🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 27 Sep 1964 🧢 1st XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformDWWDL

Sunday 27th September saw us welcome Linton Park CC in glorious end-of-season fashion, and winning the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, though the lads might argue that point once they'd seen us bowled out for 135 in the fortieth over. Alan Tucker led the way with a tidy 28, well supported by Stan Wratten's 23, and I managed to contribute 23 of my own before getting out in whatever manner captains generally do — nobly, I like to think. Poor Robert Murray, however, will not be dining out on this innings; a golden duck is a cruel thing to carry home on the bus.

There was, mercifully, a bright spot amid the rubble: Terry Whittaker brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that deserves rather more applause than our total did. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Fred Greenfield continues to churn out runs and sits second in the 1st XI charts on 399, while John Thirkell leads the 2nd XI standings with 56 — proof that somewhere in this club, someone is in form.

As for the chase, Linton Park strolled home by seven wickets with the minimum of fuss, leaving us to trudge off rather sheepishly. Not our finest hour, and no amount of tea and cake could quite disguise it. Heads up, though — back to the nets, and no doubt we'll have the bat swinging truer next week.

Sat 26 Sep 1964 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDDWWD

Won the toss on a bright late-September afternoon and, in a fit of what I'd like to call confidence rather than madness, stuck us in first. It didn't entirely repay the faith — 149 all out in 38.1 overs, with only Gordon Fenner giving the scorebook anything to admire, top-scoring with 35. Poor Len Conway and Dick Langridge both trudged back for ducks, joining the club's less illustrious list, while I contributed a workmanlike 17 that nobody will remember by teatime.

With the ball we gave a decent account of ourselves without quite landing the killer blow. The Anchorians replied with 150 for 6 off 47 overs, built chiefly around P. Woolsey's classy 60 and useful support from J. Cavey's 41 — their third-wicket stand of 62 was the platform that did for us. Credit where due, though: we did have them wobbling, 122 for 3 collapsing to 125 for 6 as A. Hart and S. Harris both departed without scoring. John Ames was the pick of our attack with 3 for 21, Dick Langridge chipped in with 2 for 41 and three tidy maidens, though poor Roy Clarke behind the stumps had a torrid time of it with 12 byes conceded.

Not our day, then — beaten by four wickets, with John Thirkell (492 runs) and Dick Langridge (43 wickets) still flying the flag atop the season's charts. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets we go.

Sun 20 Sep 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDDWW

Sunday last saw us host our visitors at Linton Park in what turned into a proper old-fashioned tussle, and when the coin came down my way I had no hesitation in asking us to bat first on a pitch that looked, and largely played, a treat.

Runs came steadily rather than in a torrent. Fred Greenfield led the charge with a fine 59, well past his fifty, while John Thirkell — not for the first time this season — batted with real composure for an unbeaten 42, and Terry Whittaker chipped in with a brisk 31. I managed a modest 42 myself, more through good fortune than technique, and we closed on a healthy 221 for 7 from our 43.2 overs.

With the ball, it was Terry Whittaker's afternoon. Two wickets for 21, four maidens, and barely a boundary to be had off him — the sort of spell that makes captaincy look easy. Dick Langridge (2-44) and Basil Sears (1-12) chipped in nicely too, and poor Prout departed without so much as a run to his name. G. Winter's 37 held their innings together, ably assisted by D. Pound's 30 and Maskell's 25, but they could only reach 151 for 8 from their 45 overs — leaving them well short but, alas, not quite chaseable enough for a result either way.

So honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody. With Thirkell topping our run charts and Whittaker running away with the wickets, the season has a healthy look to it — and a point apiece will do us no harm at all.

Sat 19 Sep 1964 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformLWDDW

Saturday, 19 September 1964. Home to Maidstone Ymca CC, and the coin let me down again — they had first use of both toss and bat, though as it turned out that suited us rather nicely.

They mustered 107 all out in 35.4 overs, Phillips top-scoring with 33 and Smith chipping in 21, but the middle and lower order simply evaporated — Crabtree, Robinson and Merricks all back in the pavilion without a run to show for it as we slid them from 101-6 to 102-9 in the blink of an eye. The architect of the collapse was Alan Tucker, spinning a web of 7-21 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea. Terry Donovan (2-27) and Ron Hickman (1-15) tidied up the rest between them. I confess our 9 byes suggest Roy Clarke behind the stumps had rather a testing afternoon, but nobody was going to mention it after a display like that.

Chasing 108, Terry Whittaker played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 74 built on good sense and better timing, with Basil Sears keeping him company on 26 not out as we cantered home to 110 without loss in just 24 overs. Ten wickets, no fuss, home before the pub shut.

A thoroughly good day for the club — the bowlers did the damage, the openers did the tidying up, and I merely had to stand at slip and enjoy the show.

Sun 13 Sep 1964 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformDLWDD

We finished second at the toss table on Sunday against Staplehurst, and having called it right I sent us in – a decision I still stand by, even after we contrived to lose our first wicket for just one run. From there Joe Fenner (32) and John Thirkell (30) did the steadying, dragging us up to a defendable if unspectacular 126 all out. Special mention, of the wooden-spoon variety, to poor Basil Sears, who contributed his golden duck to proceedings with the sort of dignity only club cricket demands.

Out in the field, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Staplehurst never looked like chasing it down, subsiding to 77 all out with P- Hollands and H- Catt both back in the pavilion without scoring. The architect of the collapse was Len Conway, spinning his way to a magnificent 6-29 with eight maidens thrown in for good measure – the sort of miserly, metronomic spell that makes batsmen question their life choices. Terry Whittaker and Alan Tucker chipped in with a wicket apiece, and I even managed a tidy little 30 with the bat myself, which I shall not let anyone forget.

A 49-run win, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. With John Thirkell still leading our run charts and Terry Whittaker topping the wickets column for the season, the engine room of this side is purring nicely. Staplehurst, I suspect, will not be too sorry to see the back of us.

Sat 12 Sep 1964 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformLDLWD

Saturday 12th September, 1964, and Bowaters CC rolled into Linton Park under a decent bit of English weather. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever anyone says over tea. We laboured to 148/8 from our 44 overs, a total that flattered to deceive somewhat given the drama along the way. Basil Sears played the innings of the day with a fine 60, well supported by Terry Donovan's 23, and the pair added a stand of 66 for the fifth wicket that was very much the innings' backbone. Sadly the top and tail let us down — 5-1 early on, then a collapse from 109-5 to 120-8 that had me wincing into my flask. Poor Frank Brattle's golden duck didn't help matters either.

