Arnold Manders and Paul Broxup claimed hat-tricks as unbeaten Tuff Dogs and The Associates cemented their position at the top of their respective groups with emphatic victories in the Evening Cricket League.

Manders, the 63-year-old former Cup Match star who is now president of the Bermuda Cricket Board, showed all his old skills as a slow bowler, claiming his hat-trick with his first three balls before Tuff Dogs dashed to a ten-wicket group two victory over KPMG, whose first two matches had been postponed because of rain.

Medium-pacer Broxup, a new recruit from Britain, helped The Associates avenge an earlier knockout defeat by West XI with a five-wicket haul against their group one rivals that saw him twice on a hat-trick.

Piers Carr became the first player to score a century this year, hitting 105 not out for CV Chargers in a crushing 90-run win over eight-man North Village, who were handicapped by the absence of a number of regular players as they prepared for the Bermuda Day Parade.

Niel Thakur came close to following up his century last season, but was run out off the final ball for a 49-ball 98 containing ten sixes and four fours as High Flyaz saw off De Wicketest.

Lorenzo Simmons, the Bailey’s Bay captain, smashed nine sixes and a four in his unbeaten 74, but his fireworks were in vain as Fine Leg Byes edged home with two balls to spare.

Former Bermuda player Kevin Hurdle delivered with bat and ball, making 28 and taking three wickets as PHC sent Renegades, league champions for the past two seasons, tumbling to their second defeat of the campaign.

In fine fettle this season, Manders finished with three for nine from two overs as Tuff Dogs restricted KPMG to 104 for six in their first outing before openers McLaren Lowe (56 not out) and Azeem Khan (48 not out) knocked off the runs with more than five overs to spare.

Chasing 97 for victory against West XI, who had beaten them by ten wickets in the first round of the delayed 2021 knockout earlier in the season, The Associates slumped to two for two from two overs, but Kian Wookey, who made 37, and Gary Knight (36 not out) steadied the ship before Simon Jones, the captain, came in to help finish the job with four overs left.

“We looked really sharp for this game and it was nice to get a little revenge for our early exit in the knockout competition," Jones said.

“Paul [Broxup] bowled brilliantly — five for 15 in three overs — as did all the boys. Paul had two opportunities for a hat-trick in the game and got the second one."

He added: "We took most of our catches and felt pretty confident going into bat at the halfway stage.

“We’ve had a great start to the season; the boys have really stepped up since we lost to West a few weeks ago.

“That game made us wonder if we were getting a bit old, but we’ve come back stronger and more determined.

“There’s plenty of life in us yet!”

Carr cracked nine sixes and six fours in his century while Matty Watson, the captain, weighed in with 78 before he retired hurt, as CV Chargers piled up 211 for one. Nik Lawton-Misra then chipped in with three for 22 off three overs to hold Village, led by Khary Smith's 52 and 29 from Dion Ball, to 121 for six.

"They were not ideal conditions for cricket with the rain coming down for most of the game," Somers Carr, Chargers' spokesman, said.

“North Village could not field a full team, but nonetheless it was a great effort from Piers [Carr] to bat through the innings and post Chargers' new highest score. It was also great bowling from our guys, especially Nik [Lawton-Misra].

"But I would like to commend North Village, who stuck with it despite the poor conditions while fielding when most people would have headed for shelter," added Carr, who said Watson came off as a precaution.

Thakur's 98, assisted by 27 not out from Swadish Gond and 27 from Shawn Riley, provided the backbone of High Flyaz's 180 for four, in which Paul Carr took two for 31.

In reply, De Wicketest slumped to 38 for five, but Paul Fox gave their total an air of respectability by blasting four sixes and six fours in a 36-ball unbeaten 66 that carried his side to 152 for six at the close, Shaquille Pitcher and Riley picking up two wickets apiece.

Simmons's explosive knock helped Bay post 140 for four, but an unbeaten 47 from William Stewart put Fine Leg Byes on the path to victory before Rohan Henry hit a six off the third ball of the final over and a single off the next ball to lift his side to 141 for seven.

Burton Outerbridge, Alzado Minks-Cole and Kujuan Simons chipped in with two wickets apiece, but Bay are still looking for their first victory on their return to the league after withdrawing in 2016.

Simmons, undaunted by three defeats on the bounce, said: "I thought we had them, but we're getting better as the season progresses."

Hurdle's 28, allied with 33 from Antwan Russell and 30 from Matthew Fullerton, pushed PHC to 130 for three -- a total that proved out of the reach of Renegades, who slumped to 104 all out despite Jayde Albertze's 35 and 23 from Matthew Spencer.

Hurdle and Donnie Charles shared six of the wickets, taking three for 18 and three for 21 respectively.

Ryan Wilson, who has replaced Durnferd Davis as captain, admitted Renegades have been below par so far this season.

"We have been missing a few of our stronger players due to travel plans, but they should all be returning over the next few weeks," Wilson said.

Group one

Southampton Oval (PHC on toss): PHC 120-3 (16 overs; Antwan Russell 33, Matthew Fullerton 30); Renegades 104 (14.3 overs; Jayde Albertze 35; Kevin Hurdle 3 for 18, Donnie Charles 3 for 21). PHC beat Renegades by 16 runs.

Shelly Bay (West XI 96 (15.3 overs; Paul Broxup 5 for 25); The Associates 98-3 (12 overs; Kian Wookey 37, Gary Knight 36 not out). The Associates beat West XI by seven wickets.

Group two

Sea Breeze Oval (Bailey's Bay won toss): Bailey's Bay 140-6 (16 overs; Lorenzo Simmons 74 not out); Fine Leg Byes 141-7 (15.4 overs; William Stewart 47 not out). Fine Leg Byes beat Bailey's Bay by three wickets.

Shelly Bay (Tuff Dogs won toss): KPMG 104-6 (16 overs; Arnold Manders 3 for 9); Tuff Dogs 109-0 (10.3 overs; McLaren Lowe 56 not out, Azeem Khan 48 not out). Tuff Dogs beat KPMG by ten wickets.

Shelly Bay (CV Chargers won toss): CV Chargers 211-1 (16 overs; Piers Carr 105 not out; Matty Watson 78 retired hurt); North Village 121-6 (16 overs; Khary Smith 52; Nik Lawton-Misra 3 for 22). CV Chargers beat North Village by 90 runs.

Shelly Bay (High Flyaz won toss): High Flyaz 180-4 (16 overs: Niel Thakur 98); De Wicketest 152-6 (16 overs; Paul Fox 66 not out). High Flyaz beat De Wicketest by 28 runs.