🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 21 Sep 1968 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWLLDW

Beaten again, but never bowed. On a bright Saturday at Linton Park I called correctly and, with more optimism than evidence, stuck West Farleigh in. The pitch had other ideas, and we crumbled to 121 all out in 41.5 overs — the first wicket gone before the scoreboard had properly woken up at 0-1. Mike Iliffe's 24 was the innings' one real oasis, while poor Frank Brattle and Derry Evans both trudged back for ducks, quacking their way into the club ledger for posterity.

Defending 121 always felt like asking the lads to carry water in a sieve, but they gave it a proper go. West Farleigh stumbled early themselves, 2-1, and for a while we dared to dream. Paul Bowles bowled his heart out for 3-39, with Terry Whittaker miserly as ever — 2-50 and three maidens, not a run given away without a fight. But Colin Clark had other plans, farming the strike to 44 not out, ushered along by Ron Kemp's unbeaten 33 and Don Fermor's 20. I chipped in with 15 with the bat but rather less with the ball, and that wretched last pair added an infuriating 80 we simply couldn't afford, seeing them home at 122-6.

Four wickets the margin, and no arguing with it. Still, John Thirkell continues to bat like a man possessed at the top of our 1968 charts with 622 runs, and Terry Whittaker's 46 wickets keep him snapping at the leader's heels. We were second best today — but there's enough here to suggest next week belongs to us.

Sat 14 Sep 1968 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDWLLD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 14 September 1968. St Lukes Maidstone CC were the visitors, and having lost the toss I found myself doing what I do best on such occasions: standing about in the field wondering where the summer's gone.

They battled to 126 all out from 47.4 overs, M. Eastman doing the bulk of the graft with 39, but once we found our rhythm the innings rather unravelled beneath them — 13-1 became 22-4 before anyone had settled into their tea. The afternoon belonged to Terry Donovan, whose 7-52 was a spell of proper old-fashioned menace and every bit deserving of the five-for. Jon Harris (1-18) and Terry Whittaker (1-27) tidied up the rest between them, Whittaker adding six maidens for good measure — miserly enough to make St Lukes' batsmen weep quietly into their gloves.

Chasing 127, we made harder work of it than the bowling perhaps deserved, limping home at 129/5 from 41.2 overs. Paul Bowles anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 49, Fred Greenfield (23) and Jim Hall (21) lending sturdy support. Bowles's innings also nudged him past Tom Osborn into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — quite the afternoon for the man, who now sits second in this season's charts with 532 runs, while Donovan leads the wicket-takers with 55.

A five-wicket win, then, earned as much with ball as bat. Onwards we go, buttons undone and spirits high.

Sun 08 Sep 1968 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWDWLL

Sunday 8th September saw Anchorians CC visit us at Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first strike on a pitch that looked, to my admittedly optimistic eye, like it owed us a few runs.

Roger Craddock led the way with a fine 36, and he found a willing partner in Frank Brattle (34) as the pair put on 54 for the first wicket to give us the platform every captain dreams of at breakfast and rarely gets by lunch. Robert Chance chipped in with a useful 23, but from a position of some comfort at 123 for 5 we contrived, with the enthusiasm of men queuing for the tea urn, to stumble to 130 for 8 — poor Terry Donovan a spectator throughout his own duck. We limped home to 155 for 9 off our 53, a total that flattered to deceive but would, I felt, prove defendable.

And so it did, largely. Anchorians never got away from us, A. Watkins's 27 the only real resistance as they closed on 98 for 9 from their 40 overs. Paul Bowles was quite magnificent, four wickets for 27 with five overs given away for nothing, ably backed by Dick Langridge's three for 33 and a wicket apiece for the ever-reliable Craddock.

In the end honours were shared, and perhaps rightly so — a match of fine margins that neither side quite deserved to lose. A draw, then, and a fair one at that.

Sat 07 Sep 1968 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWDWL

As it stands, I elected to bat first on the strength of a hunch and a look at the sky — Saturday, 7th September, and the right call, if I'm allowed to say so myself. Sadly the pitch, or perhaps just our top order, had other ideas: a wicket down before we'd troubled the scoreboard set an uneasy tone, and 82 all out from 40.3 overs was scant reward for a day's toil. Jim Hall's 26 and Paul Bowles's 21 were the innings' one bright thread; elsewhere Basil Sears, Mike Iliffe and Terry Whittaker all made that lonely walk back for nought, and your correspondent must confess to joining them — a duck I shall not be framing for the mantelpiece.

Eighty-two was never going to intimidate anyone, but we defended it as if it were Everest. R. Tottman's unbeaten 41 and L. Fell's unbeaten 38 did the damage in the end, though not before we'd struck early — 0-1 and three ducks of our own claiming (a. Trembeth, D. Astle, G. Davis) offered a flicker of hope. Terry Whittaker bowled beautifully for 2-20 with two maidens, Paul Bowles chipping in with 1-32, and for a while it felt as though redemption might be at hand.

It wasn't to be — beaten by seven wickets. Whittaker's form continues unabated (2nd in the wicket charts with 43), and Bowles keeps quietly accumulating runs (2nd on 482), which is more than can be said for our top order, or indeed for me. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Mon 02 Sep 1968 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWDW

Whittaker's 31, and a chippy little 31 from yours truly, gave us the spine of 132 for 8 in our 53.4 overs, though it took some doing after Dick Langridge's 28 and a stout 55-run stand for the sixth wicket papered over the crack we'd opened at 8 for 1. Paul Bowles, meanwhile, contributed the sort of golden duck that becomes the stuff of clubhouse legend rather than the scorebook — he took it, as ever, on the chin.

Defending 132 against Bearsted always felt like asking a deckchair to stop a steamroller, and so it proved: Peter Prince compiled a thoroughly well-made unbeaten fifty, supported by Ian Lambert's 23, and a stand of 53 for the fifth wicket did for us in the end, Bearsted getting home by five wickets in 30.2 overs. It wasn't for want of trying — Alan Tucker bowled beautifully for 3 for 48, with Bob Kember miserly as ever, 2 for 53 and three maidens to show for his honest toil.

There was, happily, rather more to celebrate than the result suggested. Alan Tucker brought up 200 career wickets in the process, a landmark thoroughly deserved and thoroughly toasted afterwards, while John Ames continues to sit third in this season's first-XI run charts with 426 to his name — the top order clearly saving its best form for when I'm not looking.

So: beaten by five wickets, chins bloodied but unbowed. We batted a shade too cautiously, bowled our hearts out, and Bearsted simply had the better of the key moments. We'll dust ourselves down, raise a glass to Tucker's double century of scalps, and go again next week — that, in the end, is what club cricket is all about.

Sun 01 Sep 1968 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformDWWWD

Sunday saw us travel to Staplehurst with the sun out and, for once, a captain who fancied his chances at the toss. Called it right, didn't hesitate — batted first, naturally. It wasn't always pretty; 166 all out from 51.5 overs tells you as much, with Dick Langridge the pick of us on 47, Terry Whittaker and Terry Donovan both chipping in 26 apiece. Paul Bowles and Ron Hickman contributed the traditional pair of ducks — a Linton speciality, freely given.

But 166 proved plenty. Staplehurst's openers threatened briefly, with D. Louth compiling a fine fifty and B. Thurlow lending support in a stand of 67 for the second wicket, but the middle order simply evaporated — 118-6 became 127-9 in the blink of an eye, with Sherwood, Hotson and Eastland all departing without troubling the scorer. Ron Hickman was magnificent with the ball, 4-23, backed superbly by Brian Relf's 2-14 and Terry Donovan's 2-28, while Paul Bowles bowled two maidens without so much as a run leaking through. Poor Cliff Anscombe, meanwhile, spent the afternoon chasing leather behind the stumps — nine byes rather gave the game away. I managed a tidy 26 myself.

