🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 23 Sep 1962 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformLLLDD

Sunday 23rd September brought Linton Park CC to our ground, and having called correctly at the toss I did what any captain raised on the primacy of runs on the board would do — I stuck us in to bat. Confidence, I confess, was riding rather higher than it had any right to.

What followed will not trouble the history books. Ten for three from two overs is not so much a batting collapse as a batting implosion, the sort of scoreline that has you double-checking the scorebook and wondering whether the umpire miscounted the overs. Three wickets down before the openers had so much as loosened their shoulders properly — one struggles to recall a briefer, more chastening spell at the crease. I shall take my share of the blame for the decision at the toss, though in fairness no amount of captaincy wisdom accounts for what unfolded once bat met ball.

And yet cricket, bless it, has a way of levelling things out. For all our early troubles, honours finished shared — neither side able to force home the advantage, and a draw was the fair and honest result of an afternoon that promised drama and rather delivered farce.

So: a match to file under "character-building" rather than "vintage". We batted like strangers to the game, but we held our nerve to share the spoils, and for that alone the lads deserve a pint at the bar.

Sun 23 Sep 1962 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformDLLLD

Sunday 23 September 1962, and a fine turnout as we welcomed Linton Park CC to the ground. Winning the toss, we elected to bat, and 185/9 off our 41 was a total built the honest way — no fireworks, just good, honest graft. John Thirkell led from the front with a tidy 40, John Crellin chipped in a stylish 36, and Robert Murray's 33 kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. Poor Terry Whittaker will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but such is the game — one ball, one long walk back. I managed to scrape together 40 of my own, more through stubbornness than style. As is traditional, the tail wagged furiously at the death, a defiant last-wicket stand of 35 that had the visitors' fielders muttering into their tea.

Amid the runs there was history in the making. William Buck brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, a landmark achieved with typical lack of fuss, while Roy Clarke's watchful 17 eased him past William Blight and into 25th on our all-time run-scorers' list — the sort of statistical nudge that means everything to those of us who pore over the club averages come winter. Thirkell, meanwhile, sits proudly atop the 1962 Married charts, with John Ames leading the Singles.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but a thoroughly pleasant Sunday's cricket, and I'll happily take that.

Sat 22 Sep 1962 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformLWDWW

Sat Onset to bat, and I'll admit there was no great science to it—the wicket looked fair, the sky looked fairer, and I fancied runs on the board. What followed was a proper captain's-innings from Ron Aiston, 58 of real substance, with John Carter chipping in a tidy 31 alongside him; the two of them put on 72 for the fourth wicket and dragged us to a respectable 150 for 7 from our 42 overs. Elsewhere the effort was patchier—poor Jack Knowler's duck won't trouble the highlights reel, but these things happen to the best of us, and occasionally to the rest of us too.

Defending 150 always asks a side to be patient, and for a while it looked like nerves might do our work for us—Maidstone Ymca slipped to 0 for 1 before they'd drawn breath. But P. Johnston played the innings of the day, 41 not out, well supported by Ossie Fryer's 33 and N. Phillips' 28, and just when we sensed the finish line, their last pair had the cheek to add an unwanted 57. John Carter backed up his batting with 2 for 32, Gordon Fenner took 2 for 45, J Nolan chipped in with one, and Terry Whittaker bowled two miserly maidens for his trouble—though poor Roy Clarke will want a word with his gloves after 14 byes went astray behind the stumps.

In the end, beaten by four wickets—a match that slipped through our fingers rather than one we were outclassed in. We'll dust ourselves down, have a stern word about that last-wicket stand, and come back sharper next week.

Sun 16 Sep 1962 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLLWDW

Won the toss at Staplehurst, called correctly, and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first — old habits, and all that. We laboured to 153/8 from our 43.3 overs, which sounds a modest total until you remember the shape it came in. Ray Howard's 57 was the innings' backbone, a proper half-century, with Stan Wratten's 28 and John Thirkell's 25 adding the flesh to the bones and a second-wicket stand of 68 doing the heavy lifting. Then, as is our club's wont, we contrived to turn 146-4 into 152-7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Richard Ashby and Brian Relf both departed without troubling the scorer — ducks the pair of them, bless them.

With ball in hand we were a different side altogether. Staplehurst were bowled out for a mere 64 in 24.3 overs, D Thirkell's defiant 25 the only real resistance, and once they slipped from 48-2 to 58-5 the innings had the look of a house of cards in a draught. Ray Howard was magnificent, 5-20 and thoroughly unplayable, with Alan Tucker's miserly 4-1 — four maidens included — squeezing the life out of them, and David Gale chipping in with 1-25. K Hyde, R Thirkell and T Morris all bagged ducks of their own for good measure. I even found 25 runs myself, which I shall not let anyone forget in a hurry.

A grand day too for the record books — Roy Clarke reached 1,000 career runs for the club, and Alan Tucker's four wickets lifted him past Dennis Smith to 21st on our all-time list. Won by 89 runs: two points banked, and thoroughly, unarguably earned.

Sat 15 Sep 1962 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformLLLWD

Lost the toss again — I do wonder if the coin has taken against me personally — and Bowaters CC had no hesitation in asking us to field on a fine Saturday, 15 September. They made themselves quite at home, the openers putting on 87 before we so much as troubled the scorebook, and John Woollett went on to a fine 63, with Harry Jeffery (39) and Roy Cole (35) filling their boots besides. Bob Bourne and William Baker departed without scoring, which rather set the tone for our afternoon in the field. But Terry Whittaker had other ideas, steaming in for a magnificent 7-94, two of them maidens no less, with Robert Wood chipping in a handy 3-64, and Bowaters were all out for 205 in the 41st over.

Chasing 206, we contrived to make things interesting, losing a wicket without a run on the board — the sort of start that has me reaching for the flask rather too early. But John Thirkell played an innings of real substance, 102 not out and three figures achieved with minimum fuss, sharing an 87-run stand for the third wicket with Ron Aiston, whose 53 deserves its own round of applause. Frank Brattle and Roy Clarke both fell for ducks, but the tail wagged handsomely, adding a final 49 to see us home with two wickets to spare.

A note for the scrapbook: Terry Whittaker's seven wickets carried him past Tony Snell into fifth on the club's all-time list, while John Thirkell (1192 runs) and Terry Whittaker (63 wickets) continue to lead our season's charts in some style. A thoroughly satisfying win, snatched from the jaws of an uncomfortable start. Onwards.

Sun 09 Sep 1962 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformDLLLW

Lost the toss, asked to field — no great hardship, since a Sunday spent chasing leather round Linton Park beats one spent padded up sweating over Harrietsham's opening pair. And chase leather we did, in some quantity, as La Plain and company set about compiling 200 for 8 from their 48 overs, La Plain himself unbeaten on 55, with Hope (40) and Tong (31) lending sturdy support and putting on 56 for the first wicket to set the tone. For a golden spell in the middle we had them, 131 for 4 sliding to 135 for 7 with barely a run to show for it, but their last pair — showing precisely the sort of bloody-mindedness we could have done without — put on 65 more before the innings finally expired. Gordon Fenner was magnificent throughout, 5 for 58 and thoroughly deserved, with David Gale (2 for 58, four tidy maidens) and John Thirkell (1 for 23) keeping the squeeze on.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear — 159 for 6 from 46.5 overs, with three of our number (Wisden, M. Tong, Brooks) departing without so much as a squeak. I'm rather pleased to say I led from the front with 74, ably backed by Fenner (26) and Lawrence, unbeaten on 23, our stand of 59 for the sixth wicket the innings' backbone. Twenty-three byes, meanwhile, told their own sorry tale of a trying afternoon behind the stumps for poor Roy Clarke.

