Sherborne Pilgrims 162 (49.3 overs); Charterhouse Friars 149 (35.2 overs; C E S Clifton 4 – 32)

July 10, 2011

I estimated the crowd watching this game to be over a hundred at lunchtime but there may well have been a few less if some died from the tension of the final few overs. Ed Lyons reported eloquently on the exciting game at Repton in the previous round and it is difficult to imagine that this victory for the Pilgrims could improve on the pressure and excitement of that result. However, it really was a thriller and a huge triumph for the skills, commitment, concentration and team spirit of all of those involved on the field. 

Charlie Esson elected to bat first on a wicket previously used by the Pilgrims for the School match the previous week in which the School amassed a total in excess of 350! Schoolboy cricket is somewhat different to club cricket and a strong Charterhouse side soon demonstrated that extra pace and control of line and length tested even the most accomplished batsmen. The variation in bounce and movement both in the air and off the wicket created further obstacles to negotiate. There were moments when it was simply a case of keep your left shoulder forward and say your prayers. Theo Cooke was the first to depart and the first of wicketkeeper Schofield’s five victims. 

Ed Atkins looked comfortable but one sensed he was becoming frustrated when he drove at a wide delivery and was the second of Schofield’s catches. It was little consolation to learn afterwards that it was in fact the seventh ball of the over. Charlie Esson departed leg-before having hit four boundaries in his hard-earned 22. The significance of the number of boundaries, which was the most compiled by a Pilgrim, was put into perspective later in the day.

Charlie Cooke was another victim caught behind for 14 and Ollie Kelly was most unlucky to be run out backing up at the bowler’s end. Kelly is a classic example of just how much a cricketer can improve if you continue playing regular cricket after leaving school. He was instrumental in encouraging his younger brother to keep playing and Ed too is now an accomplished club cricketer and totally at home in this company.

Theo Grainzevelles had completed a highly successful season as captain of the first XI at school and was making his debut in this competition. He made the transition effortlessly contributing significantly with bat and ball. He tends to play back to the quicker bowlers which restricts his stroke play and increases the chances of a successful leg-before appeal. However, he showed real grit and determination contributing 15 runs from 49 balls – exactly what was required at the time. Grainzevelles bowled well too and it is a long time since the Pilgrims had a genuine left arm spinner. He should be a great asset for many years and has the potential to be an outstanding cricketer. Will Selfe stands tall and drives handsomely off the front foot. He scored a fluent 17 before becoming another Schofield victim.

With the score at 122 for eight and 10 overs of the innings still left Henry Lamb joined Andy Nurton with instructions to use the overs up. Both played sensibly pushing singles and always looking for a second run. Lamb made an excellent 25 from 28 balls which was the top score of the Pilgrims innings. Nurton was undefeated on 14 but the partnership realised 39 crucial runs and Charlie Clifton appeared briefly to face one ball in the final over. 

There was limited confidence among the Pilgrim supporters where most assumed a total in excess of 180 was necessary for a chance to win the game. It has always surprised me how soon confidence evaporates in supporters at the slightest hint of difficulty. It was Jung, I think, who said we learned from our failures, success merely confirming us in our mistakes. The success at Repton confirmed this, as mistakes were kept to a minimum when Charterhouse started their innings. Hamblin, I was reliably informed by ex-Hampshire player Richard Lewis who manages the Charterhouse team, was released by Hampshire far too early. He is a gifted cricketer and soon showed his talent as a batsman by scoring 56 from 30 balls of which only two were scored in singles, the rest fours or sixes.

With the score at 75 for no wicket the prophets of doom were gathering. Nurton was introduced into the attack and with his third ball trapped the destroyer Hamblin plumb in front leg-before. As a very little lad I used to request Andrew to give me some practice often using the bowling machine. Even as an eight year old he would respond “I am the bowling machine.” It was significant that the next highest score in the Charterhouse innings was 17 and only three others  reached double figures! He continued to keep a tight rein on the batsmen by bowling line and length with movement in the air and off the wicket. His eight overs cost 15 runs and took two wickets. 

