That's right, for once we weren't outrighted

PDCC 10/399dec (70.0) def Macgregor Masters 170 (33.0) & 158 (39.0)

H. Shahid 152, K. Chaudhary 104, R. Corrigan 73

K. Chaudhary 3/18(7.0), A. Panju 3/48(10.0) & 4/35(11.0), M. Boys 3/35(10.0)

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Gather around folks, this is a tale for the ages. It all started a week ago and by all accounts the summary of that day was read by a whole ton of people, but if you somehow missed that exceptional piece of writing then here’s a summary of the summary. Captain Corrigan won the toss, we lost a few wickets, it wasn’t looking good, but then Hassaan and KC took back control. KC made a ton, Hassaan made a ton and a half. Rob then came in and scored a few more. PDCC ended the day on 400.

Fast forward a week and that brings us to two days ago, to part two. The forecast of showers throughout but there was nothing but sun. The usual warm up was abandoned for the oval ball and let’s just say it’s a good thing that this wasn’t an AFL game we were preparing for. From the scorer’s table, news came in that the official first innings total was revised after review, the new total was dramatically lower at 399.

Macgregor would need an even 400 to take the points. The target was only made harder with Macgregor down to eight men having already used their two substitutions for the match. Despite this they started reasonably before losing their first wicket for 31. Chaudhary picked up the new pill and taking off from where he left off with the bat taking 3/18 in the innings. Corrigan (0/16 from 2.0) took the ball from the other end and quickly replaced himself with Morgan after not firing. Morgan was tidy without much luck for reward going wicketless for 35 off his 5.

Macgregor had slipped to 3/46 with the only resistance coming from their keeper-batsman, Luong. However, with Kazi (1/33 from 5.0) taking his scalp shortly after his half century, it looked all but over for the Masters. It looked certain to be over soon when the new batsman, Nedwich coming out to bat, with his first delivery missing the stumps miraculously and a follow up short ball not going to hand at short leg.

Nedwhich took the most of his opportunity and took a liking to Kazi off his next over and some poor catching from the Doctors allowing Nedwich to make it to 67 and the Masters to slowly creep back into the game. Panju was the chief victim of the errant fielding having had several opportunities being quite literally dropped off his bowling. However, it was Panju who would get the last laugh taking the remain wickets recording figures of 3-48 from his 10 overs, as Macgregor crumbled to a total of 170.

With the first innings sealed and the Masters still needing more than 200 to make the Doctors bat again, a lunch break was taken and Macgregor were sent into bat for a second time. The bowling was opened by Michael Boys and Chaudhary and there was almost immediate success as a slashing drive from Sheik went to the left of Kazi at gully who couldn’t pull off what would have been a spectacular catch if this author doesn’t say so himself. It wouldn’t come to cost the Doctor’s much as they got their man the following over leaving Macgregor at 1/5.

It seemed to be a formality at this point, and to a certain extent explains what happened next. The Doctor’s continued their poor display of catching (some easy and some difficult) and the Macgregor pair seemed adamant that they wouldn’t let an outright happen. Together they put on 109 for the second wicket and squashed the dreams of the PDCC XI who were chasing their first ever outright in their history. A third wicket stand of 39 all but ended the hope.

However, sharp caught and bowled to dismiss the Macgregor captain and the dismissal of Luong for 61 straight after brought the game back to life. It was Panju and Boys who bowled perfectly in tandem that unravelled the hard work Macgregor had done. With 50 minutes to go there was only one wicket down. With 30 minutes, there was only four needed. What had become a practice match was now firmly a contest. Could Macgregor hold on? Could the Doctors steal it? Well considering the title and the entire summary to this point I think the answer is obvious.

Panju took one with a wrong’un sliding through the gate, Boys took the off stump out of the ground, the Doctors raced between overs to get overs in. The hustling paid off as they managed to sneak one more over in before the end of play, despite the time-wasting attempts of Macgregor who were madly trying to regain control of the situation.

It came down to Boys, 6 balls, one wicket. It only took him the one delivery hitting the batsman flush on the toe right in front of his castle as Macgregor’s crumbled to nothing. Boys ended on figures of 3/35 from his 10 and Panju finished with 4/35 from his 11 giving him match figures of 7/83 from 21 overs.

The Doctors took double points and finished in the top position at the end of the round with the only other unbeaten team in the competition being Toowong, setting up a tantalising contest in two round’s time when the two come up against each other.