Leaders Police and second-placed Cable and Wireless BET are poised for crushing victories over BCL and United Carlton, respectively, after the close of the rain-affected second day of the 11th series yesterday.

Both were indebted to veteran performers - Police's Sylvester Louis took 11 wickets and BET's Lonelle Hutson 10 - all in one day.

Owen Estwick reports on the BCL/Police game at Blenheim

Police 222-5 dec, BCL 51 and 69-7

On a day when the pitch favoured the bowlers, Police maintained their stranglehold on the BCL.

They added 41 in half-hour for the loss of one additional wicket before declaring and exploiting the impaired pitch by removing the BCL openers for five runs.

There was to be no respite from Louis and Alvin Campbell, who gave good support. Louis finished with five for 14, while Campbell had the impressive figures of five for 22 from seven overs. In tandem, they toppled the BCL for 51.

The BCL changed the batting order when they were asked to follow on but this did not produce a change in fortune, as the Police fielders supported their bowlers by taking some excellent catches.

Donville Brathwaite (16) and Clarke (13) again offered brief resistance, but it was left to Randy Thomas with an unbeaten 18 to carry the fight to the visitors.

At the close BCL were reeling at 69 for seven, requiring 102 runs to make Police bat again. Louis with six for 34 was again the destroyer as he finished with a match haul of 11 for 48.

Philip Hackett reports on the BET/United Carlton game at Black Rock.

BET 243, Carlton 63 and 35/7

Seventeen wickets fell for 98 runs as BET tormented the Carlton batsmen on a difficult batting pitch.

Lonelle Hutson was the chief wrecker with match figures so far of 10 for 47. His six for 30 in the first innings not only ensured his team a handsome first innings lead of 180 but allowed them to enforce the follow-on.

Carlton fell into even deeper crisis in the second innings, and at 18 for six were in danger of folding in two days.

Alan Rogers (12 not out) and Ryan Willoughby are currently engaged in the biggest partnership of the innings. The pair came together when Ron Cumberbatch was run out at 23 for seven with almost half-an-hour's play remaining.

Play began an hour after the scheduled 1 p.m. start because of the late completion of the preparation of the pitch. This resulted in Cable & Wireless BET lodging a protest as they felt the preparations could have been completed earlier.

One hour before the scheduled start the groundsman had to be asked by one of the umpires to continue the preparation of the pitch.

When play did begin it was soon obvious that batsmen would struggle.

Ron Cumberbatch was dropped twice by Brian Johnson at forward short-leg off Corey Collymore and at silly point off Hutson. He eventually fell to Collymore, brilliantly caught by Johnson at forward short-leg, diving low to his right.

This started a procession which continued throughout the afternoon.

In other matches:

Schools North vs Maple: Schools North 183 and 33/1; Maple 114
Spartan vs Wanderers: Spartan 277/8 declared; Wanderers 172/3
St. Catherine vs Pickwick: St. Catherine 230; Pickwick 150/6
Schools South vs YMPC: Schools South 143 and 42/1; YMPC 233/3 declared
Empire vs Banks: Empire 183 and 32/2; Banks 107