Bowaters replied with 127/7 from their 35, William Preston's 57 the chief obstacle, ably assisted by Roy Cole's unbeaten 21. But they too found conditions no easier, subsiding from 84-4 to 101-7 as our bowlers found their rhythm — Terry Whittaker leading the way with 2-23, Dick Langridge (2-31) and John Thirkell (1-8) chipping in handsomely, and Colin Cole back in the hutch for nought. Poor Roy Clarke had his hands full behind the stumps, 8 byes the price of a lively pitch.

A word of cheer amid it all: Dick Langridge's brace nudged him past Bert Buckoke to 25th on the club's all-time wicket list. In the end, honours were shared — a draw that flattered neither side, but pleased us both well enough.

Wed 09 Sep 1964 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Birchington CC · AwayformWLLLL

We got over the line by 42 runs at Birchington on the ninth of September, and I'll confess my toss call was one of the easier decisions I've made in seventeen summers of captaincy — bat first, and let the lads have their say with the willow. Cliff Anscombe led from the front with a well-made 78, and Bob Brigden wasn't far behind with 54 of his own; the two of them, alongside William Buck's tidy 30, hauled us up to a healthy 204/7 off 43.4 overs, with a third-wicket stand of 66 doing the heavy lifting.

Defending it looked a formality on paper, but Birchington had other ideas. M Elgar's 53 and useful contributions from K Williams and R Hobcraft, plus a stubborn 55-run third-wicket stand, dragged them back into it after a shaky start at 5 for the first wicket. It was Terry Whittaker who did for them in the end — four wickets, four maidens, miserly as you like — with Charles Crellin and I chipping in two apiece, and E Diaz departing without troubling the scorers off my bowling.

A tidy afternoon for me personally with four wickets, and a rather special one for Terry, whose four scalps see him climb to fourth on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — no mean feat. Cliff, meanwhile, continues to lead our Midweek run and wicket charts, greedy so-and-so that he is. All told, a proper day's cricket, won the hard way, and precisely the sort of afternoon that makes the long drive home feel a good deal shorter.

Sun 06 Sep 1964 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformWLDLW

William Buck's day, unquestionably — a captain barely needs to write a report when his number three bats through for 113 not out, but here we are, and someone has to sing his praises properly.

Won the toss on Sunday and, with the Harrietsham lads watching, had no hesitation sticking us in. Justified handsomely as we racked up 226/2 from our 48 overs. Buck was serene throughout, ably shepherded by Robert Murray's unbeaten fifty (59) and a tidy 24 from Fred Greenfield lower down. A total that left our openers with feet up in the pavilion rather longer than most Sundays.

In the field it was Len Conway's afternoon to remember — 6-41 off a miserly eight maidens, the kind of spell that has batsmen muttering into their gloves. Dick Langridge chipped in with 2-45, and between them Harrietsham's middle order simply evaporated, three of theirs departing without troubling the scorers. From 120-5 they slid to 124-8 and we sensed the win, only for Ray Tong (41) and D Hampshire (30) to have already done the damage earlier with a defiant 51 for the first wicket. They crawled home to 134-8, honours shared. Fred Greenfield's ten byes suggest the ball did a bit behind the stumps too — a note for training, perhaps.

Records tumbled quietly amid it all: Buck now second on the club's all-time run list, Conway up to fourteenth among the wicket-takers. A draw, then — but one that felt, in truth, rather more ours than theirs.

Sat 05 Sep 1964 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDWLDL

Saturday 5th September 1964, and St Lukes Maidstone rolled up to Linton Park with the sun out and, rather more importantly, the toss in their pocket. They chose to bat, which after the day's events I can only put down to blind optimism or a genuine misreading of my bowling attack.

They made a fair fist of it early on — 71-1 before the first wicket fell, C. Pearson and J. Beesley building steadily towards 132/9 off their 39 overs. Then John Thirkell decided enough was enough. He spun through them like a man late for his tea, taking 5-30 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and suddenly we'd gone from mild concern to 116-4 and then 121-7 in what felt like the blink of an eye. Colin Eldred (2-31) and Terry Donovan (2-38) tidied up the rest with the sort of quiet efficiency that never quite makes the headlines but always wins matches.

Chasing 133, we made harder work of it than the bowling perhaps deserved, crawling home at 133/6 from 35.1 overs. Fred Greenfield led the way with 41, Robert Murray chipped in with 25, and Colin Eldred — clearly not content with his afternoon's bowling — added an unbeaten 23, the 55-run third-wicket stand the difference between comfort and calamity.

Two points, four wickets, and a Thirkell masterclass to remember. Thoroughly earned, and I shan't apologise for the celebratory tea.

Sun 30 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDWLD

William Buck's hundred at Linton Park.

On a Sunday that started grey but felt like an omen the moment the coin came down in our favour, I had no second thoughts — we were batting. And thank heavens for that, because William Buck decided this was to be his afternoon, striding to a superb 104 that anchored the whole innings. He found a willing ally in John Thirkell, unbeaten on 41, the pair adding a priceless 91 for the third wicket while Frank Brattle chipped in a tidy 27 around them. 217 for 4 from our fifty overs felt like a total with some steel in it, and so it proved.

Whatever nerves the visitors carried to the crease didn't last long — a wicket down before a run was on the board set the tone, and by the time they'd slumped to 50 for 6 the game had rather slipped from their grasp. Dick Langridge was the chief tormentor with 3 for 12, backed up nobly by Terry Whittaker (2-18) and Bob Brigden (2-22), while Gordon Fenner kept things wonderfully mean with two maidens. Three poor souls — G Taylor, J Bailey and R Richardson — departed without troubling the scorers, though D Harris (41) and W Norton (22 not out) at least gave their side something to write home about before the innings folded for 108. I even had a small say myself with 41.

A thoroughly satisfying day's work, then, and John Thirkell and Terry Whittaker continue to lead our season's run and wicket charts respectively — the engine room is in fine order. Verdict: a proper win, and a timely reminder that when the ball's doing the talking, we can be a hard side to face.

Sat 29 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLDWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 29 August 1964. We hosted the visitors on a pleasant late-summer afternoon, and having lost the toss found ourselves in the field first, which some of the older hands took as an ill omen and, as ever, were half right.

The opposition ground their way to 171 for 9 from their 43 overs, though not without alarm, losing a wicket at 5 for 1 that briefly had us dreaming of an early finish. L- Fell then settled in for a fine 65, well supported by F- Gilbertson's 29, and the pair at the 9th wicket put on a stubborn 77 to drag the total up to something respectable. Terry Donovan was superb with the ball, 4 for 31 and a landmark half-century of career wickets to boot, with David Gale (3-78, four tidy maidens) and Terry Whittaker (2-36) offering fine support. R- Johnson and A- Trembeth departed without scoring, bless them.

