🧢 Captain's Log

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

Saturday last, the road took us to Headcorn, and the toss – as is traditional – went against us. They batted first, and R- Excell and C- Smith set about building an innings that would have been a good deal more troublesome had we not had Terry Donovan steaming in. A 99-run stand for the second wicket threatened to bat us clean out of the game, Excell reaching a fine 67 and Smith following him past his own fifty with 58, before Donovan (3-26, five maidens and not a run given away lightly) and Terry Whittaker (2-45) hauled things back. 145/5 from their 46 overs felt like a total we could chase, if only we could find the legs for it.

Chase it we did, after a fashion. John Thirkell led the way with a watchful 39, well supported by Basil Sears' 23 and Alan Cridland's unbeaten 23, and I contributed 39 of my own for what it's worth. We closed on 113/5 from our 35, honours and the game shared as neither side could quite land the decisive blow.

A word for the season so far – Thirkell now sits atop our 1967 run charts with 681, and Donovan lies second among the wicket-takers with 48, proof enough that Saturday's near-miss was no fluke but part of a fine campaign. A draw, then, and no shame in it – Headcorn will have gone home relieved, and so, in truth, did we.

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

Terry Whittaker set the tone with a well-made fifty, 56 of the finest, and found good company in Paul Bowles (27) and John Thirkell (22) as we recovered from the loss of an early wicket at 7 to post 146 for 7 from our 48 overs — the second-wicket pair adding a crucial 75 to steady the ship. Basil Sears and Malcolm Pay, it must be said, will not trouble the scorers of this report beyond the ornithological, each departing for a golden duck. Still, a defendable total, and a fair reward for the recovery.

West Farleigh set about the chase with intent, the openers laying a handsome platform of 65 before the first wicket fell, and for a while it looked as though our total might not be quite enough. Micky Back (44) and Joe Fenner (37) did the heavy lifting, but credit to the lads for dragging them from 96 for 3 to 102 for 6 when the game was there to be won — Brian Relf leading the charge with a fine 3 for 21, well supported by Jon Harris (2 for 13) and John Thirkell, who chipped in both with bat and ball (1 for 17) to cap another prolific afternoon on his way to 642 runs for the season. I added a modest 22 of my own, more application than artistry.

In the end West Farleigh closed on 118 for 6 from their 31, and honours were shared. Not quite the storybook finish, but a proper tussle, honestly fought, and a draw that flattered neither side nor shamed either.

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

Sunday 17 September 1967 brought Anchorians CC to our ground, and with the toss falling my way I had no hesitation in batting first — a decision I shall happily take credit for, whatever the umpires' private opinions. Openers John Thirkell (37) and John Ames (42) gave us the sort of platform that lets a captain relax on the pavilion steps, taking us to 64 before the first wicket fell, and a handsome 69-run fourth-wicket stand kept the innings moving nicely. Paul Bowles finished unbeaten on 44 to see us safely to 162 for 5 from our 47 overs — respectable enough to defend, if not quite enough to have the tea urn shaking in its boots.

And defend it we did, though not without early fireworks with the ball. C Brooker and E Batchelor were both sent back without troubling the scorers — a pair of ducks to warm any bowler's heart — as the Anchorians slumped to 7 for 1. Alan Wilkes was the architect of it all, a thoroughly miserly 9 maidens underpinning figures of 5 for 39, with Terry Whittaker chipping in a tidy 2 for 18. A Watkins (32) and P Phelan (20) did their best to drag the visitors back into contention, and I even allowed myself 37 with bat in hand earlier on, but 86 for 7 from their 44 overs left them well short of our total.

With Thirkell now heading our 1967 run charts on 620 and Wilkes leading the wickets with 63, the season's engine room is clearly in fine working order. As for Sunday's efforts — honours shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue. Not the finish we wanted, but with bowling like that, victories surely can't be far behind.

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

We batted first at home to Harrietsham on a fine Sunday, and having called correctly I did what any captain with a scrap of sense does and stuck us in. It proved a sound instinct: Paul Bowles and Robert Chance gave us the platform we'd been after, seventy-two for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and from there Bowles simply refused to get out, finishing unbeaten on 48. Roger Craddock chipped in with a fine 39, Chance's 34 was no less handy, and 165 for 4 off our 46 overs looked, from the pavilion at least, like a total with some substance to it. My own contribution of 17 will not trouble the historians, but every run counts on a Sunday.

Defending it, though, is quite another matter, and Harrietsham set about proving as much. Anthony Moss played the innings of the day, 74 that took the game away from us, with Keith Chaney (30) and J Wisden (25) doing their bit in a stubborn 53-run third-wicket stand. Dick Langridge toiled manfully for 3-54, and Roger Craddock, having already batted us to respectability, turned his arm over for 3-58 and two tidy maidens besides — not a man to give anything away lightly. But it wasn't quite enough, and they got home by three wickets with half an over in hand.

A fighting effort, undone by a top-order partnership we simply couldn't match. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts handsomely and Langridge sits fourth among the wicket-takers, so the season's not short of bright spots. This one, though, goes down as a defeat we'll shrug off, dust down, and come back stronger from next Sunday.

Sat 09 Sep 1967 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLLLW

Down by 177 runs on Saturday, and if you're looking for silver linings you'll want a torch, several matches, and possibly a small miracle.

The visitors arrived and, having won the toss decision to bowl first, we duly went about the business of letting them post a rather substantial 204/6 from their 45 overs. J. Gorf was the chief architect of our discomfort, motoring past his fifty to 83, with W. Horseman chipping in a tidy 20. Credit where due, though — John Thirkell was superb with the ball, snaring 3-24 and continuing his remarkable season, while Brian Relf and Keith Pride offered fine support either side of him, Pride in particular bowling four maidens with the miserliness of a man checking every receipt twice.

Then came our reply, and here the less said the better, though say it I must: 27 all out in 16.4 overs, with Pride and Jon Harris both departing without troubling the scorer. Poor Malcolm Pay had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 12 byes finding their way past him as if drawn by magnet. I did at least manage some rhythm with the ball earlier, taking three wickets, which is rather cold comfort when your batting card reads like a telephone number.

One shaft of proper sunshine amid the gloom: Terry Whittaker brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark few of us will ever threaten. Otherwise, though — not our day at all. Heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Wednesday 6th September, and off we trundled to Birchington CC with the sun doing its best and my optimism, as ever, doing rather more work than it should. I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I shall die on that hill regardless of what followed.

What followed was 118 all out from 51.2 overs, and a card with more blots than a schoolboy's homework. One down with just 1 on the board set a nervy tone, and ducks for Roger Craddock, John Thirkell and William Buck did nothing to settle the nerves. Dick Langridge held things together with 39, Alan Wilkes chipped in 25 and Cliff Anscombe 23 — the latter enough to nudge him past Pat Hardwick into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing that keeps a man warm on a losing afternoon. I contributed a duck myself. We shall move swiftly on.

