a winning note on Sunday, registering a narrow victory over Sandys Sports Club at the Royal Naval Field.

Last season's runners-up West Indian Association, playing a man short, were no match for Forties, going down by 82 runs at Shelly Bay despite a gutsy 60 from former Police batsman Roosevelt Maronie.

North Village squeezed home with eight balls to spare over 10-man Safeguard Security at Warwick Secondary, winning by 49 runs, while St. Michael and Devonshire Stars shared the points at Garrison Field in a drawn match that went the full 84 overs.

With a new 42-overs-a-side format in place this season, all skippers winning the toss sent their opponents in but the move only paid dividends for PHC who won by two wickets with 3.2 overs to spare.

Michael Corday provided the backbone of Sandys' 209 for eight by hitting one six and 15 fours in his innings of 81, receiving good support from his brother Terry, who made 38, and nephew Terence Corday, Jr. who made 30.

Former Pembroke United opening bowler Lyle Millett grabbed four for 74 and then chipped in with a valuable 35. Gerald Bean topscored for PHC with eight boundaries in his 60. Steve Bremar took for for 70 for Sandys.

James Thomas topscored with 41 as most of the Forties top order got among the runs against WIA who used only three bowlers, Junior Watts picking up four for 70 from a a marathon 17 overs.

John McConnie (39) featured in an opening stand of 48 but the rest of the batting proved to be brittle, apart from Maronie who struck two sixes and six fours before being eighth out at 129. Gary Edwards took three for 20. Elliott Jennings helped steer North Village to 212 for nine with one six and six fours in his knock of 55 against Safeguard Security who were dismissed for 163, highlighted by Adrian Jennings' 61 which contained two sixes and three fours.

Steve Nurse took five for 70 from 16 overs for Safeguard while Kim Pitt, who also hit an unbeaten 28, and Elliott Pitcher took three wickets apiece for Village.

St. Michael, boosted by the inclusion of several former Pembroke players, ran up 199 for five against Devonshire Stars. Opener Leon Dickinson hit six fours in his 57 while David Gibbs' unbeaten 55 contained three sixes and four fours.

Robert Dill, Jr. was Stars' top bowler with four for 58.

Gary Peniston lashed four sixes and four fours in his 67 but Stars settled for a draw, reaching 153 for six at the close.