In reply we made 161 for 7 from 39.5 overs, anchored by Fred Greenfield's fifty-plus 56 and Basil Sears' 39, the two of them adding 74 for the second wicket before things rather came apart at the seams between 145 and 161. Robert Murray's unbeaten 31 nudged him past Ray Howard into 6th on the all-time run list, small consolation as wickets tumbled around him, and poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps with 13 byes going astray.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and quite enough drama for one Saturday.

Sun 23 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformDWLDW

Sunday 23rd August, and Sevenoaks Vine came calling. I lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think the coin has it in for me — and they had no hesitation in batting first.

What followed was a lesson in patience-testing from Rodney Crang, whose magnificent 111 anchored an opening stand of 176 before we so much as glimpsed a wicket, with Derek Preston (92) offering splendid support and David Abbott (28 not out) rounding things off nicely. They declared their innings closed at 250 for 2 off 46 overs, by which point the shine, the ball, and rather a lot of our optimism had gone. David Gale did what he could with 1 for 33, Dick Langridge chipping in at 1 for 63, but it was one of those afternoons where the bowling figures flatter to deceive.

Our reply began badly — 8 for 1 — and simply declined to improve. A horror stretch saw us slide from 77 for 6 to 77 for 9 in what felt like the time it takes to boil a kettle, David Gale and Alan Wilkes both departing for golden ducks, and we were bowled out for 93 in 39.1 overs.

There was, at least, one bright candle: Roy Clarke's watchful 18 eased him past Len Conway into 16th on the club's all-time run charts — a small personal triumph amid the wreckage.

Beaten by 157 runs, then. Not our day, not our week, possibly not our season. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sat 22 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformWDWLD

Saturday 22nd August 1964, and losing the toss against Aylesford Paper Mills CC meant we'd be bowling first on a pitch that, frankly, had the last word all afternoon.

Not that anyone was complaining once Dick Langridge got going. Seven wickets for 38 — a proper five-for and then some, with two maidens thrown in for good measure — is the kind of spell a captain dreams about and rarely gets, and he thoroughly deserved every one of them. Charles Crellin (1-15) and Ron Hickman (1-20) chipped in dutifully around him, and for all J. Curtin's gutsy 38, the visitors were bowled out for a modest 118 from 36.2 overs. Quietly, and rather marvellously, that spell also brought Dick's career wickets tally to 50 — a landmark worth raising a glass to, and one that keeps him second in our 1964 First XI charts with 31 for the season.

Chasing 118 should have been a formality, and it very nearly wasn't. Terry Whittaker played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 63 of real substance, and I was rather chuffed to contribute 63 of my own from the top. Charles Crellin's 28 gave us the ballast in between. Terry Donovan and Barry Langridge, less happily, took the long walk back for nought apiece — the Duck Club welcomes two new members.

We scrambled home 123/7 from 39 overs, winners by three wickets. Two points, hard-earned, and a result that flattered our comfort rather more than our batting deserved.

Sun 16 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformLWDWL

Sunday the sixteenth of August found us at home to The Mote, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in asking my lads to bat first — the right call, I still maintain, whatever anyone says over tea. We laboured to 170 all out in 47.5 overs, John Ames the mainstay with a handsomely made 74, well supported by Robert Murray's 32; the two of them put on 59 for the third wicket before the innings rather lost its nerve, tumbling from 107 for 3 to 119 for 6 in the sort of rush that has the skipper reaching for his pipe.

In the field we set about defending it, and The Mote replied with 132 for 6 from their 54 overs — Mike Foster top-scoring with 30, Waters and Dyer chipping in with 25 and 29. Their innings began wretchedly, 0 for 1, Geoff Fernand gone for a duck almost before he'd taken guard. Terry Whittaker was magnificent, 2 for 27 with six miserly maidens that must have driven their middle order to despair, John Ames chipped in with 2 for 36, and Len Conway's solitary wicket for 13 was one to savour — it eases him past Robert Wood into fifteenth on the club's all-time list of wicket-takers, a small but permanent piece of history.

Neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. As for the season, John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 343 and Terry Whittaker our wicket charts with 34 — both thoroughly deserved. A draw, then: not the stuff of legend, but an afternoon of good, honest cricket, and no captain can grumble too loudly at that.

Sat 15 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformDLWDW

Saturday the 15th of August found us on the road to Bowaters, and having called correctly at the toss, I did what any captain armed with a settled top order and a fine morning does — I stuck us in to bat. Reader, I regret it slightly less than I regret what followed.

Thirty all out in 19.2 overs is not a total you build a Saturday around. We slid from 10 for 1 to 14 for 4 in the sort of rush that has spectators reaching for their flasks rather than their scorecards, and the tail told its own sorry tale — John Thirkell, Terry Donovan and Richard Ashby all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I did my bit for solidarity by making a duck myself, and the less said about that the better.

With the ball, we at least made them work for it, though not nearly hard enough — 31 without loss in just 7.1 overs put the result beyond doubt with almost indecent haste. Poor Bob Arnold had a torrid time of it behind the stumps, ten byes speaking to a pitch with ideas of its own.

One bright note amid the gloom: Terry Whittaker continues to lead our 1964 wicket charts with 32 to his name, proof that not everything about this season has gone begging.

Not our day, then — beaten by seven wickets, heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 09 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformLDLWD

Sunday 9th August found us at Harrietsham CC, and having called it right at the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — bold, I thought, and for once I was right to think it. William Buck played the innings of the day, 40 well-crafted runs that gave our total some backbone, though goodness knows the rest of us did our level best to undermine him. Three down for one wasn't the start we wanted, and when that became seven for four the pavilion tea urn nearly went cold with the tension. John Thirkell and John Ames both departed without troubling the scorers, and I shall say nothing further about my own contribution of nought, except that a veil has been drawn over it for good reason. We limped to 109 all out from our forty overs — not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but cricket, as ever, had other ideas.

Harrietsham's reply never quite got going. An early wicket with just four on the board set the tone, and F Fry, P Powis and D Hampshire all fell without scoring, though T Bridle fought hard for his 33. The story of the innings, however, belonged entirely to Terry Whittaker, whose 7 for 39 — two of them maidens — was bowling of real hostility and control, well supported by Len Conway's 3 for 25. Harrietsham were bowled out for 66 and we'd won by 43 runs.

A word too for the record books: Len Conway's runs and wickets both saw him leapfrog a place in the club's all-time lists, which rather made up for my golden duck. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine day's work by the lads.

Sat 08 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLLDLW

Saturday 08 August 1964. Bat first? No question — I called it right at the toss, and off we went.

