🧢 Captain's Log

Wed 28 Sep 1983 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWDDDL

The road took us down to Penshurst Park CC on Wednesday 28 September 1983, and for once the toss fell my way — I called correctly and, with barely a flicker of my usual indecision, chose to bat first.

We batted with real purpose to post 211 for 3 off our 44 overs. I managed 78, which I'll mention only the once and then never again, ably supported by Andy Woollett's fine 58 and Bob Lines's unbeaten 36 to see us to a total that felt, even to my nervous captain's eye, like a proper score.

In the field we kept them honest. Richard Watters made a well-crafted 54 and N Fowler chipped in with 46, Brian Milns finishing unbeaten on 27, but poor Jim Littlechild trudged back without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball, spinning my way to 5 for 60 — passing 900 career wickets along the way, which is either a proud landmark or a sign I should have taken up gardening years ago. Trevor Back (2-45) and Malcolm Pay (1-14) chipped in usefully, while Michael Chambers bowled five miserly maidens to keep the shackles on. They finished on 180 for 9 from their 45 overs.

With the season charts now showing 344 runs and 22 wickets to my name, I really ought to be embarrassed — and I am, slightly. Neither side, in the end, could force it home: honours shared, and a fair reflection of an afternoon well spent.

Sun 25 Sep 1983 🧢 1st XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformDDDWW

Won the toss on a fine Sunday afternoon and, with barely a thought for the consequences, I stuck us in. Whether that owed more to instinct or to a fondness for batting first I shall leave to the members' judgement, but the lads made a fair fist of justifying it.

We were bowled out for 202 in the 45th over, which on paper looks a touch untidy but hid some proper substance. Malcolm Pay led the way with a busy 45, Brian Piper finished unbeaten on 43 to see the innings home, and Bob Lines chipped in a solid 35. Poor Jim Hall's afternoon began and ended in the same over without troubling the scorers, though he will have plenty of sympathetic pats on the back and no doubt fewer sympathetic words in the bar. I added 20 of my own down the order, more grateful than gifted. The extras column, meanwhile, quietly amassed 29, which by our standards counts as one of our more reliable partnerships.

Before a ball more was bowled, we paused to mark Mike Iliffe's 300th appearance in Linton colours, a milestone that rather puts my own contribution in perspective. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Paul Bowles continues to purr along in second place in the 1st XI run charts on 996, while Tim Thirkell leads the 2nd XI pile on 51.

As for the match itself, we squeezed home by the barest of margins, two runs, with hearts firmly in mouths. A nerve-shredder, but a good day for the club.

Sat 17 Sep 1983 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDDDDW

We won the toss at West Farleigh and I had no hesitation in electing to bat — on a day like that, you don't need asking twice. The lads set about building something substantial, and by the end of our thirty-nine overs we'd racked up a handsome 201 for 3. Jim Hall played beautifully for his 73, a proper well-made fifty that gave the innings its backbone, and I was fortunate enough to have one of those days where everything comes off the middle of the bat, ending up with 107 to my name. Not bad for an old man's knees.

Defending that total, we knew West Farleigh would have to play out of their skins, and to their credit they gave it a go — Peter Cooper and Tony Hyde both chipped in with 22, Micky Back with 21 — but wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Fred Baker and Don Fermor will want to forget the whole afternoon, back in the pavilion without so much as a single to their names. The real story, though, was with the ball: Paul Bowles was magnificent, tearing through with 5 for 27, well backed up by Jon Harris's 5 for 40, while Mike Elworthy strangled the life out of the middle overs with three maidens. All out for 122 in 38.1 overs — game, set and match.

A 79-run win, and a proper one at that. With the season charts now showing me handily out in front with 1123 runs and Paul Bowles leading the wickets column with 72, it's fair to say Linton Park are having rather a good year. Onwards indeed.

Tue 06 Sep 1983 🧢 Tour XIv H hexham · AwayformLLLWW

Jon Harris's Captain's Log, Tuesday 6th September 1983. We travelled up to Hexham with the season's momentum behind us, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat — the pitch had "runs" written all over it, and for once my hunch was right. Paul Bowles set about proving it, playing a genuinely fine innings of 80 to anchor the whole effort, with Nigel Thirkell (26) and Fran Briley (23) chipping in handsomely around him. We rattled up 181 all out from 39.5 overs, though the Duck Club secretary was kept busy — Mike Elworthy, Simon Thirkell and Allan Cooper all took the walk of shame for nought. A generous 32 extras rounded out the total nicely, which we were happy enough to bank without asking too many questions.

Defending it, Hexham fought hard and got to 147 for 8 from their forty, with Allan Cooper's 52 the one innings that threatened to spoil our afternoon. But Trevor Back had other ideas, bowling beautifully for 3 for 6 and sending their openers packing before the scorers had barely sharpened their pencils, while Ian Brattle chipped in with 1 for 7. I was pleased enough with my own afternoon's work, 1 for 11 with two maidens, not that I'll be dining out on it. Fran Briley had a trickier time behind the stumps, with 12 byes going begging.

A fine win by 34 runs, and with Paul Bowles now topping the Tour XI run charts and Trevor Back second among the wicket-takers, the season is shaping up rather nicely. Onwards.

Mon 05 Sep 1983 🧢 Tour XIv BC Bellingham Riverdale CC · AwayformLLLLW

Monday the 5th of September found us away at Bellingham Riverdale, and for once the coin actually landed my way. I had no hesitation in putting them in — a decision I shall be quietly smug about for weeks to come, whatever anyone says to the contrary.

The lads bowled beautifully. Riverdale huffed and puffed their way to 119 for 9 off 35.2 overs, with X Woodward and N Dagg both contributing 23 apiece before the innings ran out of road. Michael Chambers was the pick of the attack by some distance — 3 for 12 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure — while Paul Bowles (3-27) and Ian Brattle (2-26) mopped up the rest between them. Poor Fran Briley had rather a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, mind — eight byes is not a figure one glosses over lightly, though I'm sure the ball was doing all sorts.

Chasing 120, we got there in some comfort, 121 for 5 off 20.4 overs, and I'll confess to a private glow at bringing up a fifty and going on to 68 — the sort of innings a captain dreams of and rarely gets. It also leaves me sitting atop the Tour XI run charts for the season, with Paul Bowles doing likewise among the bowlers on seven wickets.

A thoroughly satisfying five-wicket win, then, and one to file under "days when everything simply clicked." Onwards indeed.

Thu 01 Sep 1983 🧢 Tour XIv MH Meir Heath · AwayformWLLLL

Lost the toss at Meir Heath on Thursday and were duly sent out to field, which on a warm early-September afternoon felt rather like being handed the washing-up before pudding. Still, we set about it with good cheer. Meir Heath ground their way to 128 for 9 off their forty overs, built mainly around Dowling's watchful 39, with useful support from Jones (23) and Rawlins (20). Holden and Wild came and went for ducks apiece, which cheered the fielding side no end. Paul Bowles was the pick of the attack by some distance, returning 4 for 27, while I chipped in with 2 for 13 and four maidens for good measure, and Trevor Back weighed in with 2 for 26. A tidy, disciplined shift all round — not a run given away lightly.

Set 129 to win, we made rather light work of the chase, cruising home to 130 for 3 in 31.5 overs. Paul Bowles, evidently not content with his bowling figures, went on to top-score with the bat too, a fine 48, ably backed up by D. Adams with 33. Bowles now leads both the run charts and the wicket charts for the 1983 Tour XI, which is either a triumph of all-round talent or simply greed, depending on your view from the boundary.

Seven wickets, two points, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — the sort of result that makes the drive home feel considerably shorter than the drive there.

