🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 28 Sep 1958 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformDDWDL

Here's the match report:

Sunday last saw us host Linton Park CC, and winning the toss I did what any captain fancying a long afternoon in the sun does — I put us in to bat. It proved a fine call. We compiled a solid 156 for 9 from our 47 overs, the innings anchored by a really well-made fifty from Clive Smith, unbeaten on 76 at the close. Elsewhere the returns were more mixed, not least for poor Tony Levick, whose duck will be entered into the ledger with the usual ceremony and lack of sympathy from the rest of the dressing room.

There was, though, a quieter note worth striking amid the afternoon's larger dramas. Tom Osborn's five runs, modest as they read on the scorecard, were enough to ease him past Don Hartridge and into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the sort of landmark that means rather more to those of us who keep half an eye on such things than it does in the moment. I chipped in with the ball and bat as needed, glad to do my bit for the cause.

The season charts continue to make pleasant reading too, with Stan Wratten holding 4th in the 1958 1st XI list on 394, Clive Smith leading the Married table, and Terry Whittaker out in front among the Singles.

We defended our total comfortably, running out winners by 94 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 27 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformWDLLW

Skipper's log, and not one I'll be rushing to forget. Winning the toss on a bright Saturday, I did what any self-respecting captain does with sun on his back and vanity in his heart — I stuck us in. Ninety-two all out in 44.3 overs was hardly a declaration of intent, more a nervous shuffle to the crease and back, with Terry Whittaker and Tony Snell both departing for ducks before they'd troubled the groundsman. Not our finest hour with the willow, and I'll say no more about it than that.

Happily, cricket has a habit of rewarding those who bowl straight and field like their tea depends on it. A.Trembeths folded for 67 in 24.1 overs, with only H- Clancy showing any real fight for 27, and three of theirs — a- Trembeth, K- McDowall and J- Mortlock — walking back for ducks of their own. The afternoon belonged, unarguably, to M- Harden, whose 7-18 with five maidens thrown in was bowling of the highest order, well supported by Ray Howard's tidy 3-29. Howard had a day to remember off the field too, climbing past Bob Arnold and Rev Thomas Burra in the club's all-time lists in the same afternoon.

For my own part, I'm proud to sit atop the 1958 1st XI run charts with 660 to my name. We got home by 25 runs — a scruffy total defended beautifully, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 21 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · HomeformWWDLL

Sunday 21 September, and Tilling Steven were the visitors. I called correctly at the toss and, with barely a glance at the sky, decided we should bat first - a decision I spent much of the afternoon quietly questioning.

We were bowled out for 79 in 30.4 overs, a scoreline that flattered nobody. Frank Brattle held things together with a battling 31, but the rest of the card made for grim reading, with Stan Wratten, John Ames and Roy Clarke all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Seventy-nine felt like a total built more on hope than conviction as we took the field.

Tilling Steven set off briskly through F. Baker's 29, but the innings never found its feet. G. Winters, R. Bailey and T. Maskell all fell for ducks, and John Ames turned from batting to bowling with a vengeance, spinning through them for 5-26. Alan Wilkes was scarcely less miserly, claiming 5-33 with two maidens to strangle any hope of a chase. Tilling Steven were dismissed for 59 in 20.2 overs, and we had got over the line by 20 runs.

A funny old game, cricket - a total that looked like defeat at tea somehow carried us to victory by the close. I currently lead our run charts for the season with 655, though this was not the day for it, while John Ames tops the wicket charts with 59 and showed exactly why. A fine team performance, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 20 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWWDL

Saturday 20th September saw us head over to Bearsted, and after losing the toss I knew we were in for a long afternoon in the field — asked to bowl first on a day when the away dressing room already smelled of quiet resignation.

To our credit, we scrapped hard. Bearsted eased to 96/8 from their 43 overs, Ian Lambert's 44 the backbone of the innings alongside a watchful third-wicket stand of 50 that threatened to bat us out of the game entirely. But cricket has a habit of turning, and turn it did — 82/4 became 87/7 in a blur, with F Bayley and Ray Grainger both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Bob Brigden was superb, 3-13, ably backed by G Martin (2-16) and J Donovan (2-26), while Tony Snell bowled four maidens of the kind that makes batsmen question their life choices.

Chasing 97 should have been routine. It was not. We stumbled to 2-1 almost before anyone had found their guard, and from there the innings never quite found its feet — Robert Murray's battling 21 the only real resistance, while poor Tony Snell followed his miserly bowling with a golden duck. I chipped in with the bat, but 69 all out from 30.4 overs was well short of the mark. There was cheer amid the gloom: Bob Arnold's four runs eased him past Ray Howard to 14th on the club's all-time run charts, and Brigden's three wickets did the same for him at 21st among the wicket-takers.

Beaten by 27 runs, then — a day where the bowlers did their job and the batsmen forgot theirs. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 14 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv TC Tunbridge Wells CC · AwayformWLWWD

Well, we lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think the coin has a grudge against me — and Tunbridge Wells duly stuck us in the field on a fine Sunday for the trip down. Alan Burton set about us with a fluent 70, and by the time the openers had put on 84 for the first wicket the writing was rather on the wall. Charles Wicker's 36 and an unbeaten 32 from Mike Willard padded things out nicely for them, and they closed on a healthy 175 for 4 from their 47 overs. Credit where it's due: I did the damage with the ball, taking 2 for 54 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, while Robert Wood chipped in with 1 for 26 to keep things honest.

Chasing 176 was always going to want a good start, and we didn't get one — the first wicket fell for a single run, and things rather unravelled from there. Stan Wratten, Cliff Anscombe and I all contributed golden ducks apiece to a batting card that makes for grim reading, and we were bowled out for a paltry 77 in 28.2 overs. Still top of the runs charts for the season on 650, for what little comfort that offers this week.

Beaten by 98 runs, then, and no arguments about it — Tunbridge Wells were the better side from the first ball to the last. We'll dust ourselves down, have a stern word about application with the bat, and go again next Sunday.

Sat 13 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformWWLWW

Saturday last, and the coin let us down once again — Bowaters called it right and had first knock at Linton Park, leaving us to toil away with the ball under a September sun that, for once, actually turned up.

They batted with real intent, running us to 206 for 6 off their 45.2 overs. Harry Jeffery was the chief architect of our afternoon's labour, cruising past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 72, while Roy Melhuish (42) and William Preston (31) chipped in handsomely around him. Full credit to the attack, mind — J Donovan bowled with real purpose for 3-58, and got fine support from Bob Arnold (2-38) and Ricky Lusher (1-47), without whom that total might have got altogether more embarrassing.

