🧢 Captain's Log

Wed 29 Sep 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv P Penshurst · AwayformLDDDL

Wednesday 29 September, and the road took us to Dummy Site with autumn very much in the air and, I'm pleased to say, not a hint of rain to trouble the covers. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and I'll stand by it. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 57 crafted with the sort of assurance that reminds you why he tops our run charts, while Ian Hammond's 32 and Dave Latter's 21 gave the total real backbone. 176/7 from our 45 overs looked, at tea, like a total worth defending.

And defend it we very nearly did. Darby gave the opposition hope with a fine 59, Ray Grayland chipping in 25 and Jenner 20, but Mike Elworthy simply refused to be tamed — 5 for 31, five maidens among them, bowling with the relentlessness of a man determined to add to his season's haul. Jon Harris (2-54) and Steve Gower (1-15) did their bit too, and Walters and Bailey trudged back for ducks without so much as troubling the scorers. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes leaking away like the season itself.

In the end it was four runs that did for us — the width of a misfield, the shadow of a missed single. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 26 Sep 1982 🧢 1st XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformLLDWD

Sunday 26 September brought us out on our travels, and for once the toss actually mattered — I called it right and had no hesitation in taking first knock, which I still maintain was the correct decision, whatever the scorebook says by the end.

The lads set about building something substantial, and 200 all out in 25 overs is not to be sneezed at. Andy Woollett anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 21, and he had fine company in Sean Riley and Richard Ashby, both finishing not out on 20 apiece — a touch of order amid what I suspect was some fairly agricultural hitting further down. The extras column weighed in with a generous 28, which either speaks well of our running between the wickets or rather less well of the opposition's line. I contributed a modest 20 myself, more workmanlike than watchable.

The real story of the day, though, belonged to Mike Iliffe, who brought up 3,000 career runs for the club — a landmark achieved with the sort of quiet application that deserves rather more fanfare than a cricket tea can provide. Elsewhere, Nigel Thirkell continues to sit second in this year's 1st XI run charts with 1,141 to his name, while young Simon Thirkell leads the 2nd XI standings, albeit modestly with 21.

As for the match itself, 200 proved not nearly enough, and we were beaten by seven wickets. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's cricket yet to be won this season.

Thu 23 Sep 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv WC Withnell Fold CC · HomeformLLDDD

Withnell Fold rolled up on Thursday and, having called correctly, I sent us in — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the lads mutter about my captaincy in the bar afterwards. We laboured a touch to 140/7 from our 35, rescued from the ordinary by Paul Bowles, whose unbeaten 56 was the innings' backbone. Nigel Thirkell chipped in a tidy 32 and Jim Hall 22, though poor Jon Harris will not thank me for mentioning his duck in these pages — I know the feeling well, reader, as you'll see shortly.

In the field we asked Withnell Fold to chase 141, and for a good while it looked a fair contest. Michael Chambers was magnificent, 4-52 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — not a soul was allowed an easy single off him — and Mike Elworthy backed him up nicely with 2-29. But C Annand simply would not be shifted, 49 not out, ushered along by David Smith's 30 and Gareth Thomas's unbeaten 23, and they got home with four wickets and half an over to spare, 141/6 from 34.5 overs.

As for your correspondent's contribution — a duck, and the less said the better, though I note I'm keeping Jon Harris honest company.

Bowles continues to lead our 1982 run charts with 463, and Elworthy sits second in the wickets with a dozen scalps — small consolation on a evening we were, in the end, undone. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 22 Sep 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDLLDD

Wednesday 22 September 1982, and Linton Park hosted the visitors on what turned out to be a proper old-fashioned battle of attrition. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first strike — the pitch looked a belter, and I still reckon it was the right call.

We made hay to the tune of 175/3 from our 47 overs, which on this ground is a total with real teeth. Andy Woollett was in irresistible form, cracking a superb 83, and he found the perfect foil in Ian Hammond, whose polished 69 kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. Between the two of them they did most of the heavy lifting, and I could hardly have asked for a better platform.

With the ball, we set about defending it in some style. T Theobald played the innings of the day for the opposition with a well-crafted 55, ably assisted by R Jones's 30, but it was our bowlers who had the last laugh. Paul Bowles was quite magnificent, ripping through with 3-18, S Gower departed without troubling the scorers, and Mike Elworthy bowled with real discipline — 2-31 including three maidens — while Trevor Back chipped in with 1-13. They finished on 156/7 from their 40, agonisingly short.

In the end neither side could quite land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but one that felt, in the best traditions of this fine game, rather like a win for everybody.

Sun 19 Sep 1982 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLLLDW

We drew the short straw at the toss on Sunday and were sent into the field — hardly the ideal start, but the lads set about it with good cheer regardless. Anchorians ground their way to 141 all out in 29.2 overs, S Grubb the chief nuisance with a fighting 46, Barry Diplock chipping in with 26 alongside him. Credit to our attack, though: A Hart and P Diplock were both sent back without troubling the scorers, and Mike Elworthy was magnificent, snaring 4-37, with Jon Harris (3-28) and Trevor Back (3-30) mopping up the rest between them. I even managed to get in on the act myself with three wickets — one of those days where the ball seemed to know where it was going, for once.

In reply we crawled to 137/6 from our thirty overs, never quite cashing in the position we'd earned. Andy Woollett was the class apart, a superb 79 that also brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly toasted afterwards. Malcolm Pay supported nicely with 22, while poor David Iliffe departed without scoring. Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 8 byes, though he'd be the first to laugh about it over a pint.

In the end honours were shared, a draw that flattered neither side but satisfied both. A fair result, and Andy's milestone made it a Sunday worth remembering regardless of the scoreboard.

Sat 18 Sep 1982 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWLLLD

Saturday 18 September 1982. Won the toss, and — perhaps unfashionably these days — I fancied batting first against West Farleigh. The lads didn't let me down, 211 for 3 off our 46 overs, with Nigel Thirkell playing an absolute blinder for an unbeaten 111. Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 56, Andy Woollett saw us home unbeaten on 28, and poor Brian Piper made his contribution with the bat count for precisely nothing — the sort of duck that gets you a pint bought in sympathy and a nickname you never quite shake off.

Out in the field, 211 always felt like a healthy total to defend, and so it proved. West Farleigh could only manage 100 for 8 from their 44 overs, with Fred Baker's 24 the only real resistance and Norman Underdown departing without troubling the scorers. Brian, evidently deciding batting wasn't his afternoon's calling, made amends spectacularly with the ball — 2 for 7, best figures of the day. Paul Bowles and Mike Elworthy weren't far behind with two apiece, Mike bowling with the miserliness of a man checking his own change, five maidens to his name. I managed 56 myself, which I mention purely for the record and not at all for the pleasure of it.

A comfortable 111-run victory, then, and a timely reminder — with Paul still topping our run charts and Mike third among the wicket-takers this season — that Linton Park in 1982 are rather good fun to watch. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 15 Sep 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWDLLD

Lost the toss on a fine Wednesday at The Mote, and watched them elect to bat — which, given how the afternoon unfolded, felt about right for the way our luck's been running this season. Still, we scrapped hard with the ball. Bob Dyer was magnificent, 4-41 and clearly enjoying himself, while Mike Elworthy toiled away for 2-45 with three maidens that gave the batsmen precisely nothing to feast on. Even so, Jon Payne (67) and N. Mullarkey (65) both got in and made merry, and The Mote closed on a healthy 191/7 from their 43.3 overs.

Chasing 192, we made a proper fist of it. Trevor Back batted with real substance for an unbeaten 72, well supported by Paul Bowles's 68, and between them they dragged us to 188/7 off our 43 — agonisingly short. Less said the better about Trevor Hales, Jim Hall and Bob Dyer, all three of whom took the long walk back for nought, quacking in unison. Jim's afternoon behind the stumps was no easier, with eight byes escaping his gloves like they had a train to catch.

One moment did lift the gloom rather nicely: Trevor Back brought up 2,000 runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to. Paul Bowles now leads our Midweek run charts with 393, and Mike Elworthy sits third among the wicket-takers with eight. A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, and tea, as ever, the only guaranteed victory of the day.

Sun 12 Sep 1982 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformLWLLL

Given a happy day with 4 wickets for the skipper, the toss went our way, we should have known 195 wouldn't be enough to settle it outright.

There won't be many Sundays sweeter than winning the toss and being able to say "we'll bat" with a straight face, and on this occasion it very nearly worked out. Paul Bowles set about the visitors' bowling in fine style, cruising past his fifty to finish on a splendid 76, with Andy Woollett's 29 and Fred Cheesman's unbeaten 24 rounding things off nicely as we closed on 195 for 7 from our 67 overs. Spare a thought, though, for poor David Iliffe, whose contribution to proceedings amounted to a duck and the long, lonely walk back to the pavilion — the sort of innings one tries valiantly to forget over a pint afterwards.

With the ball, I'm rather pleased to report I had a day to remember myself, picking up four wickets as the visitors fought hard for their 194 for 8 from 58 overs. Jon Harris was quite magnificent, leading the attack with figures of 4 for 69 and three tidy maidens besides, while Trevor Back and Paul Bowles chipped in with a wicket apiece to keep the pressure on. Mike Tritton's 47, well supported by W Creed's 44 and T Pearce's 37, kept the opposition in the hunt right to the closing overs.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow — which, given the quality on show from both camps, feels about right. A draw, but not a dull one; we'll take it and look forward to the next.

Sat 11 Sep 1982 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformDLWLL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 11 September 1982, away at Dummy Site, and for once the coin did what I asked of it. I took one look at the surface, put us in, and settled back to watch Andy Woollett play the innings of the afternoon — 46 crisp runs that set the tone. Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 42, and Malcolm Pay's 30 rounded out a total of 185/8 from our 46 overs that felt, at tea, like it might just be enough.

It wasn't, quite. The opposition chased with more patience than we'd have liked, D- Farrier ghosting to an unbeaten 31 and D- Thorpe adding 30 of his own, and they crossed the line at 156/9 with two overs unused. We didn't go quietly, mind — Paul Bowles was magnificent, 4-65 with five maidens thrown in for good measure, proof that not every over need leak runs. Mike Elworthy and Martin Larkin lent fine support with two apiece, and I even managed four wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks to come.

