🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 28 Sep 1985 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · HomeformWDWDL

Saturday 28 September 1985. Won the toss, no hesitation — always bat first when the sun's out and the tea urn's on.

We laboured to 152/8 from our 48 overs, which felt about right on a pitch offering just enough for the seamers to keep everyone honest. Paul Bowles led the way with a sturdy 32, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 25 and Sean Charlton 23, while I contributed a modest 22 of my own — enough to keep the scorebook respectable, not enough to trouble the highlights reel.

In the field, we set about defending it with real purpose. Bowles was magnificent, 4 for 37 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly, and I'll happily take credit for bringing him on. Jon Harris backed him up handsomely with 3 for 30, and Matt Large chipped in with 1 for 21. Three of theirs — Grace, Collins and Rafferty — departed without so much as a run to their name. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes slipping through the gloves, but he'll dine out on worse tales at the bar. Hastings & St Leonards Priory rallied through Alan Booth-Jones (27), S Leach (23) and Ian Gillespie, unbeaten on 22, to close on 123/9 from 44.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite force it home. On the season's charts, Thirkell (1616 runs) and Harris (83 wickets) continue to lead from the front. A fair result, and a fine advert for the game as it should be played.

Wed 25 Sep 1985 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWDLLL

Wednesday brought us to Penshurst Park, and winning the toss I elected to bat — a decision I shall take full credit for, at least until someone reminds me otherwise. It wasn't the tidiest of starts, a wicket down with the board still reading nought, and there were moments when it threatened to unravel further, with both David Castle and Nigel Thirkell back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and Andrew Hales played the innings of the day with a fine 49, Paul Bowles anchoring things beautifully with an unbeaten 43, and Jim Hall chipping in with 22. A stand of 64 for the seventh wicket did the heavy lifting, and then, in true tail-end fashion, our last pair conjured a defiant 58 to haul us to a respectable 166 for 9 from our 40 overs.

With the ball, it was Nigel Thirkell's afternoon to make amends in style, running through Penshurst's order for a magnificent 5 for 25 — proof, if any were needed, that a duck with the bat is no predictor of form with the ball. Paul Bowles backed him up with 3 for 45 and Jon Harris took 1 for 43, while N Fowler, P Johnson and Michael Meade all departed for ducks of their own. Mark Jenner's 40, with support from P Grayland's 34 and C Fry's unbeaten 25, threatened to spoil our afternoon, but Penshurst fell 11 runs short, all out for 155 from 38 overs.

A thoroughly good day for the club, and a result the lads deserved.

Sun 22 Sep 1985 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWWDWD

Sunday 22nd September, and Anchorians came calling on a day that promised much and, in the end, delivered rather more drama than my nerves could comfortably take. I won the toss and never seriously considered doing anything but batting — a decision that looked positively inspired once David Castle and Ian Webb put on 82 for the first wicket in a stand of real quality. Castle went on to a fine 51, Webb chipping in handsomely with 36, and 152/4 from our 43 overs felt like a total with enough about it to make the tea rather more relaxing than usual.

Then Anchorians batted, and R Haley decided the occasion suited him rather too well, cantering to 80 while Paul Stanford's unbeaten 29 and Colin Myers's 26 kept the innings ticking along nicely for them — helped no end by a stand of 86 for the fourth wicket that undid all our good work. Nigel Thirkell toiled magnificently for 3-55, with three maidens to show he wasn't simply spraying it about, and Allan Cooper (2-25) and Jon Harris (1-31) did their bit too. Three ducks fell to us along the way, which offered brief consolation, but 153/7 from their 40 overs proved just enough.

Beaten by two wickets, then — the sort of margin that has you replaying every over on the walk home. Thirkell continues to lead our run charts and Harris our wicket charts this season, so the class is evidently there. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 21 Sep 1985 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLWWDW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 21 September 1985. We travelled to West Farleigh CC with the sun cooperating even if the toss did not, and I lost the coin flip for the umpteenth time this season, condemning us to field first.

