A game for the ages between two of the Leinster superpowers saw champions Pembroke once again break Merrion hearts with a one-wicket win off the last ball.

Chasing 310, Pembroke looked beaten at 252 for nine, but Jack Tector and Paul Lawson thought otherwise as they got the 58 runs from the last six overs.

Tector hit 10 fours and four sixes in a 60-ball unbeaten 94 that proved the difference in a high quality encounter. Andrew Balbirnie (64), JJ Garth (33) and Lorcan Tucker (27) also chipped in to the successful pursuit.

The result was tough on Stephen Doheny who hit 16 fours and 6 sixes in a 121-ball 158. He shared stands of 62 with Swapnil Modgill (30), 65 with Connor Blaxall-Hill (29) and 135 with Adam Rosslee (51).

However, they lost eight wickets for 47 runs in the final ten overs - five for Gavin Hoey (5-61), three for Harry Tector (3-49) and two for Mark Berry (2-52) and that was to cost them dearly in the final analysis.

Matthew Hollard's five-wicket haul allied with an excellent half century from Chris De Freitas  ensured Balbriggan earned the Fingal bragging rights with a six-wicket win at The Hills. Hollard claimed 5 for 46, while there was three scalps for Andrew Darroch (3-37) as the home side were bowled out for an under par 135.

Edson Silva hit 4 fours and three sixes in a 37-ball 41, while Oliver Horlock hit 25.

Balbriggan stuttered at the start, but any nerves were quickly dispelled by a fourth wicket stand of 74 in just eight overs between Greg Ford - who hit 5 fours and a maximum in 35 from 24 balls - and Chris De Freitas. CDF has been one of the in-form batters in the country and he continued his rich vein of form in making an unbeaten 55 from only 39 balls (10 fours, 1 six).

A century from Irish youth international Rob O'Brien was the highlight of the game as Railway Union won by 138 runs against Cork County at The Mardyke.

O'Brien hit 13 fours and a six in his 102, sharing a 6th wickets stand of 146 with Letotlo Sesele - who hit 7 fours and 4 sixes in a 73-ball 87 - as Railway recovered from 93 for 5 to post 291. Bakhtyar Nabi claimed four wickets, while there were two for Thorne Prophet.

Irish and Zimbabwean international PJ Moor made his debut following a move from Clontarf, but managed just 14 as County were bowled out for 153. Zubair Khan hit a rapid 43 (3 fours, 3 sixes), but too little, too late. Irish international Liam McCarthy picked up four wickets, while there were three apiece for Gethin Kelleher and Muhammad Sinan.

Eknoor Singh hit a brilliant 129 (16 fours, 4 sixes) as he and Shane Getkate added 169 for the opening wicket to set Phoenix on their way to an emphatic 163-run over Clontarf.

Getkate was also fond of the boundaries, hitting 13 fours and a six in a hard-hit even time 89. George Dockrell was also quick out of the traps as he hit a 38-ball 51 (5 fours, 2 sixes), adding 111 for the second wicket with Singh as Phoenix ended on 322 for 6.

The chase never got going despite 44 from John McNally (44) and 26 apiece from Seamus Lynch and David Delany - playing as a batsman only due to a knee injury. Ben White took three wickets, while there were two apiece from James Maginnis and Amish Sidhu in a complete all-round performance.

Rush got the better of Malahide in another entertaining contest winning by three wickets chasing 223. Ehtesham Ahmed got the pursuit off to a fast start as he hit a rapid 42 (5 fours, 2 sixes). However 64 for 0 became 83 for 4 to change the momentum. The game swung again with a decisive fifth wicket partnership of 113 between Finn McGee - who had earlier taken five catches - and Abidullah Taniwal.

Taniwal hit 6 fours and 6 sixes in a 66-ball 80, while McGee stayed on to make an unbeaten 44 as Rush survived a late wobble to get over the line. Robbie Foulkes (64) and Matt Ford (49) were best with the bat in a fourth wicket stand of 78, while the old firm of Jared Barnes (3-49) and Allan Eastwood(2-27) starred with the ball. 

On a day of high scoring for the most part, Monil Patel's 158 proved the difference as Leinster won by 17 runs (DLS) chasing a revised target of 291 in 44 overs, Patel hit 21 fours and 5 sixes in a 152-ball 158, adding 131 for the sixth wicket with Joey Carroll - whose 51 included 6 fours and a six.

Suliman Safi's 61 (7 fours, 2 sixes) and a hard-hit 40-ball 53 from Eddie Richardson (4 fours, 3 sixes) kept County in the hunt, and further runs from Alan Mathew (48) and the ever-consistent Jake Devane (32) meant it went down to the wire.

Leinster prevailed as Ben Mitchell took three wickets, while there were two apiece for Bilal Azhar and Saqib Bahadur in a tense contest.