Season-long, Paul Bowles now tops our 1982 run charts with 1747, and Nigel Thirkell sits second in the wicket standings with 55 — form the club can be proud of, whatever today's result.

In the end, 29 runs short and a defeat to chew over on the drive home. Heads up, though — it's back to the nets, and there's a season still worth fighting for.

Wed 08 Sep 1982 🧢 Tour XIv TC Troon CC · AwayformWWLLL

Wednesday the 8th of September saw us make the trip to Dummy Site, and having called correctly at the toss, I didn't dawdle over the decision — batting first felt right, and for once my instincts weren't entirely misplaced. Nigel Thirkell played the anchor with a fine 46, and David Iliffe chipped in nicely with 23, though poor Kevin Riley will want to forget his afternoon with the bat, departing for a golden duck. All told, 120/8 from our 40 overs felt like a total with some runs in it, if not quite enough to relax over the tea urn.

Defending it, we gave as good as we got. Paul Bowles was the pick of the attack by some distance — 2-16 and three miserly maidens to boot, the sort of spell that makes a captain's job easy — with Kevin Riley making amends for his batting with 2-17, and Michael Chambers weighing in with 1-20. But Smith, unbeaten on 29, along with Piper's 25 and James's 20, gradually ground us down, and they got home on 121/5 with three overs unused. I managed a tidy 46 myself, for what little consolation that offers.

Nigel Thirkell continues to top our Tour XI run charts with 310 for the season, and Paul Bowles leads the wickets with 9 — small mercies on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Five wickets the wrong way is five wickets the wrong way; heads up, and back to the nets.

Mon 06 Sep 1982 🧢 Tour XIv GC Grampound Road CC · AwayformLWWLL

Lost the toss on a Monday evening at Grampound Road and duly found ourselves out in the field again — the story of our season, some might say. The home side made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 179 all out from 38.4 overs, with J Rowe striding well past his fifty and useful support from D Behennah (38) and T Willetts (34). Credit where it's due, though: Paul Bowles was in unplayable form, spinning his way to 6-29 and leaving their middle order in a proper tangle, with Allan Cooper (3-42) and the ever-parsimonious Michael Chambers (1-39, three maidens) squeezing from the other end. Early breakthroughs saw off J Olver and T Martin cheaply, which for a moment had us dreaming.

The chase, alas, never got going. We were bowled out for 104 in 36.5 overs, Richard Ashby holding things together with a gritty 27, ably assisted by Bowles continuing his fine evening with 21 not out. Poor David Iliffe departed for a duck, and behind the stumps Mike Elworthy had a torrid time of it, 22 byes going begging.

One note of real pride amid the wreckage: Richard Ashby brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark achieved with rather more dignity than the rest of us managed. Nigel Thirkell still tops the run charts with 157, Allan Cooper the wickets with 7. Beaten by 75 runs — no disgrace, but plenty to work on before next week.

Sun 05 Sep 1982 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformWLWWL

Sunday the fifth of September found us rattling down to Cornwall to take on Beacon CC, and for once fortune smiled early — the coin came down my way, and with the sort of unwarranted confidence that has undone many a skipper before me, I put us in to bat. It did not, in truth, go swimmingly. We limped to 103 for 9 from our fifteen overs, rescued from outright embarrassment by Tim Thirkell's 31 and useful support from Nigel Thirkell's 22. My own 22 nudged the total along, though the less said about Mike Elworthy's duck the better — the walk of shame was performed with commendable dignity, if not runs.

With the ball, we fancied our chances, and for a while we had them rattled. Simon Thirkell bowled beautifully for 2 for 6, with Tim Thirkell (2-12) and David Iliffe (2-15) chipping in handsomely, and we even had the satisfaction of sending M Williams back for a duck of his own. But Daniel Tonkin's 37 and an unbeaten 29 from Ralph Williams steadied the Beacon ship, and they crept past us to 104 for 7 in just twelve overs.

Beaten by three wickets, then — narrow enough to sting, honest enough to accept. Up in the season table Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our Tour XI run charts with 150, and Allan Cooper sits third among the wicket-takers with four. We'll be better for it next week.

Fri 03 Sep 1982 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformWWLWW

Friday the third of September found us rattling down to Falmouth, and I'll confess I rather fancied our chances the moment I won the toss and chose to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the lads mutter into their teas. Nigel Thirkell made an absolute mockery of the Falmouth attack, carrying his bat to an unbeaten 128 that had the tea urn boiling with excitement, and found fine support from Allan Cooper's brisk 39. Poor David Iliffe, meanwhile, contributed nothing but a golden duck to proceedings — these things happen to the best of us, David, chin up. We closed on a handsome 188 for 5 from our 45 overs.

Defending it should have been the easy part. Falmouth's Keith Meneer had other ideas, cracking a fine 66, and was shepherded home by Tim Miles's unbeaten 35 and paul stephens's unbeaten 31, while Phil Stephens, A Allen and R Trewhella all trudged back for ducks at our hands. Mike Elworthy was superb, 4 for 53 and now leading our wicket charts, with Nigel Thirkell (2-14, and topping the run charts besides — the man is enjoying his season) and the ever-miserly Michael Chambers (1-27, two maidens) in fine support. Poor Paul Bowles had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes testifying to a pitch with ideas of its own.

Falmouth got home by two wickets in the 40th over. Not our day, but heads up — back to the nets.

Mon 30 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDDLWL

As it stands, Monday the 30th of August was a day for stoic acceptance rather than celebration.

Bearsted CC arrived at Linton Park in fine fettle, and truth be told, so did our bowling attack — it was just our batting that decided to take the day off. We were bowled out for 121 in 47.4 overs, a total that flattered to deceive from the moment David Iliffe's watchful 27 gave way to lesser things. Nigel Thirkell and Andy Woollett both chipped in with 23 apiece, proving there was some substance to be had, but two ducks on the card — from Paul Bowles and Jim Hall — rather summed up an afternoon where the bat seemed heavier than usual. One does wonder whether a stray goose was circling the ground, such was the run of luck.

If our batting was apologetic, our bowling at least had manners. Bearsted crept to 123 for 5 from a patient 56 overs, T Ringland unbeaten on 29 and Paul Gibson useful support with 22, but they never quite cut loose against a Thirkell in inspired form — 3 for 36, with a miserly ten maidens, was bowling of real substance, well backed by Paul Bowles's 1 for 23. Sadly, containment isn't quite the same as victory, and the visitors got home by five wickets.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Jon Harris's unassuming 4 runs eased him past Ray Howard into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a small personal triumph on an otherwise chastening day. As for the season, Nigel Thirkell continues to purr along nicely, sitting second in both the 1982 batting and bowling charts.

Verdict: outbowled them, outbatted by them — heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 29 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLDDLW

Sunday last, we packed the kit bags and set off for Dummy Site, hearts full of optimism and, in my case, a Thermos of tea that would prove more reliable than our top order. I lost the toss — a coin, I'm convinced, with a personal vendetta against me — and we were sent out to field, which at least spared us the ordeal of watching P- Askew depart for a duck before we'd so much as loosened up.

The hosts made their way to 111 all out in 45.2 overs, C- Rogers top-scoring with a watchful 32 and N- Pullen chipping in a useful 20, but our attack never let them settle. Mike Elworthy was superb, prising out four for 42, while Allan Cooper bowled with the quiet menace of a man saving petrol — three for 13 and four maidens to boot — and Paul Bowles added a wicket for nought. A tidy, disciplined effort all round.

Chasing 112, we ambled home for the loss of four wickets in 35.4 overs, the innings anchored by Paul Bowles, who eased to 64 with the unhurried authority of a man who knew precisely how special his day was becoming — his runs carried him past John Thirkell to the very top of the club's all-time run-scorers, a landmark worth toasting long after the covers went on.

And yet — beaten by six wickets. Cricket's way of reminding us not to get too pleased with ourselves. Runs and records aplenty, but not quite the result. We'll regroup, raise a glass to Bowles's history-making knock, and be better for it next week.

Sat 28 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv BA British Rail Ashford · HomeformDLDDL

Saturday 28 August 1982 — British Rail Ashford came calling, and for once the toss actually mattered, because I won it and stuck us in. Good call, I still say, though the lads made rather harder work of it than I'd have liked. 110 all out from our 45 overs isn't a total to have the tea urn trembling, but Mick Filmer's 24 gave it some backbone, and on a day like this it turned out to be just enough to be getting on with.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Ashford ground their way to 107 in 43.4 overs, N Pichowski top-scoring with a stubborn 20, and for a good while it looked like our modest total would be swallowed whole. But Mike Elworthy had other ideas, ripping through the order with 5 for 29 — the sort of spell that has the rest of us quietly refilling his tea before he even asks. Jon Harris backed him up superbly with 4 for 52 and five maidens of pure miserliness, Martin Larkin chipped in with one, and I even found a bit of rhythm myself for 4 wickets. Behind the stumps it was rather more eventful than any of us would have chosen, with 8 byes leaking through, and S Elliott and Z Hadi departed without so much as a nibble.

Three runs. Three! I don't think I've exhaled properly since. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a result that will be talked up in the bar for rather longer than the cricket strictly deserves.

Wed 25 Aug 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformLWDLL

On a bright Wednesday afternoon, 25 August 1982, we welcomed Gravesend CC to the ground, and having won the toss I fancied a bat first — a decision I stood by all the way through to tea, and one I still stand by now.

The lads gave a decent account of themselves, closing on 192/8 from our 43 overs. Nigel Stallard led the charge with a fine 39, Paul Bowles chipped in with 33, and Jim Hall added a useful 22 — enough runs, we felt, to make Gravesend work hard for their tea.

