Waringstown clinched a record-extending 33rd top-flight league title in emphatic fashion as they demolished Lisburn by 248 runs in a remarkable run-fest at Wallace Park.

Replacement professional George Thomas proved an inspired short-term signing, the former England Under-19 international producing a devastating century as Waringstown amassed a mammoth 428 for five before dismissing their hosts for 180.

With Steve Stolk unavailable, Waringstown used their connections with Sussex to secure Thomas, currently on the county’s books, and he proved almost a clone of the South African in the way he dismantled the Lisburn attack.

Thomas crashed 131 from just 86 deliveries, striking 11 fours and ten sixes, dominating a match-defining opening stand of 185 with Adam Dennison.

Dennison’s 63 from 74 balls provided the perfect foil before the pressure intensified rather than eased.

James McCollum struck 71 from 58 deliveries, while Morgan Topping narrowly missed a century with a blistering 95 from 59 balls, including six sixes. Graham Hume then supplied another four maximums in an unbeaten 33 from 19 as the champions-elect surged beyond 400.

Lisburn’s weakened bowling attack were cruelly taken apart by the champions elect.

It did, however, raise an increasingly pertinent question during this exceptionally dry summer: are such batter-dominated contests becoming too one-sided?

True pitches and lightning-fast outfields have brutally exposed attacks whose lack of penetration was perhaps disguised in wetter seasons when damp surfaces offered assistance. With batsmen increasingly powerful and conditions loaded in their favour, bowlers can quickly become cannon fodder.

Whether administrators need to examine types of balls, pitches, boundaries or other ways of restoring some balance is a debate worth having. Spectators enjoy boundaries, but cricket surely works best when bat and ball both have a meaningful and equal chance.

Lisburn’s chase never remotely threatened to provide a contest here.

David Miller made 36 and Judd Markham 31 in an opening stand of 73, but once both fell to Greg Thompson in the 11th over the innings unravelled.

Thompson was outstanding, taking four for 40, while James Cameron-Dow returned four for 39 as Lisburn were bundled out in double quick time.

Neil Whitworth top-scored with 37, but his dismissal left Lisburn 137 for six and ended any lingering resistance.

It was an appropriately dominant conclusion to another championship campaign for Waringstown — and title number 33 provided further evidence of their extraordinary ability to keep setting the standard.

Their 175th anniversary next Saturday will have a very special guest in pride of place - the Premiership trophy.