Johnny Morton

It was another action-packed weekend of Robinson Services senior league action as Waringstown moved 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League and Cliftonville Academy took another step towards promotion from Section One.

Cregagh picked up an important win against Derriaghy as the race for a spot in the 2022 Premier League hots up while Drumaness Superkings maintained their unbeaten run in Section Three with a five-wicket win over Dunmurry.

Yet again there were some notable individual performances throughout the various leagues and they are our Robinson Services Stars of the Weekend.

Premier League

Ruhan Pretorius – 141 (Woodvale) vs Carrickfergus

Although strictly falling outside the 'weekend' window, it would be remiss of me to not mention Pretorius' exploits on Thursday evening in Woodvale's victory over Carrickfergus.

Opening the batting, the all-rounder smashed 141 from 64 balls in a destructive 58-minute stay at the crease – an innings which included 11 fours and a stunning 10 sixes.

That set the platform for a resounding 103-run victory for the Ballygomartin Road men and he followed it up by taking four wickets and scoring 75 in defeat to former club Waringstown on Saturday.

Faiz Fazal – 100 (Lisburn) vs CSNI

Fazal has been in brilliant form for Lisburn yet again this season and hit a third century of the campaign from 94 balls against CSNI, but his side ultimately lost by 69 runs (DLS).

The former Indian international struck 10 fours and three sixes during his innings and shared four partnerships worth over 35 before he was the ninth Lisburn wicket to fall in the 35th over.

He now has over 800 runs for the season with Lisburn still scheduled to play four league matches before their campaign ends with a home fixture against North Down on September 11.

Ben Mackey – 5-61 (CSNI) vs Lisburn
In the same match, CSNI fast bowler Ben Mackey picked up a maiden top-flight five-wicket haul as he collected 5-61 to help bowl Lisburn out for 212.

The 22-year-old bowled Chris Burns (20) and had Lisburn captain Adam Berry (1) caught behind before returning to pick up the final three of the innings, including the prized wicket of Fazal.

Following a winter move to Stormont from Armagh, Mackey has now collected 19 wickets in a memorable first season with the club that has also included a run to the LVS Twenty20 Cup final and Gallagher Challenge Cup semi-finals.

Section Two

Naveed Ahmed – Cooke Collegians (6-42) vs BISC

The best bowling figures across the four senior leagues this weekend came from Cooke Collegians star Naveed Ahmend, who collected 6-42 from 7.1 overs in a narrow one-wicket victory against BISC on Saturday.

Ahmed's superb effort helped bowl BISC out for 150 before their batsmen got them over the line by the narrowest of margins to secure a third league win of the season from six games.

That performance has earned Ahmed a piece of well-deserved crystal at the next Robinson Services awards ceremony!

Adnan Malik – 149* (Laurelvale) vs Dundrum

Ok, Malik's 149* might not officially count after Laurelvale's fixture against Dundrum at The Meadow was abandoned due to bad weather, but it's certainly worth a mention!

Malik has been in sensational form for his club this season and posted the highest individual score by any batsmen in the senior leagues when he smashed 196* against Lurgan in June – an innings which included 24 fours and eight sixes.

He has posted a further three league half-centuries and had helped Laurelvale reached 260-6 before the rain arrived and match was abandoned. Next up for Malik and his team-mates is the GMcG Junior Cup final against Lisburn II on Saturday.