POLICE have already advanced to the semi-finals of the 20/20 tournament as East Central Zone winners ¿ even though they still have one match remaining and either Social Club or Flatts could finish level on points with them.

Police won both their matches last weekend against Social Club and Flatts and the Bermuda Cricket Board rules governing a two-way tie stipulates that the team winning the 'head-to-head' meeting in the case of a two-way tie for first place will win the group.

Police play winless Devonshire Rec. in their last match on Saturday while at the National Sports Centre Social Club and Flatts meet each other knowing the best they can finish is second.

A three-way tie could develop in the west where Somerset, Willow Cuts and Southampton Rangers are all battling for the top spot and could finish level on points. In case of a three-way tie, the group winners will be determined by another tie-breaking method ¿ batting average, which is tabulated by runs scored divided by wickets lost.

Rangers have scored 282 runs and lost 11 wickets in their two matches for an average of 25.64, which puts them ahead of Somerset who have an average of 24.14 (338 runs, 14 wickets). Willow Cuts are well behind on 13.41 (228 runs, 17 wickets).

As in the case of the East and West Central Zones, the West looks to have a winner-take-all situation as Somerset and Southampton Rangers battle in the all-important match, while Willow Cuts should get the win over the bottom side Somerset Bridge to force at least a two-way tie.

However, Cuts' only chance of advancing rest with a significant win over Bridge and a Rangers victory over Somerset who already have two wins under their belts and will win the group if they beat Rangers.

It looks very likely the winner of the west will come from the Rangers-Somerset match because a Rangers win could see them either winning the group by either the 'head-to-head' or with a superior batting average over the other two teams.

Winner-takes-all situations have developed in the East and the West Central where St. David's and St. George's go into their match at Lord's with two wins while Leg Trappers and PHC also have two wins going into their important match at Southampton Oval.

St. David's should have a slight edge over St. George's to win the group and set up a semi-final clash with Police on Sunday. Certainly new Police signing George O'Brien will be hoping for a St. David's win and thus a meeting against his former teammates on Sunday at National Sports Centre.

Chris Foggo, Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann and Del Hollis were key performers for St. David's last weekend has they had wins over Bailey's Bay and Cleveland while Gregg Foggo, Ryan Steede and Oronde Bascome led the way for St. George's as they beat the same two teams.

Police were off to a fast start and will use Saturday's match against Devonshire Rec. as a warm-up for Sunday's semi-final. Richardo Brangman has the distinction of knocking off the top score last weekend, 85, but it still could not give Rec. victory over Social Club.

In the West, Azeem Pitcher scored 75 for Somerset against Somerset Bridge for the second highest individual total on the opening weekend, while Dion Stovell of Rangers seems to have taken a liking to the 20/20 format, scoring 65 and 54 in his two knocks.

After Saturday's final round of matches, the semi-finals will be played on Sunday to determine the two teams for the April 10 finals at the NSC.

The Board is reminding teams that the ruling governing 20/20 cricket allows only one hour and 20 minutes for each innings, with slow over rate resulting in reduction of time for the interval. Incoming batsmen are also allowed only 90 seconds to be in position to take their guard, otherwise they will be ruled 'timed out' under Law 31.

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Weekend schedule

Saturday

East Zone: Bailey's Bay v Cleveland (St. David's 11.00); St. David's v St. George's (St. David's 3.00).

East Central Zone: Social Club v Flatts (NSC 10.30); Police v Devonshire Rec. (NSC 2.30).

West Central Zone: Leg Trappers v PHC (S.Oval 11.00); Western Stars v Warwick (S.Oval 3.00).

West Zone: Somerset v Southampton Rangers (Somerset 11.00); Som. Bridge v Willow Cuts (Somerset 3.00).

Semi-final: Winner of East v winner of East Central (NSC 12.00)

Semi-final: Winner of West v winner of West Central (NSC 4.00)

May 10

Third place playoff: (NSC 4.00)

Final: (NSC 8.00)