Chris Dougherty marked a memorable personal milestone in fitting fashion, scoring a superb century that carried him past the 10,000-run landmark for CI as the Belmont side held their nerve to beat Cliftonville Academy by 13 runs in a Premier League thriller.

Dougherty’s 125 from 121 balls, laced with eight fours and seven sixes, was the centrepiece of CI’s imposing 308 for 6 after they chose to bat. He was joined in a commanding third-wicket stand of 225 by skipper John Matchett, who struck 124 from 133 deliveries with 13 fours and five sixes.

From 34 for 2, the pair transformed the innings, taking CI to 259 before Matchett fell. Dougherty followed late on, but the damage had been done, despite CP Klijnhans taking 2 for 49 for the visitors.

Cliftonville Academy’s reply was almost derailed by one man. Klijnhans produced a breathtaking 165 from just 116 balls, hitting 13 fours and 10 sixes to threaten a remarkable chase. With Dawood Khan adding a battling 62, the visitors reached 245 for 4 and had CI under real pressure.

However, the dismissal of Klijnhans by Jacob Mulder proved the turning point. CI tightened their grip in the closing overs, with Mulder’s 3 for 28 backed up by Matchett and Aidan Armstrong, who claimed two wickets apiece.

Cliftonville Academy finished on 295 for 9, agonisingly short, as CI celebrated both a hard-earned win and Dougherty’s landmark day.

He was given a special award by the club to mark his achievement of reaching 10,000 - the hundred today was his 14th century since arriving at Belmont from Brigade back in 2012.