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| 1968 |
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Played 15: Won 6, Lost 3, Drawn 4, Abandoned 2.
After a wet May and a heavy defeat at Repton we had a successful and enjoyable season. We batted badly against Esher and the Hogs and deserved to lose, but otherwise the cricket was of a better standard than in recent years. The experiment of a six day tour based on Sherborne proved to be popular. We were lucky with the weather as most parts of the country had continuous rain.
Saturday May 11 v Bradfield Waifs at Tisted - Abandoned Sunday May 26 - Cricketer Cup first round v Repton Pilgrims at Repton - Lost on run rate Heavy rain on the previous day had left the square extremely wet and the match eventually started at 1.30 being reduced from 55 to 50 overs. We won the toss and put Repton in. Gill (28) and Warner (25) made a steady start and put on 52 for the first wicket in 15 overs, but Carr was the only batsman who threatened to dominate the bowling. His innings produced some beautifully timed shots and when he was run out - W F Hughes with a good throw from third man to the bowler - we had seen by far the best batting of the match. Hutton would have been run out first ball if Gould's throw had not missed by two inches, but he settled down to play a useful part in keeping the score moving. The bowlers' lack of practice was a major factor in not being able to restrict the flow of runs. One or two loose balls an over do not go unpunished against a side as good as Repton. We dropped several catches but the ground fielding was excellent with A J T Brown and H R J Walker prominent. Our innings was always hard work against some accurate seam bowling and in the latter stages bad light did not help. A steady drizzle turned to rain and we conceded the match in the 32nd over. Looking back we should have tried to beat the Repton score of 73 2 in their first 20 overs and then hoped for rain. We had made 47-4 at this stage so an all out assault might have produced the extra runs. There is little doubt that the end of May is too early for the Pilgrims to give of their best, unless they are prepared to start playing in April. Saturday June 15 v Hampstead at Hampstead - Won by 3 wickets We won the toss and put Hampstead in to bat. With the score at 19 Ferrier was dropped behind the wicket and he and Mocatta continued to bat steadily until, with the score at 84, Ferrier was run out from a quick return by Gould when he took a leisurely single. Lunch was taken at 124-1. Although one or two near chances were missed before lunch, our fielding and throwing after lunch reached a high standard and the Hampstead captain, David Peck, was magnificently caught on the square leg boundary by Lewis. Hampstead then tried to force the pace but their run rate was restricted by excellent field-placing and splendid fielding. Hampstead declared at 3.23pm with Mocatta unbeaten on 109. We were left 153 minutes to score 206 runs - a generous declaration. Constant (25) and Hustwitt (19) began confidently and had scored 49 together in 43 minutes when Constant was caught and bowled for 25. Three runs later Hustwitt was out and then the partnership between Lewis and Walker began which turned the game. Playing magnificent shots they commenced to take the Hampstead attack apart and the hundred went up in 85 minutes. Mocatta, a leg-spinner, came on and was hit for 33 runs in three overs, his last over costing 19. The score went from 100 to 150 in a quarter of an hour, although Lewis was out at 144 caught behind the wicket. Walker was out at 151 and his 37 included two sixes and three fours. Gould had held himself back to number six (Sobers again?) and, in spite of three wickets falling for eight runs, was undefeated with 36. Thus, we were victorious by three wickets two minutes before time in what must have been the last over. Sunday June 30 v Radley Rangers at Lincoln College, Oxford - Drawn We won the toss and made a poor start against some friendly bowling with 44-4 in the first hour. The later batting improved but just as someone looked to be set he played a wild shot. Radley's second wicket put on 104 but only Cooper, who hit Gould for 14 in three balls and was caught the next, really threatened us. Saturday July 13 v The School at Sherborne - Won by 5 wickets The weather forecast was terrible but the day passed without any rain, thus helping to make the experiment of Commem at the end of term a definite success. The School won the toss but failed to use this advantage by unenterprising batting. They declared at the tea interval