A word, too, for Dick Langridge, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours in some style. A fine win by 39 runs, and thoroughly deserved. Onwards.

Sat 31 Aug 1968 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · AwayformLDWWW

We were away at Beverley CC on the last Saturday of August, and having called correctly at the toss I saw no reason to do anything but bat — a decision that felt increasingly generous to my own judgement as we slipped to 0 for the loss of an early wicket. Credit to the lads for steadying the ship: Mike Iliffe played a proper captain's innings of his own, 56 well-crafted runs, with Derry Evans chipping in a handy 37 and the pair building the innings' backbone with a fifth-wicket stand of 55. Poor Basil Sears, meanwhile, will want this gazette used as kindling — a duck to nurse home. We closed on 153 for 9 off 46.1 overs, a total that felt about right for the conditions rather than a match-winning one.

Beverley's reply began ominously, Carter and Shirley putting on 90 for the first wicket with 48 and 47 respectively before we found a way in. Once the breakthrough came, though, we turned into a different side entirely — 90 for 1 became 109 for 4 in a spell that had me grinning from mid-off, D. Jones departing without troubling the scorers along the way. Bob Kember was magnificent, 4 for 22 of pure Kent-baiting hostility, with Terry Donovan (2-41) and Brian Relf (1-9) chipping away either end. Eleven byes did rather suggest our man behind the stumps had a long drive home to contemplate his afternoon.

Beverley finished 150 for 8, three short of parity, and honours were shared. A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and entirely befitting a day where neither side deserved to lose.

Sun 25 Aug 1968 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformLLDWW

Sunday 25 August 1968, and we made the trip out to Harrietsham CC, hopes reasonably high and coin-flipping luck entirely absent — they won the toss and had us out in the field before I'd even finished my flask of tea.

Harrietsham built steadily, Hope (39) and Tong (37) putting bat to ball after a solid opening stand of 70 set the tone, and they eventually closed on 141 all out from 51.4 overs. Credit where due: John Ames was magnificent, 4-22 with five maidens to boot, hardly giving away a run all afternoon, well backed by Roger Craddock (3-45) and John Thirkell (2-11). D La Plain and Michael Gear both departed without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us.

Chasing 142, we got there in some comfort at 143/5 from 38.3 overs, Cliff Anscombe unbeaten on a fine 43, Roger Craddock chipping in with 36 and John Ames 21. John Thirkell made a golden duck of his own, and I must confess I fell for nought as well — the less said about my dismissal the better.

Two footnotes worth raising a glass to: Roger Craddock brought up 50 career wickets, and Cliff Anscombe's knock nudged him past Robert Wood into 20th on the club's all-time run list. A thoroughly satisfying five-wicket win. Onwards.

Sat 24 Aug 1968 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLLLDW

Skipper's Log, Saturday 24 August 1968. Aylesford Paper Mills CC were our visitors, the coin obliged me, and I had no hesitation putting us in — a decision that, for once, I shan't have to explain away with the usual mumbled excuses.

We laboured a touch for our 126/8 off 49 overs, though it read better than it felt at the crease. Mike Iliffe's 33 was the innings' spine, with Paul Bowles unbeaten on 32 and John Thirkell chipping in 29 — the two of them adding a priceless 50 for the third wicket when things threatened to go quiet. Elsewhere the card was less flattering, with poor Benny Bell and Gordon Fenner both back in the pavilion for ducks before they'd troubled the scorers.

In the field, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Aylesford's 95 all out in 38 overs told its own story — 68-4 became 75-7 in the blink of an eye, and Geoff Hughes departed for nought at our hands. The afternoon belonged, unarguably, to Ron Hickman, whose 6-23 — four maidens and all — was as fine a spell as this ground has seen in some time, with Paul Bowles a willing lieutenant on 4-41. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes his cross to bear, and I contributed a workmanlike 29 with the bat.

With John Thirkell topping our season's run charts and Bowles fourth among the wicket-takers, the engine room is clearly purring. A 31-run win, two points banked, and, for once, a skipper's decision that came off — I shall try not to let it go to my head.

Sun 18 Aug 1968 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDLLLD

Sunday 18 August 1968, and we welcomed The Mote CC to Linton Park under skies that, for once, played fair. I lost the toss — a coin that has developed a grudge against me this season — and we were sent into the field.

They batted us hard for their 170/7 off 56 overs, John Barker's fifty the backbone of it, with B. Marten (29) and Peter Prince (28) chipping in and a stubborn 72 for the fifth wicket threatening to bat us out of the game entirely. But Roger Craddock, bowling like a man with a personal grievance, tore through them for 3-29, Jon Harris backed him up nicely with 2-20, Paul Bowles picked up one, and Terry Whittaker was positively miserly with four maidens — not a run given away lightly.

With 171 to chase, Frank Brattle played the innings of the day, a handsome 54, while Roger Craddock (46 not out) and John Thirkell (45 not out) saw us home in style, unbeaten and untroubled, in 46.4 overs. I contributed 45 myself, which I shall mention only once more before modesty compels me to stop. Spare a thought, though, for poor Paul Bowles, who bagged a golden duck with the bat having done his bit with the ball — cricket's way of keeping a man humble.

Thirkell now leads our 1968 run charts with 578, and Craddock sits third among the wicket-takers with 33. Two points, seven wickets to spare, and a Sunday very well spent.

Sat 17 Aug 1968 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformWDLLL

We were up against it before a ball was bowled — lost the toss, no choice but to field, and away at Bowaters to boot. Bowaters made it count too, ticking along to 156/9 off their 42.2 overs on the back of a composed 44 from Graham Piesley and 43 from Mervyn Stanton. Fortunately Terry Donovan had other ideas, running through them for 8 wickets at a cost of 63, complete with two tidy maidens — a spell so good it eased him past Dick Langridge into 10th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Terry Whittaker chipped in with one for his troubles, and honourable mention to Colin Rodriguez and Trevor Mannering, who both went for ducks without so much as a scare for the scorers.

Chasing was never really on the cards with only 23.2 overs available, and we settled for 53/2, Frank Brattle unbeaten on 27 doing the sensible thing while Benny Bell added a brisk 21. Paul Bowles's contribution was, shall we say, egg-shaped. Twelve byes in the Bowaters innings suggests poor Jim Hall had one of those afternoons behind the stumps that nobody enjoys reliving over tea.

So, a draw — honours shared, as these things sometimes must be when the overs run out before the argument's settled. Donovan's boots did all the talking, and with 44 wickets to his name this season he remains well clear at the top of the pile, while John Thirkell continues to bat serenely on with 533 runs. Not a classic, but no complaints either — a fair result on a day when nobody quite had the final word.

Wed 14 Aug 1968 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDLWLW

Wednesday the 14th of August found us on the road to Gravesend, and for once the coin obliged me — down it came showing the right face, and I had no hesitation in sending us in.

It didn't look promising when we slipped to 2 for 1 almost before the tea urn had boiled, but the middle order steadied the ship handsomely. I was fortunate enough to find some form and top-scored with 41, while Percy Brattle chipped in a tidy 27 and Terry Whittaker 24, the pair of us building the innings' backbone with a third-wicket stand of 64. We closed on 134 for 7 from our 48 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but respectable enough to defend with a straight bat and a hopeful heart.

