🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 27 Sep 1980 🧢 1st XIv Lordswood CC · HomeformWDDLD

Saturday 27 September 1980, and Lordswood CC came calling. Won the toss and, in what I'd like to call a bold statement of intent rather than mere habit, stuck us in first.

It was not our finest hour with the bat, truth be told. 141 all out from 50.3 overs, the innings unravelling rather briskly from 126-7 to all out. Nigel Thirkell held things together with a well-crafted 52, and got useful company from Andy Woollett and Trevor Back, both 23. Special mention, as tradition demands, to Martin Thompson, who contributed a duck of such quality it will live long in the ledger, if not the memory.

Lordswood's reply gave us a fright or two, reaching 114 before folding in the 42nd over. Steve Marsh's 55 was the innings of note, backed up by Terry Tocknell (23) and K Darlington (20), and for a while it looked ominous — until Jon Harris, in his 300th appearance in our colours (a landmark achieved, fittingly, with the ball rather than the bat, though his 5 runs did creep him past Mike Iliffe to 17th on the club's all-time run list), ran through them with 5-36 and six miserly maidens. I chipped in with five of my own, and Nigel Thirkell — who leads both our run and wicket charts this season, greedily hoarding both honours — took 2-21 for good measure.

We got home by 27 runs. Scrappy with the bat, splendid with the ball, and a thoroughly good day for the club — Jon's 300th could hardly have been better marked.

Sun 21 Sep 1980 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDWDDL

Sunday 21 September brought Anchorians CC to Linton Park, and having called correctly for once, I saw no reason to complicate matters — up we went to bat.

It would be kind to call our innings modest. 105 all out in 45.5 overs is the sort of total that makes for a long tea interval and longer faces, though Paul Bowles did his level best to disguise the wreckage with a fighting 35. Poor David Iliffe, meanwhile, contributed nothing at all to the cause — a golden duck, and not the first he's collected, I'll wager, but never a pleasant one to walk off with.

In the field, though, the lads found their mettle. Anchorians reached 102 for 7 from their 32 overs, Paul Stanford top-scoring with 39 and Derek Ufton chipping in a solid 34, the two of them putting on a stand of 56 that threatened, for a while, to bat us clean out of it. R. Durbridge came and went for a duck of his own — one suspects he barely had time to take guard. It was Nigel Thirkell who kept us in the contest throughout, a fine 4 for 31, with Trevor Back chipping in 1 for 23 and Tony Gauna bowling two miserly maidens to choke the runs.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force the issue — and amid the toil, Paul Bowles quietly raised his 13,000th career run for the club, which is rather more memorable than anything on the scorecard. A scrappy draw, then, but a proud one.

Sat 20 Sep 1980 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDDWDD

West Farleigh arrived on a fine September Saturday, I won the toss, and — against all better judgement, some might say — elected to bat. I stand by it. What followed, alas, was not our finest hour with the willow: 63 all out in 39.2 overs, a total that took its time dying but died all the same. An early wicket at 8-1 set a nervy tone, and then, with the grim inevitability of a British summer turning to rain, the innings collapsed from 34-4 to 42-7 in the time it takes to pour a tea. Quite how we stretched that to 63 I still can't entirely explain — stubbornness, mostly.

Defending such a modest total was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved, though not without pride intact. Ron Hickman bowled with real discipline — four maidens and 1-15 don't lie — while Nigel Thirkell was, as he so often is this season, our pick of the attack, snaring 2-26. But West Farleigh's Roger Crooks made hay with 29 of the bulk, and they eased home at 64-3 from 21.5 overs, winning by seven wickets with overs and dignity to spare.

Thirkell continues his extraordinary season regardless — 1265 runs and 74 wickets in the 1st XI charts speaks for itself, one-man band that he is. As for the rest of us: a batting collapse to forget, a bowling effort to be proud of, and a defeat that stings just enough to sharpen us for next week.

Wed 17 Sep 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDWLLD

Wednesday 17 September, and off we trundled to The Mote, losing the toss with the sort of inevitability that has become something of a Linton Park tradition. Put into the field, we watched Richard Chapman play the innings of the day, 84 well-crafted runs, with Nigel Mullarkey (28) and J Williams (25) lending sturdy support and a 75-run second-wicket stand doing most of the damage to our afternoon. Credit where it's due, though: Trevor Back bowled beautifully for 3-33, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2-53, and Steve Petty was miserliness personified, 1-33 with two maidens, as The Mote closed on a healthy 214/7 from their 51 overs.

Our reply was built on Nigel Thirkell's fine 73, a genuine captain's-innings sort of knock, backed up handsomely by Brian Piper's 48, the two of them putting on a crucial 73 for the seventh wicket just when the innings needed spine. Elsewhere it was a rather more chastening tale — David Carden and Jim Hall both departed for ducks, and ten byes conceded told you all you needed to know about Jim's afternoon behind the stumps. We closed on 180/8 from our 48, agonisingly short.

Honours shared, then, and on reflection a draw felt about right — neither side quite had the stomach to finish the job. A day of fine individual efforts, a few home truths, and tea that was, I'm reliably informed, rather good.

Sun 14 Sep 1980 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDDWD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 14 September 1980, a home fixture, and for once the coin did as it was told. I put us in, which in hindsight had the makings of a decision I might live to regret.

We limped to 146/9 from 53.5 overs, a total that flattered to deceive at every stage. Paul Bowles carried the innings with a fine unbeaten 62, well supported by David Carden's 28, but the middle order rather lost its nerve — 47-2 became 54-5 before anyone had quite worked out what was happening, and Andy Woollett and Ross Brice both trudged back for ducks. Not our finest hour with the willow, though the tea urn, at least, behaved impeccably.

Ball in hand, though, we were a different side entirely. They were bowled out for 98 in 42 overs, undone by a collapse every bit as merciless as our own — 68-2 crumbling to 75-5, with W Creed, C Smith and P Dann all departing without troubling the scorers. Paul Bowles, having done his bit with the bat, then ran amok with figures of 4-8 including four maidens — the sort of spell that makes a captain look considerably cleverer than he actually is — with Nigel Thirkell (2-7) and Jon Harris (2-34) mopping up admirably.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. A draw that felt, on reflection, entirely fair — and rather more entertaining than the scorecard lets on.

Sat 13 Sep 1980 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformLDDDW

As it stands, thirteen wickets fell and 361 runs crossed the bat between us and Southborough, and the ledger reads: a draw, honours shared, and nobody quite able to land the killer blow.

Winning the toss, I had few doubts about batting first, and it was Malcolm Pay who set the tone with a thoroughly watchable 53, well backed by Andy Woollett's 39 and Jim Hall's 21 — the two of them stitching together a vital 73 for the fifth wicket when the innings might otherwise have wobbled. Not everyone enjoyed such fortune: poor David Iliffe departed for a duck, and can console himself only with the honour of the walk of shame. We were grateful, too, for 34 extras, which these days feels less like a gift and more like a proper contributing batsman. All told, 194 for 8 off 48.4 overs looked a defendable total on a green and pleasant afternoon.

So it proved, though not without alarm. Southborough lost their opener cheaply at 2 for 1, but Ken White's fine 62 and Glenn Farmer's 35 threatened to pull the game away from us, aided by a stubborn 73-run stand for the fourth wicket. It was Jon Harris who kept us in it, bowling with real discipline for 4 for 55 and six maidens, with Nigel Thirkell (2-52) and John Bloomfield (1-18) chipping in. My own afternoon brought 17 with the bat and 4 wickets with the ball, though our wicketkeeper might wish to forget the 11 byes.

A draw, then — fair reflection of an honest contest, and no complaints from this captain.

Wed 10 Sep 1980 🧢 Tour XIv PC Penryn St Gluvias CC · AwayformWLWWD

Wednesday 10 September 1980, and off we trooped to Penryn St Gluvias, where the toss decided to go my way for once and I promptly decided we should bat — no point standing on ceremony when the coin's finally on your side.

Runs came steadily rather than spectacularly: Paul Bowles and Allan Cooper both fell agonisingly one short of what would have been very tidy half-centuries, 48 apiece, and between them they dragged us to a respectable 143 for 6 off our 35. Not a total to frighten anyone at breakfast, but enough, we hoped, to give the bowlers something to work with.

And work with it they did. Penryn wobbled from the off, and when Ian Barnes and Mark G Mitchell both departed without troubling the scorers, the innings had the unmistakable whiff of collapse about it — 53 for 3 became 59 for 6 and there was no way back. Nigel Thirkell was quite simply magnificent, six wickets for 27 and six maidens to boot, the sort of miserly, relentless spell that has him sitting proudly atop both our run and wicket charts for the season. Paul Bowles chipped in with two more, Ross Brice with one, and Phillip Smith's 35 and G Stephens' 31 were the only real resistance as Penryn folded for 107 in 34.4 overs.

Poor Fred Greenfield had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes going begging, but no matter — we came home 36 runs to the good. A thoroughly satisfactory day's work, and one Nigel Thirkell can rightly call his own.

Tue 09 Sep 1980 🧢 Tour XIv PC Paul CC · AwayformWWLWW

We rolled up to Paul CC on Tuesday last, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what follows. We wobbled early, 7 for 1 having barely got the tea urn warm, but the middle order steadied the ship in fine style. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, a well-constructed 54, with Fred Cheesman (30) and Trevor Back (26) lending sturdy support, and a splendid 59-run stand for the eighth wicket dragged us up to a very respectable 201 for 9 from our forty overs.

In the field we struck early, removing their opener for 8 for 1, and I'm reliably informed poor P Billington departed without so much as troubling the scorers — every club needs its sacrificial duck. But L Hicks had other ideas, compiling a chanceless 74 not out, well supported by P Stephens (46) and Steve Snell (20), and their innings closed on 173 for 6 from 31.4 overs, the equation having rather got away from us by the finish. Trevor Back bowled beautifully for 3 for 49, with Ross Brice and Sean Hocking chipping in, and I allowed myself a quiet pat on the back for 26 with the bat and 3 wickets with the ball — not bad for a man whose knees complain more than the umpire.

