scoring contrasting victories in Sunday's final round of games.

West Indian Association, third team in the title hunt, lost to PHC, the defending champions, and finished runners-up for the second season running.

Village and Forties began the day tied on 95 points, five points ahead of WIA whose title hopes rested on the leaders faltering.

But while Forties edged home to an improbable three-wicket victory over Sandys Sports Club, Village romped to an emphatic 91-run victory over Devonshire Stars.

It is Forties' fourth league title and Village's first in only their second season in the league.

Safeguard Security thrashed a seven-man St Michael in Sunday's other match and now teams will turn their attention to Sunday's first round of the knockout.

Forties, who have won the 40 overs competition a record seven times since joining the league in 1983, have been drawn away to Sandys Sports Club, the team they beat in last year's final.

In other ties Village are home to St Michael, West Indian Association take on Safeguard Security and PHC meet Devonshire Stars.

Village, whose outstanding league match against Safeguard Security had been declared a draw by the league's executive committee last Friday, were made to fight for their runs at Garrison Field where they recovered from 102 for six to reach 155 for eight.

Chris Binns led the Stars attack with six for 46 from 12 overs and then topscored with 23 but the side's fragile batting was swept away in less than 20 overs as Cal Smith (four for 10), Donville Yarde (three for 28) and Elliott Pitcher (two for eight) bundled them out for 64.

Forties appeared to be heading for defeat at 98 for seven in reply to Sandys Sports Club's 160 for nine at Malabar but Clevie Smith came to his side's rescue and led them to victory in a tense finish by cracking an unbeaten 53 from 37 balls.

Smith, who hit one six and seven fours, and Gerald Simons, Jr. with 21 not out shared an unbroken eighth wicket stand of 66 to guide their side home with 28 balls to spare after former Somerset striker Troy Berkeley had rocked Forties with five for 32 from nine overs. Earlier Steve Bremar removed both openers with only seven runs on the board.

Forties began the match well enough with Oliver Franks (two for 13) bowling both openers cheaply but half centuries by Michael Corday and Terry Ward, who shared a fourth wicket stand of 88, put the West Enders in a good position.

Both fell in the 38th over with the total 147 -- Corday for 55 and Ward for 60 -- and their departure triggered a collapse in which six wickets fell for the addition of 12 runs, Allan Lee snapping up three for 15.

WIA, hit by players away on holiday, fielded only eight men at PHC Stadium against PHC, who coasted to an easy five-wicket victory despite playing one short themselves.

PHC's margin of victory would have been even greater had two of their batsmen -- Mark Smith and William Minors -- not retired after WIA had been bowled out for 107 with Minors taking three for one. Smith hit seven fours in 52 before retiring and Minors did the same after making 21.

Safeguard Security, who played with 10 men, made light of beating St Michael, whose seven men were bundled out for 68 at Warwick Secondary.

Craig Cannonier took three for 17 and then smashed three sixes and two fours in an unbeaten 43 as Safeguard romped to 72 for one in only 11 overs.

Knockout draw First round: North Village v St Michael, West Indian Association v Safeguard Security, Sandys Sports Club v Forties, PHC v Devonshire Stars.

Semifinals, August 23: Winners North Village-St Michael v winners WIA-Safeguard Security, winners Sandys SC-Forties v winners PHC-Devonshire Stars.

Final, August 30: Venue to be announced.