Police 141, Western Stars 144-2

Police entered Saturday's Central Counties Cup final at St.John's Field seeking an upset.

What they got was an eight-wicket mauling at the hands of holders Western Stars, who easily defended their crown throughout this year's series to book a place in September's Champions of Champions competition.

"I was pleased with today's performance," said Stars' skipper Albert Steede "We weren't as good in the field as we were in other matches but we still have to give ourselves challenges every week because that is the only way to keep the team focused.

"But there is always room for improvement."

Astonishingly, Stars only gave up eight wides in the extras column.

After Steede (13) and Jermaine Postlethwaite (10) had both been dismissed in the space of two runs to leave Stars struggling at 30 for two, Gershon Gibbons (34 not out) and Saleem Mukudem (50 not out) featured in an unbroken, game-winning third wicket stand of 113 in 93 minutes to ensure that the cup remained in the St.John's road clubhouse for another year.

Mukudem brought up his deserved half-century and the game-winning runs in dramatic style, dispatching Phillip Bailey to the long off boundary for six which prompted the approval of the disc jockey between the "Cedars" who showed his obvious delight by pumping up the volume as Stars began the celebrations.

Gibbons, in typical fashion, played more of a supporting role, hitting just two fours, while his South African born counterpart stroked five fours and a six, registering his 50 in just 59 balls.

Stars reached their winning target in just 30.5 overs.

Police were guilty of some poor fielding, yielding 36 runs to their opponent's total.

Earlier, Stars' spin ace Hasan Durham emerged as the significant contributor to Police's demise, returning impressive figures of four for 42 off 8.5 overs including two maidens, with Justin Robinson ably supporting with two for 30 off his allotted ten overs. Wilbur Burt, Mukudem, Maurice Lowe and veteran Arnold Manders all seized a wicket apiece, the latter without conceding a single run to the total.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Police lost their first two wickets with just nine runs on the board, Terry Thomas (five) and Mike Donawa (two) both going cheaply.

Wilbur Burt (one for 24) and Mukudem (one for 13) made the initial breakthrough.

But a 40-run partnership between Andrew Rawlins (40) and skipper Dennis Archer (23) began to give Police a glimmer of hope.

Maurice Lowe put an end to that thought as he dislodged Archer's stumps, although Stars would have to wait another 33 runs for the next Police wicket to fall, that of Rawlins just 10 shy of a half century.

But with all of their opponents' recognised batsmen headed for the shower, the home team found little difficulty dismantling the tail as Durham stamped his authority on the proceedings en route to enjoying one of his better performances with the ball this season.

Police's last six wickets tumbled for just 59 runs.