As starts to the season go Helston will have no complaints, with a second successive County Divison One victory. It’s early days yet of course but the table makes pleasant reading with Helston in third spot, just three points behind leaders Troon. On the flip side Stithians have lost both opening games and are only a point above Gorran at the foot of the table. 

Having been put in Stithians lost Roger Strick with the score at 19, with Peter Boyd picking up the wicket. Tommy Sturgess removed Thaddeus Greasley for four, Dan Jenkin then struck twice within the space of six runs trapping Ryan Burley in front for 16 and then dismissing the home skipper, Nathan Strick, for four. Kieran Webber followed and the home side were 82 for five.

The mainstay of the innings was Callum Martin who hit 47 off 85 deliveries before being run out. Chris Instance led a fightback making 22 at a run a ball and hit the only six of the innings. The sixth wicket stand with Martin added a useful 38 runs. After his dismissal the end came quickly, with the last four wickets falling for seven runs. Dan Jenkin took four for 25 and Jordan Fulton and Tommy Sturgess two each.

Helston got off to a solid start. After losing Dan Jenkin for 13 Stuart Pethick and Chris Martin saw the fifty up. Martin went for 17 and Ross Leathley for a single. Pethick was eventually dismissed for 21 made off a patient 75 balls. Ben Rule (26) and Mark Thomas (18no) added 37 for the fifth wicket to get the visitors in sight of victory. Sturgess hastened proceedings hitting a six and four fours in his 25 not out off just eleven balls. Webber took two for 31. Burley, Martin and Ben Tann took one apiece.

Helston visit Penzance on Saturday looking for revenge after their Vinter Cup defeat on Monday evening.

STITHIANS
R Strick c D Jenkin b Boyd 11
R Burley lbw D Jenkin 16
T Greasley b Sturgess 4
C Martin run out (S Jenkin) 47
N Strick c S Jenkin b D Jenkin 4
K Webber c  Martin b  Fulton 1
C Instance c Ninnis b Sturgess 22
L Hamilton c Thomas b D Jenkin 1
B Tann c Sturgess b Fulton 3
S Lean c Thomas b D Jenkin 1
C Weeks not out 1
Extras 34
Total (48.2 overs) 145
Fall: 1-19; 2-38; 3-58; 4-62; 5-83; 6-121; 7-138; 8-138; 9-142.
Bowling: J Fulton 9.2-4-16-2, P Boyd 7-1-29-1, T Sturgess 10-1-28-2, S Jenkin 10-3-23-0, D Jenkin 9-0-25-4, s Pethick 3-0-19-0.

HELSTON
D Jenkin  c R Strick b Burley 13
S Pethick st N Strick b Webber 21
C Martin c Instance b Tann 17
R Leathley b Martin 1
B Rule c Instance b Webber 26
M Thomas not out 18
T Sturgess not out 25
Extras 25
Total (5 wkts, 38.5 overs) 146
Fall: 1-23; 2-52; 3-60; 4-81; 5-118.
Did not bat: J Ninnis, S Jenkin, P Boyd, J Fulton.
Bowling: C Instance 6-0-49-0, R Burley 5-1-15-1, C Martin 7.5-2-22-1, B Tann 10-4-19-1, K Webber 7-1-31-2, C Weeks 3-0-8-0.
Result:  Helston (20pts) beat Stithians (5pts) by five wickets.