STOKE Gabriel are belatedly through to the Aaron Printers Narracott Cup final after a comfortable five-wicket win over Dartington & Totnes in their delayed semi-final.
The first attempt to play the game foundered when it was rained off shortly after halfway when Stoke were an over into chasing 121 to win at Torquay.
The rain clouds were never far away from Barton's ground on Friday night for the second attempt, but mercifully didn't empty themselves over the pitch.
Conditions were dank, dark and generally miserable for the game and made it difficult for the batsmen on both sides.
Dartington & Totnes made 86 for nine in their 15 eight-ball overs, which was a more challenging target than it appeared at first glance.
Opener Dave Sharpe (29) was the D&T anchorman as he batted from the start up to the fall of the fifth wicket at 65.
Other double-figures scores were posted by Mark Andrews, the former South Devon captain, and Kalon Veale.
A frugal spell from Jamie Day (3-11) made scoring runs that much harder for D&T. Batsmen inevitably went after spinner Adam Castle, who cashed in on a clutch of rash strokes to claim three for 26.
Opener Steve Tolley (22) and Dave Boland broke the back of the Stoke Gabriel chase by getting the score up to 48 for three.
Boland went on to make 31 and when he got out with two overs to go the target was 11 to win.
A double strike by Ryan Stevenson (3-18) prompted Stoke skipper Neil Robinson to shove Nick Sandbrook up the order to ‘give it a whack'.
Sandbrook obliged with a couple of lusty blows that saw Stoke home at the start of the final over.
Waiting for Stoke in the final are Paignton 2 nd XI, who trounced Brixham by nine wickets in the semi-final that was played on time.
The final should have been played 10 days ago at Paignton, but bad weather has put the competition behind schedule.
As yet no date or venue for the final has been fixed as there are further complications. Paignton are in two evening finals – their 3 rd XI are in this Friday's Brockman showpiece against Brixham – so Narracott organisers don't want to play on the same night.
The following Friday is out as Paignton are already committed to a fund-raising golf day which will overlap into the evening.
Organisers now have to find a date that suits Stoke and Paignton – and find a ground to play on, never easy given the Youth League games and Midweek touring matches already on fixture lists.
Dartington & Totnes 86-9 (D Sharpe 29; J Day 3-11, A Castle 3-26, N Sandbrook 2-20), Stoke Gabriel 88-5 (S Tolley 22, D Bolland 31; R Stevenson 3-18). Stoke bt D&T by 5 wkts.