St. George's 131-2 St. George's moved into top spot ahead of Bailey's Bay on net run rate in the Premier Division Open standings yesterday after another comfortable win at Wellington Oval.

Lionel Cann and David Adams both claimed three wickets and then Ricky Hodsoll and captain Clay Smith made the victory chase look easy as they each hit half centuries to lead the team home by eight wickets.

Devonshire struggled for runs all the way after an opening stand of 22 between Dexter Smith and Donald Norford ended when Cann bowled Smith for eight. Eight runs later Cann had Norford caught behind for 18 as the visitors, sent in by St. George's, quickly slumped to 38-4.

After a stand of 33 for the fifth wicket between Leon Place, who batted 79 minutes for his 22, and Ricky Brangman Jr (12), Rec. slumped again as the last six wickets went down for 57 runs.

Adams, back after three weeks on the sidelines for not training, picked up three wickets for 20 runs in six overs to support Cann's three for 24 as Devonshire were dismissed in 40 overs. Their total was helped by 37 extras, including 23 wides.

Hodsoll scored his second straight half-century as an opener, hitting an even 50, including seven fours, before departing seven runs from the victory target after adding 115 with Smith for the second wicket. Smith finished unbeaten on 52 with seven fours and a six. It was his sixth 50 of the season and took him past the 500-run mark.

Bailey's Bay 230-7 Warwick 175 Ricky Hill, Dennis Trott and Irving Romaine all got in the 40s and Dennis Pilgrim led the bowling with four wickets as Bailey's Bay beat Warwick by 55 runs at Southampton Oval.

Openers Hill (47) and Trott (40) both retired injured during their innings before returning as Bay enjoyed an opening stand of 64 which also involved Cal Dill who was the first wicket to fall.

Irving Burgess and Charlie Marshall both scored 19 before Romaine carried his bat for 41 not out as Bay reached their winning total. Father and son pair, Hoyt Zuill and Davon Govia, led the Warwick bowling with five wickets between them.

Zuill claimed two for 50 from 10 overs while Govia, the sixth bowler used by Warwick, finished with three for 23.

Allan Wilkinson led the Warwick batting with 50, including six fours and a six, before he was smartly caught on the long-on boundary by Coolridge Durham who held three catches. Reginald Pitcher contributed 32 late in the order as he and Wilkinson, batting at number four, put on 40 for the seventh wicket.

Pilgrim was Bay's main strike bowler in the absence of Anthony Braithwaite with four for 33, including dismissals in his first and third overs when he bowled openers Daniel Caines and Johnny Nusum.

Teenager Jim West, who shared the new ball with Pilgrim, took two for 43 while another youngster, spinner Stephen Outerbridge, had two for 38 off seven overs.

Western Stars 268-7 Willow Cuts 138-7 Three half centuries by their first three batsmen inspired Western Stars to a whopping 130-run victory over visiting Willow Cuts at St. John's Field.

Albert Steede, struggling for much of the season, returned to form with a patient 68 to lead the batting although he was somewhat restrained with his total coming from 93 balls, scoring just a six and one four.

The other two top scorers were Steede's opening partner Treadwell Gibbons with 55 off 60 balls and skipper Arnold Manders with 52 off 38 balls.

The openers put on 90 runs and then Steede and Manders added 66 for the second wicket. Also among the runs were Andre Manders with 29 not out and Hasan Durham and Gary Brangman with 14 apiece. Charles Swan was the top bowler for Willow Cuts with three for 44 off 10 overs, including a maiden.

With Cordell Gilbert's patient 27 not out off 127 balls, Cuts seemed to be satisfied with just occupying the wicket in reply.

Skipper Dexter Basden was earlier more aggressive with a stylish 50 off 83 balls, striking four fours and two sixes. But when he was out at 74 for three, after steering the side from 10 for two, the bottom fell out for Cuts although Gilbert remained to ensure they would survive the full 50 overs.

Durham was the top bowler for Stars with two for 39 off 10 overs.

St. David's 140 Police 144-2 Skipper Dennis Archer stroked 58 not out and Rohan Moore claimed four for 37 to lead Police to an eight-wicket victory over St. David's at Police Field.

With Moore in good form, St. David's struggled for runs from the outset and it took a solid batting performance by veteran Allan Richardson (41) to prevent the visitors from being dismissed for a smaller total.

The other batsmen in double figures were Rudell Pitcher with 20, Del Hollis 19 and Sammy Robinson 19.

Taking wickets for Police besides Moore were Archer with three for 17 off 10 overs, including four maidens, and Ferdinand Thorne with two for 22 off 10 overs.

Assisting Archer in putting up the runs for Police were David Greenidge with 39 not out, Tyrone Smith 25 and Andrew Rollins 14.