🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 27 Sep 1981 🧢 1st XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformDWLWD

Sunday last, up at Linton Park, and yours truly won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the lads mutter about jinxing it in the tea queue. We batted through our twenty-four overs for 159 for 7, which felt about par on a day when nothing quite raced away but nothing embarrassed us either. Malcolm Pay set the tone with a fine 32, and he had good company: Jon Harris chipped in 29 and Martin Mears 27, while I managed to potter along to 22 myself before doing something needlessly rash, as is tradition.

The proper story of the day, though, belonged to Jon Harris, who brought up 3,000 career runs for the club in the same innings — a landmark worth far more than a paragraph, and one the whole side was delighted to see him reach. Elsewhere in the ledger, I find myself leading the 1981 1st XI run charts with 1,661 for the season, while over in the 2nds Gareth Thomas tops their table with 35 — early days there yet, but every column counts.

As for the match itself, we simply couldn't defend what we'd made, and the visitors saw us off by 7 wickets with something to spare. Not our day, then, and no use pretending otherwise. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets — Linton Park will be sharper for it next time out.

Wed 23 Sep 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv HC Hawkenbury CC · HomeformWWDWD

Another cracker at Linton Park, this one, though it took me until the toss to feel like a genius. I put us in — the right call, I felt — and the lads duly obliged. Adrian Smith played the innings of the day, 71 well past his fifty, with Paul Bowles giving him fine support, unbeaten on 59. Not everyone got among the runs, mind — C- Wilkins and Steve Petty both walked back for golden ducks, but 163/7 from our 51.3 overs felt like a total with enough about it to make Hawkenbury work.

And work they did. R Kemp gave us a proper fright with a fine half-century of his own, 54, ably assisted by S Gower's 21, but the rest of the order rather melted away — R Jones went for nought, and Paul Bowles was simply magnificent with the ball, 3-17 and unplayable for stretches. I found some rhythm myself, 3-37 with three maidens to show for the effort, and Steve Petty chipped in with one. Adrian Smith had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 19 byes leaking through, but nobody's perfect, least of all with the gloves after a long day's toil.

In the end Hawkenbury crawled to 127/7 and neither side could land the killer blow. A draw, then, honours shared — and on the balance of a match with more character than the scoreline lets on, I'll call that a fair result.

Tue 15 Sep 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDWWDW

Tuesday last took us down the road to The Mote, where I lost the toss for what felt like the ninth week running and found myself leading the lads into the field regardless. No great hardship, as it turned out — bowling first suits us better than we sometimes admit.

The Mote ground their way to 145 for 9 from 49.4 overs, William Hickling top-scoring with a watchful 45, well supported by B. Snow's 25 and Nigel Mullarkey's 21. J. Williams departed without troubling the scorers. I found some rare rhythm with the ball, finishing with 5 for 29 and three maidens — the sort of spell a captain dreams of and seldom gets — while Trevor Back (1-4) and Laurie Turner (1-19) kept things admirably tight at the other end.

Chasing 146, we never quite matched our bowling for fluency. Nigel Thirkell's 31 anchored the innings nicely, with Paul Bowles and Andy Woollett both chipping in 29 apiece, and I added a watchful 17 that, pleasingly, edged me past Terry Whittaker into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. We stalled at 136 for 7 from our 44, short of the target but far from disgraced.

Elsewhere, Jim Hall continues to lead our 1981 Midweek run charts with 234, while I find myself, rather nicely, out front on wickets with 20 for the summer.

A draw, then — honours shared, and a fair one at that: we bowled like champions and batted like it was still only April.

Sun 13 Sep 1981 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformWDWLW

We won the toss on Sunday and I had no hesitation in taking first strike — batting first felt right, and for once my gut instinct wasn't leading us astray. Paul Bowles set about proving the point emphatically, cracking a fine 74 that formed the backbone of our 170 for 2 from 44 overs, with Martin Thompson chipping in a tidy 34 and Nigel Thirkell unbeaten on 34 to round things off nicely. A good, solid total — the sort that asks questions without shouting about it.

Northend Sunday came at us with intent, D Spencer leading their reply with a well-struck 45 and W Creed lending sturdy support with 38, but they never quite found the extra gear needed to run us down. Nigel was the chief architect of our containment, four wickets for a miserly 20 runs and four maidens besides — bowling of real discipline. I got among the wickets myself, finishing with three, and can't pretend that didn't put a spring in my step at tea. Northend Sunday closed on 136 for 7 from their 46 overs, well short of what was required.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue — and with Nigel Thirkell now sitting proudly atop both our run and wicket charts for the season, 1639 runs and 115 wickets, the lad continues to make the rest of us look thoroughly ordinary. A fair result, all told, and an afternoon that did the club proud.

Sat 12 Sep 1981 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformWWDWL

Saturday 12th September, and Southborough CC rolled up to Linton Park for what turned into rather a good day at the office. I won the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, chose to bat — a decision that looked increasingly shrewd as Paul Bowles set about compiling a handsome 94, well supported by Nigel Thirkell's fine 56. Their second-wicket stand of 121 did the heavy lifting and carried us to a healthy 169 for 5 from our 46 overs. My own contribution, for the record, was a golden duck — the walk of shame performed with all the dignity I could muster, which wasn't much.

Southborough's reply never really got going. Peter Young's 25 and Ken Bones's 21 were the only scores of note as they subsided to 108 all out in 34.2 overs, Phil Hobbs departing without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball and picked up 3 for 8, while Martin Larkin bowled with real discipline for 3 for 34 — three maidens in there too — and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2 for 32, capping a fine all-round match for him with bat and ball alike.

A win by 61 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. My duck aside, this was Linton Park at its best — runs, wickets, and tea presumably well earned. Onwards.

Wed 09 Sep 1981 🧢 Tour XIv PC Penryn St Gluvias CC · AwayformLWWLW

Wednesday, 09 September saw us take the road to Penryn St Gluvias, and winning the toss I did not hesitate to bat first — the pitch had "runs" written all over it, and I like to think I can still read a wicket even if the knees no longer read the singles quite so eagerly. We were not wrong. Nigel Thirkell led the way with a fine 66, and Paul Bowles matched him almost run for run with 62, while Richard Chapman finished unbeaten on 45 to see us home to a commanding 210/3 from our 45 overs. Even the extras column pitched in with a generous 26, which I choose to take as a sign of a side in the ascendancy.

Defending that sort of total ought to be the easy part, and so it proved. Michael Chambers was in irresistible form, spinning through Penryn's order for 5-13, well backed by Fred Cheesman's 3-18 and a tidy 1-2 from Tim Thirkell, with Allan Cooper positively miserly, sending down five maidens without so much as a run to show for it. Jaymin Patel's 21 was the only real resistance as the home side folded for 88 in 31 overs, Bettison and Hocking both departing without troubling the scorer.

Paul Bowles had a busier afternoon behind the stumps than his 19 byes suggest he'd have liked, but nobody will remember that once they hear Michael Chambers passed 100 career wickets in the same match — a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly toasted in the bar. A 122-run victory, two points banked, and, dare I say it, rather a good day to be captain.

Tue 08 Sep 1981 🧢 Tour XIv PC Paul CC · AwayformWLWWL

Won the toss at Paul CC on Tuesday and, with barely a cloud to trouble us, I had no hesitation in taking first knock. It proved the right call, if not entirely painless — Richard Ashby's contribution was a golden duck, the sort of walk that earns a man a pint bought in mockery rather than congratulation. Thankfully others made amends: Jim Hall ground out 27, Richard Chapman chipped in with 28, and Paul Bowles anchored the lot with an unbeaten 41 to see us to a respectable 159 for 6 off our 45 overs. I added a tidy 22 myself, more graft than grace.

Defending it, we bowled and fielded like a side with a point to prove. Paul CC never quite got going, losing Craig Osborne and J- Snell for ducks along the way, and for all J- Pinkett's gritty 21, they were dismissed for 104 in 32.1 overs. I found some rhythm to finish with 3 for 33, with Trevor Back (2 for 8) and the miserly Ian Brattle (2 for 10, three maidens) squeezing the life out of any partnership. Poor Jim Hall had a wretched afternoon behind the stumps, leaking eight byes, though his runs earlier had already nudged him past Cliff Anscombe into 12th on the club's all-time list — some consolation for the gloves.

A fine win by 55 runs, and Paul Bowles continues to lead our season's run and wicket charts. Onwards, in good heart.

Mon 07 Sep 1981 🧢 Tour XIv GC Grampound Road CC · AwayformDWLWW

Beaten by 46 runs at Grampound Road, and I'll confess I did us no favours by losing the toss — asked to bowl first, we did rather well with it. Grampound Road's 127 all out from 37.5 overs owed most to Nigel Sanders' 30 and D Chard's 20, but the ball was in good hands throughout: Michael Chambers the pick with 2-16 and four miserly maidens, ably backed by Richard Chapman and Jon Harris, both 2-17. Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps mind you — 15 byes is not a figure any keeper wants against his name.

With the bat, alas, we came apart at the seams. Richard Chapman batted beautifully for his unbeaten 45, a lone lighthouse in the gloom, and I did what I could with 16, but 81 all out from just 22 overs tells its own sorry story. Trevor Back, Richard Ashby and Michael Chambers all departed for ducks 🦆 — a trio of blobs that rather summed up the afternoon.

