Emerging Knights beat Emerging Warriors by 7 runs
Emerging Knights 154 (19.5 overs; Jordan Neill 27, CJ van der Walt 22 , Carson McCullough 22; Josh Wilson 2-16, Conor Olphert 2-19, David O'Sullivan 2-48)
Emerging Warriors 147/9 (20 overs; Marcus Poskitt 33, Gavin Roulston 24, Jack Macbeth 21; Carson McCullough 2-15, CJ van der Walt 2-17)
Jordan Neill (CricketEurope)
The Emerging Knights won their shoot-out with the Warriors beating the NW side by 7 runs to reach the final against Lightning Bolts. Batting first the Knights were in trouble at 18 for 3 with two wickets for Josh Wilson. They had to battle hard but the next six all got double figures with Jordan Neill, Carson McCullough, and skipper CJ van der Walt all getting 20s in a total of 154. The top-order of Marcus Poskitt (33), Gavin Roulston (24) and Jack Macbeth (21) took the Warriors to a position of strength at 84 for 1 after 9 overs, but they lost their way as it was a case yet again of 'spin to win' with two wickets apiece for McCullough and Van Der Walt clinching the narrow win.
Lightning Bolts beat Munster Heat by 91 runs
Lightning Bolts 220/3 (20 overs;Phillipe Le Roux 74*, John McNally 66*, Adam Rosslee 53; Eshan O'Sullivan 2-34)
Munster Heat 129/9 (20 overs; Brandon Kruger 56, Zubair Khan 27; Nasir Totakhil 2-20, John McNally 2-22)
A powerful batting display by holders Lightning Bolts saw them secure a bonus point win, increasing their NRR sufficiently to overtake the Cricket Ireland Academy to join the Emerging Knights in the final. Swapnil Modgil and former Afghanistan U19 captain Suliman Safi both went cheaply but it was all Bolts thereafter. Adam Rosslee hit 7 fours and 2 sixes in his 29-ball 53, adding 81 for the second wicket with Phillipe Le Roux. The skipper then put on a match winning 134 in 11 overs with John McNally in a total of 220 for 3. Le Roux top-scored with an unbeaten 74 from 48 balls (3 fours, 4 sixes), while McNally's 36-ball 66 not out included 5 fours and 3 sixes. The chase never got going with Brandon Kruger making 56 (8 fours, 1 six) and Zubair Khan hitting 3 sixes in a 27. Nasir Totakhil took two wickets as did McNally in a comprehensive 91-run win.
Emerging Warriors beat Munster Heat by 9 wickets (DLS)
Munster Heat 102/5 (19 overs; Brandon Kruger 58; Harry Zimmermann 2-7)
Emerging Warriors 108/1 (13.2 overs; Marcus Poskitt 51*, Gavin Roulston 40*) (Warriors target 104 in 19 overs)
Harry Zimmermann (CricketEurope)
Marcus Poskitt scored an unbeaten 51 to keep the Warriors' hopes of a final very much alive as they beat Munster Heat by 9 wickets at Belmont. Chasing a DLS target of 104 in 19 overs, they lost Jack Macbeth cheaply, but Poskitt and Gavin Rouslton shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 95 in 12 overs to earn the win. The Coleraine left-hander's 51 came from 46 balls, while fellow leftie Roulston's 40 not out took 31 deliveries - each hitting 3 fours and sixes. Munster's 102 for 5 was dominated by Brandon Kruger's 58 (8 fours, 1 six), with Warriors skipper Harry Zimmermann having the excellent figures of 2 for 7.
Lightning Bolts v Ireland Academy. Match abandoned.
No play was possible in the match between Lightning Bolts and Ireland Academy at Middle Road.