Gravesend made a fair fist of the chase, Kevin Wilson leading with 29, well supported by F Harris (25) and T Pickering (22), their own third-wicket pair adding 53. Terry Whittaker bowled beautifully for 2-27, Bob Kember was miserly as ever with 2-30 and two maidens, and Terry Donovan chipped in with 1-12. Small mercy: we did at least send poor Gaynor Kingston back for a golden duck. Eight byes, though, told their own sorry tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps.

In the end Gravesend got home by three wickets. Not our day, but with Thirkell topping the run charts and Whittaker the wickets, the season's in good heart even if this one wasn't. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 11 Aug 1968 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · HomeformWWDLL

Sunday last, we welcomed Sibton Park CC to Linton Park, and for once the coin obliged me, so in we went to bat. Seven runs on the board and we'd already lost a man — the sort of start that has you reaching for the flask rather too early — but John Thirkell settled things beautifully with 49, John Ames chipped in a fine 41, and Mike Iliffe added 29, the fifth-wicket pair putting on a priceless 66 to drag us to a respectable 149 for 7 from our fifty overs. I managed 49 myself along the way, which I mention purely for the record and not out of any vanity.

Defending it, we again gave away an early wicket with just 4 on the board, and for a moment hope flickered — but Geoffrey Kirk had other ideas, sailing to 61 not out, well backed by E. Impett's 45 and D. Keeler's 24, their second-wicket pair putting the game beyond us with 92. Terry Donovan toiled honestly for 2 for 59 with two tidy maidens, Paul Bowles picked up 1 for 39, but Sibton Park closed on 150 for 4 in the 43rd over, six wickets in hand.

Not our afternoon, then, going down by six wickets — though the day wasn't without its footnotes: Terry passed 200 career wickets, moved past Alan Tucker into 12th on the all-time list, while Fred Greenfield's solitary boundary nudged him past Richard Harris into 22nd among our run-scorers. Small consolations. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sun 04 Aug 1968 🧢 1st XIv GC Goring By Sea CC · HomeformLWWDL

Sunday 4th August, and it fell to me to call correctly against Goring By Sea, which I duly did and stuck us in — a decision that looked shrewd for about four balls before we were 6-1 and I was already rehearsing my excuses. Paul Bowles had other ideas, though, playing the innings of the day with a composed 57, well backed up by John Thirkell's 22 and Fred Greenfield's 20 to drag us to something respectable. All told 134 wasn't a fortress, especially once we imploded from 128-6 to 134-9 with the kind of urgency usually reserved for last orders at the bar. Terry Groves will not thank me for recording his duck for posterity, but the ledger must be kept.

In the field we scrapped hard. Terry Donovan was the pick of the attack by some distance, 3-31 off a miserly stretch that included seven maidens, with Paul Bowles chipping in for one and I managed a tidy little 22 of my own. But Goring's top order simply had too much class — a solid 69-run opening stand set the tone, and P. Caswall's 45 alongside N. McGregor's unbeaten 41 and J. Field's 37 saw them home comfortably on 138-4.

A six-wicket defeat, then, and a day for the nets rather than the scorebook. Yet there was real warmth amid the disappointment: Frank Brattle brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that rather dwarfs the afternoon's cricketing arithmetic. Not our day, but a proud one all the same.

Sat 03 Aug 1968 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformLLWWD

Beaten by 30 runs at Maidstone Ymca on a warm Saturday in August, but I'd rather write a bright report than a bitter one, so here goes. Having lost the toss and been asked to bowl, we did the hard work well: Maidstone Ymca crawled to 91 all out in 34.2 overs, Golding (21) and Butler (20) the only ones to trouble the scorebook before the middle order simply gave up the ghost, 67 for 5 becoming 72 for 8 in the blink of an eye. Brian Fuller was magnificent, 4 for 5 of the tidiest bowling you'll see on a Saturday, with Terry Whittaker (2-12, three maidens, not a run given away lightly) and Benny Bell (2-24) offering fine support in a genuine team effort with the ball.

Which made it all the more painful that we somehow contrived to lose. Eight on the board and already a wicket down set the tone for a nervy start, and although we steadied for a while, the same collapse that had done for them came for us too — 40 for 5 crumbling to 60 for 8 all in a rush, and we were bowled out for 61 in 27.2 overs. D. Goodger and A. Spice both departed without troubling the scorers, which about summed up our afternoon with the bat.

Ninety-one really should have been chaseable, and that's the frustrating part. Still, Terry Whittaker continues to lead our 1968 wicket charts with 38 to his name, so there's plenty to be cheerful about. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 28 Jul 1968 🧢 1st XIv PC Paddock Wood CC · AwayformDLLWW

Sunday 28th July 1968 found us on the road to Paddock Wood, and the coin, as is so often its custom with me, sided with the opposition. They elected to bat, and for a while looked good value for it — Hughes made a fluent 40, with Padgham (30) and Colbourn (20) chipping in — though we did have them 6-1 at one stage, with G Trent back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. It was Benny Bell's day above all: 5-27 and seven maidens, bowling as if he had personal business with every batsman. John Thirkell chipped in with 4-33, Roger Craddock 1-55, and they were shot out for 124 in 42.5 overs — a highly satisfactory morning's work.

Chasing 125, we contrived to make things interesting. Gordon Fenner (26 not out) and the ever-willing Benny Bell (23 not out, presumably keen to finish what he'd started with the ball) held things together, but a collapse from 21-1 to 38-4 threatened to undo the good work, with John Thirkell and Fred Greenfield both departing for ducks. Your correspondent, in the interests of full disclosure, also made a duck — I shall spare you the details, though I redeemed myself somewhat with 4 wickets earlier in the day. We closed on 108-8 from our 41 overs.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on reflection a fair reflection of a match neither side could quite land. Frank Brattle continues his fine season, now 4th in the run charts, and Roger Craddock sits 3rd among the wicket-takers. Not a bad afternoon's cricket, even if my own contribution with the bat belongs firmly in the "least said" column.

Sat 27 Jul 1968 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · AwayformDDLLW

As we rolled up on Sibton Park last Saturday, I fear the toss set the tone before a ball was bowled — Fortune, that fickle umpire, waved play to the opposition, and we were condemned to lace up our boots in the field. Not that anyone was complaining once Ian Guy got his eye in; a composed half-century, 50 not out, propped up by E- Impett's useful 24, carried Sibton to 131/9 off 48.5 patient overs. Small mercies came our way, mind — David Rawlings walked back for a duck at our hands, and Terry Whittaker bowled like a man auditioning for the parish accounts, 2-30 with seven miserly maidens, well supported by Brian Fuller's 2-31 and John Thirkell's tidy 1-15.

Chasing 132, we contrived to make things interesting, as is our habit, slumping to 3-1 before John Thirkell (44 not out) and I steadied the ship — I chipped in with 44 of my own, and a third-wicket stand of 59 with Paul Bowles (27) and later Alan Cridland (21) did the rest of the honest toil. Fred Greenfield had rather a day of it, a duck with the bat and ten byes gifted behind the stumps, though I dare say he'll laugh about it before the tea urn's cold.

We got there with three wickets in hand — scruffy, occasionally comic, but two points banked all the same. A win's a win, and I'll take an ugly one over an elegant defeat any Saturday of the summer.

Sun 21 Jul 1968 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformLDDLL

Sunday 21 July 1968, and Sevenoaks Vine CC came to Linton Park on as fine a day as any captain could wish for. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — the sort of decision that looks either inspired or idiotic by close of play, and I'm delighted to report it was the former. We lost our opener for just 5, which had me chewing my nails rather earlier than I'd have liked, but Cliff Anscombe settled things beautifully with a superb 86, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, chipping in with 70 as we put on 149 for the fourth wicket to drag us to safety. Frank Brattle's brisk 28, and a generous 28 extras from our visitors, took us to a handsome 244/5 from 45.4 overs.

