🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 30 Sep 1956 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformWDDDW

Sunday 30th September, and by rights we should still be out there padded up somewhere, given how little cricket we actually witnessed. We hosted Linton Park CC, I won the toss, and — in a decision I shall be defending at the bar for some weeks yet — elected to bat first.

It did not go well. Forty-two all out in 34.1 overs is the sort of total that makes the tea urn seem the highlight of the afternoon. Basil Sears, Peter Weedon and Monty Deakes all contrived to depart without troubling the scorer, a hat-trick of ducks that had the wives in the pavilion reaching for their knitting rather than their scorecards. Quite how three good men can queue up to be bowled for nought in the same innings I shall leave to greater cricketing minds than mine.

And yet — cricket, glorious and infuriating, found a way to spare our blushes. Neither side could force home the advantage, and honours were shared in a draw that flattered us rather more than our batting deserved.

Elsewhere, the season's ledger continues to make cheerful reading regardless of Sunday's efforts: John Thirkell sits proudly atop the 1st XI run charts with 683 runs, John Taylor leads the Married men with 7, and Clive Smith heads the Singles with 33.

Verdict: a match we were fortunate to escape with a draw, and one best filed under "character-building."

Sat 29 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv AX A. Snell XI · HomeformDWWWW

John Thirkell put us in — brave call, and for a while it looked like the sort of decision that gets discussed ruefully in the bar for weeks. Seventy-nine for five off our twenty-six overs was hardly a declaration of intent, and the Duck Club took two new members in Frank Brattle and Tony Tipples, both trudging back without troubling the scorer. Not our finest hour with the willow, and I'll admit I sat pad-less on the boundary wondering whether I'd made the coin toss look like an act of self-harm.

But cricket, bless it, has a way of making a fool of you twice in one afternoon. Alan Wilkes turned the game on its head with an absolutely magnificent spell of 6 for 10, spinning through the A. Snell XI order like a man possessed, five of his overs going for nothing at all. John Taylor backed him up beautifully with 4 for 23, and between them they sent S Capon, J Nicholson and J Knowles packing for ducks of their own — the Duck Club doing very well out of both innings. The visitors were bowled out for a paltry 51 in 23.3 overs, and just like that our shaky total looked positively handsome. I chipped in with 15 with the bat for good measure, and it was pleasing to see the runs keep coming up the season charts too.

We got over the line by 28 runs in the end — a scruffy, nervy, thoroughly entertaining way to win, and on reflection, exactly the kind of afternoon that makes this club what it is. A good day for the club indeed.

Sun 23 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv BW Birchington Wanderers · HomeformDDWWW

Called it correctly at the toss on Sunday, and with a green-looking pitch and no wind to speak of, batting first was hardly a decision at all. The lads settled in nicely: Ray Howard was the man of the morning, powering to 61, while William Buck anchored the tail end of the innings with an unbeaten 51 to see us home at 158 for 5 from 47.4 overs. Not a flashy total, perhaps, but a substantial one, and enough runs on the board to make Birchington Wanderers think rather than swing.

And think they did not, as it turned out. A Walker battled to 27 and E Webb chipped in with 21, but around them the innings simply came apart. D Edwards, B Edwards and J Shaylor all trooped back without so much as a single to their names, three ducks in a heap, and the whole thing was over inside 30.4 overs for a paltry 78. I had one of those afternoons a captain dreams about and rarely gets, five for 21 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, while Alan Wilkes was hunting from the other end with 5 for 32 of his own. Between us there was precious little left for Birchington to work with.

Eighty runs the margin, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Stan Wratten continues to churn out the runs and sits third in the season's charts, and I'll confess I'm rather enjoying life at the top of the wicket-takers for now. Onwards indeed.

Sat 22 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWDDWW

Called it right at the toss on a bright Saturday against Bearsted, and with barely a thought I stuck us in to bat — a decision I spent much of the afternoon quietly reconsidering. Ninety-seven all out in 38.1 overs is not a total to frighten anyone, and only Stan Wratten, with a battling 29, seemed to have read the script; the rest of us rather fell over ourselves, Bob Arnold and C Sandford both departing for golden ducks that will live longer in the memory than either of them would wish.

Tea was a subdued affair, but the lads turned to the task of defending our modest total with a spirit that did the club proud. Bearsted never got going, subsiding to 56 all out in 32.1 overs, with F Bayley and Peter Longley both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Ray Howard was the architect of it all — 5 for 15, six of his overs maidens, bowling with a miserliness bordering on the parsimonious — well supported by John Ames's 4 for 21 and a tidy 1 for 4 from Tony Snell. Thirteen byes rather gave the game away about the state of things behind the stumps, and poor Bob Arnold will not thank me for dwelling on it.

As it stands I lead the season's run charts with 628, while John Ames tops the wicket-takers on 63 — form that showed handsomely today. We got home by 41 runs: a scrappy, unlikely, thoroughly satisfying win, and a good day for the club.

Sun 16 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv TC Tunbridge Wells CC · HomeformWWDDW

Tuesday, and I'll admit I slept rather well after Sunday's exertions. Winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the obvious call, though I confess I say that every week whether we bat first or not — this time, mercifully, the pitch and Tom Osborn agreed with me. What followed was as fine an opening stand as this club has produced in some while: 176 for the first wicket, an innings of such serenity that several of us on the boundary had time to finish our tea before a wicket fell. Then, as cricket so loves to remind us, the game turned briefly comic — 176 for one became 187 for four in what felt like the time it takes to pour another cup, poor Ray Howard departing without troubling the scorers. Osborn, though, was unmoved by the chaos around him, sailing serenely to 103 not out, well supported by Stan Wratten's 69. We closed on 195 for 4.

If our batting had its wobble, our bowling had none. Tunbridge Wells were bowled out for a meagre 76, undone almost entirely by John Ames, who span a web few of them escaped — 9 for 33, six of those overs maidens, figures that verge on the unsporting. Tony Snell chipped in for good measure, and three of their number trooped back without scoring a run between them.

A word for the history books: Osborn's century lifts him to 11th on the club's all-time run list, past Maurice Fenner, while Wratten and Ames continue to lead our season charts with real distinction.

A fine win by 119 runs, then, and thoroughly deserved. Onwards.

Sat 15 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv OR Old Roffensians · HomeformLWWDD

Lost the toss on a fine September Saturday and found ourselves put in to field against Old Roffensians — not the outcome I'd have chosen, but such is the cricketing lottery. They ground their way to 143 all out in 46.2 overs, R Howard batting nicely for a well-made 64 with useful support from Bradley's 31. Credit to our bowling attack, mind: Burren, Sheppard and T Westcombe were sent back without troubling the scorers, and Michael Morton was superb, snaring 4-47 including five miserly maidens that told the Roffensians batsmen nothing was coming easily. Horton (3-23) and Donovan (3-40) chipped in handsomely too.

