Battling Bailey's Bay emerged with a share of the spoils in the Evening Cricket League after nail-biting finishes on successive nights at Sea Breeze Oval, their home ground.

Last Monday night, they lost to PHC by eight wickets with two balls remaining, but then prevailed the next evening when they held on to beat Renegades, the defending champions, by three runs in fading light in a rearranged game.

Tuff Dogs, meanwhile, moved inexorably towards their first league title in three seasons with emphatic wins over De Wicketest and North Village, leaving them level with CV Chargers, who rounded off their league programme with a seven-wicket victory over De Wicketest, but with two games left to play.

West XI defeated Fine Leg Byes by 60 runs, while The Associates picked up three easy points when PHC forfeited their earlier game.

Maurice Steede made 56 as Bailey's Bay posted 149 for five after electing to bat against Renegades, who appeared on course for victory at 69 for none after seven overs in reply.

“But some quality spin bowling pegged us back,” said Ryan Miller, the Renegades captain.

“Despite a gutsy 37 from Charles Slabbert in poor light conditions, we finished three runs short.

“Credit to Bailey’s Bay, they played the conditions better than we did.”

Slow bowler Jazeiko White did the bulk of the damage with three for 36 while fellow spinner Chris Colby picked up one for 36.

“It was a thriller,” said Lorenzo Simmons, the Bay captain.

The previous night on an adjoining strip, Bay rattled up 168 for three thanks to 57 from Phillip Burgess and 52 not out from Simmons.

But PHC were not to be denied, a 124-run opening partnership between Antwan Russell and Keishon Wilson, who both made 54, providing the platform for their victory push.

“It was a tremendous team win, a great effort all-round,” said Arthur Richards, the PHC spokesman.

Dennis Musson and Arthur Pitcher both enjoyed four-wicket hauls to engineer Tuff Dogs’ victories.

Pitcher’s four for 20 helped limit De Wicketest to 106 for eight and Musson’s four for 12 restricted North Village to 80 for eight.

Musson top-scored with 33 as Tuff Dogs beat De Wicketest with almost three overs to spare.

He was well supported by Trevor Corday with 28 and Azeem Khan, the stand-in captain, who made 23 not out to get his side home.

Rian Lindo led the way for De Wicketest with 25 and two for 25, while Zachary Morris chipped in with 25 and Logan Phillips 20 not out.

“It was great to see Arthur [Pitcher] back out enjoying cricket,” said Justin Barritt, spokesman for Tuff Dogs. “It was a good knock by Dennis [Musson], who also bowled well to take one for 18.

“It was also good to see De Wicketest out there still putting in a good effort, even though they’ve not had the best of seasons. I’m sure they will be back next season stronger.”

Allen Walker was Village’s top batter with 17 as Musson claimed four for 12, and Tuff Dogs took only 9.3 overs to knock off the runs, Trevor Corday making 29 and Adam Petty 24 not out, as Sa-Qui Robinson picked up two for 14 for Village.

“Dennis Musson bowled a really good line and length and had Village in trouble early. Allen Walker came in and steadied the ship,” said Barritt.

“We also got off to a slow start, but Trevor [Corday] has been in good form lately and brought us back, and Adam [Petty] finished it off with a classy knock.”

He added: “Village have been enjoying their cricket all season and play the game in the right spirit. As they said, this season was about them coming back [after a two-year break] and enjoying the game, which they’ve definitely done, and next season I’m sure they will be back competing and still enjoying the game."

Paul Carr made 31 but De Wicketest struggled to 68 for seven against CV Chargers after winning the toss as Adam Somekh (two for 11) and Greg Rose (two for 18) made inroads into the batting.

Nik Lawton-Misra then hit an unbeaten 35 to help Chargers reach their target in 12.3 overs.

“It's always nice to finish the regular season with a win,” said Somers Carr, Chargers’ spokesman.

“Tight bowling and fielding limited DW to 68 off of their 16 overs. We started a little slowly, but a string of boundaries in the middle overs saw us cross the line with plenty of overs left.”

Raj Queb (70) and Jarico Burt (34) fashioned a match-winning opening stand of 108 and Steve Jones added an unbeaten 22 as West XI made 143 for two, before Fine Leg Byes struggled to 83 for six in reply, Queb and Sivakumar Senthamaraikannan picking up two wickets apiece.