Fourteen-year-old all-rounder Brian Hall was hailed as a star of the future after Western Stars swept into the Commercial Cricket League's Knockout Cup semi-finals with a 61-run victory over BC Allrounders.

Hall, who has played a number of matches for Stars' Premier team this season, made 29 and then claimed a wicket with his first ball on his way to impressive figures of five for 13 in five overs as BC Allrounders tumbled to 104 all out in pursuit of Stars' 165 for nine.

"Hall had a good all-round performance," said Stars' skipper Chris Smith.

"This 14 year old is showing great promise and I'm sure you will be hearing a lot more of him in the future."

Stars' reward following Sunday's match at a damp St. John's Field ¿ held over from the previous week and the only fixture on the Commercial calendar ¿ is a semi-final tie against Fine Leg Byes on September 2. Forties will meet West Indian Association in the other tie.

Anthony (Porky) Manders led the way for Stars in a match cut to 35 overs a side with six fours in his 62 and was given solid support by Smith, who hit two fours in his 30, and Hall whose 29 included a six and two fours.

Medium pacer Andre Smith kept BC Allrounders in the hunt with five for 34 from seven overs while Larry Allen chipped in with three for 27 from seven.

Mitchell DeShields, who struck two sixes and three fours in his 34, and skipper Franklyn Simons, whose 19 included three boundaries, threatened to cause an upset but Hall and Philip Lawrence (three for 19 from seven) had other ideas as BC Allrounders were dismissed in the 25th over.

"We were going quite well but our middle order fell apart and we fell just short of the glory," said Smith.

Despite being covered overnight, water leaked onto the pitch and there were puddles in the outfield, forcing the match to be pushed back to 2 p.m.

"The ball kept fairly low and the outfield was very mucky which made boundaries hard to come by," said Stars' skipper Smith.

"All credit to BC Allrounders who played with great intensity in the field and never gave up.

"They missed a few catches early on but then regrouped and took a few good catches with one spectacular diving catch near the end of the innings."

He added: "The medium pace bowling of Lawrence and Hall proved to be very effective. They both had spells of a very tidy line and length that the batsmen had difficulty coping with."

Meanwhile, this Sunday's action reverts to the League Cup with four third-round matches on tap.

North Village and Forties, who have both qualified for the semi-finals from Group A, meet at Wellington Oval while three teams are still in contention in Group B, currently headed by Hamilton Parish.

Parish play St. David's, who are in with a chance of advancing, along with West Indies Association, who meet Western Stars. Parish have won both matches so far while St. David's and WIA have a win apiece.