🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 24 Sep 1966 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · HomeformLWLWW

Saturday 24 September 1966 saw Hartley Country Club CC visit Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation taking first use of what looked a fair batting strip — the right call, I still maintain. We reached 168 for 9 from our 44 overs, built on a fine unbeaten 46 from Dick Langridge, with Terry Whittaker's 32 and Derry Evans's unbeaten 27 lending sturdy support. In between came one of those spells that make cricket the cruel mistress she is: 11 for 1 became 12 for 4 almost before anyone had settled into their deckchair. Credit to the last pair, whose defiant stand of 59 restored some dignity to the card. Less creditable were the ducks — Benny Bell, Mike Iliffe and I all contributed one apiece, and the less said about mine the better.

With ball in hand we set about defending it, and defend it we did. E Cherry's 48 was the backbone of Hartley's reply, with A Lush chipping in 24, but C Cooper departed for nought at our hands. Gordon Fenner was pick of the attack with 3 for 20, well backed by Dick Langridge's 3 for 34 — five maidens thrown in for good measure — and Paul Bowles took 1 for 40 as Hartley closed on 128 for 7.

A draw, then, honours shared, neither side able to land the decisive blow. With Terry Whittaker now 4th in the season's run charts and Dick Langridge 3rd among the wickets, the engine room of this side hums along nicely even when the top order — captain included — has an afternoon best forgotten.

Sun 18 Sep 1966 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDLWLW

Sunday 18 September 1966, and Anchorians CC arrived as our visitors with the sun doing its level best and the toss doing its level worst — down we went, and out we were sent to bowl.

Not that any of us minded overmuch once Terry Whittaker got his fingers round the ball. Turning it square all afternoon, he finished with a scarcely believable 7 for 29, and by the time he'd finished tormenting the Anchorians middle order there wasn't much of an innings left to torment. From 3 for 1 we had them reeling to 16 for 4, A Hart and M- Brown both back in the pavilion without so much as a squint at the scoreboard, and Gordon Fenner strangling the other end with nine maidens and 3 for 37 for good measure. Only J- Lock, unbeaten on 29, kept the innings from complete collapse, and 79 all out in 37.4 overs felt, frankly, generous of us to allow.

Chasing so modest a total ought to be simple, and for once it very nearly was. Ron Wratten batted with the calm of a man who knew the hard work was already done, seeing us home unbeaten on 35, with Robert Chance (21 not out) and Stan Wratten (20) doing the early legwork. We reached 80 for 1 in 32.5 overs without ever looking troubled.

A fine win by 9 wickets, then, and no false modesty required this week — Whittaker was magnificent, Fenner was miserly, and the rest of us simply had to turn up. Onwards.

Sat 17 Sep 1966 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformDDLWL

John Thirkell's Captain's Log — Bowaters CC, Saturday 17 September 1966

Lost the toss, asked to bowl. There are worse fates on a fine September afternoon, and so it proved. Brian Relf steamed in like a man with a train to catch, snaring 3-12, while Dick Langridge (2-16) and Benny Bell (2-38) chipped away at the other end. Terry Whittaker, meanwhile, bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that would make a Yorkshireman weep with pride — five maidens and barely a run to be had. Bowaters limped to 129/9 off their fifty-two overs, and we trooped off rather pleased with ourselves.

Chasing 130 should have been a formality, and true to club tradition we made it look anything but, stumbling to 1-1 before we'd barely settled into our deckchairs. Basil Sears steadied things with a fine 29, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, contributing 38 as the pair of us put on 61 for the second wicket to drag the game back onto an even keel. Poor Benny Bell endured the walk of shame with a golden duck — not his day with the bat, though nobody begrudges a man his 2-38 earlier on. We eventually got home by five wickets in 37.1 overs, with the minimum of fuss and the maximum of relief.

A tidy team performance all round — bowlers doing the hard yards, batters doing just enough. Five wickets, five o'clock finish, and a pint well earned. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 11 Sep 1966 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformDDDLW

Down at Staplehurst on a fine September Sunday, I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'll stand by that verdict even after what followed. Robert Chance played the innings of the day, a fine 72, while I chipped in with 35 and Basil Sears added a brisk 27; the two of us put on 79 for the second wicket to give the innings some backbone. Poor Frank Brattle will want to forget his golden duck, though the extras column did rather more for us than he did, 26 of them swelling the total to a respectable 181 for 8 off 48.5 overs.

Defending that, we made a decent fist of it. Gordon Fenner bowled beautifully for 2 for 31, two maidens among them, with Dick Langridge (2-46) and Paul Bowles (1-39) chipping away at the other end. But L. Murrell had other ideas, seeing his side home with an unbeaten 71, well supported by G. Murrell's 39 and W Tipples' 29, the pair adding 61 for the fourth wicket to put the game beyond us. Benny Bell had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes going astray, and Staplehurst got home by five wickets.

Small consolations amid the defeat: Dick Langridge's two wickets took him past Herbert Rayner into 14th on the club's all-time list, and I remain top of our 1966 run charts with 886 for the season. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 10 Sep 1966 🧢 1st XIv RC Reeds CC · HomeformLDDDL

Saturday 10 September 1966 brought Reeds CC to Linton Park, and I lost the toss for the umpteenth time — they had no hesitation in batting first, and who can blame them on a decent wicket. Jepson gave us a proper working over with a classy 51, well supported by Dampier's 37, and when they'd added a crucial 57 for the third wicket I confess my heart sank a little in the covers. But cricket, like the English weather, turns quickly: from 101-4 they collapsed to 108-7 in the blink of an eye, Medhurst, Holmes and Franks all trudging back for ducks. Dick Langridge was the chief tormentor, ripping through them for 5-18 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, while Paul Bowles (2-45) and Terry Whittaker (1-27) tidied up the rest. All out for 122 — a target we felt we could chase down with tea still warm in the pot.

Chasing it, poor Benny Bell departed without troubling the scorers, which was a blot on an otherwise tidy card. Thankfully a second-wicket stand of 62 set us on our way, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, seeing the innings through to an unbeaten 79 as we reached 123-4 to win by six wickets.

A thoroughly good day for the club, then — Dick's five-for the difference between a tense finish and a comfortable stroll, and not a bad way to keep the runs ticking over for the season.

Wed 07 Sep 1966 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Birchington CC · AwayformWLDDD

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 07 September 1966. We travelled to Birchington CC, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once I was proved correct rather than left mumbling excuses over tea.

We batted with more purpose than usual, closing on 171/6 from 43.2 overs. John Ames was in fine form for a well-crafted half-century, 61 to his name, while I chipped in with 48 and Terry Whittaker made a useful 35 — the two of us putting on 66 for the third wicket to give the innings its backbone. Mike Iliffe, less fortunately, contributed nothing but a golden duck to the cause, though he bears it with the good grace of a man who has seen it all before.

Defending the total, we found ourselves in a battle, with C Smith playing a well-made fifty of 56 and an opening stand of 54 threatening to derail us. But P Smith departed without troubling the scorers, and from there John Ames simply ran riot, returning superb figures of 6-61, ably supported by Dick Langridge's 4-37 as Birchington folded for 136 in 33.2 overs.

A fine win by 35 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. Onwards.

Sat 03 Sep 1966 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformLLDDD

St Lukes Maidstone CC visited on Saturday, and I lost the toss for the privilege of watching them bat first — never the plan, but there we are.

They ground their way to 138 all out in 50.1 overs, W. Hunt top-scoring with a stubborn 44 and J. Beesley chipping in with 28, the pair putting on 53 for the third wicket after we'd had them 0 for 1 at one point. Credit where due — our bowling attack made them earn every one of those runs. Paul Bowles was in unplayable form, turning it square for 5-53, with Terry Donovan (4-33, four maidens for good measure) squeezing the life out of the innings and Terry Whittaker chipping in with 1-22. Pearson and Hull, mercifully for us, went back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers at all.

Which left us needing 139, and needing it rather more than we managed. I'll admit my own part in proceedings and move swiftly on. Paul Bowles again did the bulk of the scoring with 20, but from 4 for 1 we somehow contrived to be 19 for 4 before anyone had really settled into a deckchair, and poor Terry Donovan and Jon Harris departed for twin ducks. All out for 50 in 28.5 overs — batting collapses of that speed usually need a health warning.

