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Bridgwater Doctors beat Spaxton by 4 wickets

Spaxton 128 for 5

Doctors 129 for 6

Doctors were keen to avenge their recent heavy defeat by Spaxton but were denied early success by a watchful partnership of 33, sprinkled with aggressive shots, between Gary Meadows and Keith Bellinger (12). The latter was the first to go when he top-edged an inswinger from Phil Barker (2-28) to keeper Brian Buckhurst and Meadows (23) soon followed off the same bowler, very well caught by the diving Graham Fergusson at long off. Neil Richards (21) was given an early reprieve when having been given out lbw by the umpire, the bowler realised that he had got a faint edge and withdrew the appeal. As often happens in these circumstances the batsman, without a hint of remorse, struck a series of fine shots including two sixes. His downfall was an attempted quick single to Barker at backward point as he was still a yard shot when the dead-eyed return hit the single visible stump. Gary Deimart (24) played a series of good shots square of the wicket on both sides in his own inimitable style until he went for one big hit too many and was bowled by a good ball from Will Chandler (1-20). A further run out by star fielder Barker kept the scoring rate down and Spaxton were grateful to Adrian Fisher (24 n.o.) for some necessary late acceleration.

Doctors’ reply was looking good until Keith Powell played an ugly slog shot at Richard Gower (1-18) and lost his middle stump. Dave Rooke had taken 10 runs off the first over of the innings and he kept motoring along as dramas unfolded at the other end. Dan Rich (1-37) claimed the wicket of Fergusson, nonchalantly caught by James Venton at backward square leg. Chandler (11) was playing with assured style when he hammered a half volley straight back at Simon Larcombe and was brilliantly caught, the ball finally being clutched at the third attempt. Another wicket for Larcombe (2-21) and two kamikaze run outs tilted the balance Spaxton’s way but Rooke was playing imperiously and he finally found an adhesive partner in Sam Powell. Their running between the wickets was first class and Powell (19 n.o.) gave Doctors the "big over" they needed with three boundaries in the 17th over, which went for a total of 16 runs. Man of the match Rooke (69 n.o.) carried his bat and fittingly hit the winning runs off the second ball of the final over.