Aveton Gifford CC 52 all out,

Stoke Fleming win by nine wickets

The wet weather had earlier in the season prevented Stoke from mounting a defence of the Mills Village Shield against Slapton and then Harberton.

However, a rare sunny afternoon allowed this fixture, against visitors Aveton Gifford, to be played and Stoke ran out convincing winners by nine wickets to retain the trophy.

The visitors fielded a side that was weakened by the loss of a number of players to the extent that they were only able to field ten men, and were below this number when the match commenced. Aveton Gifford skipper Keith Beaumont won the toss and to allow for late arriving players, opted to bat on a drying pitch.

These conditions saw Stoke get on top from the very first over when Noel Edmonds trapped Graham Luckhurst lbw for a duck.

Edmonds and Dan Hardy, from the other end, had the visitors' batsmen pegged down with some accurate bowling, and this led to another wicket when Hardy had P. Shephard caught by Glen Black at square leg for three, and the visitors were 5 for 2.

Their number three batsman, J. Shephard, decided that attack was the best form of defence and proceeded to hit Hardy for 11 runs in one over.

Hardy responded by conceding just three runs in his next three overs, and then getting his second wicket when he bowled Dyke for two.

This ended a partnership of 30 with Shephard and when he was bowled by new bowler 'Tiger' Tim Robinson, for a well-hit, top-scoring 30, Aveton Gifford had slumped to 36 for 4.

They were not able to recover from this point and two wickets from Mike Perkin, and three more for Robinson, saw their 10 men end their innings on 52 all out in the 28th over.

Cooling was the only AG batsman, along with Shephard, to reach double figures.

Robinson's superb spell of four for six from 5.3 overs was the pick of a very good bowling effort from Stoke, who took full advantage of the helpful conditions.

With a low score to chase, skipper Eddie Church was able to change his batting order and send out young Ted Duberley and his brother Sam to get the Stoke reply under way.

Shephard, who was particularly lively, and Beaumont opened the AG attack but couldn't get the early breakthrough they desperately needed.

The Duberleys had put on 33 runs together before Ted was caught for three, having given solid support in the opening partnership.

It only remained for new batsman Dan Hardy, together with Sam Duberley, to complete the job just two overs later, as they finished on 10 and 32 not out respectively, giving Stoke a comfortable victory.

Thanks go to match sponsor Max Bygrave.

Next Sunday, 2pm start, Stoke make the short journey to local rivals Slapton, for another defence of the Mills Village Shield.