Waringstown Women’s hopes of retaining their title were ended by a dominant Holywood Women side, who cruised to an eight-wicket win with nine overs to spare. Openers Abbi Harrison and Penny Speer gave Waringstown a flying start, adding 42 in the first six overs, with Harrison making 33 and Speer 22. Skipper Naomi Matthews anchored the innings superbly with an unbeaten 51 from 56 balls, striking four boundaries. However, the holders suffered a dramatic collapse late on, losing five wickets for just nine runs to finish on 156. Erin Bond claimed 3-15. Holywood’s reply was built on a match-winning opening stand between Madison Landsman, who blasted 74 from 46 balls with 11 fours and two sixes, and Bond’s run-a-ball 45. Two quick wickets briefly raised Waringstown hopes, but Christina Soulsby’s unbeaten 24 guided Holywood home comfortably.

Instonians Women secured a four-wicket victory over CSNI Women after restricting their opponents to 101. Katie West battled hard for 46 and shared a valuable last-wicket stand of 34 with Katie Soper, but Natalie Moore (3-14) and Anna Ellerby (3-16) led the bowling effort. In reply, Instonians reached 102-6 in 19.4 overs. Matilda McCartney provided early momentum with a quickfire 26 featuring four boundaries, while Erin Mitchell added 17. Despite resistance from Hannah Gordon (2-11) and Emily Calvert (2-22), Ellerby’s unbeaten 17 guided Instonians safely into the final.

Holders Waringstown survived a spirited challenge from Muckamore to book their place in the next round of the NCU Women’s Cup with a 10-run victory at Moylena. The foundation for their success was a magnificent opening stand of 173 between Abbi Harrison and Penny Speer. Harrison dominated the attack with a superb 100 from 82 balls, striking 12 fours, while Speer anchored the innings with an unbeaten 58 from 91 deliveries as Waringstown posted 192-2. Muckamore responded impressively through Beth McCrea (47) and Oshadi Ranasinghe (42), but ultimately fell short on 182-7 despite giving the cup holders a genuine scare.

Instonians booked their place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought four-wicket victory over North Down at Shaw’s Bridge. North Down were bowled out for 151 in 28.4 overs, with Nicolien van Rensburg leading the way with a brisk 50 from 38 balls, including eight fours. Kathryn Rogers added an unbeaten 22, but Natalie Moore (3-36), Charlotte Robinson (2-18) and Matilda McCartney (2-28) kept the scoring in check. McCartney then capped an outstanding all-round display by guiding Instonians home with an unbeaten 51 from 44 balls, striking 10 fours, to earn the Player of the Match award.

Holywood cruised into the next round of the NCU Women’s Cup with a commanding 194-run (DLS) victory over Lisburn at Wallace Park. The foundation was laid by two prolific run-scorers as Madison Landsman blasted 127 from just 72 balls, striking 17 fours and four sixes, while Lara Maritz finished unbeaten on 111 from 71 deliveries, including 15 boundaries. The pair shared a superb 178-run second-wicket partnership to power Holywood to 302-2 from 28 overs. Lisburn never threatened the target and were dismissed for 110, despite Rebecca Lowe’s 39. Landsman completed a memorable all-round display with 6-22, making her the clear Player of the Match.