🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 30 Sep 1967 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWLLDD

Sunday, 27 September was one of those away days at Headcorn where honest cricket met stubborn resistance, and honours finished shared. We lost the toss — no great surprise, my luck with the coin has been patchy all summer — and were sent into the field on a pitch that gave the bowlers precious little for their trouble.

Headcorn made us work for every run, building a platform through a watchful 99-run second-wicket stand before declaring on 145 for 5. R. Excell's well-crafted fifty and C. Smith's equally polished 58 did the bulk of the damage, but credit where it's due: Terry Donovan bowled beautifully for 3 for 26, five of his overs going for nothing at all, and shuffled himself past Ray Howard into 14th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list in the process — a lovely landmark on an otherwise stingy afternoon. Terry Whittaker chipped in with a useful 2 for 45 to keep the home side honest.

Chasing 146, we never quite found the fluency to threaten it, closing on 113 for 5 from our 35 overs. I managed 39 myself, which at least kept the scoreboard ticking, while Basil Sears (23) and an unbeaten 23 from Alan Cridland provided the support without ever cutting loose. Not our most convincing batting display, but not a collapse either — just tea-time cricket of the honest, unspectacular variety.

A draw, then — the fair result when neither side could land the knockout blow. Frustrating in the moment, but with Donovan's wickets column and my own run tally both ticking along nicely this season, there's plenty to be cheerful about on the drive home.

Sat 23 Sep 1967 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWLLD

There are worse ways to spend the last Saturday of September than winning the toss and inviting West Farleigh to have a bowl at us, and for a while it looked a shrewd move. We stumbled early, seven on the board and already hunting for excuses, before our second-wicket pair steadied the ship with a priceless stand of 75. Terry Whittaker made a fine 56, calm as you like, with Paul Bowles chipping in a tidy 27 and I added 22 down the order. Basil Sears and Malcolm Pay both fell for ducks, proof if it were needed that cricket remains a game of fine margins and blank scorecards. We closed on 146 for 7 from our 48 overs — a total that felt more useful than imposing.

Defending it, we made West Farleigh work. Their openers laid a solid platform of 65 before the breakthrough came, and Micky Back's 44 with Joe Fenner's 37 threatened to see them home in comfort. But from 96 for 3 they subsided to 102 for 6, Brian Relf the chief tormentor with 3 for 21, well supported by Jon Harris's 2 for 13 and my own 1 for 17. They battled to 118 for 6 from 31 overs before honours were shared.

A word for Terry Whittaker, whose 200th appearance in Linton colours also carried him past Frank Taylor into 14th on the all-time run-scorers' list — a landmark innings in every sense. A draw, then, and a fair one: nobody quite deserved to lose, and nobody quite managed to win.

Sun 17 Sep 1967 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLLWLL

Sunday 17th September, and the sun did us the courtesy of showing up for Anchorians CC. I won the toss and had no hesitation batting first — bowler's decks have a habit of turning benevolent by mid-afternoon, and I fancied ours would be no different.

We settled to 162 for 5 off our 47, which felt about right for the surface. The openers gave us the sort of platform captains dream about and rarely get, 64 without loss before the first wicket fell, and the fourth-wicket pair added a hearty 69 to give the innings its spine. Paul Bowles finished unbeaten on a composed 44, John Ames chipped in a fine 42, and I was glad to get among the runs myself with 37 — not that anyone will remember my contribution once Bowles's name is mentioned twice at the bar.

In the field we set about defending it, and for a while it looked a formality — Brooker and Batchelor both departed without so much as a run to their names, and the top order never quite got moving. Alan Wilkes was in irresistible form, ripping through with 5 for 39 off nine miserly maidens, well backed up by Terry Whittaker's 2 for 18. But Watkins (32) and Phelan (20) dug in gamely enough to see Anchorians home to 86 for 7 and a draw.

Honours shared, then — and on this evidence, with Wilkes doing his usual demolition work and the runs continuing to flow my way atop the charts, we shan't complain about where the season stands.

Sun 10 Sep 1967 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformWLLWL

Sunday the 10th of September brought Harrietsham CC to Linton Park, and for once the coin behaved — I called correctly and sent us in to bat, fancying our chances on a decent surface. Paul Bowles anchored things beautifully for 48 not out, Roger Craddock chipped in a handsome 39 and Robert Chance 34, while our openers gave us the platform every captain dreams of and prays for in equal measure, putting on 72 before the first wicket fell. I managed a modest 17 myself, more application than artistry, as we closed on 165 for 4 from our 46 overs — respectable, if perhaps a touch shy of matchwinning.

Defending it proved another matter entirely. Anthony Moss played the innings of the day, 74 that had us chasing our own tails round the boundary, well supported by Keith Chaney's 30 and J Wisden's 25, and a stubborn 53-run stand for the third wicket did the real damage. Dick Langridge toiled manfully for 3 for 54 and Roger Craddock backed him up with 3 for 58 and two admirably tight maidens, but Harrietsham edged home at 166 for 7 in 39.1 overs, three wickets to spare and precious little to choose between the sides.

A defeat, then, but not a disgrace — and with 583 runs to my name I still head the run charts for the summer, Dick sitting fourth among the wicket-takers with 24. Tea was, as ever, the true victory. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sat 09 Sep 1967 🧢 1st XIv A A.Trembeths · HomeformWWLLW

Saturday the 9th of September found us hosting A. Trembeths, and with the ball in my hand at the toss I opted to have first use of it — a decision that looked shrewd for about an hour and considerably less so thereafter. Gorf batted beautifully for his 83, sailing past his fifty with minimum fuss, and found a willing ally in Horseman's 20. I managed to find some rhythm and picked up 3 for 24, with Brian Relf (1-30) and Keith Pride (1-41, and four miserly maidens to his name) offering fine support, but 204 for 6 off 45 overs was always going to take some chasing.

Chasing it we duly failed to do. Twenty-seven all out in 16.4 overs is not a total one dwells on with any fondness, and with Keith Pride and Jon Harris both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, there was precious little to cheer from the middle order either. Poor Malcolm Pay had an afternoon of it behind the stumps, gathering what he could while twelve byes went begging past him.

There is, I suppose, a crumb of comfort in the run charts, where I find myself leading the 1967 first-team standings with 566 for the season — small consolation on a day we were beaten by 177 runs. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 06 Sep 1967 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Birchington CC · AwayformDWDLW

Wednesday 6th September saw us make the journey to Birchington, and having won the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might say about what followed. We were shipped out for 118 in 51.2 overs, an innings built on Dick Langridge's watchful 39, with Alan Wilkes (25) and Cliff Anscombe (23) chipping in nicely. Losing a wicket with just 1 on the board rather set the tone, and the middle order didn't help matters — Roger Craddock, William Buck and I all contrived to bag ducks. I shall draw a veil over my own contribution, other than to say the less said, the better.

In the field we gave it a proper go. Terry Whittaker led the attack well for 1-18, with Dick Langridge and Terry Donovan chipping in a wicket apiece, and young R Hobcraft went for nought to keep our hopes flickering. But L Smith had other ideas, compiling an unbeaten 57 with steady support from J Darby's 34, and once their third-wicket pair had added 65, the game was up. They cruised home at 119/4.

Some consolation amid the gloom: Cliff Anscombe's 23 nudged him past Pat Hardwick to 24th on the club's all-time run charts, and Terry Donovan's solitary wicket moved him past Herbert Rayner into 15th on the all-time list — both still leading our 1967 Midweek XI charts besides.

