Sunday May 18 v Radley Rangers at Radley - Cancelled

Sunday June 1 - Cricketer Cup first round v Old Malvernians, at Sherborne - Won by 3 wickets
Old Malvernians 146; Sherborne Pilgrims 148-7

Cricket, and sport in general, is often more about attitude and commitment than about individual skill and ability. A team with a professional, disciplined approach can overcome more talented, yet more disparate outfits. This three-wicket victory by the Pilgrims - a first win in the Cricketer Cup for five years - had "attitude" written all over it.

It was no coincidence. Team selection was more considered, those who took the field were picked because they were playing regular cricket, not because of their performances on the Upper in their last year at school. This was a balanced XI, with depth in both batting and bowling - and with some excellent fielding to match.

Comfortable in the knowledge that he had batsmen able to chase a total, Ricketts inserted the Old Malvernians after winning the toss. The toss, though, was not crucial. What swung the match in the first instance was the tight bowling and enthusiastic ground fielding of the Pilgrims, preventing the visitors from ever running away with the game.

Both Garlick (making a welcome and overdue first Cup appearance) and Garrett pursued a steady line, and Garlick found early reward with a wicket in the third over. But it was the contribution of the change bowlers, Wingfield Digby and Rydon, that ensured that the Pilgrims would have only a minimal total to overhaul.

Rydon, so reliable in this competition, purveyed hostile swing bowling to collect three for 21, while Wingfield Digby maintained a nagging line that also yielded three wickets. The vital strike was Rydon's dismissal of Wileman, the Malvernians' opener who was on the staff of Nottinghamshire in 1996. Wileman had begun to flourish, offering some fine shots on both sides of the wicket, when he played on.

Continued accuracy, not least from Ricketts's leg-spin, ensured that the potentially powerful lower order - the Malvernians No 9 is his club's regular opener - did not play havoc with the Pilgrims' careful early work and the final total of 146 left five overs still unbowled.

This was an eminently achievable target, but older Pilgrims recalled how, in the last meeting between the two sides in the Cup, the teasing left-arm spin of Ashworth had undone them. Well as Ashworth bowled this time, the greater application of the home team was instrumental in keeping the innings on track for victory.

Much of the credit for that must go to the patient opening pairing of Tweedale and Hodges, who put on 49 for the first wicket and laid the foundations well. Hodges in particular played some languidly well-timed shots, one straight down the ground towards Westbury that was especially memorable. Atwell continued the good work - one sumptuous cover drive almost matching Hodges's best effort - before the first wobble occurred.

With tea approaching, a score of 80 or 90-odd for two at the break looked likely. Then Leeke, who looked comfortable, and Hargrove both perished for single-figure scores. Mindful of sad Pilgrims collapses of the recent past, there were those, this writer among them, who thought that another defeat was looming.

The loss of Atwell soon after tea did nothing to dispel that, nor, too, the dismissal of Rydon a little later. But Ricketts, playing with patience and care - attributes that could equally have been applied to his measured captaincy in the field - nursed first Jackaman and then Wingfield Digby through to a solid three-wicket victory. Only at the last did he allow himself latitude, pulling Smart powerfully over midwicket for four to cheers that were as much in relief as in exultation.

Sunday June 15 v Hampshire Hogs, at Warnford - Won by 6 wickets
Hampshire Hogs 212; Sherborne Pilgrims 213-4 (G W Garrett 59, M J E Jackaman 50)

As last year, this game was both popular and close. Spencer Ewen, captain and match manager, not to mention his friend Rob Brook, never made it to the match after a minor car accident. Explanations involving a wedding reception the previous night were given. In any event, the Pilgrims had 11 players regardless, and the game began on time with the Hogs winning the toss and deciding to bat.

The Pilgrims had four wicket-keepers in the team and only three bowlers. Hargrove and Bagnall opened the attack, with little pace but at least accuracy. Wickets were shared evenly, with the openers claiming three apiece and Tweedale and Atwell gaining two each. The Hogs batted steadily, with James, who scored 83, their best batsman. The final total of 212 was no easy one to chase, on a slow track not conducive to strokeplay.

