Jamaican Association shaved Hemisphere Leg Trappers' lead at the top of the Commercial Cricket League to 12 points by gaining a "winning'' draw in Sunday's top-of-the-table clash at Garrison Field but time is running out on their title aspirations with only four matches left.

Jamaican emotions ran high as the team pressed for an outright victory that would have narrowed the gap to just five points and afterwards club spokesman Glen Barrett admitted: "We gave it our best shot but need a miracle now.'' On the back foot for the first time this season, Leg Trappers held on to close at 92 for seven -- and take three and a half points to their rivals' six and a half -- after Jamaican Association had compiled a challenging 170 for seven in their allotted 42 overs.

Elsewhere, North Village and Watford Sports Club avenged earlier defeats by beating Forties and Police Recreation Club respectively.

St. David's and Public Transportation Board shared the points after their game at Shelly Bay was called off. St. David's turned up with four players and PTB six.

Jamaican Association, who lost to Leg Trappers by two wickets in a nerve-jangling finish to their first encounter at Police Field, were given a fine start by Michael Campbell (29) and Lloyd Morrison (25).

The pair put on 58 for the first wicket after the Jamaicans were sent in and another useful contribution came from number three batsman Chris Cox (26).

Ian Smith, who later stood firm with the bat with an unbeaten 16 to thwart the Jamaicans, was Leg Trappers' most successful bowler, collecting four for 47 from 14 overs, while David Outtrim chipped in with two for 24.

Fast bowlers David Gibbs and Campbell, who have borne the brunt of the Jamaican attack this season, shared five of the wickets to fall.

Gibbs claimed three for 41 from 20 overs while Campbell, who went straight to the game from the airport after flying in from an overseas trip, took two for 37 from 16 overs.

Graham Strange made 20 in Leg Trappers' reply with extras accounting for 34 of the runs -- 25 of them wides.

Barrett blamed poor catching -- "we dropped four chances'' -- for his side's failure to secure the outright victory while Leg Trappers batsman James Broadbent commented: "We never got going and shut up shop with 14 overs left.

We were happy to get a draw in the end.'' Third-placed North Village, trounced by eight wickets after being shot out for 53 by Forties earlier in the season at Shelly Bay, exposed their rivals' recent batting frailties as they exploited a grassy, seamer-friendly strip at Southampton Oval on their way to an emphatic seven-wicket victory.

Forties, skittled out for 39 by Jamaican Association the previous week, again struggled after electing to bat and were reeling at 54 for seven, before recovering to reach 96, as Derek Bell snapped up four for 29 from 13 overs and Mike Young three for 28 from 13.1 overs.

Forties made the worst possible start, slumping to five for three after Oscar Andrade was run out to the first delivery of the innings without facing a ball.

Alan Lamb, back from injury, slammed five fours and a six in a breezy knock of 28 before playing on to Bell while Andrew Paynter (21) and Gary Edwards, with 14 in his first game of the season, provided a late flourish with an eighth-wicket stand of 35.

Skipper Gordon Campbell (two for 22) raised Forties' hopes by claiming two early Village wickets but opener Shiran DeSilva (28) and Alex Virgil, who struck six fours and a six in an enterprising unbeaten 41, added 53 for the third wicket to help set up their seventh victory of the season in the 22nd over. Village now trail Jamaican Association by 141 points.

Andy McCulloch made a valiant attempt for eight-man Police Recreation Club, topscoring with 38 and bowling unchanged for 15 overs to bag three for 52, but the handicap of playing three short proved too great for the lawmen as Watford Sports Club ran out comfortable five-wicket winners at Police Field to avenge an earlier nine-wicket thrashing at the Royal Naval Field.

Jermaine Tucker, with 28, was the other main contributor in the Police total of 105 as left-arm bowler David DeSilva grabbed four for 21 in 7.5 overs.

A second-wicket stand of 41 between opener Ian Armstrong (33) and Michael Corday (31) put Watford on the path to victory before Terry Ward (20 not out) eased the west enders home in the 31st over. Mark Griffith took two for 28.