A real thriller at Sydney Parade as the hosts just failed to chase down 157 against Phoenix, losing by one run. Gaby Lewis top-scored with 87, while Zara Craig hit 41 in a Phoenix total of 157 for 4. Louise Little (70) and Sarah Forbes (34) got Pembroke agonisingly close.

Merrion made light of a potentially tough chase to beat The Hills by eight wickets. Tahlia Dunne top scored with a 54-ball (63), sharing stands of 71 for the first wicket with Lara McBride (30) and 58 for the third with Aimee Maguire (26) in a total of 147 for 5. McBride dismissed Aisling Lawlor cheaply, but a second wicket stand of 121 in 12 overs between Bella Armstrong and Rebecca Stokell all but settled the contest. New Zealand international Armstrong hit six fours in a 43-ball 54, while Irish international Stokell's unbeaten 61 also from 43 deliveries include five boundaries as Merrion eased past their target with almost four overs to spare.

An unbeaten 74 from Australian Meg Thompson wasn't enough for Malahide to cause an upset as they played Phoenix at The Village. Chasing 140, Malahide finished 16 runs adrift despite Thompson's efforts and 21 from Sarah Condron. Earlier, Phoenix had posted 140 for 6 with Arisha Foysal making 31 and Gaby Lewis 24. Saibh Mitchell (3-11) impressed with the ball for Malahide.

Pembroke opened their campaign with a 31-run win over Clontarf at Sydney Parade. Louise Little got the home side off to a quick start with a rapid 23 as she and Sarah Forbes shared an opening stand of 42. However, 42 for 0 became 42 for 3, under order was restored in a fourth wicket partnership of 66 between Shauna Kavanagh (29) and Zoe bell (17). They collapsed once again in the search for late runs, losing seven wickets for 14 to be all out for 122 - two wickets apiece for Alyssa Pasley, Alice Walsh and Lucy Barry. The Clontarf chase never really got going despite a run-a-ball 36 from Julie McNally (3 fours). They were bowled out for 91 with a brace apiece for Mhairi Nicholl, Hannah Little and Kimli McDonald.

Laura Delany was the driving force behind Leinster's emphatic 88-run win over Balbriggan at Rathmines. The Irish international top-scored with 43 (5 fours), sharing stands of 40 with international colleagues past - Eimear Richardson (24) - and present, Ava Canning (36) in a total of 138 for 6. Lara Maritz (2-15) the pick of the attack. The Balbriggan batting was blown away by an initial spell from young Australian speedster Karina Bell, then a five wicket haul for Delany (5-2) as they slumped to 50 all out.