Western Stars 143-7 Defending Premier League champions Bailey's Bay just can't seem to win these days.

They had Western Stars on the ropes at 73-7 at Sea Breeze Oval after the dismissal of two of their most experienced batsmen, captain Arnold Manders and Ricky Brangman, from successive deliveries. But the last of the recognised Stars' batsmen, Gary Brangman and Anthony Manders, carried them to a sensational victory in less than an hour.

In the main it was Brangman who did the damage, launching into the Bay bowlers while Manders played the perfect supporting role at the other end. The pair added 50 in just 37 minutes before Brangman brought up his own 50 in 45 minutes and then completed a memorable win by swinging a full toss from youngster David Lovell to mid-wicket for four. Brangman hit six fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 55, including 15 off one over from Jim West which removed him from the attack. Manders was not out on eight at the end.

Three other Stars batsmen reached double figures against some tight Bay bowling, opener Jermaine Postlethwaite hitting 16, Arnold Manders 18 and Ricky Brangman 15.

Manders was clearly not happy when he was given out caught behind down the legside, knowing his wicket was priceless at that stage of the game. When Brangman joined him next ball, driving a catch straight to Irving Romaine at mid-off off Dennis Pilgrim, it didn't look good for Stars.

Three Bay bowlers took two wickets, Clarkie Trott finishing with two for 21 off his 10 overs, Anthony Braithwaite two for 29 and Pilgrim two for 33.

Roger Trott came out of retirement to lead the Bay batting with 40 as the home team missed their in-form captain Charlie Marshall who is in Canada with the Bermuda team. Batting at number three, Trott stroked four fours and a six before being bowled by Arnold Manders.

Hasan Durham completed impressive figures of four for 24 from 10 overs, Manders claimed two for 22 from 10 overs and Alan Brangman two for 44 off 7.4 overs.

The win leaves Stars five points behind leaders Southampton Rangers while Bay are now out of the running for the league title and are also facing the possibility of not qualifying for the Camel cup next year.

Willow Cuts 149 Southampton 153-5 Southampton maintained possession of the Premier Division lead with this five-wicket victory over Willow Cuts at Somerset, thanks mainly to four bowlers who combined to take nine wickets.

Skipper Olin Jones led the bowling attack by taking three for 37 off 10 overs, including two maidens.

Sidney Simmons had two for 13 from four overs, Clevie Wade two for 19 from 5.3 overs and Ryan Belboda two for 35 from 10 overs.

Only four Willow Cuts batsmen reached double figures with Reggie Tucker Jr.

top bat with 30, skipper Dexter Basden followed with 27, opener Dwight Basden scored 24 and Kevin Fubler 15.

Southampton reached victory off 36.5 overs while losing five wickets. Opener Keith Wainwright was top bat with 35, Rohaan Simons struck 27, Wade 21 not out, Jones 15 and Kwame Tucker 10.

Kevin Fubler turned in a remarkable spell of bowling for Cuts, but it proved to be in vain. He finished with three for nine off 10 overs, including three maidens.

Devonshire 117 St. David's 119-3 Sammy Robinson relished taking over the captaincy from Clay Smith as he kept St. David's in the title hunt with a fine allround performance at Lord's. The youngster, whose dropping from the Somerset Cup Match team caused a stir in the west end, first claimed five for nine from 5.2 overs as Devonshire lost their last seven wickets for only 24 runs.

At one stage Devonshire were 93-3 after a stand of 46 between Ricky Brangman Jr (34) and JaJa Millett (29) repaired earlier damage. But when Brangman was bowled by Del Hollis it exposed the fragile middle order as Robinson then got in on the act with five of the last six wickets, including two bowled and two caught behind.

Supporting Robinson in the bowling was Del Hollis with two for 29 from 10 overs.

Robinson then stroked 43 not out off seven fours and a six as St. David's reached their target with seven wickets to spare. He came to the crease after an opening stand of 38 between Chris Foggo (25) and Landro Minors (10).

Som. Bridge 77 St. George's 78-1 Weakened St. George's still proved too strong for Somerset Bridge at White Hill field as David Adams' five for 15 set the stage for an easy win.

St. George's had five players on international duty as spinner Adams stepped up in the bowling to limit Bridge to just 77, with David Jones scoring 25 and Leroy Brangman 12.

St. George's lost just the wicket of George O'Brien before Jason Lewis (45) and Sinclair Gibbons (19) guided the visitors to victory with an unbroken second wicket stand.

Police 297 Flatts 276 Stevie Lightbourne turned in what has to be one of the most ferocious batting displays of the season yesterday when his whirlwind 106 led Police to a 21-run victory over Flatts at Devonshire Rec.

A full 92 of his runs came in boundaries -- 10 of them clearing the ropes for sixes. Lightbourne and Ferdinand Thorne added 168 for the third wicket, the latter striking 54.

Others among the runs were opener Andrew Rollins with 30, Adrian King 25, Nyon Steede 16 and Terry Thomas 11.

Gershon Gibbons led Flatts' bowling with four for 40 off nine overs while player-coach Dwayne Leverock had two for 55 off 10 overs. Nelson Bascome Jr.

had two for 55 off eight overs.

Leverock gave Police a scare in the end with a gallant 72.

Opener Quin Outerbridge struck 52, Rahji Edness 32, Phillip Burgess 28, Brandon Woolridge 19 and Andrew Richardson 16.

Thorne took three for 39 off 10 overs while Donovan Livingston had two for 55.

Somerset CC 129 PHC 90 Leon Place struck an undefeated 58 and three bowlers combined to take nine wickets as Somerset defeated PHC by 39 runs at Police field.

The westenders were rescued by Place after losing both opening batsmen for ducks. With Place getting support from Wendell White, who scored 24, and Michael Donawa, who chipped in with 20, they were able to reach a respectable total.

Cal Waldron, the sixth bowler to be used, led the PHC bowling attack with three for 32 off 7.2 overs and a maiden. Player-coach James Pace had two for 23 and Ellsworth Bean two for 26, both of 10 overs.

The trio who tore the heart out of PHC's batting were White who had four for 23 off 7.4 overs, including two maidens, David Gibbs with three for 20 off 10 overs and three maidens and Place, who took two for 21 off eight overs.

Cleveland 214 Social Club 75 Carlton Smith struck 65 to lead Cleveland to a 139-run victory over a 10-man Social Club side at Wellington Oval.

Also among the runs for Cleveland was Damon Rubain with 28. Ryan Steede led Social's bowling with five for 27.

Curtis Jackson then took four for four of 4.4 overs as Social Club capitulated.

Ryan Belbooda: The Southampton bowler took 2-35 as league leader Rangers beat Willow Cuts for the second time in two days yesterday.