A six-wicket defeat, then, and not our finest afternoon. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sun 03 Sep 1967 🧢 1st XIv FC Frindsbury CC · HomeformWWWLL

John Thirkell's Match Report — Sunday 3rd September 1967

There is nothing quite like winning the toss on a fine September morning and telling the opposition, ever so politely, that they can field first — and so I did, and I still maintain it was the right call. Frindsbury CC were the visitors, and after a wobble at 1 for 1 that had me reaching for the smelling salts, Stan Wratten and his partner steadied the ship with a superb 62 for the second wicket. Stan went on to a chanceless 60 not out, Paul Bowles chipped in a handy 31, and I managed a tidy 22 of my own to help us on to a respectable 141 for 5 from our thirty overs. Special mention, as tradition demands, for John Ames, who contributed a duck to proceedings and can add his name to the club's ever-growing ledger of shame — the walk back to the pavilion done, one imagines, at a brisk pace.

Ames, however, is a man who believes in redemption, and what a way to find it. With the ball in hand he was a different beast entirely, ripping through Frindsbury with 6 for 37 — a five-for and then some, richly deserved. Dick Langridge lent superb support with 3 for 39, and though B Day's 37 and L Dudgeon's 28 built a promising 52 opening stand, the middle order crumbled from 81 for 3 to 91 for 6 under the pressure we applied. They finished on 120 for 9, and we held on for a 21-run victory.

A thoroughly good day for the club — Frindsbury will not thank Mr Ames, but we certainly do.

Sat 02 Sep 1967 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · HomeformDWWWL

Saturday brought Beverley CC of Kent to Linton Park, and having won the toss I did what any captain fresh out of confidence does when the sun's out and the wicket looks kind — put us in to bat. Whether that proved wisdom or wickedness I leave to the tea-table jury.

We laboured to 65 all out in 22 overs, a total that flattered nobody. From a respectable-ish 56 for 5 we contrived to shed three wickets for a mere two runs, and the scorebook wore three ducks for its trouble — R Venner, Jon Harris and P Williams all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Not our finest hour with the willow.

There was, at least, one thing to raise a cap to: I brought up 2,000 runs in the club colours during the innings, a landmark that gave the tea urn something cheerier to discuss than the top order's afternoon.

With the ball we fought harder than the total deserved. Beverley eased to 66 for 1 in 23.2 overs, A Pattenden unbeaten on 33 and P Shirley alongside him on 31, the pair simply too polished for us to trouble seriously. Vic Wellard bowled beautifully for his 1 for 19, two maidens included — miserly stuff rather wasted on a lost cause.

Nine wickets the margin, and no arguing with it. Back to the nets, gentlemen — there's plenty to work on before we're troubling anyone again.

Mon 28 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDDWWW

Monday 28 August found us on the road at Bearsted, and the day started poorly enough when I lost the toss and watched them elect to bat — never the ideal way to begin an away fixture, but there it is. Ian Lambert set about us in fine style, cracking a magnificent 109, with Peter Johnson (28 not out) and Michael Jeffreys (20) lending support; 89 came before we so much as looked like taking a wicket. Credit to the lads, though — we hauled things back, skittling them from 140-4 to 151-7, only for their last pair to cheekily bolt on 49 more we could have done without, leaving them 221/9 from 69 overs. Dick Langridge was magnificent, running riot with 6-67 (six maidens besides), well backed by Alan Wilkes's 3-80; Fleetwood, Prince and Cleggett all departed without troubling the scorers.

In reply, John Ames played the innings of the day with a well-made 78, Basil Sears chipping in with 23, but from 140-7 the wheels came off in a hurry and we were all out for 159 in 45.1 overs. Ten byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Percy Brattle. One bright note amid the gloom: Frank Brattle brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a fine landmark. I'm currently topping our 1967 run charts with 540, though Alan Wilkes rather has the bowling honours sewn up with 58 wickets. As for Monday — a 62-run defeat, no arguing with it. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 27 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv EC East Peckham & Nettlestead CC · HomeformDDDWW

Lost the toss again — some things never change — and watched East Peckham & Nettlestead elect to bat on what looked a decent Sunday for it. Their openers made merry early, F Taylor and N Ashman putting on 68 before we found a breakthrough, and for a while it looked like a long afternoon in the field beckoned. But cricket has a way of turning, and turn it did: from 110-3 they slid to 117-6 as the pressure told. Frank Brattle was simply magnificent, tearing through them for 5-20, with Paul Bowles chipping in at 3-36 and Tim Thirkell picking up 1-6. Brian Relf bowled two miserly maidens for good measure, and poor K Taylor departed for a golden duck. F Taylor's 40 and useful knocks from Ashman and R Corke's 23 got them to 140 all out — a target that felt gettable, if not entirely comfortable.

Our reply had its own wobbles, as these things do. Frank Brattle, having done the damage with the ball, then set about doing it with the bat too, top-scoring with 46. Paul Bowles followed up his bowling with 34 more — the man is having quite a season, sitting second in the 1967 run charts with 374 to his name. I contributed 20 of my own, nervously watching the required runs tick down from the other end, and we scrambled home at 141-7 with three wickets in hand.

A scratchy chase, a battling bowling display, and two points safely banked. Cricket, like tea, is always better when it's a close-run thing.

Sat 26 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformWDDDW

Saturday 26 August 1967, and Aylesford Paper Mills CC were our visitors for the afternoon. I won the toss, elected to bat, and to my great relief the decision looked sound rather than reckless — for a while, at least.

We slipped early to 6 for 1, the sort of start that has a captain suddenly finding great interest in his bootlaces, and poor Derry Evans came and went without troubling the scorers — his golden duck the one blemish on an otherwise respectable knock. But the middle order dug in handsomely: Malcolm Pay's 28 led the way, with Alan Cridland (24) and Percy Brattle (22) chipping in, and a fifth-wicket stand of 51 gave the innings its backbone. All out for 127 in 41.1 overs — not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but cricket, thankfully, isn't played on paper.

Aylesford began confidently before losing a wicket at 0 for 1, and from there it became rather one-sided in our favour, three of their batsmen departing for ducks apiece. David Keynes (26) and R Shephard (25) offered the only real resistance, but Terry Donovan was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 8 for 46 with five miserly maidens — proof, if any were needed, of why he sits second in the 1st XI's season wicket charts with 45 scalps. Terry Whittaker weighed in with 2 for 47, I added a watchful 17 with the bat earlier, and Aylesford folded for 117.

Ten runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved — a fine day's work, bootlaces and all.

Sun 20 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformLWDDD

Lost the toss again — I do wonder some Sundays whether that coin has it in for me — and The Mote elected to bat, which on a morning like this felt like handing us the initiative gift-wrapped. It didn't take long to see why they might have regretted it: an early stumble at 0-1 set the tone, and from there we simply ran through them, 0-1 becoming 17-4 before anyone had properly settled into their deckchair. Poor R May departed without troubling the scorers at all. J Houghton battled hardest for 25 and did the bulk of their scoring, but 82 all out in 28.4 overs was a modest total against an attack in this sort of mood.

The bowling honours belonged, thoroughly and deservedly, to Roger Craddock — 6-23, a five-for to make the rest of us look on rather enviously. Terry Whittaker was miserly as ever, 1-14 with two maidens, while I chipped in with 2-26 for good support.

Chasing 83, I was glad to lead from the front with an unbeaten 56 as we cantered to 85-1 in 22.4 overs — nine wickets in hand and, frankly, not much of a scare along the way. It leaves me sitting second in this year's run charts with 348, and Terry third among the wicket-takers with 34. A fine win all round, and one to savour on the drive home. Onwards.

Sun 13 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformDLWDD

Sunday 13 August found us on the road at Harrietsham, and having called correctly for once, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I stood by, mostly through gritted teeth.

We were bowled out for 145 in 43.2 overs, John Ames leading the charge with a fine 48, well supported by Stan Wratten's 37. All was steady enough at 118 for 5 before the innings took on the character of a collapsing deckchair, tumbling to 133 for 8 in a matter of moments. Poor Paul Bowles will not thank me for mentioning his duck, so I shall mention it only the once.

