🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 25 Sep 1955 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformWDDD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 25 September 1955

Winning the toss on a Sunday is meant to feel like a gift, and I duly stuck us in, confident the lads would build something to defend. What we actually built was 101 all out in 40.1 overs, which is less an innings and more a cautionary tale told over several chapters. Stan Wratten was the one shining thread through it, cracking a fine 47, with Tony Levick chipping in a tidy 20 to keep the scoreboard honest. I added 16 of my own down the order, which felt like a triumph purely by comparison.

Elsewhere the ledger was less kind. Frank Brattle, Ray Tippen and Peter Weedon all made that lonely walk back for ducks, three abreast in the club's roll of shame, and I dare say the tea urn heard some choice words about it. Still, cricket has a habit of rewarding stubbornness over style, and somehow 101 proved just enough.

Defending a total like that ought to have been an exercise in nerves and prayer, but the lads held firm and got us home by 8 runs. Two points, and thoroughly earned, even if nobody watching would have called it pretty. Stan's 47 keeps him out in front of the 1955 Married run charts too, so at least someone in the side is having a proper season. A scrappy win, but a win all the same, and I'll take those over style points any Sunday.

Sat 24 Sep 1955 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformDWDDD

Saturday last, 24 September, saw Town Malling CC roll up the drive, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy career, I had no hesitation in sending us in to bat. It was not, I confess, a vintage batting display — 89 for 6 off 25.3 overs is the sort of total that has opposition bowlers suppressing a smirk over their tea — but I managed 36 to top the card, with Stan Wratten a sterling 25 alongside me. Poor John Carter, meanwhile, was back in the pavilion for nought before his pads had properly warmed up — the walk of shame indeed.

Eighty-nine looked distinctly gettable, and for a good while it was. But cricket, bless it, has a way of rewarding patience over panic, and ours held. Richard Terry, Raymond Hollands and P Hollands all departed without troubling the scorers, and the innings never found its footing. The undoubted hero of the afternoon was J Donovan, whose 6 for 21 was a spell of real quality — a five-for and thoroughly deserved. Stan Wratten, not content with his runs, chipped in with 2 for 20 and five miserly maidens, while Bob Brigden took 1 for 18. Town Malling were bowled out for 72 in 30.4 overs.

A win by 17 runs, then — scrappy with the bat, splendid with the ball, and thoroughly satisfactory for the ledger. Onwards we go.

Sun 18 Sep 1955 🧢 1st XIv TC Tunbridge Wells CC · HomeformWDWDD

I toss lost, so it was straight to the field for us on a bright Sunday, and Tunbridge Wells CC took first knock. They ground their way to 133 all out from 40.3 overs, Peter Lloyd the chief architect with 45, Charles Wicker chipping in 29 and Jack Hickmott 28. We had our moments too — James Scrace and Jim Willard both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, which always raises a cheer from the boundary. But the story of the innings was Gordon Fenner, who bowled beautifully to finish with 7-31, a five-for and thoroughly deserved. John Carter (1-6) and Bob Brigden (1-22, with two tidy maidens thrown in) kept things honest at the other end.

Chasing 134 to win, we never quite found the fluency to match our bowling. Ray Howard was the mainstay with a well-made 32, Stan Wratten added 23 and Richard Harris 20, but wickets fell steadily enough that 130/7 from our 40 overs was as far as we got. I contributed my own small share along the way, though it was very much a team effort in the runs column, or lack thereof.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. On the balance of the afternoon's play I'd say we shaded it with the ball and let them off the hook with the bat — but a draw against a decent Tunbridge Wells side is no disgrace, and there's plenty to build on before the next fixture.

Sat 17 Sep 1955 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDWDWD

Won the toss on a fine Saturday afternoon and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first — Bearsted CC in town, and a good pitch under our feet is not an invitation to be turned down. We laboured our way to 145 for 8 off 42 overs, which felt like harder work than the scoreboard perhaps suggests. I found some form at last, top-scoring with 45, and Stan Wratten gave the innings real backbone with a fighting 39, Frank Brattle chipping in usefully with 22. Poor C. Haylor will not thank me for mentioning it, but a duck is a duck, and the club gazette is nothing if not honest.

In the field we set about defending our total with more conviction than the total probably deserved, and were rewarded handsomely. Michael Morton was quite simply magnificent, ripping through Bearsted for 4 for 32 and, in doing so, sailed past the milestone of 100 career wickets — a thoroughly deserved piece of history. Basil Sears backed him up with 2 for 29, nudging past R W Mitchell into 24th on the club's all-time list, while J Donovan bowled two tidy maidens on his way to 1 for 13. Bearsted battled to 105 for 7, Snook and Hawkins doing the bulk of the resisting, but honours finished shared.

A draw, then — but with two lads etching their names into the record books, I'll happily call it a good day's cricket.

Sun 11 Sep 1955 🧢 1st XIv MT Medway Towns · HomeformDDWDW

Sunday, 11 September, and losing the toss meant Medway Towns had us in the field to begin with — bowl first, chase second, the traditional recipe for a testing afternoon. They made 192 for 6 from their fifty-four overs, built around a well-made 74 from H. Doust, with useful support from K. Walker (39) and A. Lawson (37). Len Conway was the pick of the lads, tidy and miserly with three maidens on his way to 2 for 35, Bob Brigden chipped in with 2 for 45, and I managed 1 for 30 to do my bit.

Set to chase, we replied with 166 for 7 from our thirty-six overs — a battling effort, though we ran out of overs before the finish line came properly into view. I found some form with the bat, top-scoring with 59, and had good company from Stan Wratten (32) and Tony Levick (22) as we pushed the score along.

Two things worth toasting in the pavilion afterwards: Stan reached 3,000 career runs for the club, a splendid landmark years in the making, and my one wicket this week nudged me past Jack Fryer into 8th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — while, for what it's worth, I now sit atop this season's run charts with 735.

With neither side able to force a result, honours were shared and the match ended in a draw — a fair reflection, I'd say, of an afternoon where both teams gave as good as they got.

