Something had to be in the water.

Saturday's Open Knockout semifinal at Devonshire Rec. field swung every which way and in the end the one common denominator was that everything happened immediately after the water break halfway through the 50 overs.

Stars were in command at 147 for three with Dexter Smith and Arnold Manders at the wicket in full cry, and after skittling their opponents out for 187, Devonshire themselves were 77 for three with Albert Steede and Leon Place together.

Unfortunately for Devonshire, their total at the time was significantly less and they had little room to allow for a collapse.

Place (12) was out lbw to the first ball after the break, attempting to sweep Arnold Manders from centre stump. He and Steede had put on 22.

Steede hardly looked comfortable in his 65 minutes to the crease and he actually gave a chance to long-off before leg-spinner Wayne Richardson knocked back his centre stump. He had made 15 from 67 balls, not a typical Steede innings.

The right-hander's subdued innings was owed mostly to tight bowling from Manders and sharp fielding performance by birthday boy Cleon Scotland in the covers.

A few blows were struck by skipper Anthony Amory (16) and Erskine Smith (eight), but the asking rate of five runs per over proved too much of a strain as both were out to catches in the deep.

The end followed soon after with Richardson finishing with three for 19 from six overs. Manders had an incredible three for 12 from his 10-over spell while Dwayne Steede (three for 30) was inspired with the new ball.

Devonshire's foundation was set by opener Donald Norford and Lloyd Morrison.

The two put on 39 in 13 overs before Morrison was bowled by Manders for 17.

The off-spinner also accounted for Norford (22) who mistimed an attempted pull and was sent back when Jeff Richardson timed his jump to take a catch at the mid-wicket boundary.

No other batsman batted with the confidence of the first two and the team melted under a combination of the sweltering heat and the intensity Stars showed in the field.

Earlier, Stars gave the impression that they could match Bailey's Bay who scored over 300 runs at Police field.

But Mark Trott and Morrison checked their run chase in a 12-over spell after the water break that brought seven wickets for 40 runs.

Manders was the first to go when after scoring an aggressive 44 he drove indecisively and gave Trott a return catch. Manders stroked three sixes and three fours from 40 balls.

At the other end, Morrison claimed a wicket with his fifth ball as he got Jeff Richardson (two) to give a catch to Norford at square leg.

And three overs later, Smith's innings ended on 71 when he tried to do too much with a straight ball from Trott and was bowled after hitting nine fours and two sixes.

So, suddenly Stars fell from the enviable perch of 151 for three to 167 for six.

Trott went on to take four for 34 from 9.4 overs and Morrison, Devonshire's seventh bowler used, three for 15 from six.

Anthony Edwards, who was not needed after his first spell -- as Stars only batted 37.4 overs -- took two for 14 from five overs, his early success putting the visitors in a hole at 12 for two. But the Stars recovery started when Mike Jones (24) put on 38 in a half-hour with Smith for the third wicket.

UP IN ARMS -- Western Stars wicket-keeper Anthony Manders shows his delight with Wayne Richardson after the spinner bowled Albert Steede at a crucial stage on Saturday.