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| 1978 |
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Played 15: Won 3, Lost 1, Drawn 6, Abandoned 5.
Saturday May 13 v Oxford University Authentics at Pembroke College, Oxford - Drawn
After winning the toss, master tactician Peter Donald decided that the overcast conditions and slightly damp pitch were ideal for the devastating combination of Justin Fish and David Fursdon who were sure to rip through the brittle batting of the Authentics. He decided to insert the opposition. Shortly afterwards it became clear that Fursdon had not arrived. This was not altogether surprising since the secret location of the game had been revealed to only a few. However, it transpired that Fursdon was, in fact, at a wedding in Wiltshire and was unlikely to arrive at all. Unperturbed, the captain opened with Fish and Floyer and when two wickets had fallen for 21, the dangerous Dean came in to bat. After one or two sighters, Dean began to look menacing and the Pilgrims seemed to prepare for a session of ball-chasing. Then Dean pushed the ball firmly to the vacant mid-off position and set off for a single. Before one could say "Rodney Ontong", Donald had swooped panther-like from cover, thrown down the stumps at the bowler's end and run out Dean by yards. Thereafter, the Authentics descended to 62-5 before Orders, assisted by Morrill and Buggé, stiffened their resolve. Our batting left a great deal to be desired. Hume showed his normal facility for missing the straight one and Rowe improved his record of being run out more than any other Pilgrim. Donald briefly displayed the confidence born of runs under the belt, but it was not his day. Only Garforth-Bles (27), Walker (16) and Floyer (19) ever came to grips with the Authentics' attack, and at the end Fish was left to survive the final over. Sunday May 14 v Charlbury at Charlbury - Abandoned Saturday June 3 v The School at Sherborne - Drawn On his return to the Upper after a wonderfully successful season for the School in 1977, Justin Fish was quick to show that he had lost none of his incisive speed and swing, taking a wicket in the first over. However, it soon became clear that the pitch and conditions offered little assistance to bowlers and that a resolute defence would survive. Isaac remained steadfast till nearly the end of the School's innings, and had Eckersley-Maslin not had to withdraw for a time after losing his contact lens the School might have gained greater momentum. Nevertheless, Isaac persevered and first Oborne and then Eckersley-Maslin took the School to a good total. Rowe handled the School attack with glorious confidence and progressed quickly to 74 before half hitting a slice to mid-off in a manner reminiscent of the Hon Sec's golf swing. By this time Wingfield Digby had begun to bat with some effect and he was joined by Redfern (25) who, as always, played well within himself. These two put on 60 for the sixth wicket, but unfortunately lost impetus and did not take sufficient advantage of the slow bowling. When Wingfield Digby was magnificently caught on the boundary, 20 were still needed with only three overs remaining. Our team temperament was not at its best in such circumstances and, with the captain leading an unintelligent rush for the runs, we floundered in a morass of tip and run outs. Sunday June 4 - Cricketer Cup first round v Charterhouse Friars at Charterhouse - Lost by 10 runs We found themselves drawn away from home yet again, this time against the fancied Charterhouse. We lost the toss and, although Charterhouse began batting well, it was obvious that the surface of the wicket was loose and that it would not be a high scoring game. Andrew Wingfield Digby, as first change, broke through in his opening over, dismissing Hooper. From then on wickets fell regularly. Bidwell batted carefully for his 31, whilst Barker (21) and Ekins (22*) scored valuable runs. 110 to win was not an unduly daunting target and, in our usual sporting way, we decided to give Charterhouse a chance as Lough and Rowe between them attempted a run to the wicket-keeper standing up. After this, our batting went from bad to awful and it was only an innings of 17 from Walker that provided any stability. Fursdon started to loft the ball, however, and, when he was joined by David Wilson, it looked as though they might win the game as they took the score from 60-7 to 92. At this point with the ball striking Fursdon's pad, and a stray appeal from deep extra cover, the umpire took the opportunity to raise his finger. Enter Nick Wingfield Digby, stage right, hero of the hour, only to be "run out" while on his way back to the non-striker's end, a boundary having been signalled by the Charterhouse fielder at third man. The end result was that we lost by ten runs in a most unexpected way. Sunday June 25 v Radley Rangers at Radley - Won by 7 wickets Once again the match manager, Richard Gould, was responsible for producing one of the strongest sides of the summer and it is true to say that the Radley game has become one of the highlights of the season. As is customary in this game, knowing the strength of the opposition, we took the field in determined and sober mood. Richard Knight opened the bowling, and Harris was brought on at the other end in the absence of Fish who suffered transmission failure. Knight quickly broke the opening partnership and then Harris, bowling with craft and guile, length and line, flight and trickery, tore the very heart from the Radley effort. The advent of Fish helped crush the backbone of the innings. Formality though our innings may have been, it required the sure touch and technique of Harris at the helm and he guided us to victory. Saturday July 15 v The School at Sherborne - Won by 10 runs The second match against the School coincided, as usual, with Commem. and we were in carnival mood. Garforth-Bles unfortunately suffered the loss of his wicket first ball, but this only heralded the arrival of Donald. Donald had spent the previous night in some degree of discomfort but, like the sunshine after the rain, his strokes burst forth upon the Upper, each one a golden gem that made it good to be alive to witness such things. He took no risks, offered no chance and slowly and surely marked his personality on the proceedings. He reached his century soon after lunch. The School took some time to get going, losing five wickets for 65, but then Oborne came in and began to exercise his authority, punishing particularly the luckless Gent and wayward Saunders. The School