This was not much of a warm-up for the Cricketer Cup; Marlborough Blues are struggling at present to sustain their cricket – as their miserable first-round score in defeat in the competition was subsequently to prove – and they were a man short throughout, and that with two players not previously known to the Marlborough environs. Their one player of quality, Ratcliffe, played an attractive innings of 67 but received absolutely no support of any kind from his fellow batsmen.
That is not to say that the Pilgrims did not bowl or field well into the bargain. Although starting a man down (Will Wingfield Digby somewhat underestimating the time it would take to get to Wiltshire from Fulham), Bagnall made the opening incisions, removing both openers within a couple of balls, and almost all the bowlers used (eight) chipped in, only Costeloe and Gillett missing out. Edlmann bowled an intelligent line and deserved his two wickets, while Knechtli was as economical as usual. Dowdall took some punishment from Ratcliffe but since the Blues had pronounced their batting to be their stronger suit before play began, it mattered little.
Hargrove and Ben Scott opened up, the former scoring with some ease and a smidgen of luck on his way to a rapid 39 out of a first-wicket stand of 44 before believing himself immune to dismissal and wandering miles out of his crease, missing and losing his bails to the wicketkeeper. Elliot-Square kept the pace up, scoring 36 to Scott’s 40, although both perished before the inevitable victory, de la Hey and Gillett polishing off the remaining couple of runs required for a straightforward seven-wicket triumph.
In all honesty, this was a poor class of practice match, although there will be some who will always proclaim the value of “time in the middle”. With the Radley Rangers game two weeks later being washed out without a ball bowled in anger, the Cup selection committee had very little Pilgrims form to go on. Given the deteriorating quality of the Blues as opposition in the past few years, it might be time to consider an alternative early-season fixture to give better preparation.
Sunday May 21 v Radley Rangers at Radley – Cancelled, rain
Sunday June 11 v Hampshire Hogs at Warnford – Won by 49 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 308-4 (S Gillett 114, W J Newbery 85*, J N Butler 55); Hampshire Hogs 259
On another beautiful day at the ever immaculate Warnford, the Hampshire Hogs won the toss and inserted the Pilgrims. We were well-placed at lunch on 127 for three, with Hargrove and Tweedale not offering much resistance, Butler rather more so after a solid 55. Will Newbery and Stuart Gillett lunched as the not-out batsmen and after the interval were in imperious form, scoring 197 for the fourth wicket before Gillett was dismissed for a more than fluent 114, favouring the cut and pull above all.
Ben Scott joined Newbery at 290 for four and 18 runs later the Pilgrims declared, setting a stiff target for the hosts. Newbery was left undefeated on 85 and after a slow start had applied himself admirably, playing a very effective second fiddle to Gillett. The Hogs bowled a commendable 59 overs, good work in the time; Bagnall, guesting for the Hogs, was treated with little respect by the Pilgrims but was responsible for Gillett’s wicket.
Knechtli and Edlmann opened the bowling for the Pilgrims and by the sixth over, Edlmann had made the first incision. The Hogs, to their credit, looked keen to get on with proceedings and were always positive. Edlmann and Knechtli added one more wicket each to their analysis and at 47 for three, the Hogs were looking in trouble. However, their attitude remained buoyant and they had added a further 22 runs by tea, taking sustenance on 69 for three with 14 overs gone.
After tea, the spinners, in the shape of the Jims Warren and Freeth, entered proceedings, both achieving turn, although scarcely stemming the flow of runs. Indeed, at 151 for four, the Hogs were well placed but lost wickets too regularly after the fifth one fell at that score, and were never likely thereafter to reach the Pilgrims’ target. In retrospect, the Pilgrims’ declaration was a little too ungenerous by 30 runs or so and the Hogs are to be thanked for trying to make such a good fist of it.
Sunday June 18 – Cricketer Cup first round v Rugby Meteors at Rugby – Won by 56 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 247-8 (B D Atwell 66, J D Ricketts 53; E F Pugh 4-42); Rugby Meteors 191
This was quite definitely a match that the Pilgrims would have lost not more than five years ago. After an excellent start and a good first hour after lunch, wickets began to tumble and a score some 40-50 short of optimum was looking likely to hinder prospects – but stout lower-order resistance edged the total back towards genuinely competitive. Then after a dream start to the Rugby innings, the Meteors were allowed to retrench and begin to build their way towards the target – yet it was they who lost concentration, lost their way and eventually succumbed tamely.
