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| 1990 |
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Played 18: Won 10, Lost 3, Drawn 4, Abandoned 1, Cancelled 1.
Sunday May 6 v Keble College at Oxford - Won by 183 runs
We were up against weak opposition and this allowed Thorne and Matthews to put on 121 for the second wicket. Thorne scored 82 in boundaries and this indicates the punishment he exacted on the bowling. We used eight bowlers, six of whom were in the wickets, and Keble put up little fight with their batting lacking in technique and experience. Sunday May 13 v Old Whitgiftians at Croydon - Won by 5 wickets This was a trial match prior to selection of the side for the first round of the Cricketer Cup and played under the rules of that competition. It was a match won by our bowlers, of whom Rydon and Blackburn, with their contrasting methods of late swing and movement off the pitch respectively, were much to the fore. In fact, the opposition's batsmen were unable to dominate any of our bowlers and were always under pressure. Against a modest target our reply was emphatically positive with Eckersley-Maslin leading the way. Sunday May 20 v Radley Rangers at Radley - Won by 32 runs This was another trial match for the Cricketer Cup and played under the rules of that competition, save that there was no restriction on the number of overs allowed to a bowler. Eckersley-Maslin put on 59 for the first wicket with de la Hey (23) and 133 for the second wicket with Thorne. At lunch we were 133-5 off 35 overs and therefore had secured a bridgehead from which to launch an assault on the opposition in the final 20 overs, which task was well carried out by Eckersley-Maslin, aided by the Symondsons. Despite some tight bowling from us Pegg and Adams put on 130 for the Rangers first wicket. However, Thorne's innocent off breaks made the breakthrough, which Garrett and Slade with their aggressive pace bowling capitalised upon, leading the Rangers to lose their last six wickets for 29 runs. Sunday June 3 - Cricketer Cup first round v Old Merchant Taylors' at Croxley Green - No result We took the field, but after four eventful overs, which contained seven wides and a single, the rain started and did not stop. After an excellent lunch in the spacious Clubhouse the replay was arranged for the following Sunday at Sherborne. Sunday June 10 - Cricketer Cup first round replay v Old Merchant Taylors' at Sherborne - Won by 2 wickets OMTs won the toss and elected to bat. This was awkward as we were still two short, with Evans and Slade held up by Boscombe Down Air Show traffic. However, they arrived at 11.29 and we started at 11.30 without them. We were playing on the wicket the Colts had used the previous day until rained off at 4.30pm. It looked flat and true but with a bit of moisture. The opening over was dramatic with only nine fielders, a leg bye from the first ball and off the third ball a short run to Eckersley-Maslin at cover who hit the stumps at the bowler's end like Clive Lloyd or Colin Bland; score 1-1. This was our last success for some time as Rob Rydon and Garrett strived for a break through. The OMT captain, Wolff, an excellent left hand striker, played a fluent innings and kept the score moving with well placed shots through mid wicket and good extra cover drives. After 20 overs the score was 64-1 and with Wolff in fine form, and neither batsmen in any trouble, a large total beckoned unless we could get a wicket and slow the scoring rate. The first ball of the 24th over was a potential turning point - Wolff, on 40, tried to force Will Rydon on the on side, missed, and was well out of his ground, but de la Hey, although taking the ball cleanly, was moving to his right and failed to remove the bails. Wolff celebrated his escape with a lofted drive over mid on and in the 27th over reached a fine 50. In the 34th over Wolff stroked Garrett through the covers for three, but Thorne, in going for a run out, threw the ball over the wicket keeper's head for an overthrow; an all run four. Maybe this was part of the plan because off the next ball Wolff, in trying to turn Garrett to leg, got a thick outside edge and Evans took a well judged catch at extra cover; a very good 63 and we were pleased to see him depart. At the lunch interval OMTs were 132-2 after 38 overs - a run rate of 3.47 per over. This left us with a further 17 overs to bowl which at, say, five an over would leave a target of 217. The first few