🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 21 Sep 1975 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWLWDW

John Thirkell's Match Report — 21 September 1975 v Anchorians CC

Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'll stand by it in print even after what followed. We limped to 93 all out in 37.5 overs, a total that owed rather more to grit than grace. The scorebook makes for uncomfortable reading in places: three of us — Jon Harris, Tony Gauna and, I confess, yours truly — walked back for ducks, and I shall draw the aforementioned veil over my own contribution beyond noting it was rather shorter than I'd have liked.

But cricket, mercifully, has two innings, and ours came with ball in hand. Nigel Thirkell was simply magnificent, tearing through the Anchorians order for 5-25 with six miserly maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that makes a captain's job absurdly easy. Ron Hickman (4-20) and Tony Gauna (1-17) mopped up admirably, L. Neate departed without troubling the scorers, and the visitors were bowled out for 89 in 38.2 overs.

Two milestones to toast in the clubhouse: Alan Cradduck brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a thoroughly deserved landmark, while Paul Brattle's 18 runs eased him past Maurice Fenner into 13th on the all-time run-scorers' list. And Nigel Thirkell, still leading both the 1975 run and wicket charts, continues to make the rest of us look faintly ordinary.

Four runs. That's all it was. A nervy, scrappy, thoroughly earned two points — the sort of win that reminds you why this daft game is worth turning up for.

Sat 20 Sep 1975 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWLWD

As it stands, the toss went our way and I had no hesitation putting West Farleigh in the field. 134/6 off 43 overs wasn't quite fireworks, but Nigel Thirkell's unbeaten 47 gave it real backbone, with Paul Bowles (39) and Paul Brattle (22) chipping in nicely. Poor Jim Hall, meanwhile, made the long walk back for nought — the sort of duck that gets you a mention in the ledger whether you like it or not.

Then came the ball, and this is where the afternoon turned thoroughly in our favour. West Farleigh were bowled out for 88 in 38.4 overs, and frankly they never looked like troubling us. Don Fermor's 25 and Brian Piper's 22 were the only real resistance; Reg Oldfield, Peter Cooper and Norman Underdown all departed without scoring. Nigel Thirkell was in a different postcode to everyone else, spinning his way to 5-15 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly. Jon Harris (3-33) and Paul Bowles (2-13) tidied up the rest between them. Ten byes did rather give the game away behind the stumps, and our man there will no doubt be reflecting on it over a pint.

Nigel continues to lead both the run charts and the wicket charts for the season, and on this evidence it's not hard to see why. A fine win by 46 runs — onwards we go.

Sat 13 Sep 1975 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformWLWLW

Saturday the thirteenth of September found Southborough CC visiting Linton Park, and with the coin landing kindly I had no hesitation in sending us in first — a decision that, with the benefit of hindsight, looked rather braver in the morning than it did by teatime.

Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, an excellent 81 that formed the spine of our 168 for 8 off 44 overs, with John Ames chipping in a tidy 20 to keep things ticking. Tim Thirkell wasn't so fortunate, departing for a golden duck, and I can offer no better account of myself — I too walked back without troubling the scorers, out first ball. A captain, they say, must lead by example; on this occasion I led rather too literally back to the pavilion, bat still gleaming and pads barely scuffed.

With the total posted, we turned to defending it, and Southborough made steady if unhurried progress to 11 without loss from their seven overs before the elements or the clock — or perhaps simple club cricket good sense — brought proceedings to a close. Honours shared, then, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our 1975 run charts with a splendid 619 to his name — proof, if any were needed, that not every Thirkell in this fixture book collects ducks. All told, a fair and gentle afternoon's cricket: nobody bowled out, nobody's pride entirely intact, and everybody home in time for tea.

Sun 07 Sep 1975 🧢 1st XIv TL Teynham & Lynsted · HomeformDWLWL

Sunday, 7 September 1975, and Teynham & Lynsted came to Linton Park under skies that threatened more than they delivered. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — the right call, as it turned out. We piled on 224 for 3 from our 44 overs, and I'll confess to rather enjoying myself with 84, though the real backbone came from Robert Chance's fine 56 and Brian Piper's brisk 36 lower down. A total to be proud of, and one that put the afternoon firmly in our gift.

Defending it proved rather more comfortable than these things usually are. Teynham & Lynsted were bowled out for 137 in 50.4 overs, H. Eastburn's 24 the only real resistance, while poor M. Heathfield trudged off for a duck. Jon Harris was pick of the attack with 4 for 43, I chipped in with 3 for 41 and seven maidens for good measure, and Nigel Thirkell tidied things up with 2 for 6. Twenty-three byes rather told their own tale of a testing afternoon for Allan Cooper behind the stumps, though nobody begrudged him the odd wayward one.

There was cause for celebration beyond the scoreline too — Robert Chance's 56 nudges him past Andrew Moss into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Nigel Thirkell continues to lead both the 1975 run and wicket charts. All told, a comfortable 87-run win and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 06 Sep 1975 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformDDWLW

Home defeat to Old Anchorians by seven wickets, September the 6th, 1975, and if there's a moral in it I haven't found it yet.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the right call at the time — I still think it was, for what that's worth. We were bowled out for 119 in 38.4 overs, which on a good pitch is the sort of total that makes you want to check your watch and wonder where the afternoon went. Young Nigel top-scored gamely with 33, and honourable mention must go to Colin Dicker, who contrived a duck of such quiet dignity that the whole clubhouse observed a respectful silence before getting on with the tea.

In the field we did our best to make a match of it. Nigel, having batted so nicely, then turned his arm over to remarkable effect — 2 for 48 and five maidens, not a run given away that he didn't have to. Brian Fuller chipped in with 1 for 9, tidy as you like, and I managed my own small contribution with bat and ball along the way, for whatever comfort that provided. But P. Francis was in no mood to be denied, cruising to an unbeaten 58, well supported by K. Hewitt's 30, and Old Anchorians eased home at 120 for 3.

Seven wickets is seven wickets — no dressing it up. Heads up, though, and back to the nets; Nigel's form, with 578 runs and 83 wickets to his name this season, remains the one thing keeping our spirits from the boundary rope entirely.

Sun 31 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformWDDWL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 31 August 1975. We travelled down to Staplehurst, lost the toss, and found ourselves out in the field before the tea urn had even had a chance to warm up. Not the start I'd have chosen, but there are worse ways to spend a Sunday than fielding under a decent sky.

Staplehurst posted 149 all out in 43.2 overs, B Thurlow (31) and C Rogers (29) doing most of the damage, with Nigel Bardsley chipping in 23. But three of theirs went for ducks at our hands, and I found some real turn to finish with 5-18 off my three maidens — the sort of afternoon a spinner dreams about on the bus home. Nigel Thirkell (2-43) and Brian Piper (2-47) kept the pressure on from the other end, and 149 always felt a chaseable total on that pitch.

So it proved. We knocked off the runs for the loss of three wickets in 38.1 overs, with Robert Chance (30) and Paul Brattle (20) playing their part, while I was fortunate enough to bat right through for 97 not out — agonisingly close to the ton, but I shan't complain about a personal double of note. Spare a thought for Jim Hall behind the stumps, who had a torrid time of it with 20 byes going begging.

A nice footnote: Chance's 30 nudges him past Mike Iliffe into 16th on the club's all-time run list. All told, a thoroughly good day for Linton Park — seven-wicket win, bowling and batting both firing, and the perfect tonic for the drive home.

Sat 30 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformWWDDW

The coin obliged me on Saturday, and with visions of a flat Whitstable track dancing before me, I had no hesitation in sending us in. Mike Iliffe made the decision look positively inspired, playing a lovely, chanceless 81 that carried us for the best part of the innings, with John Ames chipping in a tidy 25 alongside him. Elsewhere it was rather a mixed bag — Jim Hall and Nigel Thirkell both walked back for ducks, and I shan't dwell further on the matter except to note the club duck ledger grew heavier still. All out for 184 in 36.5 overs felt a touch light, but not disgraceful.

In the field we huffed and puffed without ever quite blowing the house down. Jon Harris bowled beautifully for his 2-62, five maidens included — the sort of miserly spell that deserved better luck — while I picked up 1-29 and contributed 18 with the bat for good measure, and Nigel Thirkell took 1-93. But S. Tritton's fine 60, well supported by J. Robertson's 43 and E. Watts's unbeaten 40, saw Whitstable home on 188/4 with overs to spare.

Small mercies: Mike's 81 nudges him past Robert Chance into 16th on the all-time run列, Jon Harris sits third in this season's run charts, and Nigel leads the wicket-takers with 79 to his name. The season marches on regardless. A defeat by six wickets, then — heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.

Wed 27 Aug 1975 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDDLDW

From the captain's chair, Wednesday 27 August 1975: we welcomed Gravesend CC, and when the coin fell my way there was only ever one decision to make. Batting looked the sensible course on the morning; whether it remained so by teatime is, as ever, a matter for the reader to judge.