That may well be condensing the day’s play rather unkindly. But it is important to note that the Pilgrims lost badly on the same ground two years before, and displayed more resilience and team spirit than has often been the case in similar situations. All credit, then, to the positive approach that was ultimately responsible for securing the victory on one of the hottest days of the year.
Ricketts performed perhaps his most valuable trick early on: he won the toss. Certainly the Rugby Meteors felt, with their relatively aged side, that fielding under the heat of the noon-day sun was critical to their underperformance – and there can be little doubt that it was extremely sapping. Yet the Pilgrims had to make one difficult early decision: who to open with Atwell? With no recognised opener, Andrew Wingfield Digby stepped gamely into the breach and made an admirable fist of the role.
Again, another vital slice of action occurred at the start. In the first over, Atwell nicked an easy catch to first slip; Umbers, the long-serving Rugby captain, put it down, and had cause to regret it for just over two hours as Atwell made the most of his reprieve, employing his ability to time the stroke so well in compiling a fluent 66. Wingfield Digby lent excellent support in an opening stand of 57 that launched the innings.
Gillett came and went, getting out to as ugly a shot as you will ever see, to allow Ricketts a chance to make a big contribution. He did not disappoint, adding 91 for the third wicket with Atwell and scoring 53 from 73 balls overall himself. Even though he departed with work still to do (168 for four and another 12 overs to negotiate), the stage looked set for the flamboyant hitters to get down to business.
Initially, Tweedale and Elliot-Square seemed equal to the task; both are powerful players and when they connect, the ball “stays hit”. Sadly both fell victim to leg-before decisions that can best be described as unfortunate. Three wickets fell with the score stuck on 211 and although the best part of six overs remained, it had the familiar ring of unfulfilled promise.
It was left to Jackaman, with some customary hit-and-miss support from Pexton, to revive the cause, nudging and nurdling the ball around to score an unbeaten 19 in as many balls that boosted the score up to 247 – unquestionably a defendable total and also a pretty competitive one. From the lunchtime position (117 for two from 33 overs), 250 seemed to me the minimum score that should be attained; it is pleasing to record that the Pilgrims were able to capitalise on their positive start.
The Meteors began their response circumspectly, acknowledging the soundness of the pitch, but lost their first wicket in the third over when Ellison steered a loose ball from Pexton into the gully area, where Tweedale brilliantly plucked it one-handed from the sky. Robards was to follow in the ninth over, with the score on 22, to a no less skilful slip catch by Ricketts off the same bowler, although the captain made it look particularly easy.
Two of Rugby’s most prolific and experienced batsmen now stood in the firing line: Mitchell, who had bowled 12 overs earlier in the day, and Umbers, the captain, who has scored two centuries in this competition. Nervous and edgy to begin with, the third-wicket pair began to find their timing and rhythm, culminating in a loose over by Ricketts just before tea when Umbers took ten runs from it. This was the seminal partnership; although the Meteors had a couple of good strikers of the ball to come, they needed a big input now from these old hands.
And at the interval, they were well placed. Coincidentally, the score at the same stage (25 overs) was precisely the same as in the Pilgrims innings: 84 for two. Both batsmen had made 32, the pitch was still behaving, and the bowlers had not quite found an optimum length. Four overs after the resumption, at 99 for two, the match was evenly poised. Then disaster. Umbers called for a run to backward square leg that was never there; beaten by the throw and Jackaman’s deft work with the bails, Umbers was sent back only to return to the pavilion.
It was a serious blow not just because, having scored 39 after a scratchy start, Umbers had the potential to make a stack of runs, but also because Mitchell was tiring. It was no surprise when he lofted a catch over the bowler’s head to Elliot-Square six overs later, and, although at 123 for four the game was scarcely over, the impetus was gone, never to return.
Grinnoneau played some expansive shots before a dreadful attempt to blast a straight ball by Elliot-Square removed his bails; Seabrook tried hard to anchor one end but had no serious support, not helped by the fact that Rugby could muster no boundaries from the 35th over until the penultimate ball, when Fitch took a four off Knechtli, only to be bowled all ends up straight afterwards. That statistic emphasises the intelligence of Ricketts’s field placings, as well as the enthusiasm of his troops, who worked hard to save runs. Victory was all but assured from around six o’clock onwards – the final hour was just a case of dotting i’s and crossing t’s.
