CIYMS have moved a step closer to the Ulster Bank Senior League title with an eight wickets victory over Ballymena at Eaton Park to move eight points clear with just three games remaining.

After restricting the home side to 107 for eight, CI reached their target with 11 balls to spare, with Barry Cooper unbeaten on 36.

This time CI did not even need Peter Connell as Stephen McChesney shared the new ball, but it was Ryan Butterworth who finished as the most successful bowler with four for 24 and fellow-Zimbabwean PJ Moor then made sure of victory with 44 from 43 balls, with seven fours.

Victory at home to Lisburn tomorrow will guarantee the Belmont side a share of the title and if they follow that with a win over Instonians on Sunday they will be champions outright.

However, Instonians are the big winners from the cancellation of Ireland’s Twenty20 games against South Africa this weekend as they will have both James Shannon and Andrew White for their double-header, which starts with a trip to Waringstown tomorrow, but they are now relying on a slip by Stephen Hughes’ side.