High-riding St. David's opened up a five-point gap at the top of the Commercial Cricket League when they beat West Indian Association by 33 runs to notch up their third successive victory of the season, thanks largely to a five-wicket haul by George Cannonier.

Jamaican Association dropped their first points when their ill-tempered match against North Village was abandoned because of bad light while Forties, lifted by Brian Holdipp's second five-wicket haul of the season, scrambled to a thrilling one-wicket, last-over victory over 10-man Leg Trappers.

In Sunday's other match Watford Sports Club needed only 59 balls to overhaul Devonshire Stars' 103 at the Royal Naval Field.

St. David's, boasting six players with County Cup experience, three of them former Cup Match stars, continued their impressive early-season showing by amassing 231 for nine after being sent in. Solid contributions came from Reginald Pitcher (43), Jeff Pitcher (37), Alan Lamb (30), Allen Richardson (26) and Granville Bennett (21).

Leg-break bowler Randy Liverpool was the pick of the WIA attack with four for 40 while Junior Watts took three for 54.

WIA produced their best form, but still slipped to their third successive defeat after being dismissed in the 36th over for 198. Andy Boyce topscored with 48, while Liverpool (22), Freston Hurdle (22), a former Police Premier player, and Chris Clarke (21) all made useful contributions.

Cannonier claimed five for 34 while Ken Pitcher and George O'Brien took two wickets each.

In one of the most thrilling matches seen at Garrison Field, tail-ender Holdipp dispatched a Colin Scaife full toss for four in the final over to give Forties their heart-stopping win over old rivals Leg Trappers whose recent battles have mostly been fought out at now-closed Nationals.

Leg Trappers lost three wickets in struggling to 15 -- all taken by Holdipp who finished with five for 33 from 17 overs -- after being sent in but James Broadbent and Graham Strange repaired the early damage with a stand of 90.

A very slow outfield meant running between the wickets was vital, and the fitness of the two batsmen proved advantageous as many twos and threes were scampered as the fielders were put under pressure.

Broadbent was eventually stumped off Allan Lee for 22, while Strange went on to complete a half-century before being caught behind off Holdipp for 57. The innings folded tamely as nobody else reached double figures.

Scaife continued his good form with four wickets for 26 while Mark Wetherhill, a Bermudian lawyer making his debut for the Trappers, impressed with an eight-over spell which, although wicketless, promised better things for the future.

Forties looked well placed at 52 for one but after opener Gladwin Ingham was bowled by Scaife for 19, the game was nip and tuck for the rest of the innings.

Broadbent took the important wicket of Rohaan Simons and when he later caught skipper Gordon Campbell off Strange for 34, Leg Trappers were in with a chance.

However, a knock of 22 from left-hander Craig Cannonier helped Forties to within 20 runs of their winning target and despite two run-outs they were able to scrape home with five balls to spare.

A solid batting performance enabled the Jamaican Association to reach 218 for eight declared in 37.4 overs after being sent in at Shelly Bay, thanks to Simroy Crosdale (47), Glenroy Brown (39), Donovan Livingston (37) and Presley Milwood (23 not out).

The declaration was made because the Jamaicans were unhappy with North Village's slow over rate. Mike Young -- three for 40 -- and Chris Caisey -- three for 39 -- were Village's most successful bowlers.

In reply, Village struggled to 76 for four from 30 overs, Livingston picking up three for 19 from seven overs, but by then the match had become increasingly bad-tempered with the Jamaicans continuing to accuse Village of time wasting, and as darkness fell the game was abandoned, each side taking five points.

Village spokesman Wendell Lindsay said the ill-feeling started when Caisey's first ball of the match, a bouncer, was wrongly called a no ball by the umpire.

Watford turned on the style to destroy Devonshire Stars in a one-sided encounter.

Sent in, Stars struggled to 103 all out from 28 overs, Franklin Simons top-scoring with 35 while skipper Derek Smith made 15. Terry Ward (two for three), Blake West (two for 15) and Gary Ray (two for 16) were the pick of the Watford attack.

In reply, openers Ward (41 not out) and skipper Terry Corday (54 not out) launched into the hapless Devonshire bowling, Ward hitting four fours and three sixes while Corday struck seven fours and three sixes as they reached the required target in just 9.5 overs.