Tuff Dogs completed the Evening Cricket League knockout double over Renegade, but needed an unbeaten 26 from their captain Terence Corday to squeeze home in a low-scoring final after three of their top-order big guns failed.

In the end, Tuff Dogs had just one wicket and two balls to spare in a much tighter affair than when they defeated Renegades by ten wickets earlier in the year in last season's delayed final.

"It was a cracker of a game," said Corday after Saturday's victory at Shelly Bay, the ECL's main ground, clinched the coveted league and cup double for Tuff Dogs for the first time since 2018.

"So close. A tough one [defeat] to take," said Ryan Miller, Renegades' captain.

The consolation plate final was won in emphatic style by PHC, who beat Bailey's Bay by eight wickets with an over to spare, steered home by an unbeaten half-century from Keishon Wilson after Dean Stephens plundered four sixes in his 34-ball 49 to help lay the foundation for success.

Tuff Dogs were set a modest 108 for victory, but opener Azeem Khan, Trevor Corday and Justin Corday were all dispatched for one run apiece as Renegades had their rivals on the ropes at six for three.

But the other opener, McLaren Lowe (23), and Adam Petty (31) eased the pressure with a fourth-wicket stand of 44 before No 8 Terence Corday marshalled the tail to deny Renegades.

Earlier, Renegades found themselves in a similarly precarious position after being sent in as they slumped to eight for three, but No 3 Matt Spencer and Stephan Smit, who made 36, stopped the rot with a fifth-wicket stand of 55 that helped carry their side to 107 for five from their 16 overs. Spencer's unbeaten 54 from 49 balls contained three fours and two sixes.

Tuff Dogs' Bevin Carr -- "our best bowler year long", according to Corday -- pinned Renegades down with superb figures of two for nine from four overs leading the attack, while Petty chipped in with two for 30.

"We bowled well, especially Bevin [Carr], to restrict them to 107 and, to be fair, were confident we could chase the total down, " said Corday.

"However, some really tight bowling and a couple of good catches pegged us back early, but credit to Adam [Petty] and McLaren [Lowe] for keeping us in the game.

"Fortunately, our lower order, who haven't batted much this season, held their nerve and were able to scamper over the line.

"It was definitely a total team win. Respect is due to Renegades for putting up such a solid effort defending a low total."

He added: "It capped off a very good season for us with only one [league] loss, to CV Chargers, and winning the double."

Miller said: "We had a bit of a collapse early on, but Matt Spencer and Stephan Smit helped us to recover to 107. We knew it would be a tough total to defend, especially against a very strong Tuff Dogs line-up.

"But all four of our bowlers -- Frederique Wagener (one for 19), Michael Ford (two for 26), Ryan Mather (two for 35) and Charlie Slabbert (four for 27 from 3.4 overs) -- were brilliant and took it right down to the wire for us. But Terence Corday played a great cameo at the end to win it for Tuff Dogs.

"I'm very proud of the way the boys fought all the way to the end, but ultimately we didn't have enough runs on the board."

He added: "Congratulations to Tuff Dogs on winning the league and cup double, definitely deserved winners. Also, big thanks to Terence Corday and Marc Wetherhill for all the work they do in running this league. It really was a great season."

Lorenzo Simmons, the captain, and Phillip Burgess fashioned a 60-run second-wicket partnership to push Bailey's Bay to 123 for three, but PHC were up for the challenge in the plate, which was reserved for the bottom six teams in the league.

Burgess was run out for a 30-ball 48, which contained four sixes and a four, while Simmons's 43 from 37 balls included four fours and two sixes.

In reply, Stephens and Wilson overcame the early loss of Antwan Russell for one to set PHC on the path to victory with a stand of 82 before Kevin Hurdle (15 not out) joined Wilson, whose 39-ball 50 not out included three sixes and a four, to ease their side home.

Arthur Richards, the PHC spokesman, said Stephens "got us going" with some massive sixes, adding: "It was a great team victory, the perfect end to a challenging season."

Simmons said: "It was a great final and I felt we should have beaten them. Catches win matches and we failed on a few occasions to capitalise and secure the victory."

He added: "We can't wait until next season as we look to be more competitive earlier in the season.

"I'm proud of my team sticking together throughout this long season and being competitive in every match we played, coming back after a six-year hiatus."

Knockout final

Shelly Bay (Tuff Dogs won toss): Renegades 107-5 (16 overs; Matt Spencer 54 not out, Stephan Smit 36); Tuff Dogs 111-9 (15.4 overs; Adam Petty 31; Charlie Slabbert 4 for 19). Tuff Dogs beat Renegades by one wicket.

Plate final

Shelly Bay (Bailey's Bay won toss): Bailey's Bay 123-3 (16 overs; Phillip Burgess 48, Lorenzo Simmons 43); PHC 124-2 (15 overs; Keishon Wilson 50 not out, Dean Stephens 49). PHC beat Bailey's Bay by eight wickets.