Group one bottom club De Wicketest produced a stunning upset when they thrashed Evening Cricket League defending champions Renegades by eight wickets at Shelly Bay Field to end a 15-match unbeaten run.

Renegades, who won all ten league matches last year and their first five fixtures this season, could manage only 111 for six — three of them run-outs — in their 16 overs before Logan Phillips smashed five sixes in his 43 to help guide De Wicketest home with nine balls to spare.

The Associates, who finished league runners-up last season before winning the knockout for the second season in a row, also came a cropper in group two, going down by nine runs to ten-man West XI — despite losing only one wicket.

Justin Brookes, captain of De Wicketest, whose win took them up to third, said: “We were very pleased. They [Renegades] have been the strongest team in the league for a while, so it was nice to get a victory over them.”

Durnferd Davis, captain of Renegades, who hold a six-point lead over PHC, saluted his opponents. “It was a great effort by the opposition,” he said. “It is always a fun game playing De Wicketest."

He added: “We had some ill-timed run-outs, which put us under pressure batting-wise and posted a total that was always going to be difficult to defend.

“But I'm also proud of the team making it 15 In a row. And, hopefully, we can keep the lead again this year.”

Davis, who was among his side's run-out casualties, made a top score of 56 as Paul Fox snapped up three for 15, before Phillips found a useful partner in Paul Carr, who made 32 not out in De Wicketest’s 113 for two.

Earlier, Renegades eased to a five-wicket win over ten-man PHC with Davis, Jayde Albertze and Nathan Clark picking up two wickets apiece. Opener Antwan Russell accounted for almost half PHC’s 79 with 38, as Ryan Mather bagged three for 15 before Albertze helped to nudge the leaders over the line with 33.

Jim West, captain of group two leaders West XI, led the way with 50 off 32 balls, while Steve Jones chipped in with 31 and Rajesh Ramasundaram 25, as they posted 144 for three, which proved an elusive target for The Associates, despite Alex Brown making 48, Gary Knight 41 not out and Matthew Ball 36 not out as they closed on 135 for one.

The Associates tasted success earlier when they beat KPMG by six wickets, Tom Edwards getting them over the line in the final over with 22 not out after Ball made 24.

Alistair Lynch, with 45, and 33 from Toby Booth helped KPMG post 102 for eight as Will Tyrrell took three for 16 and James Troughton two for 22. Dylan Marshall, captain of KPMG, claimed three for 19 in The Associates’ reply, which was boosted by 21 extras.

Marshall said: “It was a nice, competitive match, which we enjoyed. We had a bit of a batting collapse towards the end of our innings after reaching 91 for three, which we will work on.”

PHC offset their defeat against Renegades by squeezing home by one run at their home ground against CV Chargers. PHC made 96 for five — in which Greg Rose took two for 20 — and then held their opponents to 95 for seven, with Matt Watson scoring 25 and Piers Carr 20.

Ricky Waldron stroked 63 in Fine Leg Byes’ 128 for four, but Trevor Corday’s 65 helped Tuff Dogs complete a seven-wicket victory with eight balls to spare.

Group one

Shelly Bay (Renegades won toss): PHC (ten men) 79 (15.5 overs; Antwan Russell 38; Ryan Mather 3 for 15); Renegades 80-5 (13.3 overs; Jayde Albertze 33). Renegades won by five wickets.

PHC Field (PHC won toss): PHC 96-5 (16 overs); CV Chargers 95-7 (16 overs). PHC won by one run.

Shelly Bay (Renegades won toss): Renegades 111-6 (16 overs; Durnferd Davis 56; Paul Fox 3 for 15); De Wicketest 113-2 (14.3 overs; Logan Phillips 43, Paul Carr 32 not out). De Wicketest won by eight wickets.

Group two

Shelly Bay (The Associates won toss): KPMG 102-8 (16 overs; Alistair Lynch 45, Toby Booth 33; Will Tyrrell 3 for 16); The Associates 104-4 (15.3 overs; Dylan Marshall 3 for 19). The Associates won by six wickets.

Shelly Bay (Fine Leg Byes won toss): Fine Leg Byes 128-4 (16 overs; Ricky Waldron 63); Tuff Dogs 133-3 (14.4 overs; Trevor Corday 65). Tuff Dogs won by seven wickets.

Shelly Bay (The Associates won toss): West XI 144-3 (16 overs; Jim West 50, Steve Jones 31); The Associates 135-1 (Alex Brown 48, Gary Knight 41 not out, Matthew Ball 36 not out). West XI won by nine runs.