Doctors 159 for 3

Eratics 131 for 5

Doctors made an electric start as Keith Powell and Nick Bray put on 40 for the first wicket in 5 overs. Powell’s cameo 19 was ended when he was unluckily bowled off his pads by MacQueen but Bray went on to lay a solid foundation with an excellent mixture of circumspection and judicious driving. MacQueen (2-16) was the pick of Eratics bowling and it was he who tempted Bray (31) into a loose drive to mid on. Charles Hoveman joined John Ogle at the crease and for a while the scoring was restricted to singles and twos. The pressure to hit boundaries undid Hoveman (10) who hit Wragg (1-24) to Brunt at point, and this led to the unusual sight of Graham Fergusson entering the fray with only 3 overs left. After 16 overs the total was 99 but the cultured Ogle had been remorselessly increasing the pace and with Fergusson into overdrive at once the ball began to disappear over the ropes in all directions with alarming frequency. Sixty runs flowed from the last 4 overs and both batsmen finished on 44 not out.

Eight an over was a tough ask and Sam Powell increased the asking rate further with a fine, controlled opening spell. Again unlucky with chances not going to hand, Powell made every ball count and his spell arguably put the match beyond Eratics reach. The excellent Wembdon pitch allowed the batsmen to play across the line with impunity and Doctors fielding was below their usual standard, so openers P.Billingham and R.Hitcock began to push on. The score had reached 71 by the time that Billingham (50) was outthought and caught and bowled by Alan Dunkley (1-16) who bowled a fine spell in his seam-up mode. Peter Reed (1-27) bowled Hitcock (16) which was the signal for the incoming middle order to throw the bat. Ian Stansfield (1-23) bowled Brunt (16), going for a big hit, and Dunkley’s intelligent fielding at cover effected two run outs. Prosser (13) and Wieler (13 n.o.) made valiant attempts but were unable to get their side close.