Chasing 207 was always going to ask questions of the top order, and to our credit we asked a fair few back. Frank Brattle played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 60 that held the whole thing together, with D. Morton (33) offering sturdy company. But 137 for 5 off our 40 overs told its own story — we simply ran out of overs before we ran out of ideas, or perhaps the other way round.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Not the win we'd have wanted, but with Jeffery in that sort of form and Brattle holding firm at the other end of the day, there's plenty for the club to be cheerful about over a pint in the pavilion.

Sun 07 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDWWLW

John Ames elects to bat first against Anchorians CC — the right call, if I do say so myself, though the scorecard didn't entirely agree with me by the time we'd been shot out for 99 in 37.4 overs. Robert Murray was the mainstay with a fine 41, and I contributed a workmanlike 24 down the order, but with Cliff Anscombe and Alan Wilkes both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, it was hardly a total to frighten anyone.

Frighten them it did, though. Whatever demons lurk in our modest total clearly transferred themselves to the Anchorians' batting line-up, who folded for a miserable 38 in 27.4 overs — L Martin, Don Wykes and J Toon all departing for ducks of their own. I'll confess to rather enjoying my afternoon with the ball: 5 for 17, and about as sweet a five-for as I've ever bowled. Alan Wilkes was every bit as parsimonious at the other end, snaring 4 for 9 with seven maidens that gave the batsmen nothing whatsoever to work with.

A red-letter day off the field too — I brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, while Ray Howard's useful 14 eased him past Bob Arnold into 14th on our all-time run-scorers' list. Murray, meanwhile, sits second in this season's run charts, and Wilkes leads the wickets column with 53 — the numbers rather speak for themselves.

A scrappy total, but a famous 61-run win. We'll take it, and happily.

Sat 06 Sep 1958 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · AwayformWDWWL

I called correctly at the toss on a September Saturday out at Tovil, and with the ground drying nicely I had no hesitation in batting first – a decision I stood by, all things considered.

We posted 163 for 4 from our 44 overs, the innings built around a fine 67 from Basil Sears, well supported by William Blight's 42 and an unbeaten 30 from Robert Murray at the death. Poor John Ames, however, contributed nothing but a golden duck – these things happen to the best of us, and I dare say he'll be reminded of it in the clubhouse for some weeks yet.

In the field we were altogether more ruthless. Tovil subsided to 74 all out in just 34.1 overs, D. Smith's battling 20 the only real resistance, while R. Holbrook, S. Bowles and B. Epsley all departed without troubling the scorers. William Blight, having already done his bit with the bat, turned his arm over to superb effect – 4 for 13 – with John Ames making handsome amends for his batting blushes by taking 3 for 23 including three tidy maidens, and R. Holland chipping in with 1 for 4. Poor Bob Arnold had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes the only blot on an otherwise excellent display, and I added a workmanlike 16 with the bat myself.

A word too for William Blight, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club – a landmark thoroughly earned. A comfortable win by 89 runs, then, and one to enjoy on the drive home.

Sun 31 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv HH Halfway House · HomeformDWDWW

Halfway House were the visitors on Sunday last, 31 August, and for once the coin fell my way — I sent them into the field, a decision I rather came to regret.

Batting first should set the tone for the day; ours set the tone for a horror film. We were bowled out for a threadbare 61 in 32.1 overs, rescued from utter ignominy only by Cliff Anscombe's gritty 21. Behind him, the wheels came off in style: E- Childs, Roy Clarke and I all made our way back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, my own effort a golden blob so brief I barely had time to admire the bowling that did for me.

With so little to defend, it fell to the ball to do the rescuing, and for a good while it very nearly did. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, scything through the Halfway House order for a thoroughly deserved 7-42, while I did my bit at the other end with 1-20 and five maidens — more containment than conquest, but useful all the same. Don Capeling and Cyril Dyson both departed for ducks of their own, and for an hour or so we dared to believe. In the end Halfway House got home at 65/8 from 29.1 overs, sneaking it by two wickets.

Not our day, then, though Wilkes marches on at the top of the 1958 wicket charts with 49 to his name — some crumb of comfort amid the wreckage. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 30 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv WX W. Buck's XI · HomeformWDWDW

The coin did us a favour for once, landing the right way up, and with a wicket that looked full of runs I had no hesitation in sending W. Buck's XI out to field first. Whether that proved the masterstroke history will record is another matter, because our innings never quite got out of second gear. We were bowled out for 116 in 45.1 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Stan Wratten, who compiled a handsome fifty on his way to 68 and looked, frankly, like he was playing a different sport to the rest of us. Support was thin on the ground — John Abnett and Tony Snell both departed for ducks, proving that even our bowling all-rounder has an off day with the willow.

If the batting was a scratchy affair, the bowling was anything but. We had the visitors in all sorts of trouble from the off, sending Buck, Morris and Carter back without so much as a run to their names, and the innings folded for 74 in 37.1 overs. William Blight was magnificent, snapping up 4-24, while Tony Snell made amends for his golden duck with a superb 3-16 including nine miserly maidens. Cliff Anscombe chipped in with 2-4 to complete the rout. I managed to contribute my own small part with bat and ball along the way, for whatever that's worth.

A 42-run win and two points in the bag — comfortable in the end, if not exactly comfortable to watch.

Sun 24 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv S S.Kimmins · HomeformLWDWD

The coin fell kindly on Sunday, and with S.Kimmins visiting Linton Park I did what any captain raised on a diet of green, sporting-looking pitches does — won the toss and had no hesitation in sticking us in. Batting first is meant to settle the nerves. It rather more tested them.

We limped, prodded and occasionally middled our way to 130 for 9 off 43.2 overs, which on reflection says more about our collective jitters than the wicket. Robert Murray was the one man playing a different sport to the rest of us, top-scoring handsomely with 48 while the rest of us made up the numbers around him. For my own part, I'll simply note that 621 runs and counting keeps me atop the 1st XI's run charts this season — though this innings did little to add to the tally.

With the ball, however, we were a different proposition entirely. Kimmins never got going, undone early when a. Day departed without so much as a run to his name, and never recovered as they subsided to 82 for 9 in just 22.3 overs. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, 4 for 43, with Gordon Fenner (3-27, three tidy maidens) squeezing the life out of the middle order and John Ames chipping in 2 for 5 — wickets that, pleasingly, carried him past John Taylor to first on the club's all-time list.

A scrappy batting effort redeemed by ruthless bowling: a fine win by 48 runs. Onwards.

