St. David's failed in their attempt to retain the Benson & Hedges Champion of Champions Cup yesterday at Devonshire Rec. when the match ended on a controversial run out of last man Dale Fox just as they threatened to turn the match around.

In fact things got so nasty at the end that only the quick intervention of a couple of players and officials prevented an incident between Fox and umpire George Trott from escalating.

Fox confronted Trott as he tried to leave the dressing room area. The official had to eventually be escorted away in the other direction by fellow umpire McDonald Swan.

It had not been a happy match for Fox who was called for throwing or over-stepping on five occasions in his first over, which also included a wide.

He did not get much sympathy at the other end either when his captain switched him and was called for three more no-balls and a wide before pulling up with an ankle injury and limping off to have his second over completed by Allen Richardson.

Fox stayed off for the rest of the Stars innings but with a long rest showed no signs of the injury as he and Herbie Bascome took St. David's desperately close to the Stars total.

They started 64 runs adrift of their winning target of 219 but Bascome cut into that margin with some big hitting as he smashed four fours and two sixes -- including 17 off one over from Hasan Durham -- to set the stage for a thrilling finish with St. David's needing 28 off the last five overs when the match ended.

It came when Fox played the last delivery of Allan Brangman's ninth over on the off side and scampered through for a quick single to beat Durham's throw at the bowler's end. The ball was overthrown and Bascome called Fox back for a second run but Jeff Richardson was following up and directed his throw to wicketkeeper Anthony Manders.

St. David's could not believe it when umpire George Trott's finger went up to confirm the run-out. Trott, long respected as one of the Island's top umpires, explained later that Fox's bat was not grounded as it went over the line.

St. David's captain James Pace was quick to tear into the standard of the umpiring.

"Earlier he (Trott) didn't give a run-out because he said he didn't see it,'' said Pace.

"I don't mind losing but not this way. Dale was going past the wicket when the wicket was broken. The controversy started from this morning when they called Dale for chucking.'' Fox was not called for chucking in Saturday's first round but he was not alone yesterday as Gary Brangman, the other bowler at the centre of the chucking controversy that began earlier this year in Barbados, was called for throwing early in his spell.

Pace also pointed to an incident when square leg umpire McDonald Swan called no-ball because there were only four players on the on side.

"I had to correct him on that,'' said Pace as a copy of the rules was produced and the match held up for several minutes.

"To prove they were sleeping, in the last seven overs when George (Cannonier) and Lionel (Cann) were bowling I had only three men inside the circle and they didn't notice it.

"This game showed the inconsistencies of the umpires again. If they're that inconsistent they should give the game up. Trott is definitely not the umpire he used to be.'' After openers Gregory Sampson and Anthony Foggo enjoyed a 72-run start by the 14th over the breakthrough came when Richardson got Foggo to clip a shot off his toes when on 29 and give a low catch to substitute Michael Kelly at square leg who was on the field for Fox.

Andre Manders was surprised by a full toss the first delivery he faced and got a top edge on his attempted pull shot and skied a catch to Philip Pitcher running in from long leg.

Then when Arnold Manders was run out without scoring after Sampson called him for a risky single, and Jeff Richardson was bowled by Richardson for seven, Stars found themselves in some trouble at 89 for four by the 22nd over.

There was some resistance in their tail-end when Anthony Manders and Gary Brangman added 63 for the eighth wicket in taking the score from 145 to 208 by the 49th over when both were removed by George Cannonier.

Manders struck four fours and a six in his 37, which came in 53 minutes while Brangman chipped in with an important 24.

Richardson claimed three for 35 from 10 overs, Pace two for 21 and Cannonier two for 37.

St. David's had an early setback when Richardson was smartly caught at short leg by Gary Brangman off his brother Allan's bowling with just 18 runs on the board. Spin took over in the 11th over as Arnold Manders and then Wayne Richardson (14th over) came on.

After Manders got Shea Pitcher for 20, Richardson did the early damage by claiming the wickets of Albert Steede (11), Lionel Cann (23), Dean Pitcher (eight) and Reginald Pitcher (four) to leave St. David's in deep trouble at 86 for six by the 26th over.

Resistance came when Pace (28) and Philip Pitcher (19) added 36 for the seventh wicket to take them to 122 by the 36th over.

"Herbie did a number at the end and put his team in a position to win,'' Stars captain Brangman said afterwards. "We tell ourselves all the time that cricket is not won until the last ball is bowled. It was a well-contested match and they fought to the end.

"We knew if our bowlers bowled a correct line and length it would be difficult for them. They got frustrated and lost a few key wickets.'' Cleon Scotland was judged the best fielder of the day after taking two catches, including a brilliant low catch to dismiss Dean Pitcher at short extra cover.

EVERY DAY IS FISHING DAY BUT... -- Allen Richardson, who made 116 in Saturday's first-round win for St. David's, fell for a mere 10 against Western Stars yesterday.