Saturday May 3 v Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester - Lost by 1 wicket
Sherborne Pilgrims 169 (P N C Rowe 89); Royal Agricultural College 173-9 (J E Gay 4-55)

This new fixture was arranged through the good offices of Paul Madley and Justin Fish and, but for the weather, proved very happy. We won the toss and Pete Donald, opening, got quickly into his stride before playing a rather wet shot to be caught in the gully. Rowe entered the fray and, with the casual grace of the really gifted, scored 89 of the next 115 runs while Julian Powe played an invaluable anchor role. Thereafter, the innings evaporated rather abruptly and we collapsed from 146-3 to 169 all out.

The College batting was a little intimidating with Hammond at three and Compton at four, but this threat galvanised us into the sort of fielding display which had to be seen to be believed. It all began when an attempted sweep was top edged and suddenly there were cries for Nick Donald to catch the ball which was swirling wildly in the wind. Ever alert, Donald ran to his left ... then to his right ... then back and then disaster - he tripped and fell face down, but flinging out his arm he held the ball inches from the ground. There followed a series of most remarkable catches, perhaps the most spectacular of all being Gay's superb "Tony Lock" effort to catch and bowl Fish. Somewhat stunned, the College slumped from 58-2 to 112-9, but then appallingly inept captaincy from Hume allowed the last pair to put on 61 to win.

Saturday May 10 v Oxford University Authentics - Drawn
Sherborne Pilgrims 193 (R D Kemp 4-78); Oxford University Authentics 180-9 (M W J Ruffell 63; P N C Rowe 7-85)

We won the toss and after losing the openers cheaply, Donald and Hume batted together for some time. We managed to struggle to 193 which seemed too few. The Authentics started ominously well and reached 119-1 with little apparent difficulty. Meanwhile, however, Donald had played his masterstroke and had introduced Rowe to the attack. As the fielders withdrew dejectedly to the boundary, Rowe, his arm high as ever, began to work his own special kind of magic. He bowled 21 consecutive overs to finish with figures which ensured that he would have to buy a jug. We were able to hang on for a draw and, at one stage, even think in terms of victory.

Sunday June 1 - Cricketer Cup first round v Bradfield Waifs at Sherborne - Won by 6 wickets
Bradfield Waifs 189-7 (K S K O'Brien 53); Sherborne Pilgrims 190-4 (T D W Edwards 83)

Drawn at home for the first time for some years, and with the prospect of two more rounds at home, spirits were high at the start of this game. Of the bowlers, however, neither Fursdon, Fish or Lyons was fully fit and Fursdon's opening spell of nine overs for nine runs was all the more praiseworthy. The bowlers were helped by some undistinguished batting from Bradfield and there were three run-outs. We were lucky to escape with a score under 200, particularly with some very noticeable crocks in the field.

Our victory was founded on a superb second wicket partnership of 120 between Edwards and Garforth-Bles. Garforth Bles' painstaking innings proved an ideal foil to the dominant role which Edwards adopted and it was a pity that they were not able to complete their 50 and 100 respectively. Donald and Saunders had a brisk partnership at the end and we reached the target in the 53rd over.

Sunday June 15 - Cricketer Cup second round v Felsted Robins at Sherborne - Abandoned

Sunday June 22 - Cricketer Cup second round replay v Felsted Robins at Felsted - Won by 3 wickets
Felsted Robins 174 (A R Wingfield Digby 4-48); Sherborne Pilgrims 175-7 (Wingfield Digby 66*; R K Higgins 4-27)

The Felsted middle order was destroyed by Wingfield Digby who, at one stage, took three wickets for one run. The innings faltered and their last five batsmen contributed only 21 runs. A fine display from all the bowlers and, in a competition where runs count as much as wickets, Richard Knight's 0-22 from 12 overs was particularly good. Fursdon responded to his promotion to opening batsmen by smacking the ball all over the ground and scored 48 of the first 66. However, we slumped from 66-2 to 96-7 and it looked as though it would be curtains for us once more.

