Penzance 184-5 (20) beat Falmouth (119 all out) by 65 runs

Falmouth’s hopes of lifting the Vinter Cup for the first time in six years fell at the final hurdle, losing to reigning champions Penzance by 65 runs at Camborne on Wednesday night.

Despite sitting bottom of the Cornwall Premier League with one win from nine games, Falmouth were just one match away from winning the Vinter Cup after earlier wins over St Just, Redruth and Hayle.

But they couldn’t make the final leap to the title after being bowled out for 119 in their pursuit of Penzance’s 185 target.

Man-of-the-match Tommy Sturgess led from the front for Penzance as he scored a fine 66 off just 28 balls before he was caught by Ben Meek off Richard Kellow’s ball.

Dylan Blignaut (8) departed early but Greg Smith and Jack Paull scored 32 apiece, with Antony Angove (20) and Thomas Wells (15) adding a handy 35 runs combined before both were caught by Grant Stone on the way to reaching 184-5.

Stone top-scored with 40 in Falmouth’s reply but saw Scott Kellow (14) and Oliver Paull (3) and Richard Kellow (0) depart.

Ben Meek and Louis Rudin added 12 and 13 respectively but the remaining wickets fell for single-figure returns, with Steve Redwood departing for a golden duck off the final ball of the match to begin Penzance celebrations.

Fall (Penzance): 26-1 Dylan Blignaut (Tommy Sturgess-17*); 89-2 Tommy Sturgess (Antony Angove-14*); 98-3 Antony Angove (Thomas Wells-3*); 126-4 Thomas Wells (Greg Smith-15*); 164-5 Greg Smith (Jack Paull-21*).

Fall (Falmouth): 30-1 Scott Kellow (Grant Stone-16*); 42-2 Oliver Paull (Grant Stone-18*); 43-3 Richard Kellow (Grant Stone-19*); 66-4 Grant Stone (Stefan Churcher-1*); 89-5 Ben Meek (Stefan Churcher-6*); 91-6 Stefan Churcher (James Williamson-0*); 105-7 James Williamson (Louis Rudin-8*); 119-8 Joe Harrington (Louis Rudin-13*); 119-9 Louis Rudin (Steven Redwood-0*); 119-10 Steven Redwood (Aidan Carter-0*).