Lisburn and CIYMS will head into the first big clash of the NCU season tomorrow with a victory under their belts after getting off the mark last night in emphatic style.

Defending champions Lisburn defeated Instonians at Shaw’s Bridge and CIYMS, with Ross Adair in top form, eased past Carrickfergus.

Lisburn, with Nigel Jones and, against his old club, James Hunter both making their debuts, posted a slightly below par total of 149 – Faiz Fazal top scoring with 44, with three fours and three sixes – but the bowlers, as they did so often last season, defended the total in some comfort.

Shane Getkate hit three sixes in his 35 from 20 balls but when he was out with the total on 86 at the end of the 12th over, the champions were in control and Neil Whitworth hurried the game to a conclusion in the growing darkness.

Tomorrow they know they will have to dismiss Adair early. The Ireland international led CI to an eight wickets victory at Belmont with an undefeated 85 from 42 balls with seven fours and seven sixes as the hosts reached their target of 131 in the 14th over.

Earlier, Allen Coulter had sparked a Carrickfergus collapse when he broke the second wicket stand of 72 between Michael Gilmour and Jake Egan in the ninth over and the visitors could only total 130 for nine with skipper John Matchett helping himself to three wickets.

In last night’s other top flight game, North Down scraped home by four runs despite Ludwig Kaestner and Ruhan Pretorius putting on 140 in Woodvale’s pursuit of the home side’s 172 for three.

James Hall had retired hurt with a pulled muscle with the total on 11 but Kaestner, the overseas professional, who was out for a first ball duck on Saturday, hit 75 to take Woodvale to within 22 runs of victory with eight balls left. Pretorius got the target down to 10 off the final two balls but his unbeaten 80, with eight fours and two sixes, was in vain.

Ani Chore had an identical boundary count for North Down as he made the top score of the night, finishing 86 not out after batting through the North Down innings.

After two postponements, Waringstown will open their campaign tomorrow at Woodvale which leaves Cliftonville Academy as the last team into action because their game tomorrow, against North Down, has been put back to Holiday Monday.

They play their first game of the season on Sunday at home to Waringstown, a 20-over clash postponed from the opening day, and while that may not be one of the games they have on their list as winnable, new Cliftonville Academy captain Max Burton is confident of an improved showing this season.

“We haven’t lost any players from 2022 but have strengthened considerably over the close season,” says Burton, who made his Northern  Knights debut last season. “We have Varun Chopra from Coleraine and everyone across Ireland knows what he is capable of. We are all hoping that this new challenge will see the best of him.

“Jared Wilson (the club’s new Director of Cricket) led Newbuildings to their first North West Premiership title last year and is another massive addition, not only as a player but also as a coach. We are really happy to have him on board and he is doing great work with the structures and the youth sections and that will be so important for the progression of the club.”

Their new professional is the vastly experienced Abhishek Raut, an leg spinner and middle order batsman who has played in the India Premier League for Rajasthan Royals and been playing List A cricket since 2006.

Scores: Shaw’s Bridge: Lisburn 149-7 (F Fazal 44, J Hunter 29, J Waite 23, J Manley 22 not out; A White 2-17) Instonians 120 (19 overs, S Getkate 35, B Rose 25; N Whitworth 4-15, F Fazal 2-15, J Hunter 2-20). Lisburn won by 29 runs.

The Green:  North  Down 172-3 (A Chore 86 not out, A Shields 50; P Robinson 2-28) Woodvale 168-2 (R Pretorius 80 not out, L Kaestner 75). North Down won by four runs.

Belmont: Carrickfergus 130-9 (M Gilmour 40, J Egan 37; J Matchett 3-20, E Nuttall 2-37) CIYMS 131-2 (13.5 overs, R Adair 85 not out, J Matchett 26). CIYMS won by 8 wickets.