Sunday May 1 v Keble College at Oxford - Abandoned

Sunday May 15 v Dorset XI at Sherborne - Drawn
Dorset XI 186-9 dec (G S Calway 55; P M S Slade 4-27); Sherborne Pilgrims 89-8 (J R Hall 4-28)

We put in a fine exhibition of bowling and fielding having lost the toss on a slow but good batting wicket. In particular Slade and Will Rydon (2-43) posed problems for the Dorset batsmen with their late swing, though it was Lyons who, in a comparatively short spell of one over, undid Dorset's premier batsman, Richard Lewis. Our batting was decidedly rusty and the innings was creaking at 25-6 but Clive Martin (22*) and Mason (24) tenaciously fought it out for an honourable draw.

Sunday May 29 - Cricketer Cup first round v Old Wykehamists at Winchester - Lost by 9 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 77 (E J W Jackson 4-17); Old Wykehamists 78-1 (W E J Holland 53*)

In a howling gale with leaden clouds scudding across the sky we won the toss and "elected" to bat. Our batting failed woefully against a competent attack of three medium pacers and one off-spinner, all of whom took advantage of the conditions which allowed the ball to swing for most of the innings. Nevertheless, the wicket was perfectly good and it was our lack of technique which led to five of us falling to catches behind or at slip. A target of seventy seven was hardly a challenge in the circumstances and our opponents strolled to an easy victory which was completed immediately after tea.

Saturday July 2 v The School at Sherborne - Won by 4 wickets
Sherborne School 130 (P M S Slade 4-23); Sherborne Pilgrims 131-6 (P J Hodges 4-39)

In order to accommodate speeches on the occasion of the Headmaster's last Commem, the beginning of the match was put back to 1.30pm but it still allowed plenty of time to complete a decisive victory, the cornerstone of which was the penetrative bowling of Slade and Rob Rydon complemented by the accurate, though unrewarded, swing of Will Rydon (0-20 in 15 overs) which thoroughly stifled the School batsmen. The fielding was extremely tight and was highlighted by a sharply taken catch at slip by Will Rydon off his brother's bowling. An aggressive opening stand of 37 between Slade (24) and Fergus Miller then saw us lose five wickets for 15 before Rice wrested the initiative back with a belligerent 42 which was full of powerful drives and pulls.

Sunday July 3 v Radley Rangers at Radley - Abandoned

Sunday July 10 v Marlborough Blues at Marlborough - Abandoned

Saturday July 16 v Honourable Artillery Company at Sherborne - Won by 6 wickets
Honourable Artillery Company 158 (M L Morton 4-51); Sherborne Pilgrims 160-4 (C S Rix 55*)

On a wicket affording some movement for the seam bowlers and turn for the spinners we pinned the HAC down, though it took some 67 overs to dispose of them. Morton and Gould (0-16 in 12 overs) bowled well in their contrasting styles and, together with Lyons, took a measure of advantage from the conditions. In contrast the HAC bowling proved terminally languid and, led by a fine knock by the promising Rix, we won with time to spare.

Monday July 18 v Sherborne Town at Sherborne - Drawn
Sherborne Pilgrims 217-6 dec (D W Thorne 117*); Sherborne Town 189-7 (S J Legg 87; G P Gent 5-59)

A fine century by Thorne, which contained 21 boundaries, was the highlight of our innings and enabled us to set a challenging declaration. We immediately set the Town back on their heels with Slade dismissing one of the openers for a duck. However, a sound innings of 87 by Legg held the innings together, although they never made a serious attempt to force a victory.

Tuesday July 19 v Dorset Rangers at Sherborne - Drawn
Sherborne Pilgrims 260-5 dec (R M Eckersley-Maslin 87, C R Martin 63*); Dorset Rangers 200-6 (M C Wagstaffe 79, G P Gent 56)

A fine opening stand of 133 between Wingfield Digby and Eckersley-Maslin formed the base for Rice and Martin to take full toll of an ageing Rangers attack. However, the Rangers made a splendid response with fine displays from Gent and Wagstaffe. Well though Slade and Gould bowled, the Rangers were not so easily dislodged and they saved the match with ease.

Wednesday July 20 v Old Tauntonians at Sherborne - Won by 19 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 240-9 dec (N C R Isaac 52, S W D Rintoul 50); Old Tauntonians 221 (S Hogg 90, C V Goodchild 50)

This was the second fixture with Old Tauntonians and they are to be congratulated for going for victory right up to the bitter end. Though we won it is right to say that we were assisted considerably by our opponent's refusal to contemplate the idea of a draw. Our top order all got runs with Isaac emerging from a lean spell with a fine knock of 52. Our opponents' response was led by a pugnacious innings of 90 from Hogg, the current Bristol fly half. In the end their innings was wrapped up with a hostile spell of bowling from the effervescent Garrett.

Sunday July 24 v Old Tonbridgians at Tonbridge - Won by 8 wickets
Old Tonbridgians 131 (P M S Slade 4-27); Sherborne Pilgrims 132-2 (R M Eckersley-Maslin 52)

An outstanding victory against powerful opponents who were bewildered by our hostile pace bowling attack led by Slade and Blackburn. In support of the bowling there was some very sharp fielding and the whole operation was energetically directed by Michael Wingfield Digby behind the stumps. In the event our opponents were put out for the paltry score of 131 which took them 50 overs to compile. In contrast, our innings proceeded without difficulty and with Eckersley-Maslin and Blackburn both playing fine attacking knocks we achieved our target in 30 overs.

Saturday July 30 v Hampshire Hogs at Warnford - Drawn
Hampshire Hogs 171-7 dec; Sherborne Pilgrims 165-8 (R A Rydon 52*; P Dunn 4-28)

Our bowlers did splendidly in confining our opponents to such a modest target with Goode showing commendable accuracy and stamina to achieve 3-29 off 16 overs. Our innings never really got going until Rydon entered the arena at 74-6 and bludgeoned the hapless Hogs to such effect that the prospect of victory began to face us, and in the end the Hogs may well have felt relieved to escape with a draw.

Saturday August 6 v Bluemantles at Tunbridge Wells - Won by 3 wickets
Bluemantles 170-9 dec (W J Wesson 51; E P J F Lyons 4-42); Sherborne Pilgrims 171-7 (N A L Davis 4-41)

On the hottest day of the summer the Bluemantles rather selfishly chose to bat first on a perfect batting strip. However, their batting was kept well in check by tight swing bowling from Slade, Rydon and Lyons. Unfortunately our bowling began to suffer from sunstroke and we were unable to perform the coup de grace on their tail as a result of which we were kept in the field until 4.40pm before a declaration was forthcoming. Incensed perhaps by our extended ordeal in the sun we were determined to get the runs even though there would only be enough time for 30 overs. Everybody played their part with Rydon finally taking the bowling by the scruff of the neck and hammering it to all parts of the field. A well earned victory.

Sunday August 21 v Cobham at Cobham - Lost by 7 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 137 (C R Martin 56*; G Snook 4-45); Cobham 139-3 (J N W Edwards 75*)

The match was played in depressingly dark conditions though it never rained. We were put in on an emerald green wicket affording much help to the seamers but, truth to tell, our efforts, save for Jones and Martin, were inept and lacking in resolve. A score of 137 was always going to be difficult to defend on the small Cobham ground and our cause was hardly helped when we dropped Edwards before he had scored ten. Thereafter he went from strength to strength and, together with J R Garforth-Bles (25*), saw Cobham to a decisive victory.