And work hard they did. Restricted to 108/8 from their 47, the visitors never quite got the platform to chase us down, R Swain's 30 and B Hiscock's 25 the mainstay of a stuttering reply. With the ball, Trevor Back was the pick of the attack, a superb 3-12, with Jon Harris (3-29) and Mike Elworthy (1-2) chipping in and Michael Chambers positively parsimonious with five maidens. I even managed three for myself, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks to come. Trevor's haul, incidentally, edges him past Michael Morton into 21st on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a footnote worth framing.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw it may have been, but with Bowles still topping the season's run charts and Harris the wickets, this felt less like a stalemate and more like two sides quietly admiring each other's work.

Sun 22 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformDDLDD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 22 August 1982. We hosted Dummy Site, and having won the toss I didn't so much ponder the decision as dispense with it: on a day like this, you bat. The lads obliged, if not without incident. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 59 well-earned runs, with Jim Hall lending sturdy support on 47. Malcolm Pay, alas, will not be troubling the scorers this week — a duck to nurse quietly at the bar. All told, 170/9 from our 49 overs felt like a total with enough about it to defend.

And defend it we very nearly did. Trevor Back was the story of the innings, four wickets for 26 and four maidens besides — the sort of miserly spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their gloves. Jon Harris weighed in with 4-56 and I managed a modest four of my own, plus 16 with the bat for good measure. But G. Cooper's 53 and T. Jones's 49 kept the visitors afloat, and 139 all out from 43.5 overs left them 31 runs shy of our total — and us on the wrong side of the result.

One moment lifted the gloom rather nicely: Brian Piper brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark few of us will ever trouble. Paul Bowles now leads the 1st XI run charts for the season with 1671, and Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with 62.

Not our day, in the end. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 21 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv FC Frindsbury CC · AwayformLDDLD

Saturday last took us down to Frindsbury CC, where I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season and watched them elect to bat — never my favourite way to start an afternoon. Still, the lads set about it with the ball rather nicely. David Cogger gave us a proper working-over with 55, well supported by B Martin's 21, and between them Frindsbury crawled to 159 all out in 39.5 overs. Honours, though, belonged to Paul Bowles, who span a web through their middle order for a startling 5-27, with Martin Larkin (2-38) and Mike Elworthy (2-45) mopping up either side of him. M Haines and B Hill went back without troubling the scorers, which is never a pleasant walk.

Chasing 159, we made a solid fist of it: 158 for 5 off our 44, agonisingly close but a draw was always on the cards once we settled in. Nigel Thirkell led the way with 45, I contributed 45 myself, and Paul Bowles (38) and Malcolm Pay (25) chipped in handsomely. Fourteen byes crept past Bowles behind the stumps, which rather suggests his hands were busier with the ball than the gloves that day.

A nod to the record books: Malcolm Pay's 25 eased him past Robert Chance into 19th on the club's all-time run charts, while Paul Bowles continues to top our 1982 run tally with 1,612 and Mike Elworthy sits third in the wicket charts on 29. All told, honours shared felt about right — a hard-fought draw, and nobody quite deserved to lose it.

Sun 15 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · HomeformLLDDL

Won the toss on a fine Sunday and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody argued with me over tea. Paul Bowles then proceeded to bat as though the rest of us were merely there to make up the numbers, farming the strike beautifully for an unbeaten 106, with Brian Piper chipping in a tidy 30 in support. Poor Malcolm Pay will want this page torn from the gazette — a duck to his name — but 171 for 3 off 49.1 overs was a total we were more than happy to defend.

And defend it we did, in fits and starts. Their reply of 164 for 8 off 39 overs never quite got away from us, despite some resistance from Rivers (41), Robertson (30) and Stroud (29). Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 38 including two maidens that must have felt like a personal insult to their top order, with Mike Elworthy (2-36) and Allan Cooper (1-15) chipping away at the other end. I managed to find some rhythm myself and picked up four wickets, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks to come.

A special word for Jon Harris, who passed 1,000 career wickets today — a staggering landmark, and thoroughly deserved. He now leads our 1982 wicket charts with 58, while Paul Bowles tops the run charts with 1,574.

In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force it. A draw, then — but a thoroughly good one.

Sat 14 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformDLLDD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 14 August 1982

Won the toss, and there was never really a debate in my head about what to do with it — up went the bat, and out came the sunshine, more or less. Paul Bowles played the innings of the summer, a proper hundred, 102 no less, with Jim Hall keeping him honest company all the way past his own fifty for 51. We rattled along nicely to 185/6 from our 42 overs. Spare a thought, though, for poor Malcolm Pay, whose golden duck earns him a rather unwanted line in this year's Duck Club ledger — the walk of shame indeed.

With the total looking handsome, I fancied our afternoon's work was as good as done, and so it proved. Mike Elworthy was quite magnificent with the ball, 3-24 and four maidens of the sort that make batsmen question their life choices, while Fred Cheesman (2-14) and, not content with his century, Paul Bowles (2-19) chipped in handsomely. Only J- Hunt, unbeaten on 40, offered any real resistance as Dummy Site were bowled out for 121 in 41.3 overs.

A 64-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying one at that. I'll confess a certain quiet pride in leading from the front with the bat, and Bowles continues to top the run charts this season while Elworthy sits third among the wicket-takers — form the pair of them will do well to keep finding. A proper club performance, and one to bottle for the leaner Saturdays ahead.

Sun 08 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv HC Holmesdale CC · HomeformLDLLD

It was Holmesdale CC at home on Sunday, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly and had no hesitation putting us in, largely on the grounds that our top order looked in fine fettle and the square looked kind. 187/6 from our 52 overs duly followed, with Brian Piper's 58 the innings' backbone and Malcolm Pay giving him stout company with a tidy fifty of his own; Paul Bowles chipped in a useful 21 further down. Not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but enough to defend on a good day.

And defend it we did, though not without the odd anxious over. Holmesdale crawled to 119/9 from their 44, Robert Duckworth's 29 and Mark Taylor's 23 the only real resistance, with X Sylvester unbeaten on 20 at the death. Jon Harris was in irresistible form, ripping through with 5-35, while Paul Bowles and Nigel Thirkell picked up a wicket apiece — Thirkell in particular bowling a spell of real discipline, five maidens and barely a boundary in it. I'll confess a quiet pride in my own 5-for, the sort of thing one dines out on at the bar for weeks.

There was cause for a proper toast, too: Brian Piper reached 4,000 career runs for the club, Malcolm Pay's fifty eased him past Maurice Fenner into 20th on the all-time run list, and Trevor Back's solitary wicket nudged him past Ray Howard into 22nd among the wicket-takers. History quietly being rewritten, one over at a time.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then — the great English compromise, and on this evidence, a fair one.

Sat 07 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLLDLL

Off it went at Headcorn, and here's the report.

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Saturday last saw us make the trip to Headcorn, and the coin, as is so often the way of things, did not smile upon us. Their captain called correctly and took first knock, leaving us to toil away in the field for the best part of fifty overs. Toil we did, but not without reward — Richard Chapman anchored their innings with a fine 51, well supported by Simon Phipps's 24, as they crawled their way to 157 for 9 off 50.1 overs. Credit where it's due: Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, 3 for 40 including five maidens that must have tested the patience of every batsman at the crease, with Mike Elworthy (3-51) and Paul Bowles (1-23) keeping the pressure on from the other end.

With 158 to chase, we set about our business in altogether steadier fashion, closing on 127 for 3 off 43 overs — enough for honours to be shared, if not quite enough for the win. Andy Woollett played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 51 that held things together beautifully, ably assisted by Malcolm Pay's 42 and Paul Bowles's 26. Your captain, meanwhile, had the rare pleasure of picking up three wickets himself — not something I shall let the lads forget in a hurry.

A nod, too, to the record books: Malcolm Pay's 42 sees him leapfrog Andrew Moss into 22nd on the club's all-time run charts, while Paul Bowles continues to lead the 1982 first-team run tally and Jon Harris sits second in the season's wicket-taking standings.

All told, a draw that felt like a fair reflection of two evenly matched sides — nobody quite bold enough, or perhaps foolish enough, to force the issue.

Wed 04 Aug 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv MP Maidstone Police · HomeformLLWDL

Beaten by 85 runs, and if I'm honest, batting first on a Wednesday in August was always going to need more than 152/9 to trouble anyone. Winning the toss felt like the easy bit. Graham Abel's 30 and Paul Bowles's 28 gave us something to work with, though the middle order rather ran out of ideas after that, and poor Sean Cook's golden duck won't be troubling the highlights reel. Forty-three overs of honest endeavour, but not quite enough lumber.

Still, I've long believed a modest total is only ever half the story, and for a while our bowling made it look positively generous. They were bundled out for 67 in just 26.2 overs, which on paper ought never to have left us on the wrong end of the result. Jon Harris was in inspired form, 3-5 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and R- Mayes's 28 was about the only innings of substance they could muster. Michael Chambers (2-11) and Sean Cook, making amends with the ball after his duck, chipped in with 2-21, while M- Finn and W- Wardle both departed without troubling the scorers.

Quite how we contrived to lose from there is a question for the clubhouse rather than this report. My own 15 with the bat and three wickets were honest if unspectacular contributions to a curious afternoon. Paul Bowles and Jon Harris continue to lead our season's run and wicket charts respectively, and rightly so on this evidence. As for the rest of us — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 01 Aug 1982 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformDLLDL

Won the toss, elected to bat, and watched Paul Bowles play the innings of the summer — a superb hundred, 100 no less, the sort of knock that makes the tea urn taste sweeter. Brian Piper chipped in handsomely with 40, and between them they hauled us to 178/7 from our 56 overs. Not everyone's afternoon sparkled, mind — Mike Elworthy managed a golden duck, out for nought without so much as a look at the scoreboard, though he'd more than make amends later. I contributed a watchful 15 myself, more blocking than batting if I'm honest.

Defending 178 always feels a touch skinny, and so it proved. Dummy Site fought hard through J- Robins (35), J- Munn (34) and N- Maher, unbeaten on 30, and for a good while it looked ominous. But Mike Elworthy, clearly saving his best for the ball rather than the bat, ripped through them with 3-23 and three tidy maidens, well backed by Brian Piper (2-30) and Jon Harris (2-63). Three of their number — I- Henson, S- Wavell and E- Hotson — never troubled the scorers at all. Still, 166 all out from 45.5 overs was enough, and we fell agonisingly short by 12 runs.