overs after lunch were going to be crucial and we needed a wicket. Slade started from the Pavilion end with Will Rydon at the bottom end and after 40 overs the score was 138-2. In the 42nd over Rydon was hit for two boundaries by Ducat who was promptly out to a good catch for 49. Two overs later Blackburn replaced Rydon at the bottom end. An inspired change? The second ball comprehensively bowled number five for a duck - 157-4. It was now vital to keep the pressure on as Smith, the number four, was on 18 and starting to look dangerous. The next ball number six was lbw and Blackburn was on a hat trick, which did not materialise - score 157-5. After 40 overs Rob Rydon replaced Slade at the Pavilion end and bowled a maiden. The next over saw a fine attempt by Thorne, at mid on, to catch Smith but the score went on to 167-5. Two runs came off Rydon's next over and in the following over number seven was caught at the wicket off Blackburn - score 169-6 with five overs left. Rydon bowled number eight for a duck and the score was 170-7 with four overs left. It had been an excellent 13 overs for us with only 38 runs scored and five wickets falling. Three runs came off the next over and then Rydon bowled number nine for a duck - score 174-8 with two overs left. In his last over Blackburn missed a hard caught and bowled from Smith - it was travelling fast but a chance. Smith took seven off the rest of the over and the final over saw a run out and seven runs. This was a good performance, even if the bowling was somewhat wayward with five wides. However, we bowled straight when it really mattered. It was interesting that three batsmen and extras were responsible for 185 of the 188 scored. The fielding was excellent with some 25 runs saved by good stopping and chasing. This was probably the key difference between the two sides. The main concern must be the 29 extras; five wides, five byes and 19 leg byes. So the scene was set - the light good, the wicket slow and the ball not coming on to the bat, the outfield somewhat quicker than before lunch, the time 3.25pm and the target 189 or 3.4 an over. Not an easy task, but with sensible batting and good running between the wickets it should be on. Gent and Turner made a cautious start with 17 coming off the first seven overs. Nicholson, bowling medium pace up the hill and moving the ball in the air and off the wicket, was not easy to get away, and in the eighth over Gent was caught at cover trying to loft the ball over the top. Thorne immediately had trouble with his timing on the slow wicket. There was no need to take undue risks at this stage but only eleven came off the next eight overs and we seemed to be getting bogged down. However, in the next over Turner hit Hampel, the slow left arm spinner, for six. In the 20th over there was an all run four, which might have been five, but it was difficult to tell whether it was Turner or Thorne who was slowing down! After 20 overs the score was 46-1, whereas OMTs had been 64-1 at the same stage. Thorne appeared to be trying to hit the ball too hard but as soon as he started to play within himself the runs began to flow and 12 came off the next two overs. Unfortunately, in the 23rd over he forgot the rule of "no hooking on the Upper" and was lbw on the back foot to Walter, the other spinner. It kept low but that is the reason for the rule. After 24 overs the score was 64-2 and this saw the end of an excellent twelve overs from Nicholson. His analysis of 12-7-17-1 was just reward for some intelligent bowling. The final session started with us needing 124 off 30 overs - a rate of 4.13 - with eight wickets in hand, Turner on 31 and Eckersley-Maslin yet to score. We needed to accelerate but the target was still achievable if we played sensibly. In the second over Eckersley-Maslin, who had played so well at Radley, was lbw on the back foot to Walter and we were 67-3. Blackburn joined Turner and in the 30th over the latter was out. The ball was relatively wide outside the off stump and kept very low; in trying to force it away Turner hit his wicket. A most unfortunate way to get out but a valuable innings of 39. The score 77-4 with 112 to get in 25 overs - a rate of 4.48 an over. This was a testing moment for Evans to come in, playing in his first Cricketer Cup match. After a quiet look at the bowling he hit two consecutive boundaries over mid on, followed by a third through the covers. A good start. After 32 overs it was 93-4, and three overs later