Muckamore moved into second place behind Waringstown as they eased to an eight-wicket victory over Cliftonville Academy after a commanding all-round display from South African overseas professional Neil Brand. Cliftonville Academy were dismissed for 128 with CP Klijnhans offering the main resistance with 48 and David O’Sullivan adding 22. Brand was the pick of the Muckamore attack, claiming 4 for 16, while Allan Coulter took 3 for 50 and Jason van der Merwe 2 for 28.Rain left Muckamore chasing a revised target of 118 and they cruised home in just the 16th over - Marko Bates finishing unbeaten on 42.

Kian Hilton’s run-a-ball century dealt a major blow to Instonians’ title defence as North Down raced to a 136-run victory at Shaw’s Bridge. Hilton, on the fringe of the Ireland senior set-up, struck a run-a-ball 112, finding the boundary 11 times and clearing it twice, to anchor a commanding North Down total of 256 for seven. Hilton was well supported by teenager Tom Crothers, whose unbeaten 51 from 41 balls, featuring six fours and two sixes, ensured North Down finished strongly. Instonians’ chase never got going as opening bowlers Tyron Koen and Craig Young each claimed three wickets, while overseas professional Mike Erlank added two as the champions collapsed to 119 all out. George Craigan hit a defiant 48 but in an ever-evident losing cause as the Shaw’s Bridge side fell apart.

Another Saturday and another century for Waringstown professional Steve Stolk. This time Cliftonville Academy were on the receiving end but they had the satisfaction of getting him out, albeit just eight runs short of the home side’s victory target of 186. Stolk hit 105 from 48 balls with nine fours and nine sixes after sharing an opening partnership of 140 with Adam Dennison who scored 61. CA skipper Matthew McCord top scored with 47, from 35 balls (six fours, two sixes) while there were good contributions also from Adam Kelso, Dawood Khan and David Reid. Five Waringstown bowlers shared the wickets with fourth change Dennison the most successful with three. The Premier League leaders won by eight wickets at the start of the 22nd over.

Muckamore’s title hopes took a major blow when they lost to Civil Service North by 42 runs. Even without an overseas professional – Ashwin Hebbar is due to return next week – CSN made it two wins out of two in the space of week after their Challenge Cup success at Moylena last Sunday. After slumping to 44 for four, Mark Ellison led the recovery with 72 (seven fours, two sixes) in partnerships of 45 with Harry Dyer and 56 with captain Stuart Thompson. Late runs from Andrew Cowden and Finn Lutton helped them to a total of 228 for nine in their 48 overs. When Muckamore lost Neil Brand to a run out and Jason van der Merwe to an Ellison catch off James West, in the space of six balls, the home side were in trouble. West took five for 35 in his 10 overs to reduce Muckamore to 99 for eight and only Chinmay Dakhane with a maiden senior 50 and Neil Gill’s 26 not out, in a last wicket stand of 60, held up CSN’s victory.

An undefeated century by Mike Erlank guided North Down to their third win of the season in their push for another top six finish. Erlank was 106 not out at exactly a run a ball (14 fours, one six) when the home side won by five wickets in the 38th over. The only support he received was in a third wicket stand of 148 from Kian Hilton with the other five batters scoring just 18 between them although Tom Crothers’ crucial nine not out ensured no late drama. Woodvale were bowled out for exactly 200 in the 49th over, captain Ruhan Pretorius top scoring with 62, but it was always a struggle against tight bowling. Craig Young, Tyron Koen, Jaxon Dines and Erlank all going at less than four runs an over.

Chris Dougherty continued his impressive form as CI finally got their second win of the season, defeating Laurelvale by 70 runs in a game reduced to 39 overs after a delayed start and a further rain break. There was still time for Dougherty to score 80 not out, from 63 balls, with eight fours and three sixes and with Carson McCullough adding 47 from 38 (two fours, four sixes), CI finished on 253 for six. Laurelvale needed a similar innings in their reply but opener John Speers with 40 was their top scorer and they never threatened a first Premier League win, finishing on 193 for seven.

Half centuries from Cade Carmichael, Andrew White and captain Shane Dadswell laid the platform for Instonians’ crushing 180 runs victory over Lisburn at Wallace Park. Significant contributions from the lower order, George Craigan, Cian Robertson, David Agnew and Ben Rose then powered them to a total of 366 for eight as Lisburn’s limited bowling attack was brutally exposed. Dadswell top scored with 71 from 43 balls with three fours and six sixes and Craigan had four sixes in his 46 from just 29 balls. Neil Whitworth took four of the wickets but at an expensive cost. Jude Markham on debut for Lisburn hit three fours and a six in his 21 from 16 balls but they lost wickets at regular intervals and after the first wicket stand of 41, there was only one partnership of more than 20. David Agnew took four of the wickets, one of them thanks to a spectacular overhead catch from returning former skipper Nikolai Smith.