🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 26 Sep 1965 🧢 1st XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformDWLDD

Sunday the twenty-sixth of September, and Linton Park CC came calling. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or reckless depending entirely on what follows, and I'm pleased to report it fell, on balance, into the former category.

We laboured to 136 for 8 off our thirty-nine overs, which on paper looks a modest total and in practice felt like one too, though not without its merits. John Thirkell batted with real class for an unbeaten 63, the innings' one point of genuine certainty, and found a willing ally in Stan Wratten, whose 22 gave the total some much-needed backbone. Then, as so often happens in this maddening game, the wheels came off with startling efficiency — 126 for 5 became 136 for 8 almost before anyone had settled back into their deckchair. Poor Roy Clarke will not thank me for mentioning his duck, but the scorebook is unforgiving and so, occasionally, must I be.

Elsewhere in the ledger, John Thirkell continues to lead the First XI's run charts for the season with 863 to his name, while Robert Chance heads the Second XI's with 31 — every column matters when the tea urn's on the line.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but a fair reflection of an afternoon where good batting met better bowling, and Sunday tea was, as ever, the true victor.

Sat 25 Sep 1965 🧢 1st XIv RX Rambling Rose XI · HomeformDDWLD

Rambling Rose XI came to Linton Park on a fine Saturday and left, I think, rather relieved to escape with a draw.

Winning the toss, we sent them in, and they crawled to 168 for 9 off 34.5 overs — a total that flattered to deceive given the wobble at 5 for 1 early on. Dave Sayer, to his credit, played the innings of the day with a well-made 89, anchoring a stubborn 63-run stand for the fifth wicket that did most of the damage to our afternoon. Mike Foster and Eddie Page were both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and it was Dick Langridge who did the real hurt with a beautiful 4 for 28, backed up nicely by Alan Tucker's 4 for 51 and a tidy 1 for 35 from Terry Whittaker. I chipped in with the ball myself, though the wickets column that mattered belonged to others.

In reply, we never quite found our rhythm, subsiding to 78 for 7 from 19.3 overs before both sides accepted the inevitable handshake. Basil Sears top-scored with 21 — no mean feat given he was also marking his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that rather puts my own contribution in the shade. Dick Langridge's four wickets, meanwhile, nudged him past Jack Fryer and up to 17th on the club's all-time list.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, and tea, as ever, the true winner of the day.

Sun 19 Sep 1965 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLDDWL

Sunday the 19th of September found Anchorians CC as our guests, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and I shall go to my grave believing it. We stumbled early, three down for just the one run, but the innings found its feet soon enough: William Buck top-scored with a fine 33, I was glad to chip in with 26, and Frank Brattle matched me run for run with his own 26, as we hauled ourselves to 139 for 9 off 44.5 overs. Spare a thought for poor Stan Wratten, who suffered the walk of shame for a duck.

Defending that total, we set about Anchorians with real purpose, and history rather repeated itself — they too slipped to three down for one, then slid further to four down for four, with Veitch, Cazalet and Ashby all sent packing without troubling the scorers. Only J- Harris (27) and Jim Fish (23) offered any real resistance as they laboured to 90 for 9 from their 45 overs. Alan Tucker was magnificent, four wickets for 18 runs with seven miserly maidens to his name, well supported by Terry Whittaker's 3 for 17 and a tidy 1 for 19 from my own bowling. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking 12 byes, though we forgave him readily enough over tea.

With Don Clayton sitting second in our season's run charts and Whittaker topping the wicket pile, the form within the club is plain to see — yet on this occasion neither side could quite force the issue. A draw it was, honours shared, and, if I am honest, a fair reflection of a good, hard-fought contest.

Sat 18 Sep 1965 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformWLDDW

Saturday the 18th of September took us out to Bowaters, and for reasons I still can't quite defend, I won the toss and stuck us in. Not my finest hour, as it turned out.

We were bowled out for 81 in 43.1 overs, a total that flattered to deceive for a spell. Fred Greenfield's 33 was the only innings with any real backbone, and for a while we looked like cobbling together something respectable. Then, from 77 for 7, the whole thing folded like a deckchair in a gale — 81 all out, with poor Colin Eldred and D. Ibbotson both departing for ducks, adding their names to a growing gallery of batsmen undone that afternoon.

Defending 81 always felt like asking a lot, and so it proved, though we didn't go down without a fight. Gordon Fenner bowled beautifully for 3 for 25, and I chipped in with a tidy 1 for 14 from my two maidens — having earlier scratched together 18 with the bat, for what little consolation that offered. But Robin Scott's unbeaten 36 saw Bowaters home comfortably at 85 for 4, John Evans the only man among them to fall without troubling the scorers.

Six wickets the margin in the end — not disgraceful, but no cause for celebration either. Frank Brattle continues to churn out the runs, fifth now in the season's charts, and I'll allow myself a quiet pride in leading the wicket-takers with 55 for the year — small comfort on a long drive home. We'll be sharper next week; we usually are, eventually.

Sun 12 Sep 1965 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformWWLDD

Sunday last took us down to Staplehurst, and having called correctly for once, I had no hesitation in batting first. It wasn't pretty. Robert Chance, Basil Sears and Dick Langridge all chipped in with 21 apiece, but between them and 106 all out there was a spell where the innings simply fell over — 48 for 3 became 55 for 6 before anyone had really settled back into their deckchair, and William Buck and Colin Eldred made the long walk back without troubling the scorers.

106 looked distinctly ordinary set against a Staplehurst side with wickets in hand, but cricket has a way of humbling the confident and rewarding the persistent. Alan Tucker bowled with real discipline, eight maidens and 2 for 18 that simply refused to give an inch, and Dick Langridge followed his runs with the ball to take 3 for 12. I had one of those afternoons where everything spun exactly where it was meant to, finishing with 5 for 43 as we ran through them from 26 for 1 to 35 for 4 in a blur, with R. Newick and L. Mitchell both back in the pavilion without scoring. Staplehurst were all out for 79.

A 27-run win, then, snatched from what looked a middling total — and a fine one for Dick Langridge, whose three wickets carried him past Robert Wood into 18th on the club's all-time list. Character over class today, and I'll happily take it.

Sun 05 Sep 1965 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformWWWLD

Sunday the 5th of September, and Harrietsham arrived to find the Linton Park coin obliging me for once — heads it was, and, feeling unusually decisive for a man who normally can't choose a tea order, I sent us in.

What followed was fifteen overs of watchful, faintly nervous cricket, the sort where every run feels earned through negotiation rather than conquest. We crept to 31 for the loss of one, the scoreboard ticking over with the enthusiasm of a kettle that can't quite decide whether to boil. Wickets stayed largely intact, ambition rather less so, and by the close both sides seemed to have silently agreed that discretion was the better part of valour.

In the end neither team could summon the wit, the weather, or perhaps the will to force a result, and honours were shared — a draw that satisfied no one and offended no one, which in village cricket terms is practically a triumph of diplomacy. There was no real cut and thrust, more a gentle handshake of an afternoon, the kind where the tea interval threatens to be the highlight and very nearly is.

Still, we came, we batted, we didn't lose — and against Harrietsham, on a day like this, I'll happily take a draw and a decent slice of cake as a job honourably done.

Sat 04 Sep 1965 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDWWWL

Having called correctly for once, I sent St Lukes Maidstone into the field, a decision John Ames set about vindicating in fine style. His 59 anchored us handsomely, with Don Clayton's brisk 40 and John Crellin's unbeaten 32 taking us to 191 for 7 from 42 overs. The openers put on 104 before the first wicket fell — the sort of start that lets a captain sit back with his tea and pretend he planned it all.

St Lukes replied with 162 for 7 from 49 overs, Ron Aiston's 52 the backbone, well supported by Pearson's 36 and Nicholls' 26. They were 63 for 1 before losing their opener, then a third-wicket stand of 73 threatened to run away from us, before the innings slid from 137 for 3 to 147 for 6 in a hurry — J Beesley gone for a duck. John Ames did the real damage with 3 for 31 and three tidy maidens, while I took 2 for 27 and Terry Whittaker claimed 2 for 33. Poor Paul Bowles had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, conceding 8 byes. With the bat I'd chipped in with 21 earlier, and with 796 runs to my name this season I'm not complaining.

Terry Whittaker leads our wicket charts with 54 for the summer, and on this evidence he'll need every one, because St Lukes simply would not be shifted. Honours shared, then — a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed no one, which is, in the end, rather the point of village cricket.

