Western Stars 38 Cleveland 39-3 Premier Division powerhouse Western Stars were caught on a sticky wicket at Sea Breeze Oval yesterday as Cleveland skidded them out for a measly 38 to record the biggest upset of the early season.

However, Stars played the match under protest after they arrived at the ground to find the wicket not covered and the strip so wet that the start of play was held up for an hour-and-a-half.

It was a toss that both captains were desperate to win and Cleveland got that early advantage when captain Peter Philpott was able to put Stars in first.

"The game was won on the toss,'' a disappointed Stars captain Arnold Manders said after confirming that he had informed the umpires Lester Harnett and Leonard Greaves that his team would be playing under protest.

"The wicket had too much water on it,'' said Manders. "We started at 12.30 but we still started too early. However, I don't want to complain, we were beaten by a better team.'' Stars, who on paper possess arguably the strongest batting line-up in local cricket, must have looked a bit like England in the Trinidad Test when they were dismissed for 46.

After Cleveland got the breakthrough in the second over when Gregory Sampson became the first of eight batsmen to be caught out on a wicket of slow pace and uneven bounce, Cleveland seldom had to wait long for further success.

"We're used to the ball coming on to the bat but it was stopping or jumping,'' explained Manders. "One-hundred to 120 (runs) would have been sufficient but we just didn't get it.'' Cleveland required only two bowlers to run through the Stars batting.

Charles Richardson claimed five-for-17 from 6.4 overs and Albert Simons four-for-20 from seven as Stars' innings lasted just 13.4 overs.

"It was a lack of application, they weren't willing to apply themselves at the wicket,'' was how Philpott summed up Stars brief innings, though he admitted the condition of the wicket did contribute.

"The way they played wasn't the proper way to play,'' said Philpott. "They were trying to play too many strokes. They went out there with a 50-overs mentality. Our bowlers were bowling accurate and getting assistance from the wicket. Our bowlers and fielders did a good job.'' Number 10 batsman Wayne Richardson was the top scorer for Stars with 13 from three fours while Treadwell Gibbons (10) was the only other player in double figures as five batsmen, including the three Manders brothers, all got ducks.

Richardson also led the Stars bowling with three for 12 from three overs but there were never enough runs to defend. Manders brought on Richardson and himself after just one over each from Gary Brangman and Hoyt Zuill.

Despite the slowness of the outfield, Cleveland raced to their winning target in just 34 minutes after Grant Smith took eight off the first over on his way to sharing an opening stand of 28 with Curtis Jackson.

Richardson struck with three wickets in the space of two runs but the defeat still remained a bruising one for Stars.