Bready showed they won’t be relinquishing their title without a fight after they won a high scoring encounter at Donemana by 14 runs. Despite the game being reduced to 25 overs per side, there were 536 runs scored in the 50 overs. Bready hit 24 sixes in their 275 for 5, with Irosh hitting 14 of them as well as 7 fours in his 120. He added 151 in 12 overs with David Rankin, whose 60 included 8 fours and 3 sixes. David Scanlon (31*) and Scott Macbeth (26) kept the runs flowing. Andy McBrine (2-16) escaped the carnage. Donemana gave the chase a fair go, hitting 20 sixes of their own, with Levi Dougherty clearing the ropes 8 times in his 77, while Joe Robinson hit 6 sixes and 3 fours in his 56 from 25 balls. Scanlon kept his nerve and his three wickets ensured the 14-run win.

Leaders Newbuildings are playing catch up after another home game fell victim to the weather. Just three overs were possible at Foyleview Arena, with Ardmore reaching 13 for 0 before the players were forced off by rain, never to return despite the best efforts of ground staff. The hosts are due to play Brigade on Sunday in their second chance rearrangement, and will be hoping that the torrential downpours of Saturday night don’t cause too much disruption.

Brigade proved too strong for Coleraine at Beechgrove, winning yet another rain-affected contest by 7 wickets. The Bannsiders were without Scott Campbell, but welcomed back the prodigal son Marcus Poskitt after spells with Bready and Instonians. The left-hander made 19, which was second top score behind Varun Chopra (20) in Coleraine’s modest 110 all out. Ryan Macbeth took four wickets, while there were two each for Jamie Millar and David Barr, the latter getting the prize scalp of Ravi Karunaratne. Barr then hit an unbeaten 44, getting good support from Kyle Magee (40) and Adam McDaid (25) as Brigade eased to a seven-wicket win despite losing Ifty Hussain first ball to Gareth Burns (2-32).