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