TRURO shocked Penzance by 39 runs to deny their opponents the title and move level on points with second bottom St Just.

The home side knew 18 points would secure a fourth crown in the last five years, and when Truro slipped to 46-5 with Tommy Sturgess (4-43) and Mehran Sanwal (4-51) in the wickets, it looked like the hosts would be champions.

But Indian pro Akhilesh Sahani shared a 150-run stand with Adam Price who made 53, and with Wilf Bartlett adding 28, Truro reached 279 all out. Sahani’s 120 came off 127 balls and included 12 fours and five sixes.

Penzance also struggled early on as they slipped to 36-3 and 79-5.

Grant Stone made 55, but at 182-9 the game looked up.

Last man Tom Dinnis plundered 58 from just 37 balls to give the hosts a chance, but Scott Kellow (3-38) had him caught behind to spark wild celebrations from the visitors.

Truro moved on to 168 points – level with St Just – who lost by four wickets at third-placed Helston.

The eight-time champions soon themselves 29-5 against pacemen Ryan Tonkin (4-38) and Sunny Osmont (2-33), although the lower order dug in which included 28 from Logan Curnow, to reach 125 all out.

Left-arm spinner Brad Bury took 2-23 on his final appearance at Beacon Parc.

Helston slipped to 47-5 with Ben Stevens (3-10) and Chamikara Edirisinghe (3-25) running riot.

But Cornwall left-hander Karl Leathley (63no) shared a 60-run stand with Tom Mitchell (25) to effectively seal the game.

Truro’s final game is a home date with Grampound Road who are just 10 points ahead, while St Just welcome Penzance in the biggest West Cornwall derby in years.

The Roadies missed the chance to guarantee safety following a seven-wicket defeat to Redruth.

Grampound were missing Dave Hoskings and key man Antony Angove and were restricted to just 186 all out, nobody made more than Harry Matthews’ 42. Spinners Dulash Udayanga (4-42) and Piran Kent (3-41) shared seven wickets.

Out of form Redruth changed their order around and it worked.

The promoted Lloyd Brock (67) and Toby Stoddard (59) shared a stand of 125, and although they slipped to 140-3, Udayanga (22no) and Toby Whiteford (19no) made no mistake.

Penzance need seven points to be sure of the title after second-placed Wadebridge fought back to beat Callington who need just three points on the final day to be safe.

Wadebridge were reeling at 74-7 before Matt Rowe’s superb 82 and lower order runs from Matt Lawrence (37) and Elliot Dunnett (27) got them up to 202 all out. Seamers Mohammed Danyaal (3-35) and Ben Alford (2-22 off 3) did much of the work.

Cally got off to a flyer through Ben Allsop (42), and although skipper Graham Wagg (47) and Max Tryfonos (53) got starts, the hosts took wickets throughout to restrict Cally to 191-9. James Turpin took 4-41, while Lawrence’s brilliant afternoon continued with 2-19 from his 10.

St Austell all but guaranteed fourth after a two-wicket victory over visiting Werrington.

The Saints bowlers dismissed the Tron for just 143 which included three-fers for Ben Sleeman (3-39) and Andrew Libby (3-32).

St Austell were flying at 68-1 and 111-3 through Thevindu Dickwella (51) and Mike Bone (18), but some late wickets made it closer than it should have been.