Cliftonville Academy finally broke their duck with a 16-run win over CSNI in a blistering T20 contest that leaves the Stormont side still sixth, but now looking nervously over their shoulder in the race for the top six.

Cliftonville’s 191 all out was ignited by a dynamic second-wicket stand of 90 in just 40 balls between CP Klijnhans and David O’Sullivan. Klijnhans crashed five sixes in a 25-ball 44, but O’Sullivan was even more explosive, hammering a 22-ball 44 with six fours and two sixes in a brutal exhibition of power.

The runs kept flowing through Anwar Khan, whose 14-ball 34 included four fours and two sixes, while Ben Kane’s late 15 helped Cliftonville reach a formidable total. Harry Dyer took 3 for 25, with Jake Collingwood, James West and Ollie Dyer collecting two wickets each.

CSNI needed to go hard from the start, and Ryan Hunter did his best to keep pace with the required tempo. His 59 from 32 balls, featuring three fours and five sixes, gave them hope, while Collingwood made 24 and Stuart Thompson 20.

But the rate proved too demanding, with Klijnhans and O’Sullivan taking two wickets each as CSNI closed on 175 for 7.

Meanwhile. in Section One, Cregagh cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket win after skittling Derriaghy for 100 and knocking off the target inside 12 overs.

Derriaghy never really recovered from the early loss of Ryan Beckett, bowled by Danny Cooper for 5, and although skipper Ross Bailey made 26 and Ben Kenny added a battling 29, wickets fell steadily throughout.

David Scott, Craig Lewis and Adam Currie all got starts without pushing on, while the lower order was dismantled by Daniel Henry, who finished with excellent figures of 4 for 17 from 3.4 overs.

Cooper also impressed with 2 for 18, while Max Shannon claimed 2 for 19. Peter Davison and Alastair Watt picked up one apiece as Derriaghy were bowled out with two balls of their innings unused.

Cregagh’s reply was brisk and assured. Davison followed his tidy bowling spell with 29 at the top of the order, sharing an opening stand of 56 with Cooper, who made 21.

Bailey and Kenny briefly checked the charge, but Stuart Nelson’s unbeaten 34 guided Cregagh home. Captain Bob Moore finished 4 not out as Cregagh reached 102 for 2 in just the 12th over.

Jancan Adams produced a superb all-round display as Templepatrick edged past Armagh by five wickets in a tense low-scoring contest.

Adams did the damage first with the ball, taking 5 for 12 from four overs as Armagh were bowled out for just 83 in 19.5 overs. He struck immediately, removing Samuel Wilson for a duck and Michael Villiers for 1, before also accounting for Matthew Steenson, Tom Nicholson and Matthew Wilson.

Armagh were reeling at 3 for 3 and never fully recovered, despite Harry Boyd’s 13 and an unbeaten 25 from Harry Doyle. Gareth McCarter’s late 9 helped them reach 83, but support was limited. Connor Courtney and Michael Stewart both claimed 2 for 15 and 2 for 18 respectively.

Templepatrick’s chase then threatened to unravel when Luan Liebenberg ripped through the top order, bowling Nik Kane, Richard Greer and Levi Cave to leave them 17 for 3. Mark Thompson made 11, but at 36 for 5 the game was still alive.

Adams, however, remained calm, following his five-wicket haul with an unbeaten 47. Shane Henderson added 13 not out as Templepatrick reached their target in the 18th over.