🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 29 Sep 1957 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformDDDWD

Sunday last brought Linton Park CC out for a home fixture, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and, in a fit of what I can only describe as misplaced confidence, put us in to bat. It did not, in hindsight, cover me in glory.

Sixty-four all out in 27.2 overs is not the sort of total that has opposition captains reaching for the record books, unless it's the record for shortest tea interval required. Tony Levick was the exception to an otherwise grim afternoon, top-scoring with 27 and looking, briefly, like a man playing a different match to the rest of us. Stan Wratten and C. Haylor, meanwhile, both contributed golden ducks — a matching pair, like bookends, propping up absolutely nothing.

There was, I suppose, a silver lining of sorts up the season table: Tony Levick's 27 keeps him top of our 1957 Married run charts, while Clive Smith continues to lord it over the Singles column with 38. Small comfort when chasing a target that never had a chance of being defended.

We went down by 3 wickets in the end, and no amount of gallows humour in the pavilion could disguise that 64 simply wasn't cricket, in the fullest sense of the phrase. Heads up, chins slightly less so, and back to the nets — there is clearly work to be done before we trouble anyone's scorers again.

Sat 28 Sep 1957 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformLWLDL

Saturday 28 September 1957, and Dummy Site rolled up as our visitors, sunshine doing its best to paper over the state of the outfield. I lost the toss — no surprises there this season — and duly asked to have a bowl of it, which for once looked the right call. Their innings never quite got going: 80 all out in 30.4 overs, with only L- Fell (28) offering any real resistance while C- Rye, - Castle and - Mortlock all trooped back for ducks. The story of the afternoon, though, was John --'s Taylor, who simply ran amok with 7-29 including two maidens — the sort of spell that has the tea urn talking for weeks. Ray Howard chipped in tidily with 2-10 in support.

Chasing 80 should have been a formality. It was not. We stumbled to 82/9 from 33.3 overs, Tom Osborn's watchful 20 the only innings of real substance, while Ray Howard and John --'s Taylor both walked the plank for noughts of their own — bowling heroes, batting horrors. Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 9 byes slipping through. Still, there was a silver lining: Osborn's 20 nudged him past Richard Harris into 12th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, while Basil Sears continues to purr along in 2nd place for the season with 550 runs.

A win by the width of one wicket — scruffy, nerve-shredding, thoroughly unnecessary given the bowling on show, but a win all the same. Onwards.

Sun 22 Sep 1957 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · HomeformWLWLD

It was a bright Sunday, 22 September, and Tilling Steven came to us at Linton Park with the sun on their side, if not, as it transpired, much else. We had first use of the ball, and it proved a shrewd notion — they were shot out for 79 in 34 overs, a total that flattered nobody. Only T. Maskell, unbeaten on 25, showed any real appetite for the crease, while poor R. Bailey trudged off for nought. The pick of our attack was Taylor, whose 5-51 was every inch a five-for and thoroughly earned, well supported by Cliff Anscombe's tidy 4-18 — four maidens included, the sort of miserly spell that makes a captain purr — and a wicket for Alan Wilkes.

Whatever confidence that bowling display bred, we squandered with interest at the crease. Fifty-seven all out in a paltry 23 overs is not a scorecard one frames for the clubhouse wall; William Buck, C. Haylor and Cliff Anscombe all contributed ducks, a hat-trick of golden nothings that rather undid our good work. I managed 20 and did what I could to hold things together, but it wasn't nearly enough.

Beaten by 22 runs, then, and no arguing with the arithmetic. Small consolation from the season charts — I remain top of the 1st XI run tally on 950, and Alan Wilkes sits fifth among the wicket-takers with 29 — but consolation is all it is. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 21 Sep 1957 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDWLWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 21 September 1957. Bearsted CC at home, and I'm afraid I lost the toss again; they had no hesitation putting us in the field, which on a fine September afternoon felt rather like being made to do the washing-up before you'd even had your tea.

Bearsted made a solid 169/7 from their 52 overs, built chiefly around A "Tony" Snook's unbeaten 65, with Gordon Hawkins (45) and George Lambell (30) lending sturdy support. We had them 2 for 1 at one stage and thought we were onto something, but a stubborn second-wicket stand of 63 dragged them back into contention, and an irritating last-wicket flourish of 37 runs we could frankly have done without rounded things off. Bob Brigden was the pick of the attack, 3 for 38 with three tidy maidens, backed up by Tony Snell (2-69) and Len Conway (1-26).

In reply we made a spirited 135 for 5 from 33.3 overs. The openers gave us a proper platform — 95 for the first wicket — before I chipped in with a personal 52, well supported by Basil Sears's 45, and I'll admit that half-century was rather satisfying. Wickets then tumbled in a rush from 121 to 135, and poor Richard Harris departed for a golden duck without troubling the scorers.

Special mention for Bob Brigden, who reached 50 career wickets and climbed past H G Smith into 22nd on the club's all-time list — a fine day's work with the ball. Honours shared, then, in a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed no one either — a proper stalemate, and no bad way to spend a Saturday.

Sun 15 Sep 1957 🧢 1st XIv TC Tunbridge Wells CC · HomeformLDWLW

Here is the match report.

Sunday last saw Tunbridge Wells CC visit us, and having called correctly I had no hesitation reaching for the bat rather than the pads — a decision that, for once, I shan't be made to regret over tea. We posted 161/6 from our 48.2 overs, a total built on rather more application than elegance. I was pleased to lead from the front with 55, though I owed a good deal to Stan Wratten's spirited 35 and John Waters' watchful 29 alongside me — without them I'd have been stranded looking rather foolish.

With the ball, though, Tunbridge Wells simply had the better of us. Roger Phillips played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 52 that we never quite found an answer to, well supported by Charles Wicker's 40 and Len Goldsmith's undefeated 27. Brian Dunster at least departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers, which was some small consolation. John Ames toiled hardest for his 2-71, I picked up 1-18 myself, and Bob Brigden bowled two tidy maidens — but 162/4 from 39.4 overs told its own story, and we went down by six wickets.

Amid the gloom, one shaft of sunlight: William Buck brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a milestone thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded by all. Not our day, then — heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 14 Sep 1957 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformLLDWL

As it stands, this reads like a fine village win, and I'll not muck about with the mood of it.

We lost the toss on a fine Saturday and Bowaters put us out into the field first, which at least meant I could keep the flask of tea by the boundary for later. They rattled up 146 for 8 off their 48, with Colin Cole the chief architect of our discomfort on 45, well backed up by William Preston's 37. Bob Brigden was the pick of our attack and thoroughly deserved his 4 for 55, with Tony Snell doing sterling containing work — 7 maidens is the sort of figure that makes batsmen question their life choices — for 2 for 29, and Ray Howard chipping in with one for 43. John Ashenden, mercifully for him, went for a duck before anyone had troubled the scorers, which took some of the shine off their total.