Chasing 144, I was glad to lead from the front with 82, and found a fine ally in Frank Brattle, who made 38 as we cruised to 147/3 from just 30 overs — seven wickets and plenty of overs to spare. Thirteen byes rather gave the game away about poor Haylor's afternoon behind the stumps, though I shan't dwell on another man's misfortune.

A word too for Michael Morton, whose four wickets nudged him past Jack Fryer into 9th on the club's all-time list — a fine achievement quietly earned. With 616 runs I find myself atop the 1956 run charts, while Donovan's 25 wickets keep him a healthy 4th among the bowlers.

All in all, a thoroughly good day for Linton Park — the sort of afternoon that makes the teas taste that little bit sweeter.

Sat 08 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · AwayformDLWWD

Saturday 8th September 1956 found us away at Tovil, and a fine advertisement for the game it turned out to be, even if honours finished share and share alike.

Winning the toss and electing to bowl, we set about Tovil's batsmen with real purpose, though they dug in gamely to reach 132 for 8 off their 51.2 overs, D. Neale top-scoring with 30 and G. Morrison chipping in 22 as the pair put on 51 for the eighth wicket, just when we thought we had the tail wrapped up. Bob Brigden was quite magnificent, tying the home batsmen down with seven maidens on his way to figures of 6 for 47 – the sort of spell that has opposition openers reaching for the fixture list to see when we're next due. I picked up 1 for 1 for my own modest contribution, with J. Donovan taking 1 for 34 in support.

Chasing 133, we lost an early wicket with just 3 on the board and my heart, not for the first time this season, in my mouth. But John Basten played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 46 that held everything together, well backed by J. Donovan's 22, as we crawled to 114 for 6 off our 40 overs – 15 byes along the way suggesting poor Bob Arnold behind the stumps had rather a testing afternoon of it.

So a draw it was, honours shared, neither side quite able to land the decisive blow. Frustrating, perhaps, but with Bob Brigden bowling like that and Basten batting like that, there's plenty for this Linton Park side to be cheerful about.

Sun 02 Sep 1956 🧢 1st XIv HH Halfway House · HomeformWDLWW

Called correctly for once — small mercies — and with the sun doing its best impression of summer, there was never much doubt I'd have us in. Ninety-three for seven from our thirty-nine overs was scarcely a declaration of intent, more a modest request for consideration, but Tom Osborn batted with real substance for his unbeaten 40, and Len Conway chipped in a tidy 22 to keep the scoreboard honest. Stan Wratten and Gordon Fenner both contrived to depart without troubling the scorers — a matching pair of ducks that did nothing for the tea-interval conversation.

Eighty on board looked eminently gettable when Halfway House came out to chase, but cricket has a wonderful way of humbling expectation. Robin Bush played the innings of the day with 22, and Roger Mills went first ball without scoring — cruel game. I found some turn that I scarcely deserved and finished with 5 for 33, four of my seven overs going for nothing at all, while Len Conway backed up his batting with 3 for 26 and Stan Wratten snaffled one for just 3 runs. They limped to 80 for 9 from their thirty-seven, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — honest toil rewarded with neither triumph nor disaster, which is really what club cricket is all about. William Buck continues to knock along nicely in third in the season's run charts, and I'm rather chuffed to find myself topping the wicket pile with fifty for the year. Not a bad afternoon's work, all told.

Sun 26 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv TX Tom Osborn's XI · HomeformDWDLW

Sunday last, 26 August 1956, and we welcomed Tom Osborn's XI to the ground on a day that would end very much in our favour. I called correctly at the toss and there was never any real debate in my mind — we would bat.

The lads made handsome use of the decision, posting 162 for 6 from our 48 overs. John Larking played beautifully for a well-deserved 52, with Clive Smith chipping in a fine 38 and Tony Levick a useful 26 to give the total real substance.

If batting had been a pleasure, bowling was pure theatre. Tom Osborn's XI simply had no answer, folding for 43 in only 17.5 overs, with Fleetwood, Reader and Haylor all departing without so much as a run to their names. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, taking 4 for 19, while Ray Howard picked up 1 for 3. I had some joy myself with the ball, finding a bit of rhythm to take 3 for 21 including three maidens, which I mention only the once and am rather pleased about.

There was extra reason to raise a glass afterwards — those three wickets took me past 200 for my career and lifted me above George Champion into 4th on the club's all-time list, while I currently lead the 1956 wicket charts with 45 and sit 5th among the run-scorers with 229.

We ran out winners by 119 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one to savour.

Sat 25 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformDDWDL

Away to Charles Arkcoll on a bright Saturday, I won the toss and, in defiance of received club wisdom about away pitches, elected to bat. It proved a decision more courageous than correct. We were bowled out for 123 in 39.1 overs, rescued from utter ignominy by John --'s Taylor's fine 46, to which I added a supporting 27. Elsewhere the scorebook makes grim reading — John Basten, Ernie Chiesman and R Vincent all departed for ducks, the sort of collective batting collapse that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces.

Happily, 123 proved rather more than enough. Charles Arkcoll's reply folded for just 55 in 26.2 overs, Randolph Thompson's defiant 25 the only real resistance. Humphrey Morris, John Perkins and John Mighall never troubled the scorers, and no wonder — John --'s Taylor, not content with his runs, produced a magnificent 7-32, while Michael Morton strangled the innings from the other end with 3-22 and four maidens for good measure.

We ran out winners by 68 runs — a thoroughly good day for the club. With 533 runs to my name this season I lead the 1st XI run charts, and Taylor's latest haul lifts him to third among the wicket-takers. On this evidence, Charles Arkcoll will not be requesting a return fixture any time soon.

Sun 19 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformDDDWD

Sunday 19 August, and we welcomed Mote A to Linton Park in what passed, generously, for late-summer sunshine. The coin deserted me as usual, and Mote A won the toss and chose to bat, leaving us to get on with the ball. Get on with it we did: they were bowled out for 107 in 48 overs, J. Reader top-scoring with 28 before the innings ran out of steam. R. Packham departed without troubling the scorers at all, and it was Taylor who did the real damage, a fine 4 for 44, well backed up by Bob Brigden's miserly 2 for 23 from six unyielding maidens and John Ames chipping in with 2 for 33.

Chasing their 107, we made rather a horlicks of the reply, bundled out for 79 in 35.2 overs. Tony Levick held the innings together gamely with 31, but too many of the rest of us came and went without contributing, Taylor among them, undone for a duck with the bat having been our chief tormentor with the ball only an hour before – cricket having its little joke at his expense. I take some comfort that the runs have kept coming for me across the season, 506 and counting, top of the 1st XI pile, with John Ames now leading the wickets column on 42.

