Bailey’s Bay paid a heavy price for turning up short as The Associates’ opening pair of Matt Ball and Kian Wookey plundered 174 runs before their opponents could muster just 46 in reply in the second round of Evening Cricket League matches.

The 128-run victory lifted The Associates, who earlier beat Renegades, last season’s league champions, to the top of group one, while their unbeaten start was matched by Tuff Dogs in group two after they eased to a five-wicket win over CV Chargers.

Renegades, who were also beaten by ten wickets by Tuff Dogs in last year’s delayed knockout final, returned to winning ways with a seven-wicket triumph over Fine Leg Byes.

High Flyaz left North Village rooted at the bottom of group two with a five-wicket win.

Luckless KPMG were still to bowl a ball in anger after their opening two games were postponed because of rain, but Dylan Marshall, their captain, remains positive.

"Our team is looking good. We have a few new recruits which should help with some added depth," he said.

Ball finished unbeaten on 88 with Wookey on 63 as The Associates’ openers made hay after Simon Jones, the captain, won the toss and elected to bat.

“It’s been a great start to the [league] season for us,” Jones said.

“Bally and Kian batted brilliantly and kept the run-rate high throughout the innings. It was lovely to watch.”

Jones added: “We looked sharp in the field and took our catches, and the bowlers were excellent.

“We just need to keep this going now.”

It was a tale of woe for his opposite number, Lorenzo Simmons.

“That’s what happens when we play short and drop catches. We started with nine and finished with ten,” the Bay captain said.

Justin Barritt, who made top score of 36, helped to steer Tuff Dogs home with an over to spare after McLaren Lowe (25) and Azeem Khan (21) made inroads into Chargers’ 111 for five, highlighted by a breezy unbeaten 30 by newcomer Nik Lawton-Misra and 30 from Matty Watson, the captain.

Arnold Manders, who has been in fine form with the ball, took two for 27 for Tuff Dogs, while Jarryd Dillas picked up two for 17 for the Chargers.

“Some good early bowling from Tuff Dogs meant we weren’t really able to get going,” Somers Carr, spokesman for Chargers, said.

“We knew 111 was going to be a hard total to defend, but some very good bowling from Jarryd Dillas put us in with a chance.

“However, a few dropped catches ended up being our downfall, which allowed Tuff Dogs to get over the line with an over to spare.”

Renegades dodged the showers to cruise to victory in a game reduced to 13 overs a side, an unbeaten 52 from Jayde Albertze and 44 from Nathan Clarke seeing them home with 16 balls to spare after Fine Leg Byes — led by Chris Clarke's 53 and 20 from Ricky Waldon, the captain — totalled 115 for two.

“Their openers got off to a very quick start with some big sixes,” said Ryan Wilson, captain of Renegades.

“We managed to pull it back in the latter half of the innings, thanks to economical bowling from Ryan Mather and two for 20 from Gareth Tavares.”

Village, who have struggled to put runs on the board on their return to the league after a two-year break, made 84 for eight, a total High Flyaz overhauled with almost five overs to spare.

Only opener Dion Ball, with 24 from 15 balls, made any impression on the High Flyaz attack, spearheaded by Herbie Bascome’s two for ten and Shaquille Pitcher’s two for 15.

Keith Jennings, the former Bermuda footballer, gave High Flyaz a shock by bowling Shawn Riley with the first ball of their innings and his brother, Shervin, added two more scalps to finish with two for 20.

But Swadish Gond (21), Pitcher (17) and Niel Thakur (16) chipped in with useful runs to seal victory.

Group one

Shelly Bay (The Associates won toss): The Associates 174-0 (16 overs; Matt Ball 88 not out, Kyan Wookey 63 not out); Bailey's Bay (ten men) 46 (12.2 overs). The Associates beat Bailey's Bay by 128 runs

Sea Breeze Oval (Fine Leg Byes won toss): 115-2 (13 overs; Chris Clarke 53); Renegades 119-3 (11.2 overs; Jayde Albertze 52 not out, Nathan Clarke 44). Renegades beat Fine Leg Byes by seven wickets.

Group two

Shelly Bay (CV Chargers won toss): CV Chargers 111-5 (16 overs; Nik Lawton-Misra 30 not out, Matty Watson 30); Tuff Togs 112-5 (15 overs; Justin Barritt 36). Tuff Dogs beat CV Chargers by five wickets.

Shelly Bay (North Village won toss): North Village 84-8 (16 overs); High Flyaz 86-5 (11.1 overs). High Flyaz won by five wickets.