Ninety-one all out from forty-four overs was scratchy stuff, and I'll own that I contributed rather more to the meandering than the match-winning — though my 29 did at least top the card, with Brian Piper's watchful 25 the only other real substance. David Piper and S. Oldfield both fell for ducks, the sort of blot that has every non-striker suddenly fascinated by his bootlaces.

Ninety-two to defend was never going to trouble Gravesend, and so it proved: Duncan Hiscock, ice-cool, compiled an unbeaten 57, with M Biscombe's 24 keeping him honest company, and they cantered home in 27.3 overs for the loss of two. Phil Hickman was the pick of a well-beaten attack, 1 for 12 with two miserly maidens, Brian Piper chipping in at rather greater cost with 1 for 55.

One crumb of comfort amid the wreckage: those 29 runs of mine were enough to nudge past Roy Clarke into 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Hickman continues to lead our 1975 Midweek run charts handsomely. Beaten by eight wickets, then, but far from beaten in spirit. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 25 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWWDD

Lost the toss again on Monday — I'm beginning to think the coin has a grudge against me — and Bearsted duly stuck us in the field. They made hay early doors, Anthony Hunt and young Livingstone putting on 61 for the first wicket before we found a breakthrough, and from there Hunt went on to a fine 54 while Colin Fleetwood finished unbeaten on a watchful 50. Livingstone chipped in with 31 as they closed on a stiff-looking 198 for 5 from their 53 overs. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of our attack by some distance — 3 for 87 and five miserly maidens, not a run given away lightly — and I did my bit with 2 for 32. Mick Filmer trudged back for a duck, so at least someone else was keeping me company in that particular club.

Chasing 199, we simply couldn't have asked for a better start: Paul Bowles and Paul Brattle put on 93 for the first wicket before Bearsted so much as looked like taking one, and from there the innings never lost its shape. Bowles played the innings of the day, 87 not out and barely troubled, Brattle made a busy 40, and Tim Thirkell added a tidy 28 to see us home in the 44th over, 202 for 4. Poor Nigel Thirkell, hero with the ball, made the long walk for nought with the bat — the Duck Club gains a second member for the day. Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes slipping through, but nobody was counting once the runs were in.

A fine win by six wickets, then, and a thoroughly satisfying Bank Holiday outing. Onwards.

Sun 24 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv MH Mersham Hatch · AwayformDLWWD

Here's the match report:

Skipper's Log, Sunday 24 August 1975 — away at Mersham Hatch, and I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season. They had first use of a good pitch and made hay, posting 229/6 from their 52 overs. C. Breed's 70 was the innings that hurt most, with A. King's classy 69 keeping the scoreboard ticking and A. Gosling chipping in with 21. Credit where it's due, though — Nigel Thirkell bowled beautifully for 4-28, five of those overs maidens, real miserly stuff, with Tony Gauna and Brian Piper mopping up a wicket apiece.

Chasing 230 was always going to be a stretch, but we gave it a proper go, reaching 200/5 from our 47 overs. Nigel Thirkell led the reply with a fine 60, Tim Thirkell finished unbeaten on 37 to keep us in the hunt, and I managed 33 of my own along the way. Ten byes against our name told its own sorry tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Cliff Anscombe — he'll want that one back.

Special mention for Paul Brattle, whose watchful 13 nudged him past Andrew Moss and into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the sort of milestone that means more with each passing season. And Nigel Thirkell continues his extraordinary summer, sitting top of both the 1975 run and wicket charts.

In the end, honours were shared, neither side quite able to force it home. A draw, then — fair reflection of a day where both teams had their say and nobody blinked first.

Sat 23 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformLDLWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 23rd August 1975, and Dummy Site the visitors on a day that promised much and, in the end, delivered honours shared.

Won the toss and, in a fit of confidence I shall claim was tactical acumen, stuck us in. The lads repaid the faith handsomely enough: 153/6 from our 42 overs, built on a fine half-century from Nigel Thirkell (66) with Tim Thirkell chipping in a tidy 37 alongside him. Not a total to frighten anyone into early retirement, but a platform, and platforms are what county championships are built on, or so I keep telling myself.

Defending it, we set about our work with more discipline than usual. The visitors crept to 123/5 off their fifty, C. Pearson doing most of the damage with 45, well supported by J. Beesley's unbeaten 33. M. Beckwith, mercifully, troubled nobody — back in the pavilion without so much as a run to his name. Nigel Thirkell, having already done his bit with the bat, turned his arm over to devastating effect: 3-47 and eight — eight! — maidens, bowling like a man with somewhere better to be but too stubborn to leave. Phil Hickman and Jon Harris chipped in a wicket apiece.

Nigel's 66 also nudged him past Tony Levick into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and with 485 runs and 71 wickets this summer he continues to lead both our charts by some distance — the rest of us merely orbiting him.

A draw, then, honours even, and honestly, a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side quite had the nerve to finish the job.

Sun 17 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv HC Hawkhurst CC · HomeformWLDLW

Sunday the seventeenth of August 1975 found us hosting Hawkhurst CC, and having won the toss I elected to bat first — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody in the pavilion argued with me. We were bowled out for 114 in 38 overs, a total that owed everything to Paul Brattle's watchful 30 and Jon Harris's brisk 20 in support. Beyond that the middle order rather fell on its sword: Tim Thirkell, Alan Cradduck and Paul Croucher all contributed a golden nothing between them, the sort of collapse that has grown men muttering into their tea.

Still, 114 proved just enough. Hawkhurst were dismissed for 99 in 38.2 overs, X Williams's well-made 58 the only real resistance, while X Piper, G Samuel and X Levett all departed without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was again the pick of the attack with 4 for 34, Ron Hickman chipped in a miserly 3 for 30 studded with four maidens, and Tony Gauna took 1 for 14.

There was extra cause for cheer off the field: Mike Iliffe's 15 runs eased him past Gordon Fenner into eighteenth on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Tony Gauna's solitary wicket lifted him past George Champion into sixteenth among the wicket-takers. Brattle now sits second in this year's run charts with 333, Harris second among the bowlers with 49 — form that shows no sign of deserting either man.

A fine win by 15 runs, then, snatched from a scorecard that threatened at one point to embarrass us. Onwards.

Sat 16 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformDWLDL

Bobbing Court CC came calling on the 16th, the sun did its bit, and I called correctly for once — batting it was.

It didn't feel like a triumph at the time. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of a man who'd read the script alone, compiling a stout 55, but around him the order rather fell over itself, with Martin Thompson, Colin Dicker and Phil Hickman all contributing that most traditional of club offerings — the golden duck. All out for 105 in 40.5 overs was, frankly, a modest total to defend, and there may have been a flask of tea drunk in nervous silence at the fall of each wicket.

But cricket, as ever, delights in making fools of committee-room pessimists. Nigel, having done his bit with the bat, then took the ball and simply refused to let the game go anywhere else, bowling with a miserliness that bordered on the ungenerous — 7 for 44, six of those overs maidens, figures that will take some beating in this or any gazette. Martin Thompson chipped in with 3 for 29, W Webb, A Johnson and Kevin Wood all departed for ducks of their own, and only Paul Bedelle's 21 offered the visitors any real resistance. Bobbing Court were bowled out for 73.

A word too for Paul Brattle, whose 14 runs quietly nudged him past Robert Chance into 15th on the club's all-time run charts — the sort of milestone nobody notices until the scorebook insists on it.

We won by 32 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 13 Aug 1975 🧢 Midweek XIv W Wanderers · HomeformDDDLD

As the toss-winning captain who chose to bat, walking off having won by 8 runs, here's the report.

Wednesday last, the thirteenth of August, and Dummy Site rolled up at Linton Park for what turned into rather a good afternoon's cricket. I won the toss — a rare enough event to merit its own line in the scorebook — and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first. The pitch looked kind, and I fancied our top order fancied it too.

As it turned out, only one of us truly did. Reg Oldfield played the innings of the day, an assured 62 that gave the whole effort its spine, while the rest of us rather let him down around it — Jim Hall and Tim Thirkell both departing for ducks as we limped to 138 for 8 from our 41 overs. Not a total to frighten anyone, on paper.

Paper, however, does not account for Nigel Thirkell in this sort of mood. He simply took the ball and did not let go, spinning through Dummy Site for 9 wickets at a cost of 38, six of his overs going for nothing at all. David Tolhurst fought a lone and rather excellent hand of 71 for the visitors, well supported by Mick Brown's 21, but three more Dummy Site batsmen went for ducks and the innings folded at 130. Michael Chambers chipped in with a wicket for his figures' sake, and poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 9 byes leaking away — though nothing, in the end, that mattered.

Eight runs the margin, two points banked, and Nigel's nine wickets nudge him past Tony Snell into 11th on the club's all-time list. A thoroughly deserved win, snatched from what looked, at tea, like a moderate total.

