Falmouth lost further ground on their Cornwall Premier League relegation rivals after an eight-wicket defeat at home to St Austell.

The league’s bottom side were bowled out by the visitors for 135 in the final over, with St Austell strolling to victory in the 28th over for the loss of just two wickets.

Falmouth won the toss and chose to bat first but lost Grant Stone for just six runs when he became the first of Conway Gilbert’s four victims of the day, after being caught by Matt Lloyd off the bowler’s delivery.

Fellow opener Scott Kellow reached 33 alongside Harry Roberts (26) before the former was dismissed for 14, with the score staying unchanged after the departures of Stefan Churcher and Aidan Carter who suffered successive golden ducks.

But new man Duncan Ayres came in and turned the home side’s hopes around with 63 off 127 bals before he was dismissed as the final wicket.

Unfortunately, he saw the previous four wickets fall for a combined 17 runs as Falmouth reached 135.

St Austell did not have to break too much of a sweat in their response, with only four batsmen needed in the innings on their way to victory.

Matt Ellison (16) was first to fall when he was lbw off Ayres’ ball, with the same man claiming fellow opener Hugh Parkinson for 12 after he was caught by Carter.

The two batsmen of Alex Bone (43no) and James Carter (41no) struck up a 90-run stand as the visitors eased to the winning line after 27.5 overs.

Fall (Falmouth): 9-1 Grant Stone (Scott Kellow-1*); 33-2 Scott Kellow (Harry Roberts-10*); 33-3 Stefan Churcher (Harry Roberts-10*); 33-4 Aidan Carter (Harry Roberts-10*); 74-5 Harry Roberts (Duncan Ayres-22*); 79-6 Richard Kellow (Duncan Ayres-24*); 100-7 Joe Harrington (Duncan Ayres-37*); 107-8 James Williamson (Duncan Ayres-42*); 130-9 Steven Redwood (Duncan Ayres-58*); 135-10 Duncan Ayres(Sajjad Jabarkhel-0*).

Fall (St Austell): 32-1 Matt Ellison (Hugh Parkinson-7*); 48-2 Hugh Parkinson (Alex Bone-7*).