Forties avenged a narrow defeat in last season's final when they thrashed newly-crowned league champions North Village in the first round of the Commercial Cricket League's Knockout Cup which also featured a match-winning century by Fine Leg Byes opener Mervyn Muckler against his fellow Jamaicans.

The form book was turned upside down as well as West Indian Association beat league runners-up Hamilton Parish by 52 runs.

The fourth tie, between Western Stars and BC Allrounders, was carried forward to this Sunday ¿ a free week on the schedule ¿ at St. John's Field because the T.N. Tatem Middle School ground was unfit for play.

Forties, who saw off St. David's in a Knockout preliminary round match last month, bundled out Village for 64 in 30.5 overs at Shelly Bay and then knocked off the runs with seven wickets and almost half their overs to spare.

Village, who scraped home by two wickets with five balls remaining in last year's rain-hit final at Southampton Oval, were immediately on the back foot after being sent in.

Only Rudy Smith, whose 12 included the two boundaries of the Village innings, Grant Smith (12) and Mike Payne (10) reached double figures as Brian Brangman (three for 18 from eight overs), Oscar Andrade (two for four from 2.2) and Blake West (two for nine from five) took charge.

Openers Granville Bennett (19) and Harold Minors (17) added 33 for the first wicket and although further wickets went down at 42 and 49, David Campbell (14 not out, including a six to finish the match) and Braxton Stowe (five not out) saw Forties home in 20.1 overs.

"Some tight bowling forced Village into rash shots and we held most of our catches," said Forties' skipper Gordon Campbell.

"Village just never got going and every time they tried to force it they gave a catch," added Campbell whose side, 13-time champions of the tournament, will now meet WIA in the semi-finals on September 2.

WIA, who elected to bat after winning the toss at Garrison Field, made 172 in 36 overs and then dismissed Parish for 120, including 33 extras, thanks largely to a four-wicket haul by Reginald Pitcher, who earlier made 26.

Barry Richards, home after a three-week holiday in Halifax, Nova Scotia, topscored with 34, including three sixes and two fours, and Patrick Hamlett made 20.

Corey Hill (three for 38 from eight), Cal Burgess (two for seven from three) and Chris Caisey (two for 37 from eight) were Parish's most successful bowlers.

Although Johnny Bean made 29, Parish had no answer to Pitcher (four for 33 from seven) and slow bowler Boobalan Kannan, an Indian chef who finished with two for 25 from eight.

Nine-man Jamaican Association, missing five key players ¿ David Gibbs, Norman Godwin, Chris Daley, Keniek Wallen and Presley Millwood ¿ reached a creditable 188 for six from their allotted 40 overs against Fine Leg Byes but were swept aside at the Warren Simmons Community Field by Muckler's classy unbeaten 102.

Muckler, who struck nine fours and five sixes, added 93 for the first wicket in 13.5 overs with Ishwar Narayanan (18) and later Craig Smith provided some hard-hitting support with five fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 41 as FLB coasted to 191 for two in 25.3 overs.

Earlier, club president Ralston Wright hit four fours and a six in his 50, despite having to retire at one stage because of a bad back, and other major contributions to the JA total came from Daniel Edwards (47, including four fours and two sixes), Junior Lindo (40) and Donovan Livingston (21).

Simon Lambert picked up two late wickets to finish with three for 29 off four.

JA manager Glenmore Barrett, who was forced to field for his weakened team, was impressed by Muckler's innings.

"He played straight as an arrow and ripped us apart. We just didn't have the bowling to defend our total."

FLB will play the winners of Sunday's delayed match between Western Stars and BC Allrounders in next month's other semi-final.