🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 18 Sep 1949 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDLWL

John Larking's half-century carried the innings, and 34 tight overs from the ball nearly nicked us the win — honours shared, and no complaints here.

Sunday 18th, and the coin did us proud for once — I called it right and had few second thoughts about batting first on a pitch that never quite settled down. Larking played the innings of the day, 52 well-constructed runs that were the spine of our 160 for 9, with Harris (23) and Breden (21) chipping in either side of a handy second-wicket stand of 55. Elsewhere it was the usual scramble for scraps — though a word of sympathy for poor Gordon Fenner, whose duck earns him this week's entry in the Duck Club ledger. He knows where to find the visitors' book.

With the ball we set about defending it with more discipline than I had any right to expect. The visitors were pegged back early, five on the board and already a wicket down, and never quite escaped the shadow of that start. Tubb was superb, 3 for 35 and the pick of the attack, while Winter and Tippen tidied up either end — Tippen's four maidens the mark of a man in no mood to be milked. Poor Bob Arnold had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 13 byes his cross to bear, but the visitors could only manage 105 for 5, Cradduck's 33 and Latham's unbeaten 23 the bulk of it.

A draw, then — honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. Frank Taylor continues to purr along nicely in third in the run charts, and Tippen's four maidens will have done his standing in the wicket table no harm at all. Not a win, but a thoroughly honest afternoon's cricket, and I'll take that.

Sat 17 Sep 1949 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWDLW

The rain held off, the tea urn behaved itself, and Saturday the seventeenth of September gave us as tidy a home win as we've managed all season.

Put into the field first, we watched the visitors stumble early — 5 for 1 inside the first exchanges — before X May settled in and dragged them to a respectable-looking 119, top-scoring with 43 largely on his own. But respectable didn't last: we tore through the middle order from 65 for 4 to 73 for 7 in the blink of an eye, with X Tipple and X Little both trudging back for ducks at our hands. The afternoon belonged to Bill Hall, six wickets for 47 and six maidens to boot — a five-for and then some, thoroughly deserved — with Frank Taylor (2 for 40) and Ray Tippen (1 for 14) tidying up what was left. All out for 119 in 35.1 overs.

Chasing it down, our openers laid a proper platform, 60 for the first wicket before one fell, and Basil Sears made it look easy with a classy 54 — enough, incidentally, to nudge him past Gordon Fenner into 23rd on the club's all-time run charts. Tom Osborn (29) and Ray Tippen (20) saw us home at 121 for 4, the opposition beaten by six wickets.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — more of the same next week, please.

Sat 10 Sep 1949 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformWDWDL

Saturday 10th September saw us on the road to Maidstone YMCA, and for once the toss went my way — I had a good look at the strip and, in a fit of confidence I'd later question, stuck us in.

That confidence took a battering early doors. We slipped to 1-1 before anyone had really got their eye in, and the top order rather set the tone for the day — Basil Sears, Bert Buckoke and C Horton all contributing that most traditional of club cricket offerings, the golden duck. All out for 87 in 17.5 overs was a modest total, and there were one or two of us trudging back to the pavilion wondering whether we'd handed Maidstone the initiative on a plate.

We needn't have worried. With ball in hand we were a different side entirely. Maidstone wobbled from 14-1 to 21-4 and never recovered, bundled out for 51 in 18.3 overs — Smart sent back without so much as a whimper. C Horton, so cruelly done by with the bat, made handsome amends with a magnificent 6-21, while Bill Hall chipped in admirably with 4-23, including two miserly maidens that gave the batsmen nothing to work with.

A word too for the season's ledger — John Thirkell now sits fourth in the club's run charts with 128, and C Horton fifth among the wicket-takers with 8.

Won by 36 runs, two points banked, and a timely reminder that in this funny old game, batting collapses can be forgiven when your bowlers turn up in that sort of mood.

Sun 04 Sep 1949 🧢 1st XIv EC East Peckham & Nettlestead CC · HomeformWWDWD

Sunday the fourth of September found us at home to East Peckham & Nettlestead, and my heart sank rather further than it need have when I lost the toss and watched them elect to bat. Cricketing justice, of a sort, arrived at 0-1, but from there R Viyard set about reminding us why Test batsmen are paid rather more than us village triers, motoring to a chanceless 101, with J Nye (43no) and J Walker (31) offering cheerful company. The pair put on 142 for the fifth wicket while we stood about admiring the scenery. C Horton did the honest work with 2-39, Gordon Fenner chipped in with 2-60 and three tidy maidens, and Ray Tippen took 1-24, but 208/5 from 37 overs was a mountain, not a hillock.