Sat 23 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformWLWDW

Saturday last, under skies that could not quite decide their mood, we welcomed Charles Arkcoll to Linton Park, and I won the toss with all the swagger of a man who intended to use it. Batting first seemed the only sensible course, and the lads did not let me down: 180 for 3 off our 41 overs, built on a lovely, unhurried fifty from Ray Howard, unbeaten on 61, with William Blight (46) and Robert Murray (27) providing the sort of support that makes a captain's job easy.

Defending it proved a tidier business than winning it outright. Arkcoll crept to 96 for 5 from their 43, never quite threatening, never quite capitulating. John Ames battled to 33, helped along by Stan Wratten's 24, but our bowling kept a firm hand on proceedings — Ray Howard the pick with 2 for 26, William Blight chipping in at 1 for 11, and I managed 1 for 15 myself, having earlier contributed 26 with the bat. Tony Snell, meanwhile, bowled as if runs were a personal insult, six maidens testament to that. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, though — 8 byes is not an afternoon he'll frame.

Ray Howard's innings nudged him past Arthur Cornwallis into 15th on the club's all-time run list, and his wickets lifted him above Bob Brigden into 21st among the bowlers — a fine day's work by any measure, and mine to enjoy leading this season's run charts while Tony Snell sits third among the wicket-takers.

In the end, honours shared, as cricket so often insists: a draw, and frankly, both sides will sleep easily enough on it.

Sun 17 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformDWLWD

Called it right at the toss on Sunday and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first — Mote A away thoughts were for another day. Robert Murray played the innings of the day, 97 that had the tea urn practically boiling over with anticipation of a hundred that, in the end, wasn't to be, and he was the mainstay as we compiled 155 all out in 47.5 overs. Less gloriously, Stan Wratten, Roy Clarke and Richard Harris all took the long, silent walk back for nought — three ducks is a poor sort of hat-trick to collect, but someone has to donate to the club's less celebrated ledger.

With the ball, we were altogether more clinical. Mote A were bowled out for a modest 74 in 40.5 overs, J. Waters's 28 the only real resistance, while F. Holding, P. Jordan and I. Milsted departed without so much as troubling the scorebook. John Ames was quite simply unplayable — 8 for 31 off a miserly 8 maidens, ripping through the order with the kind of spin that makes grown batsmen look for the car keys early. Alan Wilkes chipped in tidily with 2 for 39. It was, pleasingly, also a day of milestones for Ames, climbing the club's all-time charts with both bat and ball, while I find myself, for what it's worth, sitting atop this season's run charts.

Eighty-one runs the margin, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 16 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformDDWLW

The road to Bowaters CC on a fine August Saturday, and having lost the toss I was rather pleased to find us bowling first — always my preferred way to begin a chase of a total, even if the logic occasionally escapes me. Bowaters made a watchful 158 for 8 from their 48 overs, John Woollett compiling a thoroughly well-made 70, with William Preston (31) and John Bush (24) chipping in around him. Colin Cole and John Evans both fell for ducks at our hands, and the day belonged emphatically to Terry Whittaker, whose 5 for 42 was a richly deserved five-for. Tony Snell was miserly in support — 2 for 29 with six maidens, barely a run given away lightly — and Gordon Fenner picked up 1 for 46 for good measure.

With the bat we were altogether more sedate, closing on 129 for 5 from our 36 overs. I top-scored with 39, ably backed up by Gordon Fenner's unbeaten 39 and Frank Brattle's 23, though poor Bob Arnold will want to forget his walk back for nought. A quieter personal milestone slipped by amid it all — 6,000 career runs for the club, which I shall allow myself one modest smile about.

Honours shared, then, neither side able to force the issue. A draw that flattered nobody and disappointed nobody — which, in club cricket, is very nearly as good as winning.

Sun 10 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformLDDWL

As I walked to the middle for the toss on a fine Sunday, the coin let me down again and Harrietsham had first use of a good pitch. No matter — the lads took the field with purpose, and it was John Ames who stole the show, spinning his way to a scarcely believable 7-53 as our visitors were bowled out for 163 in 44.2 overs. T Bridle (44) and Keith Chaney (38) threatened to make a proper fist of it, with D Hampshire (27) chipping in, but Ames was unplayable and had support enough from Cliff Anscombe (1-25) and the miserly Gordon Fenner, whose four maidens and 1-27 left little room to breathe. D Brown and J Moody departed without scoring, for good measure.

Chasing 164, we made harder work of it than the bowling perhaps deserved, stumbling to 167/6 from 35.3 overs — Roy Clarke's golden duck the only real blot on the innings. I'm not one to blow my own trumpet, but 87 not out, carrying the innings from start to finish, was about as satisfying an afternoon as this game offers a captain in his fifties. Ames chipped in usefully again with 34, and Anscombe's unbeaten 25 saw us home in some comfort by four wickets.

Two league points, thoroughly earned, and rather a landmark day in the bargain: Ames's runs took him past Tony Levick to 9th on the club's all-time run list, while his seven wickets vaulted him past Gordon Fenner into 2nd among our leading wicket-takers. The tea, as ever, was the only thing to outshine the cricket.

Sat 09 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDLDDW

I stood at the toss on Saturday with the coin doing me no favours whatsoever, and Headcorn, sensing weakness, elected to bat. What followed was a lesson in patient accumulation from their L. Murrell, who ground out an unbeaten 55, well supported by G. Smith's 30 and R. Pears' 26, as they eased to 158 for 5 from their 54 overs. Credit where due — Robert Wood bowled tidily for 2-17, Tony Snell was positively parsimonious with three maidens, and both J. Donovan and Bob Brigden chipped in with a wicket apiece, Brigden's solitary scalp quietly nudging him past Ray Tippen into 21st on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of statistic that cheers a losing dressing room enormously.

Then came our reply, and here the less said the better. J. Donovan battled manfully for 23 and carried what innings there was, but around him the rest of us rather lost the plot, folding for 60 in 34 overs. I contributed my own small chapter to the horror story — bowled, caught, whatever it was, a duck, and I shan't dwell on it further. I was joined in the Duck Club ledger by Robert Wood and Bob Arnold, so at least I had company on the walk of shame.

Beaten by 98 runs, then, and no amount of spin from your captain will dress that up as anything but a hiding. Still, character is forged on days like these, and we'll be considerably better for it next week.

Mon 04 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv TX Tom Osborn's XI · HomeformWDLDD

Won the toss on Monday and, with Tom Osborn's XI visiting, I fancied our chances first up, so in we went to bat. It proved the right call. Maurice Fenner played a lovely innings for 85, well supported by Stan Wratten's fifty of 67, with William Buck chipping in 20 to help us to 211 for 5 off 51.5 overs. I will draw a discreet veil over my own contribution with the bat, which amounted to precisely nought.

