🧢 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 ? · HomeformDDWLD

Saturday 25th September saw us welcome the visitors for what turned out to be a proper old-fashioned tussle, honours shared at the close. Put in first with the ball, we made early inroads with just 5 on the board and dared to dream, only for a stubborn 63-run stand at the fifth wicket to drag things back the visitors' way. Dave Sayer's well-crafted 89 was the innings that mattered, and they closed on 168/9 from their 34.5 overs — a total that felt about right on a day when the ball did just enough. Credit where it's due: Dick Langridge was magnificent, 4-28 and full value for every one of them, with Alan Tucker (4-51) and Terry Whittaker (1-35) chipping in handsomely, while Eddie Page departed for a duck at our hands and Mike Foster fell too.

Our reply never quite got going, 78/7 from 19.3 overs, Basil Sears top-scoring with a gritty 21 as the rest of us rather let the side down around him. Still, there was a lovely moment amid the toil — Basil brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that puts the rest of us to shame for our staying power. Dick's four-for also nudged him past Jack Fryer into 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of thing that makes the teas taste sweeter.

A draw, then, when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Not a classic, but an honest one — and with John Thirkell and Terry Whittaker still purring along at the top of this season's charts, there's plenty yet to play for.

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

It was a good toss to win, and I've no complaints about the decision — bat first, see what's under our feet, and let the Anchorians chase shadows. 139 for 9 off 44.5 overs wasn't going to frighten anyone off the honours board, especially with an early wobble to 3 for 1 that had me reaching for the Rennies before the tea urn had even boiled. William Buck's 33 held the innings together, John Ames and Frank Brattle weighed in with 26 apiece, and poor Stan Wratten's golden duck will no doubt follow him round the clubhouse for weeks yet.

Out in the field, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Anchorians crumbled from 3 for 1 to 4 for 4 in what I can only describe as a masterclass in panic, with Veitch, Cazalet and Ashby all trooping back without so much as a run to their name. Alan Tucker was quite magnificent — 4 for 18 with seven maidens is the kind of spell that makes a captain look far cleverer than he is — with Terry Whittaker (3 for 17) and John Ames (1 for 19) mopping up in support. J. Harris's 27 and Jim Fish's 23 dragged them to 90 for 9, though poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 12 byes.

Nice touches too: Whittaker's runs nudged him past Richard Harris on the all-time list, and Dick Langridge's wicket did likewise past Robert Wood.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and the bar bill entirely justified.

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

From the captain's chair — Saturday 18 September 1965, and the road took us to Bowaters CC in what I confess was one of those afternoons that tests a man's love of the game.

Winning the toss, I did the sensible thing and put us in, only for the sensible thing to look rather foolish by close of play. We laboured to 81 all out in 43.1 overs, with Fred Greenfield the one man to bring any authority to proceedings — 33 well-made runs while all about him lost their heads. And lose them we did: 77 for 7 became 81 for 10 with barely time to draw breath, Colin Eldred and D. Ibbotson both departing for golden ducks, as if the pitch had been mined.

Eighty-one was never going to trouble anybody, and so it proved, though not without a fight from the ball. Gordon Fenner bowled beautifully for 3-25, with Terry Whittaker miserly as ever — two maidens and 1-14 — and between them they at least made Bowaters work, John Evans sent back without so much as a nudge. But Robin Scott's unbeaten 36 saw them safely home at 85 for 4 from 24 overs, a six-wicket win that flattered nobody unduly. I chipped in with 18, for what little comfort that offered.

Elsewhere in the season, Frank Brattle continues his steady climb up the run charts (358, fifth in the 1st XI), and Terry Whittaker leads the wicket-takers with 55 — proof, if any were needed, that not everything about our campaign is held together with string. As for Saturday: a chastening one, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 12 Sep 1965 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLLLDD

Sunday 12 September 1965, and the road took us out to Staplehurst. I called correctly at the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, sent us in — a decision that looked rather braver in hindsight than it felt at the time.

We laboured to 106 all out in 39.3 overs, Robert Chance, Basil Sears and Dick Langridge each contributing a tidy 21, before the innings folded like a deckchair in a breeze — 48 for 3 became 55 for 6 before anyone had quite noticed. William Buck and Colin Eldred took the walk of shame for nought apiece, and the Duck Club ledger duly groaned under the weight of new entries.

Defending 106 felt like asking the lads to guard the family silver with a teaspoon, but cricket delights in confounding its captains. Staplehurst were bowled out for 79 in 42.5 overs, A. Thirkell's 21 the top score amid a collapse of our making — 26 for 1 crumbled to 35 for 4, with R. Newick and L. Mitchell both ducking out for nothing. John Ames span a web of pure devilry for 5-43, well supported by Langridge's 3-12 and Alan Tucker's miserly 2-18 from eight maidens. The skipper wasn't idle either, with five wickets of his own to show for the afternoon.

Frank Brattle continues his quiet season, now 5th in the run charts with 354, while Langridge sits 3rd among the wicket-takers with 43. We got home by 27 runs — scrappy, nervy, thoroughly typical, and thoroughly deserved.

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

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 · HomeformDWLLL

There was a satisfying inevitability about winning the toss on Saturday and deciding to bowl first — sorry, bat first, which is what I meant, and precisely what I did, sending St Lukes Maidstone into the field under a kind Kentish sky. John Ames set about proving fifty is merely a staging post, cruising to 59, while Don Clayton's 40 and John Crellin's unbeaten 32 gave the innings a spine. That opening stand of 104 before the first wicket fell was the sort of platform captains dream of and rarely deserve. We closed on a healthy 191/7 from our 42 overs.

With the ball, the lads set about earning their tea. Ron Aiston, 52 to the good, and support from Pearson (36) and Nicholls (26) threatened to make a match of it, especially once their third-wicket pair put on a stubborn 73. But John Ames, having already done his bit with the bat, turned the screw with 3-31 and three miserly maidens, ably backed by Thirkell (2-27) and Whittaker (2-33), while poor Beesley never troubled the scorers. Paul Bowles laboured manfully behind the stumps, eight byes notwithstanding, and I contributed a modest 21 with the willow.

In the end honours were shared, 191/7 to 162/7 — a draw that flattered nobody and disappointed nobody either. A fair result, honestly earned, and a thoroughly pleasant way to spend a September afternoon.

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

From the captain's chair — Monday 30 August 1965. We travelled to Bearsted CC on what turned out to be one of those afternoons best filed under "character building." No luck with the coin, and Bearsted, sniffing a good batting track, sent themselves in.

They made themselves thoroughly at home. David Andrews played the innings of the day with 88, and found a willing partner in Colin Fleetwood, whose well-made 60 helped stitch together a 96-run stand for the second wicket that rather took the game away from us. Tony Snook chipped in an unbeaten 25 to round it off at 207/3 from their 71 overs. Dick Langridge toiled manfully for 3-75, and Terry Whittaker, five maidens to his name, gave away almost nothing but a great deal of respect.

Chasing 208, we never got out of second gear. Stan Wratten's 35 was a lone flag planted on an otherwise bare hillside, and when 48-3 became 52-6 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, the innings was as good as over. Ducks for Frank Brattle, Terry Whittaker and Sean Carter didn't help the arithmetic, and poor Fred Greenfield had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes going begging. All out 78 from 35 overs told its own sorry story.

