four wickets in five balls -- including a hat-trick -- as Safeguard Security sent title-chasing Forties tumbling to defeat in the Commercial Cricket League's only match on Sunday.

Raynor, 62-year-old former St. George's Cup Match star, cracked eight fours in his 56 to help spur Safeguard to an imposing 226 for four and then virtually put an end to Forties' title hopes by snapping up five for 40 in seven overs of offspin on a Nationals pitch that he found to his liking.

Safeguard eventually ran out winners by 61 runs, avenging a one-wicket defeat earlier in the season.

It was the second time in a month that Forties found themselves on the receiving end of a hat-trick. Sandys Sports' Club's 21-year-old opening bowler Terence Corday performed the feat against Forties at Police Field on July 2.

Forties' skipper Gordon Campbell, who won the toss on Sunday, sent Safeguard in and reduced them to eight for two by grabbing two wickets in his second over -- bowling Francis Grenardo and having Philip Bailey caught behind -- but Adrian Jennings teamed up with opener Ben Alexander to take control.

Jennings, who narrowly missed out on a century for the second time this season -- he was left stranded on 99 not out against Pembroke United in June when he thought he had completed his 100 -- lost Alexander when the opener retired hurt on 37 with a pulled muscle.

But Jennings found another able partner in Raynor, the pair carrying the total to 201 before Campbell returned to dismiss both in his ninth over.

Raynor, cutting and sweeping with ease, hit eight fours in his 56 -- his fourth half century in six innings this season -- before miscuing a pull to provide wicketkeeper Harold Minors with his second catch of the game. Raynor took his run tally to 311 and is averaging 103.67 for the season.

Jennings, who gained in authority after overcoming a shaky start in which he survived a sharp chance off Campbell that flew from Minors' gloves just out of slip Peter Borland's reach, went four runs later, bowled for 95, having struck 11 boundaries -- eight of them from his first nine scoring shots.

Campbell finished with four for 50 from 10 overs -- his first success with the ball since June 4 when he took three for 55 against St. David's.

Gary Edwards, who missed Forties' three previous games, and Leon Dickinson got Forties away to a good start, adding 60 for the first wicket in 14 overs before Dickinson was bowled for 20 by Frankie Bento.

Bento (two for 26), who intended to sit out the game because of a leg injury but answered a late call to play because Safeguard were short, struck again at 73 when he bowled Andrew Paynter.

But 49-year-old Edwards kept Forties in the hunt with a battling knock of 81 before he was stumped by Alexander to provide Raynor with his first wicket on the stroke of the second hour. Edwards hit eight fours.

Wayne Frost, unbeaten on 17, had to leave to go to work at that point and Forties, needing 78 to win with 10 overs left, had further setbacks when Minors and Borland were both run out.

Forties began the 36th over at 164 for six. Granville Bennett took a single from the first ball and was then a spectator as Raynor wrought havoc -- completing a hat-trick by having Campbell stumped for 18, Ivan Clifford caught behind and bowling Oscar Andrade.

Pat Beckham survived the next ball but Raynor polished off the innings by bowling him with the sixth.

The result means Forties, runners-up last season to West Indian Association, can only share the title -- provided they beat Pembroke United in their final game this Sunday and leaders Sandys lose their remaining matches against North Village and St. David's.

Sandys are 10 points clear of Forties with a game in hand and 15 points clear of Village, WIA and St. David's, who each have two matches left. WIA take on St. David's in Sunday's other fixture.

Eldon Raynor