Not our day, in the end – beaten by 28 runs, and no arguing with the arithmetic. Heads up, though; it's back to the nets, and there's always next Sunday.

Sat 18 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformLDDDW

As it stands, we go to Bowaters with a spring in our step and a distinct wobble in the top order.

Winning the toss on a fine Saturday, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — and for once the decision looked a good one, even if my own contribution to the cause was rather less than heroic. We rattled along nicely to 138 for 5 off our 39 overs, thanks in no small part to John Basten, who batted with real class for an unbeaten 64, and William Buck, who chipped in handsomely with 44. As for the captain, the less said the better — I trudged back to the pavilion with a duck to my name and my dignity somewhere on the outfield behind me.

With the ball, however, we were a different proposition entirely. J Donovan bowled beautifully for figures of 4 for 26 and, in doing so, reached the notable landmark of 50 career wickets for the club — a fine achievement and thoroughly deserved. Tony Snell was miserly and menacing in equal measure, three maidens among his 3 for 65, and in the process climbed past Stan Wratten into 11th on the all-time list. Michael Morton weighed in with a wicket too, and between us we accounted for Trevor Clinch and Edward Chick without either troubling the scorers. Bowaters fought hard, Roy Ecclestone unbeaten on 36 and Roy Cole a stubborn 31, but they fell short at 128 for 8.

A draw, then — honours shared, and probably fair. Basil Sears continues to purr along nicely in 2nd in our run charts, and with Donovan now 4th among the wicket-takers, the season has plenty still to admire, even if my own batting average could do with a rethink.

Sun 12 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformDLDDD

Here's the match report:

Sunday, 12 August 1956, and Harrietsham CC were the visitors on what turned into rather a good afternoon for us. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat first — the pitch looked true, and I fancied a score on the board would concentrate a few minds. We were proved right, if not quite emphatically: 137/8 from our 35 overs, built around a thoroughly good half-century from William Buck, who made 57 with the sort of application that makes a captain's life easy. I chipped in with 27, and Ray Howard added a tidy 21. Less said the better about the Duck Club entries — John Larking and Clive Smith both took the long walk back for nought, and I'm sure the tea urn had a good laugh at their expense.

Defending 137 is never entirely comfortable, but Clive Smith made handsome amends for his morning duck, running through the Harrietsham order with a magnificent 6-34. I managed to have a hand in things too, with 3-14 and six maidens to show for a spell that felt, for once, entirely under control, while Ray Howard chipped in with 1-7. Harrietsham were bowled out for 81 from 42.2 overs, and we ran out winners by 56 runs.

A thoroughly satisfying day all round — bat, ball, and even the odd ceremonial duck did their part. Bring on the next one.

Sat 11 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDDLDD

Saturday 11 August 1956 brought Headcorn to the ground, and I felt in fine fettle at the toss, calling correctly and electing to bat without a flicker of doubt — a decision I spent much of the afternoon quietly re-examining. We laboured to 164 all out in 39.2 overs, John Basten leading the way with a fine 43, and I was glad to chip in with 25 alongside him. Elsewhere the card told a sorrier tale, with Fiennes Cornwallis, R Vincent and Frank Wright all departing for ducks — three quacks that rather took the shine off the innings.

Defending 164 is never a comfortable afternoon, but the bowlers made a proper fist of it. Gordon Fenner was magnificent, prising out four for 20 and locking things down with six maidens — not a run given away lightly, and Headcorn's batsmen must have felt the squeeze. Michael Morton and Basil Sears chimed in with a wicket apiece, both at a tidy 1-12, and J- Farrance fell to us for a duck of his own. William Blight had a trickier time of it behind the stumps, ten byes slipping through his gloves, but nobody begrudged him that on a day when everything else went so well.

Headcorn closed on 114 for 7 from their 47 overs, L- Murrell top-scoring with a stubborn 49, and neither side could quite force the door open. Honours shared, then — a draw that felt, on reflection, like a fair reflection of a scrappy, good-humoured contest.

Mon 06 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv HC Hon F Cornwallis · HomeformDDDLD

Skipper's Log — Monday, 6th August 1956. Home to Dummy Site, and I lost the toss again, which by now is less bad luck than a personal curse. They elected to bat, and elected, over 59.2 patient overs, to put on 199 for 6 — J. Smith the chief architect with a handsome 84, well supported by T. Checksfield's 56 and M. Zeilka's unbeaten 27. It could have been worse; it should have been worse. Alan Wilkes turned his arm over like a man possessed, spinning his way to 5-76, with John Ames chipping in a wicket and Gordon Fenner bowling four maidens so mean the batsmen must have thought the boundary rope had been moved back.

Our reply was, in a word, brief. Twenty-five for three in 13.3 overs is not the stuff of legend, and only Frank Brattle, unbeaten on 22, showed any inclination to trouble the scorers. Tony Levick and John Ames both walked back for ducks, joining that most exclusive and unwanted of clubs, and the rest of us can only be grateful the rain — or something — intervened before further embarrassment.

So honours shared, and a draw it was, neither side quite able to force the issue. William Buck continues his quiet march up the season's charts, now fourth with 204 runs, while Alan Wilkes sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 40. As for the rest of us — we escaped with pride bruised but intact, which on this showing counts as a result.

Sat 04 Aug 1956 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformLDDDL

Skipper's Log, Saturday 4th August 1956 — the road took us to Aylesford Paper Mills, and for once the coin obliged. I had no hesitation in taking first knock on what looked a decent strip.

We were solid rather than spectacular, closing on 158 for 5 from our 46 overs. John Basten anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 43, and I was glad to keep him company with 43 not out of my own, while Basil Sears chipped in a handy 38 lower down. Not every departure was so cheerful — John --'s Taylor's name went into the book with a golden duck beside it, the sort of dismissal that earns more sympathy in the bar than on the field.

In the field we held our own without quite prising out the last pair. Aylesford crept to 129 for 9 from their fifty, Bobby Brigden the chief obstacle with an unbeaten 46 and R Fowler adding 35. John --'s Taylor turned matchwinner-in-waiting with the ball, a miserly 4 for 46 studded with ten maidens, while I picked up 1 for 8 to go with John Ames's 1 for 33.

A word too for Basil Sears, whose 38 eased him past George Champion into 4th on the club's all-time run charts — a proper landmark. And with the season rolling on, my own tally now leads the 1st XI run charts at 480, with John Ames top of the wickets on 36.

In the end neither side could force it home: honours shared, and a draw that felt fair to both.

