Western Stars 200-5 Batsmen dominated yesterday's battle of the giants at Sea Breeze Oval as three emerged with centuries in a match that was destined for a draw from the moment the covers were removed revealing a docile, friendly wicket.

Ricky Hill and Charlie Marshall of defending league champions Bay as well as Stars' supremo Albert Steede sent messages to the Cup Match and County selectors as each crossed the 100 mark, the Bay duo engaging in an unfinished 211-run fourth wicket partnership.

Sent in to bat on a flat pitch offering no assistance to the bowlers, Bay offered the visitors some hope in falling to 69 for three before Hill and Marshall restored order.

And while neither were particularly fluent in style they were nevertheless effective, occupying the centre for some 178 minutes until Bay announced a declaration at 4.45 p.m.

Marshall lashed 119 in just over four hours, including five fours and five sixes, while Hill, who survived a run out scare before he had scored, reached 106 in just under three hours, managing five fours and six sixes.

Allan Brangman took two for 75 and Wayne Richardson one for 48 as Stars' attack toiled for scant reward.

Steede hit back when it was Stars' turn to bat, his ton showing all of the artistry of a batsman on song as he unloaded his full arsenal, smashing 12 fours and four sixes before being caught.

Remaining contributions to the total came from Gregory Sampson (27) and Ricky Brangman (17).

Stars thus remained in first place in the Premier Division by a single point over Nationals, while Bay closed to within 20 points of the top spot.

Nationals 207-8 PHC 177-6 Not only did PHC deny Nationals the win that would have taken them to the top of the standings, they came within 31 runs of handing the home team only their second league loss of the season.

James Pace and Allen Richardson appeared in no mood to play for the draw, even though the PHC innings did not start until 4.53. The former St. David's pair added 61 in 38 minutes for the fourth wicket to take the score from 51 to 112.

And though Mark Smith quickly followed Pace without scoring -- the second of Alan Corcoran's three victims -- a sixth wicket stand worth 60 between Richardson and Kevin Dill (21) must have caused Nationals some anxious moments. Richardson finished with 72 not out., Bruce Perinchief supported Corcoran with two for 64 from 17 overs.

Jason Lewis hit an even 100 with 13 fours and a six to lead Nationals back after they had lost Dennis Trott without a run scored. Lewis and Graham Strange (29) added 78 for the second wicket and further contributions from Quinton Outerbridge (19), captain Neil Speight (16 not out) and Brandon Woolridge (14) took them past 200.

Cal Waldron claimed four for 65 off 21 overs and James Pace two for 82 from 22 overs.

St.George's 201-3 Flatts 62 St.George's' Premier Division title hopes remained very much alive as they steamrollered over struggling Flatts at Wellington Oval yesterday.

The East Enders were always in control after knocks of 78 not out from skipper Graham Fox, 48 from opener Dexter Smith and 45 from Clevie Wade allowed them to declare at 201 for three.

But there was never any doubt about the result once all-rounder Wade got his hands on the ball.

The Cup Match veteran returned his best figures of the season, claiming six for 11 off 13 overs, seven of which were maidens, as Flatts crumbled to 62 all out.

David Adams was almost as impressive at the other end, taking four for 26 off his 8.1 overs.

Five Flatts players failed to get off the mark and only a stubborn 24 from Rodney Woolridge, who was eventually caught by wicketkeeper Foggo off Adams, prevented the visitors from suffering further embarrassment.

Devonshire Rec. 200 St. David's 126-7 Ten-men St. David's hung on for a valuable draw as the home team battled to secure a victory right down to the final over.

Devonshire got the wicket of Scott Minors with the first delivery of the final over from Erskine Smith but Dale Fox and Chris Pitcher then held on for the rest of the over to deny Rec. the two wickets they needed -- although they did pick up an extra bonus point with the dismissal of Minors.

Smith was the leading wicket-taker for Devonshire, finishing with three for 14 off eight overs while Winston Trott Jr. claimed two for 44. Anthony Amory and Leon Place were rewarded with just one wicket each after some economical bowling, Amory giving up just 17 runs in 10 overs while Place conceded 19 off nine overs.