Honours shared, then, and on reflection a fair result: two sides who gave as good as they got, and nobody left Paul CC feeling short-changed.

Mon 08 Sep 1980 🧢 Tour XIv GC Grampound Road CC · AwayformLWWLW

Grampound Road won the toss and, as is their custom, decided we should spend the afternoon in the field — and off they went to 139/8 from their forty overs. A shaky start for them, just 3 on the board when the first wicket fell, gave us hope, but P Hurley (52 not out) had other ideas, anchoring the innings with real class, well supported by S Ellis (34), and a stubborn 72-run stand for the seventh wicket dragged the total up to something respectable. Credit where due, though: Nigel Thirkell was in magnificent nick with the ball, 3 for 13 and five maidens besides — the sort of spell that has batsmen playing for their tea rather than their runs — with Andy Woollett (3-40) and Ross Brice (1-16) chipping in, and the Coombes, A and P, both departing without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 140, we made hardly a meal of it. Nigel Thirkell, having already done his day's work with the ball, added an unbeaten 51 with the bat for good measure, Allan Cooper (30) and Tim Thirkell (28) lending sturdy support, and a crucial 50-run third-wicket stand set us fair. I contributed a watchful 28 of my own, more graft than glamour, and we cantered home by seven wickets with 35.4 overs gone.

A thoroughly good day out, then, and one that leaves Nigel Thirkell sitting proudly atop both our run and wicket charts for the season — a man clearly intent on doing the rest of us out of a game. Tea, as ever, was the only contest we came close to losing.

Sun 07 Sep 1980 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformWLWWL

The road to Cornwall is a long one, and losing the toss to be sent into the field on a Sunday morning is not the tonic any captain dreams of, but there we were, Beacon CC's guests, leather in hand and hope in short supply. C Thomas made merry with a fine 53, E Weeks stood firm for 48 not out, and their last pair, with the sort of cheek only last-wicket pairs possess, cracked on an unwanted 57 before the innings closed at 166/7 from 25 overs. Small mercies came in the shape of D Piper, back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and in Paul Bowles, whose 3-24 did real damage. Nigel Thirkell (2-24) and Jon Harris (1-23) chipped away, while Trevor Back bowled two maidens as tight as anything you'll find in Cornwall.

Chasing 167, we crept and stumbled our way to 170/8 from 24.5 overs, home by two wickets and rather more grateful than proud. Andy Woollett's 33 anchored things, with Jim Hall (32) and Paul Bowles (32) doing their bit alongside him.

The real story of the day, though, belonged to Jim Hall, whose 32 runs brought up 3,000 career runs for the club and eased him past Terry Whittaker into 15th on our all-time run-scorers list — a landmark worth more than any nervy run-chase. As the season stands, Nigel Thirkell leads the Tour XI's run charts with 57, and Jon Harris tops the wickets with 6. A scrappy, nail-biting, thoroughly English away day — but a win is a win, and we'll take it gladly.

Fri 05 Sep 1980 🧢 Tour XIv ? · AwayformWWLWW

Friday the fifth of September, and off we went for another away fixture with hope in our hearts and rather too little in reserve, as it turned out. Winning the toss I had no hesitation in batting first — the right call, I still maintain, even if the scorebook doesn't entirely agree. We slipped to nought for one almost before anyone had found their pads, and ducks for Paul Bowles, Jim Hall and Jon Harris didn't help the cause. But Nigel Thirkell dug in for a fine 42, and Tim Thirkell's unbeaten 30 gave the innings some backbone, as we closed on 115 all out from 43.4 overs.

Defending that total always felt a stretch, though for a while we made a proper game of it. Their innings wobbled early at 5 for 1, and when 58 for 4 became 64 for 7 in a hurry — C Rashleigh among the ducks — we allowed ourselves a flutter of optimism. Jon Harris was magnificent, 5 for 34 with eight miserly maidens, well backed by Trevor Back's 3 for 10 and a wicket that came my way too. They got home on 81 all out from 41.2 overs, beating us by 34 runs in the end.

A happier note amid the disappointment: Tim Thirkell brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, a landmark well worth raising a glass to. Nigel Thirkell now leads our 1980 Tour XI run charts, and Jon Harris the wickets. Beaten, but not disheartened — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 31 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformDLDDD

The coin, as is tradition down our way, betrayed us again — Staplehurst won the toss and had no hesitation in padding up. Their 160 for 8 off 55.3 overs owed most to B. Penny's watchful 31, with the Pullen brothers chipping in handsomely — Ian with 24, Neil unbeaten on 21 — while poor N. Maher trudged back for nought without troubling the scorers. It was Paul Bowles who did the real damage, scything through with 4 for 17, well backed by Martin Larkin and Trevor Back, a wicket apiece at 24 runs, and Nigel Thirkell bowled with the meanness of a man guarding his allotment, five maidens and barely a run given away free.

Chasing 161 to win, we made ourselves rather comfortable. The openers put on 92 for the first wicket before one finally fell, and from there Paul Bowles carried on where he'd left off with the ball, striking a fine 62, with Nigel Thirkell unbeaten on 48 and Andy Woollett a brisk 28. Allan Cooper, alas, made the long and lonely walk for a duck — the Duck Club welcomes another member. We reached 162 for 4 in 38.4 overs, though Jim Hall behind the stumps will want a quiet word with himself after 20 byes went begging.

With Thirkell topping the season's run charts and Bowles now third among the wickets, this side is building something rather special. A comfortable six-wicket win, and a very pleasant drive home.

Sat 30 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv BA British Rail Ashford · HomeformDDLDD

As the villages beat British Rail Ashford at Ashford's own game — wait, no, wrote it below.

Saturday 30 August 1980, and British Rail Ashford rolled into Linton Park with the sun doing its best and the toss doing us no favours at all — down went the coin, up went their eyebrows, and they elected to bat.

Not that it mattered much in the end. We had them in all sorts of bother, C Barton's 36 and A Owen's 34 the only real resistance, propped up by a 3rd-wicket stand of 59 that was rather more substantial than anything either side managed either side of it. From 100-4 to 102-7 was cricket at its most theatrical — Kelleher, Tyrrell and Heath trooped back without so much as a squeak off the bat, three ducks for the price of one over-rate. Martin Larkin was magnificent, 4-22 of pure menace, with Paul Bowles metronomic at 2-12 including four maidens that must have driven their middle order to drink, and Ross Brice chipping in at 1-1. All out 114 from 48 overs — a fine morning's work.

Chasing it should have been the easy part. It wasn't. We lost our first wicket for nought, and poor David Carden endured the walk of shame for a duck of his own. Only Nigel Thirkell — still top of the season's run pile with 1186, and, remarkably, top wicket-taker too with 68 — showed any real defiance, his 32 the innings' backbone as we crawled to 93-8 and safety, if not victory.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, and tea, as ever, the only guaranteed result of the day.

Wed 27 Aug 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDDWLL

We won the toss at home to Gravesend and I had no hesitation putting us in to bat — and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than lucky. Brian Piper and the top of the order set about things with real purpose, the openers stitching together 130 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a dismissal. Piper went on to 64, Paul Bowles chipped in a handsome 63, and Nigel Thirkell finished unbeaten on a watchful 56 as we declared our efforts at a healthy 223 for 3 off our forty overs. Piper's innings, incidentally, also nudged him past Ray Howard into 13th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the sort of statistical footnote that will mean everything to him and nothing to anyone else, which is exactly as it should be.

Defending 223 always promises a nervous afternoon in a deckchair, and so it proved. Gravesend lost an early wicket without a run on the board, which had us purring, but Barry Diplock and B Hiscock put on 94 for the second wicket and dragged the game back towards them. Diplock's 91 was a genuinely fine knock and very nearly did for us. Credit to Paul Bowles, whose 4 for 37 kept chipping away, well backed by Nigel Thirkell's 3 for 58 and Steve Petty, miserly as ever with five maidens and a wicket for 22. Robert Lane departed for a duck, which felt like the least Gravesend could offer us in return.

In the end they closed on 219 for 8, five short and two wickets shy of getting there — honours shared, and rightly so. A draw that flattered no one and cheated no one either; we'll happily take it.

Mon 25 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDDDLD

Skipper's Log — Monday 25 August 1980. Bearsted CC, and a day that had "hard-fought stalemate" written through it like a stick of seaside rock.

Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what followed. We were bowled out for 184 in 51.2 overs, which on a good pitch is either a defendable total or a missed opportunity depending entirely on how the tea went down. Jim Hall top-scored with a fine 39, with Paul Brattle and Nigel Thirkell both chipping in 24 apiece to give the innings some backbone. Credit to Nigel too — he now sits atop the 1980 1st XI run charts with 1154 for the season, proof that consistency beats fireworks more often than not.

In the field we did our bit without quite doing enough to force it. Bearsted closed on 142 for 6 from their 52 overs, with Brian Burnett the chief nuisance on 39, well supported by Sean Carter's 30 and Rod Hewson's 23. Mike Read, mercifully for us, departed without troubling the scorers. The real story was with the ball — Jon Harris bowling beautifully for 2 for 9 with seven maidens, the sort of spell that makes batsmen question their life choices, backed up nicely by David Iliffe (1-6) and Tony Gauna (1-13). He's now second in the club's wicket charts with 55 for the season, and on this evidence there's more to come.

In the end, honours shared — a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Not a classic, but an honest afternoon's cricket, and there are worse ways to spend a Bank Holiday Monday.

Sun 24 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformLDDDL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 24 August 1980, and a fine one to lose the toss on, as Old Anchorians CC elected to bat and we resigned ourselves to a long afternoon in the field. They crawled to 147/9 from their sixty overs, R Fisher top-scoring with 30, Bob Neale unbeaten on the same, and K Hewitt chipping in with 29 — though it might have been a rout, with the first wicket down at 4-1, had Paul Bowles not been so infuriatingly economical, four for 42 with seven maidens to torment the batsmen, well supported by Andy Woollett (2-36) and Tony Gauna (1-18).

