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Doctors beat Spaxton by 14 runs


 

Doctors            109 for 5

 

Spaxton              95 for 9

 

 

 

  Doctors won the toss, chose to bat, and rocketed away as Dave Rooke and Andrew Dodden smashed 24 runs off some short-pitched bowling in the first two overs.  Rooke was then caught by keeper Gary Deimart off an express delivery from Andrew Jeanes (1-17) and there followed a period of consolidation as Jeanes and Wayne Pither bowled tightly.  Dodden played with elegant authority but two quick wickets for the flighted spin of Rob Seymour (2-14) and another for Will Penny (1-5) slowed the scoring rate.  The pressure to increase the tempo accounted for Dodden (40) caught at deep gully by Pither off Darren Langlois (1-18) and it was left to Ralph Hammond (17 n.o.) and Steve Witts (12 n.o.) to collect what runs were available from the last four overs.

 

  Both sides thought that Doctors’ total of 109 was inadequate and when Langlois and Scott Bellinger plundered 18 for Spaxton from the first over from Witts an early finish looked likely.  Witts (2-23) had other ideas and came back strongly to have Langlois (17) well held by Dodden at short extra cover and Penny caught at cover by Doug Johnson.  It was now Spaxton’s turn to graft for runs against the experienced duo of Witts and Peter Reed.  Jeanes (12) tried to push the run rate up but was eventually bowled by a super ball from Doug Johnson (3-29) who then proceeded to capture another two quick wickets as the strong batting line-up took a casual approach to chasing such a modest total.  Not so Pither (24) who blasted 3 enormous sixes and a four with characteristic power and the visitors were again in command when Doctors’ captain Jeremy Budd called on Dodden to bowl.  With his first ball he removed Pither’s off stump and then, in tandem with Ed Johnson, almost completely dried up the run scoring.  Bellinger (12) had played the anchor role until he too fell to Dodden and Spaxton, having been on top for 85% of the match, suddenly found themselves out of it.  Dodden’s excellent return of 4 for 10 confirmed his status as man of the match.