On a day of unrelenting drama, Civil Service North won the first ever Super Over in the NCU Challenge Cup with Woodvale the losers at Ballygomartin Road.

Batting first, Woodvale posted 272 for seven but with one over to go, to be bowled by Stephen Bunting, CSN were 267 for eight.

James West took them to within two runs of victory with a boundary from the second ball and the teenager tied the scores with  a single off the fourth. But Bunting hit back, bowling Finn Lutton with the penultimate delivery and in attempting the match-winning single off the last ball, Seb Yeates was run out.

In the Super Over, Civil Service North captain Stuart Thompson and  Ryan Harrison led them to a 26-13 victory.

It was almost as exciting at the Castle Grounds where Cliftonville Academy were within six runs of knocking out Premier League champions Lisburn.

Ben Kane rocked the visitors with four wickets in an over to reduce Lisburn to 102 for five but they recovered to total 162 which proved enough after Jared Wilson was dismissed for 55 with 23 needed from 17 balls. Mark Berry took the wicket and added another from the last ball to seal the victory.

Templepatrick needed 34 off the last five overs with five wickets left to beat Carrickfergus but in a remarkable finale they lost them all in the space of eight balls, with Michael Rippon ending the match with a hat-trick. Professional Bradley Munro was his first victim for 111, while earlier Craig Averill scored 113 for the visitors.

There was much bigger hitting down at Dundrum and, not the first time it was Ross Adair who grabbed the headlines. Last season’s century-maker in the cup final hit 184 from 113 balls with 23 fours and 10 sixes before he was out in the 39th over! CIYMS went on to amass 382 and a record-breaking 302 runs margin of victory.

Overshadowed by the close finishes was Derriaghy’s stunning victory at North Down. Although Ani Chore and Peter Eakin both hit 80s for the home side – Eakin’s off just 56 balls with 10 fours and three sixes – 76 not out by Derriaghy professional Patrick Kruger saw them home, the winning stroke a six off the first ball of the last over.

Other big winners were Waringstown and Instonians while Muckamore fly the flag for Section One after beating league rivals Cregagh by five wickets.