🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 01 Oct 1978 🧢 1st XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformDWLWW

John Ames had said before the game that he fancied a bat if the toss fell our way, and for once the cricketing gods listened to me rather than him — I called correctly and had no hesitation in padding us up first on a Sunday that felt made for batting. It didn't quite turn into the run-feast the morning promised, but 148 for 9 off our 32 overs was a total built on real substance rather than fireworks. Ames led from the front with a classy 56, and he had sturdy company in Brian Woodcock, who eased past his own half-century to finish on 55 — between them they did the bulk of the damage. Terry Donovan chipped in an unbeaten 34 to see us home to a defendable score, of the sort that asks bowling sides some serious questions.

There was history in the air too. Alan Wilkes turned out for his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that deserves rather more fanfare than a line in the scorebook, and hearty congratulations are due. Mike Iliffe, meanwhile, quietly nudged his way past Robert Chance and into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list with a tidy 21 — the sort of milestone that sneaks up on you mid-innings. Add in Nigel Thirkell sitting third in this season's 1st XI charts on 316 runs, and Martin Mears leading the 2nd XI's with 52, and it's plain the runs are flowing all over the club this year.

In the end neither side could quite force the door open, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the story we'd have written, but with landmarks like Alan's, nobody left Linton Park feeling short-changed.

Sat 30 Sep 1978 🧢 1st XIv Lordswood CC · HomeformDDWLW

Saturday 30 September 1978, and Lordswood CC rolled up as our final visitors of the season. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling has never troubled the record books — and we were put in the field first.

The lads did us proud with the ball. Lordswood ground their way to 142/6 off 49 overs, Colin Gardener the chief architect with a well-made 57, nursed along by v- Corbin's unbeaten 24, the pair adding 69 for the third wicket while the rest of us stood about admiring their application. John Bloomfield was the pick of the attack by some distance — 2 for 23 with four maidens, not a run given away lightly, the sort of spell that makes a captain's job look easy. Trevor Back (2-39) and Paul Bowles (1-21) chipped in nicely too.

Set 143 to win, we made rather light work of it. Tim Thirkell — who now leads our 1978 run charts with 644 for the season, and looks in no mood to be caught — carried the innings with a chanceless 74 not out, while Paul Bowles, clearly not content with just bowling well, added a fine 59 of his own. The pair put on 123 for the third wicket and left the rest of the order to watch from the pavilion with cups of tea.

Home by seven wickets with overs in hand — a thoroughly good day for the club, and not a bad note to end September on.

Wed 27 Sep 1978 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWLDD

As we finished 155/8 after skittling for a draw at The Mote, the last of the light seeming to hold the game shut before either side could force a result — here's the report.

We lost the toss on Wednesday, and The Mote CC, sensibly enough given the way our season's going, chose to bat. It's fair to say we spent the best part of the afternoon in the field, watching John Munn compile a watchful 45, with Malcolm Bristow (31) and Ken Emmett (31 not out) chipping in either side of him as the hosts crawled to 198/5 from their 46.4 overs. Credit where it's due: Jon Harris was in fine, probing form to return 3-59, with Trevor Back (1-38) and Allan Cooper (1-48) doing their bit too — Cooper in particular bowling three tidy maidens, the sort of miserly spell that makes a captain's life easier.

Chasing 199, we made a hash of the start, losing our first wicket for just a solitary run, and things didn't improve a great deal from there — Paul Bowles and Malcolm Pay both departed without troubling the scorers, and I can offer no better account of my own dismissal than to say I too fell for nought, and the less said about that the better. It was left to Brian Piper to drag us back into contention with a really rather lovely half-century, 60 well-made runs, ably assisted by Trevor Back (23) and Allan Cooper, unbeaten on 20, as we closed on 155/8 from our 44 overs. I found some small consolation with the ball myself, picking up three wickets earlier in the day.

So, honours shared: a draw, and on this evidence a fair one, with neither side quite able to land the killer blow.

Sun 24 Sep 1978 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDDDWL

Sunday, 24 September 1978, and Anchorians came to Linton Park with the sun still hanging on for one last innings of summer. I lost the toss — I generally do — and duly found myself leading the lads out into the field rather than putting my pads on and my feet up.

They batted with a certain patience that made the afternoon feel longer than the scorebook suggests, closing on 155 for 5 from their 45.5 overs. G. Tappin and Alan Dixon put together a stand of 90 for the fourth wicket that threatened to bat us clean out of the game, finishing unbeaten on 62 and 58 respectively — the sort of partnership that has opposing captains muttering into their tea. Credit to Tony Gauna, who kept plugging away for 3 for 30, and to Allan Cooper, whose 1 for 30 with two maidens thrown in meant nothing was ever quite as cheap as it looked.

With 156 to chase, we barely broke sweat. Brian Piper batted as though he'd been promised the strike all afternoon, cracking a magnificent unbeaten 85, with Trevor Back (30 not out) and Paul Bowles (22) doing the tidying up around him. Job done in 33.2 overs for the loss of a single wicket.

Two footnotes worth framing: Trevor brought up 1,000 runs for the club, and Brian's innings pushed him past Tony Levick into 24th on our all-time run charts. A thoroughly deserved nine-wicket win, and two points banked without ever really looking in doubt.

Sat 23 Sep 1978 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDDDDW

Saturday 23 September 1978 — West Farleigh CC visited, and lost the toss won us the pleasure of bowling first, which on reflection turned out to be the day's one piece of good fortune.

The visitors set about accumulating with more patience than we'd have liked, reaching 176/9 from their 47 overs. Don Fermor's 54 was the innings' backbone, with Barry Brigden's 44 and Peter Cooper's unbeaten 22 filling in the gaps either side of a promising early wobble — 0-1 at one stage suggested we might have them cheaply, and a 74-run third-wicket stand rather put paid to that notion. Credit to the attack for dragging things back: Colin Pay bowled beautifully for 4-42, John Bloomfield and Martin Thompson chipped in with two and one respectively, and Nigel Thirkell's four maidens were a lesson in miserliness.

Chasing 177, we made a hash of it. Six on the board and already a wicket down set the tone, and what followed between 35-6 and 42-9 can only be described as a collapse of the classic variety — wickets tumbling in a rush that left the scorebook looking rather sorry for itself, John Bloomfield and A Donovan both departing without troubling the scorers. All out for 42 in 36 overs is not a total one dwells on with pride.

Beaten by 134 runs, then, and no arguing with the margin. Elsewhere in the season, Tim Thirkell continues to head the run charts with 570, and Martin Thompson sits a creditable fifth among the wicket-takers with 18 — small consolations on an afternoon when the bat let the ball down badly. We'll regroup, and we'll certainly be better for it next week.

Wed 20 Sep 1978 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDWWLD

We welcomed the visitors to Linton Park on Wednesday 20th September under skies that, for once, behaved themselves. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat — a decision I shall now, with all due modesty, claim full credit for. We raced to 67 before the first breakthrough, and from there Paul Bowles simply took command, compiling a magnificent 110 not out. He found a fine ally in the second-wicket stand of 99, D. Rogers chipping in with 37 and Alan Randall a tidy 31, as we declared ourselves satisfied with 199/4 from our 41 overs.

Defending it proved a stiffer examination of the nerves. An early wobble — 2 for 1 — suggested we might have this wrapped up by tea, but Wright (41 not out) and support from Marsh (27) and King (24) steadied things, with a stubborn sixth-wicket stand of 75 the chief thorn in our side. W. Massie, at least, departed without troubling the scorers. With the ball, Jon Harris was superb, 3-27, backed up by Laurie Turner and Paul Bowles with a wicket apiece, while Alan Wilkes bowled a miserly five maidens. I managed 3 wickets myself, though Bowles's 14 byes behind the stumps rather undid our good work with the gloves.

They closed on 154/6 — honours, and indeed the season's top run-scorer and wicket-taker (both, handily, ours), shared. A draw, then, but an honest one, earned by good cricket on both sides.

Sun 17 Sep 1978 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · HomeformDDDDD

Sunday 17 September 1978, and Mersham Le Hatch came calling on a day that would, eventually, do us proud — though not before I'd lost the toss and watched us condemned to bowl first, which is never how one wishes to start a Sunday.

They huffed and puffed their way to 99 all out from 41.3 overs, Bruce Campbell leading the way with 24 and A Gosling chipping in 22, but the rest offered precious little resistance — P Greig and B Moorhead both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. The architect of the collapse was Allan Cooper, who span a web through their order for a magnificent 5-28, with Jon Harris (2-20, four maidens and not a run given away lightly) and Tony Gauna (2-31) tidying up the remainder in fine support.

Chasing 100, we made rather harder work of it than the target deserved, stumbling to 101/6 from 43.4 overs. Tim Thirkell top-scored with 24, and Malcolm Pay saw us home unbeaten on 20 — calm when it mattered, which is really all a captain can ask.

A word too for Allan Cooper, whose five-for nudged him past Ron Hickman into 13th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a fine bit of history-making on an otherwise nervy afternoon. Tim Thirkell continues to lead our season's run charts with 558, and Jon Harris the wickets with 73.

Four wickets, two points, and a great many grey hairs earned along the way. We'll take it.

Sat 16 Sep 1978 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformLDDDD

Saturday 16 September saw us make the trip to Southborough, and having called correctly, I had no hesitation in putting them in to bowl at us first — a decision that, for once, didn't come back to haunt me over tea.

