VIDARBHA skipper Faiz Fazal’s hundred helped Lisburn Cricket Club secure Northern Cricket Union (NCU) Premier League title with two matches to spare.

Riding on opener Faiz’s (101; 121b, 13x4), Lisburn made 253-8 in 50 overs and then bowled out North Down XI for a poor 130 in 33.1 overs for a convincing 123 runs victory.

Faiz and fellow opener JTC Waite (25) added 56 runs and then the duo of former and Neil Whitworth (52; 86b, 5x4, 1x6) added another 129 runs to take the score to 185. David Simpson remained not out on 23-ball 31 that contained three hits to the fence. North got to a worst possible start to the chase as both openers — skipper Alistair Shields and stumper Aniruddha Chore, also a former Vidarbha player, could not open their accounts.

Gentle medium pacer Faiz bowled tight five overs giving away just 15 runs for his one wicket.