Third 'ton' in a row for Kyle

But his third successive century was very nearly not enough to prevent Ballymena causing a huge shock at the home of the joint Premier League champions.

McCallan took his run tally to an incredible 493 from four innings as he made an unbeaten 131 in Waringstown’s imposing 273 for two.

Ireland’s most capped player has yet to be dismissed this season.

But if Waringstown were thinking they were going to enjoy a walk in the park after scoring more than 250 for the third week in succession, they were wrong as Ballymena came within four runs of a seismic upset.

David Kennedy led a stirring Ballymena fightback with a superb 73 from 85 balls, including nine fours, to take the visitors to 127 for two, but when he and Indian professional Kaushik Aphale fell to James Hall from successive balls, you would have assumed that Waringstown were on their way to a routine victory.

But Ballymena roared back into contention as captain James Kennedy (41 from 47 balls) and Andy Kirkpatrick (24) continued to score at a quick rate.

Although Gary Kidd bowled 10 superb overs at a cost of just 21 runs, the remainder of the attack were more expensive and Simon Harrison suffered some hefty punishment, conceding 57 runs from seven overs.

James Kennedy eventually fell to Victor Mpitsang (3-50) but seventh-wicket pair Gareth Fisher and Michael Glass hauled Ballymena back into the contest again. With four overs remaining they were slight favourites on 238 for six, needing 36 to get over the finishing line.

However, the combination of Morrison and Mpitsang stifled the scoring sufficiently and despite some poor fielding from the home side, Ballymena could not quite manage the 16 they needed from the final over. A six from the final ball from Morrison would have given them a tie.

Waringstown will reflect that their fielding yet again was not of the required standard at this level, while they almost certainly should have scored 25 more runs with the bat to have taken them out of Ballymena's reach.

They initially started like a house on fire after winning the toss, with James Hall in beautiful touch before he edged to slip. McCallan then compiled fine partnerships with Lee Nelson and Keith Morrison for the second and third wickets. Nelson made 59 from 84 balls, including one four and a six, as the second wicket realised 132.

Morrison continued his fine early-season form with an unbeaten 41, including two fours and two sixes. McCallan’s 131 came from 157 balls, including 16 fours and two sixes which were struck from the final two balls of the innings. How vital were they in the final analysis?