With the ball we asked questions without quite getting the answers, Birchington cruising to 119/4 in 30.1 overs. L Smith's unbeaten 57 and J Darby's 34 did the damage, with a chunky third-wicket stand of 65 the difference. Terry Whittaker (1-18), Dick Langridge (1-21) and Terry Donovan (1-24) all struck — Donovan's wicket enough to leapfrog Herbert Rayner into 15th on the all-time list.

Beaten by six wickets. Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets.

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

Sunday the 3rd of September saw Frindsbury CC roll up the drive, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in sending us in to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I shall take the credit. It wasn't all plain sailing; we lost an early wicket with just a single run on the board, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the flask before the tea interval has even been laid out. But a sturdy 62-run stand for the second wicket steadied the ship, and Stan Wratten batted beautifully for an unbeaten 60, well supported by Paul Bowles (31) and John Thirkell (22), as we reached 141 for 5 from our thirty overs. Poor John Ames, meanwhile, made his way to the Duck Club with a nought to his name — the walk of shame, indeed.

With the ball, we squeezed Frindsbury hard. B Day top-scored with 37, backed by L Dudgeon's 28 in an opening stand of 52, before the innings subsided memorably from 81 for 3 to 91 for 6. John Ames was magnificent, taking 6 for 37, with Dick Langridge chipping in handsomely at 3 for 39; I did my modest bit too, going for 22. Frindsbury finished on 120 for 9.

A splendid win by 21 runs, and a landmark day besides — Wratten now sits second on the club's all-time run-scorers list, past Basil Sears. Onwards, in fine spirits.

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

Saturday, 2nd September 1967, and the good news travelled faster than the bad: I called correctly and had few doubts about batting first on our strip.

Whether that faith was misplaced is another matter entirely. Sixty-five all out from 22 overs tells only half the story — at 56 for 5 we still had a knock worth defending, and then in the space of what felt like three balls we were 58 for 8. R Venner, Jon Harris and P Williams all trooped back without troubling the scorers, a hat-trick of ducks that did nobody's confidence any good. Not our finest half hour with the bat, if I'm honest.

With the ball, at least, there was pride to salvage. Vic Wellard bowled beautifully — two maidens and 1 for 19, not a run given away without a fight — but Beverley's Pattenden (33 not out) and Shirley (31 not out) simply saw them home, reaching 66 for 1 in 23.2 overs with time and wickets to spare.

One bright note amid the wreckage: Terry Whittaker's watchful 12 runs eased him past Frank Taylor into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a small consolation prize on a chastening afternoon.

Beaten by nine wickets, then, and no arguments about it. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

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

We knew what to expect when the coin landed the wrong way at Bearsted, and so it proved. Their innings got away from us early, 89 on the board before we so much as troubled the umpire for a wicket, and Ian Lambert made merry with a really rather magnificent century, 109 of the finest, well supported by Peter Johnson's unbeaten 28 and Michael Jeffreys' 20. To our credit we hauled things back in the middle order, ripping through from 140-4 to 151-7 with Dick Langridge bowling like a man possessed for 6-67 (six maidens too — not a run given away lightly) and Alan Wilkes chipping in with 3-80. But their last pair, cussed as ever, wagged for 49 we could ill afford, and 221/9 felt a good 40 too many by the close of their innings.

Colin Fleetwood, Peter Prince and Denis Cleggett will not want reminding of their contributions to the scorebook. Percy Brattle, meanwhile, had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps if the ten byes are anything to go by — bless him.

Our reply promised much and delivered rather less. John Ames batted beautifully for 78, well supported by Basil Sears' 23, and at 140-7 we still had dreams of something respectable. Then, as is so often the way at this club, the wheels came clean off and we were all out for 159 in 45.1 overs, beaten by 62 runs.

Two bright notes amid the gloom: Alan Wilkes passed 600 career wickets, and Basil Sears' innings lifted him past Stan Wratten into second on the all-time run list. Small mercies. Heads up, chaps — back to the nets.

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

Sunday 27th August, and East Peckham & Nettlestead rolled up as our guests. I lost the toss again — my record with that coin remains a source of quiet national concern — and they had no hesitation in batting first.

Frank Brattle had other ideas, though. After the visitors raced to 68 without loss, thanks largely to a stubborn opening stand, Frank turned the innings on its head with a magnificent 5-20, dragging them from a comfortable 110-3 to a distinctly uncomfortable 117-6. Paul Bowles (3-36) and Tim Thirkell (1-6) chipped away nicely, Brian Relf bowled two maidens of pure miserliness, and K Taylor won't be putting his golden duck on the mantelpiece any time soon. F Taylor's 40, with support from N Ashman (28) and R Corke (23), just about held things together, but they were bowled out for 140 in 43.2 overs.

With the ball having done us proud, the bat let us down by degrees. Frank Brattle, not content with five wickets, added 46 with the bat — and in doing so brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, which really is one for the mantelpiece. Paul Bowles kept the scoreboard honest with 34 (he now sits second in the season's run charts on 374), Mike Iliffe made 20, and I contributed a watchful 20 of my own. But 141-7 from 46.5 overs wasn't quite enough, and we went down by three wickets.

Not our day, all told — though between Frank's landmark and his five-for, there was plenty to raise a glass to in defeat. Back to the nets.

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

We lost the toss on a bright Sunday, 20 August, and The Mote duly asked us to bowl first — which, as it turned out, suited us rather nicely. Our openers made early inroads, reducing them to 0-1 almost before the tea urn had boiled, and though J Houghton battled to 25, the rest of their order came and went with the regularity of the church clock. R May, unkindly, bagged a golden duck, and by the time we'd finished, The Mote were skittled for a modest 82 in 28.4 overs — 0-1 to 17-4 and never really recovering. Roger Craddock was the star of the show, a superb 6-23 that any bowler twice his age would frame and hang in the pavilion, with good support from myself (2-26) and Terry Whittaker, whose 1-14 with two maidens was miserliness of the highest order.

Chasing 83, we made light work of it, cruising to 85/1 in 22.4 overs. I confess a certain pride in leading from the front with 56 not out — the sort of innings one dreams about on the drive to the ground and rarely delivers, so I shall enjoy this one.

A fine nine-wicket win, then, and a timely reminder of what this side can do when the ball talks and the bat behaves. Terry Whittaker continues his fine season with the ball, now third in the club's wicket charts, while I find myself, rather sheepishly, sitting second in the run charts. Onwards we go.

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

Sunday 13 August 1967, and off we trundled to Harrietsham with the sun out and the kit bags heavier than the batting line-up would suggest. I called correctly for once — a rare enough event to note in itself — and had no hesitation in batting first. John Ames set about it properly for 48, with Stan Wratten a fine ally for 37, and all seemed steady enough at 118 for 5. Then, as club cricket so loves to do, the whole thing wobbled alarmingly to 133 for 8 before we could draw breath, with poor Paul Bowles collecting a duck for his troubles. All out 145 from 43.2 overs — respectable in the end, if we don't dwell on the middle bit.