Still, there's cause for cheer in the wider season: Richard Chapman now sits second in the Tour XI run charts with 92, and Michael Chambers leads the wicket-takers on 8. As for the match itself — beaten by 46 runs, no arguing with that, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 06 Sep 1981 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformWDWLW

Sunday 6th September saw us head down to Beacon CC in Cornwall, and I'll admit the toss felt like the biggest decision of my captaincy career — I called it right and elected to bat, which I like to think showed real tactical acumen rather than a lucky guess.

We were bowled out for 163 in 38.3 overs, a total that owed everything to the middle order and precious little to the tail. Tim Thirkell led the way with a fine 42, well supported by Richard Chapman's 32 and Richard Ashby's 29, while John Hansford, Andy Thresher and Michael Chambers all trudged back for ducks — a trio of blobs that did nothing for the scorebook's aesthetics.

With the ball, we set about defending it, and Beacon fell agonisingly short on 159 for 7 from their forty overs, Malcolm Lobb's 35 the main obstacle. Michael Chambers was outstanding, taking 3 for 25 to make amends for his golden duck, with Nigel Thirkell (2-27) and Paul Bowles (2-52) chipping in handsomely; I contrived to bowl two maidens myself, more through stubbornness than menace. Richard Ashby had a torrid time behind the stumps, leaking 22 byes, though nobody held it against him given the result.

There was a footnote of history too — Tim Thirkell's 42 lifted him past Frank Brattle into 9th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a genuinely proud moment amid the chaos.

We got home by four runs. Ragged, nervy, thoroughly English — and an absolutely smashing day for the club.

Sat 05 Sep 1981 🧢 1st XIv KK Kennington CC, Kent · AwayformDWWDW

Down to Kennington CC in Kent on Saturday, and for a good long while it looked like being our day. Put into the field, we watched them grind to 116 all out in 43.5 overs, Alec Driscoll doing most of the damage with 36, but once he went we turned the screw beautifully, sliding them from 87-5 to 94-8 in no time at all. T Butcher and Martin Hogben both walked back for ducks, and Andy Woollett was simply magnificent, 4-4 off a spell that included six maidens, the sort of figures you don't forget in a hurry. Malcolm Pay chipped in with 3-35 and Martin Thompson 2-28, and Kennington's batsmen had precious little to smile about by the close of their innings.

Chasing 117 should have been comfortable. It wasn't. We slumped from 20-1 to 21-4 faster than I could do up my pads, and ducks for Roger Craske, Simon Thirkell and Andy Woollett only deepened the gloom. Only Malcolm Pay stood firm, a fine 42 that also brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth more raised glasses than the result deserved. I added my own small contribution along the way, enough to keep me third in the 1981 first team run charts on 377 for the season, but there wasn't enough support around me. All out for 101 in 32.5 overs.

Not our day, then, beaten by fifteen runs after doing all the hard work with the ball. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 05 Sep 1981 🧢 Tour XIv TC Troon CC · AwayformWWDWL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 5th September 1981, away to Troon CC.

Won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, elected to bat — the sort of call that looks either inspired or idiotic by teatime. Happily it was the former. We compiled a very handsome 213 for 6 from our 45 overs, built around a hundred of mine that I'm still rather pleased with — 107 not out, and there's a limit to how much modesty a man can muster about that, so I'll allow myself one boast and move swiftly on. Jim Hall chipped in nicely with 32 and Allan Cooper with 31, while poor Fred Cheesman departed for a duck, the sympathetic ripple of applause the only thing he took back to the pavilion.

Out in the field, Troon made a fair fist of the chase, reaching 165 all out from 38.4 overs, Stephen White's 42 the backbone of their innings ahead of Patrick Vincent's 23 and Carter's 20. Ross Brice was the pick of our bowlers with 3 for 18, and I found some rhythm myself to finish with 3 for 20, Jon Harris also taking 3 (for 43, with four tidy maidens thrown in for good measure). Jim Hall had a trickier time of it behind the stumps, 19 byes going begging, though nobody's holding that against him.

We got over the line by 48 runs — a thoroughly good day out, and one I shall enjoy retelling at the bar rather longer than events strictly merit.

Fri 04 Sep 1981 🧢 Tour XIv CC Cornwall Police CC · AwayformWWWDW

Friday the fourth of September found us on the road to Cornwall Police CC, and I'll admit I fancied our chances more before the coin toss than after it. Put into the field, we watched T Angove construct a proper captain's innings of his own — 100 not out, immovable as a Cornish hedge — while M Trevarthen's 35 and T Willetts' 20 kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely for the home side. They closed on 230 for 9 from their 45, which felt like rather a lot to be chasing. Credit where due to our attack: Michael Chambers toiled hard for 3-51, with Richard Chapman and Jon Harris chipping in two apiece, and we did at least have the satisfaction of sending M Dunstan back without troubling the scorers.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear. Trevor Back's 35 was the innings' backbone, Jim Hall unbeaten on 33 showed the application the rest of us lacked, and we limped to 141 for 9. Tim Thirkell and I both contributed ducks to the Duck Club's groaning ledger — mine a particularly golden effort, the sort of innings a captain hopes nobody was filming. Twenty-three byes, meanwhile, made for an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps for Jim Hall.

Down by 89 runs, then, and no amount of gazette prose will dress that up as anything but a hiding. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's work to do before the next one.

Mon 31 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLDWWD

Bearsted CC, and Monday's log opens the way I like it: won the toss, elected to bat, and for once nobody in the pavilion questioned my judgement.

We mustered 195 for 8 from our 46 overs, built almost single-handedly by Nigel Thirkell, whose 99 had the tea urn rattling with anticipation of a century that, agonisingly, never quite arrived. Mick Filmer chipped in a tidy 26, while down at the other end of the ledger Brian Piper and Andy Woollett both took the long, lonely walk back for nought — the Duck Club swelling by two in a single afternoon, much to the lads' amusement.

Bearsted's reply never really got going. They were bowled out for 148 in 43.4 overs, Ian Lambert's 62 and Mike Read's 46 the only real resistance, and poor Keith Filmer joining our own ducks with one of his own. I had the day of my season with the ball, finishing with 5 for 61 — the kind of spell you dream about on the walk to the ground and rarely actually get. Nigel Thirkell, not content with his runs, weighed in with 4 for 26, Martin Thompson picked up one, and Martin Larkin strangled the scoring with three tidy maidens.

Thirkell continues to lead both our run and wicket charts for the season — 1,549 runs and 109 wickets and counting — and the rest of us are frankly just here to make up the numbers. A 47-run win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 30 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformWLDWW

Sunday saw us make the short trip to Staplehurst in fine spirits, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in sticking us in to bat first — the right call, I felt, and one I'll happily take credit for now the day's gone our way. Paul Brattle led the charge with a well-made fifty, the sort of innings that makes captaincy look easy, while Trevor Back's 31 and an unbeaten 26 from Jim Hall gave the total real backbone. Fifty overs brought us to 180 for 5, a score that felt like enough runs to have a proper go with the ball, though never quite so many as to have us purring with confidence over the tea urn.

And so it proved. Staplehurst set about the chase with Ian Pullen playing the innings of the day, past his fifty and looking every inch the man to spoil our afternoon, well supported by John Robins's 28. My brother Nigel was the difference — four wickets for not many, seven maidens squeezed out like water from a stone, and B. Penny and Eric Hotson sent packing without so much as a run to their names. Brian Piper chipped in with three, Tony Gauna with one, and between us we hauled them back to 140 for 9 off their 46, agonisingly short of home but a wicket shy of us finishing the job myself, with bat in hand for a useful if unspectacular contribution along the way.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite force it. Frustrating in the moment, but with Nigel sitting proudly atop both the runs and wickets charts this season, there's no shortage to celebrate on the drive home.

Sat 29 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv BA British Rail Ashford · AwayformWWLDW

Won the toss at British Rail Ashford on Saturday and didn't think twice about batting — you don't turn down first knock on a shirtfront like that. Nigel Thirkell made an utter mockery of the bowling, cruising to a magnificent 125 not out, while Paul Brattle purred along nicely to 73 not out to give us 206 for 1 off our 44 overs. Only poor Andy Woollett had a day to forget, back in the pavilion for a golden duck before he'd had time to take guard properly.

Defending that lot, I can't pretend I wasn't rather enjoying myself with the ball. Everything seemed to spin exactly where I wanted it, and 5 for 25 with seven maidens thrown in felt like one of those afternoons that don't come around often — and passing 900 career wickets along the way made it a rather special one to tuck away in the memory. Martin Mears (2 for 11) and Paul Bowles (2 for 30) mopped up admirably in support, with C Curtis-Moore and O Wood both back in the hutch without scoring. Vince Tyrrell's 31 and N Long's 22 were the only real resistance as British Rail were bowled out for 110 in 40.2 overs. Fourteen byes did rather suggest poor Malcolm Pay was having one of those days behind the stumps, though we'll say no more about that.

Ninety-six runs the margin, two points safely banked, and with Thirkell still striding out at the top of the run charts and my own wicket tally ticking along nicely — a thoroughly satisfying day's work.

Wed 26 Aug 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformWDWWD

Lost the toss at Gravesend on Wednesday, which these days feels less like misfortune and more like tradition. We were asked to field, so out I trotted with the ball rather than the willow, and for once things went rather well. Their innings crawled to 139 for 9 off 47 overs, T Gardener top-scoring with 30 and Les Curtis chipping in 24, while poor Jonathan Hinks never troubled the scorers. I found some rhythm I can't entirely explain and finished with 5 for 35 — three of those overs maidens, which even I'll admit felt rather satisfying — with Brian Piper (3-32) and Steve Petty (1-28) mopping up the rest in fine support.

