There were victories on Saturday for Waringstown in a last-ball thriller, Carrickfergus, Instonians, CIYMS and Lisburn.
James Cameron-Dow was the Waringstown hero as he sealed a last ball one-wicket win against CSNI. In a game that ebbed and flowed throughout, two were needed for victory with the last pair at the wicket, and having missed the chance with the previous three balls, JCD held his nerve to dispatch Finn Lutton over the ropes. Chasing a DLS 238 in 40 overs, Pat Botha's 80 from 64 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes) put the hosts on track as he and Morgan Topping (41) added 93 in 14 overs for the third wicket. Four wickets then fell for just 12 runs with James West (3-42) getting the Stormont side back into contention. Cameron-Dow then added 33 for the 8th wicket with Ben Snell before Matty Foster (4-46) struck twice in the penultimate over to set up the thrilling finale. Earlier, half centuries from skipper Stuart Thompson (60*) and Ryan Harrison (56) saw the pair add 114 in 15 overs, while there were runs too for Paddy Beverland (43) and Marc Ellison (37) in a game that will live long in the memory.
Jake Egan's century and a five-wicket haul for Alex Haggan helped Carrick to a crucial win over Cliftonville Academy. Egan hit 10 fours and 2 sixes in his 104 - half of the home side's 208. He added 70 for the second wicket with Iain Parkhill (36), before CA hit back. Matty McCord took four wickets - finishing the innings with a hat-trick, while Jared Wilson also picked up three scalps. The pair then looked to steering CA to victory as they added 78 for the 6th wicket, but Haggan's heroics stalled the chase. The wicket of Wilson was the decisive one - out for 94 from 81 balls (10 fours, 4 sixes) - as his side fell 11 runs short.
Defending champions Lisburn delivered a statement 166-run win over North Down with their powerful batting line-up firing them to 317. They never looked backed after an opening stand of 107 between Faiz Fazal (78) and new partner Chris Burns (51) - rewarded with a call-up after his double-hundred and century for the seconds last week. Nigel Jones hit 6 sixes in his 82 from 75 balls, adding 85 in 8 overs with James Hunter, whose 47 from only 28 deliveries included 5 fours and 3 sixes. Peter Eakin claimed five wickets but by then the damage was done. North Down's chase never got going, with Ally Shieldss (38) their top scorer in 131 all out. Jones completed a fine day with two wickets, while there were also a brace for David Simpson and Mark Berry on a day when everything went right for the Wallace Park side.
Instonians outgunned Derriaghy to record a 126-run verdict at Queensway. Shane Dadswell cleared the ropes 10 times in a top-score of 96, adding 154 for the 4th wicket with Shane Getkate, who made 77 (9 fours, 3 sixes). If the hosts thought the worst was over with their dismissals, they were wrong as former Ireland U19 opener Jack Dickson unleashed further carnage. He hit 7 sixes and 4 fours in a 19-ball unbeaten 60 - 48 of which came from him alone in the 46th and 47th over. A final total of 319 was always out of sight for Derriaghy, with Jamie Magowan (35) and Jordan Wade (33) the best of their 172. Andy White picked up four wickets to keep their title ambitions firmly on course.
CIYMS had little trouble accounting for Woodvale, as the Ballygomartin side were dismissed for just 118 - Paul Robinson top-scoring with 35 not out down the order. Tyron Koen picked up two wickets, while there were two apiece for Theo van Woerkom and Allen Coulter. Chris Dougherty went early in the reply, but a second wicket stand of 84 in 9 overs between Ross Adair and John Matchett sped the Belmont side to an 8-wicket win. Adair hit 5 sixes and 4 fours in his 54 from 33 balls, while skipper Matchett was also in a hurry, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes in an undefeated 53 from only 37 deliveries.