They made hay to the tune of 172/7 from their 47 overs, Micky Back top-scoring with a fluent 45, Trevor Back weighing in with 30 and Tim Baker 23. It could have been considerably worse but for Nigel Thirkell, tight as a drum with 2-19 and three maidens to boot, while Paul Bowles and Matt Large chipped away either side of him for two apiece. A word too for Paul, who during all this quietly brought up 1000 career wickets — the kind of landmark that deserves a pint bought in his honour, and I daresay several were.

Chasing 172, we wobbled alarmingly to 6-1 before David Castle and Nigel Thirkell steadied the ship with a fine 90-run stand. Castle made a handsome 55, and Thirkell simply carried on where he left off with the ball, finishing unbeaten on 67 — a captain's innings if ever there was one. Matt Large added a brisk 20, and poor Malcolm Pay collected a golden duck for his troubles, bless him.

We finished level at 172/8, honours shared and nobody quite able to land the killer blow. A draw, then — fair reflection of an afternoon where both sides gave as good as they got, and Thirkell's all-round heroics kept our unbeaten skipper's blushes at bay.

Wed 18 Sep 1985 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDWDLL

Wednesday 18 September 1985, at home, and for once the coin did as it was told. I put the opposition in to field, which in hindsight was either shrewd captaincy or blind luck — you decide.

We flew out of the blocks. Jon Harris and Malcolm Pay put on 62 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a wicket, and for a glorious spell it looked like we might bat all day. Harris went on to a fine 48, Pay chipped in 26 and Paul Gibson added a tidy 20. Then, as only Linton Park can, it all went delightfully wrong: 121 for 4 became 131 for 7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, and poor David Castle contributed his golden duck to the cause 🦆. All out for 135 in 33.5 overs — a total that felt both generous and fragile.

Defending it, we scrapped hard. Trevor Back was superb, 1 for 9 and miserly throughout, with fine support from Paul Bowles (1-40, three maidens of pure stubbornness) and Jon Harris (1-47). But R Kemp made merry with 56, ably assisted by T Cooper's unbeaten 36, and they eased home on 136 for 3 with overs to spare. I did my bit with 48, for what little it was worth.

A nice footnote: Malcolm Pay's 26 nudged him past Jon Harris into 13th on the club's all-time run charts.

Not our day. Down by six wickets. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sun 15 Sep 1985 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformLLWWD

Sunday 15 September saw Dummy Club roll into Linton for what I hoped would be a tidy afternoon's work, and won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'll die on that hill.

We didn't half give ourselves a fright early on, losing a wicket with just 5 on the board, the sort of start that has you double-checking the tea urn is at least full. But Paul Gibson steadied things beautifully with a fine 46, Trevor Back chipping in with 31, and the pair of them put on 56 for the third wicket to drag us up to a defendable 150 for 8 off our 48. Special mention, of course, to Sean Riley, whose golden duck earns him a permanent entry in the club's ledger of shame.

With the ball we were, if I say so myself, rather good. The visitors got themselves nicely set on 49 from T Pearce and useful support from T Smith (31) and W Creed (22), but once we found our groove they folded from 127 for 7 to 131 all out in a blink, with three unfortunate souls walking back for ducks. Jon Harris was superb, 3 for 26, backed up by Nigel Thirkell's 2 for 26 and Paul Gibson's tidy 1 for 20 off four maidens — I even managed 16 with the bat for good measure.

A landmark day off the field too: Ian Webb brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, while Trevor Back climbed the club's all-time lists with both bat and ball. We got home by 19 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 14 Sep 1985 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformDLLWW

Saturday 14 September 1985 — Southborough CC came calling, the coin fell their way, and yours truly trudged back to the pavilion having lost the toss yet again. Small mercies: we got first use of the ball, which on a day like this counted for something.

Southborough limped to just 5 for the loss of their first wicket and we allowed ourselves a quiet smile, but Adam Hookway (36) and David Thorpe (31) steadied things, and an unbroken 52 for the eighth wicket between Barry Hart (31 not out) and company dragged them to a respectable 159 for 8 off their 46. The story of the innings, though, was Matt Large, who bowled with the discipline of a man who'd skipped his tea to concentrate — 5 for 53 with four maidens, a five-for thoroughly earned. Sean Charlton and Jon Harris chipped in with a wicket apiece for good measure.

