Instonians are back in the Gallagher’s Challenge Cup final for the first time since 2019 after beating Lisburn at Shaw’s Bridge by three wickets in the first of two back-to-back games between the teams.

Opener Robert McKinley’s undefeated 62 was the mainstay of the Instonians run chase but it was their bowlers who won the match, dismissing their visitors for 187.

In the final, at Stormont on Friday August 8, they will play 2023 winners Waringstown, who eased past Woodvale at Ballygomartin Road by eight wickets.

Having knocked Lisburn out of the T20 Cup, with the help of a weakened line-up, their full-strength side proved too powerful for a Lisburn team searching for consistency after an unbeaten start to the season.

Desperate to have another shot at the Cup final after their surprise loss to Muckamore in last year’s showpiece, they should not have needed any motivation after Instonians lost their final group game in the T20 Cup to CIYMS, handing the Belmont side the remaining semi-final place in Group A, at holders Lisburn’s expense.

But - admittedly having lost the toss and forced to bat in overcast conditions at 11am - they did not put up a fight for the first 25 and a bit overs, slumping to 76 for six. It certainly wasn’t all the batters fault, Instonians bowled well, but a lack of intent was obvious from the start and the home side took full advantage.

It started to go wrong for Lisburn from the fifth ball when Ross Adair nicked his first ball, from Shane Dadswell, through to Neil Rock, back behind the stumps for his club. Five overs later he caught Faiz Fazal, off James Magee and when skipper Neil Whitworth hit tamely to cover, where Sully Gould held a fine low catch, Lisburn were 15 for three.

Adam Berry had survived the early wreckage but he was leg before to Cian Robertson in the 13th over and the slow left armer picked up his second when James Hunter, after facing 31 balls for 12, which included two fours, was caught at deep square.

Matthew Humphreys was given such a vocal ‘welcome home’ from Dadswell at long off, that umpire Warren McCully asked Nikolai Smith to tell his professional to quieten down.

It got all rather embarrassing for the South African because just two overs later, he dropped Humphreys on the boundary, but immediately after drinks, Cade Carmichael bowled his fellow Ireland international and Lisburn had only four wickets left with more than 24 overs remaining.

Nigel Jones and David Miller led the recovery of sorts, adding 34 for the seventh wicket but it was Miller and Josh Manley who edged the visitors to respectability with a stand of 58.

Manley, as is his want, scored quickly but was left stranded on 47 not out, after Ryan Macbeth took off for a suicidal single and Adam Kennedy holed out to long on.

It was a respectable total of 187 but not nearly enough – Smith said he would have been happy to chase anything below 230 on a virgin pitch, which will be used again for the Premier League game between the teams on Sunday – when an even higher total is likely to be needed for victory.

Magee took the last wicket to finish with the impressive figures of three for 12 and Robertson also deserved his three-for, having been denied Humphreys’ wicket.

Despite Carmichael emulating Adair by being dismissed in the first over of the Instonians reply – he lasted only three balls – the home side were quickly into their stride and it was a surprise when Smith was bowled by Manley after hitting 37 of the first 57 runs,  including eight fours.

Neil Rock was not his usual extravagant self but he still doubled the score with McKinley before he was bowled by Adair in his second over for 28, off 39 balls with only two fours and six.

Dadswell, however, was not so shy and after eight balls was on 25, having hit his first ball from both Humphreys and Manley for six.

He did the same with Kennedy but two balls later the pace bowler got his man, as the ball went straight up in the air for Miller to take the catch. But the damage had been down – 41 off 17 and Instonians were just 23 for victory.

The remaining runs took rather longer than expected as Andrew White was also caught behind fourth ball and Humphreys had Robertson and Gould leg before with successive deliveries.

Still four needed with three wickets left but Humphreys did not get the chance to go for his hat-trick as Ben Rose hit the winning boundary in the next over.

The result means Sunday’s game is far more important for Lisburn who, with a defeat, will fall eight points off the pace with just five games remaining. It’s now their last chance of silverware this season.