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Bridgwater Doctors beat Taunton Deane Council by 16 runs

Doctors 129 for 7

Taunton Deane Council 113 all out

On a beautiful Cannington batting strip Doctors wanted a good start but were denied by Colin Trewren (1-28) and Paul Knight (1-28) who each took an early wicket to make the score 5 for 2. James Powell (14) decided that attack was the best reply and, in partnership with Will Chandler, put on 62 for the third wicket before pulling Paul Rayson straight to Bruce Carpenter at midwicket. Chandler played with his usual immaculate style and it was a major disappointment to the spectators when he was forced to retire on 40. There followed the not-unfamiliar Doctors mid-innings collapse to Rayson (2-18), Matt Hincks ((1-12) and a ludicrous run out, and at 78 for 6 an inadequate total seemed likely. Doctors were indebted to John Down (12) for an impromptu innings of improvised shots and to Steve Witts who rode the luck of two missed chances and hit some cracking drives in his 32 not out.

Taunton Deane must have fancied their chances on such a true surface and fast outfield and they got the ideal start from Steve Hughes (36) and Pat Wright (22) who put on 48 for the first wicket with a selection of flowing drives and cuts. Sam Powell had bowled well but without luck and the visitors were cruising comfortably when Down, who had been held back, came on to provide some much needed control. Bowling fast and straight with just enough movement off the seam he removed both openers and took another wicket in his first two overs. Keith Powell shrewdly rotated his bowlers and was rewarded by a wicket for James Powell (1-21). The pressure exerted on the batsmen led to the turning point of the game when Hincks (12) went for a marginal second run and was stranded by a sublime throw from deepest midwicket by Chandler. Doctors, sensing a change in fortune, upped the intensity and collected more wickets as James Powell threw down the stumps from side on and Dave Rooke effected a rapier-thrust stumping off Peter Reed (1-16). N.Collins (14) and the lower order batsmen began to throw the bat and the match was still in the balance when Down was brought back. By now he was "in the zone" and his bowling was simply irresistible. Ralph Willoughby-Foster lost his middle stump, Rooke took a miraculous, flying, left-handed, legside catch behind the wicket to dismiss Collins and one ball later the match was over. Man of the match Down finished with figures of 6 for 13 from 3.3 overs.