In-form South African batsman Warren Smith smashed an unbeaten century for Ernst & Young but still ended up on the losing side as Spring Garden Cavaliers successfully chased down an imposing 261 for two at Warren Simmons Community Field to reach the Commercial Cricket League's Knockout final.

Five-wicket winners Cavaliers will face Forties, who have won the tournament 14 times, in the final to be held in 11 days' time.

Forties edged out league champions Jamaican Association, who played one short, by 22 runs in a tight second semi-final at Shelly Bay, where long grass and big boundaries limited the number of fours and sixes.

Opener Smith followed up his match-winning 74 against North Village in the first round by hammering seven sixes and seven fours in his unbeaten 113, adding 106 for the second wicket with all-rounder Dhammika Janalath, whose 47 included six boundaries, and an unbroken 110 for the third wicket with Palitha Pushpakumara whose 35-ball 50 not out contained four sixes and two fours.

Cavaliers, wobbling at 121 for five, owed their victory, with five overs to spare, to an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 144 between number six Lloyd Morrison and number seven Chris Clarke.

Morrison's unbeaten 50 included six fours while Clarke produced his best knock of the season, stroking three sixes and nine fours in his 71 not out.

Opening bowler Janalath followed up his 47 by claiming three for 42 from eight overs as Cavaliers lost skipper Barry Richards (10), Dave Greenidge (18), Richard Foulds (14), Craig Smith, whose 39 included eight fours, and Jeff DeSilva (16) before Morrison and Clarke took the match away from Ernst & Young, who chose to bat after winning the toss.

"We stacked our side with batting and although we lost three quick wickets (with 58 on the board), I wasn't worried," said Richards, who dropped Smith at mid-wicket early in his innings.

"We didn't bowl or field well, dropping several catches, including mine, but we always felt we could win.

"I might not have been as confident, mind you, if we'd lost another wicket. It was a very exciting match."

Ernst & Young skipper Karunakar Kaushik said: "It just wasn't our day. Our bowling wasn't up to the mark. Cavaliers batted well and deserved to win."

Kaushik said he was happy with his side's performance in their debut season, reaching the semi-finals of both the League Cup and Knockout, and looked forward to making more improvement next year.

Forties, who won the toss and chose to bat, lost their last five wickets for 23 runs as they were bowled out for 164 in the 39th over before dismissing Jamaican Association for 142 in the 38th over.

Forties' total was anchored by a disciplined unbeaten 55 by number four Winston Simmons, which contained a solitary boundary, after skipper Gordon Campbell made 24 and Justin Barritt hit an 18-ball 23 including two sixes.

Ian Coke was the pick of the Jamaican attack with three for 40 from eight overs while Michael Campbell, Junior Lindo and David Gibbs each collected two wickets.

The Jamaicans slumped to 12 for four in reply but Keniek Wallen, who topscored with 42 from 49 balls, Daniel Edwards (26) and Lindo (25) repaired the early damage.

Then Wallen, who struck three boundaries, was run out in a mix-up, Lindo fell to a fine diving catch at mid-on by Hoyt Zuill and Yatin Gawas mopped up the tail with three for 17 from four overs after openers Zuill and Blake West claimed a brace apiece.

"They gifted us 26 wides, but otherwise their bowling was pretty tight," said Forties' skipper Campbell.

"We thought 164 was a pretty good total in those conditions (long grass and long boundaries). Blake and Hoyt got the bowling off to a great start but we knew that with them having a number of big hitters we would need to keep the wickets falling."

Glenmore Barrett, manager of Jamaican Association, said having key players, including skipper Chris Daley and opening batsman Presley Millwood, off the island had proved a setback.

"We didn't bat as well as usual but we made a good effort with what we had," said Barrett.

"I'm satisfied with what we have achieved this season (winning the league title)," he added.

This Sunday, Cavaliers take on BC Allrounders in the League Cup final using a Twenty20 format at Shelly Bay. Cavaliers, previously known as West Indian Association, beat Forties in last year's final at the same venue.