All-rounder Piers Carr struck two Evening Cricket League half-centuries as CV Chargers mixed a big win over Fine Legs Byes with a narrow defeat by Renegades, the defending champions, at Shelly Bay Field.

Carr made 59 not out in last week’s only game and followed it up on Monday with a top score of 63 as Chargers went down fighting against the leaders.

Renegades’ seventh win of the season saw them open a nine-point lead in group one, while Tuff Dogs picked up their fifth win to join The Associates at the top of group two, from a game more, by beating High Flyaz by eight wickets on Tuesday.

“It was a much closer game than the scores seem,” said Somers Carr, the Chargers captain, after Renegades squeezed home with four balls to spare.

“Jarryd Dillas turned in a great bowling display, taking one for 14 off his four overs.”

Openers Matthew Spencer, with 51, and Jayde Albertze, who made 44, put Renegades on the path to victory, but it needed a four by Durnferd Davis, the captain, off the second ball of the final over to secure a seven-wicket victory.

Piers Carr's unbeaten 59 and 37 from his brother, Somers, coupled with a seven-ball 20 not out cameo from Price Smith, laid the foundation for Chargers’ 136 for two against Fine Leg Byes, in a game reduced to 15 overs a side.

Piers then snapped up three for 18 from two overs and Matt Watson chipped in with two for ten. Ricky Waldron, with 38, offered the only real resistance as Fine Leg Byes struggled to 82 for eight in reply.

Afterwards Somers said: “It’s great to get back to winning ways after a couple of losses in very close games.”

Dennis Musson led the way with an unbeaten 34 and Trevor Corday made 24 as Tuff Dogs, the three-times former champions, made light of overhauling High Flyaz’s 86 for eight, in which Rohaan Simons made a top score of 18. Both sides played one short.

Terence Corday, the captain, Justin Corday and Curtis Jackson picked up two wickets apiece for Tuff Dogs.

Group one

Shelly Bay (Renegades won toss): CV Chargers 108-6 (16 overs; Piers Carr 63); Renegades 109-3 (15.2 overs; Matthew Spencer 51, Jayde Albertze 44). Renegades won by seven wickets.

Groups one/two

Shelly Bay (CV Chargers won toss): CV Chargers 136-2 (15 overs; Piers Carr 59 not out, Somers Carr 37); Fine Leg Byes 82-8 (15 overs; Ricky Waldron 38; Piers Carr 3 for 18). CV Chargers won by 54 runs.

Shelly Bay (Tuff Dogs won toss): High Flyaz (10 men) 86-8 (16 overs); Tuff Dogs (10 men) 87-2 (12.4 overs; Dennis Musson 34 not out). Tuff Dogs won by eight wickets.