Anand (pictured) steers Stoke Gabriel to team-of-the-day win over Braunton with unbeaten ton | 'Abhi batted brilliantly. It was probably one of the best innings I've ever seen' – Jack Tolley

STOKE Gabriel turned in a team-of-the-day performance in the Tolchards DCL B Division when they knocked off 333 to win against Braunton with just two balls to spare and three wickets in hand.

Stoke needed 40 to win from the final five overs and had opener Abhishek Anand already past a hundred.

It looked like a done deal until the penultimate over when James Lake only went for three runs, which left six balls to face from Jason Raynor, four Stoke wickets intact and seven required to win it. 

Raynor dismissed Jack Smith two balls in to add a bit more drama to proceedings. Sean Rooney scampered a single from the next delivery, which put Anand on strike with five needed and three balls left. Anand launched the next ball for six to win the game and take his personal tally to 148 not out.

The chase started with a stand of 133 between Stoke skipper Jack Tolley (62) and Anand, which was topped by Dan Duke (24) during another partnership worth 65.

Losing four wickets for 10 runs during a mini slide to 208 for five slowed Stoke’s pursuit for a while. Liam Mair (65) and Anand revived it with a key stand of 112 for the sixth wicket that made the game winnable.

Braunton’s tally of 332 for four was constructed around two big partnerships, both featuring Callum Mitchell.

Mitchell and Sam Bithell (78) added 155 for the third wicket to take the running total to 232 for three. Mitchell went on to reach a century in a further stand of 89 with in-form left-hander Theo Valeri (60 off 30 balls).

Winning captain Tolley said: “What an incredible game! 

“Braunton batted very well on an absolute road and at the halfway stage we knew we would have to go some to chase 330-odd. 

“Abhi batted brilliantly. It was probably one of the best innings I've ever seen.

“Liam Mair's knock was brilliant too. He took the pressure off Abhi and got us back to a manageable rate.”

Having edged close encounters themselves against Clyst St George and Bovey Tracey, Braunton skipper Sam Reddick was pragmatic about the outcome.

“Another tight game, but this time we came out on the losing side,” said Reddick.

“It was fantastic to see our top order apply themselves and launch us to a huge total on a very, very good batting deck.

“We are still struggling to make early inroads with the ball, and dropping early chances isn't going to help that.

“Again we were undone by a fantastic hundred in a run chase. Abhishek paced his innings perfectly.”