🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 27 Sep 1953 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformLD

Sunday, 27 September 1953, and Linton Park travelled with the toss to win — which I duly did, electing to bat, and I still maintain it was the right call, whatever the scorebook might later suggest about that decision.

Our innings, in truth, was a story told almost entirely by one man. William Buck stood firm for an unbeaten 26, playing the shepherd to a flock that otherwise scattered rather too readily. The rest of us contributed what might charitably be called moral support: Tony Tipples and John Ames both made the long walk back for ducks, and I'm afraid your correspondent must own up to a third — a captain's innings lasting roughly as long as it takes to say "middle and leg." The less said the better, though I note the club ledger will say it for me regardless, in stark and unforgiving digits.

For all that, William's knock was enough to keep him top of the 1953 Married run charts, a small but genuine consolation amid the wreckage, and proof that one steady head can carry a great deal of collective folly.

In the end neither side could force home advantage, and honours were shared — a draw that, given the state of our top order, felt less like stalemate and more like a merciful escape. We live to bat again, preferably with rather more application next time.

Sun 20 Sep 1953 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLLW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 20 September 1953

Won the toss, and there really was only one call to make: bat. On a day when 185 felt like it might just be enough, Tony Levick played the innings of the afternoon, 63 not out and unbeaten at the close, with Stan Wratten giving him fine company for a well-made fifty of his own. 185/6 from our 48 overs seemed a total to be proud of as we walked off for tea.

And for a while it looked like it might be. E Watson, G Ashby and L Brunger trooped back without so much as a run to show for it, and Tony Snell was in menacing form — 3 for 8, with nine maidens that told their own story of a bowler in complete command. Alan Wilkes chipped in handsomely with 3 for 27, and Michael Morton with 2 for 3, and between them they had the opposition all out for 58. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid time of it behind the stumps, mind, with ten byes going begging — the one blemish on an otherwise gleaming afternoon.

There was cause for real celebration too: Alan Wilkes brought up his fiftieth career wicket, and both he and Levick moved up the club's all-time lists in the same match. Quite how, with all that in our favour, we contrived to lose by 127 runs is a mystery I shall be pondering over my tea and toast this week. Chin up, lads — we'll be better for it next Sunday.

Sat 19 Sep 1953 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLLDLL

Saturday 19th September 1953, and Bearsted CC came to Linton Park under blue skies and lost the toss argument on our behalf — they batted, we bowled, and thank heavens for it. Seventy-two all out in 27.3 overs is not a total to trouble a scorer's pencil for long, and though A 'Tony' Snook threatened to make a proper afternoon of it with 25, the rest of the Bearsted order rather lost the plot, tumbling from 57-3 to 61-6 as if the tea urn had been mentioned. David Sayer, Gordon A Hawkins and Mick Gibson all fell without so much as a run to their name at the crease — a trio of ducks to warm the heart of any fielding captain. Alan Wilkes was quite magnificent, ripping through them with 8-39, while Gerald Wright bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting out his own pension, seven maidens and 2-25 to show for it.

Chasing 73, we made rather harder work of it than the target deserved. Tom Osborn's watchful 25 and John Thirkell's 21 had us cruising nicely, and I contributed 21 of my own, but from 72-4 to 76-7 the whole enterprise wobbled alarmingly, with Richard Harris, Alan Wilkes and Gerald Wright all making the long walk back for nought. Still, we got there — won by 0 wickets, which is cricket's way of reminding you that a win by the skin of your teeth counts every bit as much as one by a mile.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a chastening reminder that we do enjoy making things difficult for ourselves.

Sun 13 Sep 1953 🧢 1st XIv MT Medway Towns · HomeformWLLDL

A grey Sunday, the thirteenth of September, and Dummy Site rolled up to Linton Park with the coin falling their way as it so often does when it matters. They chose to bat, and we trooped out into the field with more hope than expectation. They ground their way to 173 for 7 off 43.1 overs, G- Lukehurst top-scoring with 49 and K- Walker unbeaten on 48, R- Harris chipping in 30. Small mercies: W- Cleaves went for a duck at our hands, and Stan Wratten was in inspired form with 2 for 3, backed up nicely by Gordon Fenner (2-24) and John Ames (2-46). Alan Wilkes, meanwhile, bowled as if runs were rationed, three maidens and not an inch given away.

With the bat we set about our reply with real purpose, reaching 176 for 4 in 31.3 overs. I'll confess to a quiet pride in top-scoring myself with 51 not out, but the real backbone came from Tom Osborn's 46 and William Buck's 35. Poor William Blight had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes slipping through fingers that are usually far more reliable.

There was cheer amid the toil, though: Tom's innings lifted him past Rev F A Leveson-Gower to 18th on the club's all-time run list, and Alan's solitary wicket edged him past W H Fryer into 23rd among our bowlers — with William Buck (856) and Alan (39) still driving the 1953 charts.

All told, though, we finished undone by six wickets — a day for the nets, not the scorebook.

Sat 12 Sep 1953 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformLWLLD

Saturday 12th September saw Dummy Site visit Linton Park, and after losing the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains a work in progress — we were put into the field. Not that we minded. Our openers, F Hooker and H Davidson, made short work of the top order in spirit if not in figures, and the innings folded for a distinctly modest 58 off 26 overs. The afternoon belonged to Alan Wilkes, whose 6-33 was a five-for and richly, richly deserved; Michael Morton offered superb support with 4-11 and six maidens, bowling with the kind of miserly discipline that leaves batsmen talking to themselves.

With 58 to chase, we set about it in no great hurry, closing on 135/3 from 24 overs. William Buck top-scored with a handsome 44, Basil Sears chipped in with 30, and John Thirkell saw us home unbeaten on 21. I managed 21 myself, which I shall claim as a captain's innings and leave it at that. Bob Arnold had a wretched time behind the stumps, leaking 12 byes — the sort of afternoon best forgotten, though I daresay he won't be allowed to.

Small print for the scorebook: Wilkes's haul lifted him past Robert Muir to 24th on the club's all-time wicket list, while Buck and Wilkes continue to lead the season's run and wicket charts respectively. A comfortable win, and thoroughly deserved — the sort of performance that reminds us why we bother turning up on a Saturday.

