Tyrone Kane was the star for Merrion as they won the match of the day in the first round of the Irish Cup in a thrilling finale.

It was a case of honours even as the Emerging Knights and Lightning Bolts played a two-match T20 series at Laurelvale.

It was an extraordinary match, one that showed why the five-day format is venerated by lovers of the game above the overs versions.

Chris Dougherty turned CIYMS’s Irish Cup tie into a solo performance to knock out five-time winners North County.

HEAD coach Graham Ford was at Stormont on Friday night as the countdown to the next Ireland squad announcement got under way and, once again, everyone has an equal chance of selection.

It was an excellent day for NCU teams in the Irish Senior Cup with five of the six teams in action joining holders Waringstown and Instonians in the last 16 of Ireland's premier cup competition.

Clare Shillington thumps unbeaten 68 as Typhoons beat Scorchers by ten wickets.

Gareth Delany hits superb 77, while Lightning skipper George Dockrell took three wickets in comfortable 80-run win.

The Bready triumvirate of David Rankin, Craig Young and David Scanlon combined to lead the NW Warriors to a 25-run win over the Northern Knights at a sun-drenched Stormont in their T20 opener.

KEVIN O’Brien has broken into the Test match batting rankings at No 66 in the world after his second innings century in Ireland’s debut against Pakistan.

Cricket Ireland is not just making history on the field this week, it is also breaking new ground in the committee box.

It is notorious for its irreverence and anti-establishment stance, not to mention a fair smattering of F-bombs. Henry Blofeld it most definitely is not.

The second part of Odran Flynn's review looks at Ireland's progress from 2005 to 2017.

The Super 3 series continued on Sunday with three games at Sydney Parade and it's the Dragons who gained the bragging rights as they top the table.

Gaby Lewis starred to lead the Dragons to a winning start in the Super 3 series at Merrion

There has been widespread anger at Cricket Ireland's decision to scrap the Under 13 interpro tournament in a bizarre move by the governing body.

Eleven players from the Leinster Cricket Union, alongside six each from the Northern Cricket Union and the North West Cricket Union, make up the selection under new coach Callum Atkinson.

Ireland Under 17's have lined up tours to both Worcestershire and Scotland this summer.

HAMMAD Azam blasted a brilliant century to carry RHC Lions through to the second round of the Citylets Scottish Cup.

HERIOT’S skipper Keith Morton reckons the evolution of his side since last season’s title triumph has been extensive but seamless.

GREGG Watson believes West of Scotland can hit the heights after they continued their promising return to the top flight with victory over Ayr at Cambusdoon.

ABERDEENSHIRE are emerging as potential Eastern Premier challengers after completing their third win in four starts at the expense of Stewarts Melville.

GRANGE mainstay Andrew Brock insisted his unbeaten side’s approach to the trip to Glenrothes will not change - despite the absence of star turn Safyaan Sharif from the home line-up.

UDDINGSTON skipper Bryan Clarke is relishing the challenge of today’s visit to Poloc as his side aim to build on their first win of the campaign.

Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia on the final day of the ICC World Twenty20 Asia Qualifiers ‘A’ to take the third qualification spot.

The UAE beat Maldives by 43 runs to qualify for the next round of the World Twenty20 Asia Qualifier ‘A’.

The ICC will soon allow all member countries to play full T20Is.

The second day of ICC World Twenty20 Asia Qualifier ‘A’ saw UAE extend their winning streak while Qatar and Bahrain registered first wins.

At the end of the ICC World Twenty20 Africa Qualifier A tournament in Lagos, Ghana and Nigeria qualified to the Africa Finals to get to the 2020 blue-ribbon tournament in Australia.

Ghana finished off a wonderful week at the ICC World T20 Africa Qualifier A tournament as they defeated Nigeria by four wickets in the last match at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos.

The JCB has appointed Dominic Blampied as its Junior Pathway Development Officer.

Jersey umpires and scorers will be officiating in various European countries this season.

Jersey cricketers Jonty Jenner and Jake Dunford have gained places on the MCC Young Cricketers Programme for 2018.

The tournament will be played from April 29th to 6th May in Kuala Lumpur.

The 2018 Inter Insular Trophy will be a best of three T20 series as Jersey and Guernsey prepare for the European World T20 qualifier.