wicket-keeper, Kenny, had the unusual distinction of being caught behind the wicket first ball off a shoulder high full toss from Saunders which seemed directed towards fine leg. Oborne's control grew menacing and there were those who thought that the School might yet make it. But, in the final stages, they suffered the same mishaps as we faced in the first encounter and the innings ended in a welter of wasted wickets and run outs. Sunday July 16 v Sherborne Town at Sherborne (Terrace) - Drawn The game against the Town was transferred from its normal slot in the "week" and played on the Terrace, starting in the afternoon. Carey, making a rare appearance for the Pilgrims, dominated the early part of the innings, batting briskly and forcefully. Donald, tired, no doubt, from his exertions the day before, settled for a quick 40 before the innings disintegrated disappointingly. We took the field in high spirits and thoughts turned to the prospect of a quick breakthrough. Knight and Garrett bowled tidily and well against the strong Town batting and Hayward was bowled by an excellent delivery from Knight. Alas, our catching let us down and ten catches in all were dropped. However, the bowlers gradually gained the ascendancy and accurate spells from Dudley and Redfern allowed us to gain a creditable draw. Saturday July 22 v Dorset Rangers at Sherborne - Drawn Winning the toss, we elected to bat and Lough and Isaac, making his debut for the Pilgrims, strode purposefully to the wicket. The Rangers' innocuous attack held no hidden menace for these two illustrious players. Lough soon took control stroking the ball with that careless ease that we know so well. Isaac, more cautious but not less effective, lent valuable support and together they put on 115 for the first wicket. When Lough was out, Rowe came in where he had finished the week before, scoring 89 vintage runs. When Pilgrims bat like this one is bound to ask why we have never done better in the Cricketer Cup. The early dismissal of Pinney by one of Fursdon's better balls promised more than it delivered, for our attack did not quite have the penetration necessary to capitalise on this breakthrough. Stands of 38 and 92 took the Rangers to a safe position, but when they slipped to 153-5 at the beginning of the last hour, we looked to have some chance. A good display of slow left arm bowling from John "Bishen" Gay, with Fursdon pushing through his leg-breakers, took us to the brink of victory ... but it was not to be. Sunday July 23 v C W E Hume's XI at Sherborne - Abandoned Twenty two Pilgrims were on the Upper but rain prevented any play. Monday July 24 v Somerset Stragglers at Sherborne - Drawn Opening the batting again, Lough charmed us all with the depth and range of his talent and he held the innings together in its early stages. The middle order batting collapsed, but Devitt (25) and Proctor led a magnificent surge with 54 for the sixth wicket to ensure that we ended with a respectable total. The Stragglers innings was a frustrating affair. They should have won comfortably, particularly as they reached 130 for the loss of only two wickets and it was unsatisfactory that they should score only 167 in 56 overs. However, all credit was due to the Pilgrims for a tenacious bowling and fielding performance led from the front by Proctor. Deploying his field with the skill and experience of a Richie Benaud, and bowling his medium pace leg-breaks with wonderful control, he first ensured that the Stragglers could not score fast enough and then took three quick wickets as they lost their cool. Again, alas, victory was not to be. Tuesday July 25 v Honourable Artillery Company at Sherborne - Won by 3 wickets This new fixture marked the end of the HAC's first Dorset tour. Although they suffered from the sudden withdrawal of two players and arrived with only nine, they also brought some beer and it was agreed that we should play ten-a-side. Hume, anxious as always to find his form realised that there would be no better opportunity than to face the Pilgrims' attack, and he deserted to the opposition. Garrett particularly moved the ball dangerously off the wicket and deservedly removed both openers. Hume was allowed his fling but the guile of Lough soon accounted for his presumption and he was caught off a dangerous long hop from Jackson. This was at the beginning of some controlled leg-break bowling from Jackson, and Gay (2-9) also produced nine very fine overs to wrap the innings up. We were perhaps a little complacent at the beginning of our innings and were soon in trouble against Bewick and Stent. When Donald was bowled playing a rather casual defensive shot, it was clear that victory would not be easy. Things did not improve and we slumped to 57-6. Then Lough and Gay came together to repair the damage. Helped by a dropped catch by renegade Hume, Lough played a true captain's innings and slowly but surely took us to a winning position. Gay assisted ably, defending stoutly and sensibly and allowing Lough as much of the strike as possible. Gay was out at 136, but by then the match was all but won. Wednesday July 26 v Old Cliftonians at Clifton - Drawn Donald won the toss and Gent and Rowe put on 75 for the first wicket in cavalier fashion before Gent was superbly caught on the boundary. Donald then came in and, first with Rowe and then with Isaac, proceeded to dominate the Clifton bowling. It was not, perhaps, one of his best innings, but invaluable in the circumstances and full of character. When we reached 200 for the loss of only two wickets, it was clear that Clifton would be struggling to stay in the match, and we were able to declare at a handsome total. Garrett quickly dismissed Rees and when Rowe caught Hammersley magnificently in the gully off Stebbings, Clifton were 13-2. Then Dixon came in and began to hit the ball with customary gusto. In the 20's he offered a chance to mid-on which Hume dropped, and he then threatened to break loose before he was brilliantly caught by Donald, at long on. By this time Clifton were 119-5 and there was a real prospect of victory. Donald opened the game up to keep them interested, and how much more open can you get than to bring on Rowe. Redfern, substituting for Gent, held two blinding catches, but Hume put down what was arguably the simplest chance in the history of Pilgrims cricket, and the game drifted to a draw. Sunday July 30 v Old Tonbridgians at Tonbridge - Abandoned Saturday August 5 v Hampshire Hogs at Warnford - Abandoned Saturday August 12 v Bluemantle's at Tunbridge Wells - Abandoned |