Sun 06 Sep 1953 🧢 1st XIv GK Gillingham CC, Kent · HomeformDLWLL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 06 September 1953. We hosted Gillingham CC, Kent, and lost the toss for our trouble; they elected to bat, and we trudged out to bowl on what looked a decent shirt-sleeves afternoon for it.

Gillingham made a tidy 210/9 from their 43.1 overs, built patiently around G Veroest's unbeaten 32, with A Tansley (29) and O Barden (25) chipping in handsomely. It could have been worse but for Alan Wilkes, who bowled with real purpose to return 5-57 — four maidens in there too, not a man to be taken lightly — while Stan Wratten and Tony Snell picked up a wicket apiece to keep things honest.

Our reply was rather more stop-start. William Buck batted with real application for 43, and Stan Wratten (27) and John Thirkell (20) gave him company, but we subsided to 129/8 from our 36 overs and had to settle for the draw. I contributed a workmanlike 20 myself, while poor Tony Levick had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps — 17 byes is not a figure one enters into the book with any pride. Spare a thought too for Richard Harris and Gordon Fenner, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — the Duck Club welcomes two new members.

Still, William Buck now sits proudly atop the season's run charts with 777, and Alan Wilkes leads the wickets with 32 — the engine room of our summer. Honours shared, then, and honestly, on the day, a draw felt like the fairest result going.

Sat 05 Sep 1953 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformDDLWL

Saturday 5 September 1953 saw us take the road out to Dummy Site, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and, with the sort of confidence that only deserts a captain later in the day, sent us in to bat.

It proved a sound enough call, if not a chanceless one. We were bowled out for 157 in 36.4 overs, Michael Morton the pick of the willow-wielders with 30, D Simmons chipping in with 27 and Alan Wilkes unbeaten on 22. Elsewhere the scorebook told a sorrier tale, with both John Thirkell and J Barclay departing for ducks — the sort of entries that make a captain study his boots rather awkwardly at tea.

Still, 157 gave us something to bowl at, and bowl at it we did. Their reply folded for a mere 56 in 19.4 overs, a- Lewis and R- Latter both back in the pavilion without scoring. Gerald Wright was the architect of the collapse, a thing of real beauty with 6-31 and three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, Alan Wilkes offering fine support with 3-21. Your correspondent, meanwhile, contributed a duck of his own with the bat — we shall move swiftly on.

There was a happy footnote amid the carnage: Gerald's six-for nudged him past Tony Snell into 18th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. A day, then, of contrasts — batting that stuttered, bowling that sang, and a result comfortably in our favour. Verdict: a fine team performance, and one Gerald in particular can be very proud of.

Sat 29 Aug 1953 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · AwayformLDDLW

Saturday 29 August 1953, away to Hunton Wanderers CC, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they won the toss and chose to bat, leaving us in the field first. Toil we did, though not without reward: A Pilcher compiled a fine 65, well supported by Reg Oldfield's 47, before Hunton were eventually bowled out. R Murray fell for a duck to our bowling, and Alan Wilkes was the chief tormentor with 4-68, J Barclay chipping in with 3-48 and Gerald Wright a tidy 1-17.

Then came our reply, and here the tale turns considerably sadder. We were bowled out for just 31 in 16.4 overs, a collapse comprehensive enough to fill the Duck Club ledger nicely — John Thirkell, N Simmons and Bob Arnold all walked back without troubling the scorer, and your correspondent, I'm mortified to report, joined them. Eleven byes told their own story of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for William Blight.

One crumb of comfort amid the wreckage: Gerald Wright's solitary wicket carried him past W H Fryer to 22nd on the club's all-time list — no small achievement in a grim week, and it keeps him third in this season's wicket charts with 25, with Basil Sears fifth among the run-makers on 243.

A defeat by 140 runs, then, and no dressing it up. Heads up, lads. Back to the nets.

Sat 22 Aug 1953 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLDDL

Saturday 22 August 1953, and Charles Arkcoll rolled up to find us losing the toss and asked to field first — never my favourite start to a Saturday, but there we are.

The lads did us proud in the field. Charles Arkcoll ground their way to 139/9 off 41.5 overs, with Stan Wratten (38), John Ames (24) and Gordon Fenner (21) doing the bulk of the damage, though it wasn't all one-way traffic — Humphrey Morris and Ray Beale both trudged off for ducks at our hands. The story of the innings, though, was Alan Wilkes, who simply ran riot with 7-60 and five miserly maidens thrown in for good measure. John Thirkell (1-28) and Gerald Wright (1-40) tidied up admirably in support.

With 140 to chase, William Blight top-scored with a fine 42, Richard Harris chipped in handsomely with 31 — enough, incidentally, to nudge him past Maurice Fenner into 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a nice bit of history made on an ordinary Saturday. I did my bit with 17, though the less said about J Barclay's nought the better; he knows what he did.

We were bowled out for 158 in 39 overs, but it was enough. A fine win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work from Alan Wilkes with the ball. Onwards we go.

Sun 16 Aug 1953 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformDLLDD

It was a Dummy Site pitch on Sunday and, having lost the toss, we were sent out into the field first — never our preferred order of business, but there it is. The opposition made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 236/6 from their 61 overs, with I. Milsted's unbeaten 51 the innings' backbone, well supported by D. Parker (44) and C. Harman (42). We weren't entirely toothless, mind: John Thirkell bowled beautifully for 2-26, Gordon Fenner chipped in with 2-40 and six miserly maidens, and John Ames took 1-32. Credit where due — not a run was given away lightly.

Chasing 237 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered rather too many of them in the negative, bundled out for 147 in 51.4 overs. Tony Levick played the innings of the day with a fine 62, ably assisted by L. Harvey (28) and William Blight (20), but John Ames, John Thirkell and L. Skinner all contributed golden ducks, and 22 byes told their own uncomfortable story about a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Tony Levick. As for your skipper — a golden blob. One is meant to lead by example; today's example was best not followed.