Charlie Clifton took the full force of Hamblin’s powerful hitting with his first three overs conceding 23 runs. He then proceeded to bowl superbly to finish with impressive figures of four for 32 from 9 overs. Clifton is a wholehearted Pilgrim who plays with a smile and is equally at home playing tense Cricketer Cup games or the more relaxed friendlies during Pilgrims Week. He also travels from London to do so which is why one is always delighted to see him do well. His innings against Radley last year to complete the win will long live in the memory.

Will Selfe bowled particularly well in his second spell at the end of the game to finish with three for 43. 

Mention has been made of the excellence of the opponent’s wicketkeeper. The Pilgrims in my opinion have one better. Constant reference is made about Charlie Cooke’s ability behind the stumps and yet again he was truly outstanding in this game. Two catches he made standing up were no less than brilliant. The catch he took off Selfe’s bowling defied logic – he seemed to catch it behind his right ear when everyone else was looking towards the boundary. An experienced cricketer remarked that it was the finest catch by a wicketkeeper he had ever seen. It is difficult enough to bat on a wicket of somewhat uneven pace and bounce but it is considerably more difficult to keep wicket. As a batsman you can avoid the sudden lifter (if you are lucky) but as a keeper you have to get behind every ball. The other thing to say is that it has always been generally accepted that a good wicketkeeper makes a good fielding side. The fielding in this game was outstanding especially the ground fielding in the latter stages of the game when every run was vital.

Charlie Esson proved the decision correct to elevate him to the captaincy yet again in this match. Cricket has become so scientific that the captain of today has to work hard. The ideal captain is one whose personality can win the confidence and enthusiasm of his team, and whose knowledge of cricket and seizing opportunity (where the average player only sees nothing) enable him to force victory or avoid defeat. These days a captain has to concentrate on making his players believe that they have the ability to succeed. Mission accomplished so far, Charlie.

There are still improvements to be made. The dot ball has to become the Holy Grail. One of the top order batsmen must play through most of the innings. Losing regular wickets at both ends severely limits the possibility of a defendable total as demonstrated by both sides in this game.

Finally congratulations to all those who represented Sherborne School cricket on this day. I hope you all feel a sense of pride because you certainly made a lot of people proud of you.

Ed Lyons's willingness to allow me to pen this report makes me conscious of the words Arthur Mailey posted above his butcher’s shop in Sydney stating “I used to bowl tripe, then I wrote it, now I sell it.” I may be guilty of the first two but have yet to resort to the last role. Eton Ramblers beckon in the next round on 24^th July and is an away fixture. Dare we be looking for the end of the rainbow?

Mike Nurton

Back Row L to R:   Ed Kelly, Charlie Esson (Capt),Charlie Clifton,

Theo Cooke

Middle Row L to R: Olly Kelly, Jack Jenkins, Will Selfe, Charlie Cooke

Front Row L to R: Jimmy McKillop, Jonty Dampney, Ed Atkins

Sunday June 26 v Repton Pilgrims, Cricketer Cup second round, at Repton

Sherborne Pilgrims 199-7 (E R S Kelly 56 not out); Repton Pilgrims 188-8. Won by 11 runs

At about 6.15pm at the end of a gloriously hot summer’s day, Sherborne Pilgrims completed an extraordinary fightback to secure a pulsating victory by 11 runs over a full-strength Repton side for whom victory for much of the match appeared a foregone conclusion. Repton were, though, firstly taken aback by an attacking rearguard stand and then gradually disintegrated in the face of fierce pressure exerted upon them by the unrelenting accuracy of the bowlers backed up by an utterly committed and virtually error-free fielding performance.

As to the match itself. Sherborne lost the toss on what was initially a damp pitch giving some help to the bowlers. It was felt that if the first hour could be negotiated, batting conditions would ease and that a par score might be around 230/240. In the fourth over with the score on 15, Ed Atkins went mistiming a drive into mid-on's hands. Theo Cooke (making his debut for the Pilgrims having left the School last year) fought on tenaciously and together with Charlie Esson stabilised the innings until in the 10th over, with the score on 31, he was caught behind cutting.

