PORTHLEVEN fell short of the mark on Saturday in their Cornwall Cricket League match at home to Penzance’s second team.

The hosts could only make 110 runs in reply to their opponents 130 with a devastating spell of bowling from Craig Nicholls sealing a win for the visitors in the Division Four West game.

It was a disappointing end to a day which had seemed bright for Porthleven, despite the uncertain weather conditions forecast around the Duchy.

With both clubs sitting in a precarious position in the division, this was a match which each wanted to win desperately as they hope to avoid relegation.

Chris Higgs, skipper of tenth placed Porthleven, won the toss and elected to field.

Proceedings started terribly for Penzance, sitting in ninth place, as wonderful spells from the host’s opening bowlers Darren Parish and Mark Pollard reduced their opponets to 35-6.

Penzance’s top five batsmen only scored 17 between them, with Nicholls and Ryan Ellis both getting ducks, while number six Ashley Weston hit 13 before being caught by Dean Bray off Parish.

It took a determined effort from Kieran Brownfield and Jack Nicholas to restore order for the visitors as the pair put on 51 for the seventh wicket partnership.

Nicholas would see his innings end on 33 with David Leonard taking a catch off Higgs’ bowling before Brownfield departed for 44, becoming the last of Pollard’s victims as Michael Morris caught him.

Captain Kim Smith added 18 runs to the score but Penzance’s innings ended in the 31st over. Pollard ended with figures of four for 66 and Parish with three for 28.

Despite having a low total to chase, the host’s needed to make a decent start to their innings to make sure of winning.

However, this did not come as Nicholls stole the show.

He claimed early wickets in of Nick Rowe for two and David Lavia for one, both being out caught and bowled, leaving Porthleven on 9-2.

Nicholls was backed-up by team-mate Liam Devine who claimed four wickets himself for 40 runs off 12 overs as the home side failed to create any significant partnerships with the bat.

Their highest during the innings would in fact be the last wicket stand of 23 between Bray, who finished on 26 not out, and 11th man Pollard, who must have thought his own bowling display would have done enough for the cause.

Kelvin James completed the victory for Penzance in the 40th over when he got Pollard out caught and bowled for nine.

Porthleven remain in tenth place while Penzance jumped up on place in the table. On Saturday, Porthleven travel to Camborne to play their third team.