Instonians were the first winners of the day, the Premier League leaders completing a comfortable five wickets win over North Down. The visitors innings was a one-man show with Zimbabwean Stevie Saul scoring 81 of the 127 runs off the bat before he was one of Andrew White’s four wickets at a cost of just 17 runs in eight overs. Craig Young burst through the Instonians top order reducing them to 29 for three but White completed a fine all-round match with an undefeated 40 to see his side home with almost 24 overs to spare.

Before the match, Muckamore captain Neil Gill identified Waringstown’s batting depth as their biggest strength and for the second time this season he was on the receiving end. At The Lawn, Waringstown had recovered from 61 for six to post 294 and here, at Moylena, chasing Muckamore’s 190, they were 89 for five but won by four wickets. This time it was a sixth wicket partnership between Morgan Topping and Greg Thompson and although the captain was out 16 short of the winning post for 51, Topping finished 49 not out. Jason van der Merwe was the game’s top scorer with 55 but, crucially Ross Allen had temporary professional Neil Brand caught for 30, one of his three wickets.

An opening partnership of 88 between Faiz Fazal and Ross Adair laid the platform for Lisburn’s 70 runs victory at Belmont. Adair, against his former team-mates, scored 74 off 66 balls with ‘only’ eight fours and two sixes and Matthew Humphreys hit 39 from No 8 to help the visitors to 246 for nine in 49 overs, the game reduced by a short rain shower. CIYMS, set 246 for victory, never threatened with Jacob Mulder, also from No 8, top scoring with 45. Lisburn were without Mark Adair but their four inter-pro bowlers plus captain Neil Whitworth shared the wickets.

Cliftonville Academy made it back to back post-split wins, beating Woodvale by three wickets with more than 15 overs to spare. Ruhan Pretorius top scored for the visitors, hitting six maximums in his 59 from 43 balls – he was third out with the score on 75. They were bowled out with three overs unused for 198, Jared Wilson ending the innings with back to back wickets. Hayden Melly went one better than Pretorius in CA’s reply, hitting seven fours and three sixes and they coasted to their victory target with Varun Chopra 52 not out.

Templepatrick remain six points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League after being bowled out for 81 by Civil Service North, their lowest total of the season. Only two players reached double figures with Patrick Tice’s 36 more than half the runs off the bat. Sean Davey was the destroyer in chief with six wickets for 21 in an innings which lasted only 28 overs. Marc Ellison and James West knocked off the runs in 12.1 overs.