The Pilgrims' response began badly. Tom Batchelar's innings started and finished with the same delivery, although it was unquestionably the best golden duck witnessed by those present. One School House man was replaced by another, and together Garrett and Jackaman proceeded to repair the damage, both scoring fifties before falling to Westbrook. Their good work was not wasted, however, with Pugh, De la Hey and Rix all contributing good runs towards a satisfactory victory just after 7 o'clock. Needless to say, the Hogs, as always, were excellent hosts.

Sunday June 22 - Cricketer Cup second round v Radley Rangers at Radley - Won by 21 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 149; Radley Rangers 128

An annual "friendly" between the two sides had been rained off in May with little warning - eight Pilgrims had travelled - and so it was with some trepidation that the Pilgrims travelled again, considering the rain that had fallen and the forecast for more. Radley, though, remained dry virtually through the day, apart from an isolated storm at about 4pm for 30 minutes.

Before the toss, the captains agreed that a 40-over match would be sensible and the Pilgrims were duly inserted. The first ball of the match was a wide, as was the first ball of each of the first four bowlers; this was to be a telling factor, for Radley bowled 16 wides and three no balls. Despite losing three quick wickets, the Pilgrims scored quite freely (Rankine 42) until the tenth over at 46 for three, when the spinners Nash and Martin-Jenkins began to operate.

Overs 19 to 22 saw just two runs scored and 25 to 30, nine runs. However, the shackles were broken and Ricketts, the captain, batting at No 7 (24 not out) was able to lead a late spree despite two run-outs. The Pilgrims were finally all out for 149 off 39.3 overs.

The Rangers must have been confident that this was very gettable and started steadily with Hollis scoring 40. Garlick in particular bowled well - his first ball was four wides and the next scoring ball off him was at the beginning of his fourth over. Martin-Jenkins at No 3 tried to push the score on but was unconvincing, especially against the evergreen reverend, Wingfield Digby.

At tea, after 20 overs, Radley were 64 for two (at which stage Sherborne had been 81 for three). After the extended 40-minute interval for rain, the umpires offered a further delay, but both captains agreed to continue (one wondered if Sherborne were wise, as at that stage they could have been declared winners!).

A number of half-chances and further steady progress by Eadie (27) and Hollis (finally leg-before to Wingfield Digby) put the likely result in Radley's favour, although the required scoring rate had risen to over 6 by the 34th over (Ricketts's ninth) which went dot, dot, bowled, wide, bowled, wide, dot, dot!

Further wickets in the next two overs suddenly shifted the balance and a run out on a second run in the 38th with 28 still required was the death-knell; the second and third balls of the 39th over brought proceedings to an end with catches at midwicket and deep mid-off. Radley were all out for 128 with Ricketts and Wingfield Digby taking three wickets each.

Saturday June 28 v the School at Sherborne - Drawn
Sherborne School 222-7; Sherborne Pilgrims 170-8

Parting with tradition, Hargrove inserted the School on an overcast and cold Commemoration Saturday. A young and fit Pilgrims side fielded extremely well and managed to limit the School to 222 on a low and slow pitch. Fradgley, with 60, and Adams (53) were the Pilgrims' chief tormentors; the wickets were evenly spread around, with Searson, the most effective bowler, gaining three. Lyons, the nod towards age and experience, took two, while Clarke and Will Wingfield Digby picked up one each.

The Pilgrims' innings never really got going, essentially because of tight bowling and good fielding by the School; Rankine stood out from the general mediocrity in scoring 41, but it was Adams for the School who rounded off a sound overall performance by taking four for 22 to add to his fifty earlier in the match. The Pilgrims denied the School the satisfaction of a win, though, holding on with two wickets intact for the draw, some way off the School's target.

Sunday July 6 - Cricketer Cup quarter-final v Old Tonbridgians at Tonbridge - Lost by 4 runs
Old Tonbridgians 209; Sherborne Pilgrims 205 (B D Atwell 55)

This was only the second time that we had played for a place in the semi-final - the first had been in 1980. The late arrival of Garlick gave Ricketts a difficult decision to make if he won the toss; perhaps fortunately he had no such decision to make - Tonbridge decided to bat on a wicket that had green patches at one end.

