🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 29 Sep 1984 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · HomeformWLWLD

We hosted Hastings & St Leonards Priory on a fine Saturday, and for once the coin let us down — they had first use of a pitch that, on reflection, suited us rather better with ball in hand. Alan Booth-Jones departed for a duck with just 7 on the board, and from there Jon Harris simply refused to let them settle, weaving through the order for 5-37 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure. Paul Bowles and Ian Brattle chipped in either side with two wickets apiece, and though C Watson's gutsy 27 kept the total respectable, 108 all out from 43.2 overs always felt like a target well within our compass. I even found some rhythm myself, picking up five, which I shall be modestly reminding the lads of for weeks to come.

With the bat, Bob Lines made light work of the chase, motoring to 70 not out and looking in no mood to give it back, while Brian Piper's unbeaten 28 provided watchful support at the other end. We eased home at 112/1 in 32.5 overs, wickets to spare and tea barely stewed. Poor Malcolm Pay had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping his grasp, though he'll no doubt point out the ball was doing plenty.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a nine-wicket win to boot. With Bob Lines now third in the season's run charts and Jon Harris leading the wickets, this was as complete a team performance as we've managed all summer — bowled, batted, and byes notwithstanding, thoroughly good fun.

Wed 26 Sep 1984 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWWLWD

As the last cricket of a fine September evening at Penshurst Park, and toss called correctly, my instinct told me to bat — and for once, the instinct did not let me down.

The lads gave us something to work with, if not without the usual heart palpitations. Trevor Back's fifty (53) set the tone in fine style, and when Paul Bowles joined him for an unbeaten 53 of his own, their fifth-wicket stand of 80 was the innings' backbone. Jim Hall chipped in a useful 30. But cricket being cricket, we contrived to lose four wickets between 12 and 21 in the sort of collapse that gives captains grey hairs, and poor Tim Theobald departed for a duck without so much as a look-in. Credit, then, to a spirited last-wicket stand that bolted on 48 and hauled 177/7 from 48 overs into respectable territory.

Defending it, Penshurst threatened briefly through P Grayland's well-made 72 and A Robertson's 28, but an early wicket for nought set them back on their heels, and three of their number — Littlechild, Jenner and Boyden — went back without troubling the scorers. Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, turned his arm over to devastating effect: 6-39, the spell of the day by some distance, with Ian Brattle (3-37) and the miserly Jon Harris (1-40, seven maidens) mopping up. Nine byes did slip past Jim Hall's gloves, but nobody was counting by then.

A 48-run win, and Trevor Back climbs to 25th on the club's all-time run charts. Onwards indeed.

Sun 23 Sep 1984 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLWLWL

It was Anchorians CC at home on Sunday, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and I'll take the credit while it's going.

Not that it was plain sailing. A wobble at 2-1 threatened to turn the innings into a procession, and for the ledger three of ours — David Iliffe, Jim Hall and Sean Cook — took the walk of shame for a duck apiece. 🦆 But Andy Woollett settled things beautifully, batting right through for a chanceless 76 not out, and around him we cobbled together 128 for 9 from our 35 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, we hoped, to have a bowl at.

And bowl we did. Jon Harris was magnificent, 3 for 8 and metronomic with it, while Allan Cooper strangled the run flow with two maidens. I even chipped in with three wickets myself, having earlier top-scored among the also-rans with 18. The Anchorians never found the fluency to chase us down, closing on 47 for 4 from their 16, and honours were shared.

A quiet personal footnote: those 18 runs of Jon's nudged him past Cliff Anscombe into 13th on the club's all-time run charts — not bad for a man who also leads our 1984 wicket-takers with 86. Paul Bowles, meanwhile, continues to bat like a man possessed, 1407 runs and counting.

A draw, then — honours even, pride intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the real match-winner.

Wed 19 Sep 1984 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLWWLW

Wednesday 19th September, and home comforts under grey September skies. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the lads mutter in the bar afterwards.

It wasn't the tidiest of innings. We lost our first wicket for a solitary run, and both Andy Woollett and Mike Elworthy trudged back without troubling the scorers, which rather set the tone. Thankfully Bob Lines played the anchor role beautifully for 31, with Paul Bowles chipping in a handy 21, and I added a modest 21 of my own to nudge us to 95 for 9 off our 47 overs — hardly a total to frighten anyone, but something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did. Their reply began in similar disarray — 3 for 1 became 16 for 4 in a hurry, with T Theobald, T Cooper and X Boakes all following the same sorry path to the pavilion. Ian Brattle was quite magnificent, 4 for 11 with seven maidens — not a run given away lightly, and precious few given away at all. Trevor Back (3 for 24) and Paul Bowles (2 for 23) tidied up the rest, though A Chapman's defiant 25 kept their hopes flickering. They closed on 82 for 9 off 41.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Not the stuff of legend, but with Brattle now topping the wicket charts and Back sitting second among the runs, there's rather more to smile about than the scorecard alone suggests.

Sun 16 Sep 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLWLW

Sunday 16th September, and the visitors arrived to find us in generous mood, posting a modest 113 all out from our 46 overs. Jon Harris led the way with a tidy 33, though the middle order rather lost its nerve — 35 for 3 collapsing to 49 for 6 before we could catch breath, the sort of batting that has the tea urn muttering under its lid.

Defending 113 was always going to ask a great deal of us, and so it proved. T Pearce played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 58 that carried the visitors home, well supported by M Smith's unbeaten 32 and a brisk 20 from B Fairall. They cantered to 114 for 1 in 35.3 overs, leaving our attack rather short of answers — save for Allan Cooper, who bowled with real discipline for figures of 1 for 32, four of his overs maidens, not a run given away lightly. I contributed 33 myself, for what little consolation that offers.

One bright note amid the gloom: Jon Harris's 33 sees him leapfrog Malcolm Pay into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a landmark worth raising a glass to even on a losing afternoon. And while we toil, Paul Bowles continues his imperious season, now on 1405 runs for the 1st XI in 1984.

Not our day, then — beaten by six wickets, heads bowed, and back to the nets we go.

Wed 12 Sep 1984 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDLWWL

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think the coin has it in for me — and so it was pads off, boots on, and out into the field at The Mote. Not the worst fate, as it turned out. They ground their way to 166 for 8 off their fifty-two overs, built almost entirely around David Castle, who compiled a thoroughly magnificent 103 not out and gave our attack precious little to work with, ably supported by A Holding's 20. We did at least strike early, with a wicket down at just 4 to settle the nerves, and Ian Hammond and Trevor Hales departed without troubling the scorers — quackers both, and no complaints from this end. Paul Gibson was pick of the bowlers with 2 for 15, Andy Woollett and Jon Harris chipped in with two apiece, and Ian Brattle bowled two maidens as tight as anything you'll see on a Wednesday.

Chasing 167, we made distinctly light work of it. Nigel Stallard played the innings of the day, 84 of real substance, with Andrew Hales (32) and Paul Gibson (31 not out) doing their bit either side of a crucial second-wicket stand of 68. We cantered home at 169 for 4 in just 33.1 overs, leaving plenty of tea in the pot.

Stallard now leads the season's run charts, Gibson sits third among the wickets, and this captain, for once, has nothing to grumble about. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a six-wicket win to make the drive home feel considerably shorter.

Sun 09 Sep 1984 🧢 1st XIv LC Locksbottom CC · HomeformWWLWL

As it stands, the toss fell our way on a fine Sunday, 9 September, and I had no hesitation putting Locksbottom in to field. It proved the right call. Nigel Thirkell batted with real class for his unbeaten 73, and alongside Paul Gibson's fine 59 the pair put on 118 for the third wicket — the innings that won us the match before a ball had been bowled at us. Brian Piper's 32 rounded things off nicely as we closed on a handsome 188 for 3.

Locksbottom made a fight of it, Fred Taylor's 36 and Peter Shaw's 31 giving them something to build on, with Graham Stoner chipping in 20 and a 6th-wicket stand of 53 threatening to drag them back into it. But once they slid from 147-6 to 157-9 the game was as good as up, John Paine departing without troubling the scorers. Paul Bowles was magnificent — 4 for 26 with three maidens, not a run given away lightly — with Nigel Thirkell (3-23) and Brian Piper (2-25) in fine support, and I was rather pleased to find some rhythm myself with four wickets. Poor Allan Cooper had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 21 byes conceded, but nobody was counting against him by the close.

