Big appeal from Brigade for wicket of Bready skipper Ian Young in Saturday's cup game.
Three of the four seeded sides have made it through to the semi-finals of this year's Sports Hub senior cup after a fascinating day of cricket that saw the whole programme manage to evade the worst of the weekend showers.
Coleraine's impressive win at Eglinton was the one fly in the ointment, although Newbuildings only just held on by the skin of their teeth to avoid a similar fate at Strabane Park.
The holders were set a target of 150 after Subhan Shirzad top scored with 45 and both Aaron Gillespie and Ranitha Liyanarachchi made 20 apiece for the Red Caps.
Jason Dunn (2-7), Peat Salmon (2-10) and Gregory McFaul (2-26) were best with the ball for the visitors who themselves found runs hard come by in reply.
Ryan Hunter (36) and Ross Dougherty (21) fared best of the top order, but the visitors were struggling on 116-7 before Johnny Thompson came to their rescue with a battling 38.
Even then, once the former Ireland 'A' player had been removed by Kevin Gallagher, the 2024 winners needed 14 from skipper Ross Hunter and 7* from Jason Bell to get them over the winning line with the last two batters at the wicket and just five balls to spare.
Coleraine racked up 249 as they batted first at Eglinton; Craig Averill faring best with 53, Louren Steenkamp adding 41, David Cooke 35, Paddy Carson 33 and Matty Smyth 23 in a solid effort from the visitors.
Lakshan Gamage (3-35) bowled well for the hosts with Richard Wylie, Andy Millar and Andy Lucas all picking up two wickets each as well.
Lucas put in a solid all-round effort as he hit 46 in Eglinton's response but he ploughed a lone furrow as the rest of the order struggled. Matthew Hutchinson returned excellent figures of 5-24 to see the home side's innings close on 110 all out.
Brigade, who will host this year's final, took a step closer to playing in it as they easily brushed aside Bready's challenge in a game reduced to 33 overs a side.
David Rankin top scored with 40 while Ian Young and Gavin Roulston chipped in with 25 and 23 respectively in a first innings total of 121.
David Barr used conditions really well to claim figures of 4-18 while there were a couple of wickets each for Josh Wilson and Iftikhar Hussain.
Ardmore captain Harry Zimmermann reverse sweeps for a boundary.
It was definitely a day for patience with the bat and it took 31 from Scott Macbeth, 30 from the impressive Barr and 24 from Ifti to seal a 7-wicket win for Brigade as they advanced to Monday's draw.
Donemana loom large once again in this competition and the Holm side made short work of Ardmore at the Bleachgreen.
The hosts batted first and were again indebted to in-form skipper Harry Zimmermann as he made an unbeaten 61 in their below-par effort of 138 all out.
Anuj Jotin (3-18) and Andy McBrine (3-21) were best with the ball; the other four wickets split between Gary McClintock and Levi Dougherty.
Raymond Curry's unbeaten 77 and 28 from Jamie Huey brought an early end to proceedings as the reigning league champions won by 7 wickets.
In the Sammy Jeffrey, Aaron Visser's 43 not out allowed Killyclooney to easily chase down Sion Mills 78 all out up the Ballyheather Road.
Glenn McCallen took two of the three wickets to fall in 'Clooney's reply and the same player had top scored with 19 in Sion's innings.
Timmy Dougherty claimed 4-20 and Kenzie Hall 3-26 while there were two wickets for Alfie Moan as the home side wrapped up an easy win.
Brigade's Josh Wilson happy to get the wicket of Jamie Magee.
Geeth Kumara made 77 not out and Jason Lynch 35 as Glendermott accounted for Burndennett at the Rectory.
Kumara, who played as stand-in overseas man for Fox Lodge in the 2022 cup final, will certainly bring a bit of stability to the Bonds Street outfit if he is available to stick around.
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They were set a target of 151 here- Corey Roulston's 34 and 20 from Derek Curry the best of 'Dennett's innings as Kumara, Adam Boyd and Alan Johnston all helping themselves to two wickets for the winners.
Ballyspallen returned to business as usual as they knocked out Bonds Glen by 8 wickets at Kildoag.
Father and son Johnny (24) and Samuel Haslett (21) were best of the Bee Gees' 116 all out with the bat; Isaac Bird with four wickets and Kagiso Rapulana and Stuart Kennedy two apiece for 'Spallen.
Rapulana took charge of the reply as well- his composed 65 not out securing the win despite a couple of wickets for Kyle Moore.
St Johnston will make up the semi-final draw as they posted a 5-wicket (DLS) win at home to Fox Lodge.
Gayan Maneeshan made 57 and Jason Milligan 30 as the Ballymagorry side set a target of 153 with Ryan McAuley, Michael Rankin and Nathan Cole all picking up two wickets each.
Ardmore's Derish Joseph is bowled by Donemana's Anuj Jotin,.
Cole was front and centre with the bat as well- his 57* combined with 34 from David Lapsley getting them over the line despite the best efforts of Aaron Heywood who returned superb figures of 2-5 from 7 overs.
The semi-final draw for both cup competitions will be held at 12 noon on Monday.
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