Set 147 to win, we got there in some comfort, 147 for 5 off 35, though not without the odd wobble — Bob Arnold departed for nought, and Roy Clarke will want a word with himself after gifting sixteen byes. Ray Howard was the mainstay with 42, and I was glad to get among the runs myself with 41, while William Blight saw us home unbeaten on 26.

A tidy five-wicket win, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Sun 08 Sep 1957 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWLLDW

I lost the toss and we were put in the field, so it was a long afternoon before we even picked up a bat.

Anchorians made themselves at home, running up 172/7 from 48.4 overs. J Carey led the way with a fine 45, well backed by G Morris (34) and G Harrow (24) — enough to keep us honest all afternoon. There were bright spots amid the toil: I was pleased to see Don Wykes back in the hutch for a duck, and John Ames bowled beautifully for 3-37, with Alan Wilkes (3-60) and Cliff Anscombe (1-29) chipping in, while Stan Wratten sent down three maidens without so much as a run to show for the batsmen's trouble. Fittingly, it was John Ames's 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark he marked in style.

Chasing 172 was always going to ask questions of our batting, and we simply didn't have the answers. Twenty overs and two balls later we were all out for a threadbare 60, with Tony Levick, Cliff Anscombe and John Abnett all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I did what I could with the bat, though it wasn't nearly enough to trouble the target.

Beaten by 112 runs, then — no way of dressing that up. Still, a century of appearances for John Ames is worth raising a glass to, and with the run charts still looking kindly on me this season, I'll take the positives where I find them. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 07 Sep 1957 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · AwayformDWLLD

Saturday 7th September, and the coin let us down at Tovil, so it was pads off and boots on for a spell in the field first. I can't say I minded much once the opposition were bowled out for 99 in 33.1 overs — young Packham did the heavy lifting with 38, but he had little company, not least E. Capiling, who was back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the new ball and finished with 4-12, while Tony Snell bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that suggests he doesn't much enjoy giving runs away — 3-37 and three maidens to show for it — and Len Conway chipped in with 1-11.

Chasing 100 should have been a formality, and in the end it very nearly wasn't, though we got there with five wickets in hand from 35 overs. Bob Brigden anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 30, well supported by Basil Sears (29) and Bob Arnold (25). Poor Frank Brattle wasn't so fortunate, departing for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us. Behind the stumps Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon, 10 byes leaking through, proof that even the best keepers have days they'd rather forget.

A five-wicket win, then, comfortable enough on paper if not always in practice. Onwards to Tovil no more this season, and gladly so — but a win's a win, and we'll take it every time.

Sun 01 Sep 1957 🧢 1st XIv HH Halfway House · HomeformWDWLL

Sunday, and Halfway House came to visit us on what I'd call a good toss to win — I had no hesitation electing to bat, and for once the decision looked every inch the masterstroke it was intended to be.

We batted with real substance, posting 216 for 7 from our 46 overs, the innings built around a magnificent hundred from Maurice Fenner — 122 of the finest, and not many better knocks will grace this gazette all season. Cliff Anscombe chipped in nicely with 27, and I added 24 of my own, though I claim no great credit; when a man's making three figures at the other end, the rest of us are merely there to keep him company and run when told.

Defending 216 always promises an interesting afternoon, and so it proved. The opposition fought hard, Denis Fowle top-scoring with a stubborn 26, but John Ames turned in the sort of spell captains dream of and openers dread — 6 for 50, six maidens among them, spinning the ball as though the pitch owed him money. John's Taylor picked up a wicket too for good support. In the end Halfway House closed on 123 for 7, well short but not without a fight.

A draw, then — honours shared, neither side quite able to land the decisive blow. With Ames now second in our 1957 wicket charts and yours truly leading the run-scoring, I'll allow myself a quiet smile on the walk back to the pavilion. Not a win, but a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket, and the tea urn, as ever, the true match-winner.

Sat 31 Aug 1957 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · AwayformDWDWL

A tricky one to lose the toss? No, I won it—and chose to bat, which in hindsight was either bold captaincy or wishful thinking depending on your view of a total of 116. Bob Arnold held things together nicely with 24, and honestly it could have been worse, though poor Michael Morton will want the scorebook to forget his duck as quickly as he did.

With the ball, though, we were a different side. Len Conway led from the front with 1-18, and he had good company—John "Taylor's" 1-19 and Michael Morton's 1-34 kept the pressure on throughout, while Tony Snell bowled two tidy maidens that never let Hunton Wanderers settle. We had them back twice for nought, G Bugge and J Ludden both departing without troubling the scorers, which was some consolation. Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 13 byes going begging, and I can't say I blame him given the conditions. My own contribution with bat and ball I'll leave modestly folded into the team effort, save to say I gave what I could.

In the end X Norton's fine 57, well supported by X House's 31, saw Hunton home by six wickets from 34 overs. A defeat, no question, but not a chastening one—we bowled with real heart and only our batting let us down. We'll dust ourselves off and come back stronger next Saturday.

Sun 25 Aug 1957 🧢 1st XIv HB Hambros Bank · HomeformDDWDW

Sunday 25 August 1957 saw Hambros Bank roll up the drive, and with the coin landing kindly I had no hesitation in putting us in — a decision I stood by rather more comfortably at tea than I did with two overs to go. We compiled a respectable 193/6 from our 55 overs, built around a personal highlight of 69 that I shan't pretend didn't feel rather good, with Ray Howard giving it real backbone with a well-made 52 and Len Conway seeing us home unbeaten on 22. A total we were, on balance, pleased with, if perhaps not entirely convinced would be enough.

And so it proved. Hambros Bank set about the chase with A How playing the innings of the day, 79 of real substance, well supported by R Pavitt's 30 and J Bailey's 21. Alan Wilkes toiled manfully for his 3-53, and Bob Brigden did his miserly best with 2-24 and two maidens to squeeze the game shut, but the visitors edged home by four wickets in the end — the sort of result that leaves you replaying two or three overs in your head on the walk to the car park.

Not all gloom, mind: Ray Howard's half-century nudged him past Ernest Cruttenden into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Brigden's brace lifted him past Herbert Sunley into 25th among the wicket-takers — proper landmarks on an afternoon that otherwise slipped through our fingers. I remain happily perched atop the 1957 run charts on 728, with Wilkes fifth among the bowlers on 25 wickets, so the season's furniture is in good order even if Sunday's result wasn't. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 24 Aug 1957 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformLDDWD

Saturday took us to Charles Arkcoll, and I won the toss with barely a moment's hesitation — elected to bat, and for once I felt utterly vindicated in doing so. We were bowled out for 85 in 40.4 overs, a total that sounds modest until you consider how the day unfolded; Taylor top-scored gamely with 39, holding together an innings that otherwise rather resembled a village fete raffle — plenty of hopefuls, few winners. I chipped in my own small contribution to a season in which I find myself, somewhat improbably, leading the 1st XI's run charts with 659 runs to my name, though I shan't dwell on it.