Defending 145 always felt like asking a lot, but the lads set about it with real heart. Keith Chaney's classy 57, aided by Anthony Moss's 20, threatened to bat us out of it, their fifth-wicket stand worth a hefty 60 — until they too found the wobbles, sliding from 132 for 5 to 134 for 8. Edward Smith and Mark Skinner both departed without scoring, and Alan Wilkes was magnificent, spinning his way to 5 for 66, with Terry Whittaker (2-18) and Paul Bowles (1-29) chipping in, and Terry Donovan miserly with three maidens. I added a workmanlike 18 with the bat for good measure.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Given how close we came to losing our shirts after that batting wobble, I'll happily take it — a fair result, and a fine effort with the ball to drag us level.

Sat 12 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv SL Shepherds Lambs · HomeformWDLWD

Saturday 12 August 1967 – Shepherds Lambs (h) – Match drawn

Winning the toss, I put the visitors in, and for a good while it looked the sort of decision a captain has nightmares about. R. Ayling made himself thoroughly at home for an unbeaten 55, with C. Gardner (49) and F. Greenfield (28) offering more than useful support, and Shepherds Lambs eventually declared us satisfied at 181/5 from their 44.5 overs. It was Gordon Fenner who gave us something to cheer, snaring 2/30, with Terry Groves (2/38) and Brian Relf (1/25) chipping in nicely, while Terry Whittaker bowled with the sort of parsimony that makes a captain purr — six maidens and barely a run to be had off him.

Chasing 181, we lost an early wicket with just five on the board, and for a nervy few overs it threatened to be one of those afternoons. Mike Iliffe (69) and Frank Brattle (63) had other ideas, however, putting on 120 for the fourth wicket in an innings that turned the game from crisis to comfort. We closed on 178/7 from our 35 overs — agonisingly short, but never really in danger. Spare a thought for poor Gordon Fenner, who followed his bowling heroics with a duck for the ledger, and for wicketkeeper Percy Brattle, whose eight byes suggested a testing day behind the stumps. I chipped in with the bat myself, and can report the season's run charts remain in good order, with Terry Groves keeping the bowling honours ticking over nicely too.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on this occasion thoroughly deserved by both sides.

Wed 09 Aug 1967 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDDWDL

Skipper's Log, Wednesday 09 August 1967. Gravesend CC came to Linton Park, I called wrong, and duly found myself leading the side out into the field with nothing but pride to lose.

Gravesend batted through their fifty-three overs to close on 157 for 7, C Mitchell unbeaten on 32 the chief architect, with R Langford's 27 lending a hand. I'll allow myself one boast and no more: I had figures of 2 for 13, which felt rather splendid at the time and I've been dining out on it ever since. Jon Harris (1-13) and Dick Langridge (1-17) chipped in nicely, while Terry Whittaker bowled with the miserliness of a man guarding the last biscuit in the tin, four maidens to his name.

Chasing 158, we were rather more serene about the whole business. William Buck batted like a man who'd read the script and decided to ignore it, cruising to a magnificent 103 not out, with Cliff Anscombe a fine ally on 25. The openers put on 72 before the first wicket fell, and from there it was a formality — 158 for 2 in 35.4 overs. Poor Anscombe did suffer for his runs behind the stumps later, 17 byes escaping his gloves in a tricky afternoon's keeping.

Eight wickets, two points, and a thoroughly deserved stroll in the August sunshine.

Sun 06 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv RT Reeds (Tovil) · HomeformWWDLW

John Thirkell here, and I make no apologies for the fact that Sunday's report against Reeds (Tovil) contains rather a lot of me in it.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the right call at the time, and by the close I was prepared to take the credit for it. We rattled along to 152 for 7 from our 51 overs, though "rattled" rather flatters the opening exchanges — 6 for 1 had the tea urn on standby rather early. I got in and made 57, which I'll mention here and nowhere else in this report, ably assisted by Paul Bowles's 23, and the pair of us stitched together a 73-run sixth-wicket stand that dragged us back to respectability. Before and after that, wickets tumbled in the sort of cluster that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces — 43 for 2 collapsing to 46 for 5 — and poor Frank Brattle and Fred Greenfield both departed for spectacular ducks, the sort you'd rather not discuss in the tea interval.

Defending 152 always asks questions of the bowling, and Reeds set about answering them with John Archer's assured 37 and an unbroken 37 from M Taylor, backed up by Jim Archer's 29 — their opening pair alone put on a hefty 51. We chipped away — I picked up 2 for 34, Dick Langridge weighed in with 1 for 39, and Terry Donovan bowled with real discipline, three maidens and barely a run to be had off him — but Reeds closed on 141 for 3 and the game slipped from our grasp.

A draw it was, then — honours shared, and honestly, after that top-order wobble, I'll happily settle for it.

Sat 05 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformDWWDL

Saturday last, 5 August, saw us make the trip to Maidstone YMCA in reasonably good spirits, spirits that dimmed only slightly when I lost the toss and was invited to bowl. No matter — sometimes the best-laid batting plans are better left for another day, and our attack made rather short work of it. Tony Grenfell's 49 gave their innings some respectability, but from 83 for 7 they simply fell away to 91 all out in 38.1 overs, poor P. Williams departing without troubling the scorers. Brian Relf was the chief tormentor with 3 for 11, Keith Pride bowled with the miserliness of a man counting out his own tea money (3 for 14 with nine maidens to his name), and Jon Harris chipped in for good measure.

Ninety-two to win is never quite the formality it looks on paper, and so it proved when we slipped to 0 for 1 before a ball had barely been middled. Basil Sears joined the list of the ducked-and-departed, but Paul Bowles and Richard Ashby restored order in style, putting on 68 for the second wicket — Bowles top-scoring with 35, Ashby a fine 30 in support — and we eased home by seven wickets with overs to spare.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, then: bowled them out cheaply, chased it down without real alarm, and were back at the clubhouse in good time for a well-earned pint. Two points from two, and long may it continue.

Sun 30 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv PC Paddock Wood CC · HomeformLDWWD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 30 July 1967

Well, I won the toss, elected to bat, and for about four overs I looked like a genius. Then the openers began departing with the enthusiasm of men late for church, and 0-1 set the tone for a wobble that would have had W.G. Grace reaching for the smelling salts. Stan Wratten held things together with a spirited 22, and we crawled to 70 for 4 before the roof properly fell in — 79 for 7 arrived before most of us had finished our tea. Special mention, in the grand tradition of the Duck Club, to poor Robert Chance, whose duck was executed with real style. All told, 108 all out from 43.4 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, least of all Paddock Wood.

And so it proved. They batted with the calm assurance of a side who'd read the pitch report properly, G. Matthews leading the way with 34, Reed unbeaten on 28 and Anstead chipping in with 26 — that fourth-wicket stand of 55 was really the innings. We did have our moments: Paul Bowles bowled beautifully for 2-17, Terry Donovan was tighter than a Sunday collection plate with 2-18 and four maidens, and I picked up 1-24 for my own trouble. Bowles and Oorlouf departed without scoring for us with the willow, keeping the Duck Club ledger nicely topped up. In the end Paddock Wood got home by three wickets.

Not our day, but Donovan's bowling and the season's form book — I'm still leading the run charts, Terry sits second in the wickets — suggest better is coming. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sat 29 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformLLDWW

Saturday 29 July saw The Mote CC roll into Linton Park for what turned into a proper old-fashioned game of two honest teams cancelling each other out.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — sound in theory, though a wicket down with just one run on the board had me wondering whether I'd made a dreadful error of judgement. Credit to the middle order for steadying the ship: Paul Bowles played the innings of the day with a fine 57, and Basil Sears gave him excellent company with 48, the pair putting on 89 for the third wicket to drag us back from the brink. I chipped in with an unbeaten 30 down the order, happy enough to farm what strike I could and see us home to a respectable 168 for 5 from our 40 overs.