With the ball we made them work for every one of their 140 for 8 from 47 overs. Keith Chaney played beautifully for 57, well supported by Anthony Moss's 20, and their fifth-wicket pair put on 60 before we hauled them back from 132 for 5 to 134 for 8. Edward Smith and Mark Skinner both departed without scoring, and Alan Wilkes span his way to a magnificent 5 for 66, with Terry Whittaker (2-18) and Paul Bowles (1-29) chipping in, and Terry Donovan miserly with three maidens. I even found 18 runs myself, more by accident than design.

A word for Stan Wratten, who climbed past Basil Sears into second on the club's all-time run list — quiet history made on an ordinary Sunday. In the end honours were shared, and a draw at Harrietsham, with performances like that, felt entirely fair.

Sat 12 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDLWD

Saturday the 12th of August found us at home, ball in hand first, and for a good long while it looked rather like being one of those afternoons. R. Ayling made a well-crafted 55 not out, C. Gardner chipped in a tidy 49 and F. Greenfield 28, taking the opposition to 181 for 5 off 44.5 overs — a score built patiently, over by patient over, while our lot toiled manfully in the field. Gordon Fenner led the way with 2 for 30, Terry Groves backed him up nicely with 2 for 38, Brian Relf took 1 for 25, and Terry Whittaker bowled with such miserly control (six maidens!) that the batsmen must have wondered whether the boundary rope had been quietly moved back overnight.

With the bat, we began nervously — a wicket down with just 5 on the board tends to concentrate the mind — but Mike Iliffe (69) and Frank Brattle (63) restored calm with a magnificent stand of 120 for the fourth wicket, steering us to 178 for 7 off our 35. Eight byes gave the wicketkeeper a day to forget, and poor Gordon Fenner, having bowled so well, walked for a duck with the bat — cricket's little joke on a man having otherwise rather a good day.

There was proper cause for cheer, mind: Terry Whittaker brought up 2,000 runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a teacup to.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite land the finishing blow. Fair result, and no complaints from this captain.

Wed 09 Aug 1967 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDDWDL

Wednesday 9 August 1967, and Gravesend CC rolled up to find the toss going their way, which — regular readers will know — is roughly how these things always seem to go for me. They chose to bat, and we duly trotted out into the field with the enthusiasm of men who'd rather be putting their feet up.

Gravesend built steadily to 157/7 off their 53 overs, C Mitchell unbeaten on 32 and R Langford chipping in with 27, though it was John Thirkell who did the real damage with 2-13, backed up nicely by Jon Harris and Dick Langridge with a wicket apiece. Terry Whittaker, meanwhile, bowled with the parsimony of a man checking every receipt twice, four maidens to his name. I'll confess the wicketkeeping had its wobblier moments — 17 byes is not a figure I shall be framing for the clubhouse wall — but the bowling kept things honest throughout.

Then came William Buck, who simply decided the match was his to win and got on with it — 103 not out, an innings of real class, with Cliff Anscombe offering fine support on 25. The pair put on 72 for the first wicket before the platform gave way, but by then the game was as good as ours, and we cantered home on 158/2 with overs to spare.

Two points, an eight-wicket win, and Buck now sitting proudly atop our run charts for the season. A thoroughly satisfactory Wednesday — byes notwithstanding.

Sun 06 Aug 1967 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWDLW

Sunday 06 August 1967, and Linton Park welcomed the visitors on a day when the toss felt like the first proper decision of the afternoon — I called correctly and had no hesitation in batting first.

We posted 152/7 from our fifty-one overs, though it wasn't without its wobbles. Losing the first wicket for 6 had the tea urn boiling early, and a flurry between 43 and 46 for the loss of three more threatened to unravel things altogether. It was John Thirkell who steadied the ship with a thoroughly well-made 57, finding an admirable ally in Paul Bowles's 23, the pair's sixth-wicket stand of 73 the innings' backbone. Spare a thought, though, for poor Frank Brattle and Fred Greenfield, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — ducks that even the pond by the boundary rope would have been proud of.

In the field we held our nerve as the visitors replied with 141/3 from their forty-six overs, John Archer's 37 and an unbeaten 37 from M Taylor doing the early damage, with Jim Archer's 29 keeping them ticking — their own opening stand of 51 setting the tone. Thirkell, not content with his runs, picked up 2-34 with the ball, Dick Langridge chipped in with 1-39, and Terry Donovan bowled with admirable economy, three maidens to his name.

A draw, then — honours even, and honestly no more than the cricket deserved. My own 57 was pleasing, and with 507 runs to his name this season, Thirkell continues to lead from the front. All in all, a proper afternoon's cricket.

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

Sunday 30 July 1967, and Paddock Wood rolled into Linton Park for what I still maintain was the correct decision at the toss — we batted first, and for a few overs I felt rather clever about it.

That cleverness evaporated fast. We lost our first wicket for nought, rebuilt gamely to 70 for 4, then somehow contrived to shed three more for nine runs and find ourselves 79 for 7 — the sort of collapse that has grown men studying their boots. Stan Wratten held things together best with a top score of 22, while poor Robert Chance made his way back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers at all, his name duly entered in the Duck Club ledger. All out for 108 in 43.4 overs — a total that flattered nobody.

With the ball we fought harder than we'd batted. We had Paul Bowles and C Oorloof back cheaply early doors, but G. Matthews (34) and L. Anstead (26) steadied things, and V. Reed's unbeaten 28 saw them home, a stand of 55 for the fourth wicket doing the real damage. Paul Bowles was pick of our bowlers with 2 for 17, Terry Donovan characteristically mean with 2 for 18 and four maidens, John Thirkell chipping in with 1 for 24. Thirkell remains our leading run-scorer this season with 450, Donovan second in the wickets with 37.

Paddock Wood got there by three wickets. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Saturday 29 July 1967 saw The Mote CC roll up to Linton Park under a sky that, for once, seemed to know it was cricket season, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't so much as blink before opting to bat.

It was not, I confess, the tidiest of starts — a wicket down with just 1 on the board had me eyeing the pavilion clock rather anxiously — but the lads dug in handsomely. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, a really fine 57, while Basil Sears weighed in with 48 and John Thirkell finished unbeaten on 30. The 89-run third-wicket stand was the spine of the whole innings, and 168/5 from our 40 overs felt like a total with a bit of steel in it.

Defending it, though, proved another matter entirely. The Mote simply refused to chase, closing on a sedate 34/0 from 8 overs, D. Cossins ticking along serenely to 24 not out while I contributed a modest 30 with the bat earlier and could only watch us fail to prise out a single wicket. Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite be bothered, or perhaps dared, to force the issue.

Not all gloom, mind: Basil's 48 sees him leapfrog Stan Wratten into 2nd on the club's all-time run charts, while young Thirkell continues his imperious form, now sitting on 437 for the season. A day, on balance, of quiet pride rather than glory — we'll take it.