A word, too, for Gordon Fenner, who passed 400 career wickets — a landmark achieved with typical lack of fuss. Honours shared in the end: nobody quite had the stomach to finish the job, and a draw, on this evidence, was a fair reflection of two evenly-matched sides.

Sat 08 Sep 1962 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformLDLLL

As it was a wet Saturday and John had 42 overs to bowl through he opted to bat first, calling correctly at the toss and no hesitation in choosing to bat.

Actually, let me just write the report directly.

I called correctly at the toss on Saturday and, with St Lukes Maidstone in town, never seriously considered doing anything but batting first. It rather backfired at 2-1, and though Stan Wratten (40) and John Thirkell and Robert Murray (32 apiece) all played their part — with a useful 55 stitched together by the third-wicket pair — we shed wickets in an alarming hurry from 88-4 to 100-7. Basil Sears, Robert Wood and Bob Arnold all walked back for ducks, and 127 all out from 48.5 overs felt, at tea, like rather modest fare to defend.

As it turned out, we needn't have worried. St Lukes stumbled to 2-1 themselves — funny how the pitch does that to both sides — and though Ron Aiston played a fine lone hand for 54, the rest of the card read grimly for the visitors: 91-7 became 91 all out in no time, with C. Pearson, B. Pearce and M. Eastman all departing without scoring. Robert Wood was superb with the ball, 4-18, backed up handsomely by Terry Whittaker's 4-37 and the miserly R. Relf, four maidens from his 1-11. I contributed 32 myself, mostly by trying to look busy at the crease.

A word for the record books: Robert Wood's haul today eases him past Len Conway to 15th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, while John Thirkell and Terry Whittaker continue to lead the 1962 run and wicket charts respectively. We got home by 36 runs — a scrappy, low-scoring affair, but a very good day for the club all the same.

Sun 02 Sep 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLDLL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 2nd September 1962

We won the toss and gave the visitors first use of a decent-looking track, and for a while it looked a shrewd call as they were bowled out for 137 in 34.4 overs. P Cornish top-scored with a well-made 32 and D Harris chipped in with 26, the pair putting on 51 for the first wicket before, in the manner of these things, the innings rather fell off a cliff — 51 for 1 becoming 53 for 4 before anyone had drawn breath. David Gale was in unplayable form, spinning his way to 6 for 73 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, and reached his 50th career wicket in the process — a fine landmark, applauded all round. Michael Chambers backed him up nicely with 4 for 53.

Set 138 to win, we made a solid fist of it without ever quite getting there, closing on 138 for 5 from 50.1 overs — agonisingly short. Tony Snook led the way with 29, Frank Brattle chipped in with 25 and Gordon Fenner finished unbeaten on 24, the openers putting on a crucial 54 for the first wicket. I managed a modest 18 myself, while poor Bob Arnold had a torrid time behind the stumps, conceding eight byes for his troubles.

Elsewhere, John Thirkell continues to lead the 1962 run charts with 984, and David Gale now sits second in the wicket-takers' list with 52. Small consolation on a day when the game slipped from our grasp — beaten by five wickets, heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 01 Sep 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLDL

Saturday the 1st of September, and we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park with ball in hand first. It wasn't the tidiest of starts — G. Davis played a fine hand for 54, nicely supported by C. Bowey's 23, and their fifth-wicket pair added a chastening 51 while I wondered where the breakthrough might come from. But the lads dug in, and we ripped through them from 124 for 5 to 138 for 8 in a flurry, D. Evans departing for nought. Roy Clarke was miserliness itself — 4 for 16 with three maidens — Robert Wood weighed in with 1 for 37, and yours truly, one Terry Whittaker, rather enjoyed himself with 5 for 84. All out for 162 from 47.5 overs; a target, but a stiff one.

Our reply never quite took flight. Frank Brattle battled to 27, H. Clarke chipped in with 20, but too many of the rest of us went cheaply, Richard Harris among the ducks. All out for 135 in 42 overs. Pity, too, poor Bob Arnold, who had a torrid afternoon with the gloves — eleven byes escaping him.

Frank now sits second in the season's run charts on 518, and I'm apparently leading the wickets with 52 — scant comfort on a day we finished twenty-seven runs adrift. Not our day, this one. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 26 Aug 1962 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformLDLLD

Sunday 26 August 1962, and Sevenoaks Vine came calling on a day that promised much and, in the end, delivered a mixture — as these things so often do.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first, and for once the decision looked a shrewd one rather than a captain's gamble. An early wicket at 3 gave the lads a wobble, but a sturdy 69-run stand for the fifth wicket steadied the ship handsomely. Ray Howard was in fine touch with a well-made 74, well supported by William Buck's 25 and Terry Whittaker's 23, though the card was blotted by three ducks — John Ames, Eddie Lawrence and Roy Clarke all departing without troubling the scorer. All out for 161 from 48.5 overs felt a par score, if not a match-winning one.

So it proved. Rodney Crang played a chanceless 89 not out, ably assisted by William English's unbeaten 36, and Sevenoaks eased home on 163 for 4. We did have our moments — reducing them from 9 for 1 to 12 for 4, with George Downton and P- Williams both back in the pavilion for nought — and David Gale bowled beautifully for 3-25 with four maidens, backed up by Michael Chambers's 1-26. But 17 byes rather gave the game away behind the stumps, and I contributed a duck of my own, over which the least said the better.

Beaten by six wickets, then — but with Ray Howard's 100th appearance in Linton colours to celebrate, and David Gale now second in the club's wicket-takers this season, there was more to smile about than the scoreline suggests. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 25 Aug 1962 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformDLDLL

Saturday 25 August 1962, and Aylesford Paper Mills CC came to Linton Park for a proper day's cricket. The coin fell kindly and I had no hesitation in batting first. Basil Sears (79) and Don Clayton (77), both well past their fifties, put on 160 for the second wicket and carried us to a handsome 197 for 4 off 51.1 overs.

Defending that, Aylesford Paper Mills never quite got going. Colin Watson's 27 and I. Brenchley's 20 were the best of it before the middle order lost its nerve entirely — 93 for 6 became 113 for 9 in short order, and poor Doug Milner trudged back for a duck without troubling the scorers. Modesty forbids, but shan't stop me: 7 for 42 with six maidens came my way, the ball turning beautifully, with good support from Don Clayton's 2 for 42. Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon with the gloves, 15 byes going astray, though I'd not swap places with him for the world.

A note for the mantelpiece — those seven wickets carry me past Frank Taylor into 6th on the club's all-time list. Add Frank Brattle sitting 2nd in this season's run charts on 491, and my own 47 wickets leading the 1962 tally, and it's shaping into a vintage summer. As for Saturday itself: honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force it home.