Sat 09 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDDWLD

There are days when the toss feels like the least of your problems, and Saturday was one of them. Headcorn called correctly, put us in the field, and I confess I wasn't sorry to bowl first on a morning that felt made for it. So it proved, eventually — though not before Ashdown had made merry with 32, well supported by P Cooper's 22 and G Wickens' 21, as Headcorn crawled to 110 all out in 34.5 overs. It could have been far worse had Nigel Thirkell not turned in one of those spells you tell your grandchildren about: 9 for 37, four maidens, and three of their top order sent back without so much as a nervous glance at the scoreboard. Jon Harris chipped in with 1 for 24 for good measure.

Chasing 111 should have been a formality. It was not. We subsided to 101 all out in 40 overs, and I must own my part in it — I went for a duck, and the less said about that particular stroke the better. Jim Hall's 31 and Basil Sears' 21 were the only real resistance; too many of us, myself included, simply didn't turn up with the bat.

There were bright spots amid the gloom: Paul Brattle's 19 lifted him to 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Jon Harris's solitary wicket nudged him into 7th among our wicket-takers — Nigel Thirkell, meanwhile, continues to lead the county in stubborn refusal to concede singles.

Nine runs the difference, and nine runs too many. Back to the nets, heads up.

Wed 06 Aug 1975 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sennocke CC · AwayformDDDDL

Won the toss at Sennocke on a fine Wednesday and, fancying our chances, had no hesitation in putting them in the field first. Jim Hall set about compiling a handsome 75, well supported by Nigel Thirkell's 49 and a contribution of 26 from yours truly, as we posted 189 for 8 off our forty overs and a bit. Less gloriously, the Duck Club welcomed three new members in Paul Brattle, Trevor Back and Michael Chambers, all three trudging back for nought — a hat-trick of ducks that did the walk of shame proud.

Defending the total, we toiled honestly without quite finishing the job. J. Keys made a stubborn 34, with Steve Ledsham and S. Fry chipping in either side of him, and Sennocke crept to 155 for 6 off their 43 overs before the shutters came down. Jon Harris did the early damage with 2 for 50, Trevor Back and Michael Chambers weighed in with a wicket apiece, and Nigel Thirkell fairly strangled the scoring with four maidens. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes slipping through fingers that had earned their rest after that innings with the bat.

There was real cause for cheer, though: Nigel Thirkell brought up 2,000 runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to in the bar afterwards. With Jim Hall now second in the season's run charts and Jon Harris leading the wickets, the form is there — just not, on this occasion, the finish. A draw, then, honours shared, and frankly a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side could land the killer blow.

Sun 03 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformLDDWL

Sunday 3rd August dawned overcast, Staplehurst won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — which, given how the rest of the afternoon panned out, tells you rather a lot about the pitch. We toiled away in the field for the full forty-nine overs, watching C Rogers glide to a superb 93, well supported by H Pontin's 47, as the visitors racked up 193/6. Small mercies: N Bardsley went for a duck, and Phil Hickman bowled beautifully for 3-44 to keep us in the hunt. I did my bit with 2-58 and four maidens — not a run given away lightly, even if the figures won't trouble the record books.

Chasing 194, we set about it steadily rather than spectacularly. Jim Hall played the innings of the day, an assured 72, and I was glad to chip in with 47 of my own alongside him. Poor Phil Hickman, so miserly with the ball, endured the walk of shame with the bat — out for nought, proof if any were needed that cricket has a cruel sense of humour. Eight byes past Cliff Anscombe suggested a testing afternoon behind the stumps, though he'll have forgotten it by Tuesday nets. We closed on 158/6 from our forty-nine, agonisingly short of the target.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue — and frankly, after Rogers' innings, we'll happily take it. Tea was, as ever, the true highlight of the day.

Sat 02 Aug 1975 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWLDDW

I put us in first when the coin fell kindly, always a captain's prerogative when the square looks a touch two-paced, and we ground our way to 152 for 8 off 41.3 overs. The runs that mattered came from Nigel, a fine 71 that held the innings together while the rest of us fussed and fidgeted around him — I contributed a modest 19 to the cause, more stubbornness than style.

Defending it was always going to be a tall order against a Bidborough side in no mood to be denied, and so it proved. B. Milns played the innings of the day, a classy 53, well supported by David Tolhurst's 45 and P. Kerby's 28, and they eventually got home at 156 for 5 with three overs to spare. Nigel again did the heavy lifting with the ball, 3 for 45 and three miserly maidens besides, with Brian Fuller chipping in at the other end for 2 for 42. We did at least have the small consolation of two ducks, M. Tolhurst and B. Ball both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — though poor Jim Hall will want to forget his afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes a painful tally on any Saturday.

There were happier notes amid the defeat: John Ames brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours, a wonderful landmark, while Robert Chance's 9 runs quietly nudged him past George Champion into 15th on the club's all-time run-charts.

Four wickets the wrong way, then, and heads understandably down — but with Nigel still striding clear at the top of both our run and wicket charts for the summer, there's plenty to rebuild around. Back to the nets, and back next week.

Fri 01 Aug 1975 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Margate CC · AwayformWDDDD

Won the toss at Margate on a bright first of August and had absolutely no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision that felt considerably wiser before I'd watched three of our number depart without troubling the scorers. Brian Piper, David Buck and Peter Elms all contributed golden ducks to the cause, which is one way to keep an innings brief. Fortunately Paul Brattle was in irrepressible form, compiling a fine 56, with Nigel Thirkell (24) and Jon Harris (21) lending sturdy support, and we were all out for 160 in 50.3 overs — respectable, if not exactly imposing.

Margate's reply had one name written all over it: Graham Venn, serene and untroubled, ground out a chanceless century to finish unbeaten on a hundred, ably supported by B. Hayter (29) and D. Lewis (20). Nigel Thirkell bowled beautifully in defeat, miserly with eight maidens on his way to 2-52, and I chipped in with 1-33 with the ball and 15 with the bat for good measure. It wasn't quite enough to halt the Venn juggernaut, and they cantered home on 161/3 with overs to spare, winning by seven wickets.

Small consolations amid the gloom: Paul Brattle's half-century lifts him to 16th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, past Robert Chance, while Nigel's two wickets edge him past Frank Taylor into 13th among the wicket-takers — and he continues to lead our 1975 Midweek wicket charts handsomely. A chastening afternoon, then, but not without its silver linings. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 27 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWLDD

From the captain's chair, Sunday 27 July, and a trip out to The Mote — a ground that has never once let us win the toss, and true to form we found ourselves asked to bowl. No great hardship, as it turned out. The home side ground their way to 174 for 8 off 56.2 overs, built almost entirely around K Emmett's unbeaten 66, with useful support from Mike Foster (24) and P Higgins (22). At the other end it was a rather grimmer story for their openers, J Munn and John Barker sent back without troubling the scorers, while Nigel Thirkell was simply unplayable — five for 56, four of his overs maidens, spinning the afternoon quite away from them. Jon Harris (1-18) and Ron Hickman (1-57) tidied up either side of him.

With 175 needed we set about it with more purpose than usual. Paul Bowles anchored things with a well-made fifty, John Ames finished unbeaten on 42, and Paul Brattle chipped in a brisk 40, the target overhauled for the loss of three wickets inside 41 overs. Bowles's half-century, incidentally, eases him past Frank Brattle into sixth on the club's all-time run list — one for the mantelpiece indeed. Nigel Thirkell, meanwhile, continues to lead both the season's run and wicket charts, with 293 and 49 respectively, and shows no sign of easing off.

Seven wickets, two points, and hardly a nervous moment. A thoroughly satisfying Sunday's work.

Sat 26 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · AwayformDWWLD

Saturday took us to Sibton Park, and losing the toss meant a long afternoon in the field before we'd even unpacked the flasks. Sibton ground out 195/8 from their forty-nine overs, built chiefly on a fine fifty from Ian Guy (59) and fine support from Nick Guy, who nudged past his own half-century with 50, while Eric Impett chipped in a useful 22. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of our attack by some distance, hauling in 4-61 with the sort of relentless line that had B. Gray and G. Keutenius trudging back without troubling the scorers. Phil Hickman (2-26) and Martin Thompson (1-22) offered fine support, and Ron Hickman bowled with such miserly discipline that three maidens emerged from an otherwise generous afternoon.

Chasing 196, we made a fair fist of it without quite getting there, closing on 153/9 from our fifty-four overs. Ken Webb was immaculate for his unbeaten 72, anchoring the innings while wickets fell around him, with good support from Nigel Thirkell (22) and myself, good for 21 — a knock that, I'm reliably informed, nudges me past Paul Brattle into eighteenth on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is either a proud footnote or proof I've simply been playing too long. Les Fell, Peter Elms and Ron Hickman all made the sorrowful walk for nought, swelling the ranks of the Duck Club considerably.