Eighty-five felt distinctly light as we took the field, but cricket has a wonderful habit of humbling expectation. Michael Morton simply ran riot, scything through their order for figures of 8 for 9 — six maidens besides, not a run given away lightly — to bowl them out for a paltry 50 in 25.1 overs. Perkins, Abnett and Wellard were all sent back without troubling the scorers, Tony Snell chipped in with 2 for 26, and poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 14 byes. Morton's eight wickets also carried him past Herbert Rayner into 7th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a landmark earned the hard way, ball in hand.

A 35-run victory and two points banked — thoroughly deserved. Sometimes 85 is enough, provided you've a Morton in your ranks.

Sun 18 Aug 1957 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformWLDDW

No luck with the coin on Sunday — Mote A called correctly and had no hesitation in batting, leaving us to toil in the field first. Toil we did, patiently, and to some credit, for it took them 64 overs to reach 158 for 6. J. Worley top-scored with a watchful 36, J. Waters chipped in with 24, and C. Burren carried his bat for 23 not out. J. Coomber departed for nought at our hands — the only blemish for us to celebrate on their card. Alan Wilkes was the pick of the attack, snaring 3 for 63 with real hostility, while John --'s Taylor bowled with the patience of a saint, 7 maidens among his figures of 1 for 41 — the sort of miserly spell that strangles an innings even when the wickets column stays quiet.

Our reply of 147 for 9 from 45 overs never quite got the wheels turning, though there was no shortage of effort. Bob Brigden led the way with 36, well supported by John --'s Taylor's 34 and D. Elliott's 33, while poor C. Haylor was undone for a duck. There was a personal landmark buried in there too: those 34 runs took Taylor past George Champion and into 5th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a fine achievement on an afternoon when little else went our way with the bat.

For my own part, I've been fortunate enough to lead the 1957 first XI run charts with 654 to my name, and Wilkes sits proudly 5th among the season's wicket-takers with 22 — proof, if any were needed, that this side has substance beneath the shrugs and the tea-interval grumbling. In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A fair result, I'd say, for two sides who fought each other, and the scoreboard, to a standstill.

Sat 17 Aug 1957 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformWWLDD

John Thirkell here, filing from the road once more — for it was an away day at Bowaters CC that greeted us on a fine Saturday in August. I won the toss and, in what I like to think was a display of tactical acumen rather than simply fancying a sit-down first, sent us in to bat. It did not entirely repay the confidence: 97 all out in 32.5 overs is not a total to strike fear into anybody, though Basil Sears did his level best to disguise the fact, carrying the innings with a fine 45. As for the captain, I can report only a golden duck — out for nought first ball, which is not the example one hopes to set, but there it is. Leadership, alas, comes in many forms.

Happily, the lads had other ideas about how the day should end. Len Conway was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 6-33, while Michael Morton chipped in handsomely with 4-40, four of those overs maidens — the sort of miserly bowling that makes a captain's morning duck feel rather less consequential. Bowaters were shot out for 81, and we scraped home by 16 runs, defending a total that had no earthly right to be defended.

A day, too, for the record books: Basil Sears brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and Gordon Fenner made his 100th appearance in Linton colours — milestones any club would be proud of. My blob notwithstanding, this was a thoroughly good day for Linton Park.

Sun 11 Aug 1957 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformDWWLD

We lost the toss and were asked to chase, though it never quite came to that in the end. Harrietsham took first use of the pitch and made themselves thoroughly at home, running up 167 for 3 from their 43 overs. Keith Chaney was the chief tormentor, 44 not out and untroubled by anything we tried, well supported by J Worley's 43 and A Pratt's watchful 29. Len Conway was the pick of us with the ball, 1 for 30 and two maidens that must have felt like a personal insult to the batsmen, while Tony Tipples chipped in for 1 for 40. I managed a wicket myself, 1 for 55, though I'll admit it cost rather more than it earned.

Poor Bob Arnold had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes leaking through in the sort of accumulation that makes a keeper reluctant to meet your eye at tea.

With the light fading on our reply, we crept to 36 without loss from 11 overs, and I was pleased enough with my own unbeaten 21 to feel I'd done my bit for the run charts — third in the club's list for the summer now, with 247 to my name.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw it was, then — not the stuff of legend, but an honest afternoon's cricket, and nobody went home too disgruntled.

Sat 10 Aug 1957 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformTDWWL

Lost the toss on Saturday and asked to field first — not, on reflection, the worst outcome against a Headcorn side who never looked entirely at home against us. Michael Morton was in inspired form, tearing through their order to finish with a remarkable 8-25 from his seven maidens, the sort of spell that has grown men muttering into their tea. Three of theirs — Kemp, Farrance and Woodcock — never troubled the scorers at all, back in the pavilion without so much as a run to their names, while Bob Brigden chipped in with a tidy 1-11 at the other end. All out for 79 in 37 overs, which on a good day should have been well within our compass.

Behind the stumps, poor Roy Clarke had rather a torrid afternoon of it, twelve byes going begging as the ball did things byes generally do when nobody's quite reading them right — no reflection on his hands, more on a wicket with ideas of its own.

We began the chase steadily enough, 7 for 2 off four and a half overs, before the weather or the clock (delete as your imagination fancies) had the final say, and honours were shared. A draw, then — though with Morton's eight-for still glowing and my own name sitting proudly atop the season's run charts on 647, there's precious little to grumble about. A fine afternoon's work, cut cruelly short.

Mon 05 Aug 1957 🧢 1st XIv HC Hon F Cornwallis · HomeformWTDWW

Monday brought Hon F Cornwallis to Linton Park, and for once the coin obliged — I called it right and, feeling bullish, elected to bat first. It was not, in truth, our finest display of batting artistry. We limped to 123 all out from 41 overs, salvaged from complete ignominy by Maurice Fenner, who cracked a fine 81 and carried what dignity remained. Alas, William Buck, D- Jordan and Frank Wright all contributed the same thing to the scorebook — nothing whatsoever — and did so with a certain flair. 🦆

Defending 123 was always going to ask searching questions of us, and the visitors answered them with maddening calm. They cruised to 128 for 3 from 34 overs, built on a composed, well-made fifty from J- Smith, unbeaten on 62, with T- Osborn's 30 lending sturdy support. Tony Snell toiled manfully for his 2-43, and Maurice Fenner, having done his bit with the bat, did it again with the ball, sending down three miserly maidens. I chipped in with 16, which felt scant consolation by the close.