Professional is, I think, the best way to describe this performance: nothing especially flashy about either the batting or bowling, although Ricketts excelled at both (barring his first two overs). Lacking a number of Pilgrims who would surely have played if available, it was a fine effort, pointing up yet again the truism that it is far better to select on the basis of playing regular cricket than on past form. Rugby were carrying some “has-beens” and it showed.
Saturday July 1 v The School at Sherborne – Won by 7 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 230-7 (M A Shearer 63*, W P Hargrove 54); Sherborne School 223-9 (T R Dowdall 97)
Yet again the Pilgrims fixture against the School was played using the limited-overs format that schools have now adopted. Because of the absence of some of the School XI collecting prizes, the Pilgrims were invited to bat and graciously they accepted on a drizzly, cold morning when the pitch was obviously only going to get better.
In the past the Pilgrims have had a habit of losing wickets at crucial stages, often with a batsman well set and in the mid-twenties. The captain addressed this issue at the start of the game and urged the batsmen to play solid innings. Hargrove and Shearer duly obliged, Shearer’s unbeaten 63 in particular a beautiful knock. These two were well supported by Freeth, whose cameo innings, alongside some hearty blows by Pexton (a phrase used many times before and never with the addition “… who went on to make a hundred”), enabled the Pilgrims to reach 230 for the loss of seven wickets – about the right score on that track.
The School’s riposte was good with Tom Dowdall playing especially well. The running between the wickets was exemplary, although Dowdall will know now that he will not be able to take such liberties with some Pilgrims batsmen! The first wicket fell with the School handily placed on 80. Furthermore, Ben Adams at No 3 proved a useful partner for Dowdall and the School were cruising on what had become a placid pitch.
The Pilgrims, however, were not finished and began to apply pressure. Eventually it paid dividends and the School panicked. Two needless run-outs came about as the result of tight bowling by Pexton and Wingfield Digby and quickly the Pilgrims moved into control, more so once Dowdall had departed for a fine 97. Brilliant fielding was at the heart of this performance, allowing the older generation to record a narrow victory and showing that they still had the hunger for the contest. Both exciting and enjoyable, it drew a decent crowd in the closing stages, and deservedly so.
Sunday July 2 – Cricketer Cup second round v Charterhouse Friars at Charterhouse – Lost by 3 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 185-7; Charterhouse Friars 186-7 (A P Hollingsworth 50; P L C Knechtli 4-45)
Even despite the terrific win at Rugby in the first round, this game was always going to be tough as the Charterhouse Friars, who had won the Cricketer Cup on two previous occasions, had decided to reassemble their “stars” after a few years of underachieving and early-round exits. Justin Ricketts went out to toss the coin with former Hampshire bowler James Bovill and returned with the news that he had won and elected to bat. This certainly seemed to be the correct decision as the Pilgrims felt comfortable defending a reasonable score, as had been the case at Rugby.
There was only one problem: both opening batsmen were nowhere to be seen. Charlie Warren arrived after the start of the game and James Adams, who had been asked to play a Hampshire game at the last minute, not at all. Makeshift openers were Charlie Dowdall (the slated twelfth man) and Will Hargrove, who had been due to come in well down the order, and against an excellent bowling attack in the shape of Nick Gay and Bovill, attempted to negate a seaming ball with little success. Hargrove hesitated over a second run in the fifth over and was on his way after scoring nine of the ten runs on the board, and in the thirteenth over, Dowdall was cleaned up by Gay – 26 for two.
Ricketts came in to join Ben Atwell and the two of them began the rebuilding process against continued tight bowling from Hollingsworth, Tassall and Macmillan. Few risks were taken and sensible batting saw the Pilgrims close in on lunch and a fifty partnership, but Ricketts’s dismissal, miscueing a drive to Bovill at mid-off, put things back in the balance at 68 for three. Atwell was joined by Warren and they could muster only 19 runs from the nine overs before the interval as the Friars cleverly squeezed in as many as possible to keep the pressure on. Lunch was taken with the Pilgrims having mustered only 88 from 35 of the allotted 55 overs.
