🧢 Captain's Log

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

Cricket returned to Linton Park on Sunday, and away from home we went, with the toss falling kindly and me deciding we should bat first — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scoreboard later suggested. The lads set about their work with reasonable purpose, Malcolm Pay leading the way with a fine 32, Jon Harris chipping in 29 and Martin Mears adding a tidy 27, while I contributed a modest 22 of my own before the innings closed on 159 for 7 from our 24 overs — a total that felt like it had something in it, if not quite enough.

There was, mind you, rather more to celebrate than the runs alone. Jon Harris brought up 3,000 career runs for the club in that innings of 29, a landmark achieved with typically little fuss, and in doing so eased past Terry Whittaker into 16th on our all-time run-scorers list. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Nigel Thirkell continues to plunder runs at the top of the 1st XI table with 1,661 to his name, while Gareth Thomas leads the 2nd XI charge with 35.

Sadly the afternoon belonged to our opponents, who chased down what we'd set with seven wickets in hand and precious little alarm. Not our day, then — heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Wed 23 Sep 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLLDWD

Here's the report:

Wednesday last brought a home fixture to Linton Park, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I still maintain was the right one, whatever the scorebook might later suggest. Adrian Smith led the way with a splendid 71, and found a willing ally in Paul Bowles, who batted right through for an unbeaten 59 — the sort of innings that makes a captain's job look easy. Not everyone's afternoon sparkled quite so brightly, mind: C. Wilkins and Steve Petty both departed for golden ducks, proof that cricket has a cruel sense of humour. We closed on 163 for 7 from our 51.3 overs.

In the field we set about defending the total with purpose. R Kemp gave the visitors' innings some backbone with a fine 54, well supported by S Gower's 21, while R Jones fell for a duck of his own — honours even on that front, at least. Paul Bowles was again the star turn, snaring 3 for 17, with Jon Harris (3-37, three tidy maidens) and Steve Petty (1-24) chipping in admirably. I even managed to find some rhythm myself with three wickets, though poor Adrian had a torrid time behind the stumps, 19 byes slipping past him like he wasn't there.

They finished on 127 for 7, and so honours were shared. A draw, then — not quite the glory of victory, but a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket all the same.

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

The lads pipped by an inch or a mile, all the same on the drive home — here's the report.

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We lost the toss on a fine Tuesday down at The Mote and duly found ourselves shepherded into the field, which as any club captain will tell you is either a blessing or a curse depending entirely on how the pitch behaves and how sharp your bowlers are feeling. Happily it was the former: William Hickling top-scored for the hosts with a watchful 45, with useful support from B. Snow (25) and Nigel Mullarkey (21), but the real story was Jon Harris, who simply ran riot, taking 5-29 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly, and poor J. Williams gone without troubling the scorers. Trevor Back and Laurie Turner chipped in either side of him, and The Mote were shut out for 145/9 off their 49.4 overs.

Chasing it down, we never quite found the gear to get us home, closing on 136/7 from our 44. Nigel Thirkell held the innings together with 31, Paul Bowles and Andy Woollett both weighing in with 29 apiece, and I managed a tidy little 17 of my own — though the day's real satisfaction came with the ball in hand, where five wickets fell to the skipper for good measure.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue — and with Jim Hall still leading our run charts and Jon Harris now sitting on 20 wickets for the season, there's plenty still to play for. A fair result, fairly earned, and the tea was rather good too.

Sun 13 Sep 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWDWLW

Sunday 13th September, and a fine one for it — the visitors arriving to find yours truly in an uncharacteristically bullish mood, having won the toss and elected to bat without a flicker of hesitation. The right call, if I say so myself, and rarely do I get to say that twice in one summer.

Paul Bowles set about proving the point with a handsome 74, the sort of innings that makes a captain's decision look positively inspired, and he found willing company in Martin Thompson (34) and Nigel Thirkell, who finished unbeaten on 34. We closed on 170/2 from our 44 overs — a total with enough about it to make the tea interval feel thoroughly earned.

In the field, D Spencer and W Creed gave the visitors real hope with 45 and 38 respectively, and for a while the lads had to work hard for breath as much as wickets. But Nigel Thirkell, who by now seems to regard the ball as a personal possession, was quite magnificent — 4-20 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, miserly to the point of parsimony. Jon Harris chipped in with 3-62, and I managed to rediscover some semblance of rhythm myself for 3 wickets, more by application than genius. They finished 136/7 from their 46.

A draw, then — honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. With Thirkell now sitting proudly atop both the run and wicket charts for the season, one wonders what's left for the rest of us to do besides applaud. A fair result, honestly earned, and a thoroughly pleasant afternoon's cricket.

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

As we mustered 169 for 5 from our 46 overs against Southborough, I doubt any of us dared hope the day would end quite so tidily. Paul Bowles set the tone with a really well-made 94, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 56 of his own, the pair putting together a 2nd-wicket stand of 121 that did most of the heavy lifting for us. Elsewhere the effort was, shall we say, more modest — poor Jon Harris endured the walk of shame for a duck, and as for your correspondent, the less said about my own contribution the better. A duck of my own, and not the decorative kind.

With the ball, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Southborough were bowled out for a mere 108 in 34.2 overs, never remotely troubling our total. Jon Harris, redeeming himself splendidly after his batting mishap, ripped through with 3 for 8, while Martin Larkin bowled with real discipline — 3 for 34 including three maidens, not a run given away lightly. Nigel Thirkell backed up his half-century with 2 for 32, and even I found a spot of rhythm, picking up 3 wickets myself. Peter Young's 25 and Ken Bones' 21 were the only real resistance, and Phil Hobbs departed for a duck of his own at our hands.

A fine win by 61 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. 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

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 08 September 1981. We travelled to Paul CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in choosing to bat, on the theory that a bird in the hand beats worrying about it later.

We mustered 159/6 from our 45 overs, a total built rather than blazed. Paul Bowles anchored things nicely with 41 not out, with Richard Chapman (28) and Jim Hall (27) chipping in either side of him. I found some rhythm of my own with 22. Less happily, Richard Ashby's contribution amounted to a duck and the long walk back — the sort of innings one doesn't discuss over tea.

Defending 159, the lads bowled and fielded like men who fancied their chances. Paul CC folded for 104 in 32.1 overs, J- Pinkett's 21 the only real resistance, while Craig Osborne and J- Snell both departed for ducks of their own at our hands. Nigel Thirkell was the pick with 3-33, well backed by Trevor Back (2-8) and the miserly Ian Brattle (2-10, three maidens). I managed 3 wickets myself. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping him — though he made ample amends with the bat, his 27 runs also easing him past Cliff Anscombe into 12th on the club's all-time run charts.