Defending 211 always feels like a decent afternoon's work, and so it proved. Brookes battled hard for 32, with Smith (28) and Goodwin (26) offering support, but the middle order never quite got going, and Osborn and Harman departed without scoring a run between them. I had one of those days with the ball that don't come along often, finishing with 5 for 37, while Ray Howard bowled beautifully in support, three maidens among his 5 for 53, and they were bowled out for 143 off 43 overs.

A red-letter day all round, in truth. Ray Howard brought up 50 career wickets, I passed 300, Fenner's 85 lifted him to 8th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Howard's five-for took him to 22nd among the wicket-takers. A golden duck is a sobering thing for a captain to carry home, but five wickets and a 68-run win go a long way towards easing the walk back to the pavilion. Onwards.

Sat 02 Aug 1958 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWWDLD

Saturday last took us down to Aylesford Paper Mills, and having won the toss I did the sensible thing and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody argued with me afterwards. We ground out 172 for 7 from our 42 overs, the innings built around a handsome fifty from Basil Sears, 65 in the end, well supported by Maurice Fenner's 34 and a workmanlike 25 from yours truly. Less gloriously, C. Haylor and Bob Arnold both made the long, silent walk back for ducks — the sort of innings best forgotten over a pint.

Out in the field we held our nerve as Aylesford replied with 125 for 7 from their 41 overs, R Walker top-scoring with 44 and Alfie Pullen unbeaten on 30. Three of their number — Cliff Anscombe, R Fowler and Ken Lewis — departed without troubling the scorers, which cheered us considerably. Maurice Fenner was the chief tormentor, 3 for 26 off five miserly maidens that must have felt like an age at the crease for the batsmen, with William Blight (2-50) and Terry Whittaker (1-17) chipping in for good measure.

With 452 runs now to my name this season I find myself leading our charts, though I'd trade the statistic gladly for a result today. As it was, neither side could force the issue, and we shook hands on a draw — honours shared, pride intact, and the tea, as ever, rather better than the cricket.

Sun 27 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformDWWDL

The toss went against us again — I'm beginning to suspect the Folkestone coin has a grudge — and we were put into the field on a Sunday that promised more sunshine than wicket-taking assistance. Folkestone ground their way to 126 all out in 61.3 overs, Gordon Heyer unbeaten on 41 and altogether too pleased with himself about it. But Alan Wilkes was in irresistible form, 4 for 27 with a scarcely believable 16 maidens — the sort of spell that has batsmen reaching for the tea urn out of sheer boredom — including the prized wicket of Tony Miles for a golden duck. Stan Wratten (2-5) and John Ames (2-30) tidied up the rest.

Chasing 127, we never quite found our rhythm, closing on 126 for 8 from 49 overs — so near and yet, as ever, not quite near enough. Ray Howard's 31 was the innings' backbone, with Stan Wratten chipping in 29 to go with his wickets. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 9 byes testament to some lively bowling rather than gloves of butter. I managed to add my own modest contribution to a season now standing at 427 runs, which at least keeps me ahead of the field, while Alan's wickets column ticks on towards 36.

The real story, though, was Stan Wratten reaching 4,000 career runs for the club — a landmark earned the honest way, over many a Sunday like this one. A draw, then: honours shared, pride intact, and the tea urn, mercifully, undisturbed.

Sat 26 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformDDWWD

Well, if ever a scorecard told a story, it was Saturday's at Tovil. Losing the toss meant we were asked to field first, which in hindsight may have been the kindest thing that happened to us all day. The visitors ground their way to 109 all out in 45.1 overs, with S. Bowles doing the bulk of the damage on 30, while L. White and R. Maurice at least had the decency to depart without troubling the scorers. The bowling, I'm delighted to report, was the day's genuine bright spot — Tony Snell was superb, 4-43 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed up by Terry Whittaker's 3-40 and Robert Wood's 2-14. For a spell there, it looked almost respectable.

Then we batted. Chasing 110 should never have been beyond us, and yet 39 all out in 21.4 overs suggests otherwise. William Blight, Brian Relf and G. Abel all fell without scoring, which is the sort of collective effort no captain enjoys writing up, and I can't claim to have rescued matters much myself with a modest 15. Small mercies where you find them, I suppose — and season-long, at least the runs have been coming, with 418 to my name in the '58 charts, while Snell's 30 wickets keep him handily placed among the bowlers.

Beaten by 70 runs, then, and no dressing it up. We'll be better for it next week — we rather have to be.

Sun 20 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv JL J G Larkings · HomeformWDDWW

It was a fine summer's afternoon, J G Larkings the visitors, and Fortune, in her infinite mischief, handed them the toss and asked us to chase — a decision she clearly took a shine to, given what followed.

In the field we toiled honestly through their 49 overs as they racked up 177 all out, D Goodliffe leading the charge with 40, well backed by G Clarke's unbeaten 36 and O Popplewell's 23. Ray Howard was the pick of our attack with 4-67, while Maurice Fenner (3-28) and Alan Wilkes (3-47, with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure) kept the runs honest enough to leave us a target we fancied.

With the bat we replied 175/9 from our 44, Maurice Fenner batting like a man possessed for a fine 78, ably supported by Ray Howard's 28 and Robert Murray's 26. I can't pretend the whole side gleamed, mind — I walked back for a duck myself, and shall draw the customary veil over the manner of it, while poor Tony Levick joined me in the Duck Club ledger for the day. Two noughts for the price of one; the scorer must have thought it a bargain.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. Two runs short with more overs to spare tells its own story — a game we probably ought to have won, but a thoroughly decent afternoon's cricket all the same, and Maurice Fenner's effort with bat and ball alone was worth the entrance fee.

Sat 19 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv SH 1st Innings Wm Hobbs · HomeformWWDDW

I'll admit this one still stings slightly less than most, so let me tell it properly. We had Wm Hobbs in first on Saturday, and it was a good toss to win, though I say that with the benefit of hindsight. They folded for 46 all out inside 28 overs, and the wickets column made for very happy reading indeed. Tony Snell was simply unplayable, tearing through their order for a five-for and finishing with 8-14 from a remarkable 7 maidens — the sort of spell you talk about in the bar for weeks. Robert Wood chipped in nicely too with 2-2, and there were early ducks for both L. Watson and M. Clements to set the tone. Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, mind you, shipping 10 byes, which rather took the shine off an otherwise tidy afternoon in the field.

Chasing 47 to win, we made comparatively hard work of what should have been a formality, closing on 49/1 from just 14.1 overs. G. Martin held things together with a composed 23 not out, and while I'd love to report a captain's innings to match, the truth is I fell for a duck myself — we shall, as agreed, draw a veil over it and move swiftly on.