Sun 29 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformLLDDD

We travelled down to Folkestone on a fine Sunday with the square rolled out and expectations, as ever, cautiously modest. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might later suggest. Eighty-four all out in 34.5 overs was not the declaration of intent we'd hoped for, and when both Len Conway and Tony Snell were dismissed without troubling the scorers, it rather set the tone for a batting effort best described as "brief."

Happily, the ball told a rather different story. Frank Brooks-Hill batted with the calm assurance of a man who knew we only needed 85, cashing in with an unbeaten 41, and D More chipped in with a tidy 26 as Folkestone eased to 86 for 3. John Ames was the pick of our attack by some distance, snaring 2 for 19 with real menace, while I did what I could with the ball in support, and Len Conway picked up a wicket for his troubles too.

A pleasant footnote amid the gloom: Richard Harris's six runs saw him leapfrog Arthur Cornwallis into 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers' list — a small immortality earned in defeat. I remain, for what it's worth, still out in front of the 1956 first-team run charts, with John Ames doing likewise among the wicket-takers.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, then, and fairly so. We batted like men who'd left their good form on the coach — but the bowling gives real heart, and we'll be back next week determined to bat like we mean it.

Sat 28 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformWLLDD

Here is the match report:

Skipper's Log — Saturday 28 July 1956. Lost the toss, watched Tovil elect to bat, and settled in for what promised to be a long afternoon in the field. It proved rather more comfortable than feared: N. Hawkes and R. Moore both made useful 47s, but Tony Snell was in miserly mood, bowling seven maidens on his way to 3 for 34, with P. Jacobs and R. Vincent chipping in with a wicket apiece. Tovil closed on 162 for 6 from their 41 overs — a total that felt gettable, if we kept our heads.

Keep them we mostly did. Basil Sears played the innings of the day, a handsome 68 that anchored the reply, with John's Taylor unbeaten on 26 and John Basten a solid 21 in support. I contributed my own small share along the way, part of a season that has been kind to me with the bat — 431 runs and counting for the 1st XI this summer. William Blight, meanwhile, had one of those afternoons behind the stumps that goalkeepers and wicketkeepers alike dread, eight byes escaping his gloves like naughty schoolboys at bell time.

In the end we finished on 141 for 4 from our 43 overs, short of victory but well clear of defeat. A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and both sides left, I suspect, rather glad of the tea.

Sun 22 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv JL John Larkings · HomeformWWLLD

Sunday last saw us take the field against John Larkings on our own patch, and having lost the toss I had the small indignity of being told to go and stand in a field for the afternoon. Fifty-two overs of honest endeavour brought them 165 all out — Popplewell playing the anchor role to good effect with 37, T. Saville chipping in with 24 and J. Larking unbeaten on 23 at the close of their innings. J. Clark, I'm sorry to report, departed for a duck without so much as scuffing the scoreboard. My own afternoon took a pleasing turn, however: five wickets fell to my name for 44 runs, a five-for I shan't pretend not to be rather proud of. Alan Wilkes toiled away superbly for 3-64, six of his overs entirely fruitless for the batsmen, and Len Conway picked up one for 17.

Our reply never quite got the legs to match theirs. We were bowled out for 164 in 55 overs, John Waters leading the way with a fine 35, Len Conway unbeaten on 33 and William Buck adding 28. Poor John Abnett will not want reminding of his golden duck, and Tony Levick had rather a torrid time behind the stumps, sixteen byes going begging past him. I added a workmanlike 24 of my own to the cause.

One run shy of parity in the end, and honours were shared — a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Frustrating in the moment, but with the bat and ball both earning their keep, I'll happily settle for honours even.

Sat 21 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformDWWLL

Losing the toss on a warm Saturday against Shipbourne is rarely cause for celebration, though as it turned out we found ourselves in the field first regardless — the toss, like much else in village cricket, is not always as it seems. Shipbourne set about building a total with the quiet insistence of a good pot of tea, Wakeman leading the way with 26, Hills and Elliott chipping in with 24 and 21 respectively, before we winkled them out for 141 in the 47th over. R Vincent was the pick of our attack with 2-6, I managed 2-14 myself, Waters weighed in with 2-19, and John Taylor bowled with the meanness of a man who'd left his wallet at home, sending down five maidens.

A target of 142 looked eminently gettable, and for a while it was — I found some form with the bat, a well-made 64 carrying us along, well supported by Basten's 23 and Taylor's useful 20. But three ducks for Waters, Blight and Sandford rather undid the good work, and ten byes told their own sorry tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Blight. We stumbled to 135-8 off our 33, agonisingly short.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Frustrating to fall short with the finish line in sight, but there's no shame in a match that could have gone either way, and I'll happily bank the runs towards the season's tally.

Sun 15 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsted CC · AwayformDDWWL

Sunday 15 July 1956, and off we trotted to Selsted, hearts full of hope and, in my case, a nagging sense that winning the toss would be the highlight of the afternoon. I called correctly and elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, though our innings did its level best to prove me a fool.

Runs were hard-won. Stan Wratten's 29 was the innings' backbone, with John Ames (23) and William Buck (20) lending honest support, but wickets tumbled around them and we were bowled out for 104 in 44.2 overs — a total that flattered to deceive. Special mention, if that's the word, to poor John Waters, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings and will no doubt dine out on it in the clubhouse for weeks.

With the ball we fought back with more credit than we'd shown with the bat. I chipped in myself with the leather, though it was John Ames who did the real damage with a fine 3-38, and Bob Brigden bowled beautifully tight, five maidens in his allowance and a wicket to show for it, even accounting for a duck at our hands. But S. Smith's well-crafted 72 was simply too much of a mountain, ably assisted by J. Dearman's unbeaten 23, and Selsted eased home on 105/4.

Down by six wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 14 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformDDDWW

Saturday 14 July, and A. Trembeths came to Linton Park in fine form. I lost the toss — no great surprise this season — and we were put into the field, which at least meant I could delay the reckoning with my own batting a while longer. Rye played beautifully for 68, well supported by Trembeth's 41 and an unbeaten 26 from McDowall, and between them they hauled the visitors to 196 for 8 off 37.3 overs. We did earn some consolation: Michael Morton bowled with real discipline, four maidens among his figures of 3 for 29, while Hughes and Sears chipped in with 2 for 3 and 2 for 13 respectively. Beacon, at least, departed without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 197 always looked a stretch, and so it proved. Sears top-scored gamely with 36, and William Blight added a useful 20, but wickets tumbled around them — Hughes and Bob Arnold both fell without scoring — and we were bowled out for 101 in 36.4 overs. Blight had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps too, twelve byes speaking more to the state of the pitch than to his gloves.

