STOKE Gabriel thrashed Plymstock by nine wickets to take another step closer to promotion.

The Villagers are nine points clear of Bideford at the top of the table and have a 23-point advantage over third-placed Seaton in a division with two promotion slots.

Jack Tolley, the Stoke captain, hasn’t banned promotion talk in the dressing room. But he is sticking largely to the one-game-at-a-time rule.

“With four games to go we know promotion is in our hands but we won’t be looking any further ahead than Ashburton this Saturday,” said Tolley.

Plymstock were skittled for a paltry 80 with no single batsman making more than the 24 extras Stoke gave away. Max Castledene’s dozen was as good as it got.

Stoke skipper Tolley reaped a five-for-17 haul. Kyle Lardner and Mike Smith had two wickets each.

Openers Justin Pringle (52no) and Travis Hunter (20) knocked-off 63 of the runs Stoke needed to win it.

“At halfway, 80 didn’t look a bad score the way the pitch had played, but Justin and Tyler were very watchful and put away any loose balls,” said Tolley.

Stoke Gabriel 2nd XI were also in action and they defeated Whitchurch Wayfarers by 44 runs to send them back into the E Division West bottom two.

Skipper Dan Bullock hit 81 not out – eight sixes, six fours – for Stoke as they reached 185 for eight. Jack de-Vere (2) and Kai Horsburgh (23) chipped in.

Berren Royce-Rogers (3-50) took wickets while Nathan Prout (1-33), Peter Williams (1-18) and Richard Potts (2-35) got through nine economical overs each.

Dave Swabey’s 24 was the best of the batting for Whitchurch, who were bowled out for 141 by Chris Harrison with a six-wicket haul.

If Harrison (6-15) didn’t get them, Harriet Duke (3-34) probably did!