West Indian Association and Forties completed contrasting victories in the twice-delayed first round of the Commercial Cricket League knockout to set up an intriguing semi-final showdown this weekend while holders Jamaican Association advanced to the last four without bowling a ball.

The Jamaicans, who beat Leg Trappers in an epic final at Lord's last season, made their way over the Causeway again on Sunday, unaware that St. David's had already conceded the tie at Garrison Field because they were unable to field a full team.

The Jamaicans showed up with only eight players, according to manager Glenmore Barrett, but that was sufficient to claim a semi-final berth against North Village, who had a first-round bye, in this Sunday's tie at Shelly Bay.

"I had to dig deep to get eight men there - I picked four players up in my car - and it was disappointing not to get a game," said Barrett. "There was no way I wasn't going to turn up - we wouldn't give up the cup that easily."

WIA started with only eight players - and fielded with seven - but were far too strong for 10-man Centurions at Shelly Bay, winning by 135 runs after former Forties all-rounder Allan Lee and Andy Boyce bludgeoned half centuries with eight sixes apiece.

With the boundaries set smaller than usual, Lee also struck three fours in his unbeaten 87 at number three while number five Boyce also hit one four in his 62 as WIA piled up 225 for six in their allotted 40 overs.

Pick of the Centurions attack were John Nicholls and Troy Berkeley who each took two for 38.

Ronnie Nathu gave Centurions a fine start by belting four sixes and two fours in his 41 but the newcomers slid to 90 all out in 24 overs, undermined by skipper Barry Richards, a left-handed batsman, who snapped up six for 30 in eight overs bowling his "occasional right-arm slow stuff".

Jerry Callender took two for 32.

"It's not often that I get more wickets than runs," quipped Richards, who was caught in the deep for five.

Forties, 11 times winners of the knockout over the past 20 years, claimed a five-wicket win over Devonshire Stars at Southampton Oval in a match reduced to 35 overs a side because of football training on the ground and delayed pitch preparations which prevented a noon start.

Stars reached a promising 55 for three in 17 overs but then subsided to 66 all out in the 25th over as skipper Gordon Campbell grabbed four for nine in 5.4 overs and John Ray two for one in three overs. Earlier Brian Holdipp claimed two for 17 in seven overs as Reginald Baker topscored with 22 (three fours).

Although Daniel Caines took three for 20 in seven overs, Forties reached their victory target in the 18th over, Mark Melvin leading the way with three boundaries in his 25.

"It was a bowler's paradise," said Stars skipper Andr? Smith afterwards. "It's nothing to cry about. We had a meeting after the game and everybody was optimistic about carrying on next season."

Allan Lee's mid-season defection to WIA from Forties - a switch that caught skipper Campbell unawares - will add extra spice to Sunday's semi-final tentatively scheduled for Police Field. Lee, a 61-year-old Canadian, changed clubs because he felt he was underused at Forties.

WIA held the upper hand over Forties last season, beating them twice in the league - the second victory by a one-run margin denied Forties the title and handed it to Leg Trappers - and confirmed their 2002 domination by beating Forties in the first round of the knockout.

This season WIA and Forties have shared a league victory apiece, although WIA's win came after Forties had already sewn up the title.

WIA, league runners-up for the last two seasons, lost to Jamaican Association in last year's knockout semi-final and will be keen to reach this year's final at Forties' expense but Forties are equally confident they can repeat their league-knockout double triumph of 2000.