Centuries for Ewan Wilson, Harry Warke, Chris Burns, and Carson McCullough as the batters took advantage of ideal batting conditions in the first round of the Ulster Plate.
Donemana gained revenge for their semi-final loss to Waringstown last year, and knocked out the holders with a convincing six-wicket win at The Lawn. Rory Bessell top-scored with 66 (7 fours, 1 six) adding 49 for the second wicket with Michael Waite - who hit 6 fours in his 23-ball 32. From 74 for 1 though the home side lost their way to be bowled out for 175. Graham Boyd took three wickets, while DJ Dougherty took four. DJ then turned his attention to batting matters, hitting 11 fours and clearing the ropes three times in a top-score of 81. He added 109 in 18 overs with Mark Moore (25) to break the back of the chase, and Levi Dougherty wasted no time in sealing victory with a rapid 26 not out.
Muckamore may have forsaken home advantage, but they wouldn't mind playing at the Foyleview Arena every week as their batters took full advantage of the good pitch and fast outfield to plunder the home side's attack for 354 runs. Ewan Wilson made 174 of those, as he and Jude Keates added 144 in 14 overs for the 3rd wicket. Wilson hit 14 sixes and 12 fours in his 120 ball stay, while Keates' 50 came from 37 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes). Keates senior got in on the carnage with 7 fours in an unbeaten 30 from just 7 balls, while there were runs too for Shane Henderson (22*) and Graeme Ormiston (25). The hosts did well to reply with 221 with Graeme Sweeney hitting 7 fours in his 56, and 30s from Jack McIvor, Lee McClelland and Jack McIntyre. There were two wickets apiece each too for Sam Magee, Jude Keates, Arnold Oduvelil and Ethan Wilson in the 133-run win.
There was a high scoring encounter at Ballymagorry where visitors Lisburn prevailed despite a late wobble. Batting first, Fox Lodge openers Gareth Doherty and Aidan Logue shared an opening stand of 123. Doherty top scored with a clean-hit 80 from 52 balls (11 fours, 3 sixes), while Logue's 75 from 99 deliveries included 8 fours. The rest of the batting failed to fire with the exception of Craig Alexander who made an even time 43 (3 fours, 1 six). Cameron Doak took four wickets, with three for Richard McConkey and two for Stuart Lightbody. Lisburn had a century opening stand of their own with Chris Burns and Stuart Lightbody (31) sharing an opening stand of 114 - the day after they added 300 in the NCU Junior Cup! Burns drove, cut and pulled anything remotely loose, hitting 19 fours and 4 sixes in his 115 from only 72 balls. Three wickets apiece for Luke Hayes and Craig Alexander kept things interesting, but Richard McConkey's 37 and a cameo from Cameron Doak - who hit 3 sixes in his 19 - ensured the Wallace Park side prevailed.
Half centuries from Adam Lamberton and Dylan McElhatton, plus 42 from Karl O'Doherty helped Eglinton to an impressive 257 for 8. Lamberton top-scored with 68 from 73 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes), while McElhatton's hard-hit 54 not out (5 fours, 2 sixes) came from just 37 deliveries. North Down were well in contention at 120 for 2 just past the halfway mark with Gavin Anderson hitting 10 boundaries in his 63 and Tom Crothers making a breezy 33. However, the wheels came off as McElhatton claimed four wickets and Josh Martin three to seal an ultimately comfortable 86-run win.
St Johnston edged out Cliftonville Academy at the Castle Grounds in one of the closes games of the day. The hosts rallied from 49 for 5 to post 158 thanks to a sixth wicket stand of 74 between Johnny Terrett, who a run-a-ball 49 (8 fours, 1 six), and Philip Kane (28). David Macbeth's 37 aided by 44 wides and no-balls got St Johnston off to a strong start, but from 80 for 1 they were in trouble at 143 for 8 with fur wickets apiece for Matty McCord and Terrett. Skipper David Barnard though remained cool to seal the win with an unbeaten 24.
Another centurion was Ireland Academy prospect Carson McCullough whose unbeaten 118 powered CIYMS to an emphatic 152-run win over Ardmore at Belmont. He hit 14 fours and 2 sixes in his fine knock, sharing stands of 82 for the second wicket with Jack Beattie (34) and 85 for the 5th with Adam Heasley (28) as the Belmont side made 235. Angus Farrell then took five wickets and Mark Best three as the Bleachgreen side were skittled for 83 - Conor King's 34 their only bright note.
Harry Styles rocked Slane at the weekend, and Harry Warke rocked Beechgrove with a powerful century which saw Woodvale brush aside the challenge of Brigade. A solid batting effort by the hosts saw them post 180 with Cameron Nawn top-scoring with 31. Warke then went on the warpath, smashing 12 fours and 9 sixes in his 124, dominating an opening stand of 163 in 13 overs with Euan Scott (37). Jamie Millar accounted for both but by then it was all but done and dusted - the 8-wickets win secured in the 17th over.
Bready held off a late charge from former Irish international Regan West to book their place in the next round with an 18-run win at home to CSNI. Chasing 207, the Stormont side were always behind the required rate, but thanks to some lusty blows they were never quite out of it. West perished caught on long-on the ball after being dropped on 49. Gary Thompson made 39 to go with his earlier three wickets. Bready's win owed much to a last wicket stand of 55 between Matthew Collum and Nathan McCombe who both made 29, taking the total from 152 for 9 to 207.