We laboured a touch to 142/8 from our 45 overs, saved from mediocrity by Tim Thirkell, whose unbeaten 66 was the innings in miniature — patient, watchful, and entirely too good for the rest of us to live up to. Mike Iliffe chipped in with a tidy 23, and the rest of us did our best impression of scaffolding around the great man's effort.

In the field we scrapped hard for our 141/9. Bryan Greenwood (45) and Peter Young (31) put on a stand of 53 for the third wicket that had me checking my watch rather anxiously, but the middle order kindly obliged us by collapsing from 136-6 to 141-9 in short order, Andrew Harry Steptoe departing for a duck to complete the rout. Tony Gauna was superb, 4-53, while Jon Harris bowled with real discipline for 3-45 and six maidens besides. I even managed three for myself with the ball, which I shall be dining out on for weeks. Malcolm Pay, less happily, will want a quiet word with himself after 8 byes went walking.

With Tim now up to 534 runs and Jon Harris to 71 wickets on the season, the engine room continues to purr nicely even when the rest of the chassis rattles. A draw, honours even — not the story book finish, but an afternoon of proper cricket, and nobody went home unhappy.

Sun 10 Sep 1978 🧢 Tour XIv PC Paul CC · AwayformLWWWL

We fell to Paul CC by 8 runs at their place, chasing 159 after being put in.

Sunday 10th September took us out to Paul CC, and it must be said the coin did us no favours — we lost the toss and were sent in to field, which on a fine autumn afternoon felt rather like being asked to mow the neighbour's lawn before your own. Still, the lads set about it with good cheer. Ron Hickman was the pick of the attack, prising out two for 33 and generally making batsmen wish they'd stayed for a second cup of tea, while Paul Bowles and Tony Gauna chipped in with a wicket apiece, Gauna bowling two miserly maidens for good measure. Poor J Bailey departed for a duck at our hands, small mercies. But L Hicks (43) and B Lawry (42) built a platform, Craig Osborne added 35, and Paul CC closed on a stiffish 158 for 6 from their 44.

Chasing 159, we made a fair fist of it. Brian Piper played the innings of the day, a class fifty — 53 well-constructed runs — with Tim Thirkell (41 not out) and Paul Bowles (38) lending sturdy support. Alas, Keith Miller's duck will not trouble the highlights reel. We closed on 150 for 6 from our 45, agonisingly short.

There was cause for a quiet smile amid the gloom: Thirkell brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, Piper's fifty vaulted him past Frank Taylor into 25th on the all-time run list, and Hickman's brace lifted him past Allan Cooper into 13th among the wicket-takers. Bowles and Gauna, meanwhile, continue to lead the Tour XI's run and wicket charts respectively.

Eight runs short, then — not our day, but no disgrace in it either. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 09 Sep 1978 🧢 Tour XIv PC Perranarworthal CC · AwayformWLWWW

Saturday 09 September 1978, away to Perranarworthal, and I lost the toss — never a good omen when the opposition's opener has runs to burn. Put in to bowl, we watched John Hall play a fine hand of 84, with M. Robins (52) and John Hurrell (22) chipping in around him; their third-wicket pair put on a chunky 127 that rather did for us, and 215/5 off their 45 overs left us with a proper mountain. Brian Piper was the pick of the attack with 2-24, Tony Gauna and Jon Harris chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Paul Bowles bowled three miserly maidens for good measure.

Chasing 216, we never quite got going. Paul Bowles again showed the way with 39, Nigel Thirkell supported nicely with 28, but from 96-4 to 104-7 the innings simply came apart at the seams, and three of our number — Keith Miller, Jim Hall and S. Miller — trooped back without troubling the scorers. Your correspondent, batting with rather more hope than technique, also made a duck; the less said about that the better. All out for 139 in the 40th over, beaten by 76 runs.

There was, at least, one shaft of sunshine amid the wreckage: Brian Piper brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly earned and warmly applauded by all. Nigel Thirkell sits second in the Tour XI run charts with 44, and Tony Gauna leads the wicket-takers with four.

A chastening afternoon, then, but not a wasted one. We'll be better for it next week.

Thu 07 Sep 1978 🧢 Tour XIv GC Grampound Road CC · AwayformWWLWW

Skipper's Log — Grampound Road, Thursday 07 September 1978. Lost the toss, got put in the field, and spent the afternoon watching J Hoar cash in with a tidy fifty (56) while C Rosevear (35) and J Warne (31) filled their boots around him. Poor G Johns will want this innings forgotten entirely — back in the hutch without so much as a single to his name. Credit where due though: Tony Gauna ran through them with 3-30, Allan Cooper strangled the scoring with four maidens on his way to 1-12, and Trevor Back weighed in with 1-20. All told, 151/7 from their 45 overs felt, dare I say it, gettable.

And gettable it proved. We wobbled early — 5-1 is never the start a captain wants to explain over tea — but Trevor Angove (49) and Tim Thirkell (38) put together a splendid 92-run stand that did all the heavy lifting and steadied the ship completely. Special mention, if that's the word, for S Miller, whose golden duck will earn him the customary ribbing on the coach home. The extras chipped in a generous 35, which we shall accept without complaint. We got there in 27.4 overs for the loss of five wickets.

A word for Tony Gauna, who with his three scalps has now nudged past Terry Donovan into 9th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — quietly, but not unnoticed. He and Trevor Angove currently top the Tour XI's bowling and batting charts respectively this season.

Five wickets, two points, and thoroughly earned. A proper afternoon's cricket — the sort that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter.

Mon 04 Sep 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv TC Toft CC · HomeformWWWWW

Toft CC were the visitors, and having lost precisely nothing by winning the toss, I stuck us into the field without a second thought — a decision I felt rather clever about at the time. Toft got off to the shakiest of starts, 3-1 down before some of us had finished our tea, but a battling 64-run stand for the second wicket dragged them back into respectability. A-E Stimson (41) and M. Mulholland (36) did the heavy lifting, though the innings rather fell apart at the end, 102-4 collapsing to 115-7 as the floodgates opened. Nigel Thirkell was chief destroyer with 3-38, Trevor Back chipped in with 2-24, and Tony Gauna bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting out his own tea money, 1-16 with three maidens. Toft closed on 130/8 from their forty — competitive on paper, gettable in reality.

And gettable it proved. We wobbled our way to 131/6 in 37.2 overs, saved chiefly by Nigel Thirkell, who having done the damage with the ball then did the damage with the bat too, finishing unbeaten on 51. Paul Bowles supported nicely with 22, and between them they saw us home by four wickets — never quite serene, but never in serious doubt either.

A fine afternoon all round, capped by Brian Piper bringing up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark deserving of rather more than the polite ripple of applause it got. Thirkell, meanwhile, continues to lead both the county's run charts and, in spirit at least, this club. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a thoroughly good watch.

Sun 03 Sep 1978 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformWLDDD

A Sunday jaunt down to Staplehurst CC on the 3rd of September, and having called correctly at the toss, I fancied a bat first on what looked a decent surface. Runs came steadily rather than spectacularly — Jim Hall the mainstay with a fine 40, Malcolm Pay chipping in with 28, and Jon Harris unbeaten on 24 to see us to 143/8 from our 45. Not one for the ages, but respectable enough. Less said the better about Keith Miller and David Iliffe, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — ducks apiece, and I daresay they'll be reminded of it over tea for weeks to come.

In the field we were altogether livelier. Jon Harris was in irresistible form, ripping through their order for 5-33, while Allan Cooper and Tony Gauna offered fine support either side of him, and Tony's six maidens were a lesson in patience and parsimony. Staplehurst never quite recovered from losing their first wicket for just 8, though B. Streatfield's 33 and W. Willets' unbeaten 23 dragged them to a respectable 98/7 from 47 overs before the overs ran out on them. I even managed to get among the wickets myself, five for the day, alongside my 24 with the bat — not a bad afternoon's work, if I do say so myself.

Honours shared in the end, a draw that flattered neither side but denied both. A fair result, and Jim Hall's 40 nudging him to 20th on the all-time list gives us something to toast on the way home.

Wed 30 Aug 1978 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDDWWL

Wednesday 30 August 1978, and the road took us to Gravesend – lost the toss, asked to field, and one glance at the sky told me it was going to be a long one in the deep.

And long it was. Colin Myers and Stuart Waterton simply refused to be parted, both raising three figures – 108 not out and 100 not out respectively – while we tried everything short of the vicar's bicycle to prise them apart. James Skinner toiled manfully for his solitary wicket, tidy enough to squeeze out three maidens along the way, and Jon Harris chipped in with the other breakthrough, but 243 for 2 from fifty overs is a mountain by any Midweek measure, and by the close of their innings most of us were nursing sunburn rather than optimism.

Chasing that lot always had the whiff of damage limitation about it, and so it proved. Brian Piper, calm as you like and clearly not reading the same scorebook as the rest of us, made a splendid 61 not out to anchor things, with Skinner atoning for his bowling figures with 27 not out and Paul Bowles chipping in 26. We closed on 144 for 5 – short of the target, but wickets in hand and pride intact.

A draw, then – honours shared, nobody beaten, and the tea urn none the worse for it. Piper continues to lead our run charts and Harris our wickets, so at least somebody's season is going swimmingly. Not a win, but not a defeat either – which, on a day like this, we'll happily take.