High man for St. David's was Philip (Billy Joe) Pitcher with 48 including eight fours and a six before he was bowled by Place. Eddie Lamb contributed 30, putting on 44 for the third wicket with Pitcher, in taking the score from 33 to 77.

Terry Fray led the Devonshire batting, also scoring 48 with five fours and two sixes, while Anthony Amory hit 44 and Cal Grimes 27 not out. St. David's were generous in the extras department, conceding 52 including 16 no balls.

Herbie Bascome led the Islanders' bowling, claiming five for 44 from 19.5 overs while Dale Fox took two for 34.

Somerset 132 Southampton 134-8 It should have been a straightforward victory for Rangers after openers Keith Wainwright (31) and David Stoneham (23) laid the foundation with a 63-run start.

But they ended up cutting it close as eight wickets went down for 67 runs before Barbados-born debutant Carl Grazette capped off a fine all-round performance with an unbeaten 23 which carried Rangers to victory with just six overs left.

Seven-wicket Blades destroys Bridge From Page 23 Grazette put on 32 valuable runs for the eighth wicket in the final hour with Michael Brangman (21) to take Rangers to the brink of victory.

Somerset captain Shannon Warner kept his team in the game with six for 27 from 16 straight overs, taking the first four wickets in his ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th overs as Rangers went from 63 without loss to 70-4.

Earlier, Grazette claimed three for 28 off 14 overs. Quinton Burch led the bowling, though, with four for 27 from 10 overs while Janeiro Tucker wrapped up the tailend, claiming two for one off 10 deliveries.

Opener Reid Jones was the high man for Somerset with 41, including eight boundaries, while Curtis Lee hit an unbeaten 29.

Somerset Bridge 37 Police 38-3 Police wrapped up victory inside two and a half hours as a 10-man Somerset Bridge side never threatened to dent their Premier League championship hopes at Police Field yesterday.

Paceman Roger Blades had the visitors in all kinds of trouble, snapping up seven for 16 in 8.4 overs as Bridge slumped to 37 all out. Only B.Gibbons with 14 managed double figures as five players failed to score.

Police quickly knocked off the required runs, Wayne Clarke top scoring with 23, although they did lose three wickets.

Warwick 117 Willow Cuts 118-4 Willow Cuts scored their second win over Warwick in eight days yesterday when they beat their Western Counties rivals by six wickets at Southampton Oval.

Set a target of just 118 for victory, after Kevin Fubler claimed six for 27 from 13 overs of spin and brother Rodney two for 28 off 11.3 overs, Cuts reached their target without too much trouble after captain Dexter Basden and Andre Hendrickson put on 40 for the first wicket.

Basden was high man with 46, including six fours and a six, while brother Richard was there at the close with 26 not out and Gladwin Edness 14 not out.

El James was the best of the four bowlers used by Warwick, returning two for 33 from 14.3 unchanged overs.

Johnny Nusum was high man for Warwick with 22.

Social Club 116 Cleveland 117-1 Allan Douglas paced Cleveland to a convincing nine-wicket win over Social Club at White Hill Field, stroking 57 in an opening stand of 82 with Courtney Trott.

Douglas smashed seven fours and two sixes in his knock while Trott then found another willing partner in Jermaine Postlethwaite as they added 35 for the second wicket to complete the victory. Trott was unbeaten on 25 and Postlethwaite 27 not out.

Earlier, Andre Smith, Del Hollis and Johnny Richardson all took two wickets each as Social Club were restricted to just 116 in 33 overs which was shared by eight bowlers.

Opener Dwayne (Streaker) Adams was high man for Social Club with 37 while Cecil Tucker's 31 in the middle order assured them of reaching the 100 mark.

CLOSE CALL -- St. David's wicketkeeper Shea Pitcher watches a throw to the batsman's end miss the target as Devonshire's Terry Fray scampers home safely.

Fray was high man for his team with 48.