we started on the final twenty, requiring 88 runs with six wickets in hand; the prospect of an interesting finish. Off the first ball of the 38th over Blackburn was caught at shortish mid wicket as a result of a compromise between a defensive and a hard hit lofted shot over the top. Score 109-5 and enter de la Hey. His first Cricketer Cup and a difficult situation, but any thoughts that an older hand might have been sent in were dispelled when he scampered three two's off his first three balls. Disaster came with the next ball which he put through mid wicket for a comfortable single but, in going for the second, Evans was run out by a wide margin. A bad over for us with two wickets; score 116-6 and the run rate now 4.29, but who could score those runs? Will Rydon joined de la Hey and in the next six overs 15 runs came, leaving a rate of 5.1 an over. Walter (2-35) finished his tidy spell from the Pavilion end and Whiles, the opening bowler, returned. On the slow wicket a quicker bowler might be easier to score off? This dream was rudely interrupted when de la Hey was yorked by the second ball and Rob Rydon came in to partner his brother. The score was a dismal 133-7. At the end of the over (the 45th) we had advanced to 137, helped by three separate wides. Was this an omen of good fortune? Only 52 were wanted off the last ten overs but, with respect to Slade and Garrett, it was vital not to lose a wicket until more runs were on the board. With some sensible batting and picking the right ball to hit, the Rydons added 45 in the next eight overs; nothing dramatic but consistent pressure on the fielding side with 5, 9, 3, 8, 4, 3, 3, 10 from these overs. We therefore required seven from the last two overs. Rob chipped the first ball over mid wicket for two. What followed was pure Whitehall farce, although it did not feel quite like that at the time. Rob hit the next ball hard and high towards the Sheds; the fielder signalled a six and we had won! But, no. The square leg umpire ruled that it was only a four, so we needed a single to win. Rob hit the next ball into the covers and set off for what he considered to be a run but his brother was run out. No comment, except that in the event of the scores being level at the end, it is the side losing fewer wickets that wins. OMTs made 188 for 9; we were now 188 for 8 and if Slade and Garrett were both out we would have blown it. However, we need not have worried. Slade played out the rest of the over and Rob steered an outside edge for a single off the first ball of the last over. This was a good win, even if we had some worrying moments. It was a fine effort to slow the OMTs scoring rate after lunch and equally pleasing when the Rydons took control of the game in the closing overs. The main difference was in the fielding where we saved many runs, whereas they gave a few away; other opponents will not be so kind. Sunday June 17 v Hampshire Hogs at Warnford - Won by 4 runs The score is testimony to an exciting and hard fought game. Turner and Quinlan played soundly and later on, when the innings was in danger of becoming unduly modest in size, Eckersley-Maslin and Rice (21) made valuable contributions. The Hogs were initially confident in their response but, against the off spin of Hodges, were unable to sustain their challenge and collapsed with their last seven batsmen offering a total of 20 runs as their contribution to the game. Sunday June 24 - Cricketer Cup second round v Old Malvernians at Malvern - Lost by 73 runs We played in dark and cold conditions which were present throughout the day. The cricket ground is cut into the side of the Malvern Hills and enjoys a long straight boundary but, more significantly, very short square boundaries over which a six is deemed to count four. The Malvernians batted first on a grassy wicket which was almost white in complexion. Rydon had won the toss but, as soon as he decided to field, a heavy drizzle fell for some time, and when play started 25 minutes late the outfield and ball were wet. At lunch they were 72-3 off 30 overs. Shortly after lunch, with all our bowlers having maintained an immaculate line and length, the Malvernians subsided to 126-6; but a seventh wicket rally between Murray and Price saw the score move from 126 to 177 in the space of the last six overs with many of these runs coming via the square boundaries. Nevertheless, to have confined the home team to 177 was testimony to the hard work of our bowlers and a