Joint league champions North Village and Forties both scored emphatic victories to reach the Commercial Cricket League's knockout final at Police Field on Sunday.

Village beat Safeguard Security by 84 runs in their semifinal at Warwick Secondary while Forties defeated PHC by six wickets in the other semifinal at Shelly Bay to set up a showdown between two sides who traded league victories and finished the season with identical records.

Village won the first league encounter by 67 runs at Shelly Bay but Forties, who played one short in both games, turned the tables in the second fixture, winning by four wickets at the same venue.

Forties have a formidable knockout record, having won the prestigious tournament seven times in nine seasons, while Village will be seeking their first knockout title in only their second season in the league.

Sent in on Sunday, Village lost half their wickets for 90 after Michael Ross (four for 34) removed the top order but a sixth wicket stand of 84 between Mike Levon and Frank Morgan, who both completed half centuries, helped spur the soccer side to 180 for seven.

Levon's 54 included three fours while Morgan hit one six and six fours in his 58.

Swing bowler Donville Yarde (four for 21) repeated Ross' feat and snapped up the first four wickets as Safeguard slid to 39 for four and then 51-year-old slow bowler Elliott Pitcher drove the nail in the security firm's coffin by grabbing five for 24 in seven overs.

Safeguard were dismissed for 96 with more than 10 overs to spare, Adrian Jennings providing the only real resistance with three fours in a fighting 54.

Forties sent PHC in and restricted the soccer side to 137 for eight with some tight bowling.

PHC lost half their wickets for 62 and although William Minors (33) and Braxton Stowe (29) added 60 runs for the sixth wicket their total never looked likely to be enough, especially as two of their players, Ty Williams and Lyle Millett, had to leave before the end.

Gordon Campbell and Gary Edwards got Forties off to a flying start, taking 14 runs off Millett's first over.

Although Millett bowled Campbell for 21 Forties continued to score briskly.

Dave Woodhead cracked seven fours from 20 balls in his 34 and Edwards was unbeaten on 45 as the defending champions raced home with more than 15 overs to spare.