A tale of individual brilliance not quite adding up to a team victory. Paul Bowles continues to plunder the season's bowlers, now on 1319 runs for the year, and Jon Harris sits second in the wicket charts with 46. We, meanwhile, must simply dust ourselves off — beaten, bruised, but unbowed, and better for it next week.

Sat 31 Jul 1982 🧢 1st XIv BC Bromley CC · AwayformLDLLD

Beaten by 8 wickets at Bromley on a day I'd sooner not dwell on, but here goes. Winning the toss, I fancied batting first — a decision I've had cause to regret before teatime. Seventy-two all out from our thirty-two overs was a modest return, rescued from outright embarrassment only by Malcolm Pay's spirited 24. Paul Bowles, Andy Woollett and Fred Cheesman between them managed a hat-trick of ducks, which is one way to keep the scorebook tidy, I suppose, if not the way any of them intended.

Bromley's reply was altogether more comfortable reading, for them at least. T Nash carried his bat to 35 not out, well supported by Ian Giles's unbeaten 31, and the home side strolled to 76 without loss inside twenty overs — the sort of chase that barely troubles the tea urn. As for my own contribution, a golden duck of my own, over which the least said the better; the scorer's pencil moved swiftly on, and so shall we.

One bright note amid the wreckage: Nigel Thirkell continues his fine season, now sitting second in the 1st XI run charts with 871 to his name — a reminder that not everything at Linton Park has gone to pot in 1982.

All told, a chastening afternoon and a defeat we can have few complaints about. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word with the bat-makers, and fancy our chances of a sterner showing next week.

Tue 27 Jul 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Margate CC · AwayformLLLWD

Beaten by nine wickets, and if you're going to lose a toss and be sent in to field on a Tuesday evening, that's more or less how it goes at Dummy Site — you bowl your socks off, restrict them to 144/9, and then watch someone else win the match with the bat while you're still padding up.

Credit where it's due: our attack was superb. Mike Elworthy was magnificent, 3-29 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly, as they say, though I'd say he barely gave one away at all. David Castle (2-16) and Trevor Back (2-28) backed him up in fine style, and between us we kept K. Adams (36) and A. Carter (23) from ever quite cutting loose, while poor M. Ellis departed without so much as a nibble at the strike bowling.

And then, of course, we had to go and chase it down inside 32 overs anyway — 145/1, with Paul Bowles compiling an outrageous unbeaten century and David Castle chipping in with a composed 37 not out. I'd like to say I orchestrated it all serenely from the boundary rope, but in truth I was rather busy myself, leading from the front with a hundred of my own.

So there it is: bowled them out for not very many, chased it down for rather a lot, and still contrived to lose by nine wickets. Only in club cricket. Paul Bowles now sits proudly atop the season's run charts with 264, and Trevor Back is second in the wickets — small consolations for a defeat that, frankly, we don't entirely understand ourselves. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 25 Jul 1982 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLLDLL

Sunday 25 July 1982, and off we trundled to The Mote CC, where the coin let us down and we were straight into the field. Their innings rolled on rather longer than any of us fancied — 221/6 from 47.3 overs, with N. Pitt easing to a fine 54 and Ron McCormick (44) and N. Trigg (37) filling in nicely around him. Mike Elworthy was the pick of our attack with 3-55, Nigel Thirkell chipped away for 2-62 with a couple of tidy maidens thrown in, and Trevor Back picked up one for 39 — a wicket that, we're reliably informed, nudges him past Herbert Rayner and into 23rd on the club's all-time list, which counts for something even on a long afternoon in the field.

Chasing 222, we made a decent fist of it without ever quite threatening. Paul Bowles led the way with 47, Malcolm Pay stuck around unbeaten on 40, Nigel Thirkell added 31 and I managed the same myself, but 159/9 from our 45 overs was as far as we got. Trevor Back and Martin Larkin both took the long, silent walk for ducks, joining the club's rather crowded roll of honour.

So, honours shared and a draw to show for it. Not the result we'd have chosen after being put in, but with Bowles still steaming clear at the top of the season's run charts and Thirkell doing likewise with the ball, there's rather more to smile about than the scorebook alone suggests.

Sat 24 Jul 1982 🧢 1st XIv NH Newchapel & Horne · AwayformLLLDL

Beaten by fifteen runs at Dummy Site, but honestly, I'll take a lot from this one.

Won the toss, fancied batting first, and 144/9 off our 48 overs was a decent if unspectacular platform — Sean Riley unbeaten on 34, Paul Bowles chipping in 33, Andy Woollett 25, and your correspondent adding a tidy 33 of his own. Poor Fred Cheesman, meanwhile, endured the walk of shame for a golden duck, which I'm reliably informed is character-building.

In the field we gave ourselves every chance. Mike Elworthy was simply magnificent — five wickets for 36, five maidens to go with it, bowling as though the ball were on a string. Paul Bowles backed him up superbly with 4-32, David Iliffe chipped in with one, and between us we sent Aston, Spratt and Narain packing without so much as a run to their names. Not to be left out, I managed four wickets myself, which made for a very satisfying afternoon with the ball. Bennett's well-crafted 57 and Saffery's 42 were the innings that did for us in the end, dragging the opposition to 129 all out — just enough, as it turned out, to see them home by fifteen runs.

A fine team effort, a five-for to remember, and Paul Bowles quietly going about his business atop the season's run charts. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 21 Jul 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDLLLW

From the captain's chair, Wednesday 21st July 1982: the visitors arrived under a sky that gave nothing away, and I won the toss. I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I shall permit myself a small pat on the back for it.

The lads set about the job in fine style, closing on 230 for 5 from our 49 overs. James Skinner was the architect of it all, a magnificent century that anchored everything around him, while Gareth Thomas chipped in a well-made 74 to keep the scoreboard honest. A total, I thought, with enough substance to make the opposition work for every run.

And work they did. Their reply closed on 193 for 9 from 51 overs, J Bradnock's 47 the backbone of it, with John Furminger (39) and G Marshall (27) lending support. R Wall and D Furminger departed without troubling the scorers, much to their chagrin. Brian Piper was the chief tormentor with 3 for 24, Glen Bolton weighed in with 2 for 23, and I was rather chuffed to pick up three wickets myself. Dave Knight bowled two tidy maidens, though poor Dave Hales had his gloves worked hard behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping his grasp.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but an afternoon of good cricket, honestly fought, and no shame in that whatsoever.

Sun 18 Jul 1982 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformDLLLD

It was Folkestone CC at home on a Sunday that promised more than it delivered, and the toss – for once – fell kindly to me. I had no hesitation putting us in, and for a good while it looked the right call, with Brian Piper compiling a fine 81 to anchor the innings and Ian Webb chipping in a handy 29. But 164/9 from 56.3 overs always felt a touch light on a good pitch, and poor Trevor Back's contribution began and ended with a first-ball duck – the walk of shame performed with his usual dignity.

Defending under 165 was always going to ask questions of the attack, and for a while we asked them well enough. Trevor, redeeming himself splendidly with the ball, picked up 3-31, and Nigel Thirkell bowled two tidy maidens to go with his season's tally, which now stands at 839 runs, second in the club's charts. We even had Martin Highland back in the pavilion without so much as a scoring stroke. But Stan Purcell had other ideas, easing to an unbeaten 64, well supported by Adrian Bray's 42 and Roy Downey's 37, and Folkestone strolled home by seven wickets with overs to spare.

Not our day, then – outbatted with the bat and, in the end, outlasted with it too. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 11 Jul 1982 🧢 1st XIv MC Morden Village CC · HomeformDDLLL

Sunday 11 July 1982, and a fine one for the scorebook if not entirely the ledger. We welcomed Dummy Site to Linton Park, I called correctly at the toss, and with barely a glance at the sky I opted to bat — a decision I stand by, whatever the tea-time grumbling suggested.

We limped and lurched to 137 for 7 from our 47 overs, saved from further embarrassment by a rather good half-century of my own — 59, and I shan't pretend I wasn't pleased with it. Jim Hall and Fred Cheesman were less fortunate, both departing for golden ducks, the sort of contribution that draws sympathetic applause and not much else.

With the ball, the lads were considerably more clinical. Dummy Site were shackled to 93 for 9 from their 41 overs, Russell's defiant 21 the only real resistance on offer. Trevor Back was magnificent, ripping through with 4 for 6, while Martin Larkin (2-27) and Mike Elworthy (2-30, four miserly maidens among them) squeezed the last hope of a chase clean out of them.

Not quite enough time nor wickets to finish the job, so honours were shared — a draw when neither side could force it. As the season stands I find myself second in the run charts with 838 and, rather pleasingly, top of the wicket pile with 47. A fair day's work all told, even if the final page reads even-stevens.

Sat 10 Jul 1982 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformDDDLL

Saturday 10 July 1982, away to Horton Kirby CC. Lost the toss, asked to chase — never the afternoon you'd choose, but there we are.

We put them in and, credit where due, they made a proper fist of it: 186/8 from their 46 overs, built around a well-crafted fifty from Alastair Scott, 80, with Keith Lockyer chipping in an unbeaten 28. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of us with the ball, 4-58 and three maidens of genuine miserliness, well supported by Paul Bowles (3-98) and Fred Cheesman (1-13). A target that always felt a stretch rather than a formality.

And so it proved. We replied with 157/9 from our 44, and it would have looked a good deal worse but for Paul Bowles, who simply refused to get out — 100 not out, carrying the innings almost single-handed, and in the process bringing up 16,000 career runs for the club, which is one for the mantelpiece and no mistake. I found some rhythm myself, contributing 100 with the bat and 3 wickets with the ball, though I'll take rather more pride in the bowling than the fielding, given 17 byes told their own sorry tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Mick Filmer. Ducks for Mick Filmer, David Iliffe and Sean Cook rounded off a card best not lingered over.

