Spring Garden Cavaliers took advantage of Forties' week off to storm into a seven-point lead and can tighten their grip on the Commercial Cricket League title this weekend if they turn the tables on their old rivals at Shelly Bay.

North Village and Jamaican Association - who piled up a massive 40-over total of 357 for seven against nine-man St. David's at compact Warren Simmons Community Field thanks to a dashing century from opener Dean Richards - lead the chasing pack, each with three games remaining, after registering emphatic victories.

Cavaliers have 67 points with Forties on 60 - both have four matches left - while Village (56 points) are three points clear of the Jamaicans.

But Forties will feel confident of staying in the title race, having successfully chased 282 for victory against Cavaliers at Warren Simmons Community Field in May, edging home with one ball and two wickets to spare after Cavaliers' 38-over declaration handed their opponents four extra overs.

Although Cavaliers will be without key bowler Trevor Haynes, a teacher who has returned home to Barbados for the school holidays, this weekend, upbeat skipper Richard Foulds said: "I feel the pressure will be on Forties as we have a seven-point cushion at the top, and we could recover from a defeat but I think Forties need to win or their chances of the league title are over.

"That is not to say our position would be insurmountable as we still have some tough challenges ahead, especially Jamaican Association and North Village.

"In our players' minds is need to compensate for our defeat to Forties in May, when I declared on 281 for two in 38 overs, and gave Forties the extra four overs. We bowled and fielded poorly that day, and Forties took it at the death. That said, I would rather have that sort of game than the type we have had over the past couple of weeks, bowling sides out for under 100 and finishing in the middle of the afternoon.

"Forties know our strengths and we know theirs; they'll be looking to get Barry Richards out early, setting the field deep for him and hoping he makes a mistake.

"I've been saying to Barry all season that a big score is just around the corner. He's had a couple of 50s, but it would be great for him to get a century on Sunday.

"We are almost at full strength with only Trevor Haynes, of the regular players, missing, but he'll be replaced by a debutant fast-bowler, whom I won't name here, but knowing Shelly Bay's fast pitch, there might be a few 'rib-ticklers' bowled.

"Apart from Trevor we have added to our squad of players this year, with new players coming in and making contributions with both bat and ball, and the atmosphere amongst the team has been excellent. I really do feel that this will be our year for the league title, win or lose on Sunday, but we are taking nothing for granted."

Dean Richards' 100, which included nine sixes and four fours, spearheaded Jamaican Association's lopsided 241-run victory.

He was well supported in the assault on the St. David's attack - despite Aaron Crockwell's five for 62 from ten overs - by Michael Campbell (51), Presley Millwood (46), Kevin Abrahams (45), skipper Chris Daley (28) and Daniel Ewards (26).

George O'Brien, Jr., who has enjoyed a rewarding stint in the Commercial League, went wicketless, conceding 49 runs from his seven overs before pulling up, apparently a recurrence of the knee injury that forced him out of the Bermuda team who underachieved at the 2011 World Cup qualifiers in South Africa in April.

O'Brien left the ground and another of his teammates also did not bat after injuring his back, the East Enders being dismissed for 116 in 16.3 overs.

Desmond Crockwell made the bulk of the runs, striking six sixes and a four in a quickfire 53 while Aaron Crockwell followed up his five-wicket haul with 24.

Pick of the Jamaican attack were Edwards, who took three for ten from 4.3 overs, and Abrahams, with three for 30 from four overs. Nine-man Ernst & Young proved no match for Cavaliers at Garrison Field, losing by eight wickets after being dismissed for 81 in 21.3 overs in a match reduced to 35 overs because of a late start.

Only Palithapushpa Kumara who topscored with 44, and skipper Karunakar Kaushik (23) got to grips with the Cavaliers attack, spearheaded by Jeff DeSilva, who claimed three for 21 from seven overs, and Craig Smith, who took two for 24 from seven.

Kumara was also the accountants' best bowler, taking two for 30 from seven, but he could not prevent Cavaliers romping to 83 for two in 13 overs. Barry Richards made 24 in an opening stand of 38 and bowlers Smith and DeSilva finished unbeaten on 21 and 17 respectively.

"Some of our key players were not available this weekend and those who were available could not shine. Spring Garden played well and deserved to win," skipper Kaushik said.

A half century and two wickets by left-hander Worrell Bean could not prevent ten-man BC Allrounders slipping to a seven-wicket defeat at Shelly Bay against North Village, whose reply was highlighted by a knock of 75 by opener Dion Ball, Jr.

Bean blasted seven sixes in his 52 - making the majority of his runs in two overs - to help rescue his side from a precarious 54 for five.

Bean added 74 for the sixth wicket with Winston Martin (20) before both fell at the same total as BC Allrounders eventually succumbed in the 36th over for 151.

"Bean's sixes would have been sixes anywhere on the island - they were huge," said Village all-rounder Reggie Benjamin, who bagged two for 23 in eight overs.

Kevin Mallory took three for 26 in 12.4 overs while Samitha Ranaweera took three for 35 from ten.

Ball and Mike Payne (22) laid the foundation for Village's easy victory by adding 96 for the first wicket, Ball's 75 contained six sixes and six fours before he fell to a wonderful catch at long-on by newcomer Chico Trott. Ranaweera followed up his three wickets with three sixes in an unbeaten 31 as Village coasted home in the 23rd over.

Bean's two for 40 came from 7.2 overs. "Our boys are struggling right now," admitted BC Allrounders' spokesman Kenneth Smith.

n Tuff Dogs top the Evening League's Premier Division, holding a three-point lead over West XI at the halfway stage. Police top the Second Division, six points clear of Deloitte and the National Under-15s.