Barry Richards smashed an unbeaten century as West Indian Association romped to a 10-wicket victory over bottom club Devonshire Stars and moved within two points of Commercial Cricket League leaders Leg Trappers.

Braxton Stowe starred with bat and ball as Forties leapfrogged over North Village into third place with victory in a match of fluctuating fortunes while Jamaican Association moved up to fifth place after overpowering nine-man Police Recreation Club in Sunday's other fixture.

With Leg Trappers and defending champions St. David's having the day off, West Indian Association stepped up their title challenge by making light of their 175-run victory target at Garrison Field.

Richards plundered eight sixes and nine fours in an unbeaten 106 as he and fellow Barbadian Jerry Callender knocked off the runs in 29 overs, Callender hitting six fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 57.

Earlier Worrell Bean made 40, skipper Derek Smith 38 not out and Fred Simons 22 as Stars reached 174 for eight, Richard Austin snapping up four for 52 and Junior Watts three for 43.

At Shelly Bay, North Village reached the comfort of 108 for four but subsided to 124 all out against Forties. Village then reduced Forties to 31 for four before an unbroken stand of 94 between Stowe and David DeSilva swept their side to a six-wicket victory in the 30th over.

Opener Mike Levon, who pulled a hamstring and retired hurt, returned before being last man out for 34 but apart from Allen Smith (29) Village had no answer to the spin of Stowe who scythed through the lower order to claim four for 11 from 3.1 overs. Allan Lee and David Jarrett chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Pace bowlers Chris Caisey and Derek Bell, who each took two for 27 from 10 overs, had Forties on the ropes early on but controlled aggression - as skipper Gordon Campbell put it - from Stowe (45 not out) and DeSilva (46 not out) guided Forties to their fourth win of the season.

Police slumped to their fifth defeat, losing by 163 runs after Jamaican Association recovered from a stuttering start to pile up 280 for seven at Police Field.

The Jamaican total was built around middle-order half centuries from Ian Coke, Chris Daley and Clive Barrett. Coke struck eight fours and a six in his 56, Daley's 77 included 10 fours and a six and Barrett hammered four sixes and six fours, Daley and Barrett adding 121 runs for the fifth wicket.

Skipper Jim Walters took three for 69 and Raj Goonewardene two for 80 for Police who then tumbled to 117 all out in the 33rd over with Jason Wade (23), Dave Fray (22) and Marcio Walls (21) the main contributors. Pick of the Jamaican attack were Kevin Abrahams (four for 18) and Glenroy Brown (three for 15).

"It was another dismal defeat for us," admitted Walters. "We were missing depth in our bowling."

This weekend - the halfway point of the league season - Police, whose only victory came against St. David's, take on Devonshire Stars at Garrison Field. A first win of the season will get Stars off the bottom of the table.

Elsewhere, Leg Trappers take on North Village at Shelly Bay, West Indian Association meet St. David's at Police Field and Forties and Jamaican Association head west for a clash at the Royal Naval Field.