marvellously sustained fielding performance. By tea we were 65-1 off 25 overs. This was the high point of our expectation for a target of 112 off the last 30 overs, even allowing for the fact that there was some help in the pitch for the bowlers, was well attainable. The fact that our remaining nine wickets were disposed of for a meagre 39 runs can partly be explained by the tight offspin of Murray (2 for 31) and the cleverly flighted left arm spin of Ashworth. Because the bowlers were undoubtedly competent and experienced, they were able to make the best out of a wicket which gave them a little help, but there is no doubt that many of the strokes played were ill-chosen. Given the modesty of the target it needed but one batsman to play a substantial innings, and the pressure would then have reverted on to the bowlers; instead, for the majority of our innings, the bowlers had two batsmen who were both unestablished. In the end the margin of victory did not really reflect the fact that for three quarters of the game the result was in the balance. It should be recorded that the Malvernians went on to win the competition. Saturday June 30 v The School at Sherborne - Drawn We were given a good start by Webb and Quinlan (21) with 47 for the first wicket and lunched at 100-2. In trying to force the pace against a tight School attack we were soon 135-7, but Knechtli came to the rescue. The slow start and middle order collapse prevented us setting a challenging total as we had to bat for 60 overs. Tea was taken between the innings and the School batted with great enterprise to get within four runs of victory in only 40 overs. Two run outs towards the end upset their chances, but it would have been a cruel blow to have lost their unbeaten record after dominating for so much of the day. Friday July 6 v Downside Wanderers at Sherborne - Cancelled Saturday July 7 v Old Aluredians at Sherborne - Drawn The scores reveal that this was a one-sided contest but, nevertheless, it allowed some of our batsmen to occupy the crease. Both Stone and Leach played well and took full advantage of the anodyne attack. Bagnall, promoted above his station to number three, exhibited great violence on his way to 58. Some of his innings was played before lunch and some after lunch, but the majority was talked about during lunch. The opposition reply was feeble, but Gent (2-51) bowled his leg breaks to telling effect, and Bagnall bowled his left arm pace well enough to secure three wickets. Sunday July 8 v Dorset Rangers at Sherborne - Lost by 12 runs The Rangers batted well against a varied attack but one which on the day (possibly because of the preceding night) lacked both resource and joie de vivre. Accordingly, Thorne (a Pilgrim) and Hayward (about to be a Pilgrim) showed no mercy on us and both played many delightful strokes. Our reply to a tight declaration was spirited and rumbustious with Hodges playing a responsible innings of 55, and Gould mustering up sufficient breath not only to obtain 37 valuable runs but to talk about his innings to anyone who cared to listen to him. The piece de resistance came when Bagnall, batting at number seven, threw his body and soul into a powerful 77 in which at one point he fired off three huge sixes in succession. Whilst he was at the wicket, victory was at large for us; but with his departure our challenge receded and eventually failed. Monday July 9 v Old Blundellians at Sherborne - Won by 122 runs An opening stand of 131 between Blackburn and Mason opened the way for Hodges and Garrett (28) to attack the bowlers and enable us to declare at half past three. The opposition's batting was of no real account and was bundled out with eight overs to spare. Tuesday July 10 v Sherborne Town at Sherborne - Lost by 86 runs The Town batted for what seemed an interminable time in dredging up 193 off 66 overs. It was good to see Scott Stevens, the outstanding bowler for the School this season, make an early debut for the Pilgrims and he bowled well to take 2-43 off 18 overs. Our reply was strictly modest against a competitive attack and we failed to do ourselves justice, although Andrew Wingfield Digby batted well for 26. It was our first hard fought game of the week and it didn't do us any harm for that; but why were we dismissed so easily? Wednesday July 11 v South Wales Hunt at Sherborne - Won by 3 wickets By this stage of the week off the field activities were beginning to exert their influence on performance - in