Forties, setting their sights on a 14th Commercial Cricket League Knockout Cup title after brushing aside West Indian Association, will meet Fine Leg Byes, easy winners over ten-man Western Stars, in the final in ten days' time.

WIA will get the chance to gain revenge, however, when they meet Forties in this Sunday's final of the revived League Cup, last held a decade ago.

Forties flayed a lightweight attack to cruise to a seven-wicket victory with more than eight overs to spare after dismissing WIA for a modest 193 in 38 of their 40 overs at the Warren Simmons Community Field (WSCF).

FLB also beat Western Stars by seven wickets at Shelly Bay in the other Knockout Cup semi-final to earn a berth in their first final.

WIA made the worst possible start after losing the toss as Reginald (Lucky) Pitcher was caught by a diving Brian Brangman in the slips off Blake West's first ball of the innings.

But opener Chris Clarke (24) and Dave Greenidge (29) repaired the damage with a second-wicket stand of 52. Anthony Brathwaite then smashed 22 from 15 balls but the introduction of the slower bowlers sparked a collapse that saw WIA slide to 127 for nine before Courtney Weekes, who struck eight fours in his 52-ball 55, added 66 in a last-wicket stand with Rowan Ramotar (11 not out) which was ended when Weekes was run out.

Brangman was the pick of the Forties attack, bagging four for 33 from his allotted eight overs, while West finished with two for 41 from eight and skipper Gordon Campbell chipped in with two for 45, also from eight.

Openers Braxton Stowe and Granville Bennett laid the foundation for victory by adding 104 off 14 overs, Stowe striking five fours in his 44-ball 35 and Bennett six fours and a six in his run-a-ball 44.

Both fell just after the water break but a third-wicket partnership of 55 between Rohan Davis, whose 46-ball unbeaten 50 included four fours and two sixes, and Yatin Gawas (17) took Forties to the brink of victory. Pitcher was WIA's most successful bowler, picking up two for 56 from eight.

"Cricket's a funny old game," said skipper Campbell. "Sunday's match was one of soaring highs and despairing lows for us. It was

with shoulders drooping that we trooped off, but with the realisation that 193 was not a huge total at WSCF despite the thick grass.

"What can I say about our innings except that they bowled badly and right from the start Braxton and Granville took it to them. This sets up an interesting League Cup final."

WIA batsman Barry Richards, who hit two trademark sixes before skying a catch, admitted: "We just didn't show up to play cricket. Our bowling was too weak without Junior Watts, Richard Foulds and Lloyd Morrison and we didn't trouble Forties enough. We didn't score enough runs. We beat ourselves really.

"We lost wickets in the middle as Forties bowled a consistent line but at least we have the chance to redeem ourselves in the League Cup final when we should have all our bowlers back."

Western Stars' young team, six of whom were under the age of 14, perished for 65 in 27 overs as Simon Lambert claimed three for 16 from eight, Indiga Perera three for 19 from seven and Craig Smith two for 13 from six. Andre Manders topscored with 17 but Stars had the stuffing knocked out of them when his brother Anthony was run out for a duck.

FLB knocked off the runs in 11.5 overs, Jeff DeSilva leading the way with five fours in his 28.

Despite the heavy defeat, Stars' skipper Chris Smith remained upbeat about next season: "We're definitely looking to get more players. Our Premier side took a lot of our players this season."