DESPITE the best attempts of Storm Antoni, the majority of cricket in the west of the county was able to be played on Saturday.

All five premier games were completed with only the St Austell versus Callington game being interrupted by rain. Similarly in County Division One, the bulk of games were completed apart from the Lanhydrock against Beacon game which suffered a cancellation.

It was a day of surprises however as both the top two in County Division One crashed to defeats. Neither Falmouth nor Truro picked up a batting bonus point. Falmouth were shot out for 78 at Grampound Road after a two-hour delay saw the game reduced to 30 overs.

After losing Richard Kellow, Harry Roberts and John Richardson for 15 Marco Van Biljon hit a lively 37 off 30 balls which included three maximums.  He got no support however as the next best Falmouth batter was Stefan Churcher with eight.

All five home bowlers were amongst the wickets as the end came at 78 in the 21st over.

A further rain delay after tea meant only a minimum 20 overs were available from 5.30 pm. The Duckworth Lewis calculation determined that the ‘Road’ required 59.

They achieved the reduced target for the loss of three wickets.  Ben Meek removed openers, Jack Mingo and Chris Willett. Tom Orpe made 21 and Harry Gregory was unbeaten on 20 when the winning runs came in the 21st over.

At St Erme, former Truro player Kyle Van Rooyen achieved one of the great all-round performances,  against his former club. He dominated to make 131 out of St Erme’s 232.

Truro were then knocked over for just 45 with Van Rooyen taking 8-10 from 6.4 overs. The bowling bonus points were enough to move Truro level with Falmouth.

They play each other at Truro on 19 August in what will be a crucial game. Meanwhile, Paul are right back in contention being just four points off the pace. They dismissed Penzance seconds for only 55 with Damon Nicholls taking 5-21.

Paul visit Falmouth on the penultimate weekend. Mullion overtook Newquay to move up to fourth with a 40-run win at Garro Lane. After being 25-3 Simon Dalrymple made 37. The last three wickets mustered a very useful 75 runs to get the total to 165 with Matthew Davies making 29.

Newquay were bowled out for 125 with Charlie Hearn taking 4-17 from ten overs and Matthew Walker 4-41.

Standings after 17 /22 games: Truro 245, Falmouth 245, Paul 241, Mullion 200, Newquay 196, Beacon 189, St Erme 179, Penzance II 172, Grampound Road 166, Redruth II 150, Roche 148. Lanhydrock 109. Penzance II & Grampound Road have played one fewer.

In the Premier League Helston ended a three-match losing run to win at Camborne by 28 runs, in a match reduced to 48 overs after a delayed start. Ahead of his National Counties Championship debut for Cornwall at St Austell on Sunday Dan Jenkin was bowled by Ryan Downing’s first ball of the match.

Nine balls later Billy Taylor was knocked over by Gareth Mankee. However, Karl Leathley (25) and Niran Wijewardene (28) rebuilt the innings. From 90-5, Ross Leathley made 76 off 87 balls with two sixes to post a respectable 195-9. Dan Walker, in only his second game on return,  took 6-29. He removed openers Steve Richards and Alfie MacDonald before returning to take the last four wickets for nine runs including Jamie Goldsworthy who made fifty for Camborne in a losing cause.

Standings after 13 /18 games: Wadebridge 202 pts, Penzance 202, St Austell 158, St Just 157, Helston 151, Redruth 149, Werrington 147, Camborne 137, Callington 122, Hayle 110.

In division two Helston Seconds beat the morning leaders Camborne Seconds by six wickets at Beacon Parc with Chris Martin (77no) and Jack Jenkin (53no) seeing them home. St Ives are the new leaders after getting 251-4 to beat Mount Ambrose by six wickets at Tregenna.

Stithians lost by 44 runs after being bowled out for 141 at home to Hayle. Constantine marched on at the top of division three after an eight-wicket win at St Just thirds with Dan Johnson making 67. Perranarworthal remain second after winning at Gerrans by 143 runs with David Angell making 76no.

St Gluvias kept the pressure on in third with Kyle Winnan making 92 not out in the 139-run home win over bottom club Praze. Wendron’s home game with Gulval was mutually agreed in advance to be rescheduled to 20 August. It was to avoid the big FA Cup game that was held at Underlane on Saturday – literally behind the bowler's arm!