Falmouth's seven-match ECB Premier League winning streak came to an abrupt end on Saturday, and even more disappointingly for the Trescobeas outfit, they lost to probably their closest challengers Newquay.

Despite staying top of the Premier League, Falmouth have undoubtedly missed a gilt-edged opportunity to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

Having won the toss, Falmouth captain Sean Hooper made the difficult decision to bat first on what look to be a track that was unlikely to improve throughout the afternoon. The visitors lost David Roberts in the first over as he tried to repeat the pull shot that had earned him six runs earlier in the over, but was, at the second attempt, caught at fine leg.

Larry Martin was then joined by Hooper and the pair made steady progress as they put on 65 for the second wicket before Martin played on for 13.

Having lost Adrian Noott early, Falmouth relied on the experienced pair of Hooper and Steve Williams to take them past the 100 mark, but Williams fell for 19 and soon after when Hooper picked out Barry Purchase at mid wicket to end a very impressive 60 in far from ideal batting conditions, Falmouth found themselves struggling to post a competitive total. It was only a seventh wicket partnership of 53 between Sean Turner and Greg Stephens that enabled Falmouth to reach 179.

Stephens made a quick fire 30 whilst Turner made an equally rapid 32 before being run out of the last ball of the innings, ironically the seventh ball of the final over.

Newquay's reply was heavily reliant on the vastly experienced Barry Purchase who made a faultless 68 not out to hold the innings together as all around him seemed willing to trade only in boundaries.

Newquay started steadily enough with Tim Marrion and Tim Walton putting on 27 for the first wicket before both fell to David Roberts for 21 and 10 respectively. Falmouth looked to be in with a chance as Roberts claimed a further two quick wickets to reduce the home side to 64-5. Ryan Driver was brilliantly stumped down the leg side by Mark Burley and when David Toseland picked up two wickets Falmouth looked to be in the driving seat.

However Purchase found willing partners in Jacques who quickly compiled 29 before being caught at long on by Roberts and Hancock who made 19 before falling to Tony Matthews. Those runs were enough to clinch victory for an elated Newquay.

FALMOUTH

D Roberts c A Hancock b R Driver 6

L Martin b R Harrison 13

S Hooper c B Purchase b N Ivamy 60

A Noott c B Purchase b N Ivamy 1

S Williams c T Walton b R Harrison 19

R Eccleston lbw b R Harrison 2

S Turner run out 32

G Stephens b S Jacques 30

T Matthews c T Marrion b S Mitchell 0

M Burley not out 1

Extras 14

Total (9wkts) 179

Fall: 6-71-86-106 -108-115-168-175-179.

Bowling: R Driver 7-1-18-1, S Jacques 14-3-49-1, R Harrison 16-7-28-3, N Ivamy 11-3-45-2, S Mitchell 7-0-34-1.

NEWQUAY

T Marrion lbw b D Roberts 21

T Walton c S Turner b D Roberts 10

B Purchase not out 68

R Driver st M Burley b DRoberts 14

R Harrison b D Roberts 0

O Turnbull st M Burley b D Toseland 3

S Jacques c D Roberts b G

Stephens 29

A Hancock c R Eccleston b T

Matthews 19

S Mitchell c M Burley b D Toseland 0

P Bolland not out 0

Extras 12

Total (8wkts) 180

Fall: 27-38-61-61-64-123-159-162.

Bowling: S Turner 5-0-21-0, T Matthews 11-2-45-1, D Roberts 9-0-32-4, G Stephens 7-0-24-1, D Toseland 12-3-51-2.