JACK Tolley and Anand Abhishek both hit half-centuries and more for Stoke Gabriel in a four-wicket win over Ipplepen.

Pens were all out for 226 in the 43rd of their 45 overs with Jono Colgate making a top score of 79. Colgate – a mid-season arrival from Torquay & Kingskerswell – was reappearing after a six-game absence and looked as if he had never been away.

Nathan Forde (24) was the only other batter to pass 20, although there were a collection of near misses, such as Sam Wakeham (18), Marcus Gadie (17) and Reuben Stanley (17).

Mike Smith was Stoke’s leading bowler with a four-for-43 haul that included his former South Devon team-mate Matt Beasant.

Tolley (65) and Abhishek (72) put Stoke on course for victory during a stand of 133 for the second wicket. Liam Mair (48no) took Stoke the rest of the way.

Dom Durman (2-34) was the lone Ipplepen bowler to take more than one wicket.

Stoke’s 11th league win of the season was enough to secure fourth place in the final table. Jake Robinson’s side were promotion candidates until the final month of the season when results suffered a downturn.

Robinson, who led the side to promotion from the C Division West this time last year, said: “I think there can be a bit of disappointment that we didn't take it to the final week from where we were but, overall, got to be happy with the season.

“But I think we are short of at least one batsman that could make 3-400 runs.”

Ipplepen on the other hand finished in sixth in the B Division, with neither promotion or relegation having been a possibility in the latter stages of the campaign.