Sat 10 Sep 1955 🧢 1st XIv OR Old Roffensians · HomeformWDDWD

Saturday the 10th of September found us hosting Old Roffensians at home, and losing the toss meant there was no time to admire the pitch — straight out into the field we went.

They ground their way to 147 all out in 46.2 overs, Kingston top-scoring with a determined 42, well supported by R. Howard's 30 and Roberts' 25. Martin and Deer both trooped back without so much as a run to show for it, while Bob Brigden turned in the kind of afternoon spin bowlers dream about — 5 for 29, four of his overs maidens, turning the ball as if the square owed him money. Donovan (1-10) and Michael Morton (1-27) mopped up the rest.

Chasing 148, we scrambled home at 148 for 7 in 31.4 overs. Bob Arnold's 38 led the way, I chipped in with 31, and Tom Osborn added a handy 22, though Taylor and Morton both departed for golden ducks, proving even the best sides carry a passenger or two.

A word for the record books: Gordon Fenner's 22 runs have nudged him past Bob Arnold into 17th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, I find myself leading the 1955 run charts with 676, and Taylor sits second among the season's wicket-takers with 40. A fine win by three wickets, then — onwards we go.

Sun 04 Sep 1955 🧢 1st XIv BW Birchington Wanderers · HomeformLWDDW

Sunday the fourth of September, and Birchington Wanderers made the trip to Linton Park for what turned into rather a stately affair. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — the pitch looked a belter, and so it proved. William Buck played the innings of the day, 67 not out of pure, unhurried craftsmanship, with Len Conway chipping in a tidy 37 and John --'s Taylor a brisk 20. Poor John Ames, normally so reliable, was undone for a golden duck — the sort of dismissal that earns a sympathetic pat and no end of ribbing in the bar afterwards. Even our extras got in on the act with 25, and we closed on a healthy 197 for 6 from our 51 overs.

In the field we set about defending it with real purpose. Len Conway continued his good afternoon with 2 for 31, John Ames made amends with the ball for his earlier duck by picking up 1 for 61, and John --'s Taylor bowled beautifully tight, three maidens and thoroughly miserly throughout — fitting, given it was his hundredth appearance in Linton colours, a landmark the whole side was delighted to see. But E Webb played a fine innings of his own, 67, well supported by A Goodenough's 43 and D Edwards' unbeaten 37, and Birchington steadied to 165 for 3 from their 45 to deny us the win.

Honours shared, then — and with my own tally for the season now standing at 645 runs, I can't complain too loudly. A draw that flattered neither side, but a hundredth cap is worth more than two points any day.

Sat 03 Sep 1955 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformWLWDD

Lost the toss at Yalding, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a personal vendetta from whichever coin they use down there. We were put out into the field, and for once the lads made the most of it. Yalding limped to 91 all out in 42.4 overs, Stickings doing the bulk of the damage with 33 before falling away, while poor Woollett departed for a golden duck at our hands. The bowling honours belonged unarguably to John --'s Taylor, whose 7-41 with eight miserly maidens was the kind of spell that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy — I chipped in with 3-35, mostly by standing at the right end at the right time.

Ninety-two to win is never quite the formality the scorebook suggests, and so it proved. We stumbled and nudged our way to 98 for 6 from 32 overs, John --'s Taylor again to the fore with 22, while the rest of us did what English batting orders traditionally do to their nerves and their tea. Somehow, gloriously, we got there with four wickets in hand.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine day for the season charts besides — I sit proudly atop the run pile with 631, and John --'s Taylor now second among the wicket-takers with 39. All told: a scratchy, nervy, thoroughly typical village win, and I wouldn't have swapped it for a tidier one.

Sun 28 Aug 1955 🧢 1st XIv DX D Hambrook XI · HomeformWWLWD

Sunday, 28th August 1955, and D Hambrook XI came calling. Winning the toss, I put us into the field, and for a good long while it looked a sound decision entirely wasted, as Aiston creamed a fine 52, with Lawrence (36) and Basten (32) filling their boots either side of him. They closed on 189/9 from their 46 overs — a total that flattered them, frankly, until I found some rhythm and helped myself to 5-76, well backed up by Tony Tipples (2-33) and the parsimonious Tony Snell, whose 1-30 included two maidens that the batsmen will remember longer than their scores.

Our reply was a study in contrasts. William Buck batted with real class for 42, Tom Osborn chipped in a handy 24 — and reached 1,000 career runs for the club in the process, which rather overshadowed everything else and quite rightly so — while Tony Levick saw us home unbeaten on 22. As for the rest of us, the Duck Club did a roaring trade: Tipples, Weedon and, I'm mortified to report, your correspondent, all walked back without troubling the scorers. I shall say no more about my own batting, except that the bowling figures were some consolation.

189/9 versus 140/7, and honours shared. A draw that suited nobody and satisfied everybody — which, on reflection, is rather what Sunday afternoon cricket is all about.

Sun 21 Aug 1955 🧢 1st XIv HH Halfway House · HomeformLWWLW

Sunday 21 August, and Halfway House rolled up looking rather pleased with themselves — which, on this pitch, is usually a mistake we're only too happy to correct. Winning the toss, we sent them in, and while 179 all out from 44.4 overs was a respectable knock, it had the distinct flavour of a side that never quite got going against us. Jack Whibley's 55 was the innings' backbone, with Gordon Kemsley (45) and Denis Fowle (24) lending a hand, but three of their number — Don Capeling, Cyril Dyson and G Bruce — never troubled the scorers at all. John Ames was the chief tormentor, spinning his way to 5-47 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed by Tony Snell (3-21) and Bob Brigden (1-37). A fine team bowling display, the sort that makes a captain's job look easy.

Chasing 180, we made harder work of it than perhaps we ought, closing on 135/8 from our 58 overs. William Buck's 32 was the innings of note, with Stan Wratten (24) chipping in nicely, though John Ames's golden duck rather cancelled out his heroics with the ball. I contributed my own small share along the way, for whatever that's worth in a match that refused to be won. Poor William Blight had a torrid time behind the stumps, leaking 8 byes, though he can console himself with having overtaken Joe Fenner into 25th on the club's all-time run charts with his 17.

So: honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody — which, in truth, is the most English result of all.

