STOKE Gabriel did themselves a favour when they defeated Abbotskerswell by 50 runs.

It was a win Stoke needed to put some distance between themselves and the wrong end of the table, which is now 19 points behind them.

For Abbots, now 37 points adrift at the bottom, it was another defeat closer to a second successive relegation.

Stoke bat a long way down the order, which was demonstrated by a 45-over total of 286 for seven.

Opener Justin Pringle (22) and Abhishek Anand (31) got the innings started. Mike Meech (41) kicked on to 165 for seven, then eight and nine batters Liam Mair (69no) and Jake Robinson (57no) added 121 unbroken in the final 15 overs.

Anthony Miller (4-49) was Abbots’ most successful bowler.

Opener James Tyler (52) gave Abbots some stability at one end and Jamie Lock (35) followed sit at the other during a stand of 76.

Mair had some unfinished business with Abbots as he came on and took four wickets for 51 runs – three in the space of 11 legal balls –to rip out the middle order.

Tom Heath (44) and Max Yates (21no) tried to resume the chase, but too much damage had been done and Abbots subsided to 236 for nine.

For Stoke skipper Jack Tolley it was another step in the right direction after the win over Braunton seven days earlier.

"That’s two important wins in two weeks,” said Tolley.

“Miller bowled brilliantly up top before Isaac Withington and Mike Meech negated him and steadied the innings for a bit. 

“We looked precarious again at 114 for six, but Liam and Jake took the game away from Abbots.”