We put up 154 all out in 44.1 overs, though the scorebook makes for a bumpy read. Seven for one felt like the sort of start that has captains reaching for the tea flask early, but John Thirkell steadied the ship with a lovely 69, and Basil Sears chipped in handsomely with 27 as the two of them put on 68 for the second wicket. Then, in the manner so beloved of this club, the wheels came clean off — 75 for 2 became 81 for 5 before anyone had quite worked out what was happening, with Terry Donovan, John Mattingley and Gordon Fenner all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Still, 154 gave the bowlers something to bowl at.

And bowl at it they did. The visitors reached 130 for 9 from their 34 overs, D. Pound leading their reply with 41 and Smith unbeaten on 30, but Terry Donovan turned in a spell of proper old-fashioned mesmerism — 6 for 53 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — well supported by Bob Brigden's 3 for 35. Sheppard and Hughes never got going at all.

A grand day for the club besides: Bob Arnold brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark few of us will ever match.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. With Thirkell in this sort of form and Donovan bowling like that, I'll happily take a draw and move on to the next one.

Mon 03 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDLLDL

From the captain's chair — a warm Monday down at Bearsted, and I'll admit the toss couldn't have fallen better; batting first felt right, and for once I wasn't proved a fool by teatime.

We rattled up 176, Stan Wratten leading the charge with a handsome 39, Robert Murray chipping in 30 and Charles Crellin a tidy 27. All very gentlemanly until the middle order decided enough was enough — 134 for 5 became 148 for 8 before you could finish your tea, and poor Roy Clarke contributed his customary blob to proceedings. Still, 176 all out from 65 overs felt a defendable sort of total, and so it proved.

Bearsted fought hard — an early wicket with just 8 on the board had us dreaming, before Ian Lambert (43) and David Andrews (39) steadied things and a stubborn fifth-wicket stand of 63 threatened to spoil the afternoon. But Terry Whittaker was in inspired form, 4 for 37 with five miserly maidens, well supported by Gordon Fenner and Dick Langridge with three apiece, and Bearsted folded for 127. Colin Fleetwood, George Lambell and Mike Burton all departed without scoring — a rare hat-trick of ducks. Roy Clarke's 10 byes suggested his day behind the stumps was best forgotten.

Splendid milestones too — Frank Brattle to 3,000 club runs, Terry to 300 career wickets. A fine win by 49 runs. Onwards.

Sat 01 Aug 1964 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLDLLD

Terry Donovan turned over their top order at Headcorn and I'd have been forgiven for thinking we were nicely placed at 184/6, especially with Murrell (63) and Excell (50 — a fine second-wicket stand worth 80) putting the sums beyond us before the openers' figures had a chance to settle it. Terry finished with 4-37, two of them maidens no less, with young Woolston chipping in for one, and honestly it felt like a job reasonably well done with the ball.

Then we batted, and the less said the better. One down for one told its own story before some of us had even found our guard, Basil Sears and Derek Pantony both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer, and the whole innings folding for 139 in 35.5 overs. Twenty-one byes — a personally testing afternoon for Bob Arnold behind the stumps — and a further eight extras on top made up a rather generous 29 of our total, which rather tells you where the runs weren't coming from.

John Thirkell continues to lead our charts with 249 for the summer, and long may that continue, because the rest of us could learn a thing or two. Forty-five runs the wrong side of the ledger in the end. Not our day, gentlemen — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 26 Jul 1964 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformLLDLL

Sunday 26 July found us on the road to Folkestone, and if you're going to lose a toss, being asked to field on a warm afternoon is about as gentle a punishment as the game allows. Ian Pepper had other ideas about gentleness, cracking 85 for the home side, with Graham Miller unbeaten on 68 and John Butler's 41 knitting things together via a third-wicket stand worth a chastening 100. We restricted the damage where we could — Terry Whittaker toiled manfully for 4-102, Alan Tucker chipped in with one, and Dick Langridge's three maidens were about the only runs not given away with a smile — but 282/5 from 64 overs is a mountain by anyone's tea interval.

Chasing it, poor Mike Stephens departed for a duck before he'd troubled the scorers, and we never quite scaled the summit, closing on 155/9. Stan Wratten's 55 and William Buck's 47 gave us something to admire, their fourth-wicket stand of 86 the innings' one real monument, though Fred Greenfield's own duck rather undid the good work, and sixteen byes told poor Roy Clarke exactly what sort of afternoon he was having behind the stumps.

Still, there was much to celebrate: Terry Whittaker brought up a hundred appearances in Linton colours, and Roy Clarke's two runs eased him past Len Conway to sixteenth on the all-time list. A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and homeward bound already plotting revenge.

Sat 25 Jul 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLLLDL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 25 July 1964

Winning the toss and putting the opposition in seemed a sound idea at breakfast; by the close of their innings it looked rather less clever. They rattled to 216/7 from their 38 overs, Brian Fitch leading the charge with a handsome 63 and finding willing company in K- Payne, unbeaten on a tidy fifty, while J- Jeganathan chipped in with 39. A sixth-wicket stand worth 103 did the real damage and rather took the shine off our afternoon. To our credit, Dick Langridge toiled manfully for 2-43, with Ron Hickman and Terry Donovan both picking up two apiece, and we did at least have the small consolation of sending H- Saunders and R- Jeffreys packing without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 217, we never quite found the rhythm. Terry Donovan's 31 and John Thirkell's 25 were the backbone of the innings, and I managed a workmanlike 25 myself, but the middle order rather fell over itself between 99 and 104 for the loss of three wickets in a hurry, and Ron Hickman and A Mitchell both departed without scoring. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps too, eight byes escaping his gloves — not his finest hour, though he'll have forgotten it by Tuesday's nets. We folded for 110.

On the brighter side, John Thirkell continues to top the season's run charts with 237, and Dick Langridge sits second in the wicket-takers with 20 — reminders that all is not lost this summer. But today was simply not our day: beaten by 106 runs, heads understandably a little down. Back to the nets, and back to the drawing board.

Sun 19 Jul 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLD

Sunday the nineteenth of July found us at home, and having won the toss I saw fit to have a bowl first — a decision that, for a change, looked rather shrewd. The visitors were shepherded out for 115 in 41.2 overs, J. Barnes top-scoring with 26 the only innings of note. Alan Wilkes was the pick of a fine attack with 3-26, Terry Whittaker chipped in with 3-43, and Len Conway bowled with a miser's discipline — 2-11 including four maidens, not a run given away lightly.

Chasing 116, we somehow contrived to make hard work of it. An early wicket with nought on the board set the tone for a jittery afternoon, and though Frank Brattle held things together with a battling 27, the middle order rather lost the plot — 68 for 7 became 76 all out in the blink of an eye, John Ames and Alan Wilkes both departing for ducks to complete a thoroughly forgettable collapse. Forty-eight overs to make 76 tells its own sorry story.

