Dean Stephens struck an unbeaten 65 as PHC maintained their perfect start to the Evening Cricket League season by beating three-times former champions Tuff Dogs by four wickets with five balls to spare at Shelly Bay Field.

The Associates and defending champions Renegades kept pace by also picking up their second victories, the former owing their 19-run win over De Wicketest to James Troughton's four-wicket haul and another unbeaten knock by Matthew Ball.

Tuff Dogs, who won the toss, made 151 for five against PHC in their 16 overs, thanks to Azeem Khan’s 46, Justin Barritt’s 27 and an unbeaten 24 from Justin Corday, but Stephens’s half-century, coupled with 46 from Kevin Hurdle and 20 by Antwan Russell, saw PHC, seven-wicket winners over High Flyaz in week one, ease home in the final over.

Charles Symonds was the pick of the PHC attack with two for 36, while Terence Corday, the losing captain, took two for 24 and Bevin Carr two for 44 for Tuff Dogs, who were champions in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

CV Chargers bounced back from their 18-run defeat by Renegades in their opener by thrashing KPMG by 74 runs after piling up 167 for four and then restricting their opponents to 93 for seven.

Matt Watson was the architect of victory, following up his 78, assisted by Fergus Morrison’s 32, by taking two for six as KPMG slipped to their second successive defeat.

Ball came in at No 6 and followed up his 76 not out against Fine Leg Byes in week one by stroking six fours in an unbeaten 36, while opener Kian Wookey chipped in with 32, as The Associates compiled 127 for six. Troughton's four for 20 shackled De Wicketest, who closed on 108 for eight — a result that delighted Simon Jones, the winning captain.

“We’re really pleased with the start of the season. Bally [Matthew Ball] has started the season like he finished off last season and our bowlers have started brilliantly,” Jones said.

Renegades earned their second victory without bowling a ball after Fine Leg Byes forfeited, while West XI and High Flyaz collected a point apiece when their game was rained out.

Teams are playing others in their group twice and teams in the other group once.

Groups one/two

Shelly Bay Field (Tuff Dogs won toss): Tuff Dogs 151-5 (16 overs; Azeem Khan 46); PHC 154-6 (15.1 overs, Dean Stephens 65 not out, Kevin Hurdle 46). PHC won by four wickets.

Shelly Bay Field (CV Chargers won toss): CV Chargers 167-4 (16 overs; Matt Watson 78, Fergus Morrison 32); KPMG 93-7 (16 overs). CV Chargers won by 74 runs.

Shelly Bay Field (The Associates won toss): The Associates 127-6 (16 overs; Matthew Ball 36 not out, Kian Wookey 32); De Wicketest 108-8 (16 overs; James Troughton 4 for 20). The Associates won by 19 runs.