🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 30 Sep 1951 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · Homeform—

Sunday 30th September, and we welcomed Linton Park CC for what I'd hoped would be a season-defining afternoon. The coin obliged, and with a rare glint of tactical confidence I put us in — a decision I stand by, whatever the scorebook may later suggest.

We were bowled out for 183 in 58.5 overs, which sounds tidier on paper than it felt in the deckchairs. Basil Sears led the way with a handsome 66, and Frank Taylor chipped in a well-crafted 50, the two of them stitching together a 92-run second-wicket stand that was, frankly, the only thing holding the innings together with any dignity. Robert Muir's 34 added further respectability. Elsewhere, the less said the better — Don Hartridge, Dennis Smith and H Newport all departed for ducks, a trio of blobs that rather undid the good work of their colleagues.

There was at least a moment of quiet history amid the wreckage: Frank Taylor's fifty nudged him past Herbert Rayner and into 6th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a nice line for the archives, even on a losing day. Basil Sears also tops our 1951 Married run charts, with Ray Tippen leading the Singles.

We went down by 128 runs in the end — no dressing it up. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 29 Sep 1951 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDDD

The opposition won the toss and, having elected to bat, discovered rather quickly why village cricket keeps its heroes humble: 49 all out in 23.3 overs is not a total you build a season on. Gordon Fenner was in irresistible form, seven wickets for 25 runs, a spell to make the tea urn proud, while John Taylor bowled with the miserly discipline of a man who'd left his generosity at home — three maidens and 2-19. Merricks, Hooper and Adams departed for nought apiece, and by the time we'd gone from 28-1 to 38-4 the opposition's innings had the look of a house of cards in a gentle breeze.

Chasing was, frankly, a formality. Frank Taylor eased to 65 not out and William Buck to 58 not out, the pair strolling us to 134-1 in 25 overs without so much as a raised pulse. Nine byes did slip past William Buck behind the stumps — a reminder that even a good day has its blemishes — but nothing that troubled the outcome.

There was history in it too: Buck's runs took him past Jack Fryer into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Taylor's solitary wicket lifted him past Fenner into 2nd on the all-time wicket-takers' roll. Buck sits 3rd in this season's run charts, Taylor top of the bowling.

Victory by an innings and 32 runs. Now that, gentlemen, is how you spend a Saturday afternoon.

Sat 22 Sep 1951 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · AwayformWLDDD

Lost the toss at Hunton on Saturday, and duly found ourselves leather in hand rather than willow — never my favourite way to spend a Saturday, but there it is. Their openers made themselves thoroughly at home, putting on 76 before we prised the first one out, and the innings settled into A. Pilcher's hands, 90 not out and forever just out of our reach, with Reg Oldfield's 30 lending a hand. Gordon Fenner did the damage that mattered, 2-27, with Robert Muir (1-12) and Frank Taylor (1-62) chipping in, while John --'s Taylor bowled six maidens and gave the scorers precious little to do. They closed on 160/4 from 46 overs — a fair total, and no more than that.

Chasing it, we lost an early wicket with only 3 on the board, which is never the tonic one wants, and John --'s Taylor followed his miserly bowling with a golden duck at the other end 🦆 — the sort of symmetry cricket delights in inflicting. Nine byes told their own tale of a tricky day behind the stumps for poor Bob Arnold. As for your captain, I contributed precisely nought and shall say no more about it. But Frank Taylor stood firm for 66 not out to see us to 90/3 from 31 overs — and in doing so brought up 1,000 career runs for the club 🎉, a landmark thoroughly deserved from a man who also leads our 1951 wicket charts with 90, while William Buck sits third in the run charts on 621.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, about right.

Sun 16 Sep 1951 🧢 1st XIv SH Shooter Hillians · HomeformLWLDD

Sunday 16th September, and Dummy Site kind enough to make the trip to us. Won the toss, and there really was no debate in my mind — on it looked, and bat we would.

We made it to 245 for 6 off our 67 overs, a total I was rather proud of by the close. John --'s Taylor led the way with 43, William Buck weighed in with 40, and Bill Hall stood firm at 40 not out — the openers laying a fine platform of 56, and then, wonderfully, a last-wicket pair who clearly hadn't read the script adding a defiant 56 of their own to give the innings a bit of a shine it barely deserved.

With the ball, we were rampant. Frank Taylor was quite simply magnificent, tearing through them with 5 for 21 and two maidens to boot, with Bill Hall chipping in at 2 for 36. Dummy Site stumbled early, lost their nerve in the middle, and collapsed from 90 for 5 to 102 for 8 in the blink of an eye, D- MacDonald's 37 and C- MacDonald's 22 the only real resistance. They limped to 106 for 8 off 39 overs before we ran out of time to finish the job.

A draw, then, honours shared — though not before Taylor moved to 4th on the club's all-time run charts and Frank Taylor climbed to 2nd among our wicket-takers. Not a bad afternoon's work, even if I say so myself.

Sun 09 Sep 1951 🧢 1st XIv GK Gillingham CC, Kent · HomeformLLWLD

Sunday the ninth of September brought Gillingham CC over from Kent, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, opted to bat.

We made a fine fist of it too. John --'s Taylor and William Buck put on 94 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers, both going on to well-made fifties of 59 and 51 respectively, with Don Hartridge chipping in a useful 23. It wasn't all sunshine, mind — Tony Levick and Richard Harris both departed for ducks, rather spoiling an otherwise handsome scorecard. All out for 196 from 52.4 overs, a total I'd happily take most Sundays.

With ball in hand we set about the visitors, who stumbled early at 8 for 1 before R Beckenham and A Townley steadied things with a stand of 84 for the second wicket, Beckenham going on to a fine fifty of his own with 57, Townley chipping in 31. Frank Taylor did the heavy lifting with 2 for 46, while Richard Harris and I shared a wicket apiece — mine costing 40, though I did at least keep things tight with a couple of maidens thrown in. Gillingham closed on 122 for 4 from 44.4 overs.

A word, too, for Don Hartridge, whose 23 today eased him past Basil Sears into 12th on the club's all-time run-charts — quiet history in the making. With John --'s Taylor still leading the 1951 runs (811) and Frank Taylor the wickets (84), the old firm remains in good order.

Neither side could force it home, so honours were shared. A draw, then — not the result either captain wanted, but an honest one, and I'll settle for that with a personal 59 in the bank.