Chasing 140, we made an absolute meal of it, as is our custom. Mick Filmer batted beautifully for 59, and in doing so brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a proper milestone, and one that deserved a bigger ovation than our ragged applause managed. Gareth Thomas (25) and Jim Hall (20) kept things ticking, David Piper departed for nought, and the whole business came down to the very last pair before we scrambled over the line by one wicket, hearts firmly in mouths.

A good day, then — five-for with the ball, a landmark for Filmer, and a win nobody in the tea hut could quite believe. Up the season table Jim Hall now leads the run charts with 227, and I find myself second in the wickets with 15. Ugly cricket, perhaps, but a win's a win, and we'll take it gladly.

Sun 23 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformWWWLD

Won the toss on a bright Sunday against Old Anchorians, and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or daft depending entirely on what follows. What followed was a watchful 155 for 8 from our 53 overs, built patiently rather than swashbuckled. Mick Filmer anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 32, well backed up by twenty apiece from Allan Cooper and Jim Hall. Brian Piper and I, meanwhile, both contributed the sort of golden nothing that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces.

With the ball, however, the afternoon turned rather more in our favour. Old Anchorians were bowled out for 77 in just 34 overs, G Cooper's 44 the only real resistance while Jones, Howard and Farrow all departed without troubling the scorers. Brian Piper was magnificent, tearing through with 5 for 10, and Allan Cooper chipped in handsomely with 3 for 3. I did my bit too, 2 for 40 with three maidens thrown in — some small consolation for a golden blob with the bat, and proof that a captain can still lead from somewhere other than the crease.

A win by 78 runs, then, thoroughly deserved and built on bowling of real quality. With Nigel Thirkell still setting the pace atop our season's run charts and yours truly ticking along nicely in third for wickets, the 1st XI continue to look in fine fettle. Onwards indeed.

Sat 22 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv LC Limpsfield CC · HomeformWWWWL

Saturday 22 August 1981, and Limpsfield CC came to Linton Park for what promised to be a fine afternoon's cricket. I called correctly at the toss and had no hesitation whatsoever in asking my side to bat first, the square looking a treat in the late-summer sun.

And bat we did. We closed on a handsome 181 for 3 from our 38 overs, built on an innings that made the captain's job easy from the boundary rope. Malcolm Pay led the way with a well-made fifty, 62 in all, while Paul Brattle chipped in with a sturdy 47. Nigel Thirkell, unsurprisingly given the season he's having — he leads our 1981 first-team run charts with 1289 to his name — finished unbeaten on 27.

With the ball, we set about defending the total with more control than alarm, restricting Limpsfield to 59 for 2 from their 22 overs. P. Bromley batted sensibly for an unbeaten 25, but our bowlers gave little away — Martin Larkin was miserly in the extreme, three maidens among his figures of 1 for 14, and I chipped in with 1 for 22 myself, adding to what's been a fine year with the ball, 34 wickets and counting, third in the club's charts.

Neither side could quite force it, so honours were shared — a draw, then, but a thoroughly good watch. Not a bad afternoon's work at all.

Wed 19 Aug 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWWDWW

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 19 August 1981. We hosted Gravesend CC, and I lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a settled arrangement with fate. They chose to bat, and we took to the field wondering what sort of afternoon lay in store.

Robert Lane's 46 and A Lowe's 45 gave their innings its backbone, with B Hiscock's 22 adding useful ballast, and they closed on a stout 174/8 from their 49.4 overs. Colin Myers, mercifully for our figures, went for a duck. Trevor Back was the pick of the attack with 3-22, Martin Thompson chipped in with 2-27 and five miserly maidens, and Brian Piper took 1-23 — not a run given away lightly all afternoon. A word too for Martin, who passed 100 career wickets in the process, a landmark worth raising a glass to.

In reply we crawled and cantered our way to 164/7 from our 40, Brian Piper's 29 the top score, well supported by Paul Brattle and Mick Filmer with 27 apiece, and your captain adding a workmanlike 27 of his own. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes escaping his gloves, though he remains our leading run-scorer this season with 207, and Brian sits second in the wicket charts with 11.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and Gravesend sent home no wiser than they arrived.

Sun 16 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · HomeformWWWWW

Losing the toss on a bright Sunday and being asked to bowl first felt rather like being handed the washing-up before you've even had pudding, but there are worse fates on a cricket field, and worse ways to spend the sixteenth of August. Whitstable set about building an innings brick by patient brick, with Christopher Snr Dale the chief architect of their 49, and it took the full fifty overs to bowl them out for 123. I managed to find some rhythm through the afternoon, finishing with 4-35, while Allan Cooper bowled with the miserliness of a man guarding his last packet of custard creams, eight maidens and 2-15 to show for it, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2-22. Wood and Andy Stroud both departed for the scorer's least flattering entry, a duck apiece among the wickets that fell.

A target of 124 should have been within our compass, but our reply folded up for 87 in 38.4 overs, Brian Piper's watchful 29 and Gareth Thomas's 23 the only real resistance. Elsewhere the card made grim reading, with David Iliffe, Paul Bowles and Simon Thirkell all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

For what it's worth, Nigel Thirkell continues to lead both our run and wicket charts for the season, a rare bright thread through an otherwise scratchy day.

Beaten by 36 runs, then. Not our finest hour, but the tea was decent and the nets await.

Sat 15 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformWWWWW

Here's the match report:

We won the toss, and with the sun on Linton Park I had no hesitation electing to bat first — the right call, I felt, and I'll take the credit while it's going. We posted a respectable 138 for 5 off 41.1 overs, with Nigel Thirkell leading the charge on 40, Gareth Thomas unbeaten on 30 and Malcolm Pay chipping in a tidy 27. Not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but useful runs on the board, and as any club cricketer knows, runs in the bank buy you patience with the ball.

And patience is exactly what we needed, because St Lukes Maidstone came out swinging before the wheels came off spectacularly. Nigel Thirkell was simply unplayable, spinning his way to 6 for 51 and turning their top order inside out. I managed to find a bit of rhythm myself, picking up 3 for 47 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — miserly, if I say so myself. M. Beckwith top-scored gamely with 35 and R. Moon added 27, but wickets tumbled at the other end, with C. Vanns and J. Pearson both departing for ducks. St Lukes were bowled out for 102 off 38 overs.

A 36-run victory, and two points thoroughly banked. With Thirkell now sitting proudly atop both the run and wicket charts for the season, one does start to wonder whether the rest of us are simply here to make up the numbers — but I shan't complain while the results keep coming.

Tue 11 Aug 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv WM West Moors · HomeformDWWDW

Tuesday 11 August 1981, and West Moors rolled up to find us in fine fettle. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — the sort of decision that looks either inspired or idiotic by close of play, and for once I'll take inspired. We were bowled out for 156 in 39 overs, a total built almost entirely by Gareth Thomas, who cruised to 65 with the minimum of fuss, and Jim Hall, whose brisk 31 gave the innings some backbone. Special mention, of the least welcome kind, to Trevor Hales, who contributed a golden duck and will no doubt be reminded of it at every opportunity between now and Christmas.

Defending 156 always demands discipline with the ball, and the lads delivered it in spades. West Moors were dismissed for 102 in 37.2 overs, a collapse we engineered with real purpose. I managed to find some rhythm myself, finishing with 3-20, while Brian Piper (2-7) and John Hughes (2-31) squeezed the life out of their middle order, and N McDonald bowled three tidy maidens to choke the scoring. H Wadsworth and R Bessant both departed without troubling the scorers, which is always a satisfying sight from the field. a Kerry's 41 was the only real resistance, backed up by N-B Hilliard's 22 and Peter Sarson's 20, but it was never enough.

A word too on the milestones: Jim Hall's 31 today eased him past Robert Murray into 13th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a fine personal achievement in a winning cause. He also sits top of our 1981 Midweek XI run charts on 190, with Brian Piper second in the wicket-takers on 10.

A comfortable 54-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sun 09 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv HC Holmesdale CC · HomeformWWWWW

Wednesday the ninth of August found us welcoming Holmesdale to Linton Park, and I have to confess losing the toss and being sent into the field is not how I'd have scripted the afternoon. Still, the lads set about it with good cheer, and it was Paul Bowles who did the early damage, finishing with a splendid 4-35, while I managed to find a bit of rhythm myself and chipped in with 3-26. Martin Thompson picked up one for good measure, and there was even a touch of comedy when Adrian Gregory departed for a golden duck. Paul Smith made a fine 57 for the visitors, well supported by Martin Nicholson's 36 and Tim Wood's 23, and Holmesdale closed on 172 for 9 from their 58.1 overs — a target that felt entirely gettable, if we could just avoid our usual habit of making hard work of things.

We needn't have worried. Nigel Thirkell and Brian Piper simply strolled to the target without so much as a hint of alarm, Thirkell finishing unbeaten on 96 and Piper on 73, and the whole chase was wrapped up in 30.1 overs without losing a single wicket. Piper's innings, incidentally, nudged him past Cliff Anscombe into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — quietly historic stuff dressed up as a Sunday stroll.

An eight-wicket win, two points banked, and Thirkell continuing to lead the season's run charts as if by divine right. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and one that reminds you why, even on the days you lose the toss, this remains the best game in the world.