There then followed a stand of 40 between Esson and Charlie Cooke with both of them stroking the ball well so it was a blow when Cooke departed clean bowled for 28 hard-fought runs in the 22nd over with the score on 71. With 96 on the board and 29 overs gone Esson’s valuable innings ended when he clipped the ball straight into short mid-wicket’s hands. If 96 for four off 29 overs was not a particularly healthy position it became very much worse in the next several minutes with Jack Jenkins departing in the same over as Esson pulling a long hop straight into deep square leg’s hands, then Ollie Kelly being run out for 4 and Jimmy McKillop being comprehensively bowled leaving the Pilgrims at 104 for 7 with only 33 overs gone.

Repton appeared to have it in the bag and they visibly relaxed in the field which may have contributed to their missing at least four catches (six in all) during the course of a match-shaping stand between Ned Kelly and Will Selfe (also making his Pilgrims debut) whose combination of sensible defence with clean hitting and vigorous running against a perspiring Repton attack saw them to an unbroken stand of 95. This vital partnership averted the prospect of humiliation and opened the door to the possibility (no more than that) of victory.

So perhaps Sherborne went into lunch marginally the happier side although a score of 199 would not have unduly worried a confident Repton side equipped with two county batsmen and others in good form. The run rate was not an issue. All Sherborne could do was to bowl straight and field to the best of their ability and see what might happen. Ollie Kelly opened the bowling and secured a vital early wicket in his first over by clean bowling Sindrey. Now at the crease were the two county players (Paget and Batty) who batted with relative ease for a partnership of 66 before a remarkable turning point.

Firstly with the score on 78 after 18 overs Paget was superbly run out by Atkins firing the ball into the wicketkeeper from mid-wicket and then in the first ball  of the next over Batty, seemingly well established, was comprehensively leg-before to Selfe who had come on first change. Selfe bowls medium pace with a strong shoulder action and hits the deck hard making him difficult to drive. This and the ability to bowl gun-barrel straight throughout his 10 over stint left him with the outstanding figures of 1 wicket for 22 runs.

Of equal merit was Theo Cooke's 10-over spell (2 for 24) of off spin from the other end. Given his very limited experience in purveying this type of bowling (historically having been a seam bowler) his accuracy and spin were remarkable and Repton simply had no answer to him. And so the runs dried up to the extent that between Batty's dismissal in the 18th over with the score on 78 Repton were totally becalmed  and  only managed to add 36 in the next 20 overs. Thus going into the final 10 overs our hosts found themselves at 127 for five needing to score at 7.2 runs per over to secure victory. Excellent swing bowling by the indefatigable Charlie Clifton maintained the pressure at this vital time so at the start of the last over Repton at 183 for eight needed 16 to win which they found too much of a task against the persevering pace of Jonty Dampney.

In the context of this being an away match involving extensive travelling  and against strong confident opposition with a proven Cricketer Cup record this must be regarded as one of the Pilgrims outstanding victories. Esson (standing in for Andy Nurton as captain) made a telling contribution firstly with his innings of 33 and then with his thoughtful field placing and handling of the bowlers. With his innings of 56 not out and 10 economic overs Kelly proved once again what an effective cricketer he is especially in adversity.

The newcomers to the side Theo Cooke and Selfe both made vital contributions under pressure and showed enough evidence of skill and temperament to suggest that will  play a significant part in future Cricketer Cup campaigns. With his height and late outswing combined with his sheer consistency (and finally not least his enthusiasm) Clifton once again proved why he is such a valuable member of the side. Charlie Cooke offered an exemplary performance of skilled and aggressive wicketkeeping which served as an inspiration to both bowlers and fielders: he must be seen as one of the outstanding keepers in the competition.