Sat 08 Sep 1951 🧢 1st XIv OR Old Roffensians · HomeformLLLWL

We won the toss on Saturday and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'll happily take credit for, given how the day unfolded. John Thirkell anchored things beautifully, unbeaten on 70, while John --'s Taylor matched him stroke for stroke with a well-crafted 69, the pair sharing a stand of 66 for the third wicket that turned a promising total into a proper one. Basil Sears chipped in with 25, the extras column added a generous 25 of its own, and we closed on a healthy 211 for 3 from our 36 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than gnaw at it.

In the field we made early inroads, the first wicket tumbling for just 5, and Dennis Smith set the tone with a tidy 1 for 12. Ray Tippen and John --'s Taylor lent good support with a wicket apiece, the latter bowling with the sort of miserly discipline — three maidens — that makes a captain's job easy. But J- Wragg had other ideas, batting through unbeaten on 86 with P- Bradley's composed 47 alongside him, and the opposition held us to 169 for 3. Honours shared, then, a draw that felt fair to both sides.

It was a day for milestones as much as runs: John --'s Taylor brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, Basil Sears climbed to 12th on our all-time run-scorers list, and Ray Tippen edged into 18th among the wicket-takers. My own 70 was satisfying enough, though on this evidence the real story belongs to Taylor, who continues to lead our season from the front with bat and ball alike. A draw, yes — but a thoroughly good one.

Sun 26 Aug 1951 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLLW

Sunday 26 August 1951, at home, and the toss fell my way — no hesitation at all, I put us in to bat.

It didn't begin well, 4 for 1 nearly before I'd settled into my deckchair, but the middle order restored calm rather beautifully. I'll confess to leading from the front with 58, Don Hartridge played a lovely unbeaten 51, and Basil Sears chipped in a brisk 33; the third-wicket pair's stand of 57 was the making of the innings. We declared ourselves rather satisfied with 186 for 4 off our 36 overs.

Then it was our turn to bowl, and what followed was carnage of the most enjoyable sort. Our visitors slipped from 7 for 1 to 15 for 4 before they'd properly found their guard, undone chiefly by John Taylor, who ran through them with a magnificent 6 for 14 — six maidens among them, which tells you all you need to know about how little they enjoyed facing him. Frank Taylor (2 for 3) and Gordon Fenner (2 for 21) mopped up what was left, while A Waller, J Hosking and J Beckett all departed without troubling the scorers. All out for 40 in 25.4 overs — victory by 146 runs.

One for the mantelpiece: Don's 51 lifts him past Basil Sears into 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. And with 683 runs and 82 wickets this season respectively, John Taylor and Frank Taylor continue to make the rest of us look distinctly amateur. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and one we shall be dining out on all week.

Sat 25 Aug 1951 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformWDLLL

The toss did us no favours — call it wrong again and I really must start practising that coin — and Charles Arkcoll elected to bat on what turned out to be a fine day for chasing wickets rather than milking runs. We tore into them early, three ducks in the book before the total troubled double figures at 6-1, and though Stan Wratten (39 not out) and Randolph Thompson (27) steadied things, they never quite escaped our grip. Frank Taylor was magnificent with the ball, 4-34 including four maidens that must have felt like penance to face, with Dennis Smith (2-33) and John Thirkell (1-23) chipping away either side of him. All out — well, all but two — for 114 off 47.

Chasing 115, we made a proper meal of it, as is tradition. Frank Taylor, having done his bowling shift, then top-scored with a handsome 67 to give the innings some backbone, but from a comfortable 103-5 we somehow lurched to 117-8 in the time it takes to pour a tea, B Lloyd's golden duck among the casualties. Bob Arnold, meanwhile, was earning his keep behind the stumps the hard way, 9 byes testament to a lively surface. Frank Taylor's afternoon also had historical weight — his runs lifted him past F S W Cornwallis to 8th on the all-time run list, his wickets past Gordon Fenner into 3rd among the club's bowlers.

We got there in the end, 131/8, winners by 2 wickets — nerve-shredding, unnecessary, and thoroughly Linton Park. I'll take it.

Sun 19 Aug 1951 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformWWDLL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 19 August 1951. Lost the toss, lost the choice, put in to field on a day that felt like it might belong to Dummy Site from the off. And so it proved, up to a point: they ground their way to 140 all out in 55.4 overs, J- Waters top-scoring with 48 and I- Milsted chipping in 20. But we had answers. Frank Taylor was magnificent, 4-33, with Bill Hall miserly alongside him — 3-41 and three maidens that gave the batsmen nothing to feed on — and Gordon Fenner chipping in 1-24. H- Hawkins walked back for a duck, which was some consolation on an otherwise patient afternoon in the field.

With the bat, Tony Levick played the innings of the day — 65, a fine half-century — but wickets tumbled around him and we were bowled out for 117 in just 27.2 overs. Richard Harris and E Lockyer both endured the walk of shame for ducks, and poor Tony, having done the hard work with the bat, then shipped 8 byes behind the stumps for good measure. Not his afternoon, though he'd earned the right to a quiet one.

A word of cheer amid the gloom: Gordon Fenner's wicket today nudges him up to 3rd on the club's all-time list, past Frank Taylor himself — quite the achievement on a day we otherwise came up short.

Twenty-three runs short, in the end. Heads up, back to the nets, and better luck next Sunday.

Sat 18 Aug 1951 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWWDL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 18 August 1951

We had first use of the ball, which in my experience is either a masterstroke or an act of pure whimsy, and today I'm still deciding which. Robert Muir was in inspired form, prising out 4 for 42 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — a spell mean enough to make the tea urn nervous — with Bert Buckoke (2-19) and J Enfield (2-27) tidying up the rest. Even so, K Harris ground out 47 and I Machin chipped in 29 as the visitors reached 130 all out. B Goodbody and Frank Sutton both departed without troubling the scorers, which offered us some consolation, if not much.

Chasing 130 ought to have been the easy part. Gordon Bugge played the anchor beautifully for 29, and Robert Muir, having done his bit with the ball, backed it up with 24 more with the bat — not a bad shift for one afternoon. I managed a modest 15 myself, for what it's worth. Peter Weedon, alas, made his contribution in the form of a duck, and between the rest of us we somehow contrived to lose our last man with 143 on the board from 38.1 overs — one more than we needed to give ourselves.

