🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 30 Aug 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Teston CC · AwayformLLLWL

Well, another Sunday, another chance to prove that calling the toss correctly is the easy part. I put Teston in on a warm, damp afternoon at their place, fancying there'd be something in it for the seamers, and for a while it looked a shrewd call. Anthony Karassellos was magnificent, ripping through with 3-7, Luke Petit chipped in with 2-7, and I managed 1-6 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure. But Kieran Savage's 45, with handy support from Seb Jeary (30) and Jacob Driver (22), and an opening stand of 57, dragged them to a competitive 158/7 from their forty. Karassellos even took the mickey out of me at one point, launching one down to third man for six — shot of the day, no argument.

Chasing 159, we never quite got going. Theo Clements batted beautifully for 47, though he'll want to forget the 14 byes he leaked behind the stumps, and Noam Rothschild made a tidy 22. I saw us through to 20 not out, but three ducks — Jacob Landman, Luke Petit and Zach Wilde all fell without scoring — and a horror 32nd over that cost us two wickets in a rush left us all out for 128.

A 30-run defeat, then, and a day where our short bowling got punished while our runs came mostly from luck off the edge. Theo's now third in the season's run charts and I'm proud to lead the wicket-takers, but individual mileposts are cold comfort. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 23 Aug 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC · HomeformWLLLW

Not our day at all. Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC won the toss, chose to bat, and by the time I'd had a good look at the pitch I knew we were in for a long afternoon under grey skies. Aromal Surendran made merry with an unbeaten 60, well supported by Kannan Sajanan's 35 and Albin Babu's 26, as they racked up 190/8 from their forty overs. Credit where it's due though — James Gray bowled beautifully for 2-15 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, Euan Beardwell chipped in with 2-19, and I managed 2-39 myself, sending Bobby Mathew back for a duck along the way. It wasn't a toothless display by any means, just not quite enough teeth.

Chasing 191 was always going to ask questions of our batting, and we simply didn't have enough answers. Varunkrishna Karthik held things together gamely with an unbeaten 30, but wickets tumbled around him and we were bowled out for 110 in 31 overs. Spare a thought for John Karassellos and Luke Petit, both of whom made that most dispiriting of walks back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers — the Duck Club welcomes two new members this week.

There were bright spots to cling to amid the wreckage: William Gray continues to churn out the runs and sits second in our 2nd XI charts with 267 for the season, while I'm rather pleased to be leading the wicket-takers with 17. Small mercies. On the day, though, we were beaten fair and square by 80 runs — back to the nets, heads up, and onwards.

Sun 23 Aug 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Willesborough CC · AwayformLLLWW

The road took us to Willesborough CC last Sunday, warm and cloudy overhead, and my luck deserted me at the coin toss — we were asked to bowl. Arnav Sharma's classy 60 built the platform for their innings, well supported by Shahmeer Malik's unbeaten 41 and Shazil Malik's 33. We struck early, the first wicket down for just 1, but a stubborn third-wicket stand of 65 steadied them, and an irritating last pair added 37 we could have done without as they closed on 216 for 8. Mardey Castle, Ian Lowe and Anthony Karassellos all took two wickets apiece, and we had the satisfaction of sending Shaheer Malik and Phanindra Mahavadi back for ducks.

Our reply never quite found its rhythm. Jordan Austin's 45 carried the innings, ably supported by Luke Welsman's 34 and Theo Clements's 29, with a promising second-wicket stand of 52 offering hope before it all unravelled — all out for 185 in 35.2 overs, the damage largely done by two wickets in a calamitous 30th over. Welsman gave us the shot of the day, going aerial over mid-on for a glorious six.

There was still cause for pride. I brought up my 300th appearance in Linton colours, Benjamin Austin's 14 runs took him past John Ames to 22nd on the club's all-time run list, and Thomas Beeney's solitary wicket lifted him past Darren Styles into 8th among our wicket-takers. Jordan Austin still leads our Sunday run charts with 334, Beeney the wickets with 19.

Not our day, then — beaten by 31 runs. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 22 Aug 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Kings Hill CC · AwayformDDDDL

Well, there's no getting away from it: I called it right at the toss and put Kings Hill in – only to watch our own top order fall over like deckchairs in a breeze. Seventy-four all out in 18.1 overs isn't the sort of total you build a Saturday around, and with William Gray, Srikrishna Challa and James Gray all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, it fell to Aaron Hughes to keep the innings respectable with a battling 30. Warm and grey overhead, and for a while our mood matched the sky.

But cricket has a way of rewarding you if you just keep chucking the ball down in the right areas, and so it proved. I found some rhythm with the new ball and finished with 3-20, while James Gray – amends made with the bat forgotten, at least for a spell – bowled two tidy maidens on his way to 1-21, with Russell Wilde chipping in at 1-22. Between us we sent Dudgeon-Smith, Young and Milson packing for ducks of their own, and for a while it looked like we might defend the indefensible.

In the end Ata Siddiqui stood firm on 42 not out and Kings Hill got home by four wickets from 18.5 overs – fair reward for the calmer heads in their order. Rahul Parakh, meanwhile, continues to pile up runs for the 3rd XI, now on 414 for the season, which is more than can be said for most of us today. A defeat, then, but an honest one – we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 22 Aug 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Snodland Community CC · AwayformDDDLD

I called it right at the toss and, with the pitch looking full of runs, fancied batting first. Reader, the pitch lied. We slumped from 72-6 to 78-9 in the sort of collapse that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces, and were bowled out for 86 in 33.5 overs. Special mention to Christian Eloff, whose golden duck at least had the decency to be over quickly.

Eighty-six was never going to trouble anyone, and so it proved. Snodland eased to 90 for 2 in just 13.4 overs, with Adam Flynn compiling an unbeaten fifty of real quality that took the game away from us long before the tea urn had cooled. Christian Eloff atoned handsomely for his duck with the ball, picking up 1-4 to be our pick of the bowlers, and Praveen Tunga chipped in with 1-24 — one of thirteen wickets now to his name this season, good enough for fourth in the 2nd XI charts. I managed to get among the wickets myself, and Johan Eloff continues to churn out the runs, sitting fourth in the batting charts on 231 for the year.

In the end we went down by eight wickets, well beaten by the better side on the day. Eighty-six was always going to need a miracle with the ball, and miracles, sadly, were not on the menu at Snodland. Back to the nets, lads — there are runs in this side yet, we just need to find them before the scorebook does.

Sat 22 Aug 2026 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · HomeformDDDLD

I called correctly at the toss on a warm, grey afternoon against Sibton Park CC, and elected to bat without a second thought — a decision I stand by, even if the execution left something to be desired. We were bowled out for 132 in 38.5 overs, and it was scrappy stuff: Benjamin Austin's 39 was the standout, and a healthy 31 in extras did more for the total than most of us managed with the bat. Wickets went in a rush from 105-4 to 116-7, the sort of collapse that has you staring into your tea rather than the scorebook. Special mention to Tom Campbell, who made his way to the Duck Club ledger with a nought — the walk of shame, immortalised in club lore.

Defending 132 was always going to ask a lot of the bowlers, and to their credit they gave it a real go. Alex Keeler was pick of the attack with 1-13 and two tidy maidens, with Will Hughes (1-23) and Tom Campbell (1-26) — redemption of sorts after his golden duck — offering good support. I chipped in with the ball too. But Arthur Leaver's 47, backed up by Phil Coombs' unbeaten 21, saw Sibton home at 136/5 in 33.4 overs. If I'm honest, our lengths let us down — a fraction short all afternoon, and they cut and pulled us into submission square of the wicket.

Not our day, beaten by five wickets. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Wed 19 Aug 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformWWWLL

Wednesday the 19th of August brought Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC to Linton Park under a warm, damp sky that promised more discomfort for fielders than batters. I lost the toss and we were asked to field first, which on a sticky afternoon is rarely the invitation you'd choose, but the lads set about it with good cheer regardless.

When our turn came to bat, we posted a healthy 194 for 5 from 34 overs. Benjamin Austin was the architect, batting through for an unbeaten 85 that anchored the innings from start to finish, with Aaron Hughes 33 and Luke Welsman 28 adding welcome heft either side of him.

Defending that total asked plenty of our bowling attack, and the visitors dug in gamely, closing their innings unbeaten as J Harcourt made a composed 57 not out and J Carthew chipped in with a well-crafted fifty of his own. Zach Wilde was pick of the bowlers with 2-23, well supported by Nolan Wilde's 2-27 and Thomas Beeney's 1-22, but Tunbridge Wells held firm to the close.

There was a personal landmark tucked into the afternoon too: Benjamin Austin's 85 eased him past Kevin Presneill and into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while his 251 runs keep him top of our 2026 Midweek XI run charts, with Thomas Beeney leading the wickets column on nine.

A draw, then — honest toil from both sides on a pitch that gave neither the edge. Honours shared, and on we go.

Sun 16 Aug 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Grenfell CC · HomeformWLLLW

Well, cricket has a way of humbling you, and Sunday reminded us all why we love it regardless. Grenfell CC visited on a warm, grey afternoon, I won the toss and, with the outfield holding a bit of pace, decided we should bat first — a decision that for once didn't come back to bite me.

We posted a handsome 270 for 8 from our forty overs, built around a magnificent 103 not out from Jonathon McDonald, who simply refused to get out. Aaron Hughes chipped in nicely with 47 and Tobey Castle with 40, the two of them putting together a 103-run stand for the third wicket that really set the platform. Jude Brooks and Jacob Landman weren't so fortunate, both departing for ducks, but with McDonald in that kind of form the scoreboard hardly noticed.

Then it was our turn to bowl, and what a collective effort it was. Bijal Patel played a fine hand of 63 for the visitors, well supported by Simon Stevens's unbeaten 42, and a sixth-wicket stand of 87 threatened briefly to make a match of it after their top order had stumbled to 4 for 1. But our attack kept chipping away — Jordan Austin took 2 for 8, Jude Brooks 2 for 30, and I had the great pleasure of finishing with 3 for 12 myself, including sending both Madhukarreddy Singireddy and Shaurya Shukla back without troubling the scorers. Grenfell were all out for 166.

A word too for Tobey Castle, who brought up 8,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved. All told, two points and a 104-run win: about as satisfying an afternoon as club cricket offers.

Sun 16 Aug 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv East Sutton CC · HomeformLWLLL

Nolan Wilde here, and what a Sunday to have the coin fall kindly. I saw a good drying pitch and rolled the dice on batting first — the sort of decision that either has you dining out for weeks or explaining yourself at the bar. Happily, it was the former. Praveen Tunga was magnificent for his 80, with Anthony Karassellos (40) and William Gray (37) lending real substance either side of him. The openers gave us 73 for the first wicket before the fourth-wicket pair piled on a crucial 111, and even our extras chipped in 33 — generous of East Sutton, if unintentional. 296/8 from our 40 overs felt like a proper score to defend.

And defend it we did. Zach Wilde was excellent with the new ball, 3-40 and setting the tone, with Varunkrishna Karthik weighing in too. I managed to get among the wickets myself, and kept things tidy with a couple of maidens for good measure. Ben Tragett fought hardest for the visitors with 34, but East Sutton never threatened, closing on 178/8. Johan Eloff had his work cut out behind the stumps, and we were far too free with the extras ourselves — 27 in wides and no-balls is not a habit to keep.

Off the field, real milestones: Theo Clements reached 2,000 career runs for the club, and Anthony Karassellos brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours. A landmark day all round.

A comfortable win by 118 runs. Can't complain about that.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Tonbridge CC · AwayformDDDDL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 15 August 2026. We travelled to Tonbridge CC on a scorching, overcast afternoon, and I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season. They chose to bat, which suited us fine, as I've always believed there's nothing quite like watching an opening pair get comfortable before we quietly dismantle it.

Tonbridge posted 174 all out from 39 overs, with Stephen Willcox's 46 the backbone, backed up by Ben Morgan (32) and Jake Rossiter (31) after their openers had put on 57. But once we got going, the innings simply fell away — 151-5 became 162-8 in the blink of an eye, with both Mark Stokes and Connor Prendergast sent back without troubling the scorers. Brandon Eloff was magnificent with the ball, 3-30, well supported by Alex Wade (2-22) and Ashley Cairns (2-43), while Altus Diener kept things tight with two maidens.

Chasing 178, we made hard work of it in the way only village cricket can. We lost the first wicket for just 1, but Altus Diener's 39 anchored things nicely, and I was pleased to chip in with 31 of my own as we added a crucial 52 for the third wicket. The tail then wagged gloriously, 63 more frustrating a increasingly weary Tonbridge attack, though poor Aaron Hughes will want to forget his golden duck. Both sides bowled a fraction short and paid for it square of the wicket.

We got there by two wickets — scrappy, sweaty, thoroughly earned, and exactly the sort of win that tastes best in the bar afterwards.

Sat 15 Aug 2026 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformDDDDL

Toss lost, hearts sank, and by tea we'd learned exactly why you never let James Rand settle in — 54 not out of pure, unhurried menace, with Jack Wilson and Alex Cotter both chipping in 33 apiece to haul Mersham Sports CC to a stout 215/9 off their 45. Credit where it's due: Anthony Karassellos was magnificent with the ball, 3-33 to lead the attack, Martin Harris (3-37) and Praveen Tunga (2-42) both chiming in nicely, and Alex Keeler bowled two maidens as tight as his top button on a scorching afternoon. Trouble was, 21 wides and 3 no-balls handed them a small second innings of their own, runs we simply couldn't spare.

Chasing 216, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite threatening — 171 all out in 42 overs, Daniel Thirkell top-scoring with a gritty 46 and Laurie Probert right behind him with 44. Beyond that the innings rather crumbled, and it was a bad day for the Duck Club treasurer: Will Hughes and Thomas Beeney both walked back for nought, and I'm obliged to report my own contribution was rather briefer than I'd have liked — bowled for a duck, the details of which I shall spare you.

Still, two morsels of sunshine amid the gloom: Daniel Thirkell brought up 18,000 career runs for the club, a genuinely staggering landmark, and Praveen Tunga reached 50 career wickets. Laurie Probert and Anthony Karassellos continue to lead the season's charts with 359 runs and 27 wickets respectively.

Forty-four runs the wrong side of the ledger, then. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Fri 14 Aug 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformWWWWL

What a way to spend a scorching Friday afternoon — I won the toss, fancied our chances with the bat first, and never once regretted it. We posted a healthy 163/6 from our 35 overs, built around a lovely, composed innings from Jonathon McDonald, who cruised past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 66. Rahul Parakh chipped in nicely with 22, and then, in the way that only club cricket can produce, the tail decided to have its say, cracking on for a final 78 that had the Dragons fielders wilting rather more than the heat alone could explain.

Defending it, though, proved a different matter. The Dragons openers set out their stall in style, putting on 63 for the first wicket before we finally prised one out, and from there Ben Griggs anchored the chase beautifully with a well-made fifty, well supported by Patrick McCahon's 37 and Z Fineberg's 35. I was pleased with my own contribution up front, taking 4-17 to keep us in the hunt, and Ian Lowe chipped in with a wicket too, but 166/5 came with 27.4 overs still up their sleeve, and there was precious little we could do to arrest it.

Beaten by five wickets in the end — no disgrace given the quality of that Dragons top order, but a result that will sting a little as we reflect over the teas. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 11 Aug 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWWWW

I wandered out to the toss on a glorious afternoon at The Mote, called it, and lost — so we were put into the field, which felt like the last bad news of the day. It rather proved that way, too, as Matthew White helped himself to a chanceless hundred, ably supported by C Frederics on 42 and Ronak Patel unbeaten on the same. We did have our moments: Toby McDonald bowled beautifully for 2-35, I chipped in with 1-37, and Thomas Beeney weighed in with 1-39, while Charlie Hodgson at least trudged off for a duck to give us something to cheer. Still, 251/5 from their forty overs was a mountain, and mountains take some climbing.

Climb it we tried. Toby McDonald followed up his bowling with a fine fifty, Mardey Castle matched him stroke for stroke with 50 of his own, and Johan Eloff chimed in with 40 to keep the required rate honest for a while. I managed a small hand myself, but for all our efforts we could only stretch to 221/8 — Theo Clements enduring the walk of shame for nought along the way, and poor Benjamin Austin having a torrid time behind the stumps with ten byes gifted through his gloves, though he can console himself with second place in the club's run charts this season, and Thomas Beeney with second in the wickets.

Thirty runs short in the end — not our day, and no hiding from it. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 09 Aug 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Westerham CC · AwayformLLWLL

I lost the toss under a scorching, overcast Westerham sky, and Richard Mosford made us pay for it—174 of the finest, with Farhan Latif right behind him on 96 and Ehtesam Abbasi weighing in with 45. The pair put on 246 for the first wicket before we so much as glimpsed a breakthrough, and by the time their innings closed on 429 for 8 from forty overs, the damage was comprehensively done. Small mercies: Bilal Khan, Ashray Suryanarayanan and Tayyab Shahbaz all went for ducks, and I found some rhythm to finish with 7 for 58, with Tim Thirkell chipping in a wicket of his own for 84.

Chasing 430 was always a tall order, and so it proved. I got us going with 62, and Spencer Gray supported nicely with 28, the two of us putting on 84 for the sixth wicket, but from a promising-looking 180 for 7 we contrived to lose our last three wickets without adding a run, Reuben Mundell and Alexander Nunn both departing for ducks. All out for 184, John Karassellos having a torrid time behind the stumps with 11 byes conceded, though the extras column at least did its bit with 42.

Beaten by 245 runs, no dressing it up. But with William Gray second in the run charts and my own wicket tally now up to 14 for the season, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 09 Aug 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Stone-in-Oxney CC · HomeformLWLLL

What a day to have the sun out and the pads on. I won the toss and, with a wicket like that under a cloudless sky, there was really only one decision to make — we batted.

We made a fine fist of it too, posting 207/9 from our forty overs. The openers gave us the perfect platform, adding 80 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and from there Mardey Castle played the standout innings of the day with a classy 55, well supported by Jordan Austin's 52 and a brisk 32 from Benjamin Austin — a knock that, we later discovered, nudges him past Will Thew and up to 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing that makes losing your car keys in the tea tent feel entirely worthwhile. Praveen Tunga's contribution, alas, was a duck.

