THE wait seemed interminable but Chris Foggo celebrated his first half-century on English soil with such fervour that you could not help but think that it was well worth it. His innings of 62 not out came not for Pyrford, his Surrey County League first division club, but for BWIA in the Western Union Trophy group stage.

The weekend was made wholly successful with the news that Kingstonian were held to a winning draw, which meant that, with Pyrford winning by five wickets against Old Grammarians on Saturday, they are the undisputed league leaders.

Foggo, who has already won plaudits at BWIA for his wicketkeeping, came to the crease at number six with only 13 overs remaining and set about the Combined Islands bowling attack with an aggression that he is not known for in Bermuda.

Thanks in no small part to Foggo, BWIA made an imposing 245 for seven in 40 overs to set up a 75-run victory, which qualifies them for the knockout stage of the competition of which they are the cup-holders. OJ Pitcher made 10 not out.

"Earlier in my career I felt less comfortable batting in that kind of situation," Foggo, aged 20 lest we forget, said. "But I was able to work the gaps and keep the ones and twos going. I am very happy about this because the teams we are playing in this competition are better than those we (Pyrford) play in the league. The pitches are better, too."

Pitcher was not to be left out of the weekend's festivities, from an individual standpoint, as he claimed three for 16 from seven overs on Saturday as Pyrford dismissed Old Grammarians for 110 in 33.1 overs. The visiting team started brightly with a half-century opening stand and advanced to 90 for two before Pyrford, with Pitcher in the main, throttled them back.

Pyrford did not expect to encounter many problems chasing such a meagre target against a side that is second from bottom in the league, but they slipped to 70 for five nevertheless, with Pitcher out leg-before, sweeping, for two and Roland Butcher having suffered a rare failure. But Foggo, who admitted that the team was "a little nervous", weighed in with an unbeaten 15.

Kingstonian made the mistake of batting too long in reaching 221 for six in 46 overs and did not leave themselves enough time to finish off the home team, who were struggling at 104 for eight in 40 overs at the close. The nine points gained for the winning draw leaves Kingstonian 11 behind Pyrford, with Godalming, who had to settle for a losing draw at home to Roehampton, a farther 21 points adrift.

Pyrford have a chance to consolidate their position at the top with a match away to Roehampton tomorrow, while Kingstonian are at home to Sinjuns and Godalming visit Marlborough (1870).

Atherstone Town had the weekend off in the Warwickshire Cricket League, and thankfully, too, given their present three-match losing streak. But Ryan Steede did his and the team's confidence a world of good with an incisive performance in the Thursday League Knockout that helped West Midlands club into the semi-finals.

Steede, batting at number four, was run out for two but Atherstone, playing at home against Bedworth, made on an admirable 101 for four in 18 overs. It was with the ball, as has been the case all season, that the former Bermuda Under-19 player made a significant contribution, taking four for 16 in five overs to inspire a 14-run win.

Atherstone Town return to league play tomorrow, away to Marston Green, and will find that they are now eighth in the 11-team league after the results of last weekend.

Back in the Surrey Championship third division, the author can understand sentiment of Chris Foggo after scoring a first fifty for the season. That it proved a decisive contribution in a victory that moved Southern Railway into a tie for second place was all the more significant.

Playing at home to Cobham, who handed us one of our most bitter defeats last season, Railway were set a target of 222 to score in 40 minutes and 20 overs - almost a replica of the famous Cup Match victory in Somerset in 1994.

We set about this with a relish and crossed the score with three balls remaining, yours truly making 70 before being dismissed in typical fashion - a sweeping top edge off the head and ballooning to first slip.

The result set us up for a good run-in to the title, if we are lucky, but promotion is the definite target, come what may. For, as much as I would like to see more of Chris and OJ, I don't want to be playing against them on a regular basis next season.