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

24th July, 1967 — Birkenhead Grasshoppers were our visitors, and having won the toss I elected to bat, a decision I shall claim full credit for whatever the scorebook eventually revealed. We stumbled early, losing our first wicket for a solitary run, but Cliff Anscombe and John Thirkell steadied the ship with a stand of 74 for the second wicket that put some proper backbone into the innings. Anscombe went on to a magnificent 96, John Thirkell chipped in with 29 and William Buck with 20, though poor K Mills will not be troubling the scorers this week, departing for a golden duck. We closed on a healthy 187 for 5 from our 47 overs — a total I felt gave us a fighting chance.

Alas, the afternoon in the field told a different tale. L Atwell and B Riley put together a punishing stand of 121 for the second wicket, Atwell finishing unbeaten on a fine 69 and Riley falling agonisingly short of the same feat on 66, with P Lloyd adding an unbeaten 25 to seal matters. Brian Relf toiled admirably for his 1 for 22, including two tight maidens, and Dick Langridge picked up a wicket for 50, but it was not enough as the visitors cantered home on 190 for 2 with 8 wickets in hand. Cliff Anscombe had a wretched time behind the stumps, 9 byes escaping his gloves, though I doubt he'll dwell on it once he learns his 96 has nudged him past Fred Greenfield into 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list.

Not our day, then — outplayed, outbatted, and thoroughly outclassed. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

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

On the toss falling kindly for once, I did the bold thing and put us in — a decision that looked faintly foolish as we crawled and stumbled to 124 all out in 42 overs. John Ames was the one shining light, striking a fine 58, and rather better still brought up 5,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark worth more than any of my captaincy decisions that afternoon. The rest of us contributed a collapse for the ages, 103 for 6 becoming 106 for 9 before anyone had really settled into their tea.

Defending a total that modest felt like bringing a butter knife to a gunfight, but cricket delights in making fools of pessimists. Sevenoaks Vine wobbled from the off, T McGavin's 37 the only real resistance, and once we had them at 64 for 4 sliding to 72 for 7 the game was as good as ours — P Coffey, P-Williams and P-Russell all departing without troubling the scorers. Alan Wilkes was quite magnificent, five miserly maidens underpinning figures of 7 for 45, with Dick Langridge chipping in at 2 for 35.

Up at the top of the season's tables John Thirkell leads the run-scoring with 407 and Alan Wilkes now sits on 50 wickets — the lads in fine form generally, if not always with the bat on a Sunday. A scrappy, unlikely, thoroughly satisfying win by 38 runs. Onwards.

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

Sunday 16 July, and Loughton CC came calling. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains a career blot — so we found ourselves in the field first, which at least gave the lads something to do before tea.

Loughton made a workmanlike 166, though not without a hiccup: their first wicket fell for just 1, D Manning trudging back before he'd so much as loosened his pads. M Frizelle then played the innings of the day with a handsome 58, backed up by D Peek's 39 and J Manning's 24. Dick Langridge was the pick of our attack with 4-56, Benny Bell chipped in with 3-31, and Alan Wilkes bowled a tidy 2-73 with four maidens to show for his parsimony.

Chasing 167, we wobbled our way to 170/8 in 48.2 overs — never entirely comfortable, but never quite panicking either. Benny Bell and R Dudney both fell without scoring, which did nothing for the collective blood pressure, but John Thirkell held firm for an unbeaten 70, ably supported by Stan Wratten and Frank Brattle with 29 apiece. I'll confess a personal contribution of 70 not out was rather satisfying, and Stan's 29 quietly nudged him past Basil Sears into second on the club's all-time run charts — a nice footnote to a nervy afternoon.

A two-wicket win, then, scrappier than the scoreboard suggests but a win all the same. Onwards.

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

Saturday 15 July 1967 saw us make the trip to Beverley CC in Kent, and I lost the toss – a habit I'm rather too good at forming. They took first knock, and we spent the afternoon in the field watching P Shirley compile a fine 81, well supported by A Pattenden's 35 and J Phipps's 22. We had them in early trouble at 8-1, but a Beverley fourth-wicket stand of 117 hauled them clear of us, and their innings closed on a substantial 186/6 from 47 overs. Credit where due: Terry Groves toiled away for 3-47 with three tidy maidens thrown in, and Terry Whittaker chipped in with 3-59 – no more than we'd expect from a man sitting third in this year's wicket charts with 23 to his name already.

Chasing 187, we never quite got up to the required tempo, closing on 106/6 from our 41 overs. Paul Bowles held things together nicely with an unbeaten 24, and I did my modest bit with 18, though poor Gordon Fenner's afternoon began and ended with a duck – these things happen to the best of us, and occasionally to the rest of us too. Cliff Anscombe had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 8 byes, for which I shall generously blame the wicket rather than the wicketkeeper.

So, honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody – which, on reflection, is about the most English result cricket has to offer.

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

Tuesday, 11th July 1967, and off we trundled to West Farleigh in what I can only describe as an outbreak of misplaced optimism. Winning the toss, I elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, though the scorebook may beg to differ. We lost our first wicket with the total on nought, which is never the tonic a captain hopes for over breakfast, and from there it was rather a case of gathering ourselves up off the floor. Sixteen overs yielded 92/7, a total that owed more to grit than grace, and poor Mike Stephens will not thank me for recording his duck for posterity, though the club gazette waits for no man's blushes.

With the ball, we simply couldn't apply the squeeze. An early breakthrough at 7-1 promised much, and Colin Britchford toiled manfully for figures of 3-43, but Micky Back settled in and made merry, compiling an unbeaten fifty that took the game comfortably away from us. West Farleigh cruised home at 94/3 with the best part of two overs unused, a seven-wicket victory that flattered them not one jot.

Elsewhere, the season ticks pleasingly along regardless — John Thirkell continues to top our 1st XI run charts with 311 for the year, and Britchford's efforts today nudge him into fourth on the wicket-takers' list with 14. Not our day, all told. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

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

Sunday the ninth of July, and Aylesford Paper Mills CC rolled up to Linton Park in fine fettle while your captain, coin duly won, decided we'd have a bat first. In hindsight I may have overestimated our appetite for runs, because 114 all out from 46.3 overs was never going to have the Mills quaking. Robert Chance did his bit with a tidy 24, Roger Craddock chipped in with 20, and for a while 85 for 4 looked almost respectable — until it wasn't, and 96 for 7 arrived with the sort of speed usually reserved for the tea urn emptying. Poor Jim Hall departed for a duck, and I shall say no more about that out of Christian charity.

Out in the field we at least gave a good account of ourselves. Terry Whittaker bowled beautifully for 2 for 31, including two maidens that cost the Mills batsmen a good deal of sweat for very little reward, and Roger Craddock backed him up nicely with 1 for 35. We even had Colin Watson back in the pavilion for nought at our hands. But Brian Fitch had other ideas, compiling a composed unbeaten 67, well supported by R. David's unbeaten 33, and the Mills eased home on 115 for 3 with overs to spare.

So, three wickets the wrong way and another lesson in humility for the log book. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 301, and Terry Whittaker sits third in the wickets with 20 — small consolations on a day that wasn't ours. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

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

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

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 05 July 1967. We were away at Gravesend CC, and there was no luck with the coin either; they had first say and elected to bat, leaving us to make the running with the ball.