Sun 19 Aug 1962 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformLDLDL

Skipper's Log, Sunday 19 August 1962: The Mote CC visit us, I lose the toss for my trouble, and we're straight out into the field. Not the afternoon we'd have ordered. R- Ellis gave us a proper going-over, 119 not out and looking for more when the innings finally closed at 226/4 off the full 50 — a stand of 102 for the third wicket with D- Worley (36) doing most of the damage before Ian Milsted (28) chipped in too. David Gale kept us in the contest with 2-49, and Michael Chambers bowled a spell of real discipline, 2-71 with three maidens to show for his trouble.

Chasing 227, we never quite found our rhythm. I managed 61 up top — pleased with that, if I say so myself, though pleasure is cold comfort in a losing cause — and John Thirkell matched me stroke for stroke with a well-made 61 of his own, the pair of us putting on 62 for the second wicket. But from 93-4 to 107-7 the middle order rather fell out of the door all at once, and poor Robert Murray's golden duck 🦆 summed up the mood. Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 12 byes going begging. All out 167 in 53.1 overs.

Fifty-nine runs the wrong side of the ledger in the end. Thirkell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 966, and Gale the wickets with 43 — small consolations on a difficult day. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sat 18 Aug 1962 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformLLDLD

Beaten before we started, some say — a fine Bowaters CC and a coin that landed the wrong way up as far as the batting order was concerned. Winning the toss, I fancied a bat, which in hindsight was a decision best filed alongside "borrow the neighbour's ladder" and other things I've come to regret. Five for one inside the first few overs told its own story, and while Frank Brattle (31) and Terry Whittaker (30) did their level best to drag us back to respectability, we folded for 116 in 33.1 overs. Basil Sears and R Davison both contributed the sort of duck that makes you suddenly very interested in the tea urn.

With the ball, we at least made a fist of it. Terry Whittaker, having batted with sense, bowled with even more, sending down four maidens and giving nothing away cheaply. John Thirkell picked up 1-27 and Gordon Fenner chipped in with 1-60, but John Woollett had other ideas, cruising to an unbeaten 80 and putting on 76 for the first wicket with Colin Cole (20) before we so much as sniffed a breakthrough. Bowaters cantered home on 117-2.

I managed 15 myself, which felt generous under the circumstances. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 905 and sits fourth in the wickets column with 18 — the one man having a season while the rest of us have an August.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and fairly so. We'll dust ourselves off, put the kettle back on, and be better for it next week.

Sun 12 Aug 1962 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformLLLDL

Sunday 12 August 1962 saw us make the trip to Harrietsham CC, and it must be said the day began badly — I lost the toss, they had a look at the sky and the square, and inserted themselves in with obvious relish. Forty-nine overs later I understood why: D Hampshire produced an innings of real substance, an unbeaten 103, with Peter Hope (36) and F Brooks (21) lending sturdy support and a fifth-wicket stand of 61 doing the real damage. We finished 215/6, a total that had the tea urn muttering darkly. John Ames was the pick of our attack by some distance, 2-20 and, we later discovered, a piece of club history in the taking. David Gale and Reg Oldfield chipped in, and Terry Whittaker bowled with the sort of miserliness that would make a Yorkshireman proud — four maidens and barely a run to be had off him.

Chasing 215 was always a tall order, and so it proved. John Thirkell led the reply nicely with 44, Reg Oldfield (24) and Robert Murray (23) building a second-wicket stand of 66 that briefly had us dreaming, and I contributed 44 of my own before the innings settled for 146/8 — honest resistance rather than a serious chase.

Two footnotes worth raising a glass to: Robert Wood's two runs eased him past Len Conway into 16th on the club's all-time run list, and John Ames's brace of wickets took him to the very top of our all-time wicket-takers. Not a bad afternoon's work buried inside a losing scorecard.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride more or less intact, and the sandwiches, I'm told, were excellent.

Sat 11 Aug 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWLLLD

Saturday 11 August 1962

We won the toss and, in a fit of optimism I stand by entirely, chose to bat first. It proved the right call. Our openers set about the job with real purpose, putting on 114 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and from there Basil Sears (58) and Frank Brattle (53) both brought up handsome half-centuries, with John Thirkell keeping the scoreboard ticking with an unbeaten 29. We closed on a healthy 164 for 4 from our 45 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than gulp it down anxiously.

With the ball, John Thirkell was in inspired form, ripping through the middle order for 4 for 48 — and in doing so, quietly slotted himself past George Champion into 8th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is not a bad afternoon's work by anyone's reckoning. Terry Whittaker chipped in with 3 for 70 and Robert Wood 1 for 28, while I allowed myself a small moment of vanity with 4 wickets of my own. But Doug Pound had other ideas, striking a fine 74 and, ably supported by R. Excell's 30, building a stand of 76 that carried the opposition home by two wickets with the last over creeping into view.

Not our day, then, for all the individual sparkle. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — there'll be sunnier Saturdays yet.

Sat 04 Aug 1962 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDWLLL

Won the toss on a fine Saturday and, with barely a moment's deliberation, chose to bat — Headcorn duly welcomed at home for what turned into a proper old tug-of-war of a match.

Nolan and his opening partner gave us exactly the platform a captain dreams about and rarely gets, carrying us to 98 for 1 before the first wicket finally fell. Nolan went on to a fine 73, well past his fifty, while Thirkell (30) and Brattle (29) kept the innings ticking along nicely. I chipped in with 30 myself, more through luck than craft, and we closed on a very respectable 195 for 6 from our 47 overs.

Defending that total, it was Carter's afternoon through and through — spinning it past bat after bat for 5 for 21, three of those overs maidens, utterly unplayable. Whittaker (2-38) and Thirkell (1-9) offered fine support, and poor Woodcock was sent back without so much as troubling the scorers. Headcorn's Murrell battled to 34 but it wasn't enough, and they finished on 136 for 9 from their 46 — agonisingly short, honours shared.

A word too for Robert Murray, whose watchful 17 eased him past George Champion into 9th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — quiet history made while the rest of us were busy with the toil. Thirkell continues to lead our 1962 run charts with 817, Whittaker sits proudly second among the wicket-takers with 37.

A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and honours shared. Nobody beaten, nobody quite satisfied. Cricket as it should be.

Sun 29 Jul 1962 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformLDWLL

Sunday 29 July 1962 saw us make the trip down to Folkestone CC, and having won the toss I elected to bat — a decision I'm happy to stand by, whatever the middle overs might suggest. We were bowled out for 145 in 53.5 overs, built chiefly on Frank Brattle's 32, with Robert Wood (26) and John Ames (22) chipping in nicely. For a while it all looked rather promising, until we contrived to slide from 76-2 to 77-5 in the time it takes to pour a tea, Robert Murray's duck the unhappy centrepiece of the collapse.