A proud personal footnote too: Nigel brought up 14,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved. We got home by 29 runs — a fine team performance, and a very good day indeed for Linton Park.

Sat 08 Sep 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWWLW

One thing before I write this up: the numbers point to a win (you bowled them out for 90/8, then chased it down for 94/3 in just 11.3 overs — that's a win by 7 wickets), but the summary line says "Beaten by 7 wickets." Could you confirm which it actually was? I don't want to print the wrong result in the gazette.

Fri 31 Aug 1984 🧢 Tour XIv PC Paul CC · AwayformLWLWW

Given all Friday, 31st August 1984 – away to Paul CC. I lost no time at all when the coin fell my way: on a day like that, you bat.

We made a solid fist of it – 188 for 9 off our forty overs – built on an opening stand of 80 that set the tone nicely before the first wicket finally went. Fran Briley led the charge in fine style, 74 to his name, well past his fifty, while Bob Lines stayed unbeaten on 41 and Paul Bowles chipped in a tidy 25. Not a total to frighten anyone outright, but enough, we felt, to have a proper go at defending.

And so it proved. Paul CC lost an early wicket for nought – always a pleasing sight from the boundary – and though Mike Mason (49) and T Swanson (37) threatened to drag them back into it, we kept plugging away and they folded from 140 for 7 to all out for 155 in a hurry, bowled out in 38.3 overs. N Wildgust and J Maddern departed for ducks apiece. Simon Thirkell was superb, 2 for 7, with Paul Bowles (2-19, three maidens and miserly throughout) and Ian Brattle (2-35) offering fine support. Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes testament to a lively pitch rather than tired hands.

Thirty-three runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved. A proper team performance, that.

Thu 30 Aug 1984 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformLLWLW

Called it right at the toss on a fine Thursday down at Falmouth, and with the sun out and the outfield running quick, there was never much doubt in my mind — we'd bat. Fran Briley set the tone with a busy 39, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 24, and Richard Ashby saw us home unbeaten on 29 to leave us a highly respectable 194/9 from our forty overs. Not everything glittered, mind — poor Paul Gibson trudged back for a duck, and I shall say no more about that other than to note the tea urn was a comfort to him afterwards. I added a watchful 20 myself, more accumulation than artistry.

In the field we were relentless. Falmouth's openers put on a stand of 54 that had me shuffling my feet rather anxiously, but once the breakthrough came the innings unravelled with wonderful speed — 54 without loss became 64 for four in the blink of an eye, N Barrington among the fallen for nought. Sean Turner (40) and David Toseland (38) had threatened to drag them clear, but Paul Gibson, avenging his duck in style, ripped through with 3-8, Fran Briley chipped in with 3-25, Richard Ashby with 1-0, and Paul Bowles bowled three miserly maidens to strangle any hope of a chase. All out for 151 in 36.2 overs.

Forty-three runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned both. A fine day's cricket, and Falmouth left in no doubt who'd travelled better.

Wed 29 Aug 1984 🧢 Tour XIv SC St Austell CC · AwayformLLLWL

Wednesday last, 29 August, saw us venture to St Austell CC, where I contrived to lose the toss and duly found myself leading the lads into the field — never my preferred start to proceedings, but there it is. St Austell built steadily through J Rowe's 27 and R Lang's matching 27, with Guy Trembath chipping in 24, before the innings rather came apart at the seams: 120 for 7 became 133 all out in the blink of an eye, Jon Harris scything through with a splendid 4-36, Paul Bowles tidying up with 2-20, and Andy Woollett taking one for the princely sum of nought. Nigel Thirkell, meanwhile, bowled with the miserliness of a man counting his change twice, two maidens to his name. Poor A Brown departed for a golden duck, which felt only fair given what his bowlers had just endured.

Chasing 134, we wobbled agreeably as is our custom — Paul Gibson gone for nought, and your captain, I regret to report, also failed to troubled the scorers, out for a duck I shall not dwell upon further. It fell to Nigel Thirkell to anchor matters with a fine 56, well supported by Jon Harris's 28, the pair adding 59 for the sixth wicket to drag us home. We scraped over the line at 134 for 8 in 36.3 overs, winning by two wickets.

A scruffy, nerve-jangling, thoroughly typical win — and all the sweeter for it.

Mon 27 Aug 1984 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLDWWL

Steady as she goes, or so I thought as Bearsted's captain called correctly and had us out in the field on a Monday that August. Not that I minded overmuch — Jon Harris was in the sort of mood that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy, and his 5-50 (eleven maidens, if you please) did for the visitors' hopes almost single-handed, with Ian Brattle chipping in a very useful 4-60. Only Ian Lambert's 33 and a watchful 30 not out from Sean Charlton, plus 20 from Rupert Humphrey, kept Bearsted afloat at all; poor Mike Redman never troubled the scorers. All out 163 from 56.3 overs felt, frankly, generous to us.

Then Paul Bowles decided the second innings was to be his benefit match, cracking a majestic 105 not out, with Andy Woollett playing the perfect foil on 48. We cruised home at 164/1 in 43.2 overs, though I confess our ten byes suggest poor Jim Hall behind the stumps had rather a testing afternoon of it — the sort of day where the ball seems to find every gap in the wicketkeeping coaching manual.

A word, too, for Ian Brattle, who passed 100 career wickets in the process — a landmark achieved with typically little fuss, as is his way. I even found some rhythm myself, snaring five, though nobody will remember the captain's bowling with Bowles batting like that up the order.

A fine win by six wickets, then, and a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work all round. Onwards we go.

Sun 26 Aug 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLDWW

Sunday 26 August 1984, and a home fixture that promised much and delivered a proper mixed bag. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the pitch looked a batting one, and for a while it duly obliged.

Paul Bowles led the way with a fine 32, Brian Piper chipping in handsomely with 23, and 61-2 had us dreaming of something substantial. Then, as club cricket so loves to remind us, the roof fell in — 61-2 became 67-5 before we'd so much as finished our tea, and the Duck Club took delivery of three fresh members in David Iliffe, Steve Cheale and Ian Brattle, each walking back for nought with heads bowed. We limped to 108 all out from 43.3 overs, my own 32 offering some consolation amid the carnage.

With the ball, Ian Brattle was magnificent, tearing in for 5-34 with three miserly maidens to show for his troubles, well supported by Paul Bowles's 1-27. T Jones's 22 proved the difference as they reached 111-6, sneaking home by four wickets with Mike Elworthy having a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own.

Amid the gloom, real cause for celebration: Andy Woollett brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worthy of considerably more than the polite ripple of applause it received. Paul Bowles continues to top our season's run charts and sits second in the wickets column — a one-man band carrying us through a wobbly summer.

Not our day, then. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Wed 22 Aug 1984 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformLDLWW

Wednesday 22 August 1984 – a bright afternoon at Linton Park, and Gravesend CC came calling. I lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like tradition, and we were put in the field.

Gravesend made themselves at home, racing to 214/7 from their 44 overs, the main damage done by Jonathan Hinks, whose hundred (117) was the sort of innings you applaud through gritted teeth, with Dave Elliott (20 not out) providing steady support at the death. Small mercies came our way when Peter Preston departed for a golden duck. Ian Brattle was superb with the ball, 3-44 and now sitting proudly atop our season's wicket charts with 8, backed nobly by Trevor Back (2-41, and our leading run-scorer this year besides) and Sean Cook (1-32), while Paul Gibson kept things miserly enough to squeeze out two maidens. Poor Malcolm Pay had one of those afternoons behind the stumps that goalkeepers and wicketkeepers alike dread, 12 byes going begging.

Chasing 215, we never quite got out of second gear. Jim Hall's 36 was the innings' backbone, Paul Gibson chipped in a handy 28, and Andy Woollett's 26 kept hope flickering, but we folded for 146 in 44.4 overs.

Beaten by 68 runs, then, and no dressing it up as anything other than a proper hiding. But there was character in the bowling, runs in the book for a few of the lads, and, as ever at Linton Park, tea waiting at the end of it. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 19 Aug 1984 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · HomeformDWLDW

Lost the toss again — some things never change — and Whitstable, without a moment's hesitation, sent us out into the field. We can't say we minded much, as it turned out. They lost an opener before the board had troubled the scorers, and though a third-wicket stand of 53 threatened to give the innings some backbone, we hauled them back from 150 for 7 to all out for 158 in 53.1 overs with barely a pause for breath. Andy Stroud's 47 was the innings of note, well supported by R Mills (27) and Tom Robertson (22), but Steve Cheale was in irresistible form with 3 for 10, Jon Harris chipped in 3 for 45, and Ian Brattle bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting his pennies — 2 for 24 and three maidens. John Robertson and M Bowtle departed for spectacular ducks.