There were bright spots amid the wreckage: John Ames reached 50 career wickets, and John Thirkell's brace lifted him past Don Hartridge into 9th on the club's all-time list. Richard Harris remains 3rd in this summer's run charts with 402, Gordon Fenner tops the wickets with 30. But today, beaten by 89 runs, was not our day. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sat 15 Aug 1953 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformDDLLD

Saturday 15 August 1953. We welcomed Charles Arkcoll to the ground, lost the toss, and were sent out to field first – never the news you want with the covers baking nicely under an August sun.

Charles Arkcoll settled in for 161/6 off their 39 overs, built chiefly around Stan Wratten's well-crafted 54 and Edgar Humphreys' handy 36. Gerald Wright did the heavy lifting with the ball, 2-47, while John Thirkell (2-49) and J Barclay (1-22, four maidens and not a run given away cheaply) kept things respectably tight. Poor L Skinner had one of those afternoons behind the stumps that every wicketkeeper dreads, 13 byes going through that he'd rather forget by teatime.

In reply we crawled to 108/6 from our 32, never quite finding the fluency to chase down 162. Bob Arnold led the way with 29, well supported by D Simmons (23) and William Blight (22), and I contributed a modest 15 of my own – more workmanlike than watchable. Small consolations amid the toil: Bob Arnold's innings edged him past E Humphreys into 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Gerald Wright's two wickets nudged him past Robert Muir into 23rd among our leading wicket-takers – the honours boards creak a little further under the weight of history.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Not the stuff of legend, but a fair reflection of an afternoon where both bat and ball had their say and nobody blinked first.

Sun 09 Aug 1953 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLDDLL

I called correctly and, with a good drying breeze and a firm-looking track, never seriously considered doing anything but batting first. Two hundred and six all out in exactly 50.1 overs felt about right for the surface — William Buck the architect with a really fine 85, striking the ball with the sort of clarity the rest of us can only admire from the non-striker's end, well supported by Richard Harris (32) and Stan Wratten (30) chipping in around him. A total we felt we could defend, if not quite comfortably.

And defend it we very nearly did. Anchorians dug in through Derek Ufton (47) and A Hart (41), with D Wren (25) keeping the innings ticking, but the middle order rather came and went — M- Baynes and Alan Dixon both back in the hutch without so much as a squeak off the bat, poor devils. The story of the day, though, was John Ames, relentless and miserly in equal measure: 6 for 65 with five maidens, a five-for thoroughly earned and richly deserved, with Michael Morton chipping in a tidy 1 for 22 in support. Tony Levick had a rather more chastening afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes going begging — these things happen to the best of us.

Nice to note the milestones too: Richard Harris nudging past F S W Cornwallis into 13th on the all-time run charts, and John Ames leapfrogging H Freed into 16th among the club's wicket-takers — the old names shuffling aside for the new.

In the end honours were shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody either — which, in truth, is often the fairest result cricket has to offer.

Sat 08 Aug 1953 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDLDDL

Saturday the 8th of August saw Dummy Site visit Linton Park, and after losing the toss — no shocks there — we were asked to field first. Their innings ambled to a healthy 208 for 8 from 43 overs, built chiefly around L- Murrell's fine 90, with C- Murrell's 39 and R- Pares's 24 lending support. Small mercies: J- Farrant and G- Gore both departed without troubling the scorer. Gerald Wright toiled manfully for 3-73, while P- Tew (2-17) and Bert Buckoke (2-21) chipped in to keep the total from getting entirely out of hand.

Our reply never got out of first gear. Nineteen from your correspondent aside, only William Buck offered real resistance with a battling 29, while Basil Sears, D Simmons and P- Tew all fell without scoring — three ducks is not the sort of hat-trick we parade about the club. Bob Arnold had a torrid time behind the stumps, twelve byes speaking to a tricky afternoon with the gloves, and we were bowled out for a meagre 79 in 28.4 overs.

Amid the wreckage, some cheer: William Buck brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, John Thirkell's 19 lifted him past George Champion to the top of our all-time run-scorers' list, and Bert Buckoke's brace saw him past Bill Hall into 12th among the all-time wicket-takers. Buck also leads our 1953 run charts with 644, and Gerald Wright sits fourth among this season's wicket-takers with 21.

Beaten by 129 runs, then — a proper hiding, if we're honest. But with milestones tumbling even in defeat, we'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Mon 03 Aug 1953 🧢 1st XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDDLDD

Monday 3rd August 1953, and Dummy Site rolled up to Linton Park with the sun out and my coin-calling arm apparently cursed, for they won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. We took the new ball with cheerful intent, and it showed: P. Marsham and B. Synce were both back in the pavilion without so much as a squeak from the scorebook. R. Webb settled in for 46 and F. Cornwallis chipped in with 31, but Gordon Fenner was in irresistible form, turning the ball square for 5-34, with Gerald Wright miserly and menacing alongside him for 3-39 (two maidens, no less) and Tony Snell chipping in with 1-22. Dummy Site were shot out for 149 from 42 overs — a fair morning's work.

Chasing it down, Tony Tipples played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 51 of real substance, well supported by Maurice Fenner's 34. John Thirkell, alas, departed for a blob, and your captain fared no better, contributing a golden duck of positively regal quality — leadership by example, evidently, does not always extend to the willow. We closed on 150/9 from 39.3 overs, and somehow still finished on the wrong side of a one-wicket defeat.

Small mercies: Maurice Fenner's 34 nudges him past F.S.W. Cornwallis to 12th on the club's all-time run charts, and Tony Snell's wicket lifts him past John Ames into 17th among our leading wicket-takers. William Buck (615) and Gordon Fenner (28) remain imperious atop this season's charts. Not our day, but heads up — back to the nets.

Sun 02 Aug 1953 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDDLD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 2nd August 1953. Won the toss, and with the sun doing its level best to hold, I had no hesitation in sending us in to bat.

We were duly bowled out for 151 in the 46th over, which on this ground counts as a proper afternoon's work. William Buck was in fine touch for his 58, and Richard Harris chipped in with a handy 23 to keep the total respectable. Elsewhere, the less said the better — J Barclay's contribution to the ledger was a duck, and the walk back to the pavilion was every bit as long as tradition demands.