Defending 145 was always going to want discipline, and Alan Wilkes gave us just that with a fine 3-60, well supported by Gordon Fenner's 1-34 and a positively parsimonious seven maidens. But Brian Humphries had other ideas, compiling an unbeaten 81 and, alongside Percy Wright's 26, putting on 73 for the second wicket to see Folkestone home at 146-4 from 50.4 overs. Thirteen byes down the leg side did nothing for the captain's blood pressure either.

There was, at least, one bright entry in the ledger: Frank Brattle's 32 nudged him past Tony Levick into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while John Thirkell continues to purr along at the top of this season's charts with 787 runs. As for the match itself — beaten by six wickets, no arguing with that, but there's enough here to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 28 Jul 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLDWL

Saturday last, at home, and I won the toss and had no hesitation sending them in — a decision that looked rather clever for about an hour and rather less so thereafter. They compiled 111 all out from 34 overs, J- Archer top-scoring with 24 and C- Banes chipping in a useful 20, but once the middle order arrived the floodgates opened in spectacular fashion: 50-3 became 56-6 almost before I'd finished my tea, and poor J- Morrison departed without so much as troubling the scorers. David Gale was magnificent, 7-52 and thoroughly deserved, while Terry Whittaker bowled with real discipline for 3-44, five overs of it maidens — not a run given away lightly.

Chasing 112, we made a hash of it. Three down for one run set an ominous tone, and although we steadied for a while, the innings collapsed again from 74-6 to 84-9 in the blink of an eye, John Crellin contributing a golden duck to the general misery. I managed 19 myself, for what little comfort that provided, and we were all out for 94 in 35.5 overs — 13 byes in the book, which tells you all you need to know about Roy Clarke's afternoon behind the stumps.

Beaten by 17 runs, then, and no arguing with the scoreboard. John Thirkell still leads our run charts for the season and David Gale our wickets, so the engine room remains sound even if the coachwork took a dent today. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 24 Jul 1962 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · AwayformLWW

Tuesday last, we won the toss and sent them in — a decision I shall claim full credit for, whatever the scorebook eventually said about it. They were bowled out for 143 in 49.3 overs, R. Banks top-scoring with a watchful 26, R. McQuire unbeaten on 25 and I. Clarke chipping in 24. For a spell in the middle we simply couldn't miss, tearing through the order from 25 for 1 to 34 for 4, with D. Garner, P. Williams and R. Brewer all trudging back for ducks 🦆. Gordon Fenner was in one of those moods that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy, spinning his way to 6 for 64, while Terry Whittaker toiled away for 3 for 76 and five maidens of the sort that slowly strangle the will to live.

With the bat we made a fair fist of it — 151 for 5 off our 36 overs. John Carter led beautifully with 41, Frank Brattle supported with 32 and John Thirkell finished unbeaten on 31, the pair adding a crucial 58 for the second wicket. I contributed a workmanlike 31 myself, mostly by refusing to get out through sheer stubbornness.

John Carter now heads our 1962 Midweek XI run charts, and Gordon Fenner tops the wicket-takers — fine early form from both. And yet, for all that, we finished up beaten by 5 wickets. Cricket, as ever, declining to make any sense at all. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 22 Jul 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLDW

Sunday 22 July 1962, and we won the toss and elected to bowl, which felt like the right call until Goodliffe decided otherwise. The man made 102 — a proper hundred, hit at our expense — and found willing company in John Larking (43) and G. Howard (35), the two of them stitching together a 71-run stand for the seventh wicket that turned a containable total into 260/8 off 51.5 overs. David Gale did what he could with 3-74, and Robert Wood (2-38) and Alan Tucker (2-57) chipped away, but it was Goodliffe's day, not ours.

Chasing 261 always wanted a big innings, and we never quite found one. Maurice Fenner's 30 and Frank Brattle's 28 gave us something to build on, Eddie Lawrence added 23, but 105-4 became 114-7 with alarming haste and the tail had no answer. All out for 174 in 46.1 overs, with Roy Clarke and Ossie Fryer both suffering the walk of shame for ducks. Fifteen byes, meanwhile, made for uncomfortable reading behind the stumps — a testing day for all concerned.

Elsewhere in the ledger, John Thirkell continues to lead the 1st XI run charts with 767 for the season, and Alan Tucker tops the wicket pile with 33 — small comforts on an afternoon that offered few.

Not our day, then — beaten by 86 runs, heads bowed, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 21 Jul 1962 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLLLLD

From the captain's log, Saturday 21 July 1962

Lost the toss, put in to field — hardly the afternoon I'd have chosen, but there's no arguing with the coin. Rumwood set about building an innings around a solid 58-run opening stand, and for a while it looked like they might bat all day; Nolan (32), Carter (24) and Oakley (22) all did their bit. But the middle order rather lost its nerve against us, tumbling from 119 for 6 to 125 for 9 in the blink of an eye, Buckland and Murrell both walking back for ducks. Thirkell was the chief tormentor with 3 for 19, Wood chipped in with 3 for 28, Gale took 2 for 33, and Whittaker bowled three miserly maidens for good measure. All out 131 from 39.5 overs — a total we felt we could chase.

Chase it we did, though not without the usual palpitations. One down for seven had the tea urn rattling nervously, but Thirkell, having done the damage with the ball, then top-scored with 41 to steady the ship, well supported by Crellin's unbeaten 34 and Wood's 25 — the crucial fourth-wicket stand of 50 doing the real work. Clayton and Arnold both made the long walk for nought, and poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 15 byes going begging. I managed 41 with the bat and 3 wickets with the ball, which I shan't pretend not to be pleased about.

Two wickets to the good at the close, and word that Wood has passed 100 career wickets while Thirkell has sailed past 200 — milestones worth raising a glass to. A proper club cricket afternoon, nerves and all, and a very good day for us.

Sun 15 Jul 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLL

Sunday the fifteenth of July found us hosting the visitors on a pitch that, as ever, gave nothing away for free. Winning the toss and putting them in felt like the sporting thing to do at the time, though by the time W.J. Barnes had cantered to 85 not out I was beginning to question my own generosity. He and V. Broderick, 57 to his name, put on a stand that had the tea urn rattling nervously in the pavilion, the openers alone contributing 80 before we prised the first breakthrough. Small mercies came in the shape of J.L. Newbury, sent back for a duck, and honest toil from Gordon Fenner (2-46), Terry Whittaker (2-53) and John Ames (1-30) kept them to 181 for 5 off their 36 overs — respectable, but not out of sight.

Chasing it down, we set about our business with more haste than we're usually credited with, Maurice Fenner playing the anchor role beautifully for 66 while John Ames chipped in a tidy 30, the pair sharing a crucial half-century opening stand. I contributed a modest 30 of my own, more workmanlike than watchable. In the end 130 for 3 off 24 overs left us short of the target with overs unused, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and rather typical of village cricket, where Robert Murray (2nd in the season's run charts) and Terry Whittaker (2nd among the wickets) continue to fly the flag. No losers today, only two sides walking off for their tea rather pleased with themselves.