Mon 29 Aug 1983 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWDDDD

Monday last, at home to Bearsted, and for once the toss actually went our way — though quite why I chose to field on a track offering precious little for the seamers is a question I shall duck, much as their Mr Stevens ducked one of mine early doors. Bearsted ground their way to 152 for 8 off their 46, David Brown top-scoring with a watchful 39 and Ted Holloway seeing them home unbeaten on 35. I'll confess to rather enjoying myself with the ball — five for 36, five of those overs maidens, which even by my own modest standards felt like a good afternoon's work. Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely too, two for 26 and tidy with it.

A target of 153 looked gettable, and so it proved, though not without the usual comedy of errors behind the stumps — thirteen byes is a scoreline all of its own, and poor Jim Hall will not thank me for dwelling on it in print. With the bat I found some form I'd been missing all summer, seventy-five not out and rather pleased with how it came together, while Bowles again lent excellent support with 36 as we cruised home at 155 for 3 in the 43rd.

A tidy day, then, both with bat and ball, and one to file alongside a season that's been kind to me at the top of the run charts, with Bowles doing likewise among the wickets. Bearsted outplayed in most departments — a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 28 Aug 1983 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformWWDDD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 28 August 1983

The road to Staplehurst was, as ever, filled with hope over experience, and having called correctly at the toss I fancied our chances enough to bat first. It proved the right call. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the summer, three figures no less, 114 of the finest, and while I'd love to claim my own contribution turned the tide, it was Brian Piper's brisk 40 and Tim Thirkell's 29 that gave the innings its shape. We closed on 220/5 from our 46 overs, a total that felt, over tea, distinctly defendable.

And so it very nearly proved. Staplehurst chased hard, Knope top-scoring with 43, well supported by Wavell's 32 and Bull's 30, but our attack kept chipping away. Allan Cooper was the pick of the bowlers, 3-28 and three maidens of pure miserliness, with Brian Piper weighing in at 3-29 — a fine afternoon for a man who, we later discovered, had that day passed 100 career wickets, a landmark worthy of the mantelpiece if ever there was one. I did my bit with 2-45, and poor B- Penney departed without troubling the scorers. Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 21 byes a reminder that even the best gloves have off days.

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 27 Aug 1983 🧢 1st XIv BA British Rail Ashford · AwayformDWWDD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 27 August 1983, and the pilgrimage to British Rail Ashford yielded a match that had everything except a result.

Losing the toss and being asked to chase is never the tonic one wants before a long day in the field, but the lads set about it well enough. T Zaman gave us a proper afternoon's work, ambling to a fine 106 while we chased leather, well supported by Don Murrell's 44 — though we did have the small consolation of sending Shafiq Hussein back for a duck. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4-58, with sterling support from Jon Harris (3-37, and three maidens besides — not a man to give away runs lightly) and Mike Elworthy (2-51). The opposition closed on 228/9 from their 46, a total that felt distinctly chaseable and distinctly not.

With the bat, I was pleased to lead from the front with a century of my own, ably backed up by Bob Lines' 45 as we ground our way to 198/7 from 48 overs. Not everyone's day, mind — Mike Elworthy and Simon Thirkell both took the long walk back for nought, and poor Malcolm Pay had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 13 byes for his troubles.

So honours shared, and a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody. With the season's run and wicket charts both now bearing my name, I shall permit myself one quiet smile on the train home — before insisting, as captains must, that this was very much a team effort.

Wed 24 Aug 1983 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDWDDD

Beaten by 111 runs at Gravesend on a Wednesday when I lost the toss and, as ever, was informed rather than asked that we'd be fielding first. Still, there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than a spot of graft with the ball before the tea urn calls. Gravesend ground their way to 181 for 4 off their 43 overs, built chiefly around Stuart Waterton's fifty-and-more knock of 54, with Jonathan Hinks unbeaten on 37 and A Simms chipping in 25. I'll allow myself one boast for the column inches: I managed 3 for 42, including three maidens that felt rather harder-won than the scorebook lets on, with Steve Petty keeping things tidy at the other end for 1 for 46.

Chasing 182 was always going to ask questions of a batting line-up that, frankly, answered them poorly. Seventy all out in 37 overs is not a total you send home proudly. Reg Oldfield battled well for 23, top score on the day, and I added a workmanlike 16, but with both Trevor Back and David Lines back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, the innings never found its feet.

For what it's worth, I go into the rest of the season leading both the run charts, with 266, and the wicket charts, with 17 — small consolation on a day we were well and truly outplayed. A chastening one, this. We'll regroup, we'll bowl straighter, and we'll bat with rather more conviction next week.

Sun 21 Aug 1983 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformWDWWD

Sunday last saw us welcome Old Anchorians CC, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in taking first use of a pitch that looked, to my eye, better than it played. We were bowled out for 124 in 49.2 overs, which felt like a fair examination of everyone's patience if not our stroke play. I did my bit at the crease with 46, though I confess a good deal of that innings was me simply refusing to get out rather than anything resembling elegance — still, runs are runs, and somebody had to hold one end together while the rest of the order came and went.

Defending 124 always asks a side to bowl with discipline rather than swagger, and for once we managed both. Paul Bowles was the story of the afternoon, spinning a web the Old Anchorians simply couldn't escape — 5 for 39 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, figures that frankly embarrassed the rest of us. Mike Elworthy and Allan Cooper chipped in with a wicket apiece to keep the squeeze on, B- Goodger went for a rather sorry-looking duck, and only K- Hewitt's 34 gave the visitors any shape to their reply. In the end they closed on 104 for 8 from their 44, honours even and a draw the fair result.

A draw it may have been, but with Bowles now sitting proudly atop both our run and wicket charts for the season, I'd call this one a match we didn't quite win but thoroughly deserved not to lose.

Sat 20 Aug 1983 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · HomeformDWDWW

Saturday the 20th of August, and Hartley Country Club CC rolled up at Linton Park for a proper battle of nerves. The coin didn't play ball — Hartley won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first, leaving us to toil away in the field.

Toil we did, though I confess I rather enjoyed my afternoon: six wickets fell to my name for 63, five overs going for nothing at all, which even by my own modest standards felt like a good day's graft. Sean Cook chipped in with two for 20 and Ian Webb one for 21, while poor Peter Jordan trudged off without so much as a nibble at the scorebook. Middlemiss top-scored with a stubborn 46, well supported by Davies (27) and Bass (23), and Hartley were eventually shepherded out for 153 off 50.4 overs — a total that felt gettable, if we kept our heads.

We didn't quite keep them. Webb top-scored again with 36 and I added 26 of my own, but Woollett and Cook both fell for ducks and we limped to 107 for 9 off our forty, saved by the bell rather than the bat. Webb, incidentally, now sits third in this season's run charts with 737, and I find myself third in the wicket-takers with 37 — small consolations on an afternoon that ended honours even.

A draw, then — not the win our bowling deserved, nor quite the collapse our top order threatened. A fair result for a strange, stop-start sort of day.

Wed 17 Aug 1983 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWDWDD

Wednesday 17 August 1983, and Gravesend CC rolled up to Linton Park under skies that threatened more than they delivered. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or reckless depending entirely on what happens next, but I'll take credit for this one. We closed on a respectable 157 for 7 from our 45 overs, built chiefly on a handsome half-century from Paul Bowles, 56 well-struck runs, with Andy Woollett chipping in a sturdy 43 alongside him. Not every name on the card gleamed quite so brightly, mind — A Nichols will be keen to forget his golden duck before the tea urn's even cold.

Out in the field, we set about defending it with rather more discipline than our top order had shown restraint. Gravesend were held to 122 for 8 from their 43, Danny Burnett top-scoring with 35 while L Menheniott departed for nought at our hands. I had a happy afternoon myself with ball in hand, finishing with 3 for 47, well supported by Paul Bowles again (2-43, proving a good day all round for him) and the ever-tidy Nigel Thirkell, 1-16 with two maidens to show for his parsimony.

