Police 183-5 Western Stars paid the ultimate price for wasting an ideal start in Saturday's Central Counties Cup final against Police; a free pass to the final of the Champion of Champions Cup.

From 127 for one with 20 overs remaining, Stars capitulated against an inspired Police bowling attack and finished with a total which ultimately proved inadequate on a superb batting track.

Stars held the early advantage as Gregory Sampson and Treadwell Gibbons (38) put on 83 for the first wicket. Then Steede joined Sampson for 44 more.

But from the moment Steede (16) top-edged an attempted pull against left-arm spinner Philpott, it all went wrong.

Sampson, who batted well for his 53 from 112 balls, with four boundaries, succumbed to the big hit and suddenly Stars were 129 for three with no set batsman at the wicket.

That soon turned to 138 for six and with Roger Blades, Dwayne Leverock and Philpott giving little away, Stars struggled to their final total before the three-and-a-half-hour cut-off which only allowed them 48 overs of batting.

Philpott, the sixth bowler used, finished with three for 20 from six overs while Leverock claimed two for 23 from 10 and Freston Hurdle, who did well coming back, two for 46 from 10.

Leverock was not done as he and skipper Dennis Archer produced a vintage opening partnership which put Police firmly in the driver's seat. The pair looked capable of securing a 10-wicket romp before Archer lost his head at 101 when he skied a catch to Cleon Scotland at long-off against Gibbons. He had made 59 from 89 balls, including a six and seven fours.

Stars were given a flicker of hope when Ferdinand Thorne skied out for seven shortly afterwards but Philpott's 52-run stand for the third wicket with Leverock just about did it.

Leverock fell one short of a deserved half-century, caught at long-off after facing 123 balls and hitting just two fours.

That prompted the loss of three wickets for just five runs, bringing together Blades and Terry Thomas, the same pair who had combined to finish off Stars the week before.

This time, there were only 23 runs to get at five runs per over. And after a few wristy blows from the bat of Blades (20 not out), Police were cruising.

"They were trying to go for too big a score and lost wickets and that's where we came back into the game,'' said winning skipper Dennis Archer. "Myself and Sluggo (Leverock), we did pretty good in the batting, set a good foundation and that's what we needed.'' Stars skipper Manders lamented: "We only scored 54 in the last 18 overs with eight wickets in hand and that's where we lost.'' Warwick 124 Bailey's Bay 126 Jimmy Marshall, Stevie Outerbridge and Corey Hill combined to take eight wickets to help Bailey's Bay advance to the Knockout Cup semi-final with this six-wicket victory over Warwick at Sea Breeze Oval on Saturday.

Warwick's bats never got going against the formidable bowling attack with just four players reaching double figures. Richie Foggo was top bat with 28, Johnny Nusum scored 23, Q.King 21 and Daniel Caines 10.

Outerbridge snatched three for 10 off just 3.3 overs, including a maiden, while Marshall had three for 36 off nine overs and one maiden. Hill finished with two for 43 off 10 overs, with a maiden.

Bay needed just 25 overs to record victory, Glenn Blakeney leading their batting with 43.