It cannot have been often that a Cricketer Cup side has taken the field with a 60-year-old, two days into retirement, amongst them. Bagnall found opening the bowling with Wingfield Digby difficult and failed to use the conditions as he should; it was Hodges who broke the first-wicket partnership in the ninth over when Sale was caught off the shoulder of the bat at second slip.

Owen-Browne batted calmly throughout the morning and with Walsh seemed to be building surely for a respectable total; however, just before lunch, Walsh was caught at mid on and so after 36 overs Tonbridge went into the interval well placed on 125 for two and 19 overs to bat.

However, Tonbridge wasted their chances - the Kent-contracted player, Ford, was caught by Freeth at square leg two overs after lunch and Owen-Browne at long on, slogging, in the 40th over for 57. A brilliant Atwell direct hit ran out Hollins, another contracted player, and Tonbridge were 145 for five. A small recovery as Tonbridge tried to up the run rate was halted by two Atwell catches at extra cover (182 for seven in the 50th over); the captain ran out No 9 from midwicket in the 53rd over, a caught-and-bowled in the 54th and a Bagnall catch on the last ball of the innings.

Garlick had bowled straight through from lunch, taking two for 40, Wingfield Digby two for 31, Ricketts two for 53 but Jim Freeth was the pick of the bowlers, with one for 31 off his 11 overs. A very good performance but even so, what might have happened if Garlick had been present at the start?

Ricketts decided to lead from the front and opened with Rankine. One or two rushes of blood made the heart stop, but after 20 overs, 54 without loss put us in the driving seat; the 21st over yielded 15 runs before Rankine was caught at slip off Ford, the slow left-armer's first ball. In the 24th over, Ricketts was caught at cover hitting a short ball uppishly and suddenly we were 71 for two after 25 overs at tea.

Tweedale attacked after tea, scoring 30 in five overs before being caught at slip off a short ball, Hodges rapidly followed skying a catch to extra cover, irresponsibly. Hargrove and Atwell accumulated over the next 11 overs before Hargrove was run out - 142 for five (at the same stage, Tonbridge were 146 for five). Jackaman hit a long hop to square leg and so realistically it was up to Atwell and Wingfield Digby to stick together; 25 runs came in five overs when suddenly Wingfield Digby was run out and all seemed lost (39 required off six overs).

Atwell, it seemed, had to farm the bowling. However, Bagnall had other ideas - 11 runs came in the 51st over, three runs and a bye in the 52nd, but then tragedy struck; Atwell hesitated on a second run and was run out for a high-class 55.

Even so, four runs were scored in the 53rd over and 12 off the 54th, leaving seven to score off the final over. Bagnall played a dot, snicked 1, Garlick hit 2 but was caught off the fourth ball when the batsmen crossed. Enter Freeth, with four to win (if we still had only nine wickets down) off two balls. Bagnall missed the first and was bowled by a full toss off the final ball - he had scored 27 off just 24 balls.

A great match which left us wondering what might have been - especially when Tonbridge bowled out Uppingham for 115 a fortnight later to win the semi-final by seven wickets, but lost the final to Bradfield.

This had been a very good campaign, but we need to find batsmen who can hang around and score more securely - what we might have given for Stuart Rintoul, who was busy with Dorset during all three of our games.

(The match scheduled for July 6 was the away fixture against Marlborough Blues, which was cancelled on account of the Pilgrims' involvement in the Cricketer Cup.)

Monday July 7 v Old Blundellians at Sherborne - Won by 4 wickets
Old Blundellians 181; Sherborne Pilgrims 183-6 (D W Thorne 67)

Having fielded a weaker wide against the Old Blundellians in recent years, it was a great pleasure for the captain to be able to leave out two of the previous day's Cricketer Cup players and still feel confident of a strong performance by the Pilgrims. Hodges and Tweedale were duly rested and sent to the golf course while the rest were sent into the field by the Old Blundellians' stalwart, Ted Crowe.

