B Division news: Tolley and Maxwell lead Stoke Gabriel run chase | 'We made a decision to chase the runs positively which suits our batters' – Tolley

STOKE Gabriel raced and chased to a four-wicket win over Ipplepen in the derby clash at Moor Lane.

Skipper Jack Tolley (49) and Kingsbridge old boy Adriaan Maxwell (43) were at the forefront of the chase to make 199 to win.

Stoke raced to victory with almost 10 overs to spare, despite Ash Harvey’s (4-19) attempts to slow them down. Isaac Withington was 30 not out when the winning runs were dispatched.

Pens’ total of 198 for nine was centred round a stoic knock of 49 from 80 balls posted by Reuben Stanley. There were runs either side from Jono Colgate (30) and Toby Holroyd (40), who put on 74 with Stanley.

There were two wickets each for Withington, Maxwell and Sanjog Dabholkar.

Tolley said keeping Ipplepen sub-200 was a key ingredient in the winning mix. He added: “We made a decision to chase the runs positively which suits our batters.

“We have plenty more to give as s team with bat and ball which is exciting.”

Tolley said Maxwell’s debut performance with bat and ball bodes well for the rest of the season.

“Adriaan is going to be exciting to watch this year,” predicted Tolley.

Matt Beasant, Tolley’s opposite number, gave an honest appraisal of Pens’ shortcomings.

“We were nowhere near our best in all three aspects,” said Beasant. 

“We were a little under par with the bat, fielded pretty averagely and bowled poorly on the whole.”

[O} PLYMSTOCK bounced back from their first-day defeat at Stoke Gabriel with a gritty two-wicket win over Budleigh Salterton.

Budleigh’s 45-over total of 209 for seven looked well within Plymstock’s reach when they were 184 for three in reply with more than eight overs to go.

Skipper Tom Mitch (46) and in-form Josh Sumner (66) appeared to have broken the back of the chase during a partnership that added 142 for the fourth wicket.

It looked less of a certainty four overs later when Plymstock were 188 for seven having lost four wickets for four runs, including two in four balls to Joel Murphy (2-36).

Having seem off Murphy, and Ryan Harris-Cotton (3-27), Plymstock got over the line with one ball to spare in the final over thanks to a scampered single by Rob Cunningham, whose 20-run partnership with Fraser Cowen (15no) probably made the difference between winning and losing.

Mitch said the manner of the victory was encouraging after the disappointing batting display at Stoke Gabriel.

“It was a good chase that will fill us with lots of confidence going forward,” said Mitch.

“A couple of good partnerships a game going forward will put us in a good position.”

Budleigh’s top six all made 20 or more, but lacked a greater score to build a higher total on.

Sam Whitehead booked 34 not out and Lloyd Murrin was next best with 30. 

Tyrese Karelse (2-33) as the only Plymstock bowler to take more than one wicket. Mitch (1-29) and Cowen (1-24) were frugal in the extreme.

“We did very well to restrict Budleigh to just over 200,” said Mitch. “Fraser bowled exactly how I wanted him to, and took a great catch at gully.”

Ed Doble, the Budleigh captain, was forthright in his post-match comments.

“It was a disappointing result after putting a decent score on the board,” said Doble.

“A couple of Plymstock’s batters applied themselves – and our bowling through the middle was simply not good enough.”