Charlie Marshall continued his bright start to the season with a superb 100 not out then Stars' Jeff Richardson produced his best knock of the season to preserve the draw at Sea Breeze Oval yesterday.

Stars and Bay, the top two teams in the league coming into the match, were all even at the end when the captains agreed to pull stumps with six overs left.

Richardson was in rare form on 65 and Anthony Manders, made skipper for the day to prepare for the loss of national team players Gary Brangman, Arnold Manders and Richardson, was still there on 18 in a stand of 76 for the fourth wicket.

Bay had to fancy their chances of victory after sending Stars in at 5.02 p.m.

They tasted early success when Dexter Smith (nought) was out to a brilliant diving catch at mid-off by Kerry Tucker off Clarkie Trott's bowling.

And there was further cause for concern when Gregory Sampson was forced off the field after a rising delivery from Anthony Braithewaite caught him on the right wristbone.

But the extras bug that has plagued Bay in recent weeks was again prevalent.

Braithwaite gave up 17 runs in his second over -- only one off the bat -- and poor Dennis Pilgrim was called for throwing by square leg umpire McDonald Swan six times in an exhausting over that yielded 21 runs.

In all, Bay conceded 40 extras, a total that did more to take the sting out of their victory chase than did Richardson's BDM blade, which stroked seven fours and three sixes.

Trott finished with two for 19 from nine overs.

Earlier, Marshall was the toast of Bay as he saw through a lengthy period of tight Stars bowling.

The left-hander came to the wicket with the score 41 after opener Chris Smith was bowled behind his legs by spinner Wayne Richardson for 15.

Fellow opener Devrae Hollis (15) followed soon after, then Bay settled in.

Glenn Smith chipped in with 21 and Clarkie Trott raced to 45 before being bowled by Gary Brangman.

Trott hit six sixes and a four from 31 balls in 53 minutes as Bay's approach changed significantly after being pegged down for the first two hours.

Once Noel Gibbons came to the wicket, Marshall himself picked up the pace and he played some delightful shots square of the wicket as his first century in three seasons neared.

Marshall finished with 11 fours and three sixes, bringing Bay's innings to a close when he scampered through for his final run.

Gibbons, in mostly a supporting role, was unbeaten on 40 at the declaration, having hit four fours and a six.

Richardson was Stars' top bowler with two for 37 from 15 overs.

Devonshire Rec. 206-7 dec.

Social Club 57 Leon Place slammed 59 not out and Anthony (Pacer) Edwards took five wickets for 31 to lead Devonshire Rec. to a 149-run victory over Social Club at St.

John's field.

It turned out to be a great all-around performance for Place who, after excelling with the bat, took two wickets without conceding a single run from 3.3 overs. Edwards bowled 12 overs with four maidens.

Against an attack spearheaded by Edwards and Place, Social Club never looked capable of reaching triple figures. Only three players reached double figures with Roy Trottman scoring 18, Cecil Tucker 14 and skipper Webster Mills 10.

Social Club's frail batting was exposed early as the first six wickets fell for only 25 runs. They were never able to recover although Tucker and Trottman put on 28 for the seventh wicket.

Although spinner Desmond Smith took three for 25 and fast bowler Roddy Thompson took three for 73, the Devonshire batsmen were never really troubled by the attack. With Place leading the way with his half-century from 62 balls, Albert Steede followed with 34, opener Donald Norford 21, Erskine Smith 17 and Roger Trott 12.

The result took Devonshire to the top of the standings by one point over Western Stars.

MARVELLOUS MARSHJALL -- Charlie Marshall pulls one for four during his unbeaten 100 aagainst western Stars yesterday.