Mon 28 Aug 1978 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDWLDD

Reporting for duty at Bearsted, where the coin let us down but the lads certainly didn't.

Skipper's Log, Monday 28th August 1978: the road took us to Bearsted, and with the toss gone against us we were straight into the field. It could have started better – Anthony Cornwell departed without so much as a nibble at his pads – but the bowling did its job in fine style. Paul Bowles led the charge with 3-28, Allan Cooper snapped up 3-29, and Jon Harris bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting his own tea money, 2-27 from ten maidens. Bearsted's Colin Fleetwood (32) and Chris Collett (31) put together a stand of 55 for the second wicket that threatened to run away from us, but 58.1 overs later they were all out for 143 – a total that felt, dare I say, gettable.

Gettable, yes, but not comfortable. Two on the board and we'd already lost a wicket, the kind of start that has the tea urn muttering. Stan Wratten (41) and Nigel Thirkell (29) steadied things, and a stubborn 51-run stand for the seventh wicket dragged us to respectability, though poor Jim Hall's golden duck won't feature in his highlights reel. We closed on 135/7 from our 49, eight runs shy with wickets in hand but overs run out.

So honours shared, and on reflection a fair result – neither side quite had the nerve or the overs to force it. Tim Thirkell continues to hold second spot in the season's run charts, and Jon Harris sits proudly atop the wicket pile. A draw, then: the great English compromise, and no bad way to spend a Monday.

Sun 27 Aug 1978 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformDDWLD

As it stood at 121/8, the toss had gone against us on Sunday, and looking back I think fate simply couldn't be bothered to decide which way it fancied.

Put in to field first, we watched Old Anchorians build a total that always felt just out of reach — 183/5 from their fifty overs, built chiefly around R Fisher's watchful 48, with I Barratt (40) and C Heather (30) filling in the gaps either side of a stubborn 57-run stand for the third wicket. Jon Harris toiled hardest for 2-52, David Iliffe was a picture of economy taking 1-5, and Allan Cooper, four maidens to his name, bowled like a man with all the time in the world and none of the patience to give runs away.

Chasing it, we never quite settled. David Carden's 33 and Jon Harris's unbeaten 33 gave the innings some shape, Brian Piper chipped in with 21, and I managed 33 myself, but a first-wicket stand of 54 dissolved alarmingly into 56-4 before we'd so much as finished our tea. Malcolm Pay, Trevor Back and Giles Daubeny all made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club, regrettably, thriving — and it took a defiant last-wicket stand of 40 to drag us to 121/8 and something resembling dignity.

So: honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody, which is rather the English way of things. We'll take it, dust ourselves down, and hope Tim Thirkell and Jon Harris keep the season charts respectable while the rest of us work on our footwork.

Sat 26 Aug 1978 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformLDDWL

Saturday 26 August 1978, and St Lukes Maidstone CC were our visitors under skies that, for once, cooperated. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, I still maintain, and one of the few decisions all day I can take full credit for.

Ken Webb and Malcolm Pay saw to that, the pair putting on 152 for the third wicket in a partnership that had our tea-makers reaching for extra cups. Webb made a fine 95, Pay 64, and between them and a generous 25 extras we closed on a healthy 197 for 4 from 44.1 overs.

Defending it, though, was where the afternoon turned into rather a procession. St Lukes stumbled to 6 for 1 and never really found their feet — W- Hunt, Ron Aiston and C- Vanns all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I'll confess to finding some rhythm with the ball myself, finishing with 7 wickets — 7-67, nine of them maidens, if you're totting up the figures at home — with David Iliffe and Terry Donovan chipping in a wicket apiece. Micky Beckwith's defiant 46 and B- Mitchell's 26 held things together, but 115 for 9 from their fifty overs was never going to trouble us.

And yet honours finished shared — a draw, neither side quite able to force the matter home. Frustrating, but with Malcolm Pay topping our run charts this season on 474 and yours truly leading the wickets on 59, I'd call it a thoroughly satisfactory day's work all told.

Wed 23 Aug 1978 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWDDWW

Wednesday 23 August 1978, and we welcomed Gravesend CC to Linton Park under skies that gave no hint of the afternoon's mixed fortunes. I called correctly and, fancying a bat first, sent us in — a decision that yielded 154/8 from our 43 overs. Paul Brattle led the way with a watchful 34, well supported by Brian Piper's 33 and Malcolm Pay's 26, though none of us could quite kick on to the big score the pitch perhaps owed us.

Defending that total, we asked plenty of Gravesend but they chased it down with something to spare, closing on 155/6 from 40.3 overs. Les Curtis was the chief tormentor with 43, backed up by Stuart Waterton's 31 and K Dubbins's 29. Jon Harris toiled manfully for 3-54, with M Lunt (2-42) and R King (1-27) chipping in, and John Lambert's two maidens spoke of a tighter spell than the scorebook alone suggests. I even found some rhythm myself with three wickets, though my afternoon behind the stumps was rather less distinguished — thirteen byes is not a figure I shall be framing.

One bright note amid the gloom: Paul's 34 nudged him past Frank Brattle into 8th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Trevor Back (94) and Jon Harris (15) continue to lead our Midweek XI charts this season.

Beaten by four wickets, then — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 20 Aug 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv AC Aston Rowant CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday, 20 August 1978, and Aston Rowant CC came calling on a day that would end very sweetly indeed. I won the toss, and with barely a flicker of hesitation stuck them in — the pitch had that look about it, and I wasn't about to argue with instinct.

It began perfectly, with Aston Rowant wobbling to 4-1 and J Howell back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. They steadied thereafter, mind you — Neil Lambourne played the anchor role beautifully for 46, with C Gilbert (29) and L Morgan (21) chipping in — and 150/9 from their 40 overs was a fair recovery from that early fright. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of our attack with 2-31, Jon Harris matched him with 2-32, and Allan Cooper bowled with real discipline, 1-23 and three maidens to show for his patience.

With the bat we made light work of it. The openers gave us the perfect platform, 73 for the first wicket before the breakthrough came, and from there Paul Bowles played the innings of the day — a polished 62 — ably assisted by Nigel Thirkell, unbeaten on 42, and Paul Brattle's useful 31. We cantered home at 151/3 with plenty of overs unused.

A note for the scorebook: Paul Bowles brought up 10,000 career runs for the club today — a landmark worth raising a glass to. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our Sunday run charts this season, and Allan Cooper the wickets. A comfortable seven-wicket win, and a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket. Onwards.

Sat 19 Aug 1978 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformDLDDW

Saturday 19th of August, and having called correctly for once, I had no hesitation putting Bobbing Court Cricket Club into the field. Paul Brattle set about proceedings with real intent, cracking a fine 77, while Tim Thirkell — a man having quite the summer — ground out an unbeaten 64 at the other end. The pair put on 101 for the fourth wicket, the sort of stand that lets a captain sit back with his tea and pretend he isn't nervous, and we closed on a handsome 167/4.

Defending it proved rather more of an adventure. G Davis gave the visitors a platform with a well-made 58 not out, helped along by Roy Weller and Damien Hudson, and a 52-run opening stand had us wondering if we'd left the door ajar. But cricket has a lovely way of turning: 135/5 became 145/8 in a hurry, C Lurcock and Ian Christie both departed without troubling the scorers, and Jon Harris — quietly, relentlessly, five maidens and all — finished with a scarcely believable 7-49. Ian Brattle chipped in with 1-33, and I confess to a happy afternoon myself with 7 wickets of my own.

And still we lost, by a single wicket. That is club cricket in a nutshell — you can bowl them out twice over in spirit and still walk off beaten. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets: Tim Thirkell and Jon Harris remain in irresistible form for the season, and there are runs and wickets enough left in this side to make amends.

Wed 16 Aug 1978 🧢 Midweek XIv WC West Kent Wanderers CC · HomeformDWDDW

Wednesday 16 August 1978, West Kent Wanderers CC at home, and for once the coin cooperated with my instincts — won the toss, elected to bat, and I'll admit I rather enjoyed telling the lads so.

We set about accumulating a respectable 149/7 from our 40 overs, with Jim Hall and Tim Thirkell both compiling handy 34s and, crucially, putting on 51 for the fifth wicket when things needed steadying. Not fireworks, but enough runs to make West Kent work for it.

And work they did, or rather didn't, as it turned out. Brian Milns battled to 40 and J- Darby chipped in with 23, but beyond that the innings had the structural integrity of a garden shed in a gale — 104/5 became 112/8 as the pressure told, with P- Bailey, John Inkpen and John Lambert all departing without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was quite simply magnificent, tearing through with 5-33 and, in the process, easing past John Ames into second on the club's all-time wicket-takers' list — no small feat, that. Dave Todd (3-17) and Ian Brattle (2-41, with two tidy maidens) mopped up what little resistance remained, and I managed to sneak among the wickets myself for good measure. All out for 112 in 35.3 overs, and we were home by 37 runs.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and Jon Harris continues to lead our 1978 wicket charts in some style. A good day for the club, and — dare I say it — for the captain's toss-calling reputation too.

