WERRINGTON somehow managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday as they edged out strugglers St Just by two runs in the ECB Cornwall Premier League.

Chasing 219, the West Cornwall outfit were seemingly cruising to victory at Ladycross with just 11 required off the final three overs and with six wickets in-hand.

However, once Gareth May was controversially given out lbw to Adam Hodgson and centurion Neil Curnow was taken by Mark Taskis on the off-side boundary off Sam Hockin, St Just’s new batsmen struggled to get the ball away as they closed on 216-7.

Earlier, Werrington were sent into bat and were thankful for a fine fifth-wicket stand of 122 between former captains Paul Smith and Ben Smeeth.

John Moon made 18 before edging behind, while Sri Lankan spinner Chamikara Edirisinghe proved difficult to get away for his 2-17 off 10.

An arm ball bowled a cutting Mark Gribble for nought before he got the big wicket of fellow countryman Thulina Dilshan who top-edged a sweep out to Joe Clifton-Griffith at deep square-leg.

Adam Hodgson edged Joe Gore through to stand-in keeper Mark Waters for a patient 36, but Smith and Smeeth rebuilt the innings.

Smith made 62 from 79 balls until he toed a low full-toss from off-spinner Gareth May to Neil Curnow at cover, while Smeeth’s 50, which came off just 60 deliveries, ended when he was bowled by the evergreen Ben Stevens (2-29).

Skipper Nick Lawson added a crucial 14 not out at the end as they reached 218-7.

Needing less than 4.5 to the over, St Just were seemingly cruising to victory despite a slow start.

Opener Scott Harvey was bowled sweeping Adam Hodgson for 14, but Neil Curnow and Ellis May kept the scoreboard ticking before May (36) was caught and bowled by Ben Smeeth at 117-2.

Edirisinghe managed just a single before he advanced to Smeeth and was bowled, but Logan Curnow joined his dad to add 43.

Curnow senior was going up through the gears, while Logan made 21 from just 14 before being caught on the cover fence by Dilshan.

Gareth May joined his long-time team-mate at the crease and made 23 at a run-a-ball before being adjudged to have been trapped in front, and when Curnow departed for 107 having struck four fours and five sixes, Werrington twisted the knife.

Four was required off the last ball, however Joe Clifton-Griffith could only get a single as the village outfit moved up to second, 16 points behind neighbours Callington.

Reflecting on the dramatic afternoon, skipper Nick Lawson said: “The wicket was a bit damp and we were in a bit of trouble at 70-odd for four, so to get up and beyond 200 was a good effort, and although there was a short boundary one side, we felt if we bowled well and got a couple of early wickets it would be tough.

“We didn’t get those, but we never let them get away, and although they should have won it with the position we got into, we knew if we could get a couple of new batsmen in it’d be tough. We got it up to six an over for the last couple and thankfully it was enough.

Werrington go to fourth-placed Wadebridge on Saturday (1pm) after the Swans were beaten at leaders Callington.