Leaders Balbriggan slipped up as they lost by 15 runs (DLS) to Malahide in the Fingal derby. The top order didn’t fire as Pete Saville took three wickets and Cameron Shoebridge two as they slipped to 60 for 7. Dylan Lues (46) and Andrew Darroch (27) added 62 for the 8th wicket, but a final total of 136 always looked light. Malahide adopted a safety-first approach to the chase, with Ryan Hackney’s unbeaten 43 having the villagers 98 for 3 in the 36th over when and ahead when play was halted.

Clontarf put a dent in Merrion’s title chances as David Vincent’s maiden senior century helped then to a 57-run win at Castle Avenue. The Irish Under 19 international top-scored with 103, sharing stands of 60 with David Delany (34) and a match defining 130 for the 3rd with PJ Moor. The Zimbabwean thumping 9 fours and 3 sixes in his 84 from just 63 balls. A total of 268 for 6 was always going to be a challenge for Merrion, and without John Anderson even more so. The top eight all made double figures, but Michael Lewis (31) was the best as they were 211 all out – three wickets for Delany and two apiece for Paul Ryan and Ruan Cronje.

Phoenix looked to have pulled another rabbit out of the hat as they unveiled Glamorgan and Scottish international Ruaidhri Smith for their clash with The Hills. He seemed an inspired signing at halfway claiming 4 for 11 as the Milverton side were dismissed for 131. Dylan Blignaut top-scored with 38, while there were wickets too for Ben White and Devender Ranolia. Phoenix though found the going equally tricky and Tomas Rooney-Murphy (5-44) and Blignaut (3-12) tore through them. Tyrone Kane struck 7 fours in a defiant 42 but he was last man out with the hosts 28 runs adrift.

Pembroke were the biggest winners of the day as they thumped neighbours YMCA by 119 runs. Half centuries from Danny Hogan (73) and Diarmaid Tucker (67) saw them add 123 for the second wicket after JJ Garth had gone for 27. The runs feast continued as Theo Lawson (45) and Lorcan Tucker (29) stepped up the pace in their 273 for 5. Mikey O’Reilly (3-52) the best of the bowlers. Early runs for Tim Tector (38), Mitchell Thompson (32), and Jack Tector (28) gave YM hope, but three wickets for Joe Prendergast and Paul Lawson saw the innings peter out.