Two hundred and seven looked a defendable total in that heat, and so it proved. Stone-in-Oxney never quite got going, Toby Withers Green's 21 and Ryan Knight's 20 the only real resistance as they subsided to 109 all out. Patrick Watsham and Jay Parker both departed for nought, and the bowling honours were shared handsomely: Anthony Karassellos the pick with 3-11, Toby Hughes right behind him with 3-13, and I chipped in with 3-29 myself, which I shall mention only the once and then modestly move on from.

A comfortable win by 98 runs, then, and a thoroughly happy captain writing this up in the shade afterwards. Onwards.

Sat 08 Aug 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Bredgar CC · HomeformDDDDD

From the captain's chair, Saturday 08 August 2026 found us hosting Bredgar CC under a warm, grey sky that threatened rather more than it delivered. The coin, as ever this season, declined to fall my way, and Bredgar chose to bat, leaving us to toil in the field first.

Toil we did, though not without reward. Patrick Hogben set about us for a fine 76, with Barney Burden unbeaten on a equally polished 63 and Archie Burden chipping in with 21, as Bredgar posted a stiff 234/9 from their forty overs. Isaac Pellatt at least departed for a duck, which felt like scant consolation at the time. Rahul Parakh led our attack superbly with 3-42, I chipped in with 2-38, and Srikrishna Challa took 2-54 to round things off.

Chasing 235 was always going to ask questions of the top order, and Hussain Azmat answered them best with a lovely 73, well supported by Rahul Parakh's 25. Alas, Trevor Back and Curtis Etherington both fell without troubling the scorers, and we were bowled out for 157 in 29.5 overs, well short of the target.

A word for the season charts: Rahul Parakh continues to lead our 2026 third XI run-scorers with 283, and sits fourth in the wicket-takers with 10 — a thoroughly good egg having a thoroughly good summer. As for the rest of us, it was not our day, going down by 77 runs. Heads up, lads, and back to the nets.

Sat 08 Aug 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Cowdrey CC · HomeformDDDDD

I called correctly at the toss on a warm, grey Saturday and had no hesitation in choosing to bat against the visitors from Cowdrey CC. It proved a reasonable shout, if not quite a match-winning one, as we posted 178 all out from our forty overs. Alex Wade led the way with a fine 37, well supported by Johan Eloff's 32 and Divan Tromp's 26, while I chipped in with 18 further down the order to nudge the total along.

Defending 178 was always going to ask questions of the attack, and Cowdrey had one very good answer in Glen Warner, who made an imperious 105 not out to see his side home in 27.4 overs, ably backed up by Brian Lane's 30. Henry Campbell led our bowling with 1-30, with Alex Wade and Ashley Cairns each chipping in with 1-35, but with one man in that sort of form there was precious little any of us could do about it.

Amid the defeat, a proper moment of club history: Johan Eloff brought up 1,000 career runs for Linton Park, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded. He continues to sit fourth in the 2026 2nd XI run charts on 223, with Alex Wade fourth in the wicket standings on 11.

Not our day, beaten by seven wickets, but heads up and back to the nets we go.

Sat 08 Aug 2026 🧢 1st XIv Borstal CC · AwayformDDDDD

Right, I called it correctly at the toss on a warm, cloudy afternoon down at Borstal and, for once, my instincts didn't let the side down entirely — even if the scoreboard tells a rather more sobering tale afterwards. We chose to bat first and, in truth, never quite got the measure of things, folding for 134 in 37.4 overs. I managed to hold one end up for 34, which felt like scratching around in the garden shed for something useful while the rest of the tool rack let itself down rather more visibly — Darrell Houghton-Judge and Matthew Carter both departed for ducks, and the extras column's contribution of 27 told its own story about the shape of our innings.

Defending 134 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. Borstal reached their target with four wickets and seven balls to spare, David Child playing the innings of the day with 49, well supported by James Whitnell's 32, the pair putting on 61 for the second wicket that effectively settled matters. Credit where due to the bowlers who kept us in it longer than the total deserved — Tom Campbell the pick with 1-18, Matthew Carter and Will Hughes chipping in with a wicket apiece, and Anthony Karassellos bowling three tidy maidens without reward.

A quiet word for Matthew Carter, whose solitary wicket nudged him past Thomas Beeney into 9th on the club's all-time list — a small consolation on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Six wickets down, heads bowed, back to the nets we go.

Wed 05 Aug 2026 🧢 Tour XIv Lansdown CC · AwayformWLWWL

Wednesday last, and off to Lansdown we trundled, where the toss went against us in the traditional manner and we were duly sent out to field. Twenty-six overs shy of forty later, and having watched Josh Smith compile a stylish 85 and Sam Pearce follow up with 78 of his own, we'd let 274 slip from our grasp rather more freely than any of us would care to admit. William Hurle chipped in with 26, and honour was at least partly restored when Alex Donovan departed for a duck. Martin Harris was the pick of the attack with 3-31, Jordan Austin matched him wicket for wicket with 3-35, and I managed a tidy 1-18 to do my bit.

Chasing 275 looked a tall order on paper, and for large stretches of the afternoon it was Toby Joseph, poor soul, who bore the brunt of it behind the stumps, shipping 14 byes in a torrid spell of wicketkeeping. But with the bat we found our nerve. Archie Fairfax-Ross played an innings for the ages, 101 not out, and in doing so brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark he thoroughly deserves. Laurie Probert supported him handsomely with 73, Tobey Castle added 22, and I contributed 18 down the order.

We scrambled home on 275/8 from 38.2 overs, winners by two wickets. Archie now leads the Tour XI run charts and Martin the wicket charts, and rightly so. A scruffy, nerve-shredding, thoroughly typical piece of club cricket — and two well-earned points banked.

Mon 03 Aug 2026 🧢 Tour XIv Failand & Portbury CC · AwayformWWLWW

Monday 03 August, and off we trundled to Failand & Portbury under skies the colour of a well-worn cricket ball, threatening rain that mercifully never quite arrived. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — the right call, and for once I'll take the credit.

We were rattled along nicely by an opening stand of 69 before the first wicket fell, and from there Mardey Castle and Rahul Parakh both compiled unbeaten half-centuries, 51 and 50 respectively, with Thomas Beeney chipping in 36 to help us to a healthy 249 all out from 34.1 overs. A word too for Rahul, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark achieved with the minimum of fuss, as is his way.

With the ball I had the pleasure of taking 2-15, the pick of our attack, with Rahul and Martin Harris weighing in with a wicket apiece. But Failand & Portbury had other ideas, built around a stubborn 77-run second-wicket stand, with Rich Else unbeaten on 63 and support from Tariq Aziz and Oliver Hambley seeing them home at 250/4 from 39.4 overs. I added a workmanlike 17 with the bat earlier, for what it's worth.

Five wickets the wrong way, then, and a long drive home to reflect on it. Not our day, but heads up — back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sun 02 Aug 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Boughton & Eastwell CC · HomeformLLLWL

I won the toss on a warm, grey Sunday and didn't think twice about batting first against Boughton & Eastwell CC. Two hundred all out in 38.4 overs was a fair honest total, built around a lovely stand at the top as Theo Clements eased to 58 not out and Richard Piper matched him with an equally well-made fifty, 50 not out. I chipped in with 21, and later took a wicket for 24 with the ball, so at least I did something with both bat and ball to justify the tea I ate. Jacob Landman and Alexander Nunn will want the book closed quickly on their golden ducks, and we leaned rather heavily on 25 extras to get us to a defendable score.

Defending it, we gave ourselves too much to do. Finn O'Hara made a fine half-century, 61 not out, and got good support from Archie Rushin's 48 and Alexander Francis's 25, as they cruised to 201 for 5 in 37 overs. Zach Wilde did the damage with 2 for 45, and Luke Petit chipped in with 1 for 9, but 22 wides and no-balls handed them far too many free runs to make our job easy.

For the record books, Theo Clements now sits third in the 2026 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 141, and Zach Wilde leads the wicket charts with 13. But today wasn't ours — beaten by five wickets, heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 02 Aug 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv Town Malling CC · HomeformWWWWW

I put us in to bat on a scorching, cloudy afternoon at home to Town Malling CC, and it turned out to be the right call. Rachel Rawson and Nicola Coomansingh both finished unbeaten on 30, I chipped in with 30 not out myself, and with a generous 48 in extras we posted a hearty 167 for 1 from our 20 overs — the kind of total that lets a captain enjoy her tea rather than chew her nails.

Defending it, we bowled with real purpose. Claire Rootes was superb, ripping through with 3 for 14, while Nicola Coomansingh backed up her batting with 2 for 13 and Laura Thorogood chipped in with a wicket too. Sarah Pearson made a battling 32 for the visitors, but Town Malling never got close, bowled out for 105 in 18.5 overs — and I'll admit to a small, undignified thrill at seeing Samantha Conway and myself combine to send one of theirs back for a golden duck.

We did let ourselves down with the ball at times, spraying 22 wides and 9 no-balls about like confetti at a village fete — a stern word will be had at training. But no matter: a win by 62 runs is a win by 62 runs, and a fine one at that. Onwards we go.

Sat 01 Aug 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformDDDDD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 1 August 2026

Right, down to Gore Court on a warm, overcast afternoon, and won the toss — I elected to bat, and I still think that was the right call, whatever the final scoreline suggests. We posted a workmanlike 162/9 from our forty, built around a lovely 61-run stand for the third wicket. Rahul Parakh led the way with 35, well supported by Srikrishna Challa's 30 and Mark Smith's 26 — solid, unspectacular runs, the sort you build an innings on even if none of us quite kicked on to make it a truly commanding total.

In the field we simply couldn't prise Gore Court away from the game. Paul Geary played a genuinely well-made fifty on his way to 70, and Jonathon McDonald anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 52, the pair putting on 66 for the second wicket and taking the sting out of anything we tried. Matt Tombs chipped in with 21. Farhan Malik was the pick of our bowlers, miserly with two maidens and finishing with 1-25, with Rahul Parakh (1-25) and Tim Thirkell (1-36) offering good support, but 166/3 in 36.5 overs told its own story — they cruised home by seven wickets.

Rahul Parakh continues to lead our 2026 Third XI run charts with 258, and Tim Thirkell tops the wicket pile with 18 — small consolations on an afternoon that otherwise had our name nowhere on the honours board. Not our day, lads. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 01 Aug 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDDDDD

Lost the toss on a warm, cloudy Saturday and were put into the field first, which on another day might have felt like a slight but proved rather a gift. Headcorn were shot out for 111 in 20.4 overs, David Brown's 22 the only real resistance, as Altus Diener ran through the top order with 3-27 in support of a genuinely hostile new-ball spell. Henry Campbell chipped in with 2-27, Ashley Cairns took 1-0, and Praveen Tunga strangled the scoring with two tidy maidens. Not our tidiest display in the field, mind — nine byes is a stat that rather speaks for itself, and poor Johan Eloff behind the stumps will have had a long walk off at the interval.

He made amends with the bat, though, striking a fine 33 in support of Theo Clements, who batted with real class for an unbeaten 53 to see us home. We knocked off 111 in just 14.4 overs for the loss of a single wicket, which is about as one-sided as club cricket gets without anyone actually apologising for it.

A word for Altus Diener, who brought up 50 career wickets in the process — a proper landmark, and thoroughly deserved on the back of another three-for. He now sits second in the 2nd XI wicket charts with 14 for the season, with Johan Eloff fifth in the run charts on 191.

Two points, comfortably banked, won by nine wickets. A thoroughly satisfactory Saturday all round, byes notwithstanding.

Sat 01 Aug 2026 🧢 1st XIv Addington Village CC · AwayformDDDDD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 01 August 2026, away at Addington Village CC.

Warm, cloudy, the kind of afternoon that asks nothing of a captain but a decision, and I won the toss and put them in. Right call, I still maintain. Addington ground their way to 170 all out in 37.2 overs, built chiefly around Reese Thwaites' well-made 71 and George Culpeck's useful 20, the pair adding 65 for the eighth wicket just when we thought we had them shut down. Matthew Bowles and Marcus Harrod-Reid didn't trouble the scorers, the latter for a golden duck, small mercies. Anthony Karassellos was magnificent with the ball, 4-48, backed up nicely by Tom Campbell's 2-23 and Matthew Carter's 2-34.

Chasing 171, we got there in some style at 171/4 from 38.2 overs, Benjamin Austin unbeaten on a composed fifty and Laurie Probert alongside him on 43 not out, the two of them stitching things together after I'd contributed 33 in a handy 59-run stand for the third wicket. We were far too generous in the field, mind — 34 wides and 4 no-balls is not a habit to nurture — but the runs papered over the sins.

Two milestones to toast: Tom Campbell to 50 career wickets, and Matthew Carter climbing past Thomas Beeney into 9th on the all-time list. Laurie Probert and Anthony Karassellos remain out in front of the season's charts. A six-wicket win, two points, thoroughly earned despite ourselves.

Thu 30 Jul 2026 🧢 The Hundredv Egerton CC, Kent · Awayform—

I chose Egerton at a canter — well, they chose, and the coin agreed with them. First one to actually lose the toss, then lose the plot on it: they piled up 222/5 from their hundred overs, with Jethro Ashburner batting like he'd booked the pitch for the whole afternoon, 85 not out, well supported by Seb Harrison's 55 and Cameron Clarke's 41. Oliver Harper, mercifully for our sake, departed without so much as a squeak. Credit where due, though: Mardey Castle bowled beautifully for 2-25, Thomas Beeney and Brandon Eloff chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Nick Tromp somehow found six maidens in an afternoon when the bat seemed to be winning every other argument.

Chasing 223 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered rather too many of them wrongly, folding for 120 in 84 overs. I managed 30 and felt like the innings' last line of defence, which tells its own story. Tim Ludick and Brandon Eloff both walked back for ducks, and poor Ludick's afternoon didn't improve behind the stumps either, with twelve byes going begging.

Beaten by 102 runs, then, and no arguing with the margin. Ashburner's century-that-wasn't did for us more than anything, but there's honest cricket in there to build on, and we'll dust ourselves off for next week.

Wed 29 Jul 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWWWWW

Wednesday 29 July found us on the road to Penshurst Park, under a sky so scorching and bright it felt almost unsporting not to bowl first — which is precisely why I won the toss and elected to bat instead. The right call, I felt, and the lads made it look easy: 265 for 4 from our 35 overs, built on three gorgeous half-centuries. Johan Eloff led the charge with 54 not out, Brandon Eloff matched him almost run for run with 53 not out, and Benjamin Austin weighed in with a classy 52 not out of his own. I threw in a tidy 27 myself, mostly, I suspect, so as not to feel entirely surplus to requirements.

Defending that total, Penshurst gave it a real go — Charlie Scott's well-made 64 kept them in the hunt, with Theo Rimmer and Jake Cheesman chipping in 31 and 28. But poor Theo Calvocoressi trudged off for a golden duck, and our bowlers kept squeezing: Rahul Parakh the pick with 3 for 28, Srikrishna Challa tidy at 2 for 21, Euan Beardwell chiming in with 2 for 46. They fell short at 215 for 9, and we came away 50 runs to the good.

Two milestones for the mantelpiece — Brandon Eloff reached 2,000 career runs for the club, and Benjamin Austin's half-century nudged him past Stan Wratten into 25th on the all-time run-scorers list. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and two points banked.

Tue 28 Jul 2026 🧢 Friendly XIv Awali Camels CC · HomeformWWLLW

Right, another scorcher, another chance to swing the coin our way — and swing it did. I put Awali Camels CC in the field first, and what a shrewd move that turned out to be, even if I do say so myself. Benjamin Austin set the tone with a composed unbeaten fifty, Christian Eloff sailed past his own half-century in support, and Johan Eloff chipped in a handy 39 to help us to a healthy 181/7 from our thirty overs. Not a total to frighten anyone into early retirement, perhaps, but enough runs to make the Camels work for their tea.

And work they did. Thomas Wooding and David Hilton threatened to make a proper fist of the chase with 31 and 25 respectively, but our attack had other ideas. Benjamin Austin followed his batting heroics with the ball, tearing through with 3-12, while Mardey Castle (2-11) and Jordan Austin (2-27) squeezed the life out of the innings from the other end. Two Camels batsmen departed without troubling the scorers at all. I managed a small contribution of my own along the way, which I shall modestly leave at that. Nine byes did rather suggest Johan Eloff was having one of those afternoons behind the stumps, but nobody's perfect in this heat.

Special mention for Benjamin Austin, whose fifty edged him past Stan Wratten and into 25th on the club's all-time run-scoring list — a fine achievement on a fine day. We closed it out by 44 runs, and thoroughly deserved it was too.

Sun 26 Jul 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv Chestfield CC · HomeformWWWWW

A grey, muggy Sunday it may have been, but there was nothing lukewarm about the cricket. Chestfield won the toss, chose to bat, and set about building something with Lauren Wiltshire's brisk 22 and Polly Burgess unbeaten on 20 — until Ashleigh Bland decided enough was enough, ripping through their order with 2-12, well backed by Laura Holdstock's 1-9. Fifteen overs later they'd managed 62/3, a total that felt, even in the field, rather gettable.

And gettable it proved. Hannah Odling batted like she'd read the script in advance, finishing unbeaten on 31, while I found some form of my own alongside her with 22 not out — the sort of innings that reminds you why you keep turning up on grey Sundays. Between us, and the rest of the order, we cantered to 123/2 from our fifteen, making the chase look considerably tidier than these things usually feel from the crease.

A word too for the season so far: Hannah Odling continues to plunder runs for fun and now sits top of the 2026 Women's Softball charts with 326, while Laura Holdstock's relentless miserliness has her leading the wickets column with a dozen scalps. Long may both continue.

Sixty-six runs the margin, and not a flattering one either — this was control from ball one to the last. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and one the girls can be rightly proud of.

Sun 26 Jul 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Milstead CC · HomeformWLLLW

What a day to elect to field on — grey skies, sweltering heat, and a Milstead side determined to make the toss look like a mistake. It wasn't, mind you: we had them in some bother before Peter Morrell (59) and Alex Tooke (57) put on a stand of 68 for the third wicket that dragged the total from respectable-ish towards alarming, with Ryan Mallows chipping in 22 for good measure. All out for 192 in the 36th over was, in the end, a fair outcome for a pitch that gave little away, and George Burrows departing for a golden duck was some small consolation. Tim Thirkell was the pick of the attack with 3-45, I managed 2-12 myself, Neil Errington snared one, and Alexander Nunn bowled two maidens as tight as my trousers after tea.

