Merrion flexed their muscles with an emphatic 174-run win over Balbriggan at Anglesea Road.

The win was set up by a century from Irish international Stephen Doheny, who top-scored with 104 from 126 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes) sharing stands of 138 with Swapnil Modgil (51) and 91 in 9 overs with John Anderson - whose 50 came in just 36 deliveries (3 fours, 2 sixes).

Michael Lewis chipped in with 21 in a total of 313 for 8. Last week's hero Dylan Lues found the going tougher, talking 3 for 65, while there were two for opening bowler Sebastian De Oliveria.

Max Sorensen struck early blows, and while there was some resistance in a fourth wicket stand of 65 between Cameron Rowe (57) and skipper Greg Ford (32), once it was broken, the result was never in doubt.

Sam Harbinson and Daniel Forkin took three scalps apiece, while there were two each for Mikey O'Reilly and Sorensen in the one-sided contest.

Four wickets for Ben White and a half century for Jack Lalor were the highlights of a four-wicket win for Phoenix at home to Malahide.

Ireland leg-spinner White took 4 for 35 as the Village side were dismissed for 175, with Ireland youth international Adam Doyle making 59 and Mohit Sane 21.

Jack Lalor claimed 2 for 20 and carried that good form into his batting as he top-scored with 61 from 65 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes).

His second wicket stand of 66 in 12 overs with Johit Munjal (41) broke the back of the chase.

Two wickets for James Newland saw the home side wobble as they lost three wickets for just 8 runs with 17 still needed, but skipper Adam Chester soothed their worried brows to get his team over the line without any further dramas.

Four wickets for Reuben Wilson and an unbroken stand of 99 between Mitchell Thompson and John McNally propelled Clontarf to an emphatic 8-wicket win at home to Leinster.

The tone was set when from the first ball of the game, Wilson dismissed last week's centurion Matthew Vercoe-Curtis.

Joey Carroll battled bravely for his 39 but with Wilson (4-22) and Cillian McDonnell (3-28) rampant, a total of 112 was always going to be light.

Openers David Vincent and Eoghan Delany fell early, but Thompson hit 7 boundaries in his 46 not out, while McNally's unbeaten 43 included six fours.

A real statement of intent by Clontarf who on this form will be among the title challengers.