There was, at least, cause for genuine cheer: Tony Levick brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth raising a glass to whatever the scoreboard said. 🧢 And for those keeping the season's ledger, I remain top of the 1957 run charts with 646, while Snell sits third among the wicket-takers with 32.

Beaten by seven wickets, then — not our day, and no dressing it up. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 03 Aug 1957 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformDWTDW

Saturday last took us down to Aylesford Paper Mills CC, where the coin fell their way and they elected to bat — leaving us, as ever, to make the best of it in the field. And make the best of it we did. They laboured to 101 all out in 38 overs, B Hood's 41 the only real resistance, while poor Richard Wood departed for nought at our hands. The day, though, belonged entirely to Maurice Fenner, whose 7 for 19 — three of those overs maidens, and rightly reckoned a five-for and then some — reduced the Mill men to rubble. D- Jordan chipped in with 2 for 22 and Michael Morton with 1 for 15, tidy support acts to a man having the game of his season.

A target of 102 ought to have been a formality, and so it very nearly wasn't, cricket being cricket. We stumbled to 104 for 5 in 27.1 overs, William Buck contributing a golden duck to proceedings, before Bob Brigden's unbeaten 35 saw us home with the minimum of fuss and the maximum of nerves from the boundary rope. I'll confess to a quiet satisfaction watching the runs go on, having led our run charts all summer with 630 to my name — though the bowlers won this one long before I troubled the scorers.

A fine win by five wickets, then, built on Fenner's arm and Brigden's calm head. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 28 Jul 1957 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformWDWTD

Sunday last saw us make the trip to Folkestone, and for once the coin obliged me kindly - I had no hesitation in taking first knock.

It was not, in truth, a vintage batting display. We were bowled out for 134 in 51.3 overs, held together by Ray Howard's watchful 36, with William Buck and I both chipping in 32 apiece. Elsewhere the story was less happy - D. Jordan, C. Haylor and Alan Wilkes all trooped back for ducks, and one felt the scorebook's little duck symbol had rather too many outings for comfort.

If our batting rambled, our bowling positively purred. Folkestone were shot out for a mere 75 in 21 overs, three of their number - Jack May, David Miles and John Spanswick - departing without troubling the scorers. John Ames was the chief tormentor, a magnificent 6 for 40, with Alan Wilkes offering superb support, 3 for 22 and four maidens of positively miserly intent. Roy Clarke, meanwhile, endured rather a testing afternoon behind the stumps, as ten byes will attest.

We ran out winners by 59 runs - a fine result, and one that keeps me handily placed at the top of the season's run charts with 624, while John Ames continues to lead the wicket-takers with 38. A good day for the club, and, dare I say, rather a good season so far.

Sat 27 Jul 1957 🧢 1st XIv DS Dummy Site · HomeformWWDWT

Saturday last, 27 July 1957, saw Dummy Site pay us a visit, and for once the coin took pity on me — I called correctly and, with what I like to think was strategic boldness rather than sheer indecision, sent us in to bat first.

It was not, I'll admit, a day for fireworks. We laboured to 29 for 2 off 13.3 overs, the sort of scoring rate that has spectators checking their watches and reaching for the tea urn early. Your captain, for the record, contributed nothing whatsoever to that total — a duck of the most comprehensive kind, and one I shall not dwell on further, except to say the walk back to the pavilion felt considerably longer than the walk out. Mercifully, one man's struggles are the club's gain elsewhere: Basil Sears continues his fine season with the bat, now sitting second in our 1957 first XI run charts on 400 for the summer — form the rest of us can only admire from a respectful distance.

In the end neither side could quite land the decisive blow, and honours were shared — a draw that felt, in truth, a fair reflection of an afternoon where nobody, this correspondent least of all, seized the initiative. A day, then, for quiet application rather than glory: no disgrace in a draw against good visitors, though I shall be having stern words with myself before facing another ball.

Sun 21 Jul 1957 🧢 1st XIv JL John Larkings · HomeformWWWDW

Sunday 21 July, and John Larkings were with us for what turned into one of those afternoons that leaves you staring into your tea wondering what just happened. I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough event to note in itself — and had no hesitation in batting first, a decision I spent the next three hours quietly reconsidering.

Ninety-seven all out from thirty-eight overs is not, by any measure, a total to frighten the opposition's tea urn. Jeff Anscombe top-scored with a battling 21 and deserves the credit for making it look like a proper score rather than a proper collapse. John Waters and Ray Howard both departed for golden ducks, which even by our own generous standards of self-deprecation was pushing it.

So it fell to the bowlers to make a match of it, and make a match of it we did. Larkings were bowled out for 96 in 31.4 overs — level, to the run, with our own meagre effort. G. Clarke led their reply with 22, and King went for nought, which felt only fair. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 7-25, ably supported by Anscombe (1-15) and the ever-miserly Alan Wilkes, whose 1-37 undersells six maidens of pure discomfort for the batsmen.

A tie. A whole day's cricket and not a run between us. You couldn't write it — though I suppose I just have.

Sat 20 Jul 1957 🧢 1st XIv OR Old Roffensians · HomeformLWWWD

Lost the toss again on Saturday — I'm beginning to think the Old Roffensians skipper has a two-headed coin — and duly found myself leading the lads into the field. Not that I was complaining once the tea urn had cooled and the scorebook told its tale: they were bowled out for a paltry 53 in 17.4 overs, a collapse so complete that three of their number, Taylor, Martin and Davis, trooped off without troubling the scorers at all. Only R. Stokes, with a battling 27, showed any real fight. The destruction was largely the work of Michael Morton, who span a web through their middle order for a quite magnificent 6-32, well supported by Tony Snell, whose 3-19 and two tidy maidens spoke of a man bowling with real discipline.

Chasing such a modest total ought never to be taken for granted in this game — I've seen 53 chased in vain before now — but we made light work of it, cantering to 56 without loss in just 11.2 overs. I was fortunate enough to see it through, finishing 47 not out and rather enjoying the view from the middle as the runs came.

A word too for Michael, whose six-for nudges him past Tony Snell and into 8th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list — a fine achievement, even if it rather puts Tony's nose out of joint for an afternoon. With the season charts now reading handsomely in our favour, this was as satisfying a ten-wicket win as we've had all year.

Sun 14 Jul 1957 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLWWW

Sunday the 14th of July found us hosting on home turf, and if I'm honest, cricketing purists among the lads might best avert their eyes from what unfolded. We won the toss, elected to bat, and proceeded to make precisely nine runs from four overs — a knock so brief you'd have missed it queuing for tea. Quite what conspired to curtail things I shall leave to the imagination and the groundsman's report, but there we were, 9 without loss, and there, rather abruptly, it seems the innings ended.