A fine win by 55 runs, then, and Paul Bowles continues to lead our 1981 Tour XI both with bat and, not far behind, with ball. Onwards.

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

Down to Cornwall we trundled on Sunday, the coach windows fogged with optimism and flask tea, to take on Beacon CC. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody argued with me at tea. Tim Thirkell led the way with a fine 42, Richard Chapman chipped in a handsome 32 and Richard Ashby 29, while the middle order rather fell apart at the seams — John Hansford, Andy Thresher and Michael Chambers all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer. All out 163 in 38.3 overs felt a touch light, but defendable if we held our nerve.

Hold it we did, though not without drama. Beacon closed on 159/7 from their forty, Malcolm Lobb the chief obstacle with 35, before Michael Chambers ran through them with a superb 3-25, well backed by Nigel Thirkell (2-27) and Paul Bowles (2-52), with Trevor Back keeping things tight for two maidens. Twenty-two byes did nothing for my blood pressure — a distinctly tricky afternoon behind the stumps — but we scrambled home by 4 runs.

Neat footnote to the day: Tim's 42 eased him past Frank Brattle into 9th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Paul Bowles and Michael Chambers continue to lead the Tour XI's run and wicket charts respectively. A scrappy, nerve-jangling win, but a win nonetheless — and on the road, in Cornwall, I'll gladly take ugly over none at all.

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

Under a sky that had probably read the same forecast we had, we set off to Kennington CC on Saturday hoping for better luck than the bookies gave us.

Put into the field, we did our early business rather well. Kennington laboured to 116 all out in 43.5 overs, Alec Driscoll the chief obstacle with a battling 36, before we turned the screw in a spell that took them from 87-5 to 94-8 almost before anyone had finished their tea. Andy Woollett was magnificent — 4-4 with six maidens, bowling as though the batsmen owed him money — well supported by Malcolm Pay (3-35) and Martin Thompson (2-28). T Butcher and Martin Hogben both departed for ducks, which seemed, at the time, a fair omen.

It wasn't. Chasing 116, we subsided from a promising-ish 20-1 to a distinctly wobbly 21-4, with Roger Craske, Simon Thirkell and Andy Woollett all contributing golden ducks of their own. Malcolm Pay again stood tallest with 42, but 101 all out in 32.5 overs was simply not enough, and we fell 15 runs short.

There was, at least, one moment to savour amid the wreckage: Malcolm Pay brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to even in defeat. Mick Filmer, meanwhile, continues his fine season, sitting third in the 1st XI run charts with 377.

Verdict: not our day, lads — heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Saturday saw us head down to Troon, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't dawdle over the decision — we batted. It proved the right call, even if I say so myself, as we compiled 213 for 6 from our 45 overs. I found some rhythm at the crease and finished 107 not out, well supported by Jim Hall's 32 and Allan Cooper's 31. Spare a thought for poor Fred Cheesman, whose golden duck was the only blemish on an otherwise handsome total.

Defending it made for a different sort of afternoon. Troon fought hard through Stephen White's 42, with useful support from Patrick Vincent (23) and Carter (20), while K Jenkin and D Chappel departed without troubling the scorers. But we had the bowling to match: Ross Brice was pick of the attack with 3 for 18, Jon Harris toiled away for 3 for 43 with four tidy maidens, and I chipped in with 3 for 20. Troon were all out for 165 in 38.4 overs — though I'll confess Jim Hall had a trying time behind the stumps, with 19 byes slipping through that even a saintly keeper would wince at.

A word for the season charts: I lead the Tour XI run-scoring with 113, while Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with five. But the day belonged to the whole side — a 48-run win, and a thoroughly good one for the club.

Fri 04 Sep 1981 🧢 Tour XIv ? · AwayformLWWDW

Down by 89 runs, home for tea and a stiff word with the scorebook.

Friday 4th September, and off we trundled to face the away side with rain nowhere in sight and confidence, in retrospect, rather higher than it ought to have been. Put into the field, we watched T Angove play the innings of the season — an unbeaten century, no less — while M Trevarthen (35) and T Willetts (20) tidied up nicely around him. We did have our moments: Michael Chambers toiled manfully for 3-51, with Richard Chapman and Jon Harris chipping in two apiece, and M Dunstan walked back for a duck without so much as troubling the umpire. But 230/9 from 45 overs was always going to take some chasing.

Chase it we did not. Trevor Back's 35 and Jim Hall's unbeaten 33 were honest toil in a innings that otherwise read like a charge sheet — Nigel Thirkell and Tim Thirkell both back in the pavilion without scoring, and 23 extras in byes alone, which tells you rather more about the day behind the stumps than I care to elaborate on. As for your captain, I can report a golden blob of the finest vintage; they do say lead from the front, though on this occasion I led rather emphatically from the rear.

141/9 in reply was never going to trouble the scoreboard operators, and 89 runs is not a margin one talks one's way out of. Trevor Back and Michael Chambers head the season's charts, which is some comfort. For the rest of us: heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Skipper's Log, Bearsted, Monday 31 August 1981. Won the toss, elected to bat — and I'll say now, I'd make the same call again with my hand on my heart. A tidy 195/8 from our 46 overs, built almost single-handedly by Nigel Thirkell, who strolled to 99 in the sort of innings that makes a captain feel he's earned his tea early. Mick Filmer chipped in nicely with 26. Less said the better about Brian Piper and Andy Woollett, who both took the long walk back for nought — the ducks quacked loudly in the changing room afterwards, as tradition demands.

With the ball, we set about Bearsted's 148 all out in 43.4 overs with real purpose. Ian Lambert's 62 and Mike Read's 46 threatened to make a match of it, but Jon Harris was in irresistible touch — 5-61, a five-for thoroughly deserved and the spell of the day by some distance. Nigel Thirkell, not content with his runs, added 4-26 with the ball, Martin Thompson picked up one, and Martin Larkin choked the scoring with three tight maidens. Keith Filmer joined the duck club at our hands, which felt only fair.

I even managed five wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity until Christmas. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead both our run and wicket charts for the season — a one-man cricket club, frankly. We got home by 47 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 30 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLLDLW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 30 August 1981. We travelled to Staplehurst CC, and I won the toss, elected to bat, and for once nobody in the pavilion questioned my judgement.

We made 180/5 from our fifty overs, which felt about right on a day when nothing came for free. Paul Brattle played the innings of the match, a well-made fifty that gave the rest of us licence to potter about behind him, and Trevor Back chipped in handsomely with 31. Jim Hall saw us home unbeaten on 26, batting with the calm of a man who knew his tea was waiting.