Atwell had once again batted well during the morning session for 36 and it was agreed at lunch that he should try to bat through, leaving others to take risks. This ploy lasted for all of one ball as Atwell sliced one to backward point straight after lunch and his sterling work of the morning was undone in one loose moment. Tweedale came in and played magnificently for six overs; he murdered the bad ball and threatened to change the course of the contest. He certainly changed its momentum and for the first time, the Friars were on the back foot.
Bovill brought himself back on and Tweedale hit him for four before attempting the same again through midwicket. Unfortunately the tracer bullet went straight into the hands of Lewis. 128 for five became 131 for six two overs later as Warren was trapped leg-before by Bovill. With 11 overs still to bat, Rob Rydon joined cup debutant Will Wingfield Digby but was out for five and with eight overs to go. Jackaman’s cameo of 19 not out and Wingfield Digby’s equally sensible 24 not out saw a recovery to the relative milestone of 185 for seven.
The task was straightforward: the Friars would have to be bowled out; to defend less than 3.5 runs an over seemed very unlikely. The first over confirmed what was already known about Gregor Macmillan: he is capable of taking the game away from any opposition in a short space of time, but he is also a risk-taker who plays a shot a ball. Knechtli’s first ball was clipped over Freeth at midwicket for two; the second was hit equally hard and Freeth stopped it well. The third went high into the air and Freeth stood under it, with the resultant clean catch meeting relieved jubilation from the Pilgrims.
At the other end, Grundy looked out of sorts and so Hollingsworth was left to push the ball around for the next couple of overs as the Friars struggled to cope with excellent spells from Knechtli and Rydon. Even when Grundy was dropped at slip it only seemed to be a matter of time and sure enough in the ninth over Knechtli had his man, clean bowled. The minor concern was that he had decided to hit his way out of trouble, and ended up with 24 having been dropped on nought. Hollingsworth, too, was dropped, on eight, a sharp chance through the hands at point. This was a more serious miss since he went on to make a crucial fifty, the only such score in the match and with Blythe playing well at the other end, the Friars were comfortably placed at 100 for two after 32 overs and the game was all but up.
After tea, Dowdall’s gentle off-spinners made an appearance, swiftly accounting for Blythe, bowled for 23. In the following over, Rydon bowled Breeze for one and when Knechtli caught and bowled Hollingsworth, the score was 110 for five. 76 from 18 overs was never likely to be a problem, but the wickets were falling and the game appeared to have swung back towards the Pilgrims. Tassall and Gay wrested back the advantage, putting on 50 in ten overs through a mixture of watchful defence and naked aggression. It was a partnership that secured the match – and was chanceless to boot – and although both eventually fell, when Gay was caught by Atwell off Rydon for 36, a mere five runs were required. With seven balls to bowl, captain Bovill guided his men to victory.
In the end it was an excellent contest and a stout defence of a poor total. Knechtli and Rydon both bowled brilliantly and Ricketts’s captaincy was exemplary. As last year, though, catches were clearly shown to win matches. Charterhouse proceeded to the final (the fourth consecutive year that the Pilgrims have been beaten by eventual finalists), where they were surprisingly triumphant over the perennial favourites, Tonbridge. Incidentally, Bovill’s figures here of two for 31 from 12 overs were his worst in the whole competition: in the semi-final he took four and then five in the final, including a hat-trick.
If the errors of this game are fully digested, then a promising run in the 2001 competition awaits, but excellence throughout rather than in patches is required – and will undoubtedly be required in the first round, on the Upper against Bradfield Waifs. Victory there would mean a second-round game away to either Tonbridge or Felsted.
Sunday July 9 v Old Tonbridgians at Tonbridge – Drawn
Old Tonbridgians 274-7 dec (D M R McMullen 66, M A Hughes 56, A Owen-Browne 56); Sherborne Pilgrims 154-4 (N I Gavin-Brown 60*)
The Pilgrims won the toss and Hargrove took the rather strange decision – at Tonbridge – to field. This was made because he had only four bowlers (including even “part-timers”) and the damp conditions should have helped the fielding side early on. Needless to say, Old Tonbridgians rattled their way to 81 before the first wicket fell, with Hargrove taking much of the punishment himself (8-0-47-0). Wickets fell steadily throughout the innings but keeping the runs down proved rather more difficult. The Head is a fast scoring ground for those who are unfamiliar with it.
