STOKE Gabriel showed Clyst St George no mercy on the way to a 219-run win over the B Division strangers.

Stoke raced away to 308 for seven in 50 overs – openers Justin Pringle and Tyler Hunter kicking-off with a stand of 151 – then skittled Clyst for just 89.

Par Singh, the CSG captain, said there were mitigating factors in this defeat, but he wasn’t offering them as an excuse.

“With a depleted attack on a good batting wicket we did well to restrict Stoke to 309,” said Singh. “When they were 158 for none after 20 overs we were thinking 400 was on for them.

“They batted very well on a good wicket and with good shot selection.”

Dismissing Pringle (78) then Hunter (63) slowed the run-rate fractionally, although Abhishek Anand (28), Jack Tolley (24) and Adriaan Maxwell (34) kept the board ticking over. Mike Meech belted 26 not out at the end.

Wickets were shared between Inder Singh (2-34), Par Singh (2-56) and Charlie Taylor (2-74).

Clyst lost opener Taylor to the first ball after tea – caught and bowled by Maxwell (2-9) – and limped along to 66 for five. Tolley had two for 25 in that scoreline.

The end came in a hurry with sixth man out Harry Attwater the first of five wickets to tumble on the way from 80 for five to 89 all out in the space of 14 balls. Meech (3-7) hastened the end with two wickets in an over.

Tolley said it was an efficiently won game despite selection difficulties throughout the club.

“Our batters batted time and we made sure to build partnerships throughout our innings.”

He added, “Still looking for someone to go big, but when you get 300 there cannot be many complaints.

“Missing our three main seamers Adriaan Maxwell used the new ball brilliantly then the spinners bowled tight and picked up wickets as we went along.

“Mike Meech bowled well for his three wickets.

“Tougher tests to come though, starting with Plympton this weekend.”