Some cheer amid the gloom: John Thirkell's solitary wicket nudged him past S Christopherson into 20th on the club's all-time list, and he sits second in this year's run charts with 594, while Bert Buckoke's 15 wickets have him fifth in the bowling table. Not our day, gentlemen — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 12 Aug 1951 🧢 1st XIv LC Lenham CC · AwayformDLWWD

Frank Taylor 26, Tony Levick 21 for us at Lenham, 108 all out from 40.2 overs, John Thirkell out for a golden duck, D— La Plain unbeaten on 59, Lenham 140 all out from 43.1 overs, 10th-wicket stand of 73, John Thirkell 4-37, John --'s Taylor 3-43 with 10 maidens, Arthur Cradduck 1-3, 12 byes conceded, captain took 3 wickets, milestones for John --'s Taylor (100 career wickets), Frank Taylor (past Ernest Cruttenden to 10th run-scorer), John Thirkell (past Tom Peach Snr to 21st wicket-taker), season leaders John --'s Taylor (674 runs) and Frank Taylor (72 wickets), lost by... the facts say "beaten by 0 wickets" which given 108 vs 140 must mean we lost by a margin of runs, not wickets — I'll write the verdict as a straightforward defeat without inventing a wickets/runs figure not supported.

Winning the toss on a fine Sunday at Lenham, I did what any captain drunk on early-morning optimism does and stuck us in to bat — a decision that looked shrewd for about an hour and considerably less shrewd thereafter. We limped to 108 all out in 40.2 overs, Frank Taylor top-scoring with a gritty 26 and Tony Levick chipping in a useful 21, but the middle order rather fell over itself, tumbling from 95-6 to 105-9 in the sort of collapse that gives club cricket its charm. Special mention to John Thirkell, who contributed a duck of the purest gold.

Defending 108 was always going to be a stern examination of nerve and craft, and for a while we asked the right questions. Wickets fell at 1-1 and again in a flurry from 59-5 to 62-8, John Thirkell doing the real damage with 4-37, ably backed by John --'s Taylor's tidy 3-43 (ten maidens — not a run given away lightly) and Arthur Cradduck's 1-3. But D— La Plain had other ideas, batting through for an unbeaten 59, and a stubborn last-wicket stand of 73 dragged Lenham home to 140 all out. Twelve byes down the leg side didn't help our cause, though I found some rhythm myself with three wickets.

Amid the gloom, real cause for pride: John --'s Taylor passed a hundred career wickets, Frank Taylor's 26 nudged him past Ernest Cruttenden into 10th on the club's all-time run list, and Thirkell's four-for lifted him past Tom Peach Snr into 21st among our wicket-takers. Beaten in the end, fair and square — but with milestones like these falling, we'll take the defeat on the chin and come back sharper next week.

Sun 05 Aug 1951 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDLWW

Sunday, 5th August 1951, and a fine one to be out in the middle for. We put the visitors in, and A Walker made us pay for it in full — a fine hundred, 109, the sort of innings you applaud through gritted teeth. E Webb (23) and J Coxon (21 not out) chipped in, with the third-wicket pair putting on a stubborn 53, and by the close of their innings they'd racked up 194/5 from 48.2 overs. John --'s Taylor did the heavy lifting for us with 3-58 and three tidy maidens besides, Dick Langridge and Gordon Fenner picking up a wicket apiece, and I managed to find some rhythm myself for 3.

Chasing 195, William Buck (55) and Basil Sears (51) set us off in fine style, the openers putting on 111 before the first wicket finally fell — the sort of start that makes a captain start doing sums in his head. Alas, the middle order rather declined the invitation to join the party: Don Hartridge, Ray Tippen and Arthur Cradduck all contributed ducks, and we stumbled to 181/9 from our 38 overs, agonisingly short. Tony Levick had a torrid time behind the stumps, 14 byes the price of an honest afternoon's work.

A word of cheer amid the nearly-men gloom — Basil's fifty nudged him past Rev F A Leveson-Gower into 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing that keeps a village side going through the lean Sundays.

So, honours shared, a draw when neither side could force it — and on this evidence, entirely fair.

Sat 04 Aug 1951 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformLDDLW

It was an early start on Saturday, but a road trip to Yalding always sharpens the mind, and I confess winning the toss and putting us in to bat felt like the sort of decision I'd be able to dine out on regardless of outcome. As it happened, it was the right call. John Thirkell and John Taylor gave us the sort of opening stand a captain dreams about and rarely gets — 72 on the board before anyone so much as troubled the umpire — and when the breakthrough finally came it barely dented our momentum. Thirkell finished unbeaten on 39, Taylor made 38, Basil Sears chipped in 30, and I found myself with a tidy 39 of my own. 142/2 from our 28 overs looked a healthy total, and so it proved.

Yalding never quite got going in reply. Stanley's 34 was the only real resistance, while poor Milstead and Burton departed for ducks — not an afternoon either will remember fondly. John Taylor, who'd already done his bit with the bat, then turned the ball into something approaching witchcraft, spinning his way to 6-42 and leaving Yalding all out for 91 in 34.4 overs. Dennis Smith bowled beautifully in support — 2-20 with four maidens, not a run given away cheaply — and Thirkell picked up one for good measure, which was enough to see him leapfrog Arthur Cornwallis into 3rd on the club's all-time run charts and J N Tonge into 24th among the wicket-takers.

A 51-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work. Onwards.

Sun 29 Jul 1951 🧢 1st XIv LC Lenham CC · HomeformWLDDL

It was Lenham CC at home, Sunday last, and having lost the toss I was invited to have a bowl first — never one to argue with the coin, or rather, never given the choice.

The lads did us proud in the field. Lenham ground out 148 all out from their 59 overs, T. Snook the chief architect with 47, well supported by S. Clark's 20. But it was John "-'s" Taylor who did the real damage, a marvellous 3-23 built on 13 miserly maidens — not a run given away lightly, that man. Frank Taylor chipped in handsomely with 2-12, and Stan Wratten worked hard for his 2-57.

Chasing 149, we cantered home at 213/2 from just 35 overs — an eight-wicket win, and a thumping one at that. William Buck led the charge with a fine unbeaten 85, while I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, 76 not out feeling rather satisfying by close of play. Tony Levick's brisk 28 rounded things off nicely. Poor Bob Arnold, meanwhile, spent the afternoon fetching the ball from all corners — 19 byes tell their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps.

Cause for double celebration too: my 76 shunted me past Herbert Rayner into 4th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while John's three wickets lifted him past Ernest Cruttenden into 6th among the wicket-takers. With Taylor leading our 1951 run charts and Frank Taylor topping the wickets, the season's shaping up nicely.

A fine win. Onwards.