Our reply was rather more theatre than technique. R Bushell and A Green went for ducks, and things briefly threatened to unravel as we slid from 47-2 to 50-5 in the sort of rush that has grown men reaching for the scorebook in disbelief. Poor Tim Thirkell joined them on nought, but the tail — bless it — wagged magnificently, adding a defiant 53 to frustrate the visitors, with your captain contributing 35 and Paul Bowles carrying the innings with an unbeaten 35 of his own, as we closed on 105/6 from 43 overs.

I'll confess a personal satisfaction with four wickets to my own name, and Paul Bowles continues his extraordinary season, now second in the club's run charts and third among the wicket-takers.

Honours shared, then — a draw, and on a day like this, no bad way to leave the ground.

Sat 23 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv DC Downham & Bellingham CC · HomeformWLDDD

Saturday last brought Downham & Bellingham to Linton Park, and the day began as these days too often do: I lost the toss, they had a look at the surface, and duly opted to bat. We took the new ball with hope in our hearts, but Barnes and Warman had other ideas, putting on 60 for the first wicket before we prised out a breakthrough. Barnes went on to a fine 70, Warman 55, and Eaton chipped in with 27 as their total climbed to a rather stern 201 for 5 off 45.5 overs. Ross Brice was our pick with the ball, 1 for 18, with Andy Woollett and Jon Harris chipping in either side of him — and Harris, bowling with the miserliness of a man guarding his allotment, sent down four maidens for good measure.

Chasing 202 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and we failed the first one rather promptly, slipping to 2 for 1. Woollett, showing fine form with bat as well as ball, made 44, and Thirkell added 43, the pair putting together 82 for the fourth wicket that briefly had us dreaming. But from 90 for 4 we tumbled to 101 for 7 in a rush, and ducks for Cove, Bloomfield and Brice sealed our fate at 116 all out.

Beaten by 85 runs, then, though Thirkell continues to lead both our run and wicket charts this season with 1,130 runs and 67 wickets — a rare bright spot on an otherwise chastening afternoon. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 20 Aug 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLDDWL

Under leaden Kent skies at Gravesend, I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once I was allowed to be right in public.

Brian Piper set about proving me correct with a magnificent 107, the sort of hundred that has you fetching extra tea urns, while Roger Crooks played the perfect foil with 88. Between them they did the work of eleven men, which was just as well, since Gareth Thomas and Simon Thirkell both contrived golden ducks and were back in the pavilion before their pads had warmed up. Still, 215 for 5 from our 43 overs looked a handsome total as we broke for tea.

Defending it proved rather more nerve-shredding than posting it. Gravesend lost their first wicket without troubling the scoreboard, but Dave Elliott's fifty-plus 78 and useful contributions from Barry Diplock and Les Curtis dragged them back into it, and a stubborn 79-run stand for the fifth wicket did the real damage. Jon Harris was magnificent, claiming five for 82 — a thoroughly deserved five-for — with Paul Bowles and Tony Gauna chipping in, though ten byes off Paul's efforts behind the stumps told their own sorry tale. I managed five wickets myself, which offered some small consolation.

In the end Gravesend edged home by a single wicket, the cruellest of margins. We'll be better for it next week — we simply have to be.

Sun 17 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformDWLDD

Sunday, 17 August 1980, and off we trundled to Whitstable with the toss lost before we'd even unpacked the sandwiches. Asked to field, we watched Mike Tritton compile a thoroughly magnificent 103, with Tom Robertson (45) and nick denly (39) offering sturdy company — that fourth-wicket stand of 91 doing most of the damage after we'd nabbed an early one at 0-1. Credit where due: Trevor Back was excellent with the ball (2-19), Nigel Thirkell and Tony Gauna chipped in (2-44 and 1-37), and Allan Cooper bowled six maidens of the sort that makes batsmen question their life choices. Whitstable declared us to 211/5 from their 56 overs — a target that felt distinctly more than a formality.

Our reply never quite got going in the manner required, though Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 79 well past his fifty and carrying the top order almost single-handed. We lost an early wicket cheaply at 7-1, and poor David Iliffe will want this one struck from the record, bagging a duck for his troubles. We closed on 140/7 from 52 overs, safe but unspectacular.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, tea presumably very good. With Nigel Thirkell continuing his remarkable season (1087 runs, 66 wickets — the man is single-handedly keeping our averages respectable), we can't complain too loudly. A fair result, honestly earned, and one more entry in what's shaping up to be a memorable summer.

Sat 16 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDWLD

It was a nail-biting Saturday of contrasts, and I'll admit the toss went rather well before the cricket did. We won it and, with no great hesitation, chose to bat — a decision that looked shakier by the over as wickets tumbled around Gareth Thomas, who stood firm for a splendid unbeaten 64. Stan Wratten and Ross Brice both contributed the sort of golden duck that makes a captain study his boot laces rather intently, but a defiant last-wicket stand of 36 dragged us to a respectable-ish 111/7 from our 45 overs. Respectable, at least, by the standards of a side that had briefly threatened to collapse in a heap.

Defending it looked a tall order on paper, but the lads had other ideas. We tore through the top order — 26-2 became 42-5 before some of the opposition knew what had hit them, Chris Brewer sent packing without so much as a run to his name. Jon Harris was quite simply unplayable, spinning a web for 5-50 with four maidens of positively miserly intent, well supported by Brewer's 2-35 and David Carden's 1-12. I found some rhythm myself with the ball for good measure. Fred Greenfield's 33 and Jon Harris's own 22 with the bat kept the opposition afloat to 108/9, just short of the mark.

A draw, then — honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. With Carden third in our season's run charts and Harris second among the wicket-takers, there's plenty to be cheerful about even in a match that refused to pick a winner. Character over conquest, as ever at Linton Park.

Sun 10 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv HC Holmesdale CC · HomeformLDDWL

Here's the report:

There's a certain satisfaction in winning the toss and trusting your instincts, and so it proved on a fine Sunday against Holmesdale. Put simply, I fancied batting first, and the top order didn't let me down — the openers put on a handsome 73 before the first wicket finally fell, laying a platform the rest of the innings was only too happy to build on. David Carden was the story of the day, though; a magnificent unbeaten 108 that anchored us all the way to 193 for 6 from our fifty overs, with Paul Bowles (26) and Tim Thirkell (20) chipping in nicely around him.

In the field we made early inroads, sending both Paul Cohen and Errol Valentine back without troubling the scorers, and for a while it looked rosy. But Nigel Pullen had other ideas, playing the innings of the match with an unbeaten 88 that dragged Holmesdale to 156 for 8 from their 48 and denied us the win our batting perhaps deserved. Paul Bowles was outstanding with the ball — 3 for 32, three of them maidens, not a run given away lightly — with good support from Jon Harris (3-39) and Tony Gauna (1-23), and I confess a quiet pride in picking up three wickets myself.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force it home. A draw, then — but with Carden's century and Pullen's defiance, one to remember fondly all the same.

Sat 09 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWLDDW

We were away to Headcorn on Saturday 9th August, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I still stand by, whatever the scorebook might suggest by close of play. Malcolm Pay batted beautifully for his unbeaten 48, with David Carden chipping in a tidy 22, but the middle order rather let the side down with one of those collapses that gives a captain grey hairs — 45-2 crumbling to 56-5 before we'd had time to settle in our deckchairs. We limped to 116/8 from our 47 overs, a total that felt distinctly light on the walk back to the pavilion.

In the field, though, we very nearly made a match of it in spite of ourselves. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent — five wickets for 46, five overs of it maidens, bowling with a relentlessness that had Headcorn's openers thoroughly rattled, well supported by Ron Hickman's 1-16. B. Penney's 43 and Richard Chapman's 21 kept the run chase alive, and when 77-2 became 82-5 in a hurry I allowed myself a quiet smile. But the last pair, showing precisely the sort of stubbornness we'd have welcomed from our own tail, put on an unwelcome 35 to see Headcorn home at 118/6 in 40.3 overs.

Beaten by four wickets, then — no disgrace, but no cigar either. Thirkell continues to lead our run and wicket charts in fine style, and with batting like that to come, we'll be considerably better for this one come next Saturday.

Wed 06 Aug 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDLDDW

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 06 August 1980. We hosted, and I called correctly at the toss, which these days feels like half the battle. I had no hesitation in choosing to bat, and for once the decision looked positively shrewd.

The early loss of a wicket for just 1 run threatened to knock the stuffing out of us, but Paul Bowles and Andy Usher had other ideas, stitching together a splendid 94-run stand for the second wicket that put the innings back on an even keel. Bowles went on to a fine 77, Usher chipped in a well-made 53, and Roger Crooks saw us home unbeaten on 33 to leave us a very respectable 221/6 from our 41 overs. Special mention, as tradition demands, for Alan Randall, who made the walk of shame for a nought and duly joins the Duck Club.

Defending the total, the lads bowled beautifully. N Johnson's 25 and a supporting 24 from Hodgkinson were the only real resistance, and once they slipped from 85-3 to 93-6 the writing was on the wall — Sands, Paul Kinnill and Bigg all departing without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was magnificent with 3-10, Reg Oldfield backed him up with 3-16, and Andrew Hales bowled two tidy maidens on his way to 2-10. I even had the pleasure of taking 3 wickets myself. They folded for 113.

A thumping 108-run win, then — Bowles now tops the season's run charts and Harris the wickets. We'll take that, and gladly.

Sun 03 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformLWLDD

Sunday 3rd August 1980, and Staplehurst arrived at Linton Park to find me winning the toss and, for once, making the right decision — we batted. Paul Bowles was in irresistible touch, ghosting past his fifty and on to 79, while David Carden's 30 and Tim Thirkell's unbeaten 29 gave the innings real backbone. The openers deserve their round of applause too, laying a platform of 63 for the first wicket before the initial breakthrough came — the sort of start that lets a captain sit back with his tea and pretend he isn't nervous. We closed on a handsome 200/5 from 51.1 overs, which felt, even as we walked off, like a total with some bite in it.

