rounded out their league season with a nail-biting eight-run Commercial Cricket League win over luckless Devonshire Stars.

Disappointingly, the other two scheduled matches were not played. Pembroke United conceded the points to North Village and Sandys Sports Club did likewise against West Indian Association, the team they will meet in Sunday's Commercial League Cup final at Nationals.

Smith almost singlehandedly won the game for 10-man Forties, who had clinched their fifth league title the previous week, as the talented young Stars side crumbled when in sight of victory.

Smith rescued Forties from a perilous 14 for three by cracking two sixes and nine fours in a swashbuckling innings of 74. Gary Edwards chipped in with 30 and a last-wicket stand of 24 between Oliver Franks (16) and Laurie Farmer (seven not out) proved crucial.

Opener Kirby Grant finished with four for 50 from 15.1 overs but it was the introduction of slow bowler Harold Minors which helped bring a swift end to the Forties innings and put their unbeaten league record in danger.

With Forties handily placed at 129 for four after 27 overs Minors removed Smith with his first ball and picked up two more wickets in his second over at a cost of two runs before finishing with three for 13.

Skipper Gordon Campbell picked up three early wickets to leave Stars 45 for three but runs were coming at six runs an over as Merkell Smith (25), Shane Grant (22), Minors (33) and Worrell Bean (24) played some handsome strokes.

Wickets kept tumbling but at 144 for seven Stars seemed to have victory in their grasp until a spectacular one-handed diving catch by Campbell at mid-off removed Kirby Grant for 17.

Smith had skipper Gary Ascento caught at 149 and James Thomas (three for 64) wrapped up the innings by bowling last man Gordie Hollis at 151.*l