A superb display of out-cricket was followed up by composed batting as Western Stars played like champions in a thorough seven-wicket crushing of Devonshire Rec. at St. John's field on Saturday.

Less than a week after being skittled out for 55 in a league match against Willow Cuts, Devonshire were a mere shadow of the side that dealt with all comers in 1991.

Devonshire continued their dominance of Stars by winning the Camel Cup final in May to add to victories in last year's Camel Cup final and the KO Cup quarter-finals.

But on this day Stars would be number one, everything went right. Some fine catches were held, there were two clutch run-outs and the bowling changes were inspired.

With Arnold Manders leading the way with a solid 41, the swiftness of the victory sent Stars' into rapturous celebration by 5.15 p.m.

Cup-holders Stars took charge of the one of the Island's fiercest rivalries from the start after skipper Gary Brangman won the toss and put Devonshire in on a wicket that would soon take turn from a vaunted four-prong spin attack.

The table was set by the opening bowling pair of the skipper and his brother Allan, who bowled Donald Norford without scoring in the first over with the score on one. And without addition to the score in the next over, Lloyd Morrison also went for nought, trapped in front by Gary Brangman.

So, suddenly, Rec.'s situation was looking rather precarious with their two leading batsmen, Albert Steede and skipper Anthony Amory, forced into action inside the first 10 minutes.

The batting side's worries weighed on Steede throughout his 111-minute innings and it showed. Amory tried to carry the attack whenever the opportunity was presented as he hit four fours in his knock of 20 from 42 balls.

Just when it looked that Amory had weathered a tidy spell he was out lbw, pushing half-forward to a Leroy Wilson delivery that hardly left the ground.

The score was 33 for three in the 15th over and big-hitting James Pace strode to the wicket.

Pace's presence immediately lifted Devonshire's fortunes as he batted confidently, but to the visitors' chagrin, for only 37 minutes for 26 runs.

Pace smashed big sixes off Wilson and spinner Wayne Richardson and also connected for a four but in Arnold Manders' first over, he was undone by an off break that bowled him through bat and pad.

With 23 overs gone, Devonshire were moving at snail's pace with Steede's ability to disrupt the field with quick singles stunted while some of his better shots off the back foot were snared by the agile Cleon Scotland in the covers.

Steede's only boundaries were all through the air, two sixes hit of Richardson before the left-hand bowler produced the gem of the day, taking a one-hand return catch as Steede laid into a low full toss. Steede's subdued innings of 29 lasted 68 balls and his dismissal left Rec. at 87 for five in the 28th over.

The next four wickets fell for the addition of only 16 runs, including two well-judged catches by Hasan Durham and a direct hit for a run-out by Allan Brangman. Manders finished up with three for 22 from his 10 overs and Richardson with one for 30 in the heart of the spin attack.

Mark Trott (nine not out) and Dennis Williams (nine) added 13 for the last wicket before the latter was run out attempting a second run.

Stars' task appeared simple enough, but they were about to face the Island's most on-form bowler, Anthony Edwards, who was just off a successful tour of England with the national squad.

Edwards struck in his second over, sending back Durham for nought as the youngster played back to a ball that stayed low and was out lbw with the total eight.

But from this point any hopes of victory were slowly taken away from Devonshire. Arnold Manders joined Dexter Smith in a second-wicket stand that added 44 before Smith was caught behind for 13 trying to force Erskine Smith through the off side.

Manders appeared headed for a deserved half-century before mistiming a straight drive off Mark Trott and holing out to Place at long-off. Manders had struck six fours in his 87-minute stay.

Despite the dismissal to make it 80 for three, Devonshire were still left with a mountain to climb and the new pair of Anthony Manders and Scotland knocked off the remaining runs with little incident.

The two ran between the wicket with arrogance, making Devonshire look ordinary in the field. That plus an over-abundance of extras -- 29 in all -- proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Rec., who have not won the Central Counties Cup since 1985. Manders finished unbeaten on 22 while Scotland was on 17 when the winning run was scored with over 13 overs remaining.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, TRY AGAIN -- Aronald Manders fails in this attempt to run out Devonshire's James Pace at St. John's field on Saturday, but at right he turns the trick by bowling the free-scoring batsman for 26 to start a collapse. Stars retained the Central Counties Cup with a seven-wicket victory.