Sun 13 Aug 1978 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · HomeformLDLDD

Sunday 13th August, and Sibton Park came calling. Won the toss, elected to bat — I do like to look decisive at 2pm on a Sunday — and it turned out to be the correct call, even if I say so myself. We laboured a touch to 163/9 from our fifty-five overs, Paul Brattle the mainstay with a fine 47, Jim Hall tidying up nicely with an unbeaten 29. Not a total to have Sibton Park quaking in their boots, but as it transpired, quite enough.

And how. Ian Brattle simply took the day away from them, spinning his way to 7 for 24 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that has batsmen playing for turn that isn't there and turn that very much is. Sibton Park never got going: eight on the board and an early wicket down, a wobble to 61 for 7, and then the last three fell without addition as we skittled them for 67 in 27.5 overs. K. Swaffer and P. Christie departed without so much as troubling the scorers, poor souls. Allan Cooper and Brian Piper chipped in with a wicket apiece to tidy up the tail.

A day for the record books besides the scoreline — Paul Brattle brought up 5,000 runs for the club, Allan Cooper reached 1,000, and young Jim Hall's 29 eased him past Gordon Fenner into 21st on our all-time run list. Ninety-six runs the margin, two points banked, and Ian Brattle's boots, I fancy, will need a good clean before next week.

Sat 12 Aug 1978 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDLDLD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 12 August 1978. Away at Headcorn, and losing the toss meant we were straight out into the field, which on a warm August afternoon is either a blessing or a curse depending on how the legs are feeling. Ours, it turned out, were feeling rather good. Headcorn crawled to 109 all out in 36.3 overs, Ian Barker's 37 and G Wickens' 34 the only real resistance, while Jon Harris turned his arm over to devastating effect — 6-33 of pure mischief — with Ian Brattle chipping in tidily at 4-48, three maidens and all, tight as a Sunday collection plate.

Chasing 110 should have been a formality. It very nearly wasn't. John Phipps and Eddie Bourne went early without troubling the scorers, and we slid alarmingly from 5-1 to 10-4 in the sort of rush that has captains reaching for the antacids. Paul Brattle, Tim Thirkell and John Bloomfield all made the long walk back for nought, and the Duck Club ledger grew fatter than the tea urn. But cricket, bless it, has a sense of humour — a defiant last-wicket stand added 47, Jon Harris carrying his bat for a splendid unbeaten 31, and I was glad to chip in with 31 of my own, plus six wickets to boot, for 90/8 off our 43.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side would yield. Not the tidiest of afternoons, but a proud one, and Jon Harris now sits 23rd on the all-time run-scorers list. We'll take it, and the sandwiches, gladly.

Fri 11 Aug 1978 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sennocke CC · AwayformLDWDD

Sennocke played host on Friday, and after a coin toss that went my way for once, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sending us in to bat — a decision I felt rather pleased with right up until the scoreboard read nought for one. Nerves settled soon enough, though, and 175/9 from our forty-five overs was a total built on proper backbone: Trevor Back's fifty the anchor, Paul Brattle's 47 the ballast, and Jon Harris unbeaten on 38 to see us home. A stand of 55 for the fifth wicket did the heavy lifting, while down the order Reg Oldfield, Keith Miller and Peter Day contributed nothing but their good company — three ducks for the price of one.

In the field we set about defending it, and defend it we did. Sennocke's K. Storey played the innings of the day with a well-made 53, ably assisted by Colin Taylor's 42, but Fry departed for nought at our hands and the rest never quite got the ship steady. Jon Harris was magnificent, 4-56, with Brian Piper snapping up three and Peter Day bowling with the miserly discipline of a man who simply doesn't believe in boundaries — three maidens to his name. I even chipped in myself, 38 with the bat and 4 wickets with the ball, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for weeks to come.

The real cause for a raised glass, though, was Jon Harris sailing past 600 career wickets — a landmark earned, not gifted. All out for 141 in 40.2 overs, and we walked off 34 runs to the good. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a very happy drive home.

Sun 06 Aug 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Hursley Park CC · AwayformWWWWW

Sunday the 6th of August found us on the road to Hursley Park, a fixture that always seems to bring out the best in this club, whatever the toss decides. And the toss, naturally, went against us — asked to bat, we did rather more with the willow than the coin suggested we might.

122 for 5 off our 25 overs was a total built on Paul Bowles's fine 43, with Paul Brattle chipping in a handy 24 alongside him. Not every man had his day, mind — Tim Thirkell will not thank me for mentioning his nought, but the Duck Club ledger is the Duck Club ledger, and the walk back was, by all accounts, a suitably chastening one.

In the field we were rampant. Hursley slid from 13 for 1 to 28 for 4 almost before anyone had settled into their deckchair, and though Pete Bunney's 25 threatened to drag them back into it, they never quite got there, finishing 89 for 8. Tony Gauna was magnificent, 2 for 12 with two maidens besides, well supported by Allan Cooper's 2 for 18 and Trevor Back's 1 for 19 — not a run given away without a fight.

Off the field, warmer news still: Tim Thirkell brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark few of us will trouble in a lifetime, while Tony Gauna's two wickets carried him past John Taylor into 10th on the all-time list. A 33-run win, a club legend celebrated, and a bowler cementing his name in the record books — you can't ask for much more of a Sunday. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 05 Aug 1978 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformLDLDL

Saturday 5th August, and Bidborough came calling. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling has been suspect since roughly 1974 — and duly found myself leading the lads out into the field.

They batted through their 54 overs for 139/8, a total built patiently around Kerby's 28 and Pollock's 22, though our attack never let them settle. Norman Underdown was superb, 3-42 and full of menace, with David Iliffe (2-21) and Jon Harris (2-52) chipping in handsomely. Martin Thompson bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that makes batsmen question their life choices — eight maidens, not a run given away lightly.

Chasing 140, we crawled to 119/6 from our 41, never quite finding the fluency the target demanded. Jim Hall was the rock, 38 not out and the only man who seemed entirely sure what he was doing out there, while the tail rallied gamely for a final 53 that at least gave the Bidborough fielders something to think about. Less gloriously, Malcolm Pay contributed a first-ball nought to the Duck Club ledger and trudged off to the sympathetic silence reserved for such occasions.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite deserving more. Tim Thirkell continues his fine season, now second in our 1978 run charts with 373, while Jon Harris leads the wickets with 39. As for Saturday's effort: a fair scrap, honest cricket, and tea was, as ever, the true highlight.

Tue 01 Aug 1978 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Margate CC · AwayformDLDWD

Tuesday, 1 August 1978, and we rolled up to Margate CC in fine spirits, only for the coin to betray us and leave us in the field first — no bad thing, as it turned out, given what the lads did with the ball.

Margate battled to 175 all out off 48.4 overs, Graham Venn (37) and Richard Dale (35) doing the honest graft, with S. Cooke chipping in 26. But the story of the innings was Paul Bowles, who simply span through them — 9 for 42, three maidens besides, bowling with the kind of relentless accuracy that has grown men muttering into their tea. Malcolm Pay picked up the ninth for company. Frankly, I'm not sure what the rest of us were there for.

Chasing 176, we replied with 163 for 8 off our 43, falling agonisingly short. Malcolm Pay backed up his bowling with 43 of the best, Tim Thirkell (27) and Reg Oldfield (24) lending sturdy support, though losing our first wicket for just 1 set an uneasy tone, and poor David Carden departed for a duck. Steve Gower had a torrid time behind the stumps — 13 byes is not a figure one puts on the mantelpiece — while I contributed a modest 18 and, happily, took 9 wickets myself to keep Paul Bowles company at the top of the season's charts.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and Margate left wondering what hit them.

Sat 29 Jul 1978 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · AwayformDLDLD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 29 July 1978, away to Sibton Park CC.

Won the toss and, in a fit of optimism I may come to regret in print, stuck us in. Ambition rather outran execution: we were bowled out for 119 in 41.5 overs, and the top of the card wore a rather sorry expression, with the opener gone for nought and both Robert Chance and M Davison contributing ducks apiece. Credit where due, though — Martin Thompson dug in for a fine 40, and Tim Thirkell chipped in a handy 27, between them dragging us to something resembling a total rather than an embarrassment.

Sadly, 119 was never going to trouble Sibton Park on that surface. P. Woodward simply helped himself, cruising to 74 not out, well supported by J. Flanagan's unbeaten 27, and the home side cantered home at 123/1 in just 32.1 overs. Jon Harris toiled honestly for his 1-26, and James Skinner bowled with real discipline, sending down three maidens for scant reward — proof, if any were needed, that not every good spell gets the wickets it deserves.

For the record books, Malcolm Pay continues to lead our 1978 run charts with 394, and Jon Harris tops the wicket-takers with 37 — small consolations on an afternoon that otherwise offered little.

Nine wickets the wrong way, then. Not our day, lads — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 23 Jul 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Havering Atte Bower CC · AwayformWWWWW

The lads take on Havering Atte Bower away, lose the toss, and are put out into the field on a Sunday that would end well.

We lost the toss and were asked to bowl, which on reflection suited us nicely. Havering ground out 157 all out from their forty overs, B. Pedgrift the chief architect with a fine 57 and M. Gunton chipping in with 43 in support. We had them 5-1 early doors and thought we were away, but a stubborn 61-run stand for the fourth wicket dragged them back into contention before they wobbled again, slipping from 141-6 to 157-9 as the pressure told. Tony Gauna was the pick of the attack by some distance — 3 for 21, three maidens to boot, mean as you like — with Allan Cooper (3-26) and Trevor Back (2-25) doing their bit to keep the scoreboard honest.

