a hard-fought win over title contenders North Village on Sunday when five teams played short.

West Indian Association lost ground in the chase for their first championship when they were comfortably held by Safeguard Security while PHC and Devonshire Stars both completed doubles with convincing wins.

Forties now lead North Village and WIA by five points but Village, who have three matches left to play, including a crucial make-up game against Safeguard Security, have a game in hand on their two main rivals.

Forties, meeting North Village with only 10 men for the second time this season, avenged their earlier 67-run defeat by winning Sunday's clash at Shelly Bay with 34 balls to spare and three wickets in hand.

Three run outs cost Village dearly as they were restricted to 161 for nine.

Elliott Pitcher was run out in the first over without facing a ball, El James was run out for four in a mix-up with Elliott Jennings and Cal Smith went via the same route for two.

David Scraders (28) and Mike Levon (30) repaired the early damage by putting on 63 runs for the second wicket but then five wickets tumbled for the addition of 16 runs.

Skipper Wendell Lindsay, with a battling knock of 45, carried the total to 132 before he was seventh out and then Cal Dill hit 21 not out in an unbroken last wicket stand of 22 to frustate Forties, whose first change bowler Grant Tomkins plugged away to pick up three for 33.

Tomkins, a former Police player, then played a vital role with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 45 after being struck in the face early in his innings and being forced to retire.

Tomkins returned to defy the Village attack and he and Clevie Smith (29 not out) put on 53 in an unbroken seventh wicket stand to clinch victory after Cal Smith (three for 47) reduced Forties to 109 for six with three successive wickets.

Earlier former Cup Match star James, defying his 46 years, removed skipper Gordon Campbell in a fiery opening burst but was then taken on by 50-year-old Allan Lee in one of the season's epic confrontations.

James eventually won the battle by having Lee caught at mid-off for 31 but not before he had twice smashed James for six, one over midwicket and the other over long on.

Another former Cup Match star, Colin Blades, restored Safeguard Security pride after a dismal recent run by hitting three sixes and six fours in his 53 as 10-man Safeguard reached 185 for seven at Malabar in a game reduced to 38 overs because of a late start.

Skipper Herman James contributed 43 while his opposite number, Jerry Callender, continued to blaze a trail with the ball for WIA, snapping up five for 38 from 15 overs. Even though Safeguard fielded with only nine men, WIA never got into a winning position and settled for a draw at 122 for five.

PHC beat St Michael in an eight-a-side game at Warwick Secondary with two wickets in hand after Michael Campbell (48) and Ian Coke (47) provided the bulk of St Michael's 151, Braxton Stowe and Charles Symons picking up three wickets apiece.

Ty Williams, with three sixes and five fours in his 50, and Dean Byron (40) spearheaded the reply as PHC raced to 154 for five in 27.4 overs.

Sandys Sports Club fielded only nine men as they were skittled out for 53 by Devonshire Stars at Garrison Field, Gary Ascento doing the damage with five for 27 in nine overs. Stars reached their target at three runs an over for the loss of three wickets.