Counties Cup opener at St. John's field on Saturday as champions Western Stars won by 163 runs -- thanks to a century from Andre Manders.

While few honestly felt that Nationals had a glimmer of hope going into the game, skipper Neil Speight still thought his side could raise the level of their play and be competitive in what was their biggest game of the season so far.

But it was not to be. Spilled catches combined with some mediocre bowling took its toll and contributed to their inevitable demise.

It wasn't a humiliating loss, but certainly a convincing defeat for the former Commercial League players.

They contributed to the severity of the defeat by dropping several catches -- unbelievably century-maker Manders was put down four times, three by the usually safe hands of Peter Norris fielding at long-off.

After first being pardoned by Norris when he had scored just five, Manders went on to produce some glorious drives.

And Nationals did little right as Stars piled on the runs.

After Gregory Sampson (46) and Treadwell Gibbons (32) put on 55 in the opening stand, Sampson and Manders then joined in a second-wicket partnership that added 100, taking the score from 55 for one to 155 before Sampson was dismissed.

Manders was the dominating partner as Sampson surprisingly found it difficult to settle despite having been at the wicket long before his teammate.

Sampson faced 110 balls and batted for 138 minutes while Manders saw 103 balls and was at the wicket for 133 minutes.

Manders, who was particularly ferocious hitting to the mid-wicket boundary, finished with eight fours and six sixes in racing to his first century of the season. He reached the three-figure mark by smashing fast bowler Michael Campbell for six over mid wicket.

Among the other Stars batsmen in double figures were Jeff Richardson with 21 and Cleon Scotland with an unbeaten 18.

Noel Capewell was top bowler for Nationals with two for 28 off five overs while Graham Strange had two for 59 off 10 overs.

With spinner Wayne Richardson snatching four for 30 and Allan Brangman taking two for 19, the agony continued for Nationals when they set about the target.

After losing two wickets for 17 runs and labouring to get their first 20 runs off 10 overs, it was clear that Nationals would need super-human efforts from their players to make a fight out of it.

But not even the intervention of rain, which lasted just 20 minutes, could help their cause The only resistance came when they were reeling at 41 for five as top scorer James Broadbent and Mike Evans added 22, taking the score to 63.

Broadbent scored 13 and Evans 11.

This was followed by a short seventh-wicket stand between Evans and Norman Godwin (12), as the pair put on 17. But once they were separated the end came quickly, although skipper Neil Speight, batting at number nine, did add 10 runs.

Peter Norris had stroked Richardson for six over the mid-off boundary in the 14th over. But the bowler exacted his revenge a few balls later when he clean bowled Norris. Nationals were eventually bowled out in 39 overs.

Western Stars are scheduled to meet Social Club in the second round at St.

John's field this Saturday.

CENTURY-MAKER -- Andre Manders of Western Stars completes his ton as he smashes Michael Campbell for six over the long-on boundary.