Twenty-nine runs short in the end. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 04 Jul 1982 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · AwayformLDDDL

Sunday 4th July found us on the road at Aylesford Paper Mills, and the day began as so many of ours do — with the coin betraying us and the opposition tucking into a long afternoon in the field, against us rather than for us. T Cornwall made merry with 84, Steve Martin wasn't far behind with a well-crafted 76, and P Carroll saw them home unbeaten on 38 as they piled up 258 for 5 off 57.4 overs. Tim Baker did at least depart cheaply for us at the crease of the scorebook, though not in the way we'd have liked. Jon Harris toiled manfully for 3 for 88, the pick of a bowling attack that must have felt the heat rather more than the mill's paper stock.

Chasing 258 was always going to want more than we could summon, and 94 all out in 35.4 overs told its own sorry tale. Malcolm Pay's 28 and Jon Harris's 23 were the innings' backbone, and I managed a modest 23 myself, but with Andy Woollett, Steve Cheale and David Cheale all back in the pavilion without scoring, the middle order rather resembled a row of ducks on a village pond. Small mercies: three wickets for the skipper kept my average respectable, and Malcolm's runs and Jon's wickets keep them handsomely placed in the season's charts.

Beaten by 164 runs, no dressing it up. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 03 Jul 1982 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLLDDD

Saturday 3rd July found us on the road at Staplehurst, where I lost the toss and duly found myself leading the side out into the field — never my favourite way to start a Saturday, but there we are. Chris Rogers gave us a torrid afternoon, cruising past his fifty to 76, with M Eastland (39) and John Robins (28) chipping in to see the hosts to a stern 188/8 from their 46 overs. Small mercies: Anthony West departed for a duck at our hands, and Nigel Thirkell bowled beautifully, 3-50 with four maidens to show for his afternoon's toil, ably backed up by Jon Harris (3-67) and Martin Larkin (1-44). Not a run given away lightly, all told.

With 189 to chase, we gave it a decent go. Paul Bowles led the reply with a fine 47, and Nigel Thirkell, having already done his bit with the ball, added 41 more with the bat for good measure. I managed 47 myself, which I shall allow myself a quiet moment of pride over before returning to the matter at hand — we were bowled out for 151 in 42.4 overs, 37 runs shy of the target.

Not our day, then. Bowles continues to lead the run charts this season with 1039 to his name, and Thirkell the wickets with 42 — both quietly getting on with being rather good at this game while the rest of us make up the numbers. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Wed 30 Jun 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformDDLLL

Wednesday 30th June, and off we trooped to Bobbing Court, where I called correctly at the toss and, in a fit of confidence I'd like to claim was tactical genius, elected to bat.

It wasn't always pretty. We were bowled out for 138 in 43.2 overs, a total that owed most of its dignity to Brian Allsworth's 33 and a watchful, unbeaten 23 from Simon Thirkell holding the tail together. Elsewhere the less said the better — R. Dowens contributed a duck to the ledger and made the long walk back with what I'm told was admirable dignity for a man who'd faced precisely one ball. 🦆

Defending 138 always felt a stretch, but cricket has a habit of humbling the pessimist. Trevor Back was in inspired form, spinning through Bobbing Court's order for a magnificent 5-23, and picking up a wicket of his own in the process to go with two more ducks he inflicted alongside Richard Witts and Mike Elworthy's dismissals. Jon Harris chipped in with 2-0 and James Skinner with 1-0, and between them they bowled Bobbing Court out for nothing — not a run to their name. Jon now sits proudly atop the Midweek XI's 1982 wicket charts with eight victims to his credit.

We got home by 17 runs. A modest total, a spot of untidy batting, and a spell of bowling that will be talked about in the clubhouse for weeks. All told, a very good day for the Duck Club.

Sun 27 Jun 1982 🧢 1st XIv R Rainham · HomeformWLLDD

Sunday 27th June, and the visitors were Dummy Site — a fine afternoon for it, and I confess I fancied our chances the moment I won the toss. Elected to bat, and for once nobody in the pavilion questioned my judgement. We crawled and cantered our way to 145 for 9 off our 32 overs, the innings held together almost single-handedly by Nigel Thirkell, whose well-crafted 59 was the sort of innings that makes a captain's decisions look cleverer than they were.

Defending it, we set about them with rather more purpose than we'd shown all season. Trevor Back was magnificent, tearing through with 4 for 31, while Nigel — not content with his runs — chipped in with 2 for 18 with the ball as well. Martin Larkin took one for 19, and Jon Harris bowled with real discipline, three maidens and barely a bad ball in his spell. We had Morris and Fullager back in the pavilion without so much as a run to their names, which brought a quiet smile to the slip cordon. Fisher, with 37, and Jones, with 27, kept Dummy Site interested, but they could only muster 120 for 7 from their 33 overs.

In the end neither side could land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not quite the tale of glory the bowling figures deserved, but a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket all the same, and Nigel Thirkell continues to make the rest of us look faintly ordinary in both departments.

Sun 20 Jun 1982 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWLLD

Sunday 20th June found us at home to the visitors, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself as the afternoon wore on. Nigel Thirkell was in imperious touch, striking a fine 84, with Brian Piper chipping in a handy 43 to help us to a respectable 163/3 from our 44 overs. Not every man in the shirt covered himself in glory, mind — poor Paul Bowles endured the long, lonely walk back for nought, and I'm told the Duck Club ledger has his name in fresh ink.

Defending the total, we set about our work with real purpose. Jon Harris was quite simply unplayable, spinning a web through their order for 5-26 with five miserly maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea. Fred Cheesman weighed in with 1-2, and J Saville joined Bowles in the Duck Club, back before he'd troubled the scorers. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes leaking through, though I shan't hold it against him. B Hiscock's 29 and Mike Stapley's 20 gave their innings some backbone, but they closed on 99/8 from 48 overs, well short of the mark.

With five wickets also falling to my name, it was a thoroughly satisfying day all round — though honours were shared in the end, a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. A fair result, if I'm honest, and a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday.

Sat 19 Jun 1982 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDDWLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 19 June 1982, and West Farleigh CC visited us in what turned into a rather agreeable afternoon of cricket. I called correctly at the toss, which around these parts happens about as often as the tea urn arriving on time, and had no hesitation in choosing to bat.

What followed was as tidy an innings as I've had the pleasure of watching from the boundary's edge. Malcolm Pay played a lovely, unhurried hand for 55 not out, and was ably supported by Paul Bowles, who chipped in 43 not out of his own — the pair seeing us to 105 without loss from our 25 overs and leaving West Farleigh's bowlers with precious little to show for their afternoon's work. Then, ball in hand, the lads made sure the visitors fared no better, bowling them out for nought all told. I even had a small hand in proceedings myself with 43, though I shan't pretend it was anything but a supporting act to the main event.

A word for the record books: Malcolm's half-century nudged him past George Champion and up to 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Paul continues to lead the 1982 1st XI charts with 992 runs — form that shows no sign of deserting him. In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue. A day, I'd say, that did the club proud all round.

Fri 18 Jun 1982 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLDDWL

Captain's Log, Friday 18 June 1982. Down to The Mote CC we trundled, and the coin, as is its custom with me, sided against us — they won the toss, chose to bat, and left us to toil in the field on what turned into rather a long afternoon. Malcolm Bristow settled in and made merry to the tune of 64, with Richard Chapman (40 not out) and G. Jarman (27 not out) tidying up nicely behind him, and their 170/4 from sixteen overs had a distinctly imposing look about it. Credit where due: Allan Cooper bowled like a man with a grievance, 3-42, and Martin Larkin chipped away manfully for 1-49 in support.

Chasing 171 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered some but not all of them. Mick Filmer batted with real application for 35, Paul Bowles weighed in with 21, and I contributed 21 myself — more by accident than design, I suspect. But 128/7 from our sixteen overs left us 42 runs shy at the close.

Small consolation from the season's ledger: Paul Bowles now leads the 1982 run charts with 949, and Allan Cooper sits third among the wicket-takers with 19. Not our day, all told — heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Tue 15 Jun 1982 🧢 1st XIv ME Maidstone Etceteras · HomeformLLDDW

Tuesday 15 June 1982, and we welcomed Dummy Site to Linton Park under skies kind enough to persuade me to bowl first once I'd called it right — heads, and in we went.

The lads set about the innings with more purpose than my pre-match team talk deserved, closing on a handsome 134/5 from our sixteen overs. Nigel Thirkell was the architect, a crisp 59 that had the boundary boards rattling, while Paul Bowles played the perfect foil with an unbeaten 44 — the sort of innings that keeps a captain's blood pressure at a respectable level. Given Bowles now sits atop our 1982 run charts with 928 for the season, one begins to suspect he simply enjoys making the rest of us look ordinary.

With the ball, we set about defending 134 with rather more enthusiasm than method at first, but Jon Harris settled things quickly with a superb 4-24 — figures befitting a man now second in the club's wicket charts with 33 for the year. Brian Piper and Allan Cooper chipped in with a wicket apiece, and I'll confess to a quiet satisfaction at taking 4 myself, Adrian Smith's defiant 30 aside. Dummy Site were held to 93/6 from their sixteen — on another day that would have been enough.

Alas, the arithmetic proved cruel and we fell 41 runs short. Not our day, then, but plenty to build on. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sun 13 Jun 1982 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · AwayformWLLWL

Sunday the 13th of June found us on the road to High Halstow, and if there's one thing I ought to learn about tossing a coin, it's that I'm no good at it — they called correctly and had us in the field before the tea urn had even warmed up.

We toiled honestly enough. High Halstow ground their way to 175 for 4 off their forty overs, R Brown the chief architect with a handsome 59, well supported by Alex Smith's 32 and Paul Whelan's 30. Jon Harris was our pick of the bowlers with 1-27, and Allan Cooper (1-29) and Martin Larkin (1-34) chipped away gamely without quite breaking through as often as we'd have liked.

With the bat, we never quite got the platform to make a proper fist of the chase, folding for 135 in 35.4 overs. Paul Bowles led the way with 34, Malcolm Pay weighed in with 33, and I managed to scratch together 34 of my own — though none of it added up to enough. There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: Malcolm's 33 nudged him past Gordon Fenner into 24th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, and he continues to lead our 1982 Sunday NVKC run charts with 128, with Nigel Thirkell topping the wicket charts on 6.

