North Village routed Western Stars to stretch their Commercial Cricket League lead to five points over Forties who were thwarted by Fine Leg Byes' last pair ? despite Brian Holdipp's six-wicket haul ? while West Indian Association consolidated third place by hammering a weakened Jamaican Association in action on Sunday.

Western Stars, who have failed to take a point in three outings, made a promising start by reaching 51 for two at St. John's Field but the introduction of first- and second-change bowlers Kevin Mallory and Chris Caisey triggered a collapse that saw their last eight wickets tumble for 20 runs after Maurice Lowe made 16 and Kent Todd 15.

Medium pacer Mallory claimed five for 29 from 10 overs while fast bowler Caisey took two for six from eight overs. Clarkie Darrell chipped in with two for 19 from eight overs, leaving Village with a modest victory target of 72 from 51 overs.

They made a stuttering start, losing Mike Payne for a duck, Mike Young for six and Allen Richardson for two with only 21 on the board as Allan Brangman snapped up two for 29 from five overs. But skipper Mike Levon, who made 31 before running himself out, and Ernest McCallan (19 not out) sealed the points in just 13.1 overs.

Forties posted a useful 162 for eight on a slow outfield at Garrison Field ? only eight fours were hit in the match ? after being sent in by FLB, who staged a remarkable recovery from 46 for eight to reach stumps at 108 for nine thanks to a stylish unbeaten half century by Jeff DeSilva, salvaging three points in a losing draw.

Forties struggled to 93 for four from 28 overs but some lusty blows by Blake West, who made 24 at number eight, and skipper Gordon Campbell, who made 23 not out at number nine, lifted the tempo with 36 runs from the final 24 balls. Earlier Brian Brangman made 35 and Gladwin Ingham 22, which included 20 singles.

Leg-break bowler Nick Cardinez was the pick of the FLB attack with three for 40 from eight overs while Ishwar Narayanan took two for 32 from eight and Andrew Holmes two for 11 from five.

Forties appeared set to claim all 10 points as opening bowler Holdipp ran through FLB's top order to claim five wickets in his opening 13-over spell, eventually finishing with six for 36 from 15 after hitting the stumps five times ? while Campbell took three for 19 from seven.

DeSilva found a useful ally in number 10 Chris Troskie, who made an obstinate 23, the pair adding 60 for the ninth wicket before Troskie fell with 20 balls left, but last man Cardinez helped DeSilva, whose unbeaten 52 included two sixes and a four, save the day for FLB.

"Some of our reliable bats didn't get going and we had an uphill job to salvage a draw after losing those eight wickets in the first two sessions," said opener Angus Lynn, who was the only other FLB batsman to reach double figures with 10.

"In hindsight maybe we could have declared earlier, although we did get 36 off the final four overs," said Campbell.

Defending champions Jamaican Association, now down in fifth place, slid to their second successive defeat but they fielded a depleted team ? several players, including David Gibbs and Rowan Ramotar, were away watching the Test in Jamaica ? and were beaten by seven wickets in emphatic style by WIA in a game reduced to 40 overs a side at Shelly Bay.

Jerry Callender led the WIA charge, claiming five for 40 from 14 overs, while fellow medium pacer Sri Narasimham took two for 34 from 11 as the Jamaicans closed on 128 for eight.

Left-hander Chris Daley, who later claimed all three wickets to fall as WIA reached their target in 25 overs, topscored with 37 while skipper Junior Lindo made 29 not out.

Opener Barry Richards, whose right eye is returning to normal after he was struck by a ball in a recent match, blasted six fours in his 41 while Narasimham followed up his useful bowling stint with two sixes in an unbeaten 20.

Daley's three for 26 came from six overs for the Jamaicans, whose title hopes have been dented by the return to Police of all-rounder Donovan Livingston.