Elsewhere, John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 775 for the season, and Langridge sits third in the wickets — small consolations on a black day. Beaten by 129 runs. Not our day at all — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 29 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLDWL

Sunday 29 August 1965, and we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park under a sky that promised more than it delivered — much like our top order, if truth be told. Winning the toss and electing to field, we set about our work with quiet purpose. Wickets fell steadily rather than in a heap, D Harris and P Hardy putting up the stiffest resistance with 29 and 22 respectively, before the innings unravelled from a respectable 52-2 to a distinctly wobblier 68-5. Dick Langridge was the chief architect of the collapse, a splendid 5-44 off six miserly maidens, with John Thirkell (3-21) and Gordon Fenner (2-35) mopping up admirably. Poor S Hunt and M Irwin will not thank me for mentioning their ducks, but a report must have its casualties. All out for 111 from 49 overs — a target that felt, at tea, entirely gettable.

And so it very nearly proved. Don Clayton (23) and Charles Crellin (23) laid a fine platform, William Buck chipping in with 21, but we could only limp to 112-6 from 44.1 overs — this after Roy Clarke's ten byes suggested wicketkeeping of the more adventurous variety. I took some personal consolation with three wickets of my own, but leadership, alas, does not extend to scoring runs from the pavilion.

Colin Eldred continues his fine season, second in the club's run charts on 636, and Dick Langridge sits third with 37 wickets — small mercies on an afternoon we lost by four wickets. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 28 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWLDW

Saturday last saw us play host, and winning the toss I did what any self-respecting captain does on a decent morning — took first knock without a moment's thought for how it might look come tea. It looked, in the end, rather ropey. We were bowled out for 75 in 27 overs, the first wicket gone for a solitary run before most of us had found our gloves. Basil Sears played the innings of the day with 30, Charles Crellin chipping in gamely with 21, but from 67 for 6 we contrived to lose our last four for eight, and the sight of Stan Wratten, John Ames and Colin Eldred all walking back for ducks will not trouble the highlights reel. I myself fell for nought, and the less said the better.

Seventy-five looked a modest total to defend, and so it proved a nervier watch than we deserved. The visitors slipped to 2 for an early wicket, steadied, then folded from 57 for 7 to all out 70 in a rush that mirrored our own. David Gale was magnificent, 6 for 16 with seven maidens, ably backed by John Ames (2-13) and Brian Relf (1-7), while D. Astle and B. Stalley joined the afternoon's duck parade. Poor Fred Greenfield had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes testament to some lively bowling.

Five runs short in the end — heads up, chins high, and back to the nets. Gale now sits proudly atop the season's wicket charts with 54, which is rather more than can be said for the rest of us.

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

Sunday last, we made the pilgrimage down to East Peckham & Nettlestead, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first strike — a decision I shall be dining out on for weeks. We crawled and occasionally cantered to 158 for 8 off our 39, Dick Langridge unbeaten on 38 and B. Brown alongside him on 36, with Don Clayton weighing in a handsome 31. The tail, bless them, wagged for a final 74 that had the home fielders muttering into their tea, though poor Richard Ashby will want no reminding of his golden duck.

Defending it looked a tall order on paper, but our attack had other ideas. The opposition were bowled out for 140 in 43 overs, N Ashman's 38 the only real resistance, backed by K Miles's 32 and R Cox's 21 — Peter Brattle, like our man Ashby, departed without troubling the scorers. John Ames was magnificent, 4 for 31 with three maidens that strangled the innings, Terry Whittaker chipped in 3 for 43, and Dick Langridge took one for good measure. I confess a quiet satisfaction at four wickets myself, though poor Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, 17 byes slipping past him.

Special mention for Don Clayton, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark achieved with typical understatement. We got home by 18 runs. A thoroughly good day for Linton Park.

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

Given the promise on Sunday, 15 August 1965, here's this week's captain's log for the gazette.

Won the toss on a bright Sunday and, with the pitch looking true, there was never any doubt in my mind — we batted. Frank Brattle set about The Mote's bowlers with real purpose, his 76 the innings' backbone, while Don Clayton (38) and Stan Wratten (34) chipped in handsomely. Seventy-one runs came before a wicket fell, and for a while it looked as though we might simply bat them out of the ground. Then, as so often happens in this fickle game of ours, the roof fell in — 71 for 1 became 77 for 4 quicker than you could pour the tea, and three of our number, Terry Whittaker, Colin Eldred and Gordon Fenner, made the sorry walk back without troubling the scorers. Mercifully a sturdy 79-run stand for the seventh wicket restored order, and we closed on a respectable 199 for 9 from 56.5 overs.

In reply, The Mote never quite got away from us. D. Parker top-scored with 34, well supported by Mike Foster (28) and Tim Gunter (21), but our bowlers kept a tight rein throughout. Gordon Fenner was the pick of them with 3 for 18, backed up nicely by John Ames (2 for 51, six maidens of pure parsimony) and Terry Whittaker (1 for 22). They closed on 132 for 7 from their 53 overs, well short but not quite chaseable for us either.

Honours shared, then — a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody. With Don Clayton now third in the season's run charts and Terry Whittaker leading the wickets column, there's much to be cheerful about, ducks notwithstanding.

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

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 · AwayformWDDLL

We drew Harrietsham away on 8th August, and I really can't complain about the toss loss when Ray Tong is the one you're chasing — a proper century (145) with P Powis chipping in an equally handsome 51 not out, the pair of them putting on 180 for the first wicket before we so much as sniffed a breakthrough. Poor old T Bridle went for a duck once we finally got among them, and it was John Ames who did the damage with 2-28, Dick Langridge toiling manfully for his 2-86 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure. 231/4 from their 45 overs felt a fair way beyond us at tea.

But cricket, bless it, has a habit of humbling the humbler. D Andrew set about it in fine style — 75 of the good stuff — with John Thirkell (48) and an unbeaten 40 from Colin Eldred keeping the scoreboard ticking nicely, the openers having already put on 106 before the first wicket fell. I even managed to get off the mark for 48 myself, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity between now and Christmas. We coasted home at 233/5 with five wickets to spare.

A thoroughly good day out, made all the sweeter by John Thirkell continuing to top the season's run charts and Dick Langridge lurking menacingly in fourth on the bowling list. Verdict: when your top order bats like that, even Ray Tong's century can be chased down with tea to spare.

Sat 07 Aug 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDWDDL

Saturday the 7th of August found us in fine early-season form with the ball in hand, and for a glorious hour or so it looked very much our day. We shot Lambeth out for a modest 53 in 20.2 overs, their top man Lambeth managing 24 of those almost single-handedly, while wickets tumbled at the other end — an early breakthrough with just 2 on the board set the tone, and once we'd raced from 28-2 to 28-5 there was precious little Lambeth batting left to admire. Smith, Chapman and Maskell all trooped off for ducks, undone by David Gale, who span through the innings in truly unplayable fashion to finish with 7 for 18, two of his overs going entirely unrewarded to the batsmen. Terry Donovan chipped in nobly with 2 for 28 in support.

Our reply began well enough too — 54 for 2 from 11.2 overs, Colin Eldred unbeaten on 27 doing the heavy lifting after we'd lost our first wicket cheaply at 8-1 — yet somehow, by the close, we'd contrived to be beaten by 4 wickets. Quite how remains a mystery best discussed over tea and a raffle ticket.

There was consolation in the small print, at least: David Gale's seven-for lifted him past Ray Howard to 11th on the club's all-time wicket-takers' list, and he now sits 2nd in this season's bowling charts with 46 victims, with Colin Eldred 2nd among the run-scorers on 580. A afternoon of individual brilliance, then, undone as a team. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 03 Aug 1965 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLLWLD

Tuesday 3rd August found us hosting, and with first use of the ball I fancied our chances more than the visitors did by the close. They were bowled out for a modest 36 from their 20 overs, undone almost from the off — a wicket down with the scoreboard barely troubled — and things unravelled from 9-2 to 18-5 before they knew what had hit them. Three of their number departed without so much as a run to their name, which is a cruel way to spend an afternoon. Terry Whittaker was magnificent, 4-9 off a spell that included six maidens — not a run given away lightly, that — with John Thirkell (3-10) and David Gale (2-8) mopping up either end.