Beaten by 88 runs, then, and no amount of purple prose will dress that up as anything but a proper hiding with the bat. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets — there's work to do before next weekend.

Mon 29 Aug 1966 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDLLDD

From the captain's chair — Monday 29 August 1966. We were away at Bearsted CC, and I confess I fancied our chances enough to win the toss and stick us in, a decision I'm rather pleased to report vindicated itself in the writing of this report if nothing else.

We batted first and made a solid fist of it, 240 all out from 71.2 overs, built on a splendid opening stand of 85 that set the tone nicely. John Ames played the anchor role beautifully for 59, with Don Clayton (49) and Terry Whittaker (33) chipping in handsomely. I found some form myself with the bat, contributing 25 down the order. Less gloriously, Fred Greenfield and Derry Evans both trudged back for ducks — the sort of walk of shame every clubman knows and none of us enjoy watching.

In the field, Dick Langridge was quite magnificent, spinning his way to 5-90 and thoroughly deserving every one of them, while I managed to get among the wickets too with 3-42. It wasn't quite enough to dislodge David Andrews, who made a superb, chanceless 109 and was well supported by Tony Snook's unbeaten 35 and Colin Fleetwood's 20 as Bearsted closed on 224/8. Nine byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Fred.

A word of real cheer amid it all: William Buck brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to. In the end honours were shared — a draw, honestly earned by both sides, and no disgrace in that whatsoever.

Sat 27 Aug 1966 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformLDLLD

I once made 24, the ball nipping about just enough to keep everyone honest, and it felt like a wafer-thin margin between us and a good drubbing.

A.Trembeth arrived and simply batted, and batted, and batted. Trembeth himself set the tone with a fine 75, Norris chipped in with 47 and Fell with 43, and by the time their fiftieth over loomed they'd carted us to 222 for 3 — the sort of total that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. To our credit, we never quite let it run away entirely: Dick Langridge toiled manfully for 2 for 51, Brian Relf picked up a wicket for his 53, and Terry Whittaker bowled two tidy maidens that felt, in the circumstances, like small acts of heroism.

Chasing 223 was always a stretch on our better days, and this was not obviously one of those, but Terry Donovan batted with real composure for an unbeaten 33, and Fred Greenfield's 27 gave the innings its spine — the pair adding 51 for the sixth wicket when things could easily have unravelled. We finished on 121 for 6, well short but not disgraced, and I confess my own 24 down the order felt more like damage limitation than an innings for the ages.

Elsewhere, Don Clayton's five runs quietly nudged him past Len Conway into 18th on the club's all-time run list, which is the kind of thing only cricketers could find genuinely moving. In the end honours were shared, and on a day when the bowlers gave everything and the bat only some of it, a draw felt like a fair and rather merciful verdict.

Sun 21 Aug 1966 🧢 1st XIv EC East Peckham & Nettlestead CC · HomeformWLDLL

Sunday 21st August, and East Peckham & Nettlestead rolled up to find the toss going their way and the covers thankfully redundant. They chose to bat, and for a while it looked like they might bat forever — 81 on the board before we so much as glimpsed a breakthrough, N Ashman purring along to 49 with A Morris (31) and K Miles (29) offering polite support. Credit where due: John Ames toiled manfully for his 3-55, with Gordon Fenner (2-30, two tidy maidens thrown in) and Dick Langridge (2-49) chipping away at the other end. 202 all out from 51.4 overs — a proper afternoon's graft in the field, and by the closing overs the knees were audibly creaking.

Chasing was never really on the cards once we'd seen that total off that many overs, and with the light and the clock both against us, 47 without loss from just 7 became the sensible order of the day. John Ames, having bowled his heart out, then batted us to safety with an unbeaten 25, ably abetted by William Buck's equally composed 22 not out — the sort of low-key rearguard that wins you nothing but loses you nothing either.

Special mention, and a small cheer from the boundary, for William Buck reaching 6,000 career runs for the club — a proper milestone, quietly achieved, as is his way. Honours shared in the end; nobody quite had the legs or the inclination to force it. A draw, then, and on a day like this, no bad result at all.

Sat 20 Aug 1966 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformDWLDL

Terry Whittaker's Match Report — Saturday 20 August 1966

Aylesford Paper Mills CC at home, and having called correctly at the toss I saw no earthly reason not to bat — a decision I stood by rather more stoutly than our top order did, as we lost a wicket with just 4 on the board and wobbled about wondering where the next run might come from. Don Clayton steadied things nicely with a fine 32, and to his enormous credit the tail wagged handsomely, a defiant last 36 runs that had the Mills lot rather more flustered than they'd have liked. We closed on 132/8 from our 45 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but respectable enough given the start.

In the field we scrapped hard. Gordon Fenner was superb, snapping up 3-25, with Terry Donovan (2-24) and Dick Langridge (1-29) chipping in nicely, and I managed to keep things tidy myself with a couple of maidens for good measure. But J. Penn simply wouldn't be shifted, compiling a classy 68 with Eric Churchyard's useful 22 alongside him in a stand of 66 for the second wicket that, in truth, did for us. They got home on 133/6 with an over or two in hand, winning by 4 wickets.

Not our finest hour, but far from our worst — plenty of honest endeavour and a few individual performances to be proud of. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 14 Aug 1966 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDDWLD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 14 August 1966. The toss went against us, The Mote CC chose to bat, and so began an afternoon that would end rather worse than it began.

We toiled away in the field for 55 overs as they built to 217/6, Mike Foster compiling a fine 64 not out and Tim Gunter a well-made 53, with Shujaat Beg's unbeaten 26 adding further polish. I'll admit some frustration that their last pair found 58 runs we could very much have done without — the sort of late flurry that turns a defendable total into something altogether more daunting. With the ball I took 2-52, Alan Tucker led the way with a splendid 3-64, and Dick Langridge chipped in with 1-42.

Chasing 218, we made a horror of it. An early wicket with nought on the board set the tone, and from 17-3 we collapsed to 21-6 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Robert Chance, Don Clayton and Frank Brattle all made the walk of shame for the Duck Club ledger, and we were bowled out for a meagre 46 in 21.3 overs. Paul Bowles had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 8 byes escaping his gloves on an unforgiving day.

There was, at least, one shaft of sunshine — Gordon Fenner brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth raising a glass to regardless of the scoreline. Beaten by 171 runs, no dressing it up: this was a chastening one, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 13 Aug 1966 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformWDDWL

Saturday the 13th of August found us on the road to Bowaters CC, and my coin fell soft on the toss — beaten to it, and duly asked to bowl first. Not the worst hand on a decent pitch, though the home side made us work for it, compiling 169 for 9 off their 41 overs. Jack Day was chief architect with 35, and had willing company in Colin Ecclestone's 29 and Alan Douglas's 21. Terry Donovan did most to keep them honest with 3 for 51, Derry Evans matching him wicket for wicket at the same cost, while I chipped in 3 for 64 myself, a couple of maidens among them, so at least I can say I didn't give it away lightly.

Chasing 170, we never found our rhythm. John Mattingley batted nicely for 27 — rather more than the rest of us managed between us — but a horrid little collapse from 66 for 3 to 66 for 6 did for our chances, and ducks for both Paul Bowles and Alan Cridland didn't help the cause. We limped to 98 for 9 off our 42, saved, one suspects, chiefly by the clock.

Elsewhere in the season, Don Clayton continues his quiet excellence, sitting third in the club's 1966 run charts with 468 to his name — proof that not everything about our year has been scrappy improvisation.

A draw, then. Honours shared, pride more or less intact, and both sides left on the coach home to wonder what might have been.

Wed 27 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformLWDDW

As it stood at 76 for 5 with 22 to spare, Fred Baker's excellent unbeaten 37 saw Aylesford Paper Mills home by five wickets — but I'll come to that.

Winning the toss on a Wednesday evening in late July, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and for a while it looked the sort of decision that gets you a pat on the back rather than a raised eyebrow. Brian Aiston played the anchor role beautifully for his 28, and I was glad to lend a hand at the other end with 24 of my own as we put on 50 for the third wicket — the kind of stand that makes an innings feel respectable rather than rescued. Seventy-five for four off our fourteen overs wasn't a total to frighten anyone, but it gave the bowlers something to bowl at.

