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Doctors beat Quantock Stags by 9 wickets Stags 91
for 6
Doctors 95
for 1
After the heat
wave of April the first game of the season for these two sides was played in
cool May conditions on a wet outfield and a lifeless pitch. Stags won the toss and elected to bat and
the opening stages of the match were notable for early season rust on both
sides. The only person immune from
this was Tony Fawle (18) who unveiled three sumptuous cover drives to the
boundary to give his side the initial advantage. Alas when he attempted another drive
against Mike Smart (1-21) the ball was too good for the shot and found his
inside edge. It was only a half chance
but keeper Dave Rooke leapt acrobatically down the leg side to pick up the
ball just before it landed. Steve
Dorrett (1-13) bowling at the other end was steadiness personified and then
strike bowlers John Down and Sam Powell came on to strangle the middle of the
innings. However Paul Charles and
Simon Scarborough defended sensibly and punished the occasional loose ball to
build a sound partnership that gave their side a platform for the final
slog. This plan was thwarted by
Doctors’ death bowlers Phil Barker and Peter Reed who used the pressure
on the batsmen and the slowness of the pitch to induce a plethora of false
shots. Barker (2-9) bowled heroically
through the pain of an injured shoulder and made the breakthrough when David Williamson, making his debut for Doctors, opened the innings with veteran opener Keith Powell and they were rapidly into their stride with a mixture of shrewd singles and well judged drives. Powell in particular was severe on anything over-pitched and the score rattled along at seven an over without any risks being taken or chances offered. Stags’ captain Dickens (1- 6) rotated his bowlers in vain and the score was on 81 when he brought himself on to claim the first wicket. Powell had made an excellent 45 but seemed to be looking to finish the game in a hurry when he missed a straight ball, but Williamson (35 not out) played with calm authority to steer his side home with 35 balls to spare. |