Mon 30 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLDWWW

Monday last took us to Bearsted, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they won it, and never looked back. We toiled away in the field through seventy-one overs while David Andrews compiled a really excellent 88, given fine support by Colin Fleetwood's well-made 60 and Tony Snook's unbeaten 25; their second-wicket pair put on 96 and rather took the game away from us there and then. Dick Langridge kept plugging away for 3-75, and Terry Whittaker bowled with real discipline, five maidens to his name, though the total still climbed to a daunting 207/3.

Chasing that lot was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved. Stan Wratten fought hard for his 35, but around him the innings simply fell apart — 48-3 became 52-6 almost before anyone had settled back into their deckchair, and ducks for Frank Brattle, Terry Whittaker and Sean Carter didn't help the cause. Poor Fred Greenfield had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps too, eleven byes going begging. All out for 78 in the thirty-fifth over was a sorry sight indeed.

For what it's worth, I remain top of our 1965 run charts with 775 for the season, and Dick sits third in the wickets with 40 — small crumbs on a day like this. Beaten by 129 runs, no arguing with it. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 29 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv HB Hambros Bank · HomeformWLDWW

Sunday last saw Hambros Bank make the trip to Linton Park, and what a tidy afternoon's work it turned out to be. Put in first, they laboured to 111 all out from their 49 overs, D Harris top-scoring with a watchful 29 and P Hardy chipping in with 22, before the middle order rather lost its nerve, 52 for 2 becoming 68 for 5 in short order. We had S Hunt back in the pavilion, and M Irwin departed without troubling the scorers at all. Dick Langridge was the chief architect of the collapse, a thoroughly deserved 5 for 44 built on six miserly maidens, while I was pleased enough with 3 for 21 of my own and Gordon Fenner chipped away for 2 for 35. Ten byes did rather give the game away about poor Roy Clarke's afternoon behind the stumps, though he'll have forgotten it by Tuesday nets.

With the target a modest one, we made rather harder work of it than the scorecard suggests, stumbling to 112 for 6 from 44.1 overs. Don Clayton led the chase with a composed 23, well supported by Charles Crellin's 23 and William Buck's 21, the runs coming in fits and starts rather than any great flourish.

A win is a win, though, and four wickets to spare will do nicely. Colin Eldred continues to sit proudly second in the season's run charts with 636, and Dick Langridge third among the wicket-takers with 37 — both men very much the engine room of this side. Onwards we go, in good heart.

Sat 28 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformWWLDW

I called correctly at the toss and, with the wicket looking fresh, saw no reason to do anything but bat first. It proved a decision I spent the rest of the afternoon quietly defending. Basil Sears played the anchor role beautifully for 30, and Charles Crellin chipped in a handy 21, but around them the innings had all the structural integrity of a garden shed in a gale. We lost the first wicket with the total still on nought, then contrived to slide from a respectable 67 for 6 to 75 for 9 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Stan Wratten, Colin Eldred and I all contributed ducks to the cause, mine included, and the least said about my own effort the better — we shall draw a veil over it, as promised, having mentioned it once and intending to leave it there. All out for 75 from 27 overs was distinctly middling fare.

Defending it should have been a formality for the visitors, and for a while it looked that way, until David Gale decided otherwise. Six for 16, seven maidens in the bargain, is the kind of spell that turns a modest total into a puzzle nobody can solve. I did my bit with 2 for 13 and Brian Relf chimed in with 1 for 7, while Fred Greenfield stood bravely behind the stumps despite conceding eight byes. A.Trembeths subsided from 57 for 7 to 70 all out, D. Astle and B. Stalley both departing for ducks, and we sneaked home by 5 runs.

Two points, thoroughly undeserved on the batting and thoroughly earned on the bowling. David Gale now leads our 1965 wicket charts with 54, and frankly he is carrying us.

Sun 22 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv EC East Peckham & Nettlestead CC · AwayformLWWLD

Sunday last took us to East Peckham & Nettlestead, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first strike — a decision I shall claim full credit for, whatever the scorebook says about the rest of the day. We compiled a respectable 158 for 8 from our 39 overs, built on a fine unbroken stand between Dick Langridge (38 not out) and B. Brown (36 not out), with Don Clayton chipping in a sound 31. The tail, rather unexpectedly, wagged like a spaniel at feeding time, adding a further 74 to frustrate the home side no end — though poor Richard Ashby will want to forget his afternoon, bowled for a duck.

Defending 158 always demands a bit of discipline, and East Peckham gave it a fair go, reaching 140 all out from 43 overs. N. Ashman's 38 was the innings of note, well supported by K. Miles (32) and R. Cox (21), but I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4 for 31, including three maidens, with Terry Whittaker (3-43) and Dick Langridge (1-21) doing excellent work alongside me. Poor Peter Brattle departed for nought. Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps — 17 byes tells its own tale — but no matter.

A landmark day too, with Don Clayton reaching 1,000 career runs for the club — many congratulations to him. We got home by 18 runs. A thoroughly good day out.

Sun 15 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDLWWL

Called it right for once — the coin obliged, and with a green-looking sky doing nothing in particular, I had no hesitation in taking first knock. Frank Brattle set about proving why fifties are called well-made with a fine 76, and for a while it looked embarrassingly easy: 71 on the board before The Mote troubled the scorer. Then, in the manner of village cricket everywhere, the innings decided that was quite enough serenity for one afternoon and collapsed from 71 for 1 to 77 for 4 before you could find the flask lid. Don Clayton (38) and Stan Wratten (34) steadied things, and a defiant 79-run stand for the seventh wicket — no names needed, you both know who you are — dragged us to a respectable 199 for 9 off 56.5 overs. Less gloriously, Terry Whittaker, Colin Eldred and Gordon Fenner all took the long walk for nought apiece, a hat-trick of ducks the club ledger will not let them forget.

With the ball, Gordon Fenner was outstanding, 3 for 18 doing most of the damage, while I pottered along for 2 for 51 with six maidens thrown in for something to do between boundaries. Terry Whittaker chipped in with one. The Mote crawled to 132 for 7 off their 53, D. Parker's 34 the mainstay, and honours finished shared.

A draw, then — honest toil rewarded with nothing but tea and goodwill, which, on reflection, is rather the point of the whole enterprise.

Sat 14 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformDDLWW

We were the visiting side at Bowaters CC on Saturday, and lost the toss for our trouble — they took first knock, leaving us to see what could be done with the ball. It turned out to be rather a lot: the hosts were dismissed for 133 in 35.5 overs, William Preston's unbeaten 72 the only real resistance, while Glynn Chick and Frank Savage both departed for ducks at our hands. Gordon Fenner was the pick of a fine attack with 4-26, Terry Donovan (2-16, three maidens to boot) and David Gale (2-38) chipping in nicely. A tidy morning's work, and one that quietly moved David past Michael Morton into 10th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — mantelpiece stuff.

Sadly what the ball gave, the bat took away. We slipped to 8-1 early and never quite settled, Terry Donovan's 29 and Alan Cridland's 21 the backbone of an innings that folded from 87-7 to 96 all out in a tumbling hurry, 29.1 overs all told. David Gale, fresh from his heroics with the ball, made the walk of shame for a duck of his own, and twelve byes were let through by a Fred Greenfield having one of those days behind the stumps that we've all had in front of the mirror afterwards.

Beaten by 37 runs, then, and no arguing with the arithmetic. Colin Eldred continues to purr along nicely in 2nd on the season's run charts with 623, and David Gale leads the wicket-takers with 48 — so the individual furniture is in good order even if the collective one wasn't this week. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 08 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformWDDLW

Lost the toss at Harrietsham on Sunday and, as tradition and my own hopeless luck seem to demand, we were promptly sent out to field under a sky that offered no favours whatsoever. Ray Tong made us pay for it in the most emphatic terms, motoring to a magnificent 145 while P Powis kept him admirable company with an unbeaten 51, the pair simply refusing to be parted until they'd put on 180 for the first wicket. Poor T Bridle never got so much as a sniff, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. It was left to John Ames to give us something to cheer, snaring 2-28, with Dick Langridge chipping in for 2-86 and two hard-earned maidens for his trouble. Harrietsham closed on 231/4 from their 45 overs — a proper mountain to climb.