Chasing 158, we made light work of it: 160 for 3 in 36 overs, Nigel Thirkell the star of the show with a lovely 79, Brian Piper unbeaten on 46 in fine support, and a match-defining stand of 118 for the third wicket that took the game clean away from them. D. Russell's contribution began and ended with a golden duck, but nobody was counting.

Nice to note Jon Harris's wicket nudged him past Terry Whittaker into third on the club's all-time list, while Thirkell and Back continue to lead the Sunday run and wicket charts respectively. A seven-wicket win, two points banked, and a thoroughly enjoyable drive home.

Sun 16 Jul 1978 🧢 1st XIv SC Sennocke CC · HomeformLDLDL

Sunday 16 July found us hosting Sennocke CC, and the coin did us no favours — lost the toss, asked to bowl, which at least spared me the ignominy of padding up in that heat straight away. Sennocke settled in and made themselves rather too comfortable, running up 185 for 4 off their 54 overs. I Franks led the charge with a well-crafted 74, and B- Sloan matched him stroke for stroke with a fine 55, Steve Ledsham chipping in with 29 — the pair of them putting on 123 for the third wicket while the rest of us stood about admiring the scenery. Credit where due, though: Allan Cooper bowled beautifully for his 2 for 25, four maidens included, not a run given away lightly, while Jon Harris toiled hard for his 2 for 51.

Chasing 186, we never quite found our stride, subsiding to 133 for 9 from our 48 overs. Tim Thirkell top-scored with a battling 34, David Carden weighed in with 27 and Paul Brattle 23, but wickets fell at the other end too regularly for comfort and the required rate crept away from us until the umpires, and common sense, called it a day.

Elsewhere in the season, Malcolm Pay continues to top the 1st XI run charts with 376, and Jon Harris leads the wicket-takers with 36 — the club's two workhorses, it seems, ploughing on regardless of what the rest of us get up to. As for Sunday: honours shared, pride dented but not broken. A draw, then — the cricketing equivalent of agreeing to disagree over tea.

Sat 15 Jul 1978 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · AwayformWLDLD

We were sent in first at Bowaters, and if I'm honest my decision to bat looked a poor one within about ten minutes. Eight for one became sixteen for four before some of us had even settled our pads properly, and poor Tim Thirkell's golden duck rather summed up the mood in the shed. All out for 73 in under thirty overs is not a total you build a Saturday around, and I spent the tea interval trying to remember what I'd said to the lads about "batting positive."

Still, cricket has a habit of not quite finishing the story you expect. We came out to defend a total that looked, on paper, thoroughly indefensible, and for a while we made a proper fist of it. Martin Thompson was superb with the ball — three maidens and 1 for 14, miserly to the point of cruelty — with good support from Jon Harris, 1 for 20. Between them they made Bowaters work hard for every run, which is about the most a captain can ask when defending under 75.

In the end, though, Robin Carter's unbeaten 26 and a handy 22 from Percy Bicker saw the hosts home comfortably, wrapping things up in 22.4 overs for the loss of just two wickets. Beaten by eight in the end — no disgrace given the hand we dealt ourselves with the bat. We'll regroup, have a stern word with the top order, and be better for it next week.

Sun 09 Jul 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LC Langleybury CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday the ninth of July, and I confess I did the modern thing at the toss — won it, and stuck Langleybury in, much to the mild bemusement of a couple of the older hands who still believe runs on the board are worth more than wickets in the bank. As it turned out, not a bad shout. They laboured to 101 for 9 off their forty, Gordon Riddick top-scoring with a watchful 22, while S- Brown departed for a duck without so much as scuffing the scorers' pencil. Paul Bowles was the chief tormentor with 3 for 26, Jon Harris chipped in with 2 for 10, and Tony Gauna bowled with the miserly precision of a man checking his change twice — 1 for 12 off four maidens that gave nothing away.

Chasing 102, we made harder work of it than the target strictly demanded, edging home at 102 for 5 in 30.2 overs. Paul Bowles, evidently not content with his bowling figures, added 29 with the bat, Nigel Thirkell steered us home unbeaten on 26, and Paul Brattle's 21 helped forge an opening stand of 51 that did the heavy lifting. Brian Piper, less fortunately, took the long walk back for nought, and joins the Duck Club with his head held only moderately high.

Thirkell continues to top the Sunday run charts with 177, Trevor Back leads the wickets with 12 — the engine room of the season, evidently. Two points, five wickets to spare, and a captain's hunch that came off. I'll take that every week.

Sat 08 Jul 1978 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWLDL

Saturday the 8th of July found us facing the visitors, and for once the coin did as it was told, dropping my way. I had no hesitation in putting us in — a decision that looked distinctly shaky when we slipped to 3 for 1 inside the first exchanges. From there it was a case of digging in rather than dashing about, and we crawled to 130 for 9 from our fifty-six overs. Martin Thompson held the innings together with an unbeaten 35, well supported by David Buck's 30, though the scorebook carries its share of shame too — both Brian Piper and David Iliffe departed without troubling the umpires' finger for anything but a duck.

With the ball, we found our rhythm. The visitors lost a wicket with just 5 on the board and never quite settled, and when we turned the screw from 32 for 3 to 45 for 6 in a hurry, poor B. Taylor was sent back for nought as well. Terry Donovan was the chief tormentor, miserly and menacing with 2 for 18 and five maidens, ably assisted by Brian Piper (2 for 19) and Jon Harris (2 for 37). Only D. Friedman, with 23, offered any real resistance, and their innings folded at 91 for 8 from forty overs.

Neither side could force the door open, so honours were shared — a draw that, on the balance of the day's fortunes, felt about right.

Sun 02 Jul 1978 🧢 1st XIv RC Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformDDWLD

Beaten but hardly bowed. Winning the toss on a fine Sunday against Rainham (Kent) was the easy part; the choice to bat was, if I say so myself, the correct one, even if the scorebook doesn't tell you how many grey hairs it cost me watching from the boundary. David Carden and Brian Piper set about it in style, the pair of them putting on 122 for the first wicket before either fell — Carden going on to a handsome 79, Piper following close behind with a well-crafted 58. Tim Thirkell finished unbeaten on 30 to help us to a healthy 172/3 from our 46.5 overs. Trevor Back, it must be recorded, contributed a duck of the purest gold — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin better than most would.

With 173 to defend, we simply couldn't quite close the door. Mark Swaine led Rainham's reply with 49, well supported by Buckingham (41) and Cooper (36), and a first-wicket stand of 54 gave them the platform we never managed to dismantle. Malcolm Pay was pick of our attack with 1-9, tidy as you like, while Trevor Back (1-29) and Tony Gauna (1-49, three maidens and not a run given away lightly) chipped in without quite finding the breakthroughs we needed.

Six wickets the margin in the end — no disgrace in it, but a reminder that 172 needs bowling to, not just posting. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sat 01 Jul 1978 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformLDDWL

Off the mound to bowl first — nervy stuff at Linton Park, but the lads made it count. Bowaters posted 183/7 in their 42.4 overs, with William Preston the chief architect of our discomfort, a fluent 76 that carried their innings, well supported by Paul Williams (41) and John Henderson (22). Credit where due, though: Terry Donovan bowled with real discipline, snaring 2-35 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, while Peter Day (2-48) and Jon Harris (2-50) chipped away at the other end. A stiff target, but not an impossible one.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear. We limped to 101/8 from our 40 overs, with Tim Thirkell (27) and Brian Woodcock (26) doing the heavy lifting while the rest of us watched on rather sheepishly from the pavilion steps. Not our finest hour with the willow, it must be said, but enough resistance to see the overs out and the game to safety.

A word of cheer amid the gloom: Terry Donovan's brace nudged him past John Taylor and up to 9th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a landmark worth raising a glass to, whatever the scoreline. Malcolm Pay continues to bat like a man possessed atop the season's run charts, and Jon Harris leads the wickets column with a hearty 31.

Honours shared in the end, then — a draw that flattered neither side, but one we'll happily bank given how our bats behaved. Onwards.

Wed 28 Jun 1978 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · AwayformLDLDW

Wednesday 28th June, and off we trundled to Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC, only for me to lose the toss and be handed the field — never my favourite way to start an afternoon, but there we are.

Sevenoaks made themselves at home to the tune of 204/6 from their 52 overs, the innings built around a superb hundred from Guy Hollamby (104), with useful support from A Gorman (22) and Peter Day (20). We did at least strike early, removing them for nought with the very first blow, and had J O'Connell back in the hutch without troubling the scorers — small mercies. The third-wicket pair rather spoiled the mood with 61 between them. With the ball, Jon Harris was the pick of us on 3-52, Trevor Back toiled away for 2-46 (three tidy maidens in there too), and Paul Bowles chipped in with 1-46.

Set 205 to win, we replied with 142/8 from our 56, Paul Bowles top-scoring with a gutsy 34, Trevor Back unbeaten on 29, and Steve Kember weighing in with 21. Andrew Hales, less happily, made his way back for a duck. Poor Bowles then had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 13 byes going begging past him — though I'll admit I found some rhythm myself, picking up three wickets.

So, honours shared and a draw to show for our travels. Not the day the run charts or wicket charts will remember us for, but nobody left Sevenoaks with anything to complain about — least of all the byes.