And bite it had. Staplehurst never quite got going against us, John Munn's 34 and B- Penny's 21 the only real resistance, and what began as a wobble at 104/6 became a full-blown collapse to 110/9 as the lads smelled blood. Three of their batsmen — R Pullen, Anthony West and Eric Hotson — departed without troubling the scorer, ducks all, as our attack simply refused to let up. Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, took the ball and ran through them with 3-1; Trevor Back (3-18) and Nigel Thirkell (2-13) offered fine support, while Tony Gauna bowled three maidens of pure miserliness. Staplehurst folded for 114 in 40.4 overs.

An 86-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards indeed.

Sat 02 Aug 1980 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWLWLD

Saturday 2 August 1980, and Bidborough CC rolled into Linton Park under skies that, for once, seemed to know their cricket. I won the toss and, with the confidence of a man who had clearly forgotten every previous decision of this kind, chose to bat.

It was, in the end, a wise one — largely thanks to Nigel Thirkell, who set about the Bidborough attack with the quiet ruthlessness of a man doing his tax return early, carrying his bat all the way to an unbeaten 102. Around him the rest of us made rather more modest contributions, none more so than John Bloomfield, who contributed a duck of such purity it deserved its own round of applause. We closed on 151 for 6 from our 47.5 overs, a total that felt like exactly enough and not an over more.

In the field, Thirkell simply refused to stop working, following his century with 2 for 17 to rock the visitors early — 8 on the board and a wicket down, the sort of start that puts a flutter in a captain's chest. Jon Harris bowled with a miser's discipline, six maidens and 2 for 49, while Ross Brice chipped in with 1 for 12. But R Stevens (32), R Tippey (27) and an unbeaten 21 from Roger Harrison steadied Bidborough's ship, and they finished on 121 for 6 — short of us, but safe.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, no more than either side deserved.

Tue 29 Jul 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Margate CC · AwayformLDLDD

Tuesday 29th July found us on the road at Margate, and if the toss had gone our way we might have had less grey in our hair by close of play. Asked to bowl first, the lads made a fair fist of it — an early breakthrough at 6-1 set the tone, and though Margate steadied to post 106/9 from their 48 overs, it never felt like a total that would trouble us unduly. Trevor Back was the pick of the attack with 2-21, well backed by Jon Harris (2-29) and A McDonald (1-3), while Nigel Thirkell bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that makes a captain's job easy — five maidens and barely a run to be had.

A target of 107 ought to be straightforward, and so it very nearly was, despite losing an early wicket with just 4 on the board that had me reaching for a second cup of tea. From there, Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, an unbeaten fifty of real substance, with Mick Filmer (36) his willing lieutenant in a second-wicket stand worth 73 that settled matters entirely. We cantered home at 107/3 in just 19 overs.

A fine seven-wicket win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. Bowles continues to lead the Midweek XI run charts with 270 for the season, and Harris the wicket charts with 9 — form that bodes well as the summer rolls on. Onwards, indeed.

Sun 27 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDWLWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 27 July 1980. We travelled to face opposition on a day when the coin, at least, went our way; I won the toss and had no hesitation in putting us in, always the braver call when you're not entirely sure the wicket agrees with you.

The lads repaid the faith handsomely. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 71 well-constructed runs, while Brian Piper chipped in with 39 and David Carden 26, the pair sharing a second-wicket stand of 69 that gave the innings its backbone. We closed on a healthy 191 for 7 from our 53 overs, the sort of total that lets a captain sleep easy over his tea and sandwiches.

Defending it, we were made to work. W Hickton played the innings of their side's day, a fine 67, well supported by Mike Foster's 25, and they pushed us all the way to 162 for 8 from 47 overs before the overs ran out. S Chamberlain, at least, departed without troubling the scorers — small mercies. Paul Bowles, having done the business with the bat, did it again with the ball, 4 for 53, with Nigel Thirkell (2-22) and the miserly Jon Harris (2-57, two maidens) offering fine support. In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force the door open.

A word for the mantelpiece: Brian Piper brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and his 39 today eased him past Terry Whittaker into 14th on our all-time run-scorers' list — no mean feat, that. Nigel Thirkell, meanwhile, continues to lead both the 1980 run and wicket charts, a captain's dream and, frankly, everyone else's nightmare. A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and not the worst way to spend a Sunday.

Sat 26 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv High Halstow CC · AwayformWDWLW

Skipper's Log, Saturday 26 July 1980, away at High Halstow CC.

Won the toss, and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody had the nerve to tell me otherwise. We laboured to 155/9 from our 44 overs, rescued from the ordinary by David Carden's fine 54, with Malcolm Pay (26) and Nigel Thirkell (25) chipping in either side of a sturdy 54-run second-wicket stand. Jon Harris, so often the hero with the ball, gave us a golden nothing with the bat 🦆 — and, in the interests of full disclosure, your correspondent did likewise. The less said, the better.

Redemption came in the field. High Halstow replied with 159/7 from 43.4 overs, Colin Sykes (35), Simon Johnston (33) and R Brown (30) doing the damage, with a stubborn 66-run second-wicket stand threatening to see them home. But Jon Harris tore through with 3-37 — and reached 800 career wickets in the process, a landmark worth raising a glass to 🎯. Nigel Thirkell, tight as ever with three maidens, took 1-32, Ron Hickman matched him with 1-32, and I managed three wickets myself, which went some way to atoning for the duck.

In the end, beaten by two wickets — a whisker too close for comfort. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 23 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · HomeformDWDWL

Here's the report:

We won the toss on a Wednesday evening — 23 July 1980, Benenden CC the visitors — and, feeling uncharacteristically decisive for once, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat. It proved the right call. Nigel Thirkell and Paul Bowles put on a splendid opening stand of 117 before the first wicket finally fell, Thirkell going on to 65 and Bowles following him past his own fifty with 56, the pair doing rather more of the scoring than the rest of us combined. We closed on a handsome 138/3 from our sixteen overs, which left me quietly rubbing my hands in the field.

Benenden never quite got going in reply. They lost their first wicket for just a single run and, though Dave Edwards held firm at the other end for an unbeaten 48, wickets kept tumbling around him. Tony Gauna was magnificent, taking 3-22 and — in a personal landmark not to be passed over lightly — bringing up 400 career wickets in the process. Bowles (1-3) and Thirkell (1-14) chipped in nicely too, and Benenden were held to 89/7.

A 49-run win, two points banked, and Thirkell continuing his imperious form atop both the season's run and wicket charts. A thoroughly satisfactory evening's work, and — dare I say it — rather more comfortable than my captaincy usually allows.

Mon 21 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLDWDW

From the captain's chair — Monday 21 July 1980. We hosted West Farleigh CC, and for once I can report we lost the toss and, mercifully, weren't made to bat first, which given what followed with the bat may have been the highlight of the afternoon.

Put into the field, we did rather well. West Farleigh crawled to 83/4 from their sixteen overs, with Fred Baker top-scoring on 20 but never quite cutting loose. Allan Cooper was the pick of the attack, tidy figures of 1-10, while Tony Gauna (1-25) and Nigel Thirkell (1-31) chipped away either end. Restricting them to 83 felt, at the time, like a job well done.

Then we batted, and the wheels — as they so often do at Linton Park — came off in spectacular fashion. From a perfectly respectable 67-5 we contrived to slump to 73-8 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Martin Thompson's golden duck rather summed up the mood. We limped to 82/9 from our sixteen, one agonising run short of the target.

Elsewhere in the season, Nigel Thirkell continues to lead from the front, top of both the run charts on 826 and the wicket charts on 51 — carrying us, as ever, while the rest of us find new ways to lose by margins that would embarrass a losing raffle ticket. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Fri 18 Jul 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLLDLD

Skipper's Log, Friday 18 July 1980, at home. Won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, stuck us in – a decision I was still congratulating myself on by close of play.

Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the season, a magnificent 111, and the way he timed the ball you'd have thought the square had been ironed flat by the groundsman especially for him. Paul Bowles chipped in nicely with 34, and the pair added a vital 72 for the second wicket after we'd stumbled to 6 for one in the sort of nervy opening that makes a captain reach for his tea rather too quickly. Poor Trevor Back's contribution was a golden duck, though he took it on the chin with the good grace this club prides itself on. We closed on a handy 178 for 7 from our 49.

Then came the small matter of defending it, and Paul Bowles simply refused to stop working – 3 for 22 with five overs maiden, tidy as you like, though nine byes suggested his wicketkeeper was having rather less fun than he was. David Iliffe and Tony Gauna chipped in with a wicket apiece, and R Tapping departed for nought at our hands. But G Marshall's fine 51, backed by J Taylor's 32 and John Furminger's 29, dragged the visitors to 145 for 6 and safety.

Fittingly, amid the toil, Nigel brought up 8,000 career runs for the club – a landmark worth more than any result. A draw, then, honours shared, and on this evidence entirely fair.

Thu 17 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWLDWD

From the captain's chair — Thursday 17 July 1980, and The Mote CC the visitors to Linton Park.

I lost the toss, as is now traditional, and they had no hesitation in taking first knock. For a while it looked a shrewd choice too, Malcolm Bristow easing to 60 not out with the minimum of fuss, David Barkaway chipping in with 24 and Ken MacLeay 20, as The Mote posted a brisk 134 for 4 from their 16 overs. Credit to Nigel Thirkell, whose 2 for 42 kept us in touch when the boundaries were flowing rather too freely for comfort, with Paul Bowles lending sterling support at 1 for 30.

Chasing 135, we might have feared a nervous evening of it, but there was precious little nerve on show. Nigel Thirkell, having done his bit with the ball, decided he'd better finish the job with the bat as well, and cracked a fine 66 not out to see us home. Paul Bowles carried on where he'd left off with a breezy 29 not out, and Mick Filmer's 27 gave the innings its early momentum. We reached 135 for 1 in just 13.1 overs — barely time to finish the tea urn.