Our reply began promisingly enough — a second-wicket stand of 69 gave us something to build on, with Peter Larking cracking a fine 51, John Taylor 36, Richard Harris 20 and your captain contributing a workmanlike 36. Then, as so often at Linton Park, the roof fell in: 164-7 became 167 all out in the time it takes to put the kettle on, with P Martin, C Horton and Gaskin all ducking out for nought. Thirteen byes rather summed up Bob Arnold's afternoon behind the stumps.

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

Sat 03 Sep 1949 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWWDW

Called correctly at the toss on Saturday and didn't hesitate — batting first on a day like that felt like the only sporting thing to do. And how it repaid us. Our openers set the tone with a stand of 175 before the first wicket finally fell, and from there the innings simply purred along. Maurice Fenner played the innings of the season, a magnificent 103, while Basil Sears kept him company with a fine 76. Don Hartridge chipped in an unbeaten 27 at the death, the extras column added a generous 26, and we closed on a formidable 263 for 4 from our 39 overs. I confess I rather enjoyed watching from the boundary.

Defending that total, we never quite let the opposition settle. An early wicket for 4 gave us hope, though P. Colthup (45), P. Bedelle (35) and J. Hibben (30) threatened to make a match of it with a stubborn 52-run stand for the fourth wicket. Three batsmen departed without troubling the scorers at all. Basil Sears, not content with his runs, ran through the tail with 3 for 17, well backed by Ray Tippen's 3 for 47 and Don Hartridge's 1 for 5, while H. Newport bowled two miserly maidens. They finished 137 for 9 from their 40 — honours, in the end, shared.

A word too for Don Hartridge, whose 27 eased him past Jimmy Jameson into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers' list — and who now sits second in this season's wicket charts, with Basil Sears leading the run-scoring. A draw, then, but one with rather more to celebrate than most.

Mon 29 Aug 1949 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformDLWWD

As the honorary match reporter, I'll write the report now.

From the captain's chair — Monday, 29th August 1949. We journeyed to Town Malling CC in fine spirits, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock. It felt the right call at the time, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what followed.

That followed was a innings of some peril. Basil Sears played the only truly convincing hand of the day, a handsome 68 that carried us from respectability towards something like a total, but around him the innings wobbled alarmingly — 76 for 3 became 78 for 6 in the time it takes to pour a tea, and E Simmons, Bob Arnold and Peter Weedon all trooped back for ducks. All out 108 in 36.4 overs was, frankly, a modest return, and I confess I walked out to field with more hope than conviction.

Fortunately Frank Taylor had other ideas, steaming in for a magnificent 6 for 52 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, while Don Hartridge chipped in with 4 for 43 and I found some rhythm myself with 6 wickets of my own. Town Malling fought hard — Chambers's 41 the mainstay — and slid from 69 for 3 to 72 for 6 as the pressure told, with B Simpson and Don Wooden joining the ducks' club. They fell 5 runs short, all out 103 in 30.5 overs.

A famous, nerve-shredding win by 5 runs — and a fine day too for Frank Taylor, who leapfrogged Herbert Sunley into 11th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Onwards.

Sun 28 Aug 1949 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformLDLWW

Sunday 28 August 1949 saw us take the road to Folkestone, and the coin, as is so often its custom against us, landed the wrong way up. Put in to field, we watched Folkestone graft their way to 185 all out from 62 overs, Ernie Thunder's 42 the backbone of it, with E Smith unbeaten on 35 and Frank Brooks-Hill chipping in 28 — the pair adding 51 for the second wicket while the rest of us grew rather weary of applauding them. Small mercy came in the form of two golden ducks, John Lynch and Fred Godden both trudging back without troubling the scorer. Gordon Fenner, though, was a man possessed, tearing through with 6-53, well backed by Bill Hall's tidy 2-33 — five maidens and all — and Frank Taylor's 1-15.

Our reply of 181 for 9 off 47 overs kept it interesting to the last ball, Bill Hall playing the innings of the day with a chanceless 65 not out, Peter Larking a fine foil with 22, the two putting on 51 for the seventh wicket. Poor George Winter, alas, joined the Duck Club ledger himself. Frank Sutton had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 18 byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own.

A word of pride amid the toil: Frank Taylor's 13 runs eased him past L Ricketts into 24th on the club's all-time run list, and he now sits second in this year's run charts and top of the wicket-takers — a season very much his own.

In the end, honours shared, and I'll happily settle for a draw won by grit rather than luck.

Sat 27 Aug 1949 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · AwayformDLDLW

Saturday 27 August 1949, and off we went to Hunton Wanderers with the toss falling our way — I called correctly and elected to bat, a decision I intend to keep bringing up at future AGMs.

We posted a solid 164 for 6 from our 39 overs. D Simmons led the way with a fine 60, and I was pleased to add 48 alongside him, our second-wicket stand worth a crucial 75. Not every man could say the same — poor Richard Harris contributed a golden duck, borne, as ever, with more dignity than the scoreboard deserved.