And bowl at it they did. David Gale was superb, ripping through with 3 for 16, backed up nicely by Terry Whittaker's 1 for 17 and a wicket apiece for yours truly's opening partner in arms, Aiston, with 1 for 37. We even had them one down with just a single run on the board, Colin Watson gone without troubling the scorers, and for a moment the tea urn nearly boiled over with optimism. But Fred Baker had other ideas, farming the strike and the runs in equal measure, and Aylesford eased home with five wickets and a few overs in hand.

Not our day, then, but no disgraces either — just a reminder that 75 rarely wins you a cricket match. Heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Tue 26 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv LA Loose Amenities · AwayformWLWDD

Skipper's Log, Tuesday 26 July 1966. We took ourselves off to Loose Amenities with the sun more or less behaving and the lads in good spirits, and I opted to have first use of the ball — a call that looked rather shrewd within the hour. Loose Amenities were bowled out for a paltry 39 in just 11.5 overs, and the innings simply fell apart in front of us, 12-1 becoming 21-4 before anyone in the home dressing room had settled. R. Sidebottom, L. Buchanan and B. Wolford all trooped back without troubling the scorers, three ducks on the bounce, which does rather flatter a captain's field placings. Alan Wilkes was the chief architect, tearing through them for 6-14, with David Gale chipping in handily at 3-21, a fine addition to a season in which he already sits atop our wicket charts with 48.

Chasing 40 held no great terrors, and we knocked it off for the loss of a single wicket, 40-1 from 9.4 overs, to seal victory by nine wickets. I'll allow myself one mention of form — I now lead the 1st XI run charts with 715 for the summer — though truthfully the bowlers left me precious little to do today.

Two points banked, and about as tidy an afternoon as village cricket ever offers.

Sun 24 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLWLWD

Sunday 24 July 1966, and Folkestone CC rolled up as visitors with the sun rather more cooperative than the coin — I lost the toss and we were sent into the field. Folkestone made themselves thoroughly at home, posting a commanding 254 for 5 from their 47.5 overs. Ian Pepper played the innings of the day, an imperious 126, well supported by Brian Humphries with a tidy 61 and Mike Stephens unbeaten on 29. We did strike early, reducing them to 1 for 1, but a stand of 122 for the third wicket rather undid our good work and let the total balloon alarmingly.

Credit to the attack for not folding under it. David Gale led from the front with 2 for 37, backed up by Terry Whittaker's 2 for 76 and Alan Wilkes chipping in with 1 for 65, and there was some quiet satisfaction in watching C Farreley trudge back for a duck.

Chasing that mountain was always going to want a bold start, and instead we found ourselves 6 for 1 before we'd properly settled, limping to 15 for 2 from our 8 overs when the clock called time on proceedings. I won't pretend to have had a hand in turning that around, though there's comfort in still leading the club's run charts for the season with 704.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride dented but not broken. Folkestone will go home talking about Pepper's century; we'll go home knowing we never laid a proper glove on the game with the bat, and live to fight another Sunday.

Sat 23 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · AwayformWLWLW

Here's the report:

From the captain's chair, and what a scrap it was out at Tilling Steven on Saturday. Put into the field first, we watched their top order settle in rather too comfortably, with Woodcock compiling a fine fifty and finding willing company in Parkinson and Ferguson, who both got in and stayed in. It could have got away from us entirely had Gordon Fenner not turned it on, spinning a web through their middle and lower order for a magnificent 6-43 — the kind of spell you talk about in the bar for weeks. Dick Langridge chipped in usefully, David Gale bowled tight as a drum with two maidens, and I did my bit with a wicket for 43, though I'll admit the figures flattered the effort more than the eye did.

Our reply never quite found its rhythm, an early wobble at 6 for 1 setting a nervy tone, but a punchy third-wicket stand of 69 dragged us back into the contest. I found some form with 49, and Basil Sears played beautifully for 42 — a knock that, rather splendidly, sees him leapfrog Stan Wratten into second on the club's all-time run-scoring list, a moment worth raising a glass to. Dick Langridge finished unbeaten on 25, though ten byes suggested Fred Greenfield had rather a testing afternoon behind the stumps.

In the end honours were shared, and on reflection that felt about right — a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody, which in this fickle old game is sometimes the fairest result of all.

Sun 17 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv LN Len Newbury's · HomeformLWLWL

Sunday 17 July found us at Len Newbury's, and put into the field first we watched the home side settle in nicely. Their openers put on 64 before the first wicket fell, and from there M. Everest made a well-made 55, R. Harding 52, and R. Craddock 34, taking them to 207/6 from their 41 overs. It could have been worse — John Ames pulled things back with a fine 3-26, David Gale chipped in with 2-71, Dick Langridge took 1-38, and Alan Tucker gave nothing away with two tidy maidens.

Chasing 208, our openers matched theirs stride for stride with 65 on the board before the first wicket went down, and a stand of 82 for the third wicket did the real work. John Ames again led the way with a classy 69, I chipped in with 44, and Robert Chance made a useful 36. Stan Wratten's duck was the one blot on an otherwise cheerful scorecard. We got there with 209/6 from 44 overs and four wickets in hand.

A word for Don Clayton, whose 32 runs eased him past Robert Wood into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — history quietly being made while the rest of us were busy chasing runs. I lead the 1966 run charts on 700, with David Gale top of the wicket-takers on 43. A good, honest win, and a very good day for the club.

Sat 16 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWLWLW

Saturday took us down the road to Rumwood, and my luck was out before a ball was bowled — lost the toss, and they had no hesitation in taking first strike. Still, we set to with the ball in good heart, and by the close of their innings we'd done a fair job of pegging them back: 113 for 8 from their 48 overs, even if N. Phillips' 34, well supported by P. Coatsworth's 26 and Hill's 21, gave their innings more backbone than we'd have liked. Credit to the attack, though — sending Robin Venner and David Gale packing for nought apiece was as good a start as any bowling side could wish for.

Chasing 114 should never have troubled a side of our pedigree, and for a while it didn't — 12 for 1 looked perfectly respectable. Then, as so often happens on these grounds, the roof fell in: four wickets tumbled in a blur to leave us 21 for 4, and by the time Don Clayton and Paul Bowles had both trudged back for ducks, the innings had the unmistakable whiff of collapse about it. We were bowled out for 65 in 32.2 overs, a margin of 48 runs that flattered nobody.

Not our day, then, and no use pretending otherwise. The bowling gave us hope; the batting took it away again. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets — there's little else for it.

Sun 10 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformWWLWL

Sunday 10 July, Sevenoaks Vine visiting, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly and, fancying a pitch too good to waste, had no hesitation in batting first. John Ames made the sort of hundred that has spectators reaching for their scorecards twice, 113 of real substance, while I chipped in with a fifty of my own, 53 that felt rather satisfying from where I was standing. Our stand together was worth 113 for the third wicket, and William Buck's unbeaten 28 rounded things off nicely to leave us on a handsome 230 for 4 from 48 overs. Poor Don Clayton, alas, departed for a golden duck — the sort of thing that happens to the best of us, usually when we can least afford it.

With the ball, we set about them properly. Graham Gaston's 34, ably supported by George Downton's 30 and Rodney Crang's 26, built a 56-run stand for the sixth wicket that threatened to make a match of it, but Dick Langridge had other ideas, scything through with 4 for 35, well supported by Alan Tucker's tidy 2 for 17 (three maidens, no less) and Don Clayton's 2 for 69. We then ran through the tail in a blur — three wickets for no addition, none of the last men troubling the scorers — and Sevenoaks were all out for 147.

A fine day all round, capped by William Buck bringing up his 300th appearance in our colours — a landmark worth raising a glass to. Won by 83 runs, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved.

Sat 09 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv RC Reeds CC · AwayformDWWLW

Saturday 09th July 1966 saw us make the trip to Reeds CC with the sun (or something like it) on our backs and the coin, mercifully, on our side. I called correctly and, in a fit of optimism I would spend the rest of the afternoon regretting, put us in to bat.