Chasing 36 was never going to trouble us unduly, and Don Clayton made sure of it with a fine unbeaten fifty, well supported by Bob Brigden's unbeaten 40, as we cruised to 101-1. I even had a happy afternoon myself with the ball, picking up three wickets for good measure.

A word for David Gale, whose four scalps nudged him past Herbert Rayner into 12th on the club's all-time list — a nice bit of history amid the run-chase. Don Clayton continues to lead our season's run charts, Terry Whittaker the wickets.

For all that one-sided arithmetic, honours finished shared — a draw when neither side could quite force it home. Cricket, as ever, keeping us humble.

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

Called correctly on Sunday and, with the sun out and Reeds' square looking a picture, there was never any doubt in my mind — we were batting. Whether that call will haunt me over the winter I'm not yet sure. We slipped to 4-1 before William Buck (41) and Robert Chance (39) put together a fine 58 for the second wicket to drag us back onto an even keel. But cricket, as ever, had other ideas, and we shipped five wickets for five runs in the sort of collapse that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces — 92-3 to 97-6 in the blink of an eye. Roy Clarke's 32 kept the total respectable, though poor Colin Eldred and Gordon Fenner will want the scorebook burned rather than framed after their ducks. All out — sorry, 177/9 — from 48 overs.

In reply, Reeds made batting look rather easier than we had. Their openers put on 70 before the first wicket fell, and Forsdyke's well-crafted 77 — supported by Bob Brigden's unbeaten 36 and B Fitch's 29 — saw them home at 178/3 with overs to spare. Dick Langridge was our pick of the bowlers with 1-33, Terry Whittaker toiled away for 1-59 with three tidy maidens, and Gordon Fenner chipped in with 1-54.

Not our day, beaten by seven wickets. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there's work to do before we're troubling anyone again.

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

I called correctly for once — heads it was, and with the Headcorn attack looking friendly enough on a warm July afternoon, there was never much doubt we'd bat.

Colin Eldred set about proving the pitch's good behaviour with a fine 53, and he wasn't short of company: Terry Whittaker chipped in a busy 43 and Don Clayton 42, while our openers gave the innings the platform every captain dreams of and rarely gets, 76 without loss before the first wicket fell. Declaring the imagination unnecessary, we simply batted our overs out and closed on a handsome 223 for 4 from 46. I even found time to squeeze out 34 of my own, more by accident than design.

Defending it, Headcorn dug in gamely. R. Excell played the innings of the day with 52, well supported by A. Rowe's 34, the pair adding 56 for the fourth wicket before we found our rhythm — 108 for 5 became 120 for 8 in the time it takes to pour a tea, G. Gore departing without troubling the scorers. Alan Tucker was magnificent, 4 for 43 with six overs given away to nobody, and Terry Whittaker backed him up with 3 for 41, Brian Relf chiming in with 2 for 16. Worth a mention in dispatches too: Frank Brattle's unassuming 17 eased him past Robert Murray into sixth on the club's all-time run list — quiet history, made in the field of battle.

In the end Headcorn's last pair held firm at 127 for 9, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the result our bowling deserved, but an afternoon of proper cricket all the same.

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

Monday last, 26th July, saw Birkenhead Grasshoppers CC roll into Linton Park, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy career, I had no hesitation in sticking us in to bat. We batted with real purpose, closing on 204 for 5 from our 45 overs. Don Clayton set the tone with a stylish 56, John Thirkell chimed in with a well-crafted fifty, and Cliff Anscombe finished unbeaten on 55 - the pair's second-wicket stand of 80 was the innings' backbone. Spare a thought for poor Fred Greenfield, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings; these things happen to the best of us, Fred.

Defending 204, we asked the Grasshoppers to make hard work of it, and to their credit J Douglas made a fine 56, with L Atwell and R R Dodd chipping in 28 and 22 respectively as their fourth wicket added a stubborn 67. But the middle order buckled under pressure, subsiding from 125 for 4 to 141 for 7, with E Cousins departing for nought. The day belonged to Terry Whittaker, whose 5 for 30 - five maidens and all - was a masterclass in miserly, probing seam bowling, well supported by Terry Donovan's 2 for 29. My own duties behind the stumps proved a touch more porous, with 10 byes conceded, and I did manage 50 with the bat to lead from the front.

The Grasshoppers finished on 143 for 7 from 52 overs, and honours were shared. A draw, then - honest toil rewarded with nothing more than a handshake and a cup of tea, which, in truth, feels about right for a contest as evenly fought as this one.

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

Sunday 25 July 1965. Folkestone CC arrived on a fine afternoon, the coin went against us as it so often does, and I resigned myself to leather-chasing before the tea urn had even boiled.

They batted with a good deal more application than good sense might have allowed for 154 all out from their 53 overs, built chiefly around Ian Pepper's well-crafted 60, with Tony Miles (24) and Brian Humphries (23) lending sturdy support and a 55-run fifth-wicket stand doing most of the damage. Christopher Cox, mind you, departed for a duck at our hands — small mercies. The day belonged to John Ames, whose 6-44 was a five-for of the highest quality and thoroughly deserved, with Alan Tucker (3-46) and Dick Langridge (1-26) chipping in usefully, while Terry Whittaker bowled five maidens of the sort that make batsmen question their life choices.

In reply we made 152 for 6 from our 51 overs, Stan Wratten leading the way with a fine 42, John Ames following his bowling exertions with 29, and Colin Eldred adding a further 29. Poor Percy Brattle had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own.

Elsewhere, John Thirkell continues to lead our 1965 run charts with 681, and Alan Tucker sits fourth among the wicket-takers with 29. As for Sunday's affair — honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Two points short of glory, but an afternoon well spent all the same.

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 ? · HomeformLWDLW

Sunday 18 July 1965 saw us hosting the visitors, who put us into the field first — a decision that looked shrewd as their top order got stuck in. Seldon compiled a fine 72 and Everest a well-made 50, the pair building a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 83 that threatened to bat us clean out of the game. But cricket has a way of humbling the confident, and their innings folded from 176 for 6 to 178 for 9 in no time at all, Fletcher perishing for a duck. Dick Langridge was the chief tormentor with 4 for 42 off four miserly maidens, John Ames (2-14) and Alan Tucker (2-28) mopping up the rest as they were bowled out for 183 in 49.4 overs.

Our reply never quite matched their fire. John Thirkell's well-made 66 held things together nicely — a personal contribution I was rather chuffed with — ably supported by John Ames's 41, the pair adding 56 for the third wicket. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes going astray, and we stumbled to 173 for 9 from our 43 overs.

There was still plenty to celebrate: John Ames brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth toasting long into the evening. And with 676 runs and 30 wickets this season, I find myself topping the run charts and sitting third among the bowlers — figures I still can't quite believe are mine.

A draw, then. Honours shared, and honestly, about right.

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

We were left to make the running only after Rumwood won the toss on a fine Saturday, 17 July, and decided to have first knock — as is invariably the way of these things.

Put into the field, we toiled through 43 overs as the home side worked their way to 148 for 7. John Carter led the resistance with 42, well supported by N. Phillips, unbeaten on 36, and R. Venner's 27. Mike Iliffe and George Wood, alas, both returned without so much as troubling the scorers — two ducks to file quietly away and never mention again. It was David Gale who did the real damage, though: four wickets for 45, four of his overs maidens besides, with Gordon Fenner and Terry Whittaker chipping in a wicket apiece to keep matters respectable.

