Skipper Graham Strange led from the front with an unbeaten 87 to propel defending champions Hemisphere Leg Trappers to the top of the Commercial Cricket League with a five-wicket victory over fellow title challengers Forties at Nationals.

Strange's measured 165-minute knock, which included eight fours, has left Leg Trappers needing an outright victory over Jamaican Association -- the team they pipped by two points last season -- in this weekend's final round of matches to be sure of retaining the title.

Forties, who lost the toss, were left to rue the rain, which hampered their bowlers, and twice dropping Strange, when he was on 26 and 64, as Leg Trappers completed their fourth successive victory with six balls to spare. Earlier Strange took one for 36 as Forties reached 161 for eight.

Four clubs still have a theoretical chance of winning the league but Leg Trappers (102 points) are clear favourites to beat Jamaican Association, who have elected to play them at Nationals, Leg Trappers' home ground.

Leg Trappers, who have notched up nine victories this season, crushed Jamaican Association by eight wickets in their earlier meeting but are taking no chances.

"We will still have to play well to win,'' said spokesman James Broadbent.

If Leg Trappers slip up -- their three defeats this season have all come at Nationals -- Watford (100 points) will take the title if, as expected, they complete the double over lowly Devonshire Stars.

West Indian Association (92 points) take on Forties (95 points) at Shelly Bay in what is likely to be a battle for third place while Sunday's other match pits St. David's against North Village at Lord's.

Broadbent described last Sunday's match as "the best of the season''.

The toss proved even more crucial as Forties had to bowl with a wet ball for most of their rivals' innings after two 20-minute hold-ups for rain as they strove in vain to defend their total. A "winning'' draw would have left Forties needing victory against WIA to take the title.

"The rain killed us off -- it made it too one-sided,'' said Forties' Gary Edwards.

The game was a virtual mirror image of the first encounter between the clubs at the same ground in June when Forties overhauled Leg Trappers' 164 for seven with five balls to spare.

Skipper Gordon Campbell (12) and Hugh Hollis (16) added 30 for the first wicket before they were parted in the 16th over by left-arm slow bowler James Swan, who had Hollis caught by Strange at mid-wicket and five runs later had Campbell caught behind.

Swan, who finished with three for 50 from 13 overs, had a hand in the third wicket at 51 when he took a catch at mid-on from a miscued Gladwin Ingham drive.

But Alan Lamb and Harold Minors put the team's early circumspection behind them, blasting 65 for the fourth wicket before Minors was deceived by a slower ball from Strange and was bowled for 36.

Lamb, who lashed four sixes and two fours in a cavalier 54, was fifth out at 135 when he was caught in front of the clubhouse by Gary Knight off David Hosier (two for 36 from 13 overs).

David Jarrett (two for 17 from seven overs) rocked Leg Trappers, reducing them to 13 for two, by having opener Jeremy Franklin (seven) well caught by Ingham and then bowling Tom Wilson for a duck.

But Knight and Strange added 64 for the third wicket before Knight was caught on the boundary by Edwards off Campbell for 38 in the 24th over.

Strange then put on 46 for the fourth wicket with Broadbent (11) and 22 for the fifth with Chris Fleming (eight) before Swan clipped Ingham away for two to clinch victory at the end of the 41st over.