Swashbuckling Rajesh Ramasundaram and Niel Thakur both hammered centuries as Evening Cricket League batsmen continued to make hay in an explosive start to the season at Shelly Bay Field.

Ramasundaram’s unbeaten 116 propelled West XI to a daunting 200 for one from 16 overs en route to a 64-run victory over Fine Leg Byes, while his Indian compatriot Thakur completed his century with a two off the final ball as High Flyaz defeated De Wicketest by 42 runs.

The centuries added to the two posted earlier this season by South African Jayde Albertze, who made 108 not out for group one leaders Renegades, and Matt Watson, an Englishman, who made 102 for CV Chargers.

High Flyaz won two games during the week to climb from bottom to second in group one, with Rohaan Simons’s 88 not out spearheading a nine-run win over CV Chargers in the first fixture.

Paul Carr was also in fine fettle with two half-centuries for De Wicketest, whose defeat by High Flyaz was offset by an eight-wicket win over PHC.

Former champions Tuff Dogs, meanwhile, reignited their title hopes by ending The Associates’ unbeaten run in group two with a 23-run run victory underpinned by Azeem Khan’s unbeaten 70 as West XI moved a point clear at the top of the table.

Ramasundaram, 26, from Chennai, who plundered nine sixes and eight fours after an unbeaten 54 against De Wicketest the previous week, was partnered in the run spree against Fine Leg Byes by Jim West, the captain, who made 53.

“It was an incredible knock,” said team spokesman Dennis Cherry. “Raj is a very good and consistent run scorer.”

Thakur, 32, from Mumbai, followed his countryman to three figures by thumping nine sixes and three fours in his 53-ball century.

“It was a great, smashing innings — the first for High Flyaz in our 12 years in the league,” said John Pitcher, the club's owner/manager.

Openers Antwan Russell and Kevin Hurdle gave PHC a flying start to their 141 for four, making 60 and 37 respectively, but De Wicketest, whose Tiago Garcia took two for 12, had the final word as Carr’s 64 and Terry Sousa’s 48 saw them home with a ball to spare.

Simons’s unbeaten 88, coupled with Shervin Jennings’s 38, helped to steer High Flyaz to 152 for two, despite Piers Carr conceding only 12 runs in his four overs, before holding off CV Chargers, whose 141 for seven in reply was led by an unbeaten 61 from Price Smith and 52 from Watson.

Paul Carr followed up his 62 with a 45-ball unbeaten 55, including two sixes and two fours, and Sammy Robinson chipped in with 35, the pair adding 71 for the first wicket, as Jaime Pitcher collected three for 26. But De Wicketest could muster only 132 for three in reply to High Flyaz’s 165 for two, in which Thakur and Jennings, with 25, put on 96 for the first wicket.

Tuff Dogs’ 141 for four — highlighted by Khan’s 70 and an unbeaten 38 from Dean Minors — proved a step too far for The Associates, who limped to 119 for eight in reply, with Alex Brown making 38 and Dave Woodcock 24. Justin Corday snapped up three for 28 for Tuff Dogs and Terence Corday, the captain, two for 39. Rich Biram took two for 39 for the losers.

RESULTS

Group one

Shelly Bay (PHC won toss): PHC 141-4 (16 overs; Antwan Russell 60, Kevin Hurdle 37); De Wicketest 142-2 (15.5 overs; Paul Carr 62, Terry Sousa 48). De Wicketest won by eight wickets.

Shelly Bay (High Flyaz won toss): High Flyaz 152-2 (16 overs; Rohaan Simons 88 not out, Shervin Jennings 38); CV Chargers 143-7 (16 overs; Price Smith 61 not out, Matt Watson 52). High Flyaz won by nine runs.

Shelly Bay (High Flyaz won toss): High Flyaz 165-2 (16 overs; Niel Thakur 100 not out); De Wicketest 123-3 (16 overs; Paul Carr 55 not out, Sammy Robinson 35; Jaime Pitcher 3 for 26). High Flyaz won by 42 runs.

Group two

Shelly Bay (West XI won toss): West XI 200-1 (16 overs; Rajesh Ramasundaram 116 not out, Jim West 53); Fine Leg Byes 136-4 (16 overs). West XI won by 64 runs.

Shelly Bay (Tuff Dogs won toss): Tuff Dogs 142-4 (16 overs; Azeem Khan 70 not out, Dean Minors 38 not out); The Associates 119-8 (16 overs; Alex Brown 38; Justin Corday 3 for 28). Tuff Dogs won by 23 runs.