Sun 25 Jun 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformLWWWW

Sunday 25th June, and Marden CC came calling to Linton Park in bright enough spirits for me to fancy my luck at the toss — which, for once, held, and I put them straight in without a flicker of doubt. It looked the right call within the hour. Doug Worley battled to 23 and gave their innings its only real backbone, but from a promising 63-4 they folded to 80-7 and were all out for 97 off 39 overs. Tony Gauna was magnificent, 3-9, with Trevor Back (2-9) and Jon Harris (2-17) mopping up round him, while Allan Cooper simply refused to be scored off, four maidens testament to a spell of proper miserliness.

Chasing 98 should never trouble a side of our modest ambitions, but we contrived to make a small adventure of it, eventually getting home at 98/5 from 36.4 overs. Brian Piper's unbeaten 27 was the innings of substance, Paul Bowles (25) and Nigel Thirkell (24) lending it good support, while poor Malcolm Pay contributed nothing but a golden duck to the cause — these things happen to the best of us, Malcolm.

A special note for the ledger: Jim Hall brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark deserving of considerably more applause than he probably got. Thirkell continues to top our Sunday run charts on 151, with Back leading the wickets on 11.

A comfortable-looking five-wicket win, then, if not always comfortable in the living of it. Onwards.

Sat 24 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · HomeformDLDDW

1978 was never a season for false modesty, but even by our standards this was a chastening afternoon.

We lost the toss — no surprises there, the coin has had it in for me all season — and Hythe elected to bat. They ground their way to 140 all out in 41.3 overs, J- Ireland top-scoring with 48, well supported by Ralph Carter (32) and P- Barnes (21), with a 51-run second-wicket stand doing most of the damage. But credit where it's due: we clawed it back beautifully, ripping through the middle order from 98-2 to 101-5 in the blink of an eye, sending both J- Smith and R Apps back without so much as a whimper. Terry Donovan was magnificent with the ball, 4-34, backed up handsomely by Brian Piper (2-16) and Martin Thompson, who bowled two miserly maidens on his way to 2-43.

Chasing 141 should have been within our compass. It was not. David Carden battled to 26 and looked the only one truly at ease, but the innings collapsed from 27-4 to 29-7 in a spell that will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons. David Buck, Mike Iliffe and William Buck all departed for ducks, and we were bowled out for 71 in 40.5 overs.

A 69-run defeat, then, and nothing to dress it up as anything else. Malcolm Pay continues to lead our 1978 run charts with 339, and Martin Thompson sits 4th in the wickets with 15 — small consolations on a day the batting let the bowlers down. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Tue 20 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Monchelsea CC · AwayformWDLDD

It's the 20th of June, 1978, and Boughton Monchelsea CC play host to what turned out to be a rather satisfactory afternoon's work.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat — a decision that looked positively inspired once the openers got going. They put on 85 for the first wicket, which is the sort of platform a captain dreams about while shaving on match mornings and rarely receives. Nigel Thirkell then proceeded to bat like a man with a train to catch, finishing unbeaten on 96 — agonisingly, gloriously short of the century — with Paul Bowles chipping in a tidy 26 in support. We closed on 146/4 from our sixteen overs, a total that felt, even as we walked off, rather more than defendable.

So it proved. Boughton Monchelsea's reply never found its rhythm: 9 for 1 became 11 for 4 in the blink of an eye, and only Garth Wallond, with a battling 24, offered any real resistance. Jon Harris was the chief architect of the collapse, snaring 2 for 4, with Ron Hickman (2-14) and Martin Thompson (2-15) queuing up cheerfully to help finish the job. Steve Kember, Mike Sendles and G Love all trudged back for ducks, and the innings folded for 56/9 in 13.2 overs.

A 90-run win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. Malcolm Pay continues to lead our run charts and Jon Harris the wickets — long may both keep at it. On this evidence, we'll take some stopping this season.

Sun 18 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformWWDLD

Sunday 18 June 1978 saw us venture to Bobbing Court CC in fine spirits, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sending us in to bat — a decision I stood by rather more confidently at the time than with hindsight.

We limped, nudged and occasionally sparkled our way to 149/9 from our 49 overs. Ian Webb top-scored with a watchful 37, Malcolm Pay chipped in handsomely with 27, and Jon Harris added a further 21. Poor Trevor Back, however, will not be troubling the scorers this week, departing for a duck he'd rather forget.

With ball in hand we set about restricting the home side, and restrict them we did — 127/8 from their 45 overs, despite a lively 37 from Damien Hudson. Jon Harris was the chief tormentor with 3-54, well supported by Trevor Back (2-24, making swift amends for his morning duck) and Tony Gauna (2-36), while Martin Thompson bowled with admirable miserliness, three maidens speaking to a spell nobody enjoyed facing. I even managed to get in on the act myself, with 21 runs and 3 wickets — not a bad afternoon's work for the old skipper.

Malcolm Pay continues to lead our 1978 run charts with 337, and Jon Harris sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 27 — both men once again doing their reputations no harm at all.

In the end, honours were shared: a draw, neither side able to force the issue. A fair result, if I'm honest, and one that let us all enjoy the tea rather more than the cricket.

Sat 17 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformWWWDL

Saturday 17th June, 1978, and off we trundled to Maidstone YMCA, losing the toss and finding ourselves asked to bowl first on what turned out to be a long, honest afternoon's graft.

Maidstone made a watchful start of it, putting on 56 for their first wicket before we could get among them, and eventually posted a competitive 180 for 9 off their 47 overs, with J. Golding top-scoring on 39 and useful support from Pete Worsnop (25) and Rod Warboys (24). But it was Jon Harris who did the real damage with a splendid 4 for 33, backed up by Terry Donovan's persistent 3 for 73, while Martin Thompson bowled a tidy 1 for 17 with two maidens to show for his miserliness.

Chasing 181, we lost David Buck for a duck and slipped to 7 for 1 early doors — the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the tea urn rather earlier than planned. But Malcolm Pay, ever the steady hand, top-scored with an unbeaten 53, and with Jim Hall (41) put together a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 88 to drag us up to 131 for 6 from our 40 overs — though it wasn't quite enough to chase down the target, so honours were shared.

A happy afternoon for the skipper too, four wickets to my name, and Malcolm continues to lead the run charts for the season while Jon tops the wicket-takers. All told, a draw that flattered neither side but pleased both — the kind of result that sends everyone home for their tea without too much grumbling.

Tue 13 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWWWD

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 13 June 1978

Fine evening for it, and for a while there I let myself believe the cricketing gods had finally forgiven me for last season. Put the visitors in, and by heavens the lads made a meal of them — 48 all out in 12.4 overs, with a spell in the middle where wickets fell like deckchairs in a gale, 32-4 sliding to 39-7 before anyone had time to fetch a fresh pot of tea. Burchett, Austin and Woodhams all trudged off for ducks, poor devils. Allan Cooper was quite magnificent, 4 for 3, bowling as if the ball owed him money, with Paul Bowles (2-15) and Martin Thompson (2-17) mopping up the rest. Thompson's efforts brought up his 50th career wicket, and Cooper's four leapt him past Tony Snell into 14th on the club's all-time list — the sort of thing that gets you a nod at the bar for weeks.

Which made what followed all the more baffling. Forty-nine to win and we somehow contrived to turn it into an ordeal — 4-1 before we'd properly sat down, a horror stretch of 31-2 to 37-5, and suddenly I was pacing the boundary muttering to myself. We got there in the end, or rather they did, five wickets down at 49.

Beaten by five wickets chasing 49. Bowled like champions, batted like men who'd never held a bat. We'll be better for it next week — we'd want to be.

Sun 11 Jun 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LK Leigh CC, Kent · AwayformLLWWW

It was over to Leigh CC on Sunday 11th June, and for once the coin gave me a decision worth making — I put us in, and the lads set about giving me either a triumph or a headache. We stumbled to 146 all out, propped up gamely by Tim Thirkell's 32 and Paul Bowles' 30, with Trevor Back chipping in 23 and a handy 53-run stand for the second wicket the closest thing we had to a plan. The tail did its traditional collapsing act — 130 for 5 became 139 for 8 in the blink of an eye — and the Duck Club welcomed three new members in Brian Woodcock, Jon Harris and Tony Gauna, none of whom will thank me for the mention.

Defending 146 always feels like arriving at a gunfight with a butter knife, but Leigh's openers put on 73 before we so much as troubled them, and I confess the walk back to the pavilion was already being rehearsed in my head. Then Paul Bowles decided enough was enough and ran through them for 4-28, Jon Harris backed him up with 3-17, Trevor Back nabbed one for next to nothing, and Nigel Thirkell bowled with the miserly precision of a man checking everyone else's bar tab — four maidens. From 73 for 1 they were 83 for 4 and the game was gone; 105 all out.

As for my own contribution: a golden blob with the bat, redeemed only slightly by 3 wickets — leadership by example remains, evidently, aspirational. Warmer news was Allan Cooper's 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth more than any of my runs. We got home by 41 runs — a proper away win, and not before time.