Sat 28 Jul 1951 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · AwayformWWLDD

Skipper's Log — 28 July 1951

Won the toss at Old Williamsonians and, with the sun out and my optimism undented, elected to bat. It didn't take long for the pessimists among us to feel vindicated, the first wicket going for just a single run. But Basil Sears and William Buck steadied the ship handsomely, both making 31 apiece, with Frank Taylor chipping in a tidy 22 as a fifty-one run stand for the second wicket restored some sanity to proceedings. Sanity, of course, never lasts long in this fixture — 104 for 5 became 112 for 8 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, and the Duck Club welcomed three new members in John Thirkell, Arthur Cradduck and Bert Buckoke, each completing that most dispiriting of walks. All out for 112 from 38.3 overs — respectable rather than robust.

In the field we asked questions without quite getting the right answers back. Frank Taylor toiled manfully for 2-56, and John --'s Taylor bowled with real discipline, two maidens among his figures of 1-39, removing Bowring for a duck along the way. But Hall was in irresistible touch, farming the strike to an unbeaten 58, ably supported by Imeson's 41, and the opposition eased home on 120 for 3.

One bright note for the archive: William Buck's 31 nudges him past Tom Osborn and into 19th on the club's all-time run charts — the mantelpiece groans a little more this week.

Beaten by seven wickets, then, fair and square. We'll dust ourselves down and come again next week.

Sun 22 Jul 1951 🧢 1st XIv RB R H Birketts · HomeformLWWLD

Sunday the 22nd of July found us at home, and as skipper I lost no time at the toss—correctly called, I might add, for once—and stuck us straight in to bat. Two-point-two overs later we'd raced to 5 without loss, which for a side of our modest ambitions felt positively Bradmanesque, even if it was over almost before the tea urn had boiled.

Then came our turn in the field, and here the lads truly excelled themselves, bowling the visitors out for nothing at all. I'd love to claim some devilish tactical masterstroke, but I suspect the truth is rather simpler—sometimes cricket is a game of fine margins, and sometimes it's a game where the other lot simply have an afternoon to forget.

A word, too, for William Buck, who continues his quietly excellent season and sits third in the 1st XI run charts with 342 to his name—proof, if any were needed, that not everything at this club is chaos and good fortune.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue further. Not the stuff of legend, perhaps, but an afternoon of sunshine, contest, and companionship on the square—which, when you strip away the scorebook, is really what we're all here for.

Sat 21 Jul 1951 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformWLWWL

Saturday 21 July found Town Malling CC visiting Linton Park, and when the coin came down against us, I duly consigned the lads to a long afternoon in the field. Long it was: R. Driver ground out a chanceless 127, well supported by B. Simpson's 46 and V. Royals' 28, and though the first wicket went down cheaply at 1-1, a stand of 135 for the third wicket rather took the sting out of our morning. Small mercies when their own Frank Taylor was sent back without troubling the scorers — yes, a namesake of ours, would you believe — as we restricted them to 255/9 from 47 overs. Basil Sears was pick of the attack with 3-24, Bert Buckoke toiled manfully to 3-64 with three tidy maidens in there, and our F. Taylor chipped in 3-93.

In reply we shuffled to 156/6 off 37.3 overs, undone early when the first wicket fell for just 1, but J Baker's fine 72 anchored the innings beautifully. John Thirkell — your captain, since the ledger insists on naming names — weighed in with 46, Frank Taylor added a further 20, and the sixth-wicket pair put on a priceless 62 to see us to safety. Basil Sears and William Buck both walked the walk of shame for nought, entries I shan't dwell on further.

Some solace amid it all: Bert Buckoke brought up his 50th career wicket, Frank Taylor's 20 lifted him past Rev F A Leveson-Gower into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Bert's three wickets took him past H G Smith into 12th among our bowlers. This season I sit second in the 1st XI run charts with 464, while Frank Taylor leads the wicket-takers with 67. Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered neither side and shortchanged neither either.

Sun 15 Jul 1951 🧢 1st XIv JL J G Larkings · HomeformLWLWW

It was Dummy Site at home on Sunday 15 July, and we lost the toss – meaning the young men were sent out to bowl first, always a mixed blessing on a warm afternoon. Our visitors made 140 all out from 40.2 overs, William Buck compiling a handsome fifty (69) that carried their innings, with support from John --'s Taylor (24). Frank Taylor and Tom Osborn were both undone for ducks at our hands, which pleased no one more than the bowlers. And what bowlers they were: John --'s Taylor ran quite riot with 6-70, five of them maidens, while Frank Taylor chipped in a fine 5-27. Between them they left the opposition's middle order looking rather sorry for itself.

With 140 to chase, we set about it in style: 90 runs on the board before the first wicket fell, a first-wicket stand that did most of the hard work for us. John Thirkell led the way with a lovely 78, John --'s Taylor followed with 58, and Don Hartridge added a brisk 38, taking us to 246 for 5 from 48.3 overs. Modesty forbids dwelling on my own 78, so I shall dwell on it briefly and move on. Special mention, too, for John Thirkell's 1,000th career run for the club, and for John --'s Taylor, whose 58 lifted him past F S W Cornwallis into 7th on the all-time list — he now leads our 1951 run charts with 599, with Frank Taylor topping the wickets on 64.

And yet, for all that, we lost by 5 wickets. Cricket is a cruel and wonderful game. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 08 Jul 1951 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLLWLW

Sunday 08 July 1951, Folkestone CC visiting, and the toss went against us — asked to chase, which never sits comfortably with an English breakfast still settling. Still, we had the ball first, and that turned out to be the right end of the deal. Folkestone lost G Bridge for a duck with just 6 on the board, a properly nervy start for them, before W Aird counter-attacked to a fine 53 and dragged them to 131 all out in 42.5 overs. Stan Wratten was magnificent with the new ball, 4-7 and utterly relentless, while Bill Hall bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the tea urn (2-29, three maidens) and John --'s Taylor chipped in with 2-36.

Chasing 132, we simply didn't stop for breath. John --'s Taylor and Stan Wratten put on 91 for the first wicket before Folkestone so much as smelled a breakthrough, Taylor going on to a classy 67, Wratten a brisk 43, and Ray Tippen calmly seeing us home unbeaten on 27. We finished 140/2 in 33.5 overs, eight wickets in hand and plenty of daylight left for the tea table.

A tidy afternoon all round, and a landmark one too — Taylor's runs pushed him to 9th on the club's all-time run charts and his wickets to 7th among the bowlers, while he continues to lead the season's run column by some distance. A fine win by 8 wickets. Onwards.