With the ball, we set about them properly. The opposition replied with 120 for 7 from their 39 overs, B Hards top-scoring with a well-made 51, supported by G Broughton's unbeaten 25. B Blundell joined our own duck club without so much as troubling the scorers. John Ames was the pick of the attack, snaring 3 for 34, with Tony Tipples (2-19) and Gordon Fenner (2-49) doing sterling work either side of him — Fenner in particular bowling with such miserly intent that five of his overs went for nothing at all.

Two small footnotes for the record books: Richard Harris's 23 eased him past Ernest Cruttenden into 15th on the club's all-time run charts, and John Ames's three wickets lifted him past R W Mitchell into 19th among our leading wicket-takers.

In the end, neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw, then — the great English compromise, and no bad way to spend a Sunday.

Sun 26 Jul 1953 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformWDDDL

Sunday last took us down to Folkestone, and the coin did us no favours — down went the toss, and down went we, into the field on a day that felt built for batting. Heyer made merry early, ambling to 86, with W Barrett keeping him honest company on 70, and Ernie Thunder chipping in a brisk 39 as the total crept to 240 for 5 off 49.2 overs. Gordon Fenner was the pick of us, tight as a drum with three maidens on his way to 2-55, while Bill Hall and John Ames shared a wicket apiece for their honest toil.

183 for 7 in reply told its own story — respectable, not victorious. Stan Wratten was the mainstay with a fine 54, well supported by William Buck's 43 and John Ames's 36, while I pottered to 17 and felt rather pleased with myself for it. Tony Levick and Bill Hall both departed for ducks, proof that cricket remains a great leveller.

Amid the toil, honours were quietly earned: John Ames's 36 nudged him past Percy Brattle to 22nd on the club's all-time run列 — sorry, run list — and Bill Hall's solitary wicket edged him past Bert Buckoke into 12th among our wicket-takers. William Buck continues to lead our season's run charts, Fenner lurking second among the bowlers.

In the end, neither side could force the door open, and honours were shared. A draw, then — the cricketing equivalent of agreeing to disagree over tea.

Sat 25 Jul 1953 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformLWDDD

Saturday, 25th July 1953 — Linton Park at home to Dummy Site, and I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season, which meant we were out in the field while the tea urn stayed cold a while longer.

They batted with more patience than menace, edging to 140 all out from 41.3 overs. J. Chambers led their effort with 39, W. Bailes chipping in a useful 34, though B. Simpson and R. Chambers both departed without troubling the scorers. The story of the innings, though, belonged to Gerald Wright, whose 5-52 — five wickets and five maidens besides — was bowling of real discipline and thoroughly deserved its reward. Robert Muir (3-26) and J. Barclay (1-4) tidied up the rest, and in doing so Muir's three scalps carried him past E. C. Streatfield to 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-taking list — a quiet little piece of history amid the afternoon's toil.

Chasing 141, we made it look rather more comfortable than these things usually are, reaching 141/3 from 39 overs. William Buck's 54 was the innings of the day — a fine half-century — well supported by Basil Sears (40) and Michael Morton (25). Fourteen byes did rather give the game away for poor Bob Arnold behind the stumps, bless him.

For all that, we finished seven wickets down on the day — not our afternoon, truth be told. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 19 Jul 1953 🧢 1st XIv JL John Larkings · HomeformDLWDD

Lost the toss again on Sunday - the story of my captaincy, some might say - and Dummy Site had no hesitation in asking us to bowl first. Goodliffe, Howard and Saville all found fifties, and by the time they declared their innings closed at 286/8 from 52 overs, the arms were weary and the tea urn had never looked more inviting. John Thirkell was the pick of us with 2-20, tidy and probing throughout, while Gordon Fenner toiled hard for his 2-83 and Stan Wratten chipped in with 1-29.

Chasing 287 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and 172/9 from 59 overs tells you we didn't quite find the answers. Tony Levick played the innings of the day, a well-made 56 that had the deckchairs briefly forgetting themselves, ably supported by William Blight's 29 and Stan Wratten's 22. Less happily, Tom Osborn, Gordon Fenner and Frank Wright all took the walk of shame for nought, and 23 byes suggested Tom was having rather a testing afternoon behind the stumps.

There was, at least, one bright note amid the wreckage: Tony's 56 nudged him past Percy Brattle and into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list - a small personal triumph on an otherwise chastening day. In the end, honours were shared, and a draw felt about right: neither side deserved to lose, and neither quite deserved to win either.

Sat 11 Jul 1953 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · AwayformLDLWD

Well, Saturday took us out to Dummy Site, and the coin, as it so often does against me, landed the wrong way up. They took first use of the bat, and 207/6 from their fifty overs was a decent tally to chase, built around Burness's 46 with Hawkes (39) and White (31) filling in nicely around him. Credit where due to the lads with the ball, mind — Robert Muir toiled away for figures of 3-73 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, Barclay chipped in with 2-65, and Bob Arnold picked up one for a tidy 16.

Chasing 208, we crawled to 139/7 off our 42, never quite finding the fluency to threaten the target. William Buck stood rather magnificently alone with an unbeaten 58 — a proper half-century when it mattered most — ably assisted by Tew's 22, but the rest of us rather let the side down around them. Poor Skinner had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 20 byes leaking through like the Dummy Site drainage system after a downpour.

A small crumb of comfort: young Richard Harris's 13 runs eased him past Gordon Fenner and into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which he'll no doubt be dining out on for weeks. Buck, meanwhile, continues to lead our 1953 charge with 436 runs, and Barclay sits fourth among the bowlers on 16 wickets.

In the end, honours were shared — a draw that flattered nobody but satisfied everybody. Just as well the tea was good.

Sun 05 Jul 1953 🧢 1st XIv J J.Charlton's · HomeformLLDLW

Sunday the fifth of July found Dummy Site rolling up as our visitors, and I lost the toss — not, I hasten to add, through any deficiency of coin-spinning technique, merely the game's ancient habit of humbling captains. They elected to bat, leaving us to toil away with the new ball under a sky that, I like to think, watched with mild amusement.