Chasing 193, we never quite got the legs under us. Glen Rawson's fifty (51) was the one substantial contribution, built largely on runs that ran fine behind the wicket rather than anything struck with conviction — we were dropping too short and paying for it square of the wicket, cut and pulled away with alarming regularity. David Holdstock's duck didn't help, and two wickets tumbling in the 26th over proved the hammer blow from which we never recovered. I added a workmanlike 18, John Karassellos had a torrid time behind the stumps with nine byes leaking through, and 145/8 was where the innings, and our hopes, expired.

Forty-seven runs the wrong side of the ledger, then. Credit to Milstead, but we know where the improvement lies — sharper in the field, straighter in defence, and back to the nets before someone loses their place in the side.

Sun 26 Jul 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Newenden CC · AwayformLLWLL

Sunday last took us out to Newenden CC, where the heavens couldn't decide whether to bake us or drown us and settled, in true English fashion, for both at once. I won the toss and, with visions of early wickets dancing before me, stuck them in. The cricketing gods, as ever, had other plans.

Ralph Figgins set about our bowling with real intent, cashing in for a polished 53, while Will Durtnell (52 not out) and Ben Browning (46) piled on the misery to leave Newenden a mighty 269 for 9 off their forty overs. We did have our moments — Max Figgins and Harry Bradney both departed without troubling the scorers, which was some small consolation. I led the attack and came away with 3 for 51, well backed up by Thomas Beeney's 3 for 54 and Ian Hollingworth's tidy 1 for 19, with Tom Campbell keeping things admirably quiet with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure.

Chasing 270 was always going to be a stern examination, and so it proved. Tom Campbell played the innings of the day with a fine 62, ably assisted by Ashley Cairns's 22 and my own contribution of 21 not out — a happy afternoon for the skipper with bat and ball alike. Sadly Thomas Beeney's luck deserted him with a golden duck, and though our extras chipped in a generous 31, we were all out for 199 in the 35th over.

Seventy runs the wrong side of the ledger, then, and heads deservedly hung on the drive home. Back to the nets it is — there's no substitute for hard graft, and precious little cricketing consolation in a losing toss well won.

Sat 25 Jul 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 25 July 2026, and we welcomed Marden CC to Linton Park under skies that promised more than they delivered. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains a work in progress — and we were put into the field.

Marden made themselves at home, closing on a healthy 221/7 from their forty overs. Archie Hutchins was the chief architect with an unbeaten 47, well supported by Tom Rawstorne and Arun Samuel, both with 27, and a seventh-wicket stand of 60 that rather undid our good work. Credit where due, though: Tim Thirkell bowled beautifully for his 2-31, with Rahul Parakh (2-36) and Fergus Herron (1-15) chipping in. Poor Craig Sands had one of those afternoons behind the stumps — 13 byes is the sort of number that makes a wicketkeeper want the ground to swallow him whole.

Chasing 222, we made a real fist of it. Richard Piper and Will Thew set the tone with an opening stand of 89, and both went on to reach fifty — Piper with 53, Thew a fine 50 of his own. Farhan Malik's unbeaten 23 kept us in the hunt, and I did my modest bit with 15. But 212/8 left us nine runs short at the close — heartbreakingly close, the sort of margin that will keep me awake replaying overs in my head.

Rahul Parakh continues to top the 3rd XI run charts on 223, and Tim Thirkell leads the wickets with 17 — small consolations on a day that got away from us. Not our afternoon, but heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 25 Jul 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday 25 July saw us make the pilgrimage down to Marden CC, Kent, under skies that couldn't decide whether to be scorching or grey — much like our season, if I'm honest. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock, a decision I stand by entirely.

We didn't make it easy on ourselves, losing an early wicket with just 5 on the board, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the antacids. But we steadied nicely, and I was pleased to lead from the front with 80, well supported by Nick Tromp's tidy fifty and Johan Eloff's 24 — the pair adding a crucial 92 for the fourth wicket to give the innings some backbone. There was a blot on the card, mind, with both Brandon Eloff and Praveen Tunga collecting ducks, but 200 all out from 39.5 overs felt like a defendable total on a good pitch.

Defending it proved another matter entirely. Ben Tomkinson and Rory Coltham simply batted us out of the game, both unbeaten past their fifties, with Ben Tosland chipping in a brisk 47. Altus Diener was our one shining light with the ball, snaring 1-31 while the rest of us toiled. Poor Johan Eloff had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 13 byes going begging, and the 29th over — two wickets down in the space of a few deliveries — summed up our afternoon rather neatly.

Beaten by nine wickets, then, and no dressing it up. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's cricket yet to be won this summer.

Sat 25 Jul 2026 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · HomeformDDDDD

Skipper's log, Saturday 25 July: we welcomed Whitstable CC under a scorching, overcast sky — the kind of afternoon made for cricket, if only we'd played it that way. I lost the toss, and duly we were sent out into the field.

Whitstable made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 242/7 from their 45 overs. Charlie Sinclair produced a magnificent century, 110 no less, with Paul Gambrill weighing in with 40 as their third-wicket pair put on a crucial 93. Anthony Karassellos was pick of our attack with 3-31, well backed by Martin Harris (2-40) and Thomas Beeney, whose lone wicket quietly nudged him past Mark Christmas into 10th on the club's all-time list — a nice historical footnote on an otherwise chastening afternoon.

In reply we lost our first wicket for just 5, and things unravelled further to 14-4 before we'd barely settled. Laurie Probert played the innings of the day, a composed 70, with Anthony Karassellos (32) and Martin Harris (29 not out) lending support — their fifth-wicket stand of 52 the best of the innings — while a defiant last pair added 51 to lend the scorecard some dignity. Alex Keeler and Nick Pennefather both walked back for golden ducks. We were also profligate in the field, leaking 20 wides and 6 no-balls we could ill afford. I'll take some quiet consolation from still leading our 2026 run charts with 277, but consolation is all it is.

Final margin: 49 runs. Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets.

Wed 22 Jul 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv Warlingham CC · AwayformLWWWW

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 22 July 2026. The road took us to Warlingham CC, a warm, overcast afternoon greeting us as I lost the toss and duly heard the dreaded words: we'd be fielding first. No matter — cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and so it proved.

Batting first, we posted a handsome 218/5 from 28.1 overs, the sort of total that makes the tea urn taste that bit sweeter. Luke Welsman led the charge with 51 not out, Benjamin Austin matched him stroke for stroke with 50 not out, and Johan Eloff rounded things off with a fine half-century of his own, 50 not out. Three unbeaten fifties in one innings is not something I'll forget in a hurry.

Defending it, we set about our work with real purpose. Warlingham lost an early wicket at 6 and never quite found their footing, though Masood Bashir and Waseem Sherwani (21 apiece) and David Andrews (20) threatened briefly to make a match of it. We tore through the middle order — 54-3 to 60-6 in the blink of an eye, with James Andrews and John Morris both sent back for ducks — before bowling them out for 134 in 44 overs. Thomas Beeney was magnificent, 4-29, and moved past Mark Christmas into 10th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list in the process. Mardey Castle (2-25) and the tireless Jordan Austin (1-8, four maidens) gave him fine support, and I chipped in with the bat earlier in the day.

A fine win by 84 runs. Onwards.

Sun 19 Jul 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv Borstal CC · AwayformWWWWW

Well now. Sunday 19 July, off to Borstal we went, and I'll admit winning the toss and electing to bat felt like the right call before a ball was bowled — and so it proved.

Hannah Odling batted with real composure for 33 not out, and she wasn't short of company — Nicola Coomansingh (31 not out) and Claire Daniels (28 not out) kept the scoreboard humming, while the extras column did its usual quietly embarrassing bit of heavy lifting with 41. I threw in my own 27 for good measure. 169/1 from twenty overs was a total we could be proud of, and one Borstal would have to chase hard for.

Chase hard they did, in fairness. Bethany Baker held things together with an unbeaten 33, but at the other end it was a procession — Faith Rogers and Rosie Coyle both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Laura Thorogood was superb with the new ball, 2 for 4, backed up by Carly Copping's 2 for 19 and a wicket for Ashleigh Bland. They closed on 109/6.

I won't pretend it was tidy — 27 wides and 6 no-balls is the sort of generosity that gives a captain grey hairs, and we can ill afford to keep gifting runs like that. But a 60-run win papers over a great many sins, and with Hannah Odling now top of the season's run charts and Carly Copping second among the wickets, this side is building something rather special. Onwards indeed.

Sun 19 Jul 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Carlton Sports CC, Kent · HomeformLLLWL

Sunday saw Carlton Sports CC of Kent roll into Linton Park, and having called correctly, I did what any self-respecting captain does with a bit of cloud cover about — stuck them in. It looked shrewd for about an hour. Jack Stone, in irrepressible form, ground out an unbeaten 86, ably assisted by A Ijaz's 25, and between them they steered Carlton to a healthy 192/6 from their forty overs. Small mercies: Jack Mcdonald departed without troubling the scorers, and Thomas Beeney did the heavy lifting with 2-38, with Luke Welsman (1-20) and Rahul Parakh (1-28) chipping in dutifully.

Chasing 193, we made a decent fist of it. Theo Clements played the innings of the day with a well-crafted 55, Anthony Karassellos supporting nicely with 34, though Thomas Beeney — clearly saving himself for the ball in hand — contributed nought with the bat. We limped to 183/9, nine runs shy, with Karassellos also enduring a chastening afternoon behind the stumps, 18 byes finding their way past him.

Credit where it's due: Benjamin Austin continues to lead our Sunday run charts with 224 for the season, and Beeney tops the wicket pile with 14 — the lad is single-handedly keeping this captain in a job.

Not our day, then, beaten by the narrowest of margins. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 19 Jul 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformLWLLL

Won the toss at Marden on a warm, cloudy Sunday and, in a fit of confidence I hoped wouldn't come back to haunt me, stuck us in. Mark Smith set about proving me right with a composed 51 not out, and once Trevor Back got his eye in for 23, the pair of them put on a priceless 104 for the fourth wicket while I chipped in with 24 down the order. Then, as club cricket loves to do, the innings fell apart at the seams — 146 for 5 became 161 for 8 before we could catch breath, and poor David Holdstock walked back for nought, name duly inked into the Duck Club ledger. Still, 162 for 9 off our 35 felt defendable, if not exactly imposing.

And defend it we did. Marden lost an early wicket with just 4 up, and though Alan Ennis threatened to bat them home with a fighting 42, three of their number — Tibbits, Ennis and Tyson — joined the duck parade at our hands, and a horror 30th over with two wickets in it finished the job as they slid from 76 for 4 to 87 for 7. Tim Thirkell was superb, 3 for 16 with two maidens, backed up nicely by Holdstock (2 for 9, redemption of sorts) and Gene Smith (2 for 19). Twenty byes gave John Karassellos a chastening afternoon behind the stumps, but nobody was complaining come the finish — 54 runs to the good, and a very satisfactory drive home.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Kings Hill CC · HomeformDDDDD

Michael Ludick writing here, still slightly bemused by how we contrived to make 100 look like a mountain for the best part of an hour.

Kings Hill arrived on a warm, overcast Saturday, and having lost the toss we were put out into the field first — never our first choice, but no complaints from this end once the ball started doing its thing. Praveen Tunga was in miserly, metronomic form, four maidens among his figures of 4-16, and between him, Altus Diener (3-26) and Alex Wade (2-14) the visitors' innings never really got going. Adam Rahman's 32 was the one substantial contribution as they were bowled out for 100 from 32 overs, with Joe Millward, Chris Bryant and Connor Smith all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

A hundred to chase should have been a formality, and in the end it very nearly wasn't — these things are never quite as simple as the scorecard suggests. Brandon Eloff's 31 was the innings that mattered, Altus Diener chipping in impressively again with 27 having already done the damage with the ball, and I was happy to see us home with an unbeaten 21. Johan Eloff had a torrid time behind the stumps, sixteen byes rather taking the shine off things, and we stumbled to 104/7 from 14.5 overs rather than striding to it.

Still, three wickets is three wickets, two points safely banked, and with the runs and wickets charts both looking rosy this season, I'll take a scruffy win over no win at all. Thoroughly earned, if not entirely elegant.

Sat 18 Jul 2026 🧢 1st XIv Walmer CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday took us to Walmer, under a warm, overcast sky that promised more than it delivered — for us, at any rate. I lost the toss, they chose to bat, and by the close of their innings we knew exactly why they'd fancied it. Will Bailey made merry with an unbeaten 118, Keiran Marsh chipped in a handsome 74, and Thomas Mitchell's 25 rounded out a fifth-wicket stand of 80 that did for our afternoon. Martin Harris toiled hardest for 2-47, with Alex Keeler and Thomas Beeney picking up one apiece, as Walmer closed on a daunting 308/5 from their 45 overs.

Chasing that lot was always going to need something special, and instead we found 1-1 inside the first over and never really recovered. Anthony Karassellos, Thomas Beeney and, I'm sorry to report, your captain all departed without troubling the scorers — mine a golden duck, which is one way to lead from the front, though not the way I'd have chosen. The 23rd over did for us properly, two wickets in the space of six balls, and with 17 wides and 6 no-balls gifted in the field too, we were bowled out for 108 in 28.1 overs. Laurie Probert's battling 29 was the innings' one bright light, and better still, it brought up 5,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth raising a glass to, whatever the scoreboard said.

A heavy defeat, by 200 runs, and no dressing it up. Back to the nets, lads.

Fri 17 Jul 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv Castle Hill CC, Kent · AwayformWLWWW

Skipper's Log — Friday 17 July 2026. Away at Castle Hill CC, Kent, under skies that couldn't decide whether to bake us or drown us — scorching one minute, drizzling the next, in properly confused English fashion.

Won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock, and for once the decision looked good rather than merely brave. We rattled along to 241/4 from our 100 overs, built on a lovely stand at the top where I was fortunate enough to find some form, going on to 76 not out, with Nick Tromp keeping me honest at the other end on 68 not out and Mardey Castle chipping in with a tidy 43. Not every ledger entry was so cheerful, mind — Brandon Eloff endured the walk of shame for a golden duck, though he'd more than make amends later.

Defending 241, we bowled with real discipline. Their reply closed on 148/7, Alan Spoule the chief resistance with 40, well supported by Andrew Caldwell and Hugo Bromley with 37 apiece, but the total never threatened to get away from us. Anthony Karassellos led the attack beautifully with 2-25, Jordan Austin and that same Brandon Eloff chipped in with a wicket each, and Christian Eloff was positively miserly, six maidens speaking for themselves — not a run given away lightly.

A 93-run victory, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved. A cracking day's cricket, and one I'll happily write up twice if it means writing it up like this.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformLWLWW

What a scorcher of an afternoon to host Lord Cornwallis XI, and for once the coin actually liked me — down it came my way, and with the sun out I had no hesitation in sending us in. What followed was as handsome a knock as we've produced all season: 177 for 7 off our thirty, built around Luke Welsman's composed, unbeaten 52 and given real backbone by Nick Pennefather's 41. Batting first on a good pitch does wonders for a captain's blood pressure, and I'll confess mine barely rose above resting rate.

Defending it, though, is never the formality it looks on paper, and Lord Cornwallis made us work for every one of those runs before folding for 169 in 29.2 overs. Thomas Beeney threatened to spoil the party with 41 of real substance, but the rest never quite found the same rhythm — I chipped in with 26 alongside another 26 from Welsman, who was clearly determined to have a say with bat and ball both. With the ball, Jordan Austin was superb, snapping up 3 for 39, while Welsman and Ian Lowe each claimed a couple to squeeze the innings shut.

Eight runs the right way is a wonderfully narrow margin to celebrate without a flicker of self-doubt, and celebrate we did. A proper club performance — runs when we needed them, wickets when we needed those too, and a captain who mostly just had to stay out of the way. Good day for the club, no arguments here.

Tue 14 Jul 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv Platt Junior CC · HomeformWWWWW

Well. Tuesday 14 July, and I lost the toss again — Platt Junior CC took first look at the field under a grey, sticky sky that somehow still managed to scorch us all afternoon. Not the start I'd have chosen, but there are worse things than batting second on your own patch.

Once we got the bat going, we made proper hay: 149 for 3 off our twenty overs was a total to be proud of. I was fortunate enough to finish unbeaten on 33, with Hannah Odling and Laura Thorogood both purring along to 32 not out apiece — a genuinely lovely middle-order stand that took the game away from Platt. Spare a thought, though, for poor Alison Brown, who made her way back to the pavilion for a duck and can now consider herself a fully paid-up member of the club's less glamorous list.

Defending it, we were made to work. Jo Woolf and Marichele Beckett gave Platt real momentum with 31 not out and 28, and we didn't help ourselves — nineteen wides and thirteen no-balls is the sort of generosity that keeps a captain up at night. Thankfully the bowling held its nerve where it mattered: Laura Holdstock chipped in with 1 for 22, and I was pleased to pick up 1 for 18 myself to keep things honest. Platt closed on 121 for 2.

Twenty-eight runs the right way, in the end. Wayward in the field, wonderful with the bat — I'll take it every time.

Sun 12 Jul 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Gills Green CC · AwayformWLWLL

Well, another Sunday, another lesson in humility administered by Gills Green CC.

We lost the toss on a warm, clear afternoon — no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains as reliable as the county forecast — and were sent in to bat. It did not go especially well. Seventy-two all out in 35.1 overs is not a total to trouble anyone, though credit where it's due: Daniel Baker top-scored with a fighting 41, and remains imperious atop the 2026 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 288 for the summer. Less imperious were William Gray, Ben Wheeler and, I'm sorry to report, your captain, all three of us contributing nought to the Duck Club ledger. I like to think a leader sets the tone from the front. On this occasion the tone was a golden blob, which is not the example I had in mind.

