Cliftonville Academy invoked the 'Spirit of 95' as they reached the final of the T20 Cup for the first time as they beat five-times champions CIYMS by four wickets. The Belmont side were in a relatively decent position at 51 for 1 in the 8th over, but collapsed alarmingly losing 9 wickets for 49 runs to be all out for 100. Ben Kane and Jared Wilson each took three wickets, while Abhishek Raut took two. Raut (19) and Francis Collins got the chase off to a good start with an opening stand of 43, but the introduction of Alex Armstrong changed the complexion of the match. The teenager took two wickets and deflected a Wilson drive onto the stumps to run out Raut who had strayed out at the non-striker's end. Suddenly it was 72 for six and anybody's game. John Glass (21*) and skipper Matthew McCord got the 29 needed - both hitting vital boundaries to seal the win off the penultimate ball.

Shane Dadswell was the difference as Instonians beat CSNI by 8 runs in the afternoon semi-final. The South African professional cleared the ropes six times on his way to a top-score of 64 as Inst made 158 for six - runs too for Cian Robertson (30*). Matthew Foster was the pick of the bowlers taking 2 for 16. Early wickets for James Magee and Cian Robertson meant CSNI were always chasing the game as the required rate climbed. Adam Leckey (40*) and Ryan Hunter (27*) got them close but it was always just out of reach.

CIYMS got the win they needed to claim their place in Sunday’s semi-final at the expense of Lisburn. Skipper John Matchett top scoring with a late flurry of boundaries (2x4,4x6) in his 33 ball total of 45. Spin the key then as CI’s quartet stifled the chase with Herman Rolfes too hot a handful for the tail. In the semi-finals CIYMS will face Cliftonville Academy at 11.00am, while Instonians will take on CSNI at 3.00pm, both matches at Belmont.

Match abandoned due to rain.

CSNI pipped North Down to a semi-final berth with a comfortable 50-run DLS win at home to Templepatrick. James West and Adam Leckey both scored half centuries as they shared a second wicket partnership of 92 in 12 overs in a total of 174 for five. Stuart Thompson (18) and Harry Dyer 21*) also adding quick runs. Sean Davey struck two early blows and after a rain interruption the visitors on 37 for 2 in the 6th needed a further 97 in just over eight overs. That never threatened to happen as they limped to 83 for 8 - Patrick Tice (25), Sandun Weerakkody (24) and Charlie Swart (20) their main contributors. Adam Leckey (2-9) completed a fine all-round game, while Sean Davey (2-3) and Finn Lutton (2-14) also picked up a brace.

Cliftonville Academy had already been assured of topping the group, ending the group stage with four wins from four after surviving a Ruhan Pretorius onslaught, Batting first a solid effort saw CA post 160-5, with runs for skipper Matthew McCord (33), a run-a-ball 32 from Dawood Kahn, and 20's from Hayden Melly and Jared Wilson. The Woodvale reply was very much a one-man show with Ruhan Pretorius making 91 from 53 balls (8 fours, 7 sixes). Needing 40 from 12 balls, Pretorius thumped two sixes to make it 28 from 10, but John Glass got his revenge and CA went on to win by 24 runs.

Cliftonville Academy held their nerve in a tense finish, beating CSNI by 8 runs. Stuart Thompson's dismissal in the 9th over had the Stormint side faltering on 33 for 4 chasing 152. Seb Yeates (40) and Harry Dyer (30) added 56 for the 5th wicket, but it was the arrival of James Kennedy which really ignited proceedings. He hit four sixes in a 9-ball 31 and looked like pulling off a bit of a heist before Matthew McCord got revenge for a bit of a clobbering. Jared Wilson (41), Abhishek Raut (35), Hayden Melly (34) and Francis Collins (24) all in the runs for CA. Adam Leckey was a busy chappie - he got three wickets to go with his six earlier in the day for RBAI.

A second wicket stand of 64 between Stevie Saul - who top-scored with a 32-ball unbeaten 44 (3 fours, 3 sixes) - and KIan Hilton (43) ensured North Down had little trouble chasing down their modest 124 target. Mickey Copeland hastened proceedings to a quick end in just the 12th over with a 9-ball 28 not out (2 fours, 3 sixes). Earlier Templepatrick had struggled to 123 for 6 - Levi Cave's three sixes in an unbeaten 28 the highlight.

There was an entertaining match at Wallace Park where Instonians just edged out All-Ireland and NCU T20 champions Lisburn by three runs. The home side needed a four to tie and six to win off the last ball, but skipper Neil Whitworth could only find the deep midwicket fielder, to finish unbeaten on 73 (5 fours, 3 sixes). Ross Adair had earlier made 31 as they tried to chase down 174, ending on 171 for 8 - three wickets for Cian Robertson and two for Ben Rose. The Shaws Bridge side made 174 for 8 with Andy White hitting 37 and 20's from Cian Robertson, Nikolai Smith and Sully Gould.

There was real drama at The Cloughan as Templepatrick and Woodvale shared the spoils in a thrilling tie. Woodvale needed six off the last over bowled by Charles Swart, who picked up two wickets to leave them needing two off the last ball. Matthew Peak managed one before being run out to leave the scores level on 127. Ben Cave had cleared the ropes four times for the hosts in a hard-hit 33, while there was a first appearance of the season for Sri Lankan international Sandun Weerakkody, who made 19. James Martin picked up three wickets. Ruhan Pretorius (33) and Ludwig Kaestner (26) added 64 for the second wicket to put Woodvale on top before the late excitement.