A target of 159 never looked beyond us, though we did our level best to make it interesting. Paul Gibson (57) and Andy Woollett (51) put on 107 for the second wicket to lay the foundation, with Ian Webb's 21 useful support — before a collapse from 144 for 2 to 150 for 5 had the tea urn rattling with nerves. Allan Cooper, Mike Elworthy and Sean Cook all made ducks of their own, but somehow we scrambled home by two wickets with 40.3 overs gone. I even managed 3 wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks. A scruffy, nerve-shredding, thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 18 Aug 1984 🧢 1st XIv BC Brackley CC · HomeformDDWLD

Saturday 18 August, and we welcomed Brackley CC to the ground. I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I was right. We stumbled early, 1 for 1 does nothing for a captain's nerves, before Andy Woollett and Malcolm Pay set about restoring order with a stand of 162 for the second wicket. Woollett made a fine 86, Pay an equally handsome 75, and I chipped in with 22 as we closed on 209 for 5 from our 47 overs. Ian Webb, alas, suffered the walk of shame with a duck.

Defending it, we never looked troubled. Brackley lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board and never recovered their poise. Jon Harris was simply unplayable, spinning his way to 7 for 30 with four miserly maidens, ably backed up by Peter Day's 2 for 10 and my own 1 for 10. R Edmondson and J Fitzgerald both departed without troubling the scorers, and the innings collapsed from 81 for 6 to 91 for 9 in a flurry, Brackley all out for 91 in 35.1 overs. Mike Elworthy had a fiddly afternoon behind the stumps, 19 byes slipping through, though nobody was counting by then.

There was extra cause for celebration: Malcolm Pay's 75 carried him past Jon Harris to 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Andy Woollett sits 4th in this season's first-team run charts with 372, while Jon Harris leads the wicket-takers with 73. We ran out winners by 118 runs — a thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 15 Aug 1984 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformDLDLW

Wednesday the fifteenth of August found us away at Bobbing Court, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in taking first strike on a pitch that looked made for batting — the right call, I felt, and not for the first time this season I allowed myself a small private smugness about it.

The lads didn't let me down. Trevor Back played the innings of the day, motoring past his fifty to finish with 82, and found fine support from Bob Dyer with 42 and Jim Hall with 22 — a proper platform for a total to be defended. Less gloriously, Ian Brattle and Sean Cook both endured that particular walk back to the pavilion reserved for the duck-maker, 🦆 though I'm told the tea urn offered some consolation.

In the field we were relentless. Bobbing Court fought hard through Tony Mountford's 26 and Rick Bourne's 23, but from 102-7 the whole thing unravelled in a hurry to 107 all out in 36.3 overs, Don Capeling and D White both departing for ducks of their own. 🦆 Steve Petty was magnificent, 4-30, with Jon Harris (3-35, four maidens — barely a run given away) and Ian Brattle (2-19) in fine support, and I confess a quiet pride in my own three wickets. Trevor now tops the Midweek XI run charts and Steve the wickets. A fine win by 104 runs — onwards, gentlemen. 🏏

Sun 12 Aug 1984 🧢 1st XIv HC Holmesdale CC · HomeformLDDWL

Sunday 12 August 1984, and Holmesdale CC were the visitors on what turned into a proper old-fashioned tussle. I won the toss and, with the sun out and the square looking kind, had no hesitation in batting first — a decision I spent much of the afternoon quietly congratulating myself on, and rather less of it regretting.

Early on it looked shaky, the first wicket tumbling for just 7, and I confess I was eyeing the pavilion clock with some anxiety. But Paul Gibson settled matters in style, batting through to 75, and found sturdy company for a fifth-wicket stand of 87 that put the innings back on its feet. Allan Cooper's 27 and Jim Hall's 25 added the necessary mortar, and we closed on a respectable 170 for 8 from our 52 overs.

Defending it was never going to be straightforward, and Holmesdale gave us some anxious moments through Stevenson (26), Lewicki (26) and Taylor (21). But this was Jon Harris's afternoon — five for 46, four maidens, bowling with a discipline that bordered on the miserly, well backed by Paul Bowles's two for 66. I even managed to rediscover some rhythm myself, picking up five wickets, though I'll let Harris keep the headlines.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but an honest one, and no bad way to spend a Sunday.

Sat 11 Aug 1984 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWLDDW

Saturday 11 August 1984 saw us take the road to Headcorn, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first, leaving us to toil in the field on what turned into a long afternoon.

Toil we did, closing them out on 168 for 8 from their 49 overs, though not without a scrap. John Phipps and Paul Millen put on a crucial 52 for the third wicket, Phipps finishing unbeaten on 47 and Millen chipping in 45, and between them they gave our attack more work than we'd have liked. Credit where it's due, though: Jon Harris was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 40, Paul Bowles bowled with real discipline for 3 for 49 and five maidens, and Andy Woollett picked up 1 for 29.

Chasing 169, we made a fair fist of it. G Makin played a lovely fifty, well supported by Nigel Stallard's 35 and Paul Bowles's 22, and the second-wicket pair added a useful 60. But cricket has a cruel habit of unravelling quickly, and we slid from 141 for 7 to all out for 147 in a rush, with poor Malcolm Pay standing helplessly by behind the stumps as 13 byes went begging.

Twenty-one runs the wrong side of the ledger, then — not our day. Bowles keeps ploughing on at the top of the season's run charts and Harris atop the wickets, so there's plenty to be proud of even in defeat. Heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sun 05 Aug 1984 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformLWLDD

Sunday the 5th of August found us motoring down to Benenden in reasonable spirits and, having called correctly for once, I had no hesitation in sticking us in — a decision that for once didn't come back to haunt me. Our openers gave us exactly the sort of platform a captain dreams about and rarely gets, 62 before the first went, and the second-wicket pair carried on the good work with 72 more. Paul Gibson was in irresistible form, farming the strike all the way to a chanceless 101 not out, with Andy Woollett a fine lieutenant on 55. Poor David Iliffe will not want reminding of his contribution — a duck to file alongside the rest — but 230 for 6 off our 54 overs was a total to be proud of.

Defending it, we never really allowed Benenden to settle. John Marshall's 28 was the top score in a reply built on scraps rather than substance, Ray Harding and Andrew Cloke chipping in with 24 and 23, while Mick Fagg departed for nought without so much as troubling the scorers. The story of the innings, though, was Ian Brattle, who span a web few of them could escape — 7 for 42, three of them maidens, bowling of real quality. Jon Harris weighed in with 3 for 45, and I permitted myself a quiet smile over my own three wickets. Mike Elworthy had a torrid time behind the stumps, 19 byes rather spoiling his afternoon, but no matter — Benenden were bowled out for 164 and we came home 66 runs to the good.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a thoroughly happy drive home.

Sun 29 Jul 1984 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLLWLD

Sunday 29th July, and the road took us out to The Mote CC in what proved a fine advertisement for the timeless charms of village cricket. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first strike on what looked a good, true surface — and for once the skipper's hunch paid handsome dividends. Paul Bowles produced an innings of real substance, an unbeaten 131 that anchored everything we did, finding an admirable ally in Andy Woollett's 41 as the pair added 113 for the third wicket. We closed on 212/4 from our 48.4 overs, a total that felt like runs in the bank.

Chasing it down, The Mote gave us a proper fright. Mickey Back batted beautifully for his 112, well supported by Richard Slee's 53, the two of them putting on 90 for the second wicket and threatening to make off with the spoils. Credit to the lads with the ball, though — Jon Harris toiled manfully for 4-91, Paul Bowles chipped in with 3-31 on top of his century, Ian Brattle took one, and I managed to winkle out four myself, with poor Bruce Nissen collecting a golden duck along the way. They finished on 210/8 from 47 overs, just short of home.

A draw, then — honours shared, and probably a fair reflection of two sides who each had their moment in the sun. With Bowles now sitting proudly atop the season's run charts and Harris leading the wickets, this felt less a stalemate than two in-form cricketers cancelling each other out.

Sat 28 Jul 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDLLWL

Saturday last saw us head off to face our hosts in what turned into a proper old-fashioned draw — honours shared, and not for lack of trying on either side.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than stubborn. Bob Lines set about the bowling in fine style for 82, and once he departed Andy Woollett kept the scoreboard ticking with an unbeaten 79, David Iliffe steady alongside him with 27 not out. That fourth-wicket stand of 100 was the innings' spine, and 217/4 from our 41 overs felt like a total worth defending.

