With ground conditions preventing play until after an 'early lunch', a 33 over a side match began at 2.00pm, but not even five overs were completed before rain forced an end to the game.

No play was possible in the Future Series play-off final. It will now be replayed next Tuesday (Sept 3rd) at the same venue.

Suliman Safi plundered the Emerging Knights attack to power Leinster Bolts to a thumping eight-wicket win at the Lawn. The former Afghanistan U19 skipper - now plying his trade at North County - bludgeoned 10 sixes and 4 fours in a 60-ball unbeaten 104 to follow up his 84 not out on Wednesday at Ardmore. The powerful left-hander shared a third wicket stand of 167 in 18 overs with Pembroke teenager Macdara Cosgrave whose even time 57 not out included 5 fours and one maximum. There were runs too for the Merrion duo of Swapnil Modgill (40) and Daniel Forkin (23) in an opening stand of 58 that put Leinster on the front foot chasing 248. The home side's batting saw players getting starts but failing to kick on. Harry Dyer top-scored with 43, while skipper CJ van der Walt made 36 and Ollie Metcalfe 35. The most entertaining knock though was the cameo by Ewan Wilson whose 22-ball 32 included three sixes - the only of the innings. Clontarf seamer John McNally picked up three wickets, while there two apiece for left-arm spinner Tom Johnson and southpaw pacer Mikey O'Reilly. Leinster Bolts will now play for the second trophy of the season in a final decider later this month.

Knights skipper CJ van der Walt thumped 12 fours in a hard-hit 74 to lead the NCU side to a 42-run win over Ireland Academy at The Lawn. The Carrickfergus all-rounder shared a 5th wicket stand of 119 with Adam Leckey (67) as the hosts posted 183 - runs too for Jordan Neill (45) and Ewan Wilson (26*). The Ireland Academy reply saw half centuries for Rob O'Brien and Jordan Hollard, as well a rapid 45 from opener Kian Hilton, but three wickets for Van Der Walt plus two apiece for Ben Snell and Carson McCullough wrapped up a deserved win.

Half centuries for Jordan Hollard and Jeremy Martins led the Ireland Academy to a convincing 111-run win over the Emerging Warriors at Bready. The young Irish side were in trouble at 11 for 3 with wickets for Trent McKeegan and Josh Wilson. Martins hit 7 fours in an impressive 76, starting the recovery with Srihan Karpe (26). Jordan Hollard clubbed 5 sixes and 4 fours in a hard-hit 77, while Abid Taniwal bludgeoned a 13-ball 30 in a total of 279. Harry Zimmermann picked up 4 for 53 in a bit of a curate's egg fielding and bowling effort by the Warriors. Ireland Academy opened with the spin of Hollard and he and Nasir Totakhil found prodigious turn to take four wickets apiece. Scott Macbeth (40) and Cameron Melly (26) took the total to 68 for 2, but once the spinners got to work they had faltered to 111 for 9. Hayden Melly (35*) and Sam Kincaid (24) took the bad look off the margin of the defeat with a last wicket stand of 57, but the difference between the sides was still a considerable one. There are two matches on Wednesday with the Warriors hosting Lightning Bolts, while the Emerging Knights and Academy meet at The Lawn.

Lightning Bolts proved much too strong for the Emerging Warriors as they chased 183 to coast home by seven wickets in the 32nd over. Batting first the Warriors had the impressive Liam Doherty to thank as the Eglinton batsman top-scored with a classy 60 (8 fours, 3 sixes). The next best contribution was 20 by Cameron Melly with two wickets apiece for John McNally, Reuben Wilson and Mikey O'Reilly - who also ran out David O'Sullivan with a brilliant piece for work a la Roger Harper. O'Reilly then took full advantage of a push up the order to make a fluent 41 (8 fours). Robbie Millar dismissed Swapnil Modgill with his first ball, and then got fellow opener O'Reilly. Doherty held onto a sharp return catch offered by Macdara Cosgrave to give the Warriors a hint of competitiveness. However, Suliman Safi overcame a shaky start to power his way to an unbeaten 84 from just 60 balls, hitting seven fours and six sixes that had the livestock in the adjoining fields running for cover. Safi and skipper Philippe Le Roux (21*) hardly troubled as they won at a canter.

Delayed start match reduced to 40 overs.