The Instonians bandwagon rolls on with Neil Rock once again in the runs in their victory over Muckamore. ‘Pebbles’ thumped 11 fours and four sixes in a 31-ball 78, giving another reminder to Ireland Chief of Selectors Andrew White – who happened to be batting at the other end! The pair shared a fourth wicket stand of 77 in 33 balls with White striking seven boundaries in a quickfire 52, as Inst’ posted 203 for seven. Muckamore were never in contention as early wickets for Shane Dadswell and James Magee all but ended the game. Jude Keates hit a defiant half century, but it was too little too late as the Shaw’s Bridge side closed out a 58-run win.

Waringstown lost again, this time to a very much in-form CIYMS by 48 runs. Herman Rolfes top-scored for the Belmont side with 65 from 42 balls (seven fours, two sixes) adding 89 in eight overs with skipper John Matchett, who scored a rapid 44. There were runs too for Chris Dougherty (31) and Jake Egan (21) in a total of 191 for six. Matchett then took three wickets as Waringstown were bowled out for 143 – Adam Dennison hitting four sixes in a counterattacking 37.

Jared Wilson and Francis Collins both made half centuries as Cliftonville Academy beat North Down by 88 runs. Wilson cleared the ropes five times in a dominant 37-ball unbeaten 65, adding 83 in 40 balls with Hayden Melly (28no). Earlier Collins (54) and professional Abhishek Raut (42) laid the platform for their total of 201 for two with a first wicket stand of 79. North Down were without injured duo Tyron Koen (shoulder) and Craig Young (hamstring) and were dismissed for 113. Wilson took three wickets in a fine all-round effort, while there were two apiece for John Glass and captain Matthew McCord.

HOLDERS Lisburn made it two wins from two in the latest round of group matches in the Lagan Valley Steels T20 Cup, beating Muckamore by six wickets at Wallace Park. Sam Gordon’s 56 (7 fours, 1 six) helped the Moylena side to a modest total of 123 for seven – two wickets apiece for Josh Manley, Nigel Jones, and skipper Neil Whitworth. James Hunter thumped seven boundaries in a rapid top-score of 40, sharing a fourth wicket partnership of 51 in seven overs with Whitworth who made 28, as did Indian professional Faiz Fazal as they eased to victory in the 17th over despite three wickets for Jason van der Merwe.

Instonians’ Neil Rock and Cade Carmichael continued their recent run feast, helping themselves to half centuries in a convincing 82-run win at Waringstown. Rock followed up his record-breaking score of 173 in T20 cricket with a 40-ball 84 (6 fours, 7 sixes) as he and Carmichael shared an opening stand of 119 approaching the halfway stage. Shane Dadswell (45) added a further 84 with Carmichael, whose 68 included seven fours and three maximums in a whopping score of 238 for 4. Waringstown in reply were never in contention – Matthew Halliday’s 30 the best of their 156 – as James Lambert, Ben Rose and Cian Robertson each claimed two wickets.

Abhishek Raut was the night’s other century with the former Rajasthan Royals IPL star hitting seven fours and five sixes in a 58-ball unbeaten 103 that powered Cliftonville Academy to 190 for 5 at Templepatrick. He shared a fourth wicket stand of 91 in eight overs with John Glass who made 29, while skipper Matthew McCord hit 28 – three wickets for Evan Carlisle. Charles Swart hit five boundaries in a quickfire 51, while Mark Thompson scored 28 in the chase, but they were never in contention falling 45 runs adrift – two wickets for Andrew Forbes.

Three wickets for Josh Corbett and an unbeaten 48 from Steven Saul guided North Down to a six-wickets win over Woodvale. Ruhan Pretorius top scored with 39 for the Ballygomartin Road side but Saul and skipper Tyron Koen (27) ensured the victory with a fourth wicket partnership of 63 in nine overs.

Highest scorers of the night were Waringstown who racked up 202 for 5 at Muckamore. All the top six were in the runs with skipper Greg Thompson leading the way with an undefeated 57 from just 24 balls, that included no fewer than six sixes – three of them from the final over bowled by Sathish Suresh. Tom Mayes and Sam Topping both made 29,while James McCollum (26), Morgan Topping (24) and Daniel van der Merwe (22) all chipped in. Jason van der Merwe clubbed eight fours and four sixes as he raced to 58 in 25 balls, dominating an opening stand of 70 in five overs, but he was the first of three wickets for Ross Allen, while Thompson also claimed a trio in a 45-run victory.

ROSS ADAIR returned to haunt his old club CIYMS with a blistering century to get Lagan Valley Steels T20 Cup holders Lisburn off to a winning start at Belmont. The former Ulster rugby player turned Irish cricket international bludgeoned 11 fours and cleared the ropes five times in his 100 from only 53 balls as Lisburn posted 190 for 5. He shared a third wicket stand of 77 in 39 balls with skipper Neil Whitworth, who made 21, while Nigel Jones made two maximums in a breezy 24. Chris Dougherty made 48 in the chase but after two early wickets for Ryan Macbeth, Whitworth took four wickets to kill any momentum as they closed out a 39-run win.