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Doctors lost to Quantock Stags by 4 wickets Doctors 209 for 5
Stags
211 for 6
Stags opening bowlers Rob Hake (2-15) and Gordon Elkins (2-37) bowled straight on a slow but true Cannington wicket and gained due reward as Doctors’ top order committed hara-kiri with a cluster of cross batted shots played too early resulting in clean bowled dismissals. At 36 for 4 Doctors prospects looked bleak but a fine partnership between Graham Fergusson and Richard Budd staunched the haemorrhage and gradually transfused life into the innings. Budd began with appropriate circumspection and showed his predecessors the virtue of playing straight as his innings blossomed with some imperious driving. Fergusson used his experience and skill to great effect, carefully defending the good balls and dispatching the bad ones in a 360 degree arc. Will Dickens (1-16) was the only bowler to exert any control and it was he who ended the 145 run stand with a ball to Budd (42) which was defended well but which cruelly spun back to dislodge a bail. Doug Johnson (12 n.o.) played a brief cameo as Fergusson remained in total command to finish on 113 not out. A wicket in the first over for Johnson (1-16) meant that Rob and Roger Hake had to proceed cautiously against the probing twin spin attack of Robert Seymour and Oliver Budd. Seymour (1-32) trapped Roger Hake (12) lbw and Rob Hake (43) was just launching his customary assault when he miscued a drive off Budd (1-40) into the hands of Phil Barker at extra cover. Will Dickens and S.Keith decided that attack was the best form of defence. Both lived somewhat charmed lives as Doctors fielders shelled four catches but both hit boundaries aplenty in what turned out to be a match-winning stand of 95. Keith (54) eventually found the safe hands of John Bishop at long off the bowling of Phil Barker (2-36) and Dickens (52) was dismissed in identical fashion but the target was down to less than 5 an over and, as Doctors missed three more catches, Pete Dickens and James Coates were able to play risk-free accumulation cricket. Coates (15) having hit a glorious straight six tried to finish the game with another and was bowled by Bishop (1-2) but Dickens (24 n.o.) sealed the outcome with 10 balls to spare. |
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