With seventy-two to defend, we always knew it would take something special from the ball, and for a while Praveen Tunga gave us hope, snaring 1-17 with real discipline. But Matt McKinnon had other ideas, cantering to an unbeaten 44, well supported by Tom Herbert's composed 20 not out, and Gills Green cruised home at 75/1 in barely ten overs.

Nine wickets is a proper hiding by anyone's reckoning, and there's no dressing it up. Still, the sun shone, the tea was presumably taken, and there's nowhere to go from here but up. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 12 Jul 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · HomeformWLLLW

What a way to sort out a Sunday: sun on our backs, the toss lost, and a decision to bowl first that felt sensible right up until Ben Edge and William Chilcott decided to bat like they'd booked the crease for the afternoon. Ninety-four for the first wicket set the tone, and by the time Edge (55), Chilcott (55) and Jeremy Godden (48) had all had their say, Mersham Le Hatch were sitting pretty on 235 for 5. I did what I could with the ball, picking up 2-43, and Mardey Castle and Thomas Beeney chipped away either side of me, but 235 always looked a beefy total on a good morning for batting.

Chasing it down was always going to need something special, and Brandon Eloff very nearly delivered it, cracking a lovely 58 while Thomas Beeney and Jordan Austin added 33 and 31 respectively. There was even late drama, with the ninth-wicket pair somehow conjuring 87 runs from somewhere, which is the sort of thing that gets talked about in the clubhouse for weeks. Sadly the Duck Club committee had a busy day too, welcoming Mardey Castle, Anthony Karassellos and Luke Welsman to its ranks — three ducks in one innings takes some doing, and not the kind of doing we're after.

In the end 195 all out wasn't quite enough, and we went down by 40 runs. Credit to Mersham Le Hatch, who batted and bowled with real purpose. We'll dust ourselves off, have a pint, and come back better next week.

Sat 11 Jul 2026 🧢 4th XIv Orpington Ocelots CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday last took us down to Orpington Ocelots CC, the sun doing its best impression of high summer, and I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season — they had no hesitation putting us in. We limped away with an early wicket down for nought, which is never the tone you want to set, but Nolan Wilde dug in nobly for 28 and dragged us to something respectable. Respectable, that is, until the middle order decided to stage one of those collapses only Linton Park can manufacture — 96 for 6 became 103 for 9 quicker than you could pour the tea, with David Day, Zach Wilde and Luke P all contributing that most traditional of club cricket gifts, the golden duck. All out for 103 in 30 overs; a fighting total, if you squinted.

With ball in hand we fancied our chances, and Zach Wilde continued his season of terrorising opening batsmen with a tidy 1 for 13. I chipped in with a wicket myself, though 1 for 42 tells you the 13th over — which leaked 17 — rather got away from me and shifted the momentum firmly their way. Vishal Malhotra (43) and Sandeep Tayal (36 not out) then shared a maddeningly composed 68-run stand to see Orpington home by 8 wickets with overs to spare.

Not our finest afternoon, but Nolan and Zach continue to fly the flag high in the season's charts, and there's a game next week to put this one right.

Sat 11 Jul 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Orpington Ocelots CC · HomeformDDDDD

Right, well, another Saturday, another coin toss I probably shouldn't have won. Orpington Ocelots visited on a warm, cloudy afternoon, I called it right and stuck us in first, and 200 all out from 39.3 overs is the kind of total that looks respectable on the scorecard and slightly chaotic if you were actually there for it. Aaron Hughes and Daniel Baker gave us the platform every captain dreams of — 104 for the first wicket before either fell, Hughes making 45 and Baker 44 — and Tim Thirkell's unbeaten 39 kept things ticking along nicely. Then, as is tradition at Linton Park, the middle and lower order decided 198 for 7 sounded more exciting than a declaration, and we lost the last three for nothing in a hurry, with Fergus Herron, Gene Smith and Paul Baker all contributing ducks to what I can only call a communal effort. Thirty-three extras did more for us than several of the specialist batsmen, which tells its own story.

In the field, Srikrishna Challa was superb, snaring 3 for 33, and I chipped in with 1 for 37 for good measure. But Aditya Punja simply had our measure, cutting and pulling his way to 71 while Aadarsh Raghavan (34) and Aman Msn, unbeaten on 24, helped build a match-defining stand of 96. We bowled too short, they punished it square all afternoon, and a horror 40th over undid whatever grip we still had.

Beaten by five wickets in the end — no disgrace, but no triumph either. We'll regroup, bowl a fuller length, and come back stronger next week.

Sat 11 Jul 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Holborough Anchorians CC · AwayformDDDDD

I elected to bat first at Holborough Anchorians CC, which on such a warm, sunny afternoon felt like the only civilised decision available to a captain. And how the lads repaid the confidence — 266 for 6 from our forty overs, built around a fifty from Tim Ludick, 72 in the book, with Altus Diener chipping in a handy 49. I managed 79 myself, which I shall mention here and nowhere else for fear of becoming tiresome about it.

Two hundred and sixty-six looked a proper total as we took the field, but Holborough had other ideas, and Mahmood Khanwaziri in particular made a nuisance of himself with an unbeaten 60, well supported by Bilal Sarwan (48) and Masood Khanwaziri (46). They pushed us all the way to 259 for 7, and there were moments in that chase-back when I found myself studying the boundary rope with unusual interest. Praveen Tunga was the pick of our attack with 3 for 49, Brandon Eloff chimed in with 2 for 22 and Luke Welsman with 1 for 23, while poor Saif Mukhtar departed for a duck — small mercies. Johan Eloff had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes leaking away like water through a colander, though nobody had the heart to mention it in the changing room.

In the end we held on by seven runs — the sort of margin that turns hair grey and pints sweet in equal measure. A proper old-fashioned scrap, and a very good day for the club.

Sat 11 Jul 2026 🧢 1st XIv Lordswood CC · HomeformDDDDD

Toss won, sun (well, cloud) shining, and I did what any self-respecting skipper does with a good toss — stuck them in. For a while it looked shrewd, then Owen Palmer decided otherwise, compiling a magnificent 121 while Bradley Goldsack (54) and Arav Nair (39) kept him honest company. That second-wicket stand of 129 was the innings, really; once they got to 122 without loss it was a case of damage limitation, and the floodgates duly opened as 251/2 became 263/5 in a hurry. Anthony Karassellos toiled hardest for 2-54, with Will Hughes (1-58) and Thomas Beeney (1-67) chipping in, but 300/5 from 45 overs was always going to take some chasing.

And chase it we did not, not really. We were bowled out for 161, Anthony Karassellos again the mainstay with 38, well supported by Nick Pennefather's 23, and a fifth-wicket stand of 66 the closest thing to resistance. Poor Will Thew will not want reminding of his golden duck. I did my bit with the bat, though it barely dented the arithmetic. Extras top-scored in spirit if not quite in number, chipping in 26 — fitting, given we'd already been charitable enough with the ball, spraying 31 wides and 4 no-balls, while Benjamin Austin had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes the tally.

Beaten by 139 in the end — comprehensively, unarguably, and on a warm Saturday when Lordswood simply wanted it more. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Wed 08 Jul 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWLWLW

Right, well, someone had to put pen to paper.

I won the toss on a scorching, cloudy afternoon against Marden CC, Kent and, fancying our chances, stuck us in to bat. The openers set the tone with a splendid 81 for the first wicket, and from there we simply kept the scoreboard ticking, finishing on a handsome 195 for 3 from our hundred overs. Jordan Austin was the star of the show with a fine unbeaten 62, while Will Hughes chipped in with 27 not out. I managed 31 myself, not out, including one shot I'm rather proud of — a full ball launched straight back over the bowler's head for six, which is about as close as I get to elegance. Even the extras got in on the act with a generous 34.

With the ball, the lads were magnificent. An early strike with the score still on nought set the tempo, and a double blow in the sixth over broke Marden's innings clean in half. We pitched it up and they simply couldn't cope, with Josh Smitherman, Louis Hutchins and Jack Tibbits all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Only Dan Long, with a battling 29, offered any real resistance. Michael Ludick was the pick of the attack with 3 for 18, backed superbly by Mardey Castle and Ashley Cairns, while Brandon Eloff bowled a remarkable 16 maidens — not a run given away lightly. Marden were bowled out for 81.

A win by 114 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards we go.

Sun 05 Jul 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Sandwich Town CC · AwayformLWLLL

As it stands this season, we can already say Sandwich Town CC will be relieved to see the back of us. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation putting us in to bat, and the pitch rewarded that boldness handsomely. A wobble at 6-1 threatened an early inquest, but Mardey Castle (62) and Johan Eloff (54) stitched together an 84-run stand for the third wicket that settled every nerve on the boundary rope, while Luke Welsman finished unbeaten on a composed 60. Throw in 37 generous extras from our hosts and 252/6 from our forty overs felt like a total with real teeth.

Defending it, I'll admit, is always the nervier half of the day, but the lads set about it with purpose. Harry Baldwin's 56 and a 60-run second-wicket stand threatened to drag Sandwich Town back into contention, yet our attack kept chipping away — Luke Welsman was the pick with 2-10, backed up by Mardey Castle (2-21) and my own 1-3, while Nick Tromp bowled two tidy maidens to choke the scoring. George Redwood, Evan Wallis and Angus Solley all departed for ducks, and a double strike in the 36th over finished the job as they slid from 171-6 to 181-9 and were all out for 186.

Benjamin Austin's 10 byes were the one untidy note in an otherwise disciplined display. A 66-run win, two points banked, and — dare I say it — a thoroughly deserved afternoon in the Kent sunshine.

Sun 05 Jul 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Addington Village CC · AwayformWWLWL

Sunday 5 July, and we rolled up at Addington Village CC under a grey, scorching sort of sky – the kind that promises sunburn and delivers neither warmth nor mercy. I won the toss and, with the ball still doing enough to tempt me, sent them in. In hindsight, a decision I'll be quietly reviewing over the winter.

Alain Tolhurst had other ideas, cashing in for 84, with Marcus Harrod-Reid (34) and Edward Montgomery (30) chipping in either side of a stubborn 86-run stand for the ninth wicket that turned a good workday into a long one. Ben Wheeler toiled away superbly for 4-51, and honourable mentions to Spencer Gray (2-11) and to my own effort of 2-21, as they were bowled out for 244 from 39.1 overs – a total that always felt a shade too many.

Chasing it down, Daniel Baker's 43 gave us the platform, backed up nicely by Euan Beardwell (30) and an unbeaten 27 from Tim Thirkell, with a brisk 62-run opening stand suggesting better things than we delivered. Sadly, 20 wides and 3 no-balls were a generous gift we could ill afford, and a 17-run 27th over undid much of our good work. We finished on 201/5 from our 40 overs, 43 runs short.

Daniel keeps topping the run charts and Tim's climbing the wicket-takers' table, which is some consolation. But discipline, not talent, cost us this one – we'll sort our lines and lengths, and come back stronger next week.

Sat 04 Jul 2026 🧢 4th XIv Bapchild CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday saw us travel to Bapchild CC under a sky that couldn't make its mind up between scorching and grey, which turned out to be a fair metaphor for the day ahead. I called correctly at the toss and, with more optimism than judgement as it transpired, chose to bat.

It was not a vintage batting display. We limped to 83 for 9 from 27.2 overs, with Mohamed Safeer Ibra Lebbe's 23 the standout amid the rubble. A horror stretch saw a steady 12 for 1 become a distinctly wobbly 23 for 4 in the blink of an eye, and both Trevor Back and Ian Lowe contributed golden ducks to the cause, for which I thank them not at all. For the record, I sit second in our 4th XI's run charts this season with 133 runs, though this particular innings did little to add to the tally.

Defending 83 was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved. Bapchild eased to 84 for 2 from 20.1 overs, Simon Rose anchoring things with an unbeaten 48. Andrew Joseph was pick of our bowlers, snaring 2 for 33 and continuing a fine campaign that has him fourth in the wicket charts with five scalps, but the sixth over rather summed up our afternoon as we shipped two wickets in it without ever laying a glove on the chase.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sat 04 Jul 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Offham CC · HomeformDDDDD

Lost the toss again — Offham took one look at the square and fancied fielding first, which after last week's efforts I could hardly blame them for. Still, we made hay: 219 for 6 from our forty overs, with Johan Eloff striking a fine 56 to lead the charge, and Altus Diener (49) and Nick Pennefather (44) both playing their part in what turned into a proper batting effort. A total to be pleased with, and one that gave us something to bowl at.

Defending it, we did rather more sweating than the scoreboard might suggest. Offham chipped away to 182 for 8, with Felix Eyre (34), Marcus Faithfull (32) and William Godfrey (26) all threatening to make a match of it before Luke Welsman's tidy 2 for 10 pulled things back our way, ably assisted by Brandon Eloff (2-21) and Nick Tromp (1-22). Sam Willis, mercifully for us, departed for a duck. Our wicketkeeper endured a torrid afternoon — 15 byes is not a figure anyone wants next to their name — and 22 wides suggests discipline took the day off entirely, but somehow we got away with it.

Elsewhere, Brandon Eloff continues his splendid season, sitting second in the 2nd XI run charts on 225 and out in front of the wicket-takers with 13. A scrappy, generous, thoroughly English afternoon's cricket — but two points are two points, and 37 runs is 37 runs. We'll take it, and quietly hope the keeper gets his gloves sorted before next week.

Sat 04 Jul 2026 🧢 1st XIv Offham CC · AwayformLDDDD

We lost the toss at Offham on a scorching, cloudy afternoon and were sent out to field — never quite the news you want to hear, but there we were. They made a shaky start, 8 for 1 early doors, before Jack Stanton-Gleaves and Ben Gittings decided enough was enough and put on 233 for the third wicket, both bringing up superb hundreds — Stanton-Gleaves finishing unbeaten on 169, Gittings on 102. An irritating last-pair stand of 43 rubbed salt in, and they closed on 323 for 6 from their 45 overs. Poor Charlie Razey trudged off without troubling the scorers.

With the ball, Mardey Castle did the real damage with 3 for 67, I chipped in with 2 for 12, and Matthew Carter bowled two tidy maidens on his way to 1 for 58.

Chasing 323 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved — 185 all out in 33.4 overs, Anthony Karassellos carrying the innings superbly with 62 not out, well supported by Matthew Carter's 26 and Jordan Austin's 22. A gutsy 73-run stand for the tenth wicket at least gave the scoreboard some dignity, though Benjamin Austin and Henry Campbell both walked the walk of shame for ducks, and we leaned rather heavily on 33 extras. Warm applause, though, for Anthony, who brought up 3,000 career runs for the club along the way — a lovely milestone on an otherwise chastening day.

Jordan Austin still leads our 2026 run charts with 258, and I'm out in front on wickets with 20. Beaten by 138 runs in the end — chastened, humbled, but not remotely deterred. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 01 Jul 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv Warlingham CC · HomeformWWLWL

Right then, coin toss lost as usual — Warlingham CC won it and had first use of a cloudy Wednesday afternoon at Linton Park, and they made a decent enough fist of it: 171/9 from their 44 overs. Nigel Field was the chief architect with a well-made 54, and Waseem Sherwani (34 not out) and Masood Bashir (25) chipped in handsomely. Imran Bashir departed for a golden duck, which I'll admit brought a small, unbecoming smile to my face from mid-off. Benjamin Austin was the pick of our attack with a superb 3-17, Mardey Castle and Luke Welsman weren't far behind with 3-18 and 2-12 respectively, and Ian Lowe strangled the middle overs with two maidens for good measure.

Chasing 172, we made light work of it — 172/3 off just 32 overs, which for a side that usually treats a run chase like a minor emergency was refreshingly serene. Tobey Castle was magnificent, striking a career-best 88 that also nudged him past Basil Sears and up to 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — not a bad Wednesday's work. Aaron Hughes gave him fine company with an unbeaten 61. I contributed my own small hand along the way, happy enough to potter about while the real business was being done at the other end.

A comprehensive seven-wicket win, then, and Tobey and Benjamin now sit atop this season's Midweek XI run and wicket charts respectively. All told, a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket — onwards we go.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Southfleet CC · HomeformLWWLW

The toss went against us, as it so often does, and Southfleet were only too happy to have first use of a decent-looking surface. Sandeep Vijai set about us with a fine half-century, 62 of the best, with James Bonner (46) and Joel Mulley-Goodbarne (31) keeping the scoreboard ticking along nicely. By the time they declared themselves finished on 195/6 from their forty overs, I confess I was doing rather a lot of mental arithmetic and not liking the answer. Credit where due to the bowling unit, though — Euan Beardwell was miserly and lethal in equal measure with 1-10, including sending Sean Coleman back for a duck, while Jacob Landman and David Holdstock chipped in a wicket apiece, and William Gray somehow found two maidens in there as well.

Chasing 196 was always going to want something special, and William Gray very nearly provided it, following up his bowling with a splendid 56 with the bat. Euan Beardwell continued his fine afternoon's work with 41, and I was happy to potter along to 29 not out at the other end, though it wasn't quite enough support to get us home. Poor Jamie Wheeler had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 8 byes for his trouble — these things happen to the best of us.

In the end we fell 33 runs short, and Southfleet deserved their afternoon. Not our day, but plenty to build on — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 28 Jun 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Rolvenden CC · AwayformLLWLL

Beaten by two wickets at Rolvenden, and I'll admit the coin toss set the tone — no luck there, and never much luck once they'd sent us in on a warm, grey afternoon. Still, 237 all out from 38.5 overs was no disgrace, built around a lovely 96-run stand for the fourth wicket. Brandon Eloff was magnificent, 96 to the good and unlucky not to reach three figures, with Johan Eloff (35) and Benjamin Austin (26) lending sturdy support. I chipped in with 24 myself, including a shot I'm rather proud of — one clubbed wide of mid-off for six that I shall be dining out on for weeks. Sadly we then contrived to go from 233-7 to all out in a heartbeat, and the Duck Club gained two new members in Ian Lowe and Ian Hollingworth, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Defending 237 looked promising when Brandon Eloff, in inspired form with bat and ball alike, struck twice for 26, with Ian Hollingworth and Thomas Beeney chipping in with two apiece, and Carlin Smith back for a duck of his own. But Omar Ahmed had other ideas, a fine 65 anchoring their reply, well supported by Tom Laver (46) and Omar Zaman (35) in an 80-run stand. They punished anything full and straight while we, in fairness, did rather well square of the wicket when their bowlers strayed short. The 38th over did for us — two wickets fell, but so too did the game, and they got home by two wickets. Benjamin Austin had a tricky afternoon behind the stumps, twelve byes the only real blot, but he remains our leading run-scorer this season, with Thomas Beeney top of the bowling pile. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Faversham CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday last took us down to Faversham under a sky that couldn't decide whether to scorch us or soak us — rather fitting for an English summer, and rather fitting too that we lost the toss yet again. They asked us to bat, so bat we did, grinding out 164 for 7 from our forty overs. Rahul Parakh top-scored with a fine 33, I chipped in with 31, and Spencer Gray finished unbeaten on 25 to give the total some respectability. Special mention, as ever, to the Duck Club ledger: Jonathan Sisley made the long walk back for nought, and the quacking has not stopped since.