Sat 14 Jul 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDLLLL

Captain's Log — Saturday 14 July 1962

We travelled with hope in our hearts and, it must be said, not quite enough runs in our bags to back it up. Winning the toss and putting them in felt the right sort of decision at the time — the sort you make with a straight bat and a hopeful eye on the clouds. Alas, Malcolm Bristow had other ideas, ghosting to 72 not out with the unhurried menace of a man who knows there's a tea interval to look forward to, while J. Jaganathan chipped in a handsome 63 and Brian Fitch tidied up with 24 not out. 163 for 1 off their 33 overs left us with a mountain, and precious few of us brought our climbing boots.

Our reply began wretchedly — 4 for 1 before some of us had found our guard — and though Roy Clarke (28) and Alan Tucker (25) fought manfully to drag us to 57 for 3, the middle order then conspired to lose the plot entirely, tumbling to 73 for 6 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a pint. Three ducks on the card — B. Russell, R. Davison and Richard Ashby all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer — rather summed up our afternoon. All out for 81.

Beaten by 82 runs, then, and no arguing with the arithmetic. Small consolation that Don Clayton continues his quietly excellent season, now 4th in the club's run charts with 166 for the summer — a reminder that not everything about 1962 has gone begging. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word with the middle order, and be better for it next week.

Sun 08 Jul 1962 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformDDLLL

Sunday 8th July found us on the road to Aylesford Paper Mills, a fixture that always seems to arrive too soon and leave too late. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — a decision I stood by right up until we lost a wicket with only 4 on the board, at which point I began quietly rehearsing my excuses. John Ames played the anchor role beautifully for 42, with Robert Murray chipping in a fine 38, and a stubborn 53-run stand for the fourth wicket dragged us back from the brink. Elsewhere the scorebook made grimmer reading — Frank Brattle, Len Conway and John Crellin all departed without troubling the scorers, three ducks that rather spoiled the average for the afternoon tea. All out for 121 in 44.2 overs felt like a par score assembled the hard way.

Defending it, we set about our task with more hope than menace. Alan Tucker bowled with real purpose for 2-36, well supported by Alan Wilkes, whose 2-37 included two tidy maidens — nothing given away lightly there. But J. Spencer had other ideas, top-scoring with 31, backed up by Cliff Anscombe's 23 and Colin Watson's 20, and the home side eased home at 122/4 in 32.2 overs.

Not our day, then — beaten by six wickets, and a long, thoughtful drive home. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 716 for the season, and Alan Tucker tops the wickets with 31, so the engine room remains sound even when the whole isn't quite firing. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 07 Jul 1962 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformDDDLL

We were beaten by Charles Arkcoll on Saturday, and I'll not pretend otherwise: 113 runs is a proper hiding, however you dress it up. But dress it up I shall, because a captain's log is no place for hanging heads.

Losing the toss, we found ourselves in the field, and for a good while it looked rather promising. Alan Tucker was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 7-80, and had sterling support from John Thirkell, whose 2-32 came with a miserly seven maidens, and Ricky Lusher's 1-35. Stan Wratten's 35, with Ron Hickman's 32 and Keith Filmer's 22 alongside, were the only real resistance as the opposition were bowled out for 161 in 46.2 overs — John Ames, T Bridal and John Perkins departing without so much as a squeak from the scorebook.

Then came our reply, and here the story turns considerably less flattering. Forty-eight all out in 16.2 overs is the sort of collapse that makes the tea urn go cold with embarrassment — 34-2 became 47-5 in the blink of an eye, and R Davison, Ricky Lusher and Frank Wright all fell without scoring. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps too, eleven byes going begging.

Still, there were bright spots: Frank Brattle's 19 nudged him past Frank Taylor into 12th on the all-time run-scorers list, and Tucker's heroics moved him past Bert Buckoke into 22nd among the wicket-takers. Small mercies, but mercies nonetheless. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 01 Jul 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDDDL

Sunday the first of July found us welcoming visitors to Linton Park, and when the coin came down in our favour I did what any captain armed with dubious optimism does on a fine morning — put us in to bat.

It didn't go well. Seventy-five all out from thirty-seven overs is the sort of total that makes tea taste bitter, though Ray Howard's 31 kept the card from total embarrassment. Len Conway and John Thirkell both departed for ducks, and as for the skipper — a golden blob, first ball gone. They say a captain must lead by example; on this occasion I led by example of exactly how not to bat.

With the ball we made a proper fist of it. The visitors reached 78 for 4 off 28.1 overs, Brian Seagar top-scoring with 31 and R. Bailey unbeaten on 20, but Ray Howard was magnificent — 2 for 17 with three miserly maidens — and J. Mills fell to us for a duck of his own. David Gale chipped in with 1 for 43. Six wickets the wrong way in the end, and not our day.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: John Thirkell brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that deserves rather more than a duck alongside it. Robert Murray remains second in the season's run charts, David Gale second among the wicket-takers — proof the engine room is sound even when the top brass isn't.

Verdict: heads up, back to the nets, and let's hope the skipper finds some form before his average needs a search party.

Tue 26 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWWDDD

Beaten again, and this time by an even dozen — but there was much in Tuesday's tussle with The Mote CC to warm the cockles as the evenings draw in.

Having lost the toss for what feels like the fourth week running, we were put into the field, and I can't say I minded overly much. Sixteen overs of honest endeavour restricted the visitors to 114/7, with Terry Whittaker in inspired form — 4-53 is the kind of figure that makes an opening skipper look far cleverer than he actually is — well supported by Alan Tucker's 2-33. One J. Smith gave us the most trouble, his 37 the difference-maker in the end, but on the whole a fine shift with the ball.

Our reply never quite got the legs under it. Cliff Anscombe led the way with a tidy 24, John Thirkell chipped in with 21, and young Basil Sears finished unbeaten on 21 to give the tail some respectability. I managed 21 myself, more by luck than judgement, but poor Alan Tucker's afternoon took a cruel twist with a golden duck — the sort of thing that happens to the best of us, usually straight after a good bowling spell, as if the cricketing gods insist on balance.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: those two wickets nudged Alan up to 24th on the club's all-time list, past Basil Sears no less, which called for at least a second pint at the bar afterwards. Thirkell continues to lead our run-scoring for the summer with 705, and Whittaker's wickets column climbs to 28.

Twelve runs the margin, but heads high. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 24 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWWDD

The lads gathered at Linton Park on Sunday 24th June under a sky that promised more than it delivered, and having called correctly I put the opposition in — a decision that looked shrewd for about an hour and rather less so thereafter. M. Howard settled in for a well-made 86 and J. Jeganathan, once he'd found his fifty, carried serenely on to 74 not out, with M. Patey chipping in 25 as the visitors compiled a stern 205/3 from their 47 overs. David Gale toiled manfully for 2-77, Terry Whittaker offered steady support with 1-49 and three miserly maidens that at least kept the milk bill down, but the runs came all the same.

Set 206 to win, we made a measured fist of it rather than a swashbuckling one. John Thirkell was in imperious touch, easing to 65 not out — a personal contribution he permits me to say was rather satisfying, and rightly so — while Tony Snook kept him company with a composed 42 not out. The extras column, ever the club's most reliable all-rounder, weighed in with 36. We closed on 161/3 from our 45, honours shared, neither side quite able to force the issue.