Sat 08 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDWWWW

I once again failed to see off Headcorn's early wickets — no, wait, we won the toss argument comprehensively by losing it, which as any village skipper knows is really rather good news when your attack is in this sort of nick. Put in first, we set about them with real purpose, and only Richard Chapman's 40 gave Headcorn's card any respectability as they folded for 101 off 37.4 overs. Paul Bowles was magnificent with the new ball, ripping through with 3-11, while Nigel Thirkell strangled the middle order into submission — 3-39 with four maidens, not a run given away lightly, if at all. I chipped in with 2-13 for good measure, and with John Phipps, D. Excell and Dave Harden all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, Headcorn never remotely got away from us.

Chasing 102 should have been a formality, and to our credit it more or less was, if you squint past the eight byes that had poor Jim Hall reliving the day rather less fondly than the rest of us. Gareth Thomas played the fluent innings, 32 of good, clean batting, with Paul Bowles adding a brisk 22 to go with his morning's bowling, and Malcolm Pay seeing us home unbeaten on 20. We reached 102-3 in 32.2 overs without ever looking remotely troubled.

A comprehensive seven-wicket win, then, and with Bowles topping the season's run charts and Thirkell running away with the wickets, this Linton Park side is playing some proper cricket. Onwards indeed.

Wed 05 Aug 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv MP Maidstone Police · HomeformDDWWD

Wednesday 5 August found us hosting Maidstone Police, and for once the coin fell kindly. I won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the lads to bat first.

It proved a shrewd call. We racked up 236 for 5 off 40.1 overs, built around a superb 97 from Jim Hall, well supported by Mick Filmer's 62 and Andy Woollett's unbeaten 50. The only blemish on an otherwise handsome scorecard was mine: a golden duck, gone without troubling the scorers off my very first ball. A captain is meant to lead by example. On this occasion, sadly, not with the bat.

Two hundred and thirty-six looked a formidable total to chase, and so it proved. Maidstone Police were bowled out for 164 in 35.4 overs, Tony Hyde's fifty the highlight of their reply, with Harry Dunk (35) and Pay (29) chipping in. Evans, and amusingly a fellow Harris in their ranks, were sent back without troubling the scorers. Paul Bowles was the destroyer in chief with 5 for 45, two of them maidens, well backed by Martin Thompson's 2 for 43 and Gareth Thomas's single wicket. Behind the stumps Mick Filmer had his work cut out, shipping 8 byes for his troubles.

A comfortable win by 72 runs, filed firmly under captain's example not required. Jim Hall continues to lead our 1981 Midweek XI run charts with 159, while Paul Bowles heads the wicket-takers with 17. A fine team effort all round. Onwards.

Sun 02 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformLDWWW

Sunday 2 August found us hosting Staplehurst under grey Kentish skies, and I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season — they had first use of a pitch that, in fairness, did us no harm at all once the ball was in Nigel Thirkell's hand. Poor Ian Pullen departed for a first-baller without so much as a single to his name, and from there Staplehurst never recovered their poise, subsiding to 67 all out in 35 overs. Thirkell was in irresistible mood, tearing through them with 6-26, Martin Thompson chipped in with four of his own, and Allan Cooper bowled with the sort of miserly discipline (seven maidens!) that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy.

Chasing such a modest target, we strolled home at 68/1 in 32.4 overs, Thirkell again to the fore with an unbeaten 33, Brian Piper keeping him steady company with 25 not out. Along the way Nigel quietly brought up 10,000 career runs for the club — the sort of landmark that deserves rather more fanfare than a Sunday afternoon in Kent gave it, but a mantelpiece moment nonetheless, and testament to a season in which he now sits atop both the run and wicket charts.

A nine-wicket win, then, achieved with the minimum of fuss and the maximum of tea afterwards. If Nigel keeps this up we may have to start paying him in trophies rather than sandwiches. Onwards.

Sat 01 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformWLDWW

The lads bowled Old Anchorians CC out for 59 to seal an 85-run win.

Winning the toss on a bright first of August, I did what any captain with a spring in his step does and stuck us in. It proved the right call, if not entirely a comfortable one to watch from the boundary. Nigel Thirkell set about the Old Anchorians attack with real purpose, cruising to 87 and doing the heavy lifting almost single-handed, with Paul Bowles chipping in a tidy 32 to keep the innings moving. There was rather less to shout about further down, where Jim Hall and Gareth Thomas both walked back for ducks, but 144/5 off our 42.2 overs felt a defendable total on the day, and so it proved.

If our batting had its wobbles, the bowling had none whatsoever. Old Anchorians never remotely got going, three of their number departing without scoring a run between them, and the whole innings folding for 59 in the same 42.2 overs it had taken us to post our total. Nigel Thirkell, not content with his runs, turned the screw with the ball too, returning a magnificent 5-17 studded with eight maidens that simply strangled the life out of their reply. Martin Larkin weighed in with 2-21 and Paul Bowles picked up 1-2 to round things off tidily. I even found a few overs and runs of my own in there somewhere, though the day belonged squarely to Thirkell.

Two points banked, and not a single one of them undeserved. An 85-run victory, built on one man's extraordinary all-round afternoon, and the sort of performance that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter than the drive there.

Tue 28 Jul 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Margate CC · AwayformLDDWW

Tuesday 28 July, and off we trundled down to Margate, where the coin obliged and I had no hesitation in sticking us in. It proved a shrewd call, or at least a defensible one — 176/9 from 48.4 overs was a tidy return, built around Trevor Back's well-made unbeaten 56, with Roger Crooks (45) and Tim Theobald (30) lending sturdy support. Less said the better about the middle order's contribution of a golden duck apiece from Paul Bowles, Andy Woollett and D. Leppard — three ducks in one innings takes a certain talent, though not the kind you put in the trophy cabinet.

Defending it, Margate replied with a spirited 155/6 off their 48, Graham Venn compiling a fine 57 not out and finding good company in Neil Canham (38) and C. Hall (28). Paul Bowles did the real damage with 3-37, while I chipped in with 2-58 and, I'm rather proud to say, five maidens to keep things honest at my end; Trevor Back picked up one more for 14. Nine byes, mind you, made for an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps for poor Steve Gower.

A word for the record books: Back's solitary wicket eased him past Stan Wratten into 24th on the club's all-time list, and he continues to lead our 1981 run charts, with Bowles top of the bowling. In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared — a fair result, if not quite the story any of us will be dining out on.

Mon 27 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformDWLDW

On Monday we made the trip out to Mote A, and won the all-important toss, choosing to have first use of the ball on a morning that promised more than our top order would later deliver. The lads bowled beautifully. Mote were shackled to 95/8 from their sixteen overs, with only Malcolm Bristow finding any real rhythm for 27. Paul Bowles was magnificent, ripping through with 3-25, and found willing support from Nigel Thirkell, who chipped in with 2-31, and Martin Larkin, whose miserly 1-6 suggested the ball was on a string.

Chasing 96 to win, I confess I did very little to trouble the scorers myself and instead had the great pleasure of watching from the other end, or more honestly from the boundary, as Mick Filmer simply took the game away from Mote. His 43 was the innings of the day, brisk and unanswerable, and Nigel Thirkell, not content with his heroics with the ball, stuck around unbeaten on 27 to help us home. Ninety-eight for one from nine overs tells its own story, and it is not a story Mote will want retold at their own club dinner.

A word too for the season so far. Paul Bowles now leads our 1981 run charts with 1063, and Nigel Thirkell tops the wicket-takers with 79, proof that some players are simply having one of those years the rest of us can only admire from a respectful distance.

Nine wickets, minimal fuss, and home in time for tea. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 26 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformLDWLD

We travelled down to Mote A on Sunday with the sun out and the outfield fast, and having lost the toss we found ourselves in the field first, wondering just how many the shirt-front would yield. Rather too many, as it turned out — 190 for 4 from their 57 overs, built on a watchful 44 not out from Browne, with David Twiddy 41 and S. Marsh 38 filling in nicely either side. Paul Bowles was the pick of us with the ball, 2 for 38 and full value for it, while I chipped in with 1 for 44, four of my overs going for nothing at all, which I shall claim as evidence of parsimony rather than luck. Nigel Thirkell picked up 1 for 49 in support.

Chasing 191 is never a stroll, but Mick Filmer made it look like one, 85 not out of pure class and the innings that won us the match. Paul Bowles, not content with his morning's work, added 44 with the bat for good measure, and Brian Piper's 23 kept things ticking along nicely. We got there with five wickets and a little breathing room to spare, 191 for 5 in 42.2 overs.

Elsewhere in the season, Paul Bowles continues to lead the run charts with 1056, and Nigel Thirkell tops the wicket pile with 77 — both men doing rather a lot of the heavy lifting these days, and both again among the runs and wickets on Sunday.

Two points, and thoroughly earned. A fine team performance, all told, and one we shall enjoy on the drive home.

Sat 25 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv TC Tunbridge Wells Borderers CC · AwayformLLDWL

Saturday 25 July found us on the road to Tunbridge Wells Borderers, and with the coin landing kindly I had no hesitation in sending us in – a decision I spent the next forty overs hoping I wouldn't have to eat.

As it turned out, the openers and middle order did the deciding for me. Paul Bowles played beautifully for 67, well past his fifty, with Andy Woollett giving fine support with 48, and the extras column chipped in a generous 28 of its own to help us to 169/6 from 40.4 overs – a total that felt, at tea, like it might just be enough.

