Forties and West Indian Association clinched places in the League Cup final with contrasting victories but before they face each other on September 9 they will first battle it out in this weekend's Commercial Cricket League Knockout Cup semi-finals.

Forties looked down and out when they slumped to 13 for five in the ninth over against Hamilton Parish at Garrison Field but rallied to force an improbable 25-run victory while WIA coasted to a five-wicket win over league champions North Village at Shelly Bay.

Some aggressive fast bowling by Chris Caisey and some extravagant swing bowling by Corey Hill caused havoc but a superbly patient stand of 79 between Braxton Stowe and Rohan Davis in 22 overs helped guide Forties to the respectability of 111 all out in 39 of their 42 overs.

Stowe struck three fours in his 72-ball 36 while Davis made 43 from 78 balls with four fours and a six.

Caisey claimed three for 15 from his allotted six overs, Hill took two for three from six, four of them maidens, while skipper Irving Burgess bagged two for 10 from five.

Forties took to the field heartened by their fightback but found wickets hard to come by at first. Parish found scoring equally difficult on the slowest outfield in the Island and the most difficult artificial pitch.

The outcome was in the balance as Parish edged their way to 21 for one from 13 overs but the match swung Forties' way as they claimed six wickets for 20 in the next nine overs.

Yet Parish staged their own recovery as skipper Burgess (17) and Johnny Bean, who hit three boundaries in his 39-ball 28, put their heads down.

Helped by some dropped catches, the pair took the total to 82 in the 33rd over before both perished to rash shots, Caisey took a big swing and skied a return catch to Stowe and the innings folded at 86 in the 35th over.

Brian Brangman took three for 12 from six, skipper Gordon Campbell two for 14 from five and Stowe two for five from seven deliveries. "I'm not sure I've seen such broad smiles on Forties' faces before. Everyone knew we'd dodged a bullet but we did it through hard work and pulling together," said Campbell.

"Cricket's a funny old game. We thought we were going to be on the beach at 3 p.m. after we slumped to 13 for five and everyone was making alternate plans for the September 9 final."

Three run-outs, including the key wicket of Ricky Hill (16), cost Village dearly after they were sent in by WIA.

Mike Payne was stumped for 29, talented youngster Makai Young, another run-out victim, made 21 while skipper Reggie Benjamin finished on 21 not out as Village were restricted to 150 for nine in 42 overs. Rowan Ramotar took two for 16 from six and skipper Jerry Callender two for 17 from six for WIA.

In reply, Patrick Hamlett fell for five and Chris Clarke for 12 and when Anthony Brathwaite was out for ten, leaving WIA 40 for three, Village sensed they could remain in the hunt for more silverware but reliable Richard Foulds, who hit one six in his 40, and Lloyd Morrison, with three fours in his 35, took the game away from them with a fourth-wicket stand of 70.

Despite being only 80 percent fit after suffering from a serious hamstring problem all season, big-hitting left-hander Barry Richards completed the job with two sixes and a four in an unbeaten 24 as WIA romped home with more than six overs to sdare. Young was Village's best bowler with two for 20 from six.

"We bowled well and fielded well and the three run-outs really helped us," said Richards. "It's a while since we've beaten Village in a semi-final - and we did it convincingly. The team felt good."

Village spokesman Wendell Lindsay said: "It was disappointing we didn't end on a high note but we didn't score enough runs and WIA played well."

Sunday's Knockout Cup semi-finals will be staged at Shelly Bay, where Fine Leg Byes take on Western Stars, and at the Warren Simmons Community Field, where WIA play Forties. The venues were decided on the toss of a coin.

WIA and Forties will both be without key players. Foulds and Morrison are unavailable for WIA while Forties will be missing David DeSilva, Harold Minors and Brian Holdipp.