But Wingfield Digby does not know the meaning of defeat and began to show what a great competitor he is. Soon the shots began to flow and the ball began to cross the boundary and with somewhat unexpected support from Mark Floyer the impossible seemed to be within reach. As the target came closer and closer the tension mounted but the strong nerves of the batsmen saw us through to a remarkable victory in the penultimate over.

Sunday June 22 v Radley Rangers at Radley - Cancelled

We were playing in the second round of the Cricketer Cup.

Sunday July 6 - Cricketer Cup third round v Charterhouse Friars at Sherborne - Lost by 11 runs
Charterhouse Friars 210-6 (C J S Bidwell 54, N H L Sellars 53); Sherborne Pilgrims 199 (T D W Edwards 55, J N W Edwards 50)

The third round against the old foe was badly affected by rain. Charterhouse started very confidently and were going strongly when their innings was interrupted by a lengthy stoppage. The openers eventually put on 110 but five wickets then fell for 16 runs and their score was contained to manageable proportions, the match having been reduced to 50 overs. Gould bowled especially well adding the scalp of Richard Gilliatt to that of Colin Cowdrey, which he claimed some years ago at Tonbridge. Donald was out early on, but Tim Edwards, in stands of 60 with Fursdon and 83 with his brother, batted superbly to put us in with a chance. By then, however, it was becoming very dark and impossible for new batsmen to see the ball. We stumbled and fell at the final hurdle amid a flurry of run outs. The match finished at six minutes to nine.

Saturday July 12 v The School at Sherborne - Drawn
Sherborne Pilgrims 174 (P E J Sanderson 8-76); Sherborne School 166-7 (W J Rydon 58)

We opened with a dour determination - somewhat uncharacteristic of recent sides -and as 18 runs were scored in the first ten overs without loss, it seemed that we might have the springboard for a large score. Chris Bulford looked as safe as Boycott before he was bowled and then Lough was out at the same score. Donald batted with his usual carefree application and pushed the score on briskly. Meanwhile, Sanderson was beginning to weave the web of artistry and skill associated with Bishen Bedi at his most tantalising and our batsmen succumbed to the cunning variation of pace, flight and length. Only Redfern among the later batsmen resisted the temptation to the woofty and it seemed that we had made insufficient runs. In reply, the School were flustered by the pace and fire of Fisher and Stebbings which left them reeling at 24-3, and then 40-5. Rydon and Quinlan added 66 for the sixth wicket but progress was slow and the game petered into a rather tame draw with no real prospect of victory for either side at any stage.

Saturday July 19 v Honourable Artillery Company at Sherborne - Won by 39 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 157-9 (Stent 4-30); Honourable Artillery Company 118 (E P J F Lyons 4-18)

Although it looked as though this game might have to be abandoned, we eventually managed to start at 3.00pm after frantic telephone calls to Bristol managed to trace Redfern and Lyons in pre-match training at their local gym. The game was reduced to 35 overs a side. We batted very steadily with the prodigal Proctor returning to the side as prodigious a performer as ever. Stebbings and Lyons bowled well and the HAC were unable to withstand the withering pace. Aided and abetted by two run outs, they slumped to defeat.

Sunday July 20 v Sherborne Town at Sherborne - Abandoned

Monday July 21 v Somerset Stragglers at Sherborne - Won by 5 wickets
Somerset Stragglers 183; Sherborne Pilgrims 186-5 (P C G Donald 72, E P J F Lyons 63)

Once again Stebbings was quickly among the wickets as the Stragglers were 17-2. Stebbings has been compared to Michael Holding, with the same fluid run up, the strong shoulders and the windmill sweep of the bowling arm, and comparisons were made today. Julian Powe must rate a mention in stumping not one, not two, but all three of Walker's victims. Our innings opened with Lyons and Bulford, with Lyons reaching his 50 out of 59 in only 33 minutes - an extraordinary display by a batsman playing straight and correctly, and with such panache as to leave his fellows aghast that such things were possible. Donald scored quickly as well, and we went into tea at 98-1 after only 50 minutes batting. Afterwards, Saunders added a useful 36 for us to reach a comfortable victory.

