Defending champions Bready continued their dominant start to the Women’s Premiership season with an emphatic 129-run victory over Coleraine. 

Batting first, Bready piled up an imposing 174-3 from their 20 overs, with Lucy McGranaghan leading the charge with an unbeaten 59. 

Skipper McGranaghan shared an excellent opening partnership of 83 inside the first ten overs with Ella Wasson, who made a lively 30. Both players struck four boundaries apiece as they laid the perfect foundation for another commanding total. 

Mansi Bhavsar added 23 during the middle overs, while Alana Dalzell provided the late fireworks with an unbeaten 14. Irish international Dalzell also struck the only six of the innings as Bready accelerated towards the finish. 

Coleraine’s bowling attack struggled for control, conceding 47 extras, including 38 wides, which further boosted the champions’ total. Kia McCartney was the pick of the attack with 2-29. 

Any hopes of a successful chase quickly disappeared as Bready’s bowlers dominated from the outset. 

Coleraine were dismissed for just 45 in 13.1 overs, with Sophie Hamilton producing outstanding figures of 4-10. 

Having now won their opening two matches by huge margins, Bready have already underlined their credentials as title favourites once again.

Fox Lodge got their campaign up and running as they claimed an important victory over newly promoted St Johnston at Ballymagorry, chasing down their target with seven balls to spare. 

Batting first, St Johnston posted 117-4 from their 20 overs thanks almost entirely to an outstanding innings from Shannon Porter. 

Opening the batting, Porter carried her bat for an unbeaten 67 from 74 deliveries, striking 11 boundaries in a determined knock. However, she received little support from the rest of the batting line-up as Fox Lodge kept the scoring under control for long periods. Elle Moore was the standout bowler for the hosts, taking 2-21. 

Fox Lodge’s reply got off to a shaky start and they found themselves in trouble at 57-3 after star batter Mollie Devine went cheaply. 

With the game finely balanced, Kara Bates and Emma Allen produced a match-winning fourth-wicket partnership to guide their side home. 

Bates finished unbeaten on 40, while Allen contributed 24 not out in an unbroken stand of 63 that came in just ten overs. 

In a tight contest, St Johnston were ultimately hindered by conceding 32 bowling extras, a factor that proved decisive in the final result.

Eglinton suffered a 55-run defeat to Bonds Glen in the final game of the night. Bonds Glen posted an impressive 141-3 from their 20 overs thanks to a strong top-order display. 

Emily Young led the way with a fluent 53 from 52 balls (5 fours), sharing an opening stand of 75 with Rihanna Young who made 27. 

Jessica Cooke finished unbeaten on 26 to ensure Bonds Glen closed strongly in the final overs despite two wickets from Lucy Carmichael. 

Chasing 142 for victory, Eglinton never managed to build the partnerships required to keep pace with the target. 

Megan McClintock top-scored with 20, but wickets fell at regular intervals as Bonds Glen’s bowlers dominated from the outset. 

Sarah Haslett produced a devastating spell, taking 3-1, while Lucy Thompson also impressed with 3-15. Poppy Miller chipped in with 2-2 as Eglinton were bowled out for 86 in the 18th over, sealing a convincing win for the Bee Gees.