With the ball we set about them properly. Nigel Thirkell was in one of those moods — 4 for 29 with seven maidens thrown in, which is either miserly or downright unsporting depending on which side of the crease you're stood. Brian Piper took three and Tony Gauna picked up one, and between us we sent Penny and Hotson back to the pavilion without so much as a run to show for their trouble — ducks both, poor devils. Staplehurst rallied through Ian Pullen, who passed his own fifty and looked rather too pleased about it, well supported by John Robins' 28, but they fell short at 140/9 from 46, running out of overs and, mercifully, out of partners.

Honours shared, then — a draw, with neither side quite able to land the killer blow. Frustrating in the moment, but on reflection an entirely fair result, and Thirkell's figures alone were worth the drive home.

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

Saturday 29 August 1981, away at British Rail Ashford, and I'll admit the toss fell kindly – calling correctly is one thing, but knowing what to do with it is another, and on this occasion there was no hesitation at all. We batted, and how. Nigel Thirkell simply refused to get out, ending unbeaten on a magnificent 125, with Paul Brattle ticking along nicely to 73 not out at the other end. Between them they made the game safe long before declaration weather set in, and we closed on a formidable 206 for 1 off 44 overs. Only poor Andy Woollett had a day to forget, back in the pavilion for a duck before he'd troubled the scorers – these things happen to the best of us.

With that total to play with, defending it always felt more formality than fight. Vince Tyrrell's 31 and N Long's 22 were the only real resistance Ashford could muster, and even that was swept away by Jon Harris, who turned his arm over to devastating effect – 5 for 25, seven of his overs maidens, utterly unplayable. Martin Mears (2-11) and Paul Bowles (2-30) tidied up what was left, with C Curtis-Moore and O Wood both back for ducks. I chipped in with 5 wickets myself, which made for a thoroughly happy afternoon, though Malcolm Pay behind the stumps will want a quiet word with himself after 14 byes went astray.

Ashford folded for 110 in 40.2 overs, and we came away 96 runs to the good. A special mention, too, for Jon Harris passing 900 career wickets – some achievement, and thoroughly deserved. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a very satisfactory day's work all round.

Wed 26 Aug 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLDLLD

Wednesday 26 August 1981, and the team bus rattled off to Gravesend CC with the usual mix of hope and trepidation that passes for a game plan in these parts. We lost the toss, were put in to field, and I confess my heart sank slightly — until the ball started talking. Jon Harris was magnificent, prising out five for 35 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, while Brian Piper (3-32) and Steve Petty (1-28) tidied up the rest. Poor Jonathan Hinks departed without troubling the scorers, and Gravesend closed on 139/9, T Gardener's 30 and Les Curtis's 24 the only real resistance.

Chasing 140 is never the formality the scorebook suggests, and so it proved. David Piper's duck did nothing for the nerves, but Mick Filmer settled things beautifully with a fine 59, well backed by Gareth Thomas (25) and Jim Hall (20), and we squeaked home by a single wicket — the sort of finish that ages a captain by several years in the space of an afternoon.

A word for the history books: Mick brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, which is rather more than I've managed in several lifetimes. And I'll allow myself one small boast — five wickets for the skipper, not a bad way to spend a Wednesday. With Jim Hall leading the run charts and Jon second among the wicket-takers, the season's shaping up nicely. A tight, nervy, thoroughly satisfying win — the very stuff club cricket is made of.

Sun 23 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWLLD

Sunday 23 August 1981, and I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I shall die on that hill regardless of what followed. We ground our way to 155/8 from 53 overs, Mick Filmer holding the innings together with an unbeaten 32, Allan Cooper and Jim Hall chipping in 20 apiece. Brian Piper and Jon Harris, it must be recorded, contributed a golden nothing between them — ducks of the purest quality. As for your captain, a golden blob. One does like to lead by example, though on this occasion I led rather more by cautionary tale.

With the ball, though, we were a different proposition entirely. The visitors were dismissed for 77 in 34 overs, G Cooper's defiant 44 aside, with a- Jones, D- Howard and R- Farrow all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Brian Piper made amends for his batting in the most emphatic fashion — 5-10, a five-for as beautifully judged as anything you'll see on a village green — while Allan Cooper (3-3) and Jon Harris (2-40, three maidens and not a run given away lightly) tidied up the rest.

And yet. Chasing 155 proves rather easier than defending it when your own top order has gone missing, and we fell 78 runs short in the end. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our season's run charts with 1302, and Jon Harris now sits third among the wicket-takers with 36 — small consolations on a day when the bowlers did everything asked of them and the batsmen, myself very much included, did not. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Saturday last, Limpsfield CC rolled up the drive and I won the toss - which, regular readers will know, is roughly the extent of my captaincy skills - and stuck us in to bat without a second thought. The lads repaid the confidence handsomely: 181 for 3 off our 38 overs, built on a fine, watchful fifty from Malcolm Pay (62), with Paul Brattle keeping him honest at the other end for 47 and Nigel Thirkell finishing unbeaten on 27 to see us to a total that felt, over tea, thoroughly respectable.

Out in the field, Limpsfield set about their reply in no great hurry, closing on 59 for 2 from their 22 overs - a scoring rate that suggested either great caution on their part or considerable stinginess on ours, and I rather think it was the latter. Martin Larkin was the pick of the attack, prising out one for 14 and sending down three maidens that must have felt like interrogation by the end of it, with Jon Harris chipping in for one wicket at 22 runs apiece. P. Bromley batted through unbeaten on 25 and, between the overs and the bowling figures, there simply wasn't time left to force a result.

So honours shared, and a draw to file away. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our 1981 run charts with 1,289 for the season, and Jon Harris sits third among the wicket-takers with 34 - proof, if any were needed, that the club is in good hands, even if the captain's toss-calling remains its most reliable weapon.

Wed 19 Aug 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformLLDLL

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 · HomeformLWWWL

We lost the toss on Sunday and were duly asked to field first and chase down whatever Whitstable could muster. No complaints from me – with first use of the ball, the lads did us proud, bowling the visitors out for 123 from their 50 overs. Christopher Snr Dale batted with real application for 49, but found little company: Wood and Andy Stroud both trudged back for ducks, undone by an attack working in perfect harmony. Jon Harris led from the front with a superb 4-35, Allan Cooper (2-15) bowled with the parsimony of a man counting his pennies – eight maidens, if you please – and Nigel Thirkell weighed in with 2-22.

A target of 124 looked eminently gettable, but our reply never quite found its feet. Brian Piper's watchful 29, ably supported by Gareth Thomas's brisk 23, were the only real substance on offer; David Iliffe, Paul Bowles and Simon Thirkell all departed for golden ducks, and we were bowled out for 87 in 38.4 overs. I found some rhythm with the ball myself, four wickets my reward, though it counted for little on a losing afternoon.