A target of 149 looked gettable, and so it proved. Don Clayton played the innings of the day, a fine 70 that carried us home, and found an admirable ally in Terry Whittaker's 25 — the pair adding 84 for the third wicket to settle any lingering nerves. I contributed a modest 25 of my own from the captain's berth, more for the look of the thing than anything else. Whittaker's runs, incidentally, nudge him past Pat Hardwick into 22nd on the club's all-time run list — a small but satisfying footnote to a fine season in which Clayton sits third in our 1st XI run charts and Whittaker leads the wicket-takers with 42.

Five wickets, two points, and a thoroughly earned journey home. We'll take that every Saturday going.

Sat 10 Jul 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLWD

Saturday 10th July, and we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park in fine spirits, only to be reminded once again that spirits alone do not defend a cricket score.

Winning the toss, we sent them in, and they made steady if unspectacular progress to 149 for 8 off their 44 overs, built chiefly around Jim Archer's 32, with J. Morrison (30) and John Archer (25) filling their boots either side of him. But it was Terry Whittaker who stole the afternoon with the ball, spinning a web through their middle order for a magnificent 5 for 43, while David Gale (2-29, and four maidens of positively Trappist discipline) and John Crellin (1-23) tidied up the rest.

Chasing 150, we made a hash of it. Terry Donovan's 31 was a lone beacon of sense in an innings that otherwise resembled a collapsing deckchair — from 11 for 1 to 12 for 4 in the time it takes to say "shot selection," and we subsided for a chastening 57 all out in 24.2 overs. The Duck Club welcomed three new members in Fred Greenfield, John Crellin and David Gale, each completing the walk of shame without troubling the scorer. 🦆

Small mercies: I picked up 5 wickets myself, so the ball at least behaved itself even when the bat wouldn't. We went down by 92 runs — a proper hiding, no dressing it up. Colin Eldred remains 2nd in this year's run charts and Terry Whittaker tops the wicket-takers, so the talent is there; the top order simply needs to remember what it's for. We'll be better for it next week.

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

We drew Aylesford Paper Mills, a bright July Sunday, and I fancied our chances enough to win the toss and stick us in — a decision that, for once, looked thoroughly sound. John Thirkell played the innings of the day, a majestic 108, and found willing company in Colin Eldred (41) and Robert Chance (35), the pair's 98 for the fourth wicket dragging us out of trouble after losing an opener with the board still reading nought. Poor Frank Brattle will be less keen to relive his contribution — a golden duck to file under "these things happen" — but 201/5 from our 44.1 overs was a total we were rather pleased to defend.

And defend it we did. Aylesford limped to 115/9 from their 48 overs, Cliff Anscombe's 34 the only real resistance, while Penn, Ashby and Taylor all trooped back without scoring — a trio of ducks to keep Frank company. Fred Greenfield was the pick of the attack, 3-9 with five miserly maidens, well backed by yours truly (3-21) and Ron Hickman (2-27); I confess a personal satisfaction in leading from the front with bat and ball alike. Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes going astray, but no one held it against him.

A quiet note for the record books: Thirkell's three wickets nudged him past Tony Snell into sixth on the club's all-time list, adding to a season in which he already leads our run charts and sits third among the wicket-takers — the man is having quite a summer. In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then, but one that felt very much like a victory dressed in modest clothing.

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

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 · HomeformWLWLL

Tuesday last saw The Mote CC roll up for the return fixture, and I duly lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season — they had no hesitation in batting first, leaving us to make first use of a ball that, for once, actually did us a few favours. Alan Tucker was in fine, miserly form with figures of 3-45, and when Terry Whittaker's opening burst had The Mote 5-1 inside the first over, we allowed ourselves a rare moment of optimism. David Gale chipped in with a wicket too, but D. Pilch's 36 dragged them up to a stiffish 112/5 from their sixteen overs.

Chasing it should have been well within our compass. John Thirkell led the reply with a tidy 22, well supported by Don Clayton's 21 and Terry Whittaker's 20, and I added a further 22 myself for good measure — proof, if nothing else, that I can still hold a bat the right way up. But cricket, as ever, delights in reminding a captain not to get ahead of himself, and a middle-order wobble turned into something altogether more theatrical: 80-7 became 87 all out in what felt like the time it takes to pour a cup of tea. Colin Eldred, Stan Wratten and Alan Tucker all fell for ducks, and the tail simply had no answer.

We went down by 25 runs in the end — honest toil undone by a collapse of our own making. John Thirkell continues to lead the season's run charts in fine style, and David Gale's wickets keep mounting, so there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 28 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWLWL

From the captain's chair — Monday 28 June 1965

Well, there's no dressing it up: not our day. Winning the toss and putting the visitors in the field first felt like the right call at the time, and I'll stand by it, whatever the scoreboard says now. John Thirkell and John Ames set us off in fine style, the pair of them putting on 82 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and Thirkell went on to a thoroughly well-made 53, with Ames chipping in a handy 33. We closed on 117 for 5 from our sixteen overs — a total I fancied might just be enough to trouble the visitors on the day.

For a while it looked rather good. They lost an early wicket with only 3 on the board, and when we tore through the middle order from 47 for 3 to 56 for 6 — P- Marchant gone without troubling the scorers — I allowed myself a quiet smile. Terry Whittaker was magnificent, six for 39 and every bit deserved, backed up nicely by Terry Donovan's two for 18 and a wicket apiece from B- Brown. Donovan's brace, incidentally, eases him past Don Hartridge into 21st on the club's all-time wicket list, which is some consolation on a losing afternoon.

But a- Johnson's 29 dragged them home, and they closed on 81 all out, edging it by 36 runs. My own 53 was satisfying, if scant comfort. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sun 27 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWWLW

Sunday 27 June 1965, and a fine sun-kissed afternoon for it as the visitors rolled up expecting, no doubt, an easy afternoon against Linton Park. We won the toss and sent them in, and for a good while it looked the shrewd call — though 64.1 overs is a fair stretch of graft for a captain to stand about supervising. D Tottman's 28 and D Toze's 21 gave them the backbone, but John Thirkell was in irresistible form, running through them for 5-39, with Cliff Anscombe (2-11) and Ron Hickman (2-41) mopping up round him, and Dick Langridge tying an honest knot with four maidens. Poor P Boorman departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers. All out for 168 — respectable, but not daunting.

Then came our reply, and this is where the wheels came off the trap. John Thirkell, not content with his heroics in the field, carried the bat for an unbeaten 30, well supported by Basil Sears (27) and William Buck (22), and I chipped in with 30 of my own for what it was worth. But three ducks — Roy Clarke, Dick Langridge and Ron Hickman all taking the long walk back for nought — and sixteen extras gifted through byes off poor Cliff Anscombe's gloves undid all the good work. All out for 129.

A 39-run defeat, then, and a chastening one at that — we bowled like champions and batted like also-rans. Back to the nets, lads; the ball came out beautifully, now let's find where the bat went missing.

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

Saturday 26 June 1965, and the coin let us down again at Sevenoaks Vine — call it wrong often enough and you start to wonder if it's rigged, though I suspect it's just me. They elected to bat, and we duly took to the field to see what they'd give us.

166/6 from their 46.2 overs, built around a proper innings from D. Penwarden (55), with Fife (34) and Bates (22) chipping in usefully around him. But it was Dick Langridge who set about them with 3-50, and Terry Whittaker matched him wicket for wicket with 3-51 — seven of his overs maidens, which tells you all you need to know about how little width he was offering. A tidy, disciplined shift in the field, and 166 felt gettable.