Pexton bowled with good pace and accuracy and had soon accounted for both Blundellian openers, but the wickets then dried up as Patidar accumulated runs in two good partnerships with Murrin (29) and Akerman (44). Just as things were starting to look less easy for the Pilgrims, the Old Blundellians decided to throw it all away. Murrin was needlessly run out and Patidar surrendered his wicket to the steady Andy Searson, who had the unenviable task of the "uphill, upwind" spell of bowling.

Bishop then produced the figures of the day by taking three wickets in three overs bowling down the hill. The most laid-back man on the pitch positively blew away the opposition's middle order; but Crowe came on to declare that his team were short of players, a lame end to proceedings.

A target of 182 for victory should never have caused anxiety, but Pilgrims do not play without plenty of drama. Searson and Pugh opened the batting and looked to be going steady before Searson was run out for 11. That brought Dan Thorne to the crease, apparently intent on ending the contest by tea as he cracked the ball to all parts of the ground. Thorne made it all look deceptively easy, batting brutally for a rapid 67. His generosity was noted when he ran down the wicket, missed the ball by a mile and was stumped. He was heavily fined for his deliberate attempt to allow others to bat.

Pugh had run himself out during Thorne's whirlwind innings, scoring a handy 33. Hargrove put on a few runs with Longman before the famous local landowner and wealthy farmer was deceived by a very straight ball and was bowled. Pilgrims were by now diving for the pavilion, but Hargrove and Will Wingfield Digby re-established control and put on 46. Hargrove's dismissal was followed quickly by Costeloe, bowled without scoring in a vain effort to win the game in boundaries.

The captain was then spotted sprinting to the pavilion from the scorebox (not for the first time); after a few glares at the incoming Costeloe and the outgoing Bristow, it was decided that the cavalier approach could be abandoned in favour of winning the match. Bristow and Wingfield Digby thereby guided the team home to a four-wicket win.

An unconvincing start to the week, but it was a win, most importantly, and it proved to be just the beginning of a very successful few days, both on and off the field.

Tuesday July 8 v Dorset Colts at Sherborne - Won by 4 wickets
Dorset Colts 149 (R H F Pugsley 5-51); Sherborne Pilgrims 155-6 (J D Pexton 50)

The Pilgrims assembled on the Upper in true club style, some playing Frisbee, some rehydrating, others dying a slow death from what has become known as Bagnallerosis, all admiring the rather physical warm-up of the Dorset Colts. Eventually Hodges stumbled out to the middle to meet a Shirburnian, Andy Searson (later to redeem himself for appearing for the opposition). Hodges called correctly and decided to field - apparently for no better reason than it was Tuesday.

Having played in some "tedious" matches on the Upper, with the first priority being not to lose, Hodges' second act as captain was to inform his troops that it was win or lose, and definitely not draw. The response was positive, it seemed.

Pexton and Bagnall opened the bowling, with great skill and perseverance on a typical Upper pitch with little bounce or movement. Pexton in particular found the right line and length and secured an early wicket. The Colts' second-wicket pairing put together a good stand in terms of runs scored, but never looked fully at home. The entry of Pugsley into the attack saw the class act of the day, aided by some interesting field positions that Hodges claims were devised specifically for the Upper. Anyone who plays for the spin - a sin roundly criticised by both Stone and Willows over the years - will fall to Pugsley, whose skill is line and flight, but certainly not spin.

At the other end, there was constant change. Costeloe bowled a variety of deliveries with no luck but a great deal of amusement. Ben Bishop then came off his "Michael Holding" run and bowled with great heart, removing, among others, Searson, who looked tentative, was worse after some "jovial banter" from the unforgiving Pilgrims and was overcome by it all.

While Bishop was bowling tightly, Pugsley was accumulating the wickets, exerting pressure on the batsmen by making them play at every delivery, with an array of close fielders stifling their strokes. The Colts determined on a policy of hit or hope. It was mostly hope. Apart from Hicks, who entertained with a slog or two, the Colts folded and were all out for 149.

