Sri Lankan Jeff DeSilva broke Lionel Cann's Commercial Cricket League batting record which had stood for eight years by smashing an unbeaten 166 for Spring Garden Cavaliers against North Village but admitted afterwards: "I had no idea what the old record was when I was at the crease."

DeSilva, who batted throughout Cavaliers' huge 40-over total of 317 for four, was told by teammate Lloyd Morrison that he might be nearing Cann's record with one over left and proceeded to smash 14 off it, including two sixes.

"I just went for it," said DeSilva, the 36-year-old assistant manager of the Hamilton restaurant La Trattoria.

Told later he had broken Cann's record of 165 by one run, DeSilva, who faced 131 balls during his 175-minute knock, said simply: "That's good. I enjoyed it!"

Team-mate Barry Richards enthused: "Shots . . . this guy played some shots. It was beautiful to watch."

In all, DeSilva, who gave one early chance, plundered 16 fours and nine sixes in recording his maiden century in what he described as exhausting conditions at Shelly Bay.

"I feel very excited to beat Lionel Cann's record because he's a big player in Bermuda," added DeSilva whose first taste of Commercial League cricket before joining Cavaliers was with Fine Leg Byes, playing for them for three seasons before FLB quit to play exclusively in the Evening League.

Village ruined DeSilva's big day, however, by hanging on for a draw, albeit trailing by 199 runs at the close.

It was the fourth time Village had been on the receiving end of major scores. Cann's 165 at Lord's in 2002 for St. David's was followed two years later by West Indian Association's Ricky Hoyte's 155 – a total matched last season by Ernst & Young skipper Karunakar Kaushik.

Jamaican Association, meanwhile, are the new league leaders after beating BC Allrounders by 94 runs at Garrison Field, despite a six-wicket haul by Khani Russell.

Forties had a bye following last week's decison by newcomers Titans to withdraw after two matches because of long-term worries over player availability, leaving only five clubs in a league that once boasted double that number. Titans' record – a seven-wicket defeat to Cavaliers and a default against Jamaican Association — has been deleted from the league table.

Clubs will continue to play each other twice in the league after officials rejected a proposal put forward at a league meeting to play each other three times.

DeSilva and Donovan Livingston, who made 47, laid the foundation for Cavaliers' daunting total with an opening stand of 90 after the match was trimmed from 42 overs to 40 because of a delayed start.

DeSilva also found able partners in Richards (43) and leading all-rounder Craig Smith (31).

Rudy Smith was the most successful of the eight bowlers Village used, taking two for 88 from 13 overs.

Craig Smith (four for 16 from 12) and Steve Diamond (two for 24 from eight) ripped through Village's top order as they slumped to 95 for seven – after Dion Ball Ball, Jr. followed up two half centuries with 28 – but skipper Allen Walker (17 not out) and Reggie Benjamin (15 not out), playing his first match of the season following knee surgery, defied them for the final 16 overs as Village closed on 118 for eight.

Said Walker: "Spring Garden had a great day with the bat after they had an opening partnership of 90 between Livingston and DeSilva that really provided them a great start.

"We commend Jeff DeSilva on his superb knock of 166 not out. They dominated us with all those runs. We felt they scored too many runs to chase once we lost three wickets for only 43 runs. They had us pushed back to 95 for seven.

"But thanks to a concentrated effort by Reggie and myself, we were able to stop them from taking all ten points."

Half-centuries by Ian Coke and Keniek Wallen helped propel Jamaican Association to an imposing 258 from 41.5 overs. Coke hit six fours and two sixes in his 59 while Wallen's 58 contained five sixes and three fours.

They were joined in the run chase by Kevin Abrahams, who made 49, and Michael Campbell (40).

BC Allrounders had the Jamaicans 153 for five at one stage, thanks to Smith's six for 66 from 15 overs, while workhorse Warren Bean sent down 20 overs, collecting three for 103 from 20.

BC Allrounders made a spirited reply through Bean (44) and Tokia Russell (24) before succumbing to 164 all out in the 35th over.

Rowan Ramotar bagged three for 17 from 5.2 overs and Bevin Carr three for 21 from five while Abrahams chipped in with two for 27 from 11.

"I must give BC Allrounders credit for the way they applied themselves," said Jamaican Association's Glenmore Barrett, who plans to step down as team manager at the end of the season.

And Barrett had a word of warning for other clubs.

"We have the best team in the league this season and I'm confident we're going to win all the major silverware. I can just smell it," he said.

A big test for the Jamaicans will come on Sunday when they face Caribbean Cup rivals Cavaliers at Shelly Bay.