There were bright spots amid the gloom. Jim Hall's ten runs eased him past Robert Murray into 13th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, and Trevor Back's lone wicket lifted him past Stan Wratten into 24th among the wicket-takers, while Nigel Thirkell continues to lap the field this season with 1262 runs and 101 wickets. But history books don't win matches. Beaten by 36 runs – heads up, lads, and back to the nets.

Sat 15 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLWWW

Winning the toss on a fine Saturday the 15th of August, I did what any self-respecting skipper does when the sun is out and the outfield looks quick — I had a look at the pitch, stroked my chin, and elected to bat. Whether it was cricketing wisdom or sheer bloody-mindedness I still couldn't say, but I stand by it. The lads compiled a tidy 138 for 5 off 41.1 overs, Nigel Thirkell leading from the front with 40, Gareth Thomas unbeaten on 30 to shepherd the tail, and Malcolm Pay chipping in a useful 27.

Out in the field, Thirkell turned from top-scorer to tormentor, spinning through their order for a quite unplayable 6 for 51 — the sort of spell that has grown men muttering into their tea. Jon Harris did his bit too, miserly as ever with four maidens on his way to 3 for 47, and I even managed to winkle out three of my own. M- Beckwith and R- Moon offered the only real resistance with 35 and 27, while C- Vanns and J- Pearson departed without troubling the scorers — quack, quack. Their innings folded for 102 off 38 overs.

Thirkell continues to lord it over the season's charts, top of both the runs and wickets columns, and frankly the rest of us are just there to make up the numbers. As for the result — down by 36 runs, a scoreline that makes little sense on paper and even less sense in the clubhouse afterwards. Not our day. Heads up, chins high, back to the nets.

Tue 11 Aug 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDLLDL

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 11 August 1981

Won the toss, elected to bat — and I'll take the credit for that one, thank you very much. Gareth Thomas played the innings of the day, 65 out of our 156 all out from 39 overs, with Jim Hall chipping in a tidy 31 to keep the scoreboard honest. Trevor Hales, bless him, contributed a golden duck to proceedings — these things happen to the best of us, Trevor, and you'll get the next one.

156 always felt a touch light on a good pitch, and so it proved. The visitors chased it down for the loss of all ten, but not without a scrap — Jon Harris bowled beautifully for 3-20, with Brian Piper (2-7) and John Hughes (2-31) squeezing hard at the other end, and N McDonald sending down three maidens that never let them settle. I managed three wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks. a-Kerry's 41 was the difference in the end, well supported by N-B- Hilliard and Peter Sarson, while we had the satisfaction of sending Wadsworth and Bessant back for nought apiece.

102 all out from 37.2 overs — beaten by 54 runs. A defeat, no dressing it up, but there was enough steel in the bowling to suggest we're not far off. Jim Hall continues to top the run charts this season, Brian Piper the wickets — the engine room is working, even when the scoreboard doesn't quite agree. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Sunday 9th August 1981, and Holmesdale CC came calling. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling this season has all the reliability of an English summer — and we were put into the field, which at least gave the lads something to do before tea.

They batted with purpose, reaching 172 for 9 off 58.1 overs, Paul Smith the chief architect with a fine 57, Martin Nicholson chipping in with 36 and Tim Wood 23. Adrian Gregory, less fortunately, departed for a duck at our hands — one imagines he did not linger over his tea afterwards. With the ball, Paul Bowles was magnificent, 4 for 35 and looking every inch the man who now sits second in the club's 1981 wicket charts with 39 to his name. Jon Harris backed him up nicely with 3 for 26, Martin Thompson chiselled out one for 11, and I even found a spot of rhythm myself, picking up three.

But it was the run chase that will live longest in the memory. Nigel Thirkell, top of our season's run charts and showing no signs of slowing, batted serenely to 96 not out, while Brian Piper stroked a composed 73 not out — an innings that, we're reliably informed, nudges him past Cliff Anscombe into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Between them they knocked off 173 without so much as losing a wicket, wrapping things up in 30.1 overs.

An eight-wicket win, two points banked, and a rare afternoon where absolutely everything went right. I shall try not to get used to it.

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

It was Headcorn CC at home on the 8th of August, and the toss went against us as reliably as ever — they batted, and for a while I feared the worst. But bowl we did, and bowl well: Paul Bowles was magnificent with 3-11, Nigel Thirkell chipped in 3-39 with four maidens that gave nothing away, and Jon Harris took 2-13. Richard Chapman's 40 was the only real resistance; the rest, including three ducks for our trouble, folded meekly and Headcorn were all out for 101 in 37.4 overs. A tidy morning's work, all told.

Chasing 101, we were rather more sedate about it than the target demanded, ambling to 102/3 in 32.2 overs. Gareth Thomas led the way with 32, Paul Bowles added a handy 22 on top of his bowling exertions, and Malcolm Pay saw us home unbeaten on 20. Eight byes crept through, which tells you poor Jim Hall behind the stumps had rather a testing afternoon of it — no doubt a few grey hairs earned there.

Paul Bowles continues to top the run charts with 1126 for the season, and Nigel Thirkell's wicket haul climbs to 93 — the lads are in fine form, and long may it continue. A comfortable seven-wicket win, and precious little to grumble about over tea. Onwards.

Wed 05 Aug 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDDLLD

Wednesday 5th August 1981, and win the toss I did — a rare enough event that I promptly did something useful with it and stuck the visitors in the field.

What followed was rather more Jim Hall's afternoon than mine. He compiled a superb 97, falling agonisingly short of the century that his innings so richly deserved, while Mick Filmer chipped in a fine 62 and Andy Woollett saw us home in style with an unbeaten 50. Poor Jon Harris will want this one struck from the record — a golden duck to open proceedings — but the rest of the card more than made up for it as we closed on a handsome 236/5 from our forty overs.

In the field we fancied our chances, and for a while it looked promising, but Tony Hyde's obdurate half-century and useful contributions from Harry Dunk and Pay kept the visitors in the hunt longer than we'd have liked. Paul Bowles was the story of the innings, though — five wickets, two of them maidens, bowling with a miserly control that Martin Thompson and Gareth Thomas backed up nicely. Mick Filmer had his hands full behind the stumps, eight byes the only real blemish on an otherwise tidy display.

As for your captain — a golden blob with the bat. Leading by example is all well and good until the example is a first-baller. We fell 72 runs short in the end, but with Jim Hall and Paul Bowles both topping the season's charts, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 02 Aug 1981 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformLDLLL

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 ? · HomeformWLDLL

Saturday last, we welcomed the visitors to Linton Park under skies that, for once, threatened nothing worse than a light breeze — and having won the toss, I fancied our chances putting them in the field.