In reply, the Pilgrims began - as often - badly. Wingfield Digby played a loose shot and was soon back among friends regaling all and sundry with past endeavours. Hargrove fared no better and was good only for being the butt of jokes about his stomach. Pugh at the other end batted well for 23 but ultimately went rather softly.

Pexton's innings was entirely typical. Those who have not seen Pexton in bat have missed genuine entertainment: he hits the ball cleanly, stylishly and correctly most of the time. At all other times he slogs; defence is what other people do. Tweedale was playing well when he lost concentration, allowing Bristow to join the expansive Pexton.

Bristow, short and compact, with a tight technique, proved the perfect foil to Pexton. These two won the game for the Pilgrims with some excellent batting that ruthlessly exploited any misdirected bowling. This allowed Costeloe, who came in with the match all but over, to win the contest in great style, with a lofted six back over the bowler's head.

Hodges, as captain, was pleased that his team had showed a keen representative side what "real cricket" was all about, and with some style.

Wednesday July 9 v South Wales Hunt at Sherborne - Won by 60 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 250-5 dec (P J Hodges 100*, J R Tweedale 72); South Wales Hunt 190 (R A Bagnall 5-35)

Pilgrims know how to celebrate and, maybe because of our lack of intimate knowledge with at least one of the twin imposters, we celebrate victory as a long-lost friend. On Wednesday morning, the Pilgrims having enjoyed a fabulous Tuesday and a good deal of Wednesday already, were up against the South Wales Hunt.

While feeling ever so slightly tarnished, the team was ready for action and again under the stumbling captaincy of Hodges, who was unable to call correctly two days running, which saw the home team inserted. Pugh and Bristow opened and had to face a defector in the shape of Pexton. However, Pexton had been placed under the "protective" wing of one Rupert Bagnall for the previous night, and, as the initiated know, Bagnall's wing is a dangerous place to be. Consequently Pexton bowled like a drain, and already the strategies of Hodges and Bagnall had won the day's first battle.

Pugh was the first to fall, playing a strange shot after a textbook start. Thorne entered the fray, but the exertions of the day before had taken their toll and he expired early through exhaustion. This allowed Tweedale to the crease with plenty of time to build an innings. With Bristow, he put on 48, most of which Tweedale was responsible for, playing at the top of his effortless game. Bristow's dismissal for 35 allowed Hodges to prove, in his ever modest words, to the assembled throng that, for those who had not seen him play, that he could, and for those that had, that he still could.

Both Hodges and Tweedale are batsmen who prefer hard and fast tracks with plenty of opportunity for back-foot shots; the Upper has not often been a happy ground for either. But for one brief afternoon, both players were on top. When Hodges came in, Tweedale had a thirty-run start; Hodges beat him to 50. Both men were dispatching the ball by and large to wherever they pleased, so it was a surprise when Tweedale lost concentration and holed out for 72, ending what Hodges described as the most enjoyable partnership he had ever had on the Upper. The captain went on to three figures without offering a chance.

By half-past three, the Pilgrims had 250 on the scoreboard and Hodges, confident that his bowlers could perform, declared to give his team time to bowl the Hunts out. Opening was young Ed Square, who had been in action for Dorset Colts the previous day, and found recovery from the evening revelries harder to handle, and Bagnall, whose ability to survive any evening is legendary. Bagnall was in inspired form, recalling his salad days as a whippy bowler, including a spell in the Caribbean when he was still 18 that saw off Combermere. This performance of five for 35 on an unresponsive pitch, uphill, after a lot of Worcester sauce, must rank as one of his best.

The scorecard shows that Ricketts, for the Hunts, scored a big hundred. But had Bagnall's bowling been rewarded when the batsman was dropped on 15, it would have been over by tea. Costeloe bowled without any luck, but Ewen, taking over at the Pavilion End, showed his ability to bowl straight and move the ball away from the batsman. His one wicket was scant reward for a skilful, competitive and hardworking spell.

Bagnall, having removed two batsmen early, tired, which allowed Pugsley to slip into the same groove as the day before. His three for 28 off nine overs - including the under-the-weather Pexton without troubling the scorers - was crucial, allowing Hodges to vary his attack at the other end.