Toil we did, and not without reward. N- Bristow made merry with 58, well supported by P- Hope and N- Tiley with 30 apiece, and between them they carried the visitors to 190 all out from 53 overs — a total that felt heftier at tea than it does in print. Stan Wratten was magnificent, 3-16 and stingy as a Yorkshireman with the drinks round, while Robert Muir (2-35) and Gerald Wright (1-19) chipped in handsomely. John --'s Taylor bowled three maidens of the sort that make batsmen mutter darkly to themselves.

In reply I was delighted to lead from the front with 93 not out, ably assisted by Stan Wratten's unbeaten 35 and William Buck's brisk 20, closing on 189/3 from 41 overs — one agonising run shy of victory as the overs ran out. Honours shared, then, and rightly so.

Milestones for the scrapbook: Buck's 20 lifts him past John --'s Taylor into 4th on our all-time run-scorers' list, and Wratten's three wickets edge him past Don Hartridge into 8th among our leading wicket-takers. Buck still tops the 1953 run charts with 378, and Tony Snell sits proudly 3rd among this season's bowlers with 16 wickets. A draw, but a thoroughly satisfying one — honours even, and honour intact.

Sat 04 Jul 1953 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformLLLDL

From the captain's chair — Saturday, the 4th of July, 1953. We travelled to Charles Arkcoll, lost the toss, and were asked to chase — which at least meant the rare treat of getting first use of the new ball while somebody else did the sweating.

We held them to 155 for 7 from their 46 overs, though Stan Wratten rather spoiled our afternoon with an unbeaten 59, capably supported by Edgar Humphreys' 23. There was some justice done, mind — Humphrey Morris trudged off without troubling the scorers, one of the rewards for some fine, disciplined bowling. John --'s Taylor did the real damage with 4-50, while Michael Morton was his usual miserly self, 3-38 with three maidens to show for his parsimony.

A target of 156 ought to have been tidy work; naturally we made a production of it. Fiennes Cornwallis batted with real class for 57, John Thirkell chipped in a fine 53 of his own past his fifty, and I confess to no small satisfaction at leading from the front with 53 alongside them. Less gloriously, Bob Arnold, G- Neighbour and Michael Morton all walked the walk of shame for ducks, and William Buck had a torrid time behind the stumps, 10 byes slipping through. Buck made amends with the bat, though — 13 runs enough to leapfrog John --'s Taylor into 4th on the club's all-time run-scorers list.

We scrambled home 179/8 from 34 overs, winners by 2 wickets — untidy, nerve-shredding, and thoroughly typical of this lot. A fine win. Onwards.

Sun 28 Jun 1953 🧢 1st XIv S Selstead · HomeformLLLLD

Sunday 28 June 1953 saw Dummy Site pitch up on our patch, and the coin, as is its custom, betrayed me at the crucial moment. They chose to bat, and we were sent into the field to make the best of it.

Make the best of it we rather did. Dummy Site huffed and puffed their way to 130 all out from 51.1 overs, B. Fletcher's 36 the backbone of the innings with D. Eaton's 22 in support, while poor C. Godden trudged off for a duck. The bowling honours went to Bill Hall, whose 4-40 was a fine afternoon's work, well backed by John Ames's 4-46 — seven of his overs maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Gordon Fenner chipping in with 1-16.

Chasing 131, we made a proper meal of it, scraping home on 131/7 from 42 overs. William Buck's unbeaten 48 was the innings that mattered, John Taylor lending fine support with 35, though Gordon Fenner's golden duck rather balanced the ledger. Tony Levick had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes leaking through, and in the end we fell three wickets short of victory.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Buck's 48 nudges him past Taylor into 4th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now leads our 1953 run charts with 345, with Fenner 2nd among the wicket-takers on 17. Small mercies, gratefully received. A defeat, no question — but the bones of a good side are there, and we'll be sharper for it next week.

Sat 27 Jun 1953 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLLLLL

Saturday 27 June 1953 — Dummy Site the visitors, and mercifully a fine day for it. I won the toss and, with barely a flicker of deliberation, stuck us in to bat, which for once looked like genuine cricketing wisdom rather than my usual coin-flip guesswork.

William Buck was in irrepressible form, carrying his bat for a majestic 111 not out, while Peter Weedon played the perfect foil with an unbeaten 52. Richard Harris chipped in with a tidy 21 — enough, pleasingly, to nudge him past the good Reverend F A Leveson-Gower into 17th on the club's all-time run charts, which felt like the sort of thing one ought to raise a teacup to. Poor R- Fermor, meanwhile, departed for a golden duck, the sort of dismissal one simply pats on the shoulder and moves swiftly on from. We closed on a healthy 227/6 from our 49 overs.

In the field, Bob Arnold had his gloves worked hard — eleven byes tells its own tale of a lively pitch — but Michael Morton was magnificent, snaring five wickets for 77, richly deserved and further proof of why he sits atop the season's bowling with 17 scalps. John Thirkell chipped in too. N- Tiley's fine 66, backed by useful contributions from a- Snook and H- Wood, kept Dummy Site in the hunt, and they finished on 188/7 from their 43.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. No complaints from this captain: with Buck in such form and Morton steaming in, we shall live to fight another Saturday.

Sun 21 Jun 1953 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLLLL

Not our finest hour, but it read the wicket right and the pen stays busy — writing the report now.

Sunday 21 June 1953, and home advantage counted for precious little as we slumped to a defeat by 0 wickets in front of the home faithful. We put them in, and for a good while it looked the shrewder call - S Kimmins (57) and R Richardson (53) put together the kind of stand that has visiting sides purring, with C Hambro's 20 filling out a total of 179 all out from 48.3 overs. Credit where due: John Ames was the chief tormentor with 4-33, Gordon Fenner chipped away for 4-41, and Stan Wratten (2-38, two maidens) refused to hand out a single run without a fight.

