Despite an unbeaten century by Terry Ward, Forties crushed Sandys Sports Club by nine wickets to keep their five-point lead at the top of the Commercial Cricket league.

Pembroke United opened their seasonal account with a six-wicket upset over West Indian Association while North Village overcame a seven-wicket burst by skipper Gary Ascento to scrape home by one wicket in a controversial finish against Devonshire Stars in the other fourth round fixtures.

Left-hander Ward, a New Zealander who formerly played Premier cricket for Police, pulled and drove his way to an unblemished 100 not out that contained one six and 14 fours but he was given little support by his colleagues and Sandys were dismissed for 157 in the 40th over.

Sandys -- handicapped by the absence of skipper Terry Corday and his brother Michael who were away on a golfing holiday in the United States -- lost both openers to Oliver Franks (two for 29) with only 28 on the board and slow bowler James Thomas, with four for 37, kept the scoring in check.

Thomas (47 not out) later featured in an unbroken second wicket stand of 114 with opener Gary Edwards as Forties raced to victory on the featherbed Nationals pitch with more than 18 overs to spare after losing skipper Gordon Campbell for 27 in the eighth over with the total 45.

Edwards struck 12 fours in his unbeaten 78 and, with three half centuries in four innings, lifted his average for the season to 80.66.

Pembroke United broke their duck in emphatic fashion at Shelly Bay, thanks largely to veteran medium pacer Legay Cannonier whose five for 13 from 7.4 overs helped bundle out West Indian Association for a modest 93 in 27.4 overs.

Thomas Ball, enjoying a purple patch behind the stumps, snapped up three catches -- including one to dismiss WIA's leading run-getter Andy Boyce for 21 -- and then topscored with 27 as Pembroke romped home with 30 overs to spare.

Said WIA skipper Ken Savoury: "We had a strong team out and I think we underestimated them. But I don't want to take anything away from Pembroke's victory -- they fully deserved to win.'' Three wickets apiece by medium pacers Donville Yarde and Mike Young helped North Village dismiss Devonshire Stars for 93 in the 41st over at Garrison Field but complacency set in and Village nearly threw the points away by changing their normal batting order.

Wicketkeeper Haile Melakot, who opened, was Village's saviour with an innings of 41 as quick bowler Ascento went on the rampage with seven for 56. Stars had been in deep trouble at 25 for five but Mitchell Trott gave the total an air of respectability with an unbeaten 23.

The result was disputed by Stars' scorer Raymond Furbert who claimed the match was tied, saying an extra four had been added to Melakot's score.

According to Village scorer Irving Ingram, Village won the game when they reached 97 for nine in 28.4 overs.

But to add to the confusion the umpires allowed the over to continue and Yarde was out to the final ball without addition to the total.

Stars have seven days in which to send in a written protest to league secretary Dave Carruthers.