Defending that total, we set about The Mote with intent, but the tea interval seemed to have rather more appeal than the runs on offer — theirs or ours. D. Cossins battled away nicely for an unbeaten 24, though with the visitors closing on just 34 without loss from 8 overs, this was a match that petered out rather than reached a conclusion, both sides apparently content to let honours lie where they fell.

A draw it was, then — no losers, but precious few winners either. Still, with 437 runs now to my name in the '67 season, I shan't be complaining too loudly, and there are worse ways to spend a Saturday than watching Bowles and Sears bat us out of trouble.

Mon 24 Jul 1967 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Birkenhead Grasshoppers CC · HomeformDDDWD

Monday the twenty-fourth of July found us hosting Birkenhead Grasshoppers, and having won the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook eventually had to say about it. We lost our opener for next to nothing, 0 for 1, which is never the ideal opening chapter, but Cliff Anscombe and his partner steadied things with a second-wicket stand of 74 and the innings never looked back. Cliff went on to a magnificent 96, I chipped in with 29, William Buck added a tidy 20, and we closed on 187 for 5 from our 47 overs — though poor K Mills will not thank me for recording his golden duck for posterity.

Defending 187 is always a nervous afternoon's work, and so it proved. Brian Relf bowled beautifully for his 1 for 22, two maidens included, with Dick Langridge chipping in at the other end, but L Atwell and B Riley put on 121 for the second wicket between them — Atwell finishing unbeaten on 69, Riley falling agonisingly short of his century-that-wasn't on 66 — and P Lloyd saw them home with 25 not out. Cliff, for good measure, endured a trying time behind the stumps, 9 byes escaping his gloves. We finished beaten by 8 wickets.

Small consolation: Cliff's 96 has nudged him past Fred Greenfield into 25th on the club's all-time run charts, and he now leads our 1967 Midweek run-scorers outright. As for the rest of us — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 23 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformWLLDW

Sunday 23 July 1967 saw Sevenoaks Vine CC roll up the drive, the coin obliged, and I sent us in to bat — a decision I stood by, though not without the odd wobble along the way.

We compiled 124 all out from 42 overs, John Ames the shining light with a fine 58 that took him past his fifty and, more memorably, past 5,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly worth raising a teacup to. The rest of us contributed rather less gloriously: a collapse from 103-6 to 106-9 in the blink of an eye suggested the tail had somewhere else to be.

Defending 124 always felt a tall order, but cricket has a way of rewarding stubbornness. Sevenoaks Vine were bowled out for 86 in 33 overs, T McGavin's 37 the only real resistance, and once we prised out four wickets between 64 and 72 the innings folded like a deckchair. P Coffey, P Williams and P Russell all walked back without troubling the scorers. The day belonged to Alan Wilkes, whose 7-45 with five maidens was as miserly as it was match-winning, ably supported by Dick Langridge's 2-35. I'll own my own small part in proceedings too, glad to have chipped in on a day when the bowlers did the heavy lifting.

A 38-run win, then, built on Ames's landmark innings and Wilkes's remarkable spell — proof, if any were needed, that a wobbly middle order can still be forgiven when the ball talks as loudly as ours did. Onwards.

Sun 16 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv LC Loughton CC · HomeformWWLLD

Sunday 16th July, and Loughton CC pitched up to find the toss going against us — no great surprise, my coin-calling this season being what it is. Put in to field, we watched Loughton compile a respectable 166 all out, M Frizelle top-scoring with a polished 58, well supported by D Peek's 39 and J Manning's 24. Consolation came early when D Manning departed for a duck at 3-1, and thereafter Dick Langridge did the heavy lifting with 4-56, Benny Bell chipping in with 3-31 and Alan Wilkes proving typically miserly — 2-73 and four maidens to show for his parsimony.

A target of 167 is never a formality at Linton Park, and so it proved. Wickets fell steadily — Benny Bell and R Dudney both walked back for ducks, rather spoiling an otherwise tidy scorecard — but Stan Wratten (29) and Frank Brattle (29) laid useful foundations before I found some form of my own, batting through for an unbeaten 70 to see us home. I shan't dwell on it further, save to say it was a satisfying way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

We scrambled over the line at 170/8 from 48.2 overs — a two-wicket win, the tightest of margins but a win all the same. With the season underway, I find myself leading the run charts on 399, and Alan Wilkes sits proudly atop the wickets column with 43 — proof, if any were needed, that there's method behind our motley approach. A fine win, honestly earned. Onwards to the next one.

Sat 15 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · AwayformDWWLL

Saturday 15 July 1967, and we ventured down to Beverley in good heart, though the coin let us down at the outset and we were shown straight into the field. Beverley made themselves at home, running up 186 for 6 from their 47 overs, with P Shirley the chief architect of our afternoon's toil — a fluent 81 — well supported by A Pattenden's 35 and J Phipps's 22. We did have them 8 for 1 at one point, which felt promising for about four overs, before a stand of 117 for the fourth wicket rather put paid to our optimism. Credit where due: Terry Groves bowled beautifully for 3 for 47, three of those overs maidens, and Terry Whittaker chipped in with 3 for 59 — no mean feat on a day when the runs otherwise flowed freely.

Our reply never quite got going, closing on 106 for 6 from 41 overs. Paul Bowles held things together nicely with an unbeaten 24, while poor Gordon Fenner's name will appear in the book with a duck beside it — these things happen to the best of us. I contributed 18 of my own, and can report that our season's run charts remain in reasonable order for it. Spare a thought too for Cliff Anscombe behind the stumps, who endured a trying afternoon with the gloves — 8 byes is not a figure one boasts about in the clubhouse.

In the end, honours were shared. A draw, and honestly, given the way the day unfolded, we'll take it gladly.

Tue 11 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDDWWL

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 11th July 1967. West Farleigh away, and the sort of afternoon that will not trouble the club's highlight reel.

Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might say about what followed. We never quite got going, losing our first wicket at 0-1 before the innings had properly drawn breath, and while a few of the lads dug in gamely, 92/7 from our sixteen overs was always going to be light rations to defend. Special mention to poor Mike Stephens, who fell for a duck and will be buying the teas for a fortnight as penance. I chipped in with the bat myself, though not enough to change the arithmetic much.

With the ball we started brightly enough — Colin Britchford, in fine form as ever, had them 7-1 and looking rattled, finishing with 3-43 for his troubles. But West Farleigh had other ideas, and a chap called Micky Back settled in to compile an unbeaten fifty that rather took the sting out of our early promise, guiding them home to 94/3 with overs to spare.

Down by seven wickets, then, and no arguing with it. For what it's worth, the runs keep ticking over for me in the season's charts, and Colin's wickets column is doing nicely too — small crumbs of comfort on a long drive home. Not our day. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sun 09 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLDDWW

Sunday brought Aylesford Paper Mills CC to our ground, and when the coin fell my way I had no hesitation in sending us in to bat. Hindsight suggests I may have got that one wrong.

Robert Chance led the way with a tidy 24, well supported by Roger Craddock's 20, but from a promising 85 for 4 we contrived to slither to 96 for 7 with the urgency usually reserved for last orders. Poor Jim Hall departed for a duck, and we were all out for 114 in 46.3 overs - a total that felt light even as we trooped off.

With ball in hand we fancied our chances, and it looked promising when Colin Watson went for nought with the score on 0 for 1. But Brian Fitch had other ideas, farming the strike for an unbeaten 67, well supported by R. David's unbeaten 33, and between them they steered Aylesford home on 115 for 3 in a brisk 24.3 overs. Terry Whittaker toiled hardest for 2 for 31, two tidy maidens included, with Roger Craddock chipping in at 1 for 35 - honest efforts, but nothing could stem Fitch once he found his rhythm. Small consolation: I currently lead our run charts this season with 301, and Terry sits third among the wicket-takers with 20.

Beaten by three wickets, then, and the familiar walk back to the nets. Not our day - but there'll be another Sunday, and another coin to call.