Gravesend batted through their fifty overs to close on 210 for 7, built on three fine half-centuries — Mick Stapley unbeaten on 58, Kevin Wilson with 57, and Brian Pothecary with 51 — while W Carter went back without so much as a look at the scoreboard. R Dudney was pick of the attack with 3 for 46, and Terry Donovan bowled with real discipline, two maidens among his figures of 1 for 31, well supported by Roger Craddock's 1 for 41.

In reply we laboured to 136 for 9 from our 42 overs. Robert Chance led the way with 30, Eddie Lawrence chipped in with 25 and Roger Craddock with 24, but then the innings folded in a heap — 101 for 5 became 104 for 8 almost before anyone had settled back into their deckchair, with C Brock and Ossie Fryer both departing for ducks.

One small crumb of comfort amid the collapse: Basil Sears's unbeaten 7 was enough to nudge him past Stan Wratten into second on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which will please him rather more than it pleased the scorebook. Robert Chance and R Dudney remain out in front of this season's Midweek XI charts.

A draw, then, honours shared — and on the day's batting, one suspects we got rather the better of the bargain.

Mon 03 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLDD

Monday 3rd July, 1967, and the visitors rolled up to Linton Park with bat in hand and, as it turned out, the better of us on the day.

Put in first to bowl, we thought we'd made a decent fist of it. R Smith and Ray Smith put together a stand of 63 for the second wicket that did us no favours at all, R Smith carrying his bat for an unbeaten 38 while Ray chipped in with 34. Credit where due, though — Terry Donovan toiled manfully to return 3-53, with Colin Britchford chipping away for 2-36 in good support. 102/5 off their sixteen overs looked chaseable enough over the tea urn, if we're honest.

Chasing it, Roger Craddock played the innings of the day, 46 well-made runs, with Cliff Anscombe unbeaten on 32 keeping the scoreboard ticking. But 104/4 from just 13.3 overs told its own story — we simply ran out of overs before we ran out of hope. Poor Cliff had a torrid time of it behind the stumps too, nine byes conceded, which he'll not thank me for mentioning, but a captain's report is nothing without a little honesty.

Elsewhere, the season marches on regardless of our Monday blushes — John Thirkell still tops the run charts with 299, and Terry Donovan sits second in the wickets with 33. As for this one: beaten by six wickets, heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 02 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLDLD

Captain's Log — Sunday 2nd July 1967. We hosted our visitors on a day that promised much and, in the end, delivered a handshake.

Put into the field first, we watched their innings get away from us early, the openers putting on a brisk 78 before we found a way through. D Toze led the charge with 39, R Stewart chipping in 37 and A Vaughan 34, and by the close of their 54 overs they'd posted a healthy 195 for 7. The consolation, and it was a considerable one, was Alan Wilkes, who bowled like a man possessed — 5 for 95, four of his overs maidens, not a run given away lightly. Derry Evans (1-18) and Paul Bowles (1-48) did their tidy bit in support.

Chasing 196, we made a game of it. Roger Craddock and Frank Brattle put together the innings of the day, 110 together for the second wicket, Craddock cruising to 64 and Brattle to 61 either side of him. Then, as so often happens on a village green, the wheels came off rather spectacularly — 152 for 3 became 157 for 6 before you could say "tea's up," with Jim Hall, Mike Iliffe and Derry Evans all departing for ducks. We closed on 158 for 9 from our 49, agonisingly short.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite deserving to lose, nobody quite good enough to win. Wilkes was the story of the day; the rest of us merely supporting cast.

Sat 01 Jul 1967 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLDL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 1 July 1967. We hosted our visitors on what turned into one of those afternoons where nobody quite blinks first.

Put into the field, we watched their innings ride a hefty second-wicket stand of 95, R Barker compiling a handsome 56 and G Collins chipping in with 43, B Fletcher weighing in with 23 more. For a while it looked ominous, 147 for 5 with the shine gone off the ball, but credit to the lads — we squeezed them from there to 153 for 8 off their 49 overs, M Neider back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Terry Donovan was magnificent, 4 for 48 with five maidens that strangled the middle overs, ably backed by Terry Groves (3 for 43) and Keith Pride (1 for 11).

Our reply never quite settled. Keith Pride's 40 and Stan Wratten's 30 gave us a platform, but we contrived to lose four wickets in a blink, sliding from 91 for 4 to 98 for 7, and Alan Cridland and Fred Greenfield both made the long walk back for ducks. We closed on 111 for 8 from our 45, honour more or less intact.

One bright note amid the wreckage: Stan Wratten's 30 eased him past Basil Sears into second on the club's all-time run-scoring list, while Terry Donovan's afternoon's work keeps him second in this year's wicket-takers' table with 30 to his name.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely salvaged, and the tea urn, as ever, the only undisputed winner.

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

From the captain's chair — Friday 30 June 1967

Well, the toss went against us, as tosses so often do when it matters, and Reeds CC chose to bat. Not that it did them a great deal of good in the end, though it took a while for that to become apparent. They wobbled early — 3 for 1 — with D Holmes and C Simmonds both departing without troubling the scorers, a brace of ducks to warm the outfielders' hearts. D Dymond then had other ideas, farming 44 of their 96 all out from fourteen overs almost single-handedly, before Alan Wilkes reminded everyone why he tops our wicket charts, snaring a magnificent 7 for 55. Terry Donovan chipped in handsomely with 2 for 40, and between them they left Reeds' innings looking rather threadbare by the close.

Ninety-six seemed a modest enough target on paper, and paper, as ever, proved a poor substitute for the pitch. Mike Stephens battled to 21 and led our reply, but wickets tumbled at the other end and we limped to 93 for 8 from our sixteen overs — three agonising runs short. A cruel arithmetic for a side that had bowled so well.

Alan Wilkes' effort keeps him imperious atop the 1967 wicket charts with 36, while John Thirkell continues to lead the run-scoring with 290 — small consolations on a day the bat let the ball down. Not our day, then, but no disgrace in it either. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

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 · AwayformLLWLD

Thursday 22 June 1967, and out we trooped to The Mote, losing the toss and being sent straight into the field — the story of my captaincy career, if anyone's counting. The Mote settled in and made hay to the tune of 149 for 6 off their sixteen overs, B Brigden the chief architect with a handsome 65, well backed by Malcolm Bristow's 32 and John Pocock's 24, the pair putting on 56 for the second wicket while I stood at slip pondering my tactical shortcomings. Credit where due, though — we hauled things back sharply at the death, 141 for 3 becoming 143 for 6 in a blink, Roger Craddock the pick of the attack with 3 for 36, and honest support from Alan Wilkes (1-38) and Terry Donovan (1-67).

Chasing 150, we never quite got out of second gear. Two down for one run set an ominous early tone, and though John Thirkell battled hard for 33 and I chucked in a supporting 33 of my own, wickets tumbled around us and we subsided to 64 for 6 from our sixteen. Poor Frank Brattle will want this page torn from the gazette — a golden duck to add to the ledger, and no mistake.