With the total posted, it was over to the bowlers to make it count, and count it did. Faversham were bowled out for 130 in 38.2 overs, despite a spirited 40 from Tom Harris and 34 from Brandan Monteiro, the pair putting on fifty for the sixth wicket that threatened, briefly, to spoil our afternoon. Danny Smith and Ollie Bellerby Brown joined the duck-hunt on their side, both back in the hutch without scoring. Richard Knowler was magnificent, 3 for 22 including three maidens, with William Gray (3-31) and Tim Thirkell (2-15) mopping up around him.

A 34-run win and two points banked — thoroughly earned on a day when the weather couldn't make its mind up but the lads certainly could.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday 27 June 2026, and off we trundled to Staplehurst on an afternoon that couldn't decide whether it was Ascot or Amazon rainforest — scorching sunshine one over, biblical showers the next. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for once the skipper's instinct didn't let the side down.

What followed was as good a batting display as I can remember. I found some form I'd rather not question too closely and went on to make 103, which felt thoroughly satisfying, especially with the ball occasionally arriving through a curtain of drizzle. Brandon Eloff was every bit as fluent, unbeaten on 72, and Tim Ludick chipped in with a busy 35 to help us to a mighty 261/5 from our 37.3 overs. It was the sort of total that has opposition bowlers reaching for the liniment before they've even bowled a ball.

With the ball, we simply didn't let up — Staplehurst were bowled out for nothing at all, a genuinely startling collapse to witness from the field. And yet, cricket being the glorious, illogical game it is, the match still ended in a draw, honours shared when neither side could quite force matters home.

There was a rather lovely personal footnote to the day: bringing up 1,000 career runs for the club is one for the mantelpiece, and it also nudges me clear at the top of the 2026 2nd XI run charts with 326 for the season. A funny old game, cricket — we batted magnificently, bowled Staplehurst out entirely, and still couldn't manufacture a win. I'll take the runs, and the rain, and call it a fine day out.

Sat 27 Jun 2026 🧢 1st XIv Ashford Town CC · HomeformDLDDD

Mark Christmas writes...

A scorcher of an afternoon, more sauna than square, and the good news was the toss went our way. I fancied runs on the board, so in we went — and promptly found ourselves 0-1 before some of the lads had finished their sandwiches. Still, we're a resilient old club, and a fine 95-run stand for the fifth wicket dragged us back into respectability, with 41 from yours truly and admirable support from Laurie Probert (38) and Benjamin Austin (22). Then, as is tradition at Linton Park, the innings rather fell out of a tree — 147-5 to 153-8 in the time it takes to pour a tea, with poor Jordan Austin completing the collapse with a duck. All out for 170 off 44.3 overs; not a total to frighten anyone, but enough to work with.

And work with it we did. Ashford Town never looked comfortable, losing their first wicket for just 8, and though Luke Perkins battled to 22, the rest crumbled around him — 80-7 became 93 all out in a hurry, Sam Grove departing without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball for 3-12, with Thomas Beeney (2-9) and the ever-miserly Tom Campbell (2-25, three maidens) squeezing the life out of them.

Seventy-seven runs the margin, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — the sort of result that makes the sunburn worthwhile.

Wed 24 Jun 2026 🧢 Midweek XIv Cudham Wyse CC · AwayformDWWLW

Not our day, but by the sounds of it, a proper cricketing thriller. Here's the report.

Wednesday 24 June saw us take the road to Cudham Wyse, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat — a decision I'll happily take credit for, whatever the final scoreline suggests. Losing our first wicket for just one run was hardly the platform I'd envisioned, but Rahul Parakh played the innings of the day, a fine 75, well supported by Jonathon McDonald and Theo Clements, both 33. Credit too to the tail, who added a priceless 54 for the last wicket to drag us to 222 all out from 34 overs. Less credit to Jordan Austin and Henry Campbell, who both made the long walk back for nought — the ducks are noted in the ledger, gentlemen.

Defending 222, we asked plenty of questions but Cudham Wyse kept finding answers. Herman De Jaeger's 39 anchored their reply, with Jakria Ahmed (33) and Moazzam Sultan (30) chipping in handsomely. Ian Lowe was superb with the ball, 3-45, well backed by both McDonalds — Jonathon (2-26) and Toby (2-44) — and Bob Fraser was sent packing without troubling the scorers. But eleven byes told their own story about the state of our wicketkeeping, and in a match this tight, those extras mattered.

In the end, 226/9 from 39.3 overs saw them home by the barest of margins — one wicket. A match that swung on a handful of runs and a fistful of byes. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 21 Jun 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv GC Grafty Green CC · HomeformLLWWL

Sunday the 21st of June brought Grafty Green CC to Linton Park under a scorching, overcast sky, the sort of afternoon that promises everything and delivers mostly humidity. The coin fell my way and I put us in to bat, fancying a total worth defending before the light or the weather did anything silly.

We got exactly that. Theo Clements led the charge with a well-made 74, and William Gray played the anchor role to perfection, finishing unbeaten on 64. Between them we reached 173 for 3 from our 35 overs, a score with proper substance. Spencer Gray's contribution was rather briefer, a duck to his name, but on a day like this one quiet afternoon gets lost in the sunshine.

Defending it, the lads never let Grafty Green settle. Daniel Baker's 21 was as good as it got for the visitors, and there was a duck among the wickets too, Zach Wilde departing without troubling the scorers. John Karassellos was simply unplayable, spinning his way to 5 for 19, with Zach Wilde chipping in 2 for 24 and Tim Thirkell 1 for 11. Grafty Green were bowled out for 103 in 28.5 overs.

It caps a fine spell for a couple of our regulars too, William Gray now sitting second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 129 for the season, and Zach Wilde top of the wicket charts on 10. Seventy runs the winning margin, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sat 20 Jun 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Kings Hill CC · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 20 June saw us welcome Kings Hill CC, and after losing the toss we found ourselves condemned to field first – never quite my favourite outcome, but there we are, the toss remains the one contest we can't legislate for.

Batting first, we posted a respectable 163/9 from our 40 overs, built nicely around Rahul Parakh's 39, with Nick Pennefather (32) and William Gray (31) both playing their part. Less gloriously, Spencer Gray and Gene Smith made the lonely walk back for nought apiece, joining the Duck Club ledger – commiserations to both, the tea urn awaits your company.

If our batting was merely solid, our bowling was something else entirely. Kings Hill were bundled out for a threadbare 70 in 26.5 overs, with Nick Cranmer, Daniel Pullen and Nirvan Pieris all departing without troubling the scorers themselves. The day belonged to Tim Thirkell, whose 5-22 (three maidens, no less) was a spell of real quality, backed up handsomely by Richard Knowler (3-16) and James Gray (2-19).

Milestones abounded: Daniel Baker brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, Richard Knowler reached 2,000, and Tim Thirkell's five-for eased him past Martin Harris into 6th on the all-time wicket-takers' list. Baker also leads our 2026 3rd XI run charts on 138, with Thirkell topping the wickets on 11.

We ran out winners by 93 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club – and one for the scrapbook rather than the Duck Club ledger.

Sat 20 Jun 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Snodland Community CC · HomeformDDDDD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 20 June 2026. A warm, overcast afternoon greeted us as we welcomed Snodland Community CC, and losing the toss set the tone rather neatly for what followed, as they invited us to bat first.

We never quite got out of first gear, bundled out for 109 in 33 overs. Altus Diener held things together with a fine 33, and Will Hughes chipped in with a composed 22 not out at the death, but wickets fell around them with grim regularity. I contributed nothing to the cause myself, out for a duck — the sort of innings best filed under "character building" and spoken of no further.

Defending 109 was always going to ask a lot of us, and so it proved, though not without a fight. Michael Ludick was superb with the ball, 3 for 17 off a miserly spell including five maidens, and I managed to chip in with 2 for 21, with Alex Wade also among the wickets. We even had Snodland's middle order for ducks at one stage. But Sam Tucker played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 37 steering them home, and they got there on 113 for 6 with two overs to spare. Eighteen wides and nine no-balls were the real villains of the piece — runs we simply gifted away and could not afford to give.

Not our day, beaten by four wickets. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's work to do before next week.

Sat 20 Jun 2026 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · AwayformDDLDD

Saturday 20 June found us on the road at Sibton Park CC, under warm skies with just enough cloud to keep a bowler interested. I called correctly at the toss and, with barely a flicker of doubt, chose to bat first — a decision our top order might since have quietly questioned.

We were bowled out for 94 in 24.4 overs, a total that flattered to deceive. Benjamin Austin held things together with an unbeaten 26, well supported by Jordan Austin's 21, but the middle order rather fell apart on us, 49 for 3 becoming 54 for 6 in the blink of an eye. For the Duck Club ledger, Laurie Probert, Luke Welsman and I all made the long, silent walk back for nought apiece. Least said, soonest mended.

With the ball, we made a proper fist of it. Sibton Park reached 95 for 5 from 22 overs, Josh Woodward top-scoring with 42 and Satyajeet Jadhav unbeaten on 20, though Joseph Allon departed for a duck at our hands. I led the attack with 2 for 17, well supported by Henry Campbell (1-3) and Anthony Karassellos (1-19). They served up rather too much back-of-a-length, and we helped ourselves square of the wicket — until a wretched 14th over cost us three wickets and the momentum with them.

Jordan Austin continues to lead our 2026 run charts with 236, and I'll quietly own the 15 wickets currently topping our bowling table. Numbers aside, we were beaten by 5 wickets in the end. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 14 Jun 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv The Mote CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday 14th brought The Mote to Linton Park for what turned into one of those afternoons that reminds you why you bother with the toss at all. I called it right, didn't think twice about batting first, and watched us assemble a very respectable 128/5 from our twenty. Hannah Odling was the innings' backbone, unbeaten on 32, though I'll confess our extras column — a generous 44 — did rather more heavy lifting than any captain likes to admit in print.

Defending it, we made life needlessly interesting for ourselves. The Mote lost Carole Bacon for a duck with the scoreboard still reading nought, which had us purring, but Liz Keaveney dug in for an unbeaten 31 and dragged them to 116/8, keeping the run chase alive right to the closing overs. Our bowling had real teeth throughout — Claire Rootes the pick with 2-14, Laura Holdstock chipping in 2-21, and Laura Boorman snaring one for just 3 — but we did our level best to gift it all back with 26 wides and 20 no-balls, generosity bordering on the reckless.

Somehow, despite ourselves, we got home by 12 runs. With Hannah Odling now sitting proudly atop the season's run charts and Laura Holdstock leading the wickets, the signs for the summer are rather promising. A scrappy, wide-strewn, thoroughly entertaining win — and on the balance of the day's madness, a jolly good one for the club.

Sun 14 Jun 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Harvel CC · AwayformLLLWW

Sunday 14 June saw us make the trip out to Harvel CC under a pleasant, cloudy sky – the sort of afternoon that promises seam and swing to those of an optimistic bent. Having lost the toss, we were asked to bowl first, and while Zach Wilde toiled manfully for 4-72, with Euan Beardwell (1-25) and myself (1-28) chipping in for good measure, Harvel's Philip Darby had other ideas, compiling a magnificent, chanceless century. Jack MacDonald's well-made 54 and Daniel Walker's 22 gave the innings further heft, and 259/6 from their forty overs left us with a proper mountain to climb.

Climb it we did not. Daniel Baker (33) and William Gray (33) batted with real application, Spencer Gray chipped in with 20, but the middle order rather fell away, and I must confess my own contribution to the run chase was a golden duck – out first ball, for those unfamiliar with the terminology. A captain is meant to lead by example; on this occasion I led by example of precisely how not to build an innings, joining Euan Beardwell and David Holdstock in the "not scored upon" club as we limped to 141/9 from our forty overs.

Beaten by 118 runs, then, and no dressing that up as anything other than a comprehensive afternoon's work for Harvel. Small consolation that Daniel Baker continues to lead our Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 204 for the season, and Zach Wilde the wickets with 8 – the engine room remains in good order even when the skipper's bat lets the side down. We'll regroup, we'll be better for it next week, and I shall endeavour to trouble the scorers rather more meaningfully than a golden blob.

Sun 14 Jun 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Kings Hill CC · HomeformWLLWL

Sunday 14 June, and Kings Hill CC rolled up looking altogether too pleased with themselves. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains a batting-order-length list of failures — and we were put into the field.

They made merry early on. Jack Doyle and Robert Whitfield put on 124 for the first wicket with the unhurried confidence of men who'd read the pitch report and not shared it with us, Doyle going on to 77 and Whitfield to a tidy 68. Credit to the lads for not folding: Thomas Beeney found his rhythm to return 4-25 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, Farhan Malik chipped away with 3-32, and Brandon Eloff picked up one. Poor Daniel Pullen departed without troubling the scorers. All told, 208/9 from their forty overs felt like a par score with a bit extra for cheek.

Chasing it, we never quite found our stride. Theo Clements top-scored with a spirited 39, Jordan Austin gave him good company with 37, but wickets fell around them and we were bowled out for 178 in 37.1 overs — undone as much by our own generosity as their bowling, with fifteen byes leaking through behind the stumps.

Beaten by 30 runs, then, but not without honours: Thomas Beeney's four wickets nudged him past Ian Brattle into 12th on the club's all-time list, and he now leads our Sunday wicket charts with nine, with Austin top of the run-scorers on 140. Character shown, lesson learned — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 13 Jun 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Rodmersham CC · HomeformLDDDD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 13 June 2026. We hosted Rodmersham CC on a pleasant, overcast afternoon, and I duly lost the toss, which meant a spell in the field to open proceedings rather than the pads. Rodmersham built steadily to 121/7 from their 40 overs, David Cogger the chief architect with 24, well supported by Nigel Pullen's unbeaten 20. Our attack, though, had the last laugh in the discipline stakes. Richard Knowler was magnificent, tearing through the middle order for 4-27, with William Gray and Tim Thirkell chipping in a wicket apiece, and Oscar Whitlock sent back for a duck along the way. James Gray, meanwhile, bowled with the miserliness of a man counting out his own tea money, three maidens to his name.

A target of 122 looked eminently gettable on paper, and I'll admit I fancied our chances walking off. But cricket has a way of humbling the optimist, and we subsided to 109 all out from 36 overs, with a generous 32 of those runs arriving as extras rather than off the middle of the bat, which tells its own story about the afternoon. I contributed what I could with the ball earlier in the day, but with the bat we simply couldn't find the fluency needed.

Beaten by 12 runs in the end, and no complaints from this corner. Daniel Baker continues to lead our 2026 run charts, Tim Thirkell our wickets, and there's plenty of season left to put this one right. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 13 Jun 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Tonbridge CC · HomeformLDDDD

Saturday brought Tonbridge CC to Linton Park under warm, cloudy skies, and when the coin came down against us I can't say I was thrilled to be shown a seat in the field first. We laboured to 108 all out in 25.3 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Nick Tromp's fine 42, with me chipping in 27 alongside him. Three of our number — Alex Wade, Euan Beardwell and Praveen Tunga — contributed nothing but a golden duck apiece, which is the sort of statistic one quietly omits from the teas conversation.

Set 109 to defend, we turned the screw with real purpose. Tonbridge subsided to 75 all out in 30.3 overs, with Finley Evans and Anthony Shepherd both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Praveen Tunga was the chief architect with 3-17, ably backed by Altus Diener's miserly 2-16 and three maidens, and I was pleased to add 2-8 of my own to the cause.

There was extra reason for a smile in the clubhouse afterwards: I brought up 50 career wickets, and find myself sitting second in the 2nd XI's season run charts on 152 while leading the wicket charts with 9. A tidy afternoon's business all round.

We ran out winners by 33 runs. A scrappy total defended in style — a very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 13 Jun 2026 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · AwayformDDDLD

A warm, cloudy afternoon greeted us down at Mersham Sports CC, and having lost the toss I led the lads out to field first — never my favourite start to a Saturday, but there we are. We restricted them to 148/3 from 34.1 overs, though it never felt quite that tidy. Dan Coulson and Aadarsh Bothara both made 38, with Zach Webster chipping in 20, and their openers put on a breezy 80 before we finally prised one out. Anthony Karassellos was the pick of us with 2-25, Thomas Beeney chipped in with 1-32, and Matthew Carter bowled two miserly maidens to keep things honest. Benjamin Austin had a torrid time behind the stumps, 9 byes going begging, and we were far too generous elsewhere too — 25 wides and no-balls is not the sort of hospitality we should be extending to visitors.

With the bat we posted 146/7 from our 45 overs, though it was shakier than the total suggests — five on the board and already a wicket down. Laurie Probert's 29 steadied things, and I was fortunate enough to bat through for 43 not out, our sixth-wicket stand of 53 the real spine of the innings. Twenty-nine extras did their bit too, less said the better. Theo Clements and Anthony Karassellos both walked for nought, and the Duck Club ledger grows longer. Quietly pleasing personally: I brought up 10,000 career runs for the club along the way.

In the end, beaten by seven wickets — no disgrace, but no triumph either. We'll regroup, tighten the extras column, and come back stronger next week.

Sun 07 Jun 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv HC Hythe CC · HomeformWWWWW

Laura Boorman's unbeaten 24 anchors a 72-run win. Here's the report.

At the toss on Sunday I called correctly, and there really wasn't a moment's hesitation - with early June sunshine overhead I stuck us in the field, much to the surprise of absolutely no one who knows how my mind works.

