The depth of the Western Stars batting line-up told the story again in a 49-run win over Police in the second round of the Central Counties Cup on Saturday at St. John's field.

With Stars struggling at 121 for four and top batsmen Arnold Manders (four) and Jeff Richardson (23) out for a combined 27 runs, Stars' hold on the cup looked a bit slippery. But Andre Manders and Cleon Scotland put on 133 for the fifth wicket to carry the side to their third mammoth total of the young season.

Manders carried his bat through the innings, after coming to the wicket at 57 for one, for an unbeaten 111.

Police's early success was owed to medium-pacer Ossie Hinds who bowled his spell unchanged and took three for 29 from 10 overs.

Stars' openers, Anthony Foggo (32) and Gregory Sampson (23) had another successful stand, but they fell 19 runs within each other, both caught behind off Hinds.

In the same over he dismissed Foggo, Hinds induced Arnold Manders into a drive that David Greenidge caught in the covers and Stars were 81 for three.

Richardson and Andre Manders put on 40 for the fourth wicket but the former gave his wicket away just when he was hitting stride, Henderson Hoyte the beneficiary.

The game slowly went away from Police with Scotland and Manders picking up singles at will to go with the odd boundary. And once Scotland became more aggressive, Stars' chances of reaching the triple century looked real.

Police hurt themselves by putting down Manders in quick succession off Tyrone Smith -- by Ferdinand Thorne when he had made 45 and by Hoyte when he was on 51.

Obviously, the price they paid was a stiff one as Manders was flawless from there on striking 14 fours from 102 balls.

Scotland had made a career-best 68 before he was run out by a direct hit from Smith. He hit a six and seven fours from 60 deliveries.

Police's response to the large total was positive with Greenidge, who had just resigned the captaincy to Dennis Archer, and Donovan Livingston making a meal of the Stars bowling.

The two scored freely and often in a 121-run stand that forced Stars to turn to spinners Arnold Manders and Wayne Richardson much earlier than expected.

The run rate slowed somewhat before Greenidge was caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Allan Brangman off his brother Gary for 72. Greenidge hit 10 fours and two sixes.

Already behind the asking rate, Police made a tactical error by sending Thorne at three instead of Tyrone Smith or Archer.

So, with two stabilisers at the wicket, Livingston was forced into an unnatural aggressor's role and his dismissal at 154 turned the match.

Livingston followed last week's 81 with 66, which included six fours and three sixes.

Tyrone Smith was out in the next over, bowled by Allan Brangman for two hitting across the line, then tragedy struck when Archer was run out for four.

From 154 for one Police were suddenly 164 for four and two runs later it got even worse when Dwayne Leverock played down the wrong line against Andre Manders and was stumped for one.

Thorne hung around until the score reached 200 when he was run out for 28.

Dennis Gordon did some good hitting at the end to finished on 32 not out, but Stars had already done enough to ensure that they face Devonshire Rec. in the final on June 12.

Arnold Manders finished with two for 25, Andre Manders a creditable two for 41 in an unchanged spell and Allan Brangman two for 64.

ANDRE MANDERS -- 111 not out.