Instonians took a huge stride towards the Premier League title by beating morning joint leaders Instonians by 10 runs. However, it was a top of the table battle that lacked quality with batters giving their wickets away and as many dropped catches as excellent catches. It looked as if Nikolai Smith had cost his side victory when he dropped Morgan Topping with 29 still required but the Instonians captain redeemed himself by catching the game’s top scorer in the penultimate over to claim the vital victory. Two more wins and the Shaw’s Bridge will complete the second leg of a possible quadruple this season.

Lisburn’s can still have a say in the destination of the league title with their last two games against Waringstown and Instonians but it will not be coming to Wallace Park after this surprise six wickets defeat by North Down. The bigger surprise was the presence of West Indian Test player Jermaine Blackwood as a one-off professional for the Comber side – replacing the injured Mickey Copeland. He proved the match-winner, dismissing Nigel Jones and Neil Whitworth in his eight overs and then hitting the winning runs to also bring up his half-century off 83 balls. Top scorer was captain Tyron Koen who hit 63 in a fourth wicket stand of 109 with Blackwood. Kian Hilton was the other surprise of the game, the regular North Down wicket-keeper taking five wickets for 47.

Neil Brand and Sam Gordon matched each other run for run as Muckamore topped 300 at Moylena to set up a 29 runs victory over CIYMS. Both batters also hit 14 fours but the South African hit four sixes to Gordon’s one as they put on 209 for the fourth wicket. Carson McCullough replied with his maiden century – a run-a-ball 101 for the visitors and his stand of 104 with Jacob Mulder (42 off 42) kept the match interesting But Luka Bates dismissed both in successive overs and with 49 still required off the last four overs, it proved too much for CI.

Templepatrick must win their last three games to avoid an immediate return to Section One after going down to Woodvale by 72 runs, leaving them 10 points behind their victors. Ruhan Pretorius reminded everyone of his prolific form from last year with an undefeated 136 from 115 balls, with nine fours and eight sixes as Woodvale finished on 302 for six. The home side never threatened that total with Sandun Weerakkody the only batter to reach 50 as Pretorius completed a fine all-round game, taking four wickets.

Civil Service North won the clash between the joint seventh place teams by 47 runs with Marc Ellison playing the match-winning innings. The opening batter was out just three short of his century in the 46th over but Andrew Cowden and Finn Lutton added another 33 to set the visitors a daunting target. Hayden Melly got them off to a fast start with 52 from 67 balls but none of his team-mates was able to follow up and the last six wickets fell for 35 runs.