Elsewhere, the season marches on regardless of our travails: John Thirkell continues to lead the 1st XI run charts with 280 for the summer, and Alan Wilkes tops the wicket pile with 29. As for Thursday — a chastening 85-run defeat, heads bowed, and back to the nets we go. Not our finest hour, but The Mote earned it fair and square.

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

Sunday 18th June found us on the road to Bobbing Court, where losing the toss meant we were sent out to field first — never my favourite way to spend a Sunday, but there we are.

Gordon Kemsley and W Webb built the home side a platform, 36 and 30 not out respectively, and between them shepherded Bobbing Court to 152 for 9 from their 42 overs. It could have been considerably worse but for Terry Donovan, who bowled beautifully — five wickets for 54, with five maidens thrown in for good measure, proof that not every over need leak runs even on a placid Sunday pitch. Alan Wilkes chipped in handsomely too, 3 for 81, and between the two of them Bobbing Court's later order found precious little to feed on.

Chasing 153, we never quite got there, closing on 139 for 8 from our 37. Robert Chance led the way with 28, well supported by Roger Craddock's 26 and John Thirkell's watchful 23 — Thirkell now sitting proudly atop our season's run charts with 247, as Wilkes does the bowling equivalent with 28 wickets. I managed a workmanlike 23 myself, more good fortune than good technique. Spare a thought for poor Richard Ashby, whose golden duck will live longer in the memory than anyone would wish.

So honours shared, a draw fashioned by neither side quite having the stomach to force the issue. Not a win, but not a loss either — and on a warm June Sunday at Bobbing Court, with Donovan bowling like that, I'll happily settle for honest toil and a point apiece.

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

Saturday 17th June 1967, and Tovil Nomads Cricket Club came calling. I lost the toss – no great surprise, my coin-calling form being what it is – and we were put into the field, which on a fine afternoon is really just an invitation to stand about admiring the outfield while the opposition help themselves.

And help themselves they did. M Taylor anchored things with a composed 58 not out, well supported by T Mitchell's 49 and G Winter's 37, the pair putting on 52 for the fourth wicket while we searched for answers. Terry Groves toiled away nobly for figures of 3-51, Paul Bowles chipped in with one, and Terry Whittaker kept things admirably tight with two maidens, but 208/4 from 46 overs was always going to take some chasing.

Chase it we did not. An early wicket with the total still reading nought set the tone for a nervy, uncomfortable reply, and though Terry Whittaker fought hard for a fine 46, the top order rather let the side down around him – Benny Bell, Paul Bowles and Brian Relf all departing without troubling the scorer. All out for 100 in 34.3 overs told its own sorry story.

A hundred-and-eight run defeat, then, and no amount of tea-hut consolation will dress that up as anything but a chastening afternoon. John Thirkell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 224, which is about the only cheer to be salvaged. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets – there's work to be done.

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

It was, I'll confess, an easy toss to win and an even easier decision to make — on winning it, I had no hesitation in asking Diagrit CC to have a bowl at us. The lads duly obliged, racing to 119 for 2 off our sixteen overs, with Cliff Anscombe the picture of composure on his way to a well-made 55 not out, ably shepherded by Mike Stephens with 42 of his own. The two of them shared a stand of 72 for the second wicket that did the visitors' bowling figures no favours whatsoever, and set us up nicely for what was to follow.

Defending it, we found ourselves in the sort of afternoon a captain dreams about but rarely gets. Diagrit's reply never quite found its rhythm; C White's 22 was the only real resistance, and once they slid from 63 for 5 to 74 for 8 the game was as good as up, W Jackson and P Lindley both trudging off for ducks. Alan Wilkes was quite magnificent, running through the order for 5 for 49, with Colin Britchford chipping in usefully at 2 for 25. All out for 82 — we'd won by 37 runs.

Two milestones worth raising a glass to: Cliff brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Alan's five-for saw him leapfrog John Ames to become our all-time leading wicket-taker. A thoroughly good day at the office.

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

Sunday 11 June 1967, and we ventured out to Hartley Country Club CC with the sun on our backs and, for once, a captain who called the coin correctly. Naturally I did what any self-respecting skipper does with a rare stroke of luck — I promptly hid the toast in a drawer and elected to bat, a decision I stand by even now.

The innings, in truth, was a study in contrasts. We stumbled early to 4-1 and never quite found our rhythm, limping to 110 all out in 44.1 overs — though not before Paul Bowles played the innings of the day with a fine 27, well backed up by Terry Groves's 21. Elsewhere the middle order rather fancied a spot of competitive duck-collecting, with Terry Whittaker, Jim Hall and Ossie Fryer all departing for golden nothings. A hundred and ten felt like a defendable total on a good day, and a fair way short on this one.

To their credit, the lads gave it everything in the field. Paul Bowles backed up his runs with the ball, 2-33, Fred Greenfield chipped in with 1-12, and Terry Whittaker bowled beautifully — 1-24 with four maidens, and the satisfaction of sending G Witt back without a run to his name. But B Smith had other ideas, a composed 62 seeing Hartley home at 111/4 in 37.3 overs. My own contribution of 16 will not trouble the history books.

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

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

Saturday 10 June 1967. Home to Tilling & Stevens, and I lost the toss — they had a look at the pitch and fancied batting first, which after 41.3 overs looked a fair call, though 145 all out gave us plenty to work with.

Credit where due: Terry Donovan bowled beautifully for 5-53, six maidens in the mix, a spell as mean as it was rewarding, and it nudges him up to 16th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — no mean feat. Gordon Fenner (3-25) and Terry Groves (2-28) tidied up the rest, though M Smith's unbeaten 48 and D Seager's 28 gave the visitors a bit more respectability than they perhaps deserved. D Carcary and G Shepherd departed without scoring, which is always a cheering sight from the boundary rope.

Chasing 146, John Thirkell played the innings of the day — 61 not out, calm as you like, and the sort of knock that keeps a captain's blood pressure in check. Benny Bell (25) and Mike Iliffe (23) built a handy 51 for the fifth wicket alongside him, though Paul Bowles and Terry Groves both fell without troubling the scorers, rather undoing our good work.

In the end we fell three wickets short at 146/7 from 43.2 — a match we probably ought to have shut out. Still, Thirkell continues to lead the run charts and Donovan the wicket column, so the season's in good order even if Saturday wasn't. Back to the nets, heads up.

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

We won by 67 runs to Civil Service CC, Kent — I called it right at the toss on a fine Tuesday, and with the sun out and the tea urn presumably warming, there was only ever going to be one decision. We went in first.

Cliff Anscombe played the innings of the day, a composed 67 not out, and found a willing ally in Robert Chance (20), the pair putting on 58 for the second wicket to give our 115/4 off sixteen overs a proper spine. Elsewhere the bat was less obliging — John Thirkell's contribution was a golden duck, a fate the skipper himself would shortly come to know rather better than he'd like.