And defend it we very nearly did. They fought hard — T Wells top-scoring with a well-crafted 54, I Bennett and P Wann chipping in with 48 and 41 — but once we broke that fourth-wicket stand of 64, the middle order rather lost its nerve, tumbling from 189-5 to 198-8 with R Holland and D Pocock both back in the pavilion without scoring. Jon Harris was magnificent, 5-77 with six maidens to boot, well supported by Mike Elworthy and Nigel Stallard. I even found a spot of rhythm myself, picking up five wickets. Poor Malcolm Pay had a torrid time behind the stumps, 10 byes going begging, but nobody's perfect.

A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and entirely fair on both sides. We'll take it and go again next week.

Thu 26 Jul 1984 🧢 Midweek XIv WC Withnell Fold CC · HomeformDDLDL

From the captain's chair — Thursday 26 July 1984, and a home fixture against Withnell Fold CC that did the old ego no harm whatsoever, despite losing the toss and being sent in to field, which is never quite how one hopes to start the afternoon.

As it turned out, we needn't have worried. Steve Petty was in wonderfully mean form with the ball, finishing with 3-18, and had willing company: Ian Brattle chipped in with 3-21 and Trevor Back with 2-17, while Jon Harris bowled with the sort of patient miserliness that bank managers dream of, six maidens and barely a run to be had off him. Between the lot of them, Withnell Fold were bowled out for a modest 91 in 47.4 overs, and I confess I did very little except stand at slip looking thoughtful.

Set that target, we made harder work of it than the bowling perhaps deserved, but got there in the end at 92 for 4 from 30.1 overs. Andy Woollett played the anchor role beautifully for 26, with Nigel Stallard a fine foil at 23, and the pair of them shepherded us home for the loss of six wickets. Woollett now leads our 1984 Midweek XI run charts, and Brattle sits second among the wicket-takers — form the lads can be rightly proud of.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved: a six-wicket win built on tight, disciplined bowling and just enough application with the bat. One for the scrapbook.

Sun 22 Jul 1984 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLDLLW

Sunday the 22nd of July, and Folkestone CC rolled up as our visitors — a good toss to win, and I had no hesitation in electing to bat. One doesn't often get to say the plan came off quite so sweetly, but 221/1 from 51.3 overs was a fair reward for it. I'll confess to a quiet glow over my own 102 — reaching three figures never stops being satisfying, whatever the scorebook says about false modesty — and Brian Piper was immaculate support, 94 not out and never troubled past his fifty. Between us we barely let Folkestone get a word in.

Defending it proved rather more of a character-building exercise. Mick Buller decided he fancied a hundred of his own, motoring to 116 not out, with Gareth Williams playing a fine hand of 65 not out and Stan Purcell chipping in 21 — their 61-run second-wicket stand was the platform that undid us, and they cantered home on 225/2 from 42 overs. I did what I could with the ball, 1-37, and Ian Brattle stuck manfully to his task for 1-48, but eight wickets was the final damage.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom — 20,000 career runs for the club banked along the way, which is not nothing. And with 1,087 runs and 31 wickets on the season, I've little to grumble about personally. The side, though, will be better for this one next week.

Sat 21 Jul 1984 🧢 1st XIv RC Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformLLDLL

Saturday 21 July found us hosting Rainham (Kent) at Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss I confess I didn't dither long over the decision — a good pitch and a fine day meant only one sensible option, and we batted.

What followed was as handsome an innings as we've strung together all season. Paul Bowles set about the Rainham attack for 83, with Nigel Stallard right alongside him for a classy 73, the pair adding 113 for the second wicket and effectively deciding matters before tea. Andy Woollett chipped in with a tidy 26 — fitting, too, as this was his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that deserved every one of those runs. We closed on 220/5 from our 44 overs, a total with a bit of menace about it.

Rainham never quite found their footing chasing it, stumbling to 1-1 before Mark Swaine (63) and D Cooper (30) briefly threatened to make a match of it with a defiant 71 for the fourth wicket. But our bowlers had the last word. Paul Bowles, having done the damage with the bat, did it again with the ball — 4-20 — well backed by Ian Brattle's 4-36, Mike Elworthy's solitary strike and Jon Harris, miserly as ever with nine maidens. Poor S Tabrem departed for a golden duck, and Rainham were done for 157.

A fine win by 63 runs, and on Andy's big day too. We'll take that, and gladly. Onwards.

Sun 15 Jul 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLDL

From the captain's chair, Sunday 15 July 1984: the visitors came calling at Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in asking the lads to bat first — a rare enough treat for a captain who usually gets that call wrong.

We made ourselves quite at home. The openers put on 73 before the first wicket fell, and the total swelled to a handsome 141 for 5 off 35.1 overs. Brian Piper led the way with 39, Bob Lines chipped in 34, and Paul Gibson saw us home unbeaten on 34.

With the ball, we turned the screw properly. The visitors' innings became something of a procession — 12 for 1 slid to 18 for 4 before you could say "tea's ready" — with K Singh, R White and Williams all trooping back without troubling the scorers. Ian Brattle was chief tormentor with 4 for 22, Brian Piper and Jon Harris weighed in with 3 for 7 and 3 for 19 respectively, Harris's five maidens meaning not a run was given away lightly, and even your captain found some rhythm, snaring 3 of his own. The visitors were bowled out for a paltry 54 in 33.1 overs.

A word for the season too: Bob Lines sits third in our 1984 run charts on 397, while Jon Harris leads the wicket charts with 45.

A handsome 87-run victory, then, and not before time — this side is starting to look rather good indeed.

Sat 14 Jul 1984 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformLLLLD

Down at Horton Kirby with the roof falling in, I called it right at the toss and took first strike — 28 all out doesn't look like a triumph of judgement now, but I'm sticking to my story. We simply didn't lay a bat on it: the openers were back before the tea urn had boiled, 0-1, and from there it was carnage, 0-1 to 5-4 in the blink of an eye. Paul Bowles, Jim Hall and Sean Riley all trudged off for ducks, a hat-trick of nought entries for the club ledger that nobody will be framing.

Chasing a modest 28, we at least gave Horton Kirby something to think about, prising out R Costley without a run to his name — small mercies, but mercies all the same. Ian Brattle was the pick of a willing attack, 1-16 in a losing cause, and they cantered home at 32/1 from 12.3 overs with barely a bead of sweat between them.

On the brighter side, Bob Lines continues his quietly excellent season, now third in the 1984 first-team run charts with 363 to his name — a rare bit of sunshine on an otherwise soggy afternoon.

Nine wickets is nine wickets, and there's no dressing that up. We were undone with the bat long before the ball was even in play. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — this one goes down as a lesson, not a disaster.

Sun 08 Jul 1984 🧢 1st XIv AC Aylesford Paper Mills CC · HomeformLLLLL

It was Aylesford Paper Mills CC who came calling on Sunday 08 July, and it was Aylesford Paper Mills CC who called correctly, electing to bat and leaving us to toil in the field first. Toil we did too, watching their openers put on a breezy 88 before we so much as troubled the scorers, and then watching Fred Baker (73) and Mike Caddick (53) settle in as though they'd booked the ground for the season. A crucial 98 for the fourth wicket rather took the wind out of our sails, and by the close of their 54 overs they'd posted a handsome 230/5. Small mercies: Richard Gower departed for a duck at our hands, and Paul Gibson (2-47) led a tidy bowling effort, with Trevor Back and Paul Bowles chipping in a wicket apiece — the latter also parsimonious enough to bowl three maidens.

Chasing 230 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. Jim Hall's 37 was the innings' backbone, well supported by Paul Bowles (34) and Trevor Back (29), with a useful 60 added for the fifth wicket to give us something to cling to. But Andy Woollett and Sean Riley both made the long walk back for nought, and we closed on a battling 141/9 from our 47 overs, well short of the target but with wickets enough in hand to suggest a draw was always on the cards.

Honours shared, then — a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side could quite land the killer blow. Paul Bowles continues his splendid all-round season, and we live to fight another Sunday.

