STOKE Gabriel battled back off the ropes against Plymstock and went on to win by 80 runs.

The Villagers recovered from 90 for six to reach 214 for eight thanks to some cavalier batting from their lower-order.

Plymstock were bowled out in response for 130, which consigned them to defeat.

Jack Tolley, the Stoke Gabriel captain, said: “It was a great win. The middle and lower order won us the game. but lots of work to do with the boys at the top getting big scores.”

Tyler Hunter (29) and Mike Smith (25) had the only scores of any consequence for Stoke in a running total of 134 for seven,

Skipper Tolley (29) found some balls to hit, then Liam Mair (41no) and Jake Robinson (32no) boosted the total by adding 69 in the last 10 overs.

Plymstock were handicapped by losing skipper Mitch from their attack in his fifth over with shoulder trouble. He had to retire hurt while batting, which was another blow.

Left-armer Adam Frost took two for 34 from 10. Sam White (2.32) was the cheapest bowler to operate. Rob Cunningham’s (3-61) was skewed by some rough treatment from Kyle Lardner when the ball was newer, then Robinson and Mair when it wasn’t!

“We dug in and got ourselves to a competitive score,” said Tolley. “Jake and Liam batted brilliantly. After doing the hard work they helped themselves to some of the many loose balls at the end.

The Plymstock chase started encouragingly with steady progress to 91 for three through Max Castledine (30) and Frost (29). After that it went downhill in a hurry as spinners Lardner (3-37) and Justin Pringle (3-37) twirled through the middle order.

Cunningham (20) resisted for a while, but when your team is 105 for eight when you go in that won’t change the outcome.

“When bowling we were patient and knew that our spinners could put the pressure on,” said Tolley. Looking forward to what we can do with the bat when everyone fires.” 

Mitch, their captain, said Plymstock had no one to blame other than themselves for the result.

“Stoke Gabriel’s lower order batted better than anyone on either side in the game,” said Mitch.

“We were really good for half our bowling innings then felt a bit less threatening the longer they batted.

“Definitely fancied us to chase it, pitch turned but to come up that short was completely on us.”