As for the season, Paul Bowles continues to lead both the run and wicket charts for the Midweek XI, and on this evidence nobody's about to catch him. In the end, honours were shared — a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody, which in village cricket is very often the mark of a good day out.

Sun 14 Aug 1983 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · HomeformDDWDW

Toss lost, and Whitstable elected to bowl us into the field first, which on a Sunday feels like being handed the washing-up before you've even sat down to eat. They battled to 163 all out in 49.2 overs, with Rivers well past his fifty on 59 and Stroud chipping in with 44, while Merritt dug in for 24 not out at the death. Crossley, Lewins and Marsh all fell without troubling the scorers, ducks apiece, as I found some rare rhythm with the ball, finishing with 8-52 and four maidens to show for the effort. Trevor Back backed me up nicely with 2-50, and between us we left Whitstable short of what they'd have hoped for.

Chasing 164, we got there in some style, 166 for 6 in 40.3 overs, thanks in no small part to Ian Webb's superb 96 not out, ably supported by Andy Woollett's 27. It wasn't always serene watching from the boundary, but the lads saw it home with four wickets to spare.

Season-wise I find myself, somewhat improbably, atop both the run charts on 825 and the wicket column on 52 — figures I shall try not to mention again until at least next weekend.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a proper old-fashioned tussle with Whitstable settled the right way. A very satisfactory Sunday's work all round.

Sat 13 Aug 1983 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lukes Maidstone CC · HomeformWDDWD

It was St Lukes Maidstone at home on the 13th, and having called correctly I had no hesitation putting us in to bat first — the pitch looked one to make first use of, and so it proved. We compiled a solid 176/4 from our 37 overs. My own 56 was pleasing enough, though the real backbone came from Tim's unbeaten 36 and a typically busy 30 from Malcolm Pay, with the extras column swelling by a generous 28 to round things off nicely.

If our batting was tidy, our bowling was a different proposition altogether. St Lukes were bundled out for a paltry 89 in 35.2 overs, and much of the damage was done by Jon Harris, who span his way through their order for a remarkable 5-14 — the kind of spell that has batsmen muttering to themselves on the walk back. Paul Bowles was the ideal foil, miserly and relentless with 4-30 from seven maidens, while Mike Elworthy chipped in with 1-9. Only Beckwith, with 29, and Moon, with 21, offered any real resistance; the rest — Ridge, Lowrey and Ross — departed without troubling the scorers. Eight byes did rather suggest Jim Hall had a testing afternoon behind the stumps, but no matter.

An 87-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. With the runs still flowing nicely for me this season and Paul Bowles's wickets column climbing steadily too, there's a good deal to be cheerful about as we head into the rest of the summer.

Wed 10 Aug 1983 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · HomeformLWDWD

Wednesday 10 August, and Bobbing Court came calling. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once I was proven right rather than just lucky. Paul Bowles set about the bowling with real intent for a well-made 67, and Andy Woollett gave him fine company with 50 of his own, David Castle chipping in with a tidy 26 to help us to 184 all out from 37.4 overs. I'll draw a discreet cloak over my own contribution with the bat, which alongside Ian Brattle's amounted to a pair of ducks — the less said, the better.

In the field, though, we were altogether more like the side I know we can be. Jon Harris steamed in for a superb 3-20, I managed to chip in with 2-13, and Paul Bowles — not content with his runs — added 2-19 for good measure. Ian Brattle bowled with real discipline, three maidens and not a run given away lightly. Daniel Ball's 30 and L Smith's 25 kept Bobbing Court interested, but they closed on 126/9 from their 47 overs, well short of the mark.

So honours shared, and on reflection a fair result — we made hay with the bat, they dug in gamely, and neither side could quite land the killer blow. With Bowles now sitting handsomely atop both our run and wicket charts this season, the future, at least, looks rosy. A draw, then, but a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket.

Sun 07 Aug 1983 🧢 1st XIv HC Holmesdale CC · HomeformDWDDW

Sunday 7 August, and Holmesdale rolled up not knowing quite what they were in for. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat — a decision I'm rather pleased to report was vindicated in full. Paul Bowles played beautifully for his 79, and I was fortunate enough to find some form of my own with 61, while Andy Woollett chipped in a handy 41 to help us to a formidable 201 for 6 off our 46.5 overs. A satisfying afternoon at the crease, and one I shan't be forgetting in a hurry.

Defending it, however, proved a rather more nerve-jangling business. Holmesdale's Paul Bailey batted with real application for 44, with Mark Taylor (35) and Martyn Gregory (27) lending sturdy support, and they crept ever closer to our total. Credit to Jon Harris, whose 3 for 43 kept us in the fight, with useful backing from my own 2 for 9 and Bowles' tidy 2 for 43 — the latter also bowling five miserly maidens for good measure. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping ten byes, while Dave Smith, Paul Cohen and Peter Smith departed without so much as troubling the scorers.

In the end Holmesdale finished on 153 for 8, agonisingly short but unable to force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and rather typical of village cricket at its most maddening. We'll take it, and raise a glass to Bowles' season-topping 812 runs and my 45 wickets while we're at it.

Sat 06 Aug 1983 🧢 1st XIv SK St Johns CC, Kent · AwayformWDWDD

From the captain's chair, and rarely has a toss felt so sweetly won. Saturday took us down to St Johns CC in Kent, and won it I did — electing to bat, a decision I'm delighted to say looked rather clever by close of play rather than the customary lottery it usually is. We compiled a tidy 155 for 4 off our forty overs, built around a well-crafted fifty from Malcolm Pay, unbeaten on 58, with Ian Webb and Bob Lines both chipping in with 26 apiece to give the total some proper backbone.

Then came the fun part. St Johns were bowled out for a paltry 54 in 31.5 overs, and the top order simply never arrived — Hookway and Hope both departed without so much as a single to their name. Mike Elworthy was the story of the day, a magnificent 6 for 12 including five maidens, bowling as though he had a personal grievance with the strip. Ian Brattle backed him up handsomely with 3 for 7, and I managed to get in on the act myself with 1 for 12. Poor Malcolm Pay, having done the business with the bat, then had rather a busy afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 13 byes for his trouble — though nobody begrudged him that after his innings.

Worth noting too: that fifty carried Malcolm past Mike Iliffe into 17th on the club's all-time run-scoring list. A famous win by 101 runs, and a thoroughly satisfying way to spend a Saturday.

Sun 31 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · HomeformWWDWD

Sunday brought Benenden CC to Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss, there was never much doubt which way I'd go — batting first on our own turf is not a decision that requires deep thought. The lads settled in nicely and we posted a solid 176 for 6 from our 44 overs, built around a knock of 77 from yours truly, which I'm rather proud to report featured rather more application than my usual haphazard swishing. Andy Woollett chipped in handsomely with 28, and between us we gave the total a respectable look on the board.

Defending it proved a tenser affair than the scorecard perhaps suggests. Benenden had a real go, with Gary Marshall and Mick Fagg both compiling composed 41s and S Montgomery adding a further 33, and for a good while it felt as though the total might not be quite enough. Thankfully the ball came out nicely for me and I picked up 3 for 10 to keep matters in check, with Paul Bowles (2-40) and Martin Larkin (1-21) chipping away at the other end, while Jon Harris bowled with real discipline, sending down three maidens to strangle the scoring. Benenden closed on 156 for 7 from their 43.

Honours shared, then, and a draw that felt fair to both sides. With Bowles now topping our 1983 run charts on 733 and my own wicket tally up to 43 for the season, the summer's shaping up nicely — even if my knees disagree.