We laboured to 144/5 from our 42.2 overs, which perhaps undersells the effort. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, a fine 87 built on a watchful fifty, and found willing company in Paul Bowles's 32. Elsewhere the story was less flattering — Jim Hall and Gareth Thomas both took the long, silent walk back for nought, and I shall say no more about it than the ledger already does.

Whatever doubts lingered about 144 being enough evaporated within minutes of us taking the field. Nigel, having done his bit with the bat, then proceeded to do rather more with the ball, running through their order for a staggering 5-17 off eight miserly maidens — the sort of spell you talk about in the clubhouse for weeks. Martin Larkin chipped in with 2-21 and Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, grabbed 1-2 for good measure. Three of their batsmen — M Heather, D Howard and J Lycett — never troubled the scorers at all, and the innings folded for a mere 59.

So there it is: a thumping 85-run win, Nigel Thirkell in irresistible form with bat and ball alike, and a very contented drive home. More of the same next week, please.

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

Right at the toss on the 28th, I called it correctly and, with the sun out over Margate, elected to bat without a second thought — a decision I stood by rather more comfortably than some of my top order justified.

We reached 176/9 from our 48.4 overs, propped up handsomely by Trevor Back, unbeaten on a well-crafted 56, with Roger Crooks (45) and Tim Theobald (30) lending sturdy support. Elsewhere the scorebook was less forgiving — Paul Bowles, Andy Woollett and D- Leppard all contributed golden ducks, which is the sort of collective misfortune one can only laugh about over tea.

In the field, Margate replied with 155/6 from their 48 overs, Graham Venn compiling a classy unbeaten 57, backed by Neil Canham (38) and C- Hall (28). It was Paul Bowles who atoned in style, ripping through with 3-37, while Jon Harris chipped in with 2-58 and five miserly maidens, and Trevor Back picked up 1-14 for good measure. Nine byes, though, told their own quiet story of a trying afternoon behind the stumps for Steve Gower.

With Trevor Back now heading our 1981 Midweek XI run charts and Paul Bowles topping the wickets, the season's shaping up nicely even if this particular contest wouldn't be settled. Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered neither side into complacency nor left either with much to complain about. All told, an honest day's cricket, and we'll take it.

Mon 27 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDWLDL

Not our day, but a match report all the same. We travelled full of hope, won the toss and stuck them in, and for a while it looked the shrewder call — Paul Bowles bowled beautifully for 3-25, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2-31 and Martin Larkin held up his end with 1-6, restricting the opposition to 95/8 from their sixteen overs. Only Malcolm Bristow's 27 gave them anything resembling a platform, and credit where due, it very nearly proved enough.

Ninety-six to win should have been a stroll for a side of our pretensions, and for nine overs it very nearly was — until it wasn't. Mick Filmer set about the bowling with real intent for 43, Nigel Thirkell kept him company with a composed 27 not out, and 98 runs came at a canter. Alas, we managed it for the loss of just one wicket at our end and rather more elsewhere, going down by nine — the sort of scoreline that makes you check the arithmetic twice and still not quite believe it.

Small mercies: Paul Bowles continues to top the 1st XI run charts with 1063 for the season, and Nigel Thirkell's wicket haul now stands at a frankly gluttonous 79 — the two of them carrying the rest of us on their backs, as ever. As for the result, there's no dressing it up: heads down, back to the nets, and a stern word with whoever's on teas next week.

Sun 26 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDWLD

Sunday 26 July 1981, and off we trundled on our travels, put into the field first with the sun doing its best to make life difficult for everyone but the batsmen. Our hosts settled in nicely, posting 190 for 4 off their 57 overs — Browne the chief architect with an unbeaten 44, well supported by David Twiddy's 41 and S. Marsh's 38. It could have been worse. Paul Bowles was the pick of our attack, prising out two for 38, with Jon Harris (1-44, and four miserly maidens to show for his afternoon's toil) and Nigel Thirkell (1-49) keeping things honest without quite getting the rewards their line deserved.

In reply we made a fair fist of it, 191 for 5 from 42.2 overs, the innings built almost single-handedly by Mick Filmer, whose unbeaten 85 was the sort of knock you dine out on for weeks. Paul Bowles chipped in usefully with 44 and Brian Piper added a tidy 23, but for all the effort we finished up down by five wickets — the kind of afternoon where the scorebook looks respectable and the result still stings.

Elsewhere in the season, Paul Bowles continues to lead our 1st XI run charts with 1056 to his name, and Nigel Thirkell sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 77. As for Sunday — not our day, lads. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

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

Saturday 25th July 1981 saw us venture out to Tunbridge Wells Borderers, and for once the coin actually listened to me — heads it was, and I had no hesitation sticking us in.

Paul Bowles set about the Borderers attack with real purpose, cruising past his fifty to 67, while Andy Woollett chipped in a handy 48 alongside him. Twenty-eight extras arrived too, which I shall claim as shrewd captaincy rather than wayward Borderers bowling. All told, 169/6 off our 40.4 overs felt like a total with enough about it to make a game of it.

With the ball, Jon Harris was superb, prising out three for 28, and Nigel Thirkell matched him for menace with 3-40 and three maidens that strangled the scoring when it mattered. I even managed to remember which end I was bowling from long enough to snare three wickets myself, while Paul Bowles kept chipping away too. But Ken Fisher had other ideas, compiling a fine 69, and with Roger Clarke's 28 and N. Turner's 24 in support, the Borderers dragged themselves to 166/8 off their 42 — agonisingly, infuriatingly short.

A draw, then — honours shared, both sides denied. Amid it all, Paul Bowles quietly brought up 14,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that rather puts my own contributions in perspective. With Bowles top of the run charts and Thirkell top of the wickets, the 1981 vintage continues to look rather special, even if this particular afternoon ended all square.

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 ? · HomeformLLDDL

Wednesday 15 July 1981 found the visitors calling on us, and for once the toss went our way enough to have first use of the ball — always a nice feeling before the tea urn's even gone on. Brian Piper made the most of it, running through their order for a magnificent 5-33, with G Marshall (27) and T Hartley (24) offering the only real resistance while G Davis and B Kingston trudged off for golden ducks. Paul Bowles was metronomic at the other end — 2-10 and five maidens, not a run given away lightly — with Trevor Hales chipping in a wicket for good measure. All out 133 from 47 overs felt like a job well done.

Chasing it down was scruffier than the scorebook cared to admit. Gareth Thomas played the innings that mattered with 39, Trevor Back (25) and Roger Craske (21) lending sturdy support, but poor Mick Filmer had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping nine byes almost single-handedly keeping the visitors interested. Still, 134/5 in 32.1 overs got us over the line — not our tidiest cricket, but a result all the same.