All four bowlers went for a six at some stage and of the 58.3 overs bowled, just four were maidens. Tonbridge declared on 274 for seven. Costeloe and Crouch toiled manfully but the star turn was Jim Warren, who bowled 24 consecutive overs spanning the lunch interval and did well to keep his runs conceded to below 100.
In stark contrast, when the Pilgrims arrived at the crease, Tonbridge were able to deploy seven bowlers, none of whom bowled more than seven overs. Charlie Warren fell early, but Gavin-Brown and Shearer put on 47 for the second wicket before the latter lost his stumps when looking well set. Dave Pugh came and went without facing, being narrowly run out, bringing Justin Chantrey to the wicket and they compiled a handy 75 for the fourth wicket with some fine stroke-play.
Chantrey perished for 43 but the weather soon accounted for the match as a contest, despite tea having been taken early. This was a disappointing end to a match that had looked highly competitive, but a fleet of cars were able to head west to Sherborne for the week with plenty of time in which to make the journey along the South Coast.
Monday July 10 v Old Blundellians at Sherborne – Cancelled, rain
Tuesday July 11 v Dorset Colts at Sherborne – Cancelled, rain
Wednesday July 12 v South Wales Hunt at Sherborne – Lost by 53 runs
South Wales Hunt 202-8 dec (S Wallwork 57); Sherborne Pilgrims 149 (J Skinner 5-16)
After two days of fairly solid rain and drinking, it was much to the relief of everyone involved that we were finally able to get some cricket in on the third official day of the week. Having won the toss and chosen to bat, David Ricketts, the opposition skipper, opened up with Beaverstock, who was quickly sent packing by Hargrove, bowled without scoring. Wallwork then joined his captain in a stand of 71 before Ricketts edged a catch to the solitary slip off Dowdall. With the sole purpose of preventing the ball from breaking his nose, Dan Thorne caught it and Ricketts reluctantly trudged back to the pavilion in disbelief. Thorne was just as dumbstruck.
Dowdall also accounted for Morgan by bowling him for 10 by which time the score had passed 100 and Wallwork a boundary-less fifty. Lunch was an amusing affair and the entertainment followed on briefly afterwards as Skinner, unaware of the consequences, tried to smash the first ball over midwicket. The shot was correct as it had been a full toss, but the ball had been a jacket potato and was obliterated. Two balls later Skinner tried the same shot and accidentally let go of his bat. Only the nimble feet of the square leg umpire prevented a nasty injury.
Once the laughter had subsided, the Hunt proceeded to bat for what seemed like an eternity before declaring after 60 overs on 202 for eight. Wallwork top-scored with 57 and Skinner had gone on to make 40. Elliot-Square (9.3-5-15-2) and Hargrove (7-4-8-1) both bowled well but were underused by the captain, while Dowdall took three for 39 from 13 overs.
Charlie Allen and Ben Scott began the reply, getting off to a reasonable start, putting on 36 for the first wicket when Scott was out for an attractive 25. Thorne joined Allen and scored 20 of their 23-run partnership, comprising four boundaries and four “walks” (runs is the technical term but fails to do Thorne’s lack of effort justice). They were both out in consecutive overs, leaving the Pilgrims on 61 for three.
Goodeve-Docker and Gillett made an excellent fist of rebuilding the innings and pulled the score to 109 before the latter was dismissed for 18. Despite this setback, a mere 94 runs were required from the final 20 overs and with plenty of batting to come. 109 for four rapidly became 118 for seven as the double-barrelled fraternity (Goodeve-Docker, Elliot-Square and Reece-Smith) all came and went. Dowdall and Hargrove pushed the total up to 139 with some ease until Hargrove attempted to hit a straight ball over midwicket and was bowled. Dowdall followed for 14 and Bagnall troubled the scorers not at all.
Skinner bowled particularly well to take five for 16 from nearly 13 overs and his second spell of four for seven from five overs turned possible Pilgrims victory into certain defeat. The Hunt were surprised life had been made so much easier for them, but a shame that the Pilgrims’ good bowling performance should have been followed by such spineless batting.
