Phoenix produced an almost Lazarus like comeback to stun Pembroke, putting a serious dent in the Sydney Parade’s title ambitions.

Six wickets for Poonish Mehta had seen the home side reeling on 42 for 7, before Oliver Hald and Ben White (23). The pair added 72 in 12 overs for the eighth wicket with Hald hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes in his 43 from 41 balls.

While a total of 118 seemed inadequate at the halfway stage, skipper Kane had other ideas as he produced a stunning seven wickets spell, which saw Pembroke skittled for just 55 – two wickets for Hald as well in an incredible turnaround.

“We were delighted to get the win,” Kane told CricketEurope.

“Defending a small total like that we knew early wickets were crucial so happy to get a couple just before lunch and then close out the rest after. I think it’s my best senior figures! But more happy to get the win after it not looking so good after the first innings.”

The Hills avenged their recent loss to YMCA with an equally emphatic 99-run win at Milverton.

The home side batting fired and with the top seven all in the runs, they were happy with their total of 223 for 6. Mark Donegan was again in the runs with a top-score of 73 not out, while Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin was again in the runs, making 48.

Andrew Kavanagh, Dylan Blignaut and Levon Shields all passed 20 in a solid effort. The YM batting was missing two of the Tector brothers and Simi Singh, and The Hills clinically exposed their soft underbelly, as they dismissed them for 124, despite the best efforts of Tom Anders (44*) and Aaron Bailey (22).

Dylan Blignaut, Tomas Rooney-Murphy, Jonathan Tall and Matthew Weldon each picked up two wickets in a fine bowling effort by the Milverton side.

Balbriggan were brought down to earth with a bump as Merrion showed a steely resolve to open up the title race with a six wicket win.

Chris De Freitas hit 8 fours in a fluent 44, adding 57 with Farooq Nasr (21) for the third wicket. At 85 for 2, Balbriggan would have been hoping for 200 plus, but they collapsed, losing eight wickets for 58 runs to be 143 all out.

Merrion captain Tom Stanton claimed 4 for 21, while fellow spinner Daniel Forkin and Amish Sidhu took two apiece.

The chase was a steady, solid effort by Merrion, built around John Anderson’s unbeaten half century (6 fours, 1 six) as he and Franco Marais (35) added 70 for the fourth wicket to all but seal the deserved win.