A draw, then — cricket's most diplomatic result, and no bad way to spend a Sunday. Thirkell continues to lead our run charts handsomely with 684 for the season, and Gale tops the wickets with 26, so the engine room remains in fine working order even when the scoreboard refuses to pick a winner.

Sat 23 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDLWWD

In a match forty runs remain unresolved, do I say we merely called correctly at the toss or claimed the moral victory before a ball was bowled? I chose to bat, as any captain worth his salt would on a Saturday, and the lads rewarded me with 179/9 from our 47 overs. Don Clayton played the innings of the day, a crisp 52, with Alan Tucker keeping him honest at the other end with 36 of his own. Bob Arnold, ever the trouper, will take rather less pleasure in recalling his contribution with the bat — a duck, and not the decorative kind.

With the ball in hand we set about Rumwood with purpose, restricting them to 122/6 from their 44. C. Cheesman top-scored with 29, B. Buckland unbeaten on 22, but it was Ricky Lusher who caught the eye — 2 for 25 and five maidens of positively parsimonious cricket, the kind that has opposition batsmen muttering into their gloves. Terry Whittaker (2-36) and Basil Sears (1-4) chipped in nicely, and Sears's solitary wicket had the added distinction of easing him past the Reverend Thomas Burra into 24th on the club's all-time list — no doubt a source of quiet satisfaction, if not quite a sermon-worthy achievement.

Bob Arnold's afternoon behind the stumps was less serene, 16 byes going begging, but he'll shrug it off as all good keepers must. With Clayton now 4th in our season's run charts and Whittaker 2nd among the wicket-takers, the form is there for all to see. In the end neither side could force it, and a draw was a fair reflection of an afternoon where honours, like the byes, were shared rather too generously.

Sun 17 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformLDLWW

The lads travelled to Bobbing Court on Sunday 17th June, and I duly lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season — asked to field, we trudged out with more resignation than enthusiasm. Bobbing Court made themselves at home, running up 205 for 7 from their 42 overs, with P Goodwin (43), John Otley (43) and Richard Witts (39) all helping themselves to the sort of runs that separate a competitive total from a comfortable one. David Gale was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 63 of honest toil, well backed by Gordon Fenner and Michael Chambers with a wicket apiece. Poor Gordon Kemsley, meanwhile, will not thank me for mentioning his duck.

Chasing 206, we made a fair fist of it without ever threatening to get there, closing on 152 for 9 from our 45. John Crellin led the way with a determined 38, with Frank Brattle (30) and Stan Wratten (21) offering good support around him. Roy Clarke's 17 byes, it must be said, tell their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps — we shall say no more about it, other than that we shall.

There was, happily, cause for real celebration amid the toil: Frank Brattle brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded by all. With John Thirkell (619) and David Gale (24 wickets) continuing to top the season's charts, the engine room remains in fine order.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue — not a classic, but an afternoon with enough character, and enough Brattle milestones, to send us home content.

Sat 16 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLLDLW

We reached Headcorn full of confidence and promptly lost the toss, which is generally the signal for the day to go sideways — though not this time. Put in the field, we watched them build steadily to 207/8 off their 46, with G. Murrell (68) and G. Gore (59) doing most of the damage before we found our rhythm; Robert Wood was magnificent with the ball, 3-8 and utterly miserly, backed up by Terry Whittaker's 3-77 (including two maidens, no less) and a wicket apiece for Don Clayton and K. Goodall's dismissal without scoring. A total that looked stiff enough on paper.

Then John Thirkell decided he fancied a century, and duly obliged with a magnificent 131 — and along the way brought up 9,000 career runs for the club, which is not the sort of thing that happens every Saturday, or indeed every decade. R. Bishop chipped in nicely with 58 not out to see us home, though poor Robert Wood, hero of the morning session, had to make do with a duck of his own with the bat — cricket's little joke, that one.

We got over the line by five wickets, John sits proudly atop the run charts for the season on 613, and Terry leads the wickets on 21. All told, a thoroughly good day out — the sort that reminds you why you keep turning up on a Saturday, rain or shine.

Thu 14 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Malherbe CC · AwayformDLLDL

Thursday 14 June 1962, and off we trundled to Boughton Malherbe, hopes modest and kit bag slightly damp. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling has never troubled the record books — and we were put into the field, which on reflection suited us rather nicely.

What followed was as merry a bowling display as this captain has had the pleasure of watching from mid-off. Boughton Malherbe were bundled out for a paltry 51 in just 14 overs, with R Markwick, J Wisden and J Chittenden all trudging back for ducks. Alan Tucker was quite simply unplayable, scything through them with 5 for 14 — two of those overs maidens, not a run given away lightly — while David Gale (2-29) and Terry Whittaker (1-1) tidied up the rest. A word too on the milestone: that spell took Alan to 50 career wickets, a landmark thoroughly deserved.

Chasing 52, we were rather more agricultural about it, stumbling to 53 for 4 off 9 overs. Poor Cliff Anscombe endured the walk of shame for a nought, and I contributed a watchful 17 before handing the baton on. Untidy, but effective.

A six-wicket win, then, and Alan Tucker's name goes further up the wicket charts — 20 for the season now, still the club's leading tormentor of batsmen, with John Thirkell's 482 runs keeping the bat brigade honest. Onwards we go, unbeaten in spirit if not always in elegance.

Sun 10 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLDLLD

We were unlucky not to bat first anyway, but as it turned out I'd have called it right whichever way the coin fell — winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the obvious course, and for once the obvious course was the correct one. Robert Murray played the innings of the day, 77 well past his fifty, with John Thirkell giving him fine company for a half-century of his own and William Buck chipping in a useful 24. Not every man's day, mind: poor Alan Tucker will have had a long walk back for his nought, and there's no dressing that up in the Duck Club ledger. All told, 213 all out from 65.2 overs felt a defendable total when we trooped off for tea.

Defending it proved another matter. David Andrews set about us with an assured 82, Colin Fleetwood finished unbeaten on 60 and Gordon Hawkins added an unbroken 39, and between them Bearsted eased to 214 for 3 with overs to spare. John Thirkell led our attack manfully for 1 for 28, and Terry Whittaker toiled away for 1 for 37, four maidens among them — not a run given away lightly, even if the wickets wouldn't come. Ten byes off Roy Clarke's gloves rather summed up our afternoon.

There was some cheer amid the gloom: I was pleased to lead from the front with a half-century myself, and Terry Whittaker's solitary wicket was enough to push him past George Champion into 7th on the club's all-time list — one for the mantelpiece, whatever the scoreboard said. Beaten by seven wickets in the end, no arguing with that. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 09 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWLDLL

Saturday 09 June 1962 — a good old-fashioned draw, and the better for it.

Put into the field, we watched the opposition build a total that always felt just out of reach without ever running away from us. L-D White gave us a proper working-over with 72, well supported by M Taylor (32) and J Morrison (22), and they closed on 199 all out from 46.5 overs. Credit where due: Terry Whittaker bowled beautifully for 3-42, tight as you like with a couple of maidens thrown in, while Alan Tucker (3-48) and David Gale (3-59) chipped away at the other end. C Banes at least gave us a duck to celebrate, small mercies and all that.

