A superb century by Jake Egan propelled CIYMS to a ridiculously comfortable victory over Templepatrick. Despite needing 225 for victory, Egan’s 132 off just 80 balls (15 fours and six sixes) helped the home side to their target by the start of the 29th over. From 59 for two, Egan shared a third wicket stand of 144 in 18 overs with Herman Rolfes who finished 52 not out. Captain Ross Bryans top scored for Templepatrick with 89 and received good support from Charles Swart who made 61 in a fourth wicket stand of 116. But the visitors lost their last six wickets for 17 runs to be bowled out in 46 overs.

Civil Service North must rely on North Down being badly beaten by Woodvale on Sunday if they are to claim a top six place ahead of the split. Defeat by 101 runs at home to Muckamore leaves them in seventh, behind the Comber side on run-rate. South African professional Neil Brand was back on duty for the Moylena side and, opening the batting, he hit 131, with 12 fours and five sixes, in his side’s 279 for six. CSN, bowled out for 79 last week, managed to more than double that total but Ryan Hunter’s 21 was their top score and 30 for the last wicket between Andrew Cowden and Tom Ford was their highest partnership. Ireland batting coach Gary Wilson batted at No 9 and was caught off Brand for 10.

INSTONIANS and Waringstown share the lead in the NCU Premiership, with the two sides following up their cup semi-final victories with crucial wins in the title race over Lisburn and Cliftonville Academy respectively. The Shaw’s Bridge side again opted to bowl first in their clash with third-placed Lisburn, and once again their bowlers responded to the challenge by restricting them to 186 in an innings that never really got going. Ross Adair (20) and Nigel Jones (26) got starts, but only when Ben Calitz was in full flow did Lisburn get a foothold in the contest. The Irish passport holding South African hit three sixes and fours in a 42-ball 47, adding 83 for the fourth wicket with skipper Neil Whitworth (36). However, Cian Robertson spun his left-arm magic, claiming four wickets for just 23 to put the home side firmly in control. Shane Dadswell (three for 30) and two wickets for Ben Rose reaffirmed the advantage and a final total of 186 looked to be well short of challenging. Cade Carmichael had missed out in Saturday’s cup win, but the Irish international cashed in with a quite brilliant 77-ball 117 that included 15 fours and four maximums to break the back of the chase. His century means that he is the leading run scorer in the league with 473 runs, just ahead of Jason van der Merwe. Carmichael added 112 with Rob McKinley (24) and that allowed ‘Inst’ to coast to a six-wicket win in the 28th over – Dadswell bringing the game to a hasty conclusion by thumping three fours and a six in the final four balls. For Lisburn, a season that promised so much is in danger of falling apart, with their main hope for silverware now resting on the Irish Senior Cup, where they travel to play Balbriggan in the last four next weekend.

Woodvale and North Down shared a dramatic tie in a see-saw game at Ballygomartin Road – a result that saw both happy in the end to get something from the match. Stevie Saul just missed out on a century, getting two from the final ball of the North Down innings to end on 99 (seven fours, four sixes) adding 127 for the fourth wicket with Mickey Copeland as they made 193 for five in 35 overs. Woodvale looked beaten as they slumped to 78 for six, but Carl Robinson’s 51-ball 64 got them right back into contention as he added 104 in 17 overs for the seventh wicket with Zarar Khan (49 not out). 17 were still needed from the last two overs when Anek Anil joined Khan but they chipped away, survived a dropped catch, and the equation came down to three from the final ball. Anil managed to scramble two, ensuring a share of the spoils. North Down finished in the top six for the split, while Woodvale’s two points meant they moved off the bottom above Templepatrick.

Waringstown kept pace with Instonians thanks to an emphatic seven-wicket win at Cliftonville Academy in a match reduced to 25 overs. Abhishek Rauthit a 32-ball unbeaten 56 as the home side posted what looked a competitive 174 for five – Varun Chopra making a run-a-ball 36 (five fours), and Hayden Melly 27.The Topping brothers though made light work of the chase, as they shared an opening stand of 125 in just 80 balls. Morgan hit eight fours and six sixes in a 56-ball 87, while younger brother Sam’s 36-ball 53 included five fours and three maximums. John Glass claimed two wickets but the seven-wicket win was sealed in the 19th over.