It was a good day for St Johnston in the Championship as they beat The Nedd, while promotion rivals Glendermott and Bonds Glen both lost.
The Nedd lost to St Johnston by 155 runs
St Johnston 241 (34.2 overs; Subhan Shirzad 120, David Lapsley 62, David Anthony 23; Johnny Young 4-58, Johnny Murray 3-45, Richard Stewart 2-37)
The Nedd 86 (25 overs; Mark McCann 21; Graeme McCarter 4-26, Michael Rankin 3-6)
Centurion Subhan Shirzad (David Anthony)
St Johnston took a giant step to ensuring at least second place in the Championship with a maximum point win at The Nedd. The Donegal side would have been a little concerned as they slipped to 26 for 3 batting first, but Subhan Shirzad thumped 10 sixes and 9 fours, hitting 96 of his 53-ball 120 in boundaries, Shirzad added 134 in 13 overs with David Lapsley, who had 9 fours in his 62. Skipper David Anthony chipped in with 23 in a total of 241 - four wickets for Johnny Young and three for Johnny Murray. The hosts chase never materialised as they were skittled for 86 - four wickets for Graeme McCarter and three for Michael Rankin's spin. The Saints are home to Burndennett on Sunday where another victory would go a long way to ensuring they can't be pipped by Glendermott who they face in the final game of the campaign.
Burndennett beat Bonds Glen by 7 wickets
Bonds Glen 148/6 (18 overs; Divan Posthumus 62*, Stephen McGowan 36; Mark Pollock 3-18, Derek Curry 2-26)
Burndennett 154/3 (17.3 overs; Mark Pollock 72*, Niall McDonnell 43*, Andy Barr 25)
Burndennett pulled off something of a shock to put a serious, indeed possibly fatal dent in Bonds Glen's promotion hopes in a second attempt game that was reduced down to 18 overs apiece. Divan Posthumus hit 8 sixes in a 24-ball unbeaten 62 to get the Bee Gees to 148 for 6. The home side though prevailed in the reply as Mark Pollock's 48-ball unbeaten 72 (7 fours, 4 sixes) saw him and Niall McDonnell add 87 in just 40 balls to seal the 7-wicket win with three balls left - McDonnell's 23-ball knock included 3 fours and 4 sixes in an entertaining contest.
Glendermott lost to Fox Lodge by 2 runs
Fox Lodge 134 (30.5 overs; Gayan Maneeshan 50, Charlie Simpson 22; Ted Britton 4-24, Ben Mills 2-33)
Glendermott 132 (24.2 overs; Ryan Nolan 54, Tyler Moore 24*; Adam Walker 5-24, Gayan Maneeshan 4-31)
Adam Walker took 5 for 24 (Mollie Devine)
Adam Walker and Gayan Maneeshan bowled Fox Lodge to a nail-biting 2 -run win over Glendermott. Maneeshan's 50 was the highlight of the Foxies modest 134 - four wickets for Ted Britton and two for Ben Mills. Any thoughts it would be an easy chase were dispelled from the first ball of the chase as Walker cleaned up Leyland McElwee - the first of five for the big paceman. Ryan Nolan's 54 got the Rectory side back into it, but they collapsed again to 108 for 9. Tyler Moore (24*) got them to within one blow of victory before Maneeshan's fourth wicket clinched a thrilling win.