Western Stars 235-8, Southampton Rangers 127-4.

Prolific batsman and skipper Albert Steede came within five runs of scoring the season's first century on the opening day of the 2002 cricket season while steering Western Stars to victory in Saturday's Camel Cup semifinal against Southampton Rangers at Lord's.

Eventually the umpires were forced to adopt the Duckworth/Lewis scoring system because of rain interruptions to declare a winner with Stars, who had been in the driver's seat after scoring 235 for four off 44 overs, advancing to the final against St.David's.

Slow batting by Southampton from the outset severely hurt their cause with their winning target eventually reduced to 155, Janeiro Tucker's team fell 28 runs short in the end.

Steede, batting at number three, put Stars in a comfortable position with his patient knock of 95 including ten fours and a six off 110 balls.

Opener Jermaine Postlethwaite initially set the stage for what was to come from Steede's bat, by hammering 30 runs of the first three overs.

Southampton, though, were happy to see him go for 35 with the score 51 for two, the opener hitting seven fours and a six.

Steede was to take over from here and when he was dismissed, caught by Ricky Brangman off Garry Williams, Stars were virtually in a commanding position with 206 for eight.

Others in double figures were Justin Robinson with 28 not out, Arnold Manders 15 and Hasan Durham ten.

Spinner Keith Wainwright led the Southampton bowlers with three for 28 off nine overs while Williams had two for 45 off four overs.

Southampton, batting as though the next day would do, paid the price for their snails pace approach and with play being abandoned at 5.18p.m. because of rain the Duckworth/Lewis system was to do them no favours.

Openers Kwame Tucker (two) and Wainwright (one) were dismissed with just 12 runs on the board and although stability was added when veterans Stevie Lightbourne (56) and Ricky Brangman (33) put on 80 for the third wicket stand, their rescue attempt proved a little too late.

Lightbourne struck nine fours and a six while Brangman hit two fours.

Hasan Durham, Saleem Mukudem and Kevin Hurdle all took one wicket apiece for Stars.