WERRINGTON missed the chance to close the gap to leaders Callington on Saturday to a point as they collapsed to defeat at Helston.

Chasing 138 at Beacon Parc, the villagers were well set at 74-3 with Adam Hodgson going well on 35, but once he departed they had no answer to the home spinners as they lost their final seven wickets for just 30.

Earlier, seven wickets fell to slow bowling, but a brilliant 50 from youngster Bryn Evans saw the home side rally from 93-9.

With rain washing out the majority of games across the county, play got underway at 2.10pm as a 40-over contest.

Helston chose to bat but lost skipper Dan Jenkin in the first over, edging Dan Barnard behind to wicketkeeper Nick Lawson.

Billy Taylor soon followed when he picked out Ben Jenkin on the square-leg fence off the off-spin of Mark Taskis, but the hosts gradually rebuilt via Steve Jenkin and Karl Leathley.

Leathley was bowled on the reverse sweep by the wily Ben Smeeth (2-24) for 10, and when dangerous Australian Jayden Mitchell was run-out by Adam Hodgson for 11 via a deflection at the non-strikers end, it was 65-4.

The home side then imploded as county skipper Paul Smith, enjoying a rare bowl with his off-spin, dismissed Mark Jenkin for a third ball nought.

Steve Jenkin picked out namesake Ben off Smith (3-39) for 37, and when Harry Saunders was caught and bowled by Taskis (2-14) it was 86-7.

Lewis Stephens and Oliver Black made just a single apiece, but Evans found support from last man Ryan Tonkin.

Tonkin made six not out from eight balls, but Evans struck six fours and a six to reach a 39-ball half century which only ended when he was caught by Smeeth off Barnard (2-11) in the final over.

Chasing at Helston isn’t easy and John Moon went with 12 on the board when he edged Mitchell behind to Taylor.

Paul Smith went up the order in the absence of regular number three Mark Gribble, but he could only make 10 before getting a leading edge to cover off Evans’ left-arm spin.

Evans got the big wicket of Thulina Dilshan who gloved a sweep onto his thigh, and when Hodgson edged Saunders’ leg-spin behind, it was game on.

Helston then turned the screw as Tom Lyle edged to slip, Ben Jenkin picked out cover, and George Rickard was run-out for just two.

It became 86-8 when Lawson was lbw on the sweep to Saunders who then had Barnard caught at long-on with 90 on the board.

Smeeth (11no) and Taskis ensured a second batting point by getting the total over 100, but with a soaring run-rate, Taskis chipped a catch into the leg-side.

Reflecting on the afternoon, skipper Nick Lawson said: “After losing the toss I’d have snapped your hand off to be chasing 140-odd. We bowled really well collectively, but fair play to Evans, he came in and played positively and gave them a chance.

“As for the chase, in hindsight we probably got it wrong by sitting in and thinking we could just bat through the 40 overs. But when the scoreboard isn’t going anywhere and you lose wickets in clusters it becomes very difficult.”

Werrington host St Just on Saturday (1pm).