CIYMS retained their All-Ireland T20 title in the most dramatic of circumstances with Ross Adair and Jason van der Merwe running a two on the fifth ball of a Super Over.

Balbriggan skipper Greg Ford had hit the last ball of the match, bowled by Ed Nuttall, for six to get his side to the DLS par score of 137, sending an All-Ireland final to a Super Over for the first time.

Bowling first, Mark Adair restricted the defending Leinster Premier League champions to just five runs but CI needed five balls to win the match and earn their place in next year’s European Cricket League (T10) tournament in Spain.

Rain interrupted the final after 15 overs of the CIYMS innings, when the holders were 102 for five, and the game was reduced to 18 overs. Tyron Koen hit the first five balls of the last over for 15 and although he was run out, Carson McCullough came in and hit the final ball for six.

“It was an incredible game,” said CI skipper John Matchett. “We took momentum into the second innings, but after we took three early wickets they batted well, built a partnership (98 unbeaten) and it ebbed and flowed and went down to the last six,

“There was never any question who would bowl in the Super Over, Mark’s clarity of plans and his composure to execute them was brilliant.”

Earlier, Merrion proved far too strong for Fox Lodge in the Women’s final, winning by 170 runs, with Ireland international Leah Paul batting through the innings for 112 not out.

In last night’s Hundred Final at Lord’s, Paul Stirling was out for five but his Oval Invincibles side beat Josh Little’s Manchester Originals by 14 runs.

Back home, it was a bad weekend for Bready who saw their hopes of lifting the NW Premiership trophy all but mathematically ended by defeat on Saturday to Eglinton and a wash out in the final attempt to play Bonds Glen yesterday.

Their pointless weekend leaves them 24 points behind leaders Brigade with just one game remaining – Brigade have two – while Ardmore (three games left) and Killyclooney (two games left) are currently in second and third place.

There is one game in the NCU Premier League this evening and although they are not playing, Instonians will be crowned champions if Waringstown beat the Shaw’s Bridge side’s only remaining challengers, Lisburn, at The Lawn.

Victory on Saturday, against Waringstown, left Instonians eight points clear with Lisburn having two games to play.