With Thirkell now sitting proudly atop both our 1975 run and wicket charts, honours were shared at Sibton Park: a draw, and on the evidence of the afternoon, a fair one — neither side could quite land the killer blow.

Tue 22 Jul 1975 🧢 Midweek XIv WW West Wirrall · HomeformWWDDD

Bright enough for July, though I'd wager half the village turned out more for the tea than the toss. West Wirrall had first knock and set about building something respectable, with Deeks the chief architect on 37, well supported by Garton's 30 and Bond's 26. Caldow and Gamwell, mind you, will have quieter journeys home, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer. It was Paul Bowles who did the real damage, prising out four for 64 and bowling as tight as a Sunday collection plate with six maidens to his name, while Trevor Back chipped in handsomely with 2-29. I managed a solitary wicket myself for 59 runs — more honest toil than menace, if I'm honest — as they closed on 167 for 8 from their 52.

Our reply never quite found the same rhythm. Robert Chance top-scored with a fine 36, and Phil Hickman was right behind him on 35, but wickets tumbled around them and we stalled on 164 for 9 from 37 overs. Thirteen byes crept past poor Jim Hall behind the stumps — the sort of figure that has a keeper avoiding eye contact at the bar afterwards.

So honours shared, and on the run of play that felt about right. Hickman continues to lead our season's batting with 90 runs, and I'll confess some quiet pride in topping the bowling charts with 8 wickets so far. A draw, then — no losers, no heroes, just cricket as it ought to be played on a Tuesday.

Sun 20 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv SC Sevenoaks Vine CC · HomeformLDWWL

Sunday 20th July found us hosting Sevenoaks Vine on what turned out to be one of those afternoons where honour, rather than victory, was the prize on offer. I lost the toss — again — and duly took up my customary spot in the field while they had first use of a decent-looking wicket. They eased along to 171/6 from their 45 overs, John Odell unbeaten on 36 the chief architect, with Steve Beaumont (35) and Stephen English (24) lending sturdy support. Tony Gauna was our chief tormentor with 2-31 and four miserly maidens thrown in for good measure — and along the way brought up 200 career wickets, a landmark that rather deserved a bigger cheer than it got. Jon Harris (2-33) and Phil Hickman (1-34) chipped in nicely alongside him.

Chasing 172, we never quite got out of second gear, subsiding to 74/8 from our 44 overs. Jon Harris battled to 24 top score, while poor Phil Hickman completed a rather less enviable double, following his bowling figures with a golden duck — the walk of shame indeed. Behind the stumps Jim Hall had an afternoon to forget, 19 byes leaking through like the club roof in March.

So a draw it was, honours shared and nobody much minding either way. Not our finest batting display, but Tony's milestone and some tidy bowling gave us plenty to raise a glass to in the bar afterwards.

Sat 19 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · AwayformWLDWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 19 July 1975. Away to Tilling Steven, and with the sun doing that thing it occasionally does over an English cricket square, I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock. The right call, I felt at the time, and nothing that followed changed my mind.

We laboured to 123/9 from our 43 overs, which on a scorecard looks modest and, in truth, batted about as modest as it reads. Tim Thirkell anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 28, well supported by Robert Chance's 25 and Jim Hall's 22. As for the captain's own contribution — I shan't dwell on it, save to say the duck I made will not trouble the highlights reel, and I walked back with my dignity very much left in the pavilion.

Defending 123 was always going to ask questions of us, and Tilling Steven answered rather too fluently, cruising to 125/3 in 34.2 overs. Seager's unbeaten 48 and Woodcock's unbeaten 30 did the damage, with Dilip's 25 easing the platform. We weren't without our moments — Nigel Thirkell bowled beautifully for 2-26, Martin Thompson chipped in with 1-52, and Brian Fuller was positively miserly with three maidens — but it wasn't enough.

There was, at least, a silver lining amid the wreckage: Paul Brattle's 16 runs saw him leapfrog Mike Iliffe into 18th on the club's all-time run charts, a nice bit of history to bank on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Down by seven wickets, then — not our day. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Wed 16 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDWLDW

Wednesday 16 July, and off we trundled to Hollingbourne with the sun out and, for once, my calling arm in decent order — I won the toss and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first.

Nigel made hay with a superb unbeaten 82, the kind of innings that makes captaincy look easy, and found willing company from Paul Bowles with 27. I chipped in with 25 of my own down the order, more grit than grace, while Phil Hickman and Colin Dicker both fell for ducks — the sort of contribution best glossed over quickly in the tea interval. All told, 177/6 from our sixteen overs looked a handsome total on a ground not overly generous to batsmen.

Defending it, Ian Hammond gave Hollingbourne some early hope with a battling 31, but it was to be our afternoon. Colin Pack and J Dewey both departed without scoring, and the wickets tumbled steadily around them. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4-39, with Brian Piper (3-10) and Paul Bowles (2-25) squeezing the innings from both ends until there was precious little air left in it — 96/9 at the close.

A margin of 81 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work all round. Nigel continues to lead our run charts for the summer, Paul's wickets keep quietly mounting, and I shall allow myself a small, entirely undeserved smile on the drive home. A good day for the club, and no mistake.

Sun 13 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv SC Sennocke CC · HomeformLDWLD

Sunday 13th July, and Sennocke came to Linton Park with the sun out and, worse for us, the toss in their pocket. They elected to bat, which on paper looked sensible and in practice looked increasingly optimistic as the innings wore on. Paul Bowles was in inspired form, finishing with 4-20, while Ron Hickman chipped in with 2-8 and Nigel Thirkell bowled with the kind of miserly discipline that suggests he'd rather die than concede a boundary — 2-20 and seven maidens to show for it. D Cheeseman battled hard for his 35, but the rest of the order came and went with little to trouble our scorers, D- Stovell departing without so much as a whisper on the board. All out for 94 in 50.3 overs — a fine morning's work.

Chasing it down should have been the easy part, and in truth it rather was. Brian Piper played the innings of the day, 56 full of the sort of confidence I can only admire from the non-striker's end, with Cliff Anscombe's 27 giving him fine company. I'll confess to playing my own small part in getting us home. We reached 95/4 in 37.4 overs for a comfortable six-wicket win — though poor Jim Hall, having conceded 17 byes, may want a quiet word with our gloveman before next weekend.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket. Onwards.

Sat 12 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · AwayformLLDWL

Saturday the twelfth of July found us on the road to Old Anchorians, and the coin, as ever, did what the coin does when I'm the one calling it — landed the wrong way up, and we were put into the field. Barratt gave us a proper working-over with 48, well backed by Jones (30) and Chapman (27), and by the time they declared their innings closed at 176/8 off 43.4 overs my bowling arm was starting to file a grievance. Ron Hickman was the man of the morning, 3-33 with five miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, and got fine support from Nigel Thirkell (2-26) and Phil Hickman (2-55) — between the three of them they kept the Old Anchorians' ambitions on a fairly tight leash.

We came out chasing 177 and made a decent fist of it without quite landing the blow. Phil Hickman top-scored with a busy 38, Basil Sears and Nigel Thirkell both chipped in with 23 apiece, and I contributed a watchful 12 of my own, closing on 144/8 from our 44 overs — short of the target, but not for want of trying.

There was a nice footnote to the day: my 12 runs were enough to nudge me past Paul Brattle into 18th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Ron Hickman's three wickets shuffled him past Frank Taylor into 12th among the wicket-takers — small personal landmarks on an afternoon that, in the end, honours were shared and nobody quite had the legs to force a result. A draw, then — the great English compromise, and frankly, given the state of my knees by the 44th over, I'll take it.

Tue 08 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDLLDW

Lost the toss on a Tuesday that promised more than it delivered, and West Farleigh CC had us in the field first. Little did they know what was coming. Simon Day threatened to make a proper afternoon of it with a well-made 22, Micky Back chipping in with 21, but around them their innings simply fell apart — Fermor, Cooper and Peter J Day all trooping back for ducks, and West Farleigh were shot out for 71 in just 15.2 overs. I'll allow myself one boast and no more: 4-17 was as sweet an afternoon's bowling as I've had in a while, and I wasn't short of company, with Paul Bowles a whirlwind at 3-4 and Brian Fuller tidying up with 2-9.

Seventy-two to win, then, and you'd have thought we'd stroll it. We did not stroll it. Jim Hall, John Thirkell and Ron Hickman all joined cricket's least exclusive club with ducks of their own, and the whole innings folded for 37 in 11.1 overs — batting that would have embarrassed a village fete sideshow. Beaten by 34 runs, and entirely our own doing.

Brian Fuller continues to lead the season's wicket-takers with 40 to his name, which is rather more consolation than the rest of us deserve. A game of two very different halves — bowled like champions, batted like it was raining. We'll be better for it next week. We'll have to be.

