West Indian Association piled up 301 for eight but came within a whisker of defeat against Commercial Cricket League newcomers Centurions in an astonishing run feast that produced almost 600 runs at the Royal Naval Ground.

WIA, who had scored more than 200 runs at the same venue in a losing cause against Jamaican Association the previous weekend, won Sunday's match by just nine runs in a pulsating finish after Simon Lambert had carried Centurions to the brink of victory with a dashing century.

The 593 runs scored from 82.2 overs in the game, almost certainly a Commercial League record, came at just under 7.25 runs an over as sixes disappeared out of the tiny ground in Somerset at regular intervals.

Elsewhere, Forties won their second match in a row, thrashing Jamaican Association by 71 runs thanks to 79 from John Ray and a five-wicket haul by David DeSilva, to go 10 points clear at the top of the standings while Devonshire Stars claimed a two-wicket victory over St. David's in a low-scoring affair. Four teams share second place with 10 points each.

Half centuries by skipper Dave Greenidge, Andy Boyce and Olwin Clarke provided the bulk of WIA's runs after opener Barry Richards had blasted four boundaries in his 23 from seven deliveries to get the innings off to a flying start.

Greenidge, who struck 12 fours and six sixes in his 97, featured in a fourth-wicket stand of 122 with Boyce, who hit 13 fours and two sixes in his 72, and added 136 for the fifth wicket with Clarke, a century-maker in the opening match, whose 56 included five fours and five sixes. Pick of the Centurions attack were opening bowlers Paul Lindo, who took three for 61, and Ishwar Narayanan (two for 62).

WIA, fielding a weakened attack for the second week running, found an unlikely hero in Clevon Cunningham, who had Lambert stumped for 102 in his opening over as Centurions closed in on an improbable victory, triggering a collapse that saw the last five wickets tumble for 26 runs as the innings closed at 292 in the 41st over.

Lambert, who plays for PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Evening League, hit six sixes and four fours at number five while other useful contributions came from Russell Dey (35) and Nick Leeding (25). Cunningham finished with three for 12 while Richards took two for 60 and Hector Watson two for 66.

"It was a great game of cricket, our first in the league," said Centurions skipper Jeremy Leese yesterday. "We didn't think we had much of a chance until Simon came in and really got us going. His century put us in the driving seat.

"Their players started arguing among themselves when we reached 266 for five and I think they turned to Cunningham in desperation more than anything. It was disappointing to lose as we needed less than six an over from the last eight overs but it shows we can can compete at this level."

Ten-man Forties owed their 38-over total of 161 at Shelly Bay to Ray, who hit five fours and a six in his 79, opener Braxton Stowe (33) and Blake West (24). Ray featured in two half-century stands, adding 70 for the fourth wicket with Stowe, after Forties had been reduced to 24 for three, and 64 for fifth wicket with West.

Forties lost their last five wickets for three runs as they hit out, Ian Coke taking the Jamaican bowling honours with four for 38. Clive Barrett and Mark Daley chipped in with two wickets apiece.

DeSilva's five for 13 from eight overs, backed up by two for 20 by Brian Holdipp, ripped through the Jamaican batting as they subsided to 90 all out in 24 overs, their hopes disappearing once top player Lloyd Morrison had been bowled by West for 18.

Few details were available from the match at Garrison Field where an unbeaten 26 by Cyril Crane carried Devonshire Stars to 75 for eight after they had dismissed St. David's for 72.

Skipper Andr? Smith snapped up four for 16 in five overs and Worrell Bean and Larry Allen chipped in with two apiece for Stars while Brent Minors bagged five for 25 for St. David's.