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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.