Sat 08 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformDLDDW

We fell to Charles Arkcoll's ground on a Saturday that began with the toss going against us, which by now I've come to view less as bad luck and more as a settled arrangement between the coin and the cricketing gods. Asked to bowl, we responded rather better than the batting order that followed us would manage. Six for the loss of one wicket had us fearing the worst was ours to inflict on ourselves; instead it was Charles Arkcoll who stumbled early and never quite recovered, bundled out for 91. Keith Pride was magnificent with the ball, 3-19, Terry Groves chipped in with 3-21, and Terry Donovan bowled with the kind of miserly discipline (2-14, three maidens) that suggests he has no intention of relinquishing his second place in the club's 1967 wicket charts.

Chasing 92, we made hard work of what should have been a stroll, stumbling to 94-6 from 36.1 overs before finally getting over the line. Eddie Lawrence's 22 was the innings that mattered, and John Perkins, sadly, will not be troubling the scorers this week — out for a golden duck. Poor Percy Brattle had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, ten byes escaping his gloves like sheep through a broken fence.

Four wickets, two points, and a scoreline that flattered our composure rather more than our batting deserved. A win, nonetheless — and in club cricket, that is quite enough to be getting on with.

Wed 05 Jul 1967 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLDDDW

Down at Gravesend on Wednesday, the coin let us down as usual and we were put into the field, which on a warm July afternoon felt rather like being volunteered for extra fielding practice. Their top order made themselves thoroughly at home: Mick Stapley finished unbeaten on a polished 58, with Kevin Wilson (57) and Brian Pothecary (51) both raising fifties either side of him, and between them they carried Gravesend to a healthy 210/7 from their fifty overs. W Carter, mercifully for us, departed without troubling the scorers. R Dudney was the pick of our attack with 3-46, while I chipped in with 1-31 and the consolation of two maidens, and Roger Craddock took 1-41 for his efforts.

Chasing 211, we never quite got out of second gear. Robert Chance top-scored with a tidy 30, well supported by Eddie Lawrence's 25 and Roger Craddock's 24, but then the innings did its best impression of a sandcastle at high tide, slipping from 101-5 to 104-8 in the blink of an eye. C Brock and Ossie Fryer both contributed golden ducks to the cause, and we limped to 136/9 from our 42 overs.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride dented but not broken. Robert Chance now leads our season's run charts and R Dudney tops the wicket-takers, so there's plenty to build on. All told, a fair result against the better side on the day, and the tea, as ever at Gravesend, was the true highlight.

Mon 03 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv S Shepway · HomeformLDLDD

John Thirkell's return to Linton Park on Monday saw Shepway make the trip, and what a fine advertisement for club cricket it turned out to be. Put into the field first, we watched Shepway compile a brisk 102/5 from their sixteen overs, built chiefly on a 63-run second-wicket stand between R Smith, unbeaten on 38, and Ray Smith with 34. It could have got away from us, but Terry Donovan had other ideas, snaring three for 53 with Colin Britchford chipping in with two for 36 to keep the total within reach.

Chasing 103, we made distinctly hard work of the arithmetic before getting there, closing on 104/4 with a ball or two of the thirteenth over to spare. Roger Craddock played the anchor role beautifully for 46, and Cliff Anscombe supported him nicely with an unbeaten 32. I contributed my own small share with the bat, which nudges my season's tally along nicely. Anscombe, it should be said, had rather a busier time of it behind the stumps, shipping nine byes in the process, though nobody was complaining once the winning runs were in.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, I find myself leading the 1st XI run charts with 299, while Donovan sits second in the wicket-takers with 33. Six wickets, two points, and a job thoroughly, if not always elegantly, done.

Sun 02 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv CP Canterbury Pilgrims · HomeformDLDLD

Sunday the 2nd of July found us hosting the Canterbury Pilgrims, and, as ever with these fixtures, the pitch, the tea urn, and the club's collective nerve were all tested in equal measure. Winning the toss and putting the visitors in looked a shrewd move for about twenty minutes, until Toze and Stewart put on 78 for the first wicket and threatened to bat us out of the fixture altogether. Credit where it's due, though — Alan Wilkes hauled us back into it with a magnificent 5-95, four of those overs maidens, supported by tidy chipping-in from Derry Evans and Paul Bowles, as the Pilgrims closed on a stiff 195/7.

Our reply had all the hallmarks of a proper club innings: promise, panic, and a bit of both. Roger Craddock and Frank Brattle, both cantering past their fifties, put together a splendid 110 for the second wicket that had us dreaming of victory. Then, with the target in sight, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion — 152 for three became 157 for six in the blink of an eye, with Jim Hall, Mike Iliffe and yours truly all contributing nothing but a golden duck apiece to the cause. I did manage some more useful contributions with bat and ball across the season to keep the run charts ticking over, but on this particular Sunday I was rather less help than I'd have liked.

We limped home at 158/9 from our 49, a handful short of the finish line. A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and the tea, at least, was unimpeachable.

Sat 01 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv EC East Sussex CC · HomeformLDLDL

Saturday brought East Sussex CC to Linton Park, and with the toss lost I sent us into the field first — a decision that looked rather better once R Barker had ground out a well-made fifty of 56, ably supported by G Collins with 43 and B Fletcher with 23. Their second-wicket pair put on a hefty 95 and for a good while I feared we were being quietly taken apart in the sunshine. Credit to the lads, though — we clawed them back from 147-5 to 153-8, sending M Neider back for a duck along the way, and 153 all out from 49 overs felt like a job well done by the close. Terry Donovan was the pick of the attack by some distance, 4-48 with five miserly maidens, well backed by Terry Groves with 3-43 and Keith Pride chipping in with 1-11.

Our reply never quite found its rhythm. Keith Pride, having already done his bit with the ball, top-scored with a fine 40, and Stan Wratten made a tidy 30, but a collapse from 91-4 to 98-7 had my heart in my mouth. Alan Cridland and Fred Greenfield both trudged back for ducks, and we closed on 111/8 from our 45.

Elsewhere, Terry Donovan continues his splendid season, sitting second in the club's 1967 wicket charts with 30 scalps — the man is becoming a habit. As for the match itself, honours were shared: a draw, and on the balance of the day's fortunes, a fair one.

Fri 30 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv RC Reeds CC · HomeformWLDLD

John Thirkell reporting from the pavilion, and what a rollercoaster it was on Friday evening.

Lost the toss, so Reeds CC took first strike on what turned into a proper bowler's evening. They limped to 3-1 before D Holmes and C Simmonds fell without troubling the scorers — a golden duck each, and not a bad way to start an innings against us. Only D Dymond, with a determined 44, kept Reeds respectable, and even that wasn't enough to stop them folding for 96 in 14 overs. The bowling was a joy to watch: Terry Donovan chipped in with 2-40, but the day belonged to Alan Wilkes, who tore through their order for 7-55 — a five-for and then some, richly deserved, and enough to send him past John Ames and into first place on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Not a bad line to add to the history books on a Friday night.

Chasing 97 should have been the easy part. Mike Stephens set us off nicely with 21, I chipped in myself along the way, and for a while it looked routine. But cricket has a habit of humbling the overconfident, and wickets tumbled at the wrong moments as we stumbled to 93/8 from our 16 overs — three agonising runs short.

So: bowled brilliantly, batted nervously, beaten narrowly. Alan Wilkes leaves with the headlines and the history-book entry; the rest of us leave with a lesson in finishing what we start. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 24 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv RC Reeds CC · AwayformLWLDL

We won the toss at Reeds on Saturday, and with barely a cloud worth worrying about, choosing to bat felt like the only sporting thing to do. It has to be said our innings did not exactly catch fire — 18 for 1 off nine overs is the sort of scoreline that has more in common with a leisurely stroll to the tea urn than a assault on the bowling — but it kept the scoreboard ticking over and gave us something, however modest, to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did, to rather spectacular effect. Reeds came in, had a look around, and promptly departed for nought, all out, without so much as troubling the scorer. Quite how a side can be dismissed without registering a single run is the kind of thing that will be argued over in the bar for weeks to come, but I shan't complain — it was as fine a spell of collective bowling as Linton Park have produced this season.