Sun 06 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformWDLLD

Not out for a superb ton — the paperwork can wait. Half-past ten on a Sunday and I won the toss at Aylesford Paper Mills and, without much soul-searching, stuck us in. It felt right at the time, and by the close it looked positively inspired.

Paul Brattle made sure of that. He simply refused to get out, compiling a magnificent 117 not out, and with Nigel Thirkell chipping in a fine 38, we posted 200 for 3 off our 38 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it. Fitting, too, that Paul's century carried him past Mike Iliffe and up to 18th on the club's all-time run-scorers list; he now sits second in this season's 1st XI charts with 209 to his name. The old boy can still play a bit.

With the ball, Jon Harris turned in the sort of spell you write home about — 5 for 28, five maidens, utterly unplayable, and now the leading wicket-taker in the 1975 charts with 39. Nigel and I mopped up a couple apiece (2-13 and 2-22, since you're asking — and yes, I did also manage 19 with the bat, so it was a tidy all-round afternoon for the Thirkell household), while poor Rowlands departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers. Aylesford were bowled out for 101.

A 99-run victory, then, and a very good day for the club — Paper Mills left with rather more paper than runs.

Sat 05 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv MV Medway Valley · HomeformLWDLL

Saturday, 5th July, and Medway Valley rolled up to Linton Park under skies kind enough for cricket, if not quite kind enough for us.

Losing the toss and being sent out to bowl first is never how you'd script it, but the lads set about their work with proper application. Medway Valley ground their way to 150 for 7 off 53 overs, with R Pettitt playing the anchor role to perfection for a well-made 51, and Nichols chipping in with 31 alongside him. Weir, mercifully, didn't trouble the scorers, departing for a duck. The real story with ball in hand was Nigel Thirkell, relentless and miserly in equal measure — 3 for 58, with seven maidens that must have tested the patience of every batsman he faced. Brian Fuller and Jon Harris picked up a wicket apiece to keep the pressure on.

Chasing 151, we never quite got the wheels turning. Jim Hall's 21 was the innings' backbone, well supported by Mike Iliffe's unbeaten 21, but wickets tumbled at the other end — Thirkell and Harris both departing without troubling the scorers themselves, a case of the bowlers giving generously what they'd taken so tightly with the ball. We closed on 78 for 9 off 41 overs, well short but not disgraced.

A draw, then — honours shared, as neither side could force the issue. I'll happily take a share of the spoils on a day when 151 always looked a stretch, and can report my own contribution kept me atop the season's run charts, for what that's worth on an afternoon we simply ran out of overs and wickets together.

Thu 03 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLLWDL

From the captain's chair — Thursday 03 July 1975. We were away at The Mote CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I elected to bat, a decision I still stand by even now, sat here with the benefit of hindsight and a cup of tea. What followed, alas, was not the innings I had pictured on the drive over. Sixteen overs brought us just 47 for 6, the sort of total that has a captain studying his shoelaces rather rather more closely than usual.

Still, cricket being cricket, we dusted ourselves down and turned to the defending of it, ever hopeful that something might be conjured from the boot with ball in hand. Tony Gauna did his level best, picking up 1 for 11 and continuing a fine season that now sees him fourth in the 1975 wicket charts with 18 to his name. But The Mote's P. Higgins had other ideas, farming the strike beautifully for an unbeaten 28, and their innings closed at 48 for 1 off just ten overs — a canter, frankly, rather than a chase.

Nine wickets down, and precious little argument to make otherwise. Phil Hickman, third in our run charts with 170 for the season, will no doubt want more of a say next time out, as will we all. Not our day, then. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets — there's work to be done before we're fit to call ourselves Linton Park again.

Wed 02 Jul 1975 🧢 Midweek XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformDWWDD

Wednesday 2 July 1975, and Dummy Site welcomed us for a home fixture that had a bit of everything except, alas, a result.

Winning the toss and electing to bat felt like the obvious call at the time, and I'll stand by it despite what followed. Trevor Back led the way with a fine 47, well supported by Mick Brown's 44, but 159 all out from 39.4 overs suggested a middle order rather too keen to get home for tea — not helped by John Inkpen and Tim Thirkell both departing for ducks. Still, a defendable total, we thought.

So it proved, up to a point. B. Hinks played the innings of the day, 73 well beyond his fifty, ably assisted by T Smith's 35 and Nicholls' 20, while at the other end T Leach joined our openers in the ranks of the undisturbed scorers. Trevor Back was the pick of the attack yet again — 1-22 with two miserly maidens thrown in — and found good company in Mick Brown (1-25) and John Inkpen (1-28), the three of them doing for the ball what they'd earlier done with the bat.

In the end they reached 156-4 from 41 overs, agonisingly short, and honours were shared. Trevor Back continues to lead our run charts and sits fourth among the wicket-takers — the form man of the season, no question. A draw, then: fair reflection of two sides giving as good as they got, and nobody quite good enough to finish the job.

Tue 01 Jul 1975 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · HomeformWLLWD

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 1st July 1975, Hunton Wanderers CC the visitors, and I shall spare you the suspense: it was not our finest hour.

Sent in, we huffed and puffed our way to 77/8 from our sixteen overs, a total that flattered to deceive from the moment the shine came off the ball. Robert Chance stood rather alone with a battling 22, doing the lion's share against a card otherwise littered with regret — Phil Hickman and Ian Brattle both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer, ducks that will no doubt follow them round the clubhouse for weeks to come. Seventy-seven felt light before we'd even taken the field again, and so it proved.

Hunton strolled to 78/3 with an over to spare, J Brook unbeaten on 32 and J Chaney chipping in with 27 as our attack huffed valiantly but without the ammunition to make a game of it. Brian Fuller was again the shining light with the ball, 2 for 17 his reward for the only real discipline on show — and with 37 wickets to his name this season he continues to lead our charts by some distance, while John Ames's 225 runs keep him top of the pile with the bat, small consolation on a chastening evening.

Seven wickets the margin, and no arguments from this corner. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there is plainly work to do.

Sun 29 Jun 1975 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWLLW

Not our day, Shipbourne getting the better of us in the end – but there was plenty in it to be cheerful about.

Losing the toss and being put in the field first is never how you'd choose to spend a Sunday, but the lads stuck to their task well enough. Shipbourne compiled a stiff 178 for 8 off their forty overs, David Mills doing most of the damage with a fine 44, well supported by Peter Phillips (33) and J. Sly (24). We did send poor a. Oliver back for a golden duck, so it wasn't all one-way traffic. With the ball, Tony Gauna was in inspired form, bowling us right back into it with 4 for 28, and I chipped in with a couple myself, finishing with 2 for 35, while Ron Hickman kept things tight for 1 for 39.

Chasing 179 was always going to ask serious questions of our top order, and 123 all out in 37.5 overs tells its own tale. Paul Bowles battled hard for 31, and Cliff Anscombe made a useful 24, but wickets fell around them and we never quite got the platform we needed. Tony Gauna, so heroic with the ball, endured a rare blot on the card with a duck.

There was a silver lining, mind — my two wickets nudged me past George Champion into 15th on the club's all-time list, which is the sort of thing that keeps an ageing bowler going. Bowles leads our Sunday run charts and Gauna our wicket charts this season, so the engine room is working even if the scoreboard wasn't kind. Down by 55 runs — heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sat 28 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv TS Tilling Steven · HomeformLWLLW

Tilling Steven rolled up on a fine Saturday, won the toss, and sent us out into the field first — not quite how I'd hoped to start the afternoon, but there we are. They batted with real purpose, running up 223 for 6 from their 44 overs, Woodcock the chief tormentor with a fine 83, Seager unbeaten on 58 and Dilip weighing in with 56 of his own. Small mercies: Parkinson departed for a duck, and Nigel Thirkell toiled manfully for 2 for 87, with Brian Fuller (1 for 26, two tidy maidens) and Ian Brattle (1 for 38) keeping things honest at the other end.

Chasing 224 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved — we closed on 152 for 7 from our 44, never quite finding the urgency the target demanded. Paul Brattle top-scored with 31, Les Fell finished not out on 28 and Martin Mears chipped in with 27; I added 27 of my own down the order, though Phil Hickman and Nigel Thirkell both fell for ducks. Poor Hickman had a torrid time behind the stumps too, shipping nine byes for good measure.

There was one shaft of sunshine amid the toil: Nigel Thirkell's brace took him past 200 career wickets and beyond Alan Tucker into 16th on the club's all-time list — a landmark worth raising a glass to. I sit second in this year's run charts with 184, while Brian Fuller leads the wicket-takers on 35.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on the day's evidence, fairly so. Neither side could land the killer blow, and we'll happily take that.

