FALMOUTH'S ECB Premier League season got off to the best possible start on Saturday with a fine win away at Truro at Boscawen Park. Victory came after Falmouth had lost the toss and been invited to bat first on a track that looked like it would provide some early assistance for the bowlers. As it was, Falmouth openers Larry Martin and Stephan Churcher batted immaculately to put on 117 for the first wicket.

Martin passed 50 before he was unfortunately run out for 55, in truth, the only way he looked likely to lose his wicket. The first wicket led to the visitors struggling to regain control and no partnerships were subsequently formed to compare to that of Martin and Churcher.

The latter fell for 43 as he dragged a ball from Richard Lewis on to his stumps.

Although runs were scored from the lower order, nobody managed to push on and get a big score. Skipper Duncan Ayres made 14 before he was trapped lbw by Jon Kent, Adrian Noott made 22 and up and coming youngster George Popperwell put on 19 towards the end as Falmouth finished with the competitive total of 209 from their 50 overs.

In reply, Truro struggled early on with Antony Angove and newcomer Harry Roberts bowling well with the new ball. Angove removed Neil Stoddard, lbw for 2, and fellow opener Chris Martin was well caught at point by Churcher off the bowling of Ayres to leave the home side 39 for 2.

When David Neville claimed the important wicket of Jon Kent, Falmouth appeared in control, but this brought Julian Bose to the crease to join his captain Tom Sharp.

Sharp batted exceptionally well, making 63 and was looking very dangerous when a good over from Ayres brought his downfall. Having tied the Truro skipper down, Ayres forced Sharp to knick the ball through to Adrian Noott behind the stumps.

Bose continued to bat sensibly to begin with, but soon exploded into action as the light started to fade. The introduction of Sean Turner into the attack took the game away from Truro as he bowled an exemplary line to claim five wickets, including that of the dangerous Bose for a well made 55.

Despite some late resistance, Turner was not to be denied as Chris Philips was clean bowled to become his fifth wicket as the home side were bowled out for 190 to give Falmouth maximum points.

FALMOUTH L Martin run out 55 S Churcher b R Lewis 43 A Angove lbw R Lewis 0 D Ayres lbw J Kent 14 A Noott c J Boase b A Fairman 22 J Udy c A Taylor b A Fairman 0 G Popperwell c R Lewis b T Sharp 9 S Turner run out 19 H Roberts run out 9 G Stephens b T Sharp 5 D Neville not out 1 Extras 32 Total 209 Fall: 117-1, 117-2, 134-3, 153-4, 158-5, 164-6, 189-7, 197-8, 208-9, 209-10.

Bowling: R Lewis 10-2-48-2, A Taylor 10-1-41-0, C Phillips 10-1-50-0, A Fairman 8-0-38-2, T Sharp 9.5-0-22-2, J Kent 2-1-1-1.

TRURO N Stoddard lbw A Angove 2 C Martin c S Churcher b D Ayres 11 T Sharp c A Noott b D Ayres 63 J Kent c G Stephens b D Neville 5 J Bose c D Neville b S Turner 55 M Adams b S Turner 15 R Lewis b S Turner 0 A Taylor c L Martin b J Udy 3 J Dale lbw S Turner 7 C Phillips b S Turner 13 A Fairman not out 0 Extras 16 Total 190 Fall: 9-1, 39-2, 82-3, 88-4, 112-5, 112-6, 128-7, 144-8, 186-9, 190-10.

Bowling: A Angove 9-1-37-1, H Roberts 6-0-21-0, D Ayres 10-2-31-2, D Neville 10-3-22-1, S Turner 9-0-44-5, J Udy 5-0-27-1.

Wendron got their division two campaign off to a great start when they defeated Falmouth seconds by seven wickets. Falmouth were shot out for only 58 in 33.2 overs.

Ryan Whitbread and Mark Rowe soon had Falmouth in all sorts of trouble at 11 for 5 and 21 for 7. Only Ashley Searle with 17 and Paul Stephens with 12 not out got into double figures. Whitbread took 4 for 10 from 10 overs and Rowe 4 for 20.

Mark Mitchell dominated the visitors' reply hitting seven boundaries in his 53 not out.

Falmouth 58 (A Searle 17; R Whitbread 4-10, M Rowe 4-20) Wendron 59-3 (M Mitchell 35no, L Hoban 2-16) Wendron (19 points) beat Falmouth (two) by seven wickets.

Division six - Falmouth 198-7 (E Farley 117, D Whitbread 30: J Steadman 4-64) St Buryan 171 (A Pengelly 84no; F Nicholls 4-43, S Nicholls 3-34). Falmouth (19 points) beat St Buryan (seven) by 27 runs.

n Falmouth IVs were unable to raise a team to visit St Ives in division six.