Elsewhere in the season's affairs, Paul Bowles continues his quiet march up the run charts, now sitting fifth with 117 to his name — a reminder that there is substance behind our sometimes eccentric scorelines.

In the end, honours were shared, a draw when neither side could force matters further. Not a classic by any measure, but there was something rather pleasing in watching Reeds bowled out for nought and still not quite managing to win. Only in village cricket.

Thu 22 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWLWLD

John Thirkell here, and I'll spare you the suspense — Thursday's trip to The Mote CC was not our finest hour.

The coin let us down before a ball was bowled, and The Mote elected to bat, racking up 149/6 from their sixteen overs. B Brigden played the innings of the day with a handsome 65, while Malcolm Bristow (32) and John Pocock (24) put on a second-wicket stand of 56 that did most of the damage. To our credit, we hauled things back in the field — three wickets for two runs in the space of a blink, 141/3 becoming 143/6 — with Roger Craddock the pick of the attack on 3-36, well supported by Alan Wilkes (1-38) and Terry Donovan (1-67).

Chasing 150, we never quite got out of the blocks. An early stumble to 2-1 set the tone, and though I chipped in with 33 to do the bulk of the scoring, we limped to 64/6 from our sixteen overs and were always behind the game. Special mention, as tradition demands, to Frank Brattle, who contributed a golden duck to the club ledger — the walk of shame performed with admirable brevity.

Elsewhere the season marches on regardless: I lead the 1st XI run charts with 280, and Alan Wilkes tops the wicket pile with 29 — small consolations on a day when the team result mattered rather more.

Verdict: beaten by 85 runs, heads down, and back to the nets before someone mentions the scorecard again.

Sun 18 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformWWLWL

Sunday the eighteenth of June found us on the road to Bobbing Court, and while we lost the toss and were asked to bowl, that suited the arm rather better than the willow, as it turned out. Bobbing ground their way to 152 for 9 off their forty-two, propped up by Gordon Kemsley's 36 and a watchful 30 not out from W Webb. But the day belonged to Terry Donovan, who bowled with the sort of relentless accuracy that makes tea-interval conversation easy — five maidens and figures of 5 for 54, richly deserved every ball of it, with Alan Wilkes chipping in three more for 81 to keep the squeeze on.

Set 153 to win, we replied with 139 for 8 from our thirty-seven, never quite getting there but never quite losing either. Robert Chance's 28 was the innings' backbone, Roger Craddock added a handsome 26, and I managed to contribute 23 of my own to the cause — though poor Richard Ashby will be reading no further than the golden duck beside his name, bless him.

It leaves me sitting rather sheepishly atop the 1st XI run charts with 247 for the season, while Alan Wilkes continues to plunder wickets at will with 28. As for Bobbing Court — honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Not a bad afternoon's work, all told.

Sat 17 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv TC Tovil Nomads CC · HomeformWWWLW

Saturday last, we welcomed Tovil Nomads CC to Linton Park, and I lost the toss — never a good omen when the outfield's this true and the sun's finally decided to join us. They chose to bat, and we settled in for a long one.

Chase them we did, all afternoon, as Tovil ground out 208/4 from their 46 overs. M Taylor anchored things with a composed 58 not out, well supported by T Mitchell's 49 and G Winter's 37, the pair sharing a stand of 52 for the fourth wicket that rather took the game away from us. Terry Groves toiled manfully for 3-51, Paul Bowles chipped in with one, and Terry Whittaker bowled two tidy maidens to keep things honest, if not cheap.

Our reply never got out of first gear. A wicket down for nought had the tea urn rattling nervously, and though Terry Whittaker played the innings of the day with 46, wickets tumbled around him — Benny Bell, Paul Bowles and Brian Relf all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, ducks all round. We were bowled out for 100 in 34.3 overs, well short of the target. Small mercy: I go into the rest of the season leading the 1st XI run charts with 224 runs, which is some comfort on a difficult afternoon.

A hefty 108-run defeat, no dressing it up. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — there's cricket yet to be won this summer.

Tue 13 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv DC Diagrit CC · HomeformDWWWL

Called it right at the toss on a fine Tuesday evening and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first against Diagrit CC. It proved the correct call, if I say so myself. Cliff Anscombe was in irresistible touch, motoring to 55 not out, while Mike Stephens chipped in handsomely with 42 alongside him — the pair put on 72 for the second wicket and left us purring at 119 for 2 from our sixteen overs. A word, too, on Cliff's landmark: he brought up 1,000 career runs for the club today, which rather puts my own efforts in the shade, though I'll allow myself one mention that I currently sit atop the 1967 first-team run charts with 216 to my name.

Defending it, Diagrit never quite got the measure of us. C White battled to 22 but couldn't drag his side over the line, and once they slid from 63 for 5 to a distinctly wobbly 74 for 8, the writing was on the pavilion wall. W Jackson and P Lindley both departed without troubling the scorers, undone — like most of the innings — by Alan Wilkes, who ran thoroughly amok with 5 for 49 and now leads our wicket charts with 25 for the season. Colin Britchford weighed in usefully with 2 for 25, and the opposition were all out for 82 from their sixteen.

We got home by 37 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one Cliff, in particular, will remember for rather longer than the rest of us.

Sun 11 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · AwayformDDWWW

Sunday 11 June, and off we trundled to Hartley Country Club with the sun making one of its rare summer appearances. I called correctly at the toss — small mercies — and, ever the optimist, elected to bat first.

It did not go according to plan. We slipped to 4 for 1 almost before the tea urn had boiled, and from there it was a case of damage limitation. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day with a fine 27, Terry Groves chipping in gamely with 21, but around them the order rather fell away — Terry Whittaker, Jim Hall and Ossie Fryer all departed for ducks, and 110 all out in 44.1 overs was a distinctly modest return for the afternoon's labours.

With the bat having let us down, it fell to the ball to keep us in it, and for a good while it did. Whittaker bowled beautifully, four maidens and 1 for 24, I managed 1 for 12, and Bowles picked up 2 for 33 to lead the attack — G Witt back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, a small crumb of comfort. But B Smith had other ideas, farming a composed 62 to see Hartley home at 111 for 4 in 37.3 overs. I added a battling 16 with the bat for what it was worth.

Not our day, then — beaten by six wickets, and no arguing with the scoreboard. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 10 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv TC Tilling & Stevens CC · HomeformLDDWW

Well, the toss went against us on Saturday and I watched Tilling & Stevens elect to bat, which on a fine June afternoon at Linton Park felt like the away captain doing us a favour. As it turned out, the ball did rather more work than the coin suggested it might. Terry Donovan was in magnificent form, six maidens and 5-53 to show for a spell that had their middle order in all sorts of bother, with Gordon Fenner (3-25) and Terry Groves (2-28) mopping up either end. M Smith battled to 48 not out and D Seager chipped in with 28, but 145 all out from 41.3 overs, with D Carcary and G Shepherd both back in the pavilion without scoring, left us needing 146 to win.

Chasing it down was never quite the stroll the target suggested. Paul Bowles and Terry Groves both fell without scoring, and for a while the card looked distinctly patchy. It was left to me to graft through to 61 not out, with Benny Bell (25) and Mike Iliffe (23) providing the sort of support that turns a wobble into a partnership, ours worth 51 for the fifth wicket and rather the making of the innings. We scrambled home by 3 wickets from 43.2 overs, hearts in mouths rather longer than strictly necessary.

Beyond the result, there was real cause for club pride: Gordon Fenner brought up 500 career wickets, and Terry Donovan's five-for eased him past Stan Wratten into 16th on the all-time list. A fine all-round day, nervy finish and all — thoroughly good for the club.

