A quickfire century stand between openers Gary Edwards and Tim Bridges set up an emphatic seven-wicket victory for cup kings Forties over Pembroke United whose skipper Ian Coke stunned his team-mates by walking off during Sunday's League Cup final at Police Field.

Coke, apparently fed up with his fumbling fielders, staged his dramatic exit in the 15th over as Edwards and Bridges took advantage of a series of misfields and dropped half chances to rattle up the 100-run partnership in pursuit of a victory target of 196.

Michael Campbell, ignoring team-mates' advice not to play following an operation during the week for a broken jaw sustained in a Knockout semi-final defeat the previous Sunday, bravely tried to rally 10-man Pembroke, even taking over from Glen Barrett as wicketkeeper after completing his bowling stint.

But it wasn't Campbell's day. After being caught behind for a first-ball duck and giving up 32 runs with the new ball he was powerless to stop Bridges and Edwards who scored at will on an easy-paced pitch and lightning-fast outfield.

Bridges eventually fell with the total 127, trapped lbw by Junior Lindo for an attacking 69 which contained 11 fours, but 50-year-old Edwards soldiered on to carry Forties to the brink of victory, hitting four boundaries before he was run out for 67.

Mark Melvin, who earlier snapped up three wickets in an over as Pembroke faltered after they too had enjoyed a century opening partnership, continued to carry the fight to the attack, adding 46 for the second wicket with Edwards.

Melvin slammed seven fours in an unbeaten 39 as Forties -- 10 times winners of the league's more prestigious Knockout tournament -- coasted home, reaching 199 for three in the 33rd over, their highest total of the season.

Despite losing Rohaan Simons, who injured his knee in a bike accident on the way to the game, when he was run out for one with the total 176, Melvin teamed up with skipper Gordon Campbell to clinch victory.

Forties became the second winners of the 40 overs-a-side tournament in which bowlers are limited to five overs apiece. St.David's, who withdrew midway through this season, won the tournament in 1994, the only previous time it has been on the Commercial League calendar.

Pembroke, who won the toss on Sunday and chose to bat, were given a rousing start by openers Mike Young and Chris Cox who flustered Forties by completing a century partnership in the 17th over, laying the foundation for what seemed likely to be a formidable total.

Andrew Paynter set them on their way by giving up 12 runs in his opening over -- including four wides called by lone official umpire Leroy Wilson who handled the match superbly.

In all Forties conceded 18 wides in a total of 29 extras -- the third highest score of the innings.

Young and Cox feasted on the medium pace of Paynter, Adrian Jennings and Rohaan Simons -- the trio giving up 79 runs between them in 11 overs -- but Pembroke were undone by Forties' string of slow bowlers.

Although leg-break bowler Oscar Andrade, introduced in the seventh over, failed to take a wicket he went for only 13 runs in his five overs before 54-year-old Gerald Simons gained the vital breakthrough with the total 104.

Slow bowler Simons (two for 18) induced Young, whose 48 contained one six and eight fours, to hit an easy catch to Andrade at short cover and then had Campbell caught behind next ball, although the all-rounder appeared unhappy with the decision.

Cox and Coke advanced the total to 148 but the slow bowlers continued to frustrate Pembroke and Cox's fine knock of 60, containing one six and six fours, ended with the total 148 when he drove Campbell straight to Paynter at mid-on.

The dismissal triggered a collapse in which eight wickets fell for 47 runs.

Coke went for 16 and Norman Godwin, who finished with an unbeaten 20, could only look on in despair as wickets tumbled at the other end.

Medium pacer Gladwin Ingham, held back for a final burst, chipped in with the wicket of Carl Cherrington and slow bowler Melvin brought a speedy end to the innings by grabbing three wickets in his third over after changing ends.

Melvin finished with three for five in 3.4 overs, as Pembroke subsided to 195 all out, last man Glen Barrett being run out for eight in the 39th over when a long throw by Gerald Simons hit the stumps.

The Knockout final between league champions West Indian Association and Sandys Sports Club, due to be held this Sunday, has been postponed for a week because of the Leewards Islands tour match against Bermuda.

LEAGUE CUP CHAMPIONS -- Forties, who won Commercial Cricket's League Cup final with a seven-wicket victory over Pembroke United on Sunday, are (back row from left) Gordon Campbell (captain), Andrew Paynter, Gerald Simons, Ivan Clifford, Tim Bridges, Rohaan Simons. Front row, David Campbell (12th man), Adrian Jennings, Oscar Andrade, Gladwin Ingham, Mark Melvin, Gary Edwards.