An opening stand of 99 between Ryan Hunter and Mohammed Aahil put the Emerging Knights on the way to a 58-run win over Munster Heat that extended their lead at the top of the Future Series table. CSNI opener Hunter top scored with 76 (5 fours), while Aahil made 43. A bit of a collapse which saw three wickets apiece for Eshan O'Sullivan and Nabeel Anjum brought Munster back into the contest but a total of 201 proved beyond their batting unit. Thorne Prophet, Zubair Khan and Nabeel Anjum got 20s, but they finished on 143 all out - two wickets apiece for Harry Dyer, Carson McCullough, James West and Ewan Wilson.

Match abandoned due to rain

Match abandoned due to rain

Ireland Academy beat Lightning Bolts by three wickets in an entertaining contest at Oak Hill that went to the final over. Bolts skipper Phillipe Le Roux's recent good form continued as he top-scored with a hard-hit 92 from 79 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes), adding 90 for the 5th wicket alongside John McNally (35). There were runs too for Suliman Safi (38), Daniel Forkin (29), and 21 apiece for Cameron Rowe and Olly Riley. Kian Hilton (43) got the chase off to a good start dominating an opening stand of 71 with Srihan Karpe (17). Pembroke's Macdara Cosgrave and Dan Murray - another who has been among the runs in recent weeks - kept the scoreboard ticking over with fluent half centuries. Jeremy Martins kept Pete Johnston's team on top with a top score of 56, but when he fell 30 were still required off 22 balls. Abidullah Taniwal hit a timely six, with Jordan Hollard's 18 not out getting the Academy over the line in a deserved victory.

Emerging Knights skipper CJ van der Walt century powered his side to a 105-run win against the Emerging Warriors in an entertaining match at Bready. The Carrickfergus batsman hit 10 fours and 4 sixes, unleashing a number of powerful drives, cuts and pulls on his way to a top score of 113 as the visitors racked up 348. He shared a 6th wicket stand of 139 in 16 overs with James West, who hit 4 sixes in a quickfire 58. It had started all so brightly for the Warriors as Trent McKeegan's (4-63) opening salvo had the Knights in early trouble. James Hunter (71) and Adam Leckey (50) started the revival with a stand of 60 as the visitors roared back. The hosts reply followed a similar pattern as Ben Snell (4-45) reduced them to 37 for 3. Liam Doherty hit a fluent 77 from 73 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes) as he and Ryan Clarke (38) put on 93 for the 4th wicket. Cameron Melly (52) and Doherty looked to be bringing their side back into the contest with a stand of 52 in 8 overs, but from 182 for 4 in the 32nd, the innings petered out after Harry Dyer (3-55) bowled Doherty. James West (2-4) wrapped up the tail to compete a convincing win. The one aspect that Head Coach Simon Johnston will need to address though is the NCU fielding, with sloppy catching and groundwork an unwelcome feature that could on another day have been costly.

No play was possible in the match between Lightning Bolts and Ireland Academy at Middle Road.

Marcus Poskitt scored an unbeaten 51 to keep the Warriors' hopes of a final very much alive as they beat Munster Heat by 9 wickets at Belmont. Chasing a DLS target of 104 in 19 overs, they lost Jack Macbeth cheaply, but Poskitt and Gavin Rouslton shared an unbroken second wicket stand of 95 in 12 overs to earn the win. The Coleraine left-hander's 51 came from 46 balls, while fellow leftie Roulston's 40 not out took 31 deliveries - each hitting 3 fours and sixes. Munster's 102 for 5 was dominated by Brandon Kruger's 58 (8 fours, 1 six), with Warriors skipper Harry Zimmermann having the excellent figures of 2 for 7.

A powerful batting display by holders Lightning Bolts saw them secure a bonus point win, increasing their NRR sufficiently to overtake the Cricket Ireland Academy to join the Emerging Knights in the final. Swapnil Modgil and former Afghanistan U19 captain Suliman Safi both went cheaply but it was all Bolts thereafter. Adam Rosslee hit 7 fours and 2 sixes in his 29-ball 53, adding 81 for the second wicket with Phillipe Le Roux. The skipper then put on a match winning 134 in 11 overs with John McNally in a total of 220 for 3. Le Roux top-scored with an unbeaten 74 from 48 balls (3 fours, 4 sixes), while McNally's 36-ball 66 not out included 5 fours and 3 sixes. The chase never got going with Brandon Kruger making 56 (8 fours, 1 six) and Zubair Khan hitting 3 sixes in a 27. Nasir Totakhil took two wickets as did McNally in a comprehensive 91-run win.

