An opening partnership of 88 between Faiz Fazal and Ross Adair laid the platform for Lisburn’s 70 runs victory at Belmont. Adair, against his former team-mates, scored 74 off 66 balls with ‘only’ eight fours and two sixes and Matthew Humphreys hit 39 from No 8 to help the visitors to 246 for nine in 49 overs, the game reduced by a short rain shower. CIYMS, set 246 for victory, never threatened with Jacob Mulder, also from No 8, top scoring with 45. Lisburn were without Mark Adair but their four inter-pro bowlers plus captain Neil Whitworth shared the wickets.

Before the match, Muckamore captain Neil Gill identified Waringstown’s batting depth as their biggest strength and for the second time this season he was on the receiving end. At The Lawn, Waringstown had recovered from 61 for six to post 294 and here, at Moylena, chasing Muckamore’s 190, they were 89 for five but won by four wickets. This time it was a sixth wicket partnership between Morgan Topping and Greg Thompson and although the captain was out 16 short of the winning post for 51, Topping finished 49 not out. Jason van der Merwe was the game’s top scorer with 55 but, crucially Ross Allen had temporary professional Neil Brand caught for 30, one of his three wickets.

Instonians were the first winners of the day, the Premier League leaders completing a comfortable five wickets win over North Down. The visitors innings was a one-man show with Zimbabwean Stevie Saul scoring 81 of the 127 runs off the bat before he was one of Andrew White’s four wickets at a cost of just 17 runs in eight overs. Craig Young burst through the Instonians top order reducing them to 29 for three but White completed a fine all-round match with an undefeated 40 to see his side home with almost 24 overs to spare.

Instonians kept pace with Waringstown at the top of the Premier League with an emphatic eight wickets victory over CIYMS at Belmont. In the absence of Ben Rose, 14-year-old David Agnew was brought in and claimed the match ball with figures of five for 37 as the home side were bowled out for 161 inside 44 overs. Chris Dougherty, top scorer with 49, was Agnew’s first wicket and he took the last three in the space of 10 balls for just four runs. Cade Carmichael dominated the first two partnerships which put on 75 before Neil Rock took over, scoring 75 of the last 92 runs, from just 26 balls with five fours and eight sixes, the last three in succession to win the match in the 23rd over.

Waringstown wasted no time in winning their first post-split game, needing barely 18 overs to pass North Down’s 156 at Comber. Daniel van der Merwe thumped 87 from just 36 balls with 12 fours and four sixes and although he was third out with the scores tied, Tom Mayes hit the winning boundary next ball. Van der Merwe put on 121 for the second wicket with Sam Topping who was out for 50. Ross Allen was Waringstown’s most successful bowler with four wickets, including top scorer Tyron Koen for 35. Craig Young made his return for North Down, bowling six wicketless overs for 32.

The Adair brothers, back together in a full-strength Lisburn side, were the feature acts in their crushing 144 runs win over Muckamore Mark Adair returned to the side in sensational batting form, hitting 88 from 47 balls in an innings which included 11 sixes. With captain Neil Whitworth scoring 98 (10 fours and three sixes) the home side powered to 356 for seven. Amid the mayhem, Neil Gill and Jason van der Merwe bowled their 20 overs for just 71 as the other 30 overs disappeared for 276. Ross Adair then produced career best figures of seven for 32 in 7.2 overs, as the visitors crashed from 151 for two to 212 all out to give Lisburn their first win over Muckamore in three attempts after losing last year's Challenge Cup final and this year's first League game.