Sat 20 Aug 1955 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLWWL

Saturday 20 August 1955 saw Charles Arkcoll roll into Linton Park, and having lost the toss I found us asked to field first — never my favourite way to spend a warm afternoon, but there we are. The visitors ground their way to 190/9 from their 48 overs, Randolph Thompson the chief tormentor with a composed 85 not out, well supported by Gordon Fenner (27) and Stan Wratten (25). Basil Sears, though, had other ideas, ripping through their order with 5-50 to keep us firmly in the contest, while Richard Harris and J Donovan chipped in with a wicket apiece, Donovan's three maidens the mark of a man giving nothing away. Humphrey Morris departed for a duck, which I'm sure he'll want forgotten by teatime.

Chasing 190 is never a formality, and 192/7 from 37 overs tells you it wasn't. I'm rather pleased to say I led from the front with 65 not out, though the real backbone came from Bob Arnold's excellent 46 and Basil Sears following his bowling heroics with 30 more with the bat — not a bad afternoon's work from Basil all told. Peter Weedon's duck was the one blot on an otherwise handsome scorecard, and poor Bob Arnold had a torrid time behind the stumps, leaking 10 byes, though his runs quietly moved him past Ernest Cruttenden to 20th on the club's all-time list.

We scrambled home by three wickets, hearts in mouths but pride intact. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one Charles Arkcoll will, I hope, remember rather less fondly than we shall.

Sun 14 Aug 1955 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformWLLWW

Sunday last, I won the toss against Mote A and, in a fit of optimism I'd later question, stuck us in to bat. We laboured to 114 all out off 46.1 overs — Stan Wratten's 43 the innings' backbone, with useful support from B. Pointer's 29. Not a total to strike fear into anyone, but cricket's a funny old game, and we've defended less with more.

In the field we scrapped hard. Bob Brigden was the pick of the attack with a superb 2-6, while Alan Wilkes (2-30, six maidens — miserly stuff) and John Ames (2-38) chipped away steadily. F. Holding departed for a duck at our hands, which raised a cheer, and I managed to get among the wickets myself, which I shan't dwell on further than to say it happened. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid time behind the stumps, 17 byes leaking away like water through a colander, and in a match this tight, that's the sort of thing that costs you the game.

Mote A crept home at 118/8 off 54.4 overs, C. Warnett's 28 and J. Waters' 23 seeing them over the line by two wickets. As it stands I lead the run charts with 560 for the season, and John Ames tops the wickets with 59 — small consolation on a day like this.

Not our day, gentlemen. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 07 Aug 1955 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDWLLW

Lost the toss on a Sunday that promised more than it delivered, and I dutifully sent us out to field first — not that I had much say in the matter, Anchorians having other ideas about who should bat. It proved the right sort of afternoon for it, though: their innings folded for a modest 102 off 55.4 overs, P. Clarke's watchful 32 aside, and a horror start at 0-1 set the tone for a batting card that never quite recovered, sliding from a promising 89-7 to all out. John Ames was magnificent, 4-22 with eight miserly maidens, ably backed by Tony Snell's 4-33 and a wicket for Bob Brigden. S. Harden, J. Harris and B. Mitchell trooped back without so much as a run to their names.

Chasing 103, we made unnecessarily hard work of it, losing our first wicket at 0-1 in what I can only describe as a familiar sort of jitters. William Buck and I both contributed the traditional Duck Club nought apiece — I shall say no more on my own effort, except that it was mercifully brief. Thankfully Tony Levick (42) and Ray Howard (41 not out) stitched together a fine 76-run stand to see us home at 105-4, Levick's afternoon rather undermined by eight byes leaking through behind the stumps.

Two points, six wickets to spare, and Ames' wickets column and Levick's runs column both looking rosier for it. A scratchy, unconvincing, thoroughly satisfactory victory.

Sat 06 Aug 1955 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWDWLL

Saturday 6th August, and Headcorn CC came down to Linton Park for a proper tussle. I lost the toss - never my strong suit - so we took the field first, ball in hand under skies that looked suspiciously made for swing.

Headcorn dug in: 181 for 9 off their 56.2 overs, built chiefly around K. Goodhall's unbeaten fifty (56), well supported by C. Smith's 40 and W. Offen's 22. Credit where it's due - J. Donovan spun his way through them for a marvellous 5-56, with Gordon Fenner (2-34) and Michael Morton (1-49) chipping in, and John Taylor bowling with the miserliness of a man guarding the family silver, five maidens and barely a run leaking through. Morton, now third on this summer's 1st XI wicket-takers with 28, is fast becoming a name batsmen fear even on his quieter days.

Chasing 182, we made harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, stumbling home at 187 for 8 off 37 overs. Basil Sears was the class act with 51, a knock that nudged him past John Taylor into 5th on the club's all-time run-scorers list - no mean feat on a Saturday afternoon. Gordon Fenner (31 not out) and Bob Arnold (30) steadied the ship, though Bob will want to forget the 11 byes that slipped past him behind the stumps. I added a watchful 26 myself, happy just to see us over the line.

Two wickets and two points - not pretty, but thoroughly earned. A win's a win, and I'll take it with a smile and a pint in hand.

Mon 01 Aug 1955 🧢 1st XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDWDWL

Lost the toss on Monday and watched Lord Cornwallis XI make themselves at home in the middle — not the start to August I'd have chosen, but there we are. They ground their way to 163 all out from forty-nine overs, built around a fine 57 from F. Cornwallis, with Marsham (26) and Checksfield (22) chipping in to keep the scoreboard ticking uncomfortably. John Ames, though, was in inspired form with the ball, tying an end down with three maidens on his way to a superb 5-69, well backed up by G Hill's 2-12 and Bob Brigden's 2-32.

With 164 to chase, we never quite found our rhythm. Tony Levick played the innings of the day with a composed 27, and got good support from John Ames (22) and G Hill (20), but wickets tumbled around them and we folded for 111 in 35.1 overs. It was a rough afternoon for the tail in particular — William Buck, John Abnett and I all trooped off for ducks, and I shan't dwell on my own contribution beyond admitting the less said, the better.