What followed was very much a game of two halves within our own innings. Basil Sears played a lone hand of real substance, 43 well-made runs that for a while had us dreaming of something respectable. Then, as is the Linton Park way, the wheels came off spectacularly — 90 for 7 became 92 all out with a haste that left spectators barely time to refill their tea. Mike Iliffe, Terry Donovan and Richard Ashby all contributed golden ducks to the cause, a hat-trick of nothing that will not trouble the record books kindly.

With the ball, however, we found our mettle. Reeds wobbled early at 4 for 1, D. White gone for nought, and though Jim Archer's unbeaten 28 steadied things, our attack never let them settle. David Gale was magnificent — 4 for 32 with four maidens, not a run given away lightly — well supported by Paul Bowles (3 for 31) and Terry Donovan (1 for 10), the latter passing his 100th career wicket along the way. Don Clayton's 8 runs, meanwhile, eased him past Robert Wood into 19th on the club's all-time run charts.

In the end Reeds crept home by a single wicket. Cruel, but honest defeat — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 03 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformLDWWL

We travelled down to Aylesford Paper Mills last Sunday with the sun out and spirits, if not our recent net practice, in reasonably good order. The coin let us down again — I really must learn to call it properly one of these weeks — and Aylesford took first strike, leaving us to toil in the field. Toil we did, but happily to good effect: the home side were shot out for 112 in 40.5 overs, Cliff Anscombe's 22 the only real resistance. Terry Whittaker was the chief tormentor, a splendid 4-27 built on three miserly maidens, while Brian Aiston (3-44) and John Ames, tidiness itself with 2-6, tightened the screws from the other end.

Set 113 to win, we made it look rather straightforward, romping home at 113/2 in 26.3 overs. John Ames, having bowled like a dream, then batted like one too, seeing us home with an unbeaten 54 — his fifty thoroughly deserved. Don Clayton chipped in handsomely with 38, the pair adding 82 for the second wicket and putting the result beyond doubt long before tea.

Don Clayton continues his fine season, now 2nd in the 1st XI run charts with 430, while David Gale sits 2nd among the wicket-takers with 37 — the sort of form that wins matches like this one.

An eight-wicket victory, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards indeed.

Sat 02 Jul 1966 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformTLDWW

Won the toss at Charles Arkcoll on a Saturday that promised more than it delivered, and I had no hesitation sticking us in — a decision that looked briefly clever and then rapidly less so. Eddie Lawrence's 40 was the only innings with any backbone to it; everything either side of him wobbled alarmingly, 7-1 collapsing to 16-4 before we'd properly settled into our deckchairs. The Duck Club had a bumper afternoon — Don Clayton, Jon Harris and I all contributed nought apiece, a hat-trick of ornithological shame that owed nothing to teamwork. All out 88 in 29.2 overs was scant reward for the effort of getting the kettle on.

With the ball, at least, we gave a proper account of ourselves. Eddie struck early to remove the opener cheaply at 3-1, and Terry Donovan bowled with real discipline — three maidens and 1-15 — while I chipped in with 1-9, which I mention here once and shall not be repeating. But Brian Aiston (43) and Stan Wratten (38) put on 83 for the second wicket and simply battened down the hatches, seeing Charles Arkcoll home at 89/3.

Beaten by seven wickets, then, and honestly not much to argue with in the result — you don't chase totals like ours very often. I fell for a duck myself, and the least said about that the better. Onwards to next week, wiser, humbler, and hopefully off the pair.

Wed 29 Jun 1966 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformWWLDD

I called correctly at the toss and, with a decent-looking deck under my boots, had absolutely no hesitation in sticking us in to bat — a decision that I shall this once allow myself to feel smug about. Roger Craddock led the charge with a superb 73, and John Mattingley chipped in a tidy 49, while I managed to contribute 63 of my own down the order — deeply satisfying, and I shall mention it only the once before modesty reasserts itself. We put on 130 for the first wicket before Gravesend so much as troubled the scorers, and finished a handsome 237/5 from our 43 overs. Not a bad afternoon's graft at all.

With the ball, we set about defending it with more graft than glamour. John Carter was superb, hooping through their order for 3-38, while Terry Donovan bowled with real discipline — four maidens and 1-16 tells you all you need to know about how little he gave away — and D Simmons chipped in with 1-20. T Pickering and F Harris both departed without so much as a run to their names, which will have stung. But R Stubb dug in for an unbeaten 36, well supported by R Langford's 34 and Roger Barrett's 28, and a stubborn 61-run stand for the seventh wicket saw them home to safety at 177/7 from 51 overs.

Eighteen byes, mind you, told their own quiet story of a testing day behind the stumps for poor Cliff Anscombe — no doubt a few choice words were had in the tea interval. In the end, honours were shared: a draw when neither side could quite force the other's hand. Not a win, but on this evidence, not far off one either.

Mon 27 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · AwayformDTLDW

The lads at Tilling Steven, 27 June 1966. Won the toss, chose to bat without a second thought — village cricket wisdom says bowl first on a damp morning, but I've never much cared for village cricket wisdom.

It nearly cost us. 88/8 from our sixteen overs wasn't a total to write home about, and for a stretch it looked like considerably less than that — 31-2 became 46-5 in the time it takes to pour a pint, and poor John Ames walked back for nought, his name duly inked into the Duck Club ledger for all posterity. What held the innings together, and indeed the club's dignity, was Stan Wratten, unbeaten on 44 while wickets fell like skittles at the other end. I chipped in with the bat myself, though the real story of our innings was Stan carrying it almost single-handed.

Eighty-eight looked light when Tilling Steven strode out, and lighter still when Pound got their innings moving with 39. But David Gale had other ideas, turning the ball square all afternoon for a magnificent 5-32, ably supported by Alan Wilkes and Alan Tucker with a wicket apiece, while Chapman, Smith and Woodcock all made the same lonely walk we'd suffered ourselves.

One run. One single, agonising, glorious run. Two points banked, and if ever a game proved that cricket owes nothing to logic, it was this one.

Sun 26 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv CP Canterbury Pilgrims · HomeformWDTLD

From the captain's chair, Sunday 26 June 1966: Canterbury Pilgrims at home, and a result that did the lads no harm at all.

We had first use of the ball, and can't say I was sorry to see an early stumble at 0-1 set the tone. From there we simply ran through them, 30-3 crumbling to 39-6 before anyone could catch breath, with A Vaughan and R Pipe both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. David Gale was in irresistible form, 6-28 the sort of figures that win matches on their own, while Alan Wilkes toiled away for 2-49 with five maidens that gave nothing away cheaply, and Dick Langridge chipped in with 1-14. Pilgrims limped to 102 all out from 43 overs, only R Gawler's unbeaten 30 giving their card any respectability.

Chasing it should have been the easy part, and true to form we made it harder than it needed to be, another early stumble at 3-1 threatening to make a nonsense of the whole afternoon. Don Clayton steadied things nicely with 35, I chipped in with 19, and eleven byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Roy Clarke. We scrambled home at 104/8 from 41.4 overs.

A fine win by two wickets, then, earned the hard way. I lead the 1966 1st XI run charts with 645 runs, and David Gale sits second in the wicket charts with 31, so the season ticks pleasingly onward. Onwards indeed.

Sat 25 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · AwayformWWDTL

Off to Sevenoaks Vine we trundled on Saturday 25th June, and having somehow called the coin correctly for once, I had no hesitation in sticking us in to bat — a decision I was still congratulating myself on some hours later.

It didn't look like genius early on, mind, as we slipped to 4 for 1 and I began drafting my resignation speech. But the top order steadied the ship, and what followed was really the Don Clayton show: 110 not out, an innings of real substance, anchoring us through to 168 for 9 off our 47 overs, with a fine eighth-wicket stand of 52 doing much of the heavy lifting lower down. Less gloriously, Paul Bowles, J Walker and Derry Evans all took the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club, I'm afraid, did brisk business this week.

With the ball, we set about them with purpose, and Alan Tucker was superb — two maidens and a wicket for just 25, miserly stuff that never let Sevenoaks settle. But R. Howeson dug in for 28 not out and saw them home to 58 for 1 in 17.4 overs before the rain, or good sense, or both, brought things to a close.

