Newbuildings safely booked their place in the semi-finals with a convincing eight-wicket win over Strabane at Strabane Park on Thursday evening. The holders produced a clinical display with both bat and ball to comfortably chase down a modest target of 97. Strabane struggled to gain momentum throughout their innings and were restricted to 96-6 from their 20 overs. Rhys Logue top-scored with 32, but Newbuildings kept the scoring under control with a disciplined bowling performance. Peat Salmon claimed 2-9 in an excellent spell, while Josh Wilson also impressed with figures of 2-20. In reply, Newbuildings made light work of the chase, reaching 97-2 in just 11.5 overs. Ross Dougherty led the way with an aggressive 52 from 37 balls, striking six fours and two sixes in a commanding innings. Dougherty dominated an opening partnership of 74 alongside Mark Hanna, who contributed a steady 20 as the pair effectively put the game beyond Strabane’s reach. The visitors completed the victory with more than eight overs to spare to continue their defence of the trophy in style.

Brigade joined Newbuildings in the semi-finals after a convincing six-wicket victory over St Johnston at The Boathole St Johnston found runs hard to come by and were restricted to 111-8 from their 20 overs, with Ryan Macbeth making key early breakthroughs against his former club. He finished with impressive figures of 3-13, while Trent McKeegan claimed 2-25. The Saints looked in real trouble at 47-6 before a recovery led by Ian Macbeth restored some pride. The veteran top-scored with 26, while David Barnard added an unbeaten 22 as the hosts battled their way to a more respectable total. Brigade’s chase also had a shaky start as they slipped to 33-4, but the Macbeth family theme continued as Scott Macbeth produced a match-winning unbeaten 54 from 44 balls. His innings included four sixes and four fours. Scott shared an unbroken stand of 79 with Ryan Macbeth, who finished 19 not out, as Brigade eased to victory in the 18th over.

Coleraine boosted their hopes of reaching the semi-finals with a 38-run victory over Bready in Group A at Sandel Lodge. A superb century partnership between Louren Steenkamp and Scott Campbell laid the foundation for Coleraine’s success after they posted 158-2 from their 20 overs. Steenkamp produced an outstanding unbeaten 82 from 62 balls, striking eight fours and five sixes in a commanding innings. Campbell provided excellent support with a quickfire 38 that included three fours and three sixes as the pair added 109. Patrick Carson also chipped in with 22. Bready used eight bowlers in an effort to slow the scoring, with Travis Faulkner taking 1-20 and Nathan McCombe 1-24 the most economical. In reply, Coleraine’s bowlers maintained control throughout. Left-armer Stephen Hutchinson made the early breakthroughs before teenagers Timothy Hamilton and Ethan Darragh combined for five wickets to wrap up victory. Charlie Downey top-scored for Bready with 32, while skipper Ryan Clarke made 20 before they were bowled out for 120.

Fox Lodge produced an impressive all-round performance to defeat Donemana by 43 runs. A powerful batting display laid the platform for the Ballymagorry side as they posted 168-7 from their 20 overs. Gayan Maneeshan continued his excellent form with a blistering 64 from just 36 balls, clearing the ropes six times while also striking three fours in a dominant innings. Dean McCarter also played a key role with a brisk 34 as Fox Lodge maintained the pressure throughout the innings. Donemana fought back well with the ball at stages, led by Raymond Curry’s impressive 3-17. Levi Dougherty claimed 2-35, while Gary McClintock picked up 2-41. However, Donemana’s chase never gained momentum against a disciplined Fox Lodge bowling attack. Wickets were shared throughout the innings as the home side kept firm control. Skipper Jonny Robinson and Adam Walker both claimed three wickets, while Levi Kerr added two more as Donemana were dismissed for 125 in 17.2 overs, with Gary McClintock top-scoring with 29.

Holders Newbuildings moved a step closer to qualification from the group stages with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Strabane. The Red Caps posted 148-7 from their 20 overs after a steady start that saw Rhys Logue and skipper Kevin Gallagher guide them to 55-1. Gallagher’s brother Ryan then anchored the innings superbly with an unbeaten 52 from 41 balls, striking three fours and three sixes to ensure a competitive total. Gregory McFaul claimed 2-19 while Ryan Hunter also picked up two wickets for the hosts. Newbuildings made light work of the chase thanks to a dominant second-wicket partnership worth 97 between Jason Dunn and West Indian professional Peat Salmon. Dunn struck a composed 54 from 44 balls, clearing the ropes five times alongside two fours. Salmon then produced the decisive assault, smashing an unbeaten 77 from just 33 deliveries with five fours and seven towering sixes. The pair guided Newbuildings to 151-2 in only 15.4 overs to complete an emphatic victory.

Brigade moved level on points with Newbuildings at the top of the group after a comfortable seven-wicket win over St Johnston at Beechgrove. The Donegal side produced a solid if unspectacular batting display to reach 115-5 from their 20 overs. David Lapsley top-scored with 39 while Graeme McCarter contributed 30, but Brigade’s bowlers kept a firm grip on proceedings throughout. Trent McKeegan was again among the wickets with an impressive 3-19, while Jamie Millar cleverly mixed his variations to claim 2-16. Nathan Cole struck early in the reply to remove Scott Macbeth and Andy Britton, briefly giving St Johnston hope. However, Gavin Roulston continued his seamless transition to life at Beechgrove with another composed innings. The left-hander looked in complete control in an unbeaten 60 from 57 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes. He shared a decisive 55-run stand with veteran Ifty Hussain (21), before Ryan Macbeth finished unbeaten on 17 against his former club.

