all three matches.

The trip was intended to be a grooming tour and Douglas, who is also a Bermuda selector, has hinted further opportunities await this same squad in the future.

"I intend to work with this group, and they are eager to go on, too,'' said Douglas.

"They all showed signs of something we can use. We looked for positive stuff in them and that was good.''