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Leaders Forties in tricky finale

Forties, whose defeat against North Village last month scuppered their chances of claiming the Commercial Cricket League title with a match to spare, face a tricky final hurdle this weekend when they take on Ernst & Young in the final round of league matches following the Cup Match break.

Forties, who hold a wafer-thin three-point lead over Spring Garden Cavaliers and a four-point lead over North Village, know anything less than an outright victory over the accountants at high-scoring Warren Simmons Community Field will almost certainly let in one of their rivals.

"This Sunday is going to be tough," admitted Forties' skipper Gordon Campbell.

"We have the most difficult of the three matches, so it is a 'must-win' situation for us. However, we don't deserve the title if we can't win our last game."

Karunakar Kauchik, skipper of fourth-placed Ernst & Young, said he was looking forward to Sunday's match despite his side being thrashed by Forties by 133 runs at Shelly Bay in June.

"They are the ones who we need to win against as I am anticipating a game against them in theTwenty20 semi-final and a win against them now will give us an edge over them psychologically.

"We will have a strong team in all the games from now on. The players are all excited and are looking forward it.

"We have done well so far in the league this year and I am confident that our winning curve goes up as we play more. We will give our best. I wish all the best to Forties. May the best team win."

Cavaliers take on sixth-placed BC Allrounders at Shelly Bay while Village travel to Garrison Field to face bottom club St. David's. "It's out of our hands - we've just got to hope Forties lose," said Cavaliers batsman Barry Richards.

A winning draw for Forties and a victory for Cavaliers would leave the clubs joint champions on 87 points.

Meanwhile, the draw for the upcoming Knockout and Twenty20 League Cup has given Ernst & Young a bye in the first round of both competitions.

Ernst & Young's Knockout semi-final opponents will be the winners of the tie between Spring Garden Cavaliers and Jamaican Association at Warren Simmons Community Field on August 16, a game which may also serve to decide the winners of the Caribbean Cup, their annual tournament. Cavaliers are the current champions.

In the bottom half of the Knockout draw, holders Forties will face North Village at Shelly Bay while St. David's take on BC Allrounders at Garrison Field. In the Twenty20 competition, starting on August 30, Forties take on BC Allrounders at Garrison Field, while at Shelly Bay St. David's meet North Village and Jamaican Association face Cavaliers.

The Twenty20 final has been penciled in for September 6 with the Knockout final taking place a week later.