Solid performances by two unlikely heroes Leroy (Curly Joe) Wilson and Hasan Durham combined with a timely knock by batting stalwart Dexter Smith led Western Stars to a 65-run victory over champions Nationals in Saturday's Central Counties Cup second-round game at Nationals.

The victory now means that cup holders Stars are in position to avenge last year's first-round defeat against Police when the teams meet in Saturday's semifinal at St. John's field (11.00).

Wilson and Durham, playing in their first limited-overs game of the season, proved to be as valuable as gold for stand-in skipper Anthony Manders at a time when the team was weakened by the absence of three key players (skipper Gary Brangman, Arnold Manders and Jeff Richardson) who are touring England with the Bermuda national squad.

Medium-pacer Wilson led Stars' bowling attack by taking four wickets for 15 runs from his allotted 10 overs while Durham (50) was one of two players reaching half-centuries.

Smith rose to the challenge and answered the call of his skipper by with a flourishing 52 before he was run out.

Smith and Durham joined in a second-wicket partnership that put on 103 runs.

It was the performance of the trio combined with some reasonably tidy fielding that eventually led to the end of Nationals' reign.

The 50-overs game was reduced to 45 overs after overnight rain prevented play from starting on time.

Stars had a fair start when 28 runs were scored before their first wicket was lost, that of Anthony Foggo (13). But then came Durham and Smith to add stability with their solid stand that steered Stars in the direction of respectability.

Left-hander Smith, who looked to be in command after a slow start to the season, was the dominant partner. He faced 75 balls and finished with eight fours and a six while Durham faced 135 balls and struck six fours.

The stand ended when Durham was caught by Wilfred Hodson off spinner Bruce Perinchief while Smith followed shortly afterwards when he was sensationally run out by a throw by Nyon Steede.

But this came after the two had made it tough for Mark Ray who is standing in as skipper for Darrin Lewis, also on tour of England with the national squad.

Ray switched his bowlers about often in a bid to break the stand.

After the departure of Durham and Smith, Stars sent in their heavy hitters who are usually tail-enders, but of the lot only Dwayne (Pickles) Steede was successful in hammering the ball about. He scored a quick 42 off 34 balls, striking three fours and a six.

Mark Ray was the best bowler for Nationals with four for 34 off nine overs while spinner Perinchief had two for 50 off 10 overs.

After the first 15 overs, Nationals had scored 44 for the loss of opener Gary Knight (20) with their run rate being a mere 2.93.

However, the rate was increased considerably when opener Winston Simmons (31) and Jason Lewis (32) joined in a second-wicket stand that produced 43 runs.

But once Wilson struck and dismissed Simmons it was not long before the bowlers got on top with spinners Wayne Richardson and Cleon Scotland giving away little.

Six more wickets fell for the addition of only 33 runs, including that of their main batsman Lewis who was bowled by spinner Scotland, before Nationals ran out of overs.