West Indian Association enjoyed a great escape before getting the better of Caribbean rivals Jamaican Association in a pulsating first-round match to earn a place in the semi-finals of the Commercial Cricket League's knockout competition.

WIA's opponents at Police Field this weekend will be Watford Sports Club, who comfortably saw off the challenge of Forties, the 2000 league and knockout champions, thanks largely to a knock of 81 by former Bailey's Bay player Jim West.

As expected in the bottom half of the draw league champions St. David's and Leg Trappers, the 1999 winners, secured the other semi-final berths - but in contrasting styles.

Leg Trappers were given a hard fight by 10-man Devonshire Stars, who finished bottom in the league, before emerging winners by five wickets at the Royal Naval Field.

St. David's, last season's losing finalists, went through without a ball being bowled as North Village turned up with only six players at Garrison Field and were forced to default for the second week in a row.

Village now face a possible censure by the league and spokesman Wendell Lindsay admitted: "It was disappointing to finish on that note. I do apologise to St. David's." An upset St. David's skipper George O'Brien added: "We had 11 men there and were ready to go. It's very frustrating."

Ten-man Jamaican Association, the league runners-up, appeared on course for victory at Police Field when they reduced WIA to 80 for nine, ripped apart by Junior Lindo (three for for 26), Simroy Crosdale (three for 29) and Glenroy Brown (three for for 37).

But a dramatic last-wicket partnership of 78 between man-of-the-match Stan Francis (29) and Junior Watts (22) rescued the West Indians who were finally all out for 158 in 38 overs. Dave Greenidge made 26.

Francis was also in top form with the ball, snapping up four for 19 from eight overs, to help clinch a 21-run victory as the Jamaicans were dismissed in 34 overs for 137 in fading light.

Brown - last out for 29 - Chris Cox (27) and Donovan Livingstone (22) all got among the runs and David Gibbs briefly threatened to carry his side to victory, pulling Jerry Callender (two for 22) for six before the medium pacer switched to around the wicket and had the former Somerset all-rounder well caught by wicketkeeper Chris Clarke.

Forties, 11 times knockout winners, ended a disappointing season with a 40-run defeat against old adversaries Watford Sports Club, who have won the tournament four times, at Shelly Bay. Both teams had key players absent.

West, with three sixes and three fours, almost single-handedly lifted Watford to 145 - fellow opener David DeSilva (18) was the only other player to reach double figures - but was involved in four run-outs, including skipper Michael Corday for four, before being 10th out for his 81.

Skipper Gordon Campbell was the pick of the bowlers with four for 19 from 5.4 overs but Forties never recovered after Campbell was adjudged caught behind for nought in the first over of their reply.

David Jones top-scored with 31 before he was run out and although Allan Lee hit an unbeaten 25 Forties subsided tamely to 105 all out in the 36th over as DeSilva (three for 14) returned to mop up the tail. John Ray claimed two early wickets to finish with two for 23.

Devonshire Stars' openers put on 71 in 18 overs in a stand dominated by Fred Simons after they had won the toss.

Simons made the most of being dropped when on 14 - Mark Wetherhill spilled a simple caught and bowled chance - and was finally out lbw to Jonathan Hughes for 58 to lay the foundation for a competitive total of 181 for seven.

Hughes finished with four for 22, including eight of the 31 wides in the innings, while Colin Scaife took two for 15.

Trappers started well in reply, skipper Gary Knight (37) and Chris Fleming (27) putting on 65 for the first wicket. After Knight fell, Justin Freisenbruch was unsportingly run out backing up at the non-striker's end, Fleming was caught and bowled and then leading batsman Graham Strange was caught at square leg for three.

When Hughes was out to a wild slog Stars sensed an upset was on the cards but sensible batting by Andy Trinder (37 not out) and James Swan (24 not out) guided the Trappers home in the 32nd over, helped by 40 wides.

Trappers will welcome back batsman Damion Henderson for the semi-final against St. David's in place of Scaife, who is attending a wedding with his girlfriend.