Dominic Sabir smashed an unbeaten half-century to keep alive BCB Academy’s hopes of overhauling unbeaten Evening Cricket League leaders Renegades with a seven-wicket victory over De Wicketest at Shelly Bay.

The teenagers, who have lost only once this season, face Renegades today.

Second-placed The Associates, who have a similar record to the Academy’s but boast a superior net run rate, moved within six points of the leaders with a game in hand after defeating High Flyaz by 31 runs.

Sabir, who came in at 11 for one, struck three sixes and three fours in his 38-ball 54 not out to steer the Academy to victory with 16 balls to spare after they had restricted De Wicketest to 93 for seven, in which Stephan Metschnabel made top score of 27 not out.

Jahre Blakeney took two for two, Eijaz Shakir two for ten and Shane Robinson two for 18 for the Academy.

Gary Knight provided the backbone of The Associates’ 106 for seven with an unbeaten 40, Swadish Gond leading the High Flyaz attack with three for 30.

Rangesh Lotikar played a virtual lone hand in High Flyaz’s reply with an unbeaten 36 as Tom Edwards claimed three for 16, Will Tyrell two for 12 and James Troughton two for 26 to bundle out their opponents for 75 with an over to spare.

Kevin Hurdle made top score of 23 in fifth-placed PHC’s 89 for nine, in which Jim West took two for 20, but Dean Stevens’s four for 14 sent West XI packing for 70.

CV Chargers moved into the top six with a 44-run win over bottom club KPMG, who were bowled out for 76 in reply to their opponents’ 120 for three, highlighted by Piers Carr’s 57 and Ben Fox’s 36 not out.