STOKEINTEIGNHEAD made it four wins on the trot in the E Division West with a narrow two-wicket verdict over bottom side Dartington & Totnes.

They have forced their way into the promotion reckoning and are only two points behind second-placed Tavistock 2nd XI with 40 left to play for against Cornwood 3rd XI and champs-in-waiting Abbotskerswell 2nd XI.

Openers Jono Lloyd (76) and Justin Osborne (23) gave D&T a decent start, which was built on by Jon Perkin (30) and Javin Raj (22no) towards a total of 192 for five.

Chacko John (3-25) was Stoke’s most successful bowler. Jamie Clinkett and Lishoy George both operated well below four runs an over.

It looked like a done deal when Stoke were 167 for three in reply with runs in the laptop for Hugo Longrigg (69), Joe Liyo (52) and Paul Russell (24).

Losing five wickets for just two runs left Stoke in all sorts of trouble at 169 for eight. Osborne (3-23) and Stuart Featham (2-44) did the damage.

George got his head down for an unbeaten 19 that saw Stoke to victory early in the 31st over.

IN THE B Division meanwhile, the relegation trap door finally swung open underneath Abbotskerswell 1st XI after they lost by two wickets at Plymstock.

Mathematics had provided Abbots with a stay of execution, not that anyone at Two Mike Oak expected a reprieve.

The drop became inevitable in the wake of defeat number 13 this season, which left Abbots 57 points adrift with just 40 to play for.

Opener James Tyler (46) just missed out on a third successive half-century for Abbotskerswell in their 45-over total of 165 for nine.

Jamie Lock made 32 – he and Tyler put on 79 for the second wicket, and Niall McCarthy added 26.

Ian Whalley finally removed Tyler and went on to claim four for 27. Tom Mitch took two for 27.

Anthony Miller (3-53) and Tyler (2-21) promptly reduced Plymstock to 41 for five in reply.

Josh Sumner (24) and Alex Thomas (24) hauled it back to 99 for six before the former was dismissed.

The match-winning stand was one of 44 for the eighth wicket between Archie Hall (27no) and Rob Cunningham (16). Billy Gibson (8no) was in at the end and hit Jake Fox for four to clinch it.

IPPLEPEN’S relegation worries increased after they lost by 93 runs at Clyst St George.

The only consolation for skipper Matt Beasant, who sat out the game due to injury, is that none of the three sides directly above his won either, but the games are running out.

Wiehann Meyer’s five-for-25 bowling return helped dismiss Ipplepen for 168, paving the way for a win that keeps St George in with a promotion shout.

Meyer’s batting glitch – out first ball to Aiden Phillips – was quickly forgotten as Chris Ferro (75) and Andrew Donovan (104no) took Clyst to 261 for four. Their stand of 162 for the fourth wicket was crucial.

Seven bowlers had a trundle for the Pens. Henry Alsop finally removed Ferro on 219 after a 29-ball stay.

Ipplepen were holed below the waterline at 35 for five before Meyer finished with them – and were 61 for six when he had.

It looked all over at 95 for nine – Donovan and Bertie Creer among the wickets – but not quite.

Sam Wakeham belted the bowling for 83 off 40 balls –11 fours, five sixes – before Donovan had him caught on the boundary at ‘cow-shot corner’.