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Campbell blast ends Jamaicans' unbeaten streak

Commercial Cricket League victory over previously unbeaten Jamaican Association.Campbell, who dashed straight to Shelly Bay from the airport after a flight from Canada on Sunday,

Commercial Cricket League victory over previously unbeaten Jamaican Association.

Campbell, who dashed straight to Shelly Bay from the airport after a flight from Canada on Sunday, struck five fours in an unbeaten 79 to help guide the defending league champions to an imposing 115-run victory over the Jamaicans.

Leaders St. David's made it four wins in a row by overpowering nine-man North Village by 110 runs at Sea Breeze Oval while Leg Trappers cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Devonshire Stars at Garrison Field thanks to Graham Strange's second successive half century.

Sunday's other scheduled match, between West Indian Association and Watford Sports Club, was called off because weekend rain prevented the groundsman from preparing the pitch at Police Field, according to a WIA team spokesman.

An administrative hitch ruled out a May 13 game between Leg Trappers and North Village at the same venue and the league agreed to reschedule that fixture at the end of the season but the fate of Sunday's match remained unclear yesterday.

In what looked like an even contest on paper, Forties turned on the style to beat Jamaican Association after being sent in in a match that was played in the best of spirits -- a far cry from the previous Sunday when the Jamaicans' acrimonious game against North Village was abandoned as a draw.

A shaky start, which saw Forties slip to 38 for three, could have been even worse if Rohaan Simons, who went on to make 38, had not been dropped first ball. Wicketkeeper Simons later snapped up five catches.

Campbell, who reached 35 before striking his first boundary, also received good assistance from Craig Cannonier (20 not out) as Forties piled up 195 for four in their allotted 42 overs.

David Gibbs took two for 46 while Glenroy Brown also took two wickets but conceded 71 runs in 16 overs.

The Jamaican batsmen never got going and only Junior Lindo (15), Arthur Dublin (13) and Chris Daley (13) reached double figures.

Excellent bowling by Jamaican-born David Jarrett, who claimed four for 32, and Kalvin Charles (three for 21), proved too good as Jamaican Association were bundled out for 80 in 28 overs.

St. David's, who pipped Forties by one wicket in their season-opener at Lord's, continued their excellent form after being sent in, Jeff Pitcher (33), Ken Pitcher (27), Allen Richardson (27) and Granville Bennett (25) steering them to 208 for nine declared.

Dion Ball (three for 34), Kenny Thompson (three for 52) and Randy Jones (two for 55) were the pick of the bowlers but hapless Village paid the price for turning up two short, only Alan Smith (22 not out) and Jones (20) making a fight of it as they were bowled out for 98.

Chief wicket-takers for St. David's were Ken Pitcher, who picked up four for 33, and Bennett (two for 14).

Despite a plucky performance by Devonshire Stars, Leg Trappers completed a comfortable victory, winning with more than 10 overs to spare.

Stars won the toss and opted to bat but wickets fell regularly as they struggled to 112 for eight. Opener Cory Smith bravely held the innings together with a fighting knock of 23 but he had little support from the other batsmen and only several dropped catches by Leg Trappers enabled Stars to pass the 100 mark.

Bermudian lawyer Mark Wetherhill, in only his second game for Trappers, was their best bowler despite carrying a niggling groin injury picked up the night before, taking three for 38, while Colin Scaife continued his good form with the ball with a spell of 10-0-24-2.

Slow bowler James Swan suffered the most from the sloppy fielding, having seven catches dropped off his bowling.

In reply, Leg Trappers got off to a poor start, losing two wickets for 26, but a partnership of 54 between Fleming and Strange steadied the ship.

Fleming, making amends for his earlier misses, was eventually caught and bowled for 23, but David Thompson came in to join Strange and some lusty hitting by these two saw Trappers race home with no further alarms. Strange finished on 55 not out.

Smith, Stars' man-of-the-match, bowled throughout the innings for a spell of 15.5-0-47-2.