Muckamore pulled off a sensational four runs victory over North Down to maintain their Premier League title charge. Defending only 107, they bowled out their visitors for 103 with Jason van der Merwe having Tyron Koen caught at long-off to give him his fifth wicket. Earlier Harry Zimmermann had also taken five wickets, for the second day in a row as he ripped through the middle order to reduce Muckamore to 81 for nine. But a last wicket stand of 26 – how crucial that was – between Chinmay Dakhane and Josh Wilson got them into three figures. Van der Merwe had started his day in the field by running out the unfortunate Tom Crothers before he had faced a ball and when he took his first wicket, Kian Hilton caught behind for 30, North Down were still in charge at 59 for three. But they collapsed to 83 for eight and 99 for nine and although Koen hit van der Merwe for a boundary off the first ball of his seventh over, two balls later he holed out to give Muckamore a crucial sixth league victory of the season.

Waringstown bounced back from their shock defeat by Civil Service to keep their place at the top of the Premier League table with a 29 runs DLS victory over North Down at Comber. They were on the receiving end of a superb century by home professional Mike Erlank but when he was caught on the boundary with 38 needed off the last two overs the game was up for North Down. James McCollum had scored the first century of the day, exactly 100 from 98 balls with 11 fours and three sixes as Waringstown recovered from losing Steve Stolk and Adam Dennison with just five on the board to post 233 for seven in their innings which was reduced to 40 overs after a rain interruption of almost two hours. The bulk of the runs came in a fourth wicket stand of 129 between McCollum and Graham Hume whose 69 included five fours and two sixes. Harry Zimmermann was the stand-out bowler, following up his two early wickets with three more in his second spell. North Down’s slow start – they were 22-1 after 10 overs ultimately left them with too much to do but they gave Waringstown a scare during a second wicket stand of 160 between Erlank and Mo Aahil who finished with 72 from 91 balls; his last 30 coming off just 20 balls.

Kian Hilton’s run-a-ball century dealt a major blow to Instonians’ title defence as North Down raced to a 136-run victory at Shaw’s Bridge. Hilton, on the fringe of the Ireland senior set-up, struck a run-a-ball 112, finding the boundary 11 times and clearing it twice, to anchor a commanding North Down total of 256 for seven. Hilton was well supported by teenager Tom Crothers, whose unbeaten 51 from 41 balls, featuring six fours and two sixes, ensured North Down finished strongly. Instonians’ chase never got going as opening bowlers Tyron Koen and Craig Young each claimed three wickets, while overseas professional Mike Erlank added two as the champions collapsed to 119 all out. George Craigan hit a defiant 48 but in an ever-evident losing cause as the Shaw’s Bridge side fell apart.

An undefeated century by Mike Erlank guided North Down to their third win of the season in their push for another top six finish. Erlank was 106 not out at exactly a run a ball (14 fours, one six) when the home side won by five wickets in the 38th over. The only support he received was in a third wicket stand of 148 from Kian Hilton with the other five batters scoring just 18 between them although Tom Crothers’ crucial nine not out ensured no late drama. Woodvale were bowled out for exactly 200 in the 49th over, captain Ruhan Pretorius top scoring with 62, but it was always a struggle against tight bowling. Craig Young, Tyron Koen, Jaxon Dines and Erlank all going at less than four runs an over.

Half centuries from Mo Aahil and Kian Hilton eased North Down to an eight wickets victory at Laurelvale. After bowling out the home side for 113, a unbroken stand of 102 gave North Down the victory by the 22nd over. Aahil faced 59 balls for his 53 and hit three fours and two sixes and Hilton, fresh from top scoring for the North West Warriors during the week, finished 51 not out from 54 balls with six fours and two sixes. Adam Speers took both the wickets, including professional Mike Erlank for a five-ball duck. Syed Ali at No 8 top scored for Laurelvale with 40, getting them into three figures after they had slumped to 79 for eight. He hit Erlank for two sixes but only after the South African had held a stunning overhead one-handed catch to dismiss the unlucky Mark Thornberry. Craig Young was also back in action for his club and took two wickets in a seven-over opening spell but it was skipper Tyron Koen who did the early damage with two for nine in his first five overs. Harry Zimmermann also held a superb reflex catch before taking three wickets and Jacob McClure Dalzell proved too good for the tail.

Civil Service North swept to a five wickets victory in another low scoring game at The Green, reaching their target of 115 inside 20 overs. After James West dominated the opening partnership with Marc Ellison, Ashwin Hebbar stayed to the finish, with an unbeaten 42 from 33 balls. Adam Leckey was the early destroyer for the visitors as the in-form North Down top order collapsed to 42 for four and although captain Tyron Koen and Harry Zimmermann added 54 for the fifth wicket, the last six wickets fell for 18 runs.

Rain won the day at Comber to render North Down’s impressive 335-6 meaningless. Kian Hilton with 93 off 76 balls and Steven Saul (83) were the top scorers with Mike Erlank (53 off 44) and Tyron Koen (42 off just 28) piling the agony on the CI attack. Only 3.4 were possible in the CI reply and time ran out before they had a chance to get back on the field to complete the necessary 20 overs to obtain a result.

A remarkable century by Matty McCord could not prevent defeat for Cliftonville Academy as North Down posted the highest total of the day. Set 384 for victory, McCord came to the middle at 49 for two in the fourth over and left in the 33rd having scored 168 off 94 balls with 14 fours and an incredible 15 sixes. New professional CP Klijnhans opened with a 19-ball half century but after his dismissal, at the start of the eight over, McCord scored all but 30 of the next 202 runs off the bat. Alfie Wylie’s contribution in the seventh wicket stand of 111 was nine. He was finally bowled by North Down’s new professional Mike Erlank and 10 runs later they innings ended, Cliftonville Academy bowled out for 290. Rain at the Castle Grounds had reduced the North Down innings to 42 overs but the visitors still crashed 383 for eight. Opener Mo Aahil top scored with 134 (13 fours, seven sixes), sharing stands of 101 for the first wicket with Kian Hilton and 146 with Stephen Saul for the second. Aahil was dismissed at the end of the 33rd over with 299 on the board. The result wasn't the only disappointment for captain McCord, his eight overs went for 90. But thanks to hitting Cliftonville Academy's highest individual score, he finished 78 runs in credit.