However, notwithstanding the individual heroics this was nevertheless a team effort of sustained perseverance and tenacity born of a spirit which refused to accept that the match could not be won even in the darkness of a score of 104 for seven.

All that said there is always room for improvement and notwithstanding we have a strong batting line-up it is never the right attitude to assume that someone will come good on one particular occasion and it is essential that all the top order batsmen take responsibility for the building of an innings. On this occasion the batsmen must reflect on the fact that there were a number of soft dismissals. It is not enough to say that, “I am at my best if I play my own game" if that game leads to an early return to the pavilion. It is perfectly possible to keep the score ticking along in the early part of an innings by sensible shot placement without having to play the big shot with the risks that go with it.

It is of course a matter of judgement but on this occasion there were some instances when that judgement was conspicuously lacking. If there can be improvement on this front the Pilgrims will be an increasingly formidable side capable of competing with the best in the Cricketer Cup in the years to come.

Ed Lyons

The Cricketer Cup team's excellent run ended with defeat to Eton Ramblers in the semi-final on July 24th.

Back Row l to r: Henry Lamb, Theo Grainzevelles, Ed Atkins,

Charlie Esson (Capt), Andy Nurton, Charlie Cooke, Olly Kelly

Front Row l to r: Theo Cooke, Ed Kelly, Charlie Clifton, Will Selfe

July 4, Cricketer Cup second round v Marlborough Blues, at Marlborough

Marlborough Blues 321–7 (E Kilbee 118, G Adair 69, J Bill 52); Sherborne Pilgrims 243-9 (C S G Cooke  89). Lost by 78 runs

I looked up the definition of experience in the dictionary before compiling this report. “(Knowledge, skill, based on) personal observation or action or contact; event that affects one (trying, pleasant, curious, experience.”) The Pilgrims witnessed all of these emotions during this game. My own knowledge is that experience at cricket is something that is only gained by playing and watching, usually against better players. Rafael Nadal was quoted as saying that from a very young age he watched the great players of the day and hoped one day he would emulate their achievements at Wimbledon.  It has certainly worked for him.

Ed Kilbee was arguably the difference between the two teams on this day.  His studies at Cape Town University playing regularly in a team with Western Province players and regular practice sessions suggested that he had reached a mature level as a cricketer somewhat quicker than others with less opportunities. It also confirmed my view that the potential for the Pilgrims to reach this level is obvious. But as I have said before and will say again it is only achievable by playing regular cricket at the highest possible level. Maturity also (like good wine I am told) comes with age. This is a young Pilgrims side and it would be a great shame to abandon the progress and the experience gained over the past two to three years.

Kilbee struggled early on and quickly assessed the threat posed by Nurton and Dampney with the new ball. He hoped (perhaps like Hutton in the last game) to “cash in” on the bowling once the shine had gone and he was seeing the ball early. He also anticipated there would be some loose deliveries served up by the change bowlers. His assessment was totally justified.

Nurton bowled without luck. His first eight overs cost 18 runs and removing a slip for his final two overs resulted in three edged boundaries through that area. Dampney suffered a similar fate. Fifteen runs from six overs and a wicket and 55 runs in total from his allotted ten overs. Ed Kelly picked up three wickets but conceded 65 runs from eight overs. Andy Searson’s two wickets cost him 70 runs from eight overs.

The solid base built by Kilbee was used to good advantage by Adair (69), Pike (52) and Marcon (33). The total of 321 was daunting but on a small ground with a lightning fast outfield and a true surface, most sides would expect to score in excess of five runs an over even with sensible batting.

Unfortunately early wickets were lost. Atkins went first ball and Esson soon followed for 8. Jenkins played fluently before departing for 26. It was left to Cooke to provide respectability to the score. He played sensibly and ran well between wickets. He looked a high-class performer and was harshly judged leg-before using the reverse sweep to a ball that all except the umpire were convinced he had hit with the bat. He deserved a century. His wicketkeeping in this game had also been exceptional.  Surely there are worse cricketers playing 2nd XI and Minor Counties cricket than this young man. Well there are because I have seen some of them! There used to be an old cricketing maxim – which has never been discredited even if it is ignored nowadays – that, in picking a cricket team, you should always pick the wicketkeeper first.

