Rain saves Mullion from defeat

Mullion 1s could be forgiven for thinking Saturday's encounter with Falmouth would be a formality after crushing their opponents inside 75 minutes at home five weeks previously. In the end, a sluggish Mullion 1s were thankful for the heavens opening. The team seemed hungover from the previous day's excitement, coaching with Mike Atherton in front of Sky Sports' cameras.

The league leaders never got going throughout the Falmouth innings, despite some bright bowling from Charleston and Cuff early. Despite an early wicket, poor fielding and dropped catches allowed Falmouth to build a useful score and Mullion sensed this might not be their day. A tired looking side headed to the pavilion needing 219 to win, taking only two Falmouth wickets.

They needed a good start, denied when opener Phil Wheatley was bowled second ball for nought. The skipper, Jim Pearson, entered the frame to join fellow opener Trevor Lee and the pair began to get on top of the Falmouth attack until Lee on 29 played down the wrong line to Dale Knowles and had his stumps dismantled.

Clouds grew and the wind picked up, Mullion knew that chasing the total was not going to be easy. Then Falmouth introduced Fern Nicholls, a young girl, into the attack. Mullion's waiting batsmen were keen to see this new bowler off, not to be the one "who got out to a girl" But Fern's medium swing got the better of both the skipper, caught behind, and Kevin Bosustow caught at mid wicket. Mullion slumped to 72 for 4.

Brothers Keith and Paul Warbis came to the wicket and patiently reconstructed the Mullion innings. Then the rain began. Mullion believed they had been rescued but the brothers wanted to win, not draw, and with the Falmouth skipper desperate for point, play continued (much to the annoyance of some of the Mullion players). The pair had added 70 in no time and Mullion sensed victory was still on despite the difficult conditions. Then older brother Keith was caught and bowled for 30 and Mullion still 78 short.

The light continued to fade and the wicket become slippery. Paul Warbis conceded defeat to the weather with a well constructed and undefeated 50. Mullion ended on 164 for 5 after 40 overs and were delighted to take 11 points from a game they were outplayed in. Significant improvements are needed to remain on course for the Division 5 title with matches against the top four just around the corner.

Mullion 2s game was cancelled due to Veryan dropping out of the league.

Falmouth 3s† 218-2 in 48 ov (P Stephens 78*, D Knowles 49*, J Richardson 45); Mullion 1s 164-5 in 40 ov (P Warbis 50*, K Warbis 30). Match abandoned as a draw.