Veteran left-hander George Cannonier came close to inspiring St. David's to a famous victory over Commercial Cricket League defending champions Hemisphere Leg Trappers -- after a back injury forced him to bat right-handed.

Cannonier, who came in at number three, struck 14 boundaries -- including two steepling sixes -- in a majestic knock before he was unfortunately run out for 78.

He then picked up two wickets -- bowling his conventional left-arm medium pacers -- but his valiant ambidextrous effort just failed as Leg Trappers won by three wickets with nine balls to spare in a tense finish at Lord's.

"George injured his back while training on Thursday,'' said skipper George O'Brien, "so he decided to bat right-handed. I've never seen him bat right-handed before but I think he'd better stay right-handed from now on!'' Unbeaten Leg Trappers have been joined at the top by West Indian Association, the two clubs emerging from the pack following a dramatic weekend to open up a 10-point lead over their closest rivals.

WIA coasted to an effortless seven-wicket win over Devonshire Stars at Garrison Field.

Ten-man North Village upset Watford Sports Club by 11 runs at the Royal Naval Field, where Watford's key allrounder Terence Corday needed hospital treatment after landing badly in his delivery stride and limping out of the attack with torn ankle ligaments. He is expected to be sidelined for up to a month.

Sunday's most nail-biting finish, however, was at Shelly Bay, where 19 wickets tumbled in a low-scoring match, before Jamaican Association pipped Forties by one wicket -- thanks to a wide being called when the scores were level.

WIA, who have returned with renewed confidence after a season's break, followed up an easy win over Jamaican Association the previous Sunday by rolling over Devonshire Stars.

Only skipper Gary Peniston (16), who also took two wickets, and Shane Grant (15) offered any serious resistance as Stars were bundled out for 85 with Randy Liverpool (three for 13), Olwin Clarke (three for 18 -- thanks to three blinding slip catches by Barry Richards) and Jerry Callender (three for 37) doing the damage.

Opener Patrick Hamlett went for 21 and Richards for a duck at 24 but a stubborn knock of 14 by Garfield Daly, promoted from his usual number 11 spot to open, and an unbeaten 36 by skipper John McConnie set up WIA's victory in the 22nd over.

Cannonier, who has proved a thorn in Leg Trappers' side in the past, powered St. David's to a challenging 169 in 37.5 overs, opener Lyndon Jackson chipping in with 22.

St. David's, who won the toss, made a flying start, scoring at six runs an over in their first 20 overs, but were pegged back by Graham Strange (three for 19), Roddy Moore (three for 34) and James Swan (two for 35).

Opener Jeremy Franklin hit 10 fours in a fine knock of 65 but Leg Trappers were struggling to keep up with the clock until Tom Wilson, who managed a total of just 15 runs from six innings last season, hammered 31 with five fours and a six in three overs to tilt the balance Leg Trappers' way.

Slow bowler Granville Bennett claimed four for 48 from 14.3 overs while Cannonier's two wickets cost 12 runs from seven overs.

"If St. David's had managed to bat out their overs we would have been very hard pushed to win. As it was, we needed 44.3 overs to get the runs,'' said Trappers spokesman Jason Flaxbeard.

Former PHC pace bowler Kelvin Charles and Silroy Crosdale ripped through Forties, who were shot out for 60, Gladwin Ingham topscoring with 19. Charles, a Grenadian playing his first game for the club and adding spice to the attack following the departure of David Gibbs to Somerset, snapped up an impressive seven for 27 in 11.5 overs. Crosdale took three for 34 in 11 overs.

Cannonier rocks Leg Trappers From Page 13 Forties used only two bowlers as well, skipper Gordon Campbell claiming six for 38 from 10.5 overs and Craig Cannonier three for 32 from 10 overs.

Jamaican Association made the worst possible start, Campbell having Arthur Dublin caught behind from the first ball of the innings and wickets continued to tumble.

But opener Thomas Ball, given an early life when Campbell put down a comfortable return catch, made Forties pay with a crucial unbeaten 18.

With the scores level Campbell had a confident appeal for lbw against Crosdale turned down by umpire Norman Godwin who called the next ball a wide to end the match in dramatic fashion.

Watford appeared to be coasting to victory at 70 for one after dismissing North Village for 127 but the run out of Michael Corday for 36 sparked a collapse and the west enders, with Terence Corday now on crutches, his ankle in a cast and unable to bat, were dismissed for 116. David DeSilva and skipper Terry Corday, who each took two wickets, made 26 and 20 respectively.

Mike Young, with five for 40 from 15 overs, and Derek Bell (three for 76) bowled unchanged for Village, Andy Boyce taking four slip catches. Earlier, Shiran DeSilva propped up the Village innings with eight fours and a six in his 47. There were three run-outs.