Western Stars players and fans were last night celebrating after their team's emphatic eight-wicket mauling of Bailey's Bay in the final of 2002 Champion of Champions Cup at Lord's yesterday.

Inspired yet again by the bowling heroics of spinner Arnold Manders (three for 19) and his jovial side-kick Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock (three for 17), Stars made short work of their opponents.

The pair wreaked havoc upon Bay's middle-order, sparking a severe batting collapse from which the side would never recover.

An unbroken third-wicket stand of 91 between skipper Albert Steede (54 not out) and veteran Treadwell Gibbons Sr. (45 not out) put the proverbial icing on Stars' cake, giving the St. John's Road club their third championship of the season.

Steede stroked four fours and three sixes off 49 balls while Gibbons managed five fours and two sixes after facing 42 deliveries.

Treadwell Gibbons Jr chipped in with a useful 14 to help Stars reach their winning target in only 89 minutes in the lurking darkness and drizzle, with 20 balls to spare .

“The conditions today weren't conducive for good cricket but considering those conditions we played extremely well,” said a satisfied Steede following the awards presentation.

“To top it off, we batted sensibly and we only lost two wickets. So I think we had a fine all-round performance today.”

Jermaine Outerbridge was the sole Bay bowler to reap success, claiming the only two Stars wickets to fall for 29 runs.

Earlier, match officials Wilbur Pitcher and George Francis decided to reduce the match to 25 overs after the previous night's rain had dampened the pitch. The match didn't get underway until 2.45 p.m. with Bay losing the toss and being sent in to bat.

They couldn't have asked for a better start with opener Jermaine Warner promptly picking up where he left off during last weekend's Eastern Counties thriller, smashing a brutal 53 off just 36 balls that included four sixes and four fours in only 36 minutes.

Bay's first 50 came in just eight overs, with the century coming in 16 overs as they threatened to post a challenging total.

But apart from Warner's whirlwind innings, only Charlie Marshall's equally brisk 41 kept the scoreboard ticking over as the remaining Bay bats buckled under the pressure of Leverock and Manders who kept tightening the screws, forcing Bay to throw away their wickets in a desperate attempt to pick up the run rate.

Marshall stroked five fours and a six off 34 deliveries, while occupying the crease for 54 minutes.

The last five Bay wickets fell for only 29 runs before the overs ran out, leaving Stars to score 5.56 runs per over.

In addition to the superb bowling performance of Leverock and Manders, Wilbur Burt, Gershon Gibbons, and Saleem Mukuddem were each rewarded with a wicket apiece.

Veteran Gibbons was presented with man-of-the-match honours after executing two fine stumpings and a timely unbeaten match-clinching innings.

Following the match, Bay skipper Irving Romaine immediately paid tribute to Stars and to his own team-mates.

“Well done to Western Stars. I would've liked to have had a fifty-overs match,” said Romaine.

“We did the best we could. We lost the toss, the pitch was a little more moist when we went in to bat, but this is still a bonus for Bailey's Bay right now. We are happy that we have got the Eastern Counties trophy and we are now looking forward to better things next season.”

Devonshire Rec made light work of Willow Cuts yesterday as action in the First Division Knockout competition continued.

In a match that was postponed from last Sunday due to the death of Devonshire player Corey Smith, his team paid a fitting tribute to their late colleague by romping to a comprehensive victory on their home turf.

It mattered not that the game was reduced to a 35-over-a-side affair as hapless Willow Cuts were dismissed for 107 in 20.2 overs. There were six ducks and only Reginald Tucker with 32 to his name scored any runs of note. Gladwin Edness chipped in with 21, the same as the extras. Dennis Williams took three for 13 and three other bowlers took two wickets apiece.

Devonshire cruised to their 108 target for the lone loss of Omar Amory (30) in 16.3 overs. Wendell Swan led the victory chase with an unbeaten 51 while Ricardo Brangman was left not out on 10.