Wed 25 Jun 1975 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDDWWD

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 25 June 1975. It was Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC at home, and the coin let us down as usual; they chose to bat, leaving us to toil away with the ball on what turned out to be a decent surface. They closed on 134 all out from a full 51.1 overs, Peter Day the chief nuisance with 39, well backed by M. Gregory's 23, while R. Ogley and J. Malpas came and went for nought. The story of the innings, though, belonged to my brother Nigel — 6 for 41, seven maidens included, not a run given away without a fight, and every bit deserved. Jon Harris and Trevor Back mopped up the rest between them, and Jon can add a rather handsome milestone to his afternoon: 300 career wickets.

Chasing 135, we never quite found our stride, subsiding to 115 for 8 from our 36 overs. I managed 37 to hold things together, with Phil Hickman a sound ally for 24, though poor Jim Hall's golden duck rather summed up our luck with the bat that day.

So a draw it was — honours shared, nobody quite deserving to lose, and certainly nobody deserving to win. With Phil topping our early run charts and Jon leading the wickets, the season's shaping up nicely even if my top order could do with rediscovering its nerve. A fair result, all told, and a fine one for the tea urn.

Tue 24 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · HomeformWLWLL

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 24th June 1975. Leybourne CC at home, and having won the toss I stuck us in to bat first — the right call, I felt, though 76 all out from 16 overs wasn't quite the platform I'd envisaged. I chipped in with 34, which at least kept the scorebook respectable, while poor Ian Brattle made his way back for nought — the Duck Club ledger doing brisk trade this week.

Seventy-six looked a modest total to defend, and for a while it felt like whistling in the wind. But cricket has a wonderful way of rewarding application over arithmetic. Leybourne never quite settled, losing J- Combes, a- Booth and David Edmonds without a run to their names, and though H- Carrington battled to 20, there was no partner able to stay with him. Nigel Thirkell was quite magnificent, ripping through with 4-21, and I found some rhythm of my own with the ball to finish 3-20, with Ron Hickman chipping in for 1-24 to squeeze the last of the air out of their innings.

Seventy-one all out was the final reckoning — a win by five runs, the tightest of margins but a famous one all the same. Worth noting too that Nigel's four-for nudges him past Tony Gauna into 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, while Jon Harris and Nigel himself continue to sit third in this season's run and wicket charts respectively. A scrappy, nerve-jangling affair, but a win is a win, and we'll take it gladly. Onwards.

Sun 22 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformLWLWL

Sunday 22 June, the sun making a rare guest appearance, and I won the toss against Dimanchians CC and elected to bat first — a decision I stand by, even if the scorebook tells a more painful story than the sky did.

We were bowled out for 55 in 26.1 overs, which is the sort of total that makes the tea urn feel like the highlight of the afternoon. Tim Thirkell, Colin Dicker and Ian Brattle all completed the full set of ducks between them, a hat-trick of golden walks back to the pavilion that no captain wants to witness twice, let alone three times. I chipped in with a spell of my own with the ball later on, for whatever comfort that offered.

Defending 55 was always going to be backs-to-the-wall stuff, and so it proved, though not without pride. Nigel Thirkell was superb, picking up 2 for 20, while Tony Gauna bowled two tidy maidens and gave the batters nothing for their money. We even had R Barret back in the hutch without a run to his name. But Gregor Hiscock, unbeaten on 38, calmly shepherded Dimanchians home to 59 for 2 in 17.2 overs, and six wickets in hand told its own story.

Beaten, then, but not disgraced — the bowling had real teeth even if the batting didn't. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word with the top order, and come back stronger next week.

Sat 21 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · HomeformWLWLW

John Thirkell here, and I'll confess I felt the shiver of dread the moment Hythe's captain called correctly and sent us out to field on what looked a decent batting track. Wraight had other ideas about our afternoon, mind you, compiling a really rather magnificent 118 while Ralph Carter played the perfect foil with 64, and between them they hauled Hythe to a formidable 209/7 off their 39.2 overs. We did claw back some pride with the ball — I managed 4-65 to lead things from the front, Brian Fuller chipped in with a tidy 3-76 including two maidens, and we had Best and Chappell back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, which at least gave the tea interval a bit of cheer.

Chasing 210 was always going to ask serious questions of our batting, and we simply didn't have enough answers. Mike Iliffe's 23 was as good as it got, I added a workmanlike 19, and poor Colin Dicker made his way back for nought. All out for 101 in 33.3 overs told its own story, and Hythe left Linton Park 108 runs to the good.

There was, though, a proper silver lining to an otherwise grim scorecard: Jim Hall brought up his 100th appearance in the club colours, a landmark few of us will ever reach, and warmly deserved applause all round. Fuller's three wickets also nudged him past Michael Morton into 19th on the all-time list — the sort of quiet milestone that makes a heavy defeat easier to swallow. Not our day by any means, but plenty to build on. Heads up, back to the nets.

Tue 17 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv W Whitbreads · HomeformWWLWL

Tuesday 17 June saw us welcome Dummy Site, and for once I called correctly and stuck us in without a moment's hesitation — a decision I was quietly rather pleased with by the close.

We posted 94/7 from our sixteen overs, a total that felt distinctly wobbly on paper but proved stickier than expected. Jon Harris played the anchor beautifully for his 46, with Jim Hall chipping in a tidy 21 alongside him — the sort of partnership that turns a fragile total into a defendable one. It didn't look much walking off, but cricket has a way of humbling those who judge a book by its cover.

And so it proved. The opposition replied with 88/8, P. Punyer battling to 28 before Ron Hickman went through them like a hot knife, finishing with 3-16 and leaving G. Marsh and N. Cox to trudge off without so much as a run to their names. Brian Fuller offered fine support with 3-34, Tony Gauna weighed in with 1-33, and six runs was all that separated triumph from tea-and-sympathy.

Off the field, plenty to raise a glass to: Jim Hall brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark few of us will ever reach, while Brian Fuller's three scalps nudged him past Allan Cooper into 20th on the all-time wicket-takers' list. Jon Harris sits third in this year's run charts, Fuller second among the bowlers.

A tight, nervy, thoroughly earned two points. We'll take it, and gladly.

Sun 15 Jun 1975 🧢 Sunday NVKCv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWWLL

John Thirkell here, and I'll admit I made the toss decision look far easier than it felt — but with the sun out and West Farleigh in town, batting first was never really in doubt.

We posted 128/9 off our forty, a total that owed almost everything to Paul Bowles, whose well-crafted 57 dragged us to something defendable while the rest of us pottered about in support. Not our most fluent innings, but runs on the board are runs on the board, and there's a certain dogged charm in grinding out a total that looks better on the scoreboard than it felt in the middle.

In the field, though, we were a different side altogether. Tony Gauna was the chief tormentor with 3-20, backed superbly by Paul Bowles — not content with his runs, he added 3-25 and two miserly maidens for good measure — while Ron Hickman chipped in with 2-25. Brian Piper's defiant 26 and Peter Cooper's watchful 22 gave West Farleigh some hope, but with Fermor and Marks failing to trouble the scorers, the innings folded for 97 in 35.5 overs. I contributed 18 runs myself along the way, which I'm rather chuffed to say nudged me past Fred Greenfield into 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list.

There was extra reason to raise a glass afterwards: Paul Bowles brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly earned on a day he seemed determined to do everything himself.

A 31-run victory, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Verdict: professional, occasionally scratchy, but unmistakably a job well done.

Sat 14 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformWWWLW

Not our day at Maidstone, but there was plenty to be proud of in a match that had us right in the thick of it until the very last wicket fell.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — and I still think it was the right call, even if 115 all out from 35.2 overs wasn't quite the platform we'd hoped for. Alan Cradduck top-scored with a fine 28, and Stan Wratten chipped in nicely with 21, but wickets fell steadily enough that we always felt a few runs light of a comfortable total.

With the ball, though, we made a proper fist of it. Maidstone crawled to 116 for 9 off their full 42 overs, and for long stretches it looked very much our game. Brian Fuller was simply magnificent — 6 for 33, with six maidens thrown in for good measure, a five-for and then some, thoroughly deserved and a spell the lads will be talking about in the bar for weeks. Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2 for 20, and I managed a wicket myself for 40 runs, while poor John Golding departed without troubling the scorers. Eight byes off Phil Hickman's pads told their own story of a tricky day behind the stumps.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Brian's six-wicket haul nudges him past Ray Howard and up to 20th on the club's all-time list — one for the mantelpiece if ever there was one.

In the end, though, we fell agonisingly short, beaten by a single wicket. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets — this one will sting for a while yet, but it's the kind of defeat that speaks well of the fight still in this side.

Thu 12 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv EC East Farleigh CC · HomeformWWWWL

As a Thursday night in mid-June, I'll take that.

The coin did us a favour and I had no hesitation sticking us in. Sixteen overs later we'd posted a healthy 117 for 7, with Nigel Thirkell playing the innings of the evening for 38, well backed up by Jon Harris with 22 and Phil Hickman with 21. Not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but on a ground where boundaries have to be earned rather than given, it felt like a defendable one.

