Forties took over top spot in the Commercial Cricket League when they beat defending champions West Indian Association by four wickets at Shelly Bay on Sunday in a match that produced five run-outs.

Forties, who eventually won with 11 balls to spare, owed their second successive victory to a century opening partnership between Gary Edwards and Mark Melvin.

Sandys Sports Club opened their season with an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Pembroke United at the Royal Naval Field while St. David's needed only 11 overs to reach their victory target of 78 against Safeguard Security who played two short at Warwick Secondary.

WIA, weakened by the absence of John McConnie and top batsman Andy Boyce and forced to use bowler Ken Savoury as wicketkeeper, struggled to 54 for four in the first hour after being sent in.

They then slumped to 97 for seven before lower order batsmen George Babb (34), Jerry Callender (26) and skipper Junior Watts (24) led a revival, lifting the total to 158.

Skipper Gordon Campbell took three for 48 while Edwards chipped in with two for 36.

Edwards and Melvin both survived early slip chances to post a first-wicket stand of 110 in the 28th over before Edwards became the first of three run-outs, his 51 containing four boundaries. Melvin, back with Forties after a season at Nationals, made 43 with three fours.

Safeguard began with seven men -- and eventually fielded nine -- but despite the inclusion of Oliver Bain (14) and Patrick Hamlett (3) were bundled out by St. David's for 77 in 25 overs, Adrian Jennings topscoring with 35.

George Cannonier took three for 38 while fellow left-arm bowlers Robin Minors and Ed Burchall picked up two wickets apiece.

St. David's lost skipper Elliott Pitcher for a duck but hard-hitting Dean Pitcher and Cannonier completed the rout in quick time.

Pitcher followed up his 42 in the opening fixture against Forties with an unbeaten 44 that contained three sixes and three fours while Cannonier struck four fours in his unbeaten 26.

Allrounder Terry Ward and fast bowler Paul Ross took the honours in Sandys' victory over Pembroke United, who have lost both their opening matches.

Ward took three for 21 in Pembroke's 172 and then struck 10 boundaries in his 73 as Sandys wrapped up a convincing win.

Junior Lindo, with one six and four fours, was Pembroke's top scorer with 41 while Ian Coke and Legay Cannonier each made 25. Ross grabbed five for 75 in 13.2 overs. Opener Ray DeSilva hit six fours in his 44 as Sandys reached 173 for three in 33 overs.