North Village completed the 'double' over leaders Forties to set up a cliff-hanging finish to the Commercial Cricket League title race with three clubs still in the hunt.

Village's five-wicket victory with an over to spare sliced Forties' lead to three points over Spring Garden Cavaliers, with Village a further point adrift, and only one round of matches remaining after the Cup Match holiday weekend break.

Those matches on August 9 pit Cavaliers against BC Allrounders, Village against St. David's and Forties against Ernst & Young, who beat BC Allrounders twice at the weekend in limited overs matches – successes that have lifted the accountants above Jamaican Association, who ended their league programme with an eight-wicket defeat to Cavaliers.

"The final week should be interesting," said Forties' skipper Gordon Campbell.

Sent in after losing the toss, Forties were dismissed for 176 off the penultimate ball at Shelly Bay, a recovery from a precarious 10 for two engineered by Harold Minors (34), Randy Simmons (27) and Blake West West (20) after Allen Richardson at number three dug in for a 58-ball innings of 27. The total was boosted by 36 extras.

Reggie Benjamin, who claimed four for 43 from 14.5 overs, and Rudy Smith, with three for 54 from 16 consecutive overs, were the pick of the Village attack.

An opening partnership of 61 between Mike Payne and Dion Ball jr laid the foundation for Village's victory. Payne struck four fours and a six in his 106-ball 61 while fellow opener Ball's 42 from 53 balls included four sixes and a four.

Other useful contributions came from Ernest McCallan (32 from 30 balls) and Rudy Smith (31 from 27).

Simmons was Forties' best bowler was Simmons with three for 27 from eight.

"We dug ourselves in a hole with the top order, only Allen batting for a length of time," said Campbell.

"But the lower order pulled us out to post a respectable total for that field. Reggie and Randy bowled very tightly for Village."

Added Campbell: "It wasn't quite as tight as it seemed. They were in the driver's seat from their first-wicket partnership of 61 and never really needed to take many chances. Mike Payne batted very sensibly.

"We bowled too short to them and paid the price. Randy Simmons almost pulled it out for us in the end but it was too little, too late."

Despite Village being right back in the title race, Benjamin still sent his best wishes to Forties, adding: "I think they are more consistent than the rest of the teams in the league this season."

Cavaliers restricted a weakened Jamaican Association to 137 for eight in 42 overs at Garrison Field and then knocked off the runs in 24 overs for the loss of only two wickets, completing an easy double over their Caribbean Cup rivals.

The Jamaicans were forced to include three youngsters after several regular players mistakenly thought the team had a bye and it was left to Daniel Edwards, who hit three sixes and two fours in his 48, and Junior Lindo (25) to give the total an air of respectability. Dean Richards, with two centuries under his belt this season, fell for ten.

Cavaliers' most successful bowler was Steve Diamond, back from an overseas trip, who bagged four for 29 from 14 overs while Paul Lindo took two for six from five.

Opener Chris Clarke set Cavaliers on the path to victory with three sixes and two fours in his 46 before Patrick Hamlett (36 not out) and Anthony Brathwaite (34 nout out) sealed the points with an unbroken third-wicket stand of 73.

BC Allrounders and Ernst & Young, whose first match was rained out, decided to settle the 20 points with two winners-take-all, shortened versions of the game at Warren Simmons Community Field, a 20-overs-a-side match followed by a 15-overs-a-side clash.

BC Allrounders rattled up 151 for eight in the first match after winning the toss, with Mitchell DeShields hitting three sixes and three fours in his top score of 44 as Dion Wainwright chipped in with 31 and Winston Martin 24.

Skipper Karunakar Kaushik took two for 15 from three overs and Palithapushpa Kumara two for 27 from four.

Ernst & Young, who played with ten men in both matches, reached their target with four wicketsand 15 balls to spare, Kaushik topscoring with 41. Sriyantha Weerakody made 23.

In the second match, Ernst & Young made 151 for five in their 15 overs, Kavitharan Selvarajah (58), Kaushik (39) and Kumara (37) leading the way, winning by 17 runs as BC Allrounders were restricted to 134 for seven. Martin made 24 and Worrell Bean 23.

Gregory Grant, who bowled the final over of the accountants' innings, took three wickets for no runs.

Ernst & Young's best bowlers were Kumara (two for 27 from three) and Dhammika Jayalath (two for 30 from three).

"The team really played well and everyone contributed to this well deserved success," said skipper Kaushik.

"The other team showed some desperation in the second game but I think what made the difference was our continued focus on the game. We had a plan which was executed very well by all the team members and that is what helped us excel.

"It is great to see the progress we have made in the league so far compared to last year. I am sure we will continue to maintain the winning streak in the days to come."