There was a crumb of comfort amid the wreckage: my own 14 runs nudged me past Herbert Rayner into 13th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, while Sears's two wickets lifted him past Herbert Sunley into 24th among the wicket-takers — handy validation for a man now sitting second in this season's run charts with 231. Beaten by 95 runs, then, and no dressing it up. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 08 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv SB 1st Innings Hambros Bank · HomeformLDDDW

Match Report — Linton Park CC vs Hambros Bank, Sunday 8 July 1956

Won the toss, elected to bat — and for once I'll take the credit, because it proved the right call. We posted a handsome 190 for 8 from our 52 overs, built on a fine top order effort: John Ames led the way with 44, well supported by Tony Tipples (42) and Stan Wratten (39). Not every name will want reminding of the scorecard, mind — R. Waters and Bob Arnold both departed for ducks, and I don't imagine either will be buying the first round.

Defending that total, we found ourselves needing something special with the ball, and got it. John Ames, having done his bit with the bat, turned in a beautifully miserly spell of 4 for 39 with two maidens thrown in, while Alan Wilkes matched him wicket for wicket with 4 for 41 and Tony Tipples chipped in with 2 for 20. X Leschalles top-scored for the visitors with 45, ably assisted by D. Rankin (36) and X Ronson (25), but X Hare went back for nought and Hambros Bank were bowled out for 151 from 38.5 overs. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid time behind the stumps, conceding 8 byes — the sort of afternoon that tests a keeper's patience as much as his gloves.

I added a watchful 20 with the bat, and rather more pleasingly reached my 200th appearance in Linton colours — a milestone I shan't forget in a hurry. With 353 runs to my name this season I lead the run charts, while Alan Wilkes tops the bowling with 31 wickets. A 38-run victory, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved.

Sat 07 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLDDD

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once the decision looked good before we'd even reached the middle. I can't pretend to false modesty about what followed: I found some form I'd been quietly hoping for all season and carried the innings to a hundred, the shots coming off the middle of the bat in a way that felt almost unfair on a Saturday afternoon. Gilmour chipped in with a brisk 27 and J Donovan added a useful 20, while at the other end Spence and Michael Morton both fell for golden ducks — the sort of thing that happens to us all sooner or later. All out for 187 from 31.1 overs, a total that felt like it had enough substance to defend.

And defend it we did, emphatically. Charles Arkcoll never got going, undone by Michael Morton's superb 5-37 and Tony Snell's miserly 4-35, four of those overs maidens — not a run given away lightly. Gordon Fenner's 42 was the only real resistance; Jack Knowler departed without troubling the scorers, and the innings folded for 74 in 31.3 overs. A word for Morton, too, whose five-for nudges him past Stan Wratten and into the club's all-time top ten wicket-takers — a lovely landmark on a good day.

A comfortable 113-run win, two points banked, and — for once — I shan't be blamed for the batting collapse. Thoroughly earned, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Sun 01 Jul 1956 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsted CC · HomeformWLLDD

There is a particular flavour of Sunday cricket where losing the toss and being asked to bowl first feels less like a setback and more like a mercy, and so it proved against Selsted CC, who arrived determined to bat us into submission and very nearly succeeded. They closed on 141/8 from their 33 overs, built chiefly around a watchful 35 from D. Batcheler and 29 from S.V. Smith, while at the other end M. Smith departed for a duck that will live longer in his memory than in ours. R. Waters was magnificent with the ball — 3-33 and four maidens, not a run given away without a fight — with able support from Alan Wilkes (2-20) and, if I may permit myself one immodest line, three wickets for the skipper, figures of 3-56 that felt a good deal more expensive by the close than they had at the time.

Chasing 142 to win, we settled instead for something more companionable: 120/4 from our 26 overs, Tony Tipples leading the way with a fine 39, well supported by William Buck's 25. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, gifting nine byes to a pitch that clearly had opinions of its own.

So honours shared, and perhaps that is exactly as it should be — two sides who could find no clear way past the other. William Buck continues his quiet climb up the season's run charts, now fourth with 129, while Alan Wilkes sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 27. A draw, then, but an honest one, and I'll happily take that over a defeat dressed up as excitement.

Sat 30 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDWLLD

St Lukes won the toss and, with a glint in the eye that only comes from years of experience, invited us to field first on what was a perfectly agreeable Saturday for it. We toiled away for our 48 overs as R- Aiston (44) and E- Lawrence (43) put bat to ball with rather more conviction than we'd have liked, and W- Hunt's unbeaten 31 saw them home to 168/5. Credit where it's due, though: J Donovan was a menace with the ball, three maidens and figures of 3-34, well backed up by John --'s Taylor's 2-57. A tidy shift in the field, all told.

Chasing 169, I found some form with the bat, top-scoring with 49 in a knock that felt rather better than the scoreboard perhaps gives credit for, and J Donovan followed his bowling heroics with an unbeaten 45 to go with useful support from John --'s Taylor's 31. Poor R- Robinson, however, will want to forget his contribution entirely — a duck to nurse on the drive home. We stumbled to 166/8 from our 45, twenty of those coming courtesy of byes, which tells you all you need to know about poor Bob Arnold's afternoon behind the stumps.

A word for Donovan, whose three wickets nudged him past H Freed and into 22nd on the club's all-time list — a fine effort, and one that keeps him third in this season's wicket charts, while I'm rather chuffed to still be leading the run charts on 227. In the end honours were shared, a draw that flattered neither side but satisfied both — two evenly matched sides, and not an inch given by either.

Sun 24 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv HB Hambros Bank · HomeformLDWLL

I'll help polish this into a captain's report for the club gazette.

As luck would have it, it was a shirt-sleeves affair against Hambros Bank, though the result read draw once the dust had settled. Winning first use of the ball, we watched R Pavitt play the innings of the day — a crisp fifty, 52 in all — with R Richardson (36) and R Day (36 not out) keeping the scoreboard ticking along nicely to 210/6 from their 52 overs. T O'Sullivan, mercifully for us, never troubled the scorers. Len Conway was the pick of the attack by some distance, 3-41 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, while John Ames chipped in with 3-53 of his own.

Chasing 210 is never a formality, and so it proved. Stan Wratten batted with real class for his 64, well backed up by Clive Smith (48) and Len Conway, who followed his bowling with 32 more with the bat — proper all-round graft. I can't claim any of that glory myself; I walked back for nought, as did William Buck, and the least said about that passage of play the better. Poor Tony Levick had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 13 byes going begging. We closed on 179/7 from our 40, agonisingly short.

So honours shared, and rightly so — neither side could quite land the killer blow. Frustrating to fall short with the bat, but with Wratten now third in the season's run charts and Ames second among the wicket-takers, there's plenty to be cheerful about. A draw's no disgrace against a side that good.

