The hundreds of Jamaicans who descended on Shelly Bay for a picnic had double cause for celebration - 40 years of independence from Britain and improbable success for their cricket team who sealed a place in the Commercial League's knockout final at Lord's this Sunday.

In a stunning reversal of fortune, Jamaican Association put their dismal league season behind them to turn the tables on Caribbean rivals West Indian Association, overcoming a calamitous start to win the replayed semi-final by an ultimately emphatic 60 runs.

WIA, in sharp contrast to Sunday's tame surrender, had twice thrashed the Jamaicans in the league this season - by 167 runs and 10 wickets - and were a whisker away from winning their first knockout clash a fortnight ago when rain forced umpire Lester Harnett to abandon the game with the Jamaicans 65 for three from 19 overs in pursuit of WIA's imposing 40-over total of 213 for six.

Harnett, who umpired Sunday's replay with Richard Burrows, said yesterday that had WIA bowled one ball of the 20th over in that game he would have declared them winners on run rate, even though technically such a result is not covered by Commercial League rules.

Bus driver Donovan Livingston was the Jamaicans' hero the second time around.

He steered the Jamaicans out of early trouble as they slumped to 19 for four, after openers Presley Millwood and Chris Daley were dismissed without a run on the board, with a polished half century that spurred his team to a challenging 190 in 38.1 overs and later helped drive his team home by snapping up two for 31 from eight overs, WIA subsiding from 86 for one to 130 all out in 30.1 overs.

"It was an all-round horrible performance," said WIA's dejected skipper Barry Richards whose team had earlier lost the league title by a single point to Leg Trappers - the Jamaicans' opponents in Sunday's knockout final.

"We had such a good season and ended up with nothing," said 34-year-old Richards who won the toss and elected to field. "I feel bad right now. I feel like selling all my gear and giving up the game."

Richards, one of three WIA batsmen trapped leg before wicket, was out for 14 and said: "It seems if I don't stay to make runs nobody, perhaps apart from Dave (Greenidge), steps up. It's very disappointing. Our bowling and fielding let us down. We got to the point where we became overconfident.

"But it's hats off to the Jamaicans. They recovered very well but we really let them off the hook."

The Jamaicans, runners-up to St. David's in the league last season, finished only sixth this year when they were twice beaten by Leg Trappers. Seeking their first knockout title, they are appearing in their first final since 1997 when they were trounced by 98 runs by Watford Sports Club at Sea Breeze Oval.

Jamaican team manager Glenmore Barrett, cock-a-hoop over his team's upset semi-final victory, estimated there were 500 to 600 people at the ground for the belated independence celebrations and felt their presence had greatly helped his team's cause.

"It was a tremendous fightback by the boys. We took licks in the early stages but Donovan's knock was very disciplined. He knows what it means to win. Our fielding was good and Kevin (Abrahams) moved his bowling up a notch.

"If we dig in I feel we have a good chance to get some silverware in the final."

Man of the match Livingston, a former Police first team player, hit three boundaries in his 59 before he was trapped lbw by Richards, receiving admirable support from Clive Barrett whose breezy 31 included three sixes and a four. Junior Lindo made 19, Arthur Dublin 16 not out and Ian Coke 13 as the tail wagged.

Fast bowler Stan Francis Stan Francis claimed three for 34 from seven overs while Olwin Clarke took two for 45 for WIA.

Although Richards fell at 19, Greenidge and opener Jerry Callender added 67 to put WIA in a strong position. But Greenidge, who struck two sixes and three fours in his 43, pushed a simple catch to Livingston, Callender later ran himself out by inches for 21, and the slide continued, the last nine wickets tumbling for the addition of just 44 runs.

Richards and Greenidge both fell to Lindo (two for 29 from six overs) while Livingston claimed two other valuable scalps, bowling Andy Boyce for seven and trapping Clarke lbw for nought, before Abrahams had John McConnie lbw for 10 and then bowled Stan Francis (0) and Junior Watts (three) to finish with three for 24 from 7.1 overs and complete a remarkable victory.

The Jamaicans are expected to be unchanged for Sunday's final which starts at noon while Leg Trappers, who won their sole knockout title in 1999, will be without their leading player, Graham Strange, who is in England to watch golf's Ryder Cup battle between Europe and the United States.

Gary Knight, who is to skipper Leg Trappers in the final, said: "It's true we have beaten them twice in the league this season but we won't be taking them lightly."