Hythe CC were duly dismissed for nought, a collapse orchestrated with real venom by Martha Beardwell, whose 3-11 did the damage up top, while Claire Rootes (1-3) and Carly Copping (1-7) tidied up in support. It was, in truth, rather clinical bowling wrapped around some distinctly untidy fielding - twenty wides and ten no-balls is the sort of generosity we simply cannot keep extending to visiting sides, and I shall be having quiet words at nets.

With the ball evidently doing all the talking, we replied with nought all out ourselves, Laura Boorman carrying her bat for an unbeaten 24 of real substance and composure while wickets fell around her. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Hannah Odling continues to lord it over the Women's Softball run charts with 127, and Martha Beardwell's spell only extends her grip on the wicket-takers' list to 8 - form both of them will want to carry into next week.

So: two points, seventy-two runs to the good, and a scoreline that flatters our fielding rather more than it deserves. A fine win nonetheless - now let's tidy up those extras before somebody notices.

Sun 07 Jun 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformWWLLW

Losing the toss on a soft, drizzly Sunday at Town Malling is rarely the start you want, and having been put in, we never quite got going. A total of 104 all out from 32.5 overs told its own story, rescued from something worse by Navjot Singh's unbeaten 30 and a handy 22 from Benjamin Austin. Elsewhere the card made grim reading, with both Daniel Baker and Anthony Karassellos departing without troubling the scorers — the sort of afternoon best filed away and not discussed over tea.

Defending 104 was always going to ask a lot of the bowlers, and for a spell they very nearly delivered it. Jacob Smyth was back in the pavilion for a duck and the first wicket fell for just 3, Navjot Singh following up his batting with a superb 2-15 including four miserly maidens, well supported by Thomas Beeney's 1-22. But Thomas Lenham settled in for an unbeaten 61 and, alongside Adam Nix's composed 27 not out, ground us down, a costly 13th over in which we shipped two wickets doing for our momentum entirely. Town Malling closed on 105/3.

There was a footnote of pride amid the gloom, Thomas Beeney's wicket easing him past Ian Brattle into 11th on the club's all-time list. But on the day itself, beaten by seven wickets, this was no contest to dwell on fondly. Back to the nets, and back stronger next week.

Sun 31 May 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Harbledown CC · HomeformWWWLL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 31 May 2026. Warm skies, a cloud or two for company, and Harbledown CC the visitors. Won the toss, and against every instinct of a captain who quite fancied a bat in this weather, I sent them in. Well, the pitch owed us one eventually.

They made themselves at home for a while, Sudesh Thakur ticking along to a well-made 86, and 211 all out from 36.2 overs was a proper score to chase. But the bowling unit dug in nicely: Darrell Houghton-Judge did the early damage with 3-27, Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-23, and Tim Thirkell's 2-30 not only kept the scoreboard honest but also nudged him past yours truly into 6th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — I'll take the demotion gracefully, it's for a good cause.

Chasing 212, we lost an opener for nought and could have been forgiven a wobble. Instead Anthony Karassellos played the innings of the summer, an unbeaten hundred of real class, with Jordan Austin ushering him along with a composed fifty not out and Darrell Houghton-Judge adding a useful 22 — the fourth-wicket stand of 63 the platform for it all. Spare a thought for poor Benjamin Austin, out for a duck and then charged with ten byes for his trouble; not his afternoon. Fitting, too, that it came in Jordan's 400th appearance in Linton colours.

Home by six wickets, then, with Karassellos now streets clear atop the run charts and I'm still hanging onto the wickets column for now. A very good day for the club.

Sun 31 May 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv Lordswood CC · HomeformWWWWW

Cricket has a way of humbling a man, and it's a fine thing when it humbles him by only 24 runs in the right direction.

Sunday's fixture against Lordswood CC saw me call correctly at the toss — a rare enough event that I felt duty-bound to make something of it — and I had no hesitation in choosing to bat. The girls set about their innings with real application, and while I won't pretend my own contribution of 17 will trouble the record books, it was 17 runs I was rather pleased to have banked when Lordswood came out swinging in reply.

And swing they did, though not nearly to sufficient effect. Martha Beardwell was the chief architect of their downfall, prising out a wicket for the princely sum of 6 runs, and doing so with the kind of quiet efficiency that suggests she's rather enjoying her season. It's no surprise, either — she now sits second in the 2026 Women's Softball wicket charts with 5 to her name, while Hannah Odling continues to lead the run charts with a formidable 114. Between the two of them, the opposition really didn't stand much of a chance.

We came away with the match won by 24 runs, and two hard-earned points to show for a thoroughly good afternoon's work. A triumph, then — and one I intend to enjoy for at least a week before humility inevitably comes calling again.

Sun 31 May 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv The Mote CC · AwayformWWWWW

Splendid stuff at Bromley — no need to research anything, just write the report.

A coin toss that stubbornly refuses to go our way is becoming something of a personal cross to bear, and so it proved again at The Mote, where the toss was lost and we were sent out into the field to make the best of it. Make the best of it we duly did. Eight overs of tight, disciplined bowling and fielding restricted our hosts to a modest 29 for 4, the sort of total that leaves a batting side with rather more explaining to do than the fielding one.

Explaining was mercifully not required of us. Given a target that would have looked more at home on a scoreboard from a rain-shortened Twenty20, our women set about it with real relish, racing to 64 for 2 from our own eight overs. It was the kind of clean, positive hitting that makes the walk back to the pavilion a genuine pleasure rather than the usual nervous shuffle. Hannah Odling, now sitting second in the season's Women's Softball run charts with 88 to her name, continues to bat like a woman who has read the assignment rather more carefully than the rest of us.

A 45-run victory and two points banked — the margin doing all the talking that's required. Lose the toss, win the day: if only every Sunday obliged us so generously.

Sun 31 May 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Brockley CC · HomeformLLLLW

Sunday brought us Brockley CC under warm, cloudy skies, and for once the coin did as it was told: I called correctly and had no hesitation in sending the visitors in. It felt like the right call at tea, if I'm honest, and by the close it felt like an even better one.

Brockley posted a stiff-looking 193/6 from their 35 overs, built chiefly around J Patel, who cruised serenely past fifty to finish unbeaten on 79. He had capable company too, with Daniel Baker (34) and Arthur Davis (32) putting on 58 for the third wicket to give the innings its spine. Just as we thought we had them shackled, their last pair had the cheek to bolt on an unwanted 38 — the sort of stand that has opposing captains muttering into their tea. Still, with the ball I managed 2-25, Euan Beardwell was tidiness personified with 1-8 and two maidens, and Paul Baker chipped in with 1-16.

Chasing 194, we barely broke sweat. Jonathon McDonald played the innings of the season, an imperious 101 not out, while Daniel Baker kept him company with a classy unbeaten 69 as we cantered home in just 21 overs for the loss of two wickets. That knock keeps Daniel top of our 2026 Sunday 2nd XI run charts, now on 171 for the summer.

An eight-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sat 30 May 2026 🧢 4th XIv GNG CC GRFC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday just gone found us on the road to GNG CC GRFC, under skies that couldn't decide between sunstroke and a soaking — very English, very us. I called correctly for once and had no hesitation in sticking them in, a decision I stood by right up until Gurnek Saini decided to play the innings of his life. His superb 104, backed up nicely by Gurwinder Singh's 49 and Gursewak Galha's 21, hauled them to a stiff 241/7 from their 35 overs. We did our bit in patches — Pawandeep Singh and Jaskaranjot Singh both back in the hutch without scoring, Alexander Nunn the pick of the bowlers with 2-44, Ian Lowe chipping in with 2-52 and Zach Wilde with 1-21.

Chasing 242, we made a proper fist of it. Blair Mundell played beautifully for 84, with Nolan Wilde (40) and Rahul Parakh (39) lending real substance in support, and a handy 28 in extras nudging us along nicely. Less nicely: I fell for nought, as did Jamie Wheeler, and I shall spare us both further commentary on that beyond noting the walk of shame is a well-trodden path. Jamie also had a torrid time behind the stumps, 18 byes leaking through for good measure.

We finished on 221/6 from our 40, twenty runs shy in the end. Rahul Parakh continues to lead our run charts for the season with 114, and Zach Wilde tops the wickets with 7 — plenty to be proud of even in defeat. A battling effort, honestly beaten by a special innings — we'll fancy our chances again next week.

Sat 30 May 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformLLDDD

It was Gore Court CC at home, a scorching afternoon with the odd shower thrown in for variety, and the coin did us a favour — I called correctly and had no hesitation putting them in. Whether that proved wisdom or folly is a matter for the committee to debate over their teas, because Gore Court made themselves thoroughly at home, posting 175/8 from their forty overs. Matt Tombs led the charge with a fluent 47, well backed by Jonathon McDonald's 46 and Joel Fontenelle's 30. Credit where due to our attack, mind — Fergus Herron bowled beautifully for 2-23, while Farhan Malik and Tim Thirkell chipped in 2-24 apiece, Malik adding three miserly maidens that must have tested a few patience levels out there in the sun.

Chasing 176, we made a fair fist of it without quite landing the blow. Mark Smith top-scored with a handsome 46, Srikrishna Challa supported nicely with 30, and Tim Thirkell finished unbeaten on 25. The extras column did its bit too, contributing a generous 26. Less gloriously, both Fergus Herron and I departed for ducks — I shall say no more on my own effort, except that the nets beckon rather urgently.

There was, happily, a proper reason to celebrate: Srikrishna Challa brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth savouring whatever the scoreboard said. Daniel Baker continues to lead the 2026 3rd XI run charts with 112, and Farhan Malik sits second in the wicket charts with 5.

In the end we fell 24 runs short. Not our day, but heads up — back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sat 30 May 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWLDDD

Michael Ludick's men's second XI travelled down to Headcorn on Saturday in weather that couldn't make its mind up — sunshine one over, showers the next, much like our fielding. I lost the toss, which these days I take almost as a formality, and Headcorn duly chose to bat.

To their credit they got themselves to 147, Mark Pleasance the chief architect with a well-made 44, Jack Crouch chipping in with 33. But the Duck Club had a good day at the office at our hands, with Paul Millen and Rob Mansell both walking back without troubling the scorers. Brandon Eloff was the pick of the attack by some distance — 3 for 26 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, proper miserly stuff — with Euan Beardwell (2-12) tidy alongside him. I managed 2 for 13 myself, which I shall mention here once and then modestly move on from.

Chasing 148, we made a proper meal of it before getting there, reaching 148 for 7 in 25.3 overs. I built the innings with 49, well supported by Altus Diener (33) and Will Thew (26), though the middle order did its best to keep things interesting — Johan Eloff, Nick Pennefather and Alex Wade all made the walk of shame for ducks of their own.

Three wickets to spare, then, and a scoreline that flattered our jitters rather than our composure. Still, a win's a win, Brandon sits second in the wicket charts and I'm rather enjoying life atop the run charts — a good day for the club, even if my heart rate suggests otherwise.

Sat 30 May 2026 🧢 1st XIv Addington Village CC · HomeformDDDDL

Lost the toss on a Saturday that couldn't decide whether it was August or November — sun blazing one minute, drizzle the next — and duly found ourselves in the field against Addington Village CC. They made themselves at home to the tune of 220/8 from their 45 overs, built on a chunky 87-run second-wicket stand between Tom Wooding, whose 76 did the real damage, and Vansh Chhetri, unlucky not to go on from a fine 63, with Alfi Cobley chipping in an unbeaten 24. Matthew Bowles and James Conway both trudged off for ducks, which was some consolation, and I had one of those afternoons where everything comes out right, finishing with 6-25. Matthew Carter and Thomas Beeney picked up a wicket apiece for their trouble, and Alex Keeler bowled two maidens tight enough to squeeze the pips out of an orange.

Chasing 221, Jordan Austin and his opening partner gave us exactly the platform we needed with 67 for the first wicket, and Austin went on to a superb 81, ably backed up by Laurie Probert's 22. Theo Clements departed for nought, and even with a generous 40 extras helping the cause, we stumbled to 218/9 — two agonising runs short.

Heartbreaking stuff, but there's no shame in it. Jordan Austin now tops our run charts for the season, and I'm rather chuffed to lead the wickets. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — this one will sting all week.

Mon 25 May 2026 🧢 Friendly XIv KC Kent Ramblas CC · HomeformLWWLL

Kent Ramblers arrived on a fine Bank Holiday Monday and promptly made our decision for us at the toss, sending us out to field. Not the start any captain dreams of, but 171 all out from 34.1 overs is a chaseable total, and after Jon Loughlin's 47 and Matt Lynch's watchful 40 had us wondering whether we'd left the door too wide open, our bowlers slammed it shut. Divan Tromp was the chief locksmith with 3-45, Ashley Cairns and Clive Vanrensberg both weighed in with two apiece — Cairns' two maidens the sort of miserly spell that makes a captain purr — and for one glorious passage of play it was 10-4, with Mark Loughlin, Andy Hind and James Dilley all back in the pavilion for ducks. Matt Rudgyard's unbeaten 32 in that stubborn sixth-wicket stand of 64 dragged them back to something respectable.

Chasing 172, we made hard work of what should have been straightforward, tumbling to the point where a last-wicket stand of 58 was needed to see us home — Altus Diener leading from the front with an unbeaten 34, Ian Bruce and Nick Tromp chipping in with 25 and 21, and a generous 26 extras doing their bit too. Poor Theo Clements had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 9 byes testifying to some lively bowling, or possibly just his footwork.

A win is a win, and four wickets to spare will do nicely, even if we gave ourselves several unnecessary heart palpitations along the way. Onwards.

Sun 24 May 2026 🧢 Friendly XIv Bredgar CC · HomeformLLWWL

What a scorcher of an afternoon to lose the toss call at your own peril — except I didn't, I called it right and fancied batting on a belter of a pitch. That confidence lasted about as long as my own innings would later, but more of that shame in a moment. The lads put on a decent enough show, 164 all out in 37.4 overs, with Craig Sands cracking a fine 57 to top-score and Jonathon McDonald chipping in a tidy 25. Ben Wheeler and Finlay Morford both contributed golden ducks, which is one way of keeping the scorebook interesting, and a generous 33 extras rounded out what was, all told, a par-ish total.

With the ball we fought hard. Bredgar replied with 166/6 from their 30, built around Jack Louden's classy half-century of 53, with Brynn Foot unbeaten on 30 and Chris Salter adding 25 — and their last pair infuriatingly bolted on 37 we really didn't need to gift them. Ben Wheeler was superb, 2-20 the pick of the attack, while I managed 2-30 and Jonathon McDonald picked up one for a miserly 5.

As for my own batting — a golden blob. A captain is meant to lead from the front; on this occasion I led rather smartly back to the pavilion. Small consolation came in reaching my 200th appearance for the club, and warm applause for Craig, whose 57 nudged him past John Thirkell into 6th on the all-time run-scorers list.

Beaten by four wickets. Chins up — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 24 May 2026 🧢 1st XIv Chestfield CC · AwayformWDDDD

Sunday 24 May took us down to Chestfield, where I promptly lost the toss and was sent out to field — never my favourite way to start a Sunday, but there we are. Kyle Smith made us pay early with a fine 61, and Finley Mason Myers matched him with a classy 54; the pair's 81-run fourth-wicket stand, with Henry Collins chipping in 36, hauled Chestfield to a stiff 218/7. Credit where due — Alex Keeler was superb with the ball, 2-28, backed up nicely by Martin Harris and Sam Boyns with a wicket apiece.

Chasing 219, we never quite got away from the required rate but didn't disgrace ourselves either. Alex Keeler followed his bowling with 43 of the bat, Sam Boyns added 42 and Theo Clements 25, the two of them putting on 60 for the eighth wicket in a spirited late rally. I contributed a workmanlike 17 myself, though the 31st over rather undid our good work — two wickets in the space of six balls is not the stuff of Sunday dreams. Special mention, and rather less special commiserations, to Luke Welsman, whose duck goes down in the Duck Club ledger. 🦆

There was proper cause for pride, though: Benjamin Austin brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours 🧢 — a magnificent effort by any measure. We finished on 193/9, twenty-five runs short. Not our day, but heads up and back to the nets we go.

Sun 24 May 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv CK Cobham CC, Kent · AwayformWWWWW

Rarely have I stood at the toss more resigned to my fate — no luck with the coin at Cobham, and they sent us in without so much as a "please". No matter; the girls had other ideas about how the day would go.

Twenty overs later we'd posted a rather handsome 172/4, and if you're wondering how, look no further than Hannah Odling's unbeaten 31, matched stroke for stroke by yours truly on 31 not out, with Fiona Beardwell's composed 30 not out rounding things off nicely. Claire Rootes and Ashleigh Bland both fell for golden ducks, which we shall speak of no further, and a generous 48 extras from the Cobham attack didn't hurt our cause one bit — waste not, want not.

Defending it should have been the nervy part, but Martha Beardwell had other plans, ripping through with 3-14 while Michelle Garrett and Claire Rootes chipped in a wicket apiece to strangle any momentum. Only Olivia Langley, with a battling 21, threatened to make a match of it; Marcy Hill and Sophie Betts both departed without troubling the scorers. Cobham limped to 91/7 from their twenty, well short of the target.

An 81-run win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. Hannah continues to lurk second in the run charts and Carly Copping second among the wicket-takers — form that bodes well for the rest of the season. As verdicts go: we batted with style, bowled with menace, and came home very happy indeed.

Sun 24 May 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Faversham CC · AwayformLLLLL

I mustn't grumble about the toss — Faversham won it, chose to bat, and left us sweltering in the Kent sunshine wondering whether we'd be chasing leather all afternoon. As it turned out, that was rather the plan. They posted a stiff-looking 195 all out in 34.4 overs, built around Andrew Mowatt's well-made fifty of 61, with Thomas Bullock (39) and Callum Stuckey (20) keeping the innings ticking along nicely. But our attack had other ideas: Jaison Joseph was superb, ripping through with 3-15, while Alex Holt (2-20) and Fergus Herron (2-39) chipped away at the other end until the whole thing came apart at 195. I managed to get among the wickets myself, which is always a pleasant surprise given my bowling these days owes more to hope than menace.