Beaten by 40 runs, then — a defeat, but not a disgrace. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Tue 08 Jun 1982 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDLLDD

We travelled down to Hollingbourne on a fine Tuesday evening with the sun out and, for once, my coin-calling arm in working order — heads it was, and bat first we duly went. The lads set about it with real purpose, Nigel Thirkell playing the innings of the day with a fine 41, and Paul Bowles chipping in handsomely with 32 alongside him, the pair of them dragging us to a very respectable 139/5 from our sixteen overs. Not a total to frighten anyone on paper, perhaps, but enough to give the bowlers something to work with.

And work with it they did. Martin Larkin steamed in for a superb 3-36, the pick of the attack by some distance, with Allan Cooper (2-21) and Jon Harris (2-32) squeezing from the other end as Hollingbourne's batsmen found boundaries hard to come by. Bob Dyer threatened to make a match of it with a spirited 31, well supported by Dave Hales's 22, but they could only limp to 102/9 from their sixteen, well short of the mark.

A special note, too, for Jim Hall, who turned out for his 300th appearance in Linton colours — a milestone that rather put my own aching knees into perspective. Paul Bowles continues to top the 1st XI run charts this season with 884, while Jon Harris sits second in the wickets with 29.

We ran out winners by 37 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the scrapbook.

Sun 06 Jun 1982 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformLDLLD

Sunday 6th June found us on the road to Sheldwich, and having called correctly at the toss for once, I saw no earthly reason not to bat. It proved a sound instinct, if not a flawless execution — 157 all out from 43.2 overs, with Nigel Thirkell playing the innings of the day, a handsome 65, and Malcolm Pay giving splendid support with 41. Elsewhere the scorebook was less kind: Jon Harris, Sean Cook and Steve Cheale all took that lonely walk back for nought, and I shan't dwell on my own contribution save to say the duck-loving among you would have been proud.

Defending 157 always felt like a stretch, but the lads set about it with real heart. Sheldwich closed on 123/9 from their 45 overs, F. Ames top-scoring with 40 and J. Stanford chipping in 28, while A. Creed departed for a duck of his own — honours even on that front, at least. Nigel Thirkell, not content with his runs, then ran through the order with a magnificent 5-42, well backed by Paul Bowles (2-21) and a typically frugal Jon Harris, 1-45 with five maidens to his name. My afternoon behind the stumps was rather less distinguished — fifteen byes is not a figure I'll be framing.

In the end neither side could force it, and a draw was the fair result. With Paul Bowles now past 850 runs and Nigel Thirkell closing on 40 wickets for the season, there's plenty to be cheerful about — even if the wicketkeeper has some soul-searching to do.

Sat 05 Jun 1982 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDLDLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 05 June 1982. We travelled to Dummy Site with the sun, remarkably, on our side, and I won the toss and elected to bat, a decision I shall allow myself a small pat on the back for.

What followed was largely a one-man show, and what a show it was. Paul Bowles played an innings of real class, carrying us to 200/6 from our 41 overs with a superb 117, well backed up by Nigel Thirkell's brisk 39. Elsewhere the card made for less comfortable reading — poor Malcolm Pay departed for a duck, the sort of dismissal that earns a sympathetic pint rather than a stern word, and not much else troubled the scorers.

Two hundred looked a defendable total, and so it proved, though the opposition did not go quietly. They closed on 131/4 from their 45 overs, Sam Simmonds top-scoring with 41, with Rob Bailey (28) and an unbeaten 27 from Geoff Marsh keeping them in the contest longer than we'd have liked. Martin Larkin was miserly and menacing in equal measure, taking 1-19 with four maidens — not a run given away lightly, as they say — with Nigel Thirkell (1-23) and Ian Brattle (1-24) chipping in dutifully.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. With Bowles now sitting proudly atop the 1982 run charts and Thirkell leading the wickets, the season has plenty of encouraging shape to it. A draw, then — not the ending we wanted, but on this evidence, no disgrace either.

Fri 04 Jun 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWDDLL

Friday 4th June, and The Mote CC rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and, alas, the coin against us — they called correctly and had no hesitation in batting first. What followed was a lesson in application from Richard Slee, whose 94 was the sort of innings that makes a captain wish he owned more fielders, well supported by Malcolm Bristow's 82 and John Lawrence's 48. Ian Brattle toiled honestly for his 2-59 and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 1-62, but 296/3 from 40 overs was a mountain, not a molehill, and our lot behind the stumps did us no favours either, with 15 byes gifted like a benevolent uncle at Christmas.

Chasing 297 was always going to want something special, and Paul Bowles very nearly conjured it with a fine 64, ably assisted by Jim Hall's unbeaten 37 and Thirkell's 23. But the middle order rather lost the plot, and the Duck Club welcomed two new members — Michael Chambers and Ian Brattle both making that forlorn walk back for nought, quacking all the way. We closed on 176/9, well short, and 120 runs adrift by the close.

Bowles at least has cause for quiet satisfaction, topping the Midweek XI run charts for the season on 164, with Brattle third among the wicket-takers on two. For the rest of us, it's heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — not our day, but the tea was good and the company better.

Thu 03 Jun 1982 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLDL

Here's the report, from the captain's chair.

---

Thursday 3 June 1982, and the visitors came to Linton Park with high hopes, which is generally the cue for us to make a hash of things — and, in the grand tradition of this fixture list, we duly obliged.

Put into the field, we made a decent fist of the bowling. Mike Elworthy was the pick of us by some distance, prising out 3-8 with the kind of accuracy the rest of us can only admire from mid-off, while Jon Harris (2-28) and Nigel Thirkell (2-30) chipped in gamely. John Golding gave us the runaround with a top score of 40, well supported by Pete Worsnop's 20, and between them they steered the opposition to 97/8 from their sixteen overs — a target that looked, on paper, entirely gettable.

And gettable it proved, more's the pity. Steve Wyles and Terry Franks went back for ducks without troubling the scorers at all, which rather set the tone for our top order, and Paul Bowles played the anchor role to perfection, finishing unbeaten on 44 — a knock that keeps him out in front of the 1982 run charts with 724 for the season. Nigel Thirkell weighed in with 30, and I managed 44 myself, for what little consolation that offers a beaten captain. We closed on 101/2 from fifteen, but by then the opposition's chase had long since done for us — beaten by eight wickets in the end.

A tidy bowling display undone by a soft top order. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 31 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv XM XII Men · HomeformLLDLD

It was Dummy Site at home, Monday 31 May 1982, and I won the toss with barely a second thought — on a morning that promised runs, only a fool bats second. Paul Bowles evidently agreed with the plan, batting through for a magnificent 151 not out, while Nigel Thirkell propped up the other end with an unbeaten 37 as we declared the innings, such as it was, at a handsome 241/2 from our 61 overs. A total to make the tea urn proud.

Defending it proved another matter entirely. Paul Nicholls played the innings of the day for the visitors with 73, well supported by J- Richards (48) and Tony Armstrong (42), and between them they chased our total down to 245/6 with over three overs in hand. Jon Harris toiled magnificently for his 3-47, three of those overs maidens besides, with Fred Cheesman and Ian Brattle chipping in a wicket apiece. I found some rhythm myself with three wickets, for whatever comfort that provides the scorebook. Twelve byes, meanwhile, told their own sorry tale behind the stumps — a testing afternoon for poor Paul Bowles, asked to do rather too much in one day.

There was, at least, one moment to raise a genuinely proud cheer: Ian Brattle reached fifty career wickets, a landmark thoroughly deserved and shamefully overshadowed by the result. Paul Bowles continues to lead our run charts with 680 for the season, Nigel Thirkell tops the wickets with 29 — form we shall need again soon.

Beaten by four wickets in the end, then, undone as much by extras as by anything the opposition did particularly well. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 30 May 1982 🧢 Sunday NVKCv W Weald · AwayformWWLLW

Won the toss on a fine Sunday at Dummy Site and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, I stuck us in to bat — or rather, stuck myself in to bat, since apparently that's how tosses work. Malcolm Pay played the innings of the day, ticking past his fifty and finishing unbeaten on 95, with Nigel Thirkell (35) and Mick Filmer (29) offering fine support around him. Paul Bowles and Tim Thirkell both contributed golden ducks to the cause, in the fine tradition of giving generously without actually giving anything. We closed on 208/6 from our forty, a total that felt like it might just be enough.

It wasn't, in truth — or rather, it very much was, though not before their innings gave us a proper fright at 30 from M- Jennings and 29 from C- Sykes. But Nigel Thirkell, clearly saving his best for both disciplines, ripped through with 3-7, while Brian Piper and Martin Larkin chipped in either side of him, Larkin's four maidens the mark of a man giving away nothing but pleasantries. C- Barnacle and R- Marchant departed without troubling the scorers, and the innings folded for 115 in 34.2 overs.

As for my own contribution with the bat — nought, and the less said the better. Still, a day to remember for Paul Bowles, reaching 500 appearances in Linton colours, and Tim Thirkell his 400th — milestones that rather outshone the scoreline. Down by 93 in the end. Not our day; back to the nets.

Sat 29 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv CC Chatham Nomads CC · HomeformLLLDL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 29th May 1982. Chatham Nomads CC the visitors, and a fine one it was too.

Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody argued with me over tea. The lads set about their work nicely: Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 73 of good, well-made stuff including a fifty that had the boundary boards rattling, with Paul Brattle (32) and Malcolm Pay (28) chipping in handsomely. We closed on 156/5 from our 46.4 overs — a total that felt like enough, though never quite enough to relax about.

And so it proved a tense old defence. The Nomads had their moments through Bruce Crump (39) and C Jordan (37), with George Phillips adding 20, but poor Keith Bowman never troubled the scorers and trudged back for a duck. The real story, though, was Jon Harris, who spun his way through them for 5-41 with eight maidens besides — not a run given away lightly, and precious few overs wasted either. Martin Larkin (1-28) and yours truly chipped in with a wicket apiece, and I'll confess a happy day with the ball, five for the skipper.

They finished 128/7 from their 46, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but with Bowles now top of our run charts on 529 and Harris second in the wickets on 20, I'd call it a thoroughly satisfactory stalemate.

