Ian Butler powered Bangor to a comfortable six-wicket at home to Downpatrick. The visitors had recovered from 57 for 5 to make 143, thanks primarily to Lijo Sebastian's 51 (5 fours, 4 sixes). The chase began in quick fashion as Butler and Sam McMillan (38) added 97 for the first wicket. Butler cleared the hedges six times as well as hitting six fours in a 55-ball 71 - dismissed with just seven needed. Connor Brown also fell to give the score a closer feel than it actually warranted.

Closest game of the day was at Eaton Park where visitors Laurelvale chased down 175 to win a tight contest by three wickets. Ballymena had reached 110 for 2 thanks to runs from Curtley Deelman 51 (4 fours, 2 sixes), Scott Willoughby (41) and Peter Bristow (30), but collapsed to 174 all out - four wickets for Khurshid Subhani and three for Adam Speers. Adnan Malik raced out of the traps with a rapid 46 (5 fours, 3 sixes), but they were pegged back by four wickets for Deelman. 22 were still needed when the 7th wicket fell, but Laurelvale got there - skipper David Sinton (25*) and Syed Ali (17*) ensuring the win.

Armagh got the better of Derriaghy with a six-wicket win at Queensway. The hosts batting failed to fire as they were bowled out for just 147 - Jonathan Bell top-scoring with 28. Luan Liebenberg (4-34) and Stuart Lester (3-56) doing the bulk of the damage. Sam Wilson (33) got the chase off to a brisk start, and the result was never in doubt after a third wicket stand of 50 between Jamie Rogers (23) and Michael Villiers, who made an unbeaten 40. Craig Lewis took three of the four wickets to fall.

Leaders Carrickfergus not only collected the points but improved their NRR with an emphatic 189-run win against Cregagh at Middle Road. Skipper CJ van der Walt top-scored with 118 from 95 balls (14 fours, 4 sixes) adding a fourth wicket partnership with Iain Parkhill 108 (11 fours) as the hosts made 319 for 5. Cregagh never threatened the chase, bowled out for 130 with Alistair Watt (39*) and James Reid (30) their main contributors. Prince Sharma and Ryan Eagleson claimed three wickets apiece and Alex Haggan two in an impressive all-round display by Carrick.

Lurgan kept their promotion hopes alive with a 28-run win over Donacloney Mill at Pollock Park. The hosts made 281 with two excellent stands - an opening one of 91 between skipper Stephen Johnston (54) and Jaydee Oliver (36) and a third wicket of 117 between Jake Collingwood 80 (8 fours, 3 sixes) and Stephen Chambers (53). DM certainly gave it a shake with Ryan Matthews (63), Neil Kilpatrick (41), Adam Kennedy (35) and Matthew Lyttle (30) all passing 30 in a reply of 253 for 9. Jack Maxwell (3-39) and Adam Johnson (3-40) picked up three wickets apiece for Lurgan.

Renco Adams (6-21) and Ivan Sinovich (4-30) combined to bowl promotion hopefuls Donacloney Mill out for just 55 to effectively end their aspirations. The chase was over inside seven overs as they raced to a seven-wicket win - Craig Lewis thumping four fours and a maximum in a typically hard-hit knock.

Luan Liebenberg took five wickets for Armagh as they bowled out Laurelvale for 123, with Adnan Malik top-scoring with 53 (5 fours, 1 six). Armagh were always in control of the chase despite the best efforts of David Sinton and Adam Speers who took two wickets apiece. Sam Wilson hit seven fours and a six in his 43, adding 53 with Jamie Rogers, who would go on to make 50 (9 fours) adding a further 41 with Harry Boyd (13*) in a five-wicket win.

Bangor yet again got the better of Cregagh, following up their T20 Cup success with an eight-wicket win in the league at the Memorial Grounds. Michael Skelly was the destroyer-in-chief as he claimed five wickets, while George Prince got two as the hosts were bowled out for 130. Mark Hutchinson (27*) anchored the chase that was over in just 19 overs, adding 54 for the first wicket with Sam McMillan (39) and 62 for the second with Connor Brown (42) - both of whom hit six fours and a maximum in the easiest of wins.