So it proved. We stumbled to 8-1 early doors, the sort of start that has the tea urn muttering, before Colin Eldred (70 not out) and Don Clayton (55) put matters right with a second-wicket stand of 104 that did the heavy lifting. Peter Prince's 21 saw us home in 31 overs for the loss of four. Paul Bowles had a wretched afternoon behind the stumps — ten byes is not a number he'll want printed, though I've gone and printed it — but I'll confess to rather enjoying myself with the ball, three wickets for the skipper.

Six wickets, two points, and a season looking rosier still with Colin second in the run charts and Terry top of the wicket pile. A thoroughly satisfactory day out.

Mon 21 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWWWW

Beaten by 1 wicket in the end, so let the record show: I won the toss, put them in — sorry, put us in — and lived to regret it. Sixty-seven all out from fourteen overs is not a total you defend with any great confidence, and losing an early wicket with just five on the board set the tone for a knock that never quite found its feet. We steadied, briefly, reaching 60 for 6, before the wheels came off in spectacular fashion — 65 for 9 arrived before most of us had finished our tea. Cliff Anscombe, Ron Hickman and Richard Ashby all walked back for ducks, which is the sort of collective misfortune that makes a captain wonder whether he ought to have batted first at all.

And yet — and yet — we very nearly pulled off the great escape. David Gale bowled like a man possessed, finishing with 5 for 34, ably supported by Terry Whittaker's 4 for 32, and between them they had the visitors tottering from 22 for 1 to 37 for 4 in the blink of an eye. P. Mayor departed without troubling the scorers, and for one glorious session it looked as though 67 might just be enough.

It wasn't. They got there on 68 for 9 from 13.4 overs, beating us by the barest of margins — one solitary wicket. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 397, and Terry Whittaker tops the wickets with 27, so the season's furniture remains in good order even as this particular match slipped away. A cruel one to lose, but we'll be better for it next week.

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

Sunday 20 June 1965 saw East Peckham & Nettlestead CC visit Linton Park, and my luck was out before a ball was bowled — the toss went against us, so we were straight into the field.

Our guests set about building a total, and for a while it looked as though we might be chasing something stiff. R Mann's 39 and K Miles' 35 gave their innings some backbone, and a 68-run stand for the fifth wicket threatened to run away from us. But cricket, like the English weather, can turn quickly, and we turned with it — from 97-5 to 108-8 in a spell that had the tea urn barely warm before it was all over. John Thirkell was the chief architect with 4-34, Alan Tucker chipped in a tidy 3-35 (six maidens — the man barely let the ball off the square), and Gordon Fenner took 1-20. Poor N Ashman departed for a duck, and East Peckham & Nettlestead were all out for 116 from 53.2 overs.

With 117 to win, Stan Wratten (41) and Frank Brattle (36) gave us the platform we needed, putting on 69 for the first wicket before either fell — by which point the result had the settled look of a Sunday roast. I added a workmanlike 16 down the order, and we cruised home at 118-2 from 34 overs, an eight-wicket win.

A thoroughly good day for the club — the bowling did the early damage, the openers finished the job, and John Thirkell continues to lead from the front with bat and ball alike.

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

Off a good length at Rumwood, and we'll take it — 19 June 1965, home to Rumwood CC.

Lost the toss again — I really must learn a new trick with that coin — and were put into the field, which, as it turned out, suited us rather well. Rumwood battled to 128 all out from 37.4 overs, John Carter top-scoring with a watchful 39 and R Venner chipping in with 31; the pair added a stubborn 64 for the fourth wicket that had us wondering whether we'd left our best cricket in the changing room. But we found our discipline at the right moment, ripping through the tail from 120-7 to 128 all out in short order, with T Stevens and A Chapman both back in the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorers. David Gale was magnificent, 4-42 of relentless, probing stuff, well backed by John Thirkell (3-14) and Brian Relf (3-40), while Terry Whittaker kept it miserly with three maidens.

With the ball's good work banked, our reply was a rather more comfortable affair. Frank Brattle led the way with a classy 43, C Gardener supported nicely with 34, and John Thirkell — clearly saving nothing for the walk home — added an unbeaten 30 having already done his bit with the ball. Their third-wicket stand of 62 settled matters, and I was pleased enough to contribute 30 of my own with the bat, plus three wickets for good measure, before we cantered home on 129-3 in 34.1 overs.

A seven-wicket win, two points banked, and honestly earned. Thirkell continues to top our run charts for the summer, Gale lurks second among the wicket-takers — and this old captain, for once, can't complain about a thing.

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

Monday last saw Len Social visit us, and by the time bails were finally lifted we had reason to feel rather pleased with ourselves. Batting first, we compiled 102 for 4 from our sixteen overs — not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but built soundly around Basil Sears' 43, the innings' backbone, and a third-wicket stand of 67 that did all the heavy lifting. Fred Greenfield, meanwhile, contributed his own small chapter to the club's ongoing duck anthology 🦆 — these things happen to the best of us, Fred, and no doubt will again.

Defending 102 always demands a touch of theatre, and Len Social duly obliged with early nerves of their own, stumbling to 1 for 1 before J- Levett departed without troubling the scorers. Alan Tucker was the chief tormentor with 2 for 25, well backed by Dick Langridge (1-14) and Brian Relf (1-17), and though R- Prudence's unbeaten 24 and P- Wood's 22 threatened a rescue act, the visitors fell 18 runs short at 84 for 5.

Worth noting too: those two wickets carried Alan Tucker past Stan Wratten into 14th on the club's all-time list 📈, while Basil Sears continues his fine season, now 4th in the 1965 run charts on 166 — Terry Whittaker still tops the bowling with 23.

A scrappy, unglamorous, thoroughly satisfying two points. We'll take it.

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

Sunday 13th June found us on the road at Bobbing Court, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in batting first — the sort of decision that either looks shrewd or foolish by teatime, and I'm pleased to report it fell into the former camp. Colin Eldred led the way with a fine 42, John Thirkell chipping in 34, and the pair's stand of 52 for the third wicket was the innings' backbone. Backbone was rather needed, mind, as we then contrived to slide from a healthy 76-3 to a distinctly less healthy 84-6 in the time it takes to pour a cup of tea. William Buck and Roy Clarke both departed for golden ducks, proving that cricket remains a cruel game even in June sunshine. All out for 148 in 47.4 overs — respectable, if not without its wobbles.

In the field we were rather more composed. The openers were sent packing with just 7 on the board, and from there Bobbing Court never truly recovered, bowled out for 95. Alan Tucker was superb, 3-12, with David Gale (3-31, plus four tidy maidens) and Peter Prince (2-12) offering fine support. Robert Chance had a trickier afternoon behind the stumps, judging by nine byes conceded — these things happen to the best of us.

A splendid personal note too: John Thirkell made his 500th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark achieved in some style. Won by 53 runs, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work all round.

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

We recovered a splendid draw at Headcorn — 190/7 declared-in-all-but-name against their 165/4. Gordon Fenner's unbeaten 58 anchored our innings, Colin Eldred's 32 and Alan Cridland's unbeaten 30 kept the scoreboard honest, and a first-wicket stand of 50 gave us the platform every captain dreams of and few of us deserve. Credit too to the last pair, who found 41 runs from somewhere when respectability was all that stood between us and an awkward tea. Not every ledger entry gleaned such glory — H Woodward's name goes down for a duck, the walk of shame performed, I'm told, with his usual dignity.

In the field we squeezed but couldn't quite throttle them. C Smith's 45 and a 59-run third-wicket stand kept Headcorn afloat, though Gordon Fenner (2-34, and clearly having the match of his life) and Terry Whittaker (2-51) chipped away, while Brian Relf bowled four maidens that gave away nothing but the odd bruised ego. I contributed a workmanlike 19 with the bat, which is captain's code for "steadied nerves, added little."