Bready moved to the top of the group table after a convincing six-wicket victory over Coleraine on home soil. The Bannsiders posted 136-6 from their 20 overs despite losing professional Louren Steenkamp early for 15 after he struck two sixes. Scott Campbell helped rebuild the innings with a solid 42, while Varun Chopra anchored the closing stages with an unbeaten 41. Kenzie Hall was the standout performer with the ball for Bready, returning impressive figures of 2-19 to keep the visitors in check. Hall then carried that momentum into the chase with an aggressive opening innings of 56 from just 34 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes. Josh van Heerden maintained the tempo with a brisk 24 from 15 deliveries before skipper Ryan Clarke guided Bready home in composed fashion. Clarke finished unbeaten on 33 alongside Charlie Downey as the hosts comfortably reached 137-4 in only 15.4 overs to secure maximum points and top spot in the group standings.

Brigade collected the points in a rain-affected T20 clash after moving comfortably ahead of the DLS target against Strabane. The Tyrone side never really managed to gain momentum after being asked to bat and closed on 118 for 7 from their 20 overs. Ryan Gallagher top-scored with a run-a-ball 33 that included five boundaries, while Mark McNulty provided late resistance with an unbeaten 20. Brigade’s bowlers kept a tight grip throughout, with Jamie Millar particularly impressive as he cleverly mixed slower balls and cutters to claim 3 for 22. David Barr also struck key blows, removing both Aaron Gillespie and professional Muhammad Mohsin on his way to figures of 2 for 22. Brigade’s reply had started perfectly before the rain arrived. Gavin Roulston blasted an unbeaten 21, while Scott Macbeth matched him with 20 not out, both hitting two fours and a six as Brigade raced to 41 without loss in five overs — 19 runs ahead on DLS when play was abandoned.

Coleraine chased superbly to claim a five-wicket victory over Fox Lodge in an entertaining clash. Fox Lodge posted a competitive 164 for 8 thanks largely to an excellent opening stand of 69 between Ali Doherty and Dean McCarter. Doherty raced to a boundary-filled 39 from just 27 balls, striking seven fours and a six, while McCarter anchored the innings superbly with an unbeaten 66 from 47 deliveries that included four fours and three maximums. Coleraine’s bowlers fought back well after the aggressive start, with Matty Smyth impressing again as he claimed 3 for 19 using his variations cleverly. New signing Jacob Logan-Wilson also continued his encouraging start since arriving from The Nedd, taking 2 for 23. The visitors kept pace with the asking rate throughout their reply. Louren Steenkamp blasted 51 from 33 balls and shared an opening stand of 56 with Patrick Carson before both fell to Swarnim Jha. Varun Chopra added 22, but the game still hung in the balance with 38 required from 23 balls. David Cooke then struck an unbeaten 35 from 20 balls, while Matthew Hutchinson’s explosive 22 from 11 deliveries guided Coleraine home with seven balls remaining - the pair clearing the ropes five times in the closing stages.

Bready inflicted more pain on Donemana with a four-wicket victory in their Tyrone derby clash. Donemana posted 139 for 6 from their 20 overs, but never fully managed to break free against a disciplined Bready attack. Awais Zafar gave the innings early momentum with 27 before Ray Curry top-scored with 42 from 39 balls, striking five boundaries. Curry and Levi Dougherty, who made 28, shared a stand of 66 to steady the innings, although regular wickets prevented the home side from building a truly imposing total. Charlie Downey was the standout bowler, showing excellent form since switching from Newbuildings with impressive figures of 3 for 21. Bready’s chase wobbled at 56 for 4, leaving the game finely poised, but Josh van Heerden swung the momentum decisively with a blistering 52 from just 29 balls that included four fours and three sixes. Downey then completed an outstanding all-round display, making 40 from 33 deliveries with two fours and two sixes to move Bready to the brink of victory before Adam Warnock and Nathan McCombe calmly finished the job with more than two overs remaining.

Newbuildings cruised to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over St Johnston in their North West T20 clash, romping home with more than nine overs to spare. St Johnston never recovered from a sluggish middle order collapse after opener Mark Pollock produced a fluent 42 from 34 balls, striking four fours and three sixes. David Lapsley’s 28 was the only other meaningful contribution as the innings closed on 113 for 9. The Newbuildings attack shared the wickets around impressively. Skipper Ross Hunter led the way with 3 for 23, while Jamaican professional Peat Salmon and Jared Wilson both picked up two wickets apiece. The chase was virtually settled inside the powerplay as Mark Hanna blasted 51 from only 26 balls, hammering nine fours and two sixes. He shared an opening stand of 75 with Jason Dunn, whose brisk 20 included two maximums. Pollock claimed three late wickets, but Wilson quickly finished matters in style, launching three sixes in an unbeaten 27.

In the North West, just one top flight T20 clash beat the weather with Fox Lodge winning the Tyrone derby at Bready. The Magheramason side could only post 121 with three wickets for Jason Milligan and two apiece for Levi Kerr and Swarnim Jha. Gayan Maneeshan hit three sixes in a 22-ball 40, adding 57 for the second wicket with Dean McCarter (28) to put the Foxies in the ascendancy, eventually winning by five wickets with Milligan hitting an unbeaten 34.