The real story of the day was Paul Bowles reaching 700 career wickets — a landmark worth toasting long after the covers went on. He now leads our 1981 Midweek XI wicket charts with eight, and Gareth Thomas sits second in the run charts with those 39. A scrappy win, then, but a win nonetheless — heads up, and back to the nets to tidy up the loose ends.

Sun 12 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · 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 · HomeformLWLLL

Saturday 11th of July, and Horton Kirby came calling. I lost the toss – some things never change – and we were put into the field, which at least meant an early cup of tea was off the cards.

They batted with a certain unhurried confidence, Alastair Scott compiling a handsome 60 not out, with Andy Scott (49 not out) and R Costley (43) doing their level best to make our afternoon a long one. Nigel Thirkell was, as ever, the model of miserly restraint – three maidens and 2-53 – while Jon Harris and Ron Hickman chipped in with a wicket apiece. All told, 192/4 from 46 overs was a stiff ask, and we trooped off for tea knowing the run chase would want some care.

Paul Bowles gave it everything with a splendid 74, Malcolm Pay lending sturdy support with 30, but we could only manage 137/7 from our 44 overs. Poor Fred Cheesman departed for a duck, and as for your correspondent – I too made a duck, and shall say no more on the matter, other than that the walk back to the pavilion felt considerably longer than the walk out.

Beaten by 55 runs, then, and fair play to Horton Kirby. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our charts with both bat and ball this season, which is some consolation. We'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Wed 08 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLWLL

Wednesday the 8th of July, and the visitors arrived to find your captain in an uncharacteristically decisive mood — I called correctly at the toss and never once considered doing anything but batting first. What followed was a solid, if unspectacular, 169/5 from our forty overs. Nigel Thirkell was the star of it, sailing past his fifty, with Mick Filmer unbeaten on 47 in fine support and Paul Bowles chipping in a useful 30. I managed 30 myself, more through stubbornness than style. The only real blemish on the card was poor Trevor Back, undone for a duck — these things happen to the best of us, Trevor, chin up.

With the ball, alas, the story turned. The visitors made light work of our total, racing to 170/2 in just 31.3 overs. Malcolm Bristow was the chief tormentor, unbeaten on a magnificent 84, with D. Barkaway past his own half-century and James Skinner adding 31. Malcolm Pay and Ron Hickman did what they could — Hickman picking up 1-17, Pay 1-0 — but it was one of those days where the pitch, the weather, and the opposition all conspired against us.

Nigel continues to lead our run charts for the season with 880, and Ron sits proudly fifth among the wickets with 14. But today belonged to the visitors — beaten by eight wickets, we trudge back to the nets with much to ponder.

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

Sunday the fifth of July found us at home to Aylesford Paper Mills, and I confess my heart sank when the coin came down against us — nothing for it but to bowl first and hope for the best. To our credit, the lads gave a good account: Paul Bowles ran through them with 3-23, Nigel Thirkell chipped in 3-30 with four maidens to show for his parsimony, and Jon Harris took a tidy 2-23. Even so, Fred Baker's 46 and useful knocks from Steve Martin (38) and Richard Gower (29) carried the visitors to a stiff 168 all out.

Chasing it, we never quite got going. Paul Bowles again led the way with a battling 26, but wickets tumbled around him and we folded for 104 in 60.3 overs — 14 byes along the way, which rather says all that needs saying about the state of things behind the stumps. Jon Harris, so miserly with the ball, made amends of a different sort with a golden duck, and your correspondent must own up to keeping him company in the pavilion rather sooner than dignity allows.

One bright note amid the wreckage: Brian Piper's useful 8 eased him past Robert Murray into 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers' list — a small consolation on an afternoon short of them. Nigel Thirkell, meanwhile, continues his imperious season, still well clear atop both the run and wicket charts.

Beaten by 64 runs, then, and no arguing with the scoreboard. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sat 04 Jul 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLWLW

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 · HomeformWLLWL

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 ? · HomeformLWLLW

Here's the report.

The lads gathered on Tuesday for our latest fixture, and having won the toss I made the bold decision to have first use of the ball — a call that, for once, looked rather clever by the close. The visitors never quite got going, subsiding to 89 all out inside sixteen overs. Bryan top-scored with a workmanlike 30, but he found precious little support, not least from poor G. Hughes, sent packing without troubling the scorers. Nigel Thirkell was in imperious form with the ball, snaring 3-17, well backed up by Martin Larkin's 3-25 and a tidy 1-18 from Ron Hickman. It was, by our modest standards, something close to a bowling masterclass.

Ninety to win is never quite the formality the scoreboard suggests, and so it proved — though we got there with overs and wickets in hand. Brian Piper anchored the innings beautifully with an unbeaten 41, well supported by Paul Bowles's brisk 29. I contributed a steady 29 myself, more by good fortune than good technique, and we closed on 90/3 from sixteen overs.

Nigel continues his extraordinary season, now sitting atop both the run charts and the wicket charts with 779 runs and 58 wickets respectively — the man is quite simply carrying the club on his back.

Beaten by seven wickets in the end, then, but there was plenty in this performance — not least that bowling effort — to suggest better days lie just around the corner. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Sunday 28 June saw Rainham (Kent) roll into Linton Park with the sun out and, rather less helpfully for us, the coin landing their way. They took first use of the pitch, and it must be said they made a decent fist of it, grinding their way to 155 for 7 off 54.4 overs. J. Perrin looked in fine touch for his 55, well supported by D. Cooper's 36 and B. Fullagar's 25, but our attack never let them cut loose entirely. David Carden was the pick of the bowlers with a tidy 2-19, Allan Cooper toiled away for 2-50 with three maidens to show for his parsimony, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 1-22. A fair effort in the field, and 155 always felt a target within our compass.

So it proved. We reeled in the runs at a canter, reaching 159 for 4 in 37.5 overs, and I confess to more than a little personal satisfaction in that scoreline — 82 not out is not a number I shall be forgetting in a hurry, especially with Nigel Thirkell playing the perfect foil for 28. Six wickets in hand at the close tells its own story of comfort, if not exactly complacency.

Nigel continues his extraordinary season, now sitting proudly atop both the run charts with 774 and the wicket column with 55 — a genuine all-round colossus for the club this year. As for Sunday, two points, thoroughly earned, and a victory that owed as much to discipline with the ball as flair with the bat. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket.