Sat 07 Jul 1951 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLLWL

Saturday, 7th July 1951, and Charles Arkcoll were our visitors on a day that, for once, went entirely to plan despite losing the toss and being put out to field. No matter — we've long said we'd rather bowl first when the mood's right, and the mood was right. The visitors never settled, losing an early wicket with just 6 on the board, and while Randolph Thompson's 25 gave their innings some respectability, the middle order simply capitulated, sliding from 37-3 to 41-6 and folding for 54 in 20 overs. Three of their batsmen departed without troubling the scorers at all. Frank Taylor was quite magnificent, tearing through them for 5-31, with Bill Hall a superb foil at 4-18 — four maidens from Hall besides, not a run given away lightly.

Chasing 55, we contrived to make it interesting, losing an early wicket with the score on 3 and threatening a collapse of our own. But John Thirkell settled the nerves with a really well-made unbeaten fifty, well supported by Bill Hall's 20, and we cruised home at 96-3 with seven wickets in hand. I'll confess to some quiet satisfaction at contributing 50 of my own to the cause — captain's knocks don't come along every week.

A word too for Basil Sears, whose 10 runs saw him slip past C Murdoch into 15th on the club's all-time run charts — quietly, these things add up. And with Thirkell now 2nd in this season's run charts and Taylor leading the wickets with 58, the engine room is clearly firing. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 01 Jul 1951 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLW

Sunday brought visitors to Linton Park, and with first use of the ball in our hands, I felt quietly confident. That confidence took a knock as Parker set about us for 41, well supported by Phillips (27) and Harris (22), with a stubborn 51-run stand for the fifth wicket threatening to give the innings real shape. Shape it did not keep, though — 131 for 7 became 151 all out in short order, poor Barclay departing without troubling the scorers. Frank Taylor was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 6 for 48, with John --'s Taylor tight and miserly alongside (2 for 26, four maidens) and Bill Hall picking up 1 for 43.

With the bat we replied with 157 for 4 from our 32 overs, an early wicket at 8 giving us a nervy start before a fine 57-run second-wicket stand settled things down. John --'s Taylor batted beautifully, unbeaten on 74, well supported by Bill Hall (28) and Don Hartridge (20); I chipped in with 17. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, twelve byes slipping through. One thing to cheer: John Thirkell's 17 runs carried him past F S W Cornwallis into sixth on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and John --'s Taylor now leads the 1951 run charts on 474 with Frank Taylor top of the wickets on 53.

We were beaten by six wickets in the end — rather more than our efforts deserved, but there it is. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 30 Jun 1951 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWLLLL

Called correctly at the toss on a fine Saturday, and with Bearsted CC our visitors, there was never any question of doing anything but batting first. We were bowled out for 150 in 34.4 overs, John --'s Taylor top-scoring in fine style with 55, well supported by Bob Arnold's 27 and Don Hartridge's 22. We rather let ourselves down in the middle, slipping from 111-4 to 113-7 in the twinkling of an eye, and the Duck Club secretary was kept busy — Peter Weedon and Arthur Cradduck both took the long walk back for nought.

Defending 150 always promises an interesting afternoon, and so it proved. Bearsted were bowled out for 106 in 37 overs, D Vane and A "Tony" Snook both making watchful 28s and putting on 57 for the second wicket before we found a way through. E Rainer, R Barham and G Old departed without troubling the scorers, and the day belonged to John --'s Taylor, whose 6-47 — five maidens included — was as fine a spell as you'll see on our ground, with Frank Taylor chipping in usefully with 4-49. Bob Arnold had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes testament to a lively pitch rather than any want of effort.

Personally, 55 with the bat and 6 with the ball made for a thoroughly satisfying benefit match, and there was extra cause for celebration with both Johns — sorry, both Taylors — climbing the club's all-time charts. We got home by 44 runs. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 24 Jun 1951 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWLLL

Sunday 24th June 1951, and a splendid afternoon for it. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or reckless depending entirely on what follows, and I'm delighted to report it was the former. We ambled to 210 for 8 from our 45 overs, built chiefly on John Thirkell's handsome 62, with Bob Arnold (43 not out) and William Buck (24 not out) lending sturdy support down the order. The tail, not to be outdone, wagged merrily for a final 52 that left the fielders looking thoroughly fed up. I contributed 62 myself, which I mention only because someone has to, and modesty has never sold a gazette.

If our batting was cheerful, our bowling was positively merciless. The visitors lost a wicket before a run was on the board, and from there it was a procession — 0 for 1 became 15 for 4 before anyone had settled into a deckchair. T Brofeld departed for a duck, and Stan Wratten was in unplayable form, spinning his way to 5 for 28. John --'s Taylor chipped in handsomely with 4 for 20 and six miserly maidens, Gordon Fenner took 1 for 0, and the innings folded for 51 in 26.4 overs.

Milestones all round: Thirkell's 62 lifts him to 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, past Jack Fryer, while Wratten's five-for moves him to 10th among the wicket-takers, past Rev Thomas Burra. A win by 159 runs — the sort of afternoon that makes the teas taste sweeter. More of this, please.

Sat 23 Jun 1951 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformWWWLL

Saturday 23rd June saw us welcome our visitors to Linton Park, and having lost the toss we found ourselves in the field first — never our preferred script, but there we are.

They rattled up a respectable 134 all out, with Epsley's 40 the backbone of the innings, well supported by White (26) and Capiling (25), and a stubborn 57-run stand for the fourth wicket that threatened to run away from us. Credit to the lads for hauling things back, reducing them from 115-4 to 117-7 in a spell of real application. Bert Buckoke was the story of the day — 5-26, a thoroughly deserved five-for — with John Thirkell (3-47) chipping in and John Taylor bowling with real discipline, four maidens and 1-41 to show for it. Bates and Knell both departed without troubling the scorers.

With 135 to chase, Basil Sears (48) and John Taylor (47) set about it in style, putting on 89 for the first wicket before a bit of a wobble, and Frank Taylor's unbeaten 24 — enough to nudge him past Maurice Fenner into 11th on the club's all-time run charts — couldn't quite see us home. Buckoke's five-for likewise lifted him past H Freed into 13th on the wicket-takers' list, small consolation on a day when your captain contributed a golden blob and led, if anything, by cautionary example.

Beaten by six wickets, then, and rightly so on the balance of play. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 17 Jun 1951 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWWWL

Sunday 17 June 1951, and a mixed bag to report from the square. Put into the field, we watched the opposition rack up 167 all out — W Hall's fifty the backbone of it, well supported by J Patey's 48 — though we did draw first blood in the most dramatic fashion, a wicket down with the scoreboard still reading nought. Credit where it's due: a stubborn last-wicket stand of 64 dragged the total further than it had any right to go after they'd slumped from 81 for 5 to 97 for 8 under our pressure. Frank Taylor was magnificent throughout, six wickets for 107 and two tidy maidens to show for his toil, with Ray Tippen chipping in admirably at 3 for 54.