One bright note amid the wreckage: John Ames's five-for nudged him past Alan Wilkes into sixth on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a fitting reward for a fine day's toil. He now leads our 1955 bowling charts with 53 wickets, with Levick fourth among the batsmen on 281 runs for the season.

A defeat by 52 runs, then, and a few of us with soul-searching to do. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sun 31 Jul 1955 🧢 1st XIv MA Maidstone AKCC · HomeformDDWDW

Sunday last saw Maidstone Akcc roll up the drive, and put us in the field first — never the worst fate on a warm afternoon, though by close of their innings I rather wished we'd batted. They compiled a stern 181 for 4 from their 52 overs, built around a fine 48 from Humphrey and useful support from H Carrington (44) and Ron Aiston, unbeaten on 39. I'll confess to a quiet pride in taking 3 for 35 with the ball, and R Waters chipped in with a canny 1 for 7, while Tony Snell bowled two maidens as tight as his waistcoat after tea.

Chasing 182 was always going to want application, and application was rather thin on the ground. We were bowled out for 93 in 32.3 overs, William Buck alone standing firm for a battling 30 before the rest of us succumbed around him. Poor Tony Snell, so miserly with the ball, went and got himself a golden duck — cruel game, cricket.

Still, William Buck's efforts keep him third in the season's run charts with 298 to his name, which is more than can be said for most of us. All told, a defeat by 88 runs and not our finest afternoon in the field or at the crease. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — there's a season yet to salvage.

Sat 30 Jul 1955 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformDDDWD

Saturday last took us to Aylesford Paper Mills CC, where the coin fell the wrong way and we were sent out to bowl before chasing.

It proved no bad thing. The home side ground their way to 152 for 7 from 58 overs, Alan Baker compiling a watchful fifty and Eric Churchyard chipping in with 21, but Taylor was superb with the ball — 4 for 70, five of his overs maidens, not a run given away lightly. Good support came from J Donovan, 3 for 43. Poor Bob Arnold had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, with eight byes slipping through — the sort of afternoon that makes a wicketkeeper wish the ground would swallow him whole.

In reply we raced along nicely, reaching 154 for 5 in a brisk 24.2 overs. I was fortunate enough to find some form and carry the innings with 94, well supported by C Sandford's watchful 25 not out. Less happily, both R- Waters and Basil Sears made the long walk back for ducks — the Duck Club ledger grows ever fatter.

A word too for Frank Taylor, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark reached with rather less fuss than most of us manage a Sunday lie-in. I now lead the 1955 first-team run charts with 524, while Taylor sits fourth among the wicket-takers with 26.

Home by five wickets, and a thoroughly satisfying day out. More of the same, please.

Sun 24 Jul 1955 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformDDDDW

I lost the toss at Folkestone and, as tends to happen down there, was invited to have a go in the field first — never a bad thing for the constitution, if not always the scorebook.

Folkestone made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 193/6 from their 62 overs. Frank Brooks-Hill was the chief architect with a well-crafted 91, well supported by Len Godden's 45 and a brisk 20 from Cecil Blacklocks. Credit where due, though — John Ames was magnificent with the ball, prising out four for 54 and sending down no fewer than eight maidens, tight enough to have Ernie Thunder back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Alan Wilkes chipped in with two more for 78, and between them they kept a total that might have got away from us to something we could believe in chasing.

Belief, as it turned out, was about all we had left by the close. We got to 173/6 from our 55, Ray Howard batting sensibly for an unbeaten 44, with Stan Wratten and Tony Levick both making tidy contributions of 27 apiece. I added 20 myself, more through stubbornness than style, before the overs ran out with the finish line frustratingly in sight.

So, honours shared — a draw that satisfied absolutely nobody and offended nobody either, which is rather the English way of things. With John Ames now sitting proudly atop the season's wicket charts and yours truly leading the run column, there's plenty to be quietly pleased about. A fair result, if not quite the story we'd have chosen to write.

Sun 17 Jul 1955 🧢 1st XIv J J.G.Larking's · HomeformLDDDD

Sunday last saw J.G. Larking's roll up to Linton Park in what turned out to be a proper batting exhibition on our part. I won the toss and, with the pitch looking true and the sky behaving itself, never seriously considered doing anything but batting first. We were duly rewarded: 218/7 from our 59 overs, built on a fine fifty from Ray Howard (64), with Tony Levick (42) playing the perfect supporting role. I chipped in with 40 myself, more through good fortune than any great method, but every run counted towards what was becoming a formidable total.

If batting first was the plan, bowling them out cheaply was the dream, and the dream very nearly came entirely true. Larking's were bundled out for a paltry 95 in just 25.5 overs, J- May's 33 the only real resistance, while poor J- Baker and D- Goodliffe trudged off for ducks. Stan Wratten was the chief destroyer with 4-30 and two miserly maidens besides, and I was pleased to find some rhythm of my own with 3-37, Alan Wilkes tidying up with 2-5.

There were personal milestones too - Stan Wratten passing 100 career wickets is no small thing, and Alan Wilkes's three scalps nudged him above me and into 6th on the club's all-time list, which I shall accept with as much grace as I can muster. William Buck continues to sit 3rd in this season's run charts, and I remain out in front with the ball on 44 wickets for the year.

We won by 123 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the scrapbook.

Sat 16 Jul 1955 🧢 1st XIv SL St Lukes · HomeformDLDDD

Saturday 16 July, and St Luke's arrived at Linton Park to find us losing the toss and being sent into the field — never the ideal start to a Saturday, but the sun was out and so, more importantly, was the tea urn.

St Luke's ground out 217/8 from their 48.2 overs, built on a fine 60 from J. Francis and 56 from L. Morris, with H. Aiston chipping in 42. Credit to the attack, though: Tony Snell was superb, 4-52 including three miserly maidens, and I found some rhythm myself with 3-18, while John Taylor picked up one. B. Lamb, at least, departed for a duck at our hands, which felt like the least the day owed us.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear. Basil Sears anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 51, well supported by William Blight's 27, but at 119/8 from our 40 overs we were always playing for the draw rather than the win. Tony Levick and I both bagged ducks — I shall draw a veil over mine, though Levick can at least point to eleven byes as evidence that wicketkeeping was the day's true examination.