Chasing 200, we made a fair fist of it. John Thirkell played the innings of the day, 70 well-constructed runs, with Frank Brattle keeping him company for a handsome 51. Between them they did most of the heavy lifting, though Basil Sears and R Davison will not thank me for mentioning their contributions of nought apiece. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 13 byes going begging, but nobody's perfect on a Saturday.

We finished on 179/8 from 38, short of the target but never disgraced. I'll confess a personal 70 was rather satisfying, and a word of congratulation to Terry Whittaker, who quietly brought up 200 career wickets — a landmark achieved with typical understatement.

Honours shared, then. A draw that flattered neither side but insulted no one either — which, in this fixture, feels about right.

Sun 03 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLWLDL

Sunday 3 June, and Folkestone rolled up for what turned into rather a rollercoaster of an afternoon. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation putting us in – on a day like this, runs on the board felt like the sensible currency. And so it proved, up to a point: 193 for 4 off our 44 overs was a tidy return, built on a lovely innings from John Thirkell, unbeaten on 75 and looking about as troubled as a man doing the crossword, with Robert Wood (46 not out) and Robert Murray (30) chipping in handsomely. I'll confess my own 75 gave me no small satisfaction, and there was a nice footnote in the scorebook too – Robert Wood's 46 nudged him past Richard Harris into 17th on the club's all-time run list.

Defending it proved another matter entirely. Alan Wilkes toiled manfully for his 3 for 81, with Alan Tucker and Michael Chambers chipping in a wicket apiece, and David Gale's two maidens were honest work in a losing cause. But Percy Wright (58 not out) and John Spanswick (53) simply had the better of us, ushering Folkestone home on 194 for 5. Ten byes rather summed up William Buck's afternoon behind the stumps – these things happen to the best of keepers.

Beaten by five wickets, then, though John Thirkell continues to lead our season's run charts in some style, and Alan Tucker sits handily in the wicket table. Character-building stuff – we'll come again next week, wiser and no doubt a little wetter behind the ears.

Sat 02 Jun 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLWLD

Beaten by 5 wickets at home on a bright June Saturday, and honestly, we've no complaints — 155 always looked a touch light on that square, and so it proved.

Put in the field first, the lads did us proud with the ball. Terry Whittaker was magnificent, 4-34 and a mark in the record books besides — those wickets carried him past John Thirkell into 8th on the club's all-time list, which I'm reliably informed calls for a pint at the very least. David Gale chipped in with 3-35, keeping his name near the top of this season's charts, Charles Crellin took one, and Robert Wood bowled two maidens that gave nothing away for love nor money. Three ducks at the other end told their own story of a batting order under the pump. L. Fell's 42 and useful contributions from Holland and Russell got them to 155 all out, which felt eminently gettable.

And gettable it proved, though not without the usual palpitations. Robert Murray played the innings of the day — 69 not out, calm as you like while wickets clattered around him — well supported by John Thirkell's 39 and a handy 22 from I. Harris. I added 39 myself, for what it's worth. Two golden ducks reminded us this game keeps everyone humble, and 8 byes gave poor Bob Arnold a torrid afternoon behind the stumps.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, but with Whittaker's wickets and Murray's innings, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 26 May 1962 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformWDLWL

Saturday 26 May 1962, and Gore Court CC rolled up as our guests. The coin, as ever, took no notice of my calling, and Gore Court elected to bat — so it was boots on, into the field, and hope for the best.

They made themselves rather at home, closing on 216/8 from their 41 overs. David Hillier (75) and John Bishop (72) put together the sort of stand that has committee members reaching for the teapot in resignation, with Maurice Ingleton's 27 adding further insult. Graham Piesley and Richard Dixon came and went without so much as a nibble at the scorebook. Salvation, such as it was, came from Don Clayton, who span a web through their middle order for a magnificent 5-61 — unplayable is not too strong a word. David Gale (2-49, with two tidy maidens) and Terry Whittaker (1-66) chipped away honestly beside him.

In reply we mustered 155/5 from 40.4 overs, John Thirkell leading from the front with an unbeaten 57 of real class, well supported by I Harris (30) and Don Clayton, who backed up his bowling with 27 more. R Davison's duck was the only blemish. Poor Bob Arnold had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes slipping past him — I shall say no more, out of loyalty.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite able to force the issue. Given the target we were chasing, I'll happily take it, and my own 57 was some small personal consolation on a long day in the field.

Mon 21 May 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWDLW

Monday last, under skies that threatened more than they delivered, we welcomed our visitors to Linton Park with ball in hand — I'd won the toss and fancied our chances of early inroads. They lasted just 15 overs before being bowled out for 72, with E Amey sent packing without so much as a run to his name, the poor fellow. Alan Tucker was in irresistible form, tearing through the order for 6-45, while David Gale chipped away nicely at the other end with 4-24 — between the two of them there was precious little for the rest of us to do but applaud from the field.

With 73 needed, John Thirkell and Robert Murray made light work of the chase, seeing us home in a brisk 11 overs — Thirkell unbeaten on 23, Murray ably keeping him company with 21 not out. I managed to contribute 23 myself, more by good fortune than good technique, before the pair finished the job in style. Eight wickets in hand at the close, and the visitors well and truly beaten.

It caps a fine season so far for both men — Thirkell now tops our 1st XI run charts with 174, and Tucker sits second among the wicket-takers with 11 to his name. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round, though there's always a little more polish to find, and we'll be looking to sharpen up further before next week's fixture.

Sun 20 May 1962 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDDWDL

Sunday 20 May 1962, Anchorians CC at home, and the toss went against us as reliably as it always does when I'm calling it. They chose to bat, which on reflection suited us rather nicely.

They laboured to 127 all out in 50.4 overs, with G. James the one man to trouble the scoreboard properly — 71 not out, a fine, patient knock. The rest of us made short work of it: J. Lock, A. Farnfield and G. Harris all sent back without so much as a run to their name. The story of the innings, though, was John Ames, who span through them like a man possessed — 5 for 40, six maidens, not a run given away lightly. Alan Tucker chipped in handsomely with 3 for 35, and Terry Whittaker took 1 for 14 for good measure.

Chasing 128, we got there for the loss of just three wickets in 26.3 overs. Frank Brattle led the way with an unbeaten 44, Ray Howard supported nicely with 30, and John Ames, not content with his bowling exploits, added 22 with the bat. I contributed a modest 20 myself. The wicketkeeper on the day, it must be said, had rather a testing afternoon — sixteen byes tells its own tale.

A seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. John Ames continues to lead our wicket charts with 15 for the season, and with performances like Sunday's, it's not hard to see why. Onwards we go.

Sat 19 May 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDDDWD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 19 May 1962. We were away, and the toss brought us first use of the ball, which on reflection was probably the highlight of my afternoon's decision-making.

Our attack made proper hay of it. Terry Whittaker was in irresistible mood, running through their order for 5-35 off a spell containing five maidens that must have felt like a prison sentence to anyone facing him, while David Gale (3-40) and John Thirkell (2-11) mopped up the rest with good cheer. N. Colebrook departed without troubling the scorers, and though Merricks made a defiant 23, the rest of the innings folded up around him. All out for 94 in 34.4 overs — a total we felt, quietly, we could chase down before tea got cold.