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

We travelled down to Meopham on Saturday, lost the toss, and were promptly invited to have a bowl — which, on reflection, may have been the only sensible decision made about this match all day. Meopham ground their way to 162 for 9 off 46 overs, built largely around Brian Sambrook's unbeaten 75, a genuinely fine half-century that held their innings together while the rest came and went. We did our bit in reply: Wade and Pennells departed without so much as a nibble at the scorebook, and Nigel Thirkell turned in a spell of pure witchcraft, 6 for 36, spinning the ball as though it owed him money. Ron Hickman and Paul Bowles chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Martin Thompson bowled tidily enough to bank three maidens.

Chasing 163, we mustered 146 all out in 42 overs — a touch short, though not for want of trying. Nigel Thirkell, having already done the damage with the ball, then top-scored with a well-made 92 not out, ably supported by Malcolm Pay's 23. Elsewhere the card made grim reading: Paul Bowles, Martin Thompson and Mike Iliffe all fell for ducks, and your correspondent, I'm rather ashamed to report, joined them. The less said, the better.

Beaten by 16 runs in the end, and worth noting that Thirkell now leads our 1981 charts for both runs (746) and wickets (54) — the man is single-handedly keeping the season afloat. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 21 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLLLW

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 · HomeformWDLLL

Saturday 20 June 1981, and West Farleigh CC came calling. I lost the toss – no change there – and we were put into the field, which on a fine club afternoon is no great hardship for a captain who likes to watch his bowlers work.

And work they did. West Farleigh limped to 126 for 9 off their 46, never quite finding their stride against Nigel Thirkell, who bowled like a man possessed – 5 for 38, nine of his overs maidens, not a run given away lightly. Martin Larkin (2-14) and Ron Hickman (2-23) tidied up the rest, and three West Farleigh men had the ignominy of the duck for our trouble. Chris Milstead's 38 and Reg Oldfield's 36 were the only real resistance, but 126 was never going to trouble us on that pitch.

So it proved. We knocked the runs off for the loss of a single wicket, 127 for 1 in 41.3 overs, with Nigel Thirkell following his bowling heroics with an unbeaten 55, and yours truly rather enjoying himself with 69 not out – I shall allow myself one small boast in these pages. Poor Mick Filmer bagged his own duck at the other end of the day, which rather balanced the ledger.

Nine wickets, a stroll in the sunshine, and Thirkell once again proving himself the engine of this side, top of both run and wicket charts for the season. A thoroughly satisfactory Saturday. Onwards.

Wed 17 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWDLL

Skipper's Log, 17 June 1981. Won the toss at home and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, decided we'd have a bat rather than stand about in the field pondering our life choices. Nigel Thirkell and Paul Bowles evidently agreed with the call, putting on 138 without so much as a wobble in sixteen overs — Nigel racing to 81 not out, Paul ticking along serenely to a well-made 55 not out. I'm told the tea urn nearly overheated with excitement.

Defending 138 in sixteen overs is never quite the stroll it looks on paper, and so it proved. Peter Bowden and John Fuggle set about our total with 41 not out and 40 respectively, and though Allan Cooper toiled away for a fine 2-29, with Ron Hickman and Martin Larkin chipping in a wicket apiece, the visitors squeezed home on 124/5. Fourteen runs the difference — close enough to make you replay every misfield in your head on the drive home.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: Ron Hickman brought up 300 career wickets, a landmark that rather puts our afternoon's toil into perspective. Nigel, meanwhile, continues his imperious form, sitting proudly atop both the run and wicket charts for the season — the man is single-handedly keeping our averages respectable.

Verdict: a good honest defeat, the kind that stings just enough to sharpen us up. Heads up, back to the nets, and no doubt we'll have the last laugh before the summer's out.

Tue 16 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWWWDL

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 ? · HomeformWWWWD

Sunday 14 June 1981, and the toss offered no dilemma at all — with our own deckchairs and our own tea urn, only a fool bats second. I called correctly, called for the bat, and settled in to watch.

What followed was Nigel Thirkell in inspired touch, ninety-nine glorious runs and not out, the poor man left agonisingly parked one short of his century while the rest of us could only applaud from the boundary. Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 40, and between them they steered us to a highly respectable 178/2 from our 43 overs. A total, we felt, with a bit of bite to it.

Sadly, cricket has a way of humbling the confident. Their reply of 167/5 crept past us agonisingly, Mike Iliffe (41) doing most of the damage, well supported by David Iliffe (24) and Jim Hall (22). Nigel, not content with his batting heroics, then turned his arm over for 2-14 — pick of the bowlers by some distance — while Paul Bowles took 2-50 and Martin Thompson bowled two tidy maidens to keep things honest. It simply wasn't quite enough.

Eleven runs the wrong side of the ledger, then — the sort of margin that has you replaying every dot ball on the walk home. Still, with Nigel now sitting proudly atop both the run and wicket charts for the season, we clearly have no shortage of match-winners; we merely need eleven more runs of luck. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sat 13 Jun 1981 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLWWWW

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 SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformWLWWW

The road to Staplehurst on Thursday looked a fine one from the moment the coin span my way, and with the sun doing its level best to cooperate, I had no hesitation in asking us to bat. Paul Bowles had clearly had his cornflakes, striding to 74 and dragging us to a handsome 134/3 from our twenty-five overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew his nails over it.

Defending it, we set about Staplehurst with rather more menace than my pre-match team talk deserved credit for. Ron Hickman was the chief tormentor, 2-15 of genuinely hostile intent, with Jon Harris (2-26) and Malcolm Pay (1-4) chipping away either side of him. Chris Rogers battled hard for his 34 and looked, briefly, like he might spoil our afternoon, but the rest of the order rather wilted, John Robins departing for a duck at our hands without troubling the scorers. Staplehurst limped to 95/7 from their twenty-five, and the game — and thankfully my blood pressure — was safely ours.

A word too for Nigel Thirkell, who continues to lead both the run and wicket charts for the 1981 side; the man is single-handedly making the rest of us look ordinary.

A 39-run win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. We'll take that all season long.

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

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 · HomeformWDWLW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 07 June 1981. We hosted Sheldwich CC, and for once the coin obliged me, so I did what any self-respecting skipper does with a decent toss and a slightly nervous stomach: I stuck us in.

It was not, I'll admit, a vintage afternoon with the bat. We limped to 138 for 8 from our 55 overs, propped up chiefly by Jim Hall's watchful 31, with Mike Iliffe's 23 and an unbeaten 20 from Allan Cooper adding some much-needed substance. Elsewhere the scorebook told a sorrier tale — David Carden, Trevor Back and Roger Craske all departed for golden ducks, contributing rather more to the tea urn than the total. Still, 138 felt like it might be defendable on a morning when the pitch seemed in a mischievous mood.