Climb it we did. D Andrew set the tone with a splendid 75, and after Colin Eldred's unbeaten 40 and a watchful 48 from yours truly, the openers' 106 for the first wicket had already put us on the right side of the arithmetic. We eventually got home by five wickets, to no small relief.

A word too for Stan Wratten, whose 29 runs edged him past William Buck into second on the club's all-time run charts — history quietly made while the rest of us were merely trying not to get out. A splendid away win, and a very good day indeed for Linton Park.

Sat 07 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv SS 1st Innings Tilling Steven · AwayformDWDDL

I fielded first with the ball in my pocket and, for once, a plan that held together. Tilling Steven were bowled out for a paltry 53 in 20.2 overs, Lambeth's defiant 24 the only thing standing between them and ruin. They lost a wicket with just 2 on the board, and from there it was carnage of the gentlest, most English kind — 28 for 2 became 28 for 5 before anyone had finished their tea, with Smith, Chapman and Maskell all trudging back for ducks. David Gale was the architect of it, spinning through the order for a magnificent 7 for 18, two of his overs maidens into the bargain, with good support from Terry Donovan on 2 for 28.

Chasing 54 should never be entirely comfortable at this club, and true to form we lost our first wicket cheaply at 8 for 1. But Colin Eldred settled the nerves beautifully, seeing us home unbeaten on 27 as we reached 54 for 2 in just 11.2 overs.

There was extra cause for celebration afterwards. David Gale's seven-wicket haul carries him past Ray Howard and into 11th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and he now sits second in this season's 1st XI bowling charts with 46 wickets, with Colin Eldred himself second in the run charts on 580.

A fine win by 4 wickets, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Tue 03 Aug 1965 🧢 Midweek XIv SC 1st Innings Horsleydown CC · HomeformLWWLD

As opening bowlers we ran through Horsleydown like a scythe through long grass — 36 all out inside 20 overs, with three of their number departing without so much as a run to their name. Terry Whittaker was the star turn, 4-9 with six maidens thrown in for good measure (the man barely let the ball off the square), and I chipped in with 3-10 myself while David Gale mopped up with 2-8. From 0-1 to 9-2 to 18-5, it was one of those spells where you almost feel sorry for the opposition — almost.

With the bat we made light work of the target, cruising to 101/1 from 21 overs. Don Clayton batted beautifully for his fifty not out, and Bob Brigden gave him fine company with an unbeaten 40 — between them they left Horsleydown's bowlers with precious little to celebrate.

A small personal footnote: those three wickets nudged me past Tony Snell and up to sixth on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of thing one tries not to mention twice at the bar. Don Clayton continues to lead our run charts this summer with 107, and Terry Whittaker sits proudly atop the wickets column with a dozen scalps.

In the end, honours were shared and the result a draw — though on the balance of the afternoon's cricket, we rather fancy we shaded it.

Sun 01 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv RC Reeds CC · AwayformWDWDD

Sunday last took us to Reeds CC, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and, without much hesitation, elected to bat. It's practically a law of village cricket that such confidence gets punished, and so it proved. William Buck top-scored with a fine 41, ably supported by Robert Chance's 39 and Roy Clarke's 32, but the innings had the shape of a rollercoaster built by someone holding a grudge. An early wobble to 4-1 threatened disaster before a stand of 58 for the second wicket restored some order, only for the middle order to stage a collective vanishing act — 92-3 became 97-6 quicker than you could pour the tea, with poor Colin Eldred and Gordon Fenner both back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. We closed on 177/9 from our 48 overs — respectable, not imposing.

In reply, Reeds made batting look altogether too easy. Forsdyke's well-made 77 was the innings' spine, backed by Bob Brigden's unbeaten 36 and B Fitch's 29, built on an opening stand worth 70 that gave them all the platform they needed. Dick Langridge was pick of our bowlers with 1-33; I toiled away for three maidens and 1-59, for what little comfort that offered against 178/3 in 38 overs.

Silver linings, mind: William Buck's 41 vaulted him past Stan Wratten into second on the club's all-time run-scoring list, and with Don Clayton third in this season's charts and yours truly still leading the wicket-takers on 46, the summer isn't entirely bleak. Beaten by seven wickets — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 31 Jul 1965 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWDWD

Saturday 31 July 1965 dawned kindly for us at Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't dally over the decision — batting first felt right, and so it proved. Colin Eldred and Terry Whittaker set about laying a proper platform, the openers putting on 76 before the first wicket fell, and from there the innings simply grew legs. Eldred carried it beautifully to 53, Whittaker chipped in with 43 of his own, and Don Clayton's 42 rounded things out nicely as we closed on a handsome 223 for 4 from our 46 overs.

Defending it against Headcorn was a different sort of afternoon — patient, watchful, occasionally nervy. R. Excell threatened to bat us out of it with a fine 52, well backed by A. Rowe's 34 in a 4th-wicket stand worth 56, but once we found our rhythm the middle order simply melted away, 108 for 5 becoming 120 for 8 in what felt like the blink of an eye — G. Gore departing without troubling the scorers along the way. Alan Tucker was magnificent, 4 for 43 with six maidens that strangled the life out of their innings, Whittaker following up his batting with 3 for 41, and Brian Relf tidying up with 2 for 16. I managed 34 with the bat earlier in the day, glad to have played my part.

Headcorn closed on 127 for 9 from 51 overs, just short of the winning and just out of our reach for the last wicket — honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody. Worth noting too: Whittaker's 43 runs eased him past Tom Osborn into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a fine season getting finer. A fair result, honestly earned by both sides.

Mon 26 Jul 1965 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Birkenhead Grasshoppers CC · HomeformWLWWL

Called it right at the toss on a fine Monday and, with Birkenhead Grasshoppers the visitors, there was never much doubt I'd have first dig. It proved the correct call. Don Clayton set about them for 56, and when he fell Cliff Anscombe and I put on 80 for the second wicket that took the game away from any early jitters — Cliff went on to an unbeaten 55, a proper gem of an innings, while I was pleased to chip in with a fifty of my own to help us to a healthy 204 for 5 from our 45 overs. Poor Fred Greenfield contributed rather less with the bat, departing for a golden duck, though he'd have his moment later.

Defending it, we chipped away patiently. J Douglas gave the Grasshoppers hope with a well-crafted 56, well supported by L Atwell and R R Dodd, and a fourth-wicket stand of 67 threatened to see them home. But cricket has a way of turning, and from 125 for 4 they subsided to 141 for 7, E Cousins bagging a duck along the way. Terry Whittaker was magnificent throughout — five wickets for just 30, five maidens to boot, a spell of real quality — with Terry Donovan chipping in for two. Fred did have to fetch 10 byes behind the stumps, but no matter.

In the end honours were shared, and on a warm Monday evening, with tea and reputations both intact, a draw felt about right.

Sun 25 Jul 1965 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformDLWDW

Sunday 25 July, and Folkestone CC rolled up expecting sunshine and found us in determined mood, even after I lost the toss and watched them elect to bat.

They ground their way to 154 all out from 53 overs, Ian Pepper compiling a thoroughly well-made fifty (60) with support from Tony Miles (24) and Brian Humphries (23) — the pair adding a stubborn 55 for the fifth wicket that threatened to run away from us. Christopher Cox, at least, departed for nought at our hands, small mercies and all that. But the day belonged to John Ames, whose 6-44 was a five-for richly deserved and the difference between a stroll and a scrap for Folkestone. Alan Tucker chipped in with 3-46, Dick Langridge picked up one, and Terry Whittaker bowled with the tightness of a man guarding the tea urn, five maidens to his name.

Chasing 154, I contributed my own small piece of the puzzle as we reached 152 for 6 from 51 overs — agonisingly, gloriously short. Stan Wratten was the innings' backbone with 42, well supported by John Ames (29, a fine all-round day) and Colin Eldred (29). Poor Percy Brattle had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes leaking through like a village hall roof in a downpour.

There was, though, real cause for celebration: Wratten's 42 lifted him past William Buck into second on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a landmark worth more than the two points either side collected.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and I'll take it.

Sat 24 Jul 1965 🧢 1st XIv BC Birchington CC · HomeformWDLWD

Under a July sky that couldn't quite decide its mood, we welcomed Birchington to Linton Park, lost the toss, and were sent out to field — which, given how things turned out, suited us rather nicely.