Sat 30 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv BC Brackley CC · HomeformWWWDW

Winning the toss on a bright Saturday against Brackley, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — and for once the decision looked positively shrewd. We laboured to 195 for 7 off 44.5 overs, built chiefly around Nick Dunham's polished 59, with Paul Bowles (44) and Bob Lines (39) filling in nicely around him. Not every man had his day, mind — poor David Iliffe trudged off for a duck, and there is no dressing that up.

With the ball, we set about defending it in good heart. Brackley replied with 168 for 9 from their forty, J Greenwood-Hone the chief threat with a fine 59, well supported by Stuart Green's unbeaten 29 and M Brown's 27. We had our own moments of celebration too, sending X Hamer and I Sarchett back for nought apiece. The day, however, belonged to yours truly — I finished with 5 for 23, backed handsomely by Paul Bowles's miserly 2 for 46 (five maidens, no less) and a tidy 1 for 9 from Mike Elworthy. Poor Malcolm Pay had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes slipping past him, though he'll forgive himself once he remembers he brought up 3,000 career runs for the club this very day. It was a landmark occasion all round — David Iliffe's 100th appearance in Linton colours, and I passed 900 career wickets, while sitting proudly atop this season's bowling charts with 40, Bowles leading the batting with 719.

In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force it home. A draw, then — but a thoroughly satisfying one to have been part of.

Sun 24 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWWWWD

There's an old cricketing truth that losing the toss on a Sunday is character-building, and after The Mote CC asked us to field first on the 24th, I suspect a fair few of the lads felt quite enough character had been built already this season. Still, we set about it with good grace. N. Trigg made a thoroughly well-made 56 for the visitors, with Richard Chapman (29) and R. Coombe (27) lending sturdy support, and their innings closed on a stiff-looking 193 for 8 from the full fifty overs. Credit where due — Trevor Back was superb with the ball, 2 for 17 and three maidens of positively miserly intent, backed up nicely by Mike Elworthy (2-46) and Jon Harris (1-19).

Chasing 194 is never simply a formality, whatever the scorebook says afterwards, but Paul Bowles made sure it never felt like a battle for long. His 97 was the innings of the day by some distance, and with Ian Webb chipping in a valuable 31 and myself adding 24, we got over the line with five wickets and a few precious overs to spare — 196 for 5 in 40.5 overs. Poor Malcolm Pay had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes conceded a testament to some lively bowling rather than any lack of effort.

Bowles, meanwhile, continues to make the rest of us look faintly ordinary — 675 runs and 34 wickets on the season now, second in both charts, and no sign of slowing.

A fine win, five wickets in hand, and the club rolls on in good heart. Onwards indeed.

Sat 23 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv NH Newchapel & Horne · HomeformWWWWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 23 July 1983

Lost the toss again, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a permanent arrangement with fate, so out we went into the field against Newchapel & Horne. They settled in nicely and ground their way to 189 for 6 off 51 overs, R Ebers compiling a handsome 62, well supported by Young's 36 and Wann's 31 — only poor Bennett departed without troubling the scorers. I managed to lead the attack home with 2 for 34, while Jon Harris chipped in with 2 for 69 and Martin Larkin bowled a tidy 1 for 26, four of his overs maidens, tight enough to strangle any thoughts of a real flourish.

In reply we made a fair fist of it, reaching 173 for 9 from our 39 overs. Jim Hall led the way handsomely with 44, Malcolm Pay added a composed 24 and Bob Lines chipped in 23 — though Simon Thirkell will not thank me for recording his golden duck for posterity, the walk of shame duly logged in the club ledger.

A word for the record books: Malcolm's 24 runs saw him glide past Terry Whittaker into 18th on the all-time run-scorers list, a quiet milestone amid the toil. My own season continues agreeably too — I sit atop the 1983 run charts with 578 and second in the wickets with 33, for what that's worth on a damp Saturday.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Not a classic, but an honest afternoon's cricket, and the tea was, as ever, the real result.

Fri 22 Jul 1983 🧢 Midweek XIv WC Withnell Fold CC · HomeformDLWDW

Won the toss, took first knock — the right call, and for once nobody in the pavilion argued otherwise. Paul Bowles and Nigel Thirkell made the decision look positively inspired, putting together an innings of real substance: Bowles fell one short of a deserved century on 98, while Thirkell simply refused to get out, finishing unbeaten on 89. Between them they carried us to a handsome 213/2 from our 39 overs, and I confess I spent the tea interval wondering whether we hadn't just made the game safe there and then.

Dummy Site, to their credit, had other ideas. G Thomas played the innings of the day for the visitors with 48, well supported by Blocksidge (28) and Banks (27), and between the lot of them they gave our lead a proper examination. Trevor Back was the pick of the attack, bowling with real discipline for 4-50 including two maidens, with Bowles chipping in (3-45) on top of his morning's batting heroics, and Thirkell taking one for good measure. They got to 186/9 from their 46 overs before running out of partners, or perhaps out of patience with us.

Bowles did have a mare behind the stumps, mind — 11 byes is not a number he'll want inscribed anywhere near his season figures, though those remain rather glowing regardless: he leads the wicket charts with 10, and Thirkell tops the run charts with 216.

In the end neither side could land the final blow, and honours were shared. A draw feels about right — entertaining, hard-fought, and nobody quite deserving to lose.

Sun 17 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformWWWWW

I won the toss at Folkestone and had no hesitation in batting first, which felt like the right call before a ball was bowled and looked rather better by close of play. Paul Bowles set the tone with a well-crafted 65, Ian Webb followed him nicely past his own fifty with 51, and Brian Piper finished unbeaten on 35 to steer us to a handsome 221 for 5 from our 49.2 overs. Not a bad afternoon's work with the willow, and exactly the platform I'd hoped for when I made that decision at the toss.

Folkestone came out fighting, with Roy Downey top-scoring on 42 and useful contributions from Richie Ryall (26) and Nicholas Guy (23), but Ian May departed for a golden duck at our hands and the innings never quite got away from us. Martin Larkin was pick of the bowlers with 3 for 50 — and passed a hundred career wickets in the process, a landmark thoroughly deserved. Paul Bowles backed up his fifty with the ball too, taking 3 for 51, and I chipped in with 2 for 20, which I was rather pleased with. Allan Cooper squeezed out two maidens without conceding a run lightly, though poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 13 byes. Folkestone were all out for 192 in 36.5 overs.

A 29-run win, then, and two points banked. Paul Bowles continues to lead our run charts for the season with 565, and I'm proud to say I sit atop the wicket-takers with 35 — but today was a proper team effort, and thoroughly earned all round.

Sat 16 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv R Rainham · HomeformWWWWW

As one won by 29 runs, I felt it worth capturing.

Rainham arrived on a fine Saturday and I won the toss, elected to bat, and never once regretted it. We posted 184 for 6 off our 41, and I'll admit a personal half-century — 64 in the end — felt rather good, though the real backbone came from Bob Lines with a sturdy 39 and Ian Webb chipping in 23. A total worth defending, and defend it we did.

Rainham's reply never quite got going the way they'd have hoped. Fisher led their charge with 33, well backed by Swaine's 29 and Wilson's 23, but young P. Fisher will want to forget his afternoon entirely, sent packing without so much as a single to his name. They folded for 155 in 40.1 overs. I had the ball on a string, spinning my way to 6 for 58 — a thoroughly happy day in the field to go with the runs — while Jon Harris toiled hard for 3 for 70 and Sean Cook strangled the scoring with three tidy maidens.

A win by 29 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one from where I was standing — bat and ball both behaving for the skipper. The lads should be proud. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 10 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv MC Morden Village CC · HomeformLWWWW

Sunday brought Morden Village CC to our ground, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and I'll stand by it. Ian Webb played the innings of the day, a fine 81 that gave our total its backbone, and I was glad to lend a hand with 48 of my own as we posted 168 for 4 from our 43 overs. A tidy platform, though not one that had us entirely comfortable in the pavilion afterwards.