There were bright spots amid the wreckage: William Buck's 9 runs eased him past Basil Sears into third on the club's all-time run charts, and David Gale's brace of wickets lifted him past Len Conway into sixteenth among our wicket-takers — small mercies, gratefully received. John Thirkell continues to sit second in this season's run charts with 212, and Alan Wilkes leads the wickets with 27.

Not our day, then — beaten by 39 runs, heads down, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 18 Jul 1964 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDLLLL

Rumwood came to Linton Park last Saturday with the coin fairy on their side — they called correctly, elected to bat, and left us to toil away in the field for our sins. R Venner made a thoroughly well-mannered 54 to anchor things, with Mike Iliffe (39 not out) and N Phillips (21) lending a hand, and their opening pair put on 50 before we got a look-in. Credit where it's due: D Woolston bowled beautifully for 4-36, seven of his overs going for nothing at all, while Dick Langridge and Terry Donovan chipped in with a wicket apiece. 154/6 from their 42 overs felt about right for the pitch on offer.

Then came our reply, and here the pen grows reluctant. Five for one became twelve for four in the sort of spell that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. Frank Brattle and Dick Langridge both walked for nought, the Duck Club ledger duly updated, and I regret to report your correspondent joined them — over that innings we shall draw a discreet veil. Eight byes did nothing for J Woodward's afternoon behind the stumps either. We limped to 42/8 from our 20 overs before honours were, mercifully, shared.

A draw, then, and on the day's evidence a fair one — nobody deserved to lose more than we did. Roy Clarke continues to hold up the top order of the season's run charts in third, and Dick Langridge sits second among the wicket-takers, so the engine room remains sound even when the rest of us seize up. Back to the nets, I fear.

Sun 12 Jul 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLLL

Beaten but not bowed at home on Sunday 12 July, and if I'm honest, I've seen worse days behind the bat than this one.

Put in first, we found Alan Tucker in irresistible touch, spinning his way to 6-35 and reducing their middle order to rubble — poor C Croft never troubled the scorers, gone for a duck. John Thirkell (2-17) and David Gale (2-29, with two tidy maidens thrown in for good measure) mopped up what Tucker left behind, though David Clark's watchful 45 gave them something to build the innings around. All out 127 in 38.2 overs — a total we fancied chasing.

Our reply had its wobbles, as these things always do. Four runs on the board and already a wicket down, the sort of start that has captains reaching for the antacids. But Colin Eldred played the innings of the day, 40 well-crafted runs, with John Thirkell (34) and Roy Clarke (27) building a stand of 55 for the third wicket that steadied the ship. I chipped in with 34 myself, for what little that's worth, while poor Len Conway's duck was the one blot on an otherwise respectable card. Fifteen byes, mind you, told their own tale about the day Roy Clarke had behind the stumps.

In the end we fell short, beaten by four wickets, though Tucker's century of career scalps, and Roy Clarke and David Gale both climbing the club's all-time lists, gave us plenty to toast in the bar. We'll be sharper with the bat next week.

Sat 11 Jul 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDLDLL

Saturday the 11th of July found us on our travels, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and, with the sun doing its level best to behave, sent us in to bat. It seemed a fine idea for about two hours. Basil Sears led from the front with a fluent 32, John Thirkell chipped in with 26, and I managed to add a further 26 of my own before the innings did what Linton innings do best: fell apart with theatrical enthusiasm, 84 for 4 becoming 97 for 7 before anyone could reach for the scorebook. D Woolston and Ron Hickman both made the long walk back without troubling the scorers, and we folded for 120 in 37.5 overs — respectable on paper, faintly alarming in practice.

In the field we gave a good account of ourselves. Dick Langridge was the pick of the attack with 3 for 47, while John Thirkell bowled with real discipline — 2 for 23 and seven maidens to show for his patience. Roy Clarke had a trying afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes going astray, but the opposition ground their way to 121 for 6 in the 49.3rd over, L- White's 38 and D- White's unbeaten 22 seeing them home by four wickets.

Two footnotes worth raising a glass to: Frank Brattle brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, and Basil Sears's 32 lifted him past William Buck into third on the club's all-time run-scoring list. Not our day on the scoreboard, but not a day without honour either. Back to the nets.

Sun 05 Jul 1964 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWDLDL

Beaten by three wickets in the end, and Aylesford Paper Mills will sleep easier for it, but there was much to admire in this one before the finish got away from us. Winning the toss on a fine Sunday, I had no hesitation in batting, and John Ames gave the innings its backbone with a fine 90, stitching together a crucial second-wicket stand of 82 that set the platform. Stan Wratten's 25 and William Buck's 23 added the necessary flesh to the bones, and 182/6 from our 45 overs felt a defendable total as we trooped off for tea.

Defending it, though, is another matter, and D Torkington had other ideas, compiling a superb hundred - 104 no less - to drag the game away from us, with Alan Baker (43) and Geoff Hughes (23) lending sturdy support in a second-wicket stand of 119 that undid all our good work. Credit where due: Terry Whittaker toiled magnificently, 3-64 with three tidy maidens, Alan Tucker chipped in with 2-56, and we did at least have the modest satisfaction of removing Cliff Anscombe and Wayne Sprigmore for ducks. It simply wasn't quite enough.

One bright footnote amid the gloom: William Buck's knock nudged him past Basil Sears into third on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a fine personal landmark on an otherwise chastening afternoon. We'll dust ourselves down, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 04 Jul 1964 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformLWDLD

We came off the toss the wrong side of the coin, so it was pads on and out into the field for the lads. Charles Arkcoll dug in to reach 132/7 from their 51 overs, Stan Wratten the chief culprit with 39, well supported by Sean Carter's 32. Brian Aiston, at least, departed for nought at our hands. Terry Whittaker was the pick of the attack with 3-34, Colin Eldred (2-22) and Ron Hickman (1-38) chipping in nicely, while Dick Langridge bowled with the sort of miserliness that would make a Yorkshireman proud — six maidens and barely a run given away.

One hundred and thirty-two looked gettable. It was not gotten. We folded for 77 in 26 overs, the first wicket falling at 0-1 before we'd so much as loosened up, and a rash of ducks — Basil Sears, Colin Eldred and Terry Whittaker all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer — did for us rather comprehensively. I contributed a duck of my own, on which the less said the better. J Woodward battled manfully for 38 and deserved better support; I did at least find some consolation with the ball, taking 3 wickets, though by then the damage was long done.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Roy Clarke continues to purr along nicely, third in the 1st XI run charts with 132, and Ron Hickman sits fifth among the wicket-takers with 10. Small comforts on a day when we went down by 55 runs. Not our finest hour — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 28 Jun 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLWDL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 28 June 1964

Winning the toss, I put us into the field first, more in hope than expectation of a quiet afternoon — and so it proved. Dobson simply took the game away from us, a chanceless 107 that had the tea urn shaking in sympathy, while Vaughan settled in beside him for a composed 81 not out; their third-wicket stand of 153 did most of the damage on its own. Dick Langridge toiled manfully for 1-52 and got precious little luck for it, with David Gale and Terry Whittaker chipping in a wicket apiece as we tried everything short of moving the sightscreens. 226/3 from 46 overs left us with a proper mountain.