Birchington made a brisk start, 64 for the first wicket before we finally found a breakthrough, and for a while it looked as though we might be chasing leather all afternoon. But cricket has a wonderful habit of turning on its head: from 111 for 7 they subsided all the way to 119 all out in the 40th over. David Gale was the chief architect of the collapse with 3 for 29, well backed up by Dick Langridge's 3 for 39 and Gordon Fenner's 2 for 8, while Terry Donovan kept things miserly with two maidens. C Smith's 41 and useful contributions from C Nash and L Smith had threatened something more troublesome, but our lads held their nerve.

With 120 to get, Don Clayton (49) and A Mitchell (45 not out) put on a commanding 74 for the second wicket, and we cantered home for the loss of just two, wrapping it up in 33 overs.

A splendid afternoon all round, capped by Dick Langridge quietly bringing up his 100th career wicket — the sort of milestone that deserves rather more than a polite round of applause in the pavilion. Two points, thoroughly earned, and an eight-wicket win to send Birchington home wondering what happened after tea.

Sun 18 Jul 1965 🧢 1st XIv LN Len Newbury's · HomeformLWDLW

Sunday 18th July saw Len Newbury's roll up to Linton Park in fine spirits, and I confess we did our level best to spoil the mood. Put into the field, we watched L. Seldon compile a handsome 72 and M. Everest chip in a tidy fifty of his own, the pair adding a chastening 83 for the fourth wicket that had me rechecking the scorebook rather more than I'd have liked. Just when their innings threatened to run away entirely, we found our range: 176 for 6 became 178 for 9 in the blink of an eye, poor Fletcher trudging off for a duck amid it all, and they were bowled out for 183 from their 49.4 overs. Dick Langridge was the chief architect of the fightback, four wickets for 42 and four maidens of positively miserly intent, with John Ames and Alan Tucker lending willing support.

With 184 to chase, I'll admit to a quiet satisfaction in making 66 myself, well supported by John Ames's 41, the two of us putting on 56 for the third wicket before the innings subsided to 173 for 9 — Roy Clarke, meanwhile, earning his corn behind the stumps despite fifteen byes going astray. There was plenty to toast regardless: John Ames reached 4,000 career runs for the club, and Stan Wratten's 14 eased him past Basil Sears into third on our all-time run list.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, given the afternoon's twists, I'll happily take it.

Sat 17 Jul 1965 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWLWDL

Saturday the seventeenth of July found us on the road to Rumwood CC, where the coin let me down as usual and left us out in the field first. Our hosts ground out 148 for 7 from their 43 overs, John Carter the chief architect with 42, well supported by N. Phillips's unbeaten 36 and R. Venner's 27. David Gale was the pick of us by a distance, four wickets for 45 and four maidens to show for his miserly spell, with Gordon Fenner and I chipping in with a wicket apiece. Mike Iliffe and George Wood were both back in the pavilion without so much as a single run to their names — the sort of afternoon best forgotten over tea.

With 149 needed, Don Clayton batted beautifully for a chanceless 70, the innings built on the back of an 84-run stand for the third wicket, and I was glad to lend a hand with 25 alongside him as we got home in 32.4 overs for the loss of five wickets. Elsewhere, Basil Sears's watchful 3 runs were quietly historic, easing him past Stan Wratten and into third on the club's all-time run-scoring list — a nice line for the honours board. Don continues to sit third in this season's run charts with 329, while I find myself, somewhat improbably, leading the wicket-takers with 42.

Two points, and thoroughly earned. A five-wicket win, a milestone for Basil, and Gale bowling like a man possessed — you can't ask for a much better Saturday than that.

Sat 10 Jul 1965 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformLWLWD

Saturday last, we welcomed Tovil to Linton Park in what I like to think of as classic seaming conditions, though in truth it was probably just cloudy. Winning the toss, I opted to bowl, and 149 for 8 off their 44 overs felt like a fair reward for effort rather than genius. Jim Archer's 32 was the backbone of their innings, with J. Morrison (30) and John Archer (25) chipping in handsomely, but I managed to turn things my way with a spell of 5 for 43 that I shall be dining out on well into August. David Gale bowled with real miserliness — four maidens and 2 for 29 — while John Crellin picked up a well-earned wicket for 23.

Alas, restricting Tovil to 149 rather assumes you can then bat. We could not. Fifty-seven all out in 24.2 overs is not a total one boasts about at the bar, though Terry Donovan's defiant 31 deserves real credit amid the wreckage. We slid from 11 for 1 to 12 for 4 faster than you can say "extra cover," and the Duck Club welcomed three new members — Fred Greenfield, John Crellin and David Gale all departing for nought, a shameful trio if ever there was one.

Beaten by 92 runs, then, and no dressing that up. Still, with Colin Eldred sitting second in the season's run charts and my own wicket tally now up to 41, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 04 Jul 1965 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWLWLW

Sunday last saw us head over to Aylesford Paper Mills, and having called correctly for once in my life, I had no hesitation in sticking us in — a decision that, for a change, actually paid off. We were soon wobbling at 0 for 1, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the antacids, but the middle order steadied the ship handsomely. I found some form with the bat, eventually getting to three figures for 108, and was grateful for stout support from Colin Eldred (41) and Robert Chance (35), the pair of us stitching together a vital 98 for the fourth wicket. Poor Frank Brattle will want to forget his golden duck, but with 201 for 5 from our 44.1 overs, we had plenty to bowl at.

In the field, the Mills batted with more patience than flair, Cliff Anscombe's 34 the only real resistance as three of their number departed without scoring. Fred Greenfield was the pick of the attack by a distance — 3 for 9 with five maidens is the kind of spell that makes the rest of us look distinctly ordinary — and I chipped in with 3 for 21, while Ron Hickman kept things tidy with 2 for 27. Poor Roy Clarke had one of those afternoons behind the stumps, nine byes going begging, though nobody's perfect standing up in that heat.

In the end, honours were shared, and a draw felt about right — a match of two solid efforts, neither side quite able to force it home.

Sat 03 Jul 1965 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformLWLWL

Saturday 3rd July found us on the road to Charles Arkcoll, where I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season and duly found myself leading the lads into the field. Not that anyone was complaining once the ball started talking — Brian Relf was a man possessed, tearing through the top order to finish with 5-14, while Terry Donovan bowled with the sort of miserly discipline (4 maidens, 3-25) that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy, and David Gale chipped in with 2-16 for good measure. Brian Aiston's 36 was the only real resistance the opposition could muster; John Perkins, John Mighall and Brian Allard all trooped back for ducks, and the innings folded for 117 in 40.3 overs.

With a target like that, you'd think the run chase would be a formality — and in the end it was, though not without the odd flutter. Colin Eldred played the anchor role beautifully for 40, and Fred Greenfield, having already had a busy afternoon behind the stumps (14 byes conceded rather spoils the ledger, though nobody's holding it against him), came out and finished the job with a composed 24 not out. Their fourth-wicket stand of 57 was the difference, and we got home at 118/4 with overs to spare.

Two points in the bag, six wickets to spare, and Colin and David both quietly climbing the season's charts. A thoroughly satisfying day's work — the kind of win that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter than the drive there.

Tue 29 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWLWLW

It was The Mote CC at home on a Tuesday evening that had our name written all over it, at least once I'd lost the toss and watched them stroll off to bat. Sixteen overs of trying to strangle the runs saw them post 112/5, and while D. Pilch's 36 gave the scorebook a headache, I'll take real satisfaction from that early wicket at 5-1 — proof the new ball still has some fizz in it. Alan Tucker was superb, 3-45 and a constant thorn, with David Gale chipping away for 1-58. All told, a total that felt gettable rather than gutting.

Which made what followed all the more painful. I got us moving with 22, and Don Clayton (21) and Terry Whittaker (20) kept the innings ticking along nicely enough that 87 seemed a formality rather than a final total. Then, as English cricket does so love to do, the wheels came off spectacularly — 80 for 7 became 87 all out before most of us had finished our tea, with Colin Eldred, Stan Wratten and Alan Tucker all walking back without troubling the scorer. Sixteen overs, gone in a blur of bad shots and worse luck.

Beaten by 25 runs, then — no disgrace in the chase, just a collapse we'll be having stern words about in the clubhouse. Encouragingly, I lead the season's run charts with 502 and David Gale sits second in the wickets with 28, so the engine room is purring even if the exhaust pipe's fallen off. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 28 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv S Shepway · HomeformWWLWL

Monday 28 June, and Shepway rolled up at Linton Park for what turned into rather a good afternoon's work. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat, a decision I shall claim full credit for regardless of how it might have panned out. As it happened, our openers set the tone with a splendid stand of 82 before the first wicket fell, and from there I was glad to get among the runs myself, reaching a well-made fifty on my way to 53, with John Ames chipping in a handy 33 alongside me. We closed on 117/5 from our sixteen overs, a total that felt defendable if not exactly unassailable.