Still, one takes the rough with the smooth in village cricket, and there's a certain dogged nobility in a side that can look nine-for-none in the eye and call it a fair account of itself. I've had the pleasure of leading the run charts for the 1st XI this season with 545 to my name, and though this particular afternoon offered scant opportunity to add to the tally, I took what quiet satisfaction I could from watching the openers hold firm, however briefly, against whatever the day threw at them.

In the end neither side could force a result, and honours were shared — a draw that felt less like a compromise and more like the weather, the wicket, and both captains quietly agreeing that discretion was the better part of valour. Not a classic for the scrapbook, perhaps, but an afternoon at Linton Park all the same, and there's always next Sunday to put things right.

Sat 13 Jul 1957 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformWDLWW

I lost the toss – no shock there – and A.Trembeths had no hesitation making us field first. They were shot out for 119 in 36.2 overs, a-Trembeth's watchful 41 and D-Astle's 28 the only real resistance, while at the other end a-Williams, J-Ridgeon and B-Relf trooped back without so much as a run to their names. The story of the innings, though, was Tony Snell, who bowled with real venom to return 8 for 43 from three maidens – a thoroughly deserved five-for and then some. Charles Hambro (1-7) and D-Jordan (1-16) tidied up admirably around him, and not a boundary was gifted cheaply all afternoon.

Our reply was, in truth, a rather lopsided affair. Basil Sears played the innings of the day, motoring past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 63, with good support from Gordon Fenner's 37. Elsewhere the card made grim reading – N-Gibson-Watt fell without scoring, and I must confess to adding my own name to that list, first ball, nought to my credit. We shall draw a veil over it, as agreed.

Two footnotes worth raising a teacup to: Gordon Fenner brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Tony Snell's eight wickets carried him past Michael Morton into 8th on our all-time list – form that also keeps him firmly amid the season's leading lights, alongside Basil Sears (2nd in the 1957 run charts, 381 runs) and D-Jordan (top of the wicket charts with 33).

We got home by an innings and 1 run. A fine team performance, one poor captain's contribution notwithstanding.

Sun 07 Jul 1957 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformDWDLW

Sunday the 7th of July found Town Malling CC visiting Linton Park, and having won the toss I elected to bat without a moment's hesitation — the right call, I felt, and I'm sticking to that story regardless. We closed on a handsome 214 for 4 from our 52 overs, and I'm rather chuffed to say I ground my way to 99, agonisingly short of three figures but not for want of trying. C. Haylor supported nicely with 53, and Ray Howard chipped in a brisk 39 to keep things moving along.

Town Malling's reply never really got out of second gear. They were dismissed for 141 in 42 overs, J. Charlton's defiant 62 and W. Durtnal's 34 the only real resistance — Edwards, Edmonds and Cook all trooped back without so much as troubling the scorers. Ray Howard was the pick of the attack with 3 for 13, ably backed up by Stan Wratten's 3 for 20 and Tony Snell's miserly 2 for 20 from six maidens, the sort of spell that has batsmen counting the overs to tea. Spare a thought for Roy Clarke, who had a tricky afternoon behind the stumps and let through 28 byes — nobody's perfect.

Two entries for the scrapbook: I brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, and Ray Howard's innings carried him past the Reverend F. A. Leveson-Gower into 22nd on our all-time run-scorers' list. A 73-run win and two points banked — a Sunday, and a season, very much going our way.

Sat 06 Jul 1957 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformDDWDL

John Ames carried Charles Arkcoll's reply with 44, whittling the margin — but not nearly enough. Rain check: none needed, this was a proper sunlit village afternoon and we made the most of it.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and 211/6 from our 46 overs suggested the pitch had been in a generous mood. I got in amongst it myself for 60, which I'll admit gave me no end of quiet satisfaction, while John Taylor's 47 and Basil Sears' 40 gave the innings the kind of backbone that turns a decent total into a matchwinning one. Two hundred and eleven felt like a total we could defend with a clear conscience, and so it proved.

Charles Arkcoll never really got their feet under the table. Tony Snell was magnificent with the new ball, tearing through for 4-16, and D- Jordan matched him wicket for wicket with 4-23 of his own — between them they left precious little for Alan Wilkes to mop up, though his solitary strike was welcome all the same. Michael Morton bowled two overs that yielded nothing but frustration for the batsmen, which is always a joy to watch from the slips. Stan Wratten, Randolph Thompson and Gordon Fenner all trooped back without so much as troubling the scorebook — a hard afternoon to be a middle order against that attack. Only John Ames showed any real fight, his 44 the one bright patch in an innings that folded for 76 in 28.3 overs.

A margin of 135 runs is not one you argue with. With the bat sitting nicely atop the season's charts and Jordan doing likewise with the ball, this was a thoroughly good day for the club — the kind you cycle home from smiling for no particular reason at all.

Sun 30 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsted CC · HomeformWDDWD

Sunday 30 June 1957, and Selsted CC came calling. I won the toss – a rare triumph in itself these days – and, fancying our chances on a pitch that looked full of runs, sent us in to bat. Runs, alas, proved harder to locate than promised. We were bowled out for 97 in 31.1 overs, with only Ray Howard offering any real resistance, top-scoring with a battling 27. Bob Arnold and John Abnett both departed without troubling the scorer, a pair of ducks that did the card no favours whatsoever.

Defending such a modest total always asks for something special, and for a while the lads gave it a proper go. Selsted crept to 98 for 6 off 23 overs, with S. Smith the chief architect of our downfall on 38. D. Jordan bowled beautifully for 2 for 15, well supported by Ray Howard, again to the fore with 2 for 24, and John Ames chipping in with 1 for 13. F. Jarris fell to us without scoring, small consolation. Twenty-two byes, however, tell their own sorry tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Tony Levick.

On the season's ledger there is cheer enough: Ray Howard now sits third in the 1957 First XI run charts with 171, and D. Jordan leads the wickets with 27. But today belonged to Selsted, who eased home by four wickets. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 29 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDWDDW

Losing the toss and being asked to chase always feels like the away team is being polite before robbing you blind, but on this occasion St Lukes Maidstone left just enough on the table for honours to be shared. Put in to bowl, we did the hard work first: R- Aiston composed a fine 51 to anchor their innings, with C- Nicholls chipping in 42, but around them the wickets tumbled steadily. D- Jordan was in unplayable mood, spinning his way to 6-59, with J Donovan a fine foil at 4-48, and R- Robinson tying things down with two maidens. E- Hollands and L- Morris both trudged off for nought, and St Lukes were shot out for 164 in 44.2 overs — a total that felt about forty short of what their top order threatened.

