White unbeatable as Instonians triumph

Cricket Round-up: Reigning champions North County were dramatically knocked out of the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup on Saturday thanks to a wonderful unbeaten century by Ireland international Andrew White.

White, who hit the winning runs for Ireland against the West Indies on Thursday, batted almost the entire Instonians innings, scoring 177 of his side's total of 269 for 7. At Inch, that is not the most daunting of targets, but County fell six runs short of their revised target of 264.

In another thriller, at Castle Avenue, Clontarf beat an in-form Bangor by just three runs. Needing eight runs off two overs with eight wickets in hand, Bangor were coasting, but then Mark Hutchinson, who was on 96, shelled one to Eoghan Delaney, a 15-year-old playing his first senior game, and suddenly the pressure was on Bangor.

Needing four runs off the last over, though, and with Chris Yates on 87 not out, the northerners would still have been confident. But a tight over from Alex Cusack - a single, four dot balls and a wicket - meant Clontarf were celebrating an unlikely win.

Elsewhere, Anu Bhandari made 66 not out as Phoenix cruised to a seven-wicket win over Downpatrick at the Park.

Pembroke easily beat Ardmore and The Hills were comfortable winners over Leinster at Observatory Lane, meaning there are four southern sides in the last eight.

Decker Curry hit a typically robust 177 as Limavady beat Cliftonville by 154 runs. As expected, Strabane were too strong for Sion Mills and Brigade beat Lisburn.