The records continue to tumble at Shaw’s Bridge this season. Just two weeks after Neil Rock hit the highest 20-over score in the NCU, Instonians scored 458, the highest ever total in the Premier League.

Professional Shane Dadswell was also a record-breaker, his innings of 182 was the highest by an Instonians player, beating Andrew White’s 177 not out. Fittingly, White was in the middle with the South African to congratulate him.

Dadswell’s astonishing innings came off just 74 balls and included 18 sixes and 11 fours and came out of 228 runs added when he was at the wicket. He was fifth out in only the 36th over and until he was stumped by Harry Warke, a total of 500 was, unbelievably, not out of the question. Instonians still added another 93 after his dismissal, 56 of them from George Craigan off 35 balls.

Rock had started the runs blitz with 80 from 39 balls (seven fours and seven sixes) but unfortunately for Woodvale his dismissal only let in Dadswell.

One Woodvale player who was never going to give up without a fight was Ruhan Pretorius and he duly scored his second century of the season, 163 from 114 balls with 14 sixes and nine fours. However, even before he was out, the third of five wickets for slow left armer Cian Robertson, the required run-rate was still 13 runs an over. The last four wickets fell for four runs to give Instonians a 134 runs victory.

It was the Shaw’s Bridge side’s fourth win of the season, but that is matched by Lisburn who eased to a 119 runs victory at the Castle Grounds. Ryan Macbeth and Ross Adair both took four wickets as Cliftonville Academy were bowled out for 156.

There was another NCU record broken at Belmont, when CIYMS professional Hermann Rolfes and Jake Egan added 252 for the third wicket in their 142 runs victory against Muckamore. South African Rolfes made 142 and Egan 120 as CI finished on 327 for four.  Their partnership was also a club record for any wicket, beating Rassie van der Dussen and Jeremy Bray’s 236 against Instonians, back in 2014.

Mark Ellison’s fine start to the season with Civil Service North continued as he hit 107 out of his side’s 240 and North Down could only reply with 128.

The other century maker in the Premier League was Adam Dennison who was 113 not out when defending champions Waringstown passed Templepatrick’s 172 for the loss of just one wicket. Captain Greg Thompson took five for 28 for the Villagers.

Waringstown have a chance to close the gap on the leaders on Sunday when they play the outstanding postponed first day game at Woodvale.

It was first round day in the North West Senior Cup but there were no surprises and all eight seeded teams will be in the hat for Monday night’s quarter-final draw.

Fox Lodge came closest to creating an upset but they were bowled out for 172 in reply to Bready’s 184, the Premiership side having recovered from 88 for seven.

There were no fewer than three five-wicket hauls, for Coleraine’s Gareth Burns, Brigade’s Ryan Barr and Peat Salmon for holders Newbuildings.

Raymond Curry scored the only century of the round, 113 not out as they chased 246 in 30 overs to beat Killyclooney and although Eglinton posted the highest total, 301 for nine against Burndennett, Liam Doherty (94) and Robbie Millar (93) just missed out on personal landmarks.