With the ball, John Ames was simply magnificent — 5-43 that thoroughly deserved the champagne moment, well backed by Benny Bell and Roger Craddock with a wicket apiece, and three tidy maidens from Dick Langridge to keep the screws turned. Sevenoaks rallied briefly through Ellison (34), Hurd (30) and Williams (24), but once they slid from 84-4 to 99-7 there was no way back, and poor M Day departed without troubling the scorers. All out for 149 in 52.2 overs.

A comfortable 95-run victory, two points banked, and John Thirkell now sitting proudly atop our 1968 run charts. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — tea was rather good too.

Sat 20 Jul 1968 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLLDDL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 20 July 1968. We travelled away with the good weather and higher hopes than usual, and having won the toss I sent us into the field first, always fancying our bowlers on a green-looking morning.

They battled to 138 all out in 48.4 overs, though it never felt entirely comfortable from our vantage point. G. Tucker's 47 and D. Pound's 36 threatened to take the game away from us, and a stand of 68 for the fourth wicket did nothing for my nerves in the deep. But credit where it's due: Terry Whittaker was a different class, spinning his way to 5 for 38 with eight maidens to boot, and finding an early wicket at 5 for 1 to settle us. Terry Donovan (3 for 35) and John Thirkell (1 for 31) mopped up admirably, and three of theirs departed without troubling the scorers at all.

With the bat, John Thirkell batted with real authority for his unbeaten 58, well supported by Whittaker's 25 and Percy Brattle's 21, and I was rather chuffed to contribute 58 myself from the top of the order as we reached 139 for 3. A landmark day too — Thirkell brought up 14,000 career runs for the club, and Whittaker's five-for lifted him past Gordon Fenner into third on our all-time wicket-takers' list.

Beaten by seven wickets in the end, which stings a little given the effort put in — but there was enough good cricket here to suggest we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 14 Jul 1968 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLDD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 14 July 1968. We hosted, and put them in first, which felt like the shrewd move as the openers wobbled early, one down with just 8 on the board. But cricket, as ever, delights in humbling the shrewd, and a stand of 63 for the sixth wicket dragged them back into respectability. C Fletcher's 35 and D Poulten's 34 did the damage before Roger Craddock, in inspired form, spun his way to 5-44 and brought the innings to a close at 144/9 from their 52 overs. Terry Whittaker toiled away for 2-26, nine of his overs maidens — the sort of miserly figures that make a captain purr — with Gordon Fenner chipping in a wicket of his own.

Chasing 145, we made a fair fist of it for a while, Frank Brattle's 28 the innings' backbone, before the middle order rather lost its nerve. Eighty-one for five became eighty-eight for eight in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, and three of the lads — John Ames, Percy Brattle and Gordon Fenner — trudged back without troubling the scorer. All out for 107 in 45.4 overs, and poor Cliff Anscombe had a torrid time behind the stumps too, ten byes going begging.

Beaten by 37 runs, then, and no arguing with the arithmetic. John Thirkell continues to hold up his end nicely in the season's run charts, and Terry Whittaker's bowling remains the envy of the league table. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 13 Jul 1968 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · HomeformWLLLD

We won the toss, and — never one to bowl first on a Saturday when there's tea to be earned — I put us in to bat. Whether that decision covered itself in glory is, as ever, a matter of perspective. Keith Walker led the way with a fine 35, Richard Ashby chipped in with 28 and Basil Sears with 26, and for a while 100 for 5 looked a perfectly respectable platform. Then came one of those collapses that only village cricket can produce with such theatrical flourish: 113 for 8 arrived in a blur, with Paul Bowles, Terry Whittaker and Terry Groves all departing for golden ducks, and I completed the set with a duck of my own — the less said, frankly, the better. All out 120 from 31.1 overs, more a nervous cough than a total.

With the ball, though, we showed our teeth. Beverley's openers put on a chastening 63 before we made the breakthrough, and P Shirley's composed 45, backed by John Stickells' 27, carried them to 95 for 2 from 29 overs. Terry Donovan was the pick of the attack with 1 for 18, and Terry Whittaker — miserly as ever, three maidens to his name — took 1 for 21, adding to a season already crowned by his 27 wickets, second only to John Ames' 337 runs at the top of the charts.

A draw, then, honours shared, neither side quite able to force the door. Given our top order left the door rather invitingly open, I'll happily settle for that.

Sun 07 Jul 1968 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformDWLLL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 07 July 1968. We travelled to Aylesford Paper Mills CC in fine spirits, though those spirits took something of a battering once Brian Fridd got going.

The coin, as is its custom when it matters most, betrayed us, and Aylesford chose to bat. It looked, for a good while, like it might prove the shrewder decision, with Fridd compiling a fine unbeaten 73 and Fitch not far behind on 72, the pair putting on 98 for the second wicket while we toiled away trying to prise them apart. Credit to Fred Greenfield for leading the attack manfully with 1-23, and to Roger Craddock and Benny Bell for chipping in with a wicket apiece as Aylesford closed on 172/3 from their 31 overs — a target that had the look of trouble about it.

Chasing it down, we made a fair fist of things without ever quite making it look easy. Benny Bell top-scored with 28, Gordon Fenner finished unbeaten on 28, and Paul Bowles chipped in a handy 25, but a rush of wickets from 72-3 to 82-6 rather took the wind from our sails, and we settled for 114/6 from our 45 overs. Poor Malcolm Pay had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes escaping his gloves in what one suspects was not his finest afternoon.

There was, happily, rather better news to report off the scorecard: Fred Greenfield brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark thoroughly deserved. A draw, then — honours shared, and on the day's evidence, a fair and honest one.

Sat 06 Jul 1968 🧢 1st XIv CA Charles Arkcoll · AwayformDDWLL

Beaten by seven wickets at Charles Arkcoll on a warm July Saturday, and I'll confess winning the toss and putting us in to bat felt like the shrewdest decision I've made all season — right up until the tea interval, at least. We were bowled out for 175 in 47.2 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Fred Greenfield's classy 75, with Basil Sears chipping in a tidy 20 and the pair adding 54 for the fourth wicket to give the innings some backbone. Elsewhere the effort was rather more agricultural — Paul Bowles and Terry Groves both departed for ducks, and I shan't name which of them looked more surprised trudging back to the pavilion.

Defending 175 always asks a great deal of the bowlers, and Brian Aiston made sure we felt every run of the shortfall, striding to a magnificent 101 while Don Cleggett provided watchful support with an unbeaten 51 — their 97-run stand for the third wicket effectively settled matters long before the home side reached 179 for 3 in just 31.5 overs. Ron Hickman was our pick of the attack with 1 for 28, and Benny Bell and Paul Bowles both picked up a wicket apiece, but there was precious little any of us could do once Aiston found his rhythm.

Small consolations amid the gloom: Fred's 75 nudges him up to 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Paul Bowles remains a very respectable 4th in this year's wicket-taking charts. As for the match itself — well, we were beaten fair and square by the better side on the day, and we'll be back at the nets working out how to bowl to a man in form like that.

Sun 30 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDDWL

Sunday 30 June 1968, and we played hosts on our own patch — though by close of play I rather wished we hadn't bothered putting the kettle on for anyone but ourselves.

