North Down will go into the game with at least a share of the Premier League leadership after they went clear at the top with a magnificent seven wickets victory over CIYMS at Belmont yesterday.

Needing 243 for victory, Peter Eakin hit the fourth ball of the final over for six to win the match with Pieter Malan at the other end, 114 not out.

It was Malan's second wicket partnership of 195 with Andrew Sutherland which proved decisive although, CI will claim the turning point was the non-run out of the South African professional on 58.

Johnny Thompson's direct hit appeared to beat Malan's dive but umpire Jareth McCready was in no position to give a decision and he went on to complete his third century of the season.

However, just as crucial to the outcome was the CI ‘go-slow in the last 20 overs of their innings which yielded just 67 runs after the dismissal of Rassie van der Dussen, run out for exactly 100.

In what was his last match before he returns home today, he became the first player to reach 1,000 runs, in is 16th innings, although he was dropped on 999 (90 in this match).

Not for the first time this season, van der Dussen received superb support from young John Matchett - he actually outscored him in the second wicket stand of 87 - but all that good work was undone by the poor call, which vdD fatally answered.

North Down now lead the league table by four points from Waringstown, their opponents next Saturday, with CI now eight points behind but, like the Villagers having played a game less.