North Village at the top of the Commercial Cricket League on Sunday, to signal the halfway point of the league programme.

Village had to settle for a draw against 10-man Devonshire Stars at Warwick Secondary while West Indian Association and PHC called off their game at Southampton Oval midway through the first innings.

The game between Safeguard Security and St Michael was not played because Police field was ruled unfit. Both teams agreed to reschedule the match.

Sandys Sports Club were pegged down by Forties at Garrison field and were eventually dismissed in the final over for 96, Forties replying with 97 for four with more than 18 overs in hand.

Terry Ward, still waiting for his new contact lenses to arrive, came in with Sandys 15 for two in the eighth over and left in the 41st, having played the anchor role with a patient 46 from 115 balls.

Nobody else got into their stride and after 30 overs Sandys found themselves bogged down at 53 for four.

After Andrew Paynter (two for 19) picked up the first two wickets, skipper Gordon Campbell and Allan Lee shared the attack, picking up two wickets apiece in their final over. Campbell bowled unchanged to finish with four for 49 in 21 overs while Lee took four for 25.

Steve Bremar (two for 29) stunned Forties with two wickets in the opening over but Dave Woodhead (42) and Gerald Simons, Jr. (38 not out) shared a third-wicket stand of 78 to take Forties to the brink of victory before skipper Terry Corday chipped in with two for five from two overs.

Former Cup Match star El James marked his league debut by hitting two sixes and six fours in his 52 and Ernest Paynter made 48 as Village totalled 178, all-rounder Allan Lamb taking five for 32 from nine overs. Stars replied with nine without loss before the game was called off.

West Indian Association's Ken Savoury (three for 32) picked up all the wickets to fall as PHC made 74 for three in 21.3 overs at Southampton Oval before rain intervened. Dean Byron was unbeaten on 33.