Asked to field, we struck early with the first wicket down for just 1, and there were moments it looked like a rout in the making. A Vaughan settled in for 45 and J Bishton dug in for an unbeaten 23, but around them our attack simply purred — 63-3 became 70-6 almost before I'd finished my over of shouting encouragement from mid-off. D Toze, P Sayer and R Gawler will each remember the walk back without troubling the scorer. Paul Bowles was magnificent, five wickets for 29 and three maidens to boot, with Roger Craddock (3-32) and Terry Groves (1-13) mopping up admirably. All out 109 in 35.4 overs felt, at tea, like a job well begun.

Alas, cricket has a way of humbling a man just when he's grown comfortable. Our reply subsided from 27-1 to 33-4 in a rush of self-inflicted misery, John Ames contributing the traditional Duck Club nought, and the whole innings folded for 86 in 46.2 overs. I managed 19 of my own, which felt like scant consolation as we slid to defeat by 23 runs.

Paul Bowles now sits second in the season's run charts with 293, and Roger Craddock third among the wicket-takers with 22 — proof there's real substance in this side, even when the scoreboard says otherwise. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 29 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDDW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 29 June 1968

Winning the toss and sending them in felt like the shrewd move at breakfast; by tea it felt rather less so. They ground their way to 174/6 from the full fifty, D. Moorkite unbeaten on 48 the anchor of it all, with B. Seager (45) and G. Shepherd (41 not out) lending sturdy support and a 76-run sixth-wicket stand doing most of the damage. Gordon Fenner toiled manfully for 4-49, and Brian Fuller, tight as a drum with five maidens, chipped in a wicket of his own — though the last pair's cheeky 68 rather undid our good work. Small mercy: D. Pound went for a duck, at least giving us something to cheer.

Our reply was, I'm sorry to report, a rather more shambolic affair. Ninety-seven all out in 41.2 overs is not the stuff of gazette legend. Percy Brattle battled to 23 not out, a lone lighthouse in the fog, while Basil Sears, Benny Bell and your own captain all contributed the traditional English duck — mine, I shall say only, was a masterpiece of understatement. Percy also had a torrid time behind the stumps, thirteen byes going walkabout, though I found some late consolation with the ball, taking four wickets to at least remind everyone I hadn't entirely forgotten how to play.

A 77-run defeat, then, and no dressing it up. Heads high, boots cleaned, and back to the nets — there's work to do before Paul Bowles' fine form at the top of the run charts is left carrying us all summer.

Sun 23 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · HomeformDLDDD

Here comes the summer's daftest Sunday: Hartley Country Club at home, the coin betraying us as usual, and a long afternoon in the field ahead. They ground out 179/8 from their 47, M Preston stroking a classy 53 with R Stubbs (38) and I Gibbons (28) lending sturdy support, and a 71-run sixth-wicket stand that threatened to put the game beyond us. Poor D Fountain trudged off for a duck — small mercies. Brian Fuller was the picture of miserliness, five maidens and 3-31, with Gordon Fenner (3-32) and Terry Whittaker (2-47) chipping away at the other end to keep it all just about gettable.

Then came the chase, and what a curious, crooked thing it was. One down for one felt like the beginning of the end, but Paul Bowles (57) and Terry Whittaker (57) — both fifties well made — stitched together a defiant 78 for the fourth wicket to drag us back into it. I'm rather pleased to report I chipped in with 57 myself, leading from the front as captains are supposed to but rarely manage. Mike Iliffe and Gordon Fenner both walked the plank for ducks, and Percy Brattle will want a word with himself after 11 byes went astray. We squeaked home by 3 wickets.

Two points banked, and a night for the mantelpiece besides — Paul Bowles reached 1,000 career runs, and Fenner's three wickets nudged him into 3rd on the all-time list. A scrappy, ragged, thoroughly earned win. We'll take it every time.

Mon 17 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · HomeformDDLDD

It was Beverley CC visiting Linton Park on a June evening, and for once I fancied our chances enough to put them in — a decision that, by the close, I was still trying to work out whether to be smug about.

We got off to a decent enough start, Frank Brattle top-scoring with 39 and John Thirkell chipping in a tidy 30, Paul Bowles unbeaten on 21, and 106 for 4 had the look of a competitive total taking shape nicely. Then, as village cricket so loves to remind us, it all went rather wobbly — nine runs later we were 115 for 7, and poor Terry Whittaker and Tim Thirkell both walked back for ducks, quacking all the way. We limped home to 120 for 7 off our sixteen, a total that felt like it had promised more than it delivered.

Defending it, though, we were a different animal entirely. D. Meades battled to 21 for the visitors, but Terry Whittaker atoned handsomely for his golden duck with the ball, snaring 3 for 23, while Terry Donovan (2-19) and Brian Fuller (2-20) squeezed the innings dry — B. Horton and R. Briggs both back in the pavilion without scoring. Beverley slid from 49 for 4 to 60 for 7 and never recovered, finishing on 94 for 9. I even found time to stroll to 30 myself.

A fitting evening, too, for Terry Donovan to bring up his 100th appearance in Linton colours. In the end honours were shared — a draw, and on the balance of the evening's fortunes, a fair one.

Sun 16 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformLDDLD

Sunday 16th June saw Bobbing Court roll up for what turned into a proper afternoon of cricket, and I'll admit I did the decent thing and put us in when the coin fell kindly.

We made 148 for 3 off our 39, which on that surface felt about right. Frank Brattle was in fine touch for his 49, and it was his stand of 51 for the second wicket that really set us up. Paul Bowles carried his bat for an unbeaten 44 — the sort of patient, unfussy innings that doesn't always get the applause it deserves — while Stan Wratten chipped in a handy 21. Nothing reckless, nothing flash, just runs banked steadily against the clock.

Bobbing Court's reply had us worried for a spell. T Ades made hay early doors with a classy 67, well backed by C Robinson's 26, and their third-wicket pair put on 63 that threatened to run away from us. But we dragged it back — Terry Donovan bowled beautifully for 2-22 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and Terry Whittaker (1-28) and Dick Langridge (1-37) kept the pressure on when it mattered. They finished 117 for 4 off 29, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — honest toil from both sides, and nobody quite able to land the killer blow. John Thirkell continues to press for the season's top run-scorer spot, sitting second with 246, while Donovan's 24 wickets keep him out in front. All told, a fair result, even if the tea was rather better than the finish.

Sat 15 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv RC Reeds CC · HomeformLLDDL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 15 June 1968

Reeds CC came calling and, losing the toss for what felt like the umpteenth time this season, we found ourselves put into the field on what turned into a proper working day for the bowlers. They ground their way to 156 for 7 off 48 overs, John Archer the chief architect with a well-crafted 80, C- Banes chipping in with 21. Full credit to Brian Fuller, whose 3 for 34 kept us in the contest throughout, with Terry Whittaker (2-42, and four maidens of positively monastic discipline) and Brian Relf (1-36) doing their bit. C- Pattenden and G Winter both departed for ducks at our hands — small mercies, gratefully received.

With 157 to chase, we settled rather than sprinted. Frank Brattle led the way with 39, Paul Bowles unbeaten on 33, John Thirkell adding 23, and I managed to scratch together 23 of my own. The opening pair put on 58 to set us up nicely, though 129 for 3 off 38 overs suggested we were rather more interested in survival than glory — 22 byes along the way made for a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Jim Hall, who I'm sure would rather forget it.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side had quite enough left to force the issue. Not a classic for the ages, but a fair result on a day when the byes column told a truer story than the scorebook cared to admit.

Mon 10 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv RC Reeds CC · HomeformWLLDD

Not our day, but a battling one — an 88/5 chase defended into an 89/2 loss is worth telling well.