Borderers had other ideas, and Ken Fisher in particular, whose fine 69 dragged them ever closer with Roger Clarke's 28 and N. Turner's 24 for company. M. Yardley, at least, departed without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 3-28, with Nigel Thirkell miserly as ever (3-40, three maidens) and Paul Bowles chipping in with 1-32 on top of his runs – proper value for money from that man today. It wasn't quite enough to force it, though, and they closed on 166/8 from 42.

Special mention for Paul Bowles, who brought up 14,000 career runs for the club along the way – a landmark worth savouring long after the scorebook is shut. Honours shared, then, and on a day like this a draw felt about right: two sides giving as good as they got, neither quite able to land the final blow.

Sun 19 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLLLDW

Sunday 19 July 1981, and Folkestone CC came calling. I won the toss and, in a fit of optimism I may live to regret, elected to bat first — never let it be said this skipper shies from a decision, even the wrong one.

It has to be said, we made rather hard work of it. Ninety-six all out in 46.5 overs is not the stuff of legend, though Andy Woollett's 36 was a lone lighthouse in choppy waters, and the rest of us can only doff our caps and reflect on the nets. Still, ninety-six on the board and tea in the belly, we trotted out with the ball and at least made a fight of it.

Trevor Back was magnificent with it — seven maidens and 1-14 is the kind of spell that keeps a captain's blood pressure in check, and Allan Cooper (1-26) and Nigel Thirkell (1-36) chipped in gamely. But Stan Purcell had other ideas, farming the strike to an unbeaten 57 and steering Folkestone home at 99/4 from 39.4 overs. As for the season so far, Nigel Thirkell continues to lord it over the rest of us, top of both the run charts with 962 and the wicket charts with 73 — some of us are wondering if he's secretly two people.

Not our day, then — beaten by six wickets, and fair enough. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 18 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv WC Wadhurst CC · AwayformLLLLD

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think Wadhurst keep a two-headed coin in the pavilion — and duly found ourselves standing in the field on a Saturday when batting first would have been rather nicer. Still, we made the best of a bad job. Wadhurst crawled and occasionally galloped to 115 all out in 38.3 overs, R. Sanwell's 27 and R. Best's 24 doing most of the damage, while poor J. Chapman trudged off for a duck. Martin Thompson was magnificent, scything through them for 4-19, with Paul Bowles (3-16) and Ron Hickman (2-27) mopping up the rest, and Nigel Thirkell so mean with the ball he offered up two maidens for good measure.

Chasing 116 should have been a formality, and in truth it very nearly wasn't, as Paul Bowles and Malcolm Pay both fell without troubling the scorers — the kind of batting that gives a captain grey hairs before tea. Fortunately Nigel Thirkell, who by rights should simply be given the match ball to keep at this point, played the innings of the day with a chanceless 70 to steady us home at 116/5 in 25.3 overs.

With 955 runs and 72 wickets to his name already this season, Thirkell is fast becoming a one-man cricket club, and frankly the rest of us are just there to carry the drinks. A thoroughly deserved five-wicket win, two points banked, and a very pleasant drive home.

Wed 15 Jul 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv DC Detours CC · HomeformWLDDW

With G Davis and B Kingston both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, Detours never really got going, and 133 always looked a target within our compass.

So it proved. Gareth Thomas played the innings of the day with 39, ably backed by Trevor Back's 25 and Roger Craske's 21, and we cantered home to 134/5 in 32.1 overs. Our keeper had a busy afternoon of it, nine byes leaking through that will doubtless be mentioned at training, gently, by everyone.

A five-wicket win and two points in the bag — thoroughly earned, and a fine evening's work all round.

Sun 12 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv MC Morden Village CC · HomeformWLLLL

Sunday 12 July found us at home to a side eager to spoil our afternoon, and when I won the toss my thumb went up for batting almost before I'd finished the coin's spin. It felt the right call, and for once I wasn't left standing at the crease wondering why. Paul Bowles set about proving me correct in some style, striding past his fifty and on to a majestic 83 – the kind of innings that makes a captain look far shrewder than he has any right to. Brian Piper chipped in gamely with 22, and between them we posted a healthy 177 for 8 off our 43.3 overs, the sort of total that lets a skipper enjoy his tea rather than chew on it.

With the ball, Allan Cooper was in a mood to spoil the visitors' fun, bowling with real miserliness – four maidens among his figures of 4 for 42 – while John Bloomfield and Brian Piper both picked up a wicket apiece to keep the pressure on. Russell's 40 and Benn's 28 kept the opposition's hopes alive deep into the innings, and they eventually closed on 144 for 7 from their 47, just short of the finish line but not so short that we could claim the spoils.

So honours shared, then – a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Frustrating in the moment, but with Bowles now sitting proudly atop our season's run charts and Cooper lurking second among the wicket-takers, I left the ground rather more pleased with life than a stalemate usually allows.

Sat 11 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWWLLL

Saturday 11th July, and Horton Kirby CC arrived at Linton Park with the sun out and, having won the toss, elected to bat — which, in hindsight, they had every reason to be pleased about.

They made themselves thoroughly at home, closing on 192/4 from their 46 overs. Alastair Scott set the tone with a fine unbeaten 60, and by the time Andy Scott had added an unbeaten 49 and R Costley a brisk 43, we were beginning to feel like extras in someone else's innings. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of our attack, tidy and probing for 2-53 with three maidens to show for his discipline, while I chipped in with 1-33 and Ron Hickman with 1-40 — honest toil against batting that simply wouldn't be shifted.

Chasing 193, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite threatening. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, a really fine 74, well supported by Malcolm Pay's 30, but wickets fell around them and we closed on 137/7 from our 44. Fred Cheesman had a day to forget, ducking out for nought, and I'm afraid I can't claim the moral high ground — my own contribution was also a duck, and the less written about it the better.

Beaten by 55 runs, then, and no arguing with the margin. Horton Kirby were the better side on the day; we'll dust ourselves down and be sharper next week.

Wed 08 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformWWWLL

Called it right at the toss on a fine Wednesday and, with Mote A our guests, there was never any doubt in my mind: we'd bat. Sensible decision, or so I told myself repeatedly as the innings unfolded in fits and starts.

We closed on 169 for 5 from our forty overs, a total built on the sturdy foundations of Nigel Thirkell, who cruised serenely past his half-century, and Mick Filmer, unbeaten on 47 and clearly enjoying himself rather more than the rest of us. I chipped in with 30 of my own, more graft than grace, while poor Trevor Back will want this particular entry in the book struck through — a duck to nurse home on the bus.

Whatever satisfaction we drew from that total evaporated once Malcolm Bristow got going. He set about our bowling with the calm authority of a man rather enjoying his Wednesday, finishing unbeaten on 84 and doing the bulk of the damage himself. D. Barkaway supported handsomely with a fifty of his own, James Skinner chipped in with 31, and between them Mote A cantered home on 170 for 2 with more than eight overs unused. Malcolm Pay and Ron Hickman toiled honestly for their solitary wickets apiece, Hickman's 1 for 17 the pick of a thin harvest.

Down by eight wickets, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 880 for the season, and Hickman sits a creditable fifth among the wicket-takers, so all is not lost — merely dented. Heads up, chins in, and back to the nets.

Sun 05 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLWWWL

Sunday 5th July found us at home to Aylesford Paper Mills, and the day began, as so many do, with the coin refusing to cooperate — we lost the toss and were sent out to field beneath what I recall as a distinctly unforgiving sky. Aylesford ground their way to 168 all out from 56 overs, Fred Baker the chief architect with a fine 46, well supported by Steve Martin (38) and Richard Gower (29). Credit where it's due: Paul Bowles bowled beautifully for 3-23, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 3-30 and four maidens of positively monastic discipline, and I managed 2-23 myself, which I shall allow myself to mention exactly once before modesty reasserts itself.

Set 169 to win, we never quite found our rhythm. Paul Bowles again led the way with 26, but wickets tumbled around him and we were bowled out for 104 in 60.3 overs. As for your correspondent, I contributed a nought — the walk of shame, cap firmly pulled down, bat tucked under arm, dignity left somewhere on the outfield. Fourteen byes told their own sorry tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Trevor Back.

So we go down by 64 runs, comfortably beaten but not, I think, disgraced. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead both the run and wicket charts for the season, proof that some of us are pulling our weight. As for the rest of us — there's nowhere to hide after a duck, only the promise that we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 04 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv MV Medway Valley · HomeformLLWWW

Here's the report for the gazette.

Saturday 4th July, and the coin did us a kindness for once — down it went in our favour, and up went my hand to bat first. Whether that proved wisdom or folly is a question I'll return to. We laboured somewhat to 142/7 from our 56 overs, David Carden playing the anchor role nicely for 35, with David Iliffe unbeaten on 32 at the close of the innings — a total that felt, at tea, neither wholly safe nor wholly hopeless.

And so it proved. The visitors set about the chase with more patience than we'd have liked, Pearce compiling a stubborn 40, with Crane (21) and Buttress (20) chipping in either side of him. But this was the Nigel Thirkell show from start to nearly-finish: five wickets for 36, four maidens squeezed out along the way, bowling with the sort of relentless miserliness that has become his trademark this summer. Paul Bowles chipped away for 3-27 and Martin Thompson took one for 19, and between them they dragged the innings to the very brink — 143/9 after 46 overs.