Sat 23 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformDLDWL

Ninety-two plays seventy-five. Not our finest afternoon, but writing this now.

We lost the toss on Saturday and were sent into the field, which at least meant the lads could get an early look at the strip before Aylesford Paper Mills settled in. And settle in they did — Cliff Anscombe farmed the strike for a chanceless 65 not out, the sort of unbeaten fifty that leaves a captain quietly cursing his luck at the coin. Small mercies came in the shape of three ducks at our hands, and the day belonged, without question, to R. Robinson, whose 6-32 (four maidens included, not a run given away lightly) was a spell richly deserved and the one bright thread running through the innings. John Taylor chipped in with a workmanlike 3-54 for good support. All out for 92 in 28.5 overs — a total that felt gettable, if not comfortable.

It was not gettable. Our reply limped to 75 all out in 39.5 overs, Frank Brattle and Frank Wright both contributing golden ducks to a batting card that had no business being so thin against a total under a hundred. Seventeen runs short, and no amount of tea-hut philosophy will dress that up as anything but a loss.

One note of cheer amid the gloom: Richard Harris's two runs eased him past H G Smith into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — proof that even a grim scorecard can carry a little history in its margins.

Verdict: heads up, back to the nets — this one's on the batting, not the bowling.

Sun 17 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv HH Halfway House · AwayformLDLDW

Sunday 17 June 1956 saw us set off for the away fixture in high spirits, and having called correctly at the toss, I fancied our chances with the bat on what looked a fair surface. I fancied wrong. We stumbled to 71/9 from our 32 and a bit overs, with only William Buck showing any real appetite for runs, top-scoring with a battling 26. The less said about Michael Morton and John Abnett's twin ducks the better, though I daresay the tea urn heard some choice words from both of them on the walk back.

Seventy-one was never going to trouble anyone, but we set about defending it with the sort of dogged spirit that keeps this club going. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, snaring 4-41 with three tidy maidens thrown in for good measure — figures that, we're reliably informed, edge him past Herbert Rayner and up to sixth on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and keep him out in front of the 1956 wicket charts with 25 for the season. Stan Wratten, meanwhile, continues his quiet season with the bat, sitting third in the run charts on 114. Sadly Alan's heroics weren't quite enough, as the opposition eased home to 75/4 inside 20 overs, Denis Fowle unbeaten on 21.

Six wickets the wrong way, then, and a long drive home to reflect on it. Not our day at all — but milestones were reached amid the rubble, and it's back to the nets we go.

Sat 09 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformWLDLD

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once nobody in the pavilion groaned at my decision — Bowaters arrived to a green top and I fancied our chances of runs before the tea urn cooled. As it turned out, 96 all out in 37.2 overs was a modest total by any measure, rescued largely by Basil Sears' composed 30 and C. Buller's watchful 26 lower — sorry, further up — the order. The rest of us, myself included, contributed rather less to the arithmetic than to the washing-up rota afterwards.

Ninety-six felt thin walking out to defend it, and I said as much to nobody who'd listen. But cricket has a habit of humbling the pessimist: Bowaters' innings folded for a startling 49 in 29.4 overs, with Colin Cole, William Preston and Edward Chick all trudging back without so much as a single to their names — three ducks before most of us had finished our first over of concentration.

The wickets column made for happy reading. I finished with 8-23, easily the pick of the day's bowling and the sort of return one daren't hope for twice in a career, while Taylor chipped in with a miserly 2-22 from seven maidens that strangled any hope of a recovery.

A win by 47 runs, then — comprehensive, slightly improbable, and thoroughly enjoyed. Onwards indeed.

Sun 03 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLWLDL

No luck with the coin on Sunday, and Folkestone CC elected to bat first on what turned out to be a fittingly indecisive afternoon. They ground their way to 141 all out from 38 overs, Andrew Miles top-scoring with a watchful 40, well supported by Jack Bowler's 24 and Frank Brooks-Hill's 22. John Ames was in irresistible form with the ball, tearing through their order for 6-49, and I chipped in with 2-23 while Tony Snell took 2-61. Frank Rumbold and John Godden both departed for ducks, sent back by an attack that, for once, had all the answers.

Chasing 142, we were a touch more stuttering, closing on 107/6 from our 37 overs — Frank Brattle and Tony Tipples both fell for golden ducks, which rather summed up the tone. Thankfully I found some form to see us through unbeaten on 40, with Stan Wratten a steady ally on 31 not out, and between us we managed to keep the scoreboard ticking without ever quite threatening the target. There was a personal landmark in there too, as that innings brought up 4,000 career runs for the club — not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon, even if the runs came a fraction short of what was needed.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue. I'll happily take it — the bowling was excellent, the batting merely adequate, and my season's tally now sits proudly atop the 1st XI run charts. Ames, meanwhile, continues to terrorise opening batsmen up and down the county. A fair result, on reflection, for a match that never quite decided what it wanted to be.

Sat 02 Jun 1956 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformLLWLD

We lost the toss on Saturday and were sent in to field first against Old Williamsonians CC, which on paper sounded like the easy half of the day. It didn't feel that way for long. Ward made a fluent 36, well supported by Cox's 27, and between them the visitors ground their way to 140 all out from 43.4 overs — though there was some comfort in seeing Robinson depart for a duck. Taylor was the pick of our attack with 3-41, R Vincent chipped in with a tidy 2-2, and Eddie Lawrence took 2-26. I set my stall out for containment rather than glory, sending down three maidens for my trouble.

Chasing 141 should have been within our compass. It was not to be. We subsided to 80 all out in just 22.4 overs, the innings unravelling around us as J Donovan, Richard Harris and D Young all fell without troubling the scorers. Only Basil Sears, with a defiant 25, gave the innings any real backbone.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: J Donovan's two wickets with the ball nudged him past Herbert Sunley and up to 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a nice consolation on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Sears continues to lead our 1956 run charts with 142, and Donovan now sits second among the season's wicket-takers with 13.

Sixty runs the wrong side of the ledger, then. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 27 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv RX Ron Aiston XI · HomeformDLLWL

Sunday last, and Ron Aiston XI rolled up to Linton Park in fine spirits, which is always a worrying sign. We put them in, and L Murrell made a fifty look easy on his way to 89, with N Tiley (27) and E Lawrence (22) chipping in dutifully while the rest of us chased leather round the boundary. Credit where due — Len Conway bowled beautifully for 3-33, and got fine support from John's Taylor (1-22) and Gordon Fenner, whose 1-29 came with four maidens, not a run given away lightly. All told, 190/8 from their 56 overs felt like a proper afternoon's work to contain.

