Spring Garden Cavaliers' Craig Smith produced a superb all-round performance as ten-man Titans faced a baptism of fire on their Commercial Cricket League debut on Sunday.

Smith claimed three wickets and then struck an explosive unbeaten half-century to guide Cavaliers to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs to spare at Shelly Bay, despite a battling sixth-wicket partnership of 145 between Palithapushpa Kumara and Dhammika Jayalath.

Newcomers Titans have inherited seven players from accountants Ernst & Young, who have withdrawn after two seasons in the league. Skipper Arun Kikkeri blamed a lack of practice for his side's defeat.

Defending champions Forties and Jamaican Association joined Cavaliers in recording similarly emphatic victories to set the early pace.

Forties, who face Cavaliers this weekend at Garrison Field, showed they won't give up their title without a fight, defeating BC Allrounders by eight wickets at Warren Simmons Community Field thanks to newcomer Simon Jones' unbeaten half-century and a six-wicket haul by the father-and-son partnership of David and Dylan DeSilva.

Despite a hard-hitting knock of 80 by opener Dion Ball jr, which provided the backbone of his side's challenging 211 for seven, Village were overpowered by Jamaican Association, who cantered home with six wickets and more than five overs to spare in near darkness at Garrison Field, Keniek Wallen striking an unbeaten half-century in a game trimmed to 40 overs a wide because of a late start.

Village have lost batsman Ernest McCallan to Forties and are also handicapped by the absence of key all-rounder Reggie Benjamin, currently sidelined after recent knee surgery. Benjamin is uncertain of his return date.

Titans crumbled to 51 for five after 14 overs after being sent in but the counter-attack by Jayalath, with four sixes and three fours in his 75, and Kumara, whose 74 included six fours and a six, helped their side recover to reach a competitive 204 for six. Kavitharan Selvarajah made 20.

Smith claimed three for 35 from 11 overs and then bludgeoned ten fours and three sixes in his 32-ball 69 not out at number five, sharing an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 93 with Richard Foulds (29 not out), as Cavaliers coasted home with more than eight overs to spare.

Skipper Dave Greenidge (24) and fellow Barbadian David Gibbons (33) added 42 for the first wicket and Barry Richards made 27 before Smith put the Titans attack to the sword.

"When Kumara and Jayalath came together the wheels came off our fielding," admitted Foulds.

"In their partnership of 145 Cavaliers dropped ten catches in the outfield and the pair rode their luck really well. Throughout this onslaught Craig was superb, maintaining an excellent line and length throughout his 11 overs, and failing to lose heart in what was, all things considered, a pretty poor fielding display.

"On another day that could have cost us dearly."

Said Titans' skipper Kikkeri: "It was short notice for most of our players as some of them already had plans for the Sunday, so we were short by a player for the entire game.

"Spring Garden played some good cricket in all departments of the game. Titans didn't bowl well with the new ball and there were too many loose deliveries.

"It clearly showed lack of match practice for our players and the need to practise hard to get back to the winning ways. I'm confident that we'll do well in rest of the matches."

Skipper Gordon Campbell and Bermuda Sun reporter Jones, making his Commercial League debut, shared a century opening stand in 21 overs to lay the foundation for Forties' victory after dismissing BC Allrounders for 153 inside 32 overs.

Campbell hit five fours in his 41 while Jones' unbeaten 55 contained six fours and a six. McCallan finished 14 not out on his club debut as he and Jones completed victory in the 27th over.

BC Allrounders, who won the toss, crumbled to 23 for four in the face of some fiery bowling by Dylan DeSilva, but were rescued by some clean hitting from Mitchell DeShields, who rattled up 56 before being run out, having featured in stands of 45 for the fifth wicket and 41 for the sixth.

It was all downhill after DeShields' dismissal until 63-year-old Eugene (Ninety) Simmons produced a shot-filled cameo of 23 at number ten.

Dylan DeSilva finished with four for 34 from eight overs while his father David chipped in with two for 49 from seven.

"We were a little rusty and it showed, but I guess they were rustier," said skipper Campbell.

"The bowling of both teams was a little wayward at times (BC Allrounders conceded 28 wides) but I am sure this will improve as the season progresses."

Village made a breezy start after being sent in with Ball stroking six sixes and ten fours in his 80, adding 75 for the third wicket with skipper Allen Walker, who made 44. Makai Young made 23 while Bevin Carr was the pick of the Jamaican Association attack with three for 30 from eight.

In reply, new skipper Alleyne Francis (29) and newcomer Tyrone Burch (23) got the innings off to a useful start before Wallen, whose unbeaten 62 at number six included four sixes and four fours, and Michael Campbell, with six boundaries in his 45 not out, eased their side home in the 35th over.

"I was impressed with our guys. It was a good team effort," said team manager Glenmore Barrett.

Said Village skipper Walker: "We had a very competitive game as we always do against Jamaican Association. We set a good total to defend and I commend Jamaican Association for taking the game to us.

"I believe we were somewhat at a disadvantage as they called 21 wides compared to eight from us.

"We were also caught on the downside like them as it was extremely dark at the end. I give Campbell and Wallen credit under those circumstances for their desire to win.

"It was a little disappointing for us, at the end of the day we control our own destiny. We were unlucky as we dropped five catches at crucial times that would have impacted the game."