The brink, alas, was as far as we got. One wicket short, with the match slipping through our fingers like wet soap. Thirkell's season figures — 824 runs and 66 wickets — remain a source of considerable comfort amid the gloom, and there is real cricket in this side. We'll dust ourselves down, have a stiff cup of tea, and be better for it next week.

Thu 02 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · HomeformWLLWW

Thursday 02 July 1981 — Leybourne CC away at Linton Park, and the coin, for once, landed my way. No hesitation: we'd bat.

It was scratchy stuff, truth be told — 100/7 from our sixteen overs isn't the sort of total that has the tea urn trembling with anticipation, and only Nigel Thirkell's 27 gave the innings any real backbone. I chipped in with 17 of my own, more grit than grace, and the rest of us contributed the sort of runs best described diplomatically as "supporting."

Whatever misgivings we harboured at the interval evaporated the moment we took the field. Leybourne's top order simply came and went — J Smith, a-Higgins and David Hopper all back in the pavilion without so much as a run to their name, three ducks inside a spell that had our slip cordon grinning like Cheshire cats. Thirkell, not content with top-scoring, then turned his arm over to devastating effect, 3-7 of pure menace, ably supported by Allan Cooper's 3-17 and Martin Larkin's 2-19. Leybourne were bowled out for 64 in 14.4 overs, and the match was as good as done.

A 36-run win, and Thirkell once again the man of the hour — now sitting proudly atop both our run and wicket charts for the season with 806 runs and 61 wickets, a one-man cottage industry of match-winning. The rest of us shall simply keep feeding him the ball and hope some of it rubs off. Onwards, indeed.

Tue 30 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv MT Maidstone Teachers · HomeformWWLLW

A fine Tuesday evening's work against Maidstone Teachers, and for once the toss went our way in the manner that actually matters, we had first use of the ball. The Teachers never quite got going, bundled out for 89 in 15.3 overs, with only A. Bryan playing anything like a settled innings for his 30. Poor G. Hughes will not thank me for the mention but a duck is a duck and the scorebook must have its due. Nigel Thirkell was again the chief tormentor, 3-17 and looking every inch the man currently topping both our run and wicket charts for the season, while Martin Larkin (3-25) and Ron Hickman (1-18) chipped away either end to leave the innings in ruins.

Chasing 90 was never going to trouble us unduly, and so it proved, 90/3 in 16 overs for a comfortable seven-wicket win. Brian Piper was in composed form for his unbeaten 41, and I was glad to lend a hand with 29 of my own before the target was overhauled. Piper's innings carried extra significance too, it eases him past Robert Murray and up to 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a landmark worth raising a glass to.

All told, a thoroughly satisfactory evening's cricket: tidy bowling, calm batting, and a bit of history made along the way. A fine win, and one the lads can be proud of. Onwards.

Sun 28 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformLWWLL

The toss went against us, as it usually does when the sun's out and the tea urn's freshly filled, so we found ourselves in the field against Rainham (Kent). They batted with more patience than we'd have liked, grinding to 155 for 7 off 54.4 overs. J. Perrin gave us the runaround with a polished 55, well backed by D. Cooper's 36 and B. Fullagar's 25. Credit where it's due: David Carden was the pick of the attack with 2 for 19, Allan Cooper toiled away for 2 for 50 including three tidy maidens, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 1 for 22. Not a total to be sniffed at, but not out of reach either.

Chasing 156, we set about our task with rather more urgency than elegance, getting home on 159 for 4 in 37.5 overs. I can't pretend I wasn't pleased to see my own 82 not out carry us most of the way — one of those days when the middle of the bat seems to find you rather than the other way round — with Nigel Thirkell offering excellent support on 28.

As for the season, Nigel continues to make the rest of us look faintly ordinary, sitting atop both the run charts on 774 and the wicket charts on 55 — an all-round nuisance to opposing captains everywhere.

Two points, six wickets to spare, and a Sunday well spent. We'll take that.

Sat 27 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWLWWL

We travelled down to Meopham on a fine June Saturday with high hopes and, as ever, a coin that refused to cooperate. Lost the toss, asked to bowl first — which at least meant I could put off the embarrassment of batting for a few hours yet.

Meopham ground out 162 for 9 from their 46 overs, propped up almost entirely by Brian Sambrook's watchful, unbeaten 75. We had them in some early bother, sending Wade and Pennells back without so much as a run to their name, but Sambrook simply refused to leave. Nigel Thirkell was in irresistible form with the ball, spinning his way to 6 for 36 and doing most of the damage himself, with Ron Hickman chipping in and I managed a wicket for my 37 runs' worth of toil. Martin Thompson bowled beautifully tight, three maidens and barely a run conceded.

Chasing 163, we never quite found our rhythm. Thirkell, evidently keen to do everything himself, carried the bat for a magnificent 92 not out, well supported by Malcolm Pay's 23. The rest of us rather let the side down — Martin Thompson, Mike Iliffe and I all contributed nought apiece, and I shan't dwell on my own effort, except to say it was every bit as instructive as it sounds. All out for 146.

Sixteen runs short in the end, but with Thirkell topping both the season's run and wicket charts, there's clearly life in this side yet. We'll regroup and come back stronger next week.

Sun 21 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformDWLWW

Sunday 21st June saw us welcoming visitors to Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'm still rather pleased with myself about. The lads set about their work with a mixture of application and the occasional flash of daring, Paul Bowles leading the way with a fine 47, Trevor Back chipping in a stout 42, and Brian Piper keeping his head down for an unbeaten 35 to see us to 154 for 6 off our 47 overs. Not a total to have the opposition trembling in their boots, but respectable enough for a Sunday afternoon. Special mention, as tradition demands, to poor Tim Thirkell, whose duck earns him this week's walk of shame in the Duck Club ledger — commiserations, old boy, there's always next time.

In the field we scrapped hard without quite landing the knockout blow. Their innings ran to 155 for 5 off 44.5 overs, Mike Stapley playing the innings of the day with an unbeaten 62 and finding a willing ally in R Atkinson's 39. Credit to Nigel Thirkell, who did the damage with 2 for 40, while Martin Thompson bowled tidily for 1 for 8 with three maidens — not a run given away lightly — and Paul Bowles added 1 for 29 for good measure.

In the end we fell four wickets short, and there's no dressing that up. Heads up, though, and back to the nets — this club has weathered worse than a Sunday defeat.

Sat 20 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWDWLW

Playing at home to West Farleigh CC, 20 June 1981. We lost the toss and West Farleigh chose to bat.

Well, the coin let us down as it so often does, and West Farleigh took first use of what was, by all accounts, a decent looking strip. They ground their way to 126 for 9 off 46 overs, Chris Milstead top-scoring with 38 and Reg Oldfield chipping in a useful 36, but there was precious little else to trouble the scorers — R. Brigden, Simon Day and Trevor Back all walked back for ducks, which tells its own story. Nigel Thirkell was quite magnificent with the ball, tearing through the order for 5 for 38 with nine — nine! — maidens thrown in for good measure, a spell of such miserly accuracy that the West Farleigh batsmen must have wondered if the boundary rope had been quietly moved back overnight. Martin Larkin (2-14) and Ron Hickman (2-23) mopped up either end.

A target of 127 looked eminently gettable, and so it proved, though not without the traditional club cricket wobble — poor Mick Filmer bagged a duck to keep the Duck Club ledger nicely topped up. No matter: I was fortunate enough to find some form and carried my bat for 69 not out, while Nigel Thirkell, not content with his heroics in the field, added 55 not out to complete a proper captain's-nightmare of an all-round performance from someone else entirely. We cruised home at 127 for 1 in 41.3 overs.

A comfortable nine-wicket win, then, built on Thirkell's afternoon of near-total domination — bat, ball, and seemingly the weather too. Onwards we go.

Wed 17 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv LB leeds and broomfield · HomeformWWDWL

I won the toss on Wednesday and, with barely a flicker of doubt, sent us in to bat against Broomfield. It turned out to be the sort of decision a captain likes to be remembered for. Nigel Thirkell and Paul Bowles simply put their heads down and never troubled the pavilion steps, the pair carrying our innings from first ball to last. Thirkell finished unbeaten on a magnificent 81, Bowles ably supporting with a well-made 55 not out, and we closed on a handsome 138 without loss from our sixteen overs — the sight of both openers still out there at the end being, frankly, more than this captain dared hope for.

Defending it asked a different question of us. Broomfield fought hard through Peter Bowden's unbeaten 41 and John Fuggle's 40, and for a spell it felt closer than the scoreboard perhaps deserved. But Allan Cooper was the pick of our attack with 2-29, with Ron Hickman and Martin Larkin chipping in a wicket apiece, and Broomfield's innings closed on 124/5. A word too for Hickman, who brought up 300 career wickets along the way — not a bad afternoon's work by anyone's reckoning.

Fourteen runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned. A tidy win, and one for the scrapbook.

Tue 16 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformWWWDW

Beaten out at Tuesday's fixture, but not before we gave them a proper afternoon of it. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first on what looked a decent surface, and Nigel Thirkell made sure the decision looked a sound one, cantering to 55 in that unhurried way of his that makes the rest of us look like we're swinging at wasps. Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 42, and Mick Filmer saw us home unbeaten on 20 as we closed on a brisk 132/2 from our sixteen overs — a total that had the makings of a defendable one, or so I told the lads at the tea interval with rather more conviction than I felt.