And so it proved. East Farleigh chipped away gamely, with Mike Sendles unbeaten on 33 doing most of the damage, but our attack kept just enough pressure on to squeeze the innings. Brian Fuller was the pick of the bowlers, finding 2 for 12 with the kind of accuracy that makes captaincy easy, while Nigel Thirkell and Ron Hickman chipped in with a wicket apiece. I managed a small hand with bat in the middle order, which I'll happily let the scorebook speak for rather than dwell on here. They closed on 75 for 4, well short of the target.

A 42-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. With Brian now second in the wicket charts and yours truly leading the run charts for the summer, the season is shaping up nicely. A good day for the club, and a good night for the tea urn.

Sun 08 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformLWWWW

Sunday the 8th of June found us welcoming Sheldwich CC, and my toss-losing habits saw us out in the field first, which on a warm afternoon has its charms if not its rewards. They ground out 155 for 9 from their 53 overs, Brian Newman doing the real damage with 41, well supported by F. Scott's 24 and P. Juniper's 21. Tony Gauna was magnificent, 4 for 40 with six maidens tucked in for good measure — not a run given away lightly, as they say — and Jon Harris (2-42) and Paul Bowles (2-46) chipped in handsomely alongside him.

Chasing 155 was always going to want application, and we found rather less of it than the situation demanded, bundled out for 103 in 33 overs. Tim Thirkell held things together with a fighting 31, Les Fell weighing in with 25, but the rest of us rather queued up for the walk of shame — Mike Iliffe and Tony Gauna both back in the pavilion for ducks. Poor Benny Bell had a torrid time of it behind the stumps too, nine byes slipping past him.

There was still cause for a raised glass: Mike Iliffe brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a proper landmark, and I note I'm still clinging to third in the season's run charts with 110, while Jon Harris leads the wicket-takers with 31. Beaten by 52 runs in the end — chastening, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 07 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLLWWW

Saturday 07 June saw us play host to Rumwood CC, and the toss — which I duly lost — handed them first use of a decent-looking track. Openers rubbing their hands, I feared the worst, but the lads dug in gamely. Rumwood ground their way to 171/8 from 51 overs, B Aiston the chief architect with a polished 71, well supported by S Simmonds' unbeaten 38. Honours, though, belonged to Jon Harris, whose relentless 5-86 off a miserly eight maidens was a five-for thoroughly earned, with Phil Hickman (2-34) and Brian Fuller (1-32) chipping in and P Macbean dispatched for a golden duck. Fittingly, those wickets also nudged Jon past Terry Donovan into 8th on the club's all-time list — a quiet bit of history amid the toil.

Chasing 172, I was pleased to lead from the front with a well-made 51, and found good company in Jim Hall's brisk 32 and Basil Sears' unbeaten 27, as we crept home to 174/6 with three overs and a few nervous chews of grass to spare. It wasn't pretty in patches — few run chases against Rumwood ever are — but it was four wickets to the good by the close, and that's all that goes in the book.

All told, a thoroughly satisfying afternoon: Jon Harris in irresistible form with bat-troubling accuracy, and enough runs from the top order to get us over the line. A good day for the club, and one to file happily in the 1975 scrapbook.

Wed 04 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv CC Corinthians CC · AwayformLLLWW

Won the toss on a fine Wednesday jaunt to Corinthians, and there was never much debate in my head about what to do with it — batting first, always, when the sun's out and the tea urn's already on. We didn't exactly cut loose, mind: 105 for 4 off our sixteen overs was more accumulation than assault, built patiently by John Ames, who top-scored with a watchful 33, and finished off nicely by Phil Hickman's unbeaten 24. I chipped in with 22 myself, more by luck than craft, poking a few through gaps that weren't strictly there.

Defending 105 in a sixteen-over dash always feels precarious, but the bowlers made it look almost comfortable. Brian Fuller was magnificent, ripping through with 4 for 20, while Tony Gauna bowled with real discipline, 2 for 8 including two maidens, and Ron Hickman weighed in with 2 for 26. K Spiken and P Turnbull both departed without troubling the scorers, and the opposition never got close, limping to 59 for 8.

A quiet word for the record books too — Tony Gauna's brace nudged him past Nigel Thirkell to 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of thing that means rather a lot over a pint. John Ames continues to lead our 1975 run charts with 148, and Brian Fuller sits second among the wicket-takers with 19.

A comfortable 46-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Tue 03 Jun 1975 🧢 Midweek XIv MP Maidstone Police · HomeformWDDWW

Tuesday the third of June saw Maidstone Police visit Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I shall go to my grave insisting so. The lads set about their work with real purpose, racing to 28 without loss in just 4.3 overs, the sort of brisk, blameless start that has you strolling to the boundary rope rather pleased with yourself before the tea urn's even properly hot.

Turning to defend that total, we set the police force a puzzle they never quite cracked — all out, though quite what for has gone missing somewhere between the middle order and the scorebook, a fitting little mystery for men whose day job is solving them. Whatever the truth of it, neither side could force home the advantage, and honours were shared down at Linton Park.

Worth noting, entirely without prompting, that I currently lead our 1975 Midweek XI run charts with 31 to my name — a fact I intend to mention at every opportunity before somebody has the cheek to overtake me.

A draw, then, but an honest one: quick runs, tight bowling, and Maidstone Police sent home no wiser than they arrived. On a Tuesday evening in June, I'll happily take that.

Sun 01 Jun 1975 🧢 1st XIv ME Medway Electricity · HomeformWLLLW

Sunday last saw Medway Electricity roll up at Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't think twice about batting first — a decision that looked, for a good while, like a genuine misjudgement. Seventy-eight for nine from our fifty-six overs was scratchy stuff, redeemed largely by Paul Brattle's watchful 31, while poor Tim Thirkell and Alan Cradduck both trudged back for ducks, joining the club's least wanted list. Not a total to frighten anyone, and I said as much to the lads over the tea urn.

Happily, cricket has a habit of making fools of captains who despair too early. Our attack simply strangled the visitors, who were bowled out for 58 in 35.2 overs — G. Brown and D. Masters both departing without troubling the scorers. Tony Gauna was magnificent, a thoroughly deserved 5-23, and I had the great pleasure of chipping in myself with 4-26 from eight maidens, which is about as mean as I've bowled all season.

Elsewhere in the year's ledger, Jim Hall continues his steady climb up the run charts, now fourth with 68, while I find myself, somewhat improbably, top of the wicket-takers with 24. A win by 20 runs, then, snatched from what looked a modest total — proof, if any were needed, that low scores and short memories often go hand in hand. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sat 31 May 1975 🧢 1st XIv DC Davington Priory CC · HomeformWWLLL

Saturday 31 May 1975, and Davington Priory CC came calling at Linton Park. I won the toss and, with the sun out and the square looking true, there was never much doubt in my mind — we batted.

It proved the right call. John Ames played beautifully for a fine 69, the innings' backbone by some distance, with Phil Hickman ticking along unbeaten on 31 and I chipped in with 27 down the order as we posted a healthy 149 for 5 from our 38 overs. Tea was taken in good spirits, and I fancied we had enough on the board to make life uncomfortable for the visitors.

So it proved. Jon Harris span a web round the Davington batsmen that few of them found any answer to, finishing with a magnificent 5 for 37, while Brian Fuller bowled with wonderful control at the other end — 4 for 24 including six maidens, not a run given away lightly. Peter White's 28 was the only real resistance; Ken Hammond and John Larner both departed without troubling the scorers, and the innings folded for 64 in 33.5 overs.

An 85-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. John Ames continues to lead our run charts this season and Jon Harris the wickets, and on this evidence both look set to stay there for a while yet. Onwards to the next one.

Tue 27 May 1975 🧢 Midweek XIv NC Newport Fugitives CC · HomeformWWDDW

As it stands, we won the toss and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I still stand by, whatever chaos followed. Phil Hickman led the way with a tidy 29, Paul Brattle chipped in a handy 27, and Trevor Back saw us home unbeaten on 26 as we posted 157 for 7 off our 47. I contributed rather less to proceedings, shuffling out for a duck — the sort of dismissal one prefers to discuss over a pint rather than in print, but honesty is the reporter's burden.

If the bat let me down, the ball made handsome amends. Newport Fugitives were bowled out for a modest 73 in 36 overs, T. Elwell's 29 the only real resistance while J. Davis, Norman Drewett and J. Went all trooped off for ducks of their own — the web spreading nicely. Jon Harris was quite magnificent, a five-for costing just 10 runs and six overs sent down for nothing at all, with Paul Bowles (3-26) and Tony Gauna (1-11) mopping up admirably. Phil Hickman had a busier afternoon behind the stumps than in front of them, 12 byes going astray.

As for the skipper — bat first, lead by example, they say. I managed the leading part, if not the example. Still, a golden blob is soon forgotten when the side wins by 84 runs. Two points banked, Jon Harris now tops our wicket charts, Phil Hickman our run charts, and I retreat to the pavilion satisfied that, on this occasion at least, my captaincy spoke louder than my batting.

