The Renegades juggernaut — an eight-wicket defeat by De Wicketest notwithstanding — rolled on as the Evening Cricket League's defending champions saw off longtime rivals The Associates in the latest round of cross-division matches for their eighth win of the season.

The result paved the way for West XI to reclaim top spot in group two — a point clear of The Associates and Tuff Dogs — as Lorenzo Simmons claimed four for ten from three overs and then made an unbeaten 25, along with Rajesh Ramasundaram's quickfire 40, to drive the new leaders to a four-wicket victory over CV Chargers.

Ricky Waldron's fourth half-century of the season — three of them in successive innings earlier — inspired Fine Leg Byes’ massive 82-run win over PHC, but Fine Leg Byes later tasted defeat against De Wicketest.

Lionel Cann may be too old for Cup Match at 48, but he showed his thirst for runs remains unquenched and his unbeaten half-century propelled De Wicketest to a seven-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare.

Frederique Wagener's three for 29 helped Renegades restrict The Associates to 115 for five, Gary Knight making 27, but it needed a dashing innings from Durnferd Davis, the captain, to get the group one leaders over the line.

Davis came in with five overs left and smashed four sixes in an unbeaten 37, coupled with opener Jayde Albertze's 35 not out, as Renegades eased home with five balls to spare.

"They started well after we won the toss, but I believe we mixed our spin and fast bowlers well to limit them to 115, as they normally bat very deep," Davis said.

"Chasing, we tried to be more aggressive with our first four overs, but they bowled very well.

"At the end we pushed hard running between the wickets and hit a few boundaries at key pressure stages of the game."

He added: "The Associates are a very good side and I'm sure we will see them in the play-offs."

Ramasundaram hammered four sixes and two fours in his 40 as West XI overhauled CV Chargers’ 95 for nine with eight balls to spare after Simmons’s all-round performance, which was hailed as “awesome” by club spokesman Dennis Cherry.

“Actually, the whole team worked well together,” he said.

Somers Carr, the Chargers captain, made 25 and claimed three for 22 while his brother, Piers, chipped in with 20. Jeet Singh took two for 20 for West XI.

Waldron’s unbeaten 60, allied with 51 from Werner Pieters, underpinned Fine Leg Byes’ 136 for four, before Freston Hurdle limited PHC to 54 for five to record their second win of the season.

Waldron later made 30 in Fine Leg Byes’ 95 for seven, Rian Lindo taking two for ten, but could not prevent Cann claiming the spotlight as De Wicketest replied with 99 for three to move within nine points of Renegades with a game in hand.

Groups one/two

Shelly Bay (Renegades won toss): The Associates 115-5 (16 overs; Frederique Wagener 3 for 29); Renegades 116-2 (15.1 overs (Durnferd Davis 37 not out, Jayde Albertze 35 not out). Renegades won by eight wickets.

Shelly Bay (Fine Leg Byes won toss): Fine Leg Byes 136-4 (16 overs; Ricky Waldron 60 not out, Werner Pieters 51); PHC 54-5 (16 overs; Freston Hurdle 3 for 20). Fine Leg Byes won by 82 runs.

Shelly Bay (CV Chargers won toss): CV Chargers 95-9 (16 overs; Lorenzo Simmons 4 for 10); West XI 96-6 (14.4 overs; Rajesh Ramasundaram 40; Somers Carr 3 for 22). West XI won by by four wickets.

Shelly Bay (Fine Leg Byes won toss): Fine Leg Byes 95-7 (16 overs; Ricky Waldron 30); De Wicketest 99-3 (13.3 overs; Lionel Cann 52 not out). De Wicketest won by seven wickets.