Out in the field, though, our opponents simply had the better of the arithmetic. S. Beg and D. Barkaway put together a fine stand of 45 and 43 respectively, and despite Allan Cooper doing real damage with 2-39, and Nigel Thirkell (2-40) and Paul Bowles (1-38) chipping away gamely — B. Nissen departing without troubling the scorers — they closed out the chase at 136/5 with half an over in hand, winning by five wickets. Small mercies: Nigel passed 700 career wickets in the process, a milestone that rather puts the rest of us in the shade, and he continues to top both the season's run and wicket charts.

A defeat, then, but an honest one — we'll dust ourselves down and come again next week.

Sun 14 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv SJ St Joseph's · HomeformWWWWD

I called the toss correctly and, with barely a cloud to trouble the eye, there was only ever one decision to make. Batting first felt like the right kind of confidence, and Nigel Thirkell repaid it in spades, farming the strike with the calm of a man who has done this before and finishing unbeaten on 99, one agonising short of the century he thoroughly deserved. Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 40, and between them we posted a healthy 178 for 2 from our 43 overs, the sort of total that lets a captain sleep easy over tea.

Defending it was another matter entirely, as St Joseph's set about the chase with real intent. Mike Iliffe led their reply with 41, well supported by David Iliffe's 24 and Jim Hall's 22, and for a while the required rate looked comfortably within their grasp. But Nigel Thirkell, not content with his heroics with the bat, turned the screw with the ball too, picking up 2 for 14 to be pick of our attack. Paul Bowles weighed in again with 2 for 50, and Martin Thompson strangled the middle overs with two tidy maidens, denying them the boundaries that would have settled things early.

In the end we held our nerve and got over the line by 11 runs. With Nigel Thirkell now sitting proudly atop both the run charts and the wicket charts for the season, one begins to wonder whether the rest of us are merely here to keep him company. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 13 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv YM YMCA Maidstone · AwayformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 13 June 1981. We won the toss and, with the sky doing that particular shade of English grey that promises nothing and delivers everything, elected to have first use of the ball. It proved the right call, if only just: they were bowled out for 115 in 48 overs, S. Wyles top-scoring with 32, Dave Goodyer chipping in 30 and P. Husband 26. Golding, Adams and Mitchell never troubled the scorers, sent back for ducks. Paul Bowles was the chief tormentor with 3-19, Martin Thompson tidied up 2-6, Nigel Thirkell took 2-22, and Martin Larkin bowled as though runs were rationed, five maidens to his name.

Our reply, alas, was a rather more sombre affair. Sixty for nine from our forty overs is not the stuff of gazette legend, and the sight of Graham Cove and David Carden both departing for ducks did little to lift the mood on the boundary. As for the captain — I fell for nought myself, and the less said the better; we shall draw a veil over it, as promised, though I suspect my teammates will not let me forget it over the winter.

Nigel Thirkell continues his splendid season, now sitting atop both the 1981 run and wicket charts with 360 runs and 36 wickets — the rest of us are merely supporting cast. In the end, honours were shared: a draw, earned more by their batting collapse than our own, but a fair result when neither side could force the issue.

Thu 11 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformWWWWW

The bus to Staplehurst rattled us about rather more than the cricket did, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and had no hesitation in putting the opposition in the field. Paul Bowles then set about making the journey worthwhile, striding past his fifty and on to a splendid 74 as we compiled a handsome 134 for 3 from our twenty-five overs. Bat like that and the tea urn tastes a good deal sweeter.

Defending it, I'll confess to a flutter of nerves as Chris Rogers threatened to make a match of it with a well-made 34, but the Staplehurst innings never quite found its rhythm. John Robins departed for a duck at our hands, always a small mercy for the fielding side, and Ron Hickman was the chief tormentor with a fine 2 for 15. I chipped in with 2 for 26, and Malcolm Pay held up his end nicely with 1 for 4, the three of us squeezing the innings shut at 95 for 7.

Elsewhere in the 1981 ledger, Nigel Thirkell continues his quiet domination of the 1st XI averages, sitting proudly atop both the run charts on 341 and the wicket charts on 34 — a one-man cottage industry of runs and wickets.

We got home by 39 runs in the end. A good day for the club, and a bus ride home made considerably more cheerful for it.

Tue 09 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv Addington Village CC · HomeformDWWWW

I called correctly and, with a firm handshake and firmer conviction, elected to bat — a decision I stood by for roughly two overs before quietly reconsidering. Ninety-nine for eight from our sixteen was scratchy stuff, the sort of total assembled less by design than by sheer bloody-mindedness, rescued almost entirely by Nigel Thirkell's 47, playing what looked increasingly like a lone hand while the rest of us admired his technique from the other end.

Defending under a hundred against Addington always feels like turning up to a duel with a rolled-up newspaper, but the lads had other ideas. W Carey departed for a golden duck, which set the tone nicely, and from there Nigel — evidently unwilling to let the bat have all the glory — took the ball and ran through with 2-11. Ian Webb (1-12) and Allan Cooper (1-19) chipped in to keep the squeeze on, and Addington never got their sixteen overs to add up to anything more troubling than 65-5.

Thirty-four runs the right side of the ledger, two points banked, and Nigel Thirkell continuing his one-man assault on both the run and wicket charts — 325 runs and 33 wickets now to his name this season, at which point the rest of us really ought to start pulling our weight. A scruffy, unlikely, thoroughly deserved win.

Sun 07 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWDWWW

Sunday last saw us welcome Sheldwich CC to Linton Park, and with the coin landing kindly I had no hesitation in asking us to bat first — a decision I spent the next fifty-five overs quietly second-guessing.

We limped to 138 for 8, a total that flattered our efforts more than our efforts deserved. Jim Hall held the innings together with a fine top score of 31, well supported by Mike Iliffe's 23 and Allan Cooper's unbeaten 20, but the middle order rather fell out of a tree — David Carden, Trevor Back and Roger Craske all contributing that most traditional of club cricket offerings, the golden duck. Three in one innings takes some doing, and I'd like to say it was deliberate team strategy.

Whatever confidence Sheldwich took into their reply evaporated fast. D Burrows departed without troubling the scorers, and from there Nigel Thirkell simply ran amok, scything through the order for 5-18. I chipped in with 2-17, Ross Brice picked up 1-1, and Trevor Back — perhaps keen to make amends for his duck — bowled two miserly maidens. Sheldwich were bowled out for 53 in just 21.5 overs, and a total that had looked distinctly modest suddenly looked rather grand.

There were milestones tucked among the rubble too: Jim Hall's 31 eased him past Ray Howard into 14th on the club's all-time run charts, while Trevor Back's solitary wicket nudged him above Len Conway into 25th among our leading wicket-takers. An 85-run victory, and frankly more than we had any right to expect. Onwards.

Sat 06 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWWDWW

Onwards, then. Winning the toss on Saturday and putting Rumwood in to field felt, if I say so myself, exactly the sort of decision that separates the tacticians from the also-rans — though I confess it owed as much to the state of the square as to any great cricketing brain. We laboured somewhat to 160 all out from our 46 overs, with Paul Bowles the chief architect on 42, ably assisted by our own generosity in extras, which chipped in a handy 25. Not a total to have Rumwood quaking in their boots, but enough, as it turned out, to be going on with.

And then the ball did the talking. Rumwood were bowled out for 104 in 43.5 overs, undone chiefly by Paul Bowles, who turned his arm over to devastating effect — 5 for 9, and frankly unplayable by the sound of it. Nigel Thirkell backed him up beautifully with 4 for 27, five of his overs maidens, tight enough to make batting feel like a punishment, while Martin Larkin picked up a well-earned wicket for 36. P. Norris held out gamely for 43, but it was never enough.

A word for Nigel, too, who with those four wickets has climbed to second on the club's all-time list, behind only Bowles himself — and who currently tops both our run and wicket charts for the season. The lads should be rightly pleased. A fine win by 56 runs, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Thu 04 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv YM YMCA Maidstone · HomeformDWWDW

Thursday the fourth of June found us hosting Ymca Maidstone, and when I won the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat — a decision that felt right within the first few overs and never stopped feeling right. Nigel Thirkell set about the bowling in fine style for 49, and Paul Bowles played the ideal foil, finishing unbeaten on 38 as we posted 102 for 4 from our sixteen overs. Poor Malcolm Pay will not thank me for recording that he departed for a golden duck, but such is the game we love — one man's fluent 49 is another's long walk back without troubling the scorers.

With that total in the bank, it was left to the ball to finish the job, and finish it emphatically. Ymca Maidstone never remotely settled, losing P- Worsnop, S- Wyles and Dave Goodyer all without scoring, and folding for 39 in just 11.2 overs. Allan Cooper was the chief architect of the collapse, spinning a web through the middle order for the remarkable figures of 6 for 17, with Ron Hickman and Nigel Thirkell chipping in a wicket apiece to tidy up the tail.

Nigel Thirkell continues to lead both the run charts and the wicket charts for the season, and on this evidence nobody is catching him soon. A 63-run victory, comfortably earned and thoroughly enjoyed — a very good day for the club indeed.

Wed 03 Jun 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv TT Tonbridge Trade · HomeformWWLDD

Wednesday the third of June found us hosting Tonbridge Trade, and for once I called correctly at the toss, electing to bat with the confidence of a man who had clearly not consulted the weather gods or his own top order. We were bowled out for 154 in 45.3 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Jim Hall's well-crafted 62, while further down the order Dave Hales and Steve Petty both took the long, lonely walk back for nought, joining the club's least-wanted fraternity.

