Bermuda's Under-15 national cricket team picked up a first win on their tour of Trinidad when they defeated Fatima College by 90 runs in Port of Spain yesterday.

The Island team's decision to bat first on a deteriorating pitch paid dividends as they compiled a challenging 179 all out in 30 overs and then dismissed the opposition for 89 with plenty of deliveries to spare.

Maurico Bassett top scored for Bermuda with 43, falling just seven runs shy of a deserved half century, while skipper Jordon DeSilva added 34, wicketkeeper/batsman Khiry Furbert 28 and Kevon Fubler 14.

Bailey's Bay right arm leg spinner Tre Govia led Bermuda's bowling with impressive figures of two for one and was superbly backed up by right-arm off spinner Marco Johnson (two for seven), Fubler (two for 18) and Stephen Dill (two for 20) as the host team struggled to come to grips batting on a pitch where a two-day match had concluded only 24 hours earlier.

"We wanted to bat first knowing the wicket was going to deteriorate fast. And overall I thought the guys played really well," commented Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) executive Allen Richardson, speaking from Trinidad last night.

Fatima College is the school that West Indies star batsman Brian Lara once attended.

Bermuda are currently housed at the Frank Worrell Development Centre in rural Trinidad, a facility admired by Richardson.

"This facility is the number one centre in Trinidad, and many teams in the Caribbean region come here to train," he said.

Yesterday's win made amends for Saturday's 48-run loss to South Modern Secondary in Farnando where the Island's youngsters received a first taste of batting on coconut matting and endured a nightmare coming to grips with an inadequately prepared outfield.

"Those who organised the match apologised for the state of the outfield after Duante Darrel was hit on the side of his face by the ball," Richardson said.

Darrell escaped with only a graze.

Bermuda's hosts won the toss and elected to bat first, amassing 230 for nine in their allotted 40 overs.

Dill was the pick of the local bowling, claiming three for 30, skipper DeSilva three for 46 and Dante Richardson one for 24. However, the bowlers were guilty of straying wide of the stumps on too many occasions.

"Our bowling let us down as we gave up 51 runs in extras, most of them coming in wides," Richardson said.

Bermuda's reply got off to a flying start when they raced to 101 for the loss of only one wicket after 16 overs.

However, a few disputed umpire decisions, a severe middle-order batting collapse and deliveries that stayed low from a good length, saw Bermuda fall short of the target.

"This was the first time the boys had batted on a mat and the middle order could not cope with the ball staying low," Richardson said.

Bermuda could only muster 182 all out in 35 overs in their reply.

Ryan Tyrell top scored with 41, Pierre Smith 24, Furbert 22 and Terryn Fray 20.

"Two of our most experienced batters, DeSilva and Bassett, were both out to scooters," Richardson added. "But the boys played very hard considering the stifling heat in playing conditions that suited the home team."

Bermuda's youngsters will have a "light" training session this morning at the Frank Worell Academy and then have the afternoon off to do some shopping in Port of Spain.