Then came our reply, and here the tale turns bittersweet. P Mann, G Taylor and K Emery trooped back without so much as a single to their names between them - the sort of top order collapse that has committee members reaching for the tea urn in despair. But Tony Levick, batting as though the rest of us weren't even needed, played a captain's innings of 94, ably assisted by Richard Harris (27) and John Ames (25), to haul us to 225 all out from 46 overs. Alas, it wasn't enough.

There were bright spots amid the gloom: Richard Harris's 27 nudged him past Tom Osborn into 18th on the club's all-time run charts, while Ames's four-for lifted him past E C Streatfield to 22nd among the wicket-takers - and Harris continues to top our 1953 run charts on 265, with Fenner leading the bowling on 16. Small consolations. Heads up, lads - back to the nets.

Sat 20 Jun 1953 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformDWLLL

Here's the report.

We had no luck with the coin against Aylesford Paper Mills CC this Saturday, and having lost the toss we were put straight into the field — never the ideal way to start a Saturday afternoon, but there it is. The visitors settled in and made themselves rather too comfortable, posting 201/9 from their 52 overs. G Webb led the charge with a fine 61, well supported by Colin Watson's equally fine 50 and J Overy's brisk 20. Credit where it's due, though: Gerald Wright bowled like a man possessed to claim 6-59, a thoroughly deserved five-for and the spell of the day by some distance. John Thirkell chipped in with 2-57, G Tew picked up one, and young John Taylor bowled five tight maidens to keep things honest at the other end.

Chasing 201 was always going to ask questions of our batting, and sadly we didn't have the answers, folding to 90/9 from our 30 overs. Bob Arnold fought hardest for his 30, but wickets tumbled around him — R Walker and J Lee both departed without so much as a squeak off the bat. Behind the stumps it was one of those afternoons best forgotten, thirteen byes telling their own story.

Beaten by 111 runs, then, and no dressing that up. Richard Harris continues to lead our run charts with 238 for the season, and John Thirkell sits second among the wickets with 14 — small consolations on a chastening day. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 14 Jun 1953 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Colfeians CC · HomeformDDWLL

Sunday 14th of June, and by rights I should be writing this from behind a large gin, having lost the toss and been put in on a green one. Instead the coin obliged, I sent Dummy Site into the field, and off we trotted.

It's fair to say we huffed rather than sailed to 135 all out from our 56 overs. Richard Harris, calm as ever amid the carnage around him, brought up a fine fifty and finished unbeaten on 68 to give the total any respectability it possessed. Elsewhere the story was less flattering — Gordon Fenner and J Barclay both took the long, silent walk for ducks, and I'm reliably informed the Duck Club ledger is groaning under the weight of new entries. 🦆

With the ball we scrapped hard without ever quite landing the killer blow. John Ames was miserly and probing for 1-16, Robert Muir chipped in with 1-17 and three maidens of his own, but R- Shand simply refused to leave, batting through to 84 not out, well supported by J- Marritt (25) and F- Weller (23 not out) as the visitors cruised home on 138/3 from 48.3 overs.

A word of cheer amid the gloom: John Ames's solitary wicket was enough to nudge him past S Christopherson into 23rd on the club's all-time list — a small step for a man, a modest ripple for the record books. Richard Harris, meanwhile, continues to lead our 1953 run charts with 237 for the summer.

Beaten by seven wickets, then, and fairly so. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sun 07 Jun 1953 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDWL

It was a tough one, that. We won the toss, sent them in, and for a while it looked a proper triumph — Alan Wilkes turned in the spell of his season, 5-19, and with Tony Snell (2-16, four maidens to his name — miserly stuff) and Gordon Fenner (1-3) squeezing from the other end, we had them tumbling for ducks all afternoon: P Walter, R Cantwell and D McDonald all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Only P Riley, with 20, showed any real defiance. All out 52 in 27.2 overs — we could scarcely believe our luck.

And then, as English cricket so loves to remind us, the game turned on its head. We managed 152/8 from our 46 overs, William Buck top-scoring with a fine 41 and John Taylor chipping in a handy 33, but the rest of the card rather told its own sorry story — Richard Harris among those departing for nought — and 52 simply wasn't enough of a lead to chase down. Beaten by an innings and 23 runs, which is the sort of scoreline that makes the tea urn taste of ash.

Small mercies amid the wreckage: John Ames's 12 eased him past E Humphreys into 23rd on the club's all-time run charts, and Tony Snell's two wickets lifted him past R W Mitchell into 18th among our leading wicket-takers — the history books, at least, had a good day. Verdict: bowled beautifully, batted like a side with something better in the fridge. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 06 Jun 1953 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformDLDDW

Not our day for a coin toss, and not our day for a match either — but by heavens the lads gave it everything at Dummy Site on Saturday.

Put in to field first after losing the toss, we chipped away steadily. D. Wooden gave us the most trouble with a stubborn 48, but everywhere else the wickets kept tumbling — R. Chambers back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers 🦆. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, 3-27 and full value for it, with John Thirkell (3-31) and Michael Morton (3-44) both doing their bit, and J Barclay tight as a drum with two maidens. All out 128 from 43.4 overs — a total we knew was chaseable, if we kept our nerve.

With the bat, Richard Harris was the man of the hour, a fine, watchful 54 that anchored the innings and, we're told, nudges him past C Murdoch to 19th on the club's all-time run charts — not a bad afternoon's work by any measure. Gordon Bugge chipped in handsomely with 24, and between them they had us purring. Alas, 135/9 from 41 overs left us agonisingly short, going down by a single wicket in what must have been a nail-biter for anyone watching.

Small consolation in three wickets for your skipper, and in John Thirkell and Michael Morton continuing to lead the way in this season's run and wicket charts respectively. But a defeat by one wicket stings all the same. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets — we'll have our day yet.

Sun 31 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLDLDD

It was West Farleigh CC at home on Sunday, and for the third week running the coin let us down — they had first use of both the decision and, as it turned out, precious little else. Put in to bowl, we found Gordon Fenner in irresistible form, his 6-15 a proper five-for and then some, cutting through Reg Fermor, P- Day and George Reffell without any of the three troubling the scorer. Alan Wilkes chipped in with three, and Tony Snell, six maidens to his name and only 17 runs conceded, bowled with the sort of miserliness that makes a captain's job easy. West Farleigh were rolled for 84 in just over thirty overs, and I'll confess I allowed myself a small smile at square leg.