A word for the record books: Terry Whittaker's seven runs quietly nudged him past Arthur Cornwallis into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list — immortality arrives in strange increments. With John Thirkell (315) and Whittaker himself (22 wickets) still setting the pace atop this season's charts, the side's in good heart.

Honours shared, then, and rightly so — two sides refusing to blink makes for the very best sort of Saturday.

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

Here's the match report for the gazette:

Thursday brought Primrose & Len CC to us for what the coin gods decreed would be a chase, the toss going against me as it so often does. Not that it mattered a jot in the end. Having been sent into the field, we watched our visitors unravel in spectacular fashion — 6-1 early on set the tone, and by the time Gordon Fenner had finished weaving his particular brand of magic, figures of 4-6 no less, the innings had gone from wobble to full collapse. David Gale (3-25) and Terry Whittaker (3-30) tidied up what was left, and Primrose & Len were bowled out for a modest 62 in just 12.3 overs, A Cooper's 21 the only real resistance. Not our finest hour with the willow to watch, mind you — E Rogerson, R Whittaker and D Young all trooped back without scoring, a trio of ducks I shan't dwell on further.

Chasing such a modest total should have been formality itself, and so it proved, if not entirely without incident given two wickets down along the way. John Thirkell, in the sort of form that has him sitting proudly atop our season's run charts with 296 to his name, saw us home unbeaten on 41, while I permitted myself the small indulgence of matching him with 41 of my own. Terry Whittaker, for good measure, continues his fine season with the ball, now second in the wicket charts on 20.

An eight-wicket win, achieved with more comfort than the scorecard perhaps suggests. Onwards we go.

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

Monday 07 June 1965 — Linton Park CC v Bearsted CC

Lost the toss, saw Bearsted make straight for the crease, and I confess my heart sank a little even before a ball was bowled — that's how these afternoons so often begin. Sent out to field on a day that would ask a great deal of us, the lads stuck to their task manfully as Bearsted compiled a stern 250/7 from their 69 overs. R Matthews (41), Peter Prince (38) and Gordon A Hawkins (37) all had their say, and a stand of 65 for the third wicket rather took the wind from our sails. John Thirkell was the pick of the attack with 3-50, Alan Tucker chipped in with 2-39, and Terry Whittaker bowled with real discipline for 2-43 and five maidens — miserly is the word, and not one often applied to bowling on our ground.

Our reply never really got out of first gear. Bowled out for 88 in 39.2 overs, we contrived to slide from a passable 28-1 to a distinctly less passable 35-4 in the space of a few overs — the sort of collapse that has grown men reaching for their pipes in despair. Poor Dick Langridge departed for a duck, and it was not his day nor ours. I managed some consolation with the ball myself, taking 3 wickets, while Richard Ashby had a torrid time behind the stumps, 13 byes finding their way past him.

Beaten by 162 runs, then, and no dressing it up. Back to the nets we go, heads bloodied but unbowed — there's cricket yet to be played this season.

Sat 05 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDLL

Saturday last, on our own turf, and with the covers dry and the tea urn primed, I won the toss and sent them in — a decision I stand by, even if the scorebook now tells a rather different story. M. Taylor and John Archer set about proving me wrong in short order, the openers putting on 69 before we so much as looked at the wicket column, Taylor going on to 66 and Archer to a handsome 52, with L. White chipping in 28 more for good measure. Credit where due: Terry Donovan kept plugging away for 2-52, with Brian Relf and Gordon Fenner picking up a wicket apiece, and we did at least send both D. White and Jim Archer back for ducks, which felt like a small victory amid the carnage. They closed on 167/7 from their 42 overs — gettable, we told ourselves, over tea.

It did not prove gettable. Colin Eldred played the innings of a man who hadn't read the script, top-scoring with a fine 39 and putting on 55 for the first wicket with Don Clayton (24), but wickets tumbled around them and we folded for 118 in 36.4 overs, Brian Relf's own duck rather summing up our afternoon with the bat. One bright footnote: David Gale's solitary wicket nudged him past Stan Wratten into 13th on the club's all-time list — history made, even in defeat. Beaten by 49 runs. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 02 Jun 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLDDL

Wednesday, the second of June, saw us at home to welcoming, if rather too polite, opposition — obliging enough to let us take first use of the ball. Early on it looked promising, a wicket down at 4 for 1, but B Evans settled in for a watchful 40, ably supported by M Cutler's 21, and between them they threatened to make a proper afternoon of it. Then, as so often happens in this fine game, the innings simply fell over — 80 for 3 became 83 for 6 in the blink of an eye, poor A Laing trudging off for a duck along the way. Terry Whittaker was pick of the attack with 3 for 42, well backed by David Gale's 2 for 36, figures that quietly eased David past Len Conway into 14th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list.

A target of 84 should have been a formality, and eventually it was, though we made rather harder work of the arithmetic than the scorebook lets on, getting home at 84 for 3 in 14.1 overs. I'll allow myself a small note of satisfaction at a personal 50 not out. Gordon Fenner's watchful 10 was worth more than the number suggests, nudging him past Bob Arnold into 14th on the run-scorers' list.

For the season, I find myself leading the 1st XI run charts on 243, with Terry second in the wickets on 15 — form we shall need. Not our finest cricket, if I'm honest, more scramble than stroll, but seven wickets in hand is seven wickets in hand. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

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

Tuesday the 1st of June saw us motor down to West Farleigh CC, and for once the coin obliged me — heads it was, and I had no hesitation in sticking us in. It looked a tidy decision when John Thirkell (27) and Cliff Anscombe (22) put bat to ball with some purpose, but cricket has a cruel sense of humour, and 61-2 unravelled into 68-5 before anyone had quite worked out what was happening. Poor Stan Wratten and Terry Whittaker both trudged back for ducks, and we limped to 88/7 from our sixteen overs feeling rather like men who'd left the front door open in a gale.

Defending that total was always going to be a stern examination of nerve, and for a moment — West Farleigh slipping to 2-1 — I allowed myself a flicker of hope. David Gale bowled beautifully for his 3-29, with Terry Donovan (2-41) and Terry Whittaker (1-15) chipping in gamely, and I did my own bit with 27. But Reg Oldfield, unbeaten on 37 and expertly abetted by Ron Kemp's 20, steered the home side over the line at 90/6 with half a dozen deliveries in hand.

One ray of sunshine amid the gloom: Terry Donovan's two wickets nudged him past J Donovan into 24th on the club's all-time list, while John Thirkell and Terry himself continue to lead our 1965 run and wicket charts respectively. Beaten by four wickets, then — no disgrace, but no triumph either. We'll dust ourselves down and come back sharper next week.

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

Sunday, 30th May, and the road took us down to Folkestone in reasonable spirits, only for Fortune to desert us at the coin toss before we'd even had a cup of tea. They chose to bat, and duly set about doing so with the sort of opening stand that makes a fielding captain's heart sink into his boots — 97 runs before we so much as troubled the scorers with a wicket. Christopher Cox went on to a handsome 65, with M. Hall not far behind on 62 and Anthony Goldsmith chipping in 31, and by the close of their 55 overs they stood proudly at 239 for 5. Credit where it's due, though: Alan Tucker bowled with real discipline, 2 for 37 and four maidens to show the accountants he wasn't simply making up the numbers, well backed by John Ames (2-66) and Colin Eldred (1-28).

