FALMOUTH lost ground at the top of the Cornwall Premier League on Saturday when they were defeated at Grampound Road by six wickets, writes Michael Weeks.

The top four teams in the division all took maximum points, including leaders St Austell with a notable 150 run success at St Just, with Falmouth in sixth spot but are now 36 points off the pace.

Following tomorrow’s Vinter Cup Final they will be looking to get back on track when bottom side Penzance visit the Hine Downing Oval on Saturday.

Falmouth elected to bat at the Road but lost an early wicket when Callum Whittaker was caught behind off Alex Ridd for a duck.

Guy Leathley and Antony Angove took the total to 30 when the latter fell for 11, also to Ridd.

Things were looking promising as Leathley and Christian Purchase took the total to 70 but the opener went to Chris Roberts for 23.

It signalled a Falmouth collapse with four wickets falling for 14 runs ewith Stefan Churcher, Harry Roberts and Craig Mouatt only managing a single between them.

At 84-6 the innings was in sudden decline, but Purchase was still at the crease and on his return to his former club, he doubled the score.

Jordan Thomas, ten. gave good support surviving 40 balls whilst adding 38 for the seventh wicket.

George Popperwell made seven and Will Fortescue survived 23 balls as 37 was added for the ninth wicket.

Purchase was ninth out for 89 that included twelve boundaries.

Ridd did much of the damage for the home side taking out five of the top seven batsmen, at a cost of 39 runs from 11 overs.

Requiring 174, the Road lost the early wickets of Charlie Hoskings and Matt Robins to Thomas and Angove respectively.

David Hoskings made 46 and skipper Tom Hughes 42 for the home side.

The job was completed thanks to an unbroken stand between Chris Roberts, 26, and Alex May, 21.

Purchase, Thomas, Angove and Mouatt took a wicket each with the winning runs coming with 25 overs to spare.