Chasing 196 ought to have been a nervy afternoon's work on a ground that size, but Daniel Baker had other plans, striding to an unbeaten 79 with a fifty of real substance, while Mark Smith matched him stride for stride with 66 not out. Between them they barely gave Faversham a sniff, and even the extras column pitched in a handy 37 for good measure — 196/1 from 29.1 overs, job done with overs and wickets to spare.

An eight-wicket win, and a thoroughly satisfying one at that. Baker continues to top our Sunday 2nd XI run charts this season with 102, and Gene Smith isn't far behind in the wickets column with 4. A fine day all round — onwards we go.

Sat 23 May 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWLLDD

Not much luck with the coin at Marden – they had first use of it and, on a scorching afternoon in Kent, first use of the willow too. What followed was a proper lesson from the top order: Tom Rawstorne played a fine 88, with Nick Burdge unbeaten on 78 and Josh Smitherman not out on 57 either side of him, and the openers set it all up with 88 for the first wicket before we finally prised one out. To our credit, we didn't down tools – Srikrishna Challa led the attack superbly for 1-24, with good support from Tim Thirkell (1-37) and myself, who chipped in with 1-39. Even so, 285 for 3 from 40 overs is a mountain by anyone's measure, and mountains, on days like this, tend to win.

Our reply never really got the legs to trouble that total. Noah Stevens top-scored with a battling 31, Srikrishna Challa followed his good work with the ball with 27 more with the bat, and Daniel Baker added 23, with the best stand of the innings worth 52 for the first wicket. But 150 for 7 from our 40 overs told its own story, and we came up 135 runs short.

Not our day, then, by any stretch – outplayed rather than unlucky, if I'm honest with the gazette. Daniel Baker's 108 runs keep him second in the 3rd XI charts this season, and Tim Thirkell's three wickets have him third among the bowlers, so there are individual green shoots even in a heavy defeat. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets – Marden gave us a proper reminder of the standard required.

Sat 23 May 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformLWLDD

I lost the toss call... no, wait, I won it, and for once didn't overthink it — bat first on a belter, that was the plan. Scorching afternoon, hard ground, and I fancied runs on the board would ask the questions later. We eased to 204/8 off our forty, with a second-wicket stand of 78 giving the innings its spine. Tim Ludick chipped in nicely with 42, Mardey Castle added a brisk 23, and I managed to find some rhythm at the crease myself, finishing unbeaten enough to take us to 78 — the sort of innings where everything you middle finds a gap, and I'm not about to question my luck twice in one report.

Defending it looked a formidable task on paper, Marden CC bringing some genuine batting depth, and Ben Tomkinson (49) and Baz Bignell (46) put on 55 for the third wicket to threaten a real chase. But once we prised that stand apart the innings unravelled at pace — 164 for 6 became 168 for 9 almost before the tea urn had cooled, poor Dan Long departing without troubling the scorers along the way. Mardey Castle was the story of the day, spinning his way to 5-17 and thoroughly bamboozling the middle order, while I found a bit of luck with the ball too, picking up 3-26, Alex Wade chipping in and Will Hughes strangling the runs with a couple of maidens.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, then — 30 runs the right side of the ledger, and the sort of all-round performance that reminds you why you turn up every Saturday. Onwards indeed.

Sat 23 May 2026 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformLWDDD

A scorching afternoon at Whitstable, and I lost the toss for my trouble — a habit I'm beginning to take personally. Put in the field, we watched Freddie Fulton bat like a man possessed, 214 of pure theatre, with Joseph Mitchell chipping in a fine 56 as the pair put on 219 for the second wicket after our early joy of removing the opener for 4. It could have unravelled entirely, but I managed 2-19 with the ball, Alex Keeler and Matthew Carter both weighed in with 2-52 and 2-64, and we sent poor Daniel Pilbeam back without troubling the scorers. Still, 351/9 from 45 overs is a mountain by any measure, and one century-maker is usually one too many for us.

Chasing it was always a formality in denial. Anthony Karassellos held things together with an unbeaten 43, Benjamin and Jordan Austin adding 39 and 38 either side of a 73-run stand, but wickets tumbled around them — Theo Clements and Nick Pennefather both departed for ducks — and we were done for 188 in 36.2 overs, extras of 30 our next-best contributor. Benjamin's afternoon behind the stumps was a trial by fire, nine byes down, and our bowlers were, frankly, generous — 26 wides and 2 no-balls we'll not be proud of.

One bright note amid the wreckage: my 500th appearance in Linton colours, which I shall choose to remember fondly rather than the 163-run margin. Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 17 May 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Snodland Community CC · HomeformLLLLL

Sunday 17 May, and we welcomed Snodland Community CC to Linton Park on a pleasant, if slightly damp, afternoon. I won the toss and had no hesitation in asking them to bat first — the right call, I still maintain, even if the scorebook rather disagreed with me by close of play.

Lee Hewitt made us pay in spades, compiling a magnificent 115 not out, well supported by Sam Tucker's fifty (57) and Daniel Medhurst's 56, the pair sharing a stand of 131 for the third wicket that simply flattened our resistance. Ian Bruce was the pick of the attack with 1-19, and I chipped in with 1-37 alongside Fergus Herron's 1-38, but 269/3 from their forty overs always felt a mountain too far. In truth our lengths let us down all afternoon — too short, and square of the wicket they cut and pulled us with real relish.

Chasing it, we never quite found our footing, losing an early wicket for nought and later losing three for none at all, myself included among the ducks, alongside Fergus Herron and Spencer Gray — the less said about my own contribution the better. Craig Sands (29) and Ben Wheeler (26) at least gave the innings some backbone, and Sands's six over mid-on in the 15th over — twenty runs plundered from that one over — was the shot, and the moment, of the day. Thirty-three extras (nine of them byes past poor Sands behind the stumps) rather summed up our afternoon.

All out for 118, beaten by 151 runs. Not our day at all — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 17 May 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Holborough Anchorians CC · AwayformWWWWL

As the last ball dropped and the tea urn went cold, I sat down to reflect on a damp Sunday at Holborough Anchorians – the sort of afternoon where you lose the toss, lose your shape, and eventually lose the match, but somehow still find a story worth telling.

We travelled to Holborough under grey skies, and true to form the coin let us down before a ball was bowled – they chose to bat, and who could blame them on a pitch that promised something for the bowlers. We duly obliged: Holborough were bowled out for 145 in 35.3 overs, Masood Khanwaziri top-scoring with a stubborn 47 and Sayad Jabarkhall chipping in with 26. I was delighted with the ball, taking 3-21 to lead the attack, while Mardey Castle toiled admirably for 3-35 with two tidy maidens, and Nick Tromp weighed in with 2-28. A proper team effort with the cherry.

Sadly, our reply never got out of second gear. An early wicket with just 7 on the board set the tone, and from 7-1 to 12-4 the innings simply unravelled in a hurry. Praveen Tunga, Mardey Castle and Thomas Beeney all fell without troubling the scorers, and only Nick Tromp's defiant 36 gave the card any respectability as we folded for 66 in 20.3 overs.

There was, at least, one moment to savour amid the wreckage – I brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a milestone that took a little of the sting out of a 79-run defeat. Beaten, bruised, but not beyond repair – we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 16 May 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformDWLLD

Saturday 16 May dawned fair enough for cricket, and having called correctly at the toss I did what any optimist with a green square in front of him does — I stuck us in to bat. Whether that optimism was misplaced is a question the scorebook answers rather bluntly: 81 all out in 38.3 overs, a total that had more gaps in it than a village hall roof. Daniel Baker and Mark Smith both fell for ducks, and I shan't dwell further on the top order beyond noting that tea was, mercifully, a comfort to us all.

Defending 81 against Rainham (Kent) CC was always going to require something between miracle and mischief, and while our bowlers toiled honestly, Lee Stepney simply refused to be dislodged, carrying his bat for an unbeaten fifty and steering the visitors home in a brisk 11.3 overs. Barry Griffith chipped in with a breezy 24 alongside him. Richard Knowler picked up the solitary wicket to fall, finishing with 1-43 for his troubles — pick of a rather beleaguered attack.

One bright note amid the wreckage: Euan Beardwell continues his tidy season with the 3rd XI, sitting third in the run charts on 52. Beaten by nine wickets, then, and no arguing with that scoreline. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word about batting first on damp pitches, and be better for it next week.

Sat 16 May 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Kings Hill CC · AwayformDLWLD

I elected to field first when we won the toss at Kings Hill CC, and on a pleasant, overcast afternoon that felt like the right call before a ball had even been bowled. Kings Hill battled to 121 all out from 38.1 overs, Mussa Rahman doing the bulk of the damage with 31, though the innings never quite got away from us. Mardey Castle was the pick of the attack, bowling with real discipline for figures of 3-22 including three maidens, well backed up by Brandon Eloff (2-10) and Alex Wade (2-13), and there was a touch of comedy when James Parker trudged off for a golden duck.

Chasing 122, we made harder work of it than the scoreboard perhaps suggests, stumbling to 122/7 from 20.4 overs — though "stumbling" feels unfair when I was able to see us home with an unbeaten 44, ably supported by Theo Clements' 37. Less happily, both Johan Eloff and Brandon Eloff will be entering the Duck Club ledger this week, walking back for nought apiece and no doubt dreading the ribbing that follows.

Elsewhere in the season, Theo continues his fine form to sit third in the 2nd XI run charts with 105, while Alex Wade's all-round value showed again as he sits second in the wicket charts with four.

A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly enjoyable win by three wickets. We'll take it — onwards to the next one.

Sat 16 May 2026 🧢 1st XIv Walmer CC · HomeformTLWDD

Down by 13 runs, walked in from Walmer, and rolled it wrong at the toss for the fifth time this month — no, wait, I called it right for once and stuck us in the field. Small mercies.

They made 223/8 off their 45, built steadily rather than spectacularly: Will Bailey's fifty (51) was the spine of it, with Lee Crone (36) and Thomas Mitchell (25) doing the tidying up around him. Matthew Carter was the pick of our attack by some distance, 3-36 and full value for it, with Anthony Karassellos chipping in 3-59 and Martin Harris 1-28 — and a small mercy of our own, Eoin McGrath back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. Craig Sands had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 10 byes conceded, and we leaked another 32 in wides and no-balls, which is roughly the width of the gap we lost by. Do the maths on that one yourselves.

With the bat we were competitive without being convincing: Alex Keeler's 37 led the way, Laurie Probert (26) and Anthony Karassellos (27) keeping the innings ticking, but 210/9 from our 45 left us 13 short at the death.

The one shaft of sunshine: Martin Harris brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, which deserves a proper toast even on a losing day. Craig Sands still tops the run charts and Karassellos the wickets, so the season's shape holds even if Saturday's didn't.

Verdict: a game we gave away with the extras column rather than lost with the bat or ball — back to the nets, and someone buy Harris a pint.

Sun 10 May 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 10 May 2026. We travelled to Bearsted CC beneath skies that couldn't quite decide whether they were doing us a favour, and having won the toss, I elected to bat. For once, my judgement proved sound.

The girls set about their work with real purpose, racing to 142/3 from our 20 overs. Fiona Beardwell anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 32, Laura Boorman matched her stride for stride with 31 not out, and I was glad to get among the runs myself with 25. Only Claire Rootes will look back on the afternoon with any regret, undone for a duck — these things happen to the best of us, and I've no doubt she'll make amends soon enough.

Defending that total, our bowlers set about Bearsted with real relish. Rachel Rawson was the pick of them, prising out two for a miserly 12, with Laura Holdstock (2-13) and Laura Thorogood (1-0) offering fine support throughout. Annabelle Coulling fought hard for her side with 25, but she had little company — Zoe Savage, Alison Norris and Lynne Humphries all departed without so much as a nudge off the mark, and Bearsted subsided to 91/9.

A win by 51 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Laura Boorman continues to lead our season's run charts with 89, and Laura Holdstock tops the wickets with 6 — both thoroughly deserved. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 10 May 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Holborough Anchorians CC · AwayformLLLLL

Sunday 10 May took us to Holborough Anchorians under skies that couldn't decide between drizzle and downright wet, and for once the toss went my way — I called correctly and had no hesitation in sticking us in the field. It looked the shrewder decision for much of the afternoon. The Anchorians made 153 all out from 26 overs, Bilal Maroof (31) and Irfan Patel (22) doing the bulk of the damage, but I was pleased to lead the attack home with 3-27, well backed up by Srikrishna Challa's 3-30 and Zach Wilde's tidy 2-8.

Chasing that total was always going to ask questions of us, and we found precious few answers, bundled out for 66 in 22.5 overs. Daniel Baker's battling 20 was the innings' one bright spark. Elsewhere it was a grim afternoon for the Duck Club, with Noah Stevens and Alex Holt taking the walk of shame alongside your captain, who contrived a golden blob of his own — a fine way to lead from the front, if not quite the example intended.

There was better news on the season's ledger: Srikrishna Challa reached fifty career wickets, a landmark worth raising a glass to, while Tim Thirkell sits fourth in this year's Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 31, and I find myself atop the wicket charts with four.

But on the day itself, beaten by 87 runs, there's no dressing it up — not our day. Back to the nets it is.

Sun 10 May 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Borstal CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday brought us the kind of weather English cricket seems to specialise in – cool, drizzly and blustery enough to make you question your life choices – and to compound matters I lost the toss, handing Borstal CC first use of the pitch. They made themselves thoroughly at home, racing to 98 for the first wicket before we finally prised them apart, and closed on a hefty 263/5 from their forty overs. Nathan Dandeniya's well-crafted 65 did the heaviest lifting, backed up by Matthew Fisher's 48 and James Whitnell's 38. Credit to the bowlers for not letting it get entirely out of hand: Brandon Eloff was the pick with 1-19, with Thomas Beeney and Manvir Singh chipping away for a wicket apiece.

Chasing 264 was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved, though not without some fight. Theo Clements top-scored with a battling 43, and I was pleased to get among the runs myself with 34, while Navjot Singh weighed in with 21. It wasn't all plain sailing at the other end, mind – Thomas Beeney and Ian Hollingworth both departed for golden ducks, the sort of dismissals that have you suddenly very interested in your bootlaces. We were all out for 172 in 36.4 overs.

A 91-run defeat, then, and no dressing that up. But there was enough application in that reply to suggest the fight is very much in this side – we'll regroup, dry ourselves out, and come back stronger next week.

Sat 09 May 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Orpington Ocelots CC · AwayformDDWLL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 9th May, away to Orpington Ocelots. Lost the toss, asked to bowl first, which round these parts usually means the tea urn's been on longer than the covers.

With the bat we crawled to 115 all out in 32.1 overs — Nolan Wilde's 30 the backbone, William Gray unbeaten on 29 and Daniel Baker's 23 the only other real resistance. Euan Beardwell, Spencer Gray and Tim Thirkell all made contact with nothing whatsoever, three golden ducks in the book, which is either a curse or a bulk discount on disappointment.

Defending 115 was always going to need everything to go right, and it very nearly did — Farhan Malik bowled beautifully for 3-28 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and Tim Thirkell chipped in with 2-13, a return that quietly nudges him past Martin Harris and up to 6th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. But cricket has a habit of finding the soft underbelly: they bowled short and we were a fraction full square of the wicket, and Aadarsh Raghavan and Karthikeyan Ramamoorthy cut and pulled us into the tea room, unbeaten on 34 and 20 respectively. A ropey 18th over, two wickets down the drain in the time it takes to say "bad luck," and the game had slipped from us.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, no disgrace in it, just lengths a touch astray on a good cutting pitch. Nolan Wilde still tops our run charts this season, Farhan Malik sits second among the wickets, and we head home lighter of pride but not of resolve. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 09 May 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Holborough Anchorians CC · HomeformDDLWL

Saturday 09 May, and Holborough Anchorians rolled up on a pleasant if sulky afternoon, all cloud and no rain — which around here counts as a blessing. I lost the toss, as is now tradition, and duly found myself watching from the boundary as they sent us in.

Not that this troubled us unduly. Tim Ludick played the anchor role beautifully for a well-struck 57, with Theo Clements matching him fifty for fifty with a polished 55 of his own, and the pair put on 82 for the third wicket to give the innings its backbone. Brandon Eloff chipped in a brisk 37 to keep the scoreboard honest, and we closed on a handsome 238 for 6 from our forty overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

In the field, things turned properly merry. Suhail Akram and Shanie Hussain were both back in the hutch without so much as a nudge off the square, and from there Holborough never really got going. Mahmood Khanwaziri's 27 was the best of a limited bunch, with Saif Mukhtar unbeaten on 21 and Attullah Khan's 20 the only other contributions of note. Nick Tromp was the chief tormentor with a superb 4 for 25, Alex Wade backed him up handsomely with 2 for 21 and two miserly maidens, and Will Hughes weighed in with 2 for 37. I even got through a few overs myself for 25. All out for 146 in the 37th — a comfortable if not entirely comfortable-to-watch 92-run win.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and one to file under "more of this, please."

Sat 09 May 2026 🧢 1st XIv Lordswood CC · AwayformDTLWD

Here's the report:

From the captain's chair — Saturday 09 May, away at Lordswood CC, and a rather pleasant cloudy afternoon for it, if not for what unfolded upon it. Winning the toss, I fancied a bowl and stuck us in the field, a decision I've had cause to reconsider on the drive home. Rishabh Pandey had other ideas, compiling a majestic 185 while Matthew Daniels farmed the bowling for an unbeaten fifty and Rajan Sandhu chipped in with 30, their third-wicket stand of 120 the platform from which our afternoon was quietly demolished. Matthew Carter toiled manfully for 2-49, and I managed to snaffle 1-14 myself amid the carnage, with Thomas Beeney picking up 1-69 for his troubles. By the close of their innings, 369/5 sat rather ominously on the board.

Chasing 370 was always going to require something heroic, and Craig Sands very nearly provided it with a spirited 52, but support was thin on the ground and wickets fell in a concertina from 83-5 to 86-8. Poor Thomas Beeney, so industrious with the ball, departed for a golden duck — cricket's cruellest little joke.

We were bowled out for 98, beaten by 271 runs, and there's no dressing that up. Craig Sands now leads our 2026 run charts with 84, and Thomas Beeney tops the wicket-takers with 8 — small consolations on a chastening day. Not our afternoon, lads. Back to the nets, heads up, and onwards.