Chasing 165, I can't pretend our reply was elegant. We laboured to 121/9 from our 44 overs, saved from real embarrassment by Roy Clarke's unbeaten 37 and useful support from J- Carman's 22. Bob Brigden and E- Ambros both joined cricket's least wanted club with ducks, and I managed a personal contribution with the bat that, modesty aside, wasn't quite enough to get us over the line. Roy also had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking eleven byes for his trouble.

So a draw it was — honours shared, pride dented but not broken. With the ball we were magnificent; with the bat we were merely present. Take the point, forget the scorecard, and back Jordan to keep terrorising batting orders all summer.

Sun 23 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv SG St Georges · HomeformLDWDD

We hosted St Georges on a fine Sunday, and having won the toss I fancied a bat first — a decision I stand by, hand on heart, whatever the umpires make of my other calls. John Ames set about the bowling in fine style, compiling a really well-made 76, while I chipped in with an unbeaten 26 and John Waters added a tidy 20 as we posted 177 for 6 from our 51 overs. A total, I felt, with enough substance to make St Georges work for it.

And work they did, briefly. Nichols played the innings of their reply, a fighting 55, with Holladay (26) and C Martin (21) offering support, but three of their number departed without troubling the scorers — ducks all round, and no mercy shown. John Ames, having done the business with the bat, then turned it on with the ball, spinning through them for a magnificent 5 for 28. D Jordan chimed in with 3 for 3, and I managed 1 for 10 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, more through stubbornness than genius. Poor Bob Arnold had a trying afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes going begging, but no lasting damage done — St Georges were bowled out for 128 in 40.4 overs.

A win by 49 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. John Ames continues to lead our 1957 wicket charts with 24 to his name, and the lads can be rightly pleased with a job well done. Onwards to the next one.

Sat 22 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLLDWD

Saturday 22nd June, and Aylesford Paper Mills CC were the visitors on a day that felt made for cricket. I won the toss — a rare enough event that I try not to let it go to my head — and didn't need much persuading to bat first.

We made a solid fist of it, closing on 171 for 7 from our 47 overs. Len Conway was the mainstay, sailing past his fifty in fine style, with Basil Sears (28) and J Donovan, unbeaten on 27, chipping in handsomely around him. A total to defend rather than to relax behind, but a defendable one all the same.

And defend it we did, though not without a scare or two, as the Mills replied with 128 for 6 from their 42. Cliff Anscombe played the innings of the day, a really fine half-century, ably assisted by P Hinks (30 not out) and B Hood (28). We did at least have the satisfaction of sending A Whibley back for a duck. Michael Morton was the chief tormentor with the ball, 3 for 59 and three maidens to boot, well backed up by Len Conway (2-14) and R Robinson (1-14) — and in taking his three wickets, Morton nudged past John Thirkell into 8th on the club's all-time list, no less.

In the end neither side could quite land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — a fair reflection of an afternoon where both sides gave as good as they got, and nobody went home entirely happy nor entirely sorry.

Sun 16 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv HH Halfway House · AwayformWLLDW

Sunday 16 June saw us make the trip to Halfway House, and honours finished shared on a day when neither attack could land the knockout blow.

Winning what passed for the toss of duties, we took first use of the ball, and set about a Halfway House innings that refused to buckle. Robin Bush led the way with a fine 40, well supported by Brian Allsworth (37) and Gordon Kemsley (36), the middle order stitching together the kind of runs that keep a captain checking his over-count. I managed to find some rhythm, picking up 3-41, with Cliff Anscombe (2-65) and Tony Tipples (1-15) chipping in to restrict the hosts to 202/8 from their 47 overs — competitive, but not out of sight.

In reply, we made a fair fist of the chase, reaching 199/7 from 42. A. Checksfield anchored things beautifully with 82, sailing well past his fifty, ably assisted by Tony Levick (46) and Frank Brattle (30). Less happily, poor Cliff Anscombe walked back for a duck having done his bowling job earlier — cricket's little way of levelling the books. Nine byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Tony Levick, though nobody was complaining given the runs at the other end.

Three short of the target with wickets in hand, it was honours even — a draw that felt, on reflection, entirely fair. My 19 wickets for the season ticks along nicely, but the real story was a match neither side deserved to lose.

Sat 15 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDWLLD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 15 June 1957

Headcorn away, and the toss lost yet again — I'm starting to think that coin has a personal vendetta against me. So into the field we trooped, and while Murrell gave us a proper working-over with a fine 81, we had enough about us to peg them back to 165 all out from 45.1 overs. I- Barclay went for a duck at our hands, which was some small consolation. But the day belonged to J Donovan, whose 5-28 — three of those overs maidens, not a run given away lightly — was as good a spell as you'll see on a Saturday afternoon. D- Jordan chipped in nobly with 4-67 and Tony Snell picked up one for 29, and suddenly 165 looked distinctly gettable.

Chasing it, we made hard work of easy things, as is tradition. Roy Clarke departed for a duck, but I found some form with 40 at the top, and Len Conway (34) and Basil Sears (33) kept the innings honest — with a generous 25 extras doing their bit too. We scrambled home 170/8 from 38 overs for a two-wicket win that felt rather more comfortable in the writing than it did in the batting.

Special mention for Bob Arnold, reaching his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a milestone earned the hard way, over many a rain-shortened Saturday. And J Donovan's five-for nudges him past Bert Buckoke into 17th on the all-time wicket list. Onwards, unsteadily but triumphantly.

Mon 10 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWDWLL

John Thirkell's Match Report — 10 June 1957 vs Marden CC (Home)

Won the toss, elected to bat — and for once my judgement on the day was as sound as my footwork, which is not always guaranteed. We settled in for a proper marathon, 42.1 overs of it, closing on a handsome 239 for 6. I found some rare form of my own, carrying my bat to 155 not out, with Stan Wratten chipping in a tidy 26 to keep things ticking along at the other end. A personal contribution of 155 was, I don't mind admitting, rather satisfying — the sort of afternoon you dream about on the drive to the ground and rarely get.

Marden then had their turn, and to their credit made us work for every wicket across 57 patient overs, eventually closing on 133 for 7. Peter Tipples led their reply with 37, well supported by A Tipples (36) and D Davis (31), while poor G Tompkinson departed for a duck. With the ball, Bob Brigden was the chief tormentor with 3 for 19, Gordon Fenner backed him up superbly with 2 for 35 and a miserly six maidens, and I managed 1 for 10 for good measure.

Fittingly, that solitary wicket nudged me past Michael Morton into 8th on the club's all-time list, and I now lead the 1957 first XI run charts with 343 to my name — small consolations on a day that ultimately honours were shared. A draw, then, but an honest one: neither side could quite land the killer blow, and both will have driven home reasonably content.

