Monday 15th June 2026, Torquay Recreation Ground

The Stoke Gabriel Brockman Cup team

After defeating a very good Ipplepen in Round 2, Stoke Gabriel made their first appearance in the Brockman Cup T20 semi-final in many years.

A strong team was available, albeit one carrying a knock or two and Kyle once again won the toss and opted to field first.

The T&S openers got off to a good start before Harriet Duke got the opener to snick off, caught behind with a sharp catch taken by Olly Brown. Mike Smith being his usual miserly self, with tight lines and lengths at the other end.

A sharp peice of fielding by Kai Horsburgh at Deep Midwicket accounted for the other opener not long after with a direct hit shocking the batter at the bowlers end returning for a second run.

Kai Horsbugh runs-out the opener with a direct hit

Chris Harrison took over from Harriet and had a reward, as did Mike Smith – finally getting something from being really difficult to get away. However, T&S were going at around 8 runs-per-over at the half-way stage at 78-4.

Some big hitting followed before Andy Ball got tore in to the middle order, taking both of the big-hitters, finishing his 4-over spell with a respectable 3-37, with Kyle and Dan Bullock putting the brakes on lower down the order.

Andy Ball in action collecting 3-37

Teignmouth & Shaldon posting a very respectable 159-9 in their 20 overs.

However, disaster struck early for Stoke in the reply, with opener Olly Brown and Chris Harrison departing for ducks, shortly followed by Sean Rooney for 2 to leave Stoke 5-3 in the opeining 2 overs!

Dan Bullock and Mike Smith made stability possible and both hit some attacking shots, and when Dan was out for 16, Kyle came in to continue to accelerate the chase. Kyle’s quick-fire 26 (off 13 balls) got Stoke back in the game along with Mike’s measured hitting at the other end. Kai Horsburgh followed and hit the 6 of the day, which probably landed in Abbey Meadow from the trajectory it left the ground! However he was out shortly after replaced, by the hard-swinging Andy Ball and when Mike Smith was finally dismissed for 32 in the 13th over, Stoke were 92-7.

Mike Smith departs after an excellent innings of 32

The injury hampered James Player had a short stay duck, 92-8 so it was down to the tail to wag and get Stoke over the line. Unfortunately, despite Sam Cogger(15*) and Andy Ball(16) putting on a stand of 41, Harriet Duke fell for 2 in the 19th Over with Stoke still needing 29 for parity.

A hard fought loss and credit to the team for making it much closer than many thought it would be after the difficult start to the batting.

2026 wasn’t to be Stoke’s year, but the skipper was really pleased we’d made it that far and beaten some very good opposition along the way. Hopefully 2027 will be the year!

Skipper Kyle Lardner carrying out the post-mortem of the game with Dan Bullock

Full Gallery of pictures (Thanks to Tyler Hunter for manning the Nikon!) can be found here