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Taunton School Staff lost to Doctors by 5 runs
Doctors 137 for 7
Taunton School 132 for 9
Doctors made a dismal start as Luke Waller (2-21) took two wickets in
the first over. Runs were in scare
supply as Waller and Jimmy Beale maintained tight control of line and length
and Graham Fergusson and Will Chandler needed all of their considerable skill
and experience to survive. After 6
overs the score was a paltry 13 but on a good batting wicket the necessary
acceleration came and it was something of a surprise when Chandler (18) top
edged Hallows (1-38) to backward point.
By now Fergusson was into his stride and his new partner Andrew
Paisley matched him shot for shot as the hitherto domineering School Staff
bowlers took some fearful punishment.
Captain Simon Hogg ended the carnage when he brought his own leg spin
into the attack. Fergusson (65)
miss-hit to mid on which reduced his season’s batting average to 83 and
Paisley (33) soon followed. Hogg
(4-14) gained further profit as the incoming batsmen unsuccessfully attempted
to thrash his final over.
Sam Powell (1-33) and Harry Lee (1-30) bowled with fire at the outset
and the Staff also lost two early wickets, the first when Mike Cook was
brilliantly caught one handed by Nick Bray at mid off. Hallows and Cyril Kelly played some handsome
shots until Kelly (10) cut Chandler (1-25) hard to Peter Reed at point and
Hallows (26) was beaten in the flight and bowled by a super delivery from
Phil Barker. Reed came into the attack
and with Chandler bowled a tight spell that heaped the pressure on the
batsmen. The pressure told as Reed (2-16)
took two quick wickets, the first via an excellent running catch from Barker
and the second thanks to an alert leg-side stumping by Fergusson. Waller was joined by the dangerous Hogg and
the Staff innings regained momentum but man of the match Barker (4-23) was
not to be denied, having Hogg very well caught by Sam Powell at long off and
then holding a breathtaking caught and bowled chance from a meaty drive by
Waller (29). Beale (13 n.o.) and
Peckham (28 n.o.) hit out lustily at the end but their efforts were too late
as Doctors beat their nemesis opponents for the first time since 2002.
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