Defending champions Brigade clinched Group A as they chased 164 to beat top spot rivals Burndennett by six wickets. The home had been well placed batting first as a second wicket stand of 94 in nine overs between Marcello Piedt and Mark Doherty took them to 102 for 1. However, once Doherty departed for a run-a-ball 27, the innings lost its momentum. Piedt top-scored with 71 from 40 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes), but four wickets for Nick Gray and Ryan Macbeth meant Burndennett ended on 163 for 8.

Ifty Hussain got the run chase off to a flyer with 28 from just 9 balls, and that meant DD Barr (39) and Adam McDaid (36) were able to go at their own pace, while some typical late blows from Graeme McCarter (40) ensured the win with eight balls to spare

Killyclooney gained a consolation five-wicket win at home to Fox Lodge as skipper Timmy Dougherty hit an unbeaten half-century. Dean McCarter hit 5 fours and 5 sixes in his 65 from 44 balls, as he shared a third wicket stand of 83 with Brian Allen. Giles Moan took 4 for 11 as Fox Lodge posted 163 for 7. Home skipper Dougherty’s unbeaten 53 from 31 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) guided his team home with seven balls to spare.

It’s all still to play for in Group B, with Bonds Glen still in pole position after another impressive batting blitz saw St Johnston put to the sword. The Donegal side scored 177 for 4, with David Anthony hitting 5 fours and 5 sixes in his 57 from 27 balls. He added 99 for the fifth wicket with Nathan Cole (42*). The Bee Gees though had no trouble chasing down the target as Mattie Barr bludgeoned 12 sixes and 7 fours in his undefeated 110 from just 43 balls. He shared an opening stand of 104 in just 7.3 overs with Simon Killen (31*) to all bit seal the win. Raymond Curry (20*) chipped in as the total was passed with six overs to spare.

Eglinton kept themselves in contention after an impressive 102-run win over Strabane at Fox Lodge. The villagers hit 20 fours and 14 sixes in their 250 for 2, spearheaded by Andy Millar’s 83 from 45 balls (8 fours, 5 sixes). He shared stands of 78 with Robbie Logue (37) and 101 with in-form Tommy Orr, whose unbeaten 73 from 43 deliveries included 6 fours and 3 sixes. Mike Erlank kept the boundaries flowing in his 40 from 18 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes) as the Strabane attack suffered.

Strabane were missing Aaron Gillespie, who injured his finger playing for MCC in midweek, and a near impossible chase got tougher when Zimbabwean professional Ernest Musuku fell first ball to Mark Averill (3/30) first ball. Ryan Gallagher ploughed a lonely furrow as he clubbed 9 fours and 4 sixes in his 95 fro58 balls, perishing on the boundary as he tried to reach his century. The 102-run win means Eglinton still have a chance of qualification, but will be relying on Strabane beating Fox Lodge and themselves beating St Johnston.

Newbuildings topped Group C as they cruised to a nine-wicket win at home to Glendermott. Tucket McDermott top scored with 55, adding 79 for the fourth wicket with professional Jamal Anwar (47) as The Rectory side made 183 for 7. In the chase, Johnny Thompson was the home side hero as his week in the Spanish sun seemed to have done him the world of good. He won’t have lost many kilos though as he kept running to a minimum as he sent 12 sixes sailing over the ropes in his 101 not out from just 52 balls. He shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 144 with Ryan Hunter, who made 54 not out (6 fours, 2 sixes). The home side passed their 184 target in the 17th over, and on this form, silverware may not be too far away.

Coleraine and Bready will battle it out next Friday to see who emerges top after both sides won impressively. Bannsiders professional Ravi Karunaratne hit 6 sixes and 6 fours in a brilliant 75 not out from just 33 balls as they made 171 for 5 at the Bleachgreen, He and Ben Johnston (26) shared a fifth wicket stand of 106 in ten overs, after Ardmore’s Dharm Singh 3/21) had got Ardmore back into the game. Singh top scored with 30 in the chase, which in truth never got going. The spin triumvirate of Karunaratne, Scott Campbell and Varun Chopra ensuring a straightforward 52-runs win.

Bready stayed on their tail after their Sri Lankan professional Irosh Samarasooriya’s 61 from 38 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes) helped the Magheramason side to 152 for 6. He shared a second wicket stand of 95 with teenager James McKillop (34), the latest off the youth production line. In a night of Sri Lankan batting domination in Group D, Demith Perera too-scored with 56 for ‘Spallen, but three wickets apiece for skipper David Scanlon, Irosh and Ian Young, Bready clinched a 28-run win to set up the showdown.