Monday 10 June 1968, Reeds CC at home. Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook says by close of play.

We posted 88 for 5 off our sixteen overs, a total that felt about ten runs light even as we compiled it, rescued from real trouble by John Thirkell's unbeaten 28 — calm as you like while the rest of us fretted at the other end. I chipped in with 28 myself, more through stubbornness than style.

Defending it was always going to want a small miracle, and Reeds simply had too much class for us. A. Mitchell top-scored with a fluent 28, and John Archer saw them home with an unbeaten 25, ushering his side to 89 for 2 in just fourteen overs — barely time to get the tea urn on. Terry Donovan was the one bright spark with the ball, prising out two for 35 and reminding us why he sits atop our wicket charts this season with 22 — John Ames, meanwhile, continues to lead the run-scoring with 325, though even his bat couldn't help us today.

Beaten by eight wickets, and no dressing it up as anything else. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there's a lesson in that total somewhere, and I intend to find it before Reeds come round again.

Sun 09 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · AwayformLWLLD

Terrible luck with the coin at Hartley Country Club, and worse luck still watching Smith and Preston set about us. Their 82 and 50 came either side of a chastening 73-run stand for the third wicket that threatened to bat us clean out of it, and 188 for 5 off our 52 overs felt, at tea, like a mountain rather than a molehill. Credit where due, though — the lads stuck at it. John Ames prised out two of the top order for 20, Brian Fuller chipped in, and Terry Whittaker bowled with the miserly discipline of a man who simply does not believe in giving runs away, five maidens and a wicket to show for it.

Chasing 189, we never quite got the legs under us, closing on 141 for 7 from our 39 — a scoreline that flatters no one, though poor Benny Bell's golden duck flattered him rather less. John Ames, having done his bit with the ball, then did rather more with the bat, top-scoring with 82 and anchoring a handy 54-run stand for the fourth wicket that at least kept the innings respectable.

Two footnotes worth raising a teacup to: Terry Whittaker sailed past 500 career wickets, and his 13 runs nudged him above Gordon Fenner into 12th on the club's all-time run list — not bad for a man whose day job is denying batsmen theirs. Ames now leads our 1968 run charts with 310, Whittaker sits third among the wicket-takers with 18.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride dented but intact. Not a win, but on a day like this, no shame in it either.

Sat 08 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDLWLL

We lost the toss on Saturday and were sent in to chase 146/6, a target built largely on Don Clayton's watchful 61 not out and Keith Filmer's 38, the pair putting on 67 for the sixth wicket just as the innings threatened to run away from us. To our credit, the bowling never quite let Rumwood cut loose - Brian Relf was superb, plucking out 4-29, while Terry Donovan strangled the scoring at the other end with 2-30 and a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure. Percy Brattle had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, nine byes going begging, though in fairness the ball wasn't always arriving where advertised.

With the bat, 146 always looked a stretch on a pitch offering no favours, and so it proved - we closed on 109/6, honest rather than heroic. John Thirkell was the mainstay with 43, Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 38, and their 66-run third-wicket stand was the innings in miniature: everything of substance happened there. I contributed 43 myself, more through application than artistry, and can claim no great insight beyond staying in long enough to be mildly useful.

One footnote worth toasting: Gordon Fenner's unassuming 8 runs quietly nudged him past Terry Whittaker into 12th on the club's all-time run list - the sort of landmark nobody notices until someone points it out, and rightly celebrated regardless.

So, a draw - honours shared, pride more or less intact, and Rumwood sent home having learned rather less about us than we'd have liked them to.

Fri 07 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformTDLWL

Beaten by ten runs, and if I'm honest, we probably deserved a touch more for the shape of that innings.

Winning the toss on a Friday evening in June and having first use of the ball felt like the right call, and so it proved — for a while. The visitors were ticking along nicely before we squeezed them from 47-2 to 48-5 in a spell that had the tea urn rattling with nerves. Roger Craddock was the chief tormentor, spinning his way to 5-54, with Terry Donovan chipping in at the other end (2-49) and P. Francis walking back for a golden duck at our hands. R. Venner (33 not out) and I. Lambert (24) did their best to repair the damage, and 114/7 from sixteen overs always looked a touch beyond us, but not impossibly so.

Chasing it, Robert Chance played the innings of the night with 37, John Thirkell added a tidy 23, and I managed to scratch together 23 of my own before running out of partners and overs — 104/5 in reply, ten runs shy.

Not a night without its garlands, mind. John Ames brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that rather puts my modest 23 in perspective, and Terry Whittaker's 14 saw him leapfrog Gordon Fenner into 12th on the club's all-time run charts. Ames continues to lead the 1968 run-scoring table, Craddock the wickets — the old firm, still setting the pace.

A narrow defeat, honestly earned, and we'll be better for it next week.

Tue 04 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLTDLW

Tuesday brought us an away fixture and, as ever, a toss I'd rather forget losing — into the field we went. Sixteen overs later the home side had crept to 97 for 8, built chiefly around Moorekite's watchful 34 and Shepherd's useful 25, though for one gloriously fleeting moment it looked ours for the taking when the first wicket tumbled at 6 for 1. Colin Britchford was in fine, probing form to finish with 3 for 24, while Terry Donovan (3 for 32) and Terry Whittaker (2 for 22) mopped up either end. A tidy shift in the field, all told, and a target that felt eminently gettable over our own sixteen.

Chasing 98, we reached 101 for 5 without ever quite settling the nerves in the clubhouse. Cliff Anscombe played the anchor role beautifully for 30, and Roger Craddock finished unbeaten on 20 to see us home in spirit if not, alas, in the final reckoning. Worth noting, too, that Cliff's innings nudged him past Richard Harris and into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a quiet milestone amid the chaos. John Ames continues to lead our 1968 run charts with 215, and Terry Whittaker tops the wicket-takers with 17, both looking in ominously good touch.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, then — a match we probably deserved a touch more from, but there's honest cricket in the bones of this side, and we'll be sharper for it next week.

Mon 03 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLLTDL

We won by 6 wickets against Bearsted on 3 June, 1968 — a good day at the office. Bad luck at the toss set the tone of the day, but not the result.

There is a certain ritual to losing the toss — a small, private grief, followed by the resignation of trudging out to field while the opposition padded up with the smugness of men who fancy their chances. Bearsted duly settled in for the long haul, grinding out 217 all out from 60.5 overs, with Livingstone (33), Fleetwood (33) and Hawkins (31) doing the donkey work and a stubborn third-wicket stand of 59 threatening to bury us before lunch. John Ames was the pick of the attack with 2-35, well backed by Terry Whittaker (2-39) and the ever-parsimonious Dick Langridge, whose 2-54 came with five maidens attached — the sort of miserliness one only usually sees from a Yorkshireman doing his own accounts.

Chasing 218, the lads set about it with real purpose. The openers put on 110 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, by which point the game was already ours to lose. John Ames, not content with his morning's bowling, carried on into the afternoon and brought up a magnificent century, ably supported by Stan Wratten (38) and John Thirkell, unbeaten on 29. I chipped in with 29 myself, mostly by standing still and letting the ball do the work.

Honourable mentions to Paul Bowles, who reached 50 career wickets, and Langridge, whose two scalps eased him past George Champion into 10th on the club's all-time list. Ames now leads our run charts for the summer, Whittaker the wickets. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine way to spend a Monday.

Sun 02 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · HomeformDLLTD

Sunday last brought Hythe to Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the final margin suggests. We laboured to 158 for 7 from our 45 overs, a total that owed everything to Terry Whittaker's watchful 35, with Gordon Fenner (26) and Paul Bowles (20) chipping in either side of a handy sixth-wicket stand worth 63. Not a score to frighten anyone, but enough, we hoped, to have a bowl at.