Tue 25 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · HomeformLLLLD

From the captain's chair, Tuesday 25 May 1982: we welcomed Dummy Site to Linton Park, lost the toss, and watched them elect to have first knock — which, with hindsight, tells you rather a lot about how the coin feels about us these days.

Sent to field, the lads scrapped hard as Dummy Site posted 110 for 8 off their sixteen overs. E. Harris top-scored with a fluent 34, well supported by P. Bridger's 26 and J. Smith's 24, but our bowlers kept chipping away throughout. Allan Cooper was the pick of them, tearing through with 3 for 41, while Jon Harris (2 for 4) bowled a spell of real miserliness and Martin Larkin chipped in with 1 for 29. R. Symes and B. Bacon, mercifully, went home without a run to their names.

Chasing 111, we made light work of it — 112 for 1 in our sixteen overs, thanks to a composed, well-made fifty from Nigel Thirkell (52) and admirable support from Paul Bowles, unbeaten on 44. Rather splendidly, Nigel's innings also brought up 11,000 career runs for the club — not a milestone that comes round often, and one the tea urn ought to have toasted properly.

Paul continues to lead the 1st XI run charts this season with 456, and Jon sits second in the wickets column with 15 — the engine room, as ever, doing the heavy lifting. All told: a thoroughly satisfying nine-wicket win, and for once, a very good day indeed.

Mon 24 May 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDWDDL

Skipper's Log — Monday 24th May, 1982

Won the toss, and there was never really a debate about what to do with it — you don't turn down a good batting deck on a fine May afternoon, so we took first knock. It proved the right call. Micky Back played beautifully for his 76, the sort of innings that makes an opening bowler's afternoon miserable, and found a willing partner in Grant, who chipped in with a tidy 51 of his own. Between them they carried us to a healthy 169/4 from our fifty-five overs — not a total to frighten the neighbours perhaps, but a defendable one, and defendable totals have a habit of doing funny things to visiting batsmen.

So it proved, up to a point. Jon Harris was quite magnificent with the ball — 5 for 53, with nine miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, bowling like a man with a grudge and a very tight line. Micky Back, not content with his runs, chipped in with a wicket too, as did Paul Bowles, and I managed to find a bit of rhythm myself with five of my own. The opposition battled to 142, D. Burgess doing most of the resisting with 35, but it wasn't quite enough — bowled out in the 50th over, 27 runs short.

A defeat, then, but not a disgraceful one, and there's real heart in a side that bowls the opposition out chasing 170. Micky Back now sits second in our Midweek run charts, Jon Harris top of the wicket pile — form to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 23 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · HomeformDLLLL

Called correctly at the toss on Sunday, and with Bexhill CC parked on our doorstep I fancied a bat first, as any self-respecting captain should before promptly regretting it. We laboured to 140 all out from 51.2 overs, a total that flattered to deceive after a middle-order wobble saw 14-1 become 31-4 before you could say "howzat" — Brian Piper, David Iliffe and Mike Iliffe all back in the pavilion for ducks, three quacks for the price of one. Only Jim Hall, striking a composed 54, and the sixth-wicket stand of 61 with useful support from Trevor Back (27) and Paul Bowles (26), rescued us from complete embarrassment.

With the ball, however, we were rather more the ticket. Bexhill crawled to 72 for 4 from 27.3 overs, never quite finding the rhythm against Jon Harris, who bowled beautifully for 2-26 including four maidens — not a run given away lightly, and not a captain's job made any harder either. Nigel Thirkell (1-15) and Allan Cooper (1-29) chipped in with the discipline the innings demanded, though Martin Grimes' unbeaten 40 kept the visitors afloat and out of reach.

In the wider table, Paul Bowles continues to lead our run charts with 412, while Nigel Thirkell tops the wickets with 28 — both quietly getting on with the serious business while the rest of us provide the comic relief.

Honours shared, then, and rightly so: a scrappy draw that neither side deserved to lose, nor quite earned to win.

Sat 22 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformLDLLL

Saturday 22nd May 1982 and Dummy Site rolled up on a day that started with the coin betraying us — lost the toss, sent out to field, and if that isn't a metaphor for a captain's lot in life I don't know what is.

To our credit, we made rather a fist of it. The visitors were shot out for 126 in 41.3 overs, John Golding (30) and J. Adams (26) doing the heavy lifting while poor P. Gardner and M. Tucker never troubled the scorers at all. Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, 4-29 of pure menace, backed up by Sean Cook (2-3) and Nigel Thirkell (2-30), while Martin Larkin bowled three maidens as if he'd personally taken against the very concept of a run.

Which made what followed all the more galling. We folded for 72 in 20.5 overs — Nigel Thirkell's defiant 28 the only thing standing between us and total embarrassment, while Malcolm Pay, Nick Dunham and Jon Harris all departed for ducks. Paul Bowles had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 9 byes leaking away like the afternoon itself. As for your captain — nought, and the less said the better.

There was some late consolation in taking 4 wickets myself with the ball, and the season charts still flatter us, with Bowles (386 runs) and Thirkell (27 wickets) leading the way. But a 54-run defeat is a 54-run defeat. Not our day. Back to the nets.

Wed 19 May 1982 🧢 Midweek XIv WC Woodbridge College · HomeformLDWDD

Right after Tuesday's early finish, we're at it again — full village-green sunshine, and I win the toss on a good pitch and, perhaps against instinct, put the visitors in to chase.

Dummy Site were the visitors, and it was Paul Bowles who made sure we had something to bowl at, compiling a superb unbeaten hundred as we posted a healthy 199 for 4 from our 43.5 overs. Nigel Thirkell chipped in nicely with 28 and Don Fermor added a tidy 22, but this was Bowlesy's day through and through — the sort of innings that makes the tea urn taste that bit sweeter.

Alas, defending it proved rather beyond us. Rushmere anchored the chase superbly, cruising past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 68, with useful support from Charlaff (32) and an unbroken 25 from Rovelli. They got there in 52.2 overs for the loss of five, leaving us to rue a chase we simply couldn't check. Trevor Hales toiled honestly for his 3 for 38, Jon Harris picked up one for his 60, and Nigel Thirkell — evidently saving his best graft for the field — bowled two tidy maidens.

So: Bowles tops our 1982 run charts, Hales leads the wickets, and the club has plenty to be proud of even in defeat. Not our day, down by five wickets, but heads up and back to the nets — this side has too much good cricket in it to stay down for long.

Tue 18 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformWLDLL

Tuesday 18th May 1982, and Dummy Site rolled up to Linton Park for what would prove a proper nail-biter. Won the toss, took the bat first without a moment's hesitation — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might suggest afterwards. We limped to 98/7 from our 16 overs, propped up almost single-handedly by Nigel Thirkell's gutsy 33. Elsewhere the top order rather fell on its sword — ducks for both Mick Filmer and Martin Larkin, the pair of them trudging back without troubling the scorers, which is never a pleasant sight from the boundary rope with a cup of tea in hand.

Ninety-eight looked a touch light chasing leather round this ground, and so it proved, though not without a fight. Dummy Site were given a real going-over, restricted to 94/6 from their sixteen despite a watchful 26 from Pete Worsnop and useful support from John Golding's 22. Thirkell, having done his bit with the bat, then did rather more with the ball — 3-35 of pure captain's-dream stuff — with Allan Cooper chipping in handsomely at 2-25. For a good while there it felt like we might nick it on bowling alone.

In the end, four runs separated the sides — the sort of margin that has you replaying every dot ball on the walk home. Thirkell's all-round effort deserves the headline, and with 25 wickets to his name this season he's fast becoming indispensable. As for the rest of us — we'll be better for it next week. We'd rather have lost like that than won ugly.

Sun 16 May 1982 🧢 Sunday NVKCv CC Cudham CC · HomeformLWWLL

Sunday 16 May 1982 saw Cudham CC visit us in what turned out to be rather a fine afternoon's cricket, though it began with the usual injustice of losing the toss. Cudham took first use of the pitch, and we duly trudged out into the field to see what damage could be limited.

As it happened, not much damage needed limiting. Cudham crawled to 103 all out in 39.4 overs, R Evans doing most of the honest work with 38, but the rest of the order found little joy against Allan Cooper, whose 3-26 did the real damage. He had willing accomplices in Jon Harris (2-13) and Martin Larkin (2-17), the latter also proving stingier than a Yorkshireman at the bar with four maidens to his name.

A target of 104 looked eminently gettable, and so it proved. I'll confess to a certain quiet pride in contributing 69 not out myself — one of those days when the middle seemed considerably wider than usual — with Brian Piper chipping in a tidy 23 alongside me. We reached 104 for the loss of just two wickets in 19.2 overs, wrapping things up with plenty of daylight and tea still to come.

An eight-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. I now find myself, somewhat improbably, atop the 1982 Sunday NVKC run charts, with Allan Cooper leading the wickets — long may both lists cause us gentle embarrassment. Onwards.

Sat 15 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWLDL

As it stood at the toss, fortune wasn't smiling — Headcorn called correctly and elected to bat, leaving us to toil away first with the ball on a Saturday that had all the makings of a long one. And so it proved, as Richard Chapman settled in for the afternoon and simply refused to leave, compiling a magnificent 108 not out, shepherded along by Alastair Lee's unbeaten 37. To our credit we did have our moments — C. Wickens back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and Nigel Thirkell working hard for figures of 3-57, with Martin Larkin chipping in alongside him on the same numbers. Even so, 221/6 from their 46 overs felt like a stiff ask by teatime.

Chasing it down, we made a proper fist of things. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, a wonderfully composed 107, and I'll confess to some quiet pride in that one being mine — a personal contribution I was rather pleased with, and made all the sweeter by bringing up 15,000 career runs for the club along the way. Malcolm Pay (31) and Nick Dunham (21) lent good support, though Malcolm's day had its trickier moments behind the stumps too, if the 12 byes on the card are anything to go by.