Carrickfergus took a massive step towards an immediate return to the top flight with an 186-run demolition of challengers Lurgan. It was the Atish Varape show at Middle Road with the professional top-scoring with 115 (15 fours, 1 six) and taking five wickets. Varapre's century included stands of 88 for the second wicket with Michael Gilmour 57 and 103 for the third with Callum Styles (42). Alex Haggan inflicted further punishment with a 22-ball 47 in a total of 319 for 6 - three wickets for John Giy. Lurgan were bowled out for just 133 with Jake Collingwood making 24, and 21 apiece for Jack Maxwell and Nithin Babu. Varape claimed 5-40, while there were two wickets apiece for Prince Sharma and CJ van der Walt in a victory that moves them 12 points clear at the top.

Ballymena enjoyed themselves at The Meadow coming away with a 42-run win over Downpatrick at The Meadow. They recovered from 17 for 3 to post 212 with Curtley Deelman hitting 10 fours in a top score of 64 and Sam Glass making 50 (4 fours, 1 six). There was also an entertaining cameo from Nick van Linde who thumped four sixes in a 13-ball 32. Downpatrick looked in control of the chase at 67 for 0 and 154 for 3, but imploded losing their last seven wickets for just 17 runs to be 170 all out - four wickets for Scott Willoughby and two each for Michael Caithness, Deelman and Glass to complete all-round excellent games for the duo.

Off for rain with the scores tied on DLS and no further play possible.

Connor Brown and Matthew Skelly combined to dismiss Downpatrick for just 39 on their way to a seven-wicket win that keeps them in mid-table and Downpatrick rooted to the bottom. Brown took 6 for 14, while Skelly claimed 4 for 20 in a superb effort by the duo. The chase was over in under eight overs, but Sam Irwin did take two of the three Bangor wickets to fall to take the bad look off the heavy defeat.

Lurgan moved to the top courtesy of a 22-run win over title rivals Carrickfergus. Jaydee Oliver top-scored with 92 (11 fours) sharing a second wicket stand of 139 with Jake Collingwood (77) as they made 272 for 5. Carrick were always behind the rate and only got relatively close thanks to a wonderful 153 from skipper CJ van der Walt whose 113-ball knock (15 fours, 6 sixes) rescued them from 124 for 7 to 250. Paul Stafford and Nithin Babu each took three wickets, while there was two for Darwish Nazari.

Over 700 runs were scored at the Factory Ground as leaders Donacloney Mill lost by 46 runs to Derriaghy. Ryan Beckett made 113 from 106 balls (14 fours, 3 sixes), sharing stands of 112 with David Scott (70), 95 with Ben Kenny (43), and 81 with Renco Adams (66) as they piled up for 376 for 6. It looked as if it wouldn't be enough as Judd Markham thumped a 70-ball 121 (14 fours, 7 sixes) as he and Shane Warren (44) added 170 in 17 overs. Jonathan Bell got the breakthrough, while Ben Kenny's four wickets proved crucial in eventually sealing the win.

Stuart Nelson's unbeaten 116 helped Cregagh recover from 32 for 3 to chase down 239 at Bangor. Nelson's 110-ball innings included 10 fours and two sixes, and he received excellent support from Adam McCormick (39) and Alistair Watt (25*) in the 9th wicket stand. Earlier, Johnny Parker's 76 had helped Bangor to 238 for 8.

Adam Speers century was pivotal as Laurelvale chased down 177 to beat Armagh by six wickets. Speers made exactly 100 from 89 balls (10 fours, 5 sixes) sharing a third wicket stand of 112 with Babar Khan (28) that broke the back of the chase. Armagh's 177 saw starts for Michael Villiers (48), Sam Wilson (40), Aaron Wright (30) and Luan Liebenberg (21) got starts but didn't kick on.

Ballymena had little trouble beating Downpatrick by 116 runs thanks to a fine all-round display. Scott Willoughby went off like a train, making 39 of the first 43, hitting a 16-ball 39 (3 fours, 4 sixes). That was continued on by William Montgomery's 64 (8 fours, 1 six) as the Eaton Park side made 205. The chase didn't get going as they were bundled out for 88 - three wickets for Sam Glass, and two apiece for Scott Willoughby and Jamie Watt.

A 40 run partnership for the ninth wicket between Skipper David Sinton and Michael Burns carried Laurelvale to the brink of victory. Number 11 Jack Burns survived two deliveries while Sinton knocked off the 11 required to claim the win.

Match abandoned without a ball bowled.

