Former Cup Match batsman Allen Richardson marked his return from suspension for misconduct by helping to guide St. David's Commercial Cricket League team to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over out-of-sorts Leg Trappers.

Pace bowler Brian Holdipp enjoyed a six-wicket haul as leaders Forties beat Devonshire Stars by 65 runs to stay 13 points clear of Watford, who trounced North Village by eight wickets, while Sunday's other match, the calypso showdown between Jamaican Association and West Indian Association, fizzled out into a tame draw with bad light halting play.

Richardson, 42, preparing for an overseas tour and aiming to return to the top flight, was injured when struck in the box by a David Hosier full toss early in his innings but resumed later to finish 38 not out as St. David's romped to 209 for two in the 36th over after restricting Leg Trappers to 206 for four at batsman-friendly Lord's.

Trinidad and Tobago-born George O'Brien provided the fireworks in the St.

David's innings, bludgeoning 11 fours and four sixes in an explosive knock of 97, narrowly missing his century when he was caught near the boundary. Skipper Eddie Lamb joined in the run spree with five fours in an unbeaten 53.

Earlier, Graham Strange and Damion Henderson (38 not out) teamed up to lift Leg Trappers past 200 with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 89, Strange stroking 10 fours and two sixes in his 75 not out. James Broadbent showed glimpses of his old form with a knock of 30.

Richardson, who chipped in with two for 42 from 12 overs, received his suspension, along with Clay Smith, last season when both showed dissent after Smith was given out lbw by stand-in umpire Colin Blades in the club's final league match. Richardson won an appeal to reduce the one-year ban, clearing him to play again on July 1.

He used Sunday's match against Leg Trappers, who have now lost four successive fixtures, as a warm-up for St. David's trip to England where they are to compete in the Millennium Tournament in Durham. Richardson hopes to resume his Premier and Eastern Counties Cup career on his return home.

Forties were reduced to 13 for three after being rocked by a burst from Larry Allen but were saved by a fourth-wicket stand of 69 between skipper Gordon Campbell and Braxton Stowe (25) that provided the backbone of their 147 at Nationals.

Allen, who bagged three for 20 in his opening spell, returned to york Campbell for 48 on his way to final figures of five for 40 while Cory Smith weighed in with three for 28.

Opening bowler Holdipp soon had Stars on the backfoot although Shane Grant briefly threatened to do some serious damage, striking two fours and a six in his third over, before Holdipp gained revenge by bowling him for 20 as he hit across the line.

Holdipp hit the stumps five times in all in his six for 40 from 13 overs while Stowe's off-breaks earned him three for nine, Stars subsiding to 82 all out in 26 overs as Forties completed the double.

Watford also completed the double over North Village after bundling them out for 70 in 31 overs at the Royal Naval Field. Only skipper Dion Ball and his young son Dion, Jr., who hit Ray DeSilva over long-on for six, provided any resistance, making 16 and 13 respectively. Terence Corday claimed four for 25 and Blake West three for 21. Opener Terry Ward spurred Watford to victory in 14 overs, hitting four fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 48.

West Indian Association and Jamaican Association, who get five points apiece, blamed each other for their failure to finish their match at Shelly Bay where bad light stopped play at 8.15 p.m. with WIA tottering at 67 for six from 42 overs after the Jamaicans had been dismissed for 156 in 37 overs.

Jamaican-born fast bowler Stan Francis, enjoying a rich vein of form, had his fellow countrymen in deep trouble at 55 for seven before Junior Lindo (36) and Simroy Crosdale, who struck two fours and two sixes in his 44, came to their rescue with a stand of 75. Francis finished with six for 51.

Randolph Byer made 28 not out but Liverpool, Watts, skipper John McConnie and Andy Boyce all fell for ducks as WIA struggled throughout their innings, Michael Campbell snapping up four for 18 in 13 overs and Lindo two for 19.