the match Bagnall's wicketless six overs for 33 runs, coupled with a duck, was eloquent testament of his exertions to date. However, on this occasion, faced with a large opposition score due to a fine innings from Morgan, Cuthbert and Blackburn, assisted by Matthews, responded splendidly by taking up the challenge of making fast runs to secure a fine victory with three overs to spare. Thursday July 12 v Butterflies at Sherborne - Won by 42 runs Our innings never got into top gear against some useful bowling. Gould opened with 26, Stone got a good 37, followed by modest, but nevertheless useful, contributions from Saunders (24), Mason (19) and Slade (21*). The last three wickets put on a vital 59. The Butterflies batting was no match for the pace of Bagnall and Slade, as well as the off breaks of Stone. The only hold up was a fighting 57 for the eighth wicket by Benkert and Allan. Sunday July 15 v Old Tonbridgians at Tonbridge - Won by 21 runs This was an outstanding victory against good opposition on their home ground. Wingfield Digby batted doggedly for his 52 and Evans, together with Rice, had a vital stand of 81 for the fifth wicket. Our bowling reached a high standard with Garrett, Hodges and Turner achieving great accuracy. Hodges in particular bowled his off breaks with great resource, bearing in mind it was a batsman's wicket. Against such bowling our opponents lost their last eight wickets for 93 runs. Saturday August 11 v Bluemantles at Tunbridge Wells - Drawn The lack of rain over the summer months was beginning to make pitch preparation difficult and this was a good example, for it became apparent after the first 15 minutes of the game that the wicket was losing its top and was dangerous when medium pacers or above were operating. The Bluemantles therefore elected to use their spin bowlers for the majority of our innings, which undoubtedly assisted us in reaching a total of 229. Hayward and Matthews both played exceptionally well on a wicket of increasingly variable bounce and added 91 for the fourth wicket. Turner and Rice (25) were also involved in useful stands. Our pace bowlers, led by the Knechtlis with two wickets apiece, with a cluster of close fielders, then reduced the Bluemantles to 25-5. The spinners were then used and after 113 8 the match petered out into a disappointing draw. Saturday September 1 v Honourable Artillery Company at Armoury House - Drawn This was the first time the Pilgrims had visited the home of the HAC but this could not produce a result. At 11.30 there were five Pilgrims on the ground which compelled our hosts to allow us to bat. Shortly thereafter we were 6-3 with defeat by lunch a real possibility. Fate then decreed that Spink should take it upon himself to obtain his highest ever score of 97, which he did with great panache. Ward weighed in with 46 (probably his highest score) and Fisher bored people dreadfully with an interminable innings of nine - but it was valuable and the great escape had been achieved. The HAC then paraded one of their strongest ever batting sides, but that man Spink was at it again. He took a blinding catch and then Ward made further contributions with a fine spell of swing bowling which secured him 6-62. A friend of Garrett, one Pearson, appeared for the Pilgrims and bowled very fast to the great discomfort of one or two of the batsmen. Drew also bowled, but largely to the discomfort of his fielders. However, the HAC hung on to salvage a draw. Sunday September 2 v Cobham at Cobham - Won by 5 wickets At the start of Cobham's innings things did not go as they should have done for the wicket was lively and the bowlers hostile; yet somehow the ball either eluded the edge or dropped wide of fielders. It is also fair to say that, although hostile, our bowling was a bit on the short side and ill-directed. However, Garrett and Matthews at lower pace proved far more effective and, despite a resolute innings of 44 by Edwards, Cobham were dismissed for 183 which, given the pitch, was felt to be a challenging score. With our score at 58-4 Cobham could have been excused for feeling the warm glow of victory beginning to envelope them, but Bennett thrashed the bowlers for 86 and, in a stand of 92 with Lyons, turned the game round. With the score at 150 Bennett was dismissed to let in Isaac who had recently flown in from Japan. Looking lean and fit after a diet of pure fish, he played inscrutably to be in at the kill when victory was finally delivered to us. |