Amid the toil, some proper club history: Basil Sears brought up 2,000 career runs and his 100th appearance in Linton colours, Frank Taylor also reached his 100th cap, and Tony Snell's four wickets took him past Ernest Cruttenden into 12th on the all-time list. A day of honours shared, then, and honours earned.

Sun 10 Jul 1955 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsted CC · AwayformWDLDD

Sunday the tenth of July found us on the road to Selsted, and the toss did nothing for our afternoon — lost, and promptly asked to have a bowl first, which on a flat-looking morning felt rather like being handed the washing-up before dinner's even served. T. Learman had other ideas about our hopes, ambling to a superb hundred, 104 no less, while E. Glassborrow chipped in an unbeaten 55 and L. Bachellor Snr a brisk 35, the hosts closing on a hefty 222/4 from 38.3 overs. Credit where due, though — John Ames toiled manfully for his 3-52, and Gordon Fenner kept things admirably tight, two maidens among his 1-42, not a run given away lightly even as the total climbed past us.

Chasing 223 was always going to ask questions of the top order, and we found some good answers without quite finding enough of them. Len Conway anchored things nicely with 44, Tony Tipples supported with a tidy 33, and Ames — clearly not content with his bowling exertions — added 27 more with the bat, runs that quietly moved him past Don Hartridge into 9th on the club's all-time list. I'll confess a spot of pride in leading this season's run charts with 410 so far, though today the runs simply weren't there in enough numbers, and we finished 177/6 from our 42.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, and the tea, I'm reliably informed, was rather good.

Sat 09 Jul 1955 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformWWDLD

The toss went against us on Saturday, and Trembeths took first use of a pitch that, on the day, gave nothing away lightly. We toiled in the field as they built steadily to 153 all out in 44.4 overs, Clancy top-scoring with a watchful 45, Chance chipping in with 36 and Beacon adding 27 — enough runs, on paper, to make us work for our tea.

Happily we had John --'s Taylor in inspired form, scything through the middle order for a thoroughly deserved 5-15, the kind of spell that has team-mates quietly buying the drinks. Tony Snell backed him up nobly with 3-34, including two maidens that must have felt like torture to face, and Michael Morton weighed in with 2-72. McDowall and Dengate both departed without troubling the scorers, which was little comfort to them but rather more to us.

Chasing 153, we never quite got there, closing on 118 for 9 from 41 overs — honourable, if not heroic. William Buck led the reply handsomely with 45, I contributed a watchful 21, and Bob Arnold added a useful 20, though his afternoon behind the stumps was rather harder work, with 9 byes slipping past. Taylor, so lethal with the ball, found batting a different proposition and departed for a duck.

There was cheer in the small print: Snell's three wickets nudged him past Don Hartridge into 13th on the club's all-time list, I remain top of the 1955 run charts, and Morton sits second among the wicket-takers. A draw, then — honours shared, and no complaints from this captain.

Sun 03 Jul 1955 🧢 1st XIv S S.Kimmins · HomeformWWWDL

Sunday saw us welcome S. Kimmins to Linton Park, and the coin let us down as usual — I called wrong, they batted, and I trudged off to set the field wondering what the day held.

What it held, initially, was a lot of Popplewell. He compiled a chanceless 113, well backed up by Tony Pawson's 42 and a useful 40 from S. Kimmins himself, and between them they steered the visitors to 252 all out in 40.3 overs — a total that felt distinctly beyond us by the time Colin Matheson and Hugo De Quetle had both departed without scoring. Honours on the day, though, belonged to John Ames, who bowled like a man possessed for 5-74, with J Donovan (3-77) and Bob Brigden (1-26) mopping up the rest. It was a fine afternoon's work all round, and Ames's five-for nudged him past Jack Fryer into 7th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a landmark worth raising a glass to, quack notwithstanding, since he then went and bagged a duck with the bat.

Chasing 252, we never quite got there but never quite lost either, closing on 193 for 6 from our 51 overs. Stan Wratten was magnificent, a proper hundred — 109 of the finest — with Ray Howard chipping in 48, and I contributed my own small share along the way, all helping keep the scoreboard honest, if not sufficient.

A draw, then, honours shared, and on reflection a fair one: we bowled them out and made them work for every run, even if the bat couldn't quite finish the job Ames's arm had started.

Sat 02 Jul 1955 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformLWWWD

As captain, there's no dressing up 181 for 8 followed by 132 all out, but I'll give it a go for the gazette.

Saturday took us over to Charles Arkcoll, and losing the toss on a warm July afternoon meant one thing: a long stint in the field before we'd even had a sniff of the ball ourselves. John Ames gave us the full tour on his way to 59, with Jack Knowler chipping in 24 and Stan Wratten 20, and between them they steered the hosts to 181/8 from their 47 overs. Not all doom, mind — Michael Morton bowled his heart out for a fine 4-71, J Donovan snapped up 3-21, and John "-'s" Taylor kept things tidy with 2 maidens on his way to 1-54. We did at least see off Jack Parsons without troubling the scorers, which felt like small mercies at the time.

Our reply never really got going. I managed 45, which I'm told was the top score, and Frank Taylor's 32 and J Donovan's 20 were honest support, but wickets fell around us at the other end with more regularity than the tea urn empties, and 132 all out in 28.5 overs was the sorry sum of it. Poor G Hill will want to forget his golden duck as quickly as the rest of us want to forget the whole innings.

Forty-nine runs the wrong side of the ledger, then, and no arguments about it — Charles Arkcoll deserved their day. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 26 Jun 1955 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsted CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 26 June, and Selsted CC rolled up as visitors while I lost the toss yet again — say what you like about the coin, it has never once liked me. They chose to bat, which on a good June afternoon is nobody's idea of a hardship, and duly set about proving it.

S. Smith led the way with a well-made 62, B. Fletcher was right alongside him with 58, and D. Clarke chipped in 23 as Selsted eased their way to 182 for 6 off their 46 overs. Only R. Mummery went cheaply, sent back without troubling the scorers for a golden duck. It could have been worse were it not for John Ames, who span through them beautifully for 5 for 69 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — miserly and menacing in equal measure. Alan Wilkes picked up 1 for 70 for his troubles.

