Bermuda?s victorious under-15 national cricket team arrived home to a hero?s welcome at the airport on Sunday night after successfully retaining their Americas Under-15 Championship in the Cayman Islands.

On hand to greet the Island team, who won the tournament for a third successive time, were Bermuda Cricket Board officials Charlotte Simmons and president Reggie Pearman.

Bermuda completed the regional event undefeated with victories over Canada, USA and hosts Cayman Islands. The Island?s youngsters also retained the Sir Henry Tucker Trophy in the match between Bermuda and the Caymans.

Bermuda won the tournament in the Cayman Islands in 2000, successfully defended that title in Orlando, Florida in 2002 before achieving an impressive treble last Saturday with a 32-run win over Canada.

?It?s always a great feeling to come back victorious. The Board president (Pearman) and secretary (Simmons) were there upon our arrival and the president gave the boys a good welcome home and a short congratulatory speech. He (Pearman) was quiet pleased by their performances,? commented Bermuda coach Grant Smith.

Smith was also delighted with the team?s overall performance in the Caribbean.

?These boys all have bright futures in cricket,? he said, singling out the performances of all-rounders Chris Douglas (son of former Cleveland County player and current umpire Stephen Douglas), skipper Malachi Jones, spinners Bilal Lambert and Tre Govia along with Govia?s Bailey?s Bay team-mate Kearon Trott.

?Malachi scooped quite a few of the awards (four of six individual tournament awards); he had a really good all-round tournament scoring runs and picking up quite a few wickets,? said Smith. ?Malachi was the tournament?s top wicket-taker (10) and in the top three as far as scoring goes plus his captaincy was really outstanding.?

Jones scored 77 runs at an average of 26 and grabbed 10wickets to be chosen as the tournament?s most valuable player. For his efforts, he received cricket gear, a prize he generously shared with some of his team-mates and opponents.

Smith added: ?Although Malachi was named player of the series, as far as batting was concerned I think Chris (Douglas) was the mainstay of our batting at number three. On two occasions he batted long and only on one occasion he didn?t stay in long ? but he held our batting together for the most part.?

Despite encountering placid pitches, Bermuda?s bowlers all acquitted themselves admirably, said Smith.

?The pitches down there (Cayman) were not conducive to our seam bowlers but Malachi quickly assessed the conditions and realised the spinners were going to be the key factor,? he added.

?And Bilal (Lambert) and Tre (Govia) bowled really well. Tre was outstanding though he didn?t get many wickets. But that?s cricket, someone bowling extremely well at one end and someone comes on the ball at the other end and picks up all the wickets.?

In their final match of the tournament last Saturday, Bermuda defeated Canada by 32 runs with skipper Jones (39), Chris Douglas (38) and Marquel Waldron (13) all getting among the runs after the Island team won the toss and elected to bat.

Jones, son of former Southampton Rangers skipper Olin, rounded off another fine all-round performance by grabbing three Canadian wickets for 21 runs in addition to holding onto two catches in the field.

?The Board are more than happy with the team?s success,? commented Pearman yesterday.

?Their performances in the Cayman Islands were testament to the fine coaching they received from coaches Grant Smith and Lionel Tannock (assistant coach).?