Still, four wickets and a job done is a job done, and with Tony Snell now sitting second in the season's wicket charts on 26, the bowling attack looks in rude health. A fine win. Onwards.

Sun 13 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformWWWDD

It was a funny old toss to lose on Sunday, but sending Tovil in gave us a canvas to work with, and how we worked it. The lads bowled with real discipline in the field — Alan Wilkes was simply unplayable, running through their order for 6-36 with nine maidens to boot (nine!), backed up nicely by figures of 2-12 from Taylor and 2-22 from Ray Howard. Three of theirs departed without troubling the scorers, and for all M. Wolfe's 26 and P. Ruddy's watchful 24 tried to drag them to respectability, 93 all out in 45.2 overs was always going to leave us needing to bat sensibly rather than heroically.

Which, for once, we very nearly managed without alarm. Stan Wratten played the innings of the day, a fluent 53 that took the game away from them, with Ray Howard chipping in an unbeaten 27 to see us home — and I'll own to a small hand in proceedings myself with the bat, though the headlines belong to Stan. We strolled over the line by seven wickets with overs to spare, which on a summer Sunday is about as good as village cricket gets.

Special mention, too, for Ray Howard, whose 27 sees him leapfrog Gordon Fenner into 18th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — quietly building a legacy while the rest of us were admiring Wilkes's bowling figures. Poor Roy Clarke behind the stumps will want a word with himself about those 12 byes, but nobody's perfect. All told: a thoroughly good day for Linton Park, and long may it continue.

Sat 12 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformLWWWD

Won the toss at Tovil, elected to bat, and watched us crawl to 134 for 7 off 51.2 overs — the kind of total that has you totting up their overs rather than admiring the scorebook. John Taylor's 33 was the innings' backbone, with Len Conway chipping in a tidy 29 alongside him; the rest of us, myself included with a workmanlike 17, offered rather less by way of entertainment.

In the field, 134 never felt like enough, and P. Ruddy made sure of it with a fine unbeaten 59, well supported by E. Capiling's 20. We did at least see off M. Patey without a run to his name — small mercies — care of a sharp start from Tony Snell, whose 2 for 34 kept us in the contest, with Len Conway (1-15) and J. Donovan (1-16) chipping away either end. Ten byes, mind, told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Roy Clarke.

In the end their innings closed on 122 for 5 off 39 overs, and honours were shared — a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. A word of cheer amid the stalemate: Donovan's solitary wicket nudged him past Dennis Smith into 16th on the club's all-time list, while I find myself, somewhat improbably, still leading the run charts for the summer. A fair scrap, honestly fought, and no worse for ending all square.

Sun 06 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv HB Hambros Bank · HomeformDLWWW

Sunday brought Hambros Bank down to Linton Park, and what a stern examination it turned out to be. Having won the toss and taken first use of the ball, I watched us toil through fifty overs as they compiled a workmanlike 203 all out. Forbes played the anchor role beautifully for his 53, with Hare and Rankin both chipping in 31 apiece to keep the scoreboard ticking. It fell to Alan Wilkes to do the real damage, and my word did he deliver — five wickets for 103, spinning the ball prodigiously and looking utterly unplayable for long spells. Maurice Fenner backed him up nicely with 3-39, and I managed to sneak in among the wickets myself with 1-12, which I shall claim credit for at the bar this evening regardless of the modest figures.

Chasing 204, we never quite got the platform we needed, closing on 167 for 9 from our 41 overs. Fenner was again the standout, following his bowling with a fine 72 that kept hope alive deep into the innings, but wickets fell around him at inconvenient intervals. Spare a thought, meanwhile, for William Buck, J. Carman and J. Lea, who each took the long walk back for a duck — the Duck Club ledger swells once more.

In the end, honours were shared, and perhaps that was the fairest result on the day — two sides well matched, neither able to force the issue. A draw it is, then; not the story we'd have chosen, but an honest one.

Sat 05 Jul 1958 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformDDLWW

Saturday 5 July 1958, and Charles Arkcoll came to call. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-tossing form has been patchy all season — and we were put into the field.

They ground their way to 131 for 9 off 51.2 overs, propped up by Randolph Thompson's unbeaten 72, a proper well-made fifty, with Stan Wratten's 20 lending support. John Perkins and Humphrey Morris were both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, but the day belonged to Tony Snell, whose 6 for 39 was a five-for richly deserved and — we later discovered — enough to carry him past Michael Morton into 7th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list. Robert Wood chipped in with 2 for 18, and John --'s Taylor bowled with real miserliness, five maidens in his 1 for 45.

Chasing 132, we got there for the loss of 6 wickets in 37 overs, never entirely serene about it but always just about in control. I made 64 — a well-made fifty of my own, and a personal contribution I was rather satisfied with, even if I say so myself. It also keeps me clear at the top of the 1958 run charts, while John --'s Taylor continues to lead the wickets column with 22.

A four-wicket win, then, earned rather than strolled to, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 29 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformWDDLW

Sunday 29 June, and A. Trembeth's rolled up to Linton Park in fine spirits — spirits which, I confess, we did rather dampen. I lost the toss and we were asked to field first, which on a morning as bracing as that felt less an invitation than a dare. Their innings limped to 113 all out in 39.2 overs, built round A. Trembeth's own defiant 67, with R. Holland chipping in a useful 23 alongside him. For the rest it was a procession — G. Davis, K. McDowall and D. Furminger all departed without troubling the scorers, which felt almost uncharitable of us. I found some rhythm I didn't know I still had, finishing with 5 for 27; Alan Wilkes chipped in 3 for 49, and Stan Wratten was miserliness itself — 1 for 11 with three maidens.

Chasing their total should have been the easy part. It was not. We stumbled to 120 for 7 from 47 overs, clinging on more than cruising, with G. Martin and Robert Murray both out for ducks. Thankfully Stan Wratten led from the front with 31, Tom Osborn followed with a sturdy 25, and Tony Levick saw us home unbeaten on 20. Three wickets in hand at the death, rather fewer than the scorebook would like, but quite enough for two points. It also lifts me to 2nd in this season's 1st XI wicket charts, on 19 — though I'd trade the honour for a quieter Sunday. A proper away-day scare, in the end, turned into a proper away-day win.

Sat 28 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformWWDDL

Here's the match report:

There's a particular satisfaction to a Saturday that starts with a lost toss and ends with a comfortable win, and this was one of those days. They elected to bat first, which on paper looked the sensible choice — until it wasn't. Our attack made a proper meal of them, bowling the visitors out for a modest 60 in 36.4 overs, with G- Mills departing without troubling the scorers. The star turn was undoubtedly John --'s Taylor, whose 5-19 (with eight overs going for nothing at all) was the kind of spell that has the rest of the side quietly reassessing their own place in the bowling order. Len Conway chipped in handsomely with 4-31, leaving precious little for anyone else to do.

