Jamaica 202 Bermuda Under-23s 162 Touring Jamaica received their stiffest test yet when the Bermuda Under-23 team, despite being without half the squad originally selected, put on a gallant display before going down by 40 runs at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Looking positive and confident from Garry Williams' first over, after stand-in captain Clay Smith had won the toss and sent in the visitors, the local youngsters were able to restrict their opponents to 202, despite an opening stand of 78 in less than 20 overs.

And had the Bermuda batting been a little stronger they might have got a lot closer to the winning target of 203.

Missing Lionel Cann, Cleon Scotland, Corey Hill, Jermaine Outerbridge, Winston Trott Jr, and Ryan Steede from the original squad of 13, the local team knew that their task of scoring at a rate of four an over would be difficult, espcially after losing their first three batsmen with just 21 runs on the board.

Among the early victims was key batsman Clay Smith who lasted just 19 minutes before he was the second dismissal in the seventh over when the score was 20.

Reid Jones, one of those drafted in at the last moment, was first to go, trapped lbw to O'Neil Richards in the third over after scoring 11 of the first 13 runs.

A fourth wicket also went cheaply, that of Jason Anderson, to make it 33-4 just when he and Hasan Durham were starting to repair the early damage.

Anderson was the first of four run outs, sent back after turning for a second run that was never on.

Durham did get some support from wicketkeeper Kwame Tucker as they added 48 for the fifth wicket, which kept Bermuda in the match. Spinner Brian Murphy, the top bowler for the Jamaicans in the first two matches, lasted just two overs as both Durham and Tucker attacked him and reaped rewards. Murphy gave up 18 runs, including a straight driven six to Durham.

That stand ended when Mario Ventura on the third man boundary took a brilliant running catch to an edged drive to dismiss Durham for 25, scored off 48 balls.

The 100 came up in the 28th over when Corey Lowe was smartly stumped by wicketkeeper Andre Coley off spinner Mario Gibbs. Despite the fact that the recognised batsmen were running thin, the Bermuda team refused to accept defeat as some smart running between the wicket between Tucker and Del Hollis added 34 for the seventh wicket. That frustrated the Jamaicans before they got the breakthrough.

It happened when Tucker was run out for 39, a knock which included some delightful strokes including a square drive for six. Hollis was unbeaten on 29 at the close as the team, needing 43 off the last 36 deliveries, fell short of the target.

Richards, with two for 35, and Denville McKenzie (two for 10) were the best of the Jamaica bowlers.

However, the day's best bowling performance went to 16-year-old Kameron Fox of St. David's, one of the four players who was not chosen initially. But he took his chance, claiming figures of six for 39 with his left-arm spinners as Jamaica slumped from 78 without loss to 98 for four with Fox picking up three wickets in his first spell.

The youngster came back for a second spell and took three more as Jamaica collapsed again, this time from 159-5 to 182-8. Fox's performance was enough to gain him a spot in the Bermuda squad of 14 for Sunday's match at Lord's and BCBC president Ed Bailey sees him as a player for the future.

"I'm very impressed. He bowled very confidently and there is no doubt he learned a lot from the (youth team) tour of Holland,'' said Bailey.

"He has a very promising future. The Jamaica manager and coach commented on him throughout the match. He certainly instilled a spirit in the rest of the players and gave them hope of winning the game.'' The Jamaica batting was led by Wavell Hinds' 68 which came from three sixes and six fours before be became Fox's first victim.

Robert Samuels and Ray Stewart scored 42 and 27 in the middle order while McKenzie helped post the 200 with a dashing 20 in the tailend. Hasan Durham claimed two for 27 from nine overs.