Morden made us work for every wicket. K Singh's 40 and J Jones's 33 kept them in the hunt, while poor Tomlinson trudged back without troubling the scorers. It was Mike Elworthy who did the real damage, a superb 2 for 11 with five maidens that strangled the life out of their middle order, well supported by David Castle's 2 for 48 and my own 2 for 59. Fourteen byes crept into the book too, which tells its own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Jim Hall.

There was cause for extra celebration beyond the result — Ian Webb brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and I passed 13,000 of my own, milestones that put the seven-run margin rather nicely into perspective.

A nervy finish, but two points thoroughly earned. On this evidence, we're not a bad side to have at the top of the table.

Sat 09 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformDLWWW

Lost the toss again — I do wonder if the club coin has it in for me — and duly found ourselves in the field on a Saturday that promised more from the weather than my top order usually delivers. Horton Kirby set about accumulating in that unhurried way visiting sides do when they fancy a score, and Graham Connold's 41 was the innings of note, well supported by Alastair Scott's 40 and Leonard Morris's watchful 28. Only A Lee failed to troubled the scorers, gone for a duck. I found some turn and some luck in equal measure to finish with 5-45, with Jon Harris chipping away for 2-58 and Martin Larkin proving miserly as ever — three maidens and 1-24 — to leave them 166/9 from their 46 overs. A fair total, but not, I felt, an insurmountable one.

So it proved. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 77 of real substance, and had good company: I got in among the runs with 39 and Ian Webb added a busy 33, though poor Jon Harris, having toiled so honestly with the ball, was undone for a golden duck with the bat — cricket's little cruelty. We got there in 43.1 overs, 167/5, five wickets in hand and, for once, a captain who couldn't be blamed for the result either way.

A thoroughly satisfying win by five wickets, and if the season's charts are anything to go by, this old spinner and occasional batsman still has a bit left in the tank. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 03 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLDLWW

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think the coin has a personal vendetta against me — and Aylesford Paper Mills duly elected to bat on what looked a decent Sunday strip. They ground their way to 179/7 from 55 overs, built chiefly around Steve Martin's fine 67, with useful support from Fred Baker (28) and A Keynes (25). Poor M Cheesman never troubled the scorers, sent back for a duck, while Mike Elworthy was the chief tormentor with 2-33 and three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure. Jon Harris chipped in with 2-59 and Allan Cooper took 1-13, tidy figures from a man clearly in the groove this season — he now sits 4th in our 1983 wicket charts with 13 scalps.

Chasing 180, we made surprisingly serene work of it, reaching home 6 wickets down with overs to spare. Ian Webb played beautifully for 71, Brian Piper wasn't far behind with a classy 52, and Trevor Back saw us home unbeaten on 28 — his solitary wicket earlier in the day, incidentally, nudged him past Brian Fuller into 20th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a lovely little footnote to his afternoon. Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, leaking 8 byes, though nobody's holding it against him. For what it's worth, I'm currently propping up 2nd spot in the run charts with 359 for the season, which I'll take gladly and quietly.

All told, a thoroughly good day for the club — professional with the ball, calm with the bat, and home in time for tea.

Sat 02 Jul 1983 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWLDLW

Saturday the second of July, Staplehurst CC our visitors, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat — the sort of call that looks either shrewd or rash depending entirely on what follows, and I am glad to say this one landed on the right side of the ledger.

We compiled a handsome 175 for 4 from our 46 overs, built chiefly on Paul Bowles's fine 82 and well supported by Ian Webb's equally fine fifty of 68. Not every name on the card enjoyed such fortune — poor Tim Thirkell contributed a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that earns good-natured ribbing in the bar rather than any real censure.

Defending that total, we set about Staplehurst with purpose. J- Bowers led their reply with 41, Mick Eastland chipped in 34 and L- Bull carried his bat for an unbeaten 22, while P- Dickens and S- Wavell both departed without troubling the scorers. They were bowled out for 156 in 44 overs, Jon Harris the pick of the attack with 3 for 32, Martin Larkin backing him up with 2 for 39, and Paul Bowles adding the ball to his bat with 1 for 28 and four tidy maidens. Malcolm Pay had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, conceding 9 byes for his trouble.

I go into the rest of the season leading both run and wicket charts, with 446 runs and 26 wickets to my name, which I mention only because the figures rather insisted. A fine win by 19 runs. Onwards.

Sun 26 Jun 1983 🧢 Sunday NVKCv CC Crockham Hill CC · AwayformWLWWW

Nigel Thirkell here, reporting on a curious old-fashioned encounter down at Crockham Hill.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — and I still maintain it was the right call, whatever the scorebook might suggest by close of play. We limped to 111 for 7 from our forty overs, rescued from mediocrity chiefly by Jim Hall, unbeaten on 45 and looking like the only man out there who'd read the pitch report properly. Elsewhere the card made for grim reading, with both Trevor Back and Andy Woollett departing for ducks — the sort of contribution that has a captain studying his tea rather too intently. I chipped in with 17, which felt like solid graft at the time, though set against Hall's effort it rather paled.

Defending a total that never quite convinced anyone in the changing room, we asked a great deal of the ball, and got a fair amount back. Jon Harris was superb, snaring three for just 15, with Mike Elworthy chipping in for one, and Paul Bowles bowling with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment — four maidens, not a run given away lightly. Sadly it wasn't quite enough: D. Fischel's 39 and Ken Vizard's unbeaten 24 eased Crockham Hill home by six wickets with over five overs unused.

A defeat, then, but not a disgrace — and with Harris now fifth in the season's wicket charts and my own name atop the run charts, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 25 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWWLDL

Here's the match report:

There are moments in a captaincy career when a decision at the toss simply feels right, and Saturday's fixture against Meopham CC was one of them. I called correctly and had no hesitation in taking first use of the wicket — a call that repaid us handsomely as we posted 134/7 from our 46 overs, anchored by a knock of 65 from my own bat that I'm rather chuffed to report brought up a well-made fifty.

With runs on the board, it fell to us to defend them, and defend them we did in some style. Meopham were bowled out for 98 in 40.5 overs, undone by an attack that simply would not let up. Paul Bowles was the pick of the bunch, tireless and miserly in equal measure, finishing with 4-39 and six maidens to his name — bowling of the highest order. I chipped in with 3-19, and Martin Larkin backed it up nicely with 3-29, while R. Campbell's 32 and N. Phelps's 22 were the only real resistance Meopham could muster, with K. Brockwell and R. Friend both departing without troubling the scorers.

A satisfying afternoon all round, and one that keeps the season ticking along nicely at the top of both our run and wicket charts. A 36-run win, the lads in fine fettle, and the tea urn thoroughly earned. Onwards indeed.

Wed 22 Jun 1983 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDDLWD

I called correctly at the toss on a fine Wednesday and, with no great agonising, chose to bat. It proved the right call, more or less — 174/7 from our 47.4 overs, with Reg Oldfield a steady 49 in support. I'm not one to blow my own trumpet in these pages, but 92 felt rather satisfying, and I'll leave it there before the sub-editor accuses me of repeating myself. Spare a thought for poor Jim Hall, back in the pavilion for a golden duck before he'd had time to take guard.

Sevenoaks & District Wednesday came out to chase 150 an over and looked briefly troublesome, R. Gorman top-scoring with 41 and S. Gorman chipping in 25. But Paul Bowles was in irresistible form, ripping through with 4-4, well backed by D. Chapman (2-27) and Trevor Hales (2-41), while Michael Chambers refused to give an inch, three tidy maidens keeping the scoreboard honest. P. Tapper and Peter Day both departed without so much as a scoring stroke to their name, and the Sevenoaks innings folded for 150 in 40.2 overs.

A win by 24 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. I'll happily sit atop the run charts with 127 for the season while Paul Bowles leads the wickets with 7 — though I suspect he'll remind me of that at every opportunity between now and Christmas. Onwards.