Splendid news off the field, too: Basil Sears raised 6,000 career runs for the club, and Don's century sees him leapfrog Richard Harris into 20th on our all-time run-scorers' list. He now sits second in this season's charts on 353, with Alan top of the wicket-takers on 35.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, after that start, I'd have signed for it in permanent ink.

Thu 23 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv S Snodland · HomeformWWWDT

I called correctly at the toss on a fine Thursday evening and, with Snodland waiting in the field, there was really only one decision to make: bat first and see what we could put together. Sixteen overs later we'd posted 77/4, a total that felt more "workmanlike" than "record-breaking" but had enough substance to make a game of it. I was pleased to top-score with 23, ably backed up by Don Clayton's brisk 21 – the two of us doing most of the heavy lifting while the rest of the order looked on, presumably taking notes.

Defending under the evening sky, we started with hope rather than confidence, and Snodland set about dismantling both fairly briskly. David Gale did what David Gale does, prising out a wicket for 34, but Smitherman was in no mood to be troubled, compiling an unbeaten 25 that anchored the chase. They cantered home in just 11.4 overs, eight wickets in hand, making our total look rather modest in hindsight.

Not our day, then, by any stretch – beaten well and truly, and no amount of village-green optimism can dress that up. Still, there were small mercies: Gale's wicket nudged him past George Champion into 9th on the club's all-time list, and my 23 keeps me atop this season's run charts with 626 to my name, while Gale himself sits third among the 1966 wicket-takers with 25. Heads up, then – back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Tue 21 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv SM Shepway Maidstone · AwayformWWWWD

We won the toss at Shepway Maidstone and I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, though our innings did its level best to make a fool of me. Eighty-three for nine off sixteen overs was the final tally, and it came apart in a hurry: 57 for six became 69 for nine before anyone had really settled. Poor Richard Ashby will not thank me for mentioning that he departed for a duck, but a captain's log must be an honest one. I managed 17 myself, which felt almost respectable amid the wreckage.

Eighty-three, then, to defend — and defend it we very nearly did with something to spare. Shepway replied with 83 all out in fifteen overs, K. Spiken unbeaten on 23 and R. Laker chipping in with 22, but from 77 for seven the innings simply folded, 83 for ten arriving in a final flurry that included ducks for M. Cloude, R. Smith Snr and J. Marchant. The afternoon belonged, unmistakably, to Alan Tucker, whose 7 for 17 — three of those overs maidens — was a spell of the kind clubs talk about for seasons afterwards. Terry Whittaker toiled honestly for his 1 for 29 in support.

And so, after a full day's cricket, not a run in it — 83 apiece, honours even. Alan continues to lead our wicket charts with 32 for the season, and I'm rather chuffed to still be topping the run count on 603. A tie is a funny old result: nobody quite wins, but on this showing, nobody deserved to lose either.

Sun 19 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv EC East Peckham & Nettlestead CC · AwayformLWWWW

Losing the toss at East Peckham & Nettlestead on Sunday was no great surprise — I don't recall winning one all season — and so we found ourselves in the field, wondering whether the ball might do us a few favours. It very nearly did. They posted 98/6 from their fourteen overs, C Brock unbeaten on 28 the chief architect, with K Taylor's 23 and K Miles's unbeaten 22 keeping the total ticking along nicely without ever quite running away from us. Robert Chance was the pick of the attack, a tidy 2-3 that included sending T Ball back for a duck, while Don Clayton chipped in with 2-13 and Richard Ashby with 1-17. A disciplined shift all round, and one that kept the chase within reach.

Reach it we did not, mind you, though we gave it a fair go. Our reply of 78/7 from thirteen overs had its moments, chief among them Robert Chance's 32, which carried the innings almost single-handedly and capped a fine all-round afternoon for him. Elsewhere the story was less cheering, with Benny Bell, Terry Whittaker and Alan Tucker all departing for ducks of their own, proof if any were needed that Sundays in Kent can be a great leveller.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Not the result we'd have chosen sitting in the field at 98/6, but on the day a fair reflection of two sides cancelling each other out.

Sat 18 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWLWWW

Saturday 18 June, and Rumwood CC rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and my luck, as ever, nowhere to be found — lost the toss again and were sent out to field. Rumwood made themselves comfortable early, N. Phillips easing to a fine 51, well supported by R. Moore's 48 and R. Galgey's 22, with a stand of 55 for the fourth wicket that threatened to bat us clean out of the game. But we had our say too: an early wicket with just 7 on the board rattled them, and Vic Pound and Robin Venner both departed without troubling the scorers. David Gale was pick of the attack by some distance, mopping up 4-56, with Benny Bell (1-9) and Terry Donovan (1-32) chipping in, and Brian Relf tying up an end with two maidens of pure stubbornness. They closed on 173/7 from their 40 overs — gettable, we reckoned, over a cup of tea.

In reply we stumbled to 3-1 before Benny Bell decided enough was enough and played the innings of the day, a well-made 67 anchoring a crucial stand of 99 for the third wicket. I found some form of my own with 43, enough, as it turned out, to nudge past Len Conway and into 17th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a triumph, or simply a sign of how long I've been doing this. Terry Donovan saw us home unbeaten on 25, though Mike Iliffe and David Gale both fell without scoring, and poor Don Clayton spent the afternoon chasing 14 byes round the boundary.

We closed on 175/6 from 37.2 overs — a four-wicket win, two points banked, and a day that also saw David quietly slip past 200 career wickets. For the season, that leaves me second in the 1966 first-team run charts with 278, and David third in the wicket charts with 24. Not our prettiest cricket, byes and all, but thoroughly earned, and I'll take that every Saturday of the summer.

Thu 16 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDWLWW

Thursday 16 June, and off we went to West Farleigh CC in fine spirits, if not entirely deserved by our collective fitness. Winning the toss, I had few doubts about batting first on such a track, and it proved the right call. We compiled a healthy 121 for 3 from our sixteen overs, built on a fifty from yours truly, unbeaten on 64, and well supported by Mike Stephens with a brisk 36 — the pair of us adding 54 for the second wicket. Poor Fred Greenfield contributed rather less with the bat, departing for a duck to make his entry in the club's less illustrious ledger.

Defending 121 is never entirely comfortable, but our bowlers set about the task with real purpose. West Farleigh built a solid platform of 60 for the first wicket before the breakthrough came, and looked set fair at 77 for 2, but our attack found another gear and they subsided to 93 for 5. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, claiming six for 54, with David Gale chipping in with two for 37, while T Newport and Tony Hyde both departed without scoring. Micky Back's 44 and Joe Fenner's 22 gave their innings some late respectability, and Fred Greenfield had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping eight byes, but they fell 19 runs short.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon, and with the season shaping up nicely — I lead the run-scoring charts on 586, Alan Wilkes tops the wickets column with 28 — long may it continue. A good day for the club, and a good day to be captain.

Mon 13 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv LS Len Social · HomeformWDWLW

Under Len Social, on our own patch on 13 June, calling correctly at the toss was the easy part — choosing to bat was the bold bit, and for once the boldness paid off. We rattled along to 126/5 from our 16 overs, John Ames the architect with a splendid 45, well supported by Mike Stephens's brisk 22. Not a monumental total by any means, but on a day like this, quite enough rope to hang a side with.

And hang them we did. Len Social's reply folded in the field like a cheap deckchair, from a rocky 58/6 to a wholly undignified 68 all out inside 15 overs, with Pilbeam, Levett and Kennard each trudging back for ducks. Alan Tucker was the chief executioner, a magnificent 4-33 that did most of the damage, with Derry Evans (2-0) mopping up efficiently. I chipped in with 2-3 myself, which I shall modestly describe as "useful" and leave it at that.

A 58-run victory, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — the kind where everything you touch turns to gold and the tea urn tastes that bit sweeter afterwards. With the season charts showing me leading the run-scoring and Tucker top of the wicket pile, the form book at Linton Park is, for now, refreshingly kind to us. Onwards indeed.