Ballymena’s Scott Willoughby played the most spectacular innings of the day, his 147 off just 68 balls containing 16x4 and 10x6 but it was to no avail as the rain arrived in Bangor earlier than predicted to end proceedings.

Lurgan were unable to force home their first innings advantage against Laurelvale due to the weather but remain unbeaten with 3 wins from 3 outings leaving them one win behind the leading pair, Carrickfergus and Donacloney Mill.

Atish Varape, Carrickfergus’ signing from rivals Donacloney Mill continues to do the business for them with both bat and ball, four wickets and the run out Derriaghy top scorer Aaron Kinnin (67) as the ‘Aghy totalled a below par 210/9 a a rain reduced 48 overs. Varape then saw Carrick across the line with a better than a run-a-ball half century (58*) in an unbroken 88 run partnership with Iain Parkhill (35*) their side’s 127-1 in 24 overs a comfortable 54 run DLS margin when rain ended the game.

Atish Varape’s replacement at Donacloney Mill is a young Irish passport holding Aussie Jude Markham, (remember the name!) a left-hander with a reputation as a attacking opener. That was certainly in evidence today as he raced to 43 off just 14 balls - with 42 of those coming in boundaries, Humza Khan’s opening over disappearing in a 4,4,6,4,4,4 blitz. Runs from Ryan Matthews (54) and Alex Ogle (43) carried the Mill to 246-9 in their 50 overs. And it was Ogle again with the ball as he claimed three wickets in a Downpatrick innings that never got going with Markam’s left-arm spin claiming Khan’s wicket after his earlier onslaught rubbing salt into the wounds. Downpatrick had subsided to 96-8 with 27 overs bowled, a massive 124 runs behind on DLS when the match was abandoned.

Marco Wyngard's 96 proved the difference between the sides as Downpatrick beat Laurelvale by 10 runs in their T20 rearranged Section One game at The Meadow. The South African hit 10 fours and 6 sixes in a 54-ball 96 that dominated their total of 150 for 7 - Gavin Ringland making 28. There were three wickets apiece for Adam Speers and Jack Burns. The chase was always a nip and tuck affair with Adnan malik hitting a breezy 35 (2 fours, 2 sixes), but the visitors were always a little behind the required rate in the closing stages falling 10 adrift. All six home side bowlers used claimed a wicket apiece.

Laurevale had a successful chase as they successfully got the 205 needed to beat Cregagh by four wickets. Aaron Johnston (41) and Matthew Simpson (39) shared a fifth wicket stand of 67, while Alistair Watt (35) added late runs - three wickets for Davy Sinton. Mark Thornbury (29) and Adnan Malik (25) shared an opening stand of 67, while Adam (41) and John Speers (30) added 67 for the third. There was a slight wobble as Adam Beattie claimed three wickers, but Alex Webb (25*) and Babar Khan (25*) added an unbroken 45 for the 7th wicket to ensure the Laurelvale side collected the points.

Carrick beat Downpatrick in an entertaining game at Middle Road, most notable for the home side fielding Iain Parkhill alongside his sons Jay and Elliott. Iain made 29 in a second wicket stand of 72 with overseas professional Atish Varape (52), while there were runs throughout the side from skipper CJ van der Walt (48), Alex Haggan (44), and Anthony Martin (31*) - who added 51 in less than five overs with Ryan Eagleson (19*) - as Carrick posted 285 for 7. Marco Wyngard (77) and Byron Woodruff (39) shared a fourth wicket stand of 102 in the chase, but three wickets for Anthony Martin and also for youngster Elliott Parkhill who got his senior career up and running with a triple wicket maiden in a 91-run win.

Jake Collingwood was the nemesis for Ballymena as his inspired all-round display saw Lurgan beat Ballymena by seven wickets at Eaton Park. Scott Willoughby top-scored with 39 (6 fours, 2 sixes) in an opening stand of 60, but it was all downhill from there as Collingwood claimed 5 for 10, and Darwish Nazari 3-30 as they slumped to 119 all out. Stephen Johnston (28) and Peter Maxwell (19) got the chase off to a solid start with a 55-run opening partnership, and while Curtley Deelman struck twice, overseas professional Collingwood hastened his side to victory inside 20 overs with a 37-ball unbeaten 47 (6 fours, 2 sixes).

