Bailey's Bay 117 Nationals 118-7 If there were any doubts as to the legitimacy of Nationals' bid for the Premier Division title they were erased yesterday as they handed defending champions Bailey's Bay a three wicket defeat.

Spurred by the two-pronged spin attack of Alan Corcoran and former Cup match player Bruce Perinchief, Nationals produced the shock of the season, dismissing the visitors for 117.

Corcoran placed Bay in a tailspin, collecting his season-best figures of five for 38 from 13 overs, taking the scalps of Irving Burgess (five), Charlie Marshall (34), Clarkie Trott (six), Jermaine Outerbridge (0) and Cory Hill (0).

Meanwhile, Perinchief produced a marathon spell of 20 overs from which he reaped three wickets at a cost of 25.

Bay were precariously placed at 58 for eight at one stage and it was only some late heroics from Anthony Braithwaite (35) and youngster Damon Edwards (14 not out) that enabled them to cross the century mark.

Nationals, themselves, got off to a rocky start, with Dennis Trott having to retire hurt after being struck by a Braithwaite bouncer, although he would ultimately return to play a vital role.

Trott's replacement, Jason Lewis, hit a valuable 33 at number three, putting on 61 with Graham Strange (23).

The home side then stumbled to 110 for seven, giving Bay a ray of hope. But Trott and Perinchief were able to stem the tide long enough for them to pass the required total.

Nationals moved into second place, nine points behind leaders Western Stars, with Bay dropping to fourth, 16 points adrift.

Western Stars 229-5 Somerset 96 Western Stars moved further ahead of defending champs Bay at the top of the Premier Division, scoring an emphatic 133-run win over Somerset yesterday.

The home team never capitalised on their decision to send Stars in on a wicket that was slightly damp from the previous day's rain. In fact, they had to wait almost two hours to get their first wicket, as the stand between Albert Steede and Gregory (Snake) Francis produced 98 before spinner James Swan had Francis caught at slip in his first over for 70.

Francis, back playing after several years out of the game, dominated the stand with Steede, scoring 52 of the first 67 runs as he brought up his 50 with a six over deep mid-wicket off Steven Arorash. Steede went on to top score with 82, being the fifth wicket to fall on 221, with Jeff Richardson and Cleon Scotland adding 24 and 30 not out respectively in the middle order.

Arorash was the best Somerset bowler, taking two for 52, while his captain Cordell Gilbert led the batting with 41.

Hasan Durham claimed five for 40 and Arnold Manders three for 36. St. George's 275-9 Warwick 87 Having blasted Warwick's bowlers all around Southampton Oval for three-and-a-half hours after being sent in to bat, St. George's needed just two more hours to wrap up a convincing victory as the home team could muster only 87 in reply.

Opener Dexter Smith crashed 127 in 106 minutes with 14 fours and two sixes, adding 60 with Wendell Smith (27) for the first wicket and then a massive 179 for the fourth with Clevie Wade (84) after Warwick had fought back by taking three quick wickets to make it 67-3.

St. George's almost didn't reach their target of 275 which gave them maximum batting bonus points, as the score quickly slumped from 246-4 to 274-9 before last man Del Tyrell scored the all-important single.

Youngster Quinton Sherlock was the leading bowler for Warwick, taking six for 74 off 11 overs.

After Johnny Nusum and Peter Lee put on 27 for the first wicket, St. George's got the breakthrough and in quick time had the home team reeling at 67-6.

Nusum was eventually high man with 32.

Ryan Steede claimed five for 41, David Adams three for 26.

HE'S BACK -- Bailey's Bay batsman Charlie Marshall announced his return from a lengthy suspension with a solid knock of 34 against Nationals yesterday. But it wasn't enough to prevent the defending league champions from losing by three wickets.