Sat 07 Jul 1984 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLLLLL

Since we lost the toss on 7 July and were shown the field first, I suppose I only had myself to blame for what followed. Staplehurst set about us with real purpose — 72 for the first wicket before we so much as smelled a breakthrough, and from there Ian Henson simply refused to leave, compiling a magnificent 126 not out. John Munn chipped in an elegant 54 not out, Nigel Bardsley weighed in with 42, and a third-wicket stand of 76 put the game firmly out of reach. Jon Harris toiled manfully for his 2-61, with two maidens to show he wasn't just posting figures for the scorebook — but 277/3 from 45 overs left us with a mountain, not a molehill.

Our reply began with genuine promise — 61 on the board before the first wicket fell, Andy Woollett striking a handsome 52 and Bob Lines a stout 44 — and for a while one dared to dream. Then, as these things go, the roof fell in: 126-7 became 136 all out in the blink of an eye, with Tim Thirkell, Fred Cheesman and Ian Brattle all departing without troubling the scorers. As for your captain, I can only report a golden duck — proof, if any were needed, that leading by example is best attempted with bat in hand rather than merely in spirit.

Elsewhere in the season, Paul Bowles continues to pile up runs at the top of the table and Jon Harris the wickets, which is rather more than can be said for the rest of us this Saturday. Beaten by 141 runs, then — a hiding, no dressing it up. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 01 Jul 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLL

Sunday last saw us take on the visitors, and with first use of the ball I fancied our chances of pegging them back early. Instead we watched J Richards compile a handsome 63 and Paul Evans an unbeaten 50, with John Hartridge chipping in 43, before their last pair — cheek of it — put on 68 we could frankly have done without, dragging them to 250/8 from 60.1 overs. Jon Harris did the damage with 2-38, Paul Bowles and Sean Cook chipped away with 2-50 and 1-27 respectively, and Martin Larkin was positively miserly with two maidens. Behind the stumps, poor Paul Bowles had a torrid afternoon of it, 15 byes going begging.

Set 251, we might have folded, but Paul Bowles had other ideas, playing the innings of his life for a superb 167 not out, well supported by David Iliffe's 38, the pair adding 88 for the fifth wicket to give us real hope. Sean Riley and Martin Larkin both fell for ducks, proving even a golden season has its blots, and we closed on 251/9 from 60.3 overs — agonisingly, achingly, one wicket short.

Not our day, then, but hardly a wasted one: Bowles now leads our 1984 run charts with 851, and Harris tops the wicket-takers with 40, so the engine room is clearly purring even when the result isn't. Heads up, lads — back to the nets, and better luck next Sunday.

Sat 30 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformDLLLL

As it stands 30 June 1984, Skipper's log: the toss fell our way at Meopham, and I sent us in — felt the right call at the time, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what follows.

We laboured to 130 all out from our 44 overs, the innings held together largely by Mike Iliffe's unbeaten 25, while the rest of us contributed rather more modestly to proceedings. Not a total to strike fear into anyone, but Meopham had to make the runs, and cricket has a way of humbling the favourite.

Make them they did. Woodbridge and his opening partner put on 107 for the first wicket before we finally prised one out, and by then the game had rather slipped from our grasp — Woodbridge going on to a fine 85 as Meopham reached 134 for 5 in 29.4 overs. Small mercies: Brian Piper bowled beautifully for his 3 for 17, Nigel Thirkell squeezed the game dry with three maidens on his way to 1 for 44, Paul Bowles chipped in with 1 for 32, and poor Richard Friend departed without troubling the scorers.

The day did have its moment of genuine warmth amid the defeat — Paul Bowles brought up his 600th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that rather puts one wicket-less afternoon into perspective, and he remains our leading run-scorer and third in the wickets column this season.

Beaten by five wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Wed 27 Jun 1984 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · AwayformDDDLD

Lost the toss at Sevenoaks & District Wednesday and, as is traditional on these away trips, was invited to have a bowl in the sunshine while somebody else did the hard work of batting. Their innings duly closed on 212 for 7 from 41 overs, built chiefly around a handsome 80-run stand for the third wicket between S Hallbrook, who compiled a fine 67, and A Dean, not far behind on 66, with S Fry chipping in 33 for good measure. Paul Gibson was our pick with 3 for 55, Michael Chambers bowled with real discipline for 2 for 39 including three maidens, and J Winnington took 1 for 30. P Tapper was sent back for a duck, which was about the only cheer we got from their top order.

Chasing 213 was always going to want a calm head, and we produced everything but. Paul Bowles top-scored with a battling 22 and I added 22 of my own, but around us the innings simply came apart — 32 for 2 became 36 for 5 before most of us had found our guard, and both Paul Gibson and J Winnington departed for ducks having earlier done the damage with the ball. All out for 61 in 24.2 overs, the arithmetic was as brutal as it looked: beaten by 151 runs.

A chastening afternoon, then, and no dressing it up — though Bowles and Gibson at least lead our season's run and wicket charts, so someone's having a summer. We'll regroup, have a stern word with ourselves about batting collapses, and be better for it next week.

Tue 26 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformLDLLL

Tuesday 26 June 1984, and off we trundled to Hollingbourne, where the toss deserted us as reliably as ever and we were put into the field. On a day when the ball did rather more work than our figures suggest it should have, Mike Donald gave us a lesson in how it's done, compiling a composed unbeaten 85 while C Crang chipped in a useful 37, and between them they hauled Hollingbourne to 162 for 5 off their sixteen overs. Martin Larkin was our pick of the bowlers with 2 for 36, well backed up by Mike Elworthy (1-39) and Paul Gibson (1-45), though none of it was quite enough to stem the tide.

Chasing 163 was always going to want application, and for a while Paul Bowles (23) and Paul Gibson (22) suggested we might just have it in us. Alas, from 91 for 6 to 94 for 9 the innings went up in smoke like a badly lit barbecue, and we were bowled out for 94 in twelve overs and two balls. Martin Larkin, so miserly with the ball, returned the compliment with the bat by contributing a golden duck — cricket's way of keeping a man humble in the same afternoon he'd excelled.

Bowles continues to lead our 1984 run charts with 667 to his name, and Elworthy sits second in the wicket-takers with 23, so the season's furniture is in good order even if Tuesday wasn't. A defeat by 68 runs, then, and no dressing it up: not our day. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sun 24 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLDLL

Sunday 24 June 1984 saw us hosting on home turf, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and I'll say no more about it than that.

Brian Piper played the innings of the day, a handsome 58 that carried us through, though the rest of the order rather left him to it. An early wicket down for just 4 had us all peering nervously at our tea flasks, and poor David Lines contributed nothing more than a golden duck to proceedings. All told we mustered 125 all out from 51.2 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, I hoped, to give the lads something to bowl at.

And bowl they did. Paul Bowles was quite magnificent, snaring 7-30 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — a spell that will live long in the memory, and one that also carried him past Nigel Thirkell into second on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Jon Harris chipped in with 3-45, I found some rhythm myself for three wickets, and between us we reduced them to 92-8 with three ducks along the way, R Walker's 34 and B Whiteford's 23 notwithstanding. They were bowled out for 98.

By any sensible arithmetic that should have been enough — alas, 27 runs short tells its own sad story. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sat 23 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLLLDL

We lost the toss at West Farleigh and were sent out to field, which on a warm June afternoon felt rather like being handed the washing-up before you'd even had your tea. Their openers set about us with real purpose, putting on 83 before the first wicket fell, and Micky Back went on to make a chanceless 81, well supported by Chris Milstead's 25 and Barry Brigden's 22, as they built towards 198 all out in 45.4 overs. To our credit we hauled them back from 151-3 to 159-6 when it mattered, and Jon Harris span through them beautifully for 5-61, with Mike Elworthy toiling away for 4-83 including two maidens, and Paul Bowles chipping in with 1-30.

Chasing 198 was always going to ask questions of us, and Paul Bowles answered most of them with a fine 45, ably backed by Nigel Stallard's 36 and Malcolm Pay's 24, the pair adding 60 for the second wicket to give us something to dream on. But dreams, like teapots, are fragile things, and we subsided from 146-6 to 153-9 in the time it takes to butter a scone. Fred Baker, David Iliffe and Sean Riley all made the long walk back without troubling the scorers — three ducks paddling about the Linton Park pond this week.

We finished 153 all out in 42.5 overs, beaten by 45 runs. Paul Bowles remains our leading run-scorer this summer with 641, and Jon Harris tops the wicket charts with 35 — small consolations, but honest ones. A defeat, fair and square, but not a disgrace; we'll dust ourselves off and come again next Saturday.

