Anything but a decisive victory for Western Stars would have been a big surprise in this Central Counties third round game at St. John's field on Saturday.

And by winning by a comfortable margin of seven wickets, Western Stars ensured themselves of a place in the final against Police on July 2.

After a 10-wicket victory over Social Club a year ago, Western Stars were firm favourites to deal with them easily once again -- and this is what happened.

Spearheaded by medium pace bowler Gary Brangman and spinner Hasan Durham, who each took three wickets, Western Stars were always in full command of the game.

Poor Social Club were never allowed to settle down and faced a crisis from the very beginning when they lost their first three wickets without scoring a single run.

Brangman snatched the wickets of Webster Mills and Jarmine Tucker in his first over, Mills going on the fourth ball and Exell on the sixth. Then Gladwin Richardson became the third victim when he fell to spinner Arnold Manders' fourth ball of his second over.

Much to the relief of Social Club there was some stability at last when Earlston Wolffe (11) and Cecil Tucker (15) added 25 for the fourth wicket.

After three more wickets fell skipper Dwayne Adams (35) and David Saltus (seven) joined to produce the biggest stand of the innings, adding 33 for the seventh wicket. But once Adams was dismissed it didn't take the bowlers long to end Social Club's innings after just 32.4 overs.

Durham had three for 14 off seven overs with three maidens while Brangman took three for 19 off eight overs, including four maidens.

Stars coasted to victory off 22 overs despite losing the wickets of openers Treadwell Gibbons (19) and Gregory Sampson (12) and Cleon Scotland (one).

It was left for brothers Andre and Anthony Manders to steer the champions to victory, Andre scoring 18 not out and Anthony 23 not out. Elvis Richardson took two wickets for 15 runs off seven overs.