🦆 The Duck Pond

Frittenden CC paid a visit to Linton Park on Saturday last and made unusually free with our batting order, escorting no fewer than four of our number back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer. A generous contribution to the Club's exclusive zero club, and one that will keep the honours board busy for some weeks yet. 1st XI - J Amies opened the innings and did not long detain the bowling, bowled by A Levett for a duck's egg — his first of the season, and the second of a career now standing at five innings, placing him fourth of the eight-and-forty names upon the Club's roll of dubious distinction. He now sits level with the venerable C French Snr, whose own pair of career ducks between 1860 and 1864 earned him the Duck of the Year honour for 1864 — respectable company in which to find oneself. - C Amies followed not long after, undone by F Still for his maiden nought of the campaign, the first blemish upon a young record of four innings and good enough for eighth place on the all-time list. His tally of one matches precisely that of the gentleman batting at eight. - A Startup, at number eight, played his very first innings for the Club and was smartly taken by A Levett off the bowling of F Still without registering a run — a debut chiefly memorable for its brevity. He arrives upon the Club's books already carrying the Duck of the Year 1868 board and a place among the Ducks in a Row (five consecutive), honours his solitary innings to date has been sufficient to secure. His tally of one duck stands level with that of C Amies. - T Tomson, last man in at number ten, was caught and bowled by A Levett for his third career duck in five innings — a return sufficient to place him first of all eight-and-forty names on the Club's all-time roll, a position he holds at present without rival. In summary Four ducks fell to a single fixture, three of the four to the persistent A Levett, who might fairly be said to have done the honours-board keeper's work for him this week. A patient afternoon for the scorers and a busy one at the pavilion gate. Duck Hunting Season leaderboard - A Startup — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - C Amies — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - J Amies — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% - T Tomson — 1 innings, 1 duck, 100% All square at the summit of the table, then, and room enough for any name to make its claim. The Club awaits the next fixture with quiet confidence that Frittenden, or whichever eleven follows, will furnish further ciphers for the ledger.