Our reply was rather more sedate. D Land, R Arnold and E Wright departed without so much as troubling the scorers — a trio of ducks best glossed over quickly — but John Thirkell batted with real class, 96 not out, anchoring the innings beautifully with G Breden's 30 in a third-wicket stand worth 64. We closed on 172 for 5 from our 35, five wickets shy of the target and beaten by five wickets in the end.

Small mercies: Thirkell's 96 nudges him past the Reverend F A Leveson-Gower into 9th on the club's all-time run charts, and Tippen's efforts move him past S Christopherson into 19th among the wicket-takers — Taylor, meanwhile, continues to lead the season's bowling table by some distance. Not our day, but heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 16 Jun 1951 🧢 1st XIv MR Maths School Rochester · HomeformLDWWW

Saturday 16 June saw us host Dummy Site, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in batting. A sorry start of 5 for 1 threatened to set the tone, but Frank Taylor (48) and John Thirkell (45) steadied the ship, their third-wicket stand of 87 doing the heavy lifting, with J Baker chipping in 31. Poor Bob Arnold will want the day forgotten — a golden duck to his name. All out 200 from 40.3 overs; a score we felt was defendable.

And defend it we did. Dennis Smith led the attack superbly with 4 for 35, Frank Taylor backed him up with 4 for 53 (three maidens among them), and John Thirkell claimed 1 for 13. H- Lambkin's well-made fifty (56) top-scored for them, his fourth-wicket stand of 63 the only real resistance — once it broke, 156 for 7 became 156 all out in a rush, R- Ward and W- Madden both back without troubling the scorers. Bob Arnold had a tricky afternoon with the gloves, 18 byes going astray, though I chipped in with 45 myself.

A word on the milestones: John Thirkell's 45 moves him past Maurice Fenner into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while William Buck sits second in this season's 1st XI run charts with 279 and Frank Taylor leads the wickets with 37.

Beaten by 44 runs in the end — a chastening afternoon, but there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 10 Jun 1951 🧢 1st XIv EC East Peckham & Nettlestead CC · HomeformDLDWW

Sunday 10th June, and East Peckham & Nettlestead came calling. I lost the toss — as is customary these days — and we took to the field wondering just how much sun we'd get through our socks before tea.

Frank Taylor set about proceedings like a man with a grudge, three wickets for a miserly sixteen, and between the first ball and the ninety-fifth we'd seen off Percy Brattle, H Green and W Nye without any of them troubling the scorer. Stan Wratten weighed in with three of his own, and John --'s Taylor bowled with the patience of a saint — six maidens and a wicket to show for his restraint. All out for 101 in just over thirty-two overs; a tidy morning's work.

Then came the fun part. Tom Osborn played the innings of the day, 86 full of good sense and better strokes, with Don Hartridge alongside him for a handsome 65 — their second-wicket stand of 89 the platform on which the whole run chase was built. Frank Taylor, evidently not content with his bowling figures, added 42 with the bat for good measure, and I'll confess to a rather pleasant 41 of my own. Three ducks blotted the card, as they will, but by then it scarcely mattered.

310 all out, victory secured, and Frank Taylor climbing the club's all-time run list into the bargain. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a lovely day for it.

Sat 09 Jun 1951 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformDDLDW

Saturday the ninth of June, and Yalding CC came calling. I won the toss and, in a fit of what I like to call captain's optimism, opted to bat first — a decision I spent much of the afternoon quietly reconsidering. Ninety-one all out from 30.4 overs was the sum of our labours, with Ray Tippen's watchful 21 the only innings to trouble the scorers seriously. We slid from a respectable 53-3 to a distinctly wobbly 59-6 in the time it takes to put the kettle on, and there was no coming back from that.

Happily, Yalding's batsmen proved no steadier than ours. Chasing our modest total, they crumbled from 59-5 to 62-8 and were bowled out for 66 in 30.3 overs, S. Jeffrey departing without troubling the scorebook at all. Frank Taylor was magnificent — 5-32, a five-for thoroughly deserved — with Ray Tippen (3-17) and John --'s Taylor (1-15, and eight maidens of positively monastic discipline) squeezing the life out of the innings between them.

Milestones for the club historians: Basil Sears's five runs lifted him past Frank Taylor to 14th on the all-time run list, while Tippen's three wickets took him past Tom Peach Snr into 20th among the wicket-takers. Taylor now leads this season's bowling with 30 wickets, and John --'s Taylor sits second in the run charts on 241.

A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly satisfying 25-run win. Two points banked, and not before time.

Sun 03 Jun 1951 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDDDLD

A fine Sunday for it, the third of June, with West Farleigh CC our visitors and the ground in good heart. In went the lads, and in went the lads early doors too, wobbling to 3 for 1 before anyone had settled a deckchair. Credit then to Bob Arnold and Gordon Fenner, both 32, and Richard Harris with 31, for steadying what threatened to be a short afternoon; a stout 50-run stand for the eighth wicket did the real rescuing, and we were bowled out for 182 off 44.4 overs — a total built on grit rather than grace, but a total all the same.

Defending it, the bowling did what the batting had promised. West Farleigh were shot out for 107 in 42.4 overs, Peter J Day's 23 the only real resistance, while George Reffell and Harry Webb departed for spectacular ducks at the other end. Pick of the attack — and I say this blushing rather than boasting — was my own 4 for 43 with six maidens thrown in for good measure, Frank Taylor bowling beautifully for 3 for 34 and Gordon Fenner chipping in with 2 for 21.

Milestones all round: Frank passed his hundredth career wicket, and John Thirkell's four runs eased him past C Murdoch into 11th on the all-time list. A fine win, by 0 wickets according to the book — don't ask me to explain that one. Onwards, undefeated in spirit if occasionally baffling in arithmetic.

Sat 02 Jun 1951 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformDDDDL

Saturday 2 June 1951, and Old Williamsonians CC rolled up as our visitors. The coin let us down and we were put straight into the field — no complaints, just the usual muttering about how we'd have batted first given the choice. Purle settled in for 46 and made himself thoroughly at home, with Brooker (43 not out) and Crow (28) lending sturdy support, the pair adding 78 for the fourth wicket while we toiled away. It was John --'s Taylor who kept us in the contest, prising out three for 35 with four maidens of proper miserly cricket, Bert Buckoke chipping in with two for 52. They declared, or rather ran out of overs, on 189 for 5.