Nigel continues to make the rest of us look faintly ridiculous, now sitting atop both the 1980 run and wicket charts with 808 runs and 50 wickets — one does wonder what the man does in his spare time. A fine win by 5 wickets, then, and a thoroughly satisfactory evening's work. Onwards.

Sun 13 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWLDW

Sunday 13 July 1980, and a fine one it was too for those of us fortunate enough to be at home. Winning the toss, I opted to bat — and for once nobody in the pavilion muttered darkly about my judgement. We rattled along nicely to 156/4 from our 47 overs, with Nigel Thirkell playing a proper captain's innings of his own — 75 not out, a well-made fifty and the sort of batting that makes the tea urn taste sweeter. Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 45, and between them the pair did most of the heavy lifting while the rest of us admired from the boundary.

With the ball, we were rather more mischievous. Their reply closed on 126/9 from 41 overs — Wills battled to a well-made 54 to top-score for them, but we ran through the middle order in a blur, 108-6 becoming 126-9 almost before the urn had been refilled, with Singh and Jones both sent back for ducks. Paul Bowles, having laboured with the bat, did the real damage with the ball too — 3-28, albeit with 11 byes that told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps. Allan Cooper was miserliness personified, 2-16 with three maidens, and continues his quiet, steady march up the season's wicket charts.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but a thoroughly entertaining one, and no complaints from this captain's chair.

Sat 12 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv BC Bowaters CC · HomeformWLWLD

Saturday 12 July 1980, and Bowaters CC came calling. The coin did us a favour for once, and I had no hesitation putting us in — though quite what I was thinking on 43 overs of village-green optimism, I couldn't tell you. We ground out 140/7, David Carden the mainstay with a fine 35, Tim Thirkell chipping in with 20 of good honest graft, the rest of us contributing rather more modestly, if I'm honest.

Defending it looked a tall order on paper, but Bowaters had other ideas about making a match of it, obliging us by collapsing from 48-6 to 61-9 and folding for 65 in 43.3 overs — Chris Robinson's golden duck rather summing up their afternoon. Martin Thompson was the chief tormentor, 3-15 with five miserly maidens that strangled any hope of a recovery, well supported by Jon Harris (3-16) and Ross Brice (2-18). Even your captain got in on the act with 3 wickets, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season.

A 75-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. David Carden now sits third in the 1st XI run charts with 257 for the summer, and Jon Harris second in the wickets with 37 — both men very much pulling their weight while the rest of us make up the numbers. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 06 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv RA Reeds Aylesford · AwayformLWLWL

Reeds Aylesford, and there is something poetic about a captain who wins the toss and still finds a way to make life difficult for himself. I put us in, fancying our chances on a pitch that never quite told anyone the truth. We limped, staggered and occasionally strolled to 121 all out from our 55 overs, which sounds a modest total until you remember the collapse — 102 for 5 became 117 for 8 in the sort of hurry usually reserved for last orders at the bar. Paul Bowles held the innings together with a fine 43, Brian Piper chipping in gamely with 20, while the rest of us contributed rather more to the Duck Club than to the scoreboard — Trevor Back, Jon Harris and Tony Gauna all completing that most miserable of walks back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer. I fear I set the tone myself, out for nought, a innings so forgettable I shall not dwell on it further.

With ball in hand we fared rather better, restricting Reeds Aylesford to a watchful 22 for 1 from their ten overs, Allan Cooper leading the line with a tidy 1 for 6 and looking every inch the man in form.

There was, happily, a moment of real substance amid the farce: Paul Bowles brought up 12,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that rather puts my own nought into perspective and confirms his place as the beating heart of this side.

A draw, then — honours even, and perhaps the fairest result for a day when neither bat nor ball could quite land the killer blow.

Sat 05 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLWLW

We welcomed the visitors to Linton Park on Saturday 5th July with the sun doing its best and the covers, mercifully, staying in the shed. Winning what use to be called the toss but is now simply my prerogative as captain, I put them in, and for a while it looked a shrewd move: they stumbled to 2-1 early, with poor B Taylor trudging back without so much as a single to his name. In the end they were bowled out for 113 from their 42 overs, Pearce's defiant 34 the only innings of note. Ross Brice was the pick of our attack with 2-2, backed up handsomely by Paul Bowles (2-7) and the ever-parsimonious Ron Hickman, whose 2-26 included three maidens — not a run given away lightly, that man.

Chasing it down, we wobbled early, losing a wicket with just 8 on the board, before Paul Bowles — a man clearly in irrepressible form — set about repairing things with a wonderful unbeaten 73, anchoring a stand of 58 for the fourth wicket. Sadly David Iliffe and Tim Thirkell both departed for ducks, blots on an otherwise handsome scorecard, and we closed on 116/4 from our 40. Fred Greenfield had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes slipping past him.

Elsewhere, the season ticks on nicely for some: Paul Bowles now sits second in the club's run charts with 261, and Jon Harris second among the wicket-takers with 34. As for Saturday itself, though — we finished on the wrong end, down by six wickets. Heads up, lads. Back to the nets.

Thu 03 Jul 1980 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · AwayformWWLWL

Lost the toss again on Thursday — I do wonder if the coin has taken against me personally — and Leybourne, with the look of men who fancied batting, duly did just that. We took the field with the sun out and expectations modest, and for a while it went rather nicely: the very first over brought a wicket with the score on 1, and it seemed the ducks might multiply, with E Harris and M Saunders both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. But cricket, as ever, refused to be tidy, and a third-wicket stand of 63 dragged Leybourne back into the contest, Higgins doing the bulk of the damage on his way to 42. Credit to Allan Cooper, relentless all afternoon for figures of 3-26, with Paul Bowles chipping in at the other end for 2-16, as we pegged them back to 80/5 from their 16 overs — a total that felt, dare I say, gettable.

And gettable it proved, if not without the odd flutter of the heart. Malcolm Pay fell for a duck, but Brian Piper played the innings of the day, seeing us home unbeaten on 35 as we reached 81/3 in 15.5 overs.

Two notes for the record books: Jon Harris's 12 runs eased him past Robert Chance into 18th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, while Allan Cooper's three wickets lifted him past Terry Donovan into 10th among our leading wicket-takers — Cooper now also sits 5th in this season's charts with 11 wickets, and Bowles 3rd with 188 runs. A fine win by three wickets. Onwards.

Sun 29 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv RC Rainham (Kent) CC · AwayformWWWLW

Sunday last took us down to Rainham, Kent, where I won the toss and, in a fit of optimism I still stand by, chose to bat first. It didn't quite come off as planned — 114 all out in 43.4 overs is not a total to frighten anyone, though Trevor Back's 33 and Nigel Thirkell's 30 gave the innings some much-needed backbone. Spare a thought for poor Ross Brice, back in the pavilion for a duck before he'd had time to take his guard properly.

Defending 114 always felt like a stiff ask, and so it proved, though not without a fight. Rainham stumbled to 5 for 1 early on and for a moment we dared to dream, but B Cooper's 47 and a supporting 27 from Fisher steadied their ship and carried them home at 117 for 6 in 39 overs. Tony Gauna bowled beautifully for his 2 for 23, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2 for 27 and five miserly maidens, and Jon Harris took 1 for 25 for good measure.

It wasn't all gloom, mind — Thirkell's 30 runs eased him past Basil Sears into third on the club's all-time run charts, and his two wickets took him past John Ames into fourth among our all-time wicket-takers, while he continues to lead both the 1980 run and wicket charts by some distance. Beaten by four wickets, then, but not disgraced. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 28 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformDWWWL

Saturday last, we welcomed Meopham CC to Linton Park, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I still maintain was the correct one, whatever certain members of the committee muttered into their teacups.

We limped to 116 all out in 41.4 overs, a total that flattered to deceive after losing our first wicket for a solitary run. Nigel Thirkell top-scored with a gritty 38, well supported by Malcolm Pay's 36, but what should have been a platform for something respectable became a full-blown collapse — 112 for 7 folding to 116 all out in the time it takes to pour a pint. Brian Piper, Martin Mears and Jon Harris all made the sorrowful walk back for nought, and the Duck Club ledger duly swelled. 🦆

With the ball, however, we found our mettle. Meopham were bowled out for 104 in 39.3 overs, undone early at 8 for 1 and again as 31 for 3 became 40 for 6 — S Lamb among the ducks himself. Jon Harris was magnificent, redeeming his golden duck with a superb 5 for 63, while Nigel Thirkell — a man clearly intent on winning every prize on offer this season — chipped in with 4 for 38 and seven miserly maidens. I contributed nought with the bat (the less said the better) but found some consolation with 5 wickets.

Twelve runs the margin, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 25 Jun 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · AwayformWLLDL

Wednesday 25 June 1980, and off we trundled to Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC for a fixture that promised, as these midweek affairs often do, either glory or gentle humiliation. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'll admit felt rather cleverer by close of play than it did when we shipped an early wicket with the board reading a distinctly wobbly 8. Nerves jangling, tea flasks rattling.

But we steadied, as sides so often do when Brian Piper gets his eye in. He anchored the innings beautifully, finishing unbeaten on 47 as we crawled our way to 105 for 5 off 42.4 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, as it turned out, to have something to bowl at. And bowl we did, with real discipline, dismissing the opposition for nothing at all. Whatever went on out there, it clearly wasn't run-scoring.

A word for Brian, whose 47 not only did the heavy lifting but nudged him past Jim Hall into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a genuinely proud moment amid the sandwiches and the scorebook squabbles. He now sits 4th in this season's Midweek XI charts with 51 runs, a man quietly building a reputation.

In the end, honours were shared — a draw, with neither side able to force the issue. Not a classic, perhaps, but a thoroughly respectable afternoon's cricket, and Brian's milestone alone made the trip worthwhile.

Sun 22 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDWWW

Sunday 22 June 1980, at home, and I can report we won the toss and had first use of the ball – always the easy part of captaincy, the hard part being what followed.