Thursday July 13 v Dorset Rangers at Sherborne – Won by 36 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 164-8 (D W Thorne 64); Dorset Rangers 128 (R A Bagnall 4-27)
The Pilgrims won the toss and elected to bat, opening with Charlie Allen (having recovered from flu) and Ben Scott. The start was solid, although Scott was first to fall for 26 when going well. Thorne joined Allen and those watching enjoyed a “Botham and Boycott” show, Thorne (obviously) performing the former role, all elegance and power (his words), Allen dour and attentive.
The partnership was broken on 103 with Allen departing after making 18 hard-earned runs, run out. Hargrove joined Thorne at the crease and started batting in the same swashbuckling manner. After a rapid partnership of 38, Thorne fell for 64; Hargrove was not far behind, stumped when going well – stumped, that is, by yards rather than feet. Miles Jones arrived for his Pilgrims debut but was on his way soon afterwards, dismissed by the same means as Hargrove.
The remainder of the Pilgrims batting was redolent of a net practice attitude, a few nice strokes and then getting out playing the fool. Bagnall, however, was faultless with an unbeaten nought as the Pilgrims declared on 164 for eight after 48 overs.
The Rangers reply did not get off to the steady start that was required, with Bagnall taking three early wickets and Hargrove a fourth. But the Pilgrims bowling and fielding was tight, five catches in total being snaffled. All the bowlers chipped in with wickets, Bagnall being the pick with four for 27 off 13 overs. But the real enigma of the day was Thorne, who might have performed the genuine all-rounder’s role if his analysis of 1-1-0-1 had been the true guide to his talents. Sadly we all know that everyone can strike lucky. Kelly hit some lusty blows towards the close as fatigue set in, but the Rangers were never in real danger of reaching the target. What was more pleasing was that, after the tribulations of the week as regards the weather, a full day’s play was possible.
Friday July 14 v President’s XI at Sherborne – Lost by 7 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 205-7 dec (C C M Warren 80, M N E Jones 57); President’s XI 206-3 (D W Thorne 89*, N Wigham 61)
It was the final day of the cricket week, and the Pilgrims were tired. A week of relentless over-indulgence finally took its toll on the quality of the cricket played. After Thorne and Bagnall had finished arguing, play eventually got under way at midday – this was later than the scheduled start largely because the Pilgrims found the 300-yard trip from The Digby to the Upper a little taxing that early in the morning.
The Pilgrims innings was based around a partnership of 155 from Miles Jones and Charlie Warren; this was compiled after the loss of Scott in the first over of the day to a catch behind the wicket by the opponents’ agile and alert wicketkeeper – none other than … Thorne. Although not scintillating to watch, this partnership came at just over three runs an over and should have been a platform from which the Pilgrims could have posted a large score, but unfortunately neither of the pair could stay in to make this happen and the innings was eventually declared after the Pilgrims had stumbled to 205 for seven.
Jones (complete with his new-look blond locks) made 57 – his maiden 50 on the Upper, having never played there before this week, Warren made 80 but never looked at ease and struggled against the wily pair of Mike Nurton and Alan Willows, indeed surviving a chance off each of them. Nurton, despite his age, bowled his little out-dobbers particularly well and finished with figures of three for 22 from 15 overs. Two of his victims (Tim Clarke and Will Hargrove) are recent leavers and thus will not be allowed to forget this performance from the old maestro.
Bagnall was promoted up the order to give it some long-handle but was unfortunately bowled for nought. Interestingly Bagnall had had three innings during the week and failed to score in each, and somewhat amusingly had actually failed to hit the ball on every occasion. Is this a record? Charlie Dowdall was left stranded on nine, the last five wickets falling in 16 minutes with only 21 runs being scored, not exactly what the captain wanted. Having overrun the halfway stage he was then forced to declare some 30 runs short of what was hoped for.
The President’s XI opened with Thorne and Legg, who quickly set about the target at speed – having a particular go at Bagnall, who conceded 18 in his first three overs. At the other end, Hargrove was much tighter and picked up the wicket of Legg for 13 when the score was 29. This brought Wigham to the wicket who, together with Thorne, dispatched the Pilgrims’ rather lacklustre bowling to all parts to put on 138 for the second wicket in only 25 overs.