Our reply never quite found its feet after losing the first wicket for just one run, and Woolston and Langridge both departing without troubling the scorers didn't help matters, our own Dick suffering the ignominy of a golden duck 🦆. Roy Clarke, having already had a torrid time behind the stumps — eight byes is not a total one boasts about — top-scored gamely with 35, well supported by Fred Greenfield's 29, but 115/8 from 51 overs was always going to be defending the indefensible.

One bright note amid the wreckage: Basil Sears's two runs nudged him past William Buck into third on the club's all-time run charts 📈 — a man quietly building a legacy while the rest of us built excuses.

A draw, then, honours shared, nobody quite deserving to win it. We live to fight another Sunday.

Sat 27 Jun 1964 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformLLLWD

Beaten by six runs, and I'm still not entirely sure how. On winning the toss Sevenoaks Vine had first use of a pitch that gave precisely nothing away, yet contrived to be bowled out for a modest 91 in 36.2 overs, C. Richardson (24) and C. Bennett (20) doing most of the damage before Terry Whittaker got among them. And what a spell it was — 5 for 27, three of them maidens, the kind of miserly, relentless bowling that has batsmen playing shots they didn't know they owned. Ron Hickman chipped in handsomely with 4 for 39, D. Woolston picked up one, and R. King departed without so much as a nibble at the strike bowling. From 61 for 4 to 69 for 7 in the blink of an eye — we had them in a proper tangle.

Ninety-two to win should have been a stroll on a Saturday afternoon. Instead we stumbled at 2 for 1, wobbled again from 22 for 2 to 39 for 5, and generally made a meal of a modest target. Terry Donovan and Ron Hickman both walked back for ducks, which tells its own sorry tale, and even five wickets of my own with the ball earlier couldn't spare my blushes with the bat. All out for 85 — six runs short.

A cruel one to lose, frankly, given the bowling we produced. Fred Greenfield continues to lead our run charts and Ron Hickman sits handily in the wickets — small consolations on a day the batting let the bowling down. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 21 Jun 1964 🧢 1st XIv EC East Peckham & Nettlestead CC · HomeformDLLLW

Sunday 21st June saw East Peckham & Nettlestead CC roll up to Linton Park, and I lost the toss for my sins — they had no hesitation in batting first, which on reflection was rather good news, as it turned out we bowl considerably better than we bat this summer.

They were dismissed for 130 off 55.5 overs, and for a while it looked like being a long afternoon, with Underdown (30), Percy Brattle (25) and Ashman (23) steering them along nicely. But 64-2 became 69-5 in a hurry as A Morris, R Mann and R Miles all departed without scoring, and Alan Wilkes simply ran amok — 8 for 60, including seven miserly maidens, with Dick Langridge and David Gale mopping up the rest between them. Not a run given away lightly, and not much respite either.

Chasing 130, we made a game if scratchy fist of it, reaching 87 for 5 off our 35 overs before the umpires called it a day. John Thirkell led the way with a fine 33, I chipped in with 33 of my own, and Stan Wratten's 27 anchored a second-wicket stand of 64 after we'd lost our first for nought. Frank Brattle and Roy Clarke both fell without troubling the scorers, but no matter.

Honours shared, then, and rightly so — though the day belonged to Alan Wilkes, whose eight wickets carried him past John Ames and into top spot on the club's all-time list. A draw, but one we can be proud of.

Sun 14 Jun 1964 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformDDLLL

We travelled to Bobbing Court CC on a fine Sunday, and having called correctly at the toss, I fancied a bat first — a decision I spent much of the afternoon quietly reconsidering. We were bowled out for a distinctly modest 54 in 34.5 overs, D. Andrew doing the heavy lifting with a battling 20 while the rest of us rather let the side down. A collapse from 40-3 to 48-6 in the space of a few overs was the sort of thing that has grown men writing to the MCC, and ducks for William Buck, Roy Clarke and Richard Ashby did nothing to brighten the tea interval.

Fifty-four looked a total that wouldn't survive a stiff breeze, let alone a cricket match — but the lads had other ideas. Bobbing Court subsided from 7-1 to 10-4 and never really recovered, ducks for P. Bedelle, Gordon Kemsley and John McLeod doing our work for us. Denis Fowle's 21 was the only real resistance, but David Gale was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 6-18 with eleven miserly maidens, well backed by Gordon Fenner's 4-18. They were all out for 39 in 31.5 overs, and a total that had looked an embarrassment an hour earlier proved just enough.

Special mention, too, for Roy Clarke, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours — some consolation for that early duck. A fine win by 15 runs, snatched from the jaws of our own batting; onwards we go, largely undeserving but not remotely complaining.

Mon 08 Jun 1964 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWWLLL

Skipper's Log — Monday 08 June 1964

Not a day for the faint-hearted, this one. We put the visitors in, and for a while it looked a shrewd move — 7 for 1 in no time, and their innings never really recovered, folding for 90 off 46.2 overs. Dick Langridge was in imperious form with the ball, 4 for 36 and hardly a rank delivery in sight, while Cliff Anscombe chipped in with 3 for 24 and D Woolston picked up a couple of his own. Gordon Fenner, meanwhile, bowled with the meanness of a man who's forgotten what a boundary looks like — nine maidens, if you please.

Ninety to win should have been a formality, and therein lies the tale. We lost a wicket with just 7 on the board, and the top order rather fancied joining P Barton and M Cooke on the walk back without troubling the scorers — Richard Ashby among them, undone for a duck. It was left to Fred Greenfield to marshal what remained, seeing us through to 94 for 7 with a composed 27 not out, though not before the nerves had thoroughly set in.

In the end we fell three wickets short of victory, which on paper feels a shade unjust given the bowlers' toil. Still, cricket has a way of humbling you just when you think you've got the measure of it. We'll dust ourselves down, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 07 Jun 1964 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformLDDLL

Sunday, 7th June, and away to Gore Court in what my diary charitably calls "batting conditions." Winning the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in electing to bat — a decision that looked faintly ridiculous when we slipped to 6 for 1, and only slightly less ridiculous thereafter. Stan Wratten played the innings of the day, a fine 59, with Roy Clarke chipping in a sound 21 and the sixth-wicket pair adding a much-needed 53 to drag us to a defendable-looking 132 all out. Poor Derek Pantony will not thank me for mentioning his duck, but the gazette is nothing if not honest.