Tue 21 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformLWWLD

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 21st June 1983. Hollingbourne CC visited us, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat, which felt very much the right call at the time.

It didn't entirely go to plan. We limped to 60 for 9 off our sixteen overs, with Brian Piper, Ian Webb and Martin Larkin all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — three ducks is not a hat-trick anyone wants on the honours board. I managed 17, which on that particular afternoon counted as something of a rearguard.

With the ball, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Hollingbourne's reply closed on 61 for 6 from their fifteen overs, and we had them under pressure from the off — Trevor Hales and Ray Radmore both departed without scoring. Paul Bowles was magnificent, tearing through with 4 for 23, and I was pleased to chip in myself with 2 for 13, two of those overs maidens, not a run given away lightly. It leaves me leading both the run charts and the wicket charts for the 1st XI this season, with 376 runs and 22 wickets — figures I'd trade for a win any day of the week.

And there's the rub: for all that fight with the ball, we fell four wickets short in the end. A batting collapse cost us a match our bowling had every right to win. We'll be better for it next week — we'd rather have it that way round than the reverse.

Sun 19 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformDLWWL

Sunday the 19th of June, sun mostly out, tea urn earning its keep — we hosted Dimanchians CC, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat. Turned out rather well, if I say so myself. Brian Piper anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 71, the sort of innings that makes a captain's decisions look cleverer than they are, with Ian Webb (46) and Tim Thirkell (27) chipping in handsomely around him. We closed on 195 for 4 from our 48 overs, a total that felt defendable without being intimidating — the sort you can lose sleep over at four o'clock and feel rather smug about by six.

And so it proved, more or less. Dimanchians fought hard through J Saville's fine 68 and R Atkinson's equally fine 68, the pair carrying the innings between them and giving our fielders a proper afternoon's work. I found some rhythm with the ball, finishing with 4 for 59 and four maidens tucked in for good measure — the sort of spell whose legs ache rather more the following Tuesday than they did at the time. Jon Harris chipped in with 2 for 60 and Sean Cook picked up 1 for 10, tidy support when it mattered. They closed on 184 for 9 — agonisingly short, or agonisingly close, depending which changing room you were stood in.

Honours shared, then — a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody, which is either the great charm of this game or its cruellest trick. Elsewhere, Ian Webb sits handsomely in third in the season's run charts, and I find myself, rather to my own surprise, second among the wicket-takers. All told: a good toss won, a good total made, and a scrap of a finish that did us proud. I'll take it.

Sat 18 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWDLWW

Saturday 18th June brought West Farleigh CC to Linton Park, and I lost the toss for my trouble — they had first use of a pitch that, by close of play, they'd rather enjoyed. Batting through their 46 overs, they built a total that always felt a touch beyond us: 225 for 5, built around a classy 78 from C. Milstead, with Micky Back (46) and B. Brigden, unbeaten on 39, filling in the gaps we couldn't quite plug. Ian Webb was superb with the ball, snapping up 4-26 to keep us in touching distance, with Martin Larkin chipping in for one.

225 is always a tall order on our square, and so it proved, though not for want of trying. I can report, with the sort of pride that only comes from finally getting one right, that I made 102 not out — my first three figures of the summer, and about time too. Malcolm Pay played nicely for 29 and Ian Webb, having already done his afternoon's work with the ball, added 22 more. Even so, 162 for 2 from our 44 overs left us 63 runs shy at the close.

A defeat, then, but not a disgraceful one, and there were more encouraging signs than the scoreline suggests — not least Martin Larkin's continued rise up the season's wicket charts. As for the run-scoring, I'll allow myself one quiet word of satisfaction there and leave it at that. We'll dust ourselves down, learn our lessons, and come back better for it next week.

Tue 14 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv Addington Village CC · HomeformWWDLW

I won the toss on a Tuesday evening in June — 14th, for the log — and, with the sun still up and Addington Village yet to arrive in earnest, saw no reason to do anything but bat. It proved a scratchy sort of innings for the side; 63/7 from our sixteen overs was hardly a declaration of intent, more the cricketing equivalent of clearing one's throat, but a total to bowl at nonetheless.

And bowl at it we did. Mike Elworthy was magnificent, ripping through with 3-5 and setting the tone early, while Allan Cooper chipped in handsomely with 2-18 — two wickets that, I'm told, carried him past John Thirkell and up into 8th on the club's all-time list, which is the sort of thing that deserves a nod in the bar afterwards. I managed 1-11 myself, happy enough to play a supporting hand. Poor W Carey never troubled the scorers, back in the pavilion without so much as a run to his name. Keith Stone battled hard for his 25, and for a nervy over or two it looked as though Addington might sneak home, but they closed on 62/7 — one agonising run short.

A win by the barest of margins, the sort that leaves the tea more thoroughly earned than usual. A very good day for the club.

Sun 12 Jun 1983 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Cudham Wyse CC · HomeformWWLWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 12 June 1983. No luck with the coin: Cudham Wyse won the toss, elected to bat, and I confess I spent the walk back to the pavilion wondering whether we were in for a long afternoon. As it turned out, we needn't have worried.

The visitors never got going. An early wicket with just 5 on the board set the tone, and from a respectable-looking 49-7 the whole innings simply came apart at the seams, collapsing to 52 all out in 34.4 overs. Paul Bowles was the chief architect of the carnage, bowling with real venom to return 7-13 — figures that will take some beating in this or any other season — while Jon Harris (1-11, three miserly maidens) and Mike Elworthy (1-13) tidied up what little was left. Russell Brockett's duck rather summed up Cudham Wyse's afternoon.

Chasing 53 was never going to trouble us, and so it proved. I got my head down and made 24, with Ian Webb the model of composure at the other end for an unbeaten 22, and we cantered home at 54/1 in barely fifteen overs. Webb continues to lead the season's run charts with 68, and Bowles now sits second among the wicket-takers with those 7 scalps freshly banked.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved ones at that: a nine-wicket win built on bowling of real quality and batting that never looked remotely troubled. A thoroughly satisfactory Sunday's work.

Sat 11 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformLWWDL

Lost the toss, asked to bowl first — not the worst news on a bright Saturday, and Maidstone Ymca CC duly obliged us by finding all sorts of trouble. They limped to 85 all out in 32.4 overs, John Golding and Dave Goodyer both chipping in 21 apiece, while poor Rod Warboys and K. Thurlow departed without so much as a nibble at the scorebook. Martin Larkin was the chief tormentor with a magnificent 5-35, and I had a thoroughly happy afternoon myself, picking up 4-32 with six maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell you dream about on the walk to the ground and rarely get. Ian Webb chipped in with 1-13 to round things off tidily.

With 85 to chase, we were never going to make hard work of it, and to our credit we didn't try to. Ian Webb, having done his bit with the ball, then set about the runs with real intent, finishing unbeaten on 38, well supported by Andy Woollett's 32. We cantered home at 87/1 from just 21 overs, barely breaking sweat.

A fine team performance all round, and pleasing to see Webb and Larkin cementing their places in the season's charts — third in the runs and wickets tables respectively. Nine wickets, two points, and a Saturday that asked few questions of us. We'll take that every week of the season.

Tue 07 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv MT Maidstone Teachers · HomeformLLWWD

Tuesday the 7th of June saw Maidstone Teachers pitch up at Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss I elected to bat — a decision that felt shrewd at the time, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what followed. We limped and lurched to 71 for 7 from our sixteen overs, a total that flattered to deceive if ever a total did. I managed 42 of those runs myself, which either says something for my application or a great deal about everyone else's, depending on your view from the boundary rope. Poor Allan Cooper and Jon Harris will not thank me for mentioning that both fell without troubling the scorers — ducks, plural, and not the sort you want on a Tuesday.

