The Evening Cricket League’s season-ending knockout tournament will swing into action today with two groups playing at different venues.

With league champions Renegades and runners-up The Associates, the defending knockout champions, having been handed byes into next weekend’s semi-finals, the other top-six teams will kick off their campaign at Somerset Cricket Club using the regular 16-overs-a-side format.

Third-placed CV Chargers face sixth-placed PHC at 11am while fourth-placed BCB Academy take on fifth-placed Tuff Dogs at 3pm.

KPMG, who finished bottom of the league after losing all 10 matches, including a default against Fine Leg Byes this week, have been omitted from the plate at Shelly Bay which will see eighth-placed De Wicketest play ninth-placed West XI at 11am and seventh-placed Fine Leg Byes take on tenth-placed High Flyaz at 3pm in the second semi-final.

With the Somerset ground being used for football after this weekend, next week’s top-flight semi-finals will be held at Shelly Bay with the finals of both groups set for the same venue on October 3.

Victories over West XI and BCB Academy this week helped lift CV Chargers to third place above the Academy, who have been weakened in the closing weeks by overseas school commitments, on net run rate.

Chargers restricted West XI to 93 for five in 14 overs on Tuesday, with Piers Carr taking two for 12, and then completed a six-wicket victory with an over to spare, Carr making 43 and his brother Somers 28 not out.

On Thursday, Chargers beat the Academy by 44 runs. After posting 99 for four in 14 overs, Chargers held the youngsters to 55 for seven.

Rowan McLean was Chargers’ top scorer with an unbeaten 38 for while their top bowlers were Greg Rose, who took two for four, and Jarryd Dillas, with two for 16.

Monday’s scheduled match between Tuff Dogs and High Flyaz was washed out with each team taking a point.