Tue 19 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLLD

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 19 June 1984. We had the visitors round for tea and, having won the toss, sent them in to bat first, which felt like the right call at the time. They limped to 81 for 7 from their sixteen overs, Pete Worsnop's 21 the only real resistance, while Paul Gibson bowled quite beautifully for figures of 4 for 18 and Allan Cooper chipped in with 2 for 8. Restricting anyone to 81 in this form of the game usually has us fancying our chances.

Usually. We contrived to lose a wicket before a run was on the board, then slid from 0 for 1 to 12 for 4 with the sort of urgency normally reserved for closing time. Poor Bob Lines departed for a golden duck, bless him, and for a while it looked like a very long walk back to the pavilion for the rest of us. Allan Cooper, showing the calm of a man marking a rather special occasion, steadied things with 26, and I added a workmanlike 17, but 82 for 8 from our sixteen overs wasn't quite enough — beaten by two wickets in a real nip-and-tuck finish.

There was much to celebrate regardless: Allan's 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark achieved in style. Elsewhere Jim Hall continues to sit proudly 2nd in the season's run charts with 370, and Paul Gibson 3rd among the wicket-takers with 17. We'll be better for this one next week.

Sun 17 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv Lordswood CC · HomeformLLLLL

Sunday 17th June saw Lordswood CC come to us at Linton Park, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and, with a rare flash of tactical clarity, sent us in to bat.

What followed was as fine an opening stand as this diary has had the pleasure of recording. Our openers put on 95 before the first wicket finally fell, batting with a composure that left the rest of us purring on the boundary and wondering aloud whether we'd even be needed. Bob Lines was the chief architect, a fluent 62 that had the makings of something bigger, while Jim Hall — who continues his quietly magnificent season, now sitting second in the club's run charts with 369 to his name — chipped in a typically busy 42. Nigel Thirkell saw us home in style with an unbeaten 26, and we closed on a handsome 145 for 2 from our 34.2 overs.

With the bat done, it fell to us to defend it, and defend it we did — Lordswood's innings closed without registering a run to their name, a stubborn rearguard that denied us the win but denied themselves rather more besides.

So honours were shared, neither side able to force matters to a conclusion. A draw, then — not the result the scorebook suggests we deserved after that top order performance, but with batting like that on show, I'll take the point and the pride in equal measure.

Sat 16 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDLLLL

Saturday 16th June, and a rare thing occurred: I won the toss and actually made the right decision. In it went. 202/6 off our 39 overs was a proper platform, built chiefly on Bob Lines' fine 67, with Jim Hall unbeaten on 44 and David Iliffe chipping in 30 — the pair of them putting on 60 for the second wicket while I stood at the other end trying to look like I had a plan. The tail wagged merrily at the end too, rattling up a final 46 that no doubt had the opposition's fielders muttering into their tea.

Then, ball in hand, we turned distinctly nasty. Dave Goodyer's 21 was the only real resistance, but around him the innings simply collapsed — 6-1 inside the first over or two, with L Read and S Tucker both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was in irresistible form, ripping through with 5-34 and four maidens besides, mean as you like, while Mike Elworthy (4-45) and Nigel Stallard (1-32) tidied up the rest. All out for 118 in 31.2 overs — we won by 84 runs, and frankly I'm not sure the scorebook has ever looked so lopsided in our favour.

A nod, too, to Malcolm Pay, whose 22 today eased him past Robert Murray into 15th on the club's all-time run list — quiet history being made while the rest of us were still admiring Jon's figures.

A thumping win, then, and one to savour before humility inevitably comes calling again next Saturday.

Tue 12 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWDLLL

Beaten by 125 runs it may say in the book, but on a warm Tuesday at The Mote it felt rather closer to a beating with a cricket bat — theirs, mostly, wielded by R Holmes, who ground us into the Kentish turf for 90 not out. Lose the toss, field first, watch a man make ninety: not the afternoon I'd ordered from the sporting gods. John Lawrence chipped in a tidy fifty of his own, William Hickling weighed in with 25, and their fourth-wicket pair put on a thoroughly rude 79 before we could get a word in. Martin Larkin toiled manfully for 2-51, Jon Harris matched him wicket for wicket and run for run, and Allan Cooper's 1-18 was the closest thing to economy on offer. 197/5 from sixteen overs — competitive is one word for it.

Chasing it, we never quite got going. Jim Hall top-scored with a gritty 28, and for a while 51-3 looked almost respectable, before it became 59-6 with the alarming suddenness of a deckchair collapsing under a vicar. Sean Cook's contribution to proceedings was a golden duck, now safely inked into the Duck Club ledger for posterity 🦆. We limped to 72/7 from our sixteen and were duly seen off by 125 runs.

Small mercies: Jim Hall remains second in this season's run charts with 283, and Jon Harris tops the wicket-takers with 25 — proof there's steel in this side yet, even on days like this one. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 11 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformTWDLL

Monday 11 June 1984, and we welcomed our visitors with the sun out and hopes reasonably high — the kind of afternoon that promises much and, as it turned out, delivered rather less than we'd have liked.

Put into the field, we had them in some bother early on, and the middle overs were a joy to watch: 62-3 became 75-6 in the blink of an eye, and Paul Gibson led the charge with a fine 3-30, well supported by Mike Elworthy's 2-23 and Allan Cooper's solitary but useful scalp. Only Nigel Stallard, digging in for 34, gave the innings any real backbone, and they limped to 110/9 from their sixteen overs — a target that felt, briefly, within our compass.

It was not to be. Our reply never found its feet, collapsing from 61-3 to 69-6 in a rush that will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons, and we were bowled out for 72. The duck club welcomed three new members — Mike Elworthy, Simon Thirkell and David Lines all making that most dispiriting of walks back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Small mercy that Elworthy's ball still swings, his season's haul now sitting second in the 1st XI wicket charts with fourteen.

A defeat by 38 runs, then, and no dressing it up: heads down, back to the nets, and hope for sunnier scoring next time out.

Sun 10 Jun 1984 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LK Leigh CC, Kent · AwayformLWWLW

Sunday 10th June saw us make the pilgrimage to Leigh CC, a fixture that always demands more of the legs and the patience than most. The coin let us down at the toss and we were put into the field, which on reflection may have suited us less than we'd have liked. Nick Waite gave us a torrid time of it, easing to 73, with Gary Wood chipping in a handy 49, and a stand of 71 for their sixth wicket did the real damage as they closed on a stiff 189 for 9 from their forty overs. Credit where it's due, though — Trevor Back was magnificent with the ball, snaring 4 for 30, and Allan Cooper bowled with real discipline, 3 for 19 including three maidens, tight as a drum. Jon Harris weighed in with one for his efforts, and at least E Houghton departed for nought, which offered some small consolation amid the carnage.

Chasing 190 always looked a tall order, and so it proved, though not without a fight. Trevor Back, having done his bit with the ball, then did it again with the bat — a fine 66 that was easily the innings' backbone — well supported by Malcolm Pay's 21, the pair adding 60 for the third wicket to give us hope. In the end we fell short on 165 for 8, twenty-four runs shy.

Not our day, then, but Trevor Back's all-round effort was the story of the match, and sits him proudly atop both the run and wicket charts this season. Heads up, lads — back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sat 09 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWTWDL

Saturday 9th June, and away to Rumwood we went, where the toss deserted us as reliably as ever and we were sent straight into the field.

They ground out 160 for 5 from their 49 overs, and full credit where it's due: John Pearson (41 not out), Sam Simmonds (38) and Brian Aiston (33 not out) built a total that felt bigger than it read, especially once their fifth-wicket pair put on 58 together. We did have them 7 for 1 at one stage and must have wondered what might have been. Fred Cheesman was the pick of the attack with 3 for 51, Martin Larkin bowled a positively miserly spell — 6 maidens and 1 for 28 — and Mike Elworthy chipped in with 1 for 30. No complaints from the bowlers; the batsmen let us down.

And how. Eighty all out in 44 overs, with a wicket down before the scoreboard had so much as blinked, and a horror stretch from 67 for 6 to 80 for 9 that had me wincing from the other end. Three ducks in the book — Mike Elworthy, Simon Thirkell and John Hansford all took the long walk — and ten byes on top rounded off a torrid afternoon behind the stumps for poor Jim Hall, who at least can console himself with second place in the season's run charts.

Beaten by 80 runs, fair and square. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets — Rumwood have our measure for now, but there's plenty of season left to put it right.

Tue 05 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWTWD

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 05 June 1984. West Farleigh at home.