Sun 03 May 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWLLLL

Sunday the 3rd of May brought Marden CC, Kent to Linton Park under skies that couldn't decide between sunshine and showers, and I won the toss and put us into the field — a call I'd reconsider well before tea. William Bacon set about us with a magnificent unbeaten 150, Albert Porritt cruised past his fifty to 54, and James Scade added an unbeaten 35 as Marden racked up 307 for 7 from their 40 overs. We had our moments — Russell Wilde was pick of the bowlers with 3 for 65, Zach Wilde chipped in with 2 for 30, Gene Smith took one, and we at least sent Russell Wheldon back for a golden duck.

Chasing 308 was always a tall order, and we never looked like getting there. Tim Thirkell battled hard for an unbeaten 29, Praveen Tunga made a handy 21, and I added 15 of my own, but John Karassellos and, sorely, our own Russell Wilde both fell for ducks, and we folded for 124 in 31.3 overs, with 36 extras doing more for the total than most of the top order. Daniel Baker had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 9 byes.

One crumb of comfort — Thirkell's lone wicket eased him past Martin Harris into 6th on the club's all-time list, and he now sits 4th in this season's run charts, with Smith leading the wickets. Beaten by 183 runs, though, tells its own tale. Not our day. Back to the nets.

Sat 02 May 2026 🧢 1st XIv Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformDDTLW

Saturday the 2nd of May found us at home to Rainham (Kent) CC, the afternoon warm and distinctly damp underfoot — the sort of day that makes winning the toss feel like a small victory in itself. I duly called it right and elected to field, a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself, at least in patches.

Rainham made hard work of building anything substantial, eventually posting 216 all out from 38.3 overs. Tom Waters led the way with 43, well supported by Toby Lamond's 37 and Michael Tyrer's 27, the pair sharing a fifty partnership for the fifth wicket that threatened to get away from us. It was Anthony Karassellos who did the real damage with 3-29, backed up admirably by Thomas Beeney's 3-40 and Jordan Austin's 1-17. A double strike in the 38th over finally broke the innings' back, though not before C Small had already treated the ground to the shot of the day — a length ball dispatched aerially, dead straight, for six.

With the bat we never quite got going, closing on 103 for 7 from our 34 overs. Luke Welsman's 22 was the innings' backbone, and I was glad to chip in with 21 of my own, while the extras column did its usual honest shift with 26. Too much width and room offered up early with the ball had let them in, and by the time we batted the target had grown beyond us.

In the end honours were shared — a draw, with neither side quite able to force the issue. Jordan Austin continues a fine season, sitting second in the 1st XI run charts, while Anthony Karassellos leads the wicket-takers; on this evidence, long may both continue.

Sat 02 May 2026 🧢 3rd XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDDDWL

Beaten by five wickets at Bearsted, but there was plenty in there to be cheerful about.

We lost the toss on a warm, damp Saturday afternoon and were put in — always a slightly ominous start, like being told to go first in a raffle you didn't want to win. Still, we ground out a respectable 174/7 from our 40 overs. I was fortunate enough to be there at the close, unbeaten on 39, though Blair Mundell's 34 and Rahul Parakh's 22 did rather more of the heavy lifting than my nurdling about at the death suggested.

With the ball, we simply couldn't find the breakthroughs when they mattered. Bearsted's openers set about building a platform with the sort of quiet menace that makes a fielding captain's stomach sink, adding 67 before the first wicket fell. David Patton went on to make an unbeaten 49, ably assisted by Ted Blythin and Olly Patton with 32 apiece, and they closed on 175/5 from 36 overs. Blair Mundell led the attack well with 1-1, with Finlay Morford and Alexander Nunn chipping in a wicket each. Less well documented, but painfully felt, were the 17 wides and 5 no-balls we gifted them — generosity that would embarrass a church raffle.

There were bright spots amid the gloom: congratulations to Alexander Nunn and Zach Wilde, both reaching 50 career wickets, and I'm pleased to say I still lead the 2026 3rd XI run charts. But five wickets is five wickets, and the extras column tells its own story. We'll tighten up the lines and come back stronger next week.

Sun 26 Apr 2026 🧢 1st XIv Shoreham & Otford CC · HomeformDDDTL

Here's the match report:

We won the toss on a pleasant, overcast afternoon at home to Shoreham & Otford, and I had no hesitation in sticking us into the field — the sort of call that either looks like genius or lands you with a long afternoon chasing leather, and happily it was the former. The visitors were bowled out for 158 in 38.3 overs, Ben Pollard's 33 the backbone of the innings, with useful support from Ru Harris (23) and Gary Hukins, unbeaten on 20. After a solid opening stand of 50, the middle order rather fell over itself — Chris Pollard gone for a duck as the innings slid from 122-4 to 134-7 in a hurry. Thomas Beeney was superb, 4 for 29 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, well backed up by Anthony Karassellos (3-21) and Sam Boyns (2-33).

Chasing 159, Toby Hughes played the innings of the day, cruising past his fifty to finish on 66, and I was glad to lend a hand with an unbeaten 25 as our fifth-wicket stand added a crucial 54. It wasn't all serenity — a defiant last-wicket stand of 51 was needed to get us home, and 29 wides handed over rather more freebies than any captain likes to admit to.

Still, ugly wins count the same as pretty ones. Four wickets, two points, and — worth a mention — that solitary wicket nudged me past Ian Brattle into 10th on the club's all-time list. A scrappy, thoroughly earned victory.

Sun 26 Apr 2026 🧢 Friendly XIv CC Charing CC · AwayformWLLWW

Won the toss on a pleasant, overcast Sunday down at Charing, and with the pitch looking full of runs I did the traditional English thing and stuck them in anyway. Whether that was tactics or simply enjoying the sound of my own voice at the coin toss, the jury's still out. Trevor Timms and Scott Norman rather made a mockery of the decision, both cruising to unbeaten fifties — 53 and 51 respectively — while Adrian Bagsure chipped in a brisk 34, and between them they steered Charing to a hefty 221/4 from their forty overs. Tim Thirkell was the pick of our attack, tidy and miserly with 2-24 and a couple of maidens to his name, while I managed to sneak among the wickets myself with 1-8, and Zach Wilde picked up 1-52 for his troubles.

Chasing 222 was always going to ask questions of us, and we didn't have the answers. Daniel Baker top-scored with a battling 27, but too many of us found the walk back to the pavilion more familiar than the walk out, and we subsided to 158/9. It rather says something that our extras column, a generous 59, outscored everyone bar Baker — proof, if any were needed, that our bowlers' wides (26 of them, plus three no-balls) were the most productive bowling Charing faced all day.

Down by 63 runs, then, and no arguing with that scoreline. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 25 Apr 2026 🧢 3rd XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformDDDDW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 25 April 2026, and the road took us to Yalding CC on a pleasant, clear afternoon. Winning the toss, I did what any self-respecting skipper does when the sun's out and the outfield's quick: I put us in to field, and for a good while it looked the shrewder call. Yalding worked their way to 165/7 from their 35 overs, with Jack Nyren caressing an unbeaten 51 and getting handy support from Edward Mead (29) and Jonathan Skinner (22). I'll allow myself one boast and no more: I found some rhythm with the ball, finishing with 3-11 and three maidens, while Blair Mundell and Thomas Mundell chipped in with a wicket apiece. Not a bad shift for the attack, even if the total left us with work to do.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear. Mark Smith batted with real composure for an unbeaten fifty, and Reuben Mundell gave him fine company with 41, but too many of the rest came and went without troubling the scorers — Daniel Baker and Jude Brooks both departed for ducks, and eight byes past Baker behind the stumps summed up an afternoon where little quite clicked. We closed on 143/7, twenty-two runs shy.

A defeat, then, but an honest one — outbatted more than outclassed, and there's a half-century and a three-for to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 25 Apr 2026 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sidcup CC · HomeformDDDLW

Sidcup arrived at Linton Park on a pleasantly cloudy Saturday, won the toss, and did the sensible thing on a day like that — put us in the field. We couldn't argue with the logic, and for a while it looked shrewd, as Sameer Mirza eased to an unbeaten 60 and John Deighan chipped in with 41, Alex Ellis adding 34, to carry Sidcup to 198 for 5 off their 40 overs. Credit where due, though: Tim Thirkell was superb with the ball, ripping through with 3 for 15, while Praveen Tunga and Will Hughes both chipped in with a wicket apiece for 25 runs. It kept the total to something gettable, even if 199 always looked a stiffish ask on a used-looking square.

With the bat, Will Hughes was the story of the innings, a fine, fluent 78 that gave us every hope, and Brandon Eloff's 48 kept the chase alive in support, with Tim Thirkell weighing in with a useful 21. Sadly I can't claim similar glory — I fell for nought, in good company with Mohamed Safeer Ibra Lebbe, and the less said about that particular passage of play the better. We shall, as tradition demands, draw a veil over it. All told we closed on 187 for 9 from our 37, eleven agonising runs short.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Tim Thirkell's three wickets nudged him past Martin Harris and into 6th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a landmark worth raising a glass to, even in defeat. Not our day, in the end, but heads up and back to the nets we go.

Sat 25 Apr 2026 🧢 1st XIv SC Sidcup CC · HomeformDDDDT

I lost the toss again — no great surprise there, some might say it's becoming a talent of mine — and watched Sidcup CC settle in to bat on a pleasant, clear afternoon at Linton Park. They made a healthy 237/7 from their 40 overs, built around a composed unabated knock of 64 not out from Pranav Dhanawade, with Casey Jerrom (29) and John Fogarty (21) chipping in nicely. Credit to the attack for keeping us in it: Luke Welsman was excellent up front with 2-33, and Matthew Carter (2-40) and Theo Clements (1-29) did their bit too. Sadly we undid a good chunk of that good work ourselves, spraying 27 wides and 4 no-balls about the place — runs we simply cannot afford to gift a side chasing anything competitive.

Chasing 238, we never quite got going. Jordan Austin (29) and Will Thew (25) put on a promising 56 for the first wicket, but wickets tumbled around them and we folded for 116 in 23.5 overs. Theo Clements and I both fell for ducks — mine, I confess, the sort best passed over in respectful silence.

There was a silver lining, though: Will Thew's 25 nudged him past Stan Wratten and up to 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is no small thing. Elsewhere, Laurie Probert continues to lead our 2026 run charts and Martin Harris sits third among the wicket-takers.

Beaten by 121 runs in the end — a chastening afternoon, but we'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 19 Apr 2026 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv MB Mallu CC Bromley · HomeformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 19 April 2026. Mallu CC Bromley came to Linton Park, I won the toss, and against all footballing instinct I put us in — never let it be said I don't back my batters.

They repaid the faith handsomely. Tobey Castle led the way with a classy 55, and Craig Sands was still there at the close, unbeaten on 55 himself — a lovely bit of symmetry that owes nothing to arithmetic and everything to good batting. Johan Eloff chipped in with 32, and the pair at the crease put on 82 for the second wicket to give our innings its real backbone. 204/5 off our 40 overs felt like a total with enough about it to trouble anyone.

And so it proved. Mallu CC never really got going — 5-1 early on set the tone, and though Jomon Joy (49), Hemanth Reddy (39) and Harish Chandran (26) all found some form, and a fourth-wicket stand of 68 threatened to make a match of it, they subsided alarmingly from 128-4 to 139-7 and were all out for 154. Sam Boyns was the chief destroyer with 3-32, backed superbly by Benjamin Austin's miserly 2-5 and Tobey Castle's 2-10 — the double strike in the 30th over was the real hammer blow. Craig Sands, so composed with the bat, had a rather more chastening time behind the stumps, leaking 10 byes for his trouble.

A fine win by 50 runs, and a personal note besides — Tobey's half-century nudges him up to 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Onwards indeed.

Sun 19 Apr 2026 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · HomeformWWLLL

Sunday 19 April, and New Ifield came calling at Linton Park under skies that, for once, behaved themselves. I won the toss and didn't so much choose to field as leap at it — a green-ish pitch and a nervous coin-flip conscience will do that to a man.

New Ifield ground their way to 192/8, built chiefly on a fourth-wicket stand of 68 between Ayan Tawanee (35 not out) and Anirudh Kasireddy (28 not out), with Balaji Suyambunathan chipping in 27. Just as we thought we had them shackled, their last pair added an infuriating 59 we really didn't need. Spencer Gray was superb with 2-11, backed up by Gene Smith (2-15), William Gray (2-51) and Anthony Karassellos, who bowled two miserly maidens for good measure.

Chasing 193, Anthony Karassellos played the innings of the day — a classy 63 — with Nick Pennefather (37) and Richard Piper (36) lending fine support. Alexander Nunn's duck was the one blot on an otherwise respectable card. Ten byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Theo Clements, and 32 wides and no-balls handed New Ifield far too many gifts.

We fell nine runs short in the end — the sort of defeat that stings precisely because it needn't have happened. Karassellos now tops our 2026 Sunday 2nd XI run charts, William Gray leads the wickets, and the rest of us must simply cut out the extras. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 18 Apr 2026 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDDDDL

It was Bearsted at home, and for once the coin gods weren't smiling on me — they had a look at the pitch and stuck us in. No matter; the lads had other ideas about how the day should go.

We batted through to 206 all out in 39.3 overs, and it was Alex Wade who did the heavy lifting with a really well-constructed fifty — 54 in the book — with Will Hughes (36) and Altus Diener (23) chipping in nicely around him. Spare a thought, though, for young Thomas Beeney, who walked back for a duck; the Duck Club ledger grows ever longer.

Bowled we still needed a total worth defending, and defend it we did in some style. Bearsted subsided to 94 all out in 34 overs, John Haggart and Olly Patton both departing without a run to their name. But the story of the innings was Thomas Beeney's redemption — 4 for 6 with the ball, more than making up for his morning duck — with Srikrishna Challa (2-14) and a miserly Will Hughes (1-6, two maidens) squeezing the life out of anything resembling a partnership. I even found sixteen of my own to add to the pile.

A word too for Matthew Carter, whose solitary wicket eased him past Alan Wilkes into 9th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — history quietly made while the rest of us were busy winning.

A fine win by 112 runs. Onwards.

Sat 18 Apr 2026 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDDDDD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 18 April 2026, and the road took us to Bearsted CC on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon perfectly suited to a bit of village cricket. I called correctly at the toss for once and had no hesitation in choosing to field — a decision that felt clever for about seventy-eight overs, which is roughly how long Bearsted's openers spent putting on before the first wicket finally fell. They eventually posted 196/9 from their forty overs, Lewis Bedwell top-scoring with a well-made 63, ably supported by Jonathan Mitchell's 39 and Alex Lush's 28. Credit where it's due: Mardey Castle bowled beautifully for 3-34, and I managed to chip in with 2-19 of my own, which I'm reliably informed nudges me past Alan Wilkes into 11th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — not bad for an afternoon's work, though Martin Harris's 1-20 deserves a mention too.

Chasing 197, we made a fair fist of it. Alex Keeler led from the front with a fine 45 — including a shot of the day that he clubbed clean over mid-on for six — with Laurie Probert (39) and Mardey Castle, unbeaten on 27, lending sturdy support. Simon Barker and, in reply, Johan Eloff and Sam Boyns all made ducks, and we lost the game's pivotal moment in the fortieth over, two wickets falling as the finish line came into view. Thirty-one extras did their bit too.

In the end we finished level: 196 apiece, honours shared, and not a single soul separated after a full day's honest toil. A tie, then — cricket's fairest and most maddening result, and frankly we'll take it.

Sat 18 Apr 2026 🧢 3rd XIv BC Brasted Chart and Toys Hill CC · AwayformDDDDD

Skipper's log, and a rare treat: two points banked away from home at Brasted Chart and Toys Hill CC, on an afternoon so pleasantly cloudy it might have been ordered specially for cricket. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains a season-long work in progress — and we were sent into the field first.

Our hosts made a fair fist of it, reaching 176/7 from their 35 overs, built chiefly around a composed 79 not out from Rohit Maini, with Jon Garrard chipping in a useful 26. I was fortunate enough to have my day with the ball, finishing with 2-18 and, rather pleasingly, easing past 200 career wickets along the way — one for the mantelpiece, if I'm allowed to say so myself. Ian Lowe (2-26) and Mohamed Safeer Ibra Lebbe (1-16) kept things tidy elsewhere.

Chasing 177, we made hard work look easy in the end, getting home in 28 overs for the loss of just four wickets. Euan Beardwell led the way with 48, well supported by Daniel Baker's 44 and my own unbeaten 40, the pair of us stitching together a 78-run stand for the fourth wicket that settled matters. Jonathan Sisley contributed nothing at all — golden, at least — while a generous 36 extras from our opponents did no harm whatsoever.

Five wickets to spare, two points in the bag, and a thoroughly deserved win. On this evidence, the season table leaders so far — Beardwell with the bat, Lowe with the ball — have earned company rather than competition. A very good day at the office.

Sun 25 Jan 2026 🧢 Women's Softballv Borstal CC · HomeformWWWWW

With Borstal CC due at Linton Park, I took one look at the leaden sky and wondered whether we'd be reporting on cricket or synchronised shivering. Bitterly cold, drizzling steadily — the sort of afternoon that tests resolve as much as technique. Undeterred, we set about building a total, and what a total it proved: 156 for 2 from our 12 overs. Laura Thorogood set the tone with a fine 26, Carly Copping matched her with an unbeaten 25, and Borstal's bowlers kindly chipped in 62 extras, which I shall claim as a team effort in generosity, if not accuracy.

Defending 156 in these conditions still takes some doing, and Borstal did not go quietly — Faith Rogers top-scored with 26 as they reached 91 for 9. But Laura Holdstock was magnificent with the ball, ripping through with 4 for 17, while Laura Thorogood backed up her runs with a wicket for 14, and I managed to get among the act too, with 1 for 1 and 18 useful runs with the bat besides. Rosie Coyle departed for a golden duck at our hands, which I'm sure she'll laugh about eventually. Less impressive was our line — 28 wides handed back is not the disciplined cricket I'd hoped for, and a stern word will be had before the next fixture.

Still, Laura Thorogood tops the run charts and Laura Holdstock the wickets for the season so far, and a win by 100 runs, drizzle and all, is not to be sniffed at. A thoroughly good day's work.