Commercial Cricket's three title contenders all notched up victories to set up a cliff-hanging finish to the league programme this weekend.

Forties (110 points), who hold a six-point advantage over Leg Trappers (104 points), take on third-placed West Indian Association (103 points) at Shelly Bay, knowing that seven points from a "winning" draw will guarantee them the crown. Forties' only defeat, a two-wicket reverse, came at the hands of WIA at the Royal Naval Field in May.

Unbeaten Leg Trappers have a simpler task - on paper at least - as they face lowly Devonshire Stars, although Stars relegated last season's runners-up Jamaican Association to bottom place by beating fellow strugglers Police Recreation Club by 30 runs at Police Field on Sunday.

Forties registered a seven-wicket victory over nine-man St. David's after demolishing the east enders for a paltry 34 at Royal Naval Field, WIA crushed Jamaican Association by ten wickets at Garrison Field and Leg Trappers beat North Village by two wickets in a low-scoring at Shelly Bay, almost paying a heavy price for tinkering with their batting line-up against pacers Chris Caisey and Derek Bell who bowled unchanged for a marathon 40.4 overs between them.

Meanwhile, yesterday's draw for first round of the knockout on September 1 has thrown up a repeat of Sunday's final league match with WIA pitted against Forties. In the other tie in the top half of the draw Devonshire Stars take on Jamaican Association while in the bottom half North Village are at home to Leg Trappers and holders St. David's host Police Recreation Club.

Although two short for Sunday's trip to the west end, St. David's included free-scoring batsmen Shea Pitcher and Reginald Pitcher in their line-up but both fell cheaply as the innings folded in 17 overs, 11 extras being the most significant contribution as pacers Terence Corday snapped up four for 11 and David Jarrett three for five in eight overs apiece.

Jarrett then top-scored with an unbeaten 13 as Forties, who will be without key all-rounder Braxton Stowe this weekend, completed the double by reaching their modest target in the 11th over after losing three wickets, including newcomer David Stoneham, the former Southampton Rangers player, for ten.

Jamaican Association turned out in strength for their Caribbean showdown with WIA but tumbled to 67 all out in 28 overs as Olwin Clarke (four for 11), Adrian McLean (four for 45) and Stan Francis (two for ten) tore their innings apart.

Skipper Barry Richards (38 not out) and Dave Greenidge (25 not out) polished off the runs in 18 overs to complete the double and keep their title hopes alive.

"I thought we had a game on our hands when we got there and saw their team," said Richards, who hopes to have policeman Ken Pitcher, a former Cup Match star, available for Sunday's match against Forties.

Tight bowling by Leg Trappers restricted North Village to 114 for four in their 42 overs - "we tied them down completely," said spokesman James Broadbent - but Trappers' decision to change their batting line-up almost backfired as they lost three wickets with the total 18 and slumped to 72 for eight before Graham Strange (22 not out) and Chris Fleming (26 not out) added an unbeaten 43 runs for the ninth wicket to clinch victory with eight balls to spare.

"We were never in any danger," said Broadbent.

Earlier, opener Michael Payne (26) and Ritchie Foggo (25) made useful contributions for Village who struggled to 34 without loss from 20 overs and 60 for two from 30 as they were pinned down by opening bowlers Colin Scaife (12 overs for 16 runs) and Marc Wetherhill (seven overs for 12 runs), left-arm slow bowler James Swan taking the honours with three for 38 from 11 overs.

Caisey, who sent down 20.4 overs, claimed five for 51 while Bell earned three for 64 from his 20-over stint.

Although they were at a numerical disadvantage, nine-man Devonshire Stars moved off the bottom of the table and avenged an earlier one-wicket defeat in an ill-tempered match by comfortably beating ten-man Police Recreation Club despite a nine-over five for 24 haul by slow bowler Lucan Joseph.

Stars owed their second victory of the season largely to a knock of 31 from Robert Dill and former Cleveland player Jeremy Fray, who topscored with 35 and then grabbed three for 27 as PRC, chasing 136 for victory, slid to 105 all out. Only wicketkeeper Scott Simmons (34) offered any real resistance with the bat, the other wickets falling to Justin Bailey (four for 35) and skipper Derek Smith (two for 26).

Five teams have still not paid this season's $100 registration fee and should do so before the knockout starts, secretary/treasurer Dave Carruthers said yesterday.