Favourites Forties wrapped up the Commercial Cricket League in style with two matches in hand, crushing nine-man Centurions by 189 runs while at the other end of the table North Village scrambled their first points of the season despite being outplayed by Devonshire Stars.

West Indian Association leap-frogged over Jamaican Association into second place by thrashing seven-man St. David's, thanks to a half century by opener Barry Richards, but neither WIA nor the Jamaicans, who had the day off on Sunday, can catch Forties who have dropped only three points all season.

It was Forties' second league title in three years - they did the double, also winning the Knockout in 2000, a feat emulated by St. David's the following season.

The league will resume on August 10 after taking a Cup Match weekend break.

Opener Braxton Stowe struck 11 fours and a six in his innings of 88 to lay the foundation for Forties' imposing 251 for five after they chose to bat at the Royal Naval Field before Blake West and John Ray scythed through the batting as Centurions tumbled to 62 all out in 19 overs.

Gladwin Ingham (41), Brian Brangman (32), Harold Minors (31) and Gerald Bean (26) joined in the run spree as Forties put the Centurions attack to the sword. Troy Berkeley was top bowler with three for 73 from 15 overs.

Only opener Nick Cardinez (14) offered any resistance as Centurions reached 50 for two before losing five wickets without addition to the total, West finishing with five for 34 from nine overs and Ray three for 34 from 10 overs.

"We had nine men, a few of our better players missing and we got thumped by the team who have now deservedly won the title," said Centurions' skipper Jeremy Leese.

St. David's, playing four short on Sunday because of a funeral, did well to reach 123 after winning the toss at Garrison Field. Skipper Ernest McCallan topscored with 33 and Jason Lowe and Johnny Simoes each made 25 while fast bowler Stan Francis was the pick of the WIA attack with three for 28 from 11 overs.

Richards' 66, which contained seven fours and four sixes, was a mixture of aggression and rarely seen caution spanning 95 minutes.

Richards brought up his 50 with a barrage of boundaries against Maclaren Lowe (one for 61), who began his eighth over with a dot ball and then went for 26 from the remaining five balls, 6,6,4,4,6.

Andy Boyce took 55 minutes over his 22 but Hector Watson brought a swift end to the game as WIA reached 124 for three in 19 overs by hitting his first two balls for six on the way to an unbeaten 16.

"Batting wasn't easy as the ball was swinging all over the place all day," said WIA spokesman Chris Clarke.

Former BCB batsmen Desmond Crockwell and Daniel Caines enjoyed a fruitful day with the bat as they made their debut for Devonshire Stars, who piled up a massive 269 for seven against North Village at Shelly Bay.

Former Warwick player Caines made Village pay for dropping him on 16 as he hammered 10 fours and two sixes in his 87, batting at number five, while ex-Bailey's Bay player Crockwell, who batted at number three, struck six fours and two sixes in his 64.

Antoine Greene, a former PHC player who has played for Stars this season, piled on the agony for the Village attack with 43 after opener Howard Ascento, Jr. made 30. Worrell Bean finished 20 not out.

Webster Mills took two for 36 from seven overs before limping out of the attack with an injured knee while Allan Walker claimed two for 67 from 14 overs.

Village managed to hold out for a share of the points, reaching 91 for five from 35 overs before the game was called off at 8.05 p.m. because of bad light, opener Mike Levon finishing 34 not out. David Scraders made 34 while skipper Andr? Smith took three for 25 from 11 overs for Stars.

"It was fireworks out there," enthused Smith, "so look out for us in the knockout."

"We took a lot of sun to get our first points," admitted Village spokesman Wendell Lindsay.

Team spokesmen are asked to call in results of August 10 and 17 matches to Sam Stevens at the sports desk (278-0144).