Their innings never quite got airborne. From a promising 45-2 the wheels came off in spectacular fashion as we reduced them to 59-5, T Quint, C Biddlecombe and R Biddlecombe all trudging back for ducks. Gregor Hiscock top-scored gamely with 34, but Tony Gauna was in unplayable form, turning it square for 5-27 off seven miserly maidens, well backed by Jon Harris's 4-27 and a tidy 1-28 from Martin Larkin. All out for 84 in 34.2 overs – a proper collapse, the sort that makes a captain look cleverer than he is.

Chasing 85, we crept home at 86-3 in 26.3 overs, Trevor Back leading the way with an unbeaten 33 and Malcolm Pay chipping in with 24 not out. Allan Cooper, alas, joins the Duck Club ledger with a golden nought – the walk of shame performed with due solemnity. I had the pleasure of four wickets myself, which I shall mention only twice more before the season's out.

The day's real headline was Malcolm Pay's 100th appearance in Linton colours – a landmark earned the hard way, and fittingly marked with bat in hand. He now sits 5th in our 1980 run charts, with Jon Harris 2nd among the wicket-takers.

A thoroughly satisfying seven-wicket win. We'll take that, and quietly hope for more of the same next week.

Sat 21 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWWDWW

Saturday 21 June 1980, and Horton Kirby CC came calling. I lost the toss, they had a look at the covers and elected to bat — which suited us rather well, as it turned out.

Put simply, we bowled them out for a modest 113 in 33.4 overs, M Crouch's 40 the only real resistance. Nigel Thirkell was in unplayable mood, spinning us through their order for 6-32 with a couple of maidens thrown in for meanness, and once we got among them the tail simply folded — 113-7 became 113-10 before anyone could find their bearings. Poor Keith Williams, Mick Hills and Ken Gibbins all walked back without troubling the scorers, which even by our standards is a hat-trick of ducks to remember. Martin Larkin (2-39) and Martin Thompson (2-41) tidied up what Nigel left behind.

Chasing 113 should have been the easy part, and in the end it was — though not without the customary self-inflicted wobbles, as we stumbled to 116-7 from 34 overs. Nigel Thirkell followed his heroics with the ball by top-scoring again with 46, Graham Cove chipping in handsomely with 39, while David Iliffe and Tim Thirkell both took the long, silent walk for nought. I managed 46 of my own with the bat and, immodestly, 6 wickets with the ball — not a bad afternoon's work for the skipper. And a word for Nigel, who slipped past 600 career wickets without so much as a fuss, and continues to lead our run and wicket charts for the season by some distance.

A three-wicket win, scrappy in places but thoroughly deserved. Onwards.

Thu 19 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWWDW

Thursday 19th June saw West Farleigh come to Linton Park, and I won the toss and elected to bat — the sort of decision that lets you sleep easy that night, and so it proved. Eighty-four for four off our sixteen overs may not read like a total to frighten anyone, but it had substance to it: Brian Piper's 27 gave the innings a spine, Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 23, and between them we had enough on the board to have a bowl at.

And what a bowl it turned out to be. West Farleigh never got going — 8-1 became 19-4 before some of their number had so much as loosened their pads, and poor Don Fermor, Barry Brigden and Trevor Fermor all trooped back for ducks. Nigel Thirkell was quite magnificent, 4-11 off his overs, with Allan Cooper (2-5) and Tony Gauna (1-16) tidying up what was left. All out for 40 in 12.1 overs — the floodgates well and truly open. I'll confess to a quiet pride in my own contribution, 23 with the bat and 4-11 with the ball, not a bad afternoon's work for the skipper.

Nigel's day deserves its own paragraph: his 23 runs took him past John Ames into fourth on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and those four wickets carried him past Terry Whittaker into fifth among the wicket-takers — and he now leads both the 1980 run and wicket charts outright, with 553 runs and 36 wickets to his name.

Two points, forty-four runs to the good, and thoroughly deserved.

Sun 15 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Saxonians CC · HomeformWLWWD

Nigel Thirkell strode purposefully to the wicket on Sunday and rather forgot to leave it again, finishing 78 not out as we posted a handsome 197/3 from our 45 overs. I'd won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, chosen to bat — a decision that looked considerably wiser once Thirkell and Trevor Back (50) put on 111 for the third wicket, with David Carden's 34 rounding things out nicely. Carden also quietly brought up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way, which is the sort of milestone that ought to come with a small brass band but had to make do with polite applause from the boundary.

Old Saxonians' reply never remotely threatened. The first wicket fell for nought, and from 35 for 4 they slid to 49 for 7 as the innings simply came apart at the seams. Brian Piper was the chief architect of the collapse, a rampant 6-14 including four maidens — enough to bring up his 50th career wicket for the club, no less — with Tony Gauna (3-13) and Martin Larkin (1-12) mopping up the rest. They were bowled out for 72 in 31.1 overs, R Couves and D Beauchamp among those who never troubled the scorers.

Poor Allan Cooper had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking 10 byes, though nobody much minded with the match already won several times over. A 125-run victory, two career milestones, and the sun more or less behaved itself. One can hardly ask for more from a Sunday.

Sat 14 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformLWLWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 14 June 1980. Away to Maidstone Ymca CC, and for once the coin did as it was told, spinning our way. Naturally I put us in, on the theory that runs on the board never hurt anyone, and for forty overs the lads set about proving me right, more or less. We slipped to 8-1 early on, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the flask before the tea interval, but Graham Cove settled things beautifully, batting through to 48 not out, with Martin Larkin (37 not out) and Jim Hall (29) lending sturdy support. 165/5 felt a fair total on a ground where nothing was coming easily.

Defending it, we asked Maidstone to find 45 more than we'd have liked to concede, and they had a fair old go. J. Golding played the innings of the day, 53 not out of real substance, backed up by Rod Warboys (21) and Pete Husband (20). Our bowling did its honest best without quite landing the killer blow — Nigel Thirkell toiled for 2-44, Jon Harris matched him for figures and discipline with 2-44 and five miserly maidens, while Ross Brice chipped in with 1-8, tidy as you like. They closed on 121/5 from 42, short of the target but well short of defeat too.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite finish the job. Not a classic for the ages, but a thoroughly decent day's cricket, and I'll happily take that on the road.

Fri 13 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDLWLW

Wednesday the 13th, and I elected to bat after winning the toss — the right call, I felt, and for once I was proved right rather than merely lucky. Our openers set about the business of laying a platform, ninety runs before the first wicket fell, and from there Nigel Thirkell went on to a well-made fifty, 61 in all, with Paul Bowles chipping in a tidy 26 in support. We closed on 113/4 from our sixteen overs — not a mammoth total, but one with enough substance to make a bowling side think.

And think Hollingbourne did, right up until they collapsed. We turned to defend it and simply ran through them — 39-2 became 49-5 in the blink of an eye, and poor Kevin Phillips departed without troubling the scorers, his name etched into the book alongside a duck he'll not thank me for mentioning. Tony Gauna was magnificent, leading the attack with 4-28, with Martin Larkin (2-3) and Ron Hickman (2-34) mopping up around him. Ian Hammond's 23 was the only real resistance, and Hollingbourne were all out for 69 in 14.1 overs.

Two points, and thoroughly earned — a 44-run win on the road, Thirkell's season tally now standing at a healthy 427, Larkin third in the wicket charts on 10. A thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work, and one I shall enjoy recounting in the bar for weeks to come.

Sun 08 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformWDLWL

Sunday 8th June found us on the road to Sheldwich, and having called correctly at the toss for once in my captaincy career, I had no hesitation in batting first — a decision I stood by even as we lost our first wicket with the scoreboard still reading nought. Nerves settled, and the lads rebuilt steadily: Trevor Back led the way with a fine 29, well supported by Allan Cooper's 20, as we ground our way to 131 all out in 49.4 overs. Special mention, as ever, must go to the Duck Club, whose membership swelled by one when Ian Webb completed the walk of shame for a golden nought.

With the ball, we made Sheldwich work hard for every run. R Scott's 26 and Jonathan Stanford's 20 were the bulk of their reply, but the innings never truly took flight, and they were dismissed for 122 in 40.5 overs. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent, snaring 4-32 with three miserly maidens, ably backed by Paul Bowles's 4-36 and a wicket for Allan Cooper. Nigel Mannouch and Tim George both departed for ducks at our hands, swelling the Duck Club ledger further still.

A tense, low-scoring affair settled by 9 runs — the sort of scrap that ages a captain but warms the heart. Thirkell continues his splendid season, now top of both the run and wicket charts for 1980. A fine win. Onwards.

Sat 07 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDWDLW

A well-earned rest from the wickets and the willow, then, for Saturday's tale of Linton Park Cricket Club versus Rumwood.

Losing the toss on a Saturday afternoon is never how you'd draw it up, and so it proved as Rumwood settled in to bat. They ground their way to 153 all out in 47.5 overs, Brian Aiston top-scoring with a watchful 38, Neville Smith and Geoff Griffiths chipping in with 28 and 27 respectively. Just when it looked as though they might bat all day, the innings unravelled rather beautifully — 136 for 6 became 146 for 9 in the blink of an eye. The architect of that collapse was Jon Harris, whose 5 for 41 (five maidens included, the mean beggar) was as fine a spell as you'll see on our ground. Nigel Thirkell (4 for 62) and Martin Larkin (1 for 42) tidied up the rest.

Chasing 154, we never quite got out of the blocks. Jim Hall's 20 was the innings' backbone, I contributed a scratchy 19, and ducks for Mike Iliffe and Ross Brice didn't help our cause as we folded for 80 in 40.1 overs. Small consolation that Jon Harris's runs nudged him up to 19th on the club's all-time list, and that I at least atoned with the ball, taking five wickets myself.

Beaten by 73 runs, then — no dressing it up. Back to the nets, heads up, and onwards.

Thu 05 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Monchelsea CC · HomeformDDWDL

As we won the toss and I sent us in — a decision I'll happily take credit for — Mick Filmer set about reminding Boughton Monchelsea why that was the right call, cracking a handsome 70 at the top of the order. Nigel Thirkell chipped in with a brisk 45 and Paul Bowles finished unbeaten on 27, the three of them hauling us to a commanding 160/2 from our sixteen overs. Tea was taken in fine spirits, and rightly so.

