three-wicket Camel Cup victory over Western Stars, with a sweet success of their own by claiming the scalp of defending champions Forties in the opening round of Commercial Cricket League matches on Sunday.

A six-wicket haul by Henry O'Connor and a knock of 60 against his former team-mates by Alan Lamb steered the east enders, who played one short, to a one-wicket victory at Lord's.

All-rounder Gary Ray starred with bat and ball for last season's runners-up Watford Sports Club, snapping up four wickets and then hitting an unbeaten 42 to guide the west enders to a five-wicket victory over North Village.

Fast bowler David Gibbs, a former Somerset and national squad player who has returned to his roots, picked up three wickets for Jamaican Association who stormed to a quickfire nine-wicket win over Devonshire Stars.

In the other match, Leg Trappers eased to a seven-wicket win over nine-man West Indian Association.

O'Connor's incisive nine-over spell, in which he claimed six for 16, limited Forties to 131 all out from 39 overs. Braxton Stowe top-scored with 55 and Gladwin Ingham made 24.

St. David's also struggled with the bat, despite the fast outfield, and at one stage looked in real danger at 64 for seven. However, Cecil Pitcher (21) joined Lamb for the key partnership of the innings, the pair adding 55 as St.

David's eventually reached their target in 33 overs.

Pick of the Forties attack was Brian Holdipp who bowled throughout the innings, taking five for 59 from 17 overs.

In an entertaining match, North Village made 147 all out from 39 overs, captain Mike Young leading by example with a fine knock of 51.

Prison officer Ray engineered Watford's victory, taking four for 11 from six overs and then rattling up an undefeated 42 to underpin the west enders' 150 for five in 31 overs. Trevor Corday chipped in with 26 and Blake West 24 not out while opening bowler Derek Bell picked up three for 62 for Village.

Leg Trappers sent their opponents in and the handicap of playing two short proved too great for the West Indian Association.

Man-of-the-match Colin Scaife was a real handful, taking three for 15 runs in an accurate eight-over spell. Slow bowler James Swan, as economical as ever, conceded just three runs in his eight-over spell and took the important wicket of Chris Clarke for 14.

Randy Liverpool was the only other batsman who looked dangerous but he perished in a leg-side trap set by skipper James Broadbent, David Thompson taking a superb running catch on the long leg boundary off David Hosier (two for 15).

The West Indians struggled to 70 all out in the 28th over.

Openers Justin Freisenbruch and Damion Henderson provided a solid platform with an opening stand of 35. There was a mini-collapse as Trappers lost three wickets for just four runs, all taken by fast bowler Stan Francis, who finished with three for 27, but Graham Strange (21 not out) and Broadbent (seven not out) guided their side home in the 20th over with an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 32.

The Jamaican bowlers blasted Devonshire Stars out for a paltry 53 in just 24.5 overs. Stars' batsmen were unable to cope with the pace and bounce of the Jamaican fast men, especially Gibbs, who finished with three for 22.

His opening partner, Simroy Crosdale, took three for 17 but the best figures belonged to Glenroy Brown who turned in an excellent analysis of 4.1-2-6-4.

The Jamaicans needed only 10.1 overs to reach their target, opener Lloyd Morrison making a rapid 32 on his return to the side before he was run out, the only wicket to fall.