Sat 10 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLLWWW

Saturday 10th June saw Rumwood CC pay us a visit, and having won the toss I fancied a bat first – no dithering this time, straight into the deep end. The lads didn't let me down. Trevor Back played the innings of the day with a chanceless 75, and when Tim Thirkell joined him for a second-wicket stand of 110 the scoreboard rather took care of itself. Malcolm Pay finished unbeaten on 28 to see us home to 180 for 4 off our forty overs – a total that felt, at tea, rather more than respectable.

Defending it proved a stern examination of the nerves. R. Yates simply would not be shifted, ghosting to an unbeaten fifty while Geoff Griffiths (25 not out) and Janat Kanagasingham (23) chipped in around him, and a third-wicket stand of 57 threatened to run away from us. That we clung on to parity owed everything to Martin Thompson's tidy 1 for 13, with Malcolm Pay and Terry Donovan doing their bit too. Poor Brian Woodcock had one of those afternoons behind the stumps – eight byes is not a total anyone enjoys watching disappear to the boundary boards.

A word too for Tim Thirkell, whose 41 eased him past Cliff Anscombe into tenth on the club's all-time run charts – quietly historic amid the toil.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. A draw, then – and on this occasion, a fair one.

Tue 06 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformLLLWW

Well, Tuesday the 6th of June was one of those evenings that reminds you why you bother with the whole business.

Won the toss, and with the sky looking kind enough, I had no hesitation in sticking us in. Nigel Thirkell and his opening partner set about the Hollingbourne bowling with real purpose, the pair putting on 77 before the first wicket finally went down — the kind of start that lets a captain sit back with his tea and pretend he knew all along it would go this well. Nigel went on to a well-made 52, with Paul Bowles chipping in a handy 41, and we closed on a brisk 121 for 4 from our sixteen overs. Not everyone's afternoon was quite so golden — poor Jim Hall departed for nought, and took the long walk back to a chorus of quacking that he will not, I suspect, be allowed to forget.

Defending it was never going to be straightforward, and Alan Ovenden made sure of that, batting right through for an unbeaten 64 and finding an able ally in Andrew Hales (26), the two of them adding 74 for the third wicket. But Martin Thompson bowled with real discipline for 1 for 17, backed up nicely by Nigel Thirkell and Ron Hickman, both 1 for something-respectable, and between them they kept just enough pressure on. Hollingbourne fell agonisingly short on 120 for 5.

A win by a single run — the sort that leaves you needing a stiff drink rather than a celebration, but two points is two points, and thoroughly deserved.

Sun 04 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · HomeformDLLLW

Malcolm Pay led our charge with a fine 64, ably backed by Tim Thirkell's 55 and Brian Piper's unbeaten 42, as we posted a healthy 201/4 from our 48 overs against the visitors from St Lawrence & Highland Court. Poor Mike Iliffe endured the walk of shame for a duck, but the rest of the order more than made up for his afternoon's discomfort, and I confess I felt rather smug at having called correctly at the toss and backed my instinct to bat first.

St Lawrence & Highland Court made a fair fist of the chase, Antony Amlot cracking a lovely 66, but our bowling attack had other ideas. Brian Piper, not content with his runs, turned his arm over to devastating effect with 3-15, well supported by Tony Gauna's 3-29 (two tidy maidens besides) and Jon Harris's 2-77. Roger Clarke and C. Kennett departed without troubling the scorers, out at our hands, and the visitors were bowled out for 165 from 46 overs — though Allan Cooper behind the stumps will want a quiet word with himself after 8 byes went begging.

We ran out winners by 36 runs, a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. With Malcolm Pay now the season's leading run-scorer and Tony Gauna top of the wicket-takers, the omens for 1978 look rosy indeed — and I, for one, shall be at the crease again next week trying not to look too pleased with myself.

Sat 03 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · HomeformLDLLL

From the captain's chair, Saturday 3rd June 1978, and Beverley CC of Kent were the visitors to Linton Park. I lost the toss, which these days feels less like misfortune and more like tradition, and we were sent into the field.

They made a solid fist of 160 all out from 53.2 overs, M Collingwood's fifty (60) the backbone of it, with useful support from J Keir (27) and R Gill (22) and a stubborn 66-run second-wicket stand that threatened to run away from us. But once we prised that apart the innings rather came off the rails — 123 for 3 became 134 for 6 in a hurry, with Frost, Garrett and Arnold all shipping ducks. Martin Thompson was the chief architect of the collapse, a superb 5 for 50 including three tidy maidens, well backed by Malcolm Pay (2-15) and Jon Harris (2-31).

Chasing 161, we wobbled our way to it rather than strolled — 111 for 3 became 122 for 6 before the tail, admirably, wagged us home with a final 39 runs. Tim Thirkell's 43 was the innings' spine, Paul Brattle (28) and Jim Hall (27 not out) chipping in nobly, though Hall's day behind the stumps was rather livelier than intended, if the 9 byes are any guide.

A fine win by 4 wickets, then — scrappy in places, but a win is a win, and nobody at the tea table was complaining.

Thu 01 Jun 1978 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformLLDLL

Thursday 01 June 1978, away at Benenden CC, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they chose to bat, and I confess my heart sank a little watching them settle in.

Credit where it's due: we bowled with real discipline. Benenden crept to 4-1 and looked briefly wobbly, but a stubborn 58-run stand for the fourth wicket dragged them back into the contest, and Gary Marshall's well-crafted 89 gave the innings a backbone we couldn't quite break. Tony Gauna was superb with the ball, 3-24, backed up nicely by Ron Hickman's 2-29 and Martin Thompson's 1-15 — between them they kept 143/7 from 16 overs to something almost defendable-looking, on paper at least.

Paper, alas, is not pitch. Our reply never found its rhythm: 16-1 became 34-4 in the time it takes to pour a tea, and from there we were merely delaying the inevitable. Jim Hall's 22 and Nigel Thirkell's 21 were the only real resistance in a total of 73 all out from 13 overs, and poor Tony Gauna, so heroic with the ball, went for a painful duck with the bat — cricket's little joke on a man having quite the season otherwise, sitting proudly atop our wicket charts with 17, with Malcolm Pay leading the run-scoring on 153.

Beaten by 70 runs, then, and no arguing with the margin. A tidy bowling display undone by a batting collapse — we'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Tue 30 May 1978 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWLLDL

Beaten by six runs, and if you'd told me at the toss — which, naturally, I lost — that we'd take the game that close after being asked to field, I'd have taken it gladly. The Mote posted a stiff 107/7 from their sixteen overs, John Reader top-scoring on 28 not out with Michael Dawson (27) and Chris Russell (21) chipping in around him, while our attack did its level best to keep the total honest. Paul Bowles was outstanding with the ball, 3-19, well backed by Allan Cooper's 3-36 and a wicket for Tony Gauna, and there was even a duck or two shared among David Barkaway, Eddie Page and — Milstead for our trouble.

Chasing 108, we made a proper fist of it. Nigel Thirkell batted beautifully for his unbeaten 46, and Paul Bowles, not content with his heroics in the field, added 34 with the bat to leave us 101/1 after sixteen overs — agonisingly, achingly six runs short.

A word of real celebration amid the near miss: Tony Gauna brought up 300 career wickets, a landmark that puts the result rather in the shade. He leads our 1978 wicket charts with 14, and Bowles now sits second in the run charts with 100 — form that bodes well.

So, honest defeat rather than capitulation. We were outplayed by six runs and not an ounce more; there's plenty to build on, and we'll be better for it next week.

Mon 29 May 1978 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWLLD

From the captain's chair — Monday 29 May 1978. The road took us to Bearsted, and if the fixture list has a cruel sense of humour, this was the day it showed it.

Lost the toss, asked to chase — never my favourite way to spend a bank holiday, but there we are. Put out to bowl first, Tony Gauna was a man transformed, ripping through their order for a thoroughly deserved 5-38, with Brian Piper (2-10) and John Bloomfield (1-10) tidying up around him and Jon Harris bowling like a man with better things to do than concede runs — twelve maidens will do that to a batting side's patience. For all that, Bearsted crawled to 135 all out in 71.4 overs, Brian Burnett's 33 and Sean Carter's 32 the backbone of it, though losing their first wicket for 7 suggested we'd have them cheaply. We didn't, quite.

Then came our reply, and oh, what a reply. Brian Piper's 38 and Malcolm Pay's 33 had us purring, Jon Harris chipping in with 20 and I added my own modest 20 — and then, as club cricket so loves to do, the wheels came off. Ninety for five became ninety-seven for eight in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, with Jim Hall, Colin Pay and John Bloomfield all contributing ducks to the cause. All out 130. Beaten by five runs.

Small mercies: Jon Harris's 20 nudged him past Frank Taylor into 24th on the club's all-time run list, and he now leads our 1978 wicket charts with 14, Malcolm Pay tops the run charts with 151. Progress amid the wreckage. We'll be better for it next week — we rather have to be.

Sun 28 May 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Benenden CC · AwayformLLLWW

Sunday 28 May 1978, and off we trooped to Benenden CC with the sun doing its best and my coin doing rather better — it came down our way, and I had few qualms about batting first on what looked a fair track.

We laboured a touch to 139 for 9 off our forty, Nigel Thirkell playing the anchor's part for 40 and Trevor Back chipping in handsomely with 31. Not a total to frighten anyone, truth be told, but enough — we hoped — to have something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did. Benenden replied with 137 for 9, Ian Klemen batting nicely for 44 with Ray Harding (31) and G. Osborne (27) offering support, but our attack simply refused to be shifted off the boil. Allan Cooper was magnificent, 4 for 41 of high-class seam bowling, while Trevor Back backed up his runs with 3 for 12 and four maidens that strangled the life out of their middle order — quite the afternoon's work from one man.