Chasing 191, I found some form early doors and made 45 before getting overexcited, with Len Conway (25) and John Ames (20) keeping the innings ticking along nicely. Extras chipped in a handsome 28 — practically an opening batsman these days. Less happily, poor C- Haylor endured the walk of shame for a golden duck, and then had a torrid time behind the stumps too, shipping eight byes for good measure — not his finest Sunday, but we've all been there.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. Up the season table I lead the run charts with 134, while Alan Wilkes tops the wicket pile on 21 — the engine room is purring nicely. A draw is nobody's idea of glory, but against a side with an innings like Murrell's in the locker, I'll happily take it and the tea that came with it.

Sat 26 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformWDLLW

Toss lost, and Gore Court had no hesitation in batting first on what was clearly a decent surface — 210/8 from their 47 overs told its own story. Laurence Rostron gave us a proper going-over with an unbeaten 77, well supported by John Bishop's 41 and Brian Reynolds' 39, their sixth-wicket pair putting on a stand of 65 that did the real damage. The last pair then had the cheek to add 45 more, which we could all have lived without. Credit where due though: Bob Brigden bowled beautifully for 4-48, with R Vincent (2-24) and J Donovan (2-75) chipping in, and we did at least see off Ted High for a duck along the way.

Chasing 211 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered them badly. We slipped from 2-1 to 9-4 in a hurry and never recovered any composure, William Buck, Michael Morton and I confess your correspondent himself all departing without troubling the scorers. I'll say no more on my own contribution than that a duck is a duck whoever makes it. All out for 71 in 29.4 overs was a sorry return against a total that size.

There was a footnote of sorts: J Donovan's brace nudged him past Basil Sears and up to 24th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list, which is more than can be said for our batting.

Beaten by 139 runs, no argument about it. A harder look at our top order beckons before we're back out there — but these things come round again, and we will be better for it.

Mon 21 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWWDLL

John Thirkell here, and Monday the 21st found us on the road to Marden, Kent, with the sun on our backs and, for once, a toss that fell my way. Bat first, no question — you don't turn down first knock on a good pitch, or so I keep telling myself. William Buck led the way with a fine 39, John Ames chipped in a solid 28, and I managed 23 down the order, but wickets kept tumbling around us and 148 all out from our 52 overs felt more like a platform than a total. Special mention, as ever, for John "-'s" Taylor, who contrived to bag a duck — the walk of shame performed with his usual flair.

Defending 148 against Marden looked a tall order on paper, and when J- Clark got stuck in for 49, ably backed by J- Hall's 26, I began composing my excuses for the drive home. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and John Ames simply ran riot — 6 for 41, nine of his overs maidens, bowling that deserves a standing ovation and got a polite ripple instead, this being Kent. J Donovan (2-23) and Taylor (1-47, redemption after his golden duck) squeezed the middle order, A Tipples and L Gurr both departed without scoring, and poor McCarthy behind the stumps had a torrid afternoon of it, 13 byes and all.

Marden folded for 127, and we scraped home by 21 runs. Ames's six-for also nudges him up to fifth on our all-time wicket list — no mean feat. A scratchy, nervy, thoroughly satisfying win, and I'll take twenty of those a season, thank you very much.

Sun 20 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformDWWDL

We travelled to Dummy Site on Sunday 20 May 1956 with the toss going against us, and no sooner had it landed than we were resigned to an afternoon in the field. They chose to bat, and bat they did — closing on a healthy 174/8 from 58.5 overs, D- Parker cracking a well-made 77 and J- Worley chipping in with 30. Credit where it's due: Alan Wilkes bowled beautifully for 3-57, seven of his overs maidens, proof that not every over need leak runs, while Eddie Lawrence (2-15) and Clive Smith (2-46) tidied up nicely, and D- Wright departed for a duck at our hands.

With 175 to chase, we made a game of it without ever truly threatening — 109 all out from 51 overs told its own story. Clive Smith top-scored with a spirited 36, R- Waters lending sound support with 27, though Bob Arnold and Alan Wilkes both returned golden ducks, a reminder that cricket has a cruel sense of humour. Twelve byes slipped past the gloves too, which the wicketkeeper will not thank me for mentioning.

Small mercies remain — Stan Wratten sits second in our 1956 run charts with 82, and Alan Wilkes tops the wicket-takers with 20, so the season's furniture isn't entirely rearranged. But down by 65 runs, there's no dressing this one up. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets — we'll have better Sundays than this.

Sat 19 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformDDWWD

Saturday 19 May 1956 saw us make the trip to Gore Court CC, and the toss went against us before a ball was bowled — a chase it would be, and out into the field we went with rather more hope than plan.

Gore Court settled in nicely, working their way to 145/8 from 51.2 overs behind a solid top order — Richard Ogle top-scoring with 31, Alec E Allsworth close behind on 30, and Maurice Ingleton chiming in with 26. Credit where due, though: J Donovan bowled beautifully for 4-23, five of his overs going entirely unrewarded for the batsmen, while Michael Morton (3-39) and R Vincent (1-13) tidied up the rest. Not a total we couldn't chase, on paper.

Paper, alas, is not turf. Our reply folded to 74 all out in 49 overs, the middle order collapsing from 16-1 to 27-4 in the sort of spell that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. Bob Brigden's 24 and Basil Sears' 21 were the only real resistance; poor Michael Morton, so industrious with the ball, bagged a duck with the bat for his trouble. Bob Arnold, meanwhile, had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping his gloves like they had a train to catch.

Beaten by 71 runs, then, and no dressing it up. Basil Sears remains our leading run-scorer this season with 109, and J Donovan sits second in the wicket charts with 7 — small consolations. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 13 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWDDWW

Sunday, 13 May 1956, and Dummy Site welcomed the visitors on a day when I lost the toss and duly lost the argument — they saw the pitch and fancied first knock. Fair enough; the ball was ours to start with, and start well we did.

Alan Wilkes was the story of the morning, a magnificent 7-30 that had the middle order in all sorts of bother, while Gordon Fenner chipped away tidily at the other end for 3-57, three maidens included, never giving so much as an inch. Trevor Fermor (45) and R. Oldfield (44 not out) did their best to repair matters, but 140 all out from 39.2 overs was, on that bowling, no more than they deserved. Poor E. Maitland and D. Maitland both departed for ducks, which is never a pleasant walk back to the pavilion.

Our reply had its moments and its mishaps in equal measure. R. Waters batted sensibly for an unbeaten 37, well supported by B. Pay's 32, and I managed a modest 16 of my own. Ray Howard, alas, bagged a golden duck, and B. Pay's day behind the stumps told its own story too — fifteen byes is not a figure one puts in the scorebook with any pride. We closed on 128/6 from our 43, honours even, neither side quite able to force the door.

