After finishing on the short end of three Camel Cup finals, Western Stars yesterday were at last able to experience the sweet taste of champagne for the first time as champions.

And their destruction of Bailey's Bay at Lord's was done in great style with Stars winning by 164 runs -- dismissing Bay for a paltry 101 runs, which was a record low by a team in the final.

The previous low score in the final was also recorded by Bay back in the first year, 1987, when they were dismissed for 114 against Devonshire Rec.

who won by 73 runs.

Devonshire Rec. was also responsible for Bay's overall record low 88 runs scored in the semifinal a year ago. Devonshire won that game by 119 runs.

Any hopes Bay had of making a spirited challenge yesterday were made difficult from the start when Western Stars turned in a prolific batting display that saw them reach a formidable 265 for five off their allotted 50 overs.

And when Bay lost opener Ricky Hill (nought) and Charlie Marshall (one) for just 11 runs defeat always seemed inevitable. Hill was smartly snapped up by Wayne Richardson at backward point off Allan Brangman while Marshall was smartly caught at deep mid-off by Anthony Foggo off Gary Brangman.

Stars' skipper Gary Brangman may have been right when he summed up the downfall of Bay this way: "They had the wrong attitude when they batted. They could have sat down, hung in there and hung in there for their runs, but they played too many flashy shots and got out.'' That certainly did contribute to their demise after the two talented batsmen were dismissed when Bay set about their mammoth task of reaching a winning target of 266 runs.

Skipper Chris Smith (34) and Clarkie Trott (15) were two players in particular who threw away their wickets.

The skipper and Glenn Smith (16) added stability when they joined in a third-wicket stand that put on 43, but after the latter was bowled by spinner Arnold Manders, Bay were in deeper trouble at 54 for three. And they were reeling even more five runs later when the skipper was dismissed.

Smith's big slip-up occurred when he coasted to the non-striker's end while Noel Gibbons was attempting a second run and was sensationally run out from Cleon Scotland, who was fielding just inside the mid-wicket boundary, to bowler Arnold Manders. An angry Smith threw his bat high into the air in disgust, but he could blame no one but himself.

Veteran Noel Gibbons (17) and Clarkie Trott (15) then showed some resistance with a fifth-wicket stand that put on 21 runs, but that was shaky with Trott looking impatient at this early stage of the game with just 20 overs gone.

He quickly hammered left-spinner Wayne Richardson for two sixes over mid-wicket but the inevitable early end for him soon arrived when he skied a return catch to the bowler. Bay were now 75 for five.

Although Gibbons stayed around until the century came up he was unable to find a suitable partner capable of providing the team with a decent stand and consequently it was not long before Stars' inspired spinners wrapped things to dismiss Bay in just 32.3 overs.

"We finished them off in style because we had four spinners bowling well on a good wicket that only started to deteriorate near the end,'' said Brangman.

"After taking the two early wickets we had them under lots of pressure.'' Seldom-used spinner Andre Manders was the top bowler with two for seven from just two overs while Arnold Manders had two for 24 from 10 overs and Richardson took two for 29 from 10 overs.

Brangman had particularly high praise for his open batsmen Gregory Sampson (39) and Anthony Foggo (61) who put on 98 runs and for Jeff Richardson (53) and Arnold Manders (54) who followed with fine knocks. Richardson and Manders put on 73 for the third wicket, Manders being the dominating partner who reached his half-century off just 34 balls by hitting five fours and two sixes.

"We won because we did it all,'' said Brangman proudly of his team after victory was reached.

"Our batting, fielding and bowling was good out there today. Credit to our opening batsmen who did well for us on both days. In the final they set a solid foundation for us to follow and reach a good score,'' said the skipper.

"Bailey's Bay hurt themselves because they had no specialist spin bowlers. We were just a better all-round team, one that was very hungry after playing in three finals without managing to win. It's good the long wait is over.'' FINALLY -- Western Stars skipper Gary Brangman, left, and vice-captain Arnold Manders clasp the crystal Camel cup for the first time after four straight trips to the final.