Chasing 240 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and John Ames answered most convincingly with 46, with Stan Wratten (34) and John Thirkell (22) lending sturdy support in a handy second-wicket stand of 59. I contributed a workmanlike 22 myself, more Boycott than Botham, while poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, gifting 21 byes to the scorebook. We closed on 165 for 8.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, dignity mostly so. Not a classic, but a thoroughly English afternoon's cricket all the same.

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

We won the toss on a fine Saturday and, with the sun promising to stay a while, I had no hesitation in electing to bat — a decision I shall be dining out on at the bar for some weeks yet. Don Clayton was in irresistible touch, ghosting past his fifty and on to 98, while Colin Eldred chipped in a handy 36; the pair's 64-run stand for the fifth wicket was the innings' backbone. We closed on a healthy 190 for 7 from our fifty overs, and I confess I rather fancied our chances in the field.

Sevenoaks Vine set about the chase with intent, J. Cutting striding to 53 and putting on 58 for the first wicket with D. Penwarden's 24 before we finally prised things open — 96 for 3 became 111 for 6 in a hurry, Colin Eldred the chief tormentor with 2 for 12, Terry Donovan and Brian Relf both weighing in with 2 apiece, and Terry Whittaker bowling five miserly maidens for good measure. T. Parkin departed without troubling the scorers. Just as we sensed the finish line, their last pair added an infuriating 49 we could quite have done without, closing on 160 for 6.

Eight byes will have Fred Greenfield wincing into his tea, but there was a silver lining — Terry Whittaker's runs nudged him past Herbert Rayner into 24th on the club's all-time list. A draw, then: honours shared, and honestly, about right.

Tue 25 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLDL

Tuesday, 25th May 1965. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and for once the decision looked positively shrewd. Ninety-seven for six from our sixteen overs wasn't going to trouble any record books, but Stan Wratten's typically watchful 29 gave us something to bowl at, and in doing so he eased past William Buck into second on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a quiet milestone amid the general scratchiness.

Then out we went with the ball, and for a glorious spell we looked like men transformed. Eight for one became nine for four before the visitors had time to reorganise their tea order, with Hammond, Carter and Smith all sent back without so much as a run to their names. Alan Tucker was the chief tormentor, snaffling three for eighteen and, in the process, sliding past Jack Fryer into sixteenth on the all-time wicket-takers' list, well supported by Terry Donovan (2-6) and David Gale (2-8), the latter pair looking rather pleased with themselves at tea.

Alas, one man refused to read the script. J Perkins dug in for an unbeaten 34 and, with the tail wagging just enough around him, dragged the visitors home to 62 for seven and a 35-run victory. Stan continues to purr along nicely in the season's charts, and Terry Donovan sits proudly atop the 1965 wicket-takers — small consolations on a day when we simply didn't have enough runs to defend. Not our day, then. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Mon 24 May 1965 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLLLLW

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

It was your basic Sunday away-day script: lose the toss, get put in, spend the afternoon chasing leather while The Mote batted at their leisure. John Reader gave us a lesson we didn't ask for — 126 not out, an innings of such calm authority that the rest of us were reduced to spectators in our own fixture — with M. Dyer (33) and Paddy Germain (31) chipping in around a third-wicket stand worth 69. Small mercies: we did at least see off Jaganathan for a duck, and John Thirkell (2-27) and Terry Whittaker (2-43, with three miserly maidens for good measure) kept the total to a mere 237/6 from 49, ably backed up by Don Clayton's one.

Chasing 238 was always going to want more than we had in the locker, and losing our first wicket at 7 hardly settled the nerves. William Buck top-scored with a gutsy 45, Robert Murray offered support with 20, but wickets fell around them and we were bowled out for 117 in 45.4 overs. H Woodward's nought will not trouble the record books fondly, though Buck's 45 did at least nudge him past Stan Wratten into second on the club's all-time run-charts — one silver lining to cling to on the drive home.

Beaten by 120 runs, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. But John Thirkell continues to lead our season's run charts and Whittaker sits third among the wicket-takers, so the engine room is in good order even when the scoreboard isn't. We'll regroup, we'll be better for it, and next Sunday The Mote won't have it quite so easy.

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

Skipper's Log, Saturday 22 May 1965. Gore Court CC came calling, I won the toss, and elected to bat — the right call, if I do say so myself, and for once nobody in the pavilion contradicted me. We settled to 216/6 from our 46 overs, Colin Eldred playing the anchor role beautifully for 46, with John Thirkell (36) and John Crellin (29) lending sturdy support, and that third-wicket stand of 66 was the platform the whole innings was built on. I even found time to contribute 36 of my own, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season.

Gore Court set off after our total with real intent, Andrew Ogle striking a handsome 61, backed by David Hillier and Peter Baker with 30 apiece, and a third-wicket stand of 76 that had us wondering if we'd left enough runs on the board. But John Thirkell, bowling like a man possessed, hauled us back with 3-35 — and in doing so eased past Frank Taylor into 7th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a milestone worth raising a glass to. David Gale chipped in with 2-68, Terry Donovan tied things down beautifully with 1-26 and three tidy maidens, and I managed 3 wickets myself to round off a thoroughly satisfying day in the field. They finished on 191/6 from their 40.

Honours shared, then — a draw that felt, in the end, entirely fair. Two sides who wouldn't yield an inch, and a lovely afternoon's cricket for it.

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

Sunday 16 May found us on the road to Gore Court, and things went awry before a ball was bowled — the coin fell their way and they had no hesitation in batting first. What followed was a lesson in application from two Gore Court batsmen in particular. Ralph Allsworth compiled a chanceless 107, and Keith Garrard matched him stroke for stroke with an unbeaten hundred of his own, the pair putting on 189 for the second wicket after we'd had the temerity to prise out an early one for just 4. Roger Ledger fell to us for a duck, but by then the damage was done and they closed on a mighty 230 for 3 from 38.4 overs. Alan Tucker (2-71) and Dick Langridge (1-52) toiled manfully into a flat pitch and a flatter outfield.

Our reply never quite got out of first gear. John Ames battled to a fine 60, well supported by Frank Brattle's 24 and Don Clayton's 23, but an early wicket for just 6 set the tone, and a horror collapse from 134-6 to 149-9 did for us — Colin Eldred, Roy Clarke and Dick Langridge all departed without troubling the scorers. Poor Roy Clarke had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps too, 12 byes going begging.

Small mercies: Frank Brattle's 24 nudges him past Ray Howard into 7th on the club's all-time run list, while John Thirkell and Dick Langridge continue to lead our season's batting and bowling charts respectively. But a defeat by 81 runs is a defeat all the same — heads up, and back to the nets.

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

We travelled to Maidstone YMCA CC on Saturday and lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like the natural order of things. Put in first with the ball, though, we made a fair fist of it — Terry Donovan bowled like a man possessed for 5-35, with Gordon Fenner and David Gale (miserly as ever, five maidens to his name) mopping up two apiece as the innings folded from a promising 16-1 to 23-4 and never really recovered. All out for 101 in the end — a total we had every right to chase down.

We did not chase it down. Six for one inside the first few overs set an ominous tone, and although Terry Whittaker played a lovely hand for 27 and I chipped in with 27 of my own, the middle order rather lost its nerve, sliding from 57-4 to 73-7 while the rest of us looked on in polite horror. Gordon Fenner and Derek Pantony both made the long walk back for nought, and poor Fred Greenfield had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping eight byes for his trouble. All out 83, beaten by 18 runs — a match we bowled well enough to win and batted badly enough to lose.

One bright note amid the wreckage: David Gale's two wickets shuffled him past Jack Fryer into 15th on the club's all-time list, which is the sort of small mercy county cricket rarely offers a man past a certain age. Whittaker continues to sit handsomely third in this season's run charts, and Donovan second among the wicket-takers. As for the rest of us, we'll be better for it next week — we could hardly be worse.