A draw, then — and on reflection, a fair one. Wilkes bowled like a man possessed, Waters and Pay batted us to safety, and the rest of us mucked in as best we could. Tea was, I'm reliably informed, excellent.

Sat 12 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWDDW

I called correctly at the toss on a fine Saturday at Bearsted, and with no hesitation at all elected to bat — a decision I stand by, though the umpires may have raised an eyebrow at my confidence. We laboured our way to 150 for 8 from 36 overs, a total built almost single-handedly by Basil Sears, whose well-crafted fifty (51) was the innings' backbone. I chipped in with 24, and Bob Arnold rounded things off nicely with an unbeaten 24 of his own. Less said the better about R. Piercy and Richard Harris, both of whom took the long walk back for nought — the ducks were very much in season.

Defending 150 always asks questions of a side, but ours answered them handsomely. Bearsted were bowled out for 97 in 30.3 overs, Gordon A. Hawkins' 28 the only real resistance. Tony Snell was quite magnificent — 5 for 43, four maidens, and thoroughly deserved figures that also carried him past the milestone of 100 career wickets, a landmark worth raising a glass to. John --'s Taylor backed him up admirably with 4 for 50, and F. Bayley and Norman Tiley both fell without troubling the scorers.

There was extra cause for cheer off the field too, with Bob Arnold's runs nudging him past Gordon Fenner into 17th on the club's all-time list. All told, a fifty-three run victory and two points banked — a thoroughly satisfying day's work, even if my own batting won't be troubling the record books just yet.

Sun 06 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · HomeformDWWDD

Sunday 6 May 1956, and we welcomed Hunton Wanderers CC to Linton Park under skies that, like my captaincy record, promised more than they delivered. I lost the toss — a coin that has developed a distinct dislike for me — and we were sent into the field. Hunton compiled 153/9 from their 48 overs, X Rogerson the chief architect with a fluent 45, R Murray chipping in with 24. But the day belonged to young J- Coomber, whose 5-45 (four maidens besides) was the kind of spell that has old boys nodding into their teacups, with Alan Wilkes lending willing support at 4-54.

A target of 154 is never quite the formality the scorebook suggests, and so it proved. John Larking led our reply with a composed 41, Ray Howard and L Smith weighing in with 28 and 27 respectively, while poor C- Haylor departed for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and indeed to the rest of us too. Behind the stumps, Tony Levick endured a torrid afternoon, 20 byes escaping his gloves like schoolboys at the final bell.

We stumbled, staggered and finally scrambled home by two wickets, hearts firmly in mouths throughout. Larking's knock sees him third in the season's run charts, and Wilkes now heads the wicket-takers with ten. A scrappy, nerve-jangling, thoroughly satisfying win — the sort club cricket was invented for.

Sat 05 May 1956 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformDDWWD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 5th May 1956. Marden CC came to visit, I lost the toss, and duly discovered that "you're in the field" is Kent-speak for "go and stand about for forty overs while a chap called Sunnucks helps himself to fifty." He made a well-crafted 54, D Gladdish chipped in with 47 and Peter Tipples added 24, and between them they steered Marden to a very respectable 167/7. Small mercy: G Tompkinson departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers. R Vincent led our attack beautifully with 3-31, Bob Arnold weighed in with 2-29, and Michael Morton bowled with real discipline for 1-23, including three maidens that Marden's middle order will remember fondly, and not in a good way.

With the bat we never quite got the chase going, closing on 127/9 from our 46 overs. Frank Brattle was the one shining light, a fine half-century (54) that held the innings together, with R Piercy unbeaten on 21 in good support. As for the skipper — well, leading by example is all very well until the example is a golden duck. Not my finest half-hour with the willow, though I like to think the toss was really to blame. Spare a thought, too, for William Blight behind the stumps, who had a tricky afternoon of it with twelve byes going begging.

So: honours shared, a draw earned by two sides neither able to land the killer blow. On the season charts Frank Brattle now sits second in our run-scoring table, and J Donovan second among the wicket-takers — proof that somebody round here knows what they're doing. As for the captaincy, I shall simply chalk this one up as a lesson in humility, and look forward to making rather more use of my bat next time out.

Sun 29 Apr 1956 🧢 1st XIv MA Maidstone AKCC · HomeformDDDWW

Sunday last saw us welcome Maidstone Akcc to Linton Park, and what a good old-fashioned arm-wrestle of a match it turned out to be. Put in first, we sent the visitors out to bat, and they compiled a respectable 171/9 off their 47 overs — Tony Snook the chief architect with a fine 49, well supported by Ron Aiston's 33 and R Howard's 22. But it was Alan Wilkes who stole the show with the ball, a magnificent 6-38 including no fewer than eight maidens — the sort of miserly, metronomic spell that has batsmen muttering into their gloves. I chipped in with 2-47 myself, and Gordon Fenner picked up one for good measure.

Chasing 172, we replied with 140/3 from our 38 overs, never quite landing the knockout blow but never in danger of losing our footing either. Stan Wratten was the class act, a lovely well-made 63, with Tony Levick's 23 and my own unbeaten 21 helping to keep the innings ticking along nicely.

So honours shared, and a draw it was — neither side able to force the issue, though with Wilkes bowling like that and Wratten batting like that, one suspects both captains went home reasonably content. A fair result, I'd say, and proof once again that this fine old game rarely lets either side have it all their own way.

Sat 28 Apr 1956 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWDDDW

Saturday, 28th April 1956, and the road took us to West Farleigh — a fixture that always promises more sunburn than swing bowling, and delivered rather less of both than advertised.

I lost the toss, they chose to bat, and so it was pads off, boots on for the lads. West Farleigh crept to 109/5 from their 41 overs, propped up almost single-handedly by R Muir, who dug in for an unbeaten 48 and gave nothing away. Credit where it's due to our attack, though — Tony Snell was the pick of them with 2-20, well supported by J Donovan's 2-27 and Bob Brigden's tidy 1-9, while Michael Morton bowled with the meanness of a man who'd left his wallet at home, sending down three maidens for good measure.

Chasing 110, we replied with 112/7 from our 30, Basil Sears leading the way with 35 and Bob Brigden unbeaten on 23 to see us home. R Vincent and J Donovan both contributed the traditional golden duck to proceedings — a fine club tradition, if not one either man will be framing for the mantelpiece. I added a workmanlike 19 myself, more grit than grace.

Two points, thoroughly earned, won by three wickets — and Basil now tops our 1956 run charts, with Donovan leading the wickets despite his brief and blameless stay at the crease. A scrappy, honest win, and precisely the sort club cricket was invented for.