Rush, Cliftonville Academy, Derriaghy and Muckamore are into the semi-finals of the National Cup.

Three-times winners Rush crushed St Johnston by a whopping 197-runs at The Boathole. The Fingal side never looked back after their blitzkrieg start which saw openers Llew Johnson and Neil Rock club 14 fours and 11 sixes in an opening stand of 145 in just 11.4 overs. New Zealander Johnson top-scored with 87, while Rock hit 57. Saints pulled it back a little with three wickets for Graeme McCarter and two apiece for Michael Rankin, but by that stage the damage was done. Jared Barnes added further punishment as he cleared the ropes three times in his 35 not out as Rush made 280.

The hosts chase crumbled and they were skittled for 83, with five wickets for Cian Egerton, three for Alex Neary and two for Barnes in a very one-sided contest.

Derriaghy cruised into the semi-finals of the National Cup as they chased 82 in just 10 overs to record a 7-wickets win over Limerick. The victory was set up by their much vaunted and experienced bowling unit, with skipper Curtis Moorhead taking 4-13, and two wickets apiece for Patrick Kruger and Wayne Hughes. Sarfraz Ramay hit a run-a-ball 30 (4 fours, 1 six), while Tim Smithies was unbeaten on 27 in their 82 all out.

No doubt mindful of the threat of rain, the Queensway side wasted no time in chasing their modest target. Matthew Halliday top scored with 33 not out (3 fours, 2 sixes) adding 51 in 5 overs with Sam Gordon (26) for the second wicket.

Cliftonville Academy ended North West interest in the National Cup with a 169-run demolition of Killyclooney. The hosts were in early trouble at 11 for 2, but a third wicket stand of 84 between Francis Collins and Jared Wilson (48) regained control for CA who thereafter never relinquished their hold on the contest. Collins top-scored with 94 (9 fours, 4 sixes) adding a further 102 in 11 overs with David Reid (38*). Abhishek Raut cleared the ropes five times in a brutal 42 not out from just 14 balls as 96 came from the last 7 overs.

A final total of 245 for 4 was always challenging, and Killyclooney's reply was soon in tatters. Three wickets for Jared Wilson and two for Richard Hood - including Blayde Capell for 23 meant the game was effectively over. Matty McCord then wrapped up the tail in double quick time as the NW side made just 76. There was one piece of good news though as Capell passed 1000 runs for the season, and looks well set to break the regional record.

Muckamore advanced to the last four with an emphatic 7-wickets win over two-times finalists Terenure. Four wickets for Pavan Karthik and two for Sathish Suresh helped keep the Dubliners to 145 - Donal Vaughan making 32.

The chase started nervously with two early wickets, but the complexion of the game changed completely with the arrival of Ben Calitz to the middle. He and Ewan Wilson shared a third wicket stand of 111 in just 14 overs to all but settle the contest. Wilson hit five boundaries in his 43 from 41 balls, while Canadian youth international Calitz hit 6 fours and 3 maximums in his unbeaten 65 from only 50 balls. Luke Allen also made 20 not out as the Moylena side - who were the inaugural winners back in 2012, join fellow NCU sides Derriaghy, Cliftonville Academy plus competition kingpins Rush in the semi-finals.