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

It was Bobbing Court CC who came calling on Sunday 09 May 1965, and it was Bobbing Court CC who called correctly, sending us into the field on a morning that promised more than it delivered — to them, at least. Gordon Fenner had other ideas, tearing through their order with 5-16 off seven miserly maidens, the sort of spell that has batsmen playing shots they didn't know they owned. John Ames chipped in handsomely with 4-24, and Terry Donovan mopped up with 1-20. Denis Fowle and C Robinson both departed without troubling the scorer, and from 41-2 the innings became 44-5 in the time it takes to pour a tea. Only P Goodwin, with a defiant 24, and Jack Whibley's 20 kept the total respectable at 79 all out.

Seventy-nine looked eminently gettable. It was not got. We stumbled at 0-1 before we'd so much as loosened our shoulders, and the middle order rather took against the idea of troubling the scorers — Frank Brattle, William Buck and Robert Murray all fell for ducks, a trio of blobs that would make any skipper wince. John Ames, having already done the damage with ball in hand, then top-scored with 30 to keep our hopes flickering, and I managed a scratchy 18 for what little it was worth. All out for 66 in the 31st over — thirteen runs short.

There was, at least, real cause for celebration amid the gloom: John Ames sailed past 500 career wickets and, with his four scalps, leapfrogged Alan Wilkes to sit top of the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a landmark worth toasting even in defeat. John Thirkell continues to lead our 1965 run charts with 95, and Ames now sits second among the season's wicket-takers with 9.

A game we should have won and contrived to lose. We'll be better for it next week.

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

It was Charles Arkcoll at home on Saturday, and the coin, as ever, let us down — they had first use of it and chose to bat. No matter; we had first use of the ball, and by the time the innings folded at 106 all out from 39.1 overs, honours were rather with us. Stan Wratten (27) and John Ames (27) did the heavy lifting for the visitors before the floodgates opened spectacularly, 83-4 becoming 93-7 in a hurry, with Brian Aiston, John Abnett and Robin Wilson all back in the pavilion for ducks. The spell of the day belonged unarguably to Dick Langridge, whose 6-41 was a five-for and thoroughly earned; Alan Tucker (3-21, four maidens — not a run given away lightly) and Paul Bowles (1-8) chipped in admirably.

Chasing 107, we made harder work of it than the bowling perhaps deserved, stumbling home at 107/6 from 42.3 overs. John Thirkell top-scored with a fine 34, well supported by Terry Whittaker's 31, and I'll modestly note my own 34 kept the scoreboard ticking. Ten byes tell their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Malcolm Pay.

Off the field, Alan Tucker's three wickets nudged him past Robert Wood into 17th on the club's all-time list, while John Thirkell (2nd, 77 runs) and Dick Langridge (top of the pile, 13 wickets) continue to lead our 1965 charts.

A scrappy chase, but a win is a win — four wickets to the good, and onwards we go.

Sun 02 May 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 02 May 1965. We hosted the visitors, and I called correctly at the toss, choosing to bat without a flicker of doubt.

We laboured to 146/9 from our 51 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Stan Wratten, whose fine half-century of 52 held the innings together while all about him wickets tumbled. John Ames and William Buck both departed for golden ducks, which is the sort of thing one tries not to dwell on too publicly, though the gazette rather insists.

Defending it, we could scarcely have asked for a better afternoon. The visitors stumbled to 7-1 early and never truly recovered, D Jackson and J Foster both sent back without troubling the scorers. Only Colin Myers, with 26, offered any real resistance. Dick Langridge was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 5-27 with three tight maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by John Ames (3-26) and Gordon Fenner (2-19), and the innings folded for 81 in 31.3 overs — a thumping win by 65 runs.

Small mercies and larger ones both: Stan's 52 nudges him past William Buck into second on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now leads our 1965 run charts with 94, while Dick sits second in the wicket-takers with 7. All told, a proper day out for the lads — bat, ball and history all pulling in the same direction. We'll take that one.

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

Saturday last saw Staplehurst come calling, and having won the toss I gave it all of two seconds' thought before sending us in — a decision I stood by rather more stoutly than our top order stood at the crease. We were bowled out for 135 in 43.4 overs, John Thirkell top-scoring with a tidy 32, and Colin Eldred (27) and Frank Brattle (24) chipping in handsomely before a flurry of wickets — 125 for 5 becoming 132 for 8 in the time it takes to pour a tea. Fred Greenfield, Richard Ashby and Dick Langridge all departed without troubling the scorers, which is one way to keep the scorebook tidy, if not the ideal one.

Defending 135 looked a stretch, but the lads had other ideas. Terry Whittaker was magnificent, 4 for 17 with seven maidens — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen playing for their off stump and their sanity in equal measure — well supported by Terry Donovan (3 for 33) and Dick Langridge, whose 2 for 10 also carried him past Dennis Smith into 24th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Staplehurst wobbled from 18 for 1 to 32 for 4, and though J. Rise (25) and an unbeaten P. Hollands (21) staged a rearguard, they closed on 89 for 9 — two short of overhauling us, and mercifully two short of us needing to bowl a 43rd over.

A draw, then, honours shared. Given the state of our top order, I'll happily take it.

Sun 25 Apr 1965 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDLLL

Sunday 25th April, and we welcomed our visitors under grey Linton Park skies, myself electing to bowl first — a decision that, for once, looked rather clever by tea.

They were dismissed for 128, D Andrews the chief architect of our discomfort with a fine 73, well supported by S Clark's 21 and a stubborn fourth-wicket stand of 58. But once we prised them apart — 110 for 6 swiftly became 120 for 9 — the rot set in beautifully, poor Ron Aiston contributing a golden duck to proceedings. John Thirkell was magnificent, 5 for 28 and every ball earned, with Terry Whittaker (2 for 32, four maidens — not a run given away lightly) and John Ames (2 for 46) tightening the noose from the other end.

Alas, batting proved rather less our department. We subsided for 73, losing our first wicket for just 1, and three good men — Ames, Crellin, Mattingley — all departed for ducks of their own. Only Stan Wratten showed any real fight with 42, and my own five wickets with the ball were scant consolation once the shirt was back in the pavilion.

There was cheer amid the gloom: John Thirkell brought up 11,000 career runs for the club, and William Buck's 13 nudged him past Stan Wratten into second on our all-time run list. But a 55-run defeat is a 55-run defeat. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

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

Saturday 24 April 1965 saw us make the trip to West Farleigh, and having called correctly I did what English captains have done since time immemorial and stuck us in — a decision I would spend the rest of the afternoon quietly reconsidering.

We were bowled out for a modest 66 in 28.2 overs, Robert Murray carrying the innings with a battling 26 while the rest of us rather lost our nerve around him. What had been a respectable 59 for 7 became 66 all out with almost indecent haste, John Thirkell and Terry Donovan both departing for ducks as the tail folded like a deckchair in a gale. I contributed nought myself to proceedings — the less said about that, the better.

With such modest fuel in the tank, the bowlers were asked to work overtime, and to their great credit they very nearly pulled off the impossible. Terry Whittaker led the line beautifully with 2 for 21, well backed by Terry Donovan's 2 for 23 and a wonderfully economical spell from Gordon Fenner, who somehow found three maidens in a losing cause. Paul Bowles chipped in with a wicket too, and Reg Oldfield and John P Day both went for ducks at our hands. But C Fenner's 24 and an unbeaten 23 from Peter Rivington saw West Farleigh home at 67 for 5.

Down by five wickets, then, and no prizes for guessing who set the tone with the bat. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.