Bee Gees get first win

The Bee Gees, inspired by Sri Lankan professional Gihan Dilruk, beat Glendermott by 36 runs to give themselves an outside chance of avoiding relegation.

While at the other end Limavady and Strabane are hot on the heels of leaders Coleraine as the season heads towards a thrilling climax.

The Bannsiders, who have been boosted by confirmation that professional Chinthaka Jayasinghe will return to Northern Ireland following a stint in the Sri Lankan Premier League, thrashed Creevedonnell by nine wickets on Saturday for a 10th victory in 12 matches.

Gareth Burns, the seam bowler, took four for 12 and there were two wickets apiece for Stephen Dunn, Andrew Douglas and Jarred Barnes as Creevedonnell were dismissed for just 122 at Sandel Lodge.

Dale Thomas top scored with 27 but it was nowhere near a competitive total from Creevedonnell who are surely heading towards the relegation trap-door. Ian McGregor (45) and Craig Averill (44 no) then put together an 87-run opening stand as Coleraine cruised to a nine-wicket win from the first ball of the 29th over.

Strabane and Limavady are just two points behind the leaders after they recorded convincing wins and in the process dented the title ambitions of Donemana and Bready respectively.

Donemana were always going to be outsiders at Strabane Park without their five under-age cricketers and Ricky-Lee Dougherty, who was with Institute on the opening day of the Irish League season.

Batting first, a century partnership between Graeme Boyd (49) and Junior McBrine (49) put the visitors into a strong position on 161 for three but the left-arm seamer Ryan Patton (2-30) dismissed both players and with Mark Gillespie taking three for 39, Donemana slumped to a disappointing 206 for nine.

It never looked like being enough as Strabane cruised home with more than eight overs to spare. Andy Lynch hit nine fours and a six in a superb 68 before professional Faisal Iqbal (77 no) and Gillespie (23 no) sealed the points with an undefeated 75-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Limavady meanwhile seem to be finding form at just the right time as they beat Bready by 72 runs at The John Hunter Grounds. The Roesiders boast probably the longest batting line-up in the division and they delivered with 272 for eight batting first.

Captain Andrew Riddles top scored with a 63 that contained just two boundaries but the real momentum came late in the innings from Chris Moore. The big all-rounder is at his most dangerous when batting down the order and he struck four fours and three sixes in a quickfire unbeaten half-century. Trevor Hamilton claimed three for 36 for visitors.

Bready rarely looked like getting anywhere near a stiff target despite 75 from inf-form David Rankin and 42 from Brian Crumley. Des Curry claimed three for 43 and there were two wickets apiece for Andy Britton, Stuart Thompson and Simon Dunn as Bready folded to 200 all out in the 38th over.

Fox Lodge gave their survival hopes a shot in the arm with a 69-run victory over Bonds Glen. Jason Milligan top scored with 61 and Andrew McGinnis smashed an unbeaten 50 as the Foxes posted 260 for seven. Richard Hepburn, the Bonds Glen captain, top scored with 45 in reply but it was a familiar tale as the bottom placed side were dismissed for 191. Gareth Heywood claimed four for 49.