Defending it was where the real fun began. Boughton Monchelsea threatened for a while through Pete Adams' watchful 25 and Steve Kember's useful 20, but the wheels came off soon enough — poor Stuart Ayling trudged back without so much as a run to his name, the kind of duck nobody puts in the scorebook with any joy. Nigel Thirkell, not content with his runs, then ran through the innings with 2-15, well backed by Paul Bowles (2-15) and Martin Larkin (1-16), and 116/6 from their sixteen overs was never going to be enough.

Special mention, too, for Nigel, whose 45 nudged him past Stan Wratten and into 5th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — and with 348 runs and 22 wickets already this season, he remains some distance clear at the top of both charts, a one-man argument for a testimonial. A 44-run victory, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying evening's work all round.

Wed 04 Jun 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDWLLD

Wednesday the 4th of June, at home, and the coin obliged me for once — I called it right and sent us in, a decision I shall claim full credit for regardless of what followed. Paul Bowles was in imperious form with the bat, a really fine 70 that carried the innings almost single-handed, with David Iliffe playing a sound supporting hand of 31. I, meanwhile, must report a golden nothing of my own — out for a duck, and the less said about it the better. All out for 167 in 40.5 overs; respectable, if not spectacular.

With the ball, however, it was rather a different afternoon. I found some turn and enjoyed the day of my season, 5-35 with three maidens thrown in, while Paul Bowles bowled every bit as well at the other end for 4-15, Colin Pay chipping in with 1-16. Hunt battled past his fifty for us to concede 50, and T Marsh added 28, but Killick and Miller both went for nought — a pair of ducks to keep mine company. Poor Paul, having done sterling work with bat and ball, then let through 8 byes behind the stumps; a testing day for him all told. They too were bowled out, for 120 in 40.5 overs.

Paul now leads our 1980 run charts and I the wickets, which is some consolation, but the result stands: down by 47 runs. Not our day. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Tue 03 Jun 1980 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDDWD

Beaten by six wickets on Tuesday, but not before we gave the visitors plenty to think about.

Winning the toss and electing to have a go with the ball first, we made a decent fist of restricting them to 118 for 6 off their sixteen overs — no mean feat when Ron McCormick and Andy Bryant both settled in for 41 apiece and looked, for a spell, like batting us out of the contest entirely. Credit where it's due to Nigel Thirkell, who bowled beautifully for 2 for 36 and kept the pressure on throughout, with Jon Harris chipping in usefully at 1 for 30. Dave Todd, meanwhile, was sent back to the pavilion without so much as a run to his name — the sort of duck that livens up any scorebook.

Chasing 119, we lost an early wicket with just four on the board, which had the tea urn rattling rather more than usual. But Nigel Thirkell, clearly not content with his bowling exertions, then produced a fine 54 with the bat, and alongside Brian Piper's watchful 25 the pair put on 71 for the second wicket to steady the ship completely. We eventually fell agonisingly short at 119 for 4 from 15.3 overs.

A pleasing footnote: Jon Harris's nine runs today nudged him up to 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, past John Taylor — proof that even the smaller innings add up over the years. Nigel Thirkell, naturally, continues to lead both our run and wicket charts for the season, and on this evidence it's not hard to see why.

So, beaten by six wickets — a fair result, if a touch harder-earned than the margin suggests. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 01 Jun 1980 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWLWW

Lost the toss at Shipbourne on Sunday and were sent out to bowl, which on reflection may have been the easy part of our day. The home side ground their way to 128 for 8 off their forty overs, built mainly on W Buckley's 30, with A Morris (26) and Peter Phillips (24) chipping in around him. Credit where due: Trevor Back was the pick of the attack with 3-30, Jon Harris and Nigel Thirkell weighed in with 2-23 and 2-38 apiece, and Allan Cooper bowled with the miserly precision of a man counting his own pennies, four maidens to his name.

A chase of 128 should never trouble a club side, and yet here we are. Brian Piper played the innings of the day with a fine 43, but around him the innings simply imploded — 9 for 1 became 20 for 4 before anyone had really settled into their deckchair, and the Duck Club ledger grew three entries heavier as Tim Thirkell, Malcolm Pay and Tony Gauna all made the long walk back for nought. I did what I could with 19, but 100 all out from 37.3 overs was always going to fall short, and so it proved, beaten by 28 runs.

Amid the wreckage, two things worth raising a glass to: Tony Gauna brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, and Jim Hall's 12 runs eased him past Mike Iliffe into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Not our day, but character endures where form deserts us. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Tue 27 May 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Burghill & Tillington CC · HomeformWDWLL

Burghill & Tillington rolled up on a fine Tuesday and had the good manners to win the toss and then rather spoil the afternoon by batting first. L Sparrow made himself quite at home for 74 not out, with Derek Budgen (32) and a young D Gower (30) lending capable support, the pair putting on 54 for the sixth wicket while we toiled in the field. Credit where it's due — Brian Piper bowled beautifully for 3-39, Tony Gauna chipped away for 2-68, Jon Harris picked up one, and Mick Filmer, tight as ever, sent down two maidens. Even so, 205/6 from 52 overs left us with a proper afternoon's work ahead.

We began wretchedly, 5-1 inside the first few overs, the sort of start that has you reaching for the tea urn early. But Nigel Thirkell, batting with real composure for 69, and Paul Bowles (42) put together a stand of 97 for the second wicket that hauled us back into contention. Mick Filmer chipped in with 31 before the innings, as ever, developed a sense of drama — 145-4 became 162-7 in the blink of an eye, poor Malcolm Pay collecting a duck for his trouble, and we finished on 173/8 from our 41.

A word of pride amid the scramble: Paul Bowles brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours, a milestone that rather puts our afternoon's fretting into perspective.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could force it. Not the tidiest of games, but with 400 caps and a top-order fightback to toast, we'll happily settle for honest cricket and a decent tea.

Mon 26 May 1980 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLWDWL

We came into this one with home advantage and a decision to bowl first, which in hindsight looked rather clever by the close, though it certainly didn't feel that way for long stretches of a marathon 57.4 overs in the field.

Bowerman and Gerrard put together a stand that had us checking our watches more than once — 39 and 27 respectively kept the scoreboard ticking while the rest of us wondered when the breakthrough would come. It duly did, eventually, with Martin Larkin the pick of the attack (2-16), well supported by Andy Woollett (2-22), Trevor Back (1-10), and Jon Harris, who bowled four maidens and didn't so much as look at giving a run away. Poor R Brock will have had better afternoons, sent back without so much as a sniff of the scorers' attention. All out 163 felt about right, and gettable.

Then came the reply, and here I must simply doff my cap. David Carden (79 not out) and Paul Bowles (74 not out) put on the sort of unbroken stand that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy — 166 without loss, both men going past fifty in style, and the rest of us left to make the tea. Nine byes did rather suggest Jim Hall was having one of those days behind the stumps, though nobody was complaining by the end.

Beaten by ten wickets in the end — no arguing with that scoreline. But with Carden and Larkin already topping the Midweek XI charts this season, there's plenty to build on, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 25 May 1980 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · HomeformLDDDW

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think that coin has it in for me — and Bexhill CC duly elected to bat, leaving us to toil away in the field on what turned into a proper Sunday shift. Early on it looked promising, with the visitors stumbling to 7 for 1, but Clive White had other ideas, compiling a fine 80 and finding a willing ally in Simon Reynolds (41) as the pair put on 105 for the fourth wicket and dragged Bexhill up to 181 for 8 off their 51.2 overs. Credit where it's due: Nigel Thirkell was superb with the ball, 4 for 33, backed up by Tony Gauna's tidy 3 for 36 — four maidens in there, not a run given away lightly — and Allan Cooper chipped in with 1 for 20.

With 182 needed, David Carden led the reply with a well-made 43, Nigel Thirkell following his four-wicket haul with 37 and Martin Thompson adding 28, the openers laying a solid platform of 58 for the first wicket. But the middle order rather lost the thread, and we limped to 166 for 9 — Jon Harris and Allan Cooper both walking back for ducks, and your correspondent, I'm rather ashamed to admit, joining them. The less said the better.

One bright note amid the gloom: Mike Iliffe's 10 runs eased him past Jim Hall into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a small mantelpiece moment in an otherwise chastening afternoon.

A draw, then, honours shared, and on reflection a fair result — we bowled our way into contention and then rather batted our way out of it.

Sat 24 May 1980 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformDLDDD

Saturday 24th May 1980, and we welcomed Maidstone Ymca CC to Linton Park under skies that, for once, didn't threaten to ruin the tea. I won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that felt considerably wiser at 84-6 than it did soon after.

We were made to work for our 115, and truth be told it was a innings of two distinct moods. Malcolm Pay's 33 was the backbone, with Ian Webb (25) and David Iliffe (24) chipping in handsomely, but an early wicket at 5 set a jittery tone, and the collapse from 84-6 to 88-9 will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons. Special mention, as tradition demands, for Martin Larkin, whose golden duck earns him pride of place in this week's Duck Club ledger.

If our batting was a rollercoaster, our bowling was a masterclass. Maidstone's own top order wobbled early — 4 for one — before J Matthams joined Larkin in the Duck Club without troubling the scorers. S Wyles fought hard for his 26, but Nigel Thirkell was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 5-36 with five miserly maidens, well supported by Jon Harris (3-17) and, in some redemption for his golden duck, Martin Larkin (2-29). I even chipped in with three of my own — a rare treat for the skipper.

Bowled out for 104, they fell 11 runs short. A fine win, snatched from the jaws of our own batting chaos. Onwards.