It wasn't to be. Hythe lost an early wicket with just 3 on the board and looked briefly rattled, but a third-wicket stand of 92 put paid to any nerves, and Tim Dearman simply refused to leave, finishing unbeaten on 89 with R Apps (35) and P Goddard (21 not out) offering sturdy company. Terry Donovan toiled manfully for his 3 for 57, and I did my modest bit with 19, but 9 byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Jim Hall. They cantered home in 35.3 overs, seven wickets in hand.

Two notes to lift the gloom: John Thirkell brought up his 600th appearance in Linton colours, a magnificent innings of service in itself, and Gordon Fenner's 26 eased him past Terry Whittaker into 12th on the club's all-time run-scoring list. Roger Craddock (127) and Terry Donovan (13 wickets) continue to lead our season's charts. Not our day, but heads up — back to the nets.

Sat 01 Jun 1968 🧢 1st XIv TC Tovil Nomads CC · AwayformWDLLT

From the captain's chair — Saturday 01 June 1968. The road took us to Tovil Nomads CC, and having called correctly at the toss for once in my life, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, much to the quiet relief of a batting order that had spent the coach journey pretending not to care.

We posted 143/7 from our 49 overs, a total built rather than blazed, with Richard Ashby's 33 the backbone and Terry Whittaker's 31 lending it some shape either side. Not a score to frighten anyone, but enough, we felt, to make an afternoon of it.

And what an afternoon in the field it turned into. Brian Relf, bowling like a man with a point to prove, ripped through with 4-37 and, rather marvellously, brought up his 50th career wicket in the process — champagne moments don't come along often at this level, so we made sure to mark it properly. Terry Donovan was miserly to the point of cruelty, five maidens among his 2-44, and Terry Whittaker chipped in with 1-14. Three visitors, G Winter, L White and C Banes, departed without so much as troubling the scorers, and Tovil slid from 68-4 to 76-7 as the pressure told. Only T Mitchell's defiant 48 kept them in it, dragging them to 138/9 from 38. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes conceded, but that was the extent of our sins.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite find the killer blow. A fair result, all told, and one we'll happily toast on the way home.

Wed 29 May 1968 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWDLWL

Gravesend's captain called it right on Wednesday and stuck us in, which after events might have taught him a lesson in being careful what you wish for. They batted steadily enough — Pothecary and Harland put on 102 for the first wicket and looked set to bat all afternoon in Kent sunshine — but once we prised them apart we ran through the middle order like a hot knife, three wickets falling without so much as a run added. Terry Whittaker was the chief tormentor with a marvellous 5-18, Dick Langridge chipped in with 5-46, and Terry Donovan bowled with a miser's discipline, four maidens and barely a run to be had off him. All out 139 from 44 overs — a total that felt rather generous to us by the close.

With the bat we made light work of it. William Buck led the way with 43, the openers putting on 73 before anyone troubled the scorers with a dismissal, and John Thirkell (35 not out) and Whittaker (33 not out, and now up to 13th on the all-time run list) saw us home in some style. I managed 35 myself, though poor Cliff Anscombe had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes the price of my bowlers' waywardness.

Dick Langridge, meanwhile, quietly passed 200 career wickets and climbed to 11th on the all-time list — a fine achievement, rather overshadowed by the champagne mood of a comfortable seven-wicket win. Onwards indeed.

Tue 28 May 1968 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Monchelsea CC · AwayformLWDLL

Tuesday 28th May found us on the road to Boughton Monchelsea, where the coin let us down and we were sent straight into the field. It's fair to say we made a fist of it: Terry Whittaker was in irrepressible form with the ball, scything through their order for 4-28, ably supported by Alan Wilkes (2-33) and Roger Craddock (1-21). Poor J Kember never troubled the scorers, gone for a duck, and with the score reading 0-1 early doors we sensed something was in the air. K Spiken's 25 was the one substantial contribution as they were skittled for 87 in their sixteen overs.

Chasing it down, we contrived to make our own task rather harder than it needed to be. Roger Craddock, who continues to lead our run charts this season, top-scored with a determined 28, but the middle order rather queued up to admire the Boughton Monchelsea attack from the pavilion steps — Mike Iliffe and Benny Bell both making the long walk back for nought, joining the club's ever-growing Duck Ledger. We stumbled to the very same total they had posted, 87, this time with eight down after our sixteen overs.

A tie, then — honours even, and not a run between us after an entire day's cricket. You couldn't write it. A fair result, I suppose, though the lads will rue those two ducks when they reflect that one more run, anywhere, would have settled the argument in our favour.

Sun 26 May 1968 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWLWDL

Sunday 26th May found us on our travels to The Mote, and having called correctly I fancied our chances with the willow and stuck us in. It didn't hurt for a good while either — Cliff Anscombe led the way with a fine 45, John Thirkell chipped in 23 and Roger Craddock 22, and though we lost an early wicket for next to nothing at 3-1, a stout fourth-wicket stand of fifty had us purring along nicely. Then, as is the way of these things on a Sunday afternoon, the innings folded like a deckchair in a breeze — from 118-6 to 120-9 quicker than you could pour the tea, with Richard Ashby and Alan Wilkes both departing for ducks. All out 121 from 50.2 overs; a par score, perhaps, but no more.

Defending it, we scrapped hard. An early wicket at 0-1 raised hopes, and K Payne joined our two-duck club without troubling the scorers, but Mike Foster settled in for a composed unbeaten 53 and gradually eased The Mote home. John Ames did his level best with 3-45, backed up nicely by John Thirkell's 2-10 and Roger Craddock's 1-39, the latter also proving admirably tight with two maidens. I added 23 with the bat for good measure, and Roger's season continues to hum along — second in the run charts, top of the wicket pile.

In the end, though, we fell by four wickets. No disgrace in it, but we'll be better for it next week.

Mon 20 May 1968 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWLWD

Monday 20 May 1968, and a fine one it was too — hosting them at home, I won the toss and, with memories of dry pitches past, sent them in.

What followed was the kind of collapse that makes a captain feel he might actually know what he's doing. An early wobble at 2-1 set the tone, and though B Dyer battled manfully for his 29, the rest offered him precious little company — 59 for 4 became 60 for 7 in the blink of an eye, with D Costello, D Francis and W Wratten all trooping back for ducks. Terry Donovan was magnificent, running through them with 4 for 18, well supported by Roger Craddock's miserly 3 for 5 and Terry Whittaker's 2 for 0. All out for 60 in 12.4 overs — we could scarcely believe our luck.

Chasing was a formality in the end, John Ames seeing us home unbeaten on 32 as we reached 62 for 2 in just 11.1 overs.

Two footnotes for the record books: Cliff Anscombe's 16 lifted him past Tom Osborn into 22nd on the all-time run charts, while Donovan's four wickets took him past Michael Morton into 13th among the club's leading wicket-takers. Robert Chance and Roger Craddock, meanwhile, continue to lead from the front in this season's charts.

Beaten by eight wickets, would you believe — how a side can bowl and bat like that and still finish on the wrong side of the result is a mystery I shall be pondering over my tea. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 19 May 1968 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformDDWLW

Sunday 19 May 1968, and we found ourselves on the road to Folkestone, where the coin let us down as it so often does and we were put into the field. Folkestone made hay early doors, their openers putting on a chastening 83 before we so much as troubled the scorebook, and Godden (53) and Brickell (49) looked set to bat us clean out of the match. But cricket has a way of correcting itself, and once we prised that stand apart the innings folded rather more obligingly, 116-4 becoming 122-7 in a hurry as John Ames ran through them with a marvellous 4-8, well backed by Paul Bowles's 4-39. They closed on 142/8, a total that felt like a reprieve after that opening stand.

