Nationals 145 Western Stars solidified their position at the top of the Premier Division Open standings, while Nationals continued to tumble after the former recorded a 94 run victory at National Sports Club yesterday.

The home team, appearing with only 10 men, were made to rue their decision to send the visitors in on a placid pitch, as Stars raced to 239 before declaring for the loss of eight wickets.

Albert Steede topped the batting for Stars, scoring 57 from just 59 balls, including six fours and a six.

Prior to his entrance Gregory Sampson and Treadwell Gibbons gave a solid start to the innings, putting on 53 for the first wicket before Gibbons departed for a personal contribution of 34.

Sampson was next to go, being run out just nine runs from a half century.

Other useful contributions were made by Andre Manders (36) and captain Arnold Manders, who scorched 29 from a mere 15 balls, including two fours and a three sixes as the home side's bowlers were treated with contempt.

Graham Strange emerged as the most successful bowler for Nationals, grabbing three for 32 from eight overs, while Hoyt Zuill claimed two for 42 and Alan Corcoran one for 37.

The lone bright spot for Nationals while batting was opener Dennis Trott, whose top knock of 60 took 167 minutes to amass and encompassed six fours and a six.

Next high man was Corcoran, with 24 batting at number seven.

Hasan Durham and Arnold Manders seized the bulk of the wickets, returning figures of three for 22 and three for 35 respectively, while Allan Brangman had two for 35 and Cleon Scotland one for 11.

With Bailey's Bay not able to play their match against Willow Cuts, Stars thus moved 18 points clear at the head of the tables with 58 points, with St.

David's moving up to second on 40.

St. George's 255-6 dec Police 128-6 In what was a perfect example of the downside to the open cricket format, Police and St. George's `battled' to the tamest of draws during this encounter at Police Field.

After St. George's posted 255 for six, declaring at 3.40 p.m., the home team never once appeared willing to chase the imposing target, seemingly setting their sights on a draw as early as the first over.

Known for their inbred aggressiveness there was little evidence to suggest such offered by Police's West Indian dominated line-up which displayed none of their usual cavalier style stroke making in nearly three hours at the crease.

Despite facing an array of `junk' bowlers from the east end, with an abundance of loose deliveries, the Police batsmen continued to merely block well into the innings, frustrating their opponents, while boring the handful of spectators almost to tears.

Former St. George's skipper Wendell Smith summed it up best late in the day when he remarked to his opponents sitting in the pavilion.

"This is not cricket. This is an absolute farce.

Indeed, such was the farcical nature of the match's second half, that captain Clay Smith used all 11 players in the attack. Even wicket-keeper Dean Minors got a chance to turn his arm, taking the wicket of Stevie Lightbourne in his lone over.

Earlier, St. George's owed much to the batting talents of Dexter Smith and Eugene Foggo, who put on 132 for the first wicket.

Smith, fresh off a tour of England with the Bermuda squad, showed himself to be in good form, blasting 91, including 11 fours and a six, before being unearthed by a Dwayne Leverock delivery.

Foggo, performing the role of foil, was eventually last out for the east enders, his 64 coming in three hours, 40 minutes, but having just two fours included.

Others among the runs were Clay Smith and Minors, tallying 38 and 35 respectively.

Police captain Dennis Archer took two for 21 from 5.5 overs, while Freston Hurdle, Roger Blades and Leverock took a wicket each.

Lightbourne topped the batting for Police with a subdued 37 that took two hours and 65 balls to accumulate, while others in the mix were Diallo Sharrieff (28 not out) and Ferdinand Thorne (24).