If our batting had its moments, our bowling had a masterclass. Civil Service slid from 1-1 to 10-4 and never recovered, bundled out for 48/9 in their sixteen overs. Colin Britchford was simply unplayable, turning it square for 7-21, with Alan Wilkes (1-9) and Terry Whittaker (1-12) tidying up what little Britchford left behind. B Turner, H Quested and A Tutleman all departed without so much as a run to their names.

As for the captain — a golden blob. They do say a skipper should lead by example; on this occasion I led rather more by cautionary tale. Still, up the season table Fred Greenfield sits second in the runs and Alan Wilkes tops the wickets, so the side is in rude health even if I am not.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a 67-run win to enjoy on the walk to the bar.

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

Here's the match report:

Monday 5th June, and the road took us to Primrose & Len — the sort of fixture that keeps you humble. I won the toss, elected to bat, and for a while felt rather pleased with myself for it.

That early confidence took a knock when we lost a wicket with just 4 on the board, but Fred Greenfield settled things with a fighting 22, top score for the day. Then, as village cricket so loves to remind us, the wheels came off spectacularly — 60 for 6 became 67 for 9 in the time it takes to put the kettle on, and we were bowled out for 68 from our fifteen overs. Special mention, of the unwanted sort, to John Thirkell, who contributed a duck to proceedings and can console himself with the company he'll find in this paragraph. I fell for nought myself, and the less said about that the better.

Defending 68 looked a tall order, but the lads had other ideas. Primrose & Len stumbled early to 4 for 1, and when the innings slid from 30 for 4 to 48 for 7 — D Saunders departing without so much as troubling the scorers — hope flickered bravely in our chests. Alan Wilkes was magnificent, taking 6 for 27, well backed by Terry Donovan's 3 for 29. But they scrambled home for 64, and we fell agonisingly short by four runs.

Not our day, then — but heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Sunday 4 June 1967, and off we trotted to Hythe CC with the sun out and, thanks to a lost toss, our boots destined for the field first. No complaints — first use of the ball is a captain's small mercy. Hythe made a nervous start, losing a wicket with the board still reading nought, and G Willsher and N Duncombe both departed without troubling the scorer. But Tim Dearman (91 not out) and R Apps (75 not out) settled things beautifully thereafter, seeing them home to 174/2 from their fifty overs. Terry Whittaker was miserly and menacing in equal measure — 1-33 with five maidens, not a run given away lightly — with Alan Wilkes (1-41) keeping him honest at the other end.

Our reply began wretchedly, 7-1 and Stan Wratten walking back for a duck of his own, but Fred Greenfield played the innings of the day — a composed 51 that also brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to. John Thirkell (37) and your correspondent (37) chipped in as we laboured to 136/7 from our 45, honest toil rather than fireworks.

A draw, then — honours shared, neither side able to force the door. With Thirkell topping our season's run charts and Whittaker leading the wickets, the engine room is purring even if the scoreboard occasionally embarrasses us. A fair result, fairly earned, and tea was very good.

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

Saturday last took us out to Tovil Nomads, and the coin, as ever, declined to cooperate — they called correctly and had no hesitation in batting. We made early inroads, reducing them to 7 for 1, and Derek Pantony bowled with real venom to finish with 2 for 30, well backed by Terry Donovan (2 for 53, four maidens of admirable stinginess) and Brian Relf (1 for 16). But the White family had other ideas: L White and D White both made 45, the latter unbeaten, with L-D White chipping in 28, and Tovil recovered to a stiff 183 for 6 off their 46 overs.

In reply we made a flying start, Basil Sears and his opening partner putting on 70 before the first breakthrough, and for a while all was rosy. Then, as is our habit, the middle order rather lost the plot — 102 for 3 became 113 for 6 in the blink of an eye — and only Basil's fine 44, with Frank Brattle's 30 and an unbeaten 20 from Paul Bowles, kept us respectable at 126 for 6 from 49. Alan Cridland made his contribution to the Duck Club ledger with a golden nought, and our wicketkeeper had a torrid afternoon, 12 byes going begging.

Honours were shared, then — a draw, and no bad way to mark Richard Ashby's hundredth appearance in our colours, nor Basil's climb past Stan Wratten into second on the all-time run charts. A fair result, honestly earned, and rather a pleasant way to spend a Saturday.

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

We were sent in to chase after losing the toss on Monday 29th May, and Bearsted CC set about building a total with the quiet efficiency of a side that had done their homework. Colin Fleetwood's fifty was the innings' backbone, with Mick Filmer (40) and Peter Prince (28) lending sturdy support and a third-wicket stand of 61 threatening to bat us out of the match altogether. Credit to the lads, though — we clawed our way back, and once the floodgates opened it was 176 for 7 becoming 184 all out in a hurry. Terry Whittaker span a web through the middle and lower order for a magnificent 5 for 56, Gordon Fenner bowled with the miserly discipline of six maidens on his way to 3 for 41, and Terry Groves chipped in with 2 for 17. Bryan Elswood, for his troubles, departed for a duck.

Our reply never quite got out of first gear. Frank Brattle's 27 and Alan Cridland's 22 promised something respectable, but from 31 for 2 we subsided to 40 for 5 with alarming haste, Dick Langridge and Terry Whittaker both contributing golden ducks, and I regret to report that your captain fell for nought — we shall draw a veil over that. Percy Brattle had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking 8 byes, and we folded for 93.

Still, there was a silver lining or two: Gordon Fenner brought up 500 career wickets, and Stan Wratten's 7 runs eased him past Basil Sears into second on the all-time run charts. Beaten by 91 runs, though — not our day. Heads up, back to the nets.

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

I called correctly at the toss on Sunday and had no hesitation in choosing to bat, which in hindsight was either shrewd captaincy or the triumph of hope over experience. We laboured to 110 all out in 39.3 overs, John Ames top-scoring with a watchful 24 and Don Clayton chipping in a handy 20, though poor Fred Greenfield's name will appear in the book with nothing but a duck beside it for his troubles.

In the field, we set about defending our modest total with rather more conviction than the batting had suggested we might. F Waters made a game of it with 32 for The Mote, but wickets fell steadily around him — 3 for 1 was the early damage, and E Howes and P Stewart both departed without so much as a run to show for it. Dick Langridge was the pick of the attack, 3 for 10 off five miserly maidens, with John Ames (2-21) and Gordon Fenner (2-27) doing fine supporting work. I managed 24 myself with the bat, which I mention only because nobody else will.

There was cause for quiet celebration amid the toil: Basil Sears's 13 runs eased him past Stan Wratten into second on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Dick Langridge's three wickets lifted him past Michael Morton into twelfth among our leading wicket-takers. The Mote closed on 77 for 9 from their 47 overs, unable to chase us down, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but a afternoon in which nobody quite lost, and two names moved up the honours boards. We'll take it.

Mon 22 May 1967 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDWDL

Beaten by nine runs — but by heavens, we made them work for it.

Called it right at the toss on a fine Monday, and there was never much doubt I'd have us in first. The lads set about their work with 105/5 from our sixteen overs, the innings anchored beautifully by Cliff Anscombe, whose unbeaten 52 was the sort of half-century that makes the tea urn taste that bit sweeter. The rest of us contributed rather more modestly, it must be said, but Cliff carried us to a total that felt defendable, if not exactly imposing.

