WITH the cricket season underway, we thought this scoresheet from 58 years ago would bring back happy memories for players from Merriott.

But it won't make happy reading for anyone who turned out for Axminster's second eleven in a one-sided match on July 31, 1965.

The home side were bowled out for a paltry seven runs - with extras the top scorer on three byes.

Eight batters - including the top four - failed to get off the mark for Axminster.

In fact only three batters troubled the scorers - two of them for a single and the other for two.

The first four wickets fell without a run being recorded.

Of the Merriott bowlers, M. Pitman took seven wickets for a solitary run, while P. Brown took three for three, with the home innings completed inside 11 overs

The pitch was drying out after some very heavy rain and the texture was very spongy.

However, the two Merriott bowlers were extremely accurate with seven of their batsmen clean bowled and the other three caught.

Professor Tony Mills, who played for Merriott and is still turning out in his whites at the age of 82, said: "Axminster's innings was over in 44 minutes and we knocked off the eight runs for victory in a couple of overs.

"Nobody else in our team got a chance to participate.

"I'm hoping to still carry on playing this season, but I doubt whether we will see a score sheet like that."

Tony, who no longer lives locally, added: "I still have close links to Somerset since my cousin lives in East Lambrook and he kept wicket for Somerset during the time of Botham, Richards and Garner.

"He enjoys the classic name for a wicket keeper - Trevor Gard."