Then came the fun part. Hunton stumbled from the very first ball, slipping to 0 for 1 and never recovering, the floodgates swinging open from 13 for 2 to 17 for 5 in short order as Fenner, Ludden and Parnell all departed without troubling the scorers. Only D Drury's defiant 27 offered any real resistance before they folded for 77 in 22.5 overs. I finished with 8 for 30, six of those overs maidens, which I'm reliably informed nudges me past Bert Buckoke into 14th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. H Newport backed me up nicely with 1 for 19.

Won by 87 runs, then, and two points safely banked. It leaves me second in this season's run charts on 127 and out in front for wickets with 21 — modest consolation, I tell myself, for a captain who still can't watch a coin toss without his heart in his mouth.

Sun 21 Aug 1949 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDDLDL

Sunday 21st of August found us on the road to The Mote, and having called correctly for once, I saw no reason to do anything but bat. It didn't start well — 8 for 1 had the pavilion tea urn already being eyed nervously — but John Larking settled things with a stylish 57, John Thirkell chipped in with 27, and the pair put on 77 for the third wicket to give the innings some backbone. Don Hartridge saw us home unbeaten on 36, the tail wagged merrily for a final 59, and we closed on a handsome 209 for 7. Poor Stan Wratten, alas, walked back for a duck — these things happen to the best of us.

Defending it looked a tall order when P- Larkin got stuck in for 38, with W- Hall and A- Day offering support, but Frank Taylor was in inspired form — 4 for 25 with six maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Don Hartridge weighed in with 4 for 47 and a place past Gordon Fenner into 22nd on the club's all-time run charts, plus 4 wickets that pushed him past Dennis Smith into 6th on the all-time bowling list. Ray Tippen took a couple for good measure, F- Beresford went for nought, and The Mote were all out for 198.

Frank Sutton had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 20 byes going begging, and I managed a workmanlike 19 with the bat and 4 wickets with the ball. We scrambled home by 11 runs — nervy, scruffy, thoroughly typical of us, and thoroughly satisfying all the same.

Sat 13 Aug 1949 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDLD

Saturday last, we welcomed our visitors to Linton Park under skies that promised more than they delivered, and having called correctly I did what any self-respecting skipper does with a good toss — I put us in. It did not begin promisingly, 5 for 1 inside the first exchanges, but John Thirkell and Basil Sears steadied matters, the pair putting on a vital 74 for the fourth wicket. I found some form myself, 60 to my name, before D Simmons and Bert Buckoke both fell for ducks as we closed on 150 for 8 from our 38 overs — a total that felt like enough without ever feeling like plenty.

So it proved. Defending is a nervous business, but the ball behaved kindly for me, and 9 for 57 is not a figure I shall forget in a hurry — five wickets and more besides, with John Thirkell chipping in and M Harden fairly miserly through three maidens. L White battled hard for his unbeaten 38, well supported by J Jardine and K Harris, but once the middle order went — Parsons, Epsley and Whitewood all back in the pavilion without scoring — the innings unravelled from 105 for 7 to all out for 119 in a hurry.

Beaten by 31 runs, then, which stings rather more than the scorecard perhaps suggests it should. I'm told the nine wickets nudged me past J N Tonge on the club's all-time list, and Basil sits handsomely in this season's run charts — small consolations on a day we should, by rights, have won. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 07 Aug 1949 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLDDL

Sunday 07 August 1949 dawned fair, and with home advantage in hand we chose to bowl first — a decision I like to think showed tactical acumen, though it may just have been a reluctance to pad up before lunch. Our visitors settled in nicely, J Shaylor top-scoring with a composed 36, A Walker chipping in 31 and D Edwards finishing unbeaten on 30, the pair sharing a stubborn 59 for the sixth wicket that threatened to run away from us entirely. Don Hartridge was the pick of the attack with 2-38, Ray Tippen matched him wicket for wicket at the same cost, John Thirkell picked up one, and M Harden bowled a spell of admirable meanness, three overs producing not a single run. They closed on 163/6 from their 45 overs — a total that left plenty to chase but nothing beyond us.

In reply, Ray Tippen batted with real purpose for 48, and B Day, unbeaten on 45, gave the innings its spine, the two adding 57 for the second wicket. We finished on 134/5 from 48 overs — short of the target, but far from disgraced. Our wicketkeeper, it must be said, had one of those afternoons best forgotten, nine byes going begging behind the stumps.

There was cause for quiet celebration amid it all: Don Hartridge's day nudged him up two of the club's all-time honours boards, past F Marchant with the bat and past Rev Thomas Burra with the ball — and he continues to lead both the 1949 run and wicket charts by some distance.

A draw, then, honours shared, and honestly about right on the day's play.

Sat 06 Aug 1949 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWDLDD

Here I sit at the pavilion table, tea gone cold, wondering how to spin nineteen runs into something cheerful for the gazette — but here goes.

