Waringstown maintained their lead at the top of the NCU Premier League table after they pulled off an extraordinary three-wicket victory over CIYMS at The Lawn on Sunday.

The villagers were apparently dead and buried on 57 for five as they chased CI's 172 for six in a match reduced to 38 overs per side. However, the game turned on its head, first as Sri Lankan professional Tharaka Kottehewa and veteran Alan Waite added 60 runs for the sixth wicket.

Kottehewa, better known as a seam bowler, was the dominant partner with a series of superb boundaries and scampered singles, but Waite rolled back the years with a gritty 26 from 49 balls. Waite, who aggravated a hamstring injury, was eventually run out, but Kottehewa then found a willing ally in teenager Jamie Matthews, who kept his cool admirably during a quickfire 49-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

It was nerve-racking stuff as Matthews eventually fell for an impressive 19, but Kottehewa remained at the crease on 69 from just 68 balls, a magnificent knock which included five fours and a six. Stephen Allen, another teenager, hit the winning boundary through the covers with nine balls remaining to break CI hearts. Derek Heasley and Barry Cooper had earlier scored half centuries for the Belmont club who would have fancied their chances of beating the villagers without internationals Kyle McCallan and James Hall.

Waringstown's win keeps them four points ahead of Instonians, who thrashed Civil Service North, while North Down's hopes of retaining their title suffered a major blow as they were thrashed by eight wickets by Carrickfergus at Comber.  Carrick dismissed the reigning champions for 153 before knocking off the runs in just 21.3 overs.  North Down had seemed course for a big total as Jonathan Terrett (35) and Taimur Khan (43) added 71 for the third wicket in good time, after Ryan Eagleson had claimed two wickets with the new ball.

But North Down proceeded to capitulate in dramatic fashion, losing their last eight wickets for just 63 runs, with Gavin Ewing, the Carrickfergus overseas professional, doing most of the damage with three for 32.   Aside from Terrett an d Khan, none of the North Down order even managed to reach double figures as they were dismissed in the 46th over.

If that was dramatic, it didn't compare to what happened next as Carrickfergus tucked into the North Down bowling in astonishing fashion. Andrew Cowden fell for a duck, but thereafter it was the Ross Gelderbloem and Matt Mangan show.  Peter Connell and Taimur Khan were both treated with disdain, with the latter smashed for just 28 in three overs before he was hastily removed from the attack by Peter Shields.

Gavin McKenna suffered similar punishment, but South African Gelderbloem and Mangan were most severe on Marty Moreland, as the slow bowler conceded 37 in just three overs.  Gelderbloem reached his half century in just 38 balls, with Mangan even quicker on 37, as the bowling w as hit to all parts.
 Gelderbloem eventually fell for 65 from 45 deliveries, which included 11 fours and two sixes. The second wicket partnership had realised 116 runs.  It was fitting that Mangan finished the match with a six off McKenna. The young Australian was unbeaten on 67 from 60 balls, which included nine fours and two sixes. 

The news of North Down's demise was greeted with glee at nearby Stormont, where Instonians' 74-run win owed much to openers Rory McCann (63) and Divan van Wyk (63).   Van Wyk batted fluently for 50 from 66 balls while McCann was more circumspect, taking fully 153 deliveries for his 63. However, on a slow wicket a total of 186 for seven was well above par.   The game was soon over as a contest as CSN quickly slumped to 30 for five in reply with Kieran Noema-Barnett providing the only resistance with 29. The Ulster Cup winners eventually mustered just 112 all out.

At the bottom there seems no way back for Bangor, after they suffered a 13th defeat of the season to Woodvale in a Twenty20 match at Ballygomartin Road. Bangor, who surprisingly opted to bat first on a damp pitch, were effectively of the game when they were reduced to 25 for eight in the ninth over. Sujit Kalbhor, the Woodvale professional, did the damage with five for seven, and then won the game with a six as the home side got home with seven balls to spare. Bangor are now on the brink of relegation from the top flight.