The Emerging Knights won their shoot-out with the Warriors beating the NW side by 7 runs to reach the final against Lightning Bolts. Batting first the Knights were in trouble at 18 for 3 with two wickets for Josh Wilson. They had to battle hard but the next six all got double figures with Jordan Neill, Carson McCullough, and skipper CJ van der Walt all getting 20s in a total of 154. The top-order of Marcus Poskitt (33), Gavin Roulston (24) and Jack Macbeth (21) took the Warriors to a position of strength at 84 for 1 after 9 overs, but they lost their way as it was a case yet again of 'spin to win' with two wickets apiece for McCullough and Van Der Walt clinching the narrow win.

Swapnil Modgil got Lightning Bolts up and running with a fluent 73 as they chased a challenging 177 to beat the Emerging Knights at Stormont. The Merrion opener hit 8 fours and 4 sixes in his 46-ball knock. Still, his efforts looked like being in vain with 55 needed from the last 27 balls, bit Phillipe Le Roux clubbed four sixes and three fours in his 22-ball 46 not out, getting his side over the line along with John McNally (21*). Earlier Ben Calitz had top-scored with 59 not out, with runs too for Jack Dickson (38) and James Hunter (30).

Jordan Neill was the difference between the two sides as the CSNI opener hit 42 from 28 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes) to get the Emerging Knights to 126 for 8 in a game reduced to 15 overs per side. Zubair Khan took three wickets, while there were two apiece for Nabeel Anjum and Brandon Kruger. Munster Heat struggled to get anywhere near the required run-rate with Brandon Kruger's run-a-ball 28 the best of their somewhat tame 91 for 6 - Ben Snell taking 2 for 12.

Ireland Academy completed a fine day as they won their second game with a 54-run win over Munster at Belmont. Kian Hilton top-scored with 48 (5 fours, 1 six) adding 77 in 10 overs for the 3rd wicket with teenager Robert O'Brien (24) in their total of 155 for 9. Eshan O'Sullivan had the best figures of the day - 4 for 25 - while Suliman Safi took 2-14. Once again, Munster's batting failed to inspire as they limped to 101 all out - Brandon Kruger's 27 the best of their effort. Merrion's left-arm spinner Daniel Forkin took 2-10, while there were also two scalps for Jordan Hollard and Luke Murray in an impressive win that gives them a real chance of featuring in Friday's final.

Daniel Murray showcased his undoubted potential with a match winning innings as the Ireland Academy chased a revised target of 145 in 18 overs to beat the Emerging Warriors with three balls to spare. The Pembroke teenager made a brilliant unbeaten 73 from just 45 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) in a match winning effort. Earlier the Warriors 155 for 7 was based around a hard-hit 56 (6 fours, 1 six) from Brigade's Cameron Melly, who added 69 for the fifth wicket with Ryan Clarke (27) while Jack Macbeth hit 5 fours in his 33. Abid Taniwal claimed 3 for 13, while Malahide's Jeremy Martins again did well in taking 2 for 23.

The Emerging Knights got their campaign off to a winning start as they chased 156 to win by 8 wickets. Batting first the Ireland Academy were in trouble at 78 for 5 but Malahide's Jeremy Martins thumped 6 sixes and 4 fours in an unbeaten 78, doubling the score with Jordan Hollard (34). Adam Kennedy (2-23) and Finn Lutton (2-39) each taking two wickets apiece. Jordan Neill and Jack Dickson went cheaply in the chase, but a third wicket stand of 120 in 11 overs between Ben Calitz (74*) and Ryan Hunter (54*) sealed the win with 17 balls to spare. Muckamore's Calitz hit 6 fours and 4 sixes in his powerful 37-ball unbeaten 74, while CSNI teenager Hunter stroked seven boundaries in his 43-ball 54 not out.

The Emerging Warriors pulled off a bit of a shock to beat holders Lightning Bolts in the opening round of the Future Series. Boyd Rankin's side didn't manage a win in the 2023 competition, but held their nerve to claim a two-run win over the Dubliners. Gavin Roulston hit 4 fours and 3 sixes in a top-score of 54, sharing stands of 62 with Jack Macbeth (31) and 39 for the second with debutant Ben Mills (19). However from 101 for 1, they lost their way, losing 7 wickets for 45 runs in the last seven overs to end of 146 for 8 - three wickets for Olly Riley and two for Dylan Lues (2-18). The chase was a tense one, with Clontarf's Ireland U19 international John McNally almost single-handedly keeping his side in it as he cleared the ropes four times in his 44-ball 60. Sam Kincaid took two vital wickets at the death, while the contribution of Liam Doherty shouldn't be under-estimated as the Eglinton all-rounder bowled three tight overs at the end. Indeed with four needed from the last three balls, he kept the Bolts to just a single to seal the narrow win.