Tue 06 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv CK Civil Service CC, Kent · HomeformDLDDW

I lost the toss coin flip fairly — no, called correctly for once — and knowing our square was true and the covers had done their job, I had no hesitation in sticking us in. Civil Service CC arrived expecting a stern examination and were given one: we rattled up 115 for 4 from our sixteen overs, built chiefly around a handsome fifty from Cliff Anscombe, unbeaten on 67, who found a willing ally in Robert Chance's brisk 20. Their second-wicket stand of 58 was the innings in miniature — calm authority laced with the odd streaky boundary that only club cricket can serve up. As for your captain, I shall draw a veil over my own contribution beyond noting it began and ended with a walk back to the pavilion, having troubled the scorers not one jot.

If my bat was silent, our bowling spoke volumes. Civil Service subsided alarmingly, from 1 for 1 to 10 for 4, and never recovered any composure, closing on a threadbare 48 for 9. Colin Britchford was quite unplayable, spinning it prodigiously for figures of 7 for 21, with Alan Wilkes and Terry Whittaker chipping in dutifully either side of him. B Turner, H Quested and A Tutleman all departed without scoring, victims of a side firing on all cylinders.

A captain is meant to lead by example; on this occasion I led instead by getting out of the way and letting everyone else do the leading. Fred Greenfield continues to purr along nicely in the season's run charts, and Alan Wilkes sits proudly atop the wickets table. My golden duck notwithstanding, this was a thoroughly deserved win by 67 runs — two points banked, and the tea, I'm reliably informed, was rather good too.

Mon 05 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv PC Primrose & Len CC · AwayformWDLDD

Monday found us on the road to Primrose & Len, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation electing to bat first — a decision I stand by, whatever the scorebook might suggest. Fred Greenfield led the way with a fighting 22, but the rest of us rather lost our nerve, an early wicket at 4 setting a jittery tone, and a horror stretch from 60 for 6 to 67 for 9 dragging us to just 68 all out in 15 overs. I can report, in the interests of full disclosure, that my own contribution to the innings was a golden duck — the sort of walk back to the pavilion one does with as much dignity as can be mustered.

Defending such a modest total looked a tall order, but the lads had other ideas. Primrose & Len stumbled early to 4 for 1 and never truly recovered, subsiding from 30 for 4 to 48 for 7 as the pressure told, D Saunders departing without so much as troubling the scorers. The day belonged to Alan Wilkes, whose superb 6 for 27 thoroughly deserved its five-for status, ably supported by Terry Donovan's 3 for 29. They fell 4 runs short, all out for 64 in 14.3 overs.

Two points, and thoroughly earned. Fred Greenfield now sits second in our 1967 run charts with 125, while Alan Wilkes leads the wickets with 19 — a victory built, as the best ones so often are, on nerve, grit, and one splendid spell of bowling.

Sun 04 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · AwayformWWDLD

I lost the toss at Hythe on Sunday and, as is traditional when the coin turns against you, we were sent out to field beneath a sky that threatened worse than it delivered. Hythe made hay to the tune of 174 for 2 from their fifty overs, built chiefly on a watchful 91 not out from Tim Dearman and useful support from R Apps, unbeaten on 75. We did claim an early scalp with the score on precisely nought — a properly nervy start for them — and Terry Whittaker bowled beautifully in support, five maidens and 1 for 33 that kept the scoring board looking rather more modest than it might have. Alan Wilkes chipped in with 1 for 41, and G Willsher and N Duncombe both trudged off for ducks at our hands.

In reply we laboured somewhat to 136 for 7 from our 45, losing an early wicket for just 7 and never quite finding the fluency the pitch perhaps deserved. Fred Greenfield played the innings of the day, a composed fifty, while I was glad to chip in with 37 of my own. Poor Stan Wratten endured the walk of shame for a duck. There was cause for real celebration regardless: Fred brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, I passed 13,000, Richard Ashby made his 100th appearance in Linton colours, and Terry Whittaker's runs saw him leapfrog Bob Arnold into 15th on our all-time list.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on the balance of the day's toil, a fair result neither side could quite deny the other.

Sat 03 Jun 1967 🧢 1st XIv TC Tovil Nomads CC · AwayformDWWDL

The coin let us down again at Tovil Nomads on Saturday, and we were put in to field beneath a sky that threatened more than it delivered. An early stumble — 7 for 1 — promised a tidy afternoon, but the Whites had other ideas: L White and D White both compiled watchful 45s, with L-D White chipping in 28, and the total swelled to a testing 183 for 6 off 46 overs. Derek Pantony did the real damage with 2 for 30, Brian Relf chimed in with 1 for 16, and I did my bit too — 2 for 53, with four maidens to show for the graft, which nudges me up to third in this season's wicket charts with ten scalps.

Chasing 184, we made a flier of a start, the first-wicket pair adding a crucial 70 before the breakthrough came, Basil Sears leading the way with a fine 44. But cricket has a habit of humbling the optimistic, and we slid from 102 for 3 to 113 for 6 in the time it takes to pour a tea. Frank Brattle's 30 and Paul Bowles's unbeaten 20 — enough to keep him third in the run charts on 85 for the season — steadied things, though poor Alan Cridland made his way back for a duck. Behind the stumps Percy Brattle had a torrid afternoon, 12 byes leaking through.

We closed on 126 for 6, short of the target but safe from defeat. Honours shared, then — a draw that felt, on reflection, about right for an afternoon nobody quite grabbed by the scruff of the neck.

Mon 29 May 1967 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWDWWD

Monday last saw Bearsted CC roll up to Linton Park, and having lost the toss I found us asked to bowl first — no bad thing, as it turned out, since it let us have first use of the ball on a still, promising morning. Bearsted ground their way to 184 all out in 61.5 overs, Colin Fleetwood compiling a handsome half-century, well supported by Mick Filmer's 40 and Peter Prince's 28, the pair adding 61 for the third wicket to give their innings some backbone. But the floodgates duly opened — 176 for 7 became 184 all out in a hurry, with poor Bryan Elswood collecting a duck along the way. Terry Whittaker was in unplayable form, spinning his way to 5 for 56, while Gordon Fenner (3 for 41, six miserly maidens) and Terry Groves (2 for 17) made sure nothing was given away cheaply.

Chasing 184, we never got out of second gear. Frank Brattle's 27 and Alan Cridland's 22 promised more than we delivered, and the collapse from 31 for 2 to 40 for 5 rather told the story of our afternoon. I contributed a golden duck myself — the least said the better — and Terry Whittaker matched me stride for stride with one of his own, while poor Percy Brattle had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes leaking through. All out for 93 in 41.1 overs told its own tale.

Down by 91 runs, then, and not our finest hour. Elsewhere, Paul Bowles continues to sit fourth in this year's run charts and Terry Whittaker leads the wickets table with 15 — small consolations. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sun 28 May 1967 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDWDWW

Skipping tools — this is a straightforward writing task. Here's the report:

Sunday 28 May 1967 saw us make the trip to The Mote, and having called correctly at the toss for once in my life, I had no hesitation in batting first — a decision that looked rather braver in hindsight than it did at the time. We limped to 110 all out in 39.3 overs, a total that owed almost everything to a couple of stands in the middle order. I contributed 24 of the more meaningful runs myself, with Don Clayton chipping in a tidy 20 alongside me, though poor Fred Greenfield will want this particular scorecard kept well away from his mother, departing for a duck.

A total of 110 never looked like enough to relax over, but the lads defended it with real character. The Mote were pegged back early when the first wicket fell for just 3, and further encouragement came as we sent Howes and Stewart back without so much as a run against their names. F Waters played the innings of the day with a fighting 32, but the middle and lower order simply couldn't get him the support he needed, and they closed on 77 for 9 from their 47 overs. Dick Langridge was magnificent, miserly with five maidens and finishing with 3 for 10, while I picked up 2 for 21 and Gordon Fenner 2 for 27 in support.