Eighty-five to win should never be described as nervy, and yet cricket delights in making fools of us. Fiennes Cornwallis led the reply with a fine 32, Basil Sears and Bob Arnold weighed in with 25 and 22, and the extras column did its bit too — 25 of them, eight of which were byes, which tells you all you need to know about Bob Arnold's afternoon behind the stumps. We stumbled and scrapped our way to 129/9 off 35.2 overs, winning by the barest of margins: one wicket.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a personal note for the history books — Gordon Fenner's six wickets carried him past Frank Taylor to the top of the club's all-time list. A fine day's work, even if my heart can't take too many more like it.

Sat 30 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformWLDLD

Saturday last brought Dummy Site to Linton Park, and for once the coin did as it was told, so I had no hesitation in sending us in. It proved a mixed blessing. We were bowled out for 114 in 36 overs, a total that owed rather too much to good intentions and not enough to runs on the board — Basil Sears and John Thirkell both contributed golden ducks, and I can't claim to have set them a better example, falling myself for nought. We shall draw a veil over that innings, as I believe is traditional.

With the ball, though, we were altogether more like ourselves. Michael Morton led from the front with a fine 3-31, backed up handsomely by J Barclay's 2-11 and Gerald Wright, who bowled with the miserliness of a man checking his own tea round twice — 1-23 and four maidens to show for it. Myers, Brooks and Keynes were all sent back without troubling the scorers, and only Phillips, unbeaten on 44, with support from Bowring (28) and Trower (20), kept Dummy Site afloat, closing on 114/8 from their 37. Poor Bob Arnold had a torrid time behind the stumps, conceding ten byes, though nobody blamed him twice.

A word on the mantelpiece: John Thirkell's wicket eased him past Dennis Smith into 10th on the club's all-time list, while Richard Harris (113 runs, 4th) and Michael Morton (9 wickets, 2nd) continue to adorn this season's charts. A draw, then, honours shared, and honestly about right — nobody deserved to win it, and nobody quite lost it either.

Mon 25 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv M Marden · HomeformDWLDL

It was a Monday afternoon at Linton Park, and Dummy Site were our visitors for what promised to be a proper day's cricket. I lost the toss – as seems to be my lot in life these days – and we were sent into the field. No matter; there's a certain honest pleasure in bowling first, even against opposition who clearly fancied batting.

Dummy Site made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 210/5 from 58.3 overs, built around a magnificent century from F- Day (103) with sturdy support from Agar (38) and Tipples (36). Credit to the lads for not letting it run away completely – Tony Snell toiled away for 2-80 with four maidens to show for his miserly spells, while Barclay and Ames chipped in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 211, we made a fine fist of it. John Thirkell played the innings of the day with a well-crafted 67, ably supported by Michael Morton's 53 and a watchful 30 from Gordon Fenner – I'll confess a quiet satisfaction in contributing 67 of my own. We closed on 204/8 from 48 overs, agonisingly short.

Two footnotes for the club historians: Fenner's runs eased him past the Reverend F A Leveson-Gower into 16th on the all-time run charts, and Ames's solitary wicket nudged him past Tom Peach Snr into 24th among the bowlers. Thirkell continues to lead our season's run charts, Snell the wickets.

In the end, honours even – a draw that felt, on reflection, like a fair reflection of two sides giving as good as they got.

Sun 24 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDWLD

Sunday 24 May 1953, at home, and I fancied our chances enough to have no hesitation at the toss: we'd bat.

As it turned out, that confidence wanted tempering. We were bowled out for 108 in 31.1 overs, John Ames doing the honest, patient work for his 25, while William Buck and Gerald Wright both trudged back without troubling the umpires' fingers. Not, on reflection, a total to frighten anyone over tea.

And so it proved. The visitors eased to 135 for 6 in 38 overs, Jack Whibley's 40 the backbone of the chase, with Robin Bush unbeaten on 30 and A Whibley's 29 doing the tidying up. Tony Snell toiled manfully for his 2-45, well backed by Robert Muir and J Barclay with a wicket apiece, and Denis Fowle at least had the decency to depart for nought — small mercies. I contributed 19 with the bat, which is about as much as anyone should say about that.

There was, happily, rather more to celebrate off the scorecard than on it: John Thirkell brought up his hundredth appearance in Linton colours, a splendid milestone, while Richard Harris's 15 runs eased him past Joe Fenner into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers' list. Both men can be well pleased with themselves even as the rest of us slink off.

In short: beaten by four wickets, outplayed rather than outclassed. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sat 23 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformDLDWL

Saturday 23 May 1953, and Gore Court came to Linton Park with the sun out and, more to the point, the toss lost — a habit I really must break. They elected to bat, and 46 overs later had posted 139 for 7, built chiefly around I Halder's watchful 44 and Peter Holmes's tidy 21, the pair putting on 58 for the fifth wicket while the rest of us looked on rather helplessly. Credit where due: John Thirkell bowled a fine spell for 2-25, Robert Muir and J Barclay chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Michael Morton was miserliness personified, sending down six maidens that must have felt like six small victories in themselves.

Our reply was a study in application rather than fireworks. Arthur Cradduck's 25 was the innings' backbone as we crawled to 127 for 9 from our 40, never quite threatening the target but never quite capitulating either. Spare a thought for Gerald Wright, whose duck earns him the walk of shame in this year's ledger, and for poor Tony Levick, whose 12 byes suggest the wicketkeeping gloves were having an off day.

In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force it home — a fitting draw for an afternoon that promised more drama than it delivered. Not a classic, but an honest day's cricket, and I'll take that over a hiding any Saturday.