In the end, 205/5 from our 44 overs left us 16 runs shy. A defeat, certainly, but not a chastening one — with Bowles now topping the 1982 run charts and Thirkell leading the wickets, there's plainly no shortage of form in this side. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 11 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv RA Reeds Aylesford · HomeformWLWLD

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 11 May 1982, and a visit from Reeds Aylesford under skies that, for once, behaved themselves. I called correctly at the toss and, with the sort of confidence that generally precedes a comeuppance, had no hesitation in choosing to bat first.

We limped and lurched our way to 116/5 from our sixteen overs, rescued from something rather more modest by Nigel Thirkell, unbeaten on 57 and looking entirely too composed for a man batting alongside my somewhat agricultural top order. Brian Piper chipped in nicely with 23, and between them they gave us a total that felt, at tea, like it might just be defendable.

It wasn't. Steve Martin set about our bowling with a fine, unbeaten 55, well supported by J Swift's 26, and Reeds Aylesford strolled home with four wickets and four balls to spare, wrapping it up in 15.2 overs. Thirkell, at least, salvaged some pride with the ball as well as the bat, picking up 2-34, and got honest support from Allan Cooper (1-37) and Martin Larkin (1-42) — though none of it was quite enough to stem the tide.

Thirkell remains the man of the moment on both fronts, now top of the season's run charts with 258 and its wicket charts with 19 — carrying the rest of us, not for the first time. Not our day, then. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 09 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · HomeformLWLWL

Right, mark it down as one of those Sunday afternoons where the sun shone, the tea urn worked overtime, and absolutely nobody could land the killer blow. Sunday 9th May 1982, Dummy Site the visitors, and the coin betrayed us from the off — they won the toss and, unsurprisingly, fancied batting on a belter. We contented ourselves with first use of the ball, and made a fair fist of restricting them, but Merriman had other ideas, ghosting to an unbeaten hundred while Rodway's well-crafted fifty and Reeves' 33 kept the scoreboard ticking merrily along to 226/3 off 48.5 overs. Trevor Back toiled manfully for 1-32, with Allan Cooper chipping in at 1-37, but on this occasion the bowling attack was rather knocking on a locked door.

Chasing 227 was always going to ask questions of the lads, and 150/8 from our 49 overs tells its own story — honourable resistance rather than a serious pursuit. Paul Bowles led the reply with 37, well supported by Jim Hall's 35, though poor J. Dunn will not thank me for immortalising his golden duck in these pages. Jim also had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping eleven byes for good measure.

So, honours shared — a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. Bowles continues to lead our run charts superbly, and Cooper's wickets keep him well placed too. Character-building stuff, and I'll take the point.

Sat 08 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWLWLW

We hosted Dummy Site on Saturday, and having lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season, watched them settle in to bat. They ground their way to 181/8 from 46 overs, with Mick Palmer the chief architect of our afternoon's discomfort - 66 not out, thoroughly unwelcome - well supported by Brian Aiston's 47. Small mercies: P- Garner departed without so much as a whisper on the scoreboard. The one shaft of sunlight was Nigel Thirkell, who span through their order like a man possessed, 5-50 and three maidens of pure mischief, with Jon Harris and Martin Larkin chipping in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 182, we made a fair fist of it. Paul Bowles led the way with 48, Malcolm Pay added a tidy 31 and Andy Woollett 20, and I'll confess to rather enjoying my own 48 in the middle - though enjoyment, as ever, proved a poor substitute for runs when it mattered most. All out for 176 from 44 overs, we fell agonisingly short.

Amid the disappointment, a couple of things worth raising a glass to: Nigel passed 800 career wickets, and Martin reached 50 - proper landmarks, whatever the scoreline. Paul continues to lead our run charts for the season, Nigel the wickets, so the form is there even when the fortune isn't.

Beaten by 5 runs in the end - the kind of margin that keeps you up replaying every dropped single. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 03 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWLWL

The road to Bearsted on Bank Holiday Monday is never a chore, and having won the toss I sent them in, more in hope than expectation. Colin Fleetwood had other ideas, compiling a watchful 62 not out and finding a willing ally in Mark Stevens (28) as Bearsted crawled to 145 for 9 off their 46. Credit where due to Nigel Thirkell, who bowled as if auditioning for a benefit match — 5 for 61 including five maidens, proof that not every ball need go for runs even on a day when some did. Mike Elworthy chipped in with 3 for 28, Jon Harris with a single wicket, and poor Peter Mills departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers.

A target of 146 ought to have been routine; we made it look anything but. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 58 full of the strokes that make committee members forget the tea urn, with Nigel Thirkell adding a useful 31 to his afternoon's work. J Dunn, less fortunately, bagged a golden duck. Mick Filmer's afternoon behind the stumps was a trial by bye — thirteen of them extras we could ill afford — and we stumbled rather than strode to victory with two wickets in hand.

Small mercies and larger ones: Malcolm Pay's unassuming 11 nudged him past Tony Levick to 25th on the club's all-time run列表 — sorry, run-scorers' list — while Paul Bowles and Nigel Thirkell continue to lead the 1st XI's season charts with bat and ball respectively. Untidy, unconvincing, but two points are two points. We'll take it.

Sun 02 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv Chestfield CC · HomeformDLWLW

Beaten by four wickets, but I'll say this for us — we didn't half make Chestfield work for it.

Winning the toss on a bright Sunday, I had few qualms about batting first, and while 131/6 from our fifty-odd overs was never going to have the tea urn shaking with excitement, it was a respectable enough total built patiently rather than gloriously. Malcolm Pay was the mainstay, ticking past his fifty with the calm of a man who'd rather be there at the close than seen doing it flashily, and he found good company in Allan Cooper's 29 and Brian Piper's 24. Spare a thought, though, for poor Nigel Thirkell, whose duck will earn him pride of place on the Duck Club ledger — the walk of shame is a lonely one, Nigel, but we've all taken it.

With the ball, we scrapped hard. Nigel, perhaps keen to make amends, top-scored among our bowlers with 2-60, while Allan Cooper backed up his batting with miserly figures — seven maidens in a spell that gave Chestfield precious little to work with — and Jon Harris chipped in too. But Parden's 38 and Morgan's 33 nudged the visitors home with four wickets in hand.

So, a defeat, but not a disgrace — more a lesson gently administered. Paul Bowles and Nigel Thirkell continue to lead our season's charts, and there's plenty of summer left to put this one right. We'll regroup, we'll rotate the strike a bit better, and we'll be back next week rather wiser for it.

Sat 01 May 1982 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformWDLWL

Saturday 1st May 1982 saw us make the trip to Bidborough, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself by the close.

Nigel Thirkell set the tone with a well-crafted 58, and found good company in David Iliffe (29) and an unbeaten 24 from Mike Iliffe, steering us to a respectable 159/8 from our 48 overs. Not every name will trouble the scorers fondly, mind — Malcolm Pay and Fred Cheesman both contributed a golden duck apiece, the sort of thing best laughed off over a pint afterwards.

With the ball, the lads were magnificent. Bidborough threatened to make a real match of it thanks to Dave Crowest's fine 91, but wickets fell steadily around him — Tolhurst, Angel and Dakin all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — and they were all out for 136 in 36.3 overs. Paul Bowles was quite simply the story of the day, running through the order with 5-46, well backed up by Nigel Thirkell's 3-11 and a tidy 1-35 from Martin Larkin, who kept things admirably mean with two maidens.

A fine win by 23 runs, then, and Paul Bowles now sits proudly atop both the season's run and wicket charts. Onwards we go.

Sun 25 Apr 1982 🧢 1st XIv CC Chatham Nomads CC · HomeformLWDLW

Sunday 25th April, and Chatham Nomads rolled up for what the fixture card promised would be a friendly afternoon of cricket. It wasn't. The coin let us down before a ball was bowled, and we were shown straight into the field.

George Phillips had clearly had his Weetabix, ghosting to 84 not out and simply refusing to give it back, with Barry Martin (55) and P Loader (35) lending sturdy support as the Nomads eased to 178 for 3 off their 48.2 overs. Trevor Back toiled honestly for 2-50 with three tidy maidens to show for his afternoon's labour, and Jon Harris chipped in with 1-36, but truth be told the bowling attack spent most of the day looking for a way through that never quite arrived.

Then came our reply, and here the less said the better. Ian Webb battled away nobly for an unbeaten 42, a genuinely lonely furrow ploughed while wickets tumbled around him, and both Jim Hall and Martin Mears made contributions best described as ornithological — ducks, the pair of them. All out for 91 in 37.5 overs, we folded like a deckchair in a stiff breeze.

Eighty-seven runs the wrong side of the ledger, then, and not much to dress it up as anything other than a hiding. Ian Webb's defiance at least keeps him second in this season's run charts, and Jon Harris clings to second among the wicket-takers, small mercies both. For the rest of us, it's heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's plainly work to be done before we trouble the scorers again.

Sat 24 Apr 1982 🧢 1st XIv WC Wadhurst CC · AwayformWLWDL

Skipper's Log, Saturday 24 April 1982. Wadhurst CC, and the coin let us down again — up it went, down it came, and their captain called it right, leaving us to bowl on what looked a decent sort of afternoon for it.

Credit where it's due: Wadhurst dug in for 45.2 overs before we had them all out for 151, R Wright top-scoring with 37 and getting handy support from Plumley (27) and Bishop (25). G Everdell didn't trouble the scorers, departing for a golden duck, poor blighter. Allan Cooper was the chief tormentor with a splendid 4-29, backed up nicely by Jon Harris and Nigel Thirkell with two apiece, while Martin Larkin strangled the life out of the middle overs with a pair of maidens.

Chasing 152, we wobbled to 152/6 off 48.4 overs in the way only Linton Park can manage — never straightforward, rarely pretty, but somehow always there at the end. Paul Bowles was the rock, unbeaten on a superb 84, with Thirkell chipping in 23 more. I contributed a workmanlike 18 myself, more grit than glory. Spare a thought for Steve Gower and Fred Cheesman, both making that lonely walk back for nought — the Duck Club welcomes two new members.

A word too for Nigel Thirkell, who brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours — a magnificent innings of service in its own right, quite apart from today's runs and wickets.

Four wickets the margin, and a very fine win to bank. Onwards.