Chasing 61 was never going to trouble us unduly, and so it proved. William Buck steered us home with an unbeaten 31, batting with the calm assurance of a man who knew the hard work had already been done by others. We reached the target for the loss of just two wickets in 26.1 overs, wrapping things up with time to spare for a leisurely pint.

It continues to be quite the season for two of our number — Buck now sits second in the club's run charts with 186, while Taylor leads the wicket-takers with 21. On this evidence, long may it continue. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one to file under "job done, no fuss."

Sat 21 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLWWDD

Terry Whittaker here, and I'll admit the toss going against us on Saturday should have been a warning of things to come. We were sent in to bowl against Aylesford Paper Mills, and for a while it looked a decent shout — Alfie Pullen and R Baker back in the hutch without so much as a nibble, and the innings never quite got away from us. A Whibley had other ideas though, compiling a fine 49, with Colin Watson chipping in 27 to drag the visitors to 109 all out in 34.4 overs. I had a rare purple patch with the ball, finding enough shape to take 4-45 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, while John's Taylor (2-6, and still marshalling the season's wicket charts with 16) and Tony Snell (2-36) tidied up the rest. Not a bad morning's work, all told.

Chasing 110 should have been eminently gettable. It was not to be. Wickets tumbled with the regularity of a village clock, Tony Snell's duck the unhappy highlight of a batting card that never found its rhythm, and we subsided to 49 for 9 from our 30 overs before the umpires, mercifully, called it a day.

So, honours emphatically to the Paper Mills, sixty runs the final margin. A morning of real promise undone by an afternoon we'd all rather forget — heads up, lads, and back to the nets.

Sun 15 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv HH Halfway House · AwayformWLWWD

Sunday 15 June found us on the road to Halfway House, and I won the toss and had no hesitation putting us in — the right call, I felt at the time, and nothing that followed changed my mind. We made 153 all out from 47.1 overs, Stan Wratten the anchor with a fine 49, well supported by Cliff Anscombe's 23 and Frank Brattle's 22. Useful runs rather than fireworks, but enough to give the bowlers something to work with.

And work with it they did. Halfway House replied with 133/8 from their 45, Don Capeling top-scoring with 35, Gordon Kemsley unbeaten on 25 and T Aylett chipping in 20, while W Studt departed for a golden duck at our hands. The day belonged to Alan Wilkes, whose 6-57 was a five-for and thoroughly deserved — I'll happily take my share of the wickets too, having chipped in along the way. John Ames bowled beautifully at the other end, 2-37 including seven miserly maidens, giving away precious little. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 12 byes sneaking through on an afternoon that clearly wasn't his.

Up the season table I lead the run charts with 307, and Wilkes now tops the wickets with 15 — form the club will be glad to see continuing. In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw feels about right: a day of good cricket, honest toil, and not quite enough sting in the tail to finish the job.

Sat 14 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWWLWW

John Thirkell's Skipper's Log — 14 June 1958

The road took us to Headcorn on Saturday, and I lost the toss for my trouble, which meant an afternoon in the field to start with — never my favourite way to spend a June day, but there we are. Headcorn batted through to 147 all out from 53.4 overs, with G. Murrell playing a proper captain's innings of 70 and G. Gore chipping in with 21. Credit where it's due: our new-ball pair of K. Goodall, R. Excell and J. Kemp were sent back without so much as a look at the scoreboard, and Terry Whittaker was the pick of the attack with 4-45. Tony Snell bowled with real discipline — five maidens and 3-22 — while John Taylor's 3-24 quietly moved him past Gordon Fenner to the very top of the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is no small thing to read about in the tea interval.

Chasing 147, we made a fair fist of it without quite getting there, closing on 126/9 from our 38 overs. William Blight led the way with a handsome 44, ably supported by Basil Sears's 38 — Blight's innings enough to push him past F S W Cornwallis into 20th on the club's all-time run charts. I added a watchful 15 down the order, while John Taylor and Robert Wood both fell without scoring, which rather took the shine off things.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Frustrating with the runs so close, but with Taylor now our leading wicket-taker of all time and Blight in similarly rude form, there's plenty for this Linton Park side to be cheerful about.

Sun 08 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv SB 1st Innings Hambros Bank · HomeformDWWLW

Sunday brought Hambros Bank to Linton Park, and for once the toss fell kindly enough to see us in the field first, boots dry and spirits high. It proved a fine afternoon's work: they were bowled out for 160 in 51 overs, A How's well-made fifty of 55 the only real resistance, ably backed by R Pavitt's 21. John Ames did the damage with 3-45, John --'s Taylor chipped in with 3-56, and Alan Wilkes picked up 2-12, while Cliff Anscombe strangled the run rate with four miserly maidens.

Batting second, we made light work of the chase, racing to 169/3 from just 34 overs. Maurice Fenner played the innings of the day, 84 not out and unbeaten at the close, with John Ames following up his bowling with 29 not out and William Buck a tidy 26. Enough to win by an innings and 4 runs before the tea urn had properly cooled.

It wasn't all plain sailing behind the stumps. Roy Clarke endured a sticky afternoon with the gloves, 8 byes slipping through for the scorers to note with quiet disapproval. Happier news elsewhere: Alan Wilkes's three wickets carried him past Frank Taylor and into 4th on the club's all-time list, while in the season charts I find myself leading the 1958 run-scoring with 283, and John Ames sits 2nd among the wicket-takers with a dozen scalps.

A thoroughly good day for the club, and one to enjoy on the drive home.

Sat 07 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · AwayformLDWWL

Terry Whittaker here, writing up a thoroughly satisfying afternoon away at Tilling Steven that ended, rather pleasingly, in our favour.

Put into the field first, we made steady work of Tilling Steven's innings, sending E. Priest, P. Parkinson and W. Bingham back for ducks without so much as troubling the scorers, though D. Pound had other ideas, cracking a fine 65 with F. Baker chipping in 42 as they battled to 179 all out. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 6-46, including two maidens, which I mention only the once and shall now leave well alone, while William Blight chipped in with 4-59 in support.

With 180 to chase, John --'s Taylor played the innings of the day, 62 not out and utterly unflustered, ably backed by Len Conway's 50 and William Blight's 23, the latter enough to send him past Ernest Cruttenden and up to 22nd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a quietly historic afternoon for him even if nobody much noticed at the time. We got home on 183/5 from our 45 overs, though eight byes will have given Roy Clarke behind the stumps a testing sort of day, and no doubt a stiff drink afterwards.