And defend it we did. Shepway lost an early wicket with just 3 on the board and never quite settled, our bowlers tearing through the middle order from 47-3 to 56-6 with barely a pause for breath, P. Marchant departing without troubling the scorers. A. Johnson's 29 was their lone note of resistance. Terry Whittaker was the story of the day with a magnificent 6-39, ably backed by Terry Donovan's 2-18 and B. Brown's 1-21, as Shepway folded for 81 in 12.5 overs.

Nice landmarks into the bargain, with Whittaker and Donovan both climbing the club's all-time lists. All told, a 36-run victory and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket.

Sun 27 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv CP Canterbury Pilgrims · HomeformWWWLW

I lost the toss and put Canterbury Pilgrims in, and for a while it looked the shrewder call. They battled to 168 all out in 64.1 overs, D Tottman leading the way with 28 and D Toze chipping in 21, but our attack chipped away throughout. I'll allow myself one mention here — 5-39 was as good a day as I've had with the ball — while Cliff Anscombe (2-11) and Ron Hickman (2-41) kept the pressure on and Dick Langridge bowled four miserly maidens. P Boorman departed for a golden duck, and honestly, on paper 168 looked eminently gettable.

It wasn't. We slid to 129 all out in 44.5 overs, and three ducks on our card — Roy Clarke, Dick Langridge and Ron Hickman — told the story of a chase that never found its rhythm. I carried my bat for 30, with useful support from Basil Sears (27) and William Buck (22), but 16 byes conceded behind the stumps summed up an afternoon where nothing quite clicked.

There was a silver lining or two amid the gloom. It was my 500th appearance in Linton colours, which I'll confess gave me a quiet moment of pride even as we were being chased down, and William Buck's 22 runs nudged him past Stan Wratten into second on the club's all-time run-scoring list. Small mercies.

Down by 39 runs, then, and no dressing it up as anything but a defeat. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 26 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · AwayformWWWWL

Lost the toss again on Saturday — I'm beginning to suspect the Sevenoaks Vine skipper keeps a two-headed coin in his blazer pocket — and duly found ourselves put into the field. They ground their way to 166 for 6 off 46.2 overs, D. Penwarden compiling a fine, patient fifty of 55, with Fife (34) and Bates (22) chipping in around him. Dick Langridge did the real damage with 3 for 50, and I was glad to lend a hand alongside him, finishing with 3 for 51 and seven maidens — not a run given away lightly, whatever poor Paul Bowles might say about his afternoon behind the stumps, where ten byes contrived to slip past him.

Chasing 167 looked routine enough on paper, though an early wobble to 8 for 1 threatened otherwise before Colin Eldred and Don Clayton settled in and added a crucial 104 for the second wicket. Eldred was in majestic form, unbeaten on 70, Clayton made a well-crafted 55, and Peter Prince's 21 rounded things off nicely as we cantered home on 167 for 4 in just 31 overs.

Up the season table, Eldred now sits second in the run charts with 356, while I find myself, somewhat improbably, leading the wicket-takers with 30. Two points, and thoroughly earned — a six-wicket win to bowl us happily back down the A21.

Mon 21 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv MT Maidstone Trades · HomeformDWWWW

I won the toss on a bright Monday evening and, with more confidence than sense, stuck us in. It did not repay the compliment. We shuffled to 67 all out from our fourteen overs, losing an early wicket with just five on the board to set the tone, then contriving a proper collapse from 60 for 6 to 65 for 9 — the sort of batting spell that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. Cliff Anscombe, Ron Hickman and Richard Ashby all walked back for ducks, and the scorebook wept quietly.

Needing only 68 to win, Maidstone Trades looked in no danger, but our bowlers had other ideas. David Gale was magnificent, ripping through them for 5 for 34, with Terry Whittaker chipping in handsomely at 4 for 32. We had them 22 for 1 becoming 37 for 4 in a hurry, and P- Mayor departed without troubling the scorers, but 68 proved just enough — they scraped home 68 for 9 from 13.4 overs, winning by the barest margin of a single wicket.

There was a silver lining: Whittaker's 17 runs eased him past Herbert Rayner into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a fine personal landmark on an otherwise chastening evening. I remain out in front of the 1965 run charts on 397, while Whittaker now tops the wickets column with 27 — the lad is having quite a season.

Not our day, then, beaten by the narrowest of margins. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 20 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv EC East Peckham & Nettlestead CC · HomeformWDWWW

John Thirkell's XI opened the account against East Peckham & Nettlestead on Sunday, and it turned out to be one of those days that make all the standing about in the rain worthwhile. The toss went against us, and with it any say in proceedings, but there are worse fates than a bowl on a fine afternoon. East Peckham lost an early wicket with just one run up, and though R Mann (39) and K Miles (35) steadied things and put together a stand of 68 for the fifth wicket, we hauled them back in, tumbling from 97-5 to 108-8 in a hurry, N Ashman departing without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm to finish with 4-34, Alan Tucker bowled beautifully mean for 3-35 with six maidens to his name, and Gordon Fenner chipped in with 1-20. All out 116 from 53.2 overs — a fair effort restrained into a very gettable one.

With the bat, Stan Wratten (41) and Frank Brattle (36) gave us the platform every chase dreams of, 69 for the first wicket, and from there it was really just a formality. I added 16 down the order, more for the look of the thing than out of necessity, and we cruised home at 118-2 from 34 overs, eight wickets to the good.

A word for Stan, whose 41 today eases him past William Buck into second on the club's all-time run charts — no mean feat, and thoroughly deserved. All told: a tidy bowling performance, a composed chase, and a scorebook I was rather pleased to sign off on.

Sat 19 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLWDWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 19 June 1965. No luck with the coin, and Rumwood chose to bat, so it was left to us to see what the pitch had to offer with the new ball. It didn't offer much for long. John Carter and R Venner put on a watchful 64 for the fourth wicket that threatened to become a real headache, Carter making 39 and Venner 31, but once that partnership broke we tore through the rest like a dog through washing, seven down for 120 becoming all out for 128 in what felt like the time it takes to boil a kettle. David Gale did the damage with 4-42, I chipped in with 3-14, Brian Relf claimed 3-40, and Terry Whittaker, mean as ever, sent down three maidens without so much as a whisper of a run. Two of theirs went home without troubling the scorers, which always cheers a fielding side no end.

With 128 to chase, we made steady if unspectacular work of it. Frank Brattle led the way with a fine 43, C Gardener followed up with 34, and the pair added 62 together to put the result beyond doubt. I found some rhythm of my own with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 30, and we cantered home at 129/3 with overs to spare.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, seven wickets and both points safely in the bag — the sort of all-round performance, with bat and ball, that makes the tea taste all the sweeter.

Mon 14 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv LS Len Social · HomeformLLWDW

Another sun-dappled Monday at Linton Park, and Len Social duly arrived to be seen off, 18 runs the worse for the experience.

Put in first, we compiled 102 for 4 from our sixteen overs — respectable rather than swashbuckling, and built almost entirely by Basil Sears, whose 43 anchored things nicely while the rest of us fussed about at the other end. The third-wicket pair put on a crucial 67 that did the heavy lifting, though I must confess poor Fred Greenfield's contribution was rather more decorative than useful — a golden duck, out before he'd had time to adjust his box.

In the field we set about defending it with more conviction than the scorecard perhaps suggests. Len Social stumbled early, one down for one, and J- Levett departed for nought in the same unhappy fashion as Fred had. R- Prudence held firm for an unbeaten 24, ably supported by P- Wood's 22, but the required rate crept up on them like a wasp at teatime. Alan Tucker was superb, 2 for 25, with Dick Langridge and Brian Relf chipping in a wicket apiece. Len Social closed on 84 for 5 — eighteen runs short and, I like to think, rather glad the tea urn was on.

Worth noting: Tucker's brace nudges him past Stan Wratten into 14th on our all-time list, Sears sits fourth in this season's run charts on 166, and I'm rather chuffed to say I lead our bowling table with 23 wickets so far. Two points, thoroughly earned, and the sandwiches were gone before the openers had even padded down.