Tuesday July 22 v Dorset Rangers at Sherborne - Won by 80 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 231-5 dec (J Powe 59, P C G Donald 53, H R J Walker 52); Dorset Rangers 151

Fresh from two victories we laid the foundations for a third with an opening partnership of 84 between Walker and Bulford. No-one was really tested by the bowling, although it was a rather younger and better Rangers fielding side than of late. Powe scored a handsome half century, forcing the ball between mid wicket and mid on with artistry and skill of the born again batsman. Lyons and Powe shared the early wickets as our pace attack left the Rangers rocking at 59-5, a position from which they were never able to recover. A seventh wicket partnership of 56 was broken by the wily Gent, playing on his 25th Pilgrims tour.

Wednesday July 23 v Old Cliftonians at Clifton - Lost by 5 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 112 (G P Gent 51; T P Rees 5-27); Old Cliftonians 114-5 (M W Bailey 51*; Gent 5-42)

Potentially our strongest side of the week started confidently enough with Gent and Bulford putting on 34 for the first wicket. Although two quick wickets then fell we recovered to 77-2 with Gent and Saunders going well. In a chapter of Pilgrims' history much better forgotten, we lost our next eight wickets for 35 runs after a series of the most appalling shots imaginable. The pity of it was that the bowling really wasn't that testing and we should have doubled our total easily. It is to be hoped that the memory of that day will have a chastening effect and that those concerned will bring rather more resolution to their play next year. Clifton made rather heavier weather of winning than they might have because of the masterful bowling of "le pétit général" who set an example we should be well advised to follow. Unfortunately, Bailey batted impressively and Clifton won soon after tea.

Sunday July 28 v Old Tonbridgians at Tonbridge - Lost by 9 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 81 (N Heroys 4-16); Old Tonbridgians 84-1 (J H Tebay 53*)

If the Clifton game was shameful then this was humiliating. Another disastrous performance with nothing of any merit to mention at all except for the magnanimity shown by the Old Tonbridgians in declining to get us all out a second time round. It was the first time for several years that the fixture had actually been played because of the weather or their commitments in the Cricketer Cup. They were in fact quite strong but not so strong as to excuse the abysmal display by our batsmen, the proceedings being enlivened only by more enormous sixes from Stebbings. Otherwise, the less said the better.

Saturday August 2 v Hampshire Hogs at Warnford - Won by 4 wickets
Hampshire Hogs 189-8 dec; Sherborne Pilgrims 191-6 (D C Watney 83)

The Hogs batted slowly for 63 overs, maybe unnerved by the renaissance of John Kennedy as a threatening opening bowler. Indeed, the excellence of the bowling and fielding can be the only explanation for the muted display. Watney opened our batting and played with a freedom and skill unrivalled by any of the Hogs batsmen and he set us on our way with a wonderful performance of controlled hitting. Nevertheless, time was short and after Watney was out three quick wickets fell before Gent and Brearley saw us home to victory in the last of the 20 overs in the final hour, only the 48th of the innings.

Saturday August 9 v Bluemantles at Tunbridge Wells - Drawn
Bluemantles 205-6 dec (T C Fiducia 86); Sherborne Pilgrims 157-9 (G J Chudley 5-35)

None of the Bluemantles batsmen had much trouble with our bowling, although Stebbings and Dudley were always steady. Chandler particularly seemed to find the bowling very friendly and was helped by Gay's failure to move two yards to his right along the long on boundary to catch a skier which could have been an aeroplane for all the notice he took of it. Our batting centred around the contributions of Watney and Devitt, but the middle order let us down and we were left to struggle at the end.

Sunday August 24 v Cobham at Cobham - Won by 54 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 208; Cobham 154

This second new fixture of the season was made possible by the infiltration of Cobham CC by the brothers Edwards and Symondson and several other Pilgrims. For once our middle order batted strongly, attracted no doubt by some familiar bowling and a very short boundary over square leg where several balls disappeared. Cobham opened briskly and looked as though they would overrun us. However, Ali Symondson was brilliantly run out by Powe when going for a second run and they lost their last eight wickets for 78 runs in the face of good bowling and fielding. A fitting end to the season.