time and shattered high-flying Sandys Sports Club's dream of landing the coveted double with a six-wicket victory at White Hill Field on Sunday.

Sandys' skipper Terry Corday won the toss and, persuaded by his team-mates to bat first following their impressive 259 for two in their easy semi-final win over West Indian Association, took first strike on a slow pitch -- a decision that backfired.

Sandys, with the league title already under their belt, never fully recovered from losing both openers cheaply and were dismissed for a modest 130 in 35 overs as Forties bowled tightly and took nearly all the catches that came their way, including two apiece by Leon Dickinson and Oscar Andrade, who also made other vital contributions to their team's cause.

Andrade and opening bowler Andrew Paynter, who rejoined Forties from Sandys this season, each took three wickets.

Forties lost opener Gary Edwards, a century-maker in their semi-final win over Pembroke United, for a duck in the opening over but a fine knock of 47 by number three Peter Borland, an innings of 27 by Dickinson and an unruffled unbeaten 26 by skipper Gordon Campbell helped clinch victory with more than six overs to spare.

The victory was sweet revenge for Forties, who had won all previous nine Knockout finals they had appeared in before losing to Sandys by three wickets in last year's showpiece at Wellington Oval.

"We really wanted to do the double and we honestly felt we could do it,'' said skipper Corday. "But we didn't get enough runs -- it was as simple as that. Perhaps we were too confident.'' Despite Forties' impressive Knockout record, Sandys started Sunday's match clear favourites after following up last year's final success by thrashing their rivals in both matches this season on their way to the league title.

Forties were given a great start by Paynter, who played a key role in Sandys' Knockout triumph last season.

He had skipper Corday caught behind trying to cut with the total eight and with the first ball of the next over Campbell removed the other opener, Ray DeSilva, who clipped the ball neatly off his toes, only to fall to a brilliant reflex catch by Dickinson at short backward square leg.

Terry Ward, who hit an unbeaten century against WIA, and Michael Corday repaired the damage and their partnership was beginning to blossom when Corday, who had been driving fluently, was unlucky to get a ball from Paynter that popped, edging to Dickinson who threw himself forward to take the catch.

Paynter, who finished with three for 36 from eight overs, struck again in the same over without addition to the total, bowling David DeSilva as the left-hander left his leg stump exposed.

Dickinson almost completed a hat-trick of catches at short backward square leg, just failing to hold on to a low, sharp chance offered by danger man Ward, who had just moved into double figures.

But Forties did not have to wait long for further success as left-arm medium pacer Wayne Frost bowled Troy Berkeley behind his legs for three with the total 49.

Ward had added 19 for the sixth wicket with Terence Corday and appeared to be making good his escape when he went back to a short ball from Frost (two for 16) but mistimed his shot and holed out to Andrade at long on, his 27 including four boundaries.

Corday and Paul Ross saw up the 100 and fashioned the best partnership of the innings -- 46 -- before Ross (12) was tempted to drive at leg break bowler Andrade, only to edge a simple catch to Edwards at slip.

Corday, top scorer with three boundaries in his 29, fell to Dickinson from a low catch at short midwicket by Andrade, who then wrapped up the innings by removing Karl Pringle and Alan Simons in his fourth over to finish with three for 15.

The loss of Edwards -- caught at cover by David DeSilva off Terence Corday from the third ball of the first over -- was a major setback for Forties but Dickinson and Borland regained the initiative, adding 58 for the second wicket before Dickinson fell to David Desilva in the 15th over, pulling a short ball straight to Terence Corday on the backward square leg boundary. Dickinson's 27 contained three fours.

Borland, who escaped when a simple chance was put down at midwicket, collected runs with calm authority and appeared set to reach his 50 when he was trapped lbw pushing forward to Ward, the seventh bowler used as skipper Corday rang the changes. Borland added 45 for the third wicket with Campbell, his 47 including five fours.

Sandys' hopes temporarily rose when Paynter fell one run later with the total 104 -- lbw to Terence Corday (two for 41) -- but Campbell and Gerald Simons (13 not out), who had flown in the same day from the United States, calmed Forties' nerves, steering their side home with 39 balls to spare. Campbell's unbeaten 26 contained three boundaries.