Saturday, May 15ECB Cornwall Premier League (match reduced to 43 overs)Callington (158 all out)Penzance (190-8)CALLINGTON started their league campaign against reigning champions Penzance, and despite losing by 32 runs, they equipped themselves well and there is plenty of room for optimism, writes Lewis Bond.

The start was delayed until 1.45pm due to earlier showers, and the match reduced to 43 overs a side.

Joe White won the toss and predictably asked the visitors to bat. They lost Giles Lawrence in the first over, bowled by Robert Mutch, and Jack Paull also went cheaply, bowled by spinner Matt Petherbridge.

Anthony Angove was looking in good form, and he made 45 from 49 balls, before falling lbw to Dan Davis. After that, wickets continued to fall, but the innings was held together by ex-Leicestershire man Tom Wells. He started steadily, and his 50 came off 77 balls in 115 minutes, but wickets were falling at the other end.

Davis bowled Dan Lello for a single, and Aidan Libby picked up the prized wicket of Greg Smith for a duck, caught behind by Rhys Davies.

Rhys Brownfield made 11 before being bowled by Mutch, and when Sam Pengelly bowled Charlie Goldsworthy, the score was 116-7 and a modest total seemed likely.

Wells, however, had other ideas and, with seven overs left, he broke loose. He was finally run out on 91 from even balls, including five fours and six sixes, but by then the Penzance score had raced to a challenging 186. Jon Ludlam remained not out on a dozen as Callington were set a target of 191 to win. Davis took 2-8 and Mutch 2-20. The Callington reply started brightly enough. Libby scored a quick 16 before holing out to Paull off Glyn Furnival.

Davis fell to an lbw decision off the bowling of Lello, and Luke Brenton went soon after, thanks to another Paull catch off ex-Werrington man Tom Dinnis.

Davies and Kian Burns took the score up to 76, when Davies was caught by Wells off Ludlam. Ollie Allsop joined Burns and they took the score on to 110, when Burns was bowled by former Essex County cricketer Smith, for 31.

Allsop was looking assured and on 18 when he was out to a wonder catch by Smith off Lello’s bowling.

Everyone thought the ball had cleared Smith, but he turned and ran before diving forwards and catching the ball which was coming over his shoulder.

Smith was also bowling his frugal offspin from the pavilion end, and mopped up the wickets of White, Mutch and Petherbridge.

Sam Pengelly had made 26, but he was run out going for a second, to end the Callington reply on a credible 158. Smith took 4-19 from 8.3 overs and Lello 2-27 from 7.

Penzance (19 points) beat Callington (7) by 32 runs.