Sun 18 May 1980 🧢 Sunday NVKCv IC Ightham CC · AwayformWWWLW

Sunday 18th May found us on the road to Ightham, and my heart sank a little further with each mile — the coin, as is now traditional, went against us and we were asked to field first. Ightham compiled 126/9 from their forty overs, Jerry Bentall (35) and Tim Cornwell (32) doing the early graft before things rather came apart at the seams: 99/5 became 109/8 in the time it takes to pour a tea, with Andy Robins, Robert Perry and Francis Manville all departing without troubling the scorers. Nigel Thirkell was the chief architect of the collapse, 3-13 with five miserly maidens, well backed by Jon Harris (3-18) and Allan Cooper (2-15) — and your captain, rather pleased with himself, chipped in with three of his own.

A target of 127 looked gettable, and so it proved, though not without the customary wobble — 8-1 had the tea urn conversation turning gloomy again before Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 56 anchoring us all the way home with fine support from Tim Thirkell (29); the pair added 81 for the fourth wicket to see off any lingering nerves. Nigel Thirkell, so parsimonious with the ball, rather generously handed his wicket back for a duck — one supposes a man cannot excel at everything on the same afternoon.

A six-wicket win, two points banked, and Paul Bowles and Jon Harris continuing to lead the season's charts. All told, a thoroughly satisfactory day out — the sort that makes the drive home feel considerably shorter than the drive there.

Sat 17 May 1980 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDDLDD

As Skipper, watch nothing on the pitch tonight — pen at the ready.

Coin lost, toast forced to field first at home to Headcorn on a bright 17 May. Their openers gave us an early lesson in patience, motoring to 70 before the breakthrough finally came, and Penney's 45 anchored things nicely with Wickens (29) and Ashburn (23) filling out a total of 162/8. Small mercy: Mick Everitt, of all people, went for a golden duck at our hands — proof that even the good sides have their off days. Jon Harris was superb with the new ball and old, finishing with 4-37, while Nigel Thirkell bowled two tidy maidens on his way to 2-32 and David Iliffe chipped in with 1-14.

With the bat we never quite found our rhythm, losing the first wicket for just 8 and stumbling to 98/5 from our 41 overs, Malcolm Pay top-scoring with a battling 31 — though eight byes off his gloves rather summed up his afternoon. My own four wickets earlier were scant consolation for a batting effort that wouldn't trouble the scorers.

One bright footnote: Jim Hall's 12 runs eased him past Mike Iliffe into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a reminder that history is made in singles as much as centuries.

A draw, then, honours even, and honestly a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side could land the killer blow. We'll take it, dust off the whites, and go again next week.

Sun 11 May 1980 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · HomeformWDDLD

Sunday 11 May 1980 and St Lawrence & Highland Court rolled up to Linton Park in fine weather for what turned into a proper old tug-of-war of a match. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — the pitch looked too good to leave to chance, and for once I think I got the call right. Paul Bowles made sure of it in style, cracking a magnificent 108, and David Carden chipped in handsomely with 59, the pair adding a priceless 131 for the third wicket that really set the platform. Then, as so often happens in this maddening game, the innings rather fell apart at the seams — 191 for 6 became 195 for 9 in the blink of an eye, with Tim Thirkell, Martin Larkin and Jon Harris all trudging back for ducks. We closed on 202 for 9 from our 51 overs, a total that felt about forty runs light of what the middle order had promised.

With the ball, Nigel Thirkell was magnificent, leading the attack with 4 for 48, backed up nicely by Allan Cooper's tidy 2 for 20 and Jon Harris's 2 for 54, the latter also bowling two maidens for good measure. The visitors fought hard through Paul Rodway's well-crafted 57, with Mike Green and Ian Farthing chipping in, and got to 194 for 9 from their 49 overs — agonisingly short. As for your correspondent, I contributed a duck of my own, and the less said about that the better.

In the end honours were shared, and on reflection a draw felt about right — two sides too stubborn to let the other win, which is club cricket at its most English.

Sat 10 May 1980 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDWDDL

Skipper's Log, Saturday 10 May 1980. Rumwood CC, and a fine spring day for it — which was fortunate, as I do like to look decisive at a toss I win, and win it I did. Batting first seemed the obvious call, and for once I was right.

The lads didn't let me down. Nigel Thirkell batted with real composure for his unbeaten 92, and found a willing ally in Martin Thompson, who cracked on to 62 — the pair putting on 79 for the second wicket while I paced about at the boundary trying to look like I'd planned it all along. Tim Thirkell chipped in with 47 not out to round things off nicely, and 238 for 2 off our 44 overs felt like a total with some bite to it.

Bite, alas, is not quite what we managed with the ball. Neville Smith settled in for an unbeaten 86 and R Simmonds kept him company with 75 not out, and between them they simply refused to be parted. Credit where due — Martin Mears found the breakthrough with 1 for 13, Jon Harris chipped in at 1 for 45, and Martin Larkin bowled three tidy maidens to keep the arithmetic honest even when the wickets wouldn't come. Rumwood closed on 207 for 2.

A draw, then — honours shared, and probably a fair reflection of an afternoon where our batting did the talking and our bowling did the containing. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our run charts this season, Jon Harris tops the wickets, and Linton Park leave Rumwood unbeaten, if not quite victorious.

Mon 05 May 1980 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDDWDD

Lost the toss again on Monday — I'm beginning to suspect the Bearsted skipper keeps a double-headed coin in his blazer pocket — and duly found ourselves in the field. They made themselves at home to the tune of 194 for 6 off 57 overs, though we did have them nervy for a spell: Ian Lambert fell early for a cheap 3-1, and it took a stand of 67 from Ian Lambert and 60 from Colin Fleetwood, with Paul Webster unbeaten on 22, to really put the innings on a sound footing — 143 added for the second wicket before we clawed them back from 146-2 to 150-5. Peter Mills, Mike Read and D Burnett all departed without troubling the scorers, three ducks to warm the cockles. Martin Larkin was the pick of the attack with 4-30, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in 2-42 with five miserly maidens — not bad going for a man marking his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that deserved rather better luck around it.

With the target set, we made a fair fist of it. David Carden led the way with 41, Tim Thirkell added 34 and Ian Webb 20, the pair putting on 58 for the first wicket to give us something to build on. I managed a workmanlike 17 myself before the middle order rather ran out of ideas, and we were bowled out for 140 in 40.3 overs.

Fifty-four runs the wrong side of the ledger, then — not our day, but Nigel Thirkell now heads the season's run charts and Martin Larkin the wickets, so the mantelpiece isn't entirely bare. Back to the nets.

Sun 04 May 1980 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LK Leigh CC, Kent · HomeformWWWWL

Sunday 4th May at home to Leigh CC, Kent, and the coin let us down as usual, which at least spared me the ordeal of deciding what to do with it myself. Leigh chose to bat, and by the look of the first ball you'd have thought they'd made the right call. They didn't. A wicket down for just one run set the tone, and by 29 for 3 the innings had a distinctly wobbly look about it. From there it went from wobbly to collapse: 35 for 6, with Gary Wood, Charlie Raker and M Battey all departing without so much as a run to their names — a hat-trick of ducks that will have made for uncomfortable reading in the Leigh tea room. Jon Harris was the chief architect of the demolition, 3 for 10 off his allotted overs including five maidens (the sort of miserly spell that makes a captain purr), well supported by Allan Cooper's 3 for 16 and Tony Gauna's 2 for 12. All out for 65 in 35.1 overs — and, in a fit of enthusiasm I shan't apologise for, I helped myself to 3 wickets too.

Chasing 66, we barely had to break sweat. David Carden played the anchor role to perfection, finishing unbeaten on 47 as we cruised to 69 without loss in just 17.2 overs — a ten-wicket stroll that had us back in the pavilion in time for a leisurely tea. Carden's innings now tops the Sunday run charts for the season, with Cooper leading the wickets — fitting reward for two players who did the heavy lifting today. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one the tea urn will be talking about for weeks.

Sun 27 Apr 1980 🧢 1st XIv CC Chatham Nomads CC · HomeformWDDWD

Sunday 27th April, and Chatham Nomads Cricket Club rolled up for what turned into a proper old-fashioned tussle. I called correctly at the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or daft depending entirely on what follows, and for once I'll claim shrewd.

We laboured to 171 all out from our 48 overs, a total that felt like it was assembled by committee. Malcolm Pay led the way with 32, Jon Harris chipped in 25 and Nigel Thirkell 24, but the middle order rather fell over itself between 106 and 120, losing three wickets in the blink of an eye. Poor David Iliffe departed for a duck, the walk of shame performed with all the dignity he could muster, which wasn't much.

Defending 171, the lads bowled with real discipline. Jon Harris was superb, snaring 3-22, with Allan Cooper (2-11, five maides of pure parsimony) and Brian Piper (2-14) squeezing the life out of the Nomads' innings. P Loader held firm for 26, but with the first wicket down for just 3, the Nomads never quite got away from us, closing on 107-9 from their 49. I even managed a useful 25 with the bat and 3 wickets with the ball — a rare afternoon of being vaguely useful at both ends.

Milestones too: Harris climbs to 21st on our all-time run charts, Cooper to 11th among the wicket-takers. A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the only unqualified winner of the day.

Sat 26 Apr 1980 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWWDDW

Saturday 26th April took us out to West Farleigh, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat — a decision that looked distinctly shaky when we slipped to 5 for 1 before most of us had finished our tea. Cue much muttering on the boundary. But cricket, like life, rewards patience, and Nigel Thirkell set about repairing the innings with a thoroughly fine half-century, 68 well-struck runs that steadied every nerve in the pavilion. He found the ideal ally in his brother Tim, unbeaten on 44, the pair stitching together a 59-run fourth-wicket stand that turned early wobble into respectability. We closed on 156 for 4 from our 34 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but a defendable one all the same.

And defend it we did, after a fashion. West Farleigh set about the chase with Fred Baker doing the heavy lifting for 30, while Jon Harris led our attack with the tidiest figures of the day, 1 for 22, and kept things honest throughout. They finished on 62 for 2 from their 21 overs — worthy, unhurried, and never quite threatening to run away from us.

So honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody. With Nigel now topping our run charts and Jon our wicket-takers for the season, there's cause for quiet optimism. A fair result, fairly earned, and the tea was reportedly excellent.