And so it proved, though not without the usual heart-in-mouth club-cricket wobbles that make three wickets fall along the way feel entirely necessary to the narrative. John Thirkell, having already done his bit with the ball, then top-scored with an unbeaten 36, Don Clayton chipped in nicely with 24, and I did my best to look useful with 36 of my own. We got there in 20.3 overs for the loss of three, 95 plays 94.

Small print for the scorebook: Thirkell's brace of wickets nudged him past Whittaker into 8th on the club's all-time list, and he now sits proudly atop our 1962 run charts with 131, Whittaker himself second among the season's wicket-takers on 7.

Verdict: a proper team performance, ball then bat, and one we'll happily bank against the ones that get away.

Sun 13 May 1962 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformDDDDW

Sunday 13 May 1962, and Bobsing— beg pardon, Bobbing Court CC — came to us at Linton Park under grey club-cricket skies. Lost the toss, as is tradition, and they sent us out to field first, which at least spared my ageing knees the indignity of an early bat.

They compiled 169 for 7 off their 55 overs, built largely around Jack Whibley's handsome 62 and Gordon Kemsley's tidy 26, while poor C Robinson departed without so much as troubling the scoreboard. The story of the innings, though, was Michael Chambers, who bowled beautifully for 5 for 50 — a five-for thoroughly earned and gratefully received from the captain's position at mid-off. John Thirkell and John Ames chipped in admirably, and Ray Howard, three maidens to his name, gave away nothing he didn't have to.

Our reply of 132 for 8 from 46 overs never quite got us over the line, Ray Howard's excellent 46 and Frank Brattle's supporting 25 doing the heavy lifting. Michael Chambers, five wickets to his name with the ball, rather spoiled the ledger with a duck of his own — cricket's little joke. William Buck had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes escaping his gloves like naughty schoolboys.

One bright note amid the toil: Ray Howard's 46 nudges him to sixth on our all-time run-scorers' list — a fine piece of furniture for the mantelpiece.

A draw, then, honours shared, and honestly, after that display with the gloves, I'll happily take it.

Sun 06 May 1962 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWDDDD

Bat first, and by the seventh over of tea I'd half-forgotten why — but Maurice Fenner's 87 answered any doubts I might have had about the toss, or indeed about calling correctly at all, which for a man of my record is itself an occasion worth marking. Robert Murray's tidy 27 in support saw us to a formidable 163 for 4 from our 37, and I confess I rather enjoyed watching from the boundary as the total climbed beyond anything West Farleigh could reasonably have hoped to chase.

And chase it they could not. Our bowlers, sensing blood, tore through them for 77 all out in 26.3 overs — a- Parker's 22 the only real resistance, while poor P- Theobald trudged back without so much as a nudge to leg. John Ames was magnificent, 3 for 12, with John Thirkell (3-13) and the ever-miserly Gordon Fenner (2-28, three maidens) chipping away at the other end. Even your captain managed three wickets, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for some weeks yet.

Two milestones to toast alongside the win: John Ames raised 3,000 career runs for the club and, with those three wickets, leapt past Alan Wilkes to sit atop our all-time wicket-takers list. A red-letter day all round.

Won by 86 runs, two points banked, and not a murmur of complaint from anyone — least of all me.

Sat 05 May 1962 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformDWDDD

We won the toss and put Staplehurst in to chase, declaring at 168/5 off our 39.4 overs — Basil Sears the architect with a fine 57, well backed by Don Clayton's 46 and Frank Brattle's 31. A total to be pleased with, even if the last few overs were more agricultural than aesthetic on my part as I waved the lads through to a total that felt, at tea, like it might just be enough.

It very nearly was. Staplehurst set about the chase with more urgency than sense and were 69/5 after 17.1 overs when someone in the committee tent must have had a quiet word, because the required rate suddenly stopped troubling anyone. Don Clayton, fresh from his runs, turned his arm over beautifully for 2-7 and looked for a spell like he might win it outright, with Alan Tucker (2-18) and David Gale (1-27) squeezing from the other end. D. Burrow's defiant 25 was the difference between collapse and stalemate, and in the end honours were shared — a draw when neither side could quite summon the nerve, or the overs, to force it.

Sears now sits second in our 1962 run charts and Gale fourth among the wicket-takers, which is either a sign of a side building nicely or a sign we need to bowl a team out occasionally. A draw, then — the great English compromise. Nobody lost, nobody quite won, and the tea was, as ever, the best part of the afternoon.

Sun 29 Apr 1962 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDWDD

As it stood at the tea interval, thoughts turned to whether the wicket had a say in matters at all. Sunday 29th April found us at home to the visitors, and having lost the toss we took to the field in cheerful enough spirits — spirits that dimmed only slightly as D Andrews (37) and William Dover (36) put bat to ball with more conviction than the forecast had promised, Brian Seager (27) chipping in besides. It fell to John Ames to restore order, and restore it he did, spinning his way to a wonderful 6-72, with Ray Howard tidying up at the other end for 3-60 and two miserly maidens. All out 176 from 44.3 overs — respectable, but not insurmountable, we told ourselves. Ron Aiston and Michael Chambers, alas, never troubled the scorers.

Our reply never quite found its rhythm. Robert Murray battled to 35 and Stan Wratten to 30, but wickets tumbled around them and we subsided to 113 for 8 from our 38, John Ames and Robert Wood both departing for ducks to complete a rather chastening afternoon with the bat. Poor Roy Clarke, meanwhile, spent much of the day chasing leather behind the stumps, 13 byes the unwelcome testament to a lively pitch.

Yet the ledgers had their say where the scoreboard could not: Stan Wratten brought up 5,000 runs for the club, a landmark worth toasting, while Robert Murray's innings eased him past Tony Levick into tenth on our all-time run list. A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and tea, as ever, the day's most convincing victor.

Sat 28 Apr 1962 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLWDWD

John Thirkell was still in the middle of his fifty when I called it right at the toss on Saturday and, with the West Farleigh square looking a good one, batting first felt the only sensible plan a Linton Park captain could make. We got to 169 for 9 from our forty overs, Thirkell playing the innings of the day with a fine 65, well supported by Robert Wood's 44 and John Crellin's 27. There were, it must be said, a couple of blemishes on the card — Basil Sears and Percy Brattle both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — but the total looked a defendable one as we trooped out for tea.

And so it very nearly proved. West Farleigh replied with 168 for 6 from their thirty-six, Reg Oldfield leading them home with a composed 55 and Ron Kemp unbeaten on 43, but our bowlers never let them cut loose. Terry Whittaker did the heavy lifting with 2 for 51, John and Charles Crellin chipped in with a wicket apiece, and David Gale bowled three tight maidens that kept the scoreboard honest. Percy Brattle had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes the only real dent in an otherwise admirable effort with the gloves.

A word of quiet satisfaction on my own account for the 65, and a tip of the cap to Robert Wood, whose 44 eased him past Tom Osborn into eighteenth on the club's all-time run-scorers list. In the end honours were shared, as they so often are on days like this — a draw that flattered neither side and disappointed neither either.