West Indian Association took a leaf out of Australia's book by snatching victory with two balls to spare over Hemisphere Leg Trappers and denting the defending champions' hopes of retaining their Commercial Cricket League title.

Leg Trappers' second successive defeat by a two-wicket margin in a game of fluctuating fortunes has sent them tumbling to joint fifth place, trailing co-leaders WIA, North Village and Forties by 10 points with Watford Sports Club, who had a bye, in fourth place.

A second-wicket stand of 135 between skipper Gordon Campbell and Gladwin Ingham paved the way for Forties' five-wicket win over St. David's, North Village also enjoyed a five-wicket success over Sandys Community Youth Club, thanks to a seven-wicket haul by Mike Young, while Jamaican Association pipped Devonshire Stars by two wickets in Sunday's other game.

A unbroken third-wicket partnership of 152 -- a club record -- between Graham Strange and Damion Henderson spurred Leg Trappers to 196 for two after being sent in on a slow Nationals pitch.

Strange struck seven fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 86 while Henderson's 70 not out included nine fours but Leg Trappers, who lost to North Village on the same ground last week, suffered the same fate as South Africa in the World Cup in England earlier in the day when appearing to hold the upper hand.

Opening bowler Nigel Wood, a Robin Hood chef who played a handful of matches for Forties early last season, served up a first-ball winner for his new club by having Patrick Hamlett caught. But a second-wicket stand of 102 between skipper John McConnie and Stan Francis (25) tilted the match WIA's way.

McConnie dominated the partnership with a typically flamboyant knock of 64, which contained nine fours, a six and a five, but Leg Trappers seized the initiative again as WIA slipped to 136 for six before Olwin Clarke at number six took charge with two fours and three sixes in a belligerent 51.

WIA began the final over requiring four runs for victory but managed only one run from the first three balls before left-arm slow bowler James Swan, who had claimed four for 72 from 17.4 overs, delivered a legside full toss which Whitfield Nurse gratefully slammed to the boundary. Strange took two for 25.

Sandys Community Youth Club showed scant respect for North Village's vaunted opening pace attack of Chris Caisey and Derek Bell and rattled up 143 at five and a half runs an over.

Caisey and Bell took a wicket apiece but went for 47 runs from nine overs and 34 from five respectively as youngsters Raymond Burchall (39) and Kent Greenidge (32) and veteran Gerald Fubler (30) went on the attack.

Ultimately, the west enders were undone by the medium pace of first-change bowler Young who snapped up seven for 27 in eight overs.

Village knocked off the runs in the 25th over with opener Shiran DeSilva leading the way with 42. Young made 22 and Mike Levon 21 not out. Sheroy Fubler, 14-year-old son of former Somerset Cup Match player Rodney Fubler, was the pick of the youth club's attack with two for 23.

Dropped catches let down both sides at Shelly Bay where St. David's, who won the toss, rattled up 181 for seven with useful contributions from George Cannonier (41), skipper George O'Brien (33), Keith Richardson (30) and Granville Bennett (28). Alan Lamb and Kevin Greaves, in his first bowl for Forties, claimed three wickets apiece.

Despite losing Harold Minors for five, Campbell and Ingham lifted Forties to 140 for one from 28 overs but the second water break proved their undoing as both fell in successive overs, Ingham going for 49 (four fours) and Campbell playing on for 62 (eight fours).

Forties lost two more wickets but Lamb (21 not out) sealed victory in the 40th over. O'Brien took two for 36 but St. David's were handicapped by having to field with 10 men after an injury to his side forced opening batsman Lyndon Jackson out of the game.

At Garrison Field Cory Smith topscored with 41, which included five boundaries, as Devonshire Stars were dismissed for 129 in the 30th over by Jamaican Association whose most successful bowlers were Errol Wray (three for eight), Michael Campbell (two for 29) and Junior Lindo (two for 36).

Jamaican Association seemed to be coasting to an easy victory at 108 for five but lost three wickets without addition -- including Lindo and recent century-maker Simroy Crosdale for ducks -- as skipper Gary Peniston (three for 32) and Derrick Smith (two for 21) struck vital blows.

But Rowan Ramotar (seven not out) and Wray (eight not out) kept their nerve to steer their side home in 30 overs. Earlier opener Ben Alexander and skipper Ian Coke both made 26 and Thomas Ball 24.