Forties stretched their lead to 15 points at the top of the Commercial Cricket League on Sunday after clawing their way to a three-wicket victory as their closest challengers faltered.

West Indian Association's last pair clung on for a draw to deny St. David's victory at the east end while at the west end Sandys Sports Club, who trail Forties by 20 points but have two games in hand, powered their way to a six-wicket win over nine-man North Village.

St. David's hard-hitting trio of Dale Lamb, Jeff Pitcher and Dean Pitcher went on the rampage against defending champions WIA at Garrison Field, piling up 236 for eight despite a fine effort by 59-year-old opening bowler George Rock whose 11 overs earned him a four for 35 return.

Lamb clouted a six and nine fours in his 66 and Jeff Pitcher's 59 contained a six and four fours. Dean Pitcher, who missed St. David's last match because of a self-inflicted eye injury, resumed where he left off, hammering a six and five fours before being stumped off skipper Randy Liverpool for 34.

"We tried everything but they were hitting really hard,'' said Liverpool.

WIA suffered a setback an hour into their reply when opener Junior Watts had to leave after making 17. John McConnie topscored with 35 and Olwin Clarke chipped in with 24 but WIA's innings was undermined by the slow left-arm bowling of Jeff Pitcher who snapped up four for 25 from nine overs.

Hard-hitting Andy Boyce went for one -- miscuing a full toss from Elliott Pitcher (two for 13) -- and it needed the cool heads of last pair Clevon Cunningham and Rock to stave off defeat.

Cunningham, who has performed similar rescue acts before, batted through the final 11 overs without scoring while Rock, who came in with eight overs left, was unbeaten on 21.

A Father's Day soccer tournament and a golf trip to Las Vegas seriously depleted North Village's resources -- skipper Derek Bell and Elliott Jennings were among those who headed for the United States -- and they were no match for Sandys Sports Club at the Royal Naval Field.

Village were bundled out for 120 in the 31st over after losing openers David Scraders and Gerald Bean with only two runs on the board. Acting skipper Mike Young, who walked without waiting for the umpire's decision after being stumped, made 39 and Ernest Paynter 26 as David DeSilva, Troy Berkeley and Paul Ross took two wickets apiece.

Michael Corday and his brother Terry -- playing his first game of the season after serving a three-match suspension -- sealed victory with an unbroken stand of 64 for the fifth wicket. Michael's unbeaten 58 contained 11 fours while Terry made 19 not out.

There was a rare batting failure for Terry Ward, well caught for nine in the covers by former Warwick player Robert Trew, who earlier made 16 on his Village debut.

Forties needed all but seven balls of the extra six overs they earned to clinch their fourth victory of the season after dismissing Pembroke United for 139 in the 35th over at Shelly Bay where the boundaries -- and grass -- were long.

A second-wicket stand of 78, marked by some swift running between the wickets, between skipper Ian Coke and opener Chris Cox put Pembroke in a strong position but the innings crumbled against the slower bowlers as wicketkeeper Harold Minors pulled off three stumpings.

Coke, who hit three fours, went for a fine 54 while Cox made 31.

Leg spinner Oscar Andrade, who also held two catches, took three for 50 while Gary Edwards picked up four for 16 in 5.2 overs.

Forties lost openers Edwards and Minors with only four runs on the board and a fifth wicket went at 77 -- skipper Gordon Campbell for 21 -- but a stand of 38 between Andrew Paynter (37) and George Holdipp (19) set up the victory which was finally achieved after 46.5 overs.

Pembroke's attack made Forties fight every inch of the way with left-arm slow bowler Joshua Butler (four for 48) and Rowan Ramotar (two for 46), who shared the new ball, bowling 34.5 overs between them.