Unbeaten Forties remained 10 points clear of their closest Commercial Cricket League challengers, West Indian Association and Jamaican Association, after notching up their third successive victory of the season.

Forties beat North Village by five wickets and Jamaican Association overcame newcomers Centurions by the same margin but West Indian Association nearly came unstuck before polishing off Devonshire Stars by seven wickets at blustery Garrison Field - the bails kept blowing off and the umpires were forced to use chewing gum to keep them on!

Centurions, who lost narrowly after making 292 in pursuit of WIA's 301 for eight in the previous week's incredible run spree at the Royal Naval Field, came down to earth with a bang on Sunday, tumbling to 97 all out at the same venue against Jamaican Association.

Mike Levon (34) and Michael Payne (16) gave North Village a fine start at Shelly Bay, adding 53 for the first wicket, but although Mike Young (27) and Webster Mills (20) also made useful contributions they failed to capitalise on the early momentum and were restricted to 153 for eight by Forties as David DeSilva (three for 27), John Ray (two for 14) and Blake West (two for 26) pegged them back.

Mills, who opened the bowling for Village, claimed three for 57 from 14 overs but Forties kept their 100 percent record intact as Harold Minors (28), Mark Melvin (23) and Gladwin Ingham (20) helped to steer them home in the 35th over.

"Our batsmen paced it well - 153 at Shelly Bay's no mean total to chase," said Forties' Gordon Campbell, who handed over the captaincy for the day to Braxton Stowe.

Only Cyril Crane, who struck four fours and two sixes in his 42, offered any real resistance as Devonshire Stars were dismissed by WIA for 136 in the final over. Medium pacer Jerry Callender bagged five for 46 in 15.4 overs while Clevon Cunningham, an unlikely hero the previous week when he took three for 12 to halt Centurions' victory charge, followed up with four for 46 in eight overs.

Barry Richards gave WIA a flying start, smashing three fours and two sixes in his 39, as he and Guyanese newcomer Patrick Gordon (21) added 46 for the first wicket. An unbeaten 40 by Andy Boyce, which included four fours and two sixes, and 20 not out by in-form Olwin Clarke guided their team home in the 21st over.

Centurions slumped to 42 for seven before making a partial recovery to reach 97 against Jamaican Association but their skipper Jeremy Leese admitted: "We simply did not score enough runs to set a realistic target.

"It was a bit of a strange game where most of our top order found novel ways to give their wickets away."

Junior Lindo (three for seven), Mark Daley (three for 34) and Ralston Wright (two for 14) did most of the damage for the Jamaicans who reached their victory target in the 27th over thanks to a top score of 45 by Clive Barrett.

Best performances for Centurions were turned in by Nick Cardinez, who took three for 24 after making 11 not out, and Ishwar Narayanan, who followed up his knock of 19 by taking two for 36.

Added Leese: "Some good bowling made the opposition work hard for the win but, being honest, it was never in doubt.

"We're learning all the time and, hopefully, we will have learned another painful lesson this week - not to sell our wickets too cheaply and if the bowling is on the spot to be a bit more patient in collecting our runs and not try to hit every ball out of the ground."

Centurions will be at Royal Naval Field for the third week running on Sunday when they take on Forties while North Village travel to Garrison Field to meet Devonshire Stars and West Indian Association host St. David's at Shelly Bay.