As for the skipper, the less said the better: a golden duck, out first ball, leadership by example rather spectacularly disproving itself. Still, Nigel keeps his nose in front atop our season's run charts with 120, and Allan now leads the wickets with 8 — the engine room doing the heavy lifting while the captain does the honourable thing and stays quiet.

Two runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved. A nervy, scrappy, marvellous win — exactly the sort club cricket is made for.

Sat 27 May 1978 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformDWWLL

We were unlucky at the toss on Saturday, and Maidstone YMCA elected to bat, leaving us in the field with the sun rather too high for comfort. J. Golding settled in for a fine 71, with John Adams (40) and Pete Worsnop (24) lending sturdy support after the openers had put on 67 for the first wicket and looked, for a while, entirely too pleased with themselves. It was Jon Harris who turned the afternoon our way, spinning a web through the middle order for a superb 5-68, with Terry Donovan (2-57) chipping away at the other end and Martin Thompson keeping things admirably tight with two maidens. They closed on 178/7 from their 48.5 overs — competitive, but not beyond us.

Our reply began wretchedly, the first wicket gone for just a single run, and for a nervous spell it looked like being a long walk back to the pavilion for most of us — Mike Iliffe and Keith Miller certainly found it so, both departing for ducks and joining the club's rather crowded roll of shame. But Malcolm Pay played the innings of the day, an assured 70, and a gutsy 51-run stand for the fifth wicket steadied what could have been a rout. I found some rhythm with the ball myself, taking five wickets, for what little consolation that offers a captain padding up. We closed on 114/6 from 42 overs.

A word of cheer amid the toil: Tim Thirkell's 13 runs eased him past Robert Murray into 11th on the club's all-time run charts, a small piece of history on an otherwise scrappy day. In the end, honours were shared — a draw that flattered neither side, but one we'll happily bank and move on from.

Tue 23 May 1978 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDWWL

Beaten fair and square by 35, but I put us in on winning the toss and, for a while there, we looked rather clever for it. Paul Bowles and Nigel Thirkell got us out of the blocks with 72 for the first wicket — the sort of stand that makes a captain feel he's earned his tea before he's even had it — and we finished on a very respectable 117/3 from our sixteen. Bowles went on to a well-made fifty, 53 to his name, with Thirkell chipping in 31 for good measure. All told, a total we fancied defending.

And defend it we very nearly did. The visitors were made to work hard for their runs, with Phil Jackson the chief obstacle at 37, but Nigel Thirkell had other ideas — 5-22 of pure village-green theatre, a five-for that had the lads purring and the tea urn practically applauding itself. Allan Cooper chipped in with 1-28, and there were ducks handed out too, to Dave Todd, Johnstone and Hayes, for those of us who enjoy a little schadenfreude with our scones.

In the end they got home by 35 runs, 82/9 the final damage, and we were left to reflect on chances not quite taken. Still, Bowles now tops our 1978 run charts and Thirkell sits third in the wickets — form worth building on. A defeat, yes, but not a disgrace. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 21 May 1978 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDDWW

Here in the captain's chair, Sunday 21 May 1978, home fixture — and what an afternoon it turned out to be.

Put into the field first, we saw the opposition rattle up 127 all out in 46.1 overs, X Collings the chief architect with a fine 50, well supported by X Rodger's 23. To our credit, the early breakthrough came cheap — 7-1 — and though a 58-run stand for the sixth wicket threatened to get away from us, X McCartney and X Walker both departed for ducks at our hands. But the story of the innings was Tony Gauna, who ran absolutely riot with 6-25 (five of those overs maidens, not a run given away lightly), well backed up by Allan Cooper's 2-20 and Trevor Back's 1-12. A word too for the record books: those six wickets carried Tony past Dick Langridge and into 11th on the club's all-time list — no mean feat.

With 128 needed, we never quite settled. Malcolm Pay held the innings together with a battling 38 not out, Trevor Back chipping in with 34 and Jim Hall an unbeaten 30, but a horror collapse from 46-1 to 54-4 in the blink of an eye did for us, and 15 byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for poor Malcolm. We limped to 128-5 from 43.5 overs and fell five wickets short.

Not our day, then — but with Jim Hall leading the season's run charts and Tony Gauna out on his own with the ball, there's plenty to build on. Heads up, lads. Back to the nets.

Sat 20 May 1978 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDLDDW

Headcorn CC came to Linton Park on the 20th of May and, having lost the toss and been put in — well, put us in — we soon found ourselves entirely happy about it. Jon Harris turned in the sort of afternoon bowlers dream about, seven for forty-two, a five-for and then some, and Terry Donovan chipped away at the other end with three for thirty and six maidens of the kind that make a batsman question his life choices. Between them they reduced Headcorn to 107 all out from forty-one overs, with only Richard Chapman's 45 offering any real resistance, while Penney, Barker and Jennings all trooped off for ducks.

A target of 108 ought to have been a formality, and in the loosest sense it was, though we did our level best to make a contest of it, stumbling to 109 for 6 from 40.1 overs before Jim Hall, unbeaten on 24 and well backed up by Brian Woodcock's 23, saw us home. I confess I found some rhythm with the ball myself, seven wickets on the day, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for weeks to come.

A quiet word too for Mike Iliffe, whose 15 runs eased him past John Taylor and into 17th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a small footnote in a long and distinguished ledger. We won by four wickets in the end, and while it was scrappier than the scoreboard suggests, a win is a win, and the tea was rather good.

Sun 14 May 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · AwayformWLLLW

Sunday 14th May found us on the road to High Halstow, and true to form I promptly lost the toss, condemning us to field first on what turned out to be a fine batting day for our hosts. Young Rayner gave us both barrels with a magnificent hundred, well supported by Whelan's 26, and when their third wicket pair put on 80 it looked rather like we'd have our work cut out. Credit where it's due though — Jon Harris bowled beautifully for 3-31, Nigel Thirkell chipped away with 2-28 and two tidy maidens, and Trevor Back mopped up with 2-61. K Batchelor departed for a duck at our hands, small mercies and all that. They closed on 154/7.

Chasing 155 is never comfortable, and matters weren't helped by my own contribution — nought, and the less said the better. Allan Cooper and Jon Harris joined me in the walk of shame, but Jim Hall played the innings of the day, 45 priceless runs backed up nobly by Trevor Back (30) and Nigel Thirkell (29), their sixth-wicket stand of 76 the difference between glory and gloom. We scraped home 157/9 with one wicket to spare — and I did at least manage 3 with the ball to salvage some pride.

A word too for Jim Hall, whose 45 eased him past Tony Levick into 22nd on the club's all-time run charts. A nerve-shredding, thoroughly deserved win. Onwards.

Thu 11 May 1978 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformWDLDD

Rain held off, if not much else did, for our visit from Maidstone Ymca CC on Thursday, and I duly lost the toss – a habit I seem in no hurry to break. They chose to bat, which on reflection suited us rather nicely once the ball started talking.

Allan Cooper set about them with real zip, finishing with 3-9, ably supported by Tony Gauna (2-18) and Nigel Thirkell (1-10), and between them they reduced the visitors from a shaky 11-1 to a positively wobbly 19-4. John Adams, Rod Warboys and D. Silvers all trooped back for ducks, and I confess I allowed myself a quiet smile at the scorer's book. K. Beckell, to his credit, held firm for an unbeaten 24 and, with the last pair adding a thoroughly unwelcome 38, dragged them up to 68/6 from their sixteen overs – a few more than we'd have liked to chase, if not many.

Our reply was never elegant. We stumbled to 69/7 in 15.3 overs, scraping home by three wickets with rather more alarm than the target warranted. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping ten byes for his trouble, and no doubt spent last orders explaining himself to all who'd listen.

Two points banked, Tim Thirkell still tops our run charts with 15, and Cooper leads the wickets with three. A scrappy, unconvincing win – but a win nonetheless, and I'll take that every Thursday going.

Sun 07 May 1978 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Biddenden CC · HomeformLWLLL

Lost the toss on a grey Sunday at home to Biddenden — never mind, I told the lads, we'll have them in anyway, and for once fortune smiled on the sulk that follows losing the coin. Biddenden could only cobble together 92 all out in 29.3 overs, undone early when their opener fell for 3-1 and further rattled when J Robinson trudged off for a duck. A Williamson (21) and D Packham (20) tried to rebuild, but Allan Cooper was in irresistible mood, scything through with 4-21, while Trevor Back bowled as if the boundary rope were an insult to his craft — 3-12 off three parsimonious maidens — and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2-20 for good measure.

Chasing 93 was never going to be a stroll for this side, and so it proved. We wobbled from 74-3 to 85-6 in a flurry that had me reaching for the scorebook and a stiff tea, with Malcolm Pay and Jim Hall both walking back for ducks of their own. But Nigel Thirkell, calm as you like amid the carnage, carried us home with a splendid 51, seeing us over the line at 93/6 from 28.4 overs.

A four-wicket win, then, and a tidy one at that. Thirkell now tops our Sunday run charts, Cooper the wickets — leaders both, and thoroughly deserving. Onwards we go.