How right that proved. Sheldwich's reply folded for a startling 53 all out in just 21.5 overs, D Burrows shown the door without so much as a run to his name. Nigel Thirkell was quite simply unplayable, tearing through them with 5 for 18, well backed by Jon Harris (2-17) and the frugal Ross Brice (1-1), while Trevor Back's two maidens strangled any hope of momentum.

Amid the carnage, two quiet milestones: Jim Hall's 31 nudged him past Ray Howard into 14th on our all-time run-scorers list, and Trevor Back's solitary wicket lifted him past Len Conway into 25th among our wicket-takers.

A fine win by 85 runs. Onwards.

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

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 ? · HomeformDWWDW

Thursday 04 June 1981, and a home fixture that promised much on a pitch I fancied would reward first use of the willow. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, I felt, and one I stand by regardless of what followed. Nigel Thirkell set about proving the point with a fine 49, well supported by Paul Bowles's unbeaten 38, the pair steering us to a healthy 102/4 from our sixteen overs. Not every contribution glittered — poor Malcolm Pay departed for a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that has a man studying his bootlaces rather longer than strictly necessary — but the total had the look of a defendable one.

And defend it we very nearly did in style. Our opening burst with the ball was a thing to behold: P Worsnop, S Wyles and Dave Goodyer all sent packing without troubling the scorers, as the visitors' innings folded to 39 all out in a mere 11.2 overs. Allan Cooper was the chief architect of the collapse, spinning a web through their order for a magnificent 6-17, with Ron Hickman (1-0) and Nigel Thirkell (1-7) mopping up the rest between them.

By any reasonable arithmetic that ought to have been a famous victory, yet the ledger insists otherwise — down by 63 runs, and no amount of re-reading the scorebook by candlelight changed it. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead both our run and wicket charts this season with 263 runs and 22 wickets, a one-man rearguard if ever there was one. Not our day, then. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Wed 03 Jun 1981 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWLLDD

Beaten by fourteen runs, and I've no complaints — Wednesday's lot at Linton Park gave a fair account of themselves against opposition who, in the end, simply had the better of the crucial moments.

Winning the toss on a fine 3rd of June, I had no hesitation whatsoever in taking first knock — a decision that looked shrewd for a while, largely thanks to Jim Hall, who compiled a fine 62 while the rest of us came and went with varying degrees of dignity. 154 all out from 45.3 overs was a par-ish total, though the Duck Club welcomed two new members in Dave Hales and Steve Petty, both of whom made that long, lonely walk back for nought.

In the field we scrapped hard. Paul Bowles was in irresistible form, turning the ball prodigiously for a marvellous 6-41 and, in doing so, sliding past Alan Wilkes into third on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — no mean feat, and thoroughly deserved. Mick Filmer chipped in nicely with 3-16, while Jon Harris bowled with real discipline, five maidens among his figures, for 1-25. King and Elphick joined our own Duck Club, dismissed without scoring. Poor Jim Hall, having done his bit with the bat, then endured a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes escaping his grasp as M Gibb (55) and D Hunt (35) steadied the chase.

In the end they got home by 14 runs, 140 all out from 49 overs. A cricket cliché, but true nonetheless: we'll be better for it next week.

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 off we trotted to Chatham Nomads with the sun cooperating, more or less. I called correctly at the toss – a rare enough event to note in the log – and, feeling unusually bold, stuck us in to bat. It proved a sound instinct. Paul Bowles played an innings of real substance, 93 not out and cruelly denied his century by the close, while Nigel Thirkell chipped in a handy 33 alongside him. We closed on 163/4 from our 43 overs, a total that felt like enough to be interesting without being so many we'd have to bowl our arms off defending it.

And bowl we did. Nigel Thirkell, who by all accounts has been in the form of his life this season, turned the ball square and simply bamboozled the Nomads, taking 5-23 in a spell that had their middle order playing shots better suited to village hall charades. John Deans departed without troubling the scorers at all. Jon Harris toiled away with real discipline – three wickets and four maidens, not a run given away lightly – with Martin Thompson picking up one. R Bell held firm for 40 and gave their innings its only real substance. I even found some rhythm myself, snaring three. They closed on 115/9 from 46, just short of home, and honours were shared.

A draw, then – honest to a fault, and rather fitting for a day when nobody quite had the stomach to lose.

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

The coin, as is so often the way of these things, did not favour us, and High Halstow's skipper made the entirely predictable decision to bat first on a Sunday afternoon that seemed made for it. We took to the field with good cheer if not immediately good fortune, and watched S Johnson play the innings of the day, 44 well-crafted runs, with R Brown chipping in a tidy 21 alongside him. Credit where due to the bowlers, though: Trevor Back was relentless, returning 2-20, with Ian Brattle and Nigel Thirkell each prising out a wicket apiece, and M Hatton was sent back for a duck at our hands, which cheered us more than it probably should have. High Halstow closed on 100/6 from their eighteen overs — respectable, chaseable, or so we told ourselves over the tea urn.

Alas, our reply never quite found its rhythm. Paul Bowles held the innings together with a battling 23, but wickets fell around him with a regularity that would have worried a lesser club treasurer, Jim Hall and Martin Thompson both departing without troubling the scorers. We were bowled out for 71/9 from our eighteen, 29 runs short in the end.

There was, happily, one shaft of proper sunshine amid the gloom: Trevor Back brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth every one of those 2-20 figures. He and Paul Bowles now sit atop the 1981 Sunday NVKC charts for wickets and runs respectively — early days, but early days are still days. A defeat, honestly reported, but the sort we'll shrug off by Tuesday nets.

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

Here's the match report:

There are moments in a captain's life when the toss falls kindly and instinct simply takes over — Saturday was one of them. Bidborough arrived at Linton Park, I called correctly, and without a flicker of doubt I stuck us in. What followed wasn't exactly a procession — 110 for 8 off our 47 overs owes rather more to grit than glamour — but Martin Thompson's 37 gave the innings its spine, with Tim Thirkell (23) and Jon Harris (22) chipping in handsomely. Martin Larkin and Fred Greenfield both departed for ducks, proof that even on a good day the cricketing gods like to keep a captain humble.

Modest as 110 looked walking off, it proved plenty. Nigel Thirkell simply ran amok with the ball — 7 for 18 from an over-stuffed spell of seven maidens, the kind of figures that make a captain's field placings look far cleverer than they were. Jon Harris backed him up nicely with 2 for 28, D Buckland and S Andrew both bagged ducks of their own, and Bidborough were bowled out for 69, D Miller's 23 the lone note of resistance. I added a workmanlike 22 with the bat for good measure, and there was a pleasing footnote off the field too — Harris's runs eased him past Mike Iliffe to 17th on the club's all-time run-scorers list.

Forty-one runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved. A fine day's work all round — Nigel Thirkell, take a bow.