Commercial Cricket League frontrunners West Indian Association by 10 runs in a thrilling finish.

WIA's defeat enabled North Village, 89-run winners over St Michael, to take a five-point lead at the top and emerge as new favourites to win the league for the first time in only their second season.

North Village have a game in hand over both WIA and Forties, who were frustrated by a controversial umpires' decision to abandon their match because of bad light with outplayed PHC tottering on the verge of defeat after Forties had declared at 230 for five in 40 overs.

Devonshire Stars claimed the points in the other scheduled fixture when Safeguard Security turned up with only four players at Garrison Field and were forced to default the game.

Paul Ross, one of the league's top allrounders, played a key role in Sandys' first victory of the season. Ross hit 42 in Sandys' 161 and then snapped up three for 27 as 10-man WIA were all out for 151 with 17 overs unused at the Royal Naval Field.

Terry Ward provided the other useful contribution in the Sandys total with an innings of 46 as WIA skipper Jerry Callender grabbed six for 32 in 13 overs.

Ken Savoury, who cracked three sixes and four fours in his 53, and John McConnie with 30 kept WIA in the hunt but their last six wickets fell for the addition of 51 runs.

An unbeaten 84 by Mike Levon, which contained eight fours, provided the backbone of North Village's 180 for eight at Warwick Secondary, Cal Smith then blasting out St Michael for 91 with seven for 22 in nine overs. David Jarrett was St Michael's top bowler with three for 34. PHC umpires Tony Binns and Gary Dillas halted the game at 7.25 p.m. at Shelly Bay where Forties were a wicket away from completing the double over the defending champs with five overs left.

James Thomas, in cracking form this season, struck his fourth half century in five innings to put Forties in a strong position after a hesitant start, scoring 54 in a second wicket partnership of 75 with skipper Gordon Campbell.

Thomas, who scored 64 in the first match against PHC, struck one six and five fours before becoming the first of former teammate Braxton Stowe's three victims.

Skipper Gordon Campbell blossomed after Thomas' departure, adding 60 for the fourth wicket with Allan Lee (43), and was finally out for 90 in the 38th over having hit nine fours.

William (Boxhead) Minors completed his second half century of the season against Forties, having made 69 in the first encounter. Minors, given an early life, hit 56 from 92 balls with seven fours but he received little support from his teammates, PHC crumbling from 71 for one to 117 for nine.

Clevie Smith ripped the heart out of the PHC batting with four for 26 and Grant Tomkins chipped in with two for nought, including a wicket with his first ball for the club, before the umpires offered last pair Lyle Millett and Neil Anglin the light.

Despite Forties' pleas to finish the match in the spirit of the Commercial League, Millett and Anglin, after initial hesitation, accepted the offer and walked off to claim a share of the points.

Significantly, it was the only official cricket game in Bermuda on Sunday that was not completed.