Won the toss, took first knock — still think it was the right call, whatever the scorebook now suggests. We limped to 65/9 off our sixteen, losing the first wicket for just 4 and then contriving a proper old-fashioned collapse, 28-2 crumbling to 33-5 before anyone had really settled into their tea. Special mention, as tradition demands, for Paul Gibson's diamond duck — the long, lonely walk back that we'll be reminding him of well into next season. Not our finest hour with the willow.

Bowling, we fancied our chances, but Fred Baker had other ideas, seeing West Farleigh home in style with an unbeaten 33, Micky Back keeping him steady company with 30 not out, and the pair simply batted us out of it inside eleven overs. I managed a workmanlike 17 myself, which felt like scant consolation as the runs kept flowing the other way. Elsewhere in the ledger, Paul Bowles continues to purr along nicely at the top of our 1984 run charts with 596 for the season — some comfort amid the wreckage.

In the end, beaten by five wickets, and fairly so. A day to file under "lessons learned" rather than "glory days" — heads up, chins out, and back to the nets to sort out whatever went missing between bat and pad.

Sun 03 Jun 1984 🧢 Sunday NVKCv UC Underriver CC · HomeformLLWWL

Sunday the 3rd of June saw Underriver CC roll up to Linton Park, and, having lost the toss for what felt like the four hundredth consecutive week, we were duly sent out to bowl. No matter — early ball in hand is no bad thing when the tea urn's already on.

Underriver made their way to 122 all out from 40 overs, a total more comfortable than it should have been given they lost their first wicket for just 8. Jeremy Bentall dug in for a well-made 65 not out, with G Hall's 29 lending sturdy support, and the pair put on 82 for the sixth wicket to drag things back from the brink. Credit to the lads in the field, though — Allan Cooper (2-18), Trevor Back (2-18, four maidens no less) and Paul Bowles (2-22) shared the wickets around, and Cowdroy, Gray and Scott all departed for ducks at our hands. Nothing given away lightly.

Chasing 123, we stumbled to 126/7 in 38.2 overs, rather more eventfully than the scorebook suggests. Trevor Back, clearly saving his best for last, followed his bowling with 32 not out, ably supported by Jon Harris's 23 — a knock that nudges him past Robert Murray to 14th on the club's all-time run list. A seventh-wicket stand of 50 got us home, I chipped in with 15, and Allan Cooper's golden duck was, mercifully, someone else's problem.

Three wickets the margin, nerves frayed but intact. A good day for the club.

Sat 02 Jun 1984 🧢 1st XIv CC Chatham Nomads CC · HomeformLLWTW

Right below the crease at 02 June 1984, we lost the toss and were sent in the field — the traditional Linton Park welcome to the Chatham Nomads.

They compiled 138 all out from their fifty overs, K Barton (33) and B Barton (23) doing the bulk of the building, before Jon Harris came steaming through the middle order to leave with 3-21. Paul Bowles (2-25, five miserly maidens — the man barely let the ball breathe) and Nigel Stallard (2-26) tidied up what was left. A fair morning's toil in the field, and 138 always felt a chaseable total on a decent surface.

Chasing it, though, was another matter entirely. We limped to 113/9 from our 54, and in truth it should have been comfortable — until the middle order decided otherwise, collapsing from a serene 36-4 to a distinctly less serene 44-7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Nick Dunham will not thank me for recording his duck for posterity, but the Duck Club ledger is unforgiving and the walk of shame has been duly noted. Paul Bowles, having already done his bit with the ball, batted through for 45 not out to drag us to safety, and I chipped in with 45 of my own for good measure.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite deserving to lose, and Jon Harris quietly passing 1,100 career wickets along the way. Not our finest hour with the bat, but character enough to salvage the day.

Thu 24 May 1984 🧢 1st XIv SC Snodland Community CC · AwayformWLLWT

Thursday 24 May 1984, and off we trundled to Snodland Community CC with the sun on our backs and, for once, a captain who won the toss and actually knew what to do with it. No hesitation from me — we were batting first, and thank heavens for that decision, because 135 for 2 off our sixteen overs was the sort of total that makes the walk back to the pavilion feel like a stroll rather than a retreat. Paul Bowles set about the bowling with real intent for a fine 63, and I'll confess to a quiet swell of pride watching Malcolm Pay glide to an unbeaten 60 alongside him — two half-centuries in one innings is not something this club sees every Thursday.

Defending it was another matter entirely, as it always is. Snodland's Richardson gave us a proper fright with a battling 43, and for a few overs the total looked distinctly gettable. But Mike Elworthy was magnificent, prising out 2 for 27 when we needed him most, with Jon Harris (2-33) and Paul Gibson (1-23) chipping away either side of him — and C Hale, for what it's worth, never troubled the scorers at all. They finished on 101 for 8, some 34 runs shy.

A satisfying personal afternoon with the bat, and a proper team performance behind it. Onwards indeed.

Sat 19 May 1984 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWWLLW

Saturday 19th May, and Headcorn came to Linton Park under a sky that, for once, played fair. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains a batting average all of its own — and we were put into the field.

Forty-six overs of honest toil later, Headcorn had posted 198 for 8, built chiefly around Alastair Lee's watchful fifty, with John Phipps (34) and Simon Phipps (26) chipping in to keep the innings ticking along nicely, perhaps too nicely for our liking. Credit where due: Jon Harris was quite magnificent with the ball, 4 for 56 and five maidens besides, bowling like a man who'd had words with himself at breakfast, while Martin Larkin chimed in with 3 for 59 to keep the squeeze on.

Chasing 199, we replied in kind rather than in a hurry. Bob Lines played the innings of the day, 78 full of the sort of common sense I wish I possessed at the crease, well backed by Nick Dunham's 23 and Malcolm Pay's unbeaten 23. We closed on 198 for 7 from 44 overs — one solitary run short, level on everything else, and honestly, you couldn't have separated us with a protractor.

A tie, then — cricket's rarest and most maddening verdict, the sporting equivalent of shaking hands and agreeing to disagree. Nobody quite deserved to lose, and for that matter nobody quite deserved to win either. We'll toast Jon Harris's league-topping 18 wickets and Paul Bowles's 471 runs this season, and take the tie as proof that on our day, we're anybody's equal — including, apparently, ourselves.

Tue 15 May 1984 🧢 1st XIv Addington Village CC · HomeformWWWLL

As Addington's last man trooped off, we'd already had our fill of drama out in the middle. Wednesday's forecast be damned — this one's for the gazette.

Winning the toss on 15 May, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and I'll allow myself a small pat on the back for that call. We lost an early wicket cheaply at 4-1, the sort of nervy start that has square-leg umpires reaching for their handkerchiefs, but the middle order steadied the ship handsomely — a third-wicket stand of 68 doing the heavy lifting. Jim Hall chipped in with 23, Allan Cooper stayed unbeaten on 22, and yours truly ground out an unbeaten 78 to see us home to 132/3 from our sixteen overs. Spare a thought, though, for poor Paul Gibson, whose golden duck will not go unrecorded in the club's less illustrious ledger.

Defending 132 always promises a nervous afternoon in the field, and so it proved. Addington slipped to 2-1 early, but John Scott (39) and T Francis (29) built a stubborn 51-run second-wicket stand that threatened to spoil our tea. Happily the floodgates then opened — 99-3 became 101-6 in a hurry — as Jon Harris ran through them for 2-23, with Cooper and Gibson (redeeming himself nicely with bat forgotten) chipping in with a wicket apiece. They fell short at 106/6.

A win by 26 runs, then, and not before time. Nice, too, to see Jim Hall's 23 nudge him past Brian Piper into 11th on the all-time run-scorers' list — the club's history quietly rewriting itself between overs. Onwards, and pass the sandwiches.

Sun 13 May 1984 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · HomeformWWWWL

Sunday 13 May 1984, and Highland Court's finest arrived at Linton Park with the sun out and, alas, the coin against us. I called wrong, they called bat, and off we trudged into the field with only our fielding boots for company.

It must be said, R Merriman gave us a proper going-over — 95 of the finest, with C Wells (71 not out) and A Drake (31 not out) joining in the fun, the two of them putting on 123 for the fourth wicket while we stood about admiring the scenery. 231/5 from their 48 overs was a formidable total, though credit where due — Paul Gibson toiled manfully for 2-56, Allan Cooper was miserly as ever with 1-21 and three maidens, and Mike Elworthy chipped in with 1-24. R Harriott, at least, we sent back without so much as a squeak off the bat.

