Home Results Teams/Availability Match Reports News Averages History

Doctors beat Goathurst by 4 wickets Goathurst 76 for 7 Doctors 77 for 6 Early season cricket this year has been pretty wet and this match was no exception, played throughout in steady rain. Goathurst chose to bat and found the going predictably sticky. John Down (2-6) dropped straight into his usual hostile and accurate rhythm and received excellent support from Steve Witts. Their unrelenting pressure bore fruit when dangerman Andrew Clarke tried to break loose against Witts (1-6), only to find the hands of Peter Reed at mid off, and after 7 overs the total had limped to 12 for 3. Julian Graham (19) defended stoutly and then attempted to resuscitate the lifeless innings with 3 boundaries, but an attempt at a driven fourth proved his undoing via a top-edged skier to Reed in the gully off the wily Mike Sullivan (2-16). Bruce Richardson and Paddy MacLennan then took over in a brief but entertaining partnership. MacLennan (13) blasted two sixes off successive balls from Phil Barker (1-22) but the bowler was avenged next ball when Witts held a neat catch at mid off. Richardson’s positive innings of 17 was ended when he advanced down the wicket to Reed (1-9). The bowler saw him coming and beat the drive with a ball aimed at his toes and the dismissal was completed by keeper Jeremy Budd with a brilliant leg side stumping of which Jack Russell would have been proud. It was left to Brain Scott (12 n.o.) to shepherd Goathurst to a competitive total in the difficult conditions. Doctors’ start was equally tepid as Goathurst opened with off spinner Tim Webster (1-16) and the evergreen Dave Wilsden (1-13). When John Ogle was run out cheaply for the second time in his only two innings this year the match was evenly poised with Doctors on 16 for 3. James Murdoch played some cultured cover drives that would have been worth far more on a less soggy outfield and the running between the wickets improved immeasurably when he was joined by Barker. The match seesawed again when Murdoch (13) thinned edged MacLennan to keeper Griffiths who took a good catch standing up. Sam Powell’s innings of 10 blossomed rapidly but was soon cut down by Jeff Shaw (1-10), and when MacLennan (2-20) struck again Doctors were 6 wickets down with 23 still needed. However man-of-the-match Barker was still there and he made light of the dark conditions with intelligent support from Witts. Intelligent placement and good running eased their side home with an over to spare and Barker undefeated on 24.