Opener Harold Minors rediscovered his form with a fluent half century to guide Forties to a crushing seven-wicket win over a young St. David's side in a Commercial Cricket League Knockout Cup preliminary round tie at Shelly Bay.

Minors' unbeaten 56 from 54 balls, which included six fours and a six, helped Forties, boosted by 50 extras including 33 wides, reach their winning target of 143 in only half of their allotted 40 overs.

The victory in Sunday's only fixture set up a first-round clash between Forties, the 13-time champions, and North Village at the end of the month in a repeat of last year's final which Village won to claim their first KO title.

Greg Outerbridge, who survived a confident appeal for a catch behind before he had scored, topscored with 45 from 82 balls and Aaron Crockwell made 25 in St. David's 142 from 38.3 overs after the East Enders won the toss and elected to bat first.

Skipper Gordon Campbell was the pick of the Forties attack, claiming four for 23 from seven overs, backed up by Brian Brangman (two for 23 from 4.3) and Rohan Davis (two for 21 from eight).

Minors and Granville Bennett, whose 27 from 35 balls included two fours, put Forties on the road to victory with an opening stand of 91, and although Outerbridge followed up his 45 with three for 39 from six, there was no way back for St. David's.

"It was good to see Harold (Minors) finally get on track again," said Campbell. "We held most of our catches — Blake West took three on the boundary — and we bowled reasonably well."

He added: "I think that the younger teams need to hold together a little more when the going gets tough.

"Too often teams fall apart when you get on top of them."

Meanwhile, Hamilton Parish, who are pushing hard for their first Commercial League title, can leapfrog Village, who have a bye, into top spot if they're successful in this weekend's latest round of league matches.

Victory for Parish, who take on Jamaican Association at Shelly Bay, would vault them into a seven-point lead but from a game more than Village, who were pipped on the post by Forties for the 2006 title.

The league title is unlikely to be decided until August 19 when Village meet Parish in the final round of league matches.

Other league matches on Sunday pit third-placed Forties, who are out of the title running, against Western Stars (venue to be decided), Fine Leg Byes against fourth-placed St. David's at Garrison Field and bottom club BC Allrounders against West Indian Association at Royal Naval Field.

These games will be followed a week later by the second round of League Cup matches.