Big-hitting Best blasts Watford to victory
West Indian Association and Watford Sports Club scored contrasting victories on Sunday to stay neck and neck at the top of the Commercial Cricket League but Police Recreation Club and Forties also won to stay firmly in the title hunt.
National soccer coach Clyde Best smashed seven sixes and six fours in an explosive knock of 92 in an opening stand of 130 with Ray DeSilva (34) to put Watford in sight of Lucozade Leg Trappers' 41-over total of 188 at the Royal Naval Field. But Ian Falconer and Gary Knight triggered a collapse in which seven wickets fell for 33 runs.
David Sousa (20 not out) and Robert DeSilva (six not out) survived to steer Watford home in a tense finish with five overs remaining -- Falconer took four for 40 from 11 overs and Knight three for 30 -- as the West Enders completed the double over their rivals.
Earlier Justin Freisenbruch topscored with 47 for Lucozade and there were also useful contributions from Jeremy Franklin (36), David Napier (27) and James Broadbent (21).
Blake West and his 14-year-old son Jim grabbed the lion's share of the wickets, with Blake claiming four for 44 from 13 overs and Jim, who hit a four and six in the final over to clinch a one-wicket victory in the first meeting between the teams, took three for 15. Troy Berkeley had two for 38.
Defending champions West Indian Association also completed the double when they crushed Jamaican Association by 10 wickets at Shelly Bay after bundling them out for a paltry 57.
Skipper Ken Savoury took four for 10 in nine overs and Randy Liverpool had two for eight as Jamaican Association were dismissed in 37 overs.
Openers Patrick Waithe, who struck six fours in unbeaten 35, and fellow Barbadian John McConnie (14 not out) knocked off the runs in 16 overs.
Police Recreation Club became the third club to complete the double -- despite a five-wicket haul by David Jarrett -- when they beat West End Warriors by 68 runs at Police Field with allrounder Andy McCulloch playing a starring role.
Devonish Small (43) and McCulloch (41) added 61 for the second wicket to lay the foundation for Police's 39-over total of 147, Ian Moe chipping in with 20.
Jarrett finished with five for 26 from 11 overs while Charlie Simmons took two for 12.
The Warriors started brightly, reaching 42 for one, but the fire of fast bowler McCulloch, who took five for 12 in nine overs, five of them maidens, proved too much and they slipped to 78 all out in 29 overs.
Simmons made 22 and Clevie Richardson 20 while 15-year-old Police bowler Adrian McClean impressed with two for 18 from six overs.
Forties also had a more youthful look than usual at Garrison Field where skipper Gordon Campbell shone with bat and ball to lead from the front in a 103-run victory over North Village with 21 balls to spare.
Forties were forced to call on the young sons of Gary Edwards and Mark Melvin -- Tom and Alex -- to make up a team and Campbell's son David also came on as a substitute fielder in the closing stages, 11-year-old Tom taking the youth honours with a catch in the gully.
Campbell hit seven fours and a six in an unbeaten 74 in Forties' 186 for four declared in 40 overs, adding 72 for the fourth wicket with Gerald Simons (36) and an unbroken 64 for the fifth wicket with Andrew Paynter, who made 36 not out.
Skipper Mike Levon claimed two for 39 while promising 15-year-old left-arm slow bowler Umdae Raynor took one for 58.
Village reached 52 for two in the first hour with opener Haile Melakot making 26 but saving the match became their priority as wickets tumbled to Campbell (four for 31 from 15 overs) and Hughie Hollis (three for 17).
Village still seemed likely to get the draw when last man Derek Bell joined Cleve Trott.
But runner Umdae Raynor -- sent on when Bell pulled a muscle -- was narrowly run out as Trott called for a single and Village were all out for 83 in the 41st over.
CLYDE BEST -- hit 92 in opening stand of 130.