Judd Markham produced another incredible display of clean striking as he thumped 13 sixes and 10 fours in a 59-ball 136 that ultimately powered league leaders Donacloney Mill to a 39-run win over Armagh. Markham shared an opening stand of 182 in 16 overs with Shane Warren (26), while there were runs too for Ryan Matthews (43) and Neil Kilpatrick (25). A late collapse saw them go from 235/2 to 287 all out with eight overs unused - five wickets for Ben Mackey (5-33). Sam Wilson (43) and Jamie Rogers (34) raced out of the traps with an opening partnership of 64 in 7.3 overs, while there were runs too for Harry Doyle (48), Matthew Steenson (35) and Ben Mackey (23) in a spirited chase. Alex Ogle took four wickets and Harry Lockhart three in the victory.

Will Simpson cleared the ropes six times in an unbeaten 65 from 48 balls to help Bangor recover from 26/3 and 81/5 to chase 212 to beat Derriaghy by three wickets. Simpson received help from Connor Browne (38), Adam McCusker (28), Andrew Kirkpatrick (27) and Manav Chhabra (26). The Derriaghy inningsof 211 was all about overseas professional Renco Adams who top-scored with 107 from 103 balls (12 fours, 4 sixes). He was one of three wickets for Angus Farrell, while Chhabra (3-27) also picked up three scalps.

Cregagh recorded a six-wickets win over Ballymena that had seemed very unlikely as the Eaton Park side raced out of the traps in the first 11 overs batting first. Scott Willoughby thumped 9 fours and 4 sixes in a 34-ball 75 that had 99 on the board in no time. His dismissal though restored normal order and with Max Shannon claiming a five wicket haul, as well as three for Adam McCormick, Ballymena were 205 all out in the 37th over. McCormick then turned his attention to batting, hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes in an even time unbeaten 86, sharing stands of 81 for the third wicket with Aaron Johnston (39) and an unbroken 51 for the fifth with Alastair Watt (21*).

The quickest result of the day came at Laurelvale where the home side were skittled for just 93 by Donacloney Mill, despite a breezy 25 from Adnan Malik (5 fours), Alex Ogle with four wickets and Matthew Lyttle three, doing the bulk of the damage. The chase was over in a blur - 35 balls to be exact - as overseas professional Judd Markham hit a 26-ball unbeaten 86, that included 9 fours and 7 sixes in as one-sided contest as there is.

Atish Varape and Alex Haggan were the stars for Carrickfergus as they beat Armagh by seven wickets in their Section One league opener, played on a T20 basis after Saturday's original fixture was postponed. Batting first, Armagh started well reaching 77 for 2 in the 12th over, with new overseas professional Luan Liebenberg top-scoring with 43 from 35 balls (3 fours, 1 six). However, Alex Haggan (4-14), Atish Varape (3-11) and skipper CJ van der Walt (2-15) were all among the wickets as The Mall side lost their last eight wickets for just 27 runs to be a modest 104 all out. The chase didn't start well for the home side with wickets for Liebenberg, Harry Boyd and a Gareth McCarter run out seeing them faltering at 27 for 3 in the 7th over. Thereafter though, Varape and Haggan followed up their bowling exploits with an unbroken 4th wicket stand of 80 in 11 overs to ensure an ultimately comfortable seven-wickets win. Varape top-scored with an unbeaten 49 from 45 balls (5 fours, 1 six), while Haggan cleared the ropes twice in his even time 34 not out.

Lurgan made a winning start with a six wickets victory over Bangor in a match reduced to 43 overs. Only two players topped 20 in the Bangor innings of 105 all out, with John Guy taking three for 25. An unbeaten 51 from Jake Collingwood eased the visitors to victory with 17 overs to spare.

The Derriaghy bowlers made up for a disappointing batting display to claim a 38 runs victory in their opening game. Bowled out for 132, despite 34 from Renco Adams and Craig Lewis’ 27 – Adam McCormick took three wickets – Cregagh collapsed from 42-0 to 94 all out. Wayne Hughes and Ross Bailey shared six of the wickets, Bailey finishing the match with 3-6 in 4.4 overs.

Scott Willoughby started the season off in sensational fashion with a stunning 83 from 42 balls in an opening stand of 109. It allowed Ballymena to total 249-8 with William Montgomery scoring 46. But their efforts were in a losing cause as Neil Kilkpatrick responded with 70 off 66 balls and a superb last wicket partnership of 38 between Mark Hanna (40 not out) and Tim McClure (10 not out) saw Donaghcloney Mill home with 15 balls to spare.