Doctors lost to Bristol Doctors by 3 wickets
Bridgwater Doctors 170 all out
Bristol
Doctors 171 for 7
Bridgwater Doctors were invited to bat by their Bristol
colleagues on a sunny late September afternoon and struggled to get going
against the accurate B.Burgess (1-32).
They were set back even further when Graham Fergusson, who had a
season’s average of 109, chipped an innocuous half volley from Bruce
Hodgson (1-46) straight to Ian Jenkins at mid off with his personal total
only on 15. Keith Powell and Andrew
Paisley patiently loosened the shackles but the Bristol Medics had borrowed
Bridgwater C.C.’s duo of Mike Brimble and Ali Hewson and when these two
came on to bowl in tandem runs again became very hard to find. Powell (15) was bowled by a fine inswinging
Hewson yorker and two more wickets fell quickly before Paisley
at last found a durable ally in James Powell.
Both batsmen defended stoutly without missing an opportunity to put
the bad ball away and they had clawed their team back to parity when, with
the score on 157, the recalled Hewson (2-23) struck to dismiss Powell
(26). Brimble (2-18) also returned and
made a telling contribution as Paisley’s heroic
and perfectly judged innings of 61 ended with a top edged pull to
Hewson. Peter Brown (3-23) was
suitably rewarded for his sharply turning off breaks and Bernie Whiteside
(1-3) finished off the innings with a wicket from the last ball.
The Bristol reply was
equally wobbly as Jeremy Budd took a fine diving catch to dismiss Ru Newman
(who also plays for Bridgwater C.C.) off James Powell (1-37). Oliver Budd at gully then surpassed his
father with a marvellous catch to dismiss Brown off Fergusson and Bridgwater
Doctors had a sniff of victory at 20 for 2.
Had G.Dee Shapland and I.Hine
been held at mid wicket and square leg respectively the match might have
ended differently but both were put down and they went on to forge a
partnership of 64. Both lived
dangerously and further chances came and went as Fergusson (2-28) bowled
well, with biting turn and lift from his leg breaks. At last Oliver Budd showed his elders how
it should be done with an even better swooping catch at backward point to get
rid of Hine (29). The match was
decided by the subsequent stand of 64 between Dee Shapland and Hewson. Bridgwater Doctors’ fielding became
ragged as Hewson gave a master class of drives and deflections and the
batsmen took advantage of the deep set field with frequent short
singles. The belated introduction of
Phil Barker finally broke the stand when Dee Shapland's fine 71 was ended by
an electric stumping from the ubiquitous Fergusson, now keeping wicket. Oliver Budd (1-11) came onto bowl in a high
pressure situation and it was he who induced the first and last mistake from
Hewson (41) who top edged him to Fergusson.
When Barker (3-29) took two caught and bowled chances in his next over
with 13 still needed the visitors had a few palpitations but there were no
further alarms and Bridgwater Doctors were left to reflect that you
don’t win matches in which you drop eight catches and miss an easy run
out.
Doctors would like to thank Cannington
College for their kind
hospitality and the use of their high quality ground and pitches.
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