Despite the showers and rapidly fading light all of last night matches in the Faughan Valley and Sperrin Springs cups were played to a finish although the conditions did little to attract spectators to most of the venues.

Up at Ballymagorry, Fox Lodge took Strabane's measure in a contest reduced to 18 overs a side; the hosts making 126 for 7 as they batted first. Only Dean McCarter with 27 and Darryl Brown with 21 made any contribution of note for the hosts although a late onslaught yielded a very valuable 19 runs from the final over as Strabane's chase became substantially more difficult than it had looked for the first hour.

Skipper Jonathan Beukes returned figures of 3 for 9 from 3 overs leaving most of us wondering why he didn't send down another 6 balls at the death. Strabane fielded without Kevin Martin and Marty Deans, both of whom are believed to be close to a comeback and Peter Gillespie who had a neck strain and they lost a steady stream of wickets in the reply, although hand on heart they were batting at times in the dark.

Beukes made 24 and a defiant knock from Mark Gillespie hinted at the possiibility of a comeback but in the end the champions were all out for 101 with an over to spare. Darryl Brown and Andrew McGinnis picked up 3 wickets each and the Foxes will now meet Donemana in the next round.

Down at Coleraine the hosts lost out in a decent contest against Limavady despite Ian McGregor's one-man defiance with the bat against his former team mates. Limavady made 143 for 5 in their 20 overs; Thomas Riddles with 41, Decker Curry 33 and Stuart Thompson were the main run scorers while 3 of the wickets to fall were run outs.

McGregor proved as difficult as always as his former colleagues tried to shift him however the opener gave his side every chance as he made an impressive 64. Unfortunately none of his new pals could stay with him and Coleraine eventually had to settle for 124 for 7 in their 20.

Des Curry was easily the pick of the Roesiders' attack returning 4 for 17 from his 4 overs. Limavady will now play Eglinton in the next round and received a further boost with the news that new professional Adnan Akmal is in town and ready for action in Sunday's Ulster Cup.

In the Sperrin Springs Killyclooney beat Sion Mills in a high scoring encounter. Sammy McElhatton made 84 and Mark Gordon 28 in a huge 193 for 9 whilst Ger Porter ad Lee Finlay claimed 2 wickets for Sion.

The Tyrone side made a good fist of the reply as they posted 150 for 7 in reply, Andy Lucas continuing his excellent form making 91 of those.

Killyclooney will now play St Johnston who saw off Burndennett, but only just.

The Saints made 141 for 6 in their 20 overs Ian MacBeth with 39 and Kushpal 27 not out their main contributors. Stephen McCay and Eddie McGettigan both picking up two wickets.

Burndennett posted 130 for 9 in reply, McCay again heavily involved as he hit 6 fours 3 sixes in a battling half century.

Ardmore beat the Nedd by 7 wickets in a 16-over game courtesy of Adrian Murphy's unbeaten 59 as the hosts chased down 110 to win cosily.

Alex Steele made 48 whilst George Brolly took 3 for 27 and Lee Brolly 3 for 17 in the visitors' innings, whilst the West Indian ensured that the Bleachgreen side had plenty in hand at the end.