Helston 146 all out (42) lost to Beacon 149-2 (34.3) by eight wickets

Helston’s difficult start to their County Division 1 title defence continued with an eight-wicket defeat at home to Beacon.

Helston set their opponents 147 to win after being bowled out after 42 overs, which Beacon met with just under 17 overs to spare.

The early signs were good for the hosts with Karl Leathley (15), Graham Wiseman (52) and Owen Holton (11) reaching 83 before Leathley and Holton’s dismissals.

But they only managed five more runs by the time Ross Leathley (1) and Wiseman were caught out.

All four opening batsmen were caught out, with Karl Leathley and Wiseman caught by Gareth Mankee off Daniel Thurgood’s delivery, and Holton and Ross Leathley caught by Richard Ward off Jordan Thomas.

Jason Weeks Jnr followed for a duck while Chris Martin added six as the innings began to slip away from Helston.

Justin Matthews managed 21 before he was dismissed for lbw but the lower order swiftly fell away as Helston were bowled out for 146.

Beacon wasted no time in chasing down their 147 target, with openers James Gool and Ben James enjoying a tidy 104-run stand before James was caught by Chris Martin off Graham Wiseman’s delivery after scoring 61 runs off 73 balls.

Daniel Mellor came in and added 12 to the cause before he was lbw off Wiseman’s delivery, but with Gool still going the win was just a few runs away.

Jordan Thomas joined Gool for the final push, with Thomas earning 5 not out while Gool reached 62 not out off 109 balls as Beacon eased to victory in the 35th over.

Fall of Wickets (Helston): 52-1 Karl Leathley (Graham Wiseman-31*); 83-2 Owen Holton (Graham Wiseman-49*); 87-3 Ross Leathley (Graham Wiseman-52*); 88-4 Graham Wiseman (Justin Matthews-0*); 88-5 Jason Weeks Jnr(Justin Matthews-0*); 100-6 Chris Martin (Justin Matthews-3*); 135-7 Justin Matthews (Steven Jenkin-15*); 137-8 Steven Jenkin (William Jenkin-1*); 144-9 William Jenkin (Bradley Bury-6*); 146-10 Bradley Bury (Steve Eddy-0*).

Fall of Wickets (Beacon): 104-1 Ben James (James Gool-35*); 137-2 Daniel Mellor (James Gool-55*).