Seventy-two to defend is never a total that lets a captain sleep easy, but the bowling did its level best to make a match of it. Mike Elworthy led from the front with a fine 2 for 15, well supported by Martin Larkin's 1 for 10 and Allan Cooper's redemptive 1 for 15 — proof, if proof were needed, that a duck with the bat needn't spoil your day with the ball. Maidstone Teachers, though, edged home on 72 for 6 with an over in hand, leaving us beaten by four wickets and rather ruefully reflecting on those missing runs.

I remain top of both the 1983 run and wicket charts for the 1st XI, for what small comfort that offers a captain licking his wounds. Credit to the visitors — we'll regroup, dust ourselves down, and come back stronger next week.

Sun 05 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWLLWW

Sunday 5th June saw Sheldwich CC roll up to Linton Park under fine skies, and having won the toss I didn't so much as pause for breath before opting to bat — a decision I shall, for once, take full credit for.

What followed was a study in unhurried accumulation. Brian Piper and Ian Webb simply declined to get out, ambling to 44 without loss from our 19 overs, Piper finishing unbeaten on 23 and Webb keeping him honest with 20 not out. It wasn't fireworks so much as a gentle, purposeful stroll — the sort of partnership that has opposition fielders wilting more from boredom than exertion.

Sheldwich, for their part, offered up rather less resistance than we'd bargained for, their innings closing without registering a run to their name. Quite what transpired out there I shall leave to the imagination of the gazette's readers, but the upshot was honours shared — neither side able to force home an advantage, and the match petering out into that most English of conclusions, a draw.

Elsewhere, credit where it's due: Ian Webb continues his quietly excellent season, now sitting third in the 1st XI run charts with 83 to his name — a fact he will no doubt mention unprompted at the bar.

All told, a fair contest fairly shared. Not a classic for the ages, perhaps, but a thoroughly pleasant Sunday afternoon of cricket, and you can't say fairer than that.

Sat 04 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWWLLW

It was a fine day to win the toss, and electing to bat felt like the obvious call the moment I made it. We crawled a touch getting to 131/7 off our 46, though I can't complain personally, having found some rhythm early and going on to bring up a half-century on the way to 74. Martin Larkin's duck was the one blot on an otherwise respectable card, and 131 always felt a touch light in the dressing room at tea.

As it turned out, we needn't have worried. Rumwood never got going, undone by tight bowling from the off and eventually bowled out for 99 in 37.5 overs, Mick Palmer's 21 the only real resistance. P. Kinnell departed without troubling the scorers, and I was fortunate enough to find my rhythm with the ball too, taking 3-4 to lead the attack, with excellent support from Ian Brattle (3-21) and Jon Harris (2-25), while Martin Larkin made amends for his morning with three tidy maidens.

A word must go to Jim Hall, who brought up 4,000 career runs for the club today — a landmark to be properly toasted at the bar. And with 317 runs and 19 wickets now to my name this season, I'll admit I'm rather enjoying the run charts, though I'd sooner the side's form did the talking.

A 32-run win, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved. A thoroughly satisfying Saturday all round.

Thu 02 Jun 1983 🧢 1st XIv DC Ditton CC · AwayformLWWLL

Captain's Log, 2 June 1983 — Ditton CC

Won the toss, and with the sort of misplaced confidence that has undone better men than me, I stuck us in. Fifty-three all out in 15.2 overs was not the declaration of intent I'd envisaged, and with Webb, Riley and Larkin all making the long walk back for ducks, our top order rather resembled a game of musical chairs where nobody wanted to sit down. I top-scored with 22, which tells you rather more about the state of the rest of the innings than it does about my batting.

Still, cricket is a funny old game, and Ditton clearly hadn't read the script. Paul Bowles took the ball and simply refused to let them settle, spinning his way to a magnificent 7-19 and, along the way, sailing past 800 career wickets — a landmark that deserves rather more fanfare than a soggy Thursday in June affords. I chipped in with 1-7 and two maidens for good measure, Allan Cooper picked up 1-14, and between us we sent Asar, Rooney and Longmuir packing without so much as a sighter. Ditton folded for 42.

Eleven runs the margin, and not a comfortable one to watch from the boundary. A scrappy, low-scoring affair that had no earthly right to go our way — but go our way it did. Bowles was the story of the day; the rest of us merely supporting cast. A good day for the club, and I shan't be putting us in again in a hurry.

Mon 30 May 1983 🧢 1st XIv XM XII Men · HomeformDLWWL

I toss went against us on a fine Monday, 30 May 1983, as we welcomed Xii Men to Linton Park, and true to form the coin let me down before a ball was bowled — no toss, no say, just pads on and out to field.

Xii Men made steady if unspectacular progress to 141 for 7 from their 49 overs, with M- Cornett unbeaten on 41 and Tony Armstrong chipping in a useful 31 alongside him. Credit where it's due: John Hartridge and David Buck went back to the pavilion without so much as a run to show for it, which tells you the ball was doing more than the batsmen. Brian Piper was the pick of the attack by some distance, snaring three for 24, while I did my bit too — two for 33 with six maidens, more patience than penetration, but it kept a lid on things. Mike Elworthy weighed in with one for 28.

Chasing 142, we never quite found our rhythm and were bowled out for 111 in 38.1 overs. I top-scored with 42, well supported by Piper's 30, but three ducks — Tim Thirkell, David Iliffe and Mike Elworthy all failing to trouble the scorers — undid our good work, and we fell agonisingly short. For what it's worth, I'm now leading both the season's run charts with 221 and the wicket charts with 15, though I'd trade both for a result on the day.

Thirty runs the wrong side of the ledger, then. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 29 May 1983 🧢 Sunday NVKCv CC Cudham CC · AwayformLWWLW

Sunday last saw us trundle down to Cudham CC, and if the toss is any guide to omens, ours were not good — I called wrong, and they chose to bat. Still, a bowler's pitch by the feel of it, and one thing became clear early: this was not going to be Cudham's day. They limped to 80 all out in 37 overs, J Linderbringhs top-scoring with a patient 28, while poor Jim Davis trudged off for a duck. I can't claim modesty here — I found some rhythm with the ball, finishing with 4-11 including four maidens, well backed up by Trevor Back's tidy 4-25 and Martin Larkin's miserly 2-9. Not a run was given away lightly, and Cudham never looked like building anything.

Eighty-one didn't figure to trouble us, though cricket has a habit of making fools of the confident, and 81 for 3 in near enough thirty overs was hardly a procession. I chipped in with 28 to go with the morning's bowling, and Ian Webb saw us home in style with an unbeaten 27, calm as you like while the rest of us fretted from the boundary.

Up the season table Webb now leads the run-scoring with 46, and I find myself atop the wicket charts with 7 — small mercies for the ego. A tidy, unfussy seven-wicket win, and frankly, more of this sort of afternoon would suit us all rather nicely.

Tue 24 May 1983 🧢 1st XIv DC Ditton CC · HomeformLDLWW

Tuesday brought Ditton CC to Linton Park, and the coin, as is tradition round here, did not favour us. Put in first, we set about them with the ball and made a proper fist of it. They were bowled out for a modest 81 in 15.4 overs, only A Longmuir showing any real defiance with an unbeaten 29. Nigel Thirkell was quite simply unplayable, scything through their order for 6-12, with Allan Cooper mopping up nicely at the other end for 2-18. Sarat Arasaratnan, J Shirley and D Shelton all trooped off for ducks, which tells you everything about the afternoon they had.

Eighty-one looked eminently gettable. It was not gotten. Our reply folded for 39 in a wretched 13 overs, and if there is a lesson in club cricket it is that a small target can be more dangerous than a large one, since nobody quite believes they need to graft for it. I top-scored with 23, doing rather more than my fair share of the carrying, but around me the innings simply evaporated. Nigel Thirkell, hero of the morning, Ian Webb and Sean Riley all joined the Duck Club before lunch had properly settled.