Defending 132 always felt a stretch, and so it proved. Roger Ledger played a composed, unhurried innings of 69 not out, well supported by Robin Bush's 27, the pair sharing a second-wicket stand of 53 that rather took the game away from us. Dick Langridge was our pick of the bowlers with 1 for 34, Gordon Fenner chipping in with 1 for 38, but eight byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps — not our finest hour with the gloves. Gore Court cantered home at 134 for 2.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Fred Greenfield continues to lead our run charts on 151, and Dick Langridge sits second among the wicket-takers with 12. But today belonged to Gore Court, beaten by us not at all — we lost by 8 wickets. A chastening one, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 06 Jun 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLDDL

Down by 106 runs at Linton Park on Saturday, and if anyone asks, we lost the toss for the bowling and won it in every other respect except the one that matters — the runs.

Put into the field first, we watched our visitors settle in for a leisurely 170 for 9 off their 55, with Jim Archer the chief architect at 48, well backed by White (36) and Taylor (30), their third-wicket pair stitching together a stand of 59 that we never quite got a handle on. But Dick Langridge had other ideas, spinning his way through the order for a magnificent 5 for 67 — four maidens included, not a run given away that he didn't have to — with Ron Hickman chipping in a stout 3 for 58. John Archer and Doug Hitchen both fell for nought, so the visitors weren't entirely immune to the odd horror show themselves.

Which made what followed all the more painful. Chasing 171, we were bowled out for 64 in 33 overs, a collapse of the classic Linton Park variety — 38 for 4 becoming 41 for 7 before most of us had finished our tea. Roy Clarke, Richard Ashby and Ron Hickman all made twin contributions of absolutely nothing, three ducks laid in short order.

Fred Greenfield continues to lead our run charts with 147 for the season, and Dick Langridge's five-for lifts him to third in the wickets with 11 — small consolation on a black afternoon. Not our day, gentlemen. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 31 May 1964 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformWLLDD

Beaten by 109 runs it was, but there was character in this one, and I'll take character over a beating any day of the week.

Lost the toss – no change there this season – and Folkestone had no hesitation sending themselves in. They made themselves thoroughly at home, mind: 171 for 4 off their 38 overs, built around Ian Pepper's watchful unbeaten fifty, well supported by Peter Godden's 34 and Brian Humphries' 28, the pair adding a stand of 75 for the fourth wicket that rather took the game away from us. Alan Wilkes toiled hardest for his 2 for 79, with John Ames and Alan Tucker chipping in a wicket apiece, Tucker's three maidens the only real note of discipline in an afternoon where the bat generally had the better of it.

Our reply was, in the fine old tradition of these things, best not dwelt on too long. Eight for the first wicket set the tone, and once the middle order began its procession – 56 for 5 collapsing to 61 for 8 in the blink of an eye – there was precious little Stan Wratten or Roy Clarke could do about their ducks. All out for 62 off 29 overs, with eighteen byes in the book to remind the wicketkeeper it wasn't entirely his afternoon either.

There were bright notes amid the wreckage: William Buck's solitary run edged him past Basil Sears into third on the club's all-time run list, and John Ames's lone wicket lifted him past Alan Wilkes to the very top of our wicket-takers. Small mercies, gratefully received. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 30 May 1964 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWLLD

It was Basil Sears who set the tone with the bat that Saturday, so let me get his half-century — and the rest of the innings — properly into the light.

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Saturday 30th May, and I won the toss against our visitors with what I like to think was quiet authority, though it was probably closer to a shrug. No hesitation, though — we batted.

It was not the smoothest of starts, 8 for 1 barely off the mark, and when Richard Ashby and Bob Arnold both departed without troubling the scorers, one began composing the excuses for the tea interval. But Basil Sears settled things beautifully, compiling a fine 78 in a second-wicket stand of 67, and found willing company in Fred Greenfield (37) and the unbeaten Terry Donovan (37), the latter seeing us home to a respectable 177 for 7 from our 52.1 overs.

With the ball, the visitors made a fair fist of the chase, reaching 150 for 7 from their 40, propped up by L. Fell's unbeaten 44 and a- Johnson's 25. But David Gale bowled beautifully — 3 for 35 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — and found support from Ron Hickman (2-40) and Ben Collings (1-30). Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 12 byes going begging, though I shan't hold it against him; wicketkeeping is a thankless art at the best of times.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. Fred Greenfield continues to top our season's run charts and Ben Collings sits handily among the wickets — a draw, then, but one earned rather than drifted into, and not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

Sun 24 May 1964 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWLWLL

The road to The Mote CC on Sunday last was a pleasant one, and pleasanter still once I'd called correctly and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'm not often heard saying that about my own decisions.

We settled to 158 for 8 from our fifty-three overs, built chiefly around Fred Greenfield, who sailed serenely past his half-century to finish with 50, and John Thirkell, whose watchful 29 gave the innings its spine. The two of them put on 77 for the fourth wicket, and it was that stand, more than anything else, that turned a middling total into a defendable one. I contributed a modest 29 myself, more through persistence than style.

With the ball we set about them properly. Alan Wilkes was in miserly mood, nine maidens and 2 for 33 that strangled the life out of the middle overs, with John Ames chipping in for 1 for 17. But The Mote held firm through T. Rickard's unbeaten 34 and Mike Foster's equally determined 31 not out, and they closed on 97 for 3 from 31.4 overs, just short of what was needed and just safe enough to deny us.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Fred Greenfield now leads our season's run charts with 96, and Alan Wilkes tops the wickets with 14 — the engine room of the side, doing what engine rooms do. A fair result, if I'm honest, and a pleasant enough afternoon for all that.

Sat 23 May 1964 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformWWLWL

Beaten before we'd truly begun, if I'm honest. Winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the right call at the time — it always does, doesn't it — but 7 for 1 had a way of colouring the whole afternoon, and by the time we'd slumped to 25 for 4 the tea urn was already being filled with a certain grim inevitability. All out for 57 in 30.3 overs is not a total you defend with much conviction, and poor Richard Ashby's golden duck rather summed up the mood on the balcony.

To our credit, we didn't down tools with the ball. Graham Collings bowled two tidy maidens and gave the scorers little to do, while H Mannering picked up a wicket for just 6 runs — proper, disciplined stuff on a day that could easily have unravelled further. But Gore Court's David Hillier, unbeaten on 27, and John Bishop with a composed 26, simply had too much in hand, cantering to 61 for 1 in under twenty overs and putting the result well beyond our meagre total.

