Coleraine returned to the top of the Premiership with a superb chase to beat Brigade at Beechgrove, making up for the disappointment of their last wicket loss against Newbuildings. Brigade looked out of sight at the half-way point after they made 291 in 45 overs, with Scott Macbeth hitting 88 ( 4fours, 7 sixes). He shared a stand of 116 in 13 overs with Ifty Hussain who made 86. Scott Campbell and Rory Knox each took three wickets. Paddy Carson made a fluent 34 at the top of the order, but three wickets for Macbeth had the game seemingly taking its natural course at 83 for four, The Bannsiders obviously hadn't read the script and proceeded to turn things on their head. Marcus Poskitt hit an unbeaten 111 from just 97 balls (11 fours, 6 sixes) adding an unbroken 210 with ex-Brigade (and a few others) batsman David Cooke. The Irish international has been pivotal in Coleraine's success this season, and his tenth four took him to his century as the six wicket win was achieved with 15 balls to spare. As David Coleman used to say - quite remarkable..

Donemana went to the top of the Premiership with a relatively comfortable seven-wicket win against Ardmore at the Bleachgreen. The hosts reached 98 for 2 with Junaid Ali making 50 (9 fours) but they were bowled out for 184 with three wickets for Andy McBrine and two apiece for captain Gary McClintock and Anuj Jotin. Jamie Huey (31) and McClintock (24) shared an opening stand of 57, while Raymond Curry made an unbeaten 47 sharing a third wicket stand of 73 with Anuj Jotin (30). Andy McBrine also made 21 not out as they eased to the win in the 34th over.

Brigade's middle-order was to the fore as they beat Bready by 120 runs. Anuk Fernando top-scored with 75 (6 fours, 1 six), adding 71 for the fourth wicket with Scott Macbeth (50) and 99 for the fifth with Cameron Melly - who hit a 48-ball 63 (9 fours, 1 six) as Brigade posted 270 for 9. Teenager Travis Faulkner impressed with four wickets. The chase never got going as Bready were bowled out for 150 - Ian Young made a defiant 50, while there were two wickets apiece for Andy Britton, David Barr and Scott Macbeth.

Coleraine were knocked off the leaders slot with an agonising one-wicket loss at Newbuildings. David Cooke's 82 (11 fours, 2 sixes) took the Bannsiders to 225 for 9 - runs too for Louren Steenkamp (32). The hosts looked dead and buried as wickets for Gareth Burns (3-38) and Stephen Hutchinson (2-39) had them 116 for 7 and 139 for 8. However, Charlie Downey joined former skipper Gareth McKeegan with the latter hitting 6 fours and 3 sixes in a top score of 57. When he fell, 43 were still required, but Downey hit seven fours in an unbeaten 44 to win the game with number 11 Jack McIntyre (18*) in a real thriller of a game.

Another close game was at Strabane Park where it took to almost 8.20pm before the home side clinched a two-wicket win over Eglinton. The match was a tale of two hundreds as Eglinton recovered from 76 for 5 to score 232. Captain Jamie Millar hit 10 fours and two maximums in an unbeaten 116 - half his side's score- sharing stands of 76 with Jack Martin (44) and an unbroken 9th partnership of 76 with Mark Averill. The chase was all about Strabane's Sri Lankan professional Ranjitha Liyanarachichi whose even time 113 included 15 fours and a six. Mark Averill's (4-40) late burst set up a tense finale, but no better man for a crisis than John Mooney, who got the REd Caps over the line with eight balls left.

Another close game was at Strabane Park where it took to almost 8.20pm before the home side clinched a two-wicket win over Eglinton. The match was a tale of two hundreds as Eglinton recovered from 76 for 5 to score 232. Captain Jamie Millar hit 10 fours and two maximums in an unbeaten 116 - half his side's score- sharing stands of 76 with Jack Martin (44) and an unbroken 9th partnership of 76 with Mark Averill. The chase was all about Strabane's Sri Lankan professional Ranjitha Liyanarachichi whose even time 113 included 15 fours and a six. Mark Averill's (4-40) late burst set up a tense finale, but no better man for a crisis than John Mooney, who got the REd Caps over the line with eight balls left.

Coleraine were knocked off the leaders slot with an agonising one-wicket loss at Newbuildings. David Cooke's 82 (11 fours, 2 sixes) took the Bannsiders to 225 for 9 - runs too for Louren Steenkamp (32). The hosts looked dead and buried as wickets for Gareth Burns (3-38) and Stephen Hutchinson (2-39) had them 116 for 7 and 139 for 8. However, Charlie Downey joined former skipper Gareth McKeegan with the latter hitting 6 fours and 3 sixes in a top score of 57. When he fell, 43 were still required, but Downey hit seven fours in an unbeaten 44 to win the game with number 11 Jack McIntyre (18*) in a real thriller of a game.

