Dean Minors, the former Bermuda wicketkeeper, proved a thorn in Renegades’ side for the second season running as his unbeaten half-century guided Tuff Dogs to a five-wicket victory in the Evening Cricket League’s Premier Division knockout final at Shelly Bay.

Last season, Minors, now 47, hammered 77 as Tuff Dogs beat Renegades by 85 runs in the final.

On Saturday, Minors struck five sixes and a four in his 48-ball 56 not out as Tuff Dogs completed the league and knockout double for the second season running, overhauling Renegades’ modest 116 for eight from their 20 overs with 13 balls to spare.

But Minors, later named man of the match by organiser Stephen West, had luck on his side and it might have been a tighter finish if Renegades had not dropped him twice and wasted another chance when a fielder held the catch but tumbled over the boundary.

“Had they held onto the first catch they dropped off Dean when he was in his 20s it may have been even closer but I always backed our team to get the runs as we bat to number 10,” said Terence Corday, the Tuff Dogs captain, whose younger brother Trevor had to go to hospital after breaking a finger while trying to take a catch off his own bowling in the penultimate over of Renegades’ innings and was unable to bat.

Terence Corday, with a four-wicket haul under his belt, overcame the unavailability of his brother, normally an opening batsman, to help Minors get his side over the line with an unbeaten ten from four deliveries after Daniel Morgan made 21.

Corday was the pick of his side’s attack, claiming four for 36, while Janaka Perera took two for 29.

Greg Garside was top player for Renegades, who won the toss and chose to bat, making 26 and later taking two for 19.

“Always the bridesmaid,” Renegades’ Ian Thompson, who shares the club’s captaincy duties with Jon Hughes but missed Saturday’s final because of injury, said after the game.

“Our total was never enough. We put Dean down three times and he’s too good a player to do that to,” added Thompson, whose side finished third in the league.

“But it’s been another good season. A spot in the final is a decent performance for us. It’s been nine years since we last won it.”

St George’s dashed league champions North Village’s hopes of completing the Second Division double, beating them by 35 runs in their knockout final earlier in the day.

Damon Walker made top score of 37 in St George’s’s 119 for seven — and was later named man of the match after also taking two fine catches — before the East Enders dismissed Village for 84 with three balls remaining.

“St George’s won — and deservedly so. They’ve beaten us every time this season,” said Allen Walker, the Village captain, who was his side’s top scorer with a patient 32 after Herbie Bascome, who took one for 13, and Herbie Adderley, with two for 27, ripped through the top order, Stephen Douglas later chipping in with three for nine and Cal Grimes two for five.

Dervin Adams and Dion Ball were Village’s leading bowlers with two for 17 and two for 24 respectively.