Sun 13 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformWLLWD

Sunday last took us away to Bobbing Court, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first use of what looked a decent strip — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might later suggest. We were bowled out for 148 in 47.4 overs, though 148 rather flattered us. Colin Eldred played the innings of the day with a fine 42, and I was glad to lend a hand alongside him, our third-wicket stand worth 52 before things rather fell apart. From a respectable 76 for 3 we contrived to slump to 84 for 6 in about the time it takes to pour a tea, with William Buck and Roy Clarke both departing for golden ducks.

Defending 148 always felt like it would need discipline, and the lads delivered it in spades. Bobbing Court never got going, losing their first wicket for just 7, and although W Webb battled to 22, the innings folded for 95 in 36.2 overs. Alan Tucker was superb, 3 for 12, with David Gale (3 for 31, four tidy maidens) and Peter Prince (2 for 12) squeezing the life out of them. Nine byes gave Roy Clarke an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, but no matter.

Season-wise I find myself leading the 1st XI run charts with 349, and David Gale sits third in the wicket-takers with 18 — proof, if any were needed, that this is a side pulling its weight all round.

A fine win by 53 runs, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards we go.

Sat 12 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLWLLW

Wet stumps and worse light might’ve suited us; instead, Headcorn gave us a fine June Saturday, and winning the toss I did what any captain does when he can’t bowl for toffee — I stuck us in.

We made a watchful start, our openers putting on 50 for the first wicket before things got interesting, in the way club cricket always finds a way to be interesting. Gordon Fenner batted beautifully for an unbeaten 58, well backed up by Colin Eldred’s 32 and Alan Cridland’s unbeaten 30, and when the middle order rather lost the plot, a defiant last-wicket stand of 41 dragged us up to a respectable 190/7 from our 41 overs. I contributed a modest 19 to proceedings — no fireworks, but I stayed out of the way of the good stuff. Special mention, as ever, for H Woodward, whose duck earns him this week’s walk of shame down the Duck Club ledger.

With ball in hand we made them work for every run. C Smith top-scored with 45, ably assisted by G Gore’s 37 and G Murrell’s 25, their third-wicket pair adding 59 in the innings’ best stand. Gordon Fenner backed up his batting with 2-34, Terry Whittaker chipped in with 2-51, and Brian Relf bowled beautifully tight, four maidens and barely a run given away. They finished on 165/4 from their 42, just short of what they needed and just long of what we needed.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite deserving to lose. Fenner’s 58 nudges him up to 14th on the club’s all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing that keeps a captain smiling on the drive home even when the result itself is a shrug.

Thu 10 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv PC Primrose & Len CC · HomeformDLWLL

As a fair-weather county side found out this month, batting first isn't always the blessing it looks — Primrose & Len CC certainly wished they'd had the choice taken away from them a little more gently.

Losing the toss and being asked to chase is never how you'd script a Thursday evening, but the lads had other ideas. Into the field we went, and within moments Primrose & Len were staring at 6 for 1 — a stumble they never really recovered from. A Cooper battled to 21, but around him the innings simply came apart at the seams, 60 for 6 collapsing to 62 for 9 in the blink of an eye, and they were all out for a paltry 62 from just 12.3 overs. Gordon Fenner was quite magnificent with the ball, ripping through with 4 for 6, well supported by David Gale's 3 for 25 and Terry Whittaker's 3 for 30 — the sort of bowling afternoon you dream about on the drive home.

Chasing such a modest total ought to be routine, and while E Rogerson, R Whittaker and D Young all fell without troubling the scorers, there was no great alarm — I was able to see us home, unbeaten on 41, as we reached 66 for 2 in just 11.3 overs.

A thoroughly satisfying eight-wicket win, then, built on a bowling performance to savour and a chase completed with time to spare. Onwards indeed.

Mon 07 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDDLWL

From the captain's chair, Monday 7th June, and Bearsted CC arrived to a fine afternoon at Linton Park. I lost the toss — no great shock, my luck with the coin remains what it has always been — and we were put into the field, which is never quite how one hopes to start a Monday.

Bearsted made themselves at home, posting 250 for 7 from their 69 overs. R Matthews led the way with 41, Peter Prince chipped in 38 and Gordon A Hawkins 37, the three of them stitching together a stubborn 65-run stand for the third wicket that rather took the shine off our afternoon. I did what I could with the ball, finishing with 3 for 50, while Alan Tucker (2-39) and Terry Whittaker (2-43, five maidens and barely a run to be had off him) kept things honest.

Our reply never got going. Bowled out for 88 in 39.2 overs, we collapsed from a passable 28 for 1 to a rather grim 35 for 4 in the blink of an eye, poor Dick Langridge departing without troubling the scorers. Richard Ashby had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 13 byes finding their way past him.

On the season's charts I lead the run-scoring with 255, and Terry sits second among the bowlers with 17 wickets — small consolation on a day we lost by 162 runs. Not our finest hour; back to the nets it is.

Sat 05 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv TB Tovil and Bridge · HomeformWDDLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 5th June 1965. Tovil and Bridge at home, and a fine afternoon for it, which was rather more than could be said for our efforts.

Winning what passed for the toss, I opted to have first use of the ball, and for a while it looked shrewd enough — until the visitors' openers settled in and put on 69 before we so much as troubled the scorer. M. Taylor made merry with a fine 66, John Archer chipped in with a well-crafted 52, and L. White's 28 kept the innings ticking along nicely to 167 for 7 off their 42 overs. I did manage to winkle out a couple myself, finishing with 2-52, with Brian Relf and Gordon Fenner picking up a wicket apiece — and Jim Archer, at least, had the decency to depart without troubling the scorers at all.

Chasing 168 ought to have been within our compass, but we contrived to make hard work of easy ground. Colin Eldred batted with real application for 39, Don Clayton lent good support with 24, and the pair put on 55 for the first wicket before the innings rather lost its nerve. Poor Brian Relf, so tidy with the ball, went for a duck with the bat — cricket's way of keeping a man humble. All out for 118, we fell 49 runs short.

A defeat, then, and no dressing it up. But with Eldred now second in the season's run charts and yours truly leading the wickets column, there's enough substance in this side to suggest better is coming. We'll regroup, dust off the pads, and be back at it next week.

Wed 02 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv IC Inland Revenue CC · HomeformLWDDL

We had first use of the ball at home to Inland Revenue CC on Wednesday, and for once I can report the plan working like a dream. They laboured to 83 for 6 off sixteen overs, though it never looked like anything more once an early wobble to 4 for 1 set the tone. B Evans top-scored with a watchful 40, well supported by M Cutler's 21, but the middle order simply couldn't get the ball away, and what was 80 for 3 became 83 for 6 in the blink of an eye. Poor A Laing departed for a duck, undone by our attack rather than the elements. Terry Whittaker was the pick of the bowlers with a fine 3 for 42, and David Gale chipped in usefully with 2 for 36 — figures that, we later learned, nudge him past Stan Wratten and up to 13th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is no small thing.

With the target a modest one, we knocked it off in some style, reaching 84 for 3 in just 14.1 overs. I was fortunate enough to see it through with an unbeaten fifty, which now leaves me handily placed atop the 1965 first-team run charts, while Whittaker sits second among the season's wicket-takers.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved — a seven-wicket win to file under the good days.

Tue 01 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDLWDD

Tuesday the first of June saw us up sticks to West Farleigh, and for once the coin obliged — I called correctly and, ever the optimist, put us in to bat.

It did not entirely go to plan. Eighty-eight for seven from our sixteen overs tells its own modest story, though I'm rather pleased to say I top-scored with 27, with Cliff Anscombe chipping in gamely alongside for 22. We were cruising nicely at 61 for 2 before the wheels came off in the manner only a village side can manage, tumbling to 68 for 5 in about the time it takes to pour a tea. Commiserations to Stan Wratten and Terry Whittaker, both undone for ducks — the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint.

With the ball we gave rather better account of ourselves, without quite landing the killer blow. West Farleigh reached 90 for 6 from 14.5 overs, rocked early at 2 for 1 but steadied by Reg Oldfield's unbeaten 37, ably supported by Ron Kemp's 20. David Gale led the attack beautifully with 3 for 29, while Terry Donovan (2 for 41) and Terry Whittaker (1 for 15) chipped in — and a note of quiet cheer amid the gloom: those two wickets nudged Terry past J Donovan into 24th on the club's all-time list.