Brigade's middle-order was to the fore as they beat Bready by 120 runs. Anuk Fernando top-scored with 75 (6 fours, 1 six), adding 71 for the fourth wicket with Scott Macbeth (50) and 99 for the fifth with Cameron Melly - who hit a 48-ball 63 (9 fours, 1 six) as Brigade posted 270 for 9. Teenager Travis Faulkner impressed with four wickets. The chase never got going as Bready were bowled out for 150 - Ian Young made a defiant 50, while there were two wickets apiece for Andy Britton, David Barr and Scott Macbeth.

Donemana went to the top of the Premiership with a relatively comfortable seven-wicket win against Ardmore at the Bleachgreen. The hosts reached 98 for 2 with Junaid Ali making 50 (9 fours) but they were bowled out for 184 with three wickets for Andy McBrine and two apiece for captain Gary McClintock and Anuj Jotin. Jamie Huey (31) and McClintock (24) shared an opening stand of 57, while Raymond Curry made an unbeaten 47 sharing a third wicket stand of 73 with Anuj Jotin (30). Andy McBrine also made 21 not out as they eased to the win in the 34th over.

Newbuildings moved up to fourth in the table as they made it two wins in two days with an impressive seven-wicket win over Eglinton. batting first the visitors were bowled out for 126 with Lakshan Gamage (33) and Jack Martin (22) their top scorers. Peat Salmon (3-12) was once again in the wickets, while there were two apiece for JT, Gregory McFaul and Charlie Downey. A second wicket stand of 91 between Ryan Hunter, who hit 6 fours and 4 sixes in a 46-ball 60, and Leeroy McKeegan (28) all but ensured the win. The only consolation for Eglinton was a bonus point secured for taking three wickets.

Coleraine top the Premiership after a 75-run win over Ardmore in a game cut to 30 overs. The Bannsiders never looked back after an opening stand of 106 in 15 overs between Craig Averill - who hit seven fours in a 43-ball 52 - and Patrick Carson (48). David Cooke chipped in with an unbeaten 21 and 191 for six always looked a winning score. Muhammad Edrees made 25 and skipper Harry Zimmermann 22 in a chase that never got off the ground - two wickets each for Craig Averill, Ahmad Raza and Matthew Hutchinson.

Ross Dougherty proved the match winner for Newbuildings, proving the one batsman to master tricky batting conditions at Beechgrove. Wickets for Ryan Barr, Scott Macbeth and Ifty Hussain had Newbuildings wobbling at 83 for 6, but Dougherty showed his quality with 90 (7 fours, 2 sixes) to double his sides score to 166 in a 45-overs contest. Ifty Hussain (24) shared an opening stand of 30 with DD Barr, but thereafter it was all Newbuildings. Peat Salmon had a vice-like grip on the scoring taking 2-13 from 9 overs, while skipper Ross Hunter claimed the big scalp of Scott Macbeth in his three wickets. Ryan Barr struck a few lusty blows but it was too little, too late as Brigade lost by 41 runs.

Half centuries from Lakshan Gamage and Andy Lucas formed the basis for Eglinton's 57-run win over Bready. Lucas opened the innings and raced out of the traps with 11 fours in a 54-ball 60. Bready pulled it back a little but Sri Lankan Gamage farmed the strike in making 65 as they got to 180. Gamage then took two wickets, while Robbie Millar (3-41) and Richard Wylie (2-27) reduced the visitors to 72 for 7. Ian Young (27*) added 50 for the 8th wicket with David Scanlon, but just as there was a sense Bready could pull off an unlikely win, left-armer Andy Millar took three wickets in four balls to ensure the win.

Donemana made it three wins from three with a six wicket win at home to Strabane. Aaron Gillespie top-scored with 73 (9 fours, 4 sixes) sharing a fifth wicket stand of 88 with Ranjitha (30) to help them recover from 35 for 4. Ryan Gallagher hit 5 sixes and 4 fours in a 44-ball 57 as they posted 196 - three wickets apiece for Levi Dougherty and Anuj Jotin. The chase was straightforward as skipper Gary McClintock hit 5 fours and 4 sixes in a second wicket stand 0f 87 with Ray Curry (41). Andy McBrine made an unbeaten 25, watching from the other end as William McClintock hastened the game to a quick conclusion - his 16-ball 40 not out included a four and five sixes.

Strabane beat Ardmore and the weather in the only Premiership match that managed to get finished. Ardmore won the toss and bizarrely opted to bat with rain never too far away. They struggled to 106, with Sabin Babu top-scoring with 27 - thee wickets apiece for overseas professional Ranjitha Liyanarachichi, while TJ Boyd claimed two. More rain meant a DLS adjusted target of 61 in 20 overs and the Red Caps picked up valuable points as they strolled to the seven wickets win in the 12th over - skipper Kevin Gallagher making 27.

