A DEVASTATING knock of 126 from 51 balls by Falmouth's Christian Purchase helped elevate Cornwall to a 108 run victory in Herefordshire.

The all-rounder, who also picked up six wickets during the match, smashed 11 fours and as many sixes in the second innings of the opening Unicorns Counties Championship clash of the season.

Colwall was lit up by Purchase, who joined the Trescobeas Road outfit during the winter, as he helped set up an mountain of a target for the hosts to chase down.

Entering the final day, Herefordshire needed 471 from their second innings to win but fell well short with the final wicket of JP McIlroy falling just before the tea interval.

On the first morning of the three day game, Cornish captain Matt Robins won the toss and elected to bat.

Overseas batsman Bradley Wadlan made 77 for the Duchy while Antony Angove, who like Purchase is a Falmouth man, hit 58 batting at number eight.

Herefordshire managed to get their visitors all out for 285 with 65.1 overs used up and Mohammed Pardesi claiming three wickets for 49 runs.

Cornwall responded well by bowling the home side out for 170 after they had been 113-1.

Purchase picked up three wickets for 38 runs while Wadlan finished the innings with four scalps for 64 runs.

With an 105 run advantage, Cornwall were looking to bat Herefordshire out of the match and did so, but perhaps not in the style they anticipated.

Matt Rowe made 53 batting at number two before Purchase truly took the game away from the hosts with his blast.

Tailender Rob Harrison also proved he could give the ball a good whack as the number ten hammered 32 runs off 12 balls, with three maximums and a four.

Herefordshire did their best to hang around and bat out for a draw with Chris Whittock scoring a century, eventually finishing on 126 not out off 327 balls.

However, it was too much for them to withstand as Wadlan, four for 77, and Purchase, three for 66, weaved their magic to bring home the win.