We go down by four wickets, then, but with spirits more intact than the scorebook suggests. I lead the run charts this season with 193, Terry tops the wickets with 18, and there's plenty of summer left to put this one right.

Sun 30 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformLDLWD

Sunday 30 May took us down to Folkestone, where I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season and duly found myself leading the lads out to field first — the road, it turned out, had been the easy part of the day.

Folkestone made themselves thoroughly at home, openers Cox and Hall putting on 97 for the first wicket before either troubled the scorers with a mistake, and by the close of their innings they'd racked up a handsome 239/5 from 55 overs, Cox top-scoring with a polished 65 and Hall not far behind on 62. Credit where due, though — Alan Tucker bowled with real discipline, four maidens and 2-37 keeping the scoring at least honest, with John Ames (2-66) and Colin Eldred (1-28) chipping in to stop it becoming a rout. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 21 byes testifying to a pitch with ideas of its own.

Chasing 240, we never quite got the platform to make a fist of it, subsiding to 165/8 from our 58 overs. John Ames held the innings together with a fine 46, Stan Wratten supported nicely with 34, and I was glad to get among the runs myself with 22 as our second-wicket stand added a useful 59 — though from there the tail rather told its own story.

So it finished all square, honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. A draw feels about right: we bowled our socks off to keep them honest, then simply ran out of batting to finish the job. Points for character, then — the trophy cabinet will have to wait.

Sat 29 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformLLDLW

Here is the report:

I won the toss on a fine Saturday and had no hesitation in batting first — the right call, I felt, and one that would prove decisive by the close.

Don Clayton was the architect of our 190 for 7 from the 50 overs, cruising past his fifty to finish on a magnificent 98, well supported by Colin Eldred's brisk 36 in a fifth-wicket stand worth 64. It gave us a total worth defending, and defend it we did — for a while, at least. Sevenoaks Vine made a purposeful start, J. Cutting compiling a fine 53 in an opening stand of 58, but Colin Eldred, having already done his bit with the bat, turned his arm over to devastating effect, snaring 2 for 12 as the innings unravelled from 96 for 3 to 111 for 6. Terry Donovan and Brian Relf chipped in with two apiece, T. Parkin bagged a golden duck against us, and I did what I could to keep things tight, sending down five maidens for my trouble. Eight byes gave poor Fred Greenfield behind the stumps a testing afternoon, and a stubborn last-wicket stand of 49 denied us the win, leaving them 160 for 6 at the close.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, after that middle-order collapse, we'll take it as two points saved rather than two lost.

Tue 25 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv HC Haynes Social CC · HomeformLLLDL

Haynes Social CC rolled up on a fine Tuesday and I won the toss, electing to bat without much hesitation — the sort of decision that looks either inspired or daft by close of play, and for once I'll take inspired. We limped a touch on our way to 97/6 from our sixteen overs, saved from real embarrassment by Stan Wratten, whose 29 was the innings' backbone and gave us something to defend rather than merely something to apologise for.

Defending it, as it turned out, we did handsomely. An early stumble at 8-1 might have suggested a long afternoon in the field, but instead it set the tone for a spell of bowling that had Haynes Social reeling from 8-1 to 9-4 before they'd so much as found their bearings — X Hammond, X Carter and X Smith all sent back without troubling the scorers. Alan Tucker led the charge superbly with 3-18, well supported by Terry Donovan's 2-6 and David Gale's 2-8. Only J Perkins, unbeaten on 34, kept the visitors respectable, their innings closing at 62/7.

Worth noting too that Tucker's afternoon's work eased him past Jack Fryer to 16th on the club's all-time wicket list, while Stan Wratten now sits 2nd in this year's run charts and Terry Donovan tops the wickets. A 35-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying one at that.

Mon 24 May 1965 🧢 Midweek XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformWWLWW

Captain's Log — Monday 24 May 1965. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock, a decision I still stand by even as I write this with a rueful cup of tea in hand.

Ninety-six all out in 40.3 overs was never going to frighten anyone, though it might have been considerably worse without Cliff Anscombe's obdurate 46, the innings' one real pillar. Credit too to the sixth-wicket pair, who put on a defiant 51 when the rest of the order seemed intent on getting back to the pavilion as swiftly as possible. And get back they did — 92 for 6 became 96 for 9 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a pint, with poor Gordon Fenner and Richard Ashby both back in the hut without troubling the scorer.

Defending such a modest total always asks for something special, and Dick Langridge duly provided it, spinning his way to 6 for 24 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — bowling of real quality that took him past Don Hartridge and into 20th on the club's all-time list. Terry Donovan chipped in usefully with 2 for 27, and though our visitors lost an early wicket at 5, P Barton's 24 steadied things, while poor Roy Clarke had an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes escaping his gloves.

In the end, beaten by two wickets — desperately close, and rather more than we deserved to lose by. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 23 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWLLLD

John Thirkell here, filing this one from a rainy road back from The Mote CC — Sunday 23 May 1965, and not, in truth, our finest hour.

We lost the toss, were duly sent out to field, and watched John Reader help himself to a majestic 126 not out, the kind of innings that makes a captain reconsider his field placings roughly every four balls. M. Dyer chipped in with 33 and Paddy Germain 31, the pair putting on 69 for the third wicket while the rest of us toiled. I managed to snare 2-27 to lead the attack, with Terry Whittaker miserly as ever — three maidens and 2-43 — and Don Clayton picking up 1-16. Small mercy: Jaganathan departed for a duck at our hands. The Mote closed on a hefty 237/6 from their 49 overs, and the writing was rather on the wall.

Chasing that lot was always going to be a stretch, and losing our first wicket at 7 set the tone early. William Buck fought hard for 45, Robert Murray added a tidy 20, but wickets tumbled around them and we were all out for 117 in 45.4 overs. H. Woodward's golden duck rounded off a chastening afternoon with the bat.

Small consolations: those two wickets nudge me past Frank Taylor into 7th on the club's all-time list, and I still lead the 1965 run charts with 144, Whittaker third in the wickets column with 11. But 120 runs is 120 runs. We were second best today, fair and square — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 22 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformWWLLL

As we won the toss and I elected to bat, and finished 216/6 from our 46 overs — a total I felt did us proud on the day. Colin Eldred was the architect of it all with a fine 46, and I was glad to lend a hand with 36 of my own, while John Crellin chipped in a tidy 29; that third-wicket stand of 66 between us was the innings' backbone, the kind of stand that lets a captain sit back with his tea and pretend he isn't nervous.

Gore Court made us work for it in reply, reaching 191/6 from their 40 overs. Andrew Ogle's well-made fifty (61) was the innings of the day from either side, with David Hillier and Peter Baker both getting in on the act with 30 apiece, Baker seeing them home unbeaten. I had the pleasure of leading the attack myself and came away with 3-35, which I shall modestly describe as a "happy day with the ball" and leave it at that. David Gale toiled honestly for his 2-68, and Terry Donovan was miserliness personified — three maidens and 1-26, the sort of bowling that makes opening batsmen question their life choices.

In the end neither side could quite land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but an honest one, hard fought from first ball to last, and no bad way to spend a Saturday in May.

Sun 16 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · AwayformDWWLL

Gore Court CC, 16 May 1965. I lost the toss — no surprises there, this season — and watched them elect to bat, which by lunchtime looked like the shrewdest call in Kent. Allsworth made merry with a magnificent 107, and it might have been carnage but for Alan Tucker prising out that early wicket at 4-1. Alas, Allsworth and Keith Garrard — who reached his own hundred, not out no less — put on 189 together and buried us in runs. Tucker finished with 2-71 and Dick Langridge chipped in with 1-52, small mercies both, as Gore Court declared themselves happy at 230/3.

Chasing 230 was always going to want application, and for a while John Ames gave us exactly that, batting handsomely past his fifty for 60, with Frank Brattle (24) and Don Clayton (23) offering support. But 6 on the board for the first wicket set an anxious tone, and between 134 and 149 the innings simply came apart — Eldred, Clarke and Langridge all back in the pavilion for ducks, and poor Roy Clarke having quite the afternoon behind the stumps too, 12 byes going begging. All out 149.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: I brought up 11,000 career runs for the club, and remain top of this year's run charts, while Frank's 24 nudged him past Ray Howard into 7th on our all-time list — Dick Langridge, meanwhile, keeps piling up wickets at the top of that particular table. But milestones aside, this was 81 runs the wrong side of victory. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 15 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformLDWWL

Saturday last found us on the road to Maidstone YMCA, where I lost the toss yet again — my record in this department remains a source of great comedy in the clubhouse — and duly sent them in. For a while it looked ominous as they crept along, but 16-1 became 23-4 in a hurry and the innings never recovered its poise. Terry Donovan bowled like a man possessed for 5-35, with Gordon Fenner (2-15) and the ever-parsimonious David Gale (2-18, five maidens and barely a boundary in sight) squeezing the life out of the rest. All out for 101 in 45.2 overs — a fine morning's work with the ball.