Nine wickets is a chastening margin by anyone's reckoning, though Frank Brattle continues to lead our 1964 run charts with 71 for the season, which is at least something to cling to over a pint afterwards. All told: a batting collapse we'll want to forget, a bowling effort we can build on, and a lesson that 57 rarely wins you cricket matches. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 19 May 1964 🧢 1st XIv DC Detling CC · HomeformWWWLW

Beaten by a single run — from the captain's chair, Tuesday 19th May, Detling CC at home.

We lost the toss and were put in the field, which on reflection may have been the shrewder half of the day's business for the visitors. We struck early, with the first wicket falling at just 6, and had them wobbling nicely from 45-6 to 65-9 before their innings folded for 66 off 13 overs. Alan Wilkes was quite simply unplayable, tearing through them for 7-36 — a spell the lads will be dining out on for weeks — with Gordon Fenner chipping in a tidy 1-25 to keep the squeeze on.

Sixty-seven to win, and for a moment it looked routine. Then, with the score on 3, we lost our first, and the familiar sinking feeling set in. From 27-2 to 30-5 the wheels came off in alarming fashion, and only Frank Brattle's gutsy 23 stood between us and total collapse. Fred Greenfield and Terry Donovan both made the long walk back for nought — the ducks quacking loudly in the club ledger — and we were bowled out for 65.

One run. One solitary run short, after Wilkes had done all that hard graft with the ball. Cruel arithmetic, cricket. Brattle now leads our run charts for the season with 68, and Wilkes the wickets with 12 — small consolations on a day when the club gods simply weren't smiling. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 17 May 1964 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWWWWL

We battled to victory over Bearsted at home on 17 May, and if you'd told me at 53-5 that we'd end up 72 runs to the good, I'd have suggested you'd had one too many at the bar before play. Winning the toss, I elected to bat first — a decision I stood by rather more comfortably by the close than I did at tea. Dick Langridge played the anchor role to perfection, his 53 the backbone of our 170 all out, with Frank Brattle's 22 lending sturdy support. Poor Roy Clarke, though, will not be dining out on his contribution — a golden duck to file under "best forgotten."

We wobbled alarmingly in the middle order, 47-2 becoming 53-5 before you could say "howzat," but somehow ground our way to a defendable total across 70.2 patient overs.

With ball in hand, we turned the screw. Bearsted's David Andrews batted with real class for his 61, but around him the innings simply fell apart — 46-4 crumbling to 53-7 as Ron Parsons, Colin Warnett and Colin Robbins all trooped back for ducks. John Ames was magnificent, running through the order for 6-44, with Dick Langridge chipping in 4-46 and three tidy maidens for good measure — quite the afternoon's work with bat and ball alike. Bearsted were bowled out for 98.

A fine win by 72 runs, then, and the lads deserve their pints. Onwards to the next one.

Sat 16 May 1964 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformDWWWW

Called it right at the toss on Saturday and, with visions of a flat Maidstone track dancing before me, opted to bat. Visions, alas, remained visions. Nineteen overs and 72 all out told its own tale, redeemed chiefly by Roy Clarke's gritty 33 not out — a captain's innings if ever I saw one, and worth applauding twice over given what unfolded around him. The Duck Club, sadly, welcomed three new members through the turnstile: Terry Donovan, Norman Mattingley and A Mitchell all took that long, familiar walk back for nought.

With the ball, though, we gave a proper account of ourselves. Ben Collings was quite magnificent, prising out three for 18 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — miserly hardly covers it. Dick Langridge chipped in nicely with two for 18, and H Mannering picked up one for 11, with young J- Rees sent packing without so much as a whiff of the scoreboard. For a while it looked like we might smother them entirely, 52 for 3 becoming 60 for 6 in a rush of good bowling and better fielding. But Tony Grenfell's 45 proved too stout a foundation, and Maidstone YMCA eased home at 76 for 6 off 31.1 overs, winning by four wickets.

Roy Clarke now leads our 1964 run charts with 41, and Ben Collings sits fifth among the wicket-takers with three. A losing day, but not a lifeless one — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 10 May 1964 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformWDWWW

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has it in for me — and Bobbing Court CC duly elected to bat, leaving us to toil away in the field on a Sunday that promised more than our top order would later deliver. To their credit they never truly settled: 66 all out in 32.3 overs, T Ades top-scoring with 30 before the innings folded like a cheap deckchair, 55-3 crumbling to 61-6 in the time it takes to pour a tea. Alan Wilkes was the chief architect of the demolition, a magnificent 5-11 that had three of their batsmen — Bedelle, Webb and Tyler — trudging back for ducks. John Ames (3-23) and D Woolston (1-12) tidied up the rest, while Michael Chambers bowled two maidens with the quiet menace of a man who knows exactly what he's doing.

Chasing 67 should have been a formality; naturally, we made it an occasion. Two down for two set an early tone of self-inflicted drama, and a collapse from 33-2 to 36-5 threatened to turn a stroll into a horror show, with John Ames and Fred Greenfield both departing for golden ducks. John Thirkell, unmoved by the chaos around him, saw us home with an unbeaten 22, and I contributed a watchful 22 of my own to steady the ship.

A fine win by four wickets — scrappy, occasionally farcical, but ours all the same.

Sat 09 May 1964 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformDWDWW

We battled with a two-run tie for the toss and lost it, Charles Arkcoll electing to bat, and for once losing the toss did us a power of good. Alan Tucker was in irresistible form with the new ball, finishing with figures of 7-22 including four maidens, and by the time he was done the visitors had subsided from 38-4 to 43-7 in the blink of an eye. Brian Aiston, Keith Filmer and John Abnett all trooped back without troubling the scorers, Terry Donovan chipped in with 3-22, and only John Ames, with a defiant 27, gave their innings any shape at all. All out for 47 in 29.3 overs — a fine morning's bowling, and a personal landmark too, as those seven wickets carried Alan past Ernest Cruttenden into 18th on the club's all-time list.

Batting, alas, is not always so simple a game as Alan makes bowling look. We stumbled to 8-1 almost before the urn had boiled, and further alarm followed as we slid from 42-5 to 60-8 with the sort of collapse that has spectators reaching for their flasks rather than their scorecards. Norman Mattingley's contribution was a duck to file alongside the visitors' three, proof that ducks respect no XI. Yet 47 is a low target to defend, and though we made desperately hard work of it — 77 all out in 38.2 overs tells its own story of nerves fraying to the very last pair — we scrambled home by one wicket.

A day, then, of two quite different cricketing lessons: bowl like Tucker and batting barely matters. A scrappy, nerve-shredding win, but a win nonetheless, and we'll take it gladly.