Chasing 183, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite getting there. Frank Taylor top-scored with a fine 42, Tony Levick supported nicely with 32, and I was happy enough to see us home to a respectable 164 for 6 off 41 overs, finishing unbeaten on 25. Taylor continues to build a handsome season, now second in the club's run charts with 277, while Ames sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 33.

In the end honours were shared, and a draw was a fair reflection — Selsted had the runs, we had the bowling, and neither of us quite had the nerve to force the other's hand.

Sun 19 Jun 1955 🧢 1st XIv SB 1st Innings Hambros Bank · HomeformDWLWW

It was a fine old Sunday for Linton Park, and I don't mind saying so. Put into the field first, we made Hambros Bank work for every one of their 152, though truth be told they made a decent fist of it — G Williams top-scoring with 46, well backed by A How and R Pavitt. F Chapman went for a duck, which cheered us no end, but the day belonged to Alan Wilkes, whose 5-53 was every bit the five-for it deserved to be, with John Ames chipping in a fine 5-54 alongside him.

Chasing 152, we got there without losing a wicket, which is the sort of arithmetic a captain rather enjoys writing down. Tony Levick led the way with a handsome 53, ushering him past Don Hartridge and into 8th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Stan Wratten and John Ames added useful 29s and 20s respectively. Poor Richard Harris made his contribution in the form of a golden duck, bless him. I chipped in with the bat too, though the real story was Ames's bowling, which also nudged him past me into 8th on the all-time wicket-takers list — I shall try not to take it personally.

A tidy, comfortable win, then, and one worth savouring. Wilkes and Ames did the damage with ball in hand, Levick did the heavy lifting with the bat, and Linton Park got over the line without so much as a wobble. A good day for the club, and no argument from me.

Sat 18 Jun 1955 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformWDWLW

Saturday 18th June, Aylesford Paper Mills CC the visitors, and I lost the toss — asked to bowl first on what looked a decent shirt-sleeves sort of afternoon. Alan Baker gave us the full tour with a well-made 69, E Carrington chipped in a fine 56, and Cliff Anscombe's 24 kept the total ticking along to 162 all out in 46.2 overs — more than we'd have chosen to chase, but not out of reach. Credit where it's due: Tony Snell was in irrepressible form, running through them for 5-21, with J Donovan (3-54) and John "'s" Taylor (1-43) tidying up what was left. J Overy, Alfie Pullen and Bobby Brigden will want to forget their contributions with the bat, departing without troubling the scorers.

With the bat we made rather lighter work of it. Basil Sears batted beautifully for an unbeaten 59, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, finishing 70 not out as we cantered home at 163/2 in 36.3 overs — eight wickets to spare, and a genuinely satisfying personal contribution. There was a nice bit of history in it too: those 70 runs took me past William Buck to the top of the club's all-time run-scorers list, and for what it's worth I now lead the 1955 first-team run charts with 321, with Taylor sitting fourth among the wicket-takers on 15.

All told, a thoroughly good day for Linton Park — bowled with discipline, chased with composure, and not a duck-egg in sight from the top order. We'll take that every Saturday going.

Sat 11 Jun 1955 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLWDWL

Saturday 11 June 1955 saw us travel to Headcorn, and the coin, as it so often does when I call it, betrayed me — we were put into the field. No matter; a bowl first can be a blessing when the sun's out and the tea's promised to be good, and so it proved, more or less.

Headcorn made their way to 215/7 from 45 overs, built chiefly around a handsome fifty from K. Goodhall (62), with L. Murrell (34) and G. Gore (29) offering steady support. It could have been worse but for G. Hill, who bowled with real purpose to return 3-66, backed up nicely by Michael Morton (2-54) and William Blight, who chipped in with one for 15.

Chasing 216, we got there with something to spare — 219/6 from 43 overs, four wickets in hand. I'm not one to blow my own trumpet in these pages, but I'll allow myself this once: I batted through for 111 not out, and it's not often a captain gets to lead from the front quite so literally. Frank Taylor gave splendid support with a fine 52, and William Buck's 22 — worth noting, as it eases him past me to the top of the club's all-time run-scorers — kept the innings ticking along nicely. Poor Bob Arnold had a day to forget, a golden duck compounded by twelve extras in byes that told their own sorry tale behind the stumps.

A fine team effort, then, and a good day for the club. We'll take a four-wicket win at Headcorn any Saturday of the summer.

Sun 05 Jun 1955 🧢 1st XIv SG St Georges · HomeformDLWDW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 05 June 1955

Winning the toss and putting the visitors in seemed the sensible thing to do, and for a while it looked rather clever. T Cobb led their charge with 42, D Martin chipped in a solid 36, and R Boughton saw them home unbeaten on 29, but our bowlers kept chipping away throughout — R Thain gone for a duck was a particular highlight of the afternoon. John Ames was magnificent, five wickets for 41 and every one of them earned, while J- Coomber bowled with the patience of a saint, six maidens and 2-22 to show for it, and Alan Wilkes weighed in with 2-70. All told, 166 for 9 from 52 overs felt like a target we ought to have chased down without too much fuss.

We did not chase it down without too much fuss. William Buck batted nicely for 24 and looked, briefly, like a man who might rescue the innings single-handedly, but support was thin on the ground — J- Coomber and Tony Snell both departed for ducks, and the rest of us shuffled off in similarly unconvincing fashion. All out for 103 in 33.4 overs told its own sorry story.

There is some comfort in the wider picture — William Buck now sits second in the season's run charts with 140, and John Ames tops the wicket-takers with 23 — but comfort butters no parsnips on a Sunday evening. Beaten by 63 runs, fair and square. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 04 Jun 1955 🧢 1st XIv BC Birkenhead Grasshoppers CC · HomeformDDLWD

Saturday saw Birkenhead Grasshoppers CC roll up to Linton Park, and the coin, as is so often its custom with me, sided against the home captain. They elected to bat, and duly ground out 116 all out in just shy of fifty overs — H Clements top-scoring with a determined 45, R Davies chipping in 29, while poor R Williamson trudged off for nought without troubling the scorers. Alan Wilkes was the story of the innings, running amok with 6-54, and Michael Morton bowled beautifully tight for 3-32 with four maidens to show for his discipline. I managed to prise one out myself, finishing with 1-25 — modest company alongside Wilkes's heroics, but I'll take it.

