Fine Leg Byes clinched the eighth and final spot in the Commercial Cricket League’s revived League Cup while North Village and Hamilton Parish kept up their drive for the league title in what has developed into a two-horse race.

Based on current league positions, one of nine teams faced elimination from the League Cup, which starts this weekend, and newcomers BC Allrounders missed out on the chance to claim a place when they slumped to their fifth successive defeat, going down to fellow strugglers Fine Leg Byes by 89 runs.

Village, who lead the table with 55 points, three ahead of Parish, lost half of their wickets as they made heavy weather of chasing Western Stars’ modest 57, while Parish also lost five wickets in beating eight-man West Indian Association.

Forties, who have made a poor fist of defending their league title, moved up three places to third by squeezing out a two-wicket victory over St. David’s, despite three acrobatic catches by Ricky Foggo, but still trail Village by 27 points with a game in hand.

Mervin Franklin and Ishwar Narayanan (36) paved the way for 10-man FLB’s victory over BC Allrounders at Shelly Bay with an opening stand of 93, Franklin clouting three sixes and eight fours in his 73. Skipper Troy Berkeley chipped in with 29 as FLB were dismissed for 190 in the 37th over.

The wickets were shared by Worrell Bean and Andre Smith, who each took two for 47 from 10 overs, and Shawn Fubler (two for 21 from 4.4) and Andre Paul (two for 48 from eight).

BC Allrounders, who had to win to advance to the League Cup, had no answer to the bowling of Simon Lambert, who claimed four for 33 from seven overs in his first match of the season, Ajit Tiwary (three for 19 from eight) and Berkeley (two for 12 from 4.1), and were dismissed for 101 in 30.1 overs.

“Both teams knew a place in the League Cup was on the line and really went for it,” said Berkeley.

Shorn of many regulars, a makeshift Western Stars were bundled out in 19 overs at St. John’s Field where Village’s Kevin Mallory inflicted most of the damage, claiming five for three in three overs. Makai Young took three for 29 from six and Rudy Smith two for 19 from eight. Village reached their victory target in 15 overs but lost five wickets, Philip Lawrence taking two for 14 from three and Milford Waldron two for 19 from seven.

“The majority of the players that played on Sunday had not played any cricket this year and some had not expected to play on that day,” said Stars’ skipper Chris Smith.

“We called up players at the 11th hour and they answered the call. We had some players playing for the Premier team because they were short through injuries, then some of our other players had other commitments and then we had other players who said that they would play but never showed up.

“That has been our biggest struggle this season, to field a consistent team. We have many players that week in and week out say that they will play but then don’t show up to games.

“I just want to salute the players that come out and play for us every week; they show heart every time they play,” added Smith.

Asked if he felt confident Village had the title, which they narrowly lost to Forties last season, in their grasp, manager Wendell Lindsay said: “We take it one game at a time.”

Opener Chris Clarke struck four sixes and six fours in his 66 as WIA reached a respectable 155 in 35.3 overs at the Royal Naval Field, other useful contributions coming from Junior Watts (33) and Richard Foulds (23). Skipper Irving Burgess took two for 13 from five overs and Chris Caisey two for 38 from 12.3.

But playing three short — key players Barry Richards and Anthony Brathwaite were two of the regulars out nursing injuries — proved too great a handicap for WIA as Parish raced to 156 for five in 22.3 overs, Curtis Lee making 43, Alvin Baker 36 and Clarkie Darrell 27. Jerry Callender was the pick of the WIA attack with four for 56 from 10.

St. David’s went for their shots at Garrison Field and paid the price as they were bowled out for 126 in 32.4 overs of a 40-overs match but many Forties batsmen also threw their wickets away before they reached their target in the 38th over.

Angelo Cannonier (32), Greg Outerbridge (26) and Jahson Smith (21) were the main contributors to the St. David’s total, Blake West snapping up five for 48 from 10.4 overs and David DeSilva three for 22 from nine.

Johnny Simoes, who was Forties’ top scorer with 18, featured in two crucial partnerships, adding 38 for the seventh wicket with DeSilva and 23 with skipper Gordon Campbell for the ninth wicket, before a rush of blood cost Simoes his wicket with two runs needed.

Top batsman Cannonier was also St. David’s leading wicket-taker with three for 34 from 15 while Outerbridge took two for 46 from 10.

The eight teams vying for the League Cup, to be played initially on a round-robin basis, have been divided into two sets of four with Village heading Group A and Parish Group B. By coincidence, WIA, having slipped to eighth place in the league, face Parish for the second week running.

Rules of the League Cup, which was introduced in 1993 but rarely on the calendar in recent seasons, have been revamped with games lasting 42 overs instead of 40 and bowlers limited to a maximum of six overs.

[bul] Last season’s losing finalists Forties have been drawn away to St. David’s in a Knockout Cup preliminary round match with the winners going on to meet holders Village in the first round. Other first-round matches pit WIA against Parish, Jamaican Association against FLB and Western Stars against BC Allrounders.