Five wickets and two well-earned points. A proper team effort, and precisely the sort of Saturday that makes the long drive home feel considerably shorter.

Sun 01 Jun 1958 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformDLDWW

Sunday 1 June 1958, and Folkestone CC rolled into Linton Park under skies that promised more than the pitch delivered. I called correctly at the toss and, with the confidence of a man who hadn't yet seen the wicket, opted to bat.

That confidence lasted about twenty-seven overs. We were bowled out for 77, with Maurice Fenner, Robert Murray and J Lea all completing the walk of shame without troubling the scorers — three ducks is the sort of statistic that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces at teatime.

Seventy-seven was never going to frighten anyone, and so it proved, though not without a fight. David Brickell's 24, well supported by Gordon Heyer's 21, steadied Folkestone, but we scrapped hard with the ball — Tony Miles back for nought, Ray Howard bowling beautifully for 4-20, and Alan Wilkes miserly and dangerous in equal measure with 3-34 and five maidens to his name. I chipped in with 15 with the bat earlier in the day, for what little comfort that offered. Folkestone crawled to 79/7 from thirty-five anxious overs, and we fell by a single wicket — as tight and as painful a margin as this game invents.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: Ray Howard brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded even in defeat. Not our day, but heads up — back to the nets, and back again next week.

Sat 31 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformLDLDW

It was Old Williamsonians CC at home, and having lost the toss we were sent out to field — hardly the ideal way to spend a Saturday, but there are worse fates than an early bowl at Linton Park. The visitors dug in for 55.2 overs before folding for 137, J. Brooks top-scoring with a tidy 52 and S. Walsh chipping in 21. Our attack, though, was the real story: Taylor ran through them with 3-16, Tony Snell matched him wicket for wicket with 3-26 (six maidens in the bargain — the meanest of misers), and G Martin rounded things off with 3-32. Not a run given away lightly, as the scorebook will confirm.

Chasing 138, we got there in some style, reaching 140/5 in 27 overs for a five-wicket win. I'm rather chuffed to say I led from the front with 84 not out, well supported by Robert Murray's 32 — though poor Frank Brattle will want to forget his golden duck in a hurry. Eight byes off Roy Clarke's bowling suggested he was having one of those days behind the stumps, but nobody seemed to mind once the runs were in the bank.

Two personal landmarks to toast in the bar afterwards: Taylor brought up 300 career wickets, and Tony Snell's three scalps eased him past Herbert Rayner into 8th on the all-time list. A good day for the club, all told — and not a bad one for the captain either.

Sun 25 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformWLDLD

We won the toss on a fine Sunday afternoon, 25 May, with Dimanchians CC our guests, and I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the sort of decision that looks either inspired or idiotic by close of play, and I'm delighted to report it was the former. The lads set about their task nicely, posting 188 for 6 from our forty overs. Cliff Anscombe was the architect, striding past his fifty to 75, with Stan Wratten chipping in a handy 38 and G Martin unbeaten on 26 to round things off in style.

With the ball, we simply didn't let them settle. Dimanchians were bowled out for a paltry 70 in 38.3 overs, R Rogers and R West both departing without troubling the scorers. Taylor was the chief tormentor, prising out four for 27 and bowling with such miserly discipline that seven of his overs went entirely for nought, while Ray Howard weighed in with three for 10 and Cliff Anscombe, not content with his runs, added three for 25 for good measure.

A win by 118 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. It rather cements my position at the top of the season's run charts with 172 to my name, with Ray Howard now third among our wicket-takers on eight. As captaincy calls go, that toss decision earns me a quiet pint this evening. Onwards indeed.

Sat 24 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformWWLDL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 24th May 1958. Gore Court CC came to Linton Park, I lost the toss, and duly discovered that hospitality begins with an afternoon in the field — the classic captain's punishment for calling wrong.

Their innings meandered pleasantly to 171/7 from 46 overs, propped up chiefly by John Bishop's fine 68, with D Cliffe unbeaten on 42 and Richard Ogle chipping in 22 — the pair adding a stubborn 66 for the fourth wicket that threatened to bat us out of the game entirely. Credit to the lads that we hauled things back: Basil Sears led the way with 2 for 29, well supported by William Blight's 2 for 33 and a wicket apiece from myself and Robert Murray, as 133/4 became 141/7 and the gates, briefly, shut again.

Set 172 to win, we replied in kind with 171/7 from 38 overs — agonisingly, gloriously short. Robert Murray played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 68, and I was pleased to contribute a watchful 53 of my own, our stand of 70 for the third wicket the platform on which the chase was built. Spare a thought for poor Roy Clarke behind the stumps, who shipped eight byes on an unforgiving afternoon with the gloves.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on the balance of the day's fortunes, entirely fair. Nobody left disappointed, nobody left triumphant; just tea, handshakes, and the quiet satisfaction of a match that gave rather more than it took.

Sun 18 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformWWWLD

Sunday found us away at Mote A, where I lost the toss and duly discovered we'd been asked to field first — no bad thing in itself, though the run chase that followed would prove rather less to my taste.

Mote A's innings crawled to 103 all out across 42 overs, patient stuff from J- Worley with 31 and useful support from R- Ellis with 26, but our attack had the last word. F- Holding, T- Brooker and D- Parton all trooped back without troubling the scorers, and I had the sort of afternoon a bowler dreams about and rarely gets, finishing with 7 for 45 including five maidens, figures one tries not to mention too often at the bar and generally fails. Ray Howard chipped in handsomely with 3 for 37 alongside me.

Sadly our batting could not match it. We were bowled out for a modest 67 in 33.2 overs, Stan Wratten and C- Haylor both departing for ducks as the innings subsided rather meekly and left the target well out of reach.

Elsewhere in the season, Ray Howard sits second in the run charts with 101 to his name, and I find myself second in the wicket column with nine, small consolation for a chase we never looked like winning. Down by 31 runs in the end, and no dressing it up: not our day. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 17 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformDWWWL

Lost the toss at Gore Court on Saturday and found myself condemned to the field rather than the deckchair — never my preferred way to spend an afternoon, but there we are. Robin Bush had other ideas about our afternoon too, ghosting to a superb unbeaten hundred while John Bishop chipped in handsomely past his own fifty; the pair put on 108 for the second wicket and rather took the game away from us before tea. Alan Priston finished unbeaten on 24 as they closed on a formidable 195 for 2 from 45.3 overs. For our part, G Martin led the attack manfully for 1-32, Tony Snell picked up 1-39, and I did what I could to shut the gate at the other end, sending down four maidens for my trouble — small mercies. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes finding their way past him.