This effectively sealed the game for the President’s XI who won at a canter losing only one more wicket before reaching the required total. Thorne in particular batted superbly, despite his partial blindness caused by Bagnall’s bin-lid – an act of sabotage not as successful as others in the past. As if one eye wasn’t bad enough, Thorne received a rather painful blow to the foot from a ball by Tim Clarke. He charged his next ball rather unsuccessfully, hopping out to meet it.
The Pilgrims bowling figures were poor: all the bowlers bar Hargrove went for at least five an over, although Hargrove was certainly underbowled, as he had one for 12 from six. Perhaps the week had taken its toll. Perhaps time has crept on some of the older Pilgrims so that they are no longer able to do what they used to and still play decent cricket…
Tuesday July 18 v Old Cliftonians at Clifton – Cancelled
Sunday July 23 v Charterhouse Friars at Charterhouse – Won by 4 wickets
Charterhouse Friars 239-7 (M Bowes 57*); Sherborne Pilgrims 240-6 (M J E Jackaman 66, J N Butler 64; N S E Gay 4-38)
This was an excellent game of cricket that wasn’t decided until the final ball of the 110th over at just after 7.30pm. A return to the scene of the Cricketer Cup exit just three weeks earlier was not to everyone’s taste, but a momentous victory certainly helped to heal the wounds.
Hargrove lost the toss and the Friars chose to bat first in a game played to Cricketer Cup rules, 55 overs a side. Bagnall and Costeloe opened the bowling and were sufficiently miserly to ensure that when the first wicket fell in the fifteenth over, the score had only reached 38. Under pressure to score, Ed Bowes went for a quick single and Warren’s direct hit came with the batsman still short of his ground.
Making his debut for the Pilgrims, Tom Dowdall replaced Costeloe while Bagnall bowled straight through his 12 overs and conceded only 23 runs at the other end. In the 24th over, Dowdall accounted for Whidbourne and then Tom Clarke came on to bowl the remaining opener, Burrows, to leave the score at 88 for three in the 29th over.
Webb and Breeze put on 43 before Warren bowled the former for 29. Nick Gay was out first ball, slicing a long hop to extra cover and Costeloe accounted for Breeze in the following over. When Warren took his third wicket to reduce the Friars to 141 for seven, it looked as though revenge was to be swift. However, there then followed an excellent unbroken stand of 98 in the remaining 13 overs between the other Bowes and Ogle, the former scoring 57 from 60 balls and the latter 35 from 28.
Having been completely in charge, the Pilgrims dressing-room was distinctly downbeat in the break between innings. The nature of the fightback, led by Mark Jackaman and Jonty Butler, was terrific and tea was taken on 102 for no wicket after 25 overs.
Butler was finally out for 64 from only 81 balls, after trying to engineer his dismissal for 15 minutes; had he not needed to pick up a relative from the airport, his excellent innings could well have produced a century. 129 for one became 129 for two with the next ball as Pugh found an edge to the wicketkeeper. Jackaman followed three overs later for a well-compiled 64 but the Pilgrims still needed 99 from the remaining 21 overs, with two new men at the crease.
Gillett and Charlie Dowdall batted with great authority and some lusty blows ensured that they moved on to 176 before Gillett was out for 34. Hargrove joined Dowdall and they put on 45 in ten overs to push the score to 222. Gay bowled them both in his penultimate over and now the Pilgrims bench was very nervous with 20 required from four overs and another new pair. Costeloe joined Tom Dowdall and the two of them ran brilliantly to pull their team to safety, culminating with a single off the final ball. It was a great team effort resulting in a single defeat for Charterhouse in the final game of their two-week festival.
Sunday August 20 v Bluemantles at Tunbridge Wells – Won by 3 wickets
Bluemantles 181 (P B Crouch 4-52); Sherborne Pilgrims 182-7 (C E Dowdall 68*)
On a lovely August day, the Bluemantles entertained the Pilgrims for a thoroughly enjoyable game of cricket, played in the picturesque grounds of Holmewood House prep school. The match was unusual as there were four sets of brothers playing. The Pilgrims had the Warrens and Dowdalls while the Bluemantles had the Wests and Gammells, the latter pair being a Pilgrim and the 2001 Captain of Cricket. Have three sets of Sherborne brothers ever played in the same match before?
