Bermuda 222 –St.Lucia President's XI 186

Clinical bowling at the death and razor sharp fielding put paid to any hopes a St.Lucia President's XI might have had of snatching victory from under Bermuda's noses at the Beausejour Cricket Ground (BCG) in St.Lucia yesterday.

While England and West Indies cricket fans were left fuming further North in Antigua, there was plenty of drama on offer in the Windward Islands where a David Hemp-led Bermuda were pushed all the way before coming away with a hard-fought 36-run win in another evenly contested battle with their hosts.

"The guys played really well today. It was a solid all-round performance as they bowled extremely well and gave very little away in the field," commented Bermuda manager Lionel Tannock afterwards.

There were several performances that actually stood out in Bermuda's superb effort. But none perhaps more compelling than the awesome batting of Lionel Cann (73) and Stephen Outerbridge (43), seamer Kyle Hodsoll's big breakthrough in the 39th over that snapped a burgeoning 78-run stand that threatened to take the match away from the tourists and incisive bowling from spin duo Tamauri Tucker and Rodney Trott who mopped up St.Lucia's tail.

Opting to take first strike on a placid pitch, Bermuda's opening pair of Chris Douglas (25) and Fiqre Crockwell (33) feasted on the St.Lucian bowling as the visitors raced to 64 without loss inside 16 overs .

But the breakthrough finally arrived for the St.Lucians in the very next over when Douglas and Crockwell were removed in the space of five-balls and when wicketkeeper/batsman Jekon Edness (two) and Hemp (0) both fell cheaply with the addition of only two runs to the total, it seemed as though Bermuda would meekly surrender.

Outerbridge, however, had other thoughts in mind as he set about dominating a 34 -run stand with Irving Romaine (two) that steadied the ship before the reins were handed over to the destructive Cann who spread the field with some lofty blows to keep the scorers busy.

The St.David's player/coach blasted ten fours and two sixes during a breezy 59 ball knock ¿ his second successive half-century on tour ¿ that more than compensated for his team's top order collapse and carried Bermuda's total to a more respectable region.

In contrast to mayhem caused by Cann, Outerbridge was more watchful in his approach. But his four boundaries off 72 balls was just as precious as it prevented wickets from tumbling at both ends while a St.Lucia attack - led by three-wicket hauls from Alex Antione and Xavier Gabriel - tried their best to make further inroads.

In reply Bermuda's hosts found themselves on the rack at 92 for five in the 21st over. But timely knocks of 46 and 34 by middle order bats Mervyn Charles and Kiether Prosper (34) hauled the St.Lucians dangerously within sight of Bermuda's target before spinners Tucker and Trott combined to see off the threat.

Trott, the recipient of a glowing endorsement from ex-West Indies batsman Larry Gomes in Trinidad last week, was the pick of the Bermuda bowling with figures of two for 24 off ten overs with three maidens. Seamer Tucker, who accounted for the big scalp of Windies all-rounder Darren Sammy (six), had two for 43, off-spinner Tucker two for 43 and Hodsoll two for 42 .

Veteran left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock was his usual steady self, claiming one for 35 off ten overs.

Bermuda are scheduled to depart for nearby St.Vincent on Monday where they will play another three matches in preparation for April's World Cup qualifiers in South Africa.

Gus Logie's men have now won four of five matches on tour of the Caribbean.