Sun 12 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformWWDWL

Sunday 12 June, and out to Bobbing Court CC we went, sunshine and cautious optimism in equal measure. I won the toss and, with the sort of confidence I'd later have cause to question, stuck us in to bat. We shuffled to 142 all out in 42.2 overs — Robert Chance led the way with a tidy 26, Don Clayton chipped in with 24, and I managed 24 of my own before getting out, which felt about right for a wicket offering little to write home about. Poor Colin Eldred, though, will not be reminiscing fondly — a golden duck to his name, the sort of dismissal that gets you the first round in afterwards.

Defending 142 always feels a touch precarious, but the lads had other ideas. Bobbing Court stumbled early to 4-1, and though they steadied briefly, we tore through the middle and lower order — 73-7 became 77 all out in a blur, D Whibley departing without troubling the scorers. Alan Wilkes was the architect of the collapse, spinning his way to a magnificent 6-30 with six maidens to boot — the sort of spell that wins matches on its own — with Dick Langridge (3-24) and Alan Tucker (1-14) mopping up the rest.

Off the field, cause for real celebration: Stan Wratten brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, while Dick Langridge's three wickets nudged him past Stan into 15th on the all-time wicket-takers list — the changing room ledger getting a healthy rewrite.

A 65-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 11 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWWWDW

As we travelled to Headcorn CC on 11 June 1966, I called correctly at the toss and, with the sort of misplaced optimism that only a village cricket captain can muster, decided we'd bat.

It did not go well. We were 4-1 before some of the lads had finished their tea, and while Fred Greenfield battled manfully to 26 not out, the rest of the order rather let the side down — 29-3 became 36-6 in the time it takes to lose your car keys, and Paul Bowles, Terry Whittaker and Terry Donovan all contrived to bag golden ducks. All out for 72 in 39.5 overs was, frankly, a modest total to defend, and I include my own contribution to that total in the "modest" category too.

With the ball, though, we scrapped. Headcorn stumbled to 1-1 early on, and David Excell and N Kennell both departed without troubling the scorers, but G Murrell settled in and played the innings of the day with a fine 41. David Gale was the pick of our attack, snaring 3-33 with three miserly maidens thrown in, well supported by Brian Relf (1-3) and Terry Whittaker (1-14). It wasn't quite enough — Headcorn got home by 5 wickets — but there was enough fight in that bowling performance to suggest the season, and my own run of form with the bat, isn't done yet. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 07 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv RC Reeds CC · AwayformLWWWD

Here is the match report.

Tuesday last saw us on our travels to Reeds CC, and losing the toss meant we'd be chasing – never my favourite way to spend a Tuesday evening. Still, we made merry with the ball first: Reeds were bowled out for a modest 83 in just 15.3 overs, the innings collapsing spectacularly from 56 for 5 to 57 for 8 in the blink of an eye. C Simmonds, J Doe and R Millett all went for ducks without troubling the scorers, and the real story was David Gale, whose 5-32 was a five-for richly deserved and thoroughly earned. Alan Tucker chipped in handsomely with 4-37, and Terry Whittaker snaffled one for just a solitary run.

Chasing 84, we made harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, stumbling to 1 for 1 before steadying ourselves. Mike Stephens top-scored with a fine 41, well supported by John Ames's unbeaten 29, and a crucial third-wicket stand of 53 did the heavy lifting. Stan Wratten, alas, joined the ducks club himself. We got there in 15.2 overs for the loss of six wickets. Poor Cliff Anscombe had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes escaping his grasp – he'll want that one back.

I'm rather pleased to report my own runs this season have nudged me to the top of the 1st XI charts with 480, while Tucker leads the wickets column with 20 – a fine team effort all round. A win by four wickets, and a thoroughly satisfactory evening's work. Onwards.

Mon 06 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformWLWWW

I called correctly at the toss on Monday and, with the sun out and the outfield running true, there was never any question — we were batting.

It proved the right call, if only just. We posted 178/6 from our 49 overs, a total built on a watchful top order rather than any fireworks. I was fortunate enough to find some form and top-scored with 46, though I'd be the first to admit Terry Whittaker's 38 and William Buck's 30 did rather more of the heavy lifting in keeping the innings moving along.

Defending it against Dimanchians CC, we bowled with real discipline. Alan Wilkes led from the front with 3-40, Dick Langridge chipped in with 2-25 and six maidens that gave the batsmen precisely nothing to work with, and Brian Relf picked up 1-21. P Barton, unbeaten on 35, held their innings together admirably, ably supported by H Farrall's 28 and R Stubbs' 20 — and B Butler, for what it's worth, will find no mention in the scorebook beyond a duck. We had them 89/6 and fancying our chances, only for their last pair to add a thoroughly unwelcome 39 and see them home to 128/6 from 46 overs.

So honours shared, and a draw that neither side could quite force. Frustrating, in its way, but with the runs and wickets column both looking rather healthy for the season, I shan't be losing too much sleep over it.

Sun 05 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · AwayformLWLWW

Skipper's Log — Hartley Country Club CC, Sunday 5th June, 1966

Won the toss, and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I'm not just saying that with the benefit of hindsight. We laboured our way to 168 all out from 57.4 overs, which on a ground like Hartley's felt about right rather than a shortfall. I made 53 myself, which was satisfying, with Don Clayton (42) and Fred Greenfield (32) keeping the innings honest and a fifth-wicket stand of 73 doing the real damage. Elsewhere the card told a different story — ducks for John Ames, Paul Bowles and Alan Tucker reminding us all that cricket is a cruel game dressed up as a gentle one.

In the field, though, we were a different side entirely. Hartley replied with 150 all out from 55 overs, E Cherry (31), J Lillie (29) and X Pothecary (25) doing what they could, but we turned the screw from 60-2 to 71-5 in the blink of an eye, poor I King departing without so much as a look at the scoreboard. Paul Bowles was magnificent with 4-36, Dick Langridge chipped in with 4-52, John Ames took 1-19, and Alan Tucker bowled three miserly maidens to strangle the life out of them.

Off the field, warm applause for Don Clayton, whose 42 eased him past Tom Osborn into 21st on the club's all-time run charts — and I'm rather chuffed to be leading the 1966 run-scorers with 432, while Alan Tucker sits second in the wickets column with 16.

Eighteen runs the margin, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 04 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv T Tovil · HomeformWLWLW

Called correctly for once — my record at the toss being what it is — I had no hesitation in choosing to bat at Tovil. Don Clayton set the tone with a fine 71, ably supported by Basil Sears with 43 and by me for 48, while the openers put together a crucial 115 before the first wicket fell. We closed on a handsome 208 for 3 from 45.3 overs, the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew his nails through it.

With the ball the lads simply didn't let up. Their innings folded to 68 all out in 35.5 overs, John Archer's 30 the only real resistance, and the middle order collapsing from 58 for 4 to 67 for 7 under real pressure, with Jim Archer, E. Maitland and D. Hitchen all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Paul Bowles was the story of the day, a superb 5 for 12 that was thoroughly deserved, with Brian Relf on 3 for 17 and I on 2 for 5 chipping in, and not a run given away lightly with Terry Whittaker sending down three maidens.

A word for the archives too. Terry's 38 runs saw him leapfrog Robert Wood into 18th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and I find myself, somewhat bashfully, top of this season's run charts with 379.

A 140-run victory, then, and about as complete a day as Linton Park could wish for.

Thu 02 Jun 1966 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformDWLWL

Marden CC rolled up on Thursday, and the coin did us no favours — lost the toss, asked to chase, and out we trooped with the new ball rather than the bat. No complaints, though, because what followed was some of the tidiest bowling Linton Park has produced this season. Marden never really got going: an early wicket with the score on just 2 set the tone, and once we'd nudged them from 29-2 to 30-5 in the blink of an eye — M. Owen, R. Day and L. Murrell all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers 🦆 — there was no way back for them. John Sunnucks battled hard for his 28, but it was a lone effort against David Gale, who bowled beautifully for 6-29, well supported by Alan Tucker's 4-32. Marden were done for 66 in 14.4 overs.

Chasing such a modest total ought to be routine, and to our credit we made it look that way, cruising home at 67-3 from just 12 overs, Mike Stephens unbeaten on a composed 32. I'm rather pleased to say my own contribution this season now has me atop the 1st XI run charts with 331, though on this occasion it was very much the bowlers' afternoon — Tucker's four scalps also nudged him past Michael Morton into 11th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and up to 15 for the summer, second only in the current charts.