We had them in early trouble, 5 for 1, and for a glorious spell it looked as though we'd bowl them out for tuppence. Alas, E. Francis had other ideas, ambling to a well-made 66 while the rest of the order shuffled about him. Full credit to the bowlers, though — Don Hartridge toiled away for five maidens and 2 for 29, N. Simmons was positively miserly at 2 for 9, and M. Harden chipped in with 2 for 41. All told, 138 all out felt like a total we could chase down before the cucumber sandwiches ran out.

Alas, chasing it proved rather more of an ordeal. Gordon Bugge played the innings of the day with 36, Basil Sears lending gallant support with 23, and for a while 82 for 5 looked almost respectable. Then, in the time it takes to pour a fresh pot, we subsided to 91 for 8 — P. Clark, M. Hughes and M. Harden all completing the ignominious walk without troubling the scorers. Seventeen byes besides suggested our man behind the stumps was having rather a testing afternoon of it.

All out for 119, beaten by 19 runs — a margin close enough to sting and far enough to be entirely our own fault. Don Hartridge continues to lead both our run and wicket charts this season, and thank heavens someone is keeping the flag flying. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sat 18 Jun 1949 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformLWDLD

Saturday 18 June 1949 saw us pack our whites and head off to Bowaters CC, where I duly lost the toss and watched them elect to bat — never the news a captain wants on a warm afternoon. Their innings ran to 46 overs and 170 for 5, built chiefly around Gordon Williams' handsome 61 and Richard Austin's unbeaten 58, the pair batting with a fluency we could only admire and occasionally curse. Credit where due to the bowlers who kept us in the contest: Don Hartridge worked hardest for his 2 for 39, C Neame and H Newport chipped in a wicket apiece, and P Martin bowled three maidens of the sort that make batsmen mutter to themselves.

Our reply of 143 for 9 from 48 overs was a tale of one man doing the heavy lifting. Don Hartridge, having already troubled them with the ball, turned round and troubled the scorebook too, top-scoring with 51, well backed up by P Clark's 35. Elsewhere the effort was rather more modest — John Thirkell's golden duck being the polite way of putting it.

Small mercies and larger milestones: that half-century eased Don Hartridge past Bert Buckoke into 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and keeps him top of our 1949 charts with both bat and ball. In the end honours were shared, a draw that flattered neither side but satisfied both — an afternoon best filed under honest toil, gratefully accepted.

Sat 11 Jun 1949 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLLWDL

Saturday the 11th of June saw us pack the kit bags and head off on our travels, ready for whatever the day might throw at us. Winning the toss, I had few qualms about asking the opposition to bat first, and for a while it looked the shrewder call — until Frank Sutton and R Austin settled in and simply refused to leave. Sutton's well-made fifty and Austin's unbeaten 58 did the heavy lifting for the home side, and it took some patient, disciplined bowling to eventually wrap things up, Don Hartridge leading the way with 2-39, well backed by C Neaves and H Newport chipping in with a wicket apiece.

Our reply had its moments, chief among them Don Hartridge, who once again shouldered the bulk of the scoring with a fine fifty of his own — the man is in a rich vein of form and showing no sign of sharing it about. Spare a thought for poor John Thirkell, who contributed rather less, departing for a duck he will not be framing for the clubhouse wall.

There was, happily, plenty to raise a glass to regardless: Hartridge reached the landmark of 50 career wickets and, with his efforts on the day, climbed past H G Smith into 8th on the club's all-time list — a thoroughly deserved piece of history.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then, but one earned in good spirit — and no bad way to spend a Saturday.

Sat 04 Jun 1949 🧢 1st XIv HC Herne Bay CC · AwayformLLLWD

Saturday 4th June, and off we trotted to Herne Bay in the sort of spirit that only a lost toss can properly deflate. Asked to field first, we at least had the ball in hand early, and for a while it looked promising — Stan Wratten was in irresistible form, plundering three wickets for the cost of nothing at all, with Bob Hartridge chipping in for good measure and young J Gadsden shipped back for a duck without troubling the scorers. But Ec Moyes had other ideas, sailing serenely past his fifty to 71, with Cb Lyon (48) and J Smith (45) lending sturdy support, and Herne Bay's total swelled to a rather daunting one.

Our reply never quite got out of first gear. L- Breedon battled manfully for 39 and top-scored for the side, but support was thin on the ground, and both John Yeo and T- Jarrett took the long walk back for nought apiece — the Duck Club, I'm sorry to report, enjoyed rather brisker trade than our batting card.

We finished 137 runs shy of the mark, which is not a margin one dresses up kindly. Stan's three wickets and Breedon's 39 will at least top our season charts so far, small consolation on a long coach ride home. Not our day, lads — heads up, and back to the nets.