So we contrived to lose a match we had every right to win, beaten by 42 runs having bowled them out for a song. Character-building stuff, and we will need every ounce of that character next week.

Mon 23 May 1983 🧢 Midweek XIv OX Oxford XIII · HomeformDDDLW

Monday 23 May 1983, and Oxford XIII rolled up to Linton Park for what would prove a day of honours shared. We had first use of the ball, and set about the visitors with good cheer: they were eventually bowled out for 148 in 48.3 overs, built around a watchful 33 from D. Burgess, with M. Howe (29) and N. Duval (27) chipping in to keep us honest. Not everyone troubled the scorers, mind — A. Sinnott, B. Ford and T. Brennan all departed without so much as a single to their name. I found some rhythm with the new ball and finished with 3-12, while Nigel Thirkell (2-23) and the ever-miserly Brian Piper (2-43, five maidens no less) squeezed the runs out of them like water from a stone.

Chasing 149, we shuffled to 114-6 from our 46 overs — respectable enough, though nobody watching would call it swashbuckling. Nigel Thirkell did the bulk of the graft with 35, and I contributed a watchful 18 down the order. Spare a thought, though, for poor Tim May, who walked the long walk back for a golden duck — the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint in the clubhouse.

With Thirkell topping our run charts and yours truly leading the wickets column this season, the honours are being shared all round — fittingly enough, as honours were shared here too. A draw, then: not a classic, but an afternoon of proper club cricket, and nobody left the ground disgraced.

Sun 22 May 1983 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformLLWWL

Here's the match report:

Sunday 22 May 1983, and I confess I woke to grey skies and lower expectations than the lads deserved. Sissinghurst CC arrived at ours full of confidence, and by the time their innings folded for a modest 63 all out in 34.4 overs, that confidence had rather evaporated on our outfield. Mike Burgess went for a duck early doors, and from there Nigel Thirkell simply took the game away from them with a superb 3-9, ably backed by Martin Larkin, who bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the tea urn — 2-9 with four maidens to his name — while Trevor Back chipped in with 2-13 to complete the rout.

Chasing 64, we made harder work of it than the bowling figures suggested we might, stumbling to 64/4 off 23.5 overs, though I'll happily admit I enjoyed my own small part in proceedings with 18 to help see us home. Six wickets in hand at the finish, and no complaints from this corner of the dressing room.

There was a proud moment tucked into the day too — Allan Cooper's brace of wickets carried him past Tony Gauna and up to 9th on the club's all-time list, a fine bit of history quietly made on an otherwise ordinary Sunday. With Ian Webb and Nigel Thirkell setting the early pace atop this season's charts, the summer is shaping up nicely. A good day for the club, and a better one for the record books.

Fri 20 May 1983 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformDLDLW

Won the toss on a fine Friday and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, stuck us in to bat first — old habits, and all that. The lads set about Yalding CC with more purpose than grace, racing to 93 for 3 off just sixteen overs. Brian Piper anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 26, and I was glad to chip in with 24 of my own alongside Paul Bowles's brisk 23. Not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but enough, as it turned out, to be going on with.

Yalding's reply never quite got off the blocks. Davey battled hard for his 26 and Phil Jackson supported him with 22, but the middle order simply evaporated — Bryant, Hughes and Monro all back in the pavilion without so much as a run to show for their trouble, three ducks in a row that will live longer in memory than most centuries. I had one of those afternoons where everything comes out right, finishing with 4 for 16, and Brian Piper backed it up beautifully with 2 for 6. Allan Cooper mopped up with 1 for 29 as Yalding subsided to 71 for 9 off their fourteen.

A win by 22 runs, then, and a tidy one at that. I'll confess to a quiet satisfaction at leading both the run charts and the wicket charts for the 1st XI this season — though I'd sooner the team remembers the scoreline than the scorer. Onwards we go, in good heart.

Tue 17 May 1983 🧢 1st XIv RA Reeds Aylesford · AwayformWDLDL

I led the way at Reeds Aylesford — 75 runs, plus 2-22 with the ball, in a fine 32-run win. Fold facts into one report now.

I won the toss on a fine Tuesday down at Reeds Aylesford and, without much deliberation, decided we'd bat first. Call it captain's instinct, call it luck — either way it proved the right one. We rattled along nicely to 131 for 2 off our sixteen overs, and I'll confess to more satisfaction than my customary modesty allows in saying I got in amongst the runs myself, farming the strike rather effectively for 75. Paul Bowles gave the innings real backbone too, a handsome 53 alongside me, and between us the scoreboard rather took care of itself. Declarations, calculations, all the usual captain's headaches — mercifully absent this week.

Out in the field, Reeds Aylesford set about chasing our total with more application than success, crawling to 99 for 9 from their sixteen. T Cornwall battled hard for his 25 and looked the only man with any real appetite for the run chase, but he had precious little support. Allan Cooper was the story of the innings with the ball, tearing in for a marvellous 4 for 11, and I chipped in with a couple myself while Mike Elworthy also picked up two — between the three of us we squeezed the life out of their innings rather efficiently.

A thoroughly pleasing afternoon's work, then, and a 32-run win to show for it. With the season charts now showing me atop the run tally and Allan leading the wickets, there's a spring in a few Linton Park steps this week. Onwards indeed.

Sat 14 May 1983 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDWDLD

Saturday 14 May 1983, and I won the toss at Headcorn CC and, in what may have been a moment of misplaced optimism, stuck us in to bat. It did not go entirely to plan. We were bowled out for 107 in 45.3 overs, a total that owed most of its respectability to a knock of 36 from yours truly. Elsewhere the scorebook made grim reading, with Ian Webb, David Iliffe and Jim Hall all back in the pavilion without troubling the umpire for leg byes, let alone runs. Three ducks in one innings is the sort of thing that makes a captain stare rather hard into his tea.

Defending 107 against a decent Headcorn side was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved, though not without a spot of pride along the way. I opened the bowling and did my bit with 1 for 11 off three tidy maidens, with Martin Larkin chipping in for 1-28, and we did at least see off Simon Phipps without him scoring. But Alastair Lee had other ideas, cruising to 62 not out, and the opposition strolled home at 108/2 in under 30 overs. Poor Jim Hall, having already had a torrid time with the bat, then endured a torrid afternoon with the gloves too, 16 byes going begging.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguing with the manner of it. We were undone with the bat and, Lee aside, kept it respectable in the field. Plenty to work on before next week — but that, dear reader, is village cricket.

Sun 08 May 1983 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · AwayformWDWDL

Sunday the 8th of May found us on the road to St Lawrence & Highland Court, and I'll admit I called the toss well and fancied our chances more than my knees did after the journey. No hesitation on winning it, mind — batting first was the only sensible option on a morning that promised runs for anyone willing to graft.

Graft we did, if in fairly serene fashion. We eased to 102 for 1 off 30.3 overs, an innings built on patience rather than fireworks, with Ian Webb providing the perfect foil at the other end on 41 not out while I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, finishing unbeaten on 44 and rather chuffed to see it now tops our run charts for the season.

Defending it should have been the tricky part, but our bowlers and fielders made short work of that particular puzzle, skittling the opposition for nothing at all. Quite how a side manages to be bowled out without troubling the scorers I couldn't tell you, but I shan't be complaining — it made for a tidy afternoon in the field and a great deal of good-natured mystery in the tea tent afterwards.

And yet, for all that domination with bat and ball, the heavens or the clock or simple cricketing perversity denied us the win, and honours were shared. A draw, then — the most English of results, achieved in the most one-sided of matches. We came, we conquered nearly everything, and we still walked away with nothing more than a handshake. Marvellous game, this.