All told: ruthless with the ball, unfussy with the bat, home in good time for tea. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Mon 30 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLDWLW

From the captain's chair, Monday 30 May 1966, and a rueful nod to Bearsted CC, who arrived as visitors and left rather better pleased with themselves than we did.

Losing the toss and being asked to bowl is never how one wants to start the week, and so it proved. Bearsted settled in for the long haul and made themselves distressingly at home, reaching 246 for 3 from their 64 overs. Colin Fleetwood was the chief tormentor, 95 not out and full of the sort of unhurried menace that has fielders muttering into their boots, well supported by David Marshall's 68 and David Andrews' 57 — the pair adding a punishing 128 for the third wicket while we toiled in the field. Gordon Fenner did what damage he could with 1 for 28, and John Carter, miserly as ever with three maidens to his name, chipped in alongside Terry Whittaker.

Chasing 247 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered them poorly. Stan Wratten batted with real application for 59, ably backed by John Carter's unbeaten 21, but the innings unravelled in a rush from 135 for 7 to 150 all out, poor Richard Ashby collecting a golden duck for his troubles. Roy Clarke had a torrid time behind the stumps too, eight byes leaking away like the afternoon itself.

Small mercies: Gordon Fenner's 12 runs eased him past Frank Taylor into 13th on the club's all-time run charts, and I go into the summer still leading our 1966 run tally with 323, Terry Whittaker our leading wicket-taker with 17. But 96 runs is 96 runs. Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 29 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformWLDWL

Sunday last took us down to Folkestone, and if you'd told me beforehand we'd sneak home by two wickets after the collapse we produced, I'd have asked what you'd been putting in the tea urn. I lost the toss — not for the first time this season, and I suspect the coin has views on my captaincy — and we were asked to field.

Folkestone made a shaky start, eight on the board and an early wicket down, and though Mike Stephens dug in for a fine 58 not out, well supported by David Brickell's 38, we kept chipping away. J Cant was the story of the innings, five for 36 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, and John Ames backed him up handsomely with four for 35. Peter Godden, Christopher Cox and Derek Waddup all walked back for ducks, which cheered the slip cordon no end. I picked up one for 14 myself, mostly by standing in the right place and looking purposeful.

138 all out from 23.1 overs left us a target that should have been comfortable, and John Ames's 35 and my own 33, with Robert Chance's 23 alongside, had us cruising — until the wheels came off in spectacular fashion, 127 for 4 collapsing to 135 for 7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a pint. Poor Frank Brattle's duck won't trouble the highlights reel. Don Clayton's 17 nudged him past Arthur Cornwallis on the all-time list, which is some consolation for the nerves he gave us. A two-wicket win, scraped rather than strolled — but a win is a win, and the beer tasted all the sweeter for it.

Sat 28 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformWWLDW

I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first strike — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might suggest by close of play. We were bowled out for 160 in 49.5 overs, and it was a proper old-fashioned rescue job: I got in and made 60, with Paul Bowles (28) and Basil Sears (25) keeping me honest in a fourth-wicket stand worth 67. Then, as is traditional round these parts, the innings rather fell off a cliff — 156 for 7 became 160 all out in the time it takes to put the kettle on, with Mike Iliffe, Richard Ashby and Brian Relf all contributing that most democratic of scores, the duck.

Defending 160 always asks questions, and Sevenoaks Vine had most of the answers. G. Mai played the innings of the day, a fine 64, well supported by A. Woodman (36) and James Fife (34), with a 50-run fourth-wicket stand doing the damage. I picked up 2 for 48 with the ball, Brian Relf and Paul Bowles a wicket apiece, and Gordon Fenner tucked in two tidy maidens — though Phil Francis's duck was the only real cheer from our side as they eased home at 161 for 5.

Beaten by five wickets, then, but not disgraced. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next Saturday.

Tue 24 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv HK Hanwell (Kent) · HomeformWWWLD

Tuesday 24 May, and Hanwell (Kent) rolled up to find us in the mood to bowl first — a decision I shan't dress up as inspired captaincy, more a hunch that paid off handsomely. They never really got going, losing an early wicket at 4-1, and then, just as they looked to be steadying the ship, capitulating from 52-3 to 55-6 in the blink of an eye. N Cox held firm for 25, the lone patch of resistance in an innings that closed at 67/8 from their sixteen overs, poor D Jeffery trudging back without so much as troubling the scorers. Terry Whittaker was magnificent, tearing through the order for 4-29, with David Gale doing his fair share of the damage alongside him for 4-34.

Chasing 68 was never going to trouble us unduly, and so it proved. We got there in 11.1 overs for the loss of five wickets, myself contributing a watchful 16 along the way — more nudge than swagger, but runs all the same.

The season ledger continues to make pleasant reading. I sit atop the 1966 1st XI run charts with 280 for the year, while Whittaker's efforts today keep him well clear at the top of the wicket-takers with fourteen. A tidy, comfortable five-wicket win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 22 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWWWL

As I called correctly and had no hesitation in electing to bat on a fine Sunday down at The Mote, I was quietly pleased with myself — a feeling that, as ever, didn't last long enough to be worth much. We put together a respectable 169/9 from our 49 overs, John Ames leading the way with a well-crafted 37, R Dudney chipping in with 30, and I contributed 28 of my own in a knock I shall generously describe as "useful" rather than "memorable." A solid opening stand of 56 gave the innings its backbone, though William Buck and Gordon Fenner will not thank me for mentioning their ducks in the club gazette — the walk of shame, gentlemen, comes to us all eventually.

Out in the field, The Mote made us work hard for every wicket. Tim Gunter proved a proper thorn in our side, batting through unbeaten for a fine 78, well supported by Mike Foster's 30, the pair adding 62 for the third wicket and looking, for a while, quite capable of chasing the lot down. Credit where it's due: R Dudney did the real damage with 2-47, Alan Tucker bowled tidily for 2-49 including two miserly maidens, and Dick Langridge picked up 1-31. E Howes and Murray Nissen departed without troubling the scorers, which offered some small consolation.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force it home — a fair result on the day, and frankly about right for a game that gave as good as it got. As for the season, I find myself atop the run charts with 264, while Alan Tucker sits second among the wicket-takers with 11 — not a bad afternoon's work all told, even if the draw leaves us wanting just that little bit more.

Sat 21 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformDWWWW

Saturday last brought Gore Court CC to Linton Park, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy career, I had no hesitation in putting us in — a decision that, for a little while at least, looked positively astute.

We batted our way to a healthy 177/6 from the allotted 52 overs, built on a fifth-wicket stand of 59 that gave the innings its backbone. Don Clayton chipped in with a tidy 30 and Frank Brattle 24, while I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, easing past fifty to finish with 52 — a personal contribution I shan't pretend wasn't satisfying, thank you very much. Worth a mention too: Basil Sears's useful 22 saw him leapfrog William Buck into third on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing that gets discussed at length over tea while the rest of us feign nonchalance.

Defending 177 always felt a tall order once David Hillier got going, and so it proved. His unbeaten 108 was a genuinely magnificent innings, supported ably by David Harris's 38 and John Bishop's unbeaten 25, as Gore Court cantered home to 179/1 in just 32 overs. Eddie Lawrence toiled manfully for his solitary wicket, but there was little else to cheer from the field.

Down by seven wickets, then, and no dressing it up — not our day. Still, with 236 runs for the season I've no complaints on the personal front. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Mon 16 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv MP Maidstone Police · HomeformDDWWW

Monday the 16th of May saw us host Maidstone Police, and when the coin fell my way I had no hesitation in asking us to bat first.

It was not the smoothest of starts, an early wicket falling with just 7 on the board, but Robert Chance battled well for his 36 to help us recover to 88 for 6 from our sixteen overs. Not the most commanding of totals, but with the ball in hand anything felt possible.

So it proved. Maidstone Police lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board and never really settled, with A Mewlyn, G Johnson and Rees all trooping back without troubling the scorers. Cruttenden fought hard for his 30, but the day belonged to Alan Tucker, whose 5 for 28 was a thoroughly deserved five-for, well supported by Alan Wilkes with 4 for 40, as Maidstone Police were held to 79 for 9. Poor Cliff Anscombe had a torrid time behind the stumps, with 9 byes going begging, though it mattered not in the end.