Sat 08 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · AwayformWWDWL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 08 June 1957

We travelled with hope rather than expectation, and it must be said the opposition rather took advantage of first use of the ball being ours, racking up 166/5 from their 48 overs. R. Excell made an unanswerable case for himself with a fine unbeaten 65, well supported by E. Priest's 34. It wasn't all one-way traffic, mind — Michael Morton bowled beautifully for his 2-9, seven of his overs maidens, tighter than a Sunday collection plate, with Bob Brigden and Tony Snell chipping in a wicket apiece.

Our reply, sadly, read like a comedy of errors rather than a chase. Eighty-five all out in 28.1 overs is not the stuff of legend, though Basil Sears battled to 28 and deserves better company on the scorecard than poor Roy Clarke, whose golden duck 🦆 was compounded by a torrid time behind the stumps — 21 byes is the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint. To his credit, he'll get no grief from me; we've all had days like that.

Amid the wreckage, one shaft of sunshine: Bob Arnold brought up 1,000 career runs for the club 🎉, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded by all. John Thirkell continues to lead the season's run-getters with 243, and Michael Morton sits third in the wickets column with 13.

Beaten by 81 runs, then — no dressing it up. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 02 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLWWDW

Sunday 2 June saw Folkestone CC roll up to Linton Park under skies that, for once, seemed to favour us more than the tea urn did. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for a happy while it looked the shrewdest decision I've made all season. Ray Howard set about the Folkestone attack with real purpose, motoring to 72, and found a willing ally in Tony Levick, who chipped in a brisk 37. Between them they hauled us to 127/5 from our fourteen-and-a-bit overs — a total that felt, at tea, like it might just be enough to trouble the visitors.

Trouble them it did, briefly. I brought myself on and picked up a wicket for 25, while Bob Brigden bowled tidily for 1-18, and Tony Levick — clearly not content with his runs — added the ball to his afternoon's work with a fine 2-22, including seeing off P Southon without so much as a run to his name. But Reg Hoskins had other ideas, standing firm for an unbeaten 46, well supported by Jim Gordon's 23, and Folkestone eventually got home on 133/6 with half an over or so in hand.

Down by four wickets, then, and a lesson in not quite finishing what we start. There was a bright footnote: Ray Howard's 72 nudged him past William Blight into 23rd on the club's all-time run charts, which is no small thing on a losing afternoon. Not our day, all told — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 01 Jun 1957 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformLLWWD

Saturday brought Old Williamsonians CC to Linton Park, and for once I called correctly on the coin — only to watch it land against us regardless. They elected to bat, and it mattered little in the end, for we bowled them out for a modest 75 in 26.2 overs, J Brooks the only man among them to offer any real resistance with 29. Simon Kimmins was the chief tormentor, four wickets for 29 runs, four of his overs going entirely unrewarded for the batsmen — a spell of proper miserliness. Alan Wilkes chipped in with three for none, and J Donovan mopped up with two for 20, leaving the visitors' innings looking rather threadbare by the close.

Chasing such a modest total ought to have been a formality, and so it very nearly wasn't, for we lost L Waddams, P James and R James without any of them troubling the scorers — three ducks paddling off in quick succession, much to the merriment of the tea tent. Happily John Waters stood firm for an unbeaten 30, well supported by John Taylor's 20, and I was glad to add 26 of my own to steady the ship. Eight wickets in hand at the close, and a result that owed everything to Kimmins' opening spell and rather less to our own batting composure.

A fine win, no question — the sort where the bowlers do the hard work and the batsmen merely tidy up after them. Onwards.

Sun 26 May 1957 🧢 1st XIv RX Ron Aiston's XI · HomeformWLLWW

Sunday, 26 May 1957, and we welcomed Ron Aiston's XI to Linton Park under skies that, for once, threatened nothing worse than a light breeze. I won the toss and, in what I like to think was a cunning tactical masterstroke rather than sheer habit, sent them in. Cunning it was not. L Smith made merry to the tune of a magnificent 105, well backed up by L Murrell's 49 and E Gill's 38, and by the time the innings closed at 269 for 6 off their fifty overs we had rather run out of ideas, if not enthusiasm. John Ames toiled manfully for his 4-105, with Tony Tipples and Cliff Anscombe chipping in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 270 was always going to be a stretch on our part, and so it proved. Len Conway anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 25, Tony Tipples supported with 23, and I added a modest 16 of my own to the cause. Poor Cliff Anscombe, having bowled his heart out, was made to pay penance with a duck — the sort of afternoon that reminds you cricket is a game of humbling symmetry. We closed on 103 for 5 from our thirty-six overs, some way short but not disgraced.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and tea, as ever, undefeated. With the bat I now lead our 1957 run charts, and John Ames tops the wickets; small consolations for a scoreline that flattered our visitors rather more than us. Character-building stuff, and no bad way to spend a Sunday.

Sat 25 May 1957 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformDWLLW

Saturday 25th May, and Gore Court came to Linton Park in good heart. I lost the toss again — my coin-calling remains the weakest part of my captaincy by some distance — and we were put into the field.

It didn't look promising when their openers put on 60 without loss, and I began composing excuses in my head. But cricket has a wonderful habit of turning on its head, and turn it did: three ducks in short order saw them slide from 60 for 1 to 68 for 4, and they never really recovered, bowled out for 126 in the 45th over. The bowling star of the piece was D. Jordan, whose 7 for 60 was a thoroughly deserved five-for and then some — the kind of spell that has the opposition muttering into their tea. Tony Snell offered fine support, two wickets and six miserly maidens for just 44, while Bob Brigden chipped in with one for 13. John Bishop's 31 and Brian Reynolds' 24 were the only real resistance.

With 127 to chase, Basil Sears led the way with a handsome 37, and I was glad to get among the runs myself with 30, William Blight adding a tidy 23 as we cruised home on the back of a solid 63 opening stand. Twenty-nine overs later we had our six-wicket win, comfortable in the end, if not in the telling.

A thoroughly satisfying day's work — the sort of match that makes the long drive home feel a good deal shorter. Onwards.

Sun 19 May 1957 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformWDWLL

Sunday saw us on the road to Mote A, and the coin fell their way — they had few doubts about batting first on a pitch that, in hindsight, had rather more in it for the bowlers than anyone let on at the toss.

We made early inroads that must have had their tea urn rattling, sending Parker, Packham and Kitchen back without so much as a nick to their name. From there Coomber played the innings of the day, a fine 51, with Warnett (31) and Cannell (21) chipping in to drag them to 147 all out. The real story, though, was with the ball: Alan Wilkes was a menace all afternoon, finishing with 4-30 and, in doing so, sailing past 200 career wickets — a landmark that also lifted him above George Champion into 5th on the club's all-time wicket-takers' list, no small feat. I found some rhythm myself, taking 3-46 with five maidens for company, well backed up by Taylor's 2-43.

