Pembroke United, who failed to win a game and finished bottom of Commercial Cricket's league programme, pulled off a major upset when they thrashed Safeguard Security by nine wickets in the first round of the Knockout competition on Sunday.

Pembroke shot out Safeguard for a modest 110 at Shelly Bay and then knocked off the runs for the loss of Tony Jones' wicket with nine overs to spare.

Pembroke were joined in the semi-finals by West Indian Association and defending champions Sandys Sports Club -- who both won by default -- and Forties, who had a first-round bye.

Safeguard were missing a number of key players -- including allrounder Adrian Jennings who was abroad for his wedding, and veteran Paul Field -- but were still favourites to advance at the expense of a Pembroke United side who had only three draws to show for their earlier efforts in the league.

Junior Lindo and Rowan Ramotar each claimed three wickets and George Fisher's two for 21 included the prize scalp of Eldon Raynor, who failed for the first time this season, being bowled for 12. Roddy Moore topscored with 23.

Frankie Bento (one for 11 in eight overs) claimed Safeguard's only wicket when he bowled Jones for 15 with the total on 51 but fellow opener Chris Cox, with an unbeaten half century, and skipper Ian Coke shared an unbroken second-wicket stand of 60 to steer Pembroke home.

Cox hit three boundaries in his 50 while Coke struck a six and three fours in his unbeaten 34 as Pembroke, a predominantly Jamaican side, joined in belated celebrations of their country's 33rd year of independence. "We played like champions -- and we intend to carry on,'' said team spokesman Glen Barrett.

Pembroke now meet Forties while WIA take on league champions Sandys Sports Club in Sunday's semi-finals, setting up the possibility of a repeat of last year's final in which Sandys beat Forties by three wickets in a low-scoring final at Wellington Oval.

The failure of both North Village and St. David's to show up on Sunday came as a bitter disappointment to league officials.

A club cruise ended Village's hopes of getting a team and they conceded the game to WIA on Friday. St. David's, apparently upset at not being able to play at Lord's which was being used for another match, conceded the game to Sandys -- but made the West Enders wait.

St. David's skipper George Cannonier said yesterday there was confusion over the venue and although nearby Garrison Field was available he defaulted the game because he could not raise a team.

Cannonier, who took over from Elliott Pitcher as skipper midway through the season, angered Sandys' captain Terry Corday on Saturday by insisting the West Enders had to turn up at the East End the following day to claim the game.

"It was ridiculous,'' said Corday. "Twelve of us went all the way down there, only to be told the game was off. They knew they couldn't get a team.

"Two of our guys, Ray DeSilva and David DeSilva, had upset their families by saying they were going to play cricket instead of going to a family reunion but as it turned out they got back in time for it.'' It was the second week running that a fixture between the clubs was not played, St. David's having failed to show up for their final league game the previous Sunday.