In reply we were, by our own modest standards, positively serene about it all — 57 for 2 off 17 overs, Nigel Thirkell unbeaten on 24 and looking entirely unbothered by the whole affair, which is rather becoming his trademark; he now leads our 1985 run charts with 1,489 to his name, and Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with 75.

So, honours shared, a draw when neither side had the stomach or the overs to force it. Not a classic for the ages, but a thoroughly pleasant Saturday's cricket — and with bowling like Large's on show, I'll happily lose a few more tosses if it means watching that again.

Wed 11 Sep 1985 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWDWDL

Wednesday 11th September, and we welcomed The Mote CC to Linton Park under skies that, for once, matched neither our optimism nor our lack of it. I lost the toss — a coin that has developed a distinct grudge against me this season — and duly waved my opponents out to bat.

They made a fair fist of it, 173 for 9 off their 47, built chiefly around Keith Hatcher's polished 56, with Phil Jackson (32 not out) and Richard Chapman (29) keeping the scoreboard honest and a 5th-wicket stand of 59 doing real damage. Poor Alan Hughes trudged off for a duck, his sole consolation being the company of the Duck Club register. Matt Large was the pick of our attack, snaring 4 for 64 and bowling two miserly maidens for good measure, with Paul Gibson (2-16) and J. Milloy (1-21) chipping in nicely.

Chasing 174, we made a decent fist of our own, 153 all out from 45 overs, Ian Hammond leading the way with a fine 83 and a useful 2nd-wicket stand of 50. But cricket, as ever, delights in cruelty, and we collapsed from 131 for 3 to 136 for 6 in the blink of an eye, with Jim Hall and Dennis Salisbury both joining the ducks' parade.

Twenty runs the margin in the end — respectable in defeat, but defeat nonetheless. We'll dust ourselves down and come again next week.

Sun 08 Sep 1985 🧢 1st XIv M Madhatters · HomeformDDLLW

Onwards, Sunday 08 September 1985 — hosted Dummy Site, won the toss, and with the sun out and the wicket looking obliging, I had no hesitation putting us in.

The lads didn't disappoint. Paul Gibson led the way with a composed unbeaten 51, Ian Webb chipped in handsomely with 47, and Nigel Thirkell finished 34 not out to see us to a healthy 166/4 off 43.3 overs — though poor Dennis Salisbury will be nursing a golden duck for a while yet, one of those days we've all had. A total to be proud of, and enough, I felt, to give our bowlers something to work with.

And work with it they did. Dummy Site never got going, subsiding to 93 all out in 33.5 overs, with only K Widgery (28 not out) offering any real resistance while F O'Neill and T Bodley both departed without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was magnificent, ripping through with 4-31, Nigel Thirkell backed him up superbly with 2-21, J- Milloy snaffled one for next to nothing, and Allan Cooper bowled with the miserly discipline of a man collecting rent, sending down four maidens. I even found time to squeeze out 34 of my own with the bat.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and a 73-run win to show for it. With Thirkell now sitting atop our 1985 run charts on 1465 and Harris leading the wickets on 74, the season continues to purr along nicely. Long may it continue.

Sat 07 Sep 1985 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · HomeformWDDLL

Saturday 7th September 1985 — Sibton Park CC visited, and having lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season, we were put into the field with nothing but hope and a new ball.

It could have gone badly. Woods and Erricker put on a stand of 60 for the second wicket that had me checking my watch and wondering about tea. But Jon Harris, spinning it as if the pitch owed him money, ripped through them for 5-40 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and between him, Paul Bowles (2-34) and Paul Gibson (1-32), Sibton Park were shot out for 142 off 42.5 overs. Woods' 40 and Erricker's 36 were the only real resistance.

Our reply began in the worst possible fashion — 4 for 1 and the usual muttering