Cup final at Southampton Oval on Sunday after disposing of their semifinal opponents in contrasting fashion.

Only fading light was a threat to Sandys, who began with 10 players and fielded with nine, as the west-enders romped to an emphatic 75-run victory over Devonshire Stars at Garrison field.

But Forties, the holders who have won the Knockout eight times in 10 seasons, had to withstand a furious late challenge from North Village, the team they beat in last season's final, before emerging the winners by 26 runs in near darkness at Nationals in a game hit by controversy.

Village skipper Wendell Lindsay led the Village fightback after they slumped from 88 for four to 126 for nine in pursuit of Forties' 193 for seven with a dashing, unbeaten 36.

Lindsay, who had to use a runner after pulling a muscle, struck six fours and added 41 in an enterprising, last-wicket stand with Donville Yarde (19) before Yarde was yorked by a Gary Edwards inswinger with 5.3 overs left.

Earlier, Yarde (two for 28) struck a vital blow when he had skipper Gordon Campbell caught at first slip off the first ball of the innings but a century stand between Edwards (32) and triathlon-bound Mark Melvin restored Forties' fortunes.

Melvin hit eight fours in his 58 -- his first half-century for the club -- but, after they had added 105, Edwards and Melvin fell in quick succession and Forties slipped to 128 for five before all-rounder Mike Evans led a lower-order revival with an unbeaten 37 containing a six and five fours.

Derek Bell was the most successful Village bowler with three for 29 from eight overs.

The Village innings also began in dramatic fashion with Gerald Bean dropped at backward point and Mike Levon caught behind off a no-ball in Oliver Franks' opening over.

Bean fell for nine but Levon and Elliott Jennings kept Village well ahead of the clock before a bemused Jennings twice found himself at the centre of controversy.

The first incident occurred after Village umpire Dion Ball signalled the end of a Campbell over only to change his mind and order another ball to be bowled.

Campbell (two for 37) bowled Jennings neck and crop with the extra ball, a slower delivery, but the umpire then called dead ball because he said he still had his arm extended as Campbell began his 20-yard run-up.

The decision angered Forties players and the game was held up. Jennings stayed but was soon given run out for 17 by the other Village umpire, Clarence Burrows -- a decision that upset Village players.

Levon drove the ball back and struck the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Jennings, backing up too far, was out of his ground as bowler Franks grabbed the ball and threw down the wicket.

Close fielders later confirmed that Levon's shot removed only one bail and the other was knocked off by Franks' throw.

Law 28 states in part: "If one bail is off, it shall be sufficient for the purpose of putting the wicket down to remove the remaining bail ...'' Village hopes were further dented when Levon fell to an Evans full toss for a confident 35, which contained a five and three fours. Evans finished with two for 10 from five overs while Jim Walters, back after a two-month break, picked up three for 41 from seven overs.

The Sandys success was shared by skipper Terry Corday, his brother Michael, Paul Ross and Terry Ward.

Michael Corday hit 47 and Ward 30 as Sandys reached 178 for seven after an opening stand of 51 between Ross and Sanjika Samaranayake.

Ross followed up with three for 32, Ward chipped in with two wickets and Terry Corday polished off Stars for 103 by taking four for 11 in 4.2 overs.