We held on for a 9-run victory, tight enough to keep the tea urn rattling nervously. There were milestones to savour too — I brought up 12,000 career runs for the club and lead our 1966 run charts with 184, while Tucker's five wickets lifted him past Ray Howard into 12th on the club's all-time list. A scratchy old win in the end, but ours all the same, and we'll take it every time.

Sun 15 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformDDDWW

Sunday 15 May, and Gore Court came to Linton Park with the sun out and the covers, mercifully, staying in the shed. I lost the toss – no great surprise there, my coin-calling this season has been about as reliable as an English summer – and we were put into the field.

It proved no hardship. Gore Court were shepherded out for 125 in 49.4 overs, with Terry Whittaker bowling beautifully for 3-27, five of his overs going for nothing at all. Alan Tucker chipped in with 3-47, and Benny Bell was tidy and dangerous in equal measure with 2-13. Buckingham (34) and Clay (25 not out) did the bulk of the rebuilding for the visitors, but wickets fell steadily around them, and there was even a golden duck for good measure – always a moment to savour from the boundary rope.

Chasing 126, we made light work of it, reaching 129/2 in just 27.3 overs. John Ames played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 67 full of good sense and good timing, while I was happy to potter along in support for an unbeaten 35 of my own. Elsewhere, there was a tidy footnote to the afternoon: Alan Tucker's three wickets nudged him past Herbert Rayner and up to 13th on the club's all-time list – the sort of statistic nobody chases but everybody quietly enjoys.

An eight-wicket win, then, comfortable in the end though earned in the field first. Tea was good, the scorebook kinder still. Onwards we go.

Sat 14 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformDDDDW

Terry Whittaker's Match Report — Linton Park CC v Maidstone Ymca CC, Saturday 14 May 1966

The toss went against us, as tosses so often do at Linton Park, and we were put into the field with the sun rather more cooperative than my top order would later prove to be. Maidstone Ymca made a watchful 88 all out in 34.4 overs, built around a first-wicket stand of 55 and 37 from Tony Grenfell, before the innings rather came apart in our hands — 55 for 1 collapsing to 57 for 4 as Benny Bell found his rhythm. Bell was quite magnificent, eight for 20 with five maidens thrown in for good measure, ably supported by Gordon Fenner's two for 30. Poor Butler departed without so much as troubling the scorers, and by the close of their innings the Ymca had rather wished they'd never won that toss after all.

Chasing 89 should have been a formality. It was not. Fred Greenfield battled to 31 and did the bulk of the work, but around him wickets tumbled with alarming enthusiasm — 9 for 1 became 18 for 4 before most of us had settled into our deckchairs. Colin Eldred, Paul Bowles and I all contributed ducks to the cause, and as captain I felt duty-bound to lead from the front, managing instead a golden blob that will live long in family infamy.

Somehow, gloriously, ridiculously, we scrambled home by one wicket. A result that owed everything to Bell's bowling and precious little to my batting — but a win is a win, and this one will be dined out on for weeks.

Thu 12 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv PH Penenden Heath · HomeformDDDDD

From the captain's chair — Thursday 12 May 1966

Home to Penenden Heath, and a fine evening for it. Winning the toss I sent them in, and for a good while it looked the right call: 32-2 became 35-5 under a squeeze from Alan Wilkes and Terry Donovan, with R- Macaffry and R- Kemp back in the pavilion without so much as a look at the scoreboard. Then, as so often happens on these grounds, their last pair decided enough was enough and put on a thoroughly unwelcome 44, with Farnell and Peat unbeaten at the end to see them to 80/6 from their fourteen overs. Wilkes finished with a heroic 4-47, and en route quietly brought up 500 career wickets — a landmark that deserves rather more fanfare than a Thursday evening at Penenden Heath afforded him.

Chasing 81, we lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board, which had me eyeing the tea urn nervously, and poor Benny Bell departed for a duck to deepen the gloom. But it steadied handsomely from there. I was glad to play my part with an unbeaten 56, and Fred Greenfield chipped in nicely with 23 not out as we cantered home to 81/2 in just eleven overs.

Eight wickets, two points, and a season now nicely shaping up — I sit atop the run charts with 137, Wilkes tops the wickets with 9. All told, a thoroughly satisfying evening's work, and precisely the sort of cricket that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter.

Sat 07 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 7th May 1966 and Charles Arkcoll rolled up for what turned into a proper old-fashioned draw – the sort that leaves both sides nodding sagely into their teas rather than either dashing for the scorebook in triumph.

I lost the toss – no change there – and we were sent into the field. Charles Arkcoll made 148 all out in 41.2 overs, built around a fine half-century from Stan Wratten (63) and useful support from John Ames (37), the pair adding a crucial 56 for the third wicket after an early wobble at 1-1 threatened to derail them before they'd begun. Credit to us, though: once the top order broke it rather came apart at the seams, 131-6 collapsing to 141-9 in a hurry, Sean Carter and John Perkins both sent back without troubling the scorers. Terry Whittaker was the chief architect, 4-19 with three miserly maidens, well backed by Brian Relf (2-35) and Benny Bell (1-2).

Chasing 149, we replied with 148-9 from our 43 overs – heartbreakingly, agonisingly, one run short of the winning post, which is either the cruellest or the most poetic way to lose a match, depending on your outlook. Basil Sears led the way with 32, Fred Greenfield chipped in with 29, and I added 27 of my own in a handy fourth-wicket stand of 57.

So, honours shared, and rightly so on the day's evidence. A verdict, then: a match that gave everyone something and nobody quite enough – which, in this funny old game, is sometimes the fairest result of all.

Sun 01 May 1966 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformLDDDD

As we won the toss on a fine Sunday, batting first was the obvious call, and 169/6 from our 48 overs bore that out handsomely. I was rather chuffed to get among the runs myself, top-scoring with 54, though it would be churlish not to salute Robert Chance and William Buck either side of me, both cracking out 40 apiece — that fifth-wicket stand of 76 was really the innings' backbone. Poor Colin Eldred, meanwhile, will want this report kept well away from his mother, contributing nothing more than a shiny golden duck to proceedings.

Defending the total, we sent the Dimanchians in and set about making life difficult. Alan Wilkes was in irresistible form, turning the ball square for 5-53 including three maidens — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea. Alan Tucker and John Ames chipped in admirably with a wicket apiece, and D Blackman departed for a duck of his own without so much as troubling the scorers. But P Barton (45) and D Pike (43) dug in stubbornly, and with N Turner's 24 besides, the Dimanchians crawled home to 145/7 from their 40, just short of the finish line.

So honours were shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody in equal measure — the very essence of village cricket. On this evidence, with Terry Whittaker and Alan Wilkes both flying at the top of the season's charts, we're a side very much finding our feet. A fair result, if a slightly frustrating one — we'll take it and move on.

Sat 30 Apr 1966 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWLDDD

Right, let's have it —

The clocks had barely settled into British Summer Time before Staplehurst rolled up on a bright April Saturday, and having won the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself. We ambled to 143/7 from our 45 overs, the innings built around a watchful 42 from yours truly, with Frank Brattle chipping in a handy 28 and Gordon Fenner unbeaten on 22 to give the total some late respectability. Not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but enough runs on the board to make Staplehurst work for it.

And work for it they did. Their reply never quite got away from us — 106/8 at the close, with J. Rice's 29 and F. Ecclestone's 23 the only real resistance amid a procession of ducks for Hollands, Battel and Westacott. P. Hope was the pick of the attack with a fine 3-14, and I was delighted to find some rhythm myself, picking up 3-33, while Gordon Fenner bowled with real miserliness — 2-34 and four maidens to show for his afternoon's toil.

Plenty to raise a glass to in the pavilion afterwards: Gordon's 2,000 career runs for the club is no small landmark, and my own 42 nudged me past Richard Harris into 19th on the all-time run charts. In the end neither side could quite land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but one that felt, on the day, rather like a score draw both sides could walk away from with heads held high.