Our reply was a scratchier affair. John --'s Taylor, having done the business with the ball, then top-scored with 31, William Buck adding 26, but wickets went in a rush from 71-3 to 82-6 and we subsided to 89 for 6 off our 33. I managed 31 of my own and found some rhythm with the ball for three wickets, for what consolation that's worth. Poor J Baker had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes leaking through, though nobody's blaming him on a tricky track.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on the balance of that batting collapse, I'd call it a fair result, if not exactly a triumph to sing about in the bar.

Sun 27 May 1951 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Westminster Citizens · HomeformWDDDD

Right, the toss went against us on Sunday 27 May 1951, with visitors Dummy Site electing to bat first on a pitch that clearly had a bit of early life in it—Lamus departed for a golden duck with the score still reading nought, and for one glorious over or two we dared to dream. Flynn, unfortunately, did not share our optimism, compiling a fine 69 to anchor their innings, with useful support from Forrester (24) and Bunton (24) as they crawled to 176 for 9 from their 62 overs. Ray Tippen was the pick of our attack with a superb 3-12, while Frank Taylor and John "-'s Taylor chipped in with 3-45 and 3-49 respectively, the latter bowling with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the tea urn—five maidens to his name.

With 177 to chase, we set about our task with more composure than usual. Frank Taylor, having already troubled the visitors with the ball, then took to the bat with a classy unbeaten 50, well supported by William Buck (48) and Don Hartridge, who saw us home in style with 40 not out, as we finished on 183 for 3 from 48 overs. Frank's half-century also nudged him past Joe Fenner into 15th on the club's all-time run charts, while John's three wickets lifted him past Rev Thomas Burra into 9th among our wicket-takers—no mean feat on a single afternoon.

And yet, for all that industry, we contrived to lose by 7 wickets. Quite how remains a mystery best pondered over a pint in the pavilion. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 26 May 1951 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · HomeformDWDDD

As I always say, you can't buy weather like Saturday's, and Hunton Wanderers won't have minded the coin either, seeing as it fell against us and sent them straight in to bat.

They made a solid enough fist of it, R Venner compiling a watchful 60 not out and J Ludden chipping in with 28, though it was hardly plain sailing for the visitors after slipping to 2 for 1 early doors. John Thirkell had a day to remember, 4 for 43 with four maidens tucked in for good measure — the sort of spell that has batsmen playing for their reputations rather than their runs — while H Newport chipped away for 2 for 72. All told, 119 for 6 from their 34 overs felt like a total we could chase down at our leisure.

And chase it down in some comfort we did. William Buck batted with real assurance for his unbeaten 42, Basil Sears keeping him company with a handsome 25, the pair adding a priceless 63 for the first wicket before either fell. We eased to 89 for 3 from 22 overs without ever looking troubled. A word too for Sears, whose 25 nudges him up to 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the ledger never forgets.

I'll confess a quiet satisfaction at finishing with 4 wickets myself, though I shan't let it go to my head. In the end honours were shared, and on reflection a draw felt about right — a thoroughly pleasant afternoon's cricket in which nobody deserved to lose.

Sun 20 May 1951 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLDWDD

Here from the captain's chair, Sunday 20 May 1951: Rumwood CC came calling, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the pitch looked far too good to leave to chance, and so it proved.

The lads batted with real purpose, 209/4 from our 45 overs a total I was thoroughly pleased with. The openers set the tone beautifully, putting on 67 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and John --'s Taylor then played an innings to remember — 127 of pure class, well supported by G Breden's tidy 21. I contributed a modest 17 of my own, more spectator than participant as the big innings unfolded around me.

In the field we held Rumwood to 154/7 from their 50, which ought to have been job done, but their last pair had other ideas, adding an infuriating 48 we really could have done without — the sort of stand that has a captain pacing the boundary muttering into his tea. D- Ransome's 34 was the backbone of their reply, with D- Bailey (22 not out) and R- Batt (21 not out) seeing them home to safety. Robert Muir was the pick of our bowlers, tight and probing for 2-29 with two maidens, John Thirkell and William Buck chipping in with a wicket apiece. Ten byes, meanwhile, told the tale of a trying afternoon behind the stumps for Tony Levick.

A nod, too, to the milestones: Frank Taylor's runs took him past E- Humphreys into 16th on the club's all-time list, while John --'s Taylor continues to sit handsomely 2nd in this season's run charts.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, given that last-pair rearguard, a fair reflection of a day where neither side could quite land the killer blow.

Sat 19 May 1951 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLLDWD

In the truest traditions of village cricket, we tossed, I called it correctly, and elected to bat — a decision I'd like to claim as tactical genius, though truthfully it was more instinct than science. Bob Arnold (33 not out) marshalled things sensibly, with useful support from Basil Sears (26) and John "-'s" Taylor (25), before we contrived to make hard work of a promising position: 83 for 3 became 87 for 6 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Poor Gordon Bugge's golden duck rather summed up the mood. We closed on 163 for 8 from our 42.3 overs — respectable, if a touch flattering to how it felt in the middle.

Defending it, Aylesford Paper Mills wobbled early at 0 for 1, recovered nicely through a stubborn 83-run third-wicket stand, then obligingly imploded from 112 for 5 to 123 for 8, with Walker, Heyne and Hodges all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Bert Buckoke was superb with the ball (3 for 16), John "-'s" Taylor bowled with miserly discipline (3 for 60, five maidens) and reached his 50th career wicket along the way, while Frank Taylor chipped in with 2 for 71. G Webb's fifty (59) and S Dadson's 41 kept them in it, and poor J Baker had a torrid time behind the stumps, 13 byes the price of an awkward pitch.

163 all told, 160 for 9 in reply — honours, rightly, shared.

Mon 14 May 1951 🧢 1st XIv M Marden · HomeformWLLDW

It was Dummy Site at home, Monday 14th May, and we lost the toss — never a good omen, though I've long since stopped believing the coin has any say in how the day unfolds. Put into the field, we watched their innings amble to 163 all out from a marathon 66.2 overs, F- Day's fine half-century (67) the backbone of it, with P- Tipples chipping in 34 and the openers putting on a chastening 75 before the first wicket fell. To their credit they wobbled from 139-6 to 152-9 under our pressure, H- Stonestreet departing without so much as a nibble at the scorebook. Frank Taylor was magnificent, 5-66 and thoroughly deserved, with John --'s Taylor miserly alongside him — 4-61 and eight maidens that must have felt like penance to face.

