Olwin Clarke smashed a century and Hector Watson claimed a hat-trick but their heroics could not save West Indian Association from a two-wicket defeat in an absorbing match against Caribbean rivals Jamaican Association in the Commercial Cricket League's opening round of fixtures.

Forties, whose one-run defeat in last season's final match against WIA handed the league title to Leg Trappers, began their new campaign with a workmanlike 27-run victory over Devonshire Stars while St. David's trounced North Village by 110 runs in Sunday's other match.

Number six bat Clarke's explosive 110 included 98 in boundaries with 11 sixes and eight fours as he teamed up with Andy Boyce (38) to lift WIA to 214 all out in the 36th over after they had been struggling at 83 for five.

Medium pacer Rowan Ramotar and newcomer Mark Daley did the damage with four for 57 and three for 31 respectively.

Jamaican Association, who have lost key players Simroy Crosdale, Chris Daley, Kevin Abrahams and Glenroy Brown to BCB teams, owed their victory to a second-wicket stand of 135 between opener Clive Barrett and Lloyd Morrison (46), Barrett hitting four sixes and six fours in his 85.

The Jamaicans, last season's knockout winners, appeared to be coasting to an easy victory at 194 for four but Hector (four for 18) rocked them with a hat-trick that removed Ian Coke for 23 and Kenny Wallen and newcomer Carol Campbell for ducks before they held their nerve to complete the victory in the gathering gloom in the 41st over at the Royal Naval Field.

"It was some match with boundary after boundary," said Jamaican team manager Glenmore Barrett. "I was impressed with the effort my boys put in and the way they applied themselves."

New WIA skipper Dave Greenidge said he was handicapped by having six or seven players away in the Caribbean.

"We didn't have any bowlers really - I even had to bring on John McConnie to bowl which shows we were struggling."

Left-hander David DeSilva played a key role as Forties eventually ran out comfortable winners over Devonshire Stars at Garrison Field, making 24 and then snapping up three for nine in eight overs as Stars subsided to 94 all out chasing a modest victory target of 122.

Gladwin Ingham topscored for Forties with 38 as they were pegged back by left-hander Worrell Bean, who took four for 39 in 13 overs, and Larry Allen and Quinton King, who each took two wickets. Bean kept Stars' victory hopes alive until he was needlessly run out for 17, opener Brian Holdipp picking up three for 43 and teenager David Campbell two for two.

"We had four ducks in our innings, including myself," said Andr? Smith, Stars' new skipper. "But it was our first match and we hadn't had any practice. I thought our team were more mature than in previous years when some of our players got into arguments over decisions."

Opener Granville Bennett made 58 and Jahson Smith (30) and McLaren Lowe (29) also made useful contributions as a youthful St. David's ran up 199 for five after being sent in by North Village at Shelly Bay where long grass in the outfield hampered free scoring.

Skipper Mike Levon and Kevin Bailey took two wickets each for Village who badly missed their former opening pace attack of Derek Bell, who died tragically in a boating accident last year, and Chris Caisey, who has joined Flatts.

Lowe followed up his 29 by grabbing four for 23 in seven overs and Randy Swan chipped in with two for 20 as Village were dismissed for 89 in the 30th over.

Newcomers Centurions, a spin-off of newly promoted Leg Trappers who have won two of their first three BCB First Division matches, get their first taste of Commercial League action when they take on WIA at Royal Naval Field this weekend. In other games, Forties meet Jamaica Association at Shelly Bay and St. David's take on Devonshire Stars at Garrison Field.