Stoke Fleming 263 for 6 beat Red Dogs 180 all out by 83 runs

Last bank holiday weekend Stoke Fleming played two back-to-back home games on the Sunday and Monday and won both.

On Sunday they faced their usual combatants on a spring bank holiday Sunday, Red Dogs from Blackheath, and won by 83 runs.

Stoke batted first and openers John Hardy and Steve Edmonds made a brisk start with a fifty partnership after just eight overs.

The stand was broken in the next over when Hardy (39) was caught off the bowling of youngster Eddie Gill and James Fletcher replaced him. Fletcher and Edmonds then both batted very well, punishing the bad ball and each comfortably reached their half centuries.

In turn, with the Stoke score well into three figures, they both retired; Edmonds for 52 and Fletcher (who must not have been aware of how close he was to a ton) on 92.

"Tiger" Tim Robinson looked as though he'd also mark up a fifty but was caught by Raj Khanna for 31. Stoke by now had passed 200 and the middle and lower order batters added more runs as they completed their 40 overs on 263 for 6.

The Dogs knew they had a stiff target to overhaul and this was made tougher when, in only his second over, Dan Hardy clean bowled Luke Peto for 1.

This brought Johnny Young to the crease, a batsman who had previously scored a century against Stoke in the past and possibly the Dogs' main hope of chasing down their target.

Noel Edmonds, though, quickly removed two of his partners; bowling both Hutcheon (29) and Marshall (2) and then Young himself, for 33 and the visitors were 71 for 4. When a fifth wicket, John Hankinson (10), fell from a Duberley brothers' combination, Ted bowling and Sam taking the catch, it seemed like an early finish was on the cards.

But the Dogs showed their resilience in the shape of Nigel Birrell (28) and Paul Poustey (46), who put together a solid fifty partnership, taking the score on to 141 before they were both sent back to the pavilion, Gil Garland accounting for both of them.

Firstly Birrell was stumped by Steve Edmonds and then Poustey was caught by Robinson. Garland also removed young Roan Khanna and John Hardy got in on the act, trapping Eddie Gill lbw. When James Westlake bowled Dixie Young for 10, Raj Khanna was left not out on 10, and the Red Dogs were all out for 180.

Stoke Fleming 213 for 3 beat Dartmouth 96 for 6 by 117 runs

Stoke followed up their Sunday win with a successful defence of the 'Ashes' urn (in memory of the 2010 Dartmouth fire) by beating a Dartmouth T20 League XI by 117 runs, in very different weather conditions to the day before.

Because of the approaching rain it was agreed the game would be shortened to 25 overs a side, instead of the usual 40.

Stoke batted first and their usual opening pairing of John Hardy and Steve Edmonds saw them get swiftly away, taking 28 from the opening three overs. Hardy was then forced to retire on 22 after pulling a muscle and 'Tiger' Tim Robinson replaced him.

Although the run rate then dropped, these two kept the Dartmouth bowlers at bay until their skipper, Andy Jessop, took the visitors first wicket, bowling Robinson for 13 with the score on 71.

Edmonds was then joined by his brother Noel and both were eager to attack the bowling at every opportunity. Steve reached his fifty and Noel thumped a number of boundaries, including a huge six which went out of the ground.

Now into the final five overs and looking to pile on as many runs as they could, Noel was smartly run out for a fine knock of 42, including three sixes and five fours.

Dan Hardy then added 20 before being bowled by Saif and Stoke captain Eddie Church (25 not out) and Edmonds produced more runs at the death with quick running and some firmly hit shots. The home side finished on 213 for 3 from their 25 overs, with Steve Edmonds posting an excellent undefeated 71.

A quick tea was then taken before the match resumed with the promised rain getting ever closer. Stokes usual opening bowlers, Noel Edmonds and Dan Hardy, established tight control with some accurate deliveries, stopping in their tracks any hopes Dartmouth had of getting quickly out of the blocks in their run chase.

Their combined eight overs, spells of four overs a piece, not only yielded only 15 runs but also produced three wickets. Hardy snaffled Dartmouth's opening batsmen Jessop and Frank, and also Saif, reducing the visitors to 15 for 3.

Things got worse for Dartmouth when Glen Black had Kowsar very well caught in the gulley and when Sam Duberley took Stoke's fifth wicket things looked all over, with Dartmouth on 33 for 5.

Shumon, though, had a never-say-die attitude and looked to attack the ball with almost every shot. Regardless of the now required high run rate, he batted with a belief that he could still win the game on his own and wasn't to be dislodged.

Though Stoke took a further wicket they couldn't get the better of Shumon, who hit a terrific knock of 47 not out, showing his final act of attrition with a boundary off the last ball. Dartmouth finishing on 96 for 6 from their 25 overs, falling 117 runs short, just as the forecast rain began to fall.

The game was played in cold conditions but in a warm atmosphere as both sides did their best to entertain the spectators crowded in the marquee and pavilion. The sides meet again in September in a non-trophy match also scheduled for 40 overs, when Dartmouth will be out to level things up.