Chasing 117 was never going to be a formality on a pitch that had clearly had enough of giving runs away, and so it proved. William Buck anchored things superbly with an unbeaten 44, and I was glad to lend a hand with 32 of my own before Frank Taylor's brief and fruitless visit to the crease. We scrambled home 117/7 with just two balls of the 40 overs to spare — three wickets in it, and not a nerve left unfrayed.

A tidy afternoon all told: Bob Arnold's 15 runs eased him past the Reverend into 21st on the all-time run charts, and Wilkes's six-for lifted him to 6th among the club's wicket-takers. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a reminder that cricket at Linton Park is rarely dull and never comfortable.

Mon 30 May 1955 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformDDDLW

Here it is, weighing in at a lean-but-honest 220 words or so.

A Monday off work would ordinarily see me pottering in the garden, but instead I found myself losing the toss and being invited to field first against Marden — never the most cheering way to start a Bank Holiday. As it turned out, we needn't have worried. John Ames was in unplayable mood, spinning his way to 5-23, with Michael Morton (4-20, and a miserly eight maidens to his name) squeezing the life out of the other end, and I chipped in with 1-13 for good measure. Marden were bowled out for a modest 57, with P Tipples, A Tipples and G Tompkinson all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 57 should have been the easiest afternoon's work of the season, but cricket has a way of humbling a man. John Ames carried on where he'd left off with the ball, striking a handsome 69, ably supported by John Abnett's unbeaten 28. I can't pretend the rest of us covered ourselves in glory — John Thirkell and L Skinner (yours truly among the ducks, I'm afraid) contributed a pair of noughts to what the ledger will unkindly record as a vintage day for the Duck Club.

Happier news off the scorecard: Richard Harris brought up 1,000 club runs and his 100th appearance, while Ames's innings lifted him to 10th on the all-time run list and Morton's bowling to 12th among the wicket-takers. A day of honours shared, then — a draw that flattered nobody and disappointed nobody either.

Sun 29 May 1955 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformWDDDL

On Sunday last, no luck with the coin, so Folkestone CC had first knock while we made do with the ball — no bad thing, as it turned out. John Ames spun his way through the visitors for a wonderful 5-24, and in doing so passed a hundred career wickets for the club — a fine milestone rather overshadowed, for me personally, by the fact that it also shoved me down to ninth on the all-time wicket-takers' list. Alan Wilkes was miserliness itself, four for 35 with five maidens to his name, and Gordon Fenner chipped in with one for 23. Only C Copping, with a battling 30, offered real resistance; Frank Brooks-Hill and Ernie Thunder both trudged back without troubling the scorers, and Folkestone were all out for 86 in 42.3 overs.

Chasing so modest a total ought to have been a formality, and so it very nearly was, though not without the usual comedy. Clive Smith walked the walk of shame for a duck, but William Buck batted beautifully for an unbeaten 37, and I chipped in with 20 as we cruised home to 87 for 3 from 28 overs.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a win by seven wickets to show for it. Tony Levick continues his climb up the season's run charts, now fourth with 77, while Ames sits second among this year's wicket-takers with 13 — the lad is in irresistible form, and frankly I'd rather he bowled at Folkestone than at me. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket.

Sun 22 May 1955 🧢 1st XIv HH Halfway House · AwayformWWDDD

Sunday 22 May took us up the road to Halfway House, and winning the toss I sent them in — a decision that looked shrewd for about an hour and then rather less so as Jack Whibley set about a fluent 62, well supported by Cyril Dyson (31) and Don Capeling (23). Three of their top order departed without troubling the scorers, mind, mostly on account of Alan Wilkes, who bowled like a man with a train to catch and finished with a staggering 7 for 43, two of them maidens — figures good enough to send him trotting past yours truly into 7th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Tony Snell (2-40) and John Ames (1-38) mopped up the rest, and 146 all out from 40 overs felt, at tea, like a target within our grasp.

It wasn't to be. Tony Levick batted with real class for 51, enough to lift him past Maurice Fenner into 9th on the run-scorers' roll of honour, but John Abnett went for a duck and wickets tumbled around Levick with depressing regularity; eight byes past his gloves can't have helped his mood either. All out for 143 in 40.3 overs, we fell agonisingly short. Elsewhere in the parish, Frank Taylor still leads our 1955 run charts on 168, and John Ames's efforts keep him 4th among the season's wicket-takers on 8.

Three runs. Three wretched runs. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 21 May 1955 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformLWWDD

A losing toss on a fine Saturday sent us into the field first, which some of you know I don't mind one bit — Gore Court duly discovering why. They were rattled early, slipping to 6-1, and from there we barely let them breathe: 6-1 became 22-4 before they knew what had hit them, with R R Ledger, P Bradley and P Logue all trudging back for ducks. Only Alec E Allsworth showed any real defiance, his 34 the one substantial contribution as the innings folded for 81 in 32.2 overs. Taylor was the chief tormentor, a magnificent 6-31 with five maidens thrown in for good measure, and I chipped in with 4-41 myself — quietly pleased to note it nudged me past Alan Wilkes into 7th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of thing a man tries not to mention twice at the bar.

With the ball, then, a very happy day indeed. With the bat, considerably less so. I managed a golden duck — a captain, I always say, should lead by example, though this was not quite the example I had in mind — and Richard Harris kept me company in the pavilion with a nought of his own. Between us we shuffled to 78/7 from 33 overs, never quite threatening to chase down anything, let alone their modest total.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could force the issue. Not our most fluent afternoon with the willow, but with the ball we bowled Gore Court into submission, and there's satisfaction enough in that to see us through to next week.

Sun 15 May 1955 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformWLWWD

Sunday 15 May 1955, and off we trotted to Dummy Site with hope in our hearts and, as ever, precious little else. I lost the toss – I generally do – and we were put into the field, which at least meant an early cup of tea was on the cards.