Chasing it, we never quite found our rhythm. Roger Craddock's 42 was the innings' backbone, with useful support from Ames again (28, clearly a man in form with bat and ball alike), but three ducks in the field had rather set the tone, and 88-3 crumbled to 98-6 as the middle order queued up to get back in the tea tent. We limped home at 104/8 from our 42 overs, short of the target but with enough overs gone to see out the draw.

Honours shared, then, and on reflection a fair result — we bowled ourselves back into the game after a torrid start, then batted just carefully enough to let the clock do the rest. Not glorious, but not without merit either.

Wed 15 May 1968 🧢 1st XIv RC Reeds CC · AwayformDDDWL

Wednesday 15th May 1968, and off we trundled to Reeds, where I did the unthinkable and actually won a toss. I elected to bat, and for once nobody in the pavilion questioned my judgement. Robert Chance led the way with a fine 44, and in doing so brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a milestone that deserved rather more than the tepid tea-urn applause it got. Roger Craddock chipped in an unbeaten 24, the two of them putting on 50 for the fourth wicket to give the innings some backbone. Poor Fred Greenfield, meanwhile, was back in the hutch before he'd troubled the scorers, out for a duck. We closed on 108/6 from our sixteen overs — modest, but I fancied it might be enough.

And so it proved, though not without a wobble. Reeds' openers put on just 4 before the first wicket fell, and C Simmonds joined Fred in the golden-duck club without so much as a single to his name. K Patey Jnr (22) and K Patey Snr (21) did their best to drag the home side over the line, but Roger Craddock was in irresistible form, following his batting with a magnificent 5-28, well supported by Terry Whittaker (2-21) and Terry Donovan (2-47). Reeds fell 105 all out — three runs short.

A tight, nervy affair, won by the barest of margins, but two points are two points, and on the day I'll happily take ugly over nothing. Mike Iliffe still tops our run charts this season and Roger, unsurprisingly, now leads the wickets. A proper team effort, and a thoroughly deserved victory.

Sun 12 May 1968 🧢 1st XIv Gore Court CC · HomeformDDDDW

1968 was clearly not our year against Gore Court, and this Sunday did nothing to argue otherwise.

Gore Court won the toss and, showing rather more faith in their bowlers than their batsmen, sent us in. We obliged with a display best described as brief: 53 all out in 27.1 overs, the collapse from 42 for 5 to 46 for 8 arriving with such indecent haste that several of us were still doing up our pads when the innings ended. Fred Greenfield's 20 stood alone as anything resembling resistance, while Paul Bowles, Louis Buels and Brian Fuller all departed without troubling the scorers — three ducks in one card is not a hat-trick anyone wants to claim.

With 53 to defend, hope was thin, but the lads bowled with real heart. Paul Bowles, having contributed a golden duck with the bat, made handsome amends with 4 for 27, John Thirkell chipped in with 1 for 6, and Terry Whittaker sent down four maidens without so much as a thank-you from the scoreboard. D Pearson went for a duck of his own, and Gore Court wobbled from 40 for 2 to 50 for 5 — for one glorious moment we could smell it. But Ken Drury's watchful 24 saw them home at 54 for 5.

Defeat by five wickets, then, and a batting card that will not be framed for the clubhouse wall. Heads up, back to the nets — there is plainly work to do before Mike Iliffe and Paul Bowles can carry the rest of us to glory this season.

Sun 05 May 1968 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformDDDDD

The road to Bobbing Court on Sunday 5th May found me feeling brave at the coin toss, and brave — or foolish — enough to stick us in to bat first. It didn't look a masterstroke when we lost an early wicket with just 8 on the board, and it looked worse still as we slid from 61-4 to 72-7 in the sort of rush that has opposition fielders sniggering behind their caps. Robert Chance's 23 and Mike Iliffe's 22 were the innings' backbone, and poor Louis Buels departed for a golden duck, bless him. We limped to 127/9 from our 55 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, on paper.

Paper, however, doesn't play cricket. Bobbing Court found 0 on the board no friendlier than we had, losing an early wicket themselves, and when they subsided from 58-6 to 64-9 the game was as good as ours. Terry Whittaker was magnificent with 4-23, ably backed by Roger Craddock's 4-25 (five miserly maidens to his name) and John Ames's 2-19; T Ades and D Barden both walked back for ducks. C Robinson's battling 20 was the only real resistance, but 78 all out from 39 overs was never going to see them home.

A splendid 49-run win, then, snatched from what looked a modest total. Mike Iliffe now sits second in our 1968 run charts, and Terry Whittaker leads the wickets — the lads did me proud, and I shall try to look less anxious next time I call heads.

Sun 28 Apr 1968 🧢 1st XIv PC Paddock Wood CC · HomeformLDDDD

Sunday 28th April, and Paddock Wood arrived to find the wicket in fine order, though I confess I wasn't feeling quite so fine myself once they'd won the toss and sent us in. Batting has always been our polite way of testing the opposition's patience, and today we tested it thoroughly, subsiding to 6 for 1 almost before the tea urn had boiled and never really recovering. John Ames and Louis Buels both contributed what the scorebook cruelly calls a duck apiece, and by the time we were bowled out for 59 in the 39th over, I was already composing my excuses for the tea interval.

Fifty-nine is not a total that inspires confidence, but cricket has a wonderful way of humbling both sides in turn, and so it proved. Paddock Wood found themselves 0 for 1 before they'd drawn breath, L. Anstead departing without scoring, and from there it became a proper arm-wrestle. Derek Gale battled to 20 to give their innings some backbone, but Dick Langridge was in miserly, hostile form to finish with 2 for 5, while Terry Donovan bowled with real discipline, sending down four maidens on his way to 2 for 14 — and, I'm reliably informed, easing past Ray Howard into 14th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of statistic that keeps a bowler warm on a chilly afternoon. Paddock Wood closed on 48 for 4, still needing 12 they never found time to chase.

So honours shared, a draw that flattered our batting and rewarded our bowling, and frankly we'll take it.

Sat 27 Apr 1968 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLLDDD

Saturday 27 April 1968 saw us head to West Farleigh CC, and having won the toss I didn't so much as blink before choosing to bat — a decision that, for once, made me look almost wise.

We were bowled out for 220 in 47.5 overs, but what a platform the openers laid, putting on 141 before the first wicket finally fell. Basil Sears was the star of the show, cutting and driving his way to 96, while Mike Iliffe chipped in handsomely with 67 and John Thirkell added a tidy 25. Not everything gleamed, mind you — Cliff Anscombe, Benny Bell and Terry Whittaker all trooped back for ducks, proof that not even a good day is a perfect one.

In the field we toiled without quite breaking through. West Farleigh reached 101 for 2 from their 27 overs, anchored by a fine 86-run second-wicket stand. Micky Back made merry with a well-struck 72, ably supported by R Phillips, unbeaten on 28. We did at least see off John Underdown for a duck, and Brian Relf was the pick of the attack with 1-18, while Brian Fuller matched him with 1-24 and four maidens that kept the scoring admirably honest. I contributed a modest 25 with the bat, more for the cause than the ledger.

Of note, Basil's 96 lifts him past Stan Wratten into second on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a landmark worth raising a glass to. In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then, but a thoroughly good day's cricket, and Basil's innings alone made the drive home a happy one.