Mon 26 May 1975 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLWWLL

I lost the toss, we were put in to field, and I can't say I was disappointed — a fresh pitch on a Monday afternoon and Bearsted CC given first use of the willow instead of us. It didn't take long to justify the decision either, with an early wicket at 8-1 giving us hope, though Colin Fleetwood had other ideas and ground out a fine 76, well backed by Julian Bond's 23, to drag them to 135 all out. Credit where it's due — from 122-7 to 135-10 we finished the job smartly, with Jon Harris the pick of the attack by some distance, a superb 5-58, and Nigel Thirkell metronomic in support with 1-17 and nine — nine! — maidens. Tony Gauna chipped in with 1-22, and Duncan Andrews and C. Britcher both departed for ducks, so on paper 135 looked eminently gettable.

Paper, as ever, proved a poor substitute for practice. We stumbled early at 1-1 and never quite found our rhythm, though I was pleased enough with my own 31, and Phil Hickman gave fine support with 20. But from 62-5 to 68-8 the innings simply imploded, ducks for Jim Hall, Martin Mears and Ian Brattle painting a grim final line, and we were bowled out for 68 in 34.4 overs.

A chastening defeat by 67 runs, no way to dress it up. Harris and Hickman keep flying the flag at the top of this season's charts, but the rest of us have some soul-searching to do. Back to the nets it is.

Sun 25 May 1975 🧢 1st XIv Lordswood CC · HomeformDLWWL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 25 May 1975. Lordswood CC the visitors, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock. Whether that was wisdom or vanity, I'll let the scorebook decide.

Ninety-one all out in 36.4 overs is not the stuff of legend, and it pains me to record that Jon Harris and Paul Croucher both walked back for ducks, contributing nothing but company to one another's misery. A modest total, then, and one that left us needing something rather special with the ball to have any say in proceedings.

And special it was. Jon Harris, having done his penance with the bat, turned executioner with the leather, running through Lordswood for a staggering 7-24 — the sort of spell that has the tea urn talking for weeks. Nigel Thirkell held up his end beautifully too, 1-30 from four maidens, miserly as ever and now sitting proudly atop our 1975 wicket charts with 13 to his name. Colin Gardener's 33 and P. Treadwell's 22 kept Lordswood afloat, but three more of their number — Barber, Marsh and Sewell — joined our own duck club before the day was out. They crawled to 92/9 off 41 overs, and pipped us by the cruellest of margins: one solitary wicket.

Not our day, then, but not without honour either. Heads up, lads — back to the nets, and let's make sure the bat catches up with the ball.

Sat 24 May 1975 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformWDLWW

John Ames here, filing the skipper's log after Saturday's tussle with Maidstone Ymca CC.

Lost the toss, lost first use of the willow, and watched Maidstone settle in for what threatened to be a long afternoon — though in the end they only stretched to 97 all out in 39.3 overs, John Golding's unbeaten 43 the lone bright spark for the visitors. Full credit to Nigel Thirkell, who bowled like a man possessed: 6 for 26, nine of his overs maidens, figures that don't so much invite comparison as demand a moment's silence. Brian Fuller chipped in nicely with 2 for 4 and Jon Harris picked up one, while Dave Goodyer, Butler and Geoff Dearing all trooped back without so much as a nudge to leg.

Ninety-eight to win, then, and we somehow contrived to make a hash of it, bowled out for 78 in 36 overs. Benny Bell, Brian Fuller and I all contributed ducks to the scorecard, and I'll own mine fully — a captain ought to lead from the front, and on this occasion I led the retreat, first ball, for a golden blob. Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps too, ten byes going begging, though he leads our season's run charts with 57 and can consider himself forgiven.

One footnote worth raising a glass to: Thirkell's six-for eases him past Tony Gauna into 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and he now leads our 1975 bowling table with 12. Beaten by 19 runs in the end — a match we bowled our way into and batted our way out of. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 12 May 1975 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · AwayformDWDLW

Monday last took us down the road to Leybourne, and for once I can report a happy captain's diary entry. I lost the toss — no change there — and we were put into the field, which on a green May morning suited us rather well. Leybourne never got going: their innings folded for 41/9 off just 14 overs, with only P. Bringer showing any real resistance, unbeaten on 24 while wickets tumbled at the other end. R. Smith, A. Leggett and N. Brockwell will each want to forget their contributions, back-to-the-pavilion ducks all three. The damage was done by Allan Cooper, who ran through them with 4-12, well supported by Tony Gauna's 4-13 — between them they barely left Leybourne standing.

Chasing 42, we made light work of it, cantering home on 43 without loss from just seven overs, Jim Hall doing almost all the heavy lifting with a composed 31 not out. Rather fittingly, that innings brought up 1,000 career runs for the club for Jim — a landmark earned the old-fashioned way, over many a long afternoon, and thoroughly deserved.

There were bonuses in the paperwork too: Allan Cooper's four wickets nudge him past Ray Howard into 20th on the club's all-time list, while Jim now leads our 1975 run charts and Tony sits third among the bowlers. A ten-wicket win, precious little sweat, and plenty to celebrate in the bar. Onwards, indeed.

Sun 11 May 1975 🧢 1st XIv CC Chatham Nomads CC · HomeformDDWDL

Sunday 11 May brought Chatham Nomads CC to Linton Park, and I duly lost the toss, which as ever meant leather before willow for us. It proved no bad thing. The Nomads were shot out for a modest 69 in 31.2 overs, D Barton's 20 the only real resistance, while three of their number trooped off without so much as a run to their name. The afternoon belonged to Nigel Thirkell, whose 6-15 — five wickets and more, five overs maidened into the bargain — was as fine a spell as this ground has seen in a while, with Paul Bowles chipping in admirably at 4-32.

Chasing such a small target ought to be routine, and cricket being cricket, we made it anything but. Cliff Anscombe and Nigel Thirkell both departed for ducks, and for a wobble there the scoreboard looked more nervous than the target deserved. I found some form with an unbeaten 20 to see us home, and we closed on 70 for 5 from 32 overs, winning by five wickets.

A word too for the record books: Nigel's six-for pushes him past Tony Gauna and up to 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, no small feat. He now sits second in this year's 1st XI wicket charts, with Jon Harris leading the run-scoring for now.

A scratchy chase, but three points is three points. A good day for the club, and a very good day for Nigel Thirkell.

Sat 10 May 1975 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDDDWD

Saturday 10 May 1975 saw us on the road to Rumwood, and having called correctly for once, I elected to bat first — a decision I stand by, even if 140 all out from 46.1 overs wasn't quite the statement I'd hoped to make. I chipped in with 41, glad of the support from Phil Hickman's unbeaten 37 and Brian Fuller's 21, while poor Paul Croucher endured the walk of shame for a golden duck. A par score at best, and we knew it.

In the field we scrapped hard but couldn't quite land the blow. B Aiston played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 51 that we simply couldn't dislodge, well backed by P Cooper and K Jones with 22 apiece, as Rumwood eased to 144/6 from 41 overs. I managed 2-29 with the ball, Brian Fuller toiled manfully for 2-79 — five maidens in there for his trouble — and Phil Hickman picked up 1-35. R Cooper at least departed without troubling the scorers, small mercies and all that.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Paul Brattle's 13 runs saw him leapfrog Tony Levick into 19th on the club's all-time run-charts, a landmark worth raising a glass to even in defeat. I lead our 1975 run tally and Brian Fuller tops the wickets, so the engine room is ticking over nicely.

Four wickets the wrong side of the ledger, then. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 26 Apr 1975 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLDDDW

Saturday 26 April 1975 saw us make the trip to West Farleigh, and if this report has a moral it's that I really must start winning more coin tosses. They chose to bat, and we were in the field under grey club-cricket skies for the long haul. Simon Day and Trevor Back put together a stand worth watching, 49 and 33 respectively, and by the time their innings folded at 124 all out from 34 overs it felt like a competitive total. Brian Fuller was magnificent throughout, prising out seven for 65 — a five-for and then some, thoroughly deserved. I chipped in with a couple myself, 2 for 38, while Terry Donovan bowled with real discipline, three maidens and not a run given away lightly. Brian Piper, Mick Marks and Paul Baines all had quiet afternoons with the bat, departing without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 125, we never quite found the fluency to get there but never quite folded either. Cliff Anscombe played the anchor role beautifully for 29, and I was glad to lend support with 29 of my own at the other end. Alan Cradduck and Colin Dicker had less joy, both back in the hutch without scoring. We closed on 116 for 8 from our 46 overs — agonisingly short, but honestly, given the way the innings ebbed and flowed, a fair reflection of the day.

Honours shared, then, and on reflection a draw felt about right — neither side quite had the wit or the luck to force it. Fuller's bowling was the story of the match, and there'll be sandwiches and no little relief in the pavilion tonight.