Chasing 148, Stan Wratten batted with real class for an unbeaten 76, ushering us home in composed fashion with Ray Howard's brisk 40 for company — runs that, incidentally, nudged Ray past Percy Brattle into 25th on the all-time run charts. A seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Wilkes continues to plunder wickets for fun, Wratten sits handsomely in this season's run charts, and I'll happily take the nod at the top of the 1957 bowling table. Onwards, in good heart.

Sat 18 May 1957 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformWWDWL

Saturday 18 May took us to Gore Court, and the coin, as it so often does, sided against me — they won it and chose to bat. I set the field and hoped for early inspiration.

Gore Court made a battling 118 all out in 38.3 overs, anchored by Charles Love's well-crafted 56 and useful support from W Bennett's 23, though they wobbled alarmingly from 9-1 to 13-4 under our pressure. Brian Bradley and Alec E Allsworth both departed without troubling the scorers. The day belonged to Michael Morton, whose 5-43 — five maidens included — was a spell of real quality, with Tony Snell (4-39) and D- Jordan (1-28) chipping in admirably.

Chasing 119, we never quite got going. An early wicket with just 3 on the board set an uneasy tone, and though Basil Sears battled hard for 49, wickets tumbled around him — William Blight and Tony Snell both back in the pavilion for golden ducks. We folded for 83 in 36 overs.

A quieter note of pride amid the gloom: Tony Snell's four wickets nudged him past Jack Fryer into 10th on the club's all-time list, and I can at least report that my own runs this season, now on 134, keep me atop the 1st XI charts, with Morton likewise leading the bowling on 10 wickets.

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

Sat 11 May 1957 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWDW

Saturday 11 May 1957 found us on the road to Bearsted, and having called correctly for once, I did the traditionally masochistic thing and stuck them in. For a while it looked shrewd, then Snook and Hawkins put us right off the idea, cantering to 103 for the first wicket before either of them so much as glanced at the pavilion. Snook's 62 was the pick of it, Hawkins's 44 the willing accomplice, and by the time Maurice Fenner finally prised one out we were chasing shadows rather than wickets. Basil Sears and D. Jordan mopped up a little late order, but 113 for 3 off 27.2 overs was a thoroughly comfortable total, and we trudged off knowing we'd need something special with the bat.

We did not produce it. Five for one before anyone had really settled was not the start we'd ordered, and although we patched things together to 43 for 3, what followed was the sort of collapse that gives village cricket its charm and its cardiologists — 56 for 6 in what felt like a single over, though the scorebook assures me it wasn't quite. I dug in for 21, the top score of a innings that never really found its feet, and William Blight's unbeaten-looking 4 runs at least had the decency to be historic, easing him past C. Murdoch into 23rd on the club's all-time run charts. Basil Sears, not content with useful overs, also passed H. Freed into 23rd among the wicket-takers — a good day for the club ledgers if not the scoreboard. All out 87 in 32.2 overs, beaten by 26 runs.

A fair beating, honestly earned by the better side. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 05 May 1957 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformWWWWD

John --'s Taylor 4 maidens on a Sunday afternoon at Harrietsham could set a man up for a decent day, but nobody quite bargained for what followed. Put in to bowl after losing the toss — no bad thing on a green May pitch — we set about Harrietsham's top order with real purpose. M Bristow made a fine 51, well watched-over by Keith Chaney's 28 and D La Plain's 20, but the rest of the order simply couldn't get comfortable, and 132 all out in 45.2 overs felt, by the end, like a considerable mercy for the home side. I can't pretend to any modesty about my own part in it: nine for 49 is the sort of spell you dream about on the walk out and rarely get anywhere near, and to have it land as a five-for made the tea taste especially sweet. D Jordan chipped in with 1-46 for good measure.

Chasing 133 should never be taken for granted in this fixture, and we didn't entirely make it look easy, but Clive Smith's 43 gave the innings its backbone, with Maurice Fenner's 30 and an unbeaten 22 from William Buck seeing us home in some comfort at 133 for 3 from 40.5 overs.

A seven-wicket win, then, and a personal landmark tucked away in the process — nine wickets nudges me up to third on the club's all-time list, past Frank Taylor, which is the sort of thing one tries not to mention too often at the bar and fails. Onwards to the next one.

Sat 04 May 1957 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday 04 May 1957 brought Hunton Wanderers CC to Linton Park, and I lost the toss for my trouble — they had first use of a pitch that, in fairness, gave little away all afternoon. They battled to 147 all out in 40.1 overs, A Pilcher top-scoring with 32, well backed by R Murray's 27 and C Bloxham's 21. X Connolly, mercifully for us, departed without so much as a nibble. Michael Morton was magnificent with the new ball, 4 for 65 and two tidy maidens besides, while Peter Larking (3-11) and Basil Sears (2-7) tightened the noose at the other end. Not a run was given away lightly, and it showed.

Chasing 148, we made a watchful 112 for 6 from our 28 overs — a draw always felt the likeliest destination once the required rate crept up. I was fortunate enough to find some form, top-scoring with 40, though poor Bob Arnold had an afternoon to forget, undone for a duck with the bat and then put through his paces behind the stumps, twelve byes slipping past him as the bowlers found some awkward bounce.

So honours shared, and probably a fair reflection of two sides who neither let the other off the hook nor quite found the finishing touch themselves. With the runs still flowing for me at the top of the order and Michael Morton now leading the county — sorry, the club — wicket charts, there's plenty to be cheerful about as the season rolls on. A draw, then, but a thoroughly honest one, and the tea urn, as ever, the real winner of the day.

Sat 27 Apr 1957 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWWWWW

Saturday 27th April brought us to West Farleigh, and having won the toss I never seriously considered doing anything but batting first — the pitch looked too good to give away first use of it. We made a solid fist of things, posting 164 all out from our 35 overs, with a well-timed fifty from me (70) forming the backbone of the innings, ably supported by Basil Sears's brisk 30. It wasn't a total to frighten anyone, but it felt defendable.

And so it proved. West Farleigh were bowled out for 135 in 35.2 overs, Trevor Fermor (47) and Reg Oldfield (34) doing most of the resisting, while the Maitlands — E- and D-, no relation to each other's fortunes that day — both departed without troubling the scorers. The story of the innings, though, was Tony Snell, who bowled beautifully for 5-30 and thoroughly deserved every one of them. Ray Howard chipped in with a lively 4-40, and Michael Morton, tight as ever with three maidens in his 1-32, gave nothing away cheaply. Poor Bob Arnold had one of those afternoons behind the stumps — 17 byes is not a number he'll want engraved anywhere — but nobody begrudged him after the win was in the bag.

Two points, and thoroughly earned, by 29 runs. I'm chuffed to lead the season's run charts, and Tony Snell rightly tops the wickets — if this is a taste of things to come in '57, I'll take it gladly.