after 195 minutes at the wicket. After an early reverse, Rowe and Brown put on 71 for the second wicket and Walker (26) and Porter (21*) added the finishing touches. Sunday July 21 v Esher at Esher - Lost by 57 runs Esher won the toss and Croft made a neat 41 out of 57 for the first wicket in even time. When he was out the scoring became pedestrian and we captured the last wicket after 195 minutes in the field. Our batting was most disappointing. Seager bowled intelligently but was presented with too many wickets. It needed some brave striking from Kennedy (29) to add respectability to our score. Sunday July 28 v Old Tonbridgians at Tonbridge - Won by 65 runs We won the toss and made a steady 118-3 before lunch. After the interval Walker and Hughes got into top gear putting on 155 in 66 minutes. The bowling was not as tight as usual but Walker's striking was magnificent. He gave one chance at 80 but then appeared to get his second wind. He scored six sixes and twenty-one fours in 165 minutes. Mention must be made of a seven - all run with five of the runs coming from three different overthrows. The Tonbridge innings fell into two phases. With 45 minutes left they were 202-3 with Crang going great guns having just been dropped twice. Hughes then held a hard caught and bowled and proceeded to wrap up the tail in the next three overs, helped by good catching and a high class run out. This was our first victory at Tonbridge since 1954. Compared to their usual store of riches they were not a strong side but this should not detract from some excellent individual efforts from the Pilgrims. Friday August 2 v Old Sedberghians at Sherborne - Drawn Sedbergh won the toss and on a good wicket Bruce-Lockhart and Hollinshead put on 152 for the first wicket in 115 minutes. The scoring slowed after lunch but Sedbergh were able to declare after 195 minutes' batting, leaving us three hours. Gillespie and Wingfield Digby produced a stirring start with 77 runs in 48 minutes before tea, but the pace could not last, and with an hour to go we were facing defeat with the score 148-7. Warren came to the rescue with some sensible batting. Saturday August 3 v Canford Cygnets at Sherborne - Won by 1 wicket Canford won the toss and after losing a wicket in the first over put on 50 for the second wicket. Kennedy kept a good length and after lunch was too accurate for the later batsmen. Gillespie (13) and Walker gave us a great start with an opening stand of 91 but the over confident approach of the middle order nearly lost us the match. Sunday August 4 v Sherborne Town at Sherborne (Terrace) - Drawn The Town won the toss and with sensible batting set us the stiff target of 192 in two hours. Our innings never got going and we were saved by Proctor who kept his head for the last hour in the worsening light. Monday August 5 v Somerset Stragglers at Sherborne - Drawn The Stragglers won the toss and on a good Upper wicket never looked like being bowled out. Wingfield Digby sent down 25 accurate overs and helped slow the scoring. The declaration left us 165 minutes batting. We made a patchy start and at 77-5 were struggling. Kennedy batted sensibly but unfortunately was out at 190 with ten minutes left. Instead of getting the last dozen runs in singles and winning by three wickets we had to play out the last over for a draw. An interesting tactical problem which misfired. Tuesday August 6 v Dorset Rangers at Sherborne - Won by 142 runs Kennedy won the toss which was about the best thing he did all day. Against a weak Rangers attack our batting prospered. Gould threatened to retire hurt before facing a ball but stayed to play a fine knock. Proctor helped him put on 92 in 37 minutes. An early run out unsettled the Rangers, and after Geddes had sorted out their batting strength, it was left to Gent to tease the tailenders into submission. Wednesday August 7 v Old Cliftonians at Clifton - Won by 4 wickets After five dry days at Sherborne we arrived at Clifton in a thin drizzle. They won the toss and rather surprisingly decided to bat. Gould bowled medium paced seamers unchanged and his analysis read 21-10-30-7. He received good support from Kennedy and was helped by above average fielding. Our batsmen were never in real trouble and a six or seven wicket margin of victory would not have been unreasonable on the day's play. Saturday August 10 v Bluemantles at Tunbridge Wells - Abandoned Saturday August 31 v Hampshire Hogs at Tisted - Lost by 82 runs A day we would like to forget. Several interruptions for rain did not help concentration but our efforts were generally well below par. |