Chasing 164, we replied with 143-9 from our 42, Maurice Fenner leading the way with 67, well supported by William Buck's 48, and another handsome opening stand of 91 before the roof rather suddenly fell in — 140-5 to 141-8 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Three ducks for the ledger (E Goodall, Gordon Fenner, Arthur Cradduck) and eleven byes that spoke volumes about our afternoon behind the stumps. I managed four wickets myself and take what comfort I can from that.

Fenner's innings nudged him past C Murdoch into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers, and Taylor's five-for lifted him past Ernest Cruttenden into 5th among the wicket-takers — proper milestones on an otherwise scrappy day. In the end, honours shared: a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. I'll take it, and the tea urn, gladly.

Sun 13 May 1951 🧢 1st XIv BC Birkenhead Grasshoppers CC · HomeformWWLLD

Sunday the 13th of May, and Birkenhead Grasshoppers rolled up the drive with the sun out and, rather typically, the coin against us. They won the toss, chose to bat, and I can't say I blame them — though what followed rather proved the toss to be the least of their good fortune. Ingman played the innings of the day, a well-made fifty that had us grudgingly applauding, but around him the innings rather came apart at the seams: 108 for 4 became 108 for 7 in a hurry, with Kilburn, Bowden and Barton all trooping back for ducks. Ray Tippen was magnificent, 4 for 12, and Stan Wratten toiled away miserly as ever for 4 for 43 with four maidens to his name, Robert Muir chipping in with 1 for 12. All out for 112 in 42.4 overs — a fair morning's work.

With the bat we were rather more sedate about it, 117 for 4 off 35 overs. Maurice Fenner led the way with 29, William Buck made a handy 27, John Taylor finished unbeaten on 25, and I managed to contribute 25 of my own without doing anything anyone will remember. Six wickets, two points, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon — made sweeter still by Stan reaching his fiftieth career wicket and climbing the all-time list, with Maurice not far behind him in the record books. A good day to be a Linton Park man.

Sat 12 May 1951 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWWLL

Saturday saw us head out to Dummy Site with the sun more or less on our side and the coin, mercifully, on mine — I had no hesitation in putting us in.

Batting first, we compiled 151 all out in 38.5 overs, and it was Arthur Cradduck who carried the innings with a fine unbeaten 53, well supported by Frank Taylor's 27 and Peter Weedon's 25. We lost that first wicket rather sheepishly at 4-1, but a sturdy 52-run stand for the fourth wicket steadied the ship — before the tail, in time-honoured fashion, contrived to lose the last three wickets for six runs. Gordon Bugge, Bob Arnold and J Enfield all made their way back for ducks, upholding a fine tradition of contributing absolutely nothing with great commitment.

Defending 151, we made them work for every run. They closed on 143 for 5 from their 38 overs, a- Snook top-scoring with a composed 51, backed by v- Pound's 38 and G- Hawkins' unbeaten 24. An early wobble at 6-1 gave us hope, and D- Vane and N- Gibson both departed without troubling the scorers. Frank Taylor was superb with the ball, 3 for 46 including two maidens, with John's Taylor chipping in for 1-55. Nine byes conceded rather undid our good work behind the stumps, mind.

A draw, then — honours even, and on the balance of ducks and near misses, a fair result for a scrappy, spirited afternoon.

Sun 06 May 1951 🧢 1st XIv MT Medway Towns · HomeformWLWWL

Sunday 6 May 1951 saw us welcome Dummy Site to Linton Park, and having lost the toss we were duly asked to bowl - not the worst fate on a morning that promised runs for someone.

Bowl we did, and rather well. Dummy Site were shot out for 99 in 51 overs, Harrington's 34 the only real resistance alongside Myers' 20. Frank Taylor was the chief architect of the collapse with 4-26, Ray Tippen chipped in a handy 3-11, H Newport picked up one, and Stan Wratten bowled with the meanness of a man who'd had his tea money docked, sending down seven maidens for good measure.

Chasing 100 ought to have been a formality, and so it very nearly was without undue fuss. Tom Osborn set about the target with a composed 56, well supported by William Buck's 23, and we cantered home at 102/5 in 24.4 overs - five wickets down, but comfortably so. Osborn's fifty also carried him past Rev J R Leigh into 22nd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Wratten's solitary wicket nudged him past H Freed into 11th among the wicket-takers - the sort of quiet milestone that means rather more to the man himself than to the scorebook.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, then: tight bowling, calm batting, and history quietly rewritten in the margins. Down by five wickets it may read, but make no mistake - this one was ours from the moment Dummy Site were sent packing for 99.

Sat 05 May 1951 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDWLWW

Saturday 05 May 1951 saw West Farleigh CC pay us a visit, and having lost the toss yet again, I watched them elect to bat rather than let us have first dig. No matter — we had first use of the ball, and that proved the tidier end of the bargain. They lost an early wicket at just 8, never quite settled, and slid from 48-7 to 53 all out in 27.1 overs, with R Dove, Trevor Fermor and S Pingery all walking back without troubling the scorers. Your correspondent had the finest of afternoons with the ball, 4-11, which I'm reliably informed nudges me past Don Hartridge into 6th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and up to 2nd in this season's charts. J Enfield chipped in with 3-8, two of them maidens, and H Buckoke picked up 2-4.

Chasing what should have been a gentle stroll turned instead into one of those afternoons that makes club cricket the maddening, marvellous pursuit it is. We stumbled to 6-1, then 15-4, and were bowled out for 47 in 22.1 overs — J Enfield, so miserly with the ball earlier, generously returning the favour with a golden duck of his own.

Six runs the difference, and six runs too many. A chastening one, lads — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 29 Apr 1951 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDDWLW

Sunday 29 April found us on the road to The Mote CC, and my customary luck with the coin held firm — which is to say we lost it, and were sent straight into the field. Rarely have I minded losing a toss less.

The Mote were shot out for 72 in 26.5 overs, John Waters top-scoring with 22 in what was otherwise a fairly brisk procession back to the pavilion — J- Holroyd, C- Harman and H Hawkins among those departing without troubling the scorers. The destruction was largely the handiwork of John --'s Taylor, whose 7-22, four of those overs maidens for good measure, will live long in the memory, with Stan Wratten chipping in a tidy 3-20 to help finish the job.

Chasing so modest a total ought to have been a formality, and in the end it was, though it took the full 48 overs and 219/5 to get us there. The innings belonged to Maurice Fenner, whose magnificent 110 carried us home, ably backed up by William Buck (22) and Ray Tippen (21). Along the way Fenner nudged past Joe Fenner into 13th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, while Wratten's afternoon's work lifted him past Taylor into 12th among the wicket-takers — and the pair now sit at the top of this season's run and wicket charts besides.

Five wickets to the good, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.