Helston 164-6(34-2) beat Launceston 161 all out (49.2) by four wickets

HELSTON earned a four-wicket win at home to Launceston to pick up their first win of the County Division 1 season.

Helston’s title defence has got off to a disastrous start, with four defeats from their opening four games putting them at the bottom of the table, but Saturday’s win sees them move up to ninth and get off the mark at last.

Helston won the toss and chose to field, with Ross Leathley catching out opener Robert Mutch for 12 runs off Peter Boyd’s delivery.

Mutch’s fellow opener Michael Diebner enjoyed a much better time of it, as he strolled to 85 not out off 148 balls.

Unfortunately for him and his team, he had to watch the rest of his batting order collapse alongside him, with only Sam Pengelly (18) managed to also record double figures as Launceston’s innings quickly fell to pieces.

Michael Bolt (2), Phil Spry (4), Kevin Worth (1), Caleb Forsyth (2), Peter West (4), Ryan Christophers (1), Shane Davey (3) and Andrew Yelland (2) all departed for just a combined 19 runs as Launceston were bowled out for 161 after 49.2 overs.

Bradley Bury took three wickets for just 18 runs for Helston, with Steve Jenkin and Ross Leathley claiming two wickets apiece.

The hosts’ reply got off to a slow start with Jacob Arscott making just four runs before he was caught by Worth off Pengelly’s delivery.

Mutch claimed Stephen Wiseman for two runs shortly after when he was lbw off Mutch’s ball. Diebner then proved his worth as a fielder by catching opener Owen Holton (16) as Helston’s hopes of landing that maiden victory took a turn for the worse.

Their bid was hindered further by the losses of Leathley (13) and Justin Matthews (18), with Muthc completing his hat-trick to take the score to 65-5.

But just when their chances of getting that all-important first win looked slim, Ben Rule, batting at six, stepped up to save the day with 55 not out off 75 balls.

He was aided by captain Jenkin who came in after the dismissal of Jason Weeks Jnr (6) and supported with 30 not out off 45 balls to see the hosts over the line.