H- Hawkins had other ideas, ploughing on to 78 not out, with J- Worley (53 not out) offering cheerful support and J- Waters chipping in 35 as they racked up 200/3 from their 62 overs. John Ames was the pick of our attack with 2-53, while Stan Wratten bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the last biscuit in the tin – seven maidens and just 1-27 to show for it. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes escaping his gloves like naughty spaniels off the lead.

In reply we laboured to 146/9 from our 46, Ray Howard leading the way with 39, Len Conway a solid 33 alongside him. Young William Blight, alas, joins the Duck Club ledger with a nought and the walk of shame 🦆. I contributed a workmanlike 16, which is to say I got out before anyone could get bored watching.

Elsewhere, Frank Taylor continues to top our 1955 run charts with 148, and John Ames now sits third among the wicket-takers with 7. As for this one – honours shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue. Not a classic, but an honest afternoon's toil, and the tea, I'm reliably informed, was excellent.

Sat 14 May 1955 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformWWLWW

Saturday last took us down to Gore Court, where I lost the toss and we found ourselves in the field first — never my preferred start to proceedings, but there we are. The lads made early inroads, reducing the hosts from a shaky 1-1 to 13-4, and though P Bradley dug in for a fine 61 to drag them to 118 all out from 39.1 overs, the real work was done long before that. John --'s Taylor was pick of the attack with 4-51, well supported by J Donovan's 3-30 and Tony Snell, who bowled with real discipline for 2-32 including three maidens. Brian Reynolds, Maurice Ingleton and Joe Downes all departed without troubling the scorers — a fine afternoon for the Duck Club, if not for them.

In reply, we lost an early wicket with just 5 on the board, which had me shuffling nervously by the boundary rope. But Frank Taylor, unbeaten on a well-made 56, and John --'s Taylor with 46 added a crucial 92 for the fourth wicket to carry us to 109/4 from 24 overs. I can claim no credit myself — my own contribution was a duck, and the less said about that the better. William Blight kept me company in the Duck Club that day.

There was still plenty to raise a glass to: John --'s Taylor brought up 2,000 career runs for the club and climbed past George Champion to third on our all-time wicket-takers list, while sitting second in this season's bowling charts on 8 wickets, with Frank Taylor topping the run charts on 135. Honours even, then — a draw when neither side could force the issue, and, on reflection, a fair result from a match both teams had their share of.

Sun 08 May 1955 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDWWLW

On a fine Sunday at the start of May, West Farleigh rolled up to Linton Park and I won the toss. I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I shall allow myself the satisfaction of being proved correct.

Runs came, if not always fluently: 121/9 from our forty overs and one ball. John --'s Taylor top-scored with a watchful 27 not out, well supported by Ray Howard's 26. Tony Tipples, meanwhile, contributed nothing at all to the cause — a golden duck, and no doubt the source of some ribbing in the tea interval.

With the ball we were altogether more menacing. West Farleigh were bowled out for 72 in thirty-eight overs, W- Paton's unbeaten 22 the only real resistance. Roly Day and Rob Gibberson both departed for ducks against us, while John Ames tore through the order with a magnificent 5-17. John --'s Taylor followed his runs with 4-23, Ray Howard chipped in with 1-14, and Tony Snell strangled the life out of the innings with four maidens.

Two milestones worth raising a glass to: John --'s Taylor passed 200 career wickets, and Tony Levick's five runs eased him past Herbert Rayner into 11th on the club's all-time run charts. I'm rather pleased to report I lead our 1955 run charts with 83, though John Ames now leads the wicket-taking honours.

A comfortable 49-run victory, and two points thoroughly and deservedly earned.

Sat 07 May 1955 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDDWWL

Here's the match report:

Saturday saw us head to Bearsted with the sun (more or less) on our backs, and winning the toss I had no hesitation putting us in — a decision that, for once, I shan't be losing sleep over. Frank Taylor set about the Bearsted attack in fine style, finishing unbeaten on a well-crafted 63, with Michael Morton keeping him excellent company on 48 not out. I chipped in with 32 of my own down the order, and between us we hauled the side to a healthy 179/6 from our 39 overs — though the less said about William Blight and J Donovan's ducks, the better; the walk of shame was well and truly taken.

179 looked a defendable total, and so it proved emphatically. Bearsted's reply never got out of first gear, three of their batsmen departing without so much as a run to their name, and the innings folded for a mere 74 in 28.1 overs. Michael Morton was the architect of the collapse, spinning his way to a quite magnificent 7-46 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly, and a spell that's nudged him up to 14th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Only H "Bert" Wood, with 48, offered any real resistance. I picked up 2-21 and J Donovan 1-4 to tidy up the loose ends.

A comfortable, thoroughly deserved 105-run victory, and two points banked. Bearsted will want to forget this one; we, on the other hand, shall be dining out on it for weeks.

Sat 30 Apr 1955 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDDDWW

We lost the toss at West Farleigh on Saturday and were sent into the field, which on a day like that felt rather like being handed the washing-up before we'd even had our tea. Peter Rivington had other ideas about our afternoon, cruising serenely past his fifty to 96 and dragging their total up to a stiff 166 for 7 off 37 overs. Frank Taylor did the heavy lifting with 2 for 19, I chipped in with 1 for 5, and Basil Sears took 1 for 10, while Michael Morton bowled three miserly maidens that kept the scoreboard honest, if not honest enough.

In reply, chasing a stiff total, I was pleased to lead from the front with a fine half-century, and J Donovan gave splendid support with an unbeaten 30 — between us we did the bulk of the scoring, which rather tells its own story about the rest of the card. Frank Taylor, Bert Pierce and Bob Arnold all made the sorry walk back for ducks, and poor Bob had a torrid time behind the stumps too, shipping 14 byes for good measure. We were bowled out for 133 in 36.4 overs, 33 runs shy of the mark.

Small consolation amid the gloom: I brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and find myself, somewhat improbably, sitting atop this season's run charts, with Frank leading the way with the ball. Not our day, but character-building stuff all the same. Heads up, and back to the nets.