Sunday May 14 v Bradfield Waifs at Minley Manor - Lost by 5 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 136 (E J W Thomas 5-23); Bradfield Waifs 137-5 (J Davison 97*)

Sunday June 11 v Esher at Esher - Lost by 125 runs
Esher 241-7 dec (J A Fulford 117); Sherborne Pilgrims 116 (G Morgan 5-94)
Saturday June 24 v The School at Sherborne - Drawn
Sherborne Pilgrims 194-6 dec (B H Lock 82); Sherborne School 140-9 (J M S Kennedy 65; J J Barber 4-28)
Saturday August 5 v Canford Cygnets at Canford - Drawn
Canford Cygnets 209-7 dec (J Surtees 62; N P H R Chamberlin 5-56); Sherborne Pilgrims 209-9
Monday August 7 v Somerset Stragglers at Sherborne - Drawn
Sherborne Pilgrims 182-6 dec (F M Anderton 77*; B. Hobson 4-61); Somerset Stragglers 121-9 (B H Lock 6-45)
Tuesday August 8 v Dorset Rangers at Sherborne - Drawn
Pilgrims 164 (W H F Mayo 4-41); Dorset Rangers 130-9 (D J F Hardwicke 56; J M S Kennedy 4-21)
Wednesday August 9 and Thursday August 10 v Charterhouse Friars at Winchester - Drawn
Charterhouse Friars 190 (C H Collingwood 6-62) and 188-6 dec (J J Carless 77; N P H R Chamberlin 4-54); Sherborne Pilgrims 178 (E O Jackson 5-75, T R Jakobson 4-46) and 44-1
Friday August 11 v Hampshire Hogs at Winchester - Won by 3 wickets
Hampshire Hogs 129 (J M S Kennedy 6-37); Sherborne Pilgrims 133-7
Saturday August 12 v Old Wykehamists at Winchester - Lost by 8 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 96 (J C Patrick 5-19); Old Wykehamists 97-2 (V A L Powell 57*)
Sunday August 13 v Old Tonbridgians at Tonbridge - Lost by 7 wickets
Sherborne Pilgrims 161 (R W Beeney 53); Old Tonbridgians 162-3 (R F Crang 51)

We would appear to have had a poor season in 1961 but, although only one match was won, there was some good cricket with several close finishes. The main cause of our downfall on too many occasions was bad fielding. The stopping and throwing were good but the catching was terrible. On the tour alone 37 catches were dropped!

The season opened in May against the Waifs. After an opening partnership of 69 by Anderton and Porter our batting fell to pieces and, although we had three of the Waifs out for 20, a good innings by Davison saw them home by six wickets. The game against Esher was also lost after a good start when we had four of them out for 44. A vital catch was then dropped and they were eventually able to declare at 241-7. A veil is best drawn over our innings. The match at Commem against the School was a good one: splendid batting by Lock and Rowe helped us to 196-6 but during the School's innings our bowling seemed to be making little headway and, when the extra fifteen minutes were optimistically taken, they still had five wickets left. In the next few moments, however, four of these went, and the last pair were defending desperately at the end.

Eleven Pilgrims arrived at Canford in time for an 11.30 start - a remarkable beginning to the tour. On this occasion, however, punctuality was wasted as rain held up play until after lunch. Then a most exciting game took place with our batting second. Set to get 210 in 125 minutes, seven were still wanted when the last over started and two had to be scored off the last ball. Going like a bullet for a second run to third man, Nichols was run out by a foot and the match ended with the scores level. The victim still maintains that third man was hiding behind that tree!

The two matches at Sherborne were frustrating as on both days the opposition last pair were together when stumps were drawn, missed chances having cost valuable time. Anderton and Lock batted well, and Lock and Kennedy were the best bowlers in these games.

On Wednesday we travelled to Winchester for the two day game against the Charterhouse Friars which got away to a late start, the groundsman having failed to prepare a wicket. A slow outfield and good bowling by Collingwood restricted the Friars to 190 in their first innings and, thanks to attractive batting by Lock, Beeney and Chignell and a last wicket stand of 32 by Collingwood and Michael Wingfield Digby, we got to within twelve of their score. Hard hitting by Carless put the Friars in a position to declare their second innings, leaving us to score 201 in 150 minutes. We had made a good start, with Chignell going great guns, when rain brought play to an end. The first, and only, victory came in the match against the Hogs. Kennedy bowled very accurately, Chamberlin held four catches in the gully and with J R H Mermagen batting sensibly we won by four wickets.

Unfortunately this triumph was followed by disaster. In spite of a stubborn innings by Nichols, we proved no match for the Old Wykehamists who, with an allegedly weak side, coasted home with ease. The tour ended with a good game at Tonbridge which we lost four minutes from time. Beeney, Lock and Hill rescued the batting, but a greasy ball made bowling difficult and the Old Tonbridgians had seven wickets in hand at the finish.