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Doctors beat Quantock Stags by 5 wickets Stags 117 for 6
Doctors 119 for 5
Ted Mackenzie (11) began the Stags’ innings
with a six and a four but then chipped a tame return catch to Sam Powell
(2-15). Powell then produced an unplayable swinging yorker, of which Waqar
Younis would have been proud, to dismiss Tim Tenant first ball. James Dickens played with aggressive intent
while Roger Hake was the anchor man and Stags prospered until Jeremy Budd
(1-30) accepted a stinging caught and bowled chance from Dickens (17). Phil Barker’s prolific early season form
continued with a swinging delivery to bowl Hake (12) but then Simon Keith and
James Coates came together for an excellent partnership. The Cannington wicket was damp and soft and
the outfield and bowlers’ run ups were squelchy so both batsmen used the
aerial route when possible and ran ones and twos intelligently. Barker (2-28) bowled Coates (18) and Keith
(26 n.o.) retired which gave an opportunity for Dan Tapson and Gordon Elkins
to elevate the total to one that, in the prevailing conditions, was
challenging. Tapson (12) slapped Tom
Adcock (1-8) to Peter Reed at short midwicket but Elkins was unbeaten on 10. Doctors’ reply started in slow mode as
the top order struggled to overcome the slow pitch. Cameron Diemart (1-22) lured John Ogle into
an airborne shot which was caught by Tony Fawle and Tom Adams, frustrated by
a succession of good shots that plugged in the outfield, attempted a big hit
off Fawle (1-16) which headed for the vacant mid-on area. Elkins, showing true devotion to the team
raced across from mid off to take a flying catch which ended with a
full-length dive into the mud. When
Rob Adcock (11) retired with an asthma attack and Charlie Granville was
stumped by Dickens off Ray Heard (1-31) Doctors had limped to 58 for 4 and
there was much to do. The game was
changed by an electric stand between Powell and Andrew Paisley which brought
their team to the verge of victory.
When Powell (28 n.o.) retired thirteen runs were needed from the last
3 overs but Doctors seldom do things the easy way and Paisley’s excellent
innings of 24 was ended by Coates (1-13).
When Graham Fergusson was run out by the keeper after an extremely
optimistic call by Barker the match was in the balance again but Barker made
amends by seeing Doctors home, in company with Tom Adcock, with three balls
to spare.
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