Chasing it, though, we contrived to make hard labour of a modest target. Six-one had the look of trouble from the off, and when 57-4 became 73-7 almost before anyone had sat back down with their tea, the game slipped away from us. I managed 27 to top the card, for what little comfort that offered, while Gordon Fenner and Derek Pantony both made the long walk back for nought. Poor Fred Greenfield, meanwhile, had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own.

One bright note: David Gale's brace nudged him past Jack Fryer into 15th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a nice bit of history amid the wreckage. Beaten by 18 runs in the end. We bowled like champions and batted like strangers to the game — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 09 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformLLDWW

I chipped in with 18 in a low-scoring afternoon at home to Bobbing Court on Sunday, and though the coin let us down, the lads more than made up for it in the field.

Bobbing Court had first use of the pitch and made a laboured go of it, crawling to 79 all out from 33.4 overs. P Goodwin's 24 and Jack Whibley's 20 were the only real resistance, and once the middle order caved – 41-2 collapsing to 44-5 in a hurry, with Denis Fowle and C Robinson both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers – there was no way back for them. Gordon Fenner was simply magnificent, tearing through with 5-16 and seven miserly maidens to boot, well backed up by John Ames (4-24) and Terry Donovan (1-20). A minor footnote worth a raised eyebrow in the bar afterwards: John Ames brought up 500 career wickets in the process.

Sadly, we couldn't finish the job with the bat. An early wobble at 0-1 set an ominous tone, and though John Ames battled hard for 30, wickets tumbled around him – Frank Brattle, William Buck and Robert Murray all departing without scoring – and we were bowled out for 66 from 31 overs, thirteen runs shy of the target.

A curious sort of afternoon, then: brilliant with the ball, brittle with the bat, and beaten by a margin that will sting rather more than it should. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 08 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformLLLDW

Lost the toss again on Saturday against Charles Arkcoll — I'm beginning to think the coin has it in for me — and duly found myself standing in the field while they took first strike. Not the worst outcome, as it turned out. Stan Wratten and John Ames both compiled solid 27s and threatened to make a proper afternoon of it, but from 83 for 4 the whole thing rather came apart at the seams, 93 for 7 arriving in a hurry and three unfortunate souls — Brian Aiston, John Abnett and Robin Wilson — trudging back without troubling the scorer. Dick Langridge was the chief architect of the collapse, a thoroughly deserved 6 for 41 that was the spell of the day by some distance, with Alan Tucker (3 for 21, four maidens — mean as you like) and Paul Bowles (1 for 8) tidying up the rest. All out for 106 in 39.1 overs.

Chasing it down took its own sweet time — 107 for 6 from 42.3 overs, hardly a canter — with Terry Whittaker's 31 the backbone alongside my own 34. Ten byes along the way made for an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps for Malcolm Pay, bless him. Nice footnote too: those three wickets carried Alan Tucker past Robert Wood into 17th on the club's all-time list.

A scratchy, unglamorous sort of victory, but four wickets is four wickets. We'll take it and move on.

Sun 02 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformLLLLD

Sunday last brought Dimanchians CC to us, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first on a green and promising morning. It proved the right call, if not always a comfortable watch. We ground our way to 146 for 9 from 51 overs, carried almost single-handedly by Stan Wratten, whose 52 was as good an innings as this reporter has seen from him all season. Less gloriously, John Ames and William Buck both contributed golden ducks to the cause, the sort of thing one simply has to laugh about over tea.

Eighty-one is not a total that troubles a side with any bowling to speak of, and we have that in spades just now. The Dimanchians never recovered from an early stumble to 7 for 1, and it was Dick Langridge who did the real damage, spinning through them for a magnificent 5 for 27 with three maidens thrown in for good measure. John Ames made handsome amends for his batting with 3 for 26, and Gordon Fenner chipped in with 2 for 19. D Jackson and J Foster departed without troubling the scorers, and only Colin Myers, with 26, offered any real resistance. All out in 31.3 overs.

Stan Wratten now leads our 1965 run charts with 94, and Dick Langridge sits second among the wicket-takers with seven. A thoroughly deserved 65-run win, and two points banked. More of the same, please, lads.

Sat 01 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformDLLLL

John Thirkell here, and I have to say, the toss on Saturday couldn't have gone better — a look at the covers and a sniff of the Staplehurst attack and I never had any doubt. Batting first it was.

Whether that decision looked quite so clever at 135 all out from 43.4 overs is another matter. We had our moments — I managed 32 myself, with Colin Eldred (27) and Frank Brattle (24) doing the honours either side of me — but there's no dressing up three ducks in the book, and a collapse from 125 for 5 to 132 for 8 in the space of a few overs had the tea urn on early. Poor Fred Greenfield, Richard Ashby and Dick Langridge will want their names kept out of the scorebook this week.

With 135 to defend, though, the lads dug in wonderfully. Terry Whittaker was magnificent — 4 for 17 with seven maidens is the sort of spell that wins matches on its own — well backed by Terry Donovan's 3 for 33 and a couple more from Dick Langridge, who in the process crept past Dennis Smith into 24th on the club's all-time wicket list. J. Rise (25) and P. Hollands (21 not out) gave Staplehurst hope, but with M. Eastland and R. Westacott gone for nought and the innings folding at 89 for 9, we'd done just enough to deny them.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on a day when 135 felt like defending Everest, I'll happily settle for that.

Sun 25 Apr 1965 🧢 1st XIv MA Maidstone AKCC · HomeformWDLLL

Here is the match report.

We had first use of the ball at home to Maidstone AKCC on a Sunday that promised more than it delivered. Maidstone dug in for 128 all out, D Andrews doing most of the damage with a fine 73 and S Clark chipping in with 21, the pair putting on 58 for the fourth wicket that threatened to get away from us. But we clawed it back nicely, ripping through the middle and lower order from 110-6 to 120-9 in a blur — Ron Aiston back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball myself, finishing with 5-28, and I was grateful for sterling support from Terry Whittaker, whose four maidens and 2-32 said everything about his control, and John Ames with 2-46.

Restricting them to 128 should have set up a comfortable afternoon. It did not. We slumped to 1-1 with the first wicket gone almost before the urn had boiled, and ducks for John Ames, Charles Crellin and Norman Mattingley left the rest of us chasing shadows. Only Stan Wratten showed any real fight, his 42 the one innings with substance, but 73 all out in 32.3 overs was never going to get us home.

Down by 55 runs, then, and a batting collapse to file firmly under "least said." Heads up, back to the nets — there's work to do before the runs start matching the wickets.

Sat 24 Apr 1965 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWWDLL

John Thirkell's Match Report — Saturday 24 April 1965

Won the toss, and against my better judgement I fancied our chances chasing on a green West Farleigh strip, so in we went to bat. It did not go well. We limped to 66 all out in 28.2 overs, with only Robert Murray showing any real fight for his 26, before the innings simply fell apart — 59 for 7 became 66 all out almost before anyone had found their pads. I contributed a duck to proceedings, as did Terry Donovan, and the pair of us can console ourselves only with each other's company on the long walk back.

Still, cricket is a game of two innings, and with the ball we made a fist of it. Terry Whittaker led the attack beautifully with 2 for 21, well backed by Terry Donovan's 2 for 23 and a tidy 1 for 1 from Paul Bowles, while Gordon Fenner bowled three maidens of the miserly variety that make batsmen mutter into their gloves. Reg Oldfield and John P Day both departed for ducks of their own, some small justice for our top order's morning. But C Fenner's 24, ably supported by Peter Rivington's unbeaten 23, saw West Farleigh home at 67 for 5 in 33.3 overs.

There was, happily, one thing to toast on an otherwise chastening afternoon: Terry Whittaker brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, which is rather more than the rest of us managed between us today. Beaten by five wickets, then — heads up, and back to the nets we go.