Having not played a game for over a month due to the inclement weather and opponents unable to raise a side, Stoke Fleming were delighted to finally get a game against Fentshire, albeit 10-a-side as the bank holiday weekend took players away from both sides.

Home skipper Ed Church won the toss and chose to bat, and it wasn't long before he was regretting that decision, as the visiting opening bowlers took advantage of the wet pitch and got stuck into Stoke's top order.

Steve Edmonds, Ted Duberley and Glen Black all came and went without reaching double figures, and at 16 for 3 after 12 overs, Stoke were in trouble.

The evergreen Mike Perkin and Church set about repairing the damage, using careful shot selection to punish the bad balls, and slowly started to build a respectable total.

In a vital partnership lasting 20 overs, the pair added 91 runs, with Perkin finally bowled by Richard Norman the ball after reaching a much-deserved fifty.

Church looked set for his half-century too, but suffered the same fate as his partner when bowled for 42.

Gil Garland and Noel Edmonds came together with a few overs left at the end, giving the tail of the innings some impetus to finish the innings off at 132 for 7 off 40 overs.

A Wilkins (3 for 15 off 8) and Norman (3 for 21 off 8) were the pick of the bowlers for the away side.

With a modest total to defend, Stoke knew they had to follow the example set by the Fentshire bowlers, and bowl a steady line and length to make scoring difficult.

This they managed and it had the desired effect, as in the fifth over a risky single, induced by the tight bowling, gave Ted Duberley the chance of a run out.

This he took with ease, running sharply round from point and getting the ball in quickly to see the batsman out by some distance.

Opening bowlers Noel Edmonds and Glen Black had both found a good rhythm, and each picked up a wicket, finding the edge to get both Wilkins A and J out caught behind by Steve Edmonds. At 24 for 3 after 11 overs, the game was nicely poised.

Rich Norman came to the crease looking very determined and was joined by the third of five members of the Wilkins family, Spike.

The pair saw how Perkin and Church had batted for Stoke and followed their example, playing safely and waiting to punish the bad ball.

They slowly took the game away from the home side, and despite trying six bowlers, Stoke just couldn't get the breakthrough they desperately needed.

In the 33rd over, the total of 132 was passed, with Wilkins unbeaten on 32, having played a fine supporting role to Norman, whose 62 not out rightly earned him the man-of-the-match award. Many thanks to the match sponsor, Approved Power Services.

Next Sunday sees Stoke host a Dartmouth 20/20 League representative XI, starting at 1.30pm.