Falmouth's relegation fears were eased somewhat when they came away from Camborne on Saturday night with a well earned 15 points. In the end they had to settle for a drawn game with Camborne's last pair of Scott Harris and Scott Curnow surviving the last nine balls of the match, in a nailbiting finish.
It could have been a lot worse, however, as with 13 overs to go Camborne were going well and only needing a further 67 with seven wickets remaining for victory.
Falmouth got off to a great start through Sean Hooper and Stefan Churcher who added 107 for the first wicket in 29 overs before Churcher was run out for 55 by a direct hit from Bronwell Williams.
Neither batsman had looked in much trouble and a run out looked the most likely form of breaking the partnership. Antony Angove was lbw on the front foot, after a long deliberation by the umpire, pushing forward to Harris for six. Camborne got themselves right back into the game when Hooper was also given out lbw, sweeping, for 61. He hit 10 fours in his 110 balls at the crease.
Slow bowlers Williams and Harris put the brakes on with Harris only conceding 41 runs from his 16 overs. Ryan Edwards held the rest of the innings together to make 45 off 63 balls. He lost Adrian Noott, who was bowled by Williams attempting a "heave" over mid wicket for 10. Sean Turner was run out following a mix up for 11. Edwards was out in the last over, lbw to Scott Curnow.
With a useful 62 runs coming off the last 10 overs Falmouth reached 227 for 6. Though not perhaps the 250 plus total that had looked likely at the midway point of the innings at least it was a defendable total.
Camborne got off to a positive start with Nick King (17) and Ian Goldsworthy (25) adding 34 in nine overs before the left handed King was brilliantly held by Hooper, one handed in the gully off Turner. An excellent reaction catch by the Falmouth skipper.
Kevin Roberts, returning to the team after a hand injury, followed lbw for 2 then Goldsworthy was caught behind at 64-3 in the 19th over. Williams and Malcolm Pooley turned the innings around to put on 97 in 23 overs in good style.
Williams brought up his 50 with a trademark pull through mid wicket for four. With 67 needed off 13 overs they looked to be steering Camborne home to an important victory, but Matt Woods got the breakthrough, having Pooley caught at mid off by Hooper for 39.
The decision to bowl Woods out was justified when he bowled Williams for 55 in his last over. Camborne were 177 for 5 with 10 overs to go.
Karl Turner was caught by Richard Kellow at mid off and when Dan Stephens was also dismissed cheaply by Sean Turner Falmouth sensed victory. Nigel Endean was lbw to David Neville and when Turner claimed his fifth wicket, having Gary Stephens caught behind, it set up a tense finale.
Turner ended with 5 for 39 from 16 overs while Woods took three important top order wickets for 67 runs.
On Saturday Falmouth travel to Hayle for another vital game. They are 15 points adrift of Falmouth who are just a point behind Camborne.
FALMOUTH S Hooper lbw b S Harris 61 S Churcher run out 55 A Angove lbw b S Harris 6 R Edwards lbw b S Curnow 45 A Noott b B Williams 10 S Turner run out 11 R Eccleston not out 7 R Kellow not out 8 Extras 24 Total (6 wkts, 55 overs) 227 Fall: 107-131-139-182-210-217.
Did not bat: D Neville, M Woods, P Whitehead.
Bowling: S Curnow 8-1-39-1, D Stephens 9-1-20-0, G Stephens 4-0-21-0, M Pooley 6-0-27-0, S Harris 16-1-41-2, B Williams 12-1-70-1.
CAMBORNE I Goldsworthy c A Noott b S Turner 25 N King c S Hooper b S Turner 17 K Roberts lbw b M Woods 2 B Williams b M Woods 55 M Pooley c S Hooper b M Woods 39 K Turner c R Kellow b S Turner 11 D Stephens b S Turner 4 S Harris not out 16 N Endean lbw b D Neville 1 G Stephens c A Noott b K Turner 0 S Curnow not out 2 Extras 34 Total (9 wkts, 55 overs) 206 Fall: 34-53-64-161-177-182-189-192-201.
Bowling: A Angove 4-1-13-0, M Woods 16-2-67-3, S Turner 16-2-39-5, S Churcher 2.2-0-21-0, P Whitehead 0.4-0-11-0, D Neville 16-3-45-1.
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