With the ball in hand we set about defending it, and defend it we did. Tonbridge Trade were dismissed for 140 in 49 overs, M Gibb's 55 the backbone of their reply, ably assisted by D Hunt's 35, but King and Elphick found the middle every bit as elusive as our own ducks had, departing without scoring. Paul Bowles was the story of the innings, spinning his way to a magnificent 6-41, with Mick Filmer chipping in handsomely at 3-16. I did my modest bit too, taking 1-25 and keeping things tight with five maidens, which I mention only the once lest I bore you. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, conceding eight byes, though his bat had already done more than enough to atone.

Up in the season's charts, Jim Hall now leads the run-scoring and Paul Bowles the wickets, and rightly so on this evidence. A fine win by 14 runs, and one we shall take gladly. Onwards.

Tue 02 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Monchelsea CC · HomeformWDWWD

Tuesday last, 02 June, saw Boughton Monchelsea CC roll up to Linton Park with the sun out and, rather less agreeably for us, the coin also landing their way. They chose to bat, which on reflection did them precious little good. Sixteen overs later they had scraped together a modest 55 for 7, with Mike Sendles and Stuart Ayling both trudging off for ducks, no doubt muttering unrepeatable things about our attack.

And what an attack it was. Martin Larkin was quite simply unplayable, returning 4 for 13 and making the whole business look rather easier than I'm sure it was. Ron Hickman chipped in nicely with 2 for 18, while Nigel Thirkell bowled with the miserliness of a man checking his own tea round twice, 1 for 17 including two maidens, barely letting a run past him.

Set 56 to win, we barely had time to settle into our deckchairs before it was over — 56 for 0 in just 6.4 overs, Nigel Thirkell striking 35 not out and generally making the rest of us feel rather surplus to requirements. It's no surprise, mind: he now leads both the run charts and the wicket charts for the 1981 first team, and at this rate the rest of us may as well stay in the pavilion.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a ten-wicket win to send Boughton Monchelsea home wondering what hit them. A thumping, all-round performance — bowled, batted and, for once, comfortably won the toss of good fortune if not the coin itself.

Sat 30 May 1981 🧢 1st XIv CC Chatham Nomads CC · AwayformWWDWW

Saturday 30 May 1981, and we made the short trip to Chatham Nomads with the sun more or less behaving itself. I called it right at the toss and, with a decent-looking track underfoot, there was never much doubt I'd have first use of the bat.

We made ourselves comfortable at 163/4 from our 43 overs, with Paul Bowles the architect-in-chief — 93 not out and not remotely troubled by the notion of getting out — well supported by Nigel Thirkell's brisk 33. Not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but enough to make the Nomads work for their tea.

And work they did. Nigel followed his runs with the ball, turning it square for a magnificent 5-23 that had their middle order in all sorts of bother, John Deans back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I chipped in with 3-43 myself, four maidens included, finding some rhythm I hadn't entirely expected to find, and Martin Thompson picked up one for good measure. Only R Bell, with a stubborn 40, kept them in it at all, and Chatham eventually folded up at 115/9 from their 46 — just short, agonisingly, of the finish line either way.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. With Nigel now leading both the runs and wickets charts for the season, I'd call that a highly satisfactory afternoon's work — even if my legs disagree.

Sun 17 May 1981 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · HomeformWLWWL

Lost the toss again, and High Halstow wasted no time telling us what they thought of the coin's judgement, sticking us out in the field under a sky that promised more than it delivered. They ground their way to 100/6 from their eighteen, with S Johnson doing the heavy lifting on 44 and R Brown chipping in a tidy 21. Credit where it's due, though, our attack kept them honest throughout, and Trevor Back was the pick of us with 2-20, backed up nicely by Ian Brattle and Nigel Thirkell with a wicket apiece. Poor M Hatton will not remember the day fondly, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

A hundred looked gettable on a good morning, but our reply never found its rhythm. Paul Bowles battled hardest for his 23, and it says something about the rest of the card that both Jim Hall and Martin Thompson departed for ducks as we subsided to 71/9 from our eighteen overs, the run chase never really breathing.

One moment did lift the afternoon above the ordinary: Trevor Back brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark earned the hard way and thoroughly deserved, wickets and all.

Beaten by 29 runs in the end, no arguing with that. A day where the effort with ball in hand rather outstripped the effort with bat, and we'll take the lesson home along with the defeat.

Sat 16 May 1981 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDWWDW

Saturday 16 May 1981 — away to Headcorn, and I won't pretend the toss was a difficult decision. Firm surface, good outfield, and my nerve held: we batted. It was, in truth, a scratchy sort of innings — 124/7 from our 44 overs, the sort of total that has committee members muttering into their tea. Nigel Thirkell top-scored with a watchful 36, Jim Hall chipped in 29 and David Iliffe 28, but elsewhere the lads rather queued up to admire the Headcorn attack from close quarters — Paul Bowles and Tim Thirkell both took the long walk back for nought, and the Duck Club ledger duly swelled by two.

Not, on the face of it, a total to frighten anyone. But cricket is a game of two innings and one very good bowler having An Afternoon, and Nigel Thirkell duly had one. Headcorn were bowled out for 90 in 38.5 overs, C. Wickens' 24 the only real resistance, while Dave Harden and Robert Westrop departed for ducks of their own — honours even on that front, at least. Nigel span through them for a scarcely believable 6-22, six of his overs going for nothing at all, with Ian Brattle (2-22) and Martin Larkin (1-13) tidying up what little was left.

A word for the record books: those six wickets carried Nigel past Alan Wilkes into second on the club's all-time list, and he now leads both the 1981 run and wicket charts for the 1st XI — a rather one-man show, though we shan't complain. A fine win by 34 runs. Onwards.

Wed 13 May 1981 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformLDWWD

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 13 May 1981. We travelled to Benenden CC, and for once the coin obliged me, so I had no hesitation in sending us in.

It has to be said, sixteen overs of batting is not a canvas on which to paint a masterpiece, and 100/7 was more workmanlike than glorious. Nigel Thirkell dug in for a well-made 28, with Mick Filmer's 22 lending sturdy support, while poor Martin Thompson made the long walk back for a duck — the Duck Club ledger duly updated, much to the lads' amusement.

Defending a hundred is always a nervy business, but Benenden simply never got going. They were bowled out for a paltry 47 in 12.3 overs, R Tappin's 20 the only real resistance, and John Marshall departing for a duck of his own at our hands. Ian Brattle was superb, ripping through with 2-2, Ron Hickman chipped in with 2-5, and Nigel Thirkell — not content with his runs — added 2-8 with the ball. I even managed a modest 15 myself, more by accident than design.

A red-letter day off the field too: Nigel Thirkell brought up 9,000 career runs for the club, and Ron Hickman's brace edged him past Dick Langridge to 13th on our all-time wicket-takers' list. Nigel now leads both the 1981 run and wicket charts — the man is a one-man cricket club.

Won by 53 runs, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved. A very good day out.

Sat 09 May 1981 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDLDWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 09 May 1981. The road took us to Rumwood CC, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock, mostly on the grounds that our lot fare rather better with bat in hand than trudging about in the field on an empty stomach.

We finished up a respectable 169 for 6 from our 46 overs, the innings built almost single-handedly around a lovely half-century from Nigel Thirkell, 80 in the end, playing the sort of innings that makes a captain's job look easy. Paul Bowles chipped in nicely with 34, and Malcolm Pay saw us home unbeaten on 22. Less happily, poor David Iliffe's afternoon began and ended without troubling the scorers — a duck to file quietly away and never mention again, which of course I now have.

With the ball we set about Rumwood in earnest, and to our lads' great credit we bowled them out for nothing at all — the whole side back in the hutch without a run to show for it, which even by the modest standards of village cricket takes some doing.

For all that, the match ended honours even, a draw when neither side could quite land the decisive blow. Nigel continues to lead our 1981 run charts with 82 to his name, and long may it continue. A curious afternoon, then — one team routed for nought and still no winner. Only in this game.

Sat 02 May 1981 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformDDLDW

Toss won, and with that particular English optimism that summer sunshine breeds, I had no hesitation in sticking Bidborough into the field. Whether the lads thanked me for it as we crawled to 110 for 8 off our 47 overs is another matter. Martin Thompson was the mainstay, a fine 37, with Tim Thirkell chipping in a tidy 23 and yours truly adding 22 to the cause. Martin Larkin and Fred Greenfield, alas, will want no mention of their ducks in the tea hut this week — though I shall give them one anyway, in the spirit of full disclosure.

Defending 110 felt like asking a deckchair to hold back the tide, but cricket has a wonderful habit of humbling the confident. Nigel Thirkell simply ran amok, 7 for 18 off a spell that included seven maidens — the sort of figures that make a captain's job absurdly easy, since all I had to do was stand at the other end and pick up 2 for 28. Bidborough subsided to 69 all out in 35.3 overs, D. Miller's battling 23 the only real resistance, while Buckland and Andrew departed for ducks of their own.

There was extra cause for a second pint afterwards: my 22 nudged me past Mike Iliffe into 17th on the club's all-time run charts, while Nigel's seven-wicket haul vaulted him past Alan Wilkes into 3rd among our wicket-takers — company he wears lightly, and deservedly. A 41-run victory, and thoroughly earned.