In a match reduced to 34 overs per side, Coleraine scored 159 batting first, with 30's for Louren Steenkamp and Paddy Carson. Scott Macbeth took five wickets, while DD Barr picked up two in another case of 'spin to win' for NW sides. Brigade had reached 24 for 0 when the rain arrived once again and forced the game to be abandoned.

Bready's home match against Donemana was another game that couldn't beat the elements, so a replay will be scheduled soon.

There was no play possible at Newbuildings and the teams will try again in the coming weeks.

Strabane's tough start to the season continued as they were brushed aside by Coleraine. Four wickets apiece for opening bowlers Stephen Hutchinson and Gareth Burns saw the Tyrone side skittled for just 65 despite the return of John Mooney. Scott Campbell picked up the other two and the left-hander also hit an unbeaten run-a-ball 34 (6 fours) as the Bannsiders raced to a seven wickets win inside 15 overs.

Brigade were at their best as they easily accounted for Eglinton by a convincing 149-run win. A solid batting effort saw runs throughout the top order, with Adam McDaud top-scoring against his old club with 65 from 64 balls (7 fours, 3 sixes). There were runs too for Scott Macbeth, who cleared the ropes five times in his 58. Ifty Hussain was run out one short of his fifty, while Mark Hanna (44*) piled on the agony in a final total of 296 for 8. Eglinton's chase began brightly as Andy Millar (38) and Liam Doherty (30) shared an opening stand of 71 in 11 overs, but Ryan Barr accounted for both. Scott Macbeth and JP Millar then ran through the fragile middle and lower order to seal the win.

Ardmore made it two wins from two as they produced a fine all-round display to totally outpower a below par and strength Bready. Ardmore never looked back after an opening century stand between teenager Bobby Brolly, who made his maiden senior half century, and debutant Vimal Dwivedi (46). That laid the foundations for Harry Zimmermann, who hit 7 fours in an better than even time 45, and more runs for overseas professional Junaid Ali (50). Conor Olphert (4-36) and Mark Pollock (2-37) dragged it back a bit in the final overs but the damage had been done - not helped by the concession of 39 extras. Bready's chase was soon in tatters as David Rankin went early - the first of three wickets for skipper Zimmermann, and with two wickets apiece also for Mujeeb and Dwivedi, Ardmore closed out a maximum points win despite 20's for Conor Olphert, Cameron McClay and Ryan Clarke.

Peat Salmon's century wasn't enough to derail the champions who won an entertaining match in which close to 600 runs were scored. Donemana's Anuj Jotin top-scored with 82, while there were 40's from Andy McBrine and Raymond Curry. The real fireworks though came in an 8th wicket stand of 77 in just 28 balls, with Levi Dougherty clubbing 6 sixes and 3 fours in his 19-ball unbeaten 59. That got Donemana up to an imposing 324 for 7. Peat Salmon had been on the end of some severe punishment and the West Indian international was out for revenge when he batted. Salmon hit 12 sixes and 6 fours in a blistering 66-ball 109, adding 97 for the 6th wickets with Ryan Hunter (37). It was only when he became the fourth wicket for former Irish international Dwayne McGerrigle that the home support could relax. Andy McBrine picked up three wickets as Donemana made it two wins from two in the Premiership.

Two Eglinton old boys, David Cooke (65*) and Craig Averill 57 were in the runs as Coleraine posted 219 for 6. The villagers looked well placed in the chase thanks to runs from Robbie Millar (52), Lahiru Gamage (44) and Jamie Millar (34) but from 177 for 4, they lost six wickets for 14 to be 191 all out - three wickets for Bannsiders Captain Rory Knox, and two apiece for Matty Smyth, Craig Averill and Gareth Burns.

New Ardmore pro Junaid Ali hit 127 from 97 balls (15 fours, 5 sixes) as he and skipper Harry Zimmermann 61 (10 fours) added 182 in 28 overs for the 3rd wicket as Ardmore made 288 for 9. Four wickets for Edrees Kharotai and three for Zimmermann led Ardmore to a 57-run win despite a hard-hit 57 in 32 balls (9 fours, 2 sixes) by Gregory McFaul.

Gavin Roulston scored a century from 104 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes) as he and Ryan Clarke (40) shared an opening stand of 144 in 29 overs. Davy Rankin also made 40 as Bready posted 279 for 6. Strabane without John Mooney never threatened - Skipper Kevin Gallagher hit 46, Sri Lankan pro Ranjitha 36, and debutant Subhan Shirzad 36 in their 175 all out - five wickets for young spinner Nathan McCombe.

English county player Xavier Clarke top scored 72 on debut adding 114 for the 4th wicket with Cameron Melly 67. However, from 195 for 3 they added just 24 from last 7 overs to be 219 all out. Andy Britton took 3 for 6 in 7 overs but Andy McBrine top scored with 74 and David O'Sullivan hit 5 sixes in a 38-ball 58 not out as he and skipper Gary McClintock 24no shared an unbroken 7th wicket stand of 72 in 62 balls to clinch the four-wickets win.