There were small contributions lower down the order and a total of 243 was respectable. Important lessons to learn therefore are: a) not to bowl so many long hops and full tosses, b) to concentrate in the field in spite of long pauses resulting from lost balls – we did lapse on too many occasions in this game which resulted in three extra runs most times, c) building an innings and not to panic if the run rate falls below the required rate, d) digest the lessons from this season and make a determined effort to become a better player next year.

Finally a tribute and vote of thanks to Sheila Harding who of course has scored more runs than anybody else this year. I know she enjoys attending these games and we so much enjoy having her.  And on a personal note I would like to thank you all for providing me with much fun and a great deal of entertainment. I am confident there will be more of the latter in a week’s time!

Mike Nurton

Cricketer Cup first round, v Radley Rangers, Sunday June 13, on the Upper

Radley Rangers 193 for 8; Sherborne Pilgrims 194 for 7 (C A R Esson 51). Won by 3 wickets

Cricket is like a love affair: if you don’t take it seriously, it’s no fun; if you do take it seriously,  it can break your heart. The Pilgrims prepared well for this game with every member of the side playing regular cricket. There were therefore no broken hearts. There have been outstanding individual performances by Pilgrims over the years but I can think of no better team performance than this well earned victory.  Everyone contributed and often at crucial stages of the game.

What a pity we cannot publish fielding averages.  Good fielding makes weak bowling strong.  There was the occasional misfield but generally we moved quickly to the ball and returned it accurately.  I estimate we saved at least 20 to 30 runs in the field which is awful lot to make up especially on The Upper.

Nurton and Dampney bowled tightly early on which never allowed the dangerous Hutton to do other than defend. The Rangers looked to build their innings around the former Middlesex captain. Nurton posed problems with virtually every ball and Dampney generated pace and bounce. Dampney deserved his haul of three wickets for 39. Both were well supported by Charlie Clifton, who demonstrated yet again that line and length is the foundation for all bowling.

Another lesson that seems to have been digested is that cricket is not always about champagne. It’s a bread and butter game. The basics were done well apart from a couple of relatively easy catches.  From 60 for 6, the Rangers must have been pleased to reach 193 for 8.

It was important for the Pilgrims to get off to a good start. Esson and Jenkins followed instructions to the letter and played sensibly reaching 102 before Jenkins was well caught above the fielder's head at mid-off. McKillop, making his debut in this competition, soon departed attempting to score a boundary and was comprehensively bowled. Esson, immediately after reaching 50, was caught low down at mid-wicket. Both Esson and Jenkins still are maturing into fine players. Their defence is tight and they have a range of strokes on both sides of the wicket. They should score a stack of runs over the next few years.

Fortunately after losing both openers quickly there was no panic and no suggestion of allowing the game to drift like a ship in the hands of its crew. Everyone played positively and with a clear understanding that we needed to keep wickets intact but keep the score ticking over.

Cooke shared a good partnership with Searson. The latter started his journey to Sherborne at 6am. “Wait 'til you have a kid,” was the unsympathetic comment from his captain! Cooke was caught behind for 22 and at this stage the rain that had threatened since late afternoon arrived. With three overs left it poured and conditions were difficult for both sides.

Olly Kelly kept a cool head and Charlie Clifton did what he does best, i.e. play shots. It was Clifton who struck the winning runs with two balls of the game left.

It was an exciting game and the Rangers played their part. It was also a game the Pilgrims deserved to win. It is a young Pilgrims side with talented players who should now believe that they can compete with the best sides in this competition. But cricket is never an easy game and in three weeks' time at Marlborough it will require the same commitment and desire to progress in the competition. And finally remember it is always tougher to win when everyone expects you to.

Mike Nurton

Overall statistics from the Cricketer cup.