Bagnall returned to the fray and finished the game off with three wickets in three overs. Ewen finally picked off Ricketts and the Pilgrims had won by a comfortable margin. Hodges had completed a rare double - two wins in two days under his leadership, and was heard waxing lyrical about quick, aggressive batting and attacking bowling, with the fielders giving nothing away. (Not dissimilar to the way he used to declaim his Barge-yard cricket prowess while at the School, in fact.) He did, however, make the valuable point that it is sometimes forgotten by Pilgrims sides that in order to win, you need to play as a team, and during this Week, for whatever reason, the Pilgrims were a team, both on and off the pitch.

Thursday July 10 v Butterflies at Sherborne - Won by 99 runs
Sherborne Pilgrims 300-2 dec (W H W Bristow 111*, W P Hargrove 101*, J R Tweedale 66); Butterflies 201

The last game of the Week was a dominant display by the Pilgrims. The Butterflies elected to field on winning the toss and the Pilgrims made them regret it on what was the best pitch of the Week. Hargrove was able to declare 20 minutes before "half-time" with 300 on the scoreboard.

Bagnall opened the innings with Bristow and could only sit back and watch batsmen fill their boots for most of it; he departed with just 12 to his name. Tweedale dominated the second-wicket partnership, scoring 66 but falling with the score on 108. This brought Hargrove to the crease and both he and Bristow were not to be parted, running up almost 200 for the third wicket, batting very well and pacing their innings nicely.

The Butterflies began brightly, with Horne showing some fine shots on his way to 54, leaving Hargrove to sweat at the tea interval lest his target prove too small. Frustration set in for the home side after tea as the wickets stubbornly refused to fall, despite the slowness of runs being accumulated by the Butterflies. With patience, though, the bowlers eventually broke through and the Butterflies were bowled out well short of the Pilgrims' score. Wickets were spread around, Bagnall taking three, Hodges and Warren two each.

This was a superb finale to a very successful Week in which four centuries were scored overall and all four games won.

Friday July 18 v Fettesian Lorettonians at Ashtead - Cancelled

Sunday August 24 v Cobham at Cobham - Won by 6 wickets
Cobham 143 (R A Bagnall 6-62); Sherborne Pilgrims 144-4

When your correspondent arrived at the ground, having enjoyed a relatively pleasant drive around the M25, he was surprised to find that Bagnall, captain for the day, was hoping that his car might contain more than only one player as the Pilgrims were three short. However, eight sturdy Pilgrims took the field after losing the toss, prepared to give their all.

The opening attack of Bagnall and Garrett started with consecutive maidens and Bagnall soon reduced Cobham to 11 for two. In helpful conditions, the ball continually beat the bat and after 20 overs Cobham were struggling at 70 for five - even the introduction of the veteran Lyons kept runs to a minimum. Bagnall, after 11 overs (taking four for 42) of impressive seam bowling, realised that his resources were slim ... and so opted for his own brand of left-arm spin (thereby hogging the bowling). Somewhat improbably, he ended up with six for 62 in a fairly dismal total of 143 to which Cobham laboured in 42 overs.

The Pilgrims' reply started with four wides but Geoff Garrett was caught close to the wicket in the second over. Allen and Pugh then moved the score onto 48 before the former missed a straight one and was leg-before. Immediately afterwards Pugh was caught and bowled. At 52 for three, with only eight batsmen the score was effectively 52 for six and the Pilgrims were in some trouble. Enter Lyons, who steadied the boat along with Jackaman, who made an undefeated 40, and, despite Lyons getting tired and departing shortly before the close, the Pilgrims completed a six-wicket victory (admittedly assisted in no small measure by 42 extras).

Great joy at winning the match was tempered slightly in the bar when it was revealed that Cobham had put out their second XI. 1998 will involve Cobham's first XI and - hopefully - 11 Pilgrims.

Reports by Rupert Bagnall, Rupert Garrett, Patrick Gent, Robert Hands, Will Hargrove and Phil Hodges.