Balbriggan’s excellent league campaign continued as they beat Clontarf by 87 runs in a statement win that shows they are to be taken as serious title contenders.

The top eight all reached double figures asBalbriggan posted 245 for 8, with Chris De Freitas making an even time 60 (6 fours, 2 sixes).

Connor Fletcher (36), Nathan Rooney (30) both got 30s, while skipper Greg Ford, Farooq Nasr and Dylan Lues all passed 20. Ruan Cronje and Fionn Hand both took two wickets, while David Delany collected two.

Andrew Darroch (3-25) and Ryan Hadley (2-10) had theClontarf chase in tatters at 39 for 5, and from that there was no way back, despite resistance in a sixth wicket stand of 64 between John McNally (40) andDavid Vincent (33).

Both were dismissed by Farooq Nasr (2-34), while Dylan Luesmopped up the final two wickets in a thoroughly convincing win.

Merrion won by four wickets at home to Malahide in a tough encounter.

Hugh Kennedy's early hat-trick had Malahide in all sorts of trouble, and they were indebted to Ryan Hackney, who carried his bat for 68 (6 fours).

Fintan McAllister made 23, while Hackney added valuable late runs with skipper Cameron Shoebridge and Peter Saville.

Still a total of 169 of 169 is rarely defended at Anglesea Road and that’s how it panned out.

Stephen Doheny celebrated his Irish senior call-up by displaying the exact credentials needed to replace William Porterfield at thetop of the order.

Doheny’s undefeated 76 included seven boundaries and his patient innings guided Merrion to a four-wicket win – valuable supporting knocks were provided by Jack Carty and Franco Marais, who both made 20.

Highest scoring game of the day was at The Vineyard, where Poonish Mehta’s brilliant 144 led Pembroke to victory over The Hills.

Dylan Blignaut (3/52) had the visitors in early trouble at 26 for 3, but Mehta ands kipper Theo Lawson (53) changed the complexion of the game in a fourth wicket stand of 126 in 28 overs.

Mehta pummeled the home side attack as he plundered18 fours and 4 sixes in his 128-ball knock.

There was late carnage as he and Paul Lawson (34*) added 89 from 50 balls to take their total to 282 for 6.

The Hills never shirk a challenge and they gave the chase a good rattle before falling 22 runs shy.

Mark Donegan top scored with 51 from just 34 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes), while Levon Shields also scored quickly, hitting seven boundaries in his 46. There were runs too for Will Archer, Tomas Rooney-Murphy and Althar Farooqi, but three wickets apiece for Mehta and Piyush Sharma ensured the 22-run win.

There was something of a surprise at Claremont Road as Phoenix put a dent in YMCA’s title ambitions in a 94-run win.

Stephen Black(49) and Nic Pretorius (43) set Phoenix on their way with an 88-run opening partnership.

Tyrone Kane hit 37, and 23 apiece from Theo Dempsey and Oliver Hald saw them post 214.

There were three wickets each for Mikey O’Reilly and Harry Tector.

Oliver Hald (3-10) removed openers Jack Tector and Mitchell Thompson, while Tyrone Kane accounted for the ‘big two’ of Harry Tector and Curtis Campher to leave YM floundering.

Tim Tector (32) and Rory Anders (23)attempted a fightback, but three wickets for Devender Raniola saw them fall well short – 120 all out.