Red Caps move into pole position in Premiership

Stephen McDermott pictured in action for Ardmore II's during their match against Creevedonnell 2nd's on Saturday. INLS2514-176KM

Kevin Martin was their top scorer with 84 in a total of 236. In reply the Bannsiders were all out for 144.

On Saturday, Ardmore added to Fox Lodge’s woes with a 50-run victory at Ballymagorry.

The visitors batted first and scored 269 for six with Decker Curry again in sparkling form with 90 and Andrew Riddles chipping in with 56.

The Foxies put up a decent reply with opener Jason Milligan scoring 96 in their total of 219.

At Beechgrove Brigade were struggling on 79 for seven but thanks to an unbeaten 83 from Ian McGregor they managed to get to 185. In reply Eglinton were all out for 134 with Craig Averill top scoring with 77.

Coleraine’s chances of retaining the title suffered yet another set back when they lost by 68 runs at home to Donemana.

The visitors scored 229 for eight with Kamran Sajid, Andy McBrine and Tom Riddles their main run-getters. The men from Sandel Lodge could only manage 161 with Rishi Chopra top scoring with 55.

In the Danske Bank Senior cup Bready had no trouble defeating Creevedonnell at Magheramason. Batting first the home side scored 284 for seven with professional Ernest Kemm scoring 125, the visitors could manage only 70 with Craig Young taking six wickets and skipper David Scanlon claiming the other four.

On Sunday in the O’Neills Ulster Cup both local sides reached the semi-final.

There was a thriller at Donemana where Lisburn were the visitors batting first they had scored 176 for five with just five overs remaining but Zimbabwean Craig Ervine scoring 200 not out with the final total being 275 for five. He hit 14 fours and 20 sixes with five of them coming in the last over, his second hundred coming off just 23 balls.

Donemana relished the challenge and with Andy McBrine scoring 73 they were always in with a shout. However in the last over and with their last pair at the wicket they still needed 12 runs and with one ball left they needed six and Richard Dougherty deputising for son Ricky Lee Dougherty was the hero as he duly obliged to give his side a remarkable victory.

Bready reached the last four with an excellent 52-run win over North Down, batting first David Scanlon’s side scored 225 with the returning after injury David Rankin scoring a superb 73 with Ernest Kemm also scoring 73. North Down were always behind the required run rate and were all out for 173 with Peter Eakin top scoring with 61.

In the semi-final draw Bready will be have home advantage over CIYMS while Donemana are on their travels as they face NCU men Waringstown.