Western Stars 173-4 Western Stars wrapped up the Premier Division Open Championship yesterday when they handed 10-man Bailey's Bay their second straight defeat at Sea Breeze Oval yesterday.

Restricting Bay to 171 -- built mainly on Glenn Smith's 74 and 53 from captain Ricky Hill -- Stars replied with the loss of four wickets to extend their lead over second-placed Bay, who were missing Cup Match players Charlie Marshall, Roger Trott and Clarkie Trott.

Hill, opening the innings with Cal Dill, scored 53 of the team's first 79 runs when he became the second wicket to fall, having lost Dill when the score was 39 in the seventh over. Hill departed 10 overs later, hitting nine fours and a six in the 64 minutes he spent at the crease.

Smith came in at Hill's dismissal and he took over where his captain left off, blasting seven fours and three sixes in his 74 not out while wickets fell regularly around him. After being 104-2 Bay lost four wickets in the space of 19 runs to slump to 123-6.

Captain Arnold Manders led the Stars bowling with four for 60 from 20 overs while Hasan Durham took three for 44 off 19 overs as Bay's batmsmen collapsed.

Albert Steede played another match-winning innings, batting for just over two hours for his 53 not out. However, unlike his blazing century in the second innings of Cup Match, Steede was less hurried and at one stage was outscored by his captain who nearly beat him to the 50 mark.

Steede, on 36 when Arnold Manders came to the wicket, had 47 when the Stars captain departed for 46, a knock which included four fours and three sixes.

Steede completed his 50 when the game winning boundary off Glenn Smith -- only his third four of the innings.

Others getting amongst the runs for Stars were Treadwell Gibbons (44), with whom Steede put on 59 for the first wicket in 13 overs, and Cleon Scotland with 18.

Next Sunday, Stars play St. George's for the Overs title.

St. David's 243 St.George's 210-6 Bad light stopped play at Wellington Oval at 7.59 with three overs remaining and St. George's 34 runs short of victory.

Despite not beginning their innings until 5.09, St. George's made a gallant chase for the runs and had 75 on the board in the 13 overs leading up to the final 20 overs when 169 was still required.

Openers Dexter Smith and Dean Minors gave St. George's a good start when they put on 45 before Smith fell for 17. Minors then added 78 for the second wicket as the run chase gained momentum with some big hitting.

Minors was next out in the seventh over of the last 20 for a personal contribution of 57, from seven fours and two sixes before Smith departed on 183 after stroking 62 from four fours and three sixes.

Ricky Hodsoll hit 34 and even without the injured Wendell Smith and Clevie Wade, St. George's continued to push for victory before bad light forced the two teams to settle for a draw.

Dale Fox was the most successful St. David's bowler with two for 55 from 10.5 overs.

Earlier Allen Richardson blasted 139 -- the highest score between two Premier Division teams this season -- in the St. David's total of 243 in 74.2 overs.

Opening the innings with Shea Pitcher (21), the pair put on 41 for the first wicket before St. George's bounced back with three quick wickets to make it 69-4. Richardson then added 77 for the fifth wicket with Lionel Cann (25) and after Cann's departure St. David's reached 184-6 by tea at 3.35.

In the next hour, Richardson reached his century thanks to stands of 34 for the sixth wicket with Kameron Fox (0) and 31 for the seventh with Reginald Pitcher who contributed 25 before departing.

St. George's used nine bowlers with the last used, spinner Dexter Smith, claiming four for 13 from 4.2 overs to return the best figures. Gregg Foggo took two for 30, Herbie Bascome two for 34.

CATCHING ON -- After helping Somerset claim a Match Cup victory with this catch on Friday, Treadwell Gibbons aided his Western Stars in Premier League play yesterday.