And defend it we very nearly did. The visitors wobbled to 40-2 and again to 52-5 as Terry Donovan bowled with real purpose — four wickets for his trouble, a spell that, we're told, has now nudged him past Robert Wood and up to 19th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is no small thing for a Monday afternoon's work. Alan Wilkes chipped in with four of his own, keeping the season charts ticking along nicely. But L White's 37, well supported by J Archer's 22, dragged the visitors past our total with just enough overs in hand, and 96 all out proved nine runs too many for us to chase down in the field.

So, beaten, but not disgraced — a proper arm-wrestle of a match decided by the finest of margins. We'll dust ourselves off, raise a glass to Cliff and Terry, and be better for it next week.

Thu 18 May 1967 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDDWD

Skipper's Log — Thursday 18 May 1967.

Won the toss and had no hesitation putting them in — a decision that, for once, made me look like I knew what I was doing. The lads were magnificent, and they never got going: 27 all out in just 15 overs, with G Davis, A Haylor and Jovanovic all trudging back for ducks, hardly troubling the scorers on their way past. Terry Whittaker was the star of the show, tearing through with 5-14 including two miserly maidens — a five-for as deserved as any I've seen at this level — while Alan Wilkes chipped in handsomely with 4-12. Between them there was precious little for the batsmen to enjoy.

Chasing 28 should have been a formality, and to be fair we got there without much fuss, cruising to 31/1 off just five overs. Quick, clinical, and frankly a bit of an anticlimax after the fireworks with the ball.

A word for the season so far: John Ames continues to churn out the runs and sits second in the 1st XI charts with 80, while Terry Whittaker leads the wickets column with 10 — the bowling attack, at least, is in rude health.

All told, a proper thumping — 9 wickets to the good, bowled out for next to nothing, chased down before the tea urn had cooled. Not our day for them, very much ours for us.

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

Saturday 13 May 1967 saw us on our travels to Rumwood CC, and for once the coin obliged — heads, or possibly tails, but either way it fell my way, and I had no hesitation in sending us in.

What followed was less a batting collapse than a batting stumble, wobble, and gentle subsidence: 6 for 1 set an early and unwelcome tone, and though Terry Donovan's 26 and Richard Ashby's unbeaten 24 did the heavy lifting, we were all out for 138 in the 48th over. Derek Pantony contributed what the scorebook rather cruelly records as a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, Derek, and I dare say they'll happen again.

With 138 to defend, the lads regrouped in the field with real credit. Terry Whittaker was the pick of the attack with 3 for 32, well backed up by Frank Brattle's 2 for 21 and Terry Donovan, who took 2 for 23 and bowled three tidy maidens for good measure — clearly saving his best for after tea. I permitted myself a quiet chuckle at picking up 3 wickets myself, captain's privilege and all that. Don Clayton and P Williams went for nought apiece with the bat, but N Phillips's 42 kept Rumwood in the hunt, and they finished on 109 for 8 from their 39.

Honours shared, then, and rightly so — a hard-fought draw that neither side could quite prise away from the other. Whittaker, meanwhile, climbs to second in this season's wicket-takers with five. A fair result, and a pleasant drive home.

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

Sunday the 7th of May found us at home to Bobbing Court, and the coin, as is its custom, did not care for me at all — they won it and elected to bat, leaving us to spend the morning in the field wondering whether the ground had been consulted on the matter.

As it turned out, the ground had been consulted, and it favoured us handsomely. An early wicket at 6-1 set the tone, and though Bobbing Court steadied for a spell, once we got amongst them at 62-4 the innings rather fell off a cliff, three batsmen departing without troubling the scorers on the way to 75-7. Jack Whibley's 27 was the only real resistance, and they were all out for 89 in 30.4 overs. The bowling figures make handsome reading: John Ames simply ran riot, taking 5 for 19 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed up by Alan Wilkes's 4 for 22 and a wicket for Terry Whittaker.

Chasing 90, we made a hash of the first over — 1-1 doesn't inspire confidence — before John Thirkell and Fred Greenfield settled the nerves and simply batted the game away, finishing unbeaten on 38 and 26 respectively. I contributed a tidy 38 myself, not that anyone will remember it once Thirkell's name goes up again — he now leads our 1967 run tally with 95, with Ames top of the wicket pile on 6.

Eight wickets and a great deal of relief. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 30 Apr 1967 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWWDD

Sunday last brought us a home fixture, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I shall take the credit before the innings has a chance to prove me wrong. Robert Chance set about proving my decision sound with a fine 52, while John Ames chipped in handsomely with 46 and Roger Craddock added a brisk 28. The openers gave us the perfect platform, 84 runs added before the first wicket fell, though John Thirkell and Frank Brattle both departed for golden ducks, presumably having left their bats in the pavilion. We closed on a healthy 190 for 8 from our sixty overs.

As for my own contribution with the willow — a golden blob. A captain, they say, must lead by example; on this occasion I led rather too enthusiastically back to the boundary rope.

In the field we made early inroads, the first wicket going down for just 6, and Gordon Fenner bowled beautifully for figures of 4 for 56, including three tidy maidens, well supported by Dick Langridge's 2 for 15 and Terry Donovan's solitary strike. Yet P Johnson dug in for an unbeaten 43, ably assisted by Micky Back's 28 and R Simmonds' 22, and the visitors held on to close at 152 for 8. Worth noting too that Fenner's runs have now carried him past Tony Levick into 12th on the club's all-time list — a quiet milestone amid the toil.

Honours shared, then. A draw when neither side could force the issue — not the ending we wanted, but an afternoon of good cricket all the same.

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

Saturday 29 April 1967, and off we went to West Farleigh CC with hopes reasonably high and expectations, as ever, reasonably low. I lost the toss — a habit I'm cultivating a real expertise in — and we were put into the field, which on reflection was probably the correct call, though naturally I'd never admit that to their skipper's face.

They made a nervy start, six on the board and a wicket down, but from there Micky Back simply took the game away from us with a magnificent unbeaten 150, Peter Cooper chipping in a tidy 20 as the pair put on 54 for the fifth wicket. West Farleigh closed on 226/8 from their 41 overs, a total that owed everything to Back's innings. Honour was salvaged, and then some, by Benny Bell, who ran riot with 5-36 (two of them maidens, the stingy devil), with Brian Relf and John Thirkell chipping in a wicket apiece. Poor D Kemp departed without troubling the scorers — sympathies to him.

Chasing 227, we too stumbled early, two down for two, before John Thirkell (57 — and a personal contribution I was rather satisfied with, since it was mine) and Paul Bowles (49) put together a splendid 94-run stand to steady the ship. We closed on 127/6 from 45, well short but never disgraced. A word for the mantelpiece: John Thirkell brought up 13,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark worth savouring even on a day we didn't win.

Honours shared, then, a draw with neither side able to force the issue. Given the size of their total, I'll happily take it.