Both Fenner and Langridge climbed the club's all-time lists in the process — a nice footnote to a match that, in the end, honours were shared on. A draw, then, and on a pitch that gave the bowlers the last word throughout, I'll happily settle for that.

Mon 22 May 1967 🧢 1st XIv TN Tovil Nomads · HomeformDDWDW

Monday the 22nd of May, and Tovil Nomads rolled up to Linton Park for what turned into rather a satisfying afternoon. I won the toss and, with barely a flicker of doubt, sent us in to bat — a decision I shall now take full credit for, since it worked.

We posted 105 for 5 from our sixteen overs, a total that owed almost everything to Cliff Anscombe, who compiled a composed and unbeaten 52 while the rest of us contributed rather more modestly around him. It was not a flashy total, but on a ground where nothing comes easy, it felt like enough to defend.

So it proved. The Nomads were bowled out for 96 in their sixteen, despite L White's determined 37 and useful support from J Archer with 22. Credit to the lads for squeezing the innings from 40 for 2 to 52 for 5 at the crucial moment — that spell turned the match. Terry Donovan and Alan Wilkes shared the damage superbly, each finishing with 4 for 43, and Wilkes continues to lead our wicket-takers this season with a dozen scalps to his name. I'll confess my own season's batting is ticking along nicely too, having crept to the top of the run charts, though this was very much a bowlers' and Anscombe's day.

Nine runs the margin, and not a run to spare. A proper club cricket victory — scrappy, hard-earned, and thoroughly enjoyable. We'll take it.

Thu 18 May 1967 🧢 1st XIv L Loose · HomeformDDDWD

I put us in to field, and thankfully the toss cooperated with what I fancied doing anyway. Loose never got going against us, folding for 27 all out in just 15 overs, with three of their number - G Davis, A Haylor and - Jovanovic - trudging back without so much as a run to their name. Terry Whittaker was simply magnificent, tearing through them with 5-14 including 2 maidens, a five-for that was thoroughly deserved and the highlight of the afternoon. Alan Wilkes chipped in handsomely too with 4-12, leaving Loose's innings looking less like a cricket score and more like a phone number.

With so little to chase, I can't pretend there was much drama left in the day. We knocked off the runs at a canter, finishing on 31/1 from just 5 overs to win by 9 wickets, and I was happy enough to get among the runs myself along the way. It was that rare kind of afternoon where the hard work is done inside the first hour and the rest is just enjoying the sunshine and watching the shadows lengthen on a job well done.

Terry continues to lead the way with the ball this season, now up to 10 wickets in the 1st XI charts, while John Ames sits second in the run-scoring standings with 80 to his name - both thoroughly deserved and both worth watching as the summer rolls on. All told, a thumping win, minimal fuss, and exactly the sort of afternoon that makes captaincy feel like the easiest job in the world. A very good day for the club.

Sat 13 May 1967 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWDDDW

Saturday 13 May 1967 saw us head over to Rumwood CC in fine spirits, and having won the toss I elected to bat first — a decision that, by the end of the day, felt roughly 50% justified.

We laboured to 138 all out from 47.2 overs, with an early wobble to 6 for 1 threatening to set the afternoon's tone rather too accurately. Terry Donovan top-scored with a fighting 26, well supported by Richard Ashby's unbeaten 24, while poor Derek Pantony contributed nothing more than a golden duck for his troubles. Not our most fluent batting display, but there was enough there to work with.

With the ball, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Rumwood replied with 109 for 8 from their 39 overs, N Phillips the chief obstacle with a well-made 42, but we kept chipping away — Don Clayton and P Williams both sent back without scoring. I'll allow myself one mention of the day's ball-in-hand highlight: 3 for 32 was a thoroughly happy return for the skipper. Frank Brattle chimed in with 2 for 21 and Terry Donovan added 2 for 23 with three tidy maidens thrown in, a spell that also nudged him past Robert Wood into 19th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — no small thing.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. A scrappy old game, but character in abundance, and I'll happily take a share of the spoils on a day when the bat let us down and the ball bailed us out.

Sun 07 May 1967 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformWWDDD

Lost the toss again on Sunday — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has a personal grudge — and Bobbing Court CC elected to bat first at home. They never really got going. An early wobble to 6-1 set the tone, and though Jack Whibley battled to a stubborn 27, the middle order simply melted away, 62-4 collapsing to 75-7 in the blink of an eye, with T Holland, P Bedelle and Roger Mills all trooping back for ducks. John Ames was in irresistible form, 5-19 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, well backed by Alan Wilkes's 4-22 and a wicket for Terry Whittaker. All out for 89 in 30.4 overs — a fine shift in the field all round.

Chasing such a modest total ought to be straightforward, and so it largely proved, though not without the traditional early scare — 1-1 down inside the first over, with poor Robert Chance departing for nought to keep the club duck ledger ticking over. From there it was plain sailing. I settled in and saw us home with 38 not out, Fred Greenfield unbeaten on 26 alongside me, and we cruised to 91-2 in 30.2 overs.

An eight-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work with both bat and ball. Tea was, as ever, the only close contest of the day.

Sun 30 Apr 1967 🧢 1st XIv MA Maidstone AKCC · HomeformLWWDD

Sunday 30 April 1967 arrived bright and hopeful, and having called correctly at the toss I did what any self-respecting captain does with a good pitch underfoot — batted first, and for once felt rather pleased with myself for it. That confidence lasted precisely as long as my innings, which is to say almost no time at all, but more on that shortly. Robert Chance set the tone with a fine 52, and Maidstone's opening bowlers were made to toil as he and his partner put on 84 for the first wicket before anyone so much as troubled the scorers with a breakthrough. John Ames chipped in with 46 and Roger Craddock a tidy 28, steering us to a respectable 190 for 8 from our sixty overs. Frank Brattle and I, meanwhile, contributed what the scorebook rather charitably calls "a golden nothing" — two ducks for the price of one, and I shall say no more about my own effort than that a captain ought to lead by example, and on this particular Sunday I led by rather the wrong one.

With ball in hand we fared altogether better. Gordon Fenner bowled beautifully for 4 for 56, three of his overs maidens, backed up nicely by Dick Langridge's 2 for 15 and a wicket apiece for Terry Donovan. We had Maidstone's first wicket down for just 6, but P Johnson dug in for an unbeaten 43, well supported by Micky Back and R Simmonds, and they closed on 152 for 8 from their 46 — never quite threatening, but never quite capitulating either.

So honours were shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody — rather like my own contribution with the bat.

Sat 29 Apr 1967 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWLWWD

Saturday 29 April 1967, and off we trundled to West Farleigh, spirits high and kit bags heavier than our top order's collective sense of urgency. I lost the toss – no great surprise, my coin-calling has been suspect since roughly 1962 – and we were put into the field on what looked a decent shirtfront. West Farleigh made full use of it too, racing away to 226/8 from their 41 overs, with young Micky Back compiling a magnificent unbeaten 150 that frankly deserved better company, though Peter Cooper's 20 did its bit. There was early encouragement when they lost a wicket with just 6 on the board, but a stubborn 54-run stand for the fifth wicket dragged the innings back into their favour. Credit where it's due: Benny Bell was simply sensational, ripping through with 5-36 and two miserly maidens besides, while Brian Relf (1-29) and I (1-35) mopped up round the edges. Poor D Kemp departed for a golden duck, which I'm sure will be mentioned at the bar for weeks.

Chasing 227, we made a solid fist of it without ever threatening to get there, closing on 127/6 from our 45. An early wicket for just 2 runs had the nerves jangling, but a fine 94-run second-wicket stand steadied the ship, built around a half-century from my own bat – 57, and rather satisfying it was too – ably supported by Paul Bowles's 49.

A draw, then, honours shared and pride largely intact. Not the day for glory, but a thoroughly decent scrap against a side with a very good player in their ranks.