🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 08 Jul 1939 🧢 1st XIv Castle Hill CC, Kent · AwayformLWWWW

Away we went to Castle Hill, in Kent, on a Saturday in high summer, and the toss went against us — the home side chose to bat, so it fell to us to have first use of the ball.

Our bowlers set about their work in the best traditions of the club. A Pratt was the chief instrument of the day, sending down a spell that finished six wickets for 39 runs, a five-for and handsomely deserved after his labours. Herbert Rayner backed him nobly with four for 23, and between the two of them the Castle Hill order was swiftly broken up. Sidney Nightingale and Dennis Nightingale were both sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, a brace of ducks to set the tone for the day.

When our turn came to bat, A Pratt again led the way, playing a fine and watchful innings of 44 that anchored the effort handsomely. It was, all told, a fine win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket for the eleven.

There was more still to raise a glass to in the pavilion afterwards. Pratt's six wickets carried him past T Gandy and up to sixteenth place on the club's all-time list of wicket-takers, no small honour for a man still young in his cricket. He goes from strength to strength this season besides, standing at the head of the 1st XI's charts for both bat and ball, with 54 runs and a dozen wickets to his name so far. A fine day for Pratt, and a finer one still for the club. Onwards, in the very best of spirits.

Sat 17 Jun 1939 🧢 1st XIv Castle Hill CC, Kent · AwayformWLWWW

The toss went against us, and Castle Hill's captain, sighting a firm morning wicket, sent us in—a fine welcome to Kent on so pleasant a Saturday. It fell to me to see the innings through, and though wickets went down at the other end with more regularity than we should have wished, I was fortunate enough to carry my bat for 31, unbeaten when the last man departed. X Rayner and E Hayes, I am sorry to relate, played their strokes without visible reward, each undone for nought, though not for want of trying.

Ball in hand, we found our feet at once. Donald Adams and John Elphick were both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and A Pratt bowled quite beautifully, turning the ball prodigiously to finish with 6 for 31—a spell that will live long in the memory of those who watched it. I chipped in with a couple of wickets that cost nothing, and Bert Buckoke took one in similarly economical fashion, so that between us the Castle Hill innings never gathered the momentum it threatened.

It should not pass unremarked that Pratt's six wickets carried him past Arthur Cornwallis into twenty-fourth place among the club's all-time wicket-takers, a distinction thoroughly earned. With my 31 and his six wickets, we each now head the season's run and wicket charts for the 1st XI. A close, sporting contest in the end, and a fine win by 13 runs to bring us home content.