🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 24 Aug 1901 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformLWWLL

It was Yalding CC who had the better of the toss, and elected to have us take the field first, a decision that seemed sound enough as the innings progressed. E J Ball played the innings of the day for our visitors, gathering an unbeaten 33, and found capable company in R Watson with 31 and H Reeves with 20. Our attack, however, did not want for its moments, and A Jessop bowled with real purpose to finish with 4 for 43, while I was fortunate enough to find some rhythm myself, taking 3 wickets without cost, and Jack Fryer chipped in with a further wicket. F Reeves and A F Gurney were both sent back without troubling the scorers, which afforded us some small satisfaction amid a total that, in the end, ran rather beyond our reach.

Our reply, sad to relate, never gathered the momentum required. C Murdoch batted with good sense for 33, and I was glad to contribute 24 of my own in support, but the innings foundered thereafter, with J H Coles, W Peach and F Worley each departing for a duck. We were beaten by 197 runs, a margin that leaves no room for argument as to the better side on the day.

It has been, I confess, a chastening afternoon, yet not without its consolations, for I find myself leading the club's run charts this season with 241 runs and standing second in the wickets with 5, and there is comfort in knowing our best cricket is still to come. We shall return to Yalding, I trust, in better order next time.

Mon 12 Aug 1901 🧢 1st XIv BC Brenchley CC · HomeformLLWWL

We welcomed Brenchley CC to Linton Park on Monday the twelfth of August, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in choosing to bat, feeling the wicket would serve our men best. It was not, I confess, the triumph I had hoped for, our innings closing with the whole side back in the pavilion, and poor H S Smith unlucky enough to depart without troubling the scorers.

Called upon then to defend what we had made, our bowlers acquitted themselves nobly even as fortune finally sided with our visitors. F Reeves bowled quite beautifully, his figures of seven wickets without cost being as fine a spell as this ground has lately seen, and among his victims were J G Philpott and W B Philpott, both sent back without scoring. Arthur Cornwallis took a wicket for his trouble, and I was glad to account for two batsmen myself, finishing with figures of two for none. Yet Brenchley's X Hadden played a fine and watchful innings of 56, and steered his side home by nine wickets.

Amid a disappointing afternoon there were two small landmarks worth recording: F E Wallis's useful 14 carried him past W H Fryer to twelfth upon our all-time list of run-scorers, and H G Smith's solitary wicket took him beyond Walter Wright into thirteenth place among our bowlers. I might add, without dwelling overlong on my own affairs, that I presently head this season's run-scoring with 217 to my name.

It was not our day, but a defeat taken without rancour, for Brenchley played the better cricket when it counted and are worthy victors. We return to the nets with good heart, resolved to give a better account of ourselves when next we meet.

Wed 19 Jun 1901 🧢 1st XIv Rolvenden CC · HomeformLLLWW

On Wednesday last, the 19th of June, we entertained Rolvenden Cricket Club upon our ground, and winning the toss I elected to bat, the right course, I felt, with the wicket promising fair reward for careful play. Jack Fryer gave us the finest of starts with a well-made fifty, and was admirably supported by P T Oyler, who made 43 with much good sense, and F E Wallis, whose useful 30 helped carry our total along before the innings closed, all out.

Called upon then to defend what we had made, we found our visitors in determined mood. A E Bishop played a truly magnificent innings of 147, the bulk of the scoring falling to his willow, and was well supported by W H Dixon's own well-made fifty of 77 and by A Elsam, who remained unbeaten on 26 when the innings, too, closed all out. Only R W Hilder fared ill, sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. H G Smith proved the pick of our bowlers with 2 wickets, and P T Oyler gave good support with a similar return.

There was cause for some satisfaction amid the disappointment, for Wallis's 30 carried him past Leslie Wilson and into thirteenth place among the club's run-scorers of all time. I might note too that George Champion continues to lead our run-getters this season with 133, and H G Smith our bowlers with his 2 wickets.

In the end we were beaten by 6 wickets, fairly and deservedly, by a side that on the day played the better cricket. We shall, I trust, be much improved for the lesson when next we take the field.

Sat 08 Jun 1901 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformLLLLW

I might have led from the front, but it was not for my hand alone that this was so pleasing a Saturday's cricket. Having lost the toss to Town Malling and being asked to field, our men set about the visitors' innings with good heart. W H Cooper gave us a lesson in the finer points of batting, compiling a superb hundred of 118 that we could do little but admire, and found willing partners in F Longhurst, 28, and F G Busbridge, 20. Yet the trundlers were not without their reward, for C B Mercer and P Phillips were both sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer, a small consolation amid a chastening total.

Called upon to chase, I confess a certain apprehension attended our walk to the wicket, but I am glad to record that it proved unfounded. I was fortunate enough to find good form early and went on to make 104, three figures being no small satisfaction against bowling of such quality, and I was admirably supported by R Watson, whose fine half-century of 70 steadied matters considerably, and by H G Smith, who saw us home with an unbeaten 70. Between us the target was overhauled with six wickets yet in hand, a result as satisfying as it was hard-earned.

I should not close without remarking upon Jack Fryer's contribution of 15, a modest figure on the day but one that carried him past F S W Cornwallis into third place upon the club's roll of run-scorers, a distinction of which he may be justly proud. To Town Malling, who gave us a most sporting and closely fought contest, we extend our thanks and our compliments, and look forward keenly to the return fixture.