St. David's won the Commercial Cricket League's knockout tournament for the first time when they beat Watford Sports Club by three wickets at a damp Lord's on Sunday but they were almost denied the double by a fighting performance from all-rounder Blake West.

Runaway winners of the league title, star-studded St. David's appeared likely to inflict a crushing defeat on the west enders _ they had beaten them twice in the league _ after they sent them in and reduced them to a perilous 44 for seven after 15 overs as left-arm medium pacer George Cannonier (8-3-16-4) caused mayhem.

Watford, four times winners of the tournament, lost an eighth wicket at 66 but number eight batsman West and Troy Berkeley led a marvellous fightback that saw the last two wickets produce 100 runs. West and Berkeley's contribution was 64 runs for the ninth wicket.

Scoring most of his runs on the legside, West struck eight fours and a six in an unbeaten 58 while Berkeley, who was pushed down the order to number 10 after a modest season with the bat, hammered three sixes and three fours in a typically belligerent 36 before West and Timmy Simons (14) added a further invaluble 36 runs for the last wicket.

Man of the match West, a commercial fisherman by trade, then hauled his side back into contention with the ball as St. David's faltered badly, sliding from a comfortable 119 for two in 23 overs to 159 for seven _ still eight runs short of their winning target.

West (three for 25) began his sixth over _ and the 32nd of the innings _ by bowling wicketkeper Alan Lamb, who earlier took four catches, as dark clouds and rain began rolling in again and suddenly St. David's, who lost last year's gripping final at the same ground by five runs to Forties, looked vulnerable.

Skipper George O'Brien, celebrating his 48th birthday, eased St. David's nerves by dispatching the third ball of the over for four.

With four required, everybody held their breath as O'Brien drove the next ball straight to West's son Jim on the long-on boundary, only for the fielder to let the ball slip through his hands and go for six.

Said O'Brien afterwards: "It's my birthday so I needed some luck. The league and knockout double was what I was looking for. I knew the rain was coming so I had to get on with it. We're happy now."

Added a disappointed Michael Corday: "`If Jim had taken that catch anything could have happened."

Cannonier's early burst ripped out the top order of the Watford batting which sorely missed leading batsman Terry Ward, currently sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Cannonier bowled Jim West for nought and then had David DeSilva (12) and Gary Ray (nought) caught behind with successive balls. He also had Michael Corday (nine) caught behind as the west enders struggled on a damp pitch.

Ken Pitcher bowled skipper Terence Corday for nought with a ball that nipped back, Jeff Pitcher chipped in with the wicket of Terry Corday for 15, Sidney Simmons was needlessly run out for nought and John Ray was bowled for eight by O'Brien before James Pace (two for 26) ended the Watford recovery.

Watford enjoyed an early success when Cannonier was well caught in the covers by Gary Ray for 12 but opener Shea Pitcher and Allen Richardson laid the foundation for victory with a stand of 67 before Pitcher's attractive innings of 46 (eight fours and a six) ended when he was caught at square leg.

Despite conceding six wides in his fourth over, Jim West chipped in with two for 30. In his second over he claimed the prize scalp of Richardson for an unruffled 40 to a legside catch by wicketkeeper Michael Corday who later took a spectacular one-handed leaping catch to remove James Pace for 27 after John Ray (one for 13 from six overs) had bowled Jeff Pitcher for nine.

Blake West trapped Granville Bennett leg before for nine at 152 and then failed to hold on to a stinging drive by Lamb which went for four but bowled him for five before Trinidad and Tobago-born O'Brien had the final say.

For St. David's it was their third Commercial trophy _ they also won the now defunct League Cup in 1994 when they joined the league.

Both teams deserve credit for their determination to finish Sunday's match, the Commercial season finale, in the face of some fierce lightning, light rain, poor light and a greasy ball.

In the event there was only one 21-minute stoppage late in the Watford innings. On any other day umpire Randy Butler might well have led the players off for good at that point.

Photo by Tamell Simons

Out! Watford Sports Club's number 10 batsman Troy Berkeley's swashbuckling innings is ended as he's bowled by James Pace for 36 in the final of the Commercial Cricket League Knockout Final at Lord's. St. David's won the match to complete a league and cup double. Full report, Page 25.