The toss was won by the Bluemantles, who elected to bat first. Will Hargrove and Tom Dowdall opened the bowling for the Pilgrims and were very impressive, getting movement both in the air and off the pitch. The opening pair of Ned and Charlie Gammell struggled to score and it was with some fortune that they survived this contrasting new-ball attack. It was not until Crouch’s first over that the breakthrough was made, Charlie Gammell caught behind by the ever vigilant de la Hey.
The second-wicket partnership was beginning to materialise when Tom Dowdall was finally rewarded for his excellent bowling, forcing the other Gammell to give a catch. He then disposed of Hazelton to leave the hosts struggling at 35 for three. Things began to look a little better for the Bluemantles as first Hamilton-Crawford and then Clowes got going, most of the runs coming from a rather foolish move by the captain to change the end from which Crouch was bowling.
This was a false hope for the opposition as they were both removed in quick time, Hamilton-Crawford providing Tom Dowdall with his third victim and Searson picking up Clowes in his first over. In a fine show of brotherly love, Tom Dowdall caught the elder West off his brother’s bowling; this made them six down with the score still below 100 and it looked as if a rout was on the cards, but the younger West and Fyffe struck some lusty blows to ensure that this was not the case.
The reintroduction of Crouch from his preferred end put a stop to this resistance as he took two wickets in successive overs. By now the score was over 150, and with Fyfe looking to hit out, it was the golden-arm of Crouch that saw things did not get out of hand as he clean bowled the opposition captain for 30. The Bluemantles innings was wrapped up in fine style with a cameo display of leg-spin from Ed Bartlett, leaving them 181 all out after 51.4 overs.
After a fine tea in front of the main school, the Pilgrims set about the seemingly fairly meagre target. Unfortunately things did not go to plan and the Pilgrims top order crumbled to 62 for six, with Paddy Prendergast the most successful with 19. Things were not looking great for the side as Hargrove strolled to the crease to join Charlie Dowdall. The former played a great innings, hitting the Pilgrims out of trouble with a succession of mighty shots before finally trying one too many and was caught off the leg-spin of Charlie Gammell for 29.
Charlie Warren then joined Dowdall, who had obviously been buoyed by Hargrove’s effort, and the two of them reached the total with a couple of overs to spare thanks mainly to several flowing drives from Dowdall, and some sensible running between the wickets. All in all, this was a very enjoyable game played by a Pilgrims team mostly comprising recent leavers.
Sunday September 3 v NPL Teddington at Teddington – Lost by 10 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 110 (R A Bagnall 4-13); NPL Teddington 111-0 (C Churchman 54*, B D Atwell 54*)
Even now, it is with immense pain that this chapter in Pilgrims cricket history is penned. NPL Teddington, based in Bushey Park, had fielded a strong side including Bagnall and Atwell, of Pilgrims stock themselves. With this in mind, the Pilgrims side was carefully chosen, not wishing to be on the wrong side of too much dressing-room banter.
With, on paper, a strong line-up, the Pilgrims chose to bat first. Charlie Warren and Mark Jackaman opened the innings and without anything spectacular, got the scoreboard ticking over. The concern was, of all people, Bagnall, who had managed to bowl five consecutive maidens. The turning-point came 50 minutes into the match when Warren was ill in the middle. Jackaman, concentration broken, flashed at a rare wide ball by Bagnall and departed with the score on 40.
The collapse, almost England-like (of a former vintage at any rate) began. Bagnall was bowling beautifully, having found his rhythm, and reduced the Pilgrims to 74 for seven at lunch. Still shellshocked, the Pilgrims fared little better after the interval, limping to 110 all out.
In reply, NPL fielded two batsmen, as is the custom, but that was all they needed. Churchman and Atwell symmetrically both made unbeaten 54s and the target was reached with time to spare. Atwell began in convincing mood, smashing Hargrove for four off the first ball, and immediately advising the bowler not to bowl such nonsense at him again. Hargrove did not take the hint, though. Sadly Peters was injured and had to roam the outfield without turning his arm over and not even Freeth could stem the tide. The indignity of a ten-wicket defeat was not slow in coming.
As well as NPL played, the real battle had been to convince the Pilgrims that this was to be a jovial Sunday afternoon stroll, whereas they were desperately keen for victory. Tougher mental attitude is a must for next year.
Reports by Rupert Bagnall, Robert Hands, Will Hargrove, Charlie Warren and Will Wingfield Digby.