THE St Albans Observer Mail Boxes Etc Knockout Cup league stages reached its dramatic conclusion on Tuesday as Frogmore and St Albans West Indians battled it out in a bid to join Old Albanian in the semi-final.

With the Windies the only team in the group unbeaten thanks to last week's shock win at Old Albanian Martin Bovell's team simply needed a win to progress to the semi-finals.

However, Frogmore needed a 30-point victory, and to restrict the Windies to only three bonus points if they were to have any chance of claiming the runners-up spot.

With this in mind, Frogmore won the toss and batting first, reaching a total of 98-1 in the allotted 14 overs, yielding only one bonus point and giving themselves a real chance of progressing.

However, Windies who now had to beat the Frogmore total or exit the competition batted superbly and reached 100 for the loss of only one wicket in ten overs, pipping Frogmore for a spot in the last four and topping the group.

In Group B, St Albans eased into the semi-finals with comfortable victories over London Colney and Sandridge.

Set a target of 125 in their match against London Colney, Saints replied with 126 for the loss of four wickets in what was a comfortable victory.

St Albans reward is a home draw in their semi-final tie against Old Albanian, provisionally set for Thursday while Sandridge and London Colney are due to meet on Wednesday to decide who will travel to face St Albans West Indians in the second semi-final.

June 26, 2002 15:30