STOKE Gabriel’s flickering hopes of pinching a promotion place out of the B Division were snuffed out by a six-wicket defeat at Barton.

Jake Robinson, the Stoke captain, said despite missing out on promotion it has been “A great season” for the club.

“We have come up into a new division and exceeded expectations,” continued Robinson.

Stoke totalled 149-9 in a game reduced to 35 overs a side due to pre-match rain.

Barton’s fielding was top-of-the-range stuff with Tom Drake’s one-handed catch running away from batsman Abhishek Anand the highlight.

Barton could not have wished for a worse start with bat in hand – opener Shaun Needham out first ball to Justin Pringle (3-20) – but they had time on their side and used it wisely.

Tari Masakanda (43) and Nick Watkin took the chase to 111 for three, which was where Drake took over, making 42 not out from 71 balls, guiding his side to victory with 14 balls to spare.