The Northern Knights stayed top of the table with an 8-wicket demolition of Leinster Lightning who find themselves in an unfamiliar position at the bottom after the mauling.

Ruhan Pretorius (4-30), and the left-arm spinning duo of Cian Robertson (2-15) and Matthew Humphreys (2-31) did the damage as Lightning were bundled out for a pitiful 132.

Even that represented a recovery as the Dubliners were at one stage 50 for 6 - Gavin Hoey (39) and Seamus Lynch (26) added 55 for the 7th wicket.

The chase was a straightforward one as Jason van der Merwe thumped 5 fours and 4 sixes in a belligerent 53 from just 36 balls, as he and Sam Topping (45) added 83 before the stand was ended one ball before the end of the powerplay.

It mattered little as the Knights eased to victory in the 21st over.

A day to forget for Leinster Lightning who suffered one of their heaviest defeats since the competition started in 2013.