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Doctors lost to Quantock Stags by 5 wickets Doctors 129
for 3
Stags 134
for 5
Doctors’ season finished on a dismal note on a dark, damp day at Cannington as they were put to the sword by a virtuoso performance by Stags’ guest player Rob Hake. The match was shortened to 30 overs a side and when Stags won the toss and chose to bowl Rob Adcock was the unlucky recipient of the ball of the day from Gordon Elkins (1-17), a seaming spitting ball that clipped the top of middle stump. Sam Powell and David Williamson played well in treacherous conditions and kept the score ticking along at four an over until the crucial stage of the innings when the scoring was stifled by Hake and Alan Barks. For 12 overs the accurate, skiddy seamers of Hake (1-12) were perfectly complemented by the spin off Barks (1-14) and it was the latter who broke through when Powell (20) played around an off break. Williamson batted through the entire innings for a solid 49 not out which enabled Andrew Paisley to let off fireworks at the other end in a vital innings of 32 not out which ensured a competitive total. Stags innings could hardly have got off to a worse start as Scott Bellinger and Phil Barker reduced them to 20 for 3. Bellinger (1-9) struck first when his accuracy was rewarded with the wicket of Terry Barnett, clean bowled. Barker (2-22) took a wicket in the next over and then accepted a stinging caught and bowled chance to dismiss Tony Fawle (14). Hake had come in at number four and played himself in quietly before embarking on a trademark assault on the bowling. Powell (1-35) bowled well without luck and although he took a wicket at the other end to make the score 44 for 4 he was unable to dislodge the aggressive Hake. When Hake took 26 off the eighteenth over the match was beyond redemption for Doctors. A late wicket for Adcock (1-18) thanks to a sharp catch at cover by Keith Bellinger made no difference to the outcome as Hake (95 n.o.) finished the game with another imperious six. |