Chasing 232, we lost an early wicket at 4 and looked distinctly rattled, before a third-wicket stand of 58 restored some order. Then came the sort of collapse that gives club cricket its character — 150-6 crumbling to 153-9 while I watched from the non-striker's end, powerless. Malcolm Pay, David Lines and Sean Cook all fell without scoring, which won't please the scorebook. Through it all, yours truly ground out 108 — my third century of a season now yielding 385 runs — with David Iliffe's 20 the only other support worth the name. All out for 158.

Beaten by 73 runs, then, and no arguing with the margin. But there's heart in that middle-order fight, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 12 May 1984 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWWWWW

We lost the toss on Saturday and were put in to field, which on a fine May afternoon felt less like punishment and more like getting first dibs on the tea urn. Rumwood built steadily to 187/5 from their 46 overs, with Colin Palmer (59) and Neville Smith (55) putting on a stand of 110 for the fourth wicket that rather took the shine off our afternoon. Mike Elworthy was the pick of the attack with 4-49, Paul Bowles chipped in with 1-35, and Jon Harris bowled six maidens of the sort that make batsmen mutter darkly into their gloves.

Chasing 188, we made a fair fist of it, closing on 172/4 from our 44 overs — fifteen runs short and left to rue what might have been. Jim Hall carried the innings superbly, finishing unbeaten on 71, with Paul Bowles (31) and Bob Lines (22) offering good support, and your correspondent contributed a workmanlike 31 of his own. Nigel Stallard's duck was the one blot on an otherwise respectable card, and nine byes conceded suggested Jim was having rather too testing a day behind the stumps for comfort.

Not our day, then, but no disgrace either — Bowles continues to top the season's run charts with 277 and sits second among the wicket-takers with 11, proof there's substance behind the scoreboard. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets: fifteen runs is nothing that can't be put right next time out.

Mon 07 May 1984 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWWWW

Lost the toss at Bearsted on Monday and duly found myself put out to field — never my favourite way to spend an afternoon, but there we are. The home side ground their way to 179 for 8 off 46 overs, built chiefly around Ted Holloway's well-made fifty, 60 in all, with David Brown (40) and Paul Gibson (26) lending sturdy support and a 4th-wicket stand of 51 doing the real damage. Credit to the lads with the ball, though: Allan Cooper led from the front with 3 for 37, Sean Cook chipped in with 3 for 40, and Jon Harris, tight as a drum with five maidens, took 2 for 72. Poor Mick Filmer, for the record, departed without troubling the scorers.

A target of 180 is never a formality, and so it proved, if profitably. Bob Lines made the runs that mattered with 40, Malcolm Pay (35) and Paul Bowles (26) kept things ticking, and an opening stand of 55 gave us the platform. Jim Hall's golden duck was the one blot, and Mike Elworthy had a trying time behind the stumps — 8 byes is not a figure he'll frame. I contributed a workmanlike 26 myself, more relief than glory.

Home by three wickets in 43.1 overs, two points banked, and thoroughly earned. A proper, honest scrap — the sort that reminds you why you bother.

Sun 06 May 1984 🧢 1st XIv SC Sandwich Town CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 6 May, and Sandwich Town rolled up looking rather pleased with themselves after winning the toss and sticking us in the field. As it turned out, that was about as good as their day got. We struck with the very first ball still on nought on the board, and the top order simply never got going — Alan Carpenter, David Mills and Andy Chapman all trooped back for ducks, which is not a sight for the faint-hearted but did wonders for our mood. Jon Harris was in imperious form, cutting through with 3-13, Paul Gibson bowled with the meanness of a man who's forgotten his round at the bar (3-20, four maidens), and Allan Cooper chipped in with 2-25. Only Kevin Beaumont's 40 gave the innings any shape at all, and Sandwich were all out for 94 in the 40th over.

Ninety-five to win is never quite the formality the scorebook suggests, and the chase had its wobbles, but Jim Hall batted beautifully for an unbeaten 37, with good support from Paul Bowles's 33. I'll confess to rather enjoying my own 33 in the middle of it all — a captain is allowed one moment of quiet pride. We got home by 5 wickets with overs to spare.

Bowles now leads our run charts for the season with 220, and Harris tops the wickets with 10 — the engine room, clearly, is in fine working order. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards indeed.

Sat 05 May 1984 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformWWLWW

Chins up, Linton Park — 5 May 1984, away at Bidborough, and if you'd told me at the coin toss (which I duly lost) that we'd come home with two points, I'd have taken it and asked no further questions.

Sent out into the field with Bidborough choosing to bat, we had them in bother early — 12 for 1 sliding to 18 for 4 as Eddie Keates, S Bristow and Alf Thorne trooped back without so much as a single to their name. Paul Bowles was the chief architect with a fine 4-20, Jon Harris toiled away for 4-31 with a miserly 11 maidens to his name, and Fred Cheesman chipped in with 2-40. Only M Tolhurst (41), G Reiss (26) and R Stedman (23) — with a stubborn 66-run stand for the seventh wicket — dragged them up to 147 all out. Credit to them for the fight; credit to us for the squeeze.

Chasing 148, Jim Hall played the innings of the day, a composed 52, well backed up by Bob Lines with 27. I'll confess I found some rhythm with the ball earlier and helped myself to four wickets, though I'm rather less keen to dwell on poor David Iliffe's afternoon — a golden duck to file in the club ledger alongside the rest of us who've walked that particular walk of shame. We got there with three wickets in hand, 151 for 7 from 39 and 5 overs.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and Paul Bowles continues to lead both the run and wicket charts for the summer — the man is in the form of his life. A proper away win, the kind you talk about in the bar long after the kit's been packed away.

Sun 29 Apr 1984 🧢 1st XIv CC Chatham Nomads CC · HomeformDWWLW

It was a proper afternoon at Linton Park on Sunday 29 April, Chatham Nomads the visitors, and I'll confess I didn't hang about at the toss — bat first, no debate, no committee meeting required.

The lads obliged handsomely. 202 for 4 off our 44 overs, built around a genuinely superb hundred from Paul Bowles — 101 of pure quality, the sort that makes the tea interval taste sweeter. Paul Gibson chipped in with 44 and Jim Hall with 35, the two of them stitching together an 87-run stand for the third wicket that took the innings from respectable to imposing. I'd call it the platform; Bowles built the house on top of it.

With the ball, we were relentless. Chatham never looked like chasing it down, and once we got among them — 140 for 7 collapsing to 146 all out in the blink of an eye — it was practically a procession. P Loader held firm for 43 and deserves credit for standing alone against the tide, but K Barton and W Balderstone both departed without troubling the scorers. Bowles led the attack beautifully with 3 for 13 — bat and ball both, showing off shamelessly — while Trevor Back was miserly beyond words, six maidens and 3 for 16, and Paul Gibson nicked one for a single run. My own figures of 3 wickets I shall mention only in passing, out of modesty, having already mentioned the century.

Ten byes did rather suggest Jim Hall spent the day chasing leather, but no matter. Bowles passed 19,000 career runs for the club, Trevor Back went through 200 career wickets and leapfrogged George Champion into 18th on the all-time list — a red-letter day all round. A fine win by 56 runs. Onwards.

Sat 28 Apr 1984 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformDDWWL

Saturday 28th April, and Penshurst Park rolled up as our guests. Lost the toss, they had first knock — and for a while it looked ominous, until they lost a wicket with the board still reading nought and nerves visibly jangled. Mark Jenner (46) and John Lambert (30) steadied things with M Mimms chipping in 23, and a seventh-wicket stand of 64 threatened to take the game away from us. But then the floodgates opened: 33-2 became 40-5 in the blink of an eye, Geoff Ray gone for a duck, and Penshurst subsided to 155 all out in 43.4 overs. Paul Bowles was the chief tormentor with 3-3, Mike Elworthy chipped away for 3-16, and Jon Harris bowled with real miserliness — 2-22 including four maidens that must have felt like torture to face.

With the ball put away, Paul Bowles took up the willow instead and simply carried on where he'd left off, cruising to 73 not out, well supported by Malcolm Pay (31) and Nigel Stallard (27), as we cantered to 157/2 in 33.1 overs. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes the price of an otherwise blameless day.

A word for Malcolm Pay, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours and, with his 31, eased past Ray Howard into 16th on the club's all-time run charts — history quietly made while the rest of us were busy admiring Bowles. An eight-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Onwards.