Five wickets for Withington help Stoke Gabriel to 'unlikely' win | 'We were disappointed with 107, but we knew if we bowled well on that pitch, it was probably enough' – Jack Tolley

STOKE Gabriel pulled-off an unlikely 24-run win over Barton after being bowled out themselves for 107.

A procession of Stoke batters came and went for scores in the teens as the Villagers slid to 58 for five then 80 for eight. Best of the batch were Abhishek Anand (17) and Mike Smith (16).

Will Culver managed 23 and was party to stands that added 33 while Muhammad Basit (4-16) worked through the tail. No other Barton bowler took more than one wicket.

Barton soon ran into problems against Stoke paceman Isaac Withington (5-45) as they crumbled to 38 for five in reply.

Smith (2-6) kept the pressure on, then Stoke skipper Jack Tolley (1-21) and spinner Justin Pringle (2-12) applied further pressure.

Barton only managed two double figure scores on the way to 83 all out: a pair of patient 15s from youngsters Devan Sinha and Riley Calland.

Nick Watkin, deputising as skipper for the absent Steve Lewis, said: “We bowled and fielded well, as we have all season, but our bating was largely poor on a tricky wicket to score runs on, as the scoreboard shows.”

Jack Tolley, the Stoke skipper, was more specific in his post-match comments.

“The pitch didn’t let either side play their best cricket,” said Tolley. 

At half way we were disappointed with 107, but we knew if we bowled well on that pitch, it was probably enough. And it was. 

“It was probably the worst pitch I have ever played on. Batting was near impossible at points with so much seam movement and huge amounts of turn.

“Happy to get the win and keep our run going.”

Stoke stay second in the B Division table going into the second half of the season, which takes them to lowly Braunton this Saturday.

Barton, three points and one rung above the relegation zone, are away to Plympton.