Doctors put on a masterclass and have Albany Creek in a spin
- Shamsul Kazi
- Jun 25, 2017
- 3 min read
PDCC 229 & 2/59 def Albany Creek Hawks 150
Sundries 66, A. Douglas 59, M. Boyd 32, S. Prakash 29, M. Boys 22
R. Chinthamuneedi 5/52 (17.0), A. Panju 4/59 (22.0)
We go back to last week to start this story. With South East Queensland being drenched with rain for a week straight the chances of a game seemed unlikely before a reprieve on Friday gave a glimmer of hope.
It wasn’t until 9am the next morning that the all clear was given and a game was on. The ground was wet and the outfield looked slow but the centre of the ground was like an oven and was drying rapidly. With blue skies and a drying field, Captain Corrigan kept his winning record with the coin up and sent Albany Creek into the field.
There was a host of changes coming into the game with exams and holidays depleting the list. The Doctor’s had lost two of their three big run scorers with only Douglas playing out of the centurions. However, the batting depth was still deep with a list that could stand on its own even without the big scorers.
The Doctors started off strong with Douglas and Panju putting on a partnership of 60 against good tandem bowling from Lanning and Walker. The loss off Douglas after drinks, however led to a collapse the Doctors were known for in the past. From 2/98, the Doctors slumped to 5/123 and it wasn’t looking good.
Step in Sooraj Prakash and debutant Mitch Boyd. With 20 minutes to lunch the two shut up shop and weathered the onslaught from Hawks who were going for the kill. After lunch the two battled away and were aided by sloppy bowling and fielding with several wide deliveries reaching the boundary. The two would make it to 209 before Prakash was bowled. The tail did not wag with Lanning picking up five wickets as the Doctors finished on 229.
Fast forward to yesterday and it was a brilliant day for cricket. The sun was out and Albany Creek had put on their nature sounds playlist on repeat. The outfield had conveniently had a haircut and the drying of the field over the week appeared to have decreased the total surface area in certain parts.
Replacing Prakash and Barker were Sharma and Summers with the Doctors blooding Canadian Jonathan Buttery in an experimental specialist sub fielder role as he vies for selection in the first XI.
The Doctors started tight with Boys opening from the Pavilion end and Kazi taking the new bowl from the other end. The pair went wicketless but kept Albany Creek to a mere 16 off the first 11 overs. Corrigan came on as first change and had immediate success taking the first wicket three balls into his spell.
This was then ensued a period of frustration for the Doctors as they were unable to secure a second wicket. The pair batted for 28 overs putting on 60 runs as the Doctors threw everything at them. Not even the umpire was spared when Douglas rocketed in a ball from the boundary, hitting him flush on the hand, which required a brief intermission for ice. In reply, the Hawks hit back at the aggressive fielding with Kazi being hit on the helmet as he fielded in short leg.
A chance went begging when Corrigan dropped a catch but he soon redeemed himself soon after, catching the other opener off Panju’s bowling.
With Panju ripping leggies from one end and Chinthamuneedi sending down offies from the other end, it was a spin onslaught that lasted for 39 overs. Superb bowling was backed up by spectacular catching with Boyd responsible for two spectacular catches, one at leg slip and the other at first slip which was probably the best of his three as he reached one handed with a spectacular vertical leap that would’ve impressed the GWS Giants and Brisbane Lions reserves who had gathered to watch after the finish of their NEAFL game.
It was probably fitting that Panju took the last wicket of the game with a dazzling wrong’un that would’ve bamboozled a better batsman than the number 11 who had to face it.
With half an hour left on the clock, the Doctors made a bold move for points as they set themselves a target of blasting 100 runs to pick up an extra point.
Sharma and Cheng opened the batting and Cheng pulled out all the stops with a glorious slog sweep and a reverse pull, before Douglas came in and hit a six to get the Doctors to 59, securing an extra half point.
A vital half point in the race to the top as Toowong secured outright points out at Ipswich. Setting up an unusual situation for the Doctors as they take on Toowong in a top of the table clash next week.