Chasing 196 was always a stretch, and so it proved. Basil Sears made the runs that mattered with a battling 28, well supported by S House's 21, but wickets tumbled steadily and we subsided to 92 for 9 from our 47 overs — G Abel and G Martin both suffering the ignominious walk for nought. Small consolation arrived in the record books: Bob Arnold's four runs nudged him past Arthur Cornwallis into 14th on the all-time list, and Robert Murray continues to purr along in 4th in this season's charts.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride dented but intact. Not our finest hour, but not our worst either.

Thu 15 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformWDWWW

Thursday 15th May, and Mote A rolled up for what I hoped would be a good afternoon's cricket. Winning the toss and electing to bat felt like the right call at the time — I'll stand by that decision even now, for what it's worth. We laboured to 70/7 from our sixteen overs, with Bob Arnold the pick of the batting on 21, while poor Cliff Anscombe contributed a golden duck to proceedings, the sort of innings best forgotten over a pint afterwards. I chipped in myself, my runs enough to keep me atop the 1st XI's season charts with 111 for the year, though on this occasion personal milestones were rather cold comfort.

Seventy wasn't going to trouble anyone, and so it proved. Mote A strolled to 72 without loss in just twelve overs, W. Johnson unbeaten on a commanding 43 and T. Osborn happily along for the ride on 25 not out. Ten wickets down, and not much we could do about it from the boundary rope but applaud good batting when we saw it — because that, undeniably, is what it was.

There was, at least, one bright note to cling to amid the wreckage: Bob's 21 runs saw him leapfrog Herbert Rayner into 15th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, a nice bit of history amid an otherwise chastening afternoon. Not our day, all told — down by ten wickets, and no dressing that up. Heads up, though; it's back to the nets, and there are worse things in life than a hiding from a good side on a fine May evening.

Mon 12 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWDWW

From the captain's chair — Monday 12 May 1958, and West Farleigh CC in town for what turned out to be a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's cricket. I lost the toss, as is traditional, and West Farleigh had no hesitation in taking first knock. Reg Oldfield and Trevor Fermor set about building something respectable, 42 and 40 apiece, and for a while it looked as though we might be in for a long day in the field. But Gordon Fenner had other ideas, tearing through the order with 5-30 to leave the visitors bowled out for 125 from their 35 overs. Cliff Anscombe chipped in handsomely too — 2-28 with three maidens, not a run given away lightly — and John Taylor picked up one for good measure. W Quayle and J Hickford will not be dining out on their contributions, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

With 126 needed, William Buck played the innings of the day, 65 well past his fifty, and found a fine ally in Robert Murray, unbeaten on 36, as we eased home at 133/5 with an over to spare. Ray Howard and John Taylor both made the walk of shame for ducks, proof that even a winning side has its crosses to bear.

A red-letter day all round — Gordon Fenner passing 300 career wickets in the same match he ran riot with the ball, while Buck's knock keeps him third in this season's run charts. Five wickets, two points, thoroughly earned. We'll take that.

Sat 10 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDLWDW

10th of May, 1958 — a fine afternoon at Linton Park, and Bearsted CC our visitors.

Winning the toss and electing to bat felt, if I say so myself, the shrewd move of the day — a rare correct decision from a captain who otherwise contributed nothing whatsoever with the willow (more on which shortly). Ray Howard batted with real substance, motoring past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 76, while William Blight chipped in a handsome 42. We did lose our first wicket cheaply at 8, and I trudged off for a duck that the less said about the better — though a 103-run third-wicket stand steadied all nerves and carried us to a healthy 146 for 3 from our 41 overs.

Bearsted's reply never quite got up to speed against Len Conway, who bowled like a man possessed to finish with 7 for 29, two of them maidens — support duly offered by William Blight and Tony Snell. Snook (38), Hawkins (36) and Lambell (29) threatened briefly to make a match of it, but the innings folded from 125 for 5 to 127 for 8 in a hurry, and Gibson, Elswood and Marshall departed without scoring. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes escaping his gloves, but Bearsted were bowled out for 127 in 31.4 overs.

A word too for Bob Arnold, whose modest 8 runs quietly nudged him past H G Smith and into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the sort of statistical footnote only a cricket club could love.

Two points, nineteen runs to spare, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sun 04 May 1958 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformLDLWD

John Thirkell

We lost the toss at Harrietsham and were sent out to field — never quite the news you want on a Sunday, but there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than watching the ball fizz about in the sunshine. The home side ground their way to 172/8 off 44 overs, Keith Chaney the chief architect with 32, well backed by D Davis (22) and an unbeaten 21 from J Wheeler. It might have been considerably worse but for Gordon Fenner, who span a web nobody could escape and finished with a magnificent 5-41, two of those overs maidens for good measure. I chipped in with 1-15 and Cliff Anscombe picked up 1-29, tidy support acts to the main event.

Chasing 173, I can report — with only the mildest blush — that I found some form with the bat, striking a hundred to lead us home, well supported by Maurice Fenner's 28 and Cliff Anscombe's unbeaten 20. Poor Frank Brattle will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but the club gazette is nothing if not honest. We reached 176/4 in just 26 overs, C Haylor having rather a torrid time behind the stumps along the way (20 byes tell their own tale).

A fine win by six wickets, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one to bank. Onwards to the next fixture.

Mon 28 Apr 1958 🧢 1st XIv MA Maidstone AKCC · HomeformWLDLW

Maidstone Akcc rolled up on Monday 28th April for what turned into a proper battle of attrition. I won the toss and had first use of the ball – a decision that looked shrewd for about three overs and merely adequate for the remaining forty. Hawkins and Gill both made steady half-centuries, 49 apiece, with Chaney chipping in 26, and by the time their innings closed at 194/7 from 43.3 overs, my figures of 2-52 felt like the price of admission rather than a triumph. Alan Wilkes was the pick of the attack with 2-23, while Gordon Fenner bowled with real discipline – three maidens and 2-49, runs earned, not given away lightly.

Chasing 195, we never quite got there, closing on 155/7 from our 36 overs. Jeff Anscombe carried his bat beautifully for an unbeaten 46, well supported by Stan Wratten's 32 and William Buck's 24. I chipped in with 17 down the order. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes testament to some lively, if wayward, bowling at the other end.

One bright note amid the toil: Gordon Fenner's brace took him past John Taylor to the top of the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a fine reward for a tidy day's work. He and Anscombe now lead this season's charts too, wickets and runs respectively, and long may that continue.

In the end honours were shared, and on the evidence of an even, hard-fought contest, a draw was about as fair a result as either side deserved.