Balbriggan have stayed ahead from the chasing pack after they held their nerves to secure what could be a priceless one-wicket win at Pembroke.
The Sydney Parade side posted 200, with Diarmaid Tucker top-scoring with a patient 55, adding 81 for the second wicket with skipper Theo Lawson (36).
Gavin Hoey hit two sixes in a breezy 22, while Paul Lawson made 21.
Ryan Hadley (3-26) and Mally McGregor (2-22) were the pick of the Balbriggan attack.
An opening stand of 72 in 13 overs between Ghanim Dara (41) and Connor Fletcher (29) looked as if the chase would be a stroll in the afternoon sunshine.
However, the innings faltered as the spinning triumvirate of Hoey (4-33), Donncha Tucker (3-32), and Paul Lawson (2-40) sparked a collapse.
Farooq Nasr’s 62 took them to the brink of victory, but when he fell, six were needed with the last pair at the crease.
Farooq Nasr
No getting them in singles though, as Kashif Ali deposited Tucker over the ropes amidst great celebration from the Fingal faithful.
The Hills beat Merrion to stay second after a 55-run win at The Vineyard to send them into Sunday’s All-Ireland T20 semi-final in good spirits.
They were in early trouble at 3 for 2 in the 5th over, but were steadied by a third wicket stand of 70 between Murray Commins (42) and Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin (35).
Mark Donegan then batted superbly in making an undefeated 88 from 99 balls (9 fours, 3 sixes) to help the hosts to 221 for 8.
Mark Donegan
Merrion’s reply never really got going despite Jack Carty’s 33 at the top of the order.
He was one of three wickets for Jonathan Tall, who also accounted for Hills old-boy Max Sorensen. Athar Farooqi (2-15) also bowled well in a display that will give the home faithful hope of a Fingal shoot-out for the title as it enters the home straight.
A club record partnership of 247 between Ryan Hackney and Hunter Kindley led Malahide to a 13-run win over YMCA.
The pair came together at the start of the third over, and produced a fine exhibition of strokeplay over the next 48 overs.
Hackney top-scored with an unbeaten 131 from 157 balls (10 fours), while Kindley’s 109 from 142 balls included 13 boundaries.
Ryan Hackney and Hunter Kindley
Jack Tector’s 96 ensured YM were always in contention, ably supported by James Forbes (45), Adam Rosslee (38), and Tim Tector (23).
However, scoreboard pressure told as they fell 13-runs adrift, with home skipper James Newland’s 3-39 instrumental in clinching victory.
Phoenix won a crucial basement battle as they beat Clontarf convincingly by 93 runs.
A century stand for the second wicket between Anish Rana (52) and Stephen Black (41) set them on their way, and further half centuries for skipper Tyrone Kane and William Bennett (51) continued the momentum as they added 94 in 15 overs.
Kane cleared the ropes 3 times and hit 6 fours in his rapid 57 from 41 balls to get Phoenix to 252 – three wickets for John McNally and two from David Delany (2-21).
PJ Moor clubbed 4 sixes in a rapid 46, but Kane’s all-round exploits continued as he took 3 for 18, and coupled with two apiece for Bennett, Ben White and Devender Ranolia saw the Castle Avenue side dismissed for 159.