Sun 17 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformDDLDW

Sunday 17 May 1953, away at Dummy Site, and the toss did us no favours whatsoever — they called it right and had no hesitation in batting. We toiled manfully in the field as H- Hawkins settled in for an unbeaten 66 and J- Waters chipped in with 50, C- Harmer adding 31 for good measure, and by the close of their innings 195/8 looked a formidable total from 57.4 overs. John Ames worked hardest for his 4-84, Bill Hall bowled with real discipline for 2-53 including two maidens, and Robert Muir picked up a wicket for just the 1 run — proof there was some quality among the toil.

Our reply, I'm sorry to report, was rather less than convincing. All out for 67 in 18.4 overs, with only John Thirkell showing any real fight for his 24, and I managed to match him with 24 of my own. Stan Wratten, John Ames and J Barclay all fell without troubling the scorer, and 14 byes told the tale of a trying afternoon behind the stumps for poor Tony Levick.

Small mercies amid the wreckage: John Thirkell's 24 nudges him past Stan Wratten into 2nd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Bill Hall's two wickets lift him past Rev Thomas Burra into 13th among our wicket-takers — history quietly made even as the scoreboard groaned. Beaten, comprehensively, but not disgraced. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sat 16 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformLDDLD

Saturday 16 May 1953 saw us motor down to Gore Court CC in fine spirits, rather dampened when I lost the toss and we were asked to field. Still, Gore Court soon gave us cause for cheer, subsiding from a promising 116 for 7 to all out for 121 in 41.3 overs — R R Ledger's 40 the backbone, with K Wellard (22) and Peter Holmes (20) offering support. John Thirkell was in irresistible form, running through them for 5-22, well backed by Bill Hall's miserly 3-31 (three maidens — not a run given away lightly) and J Barclay's 1-42. Richard Hooker and Brian Allsworth both departed for ducks at our hands, much to the field's delight.

Set 122, we made rather harder work of it than the bowling perhaps warranted, losing our first wicket for just 3 before Basil Sears — 78 not out and looking a class above the rest of us — anchored a sturdy 57-run second-wicket stand, carried along by Gordon Bugge (31 not out) and John Thirkell (30). A defiant last-wicket flourish of 73 further frustrated the fielders, though Michael Morton and J Barclay both fell without troubling the scorers. For my part, I chipped in a workmanlike 30 with the bat and, finding some rhythm of my own, picked up 5 wickets besides.

Basil Sears now leads our 1953 run charts with 107, and John Thirkell sits second among the wicket-takers with 5. Four wickets, two points, thoroughly earned — a fine day's cricket, even if my knees will be reminding me of it come Monday.

Sun 10 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLLDDL

Sunday 10 May 1953, and Folkestone rolled into Linton Park under skies that promised more than they delivered on the scorecard. I lost the toss — a habit I'm beginning to suspect is less bad luck than settled club policy — and we were sent out to bowl.

Folkestone made steady if unspectacular progress to 164 for 5 off their 43 overs, Cecil Blacklocks top-scoring with 39, well backed by R Brook's 36 and an unbeaten 36 from Ernie Thunder. But it was Tony Snell who owned the afternoon, bowling with the miserly precision of a man who begrudges every run as though it were coming out of his own pocket — four maidens and figures of 5 for 51, sending poor Bim Goodsell back for a duck along the way. A performance, we're told, that carries him past E C Streatfield into 21st on the club's all-time wicket-takers' list.

In reply, we crept to 131 for 8 from our 41, never quite finding the fluency to chase the game down. William Buck was the innings' one shaft of sunshine, striking a composed 53 not out and, in doing so, easing past Frank Taylor into 5th on the all-time run-scorers' roll — no mean feat for a Sunday afternoon. J Barclay chipped in with 26, though John Ames's duck was a blot best glossed over quickly.

So honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody — which, on reflection, may be cricket's whole point.

Sat 09 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLLLDD

Called it right at the toss on a fine Saturday and, with the sun out and the Dummy Site lads watching us decide, there was never really any question — we'd bat. It proved a sound instinct, if not quite a triumphant one: 158 for 6 off our 41 overs, built chiefly on a fine 58 from Richard Harris, well supported by William Buck's 46 and a brisk 29 from Basil Sears. Poor Michael Morton will want that duck struck from the record, though he'd more than make amends with the ball later.

Defending it, we made the opposition sweat without ever quite choking them. They reached 162 for 5 in 33.2 overs, v- Pound playing the innings of the day with a chanceless-looking 79, ably backed by a- Snook's 23 and G- Hawkins' unbeaten 20. Small mercies: E- White fell for a duck at our hands. Michael Morton was superb with the ball, 3 for 37 including five miserly maidens, with Bert Buckoke (1-26) and J Barclay (1-36) chipping in dutifully.

There was a genuine bright spot amid the gloom — Richard Harris's 58 lifted him past E- Humphreys to 22nd on the club's all-time run charts, and he now sits second in this season's First XI run standings, with Michael Morton leading the wicket-takers on 4. Small consolations for a five-wicket defeat, but proof the engine still turns. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sun 03 May 1953 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · HomeformDLLLD

From the captain's chair, Sunday 3rd May 1953. Hunton Wanderers came to Linton Park, we lost the toss, and were sent out to field on what turned into a proper long afternoon — 46 overs of it. A Pilcher gave us a fright with a handsome fifty, and had good company from J Ludden's 39 and R Venner's unbeaten 25, taking the visitors to 169/7. It could have been worse but for Tony Snell, who did the damage with 2-30, backed up nicely by J Barclay's 2-40 and Stan Wratten's 1-11, while John Taylor bowled with the patience of a saint for his four maidens.

Chasing 170, we made a proper fist of it. John Larking played the innings of the day, 88 well past his fifty and the difference between a chase and a capitulation, with Tom Osborn ticking along nicely for 29. Sadly John Ames and Stan Wratten both departed for ducks — the kind of thing that gives a captain grey hairs before his time — and I did what I could with 18, more application than artistry. In the end we fell short at 163/7 from our 36, and honours were shared.

Small print for the scrapbook: Tom Osborn's 29 eased him past Gordon Fenner into 17th on the club's all-time run list, and Tony Snell's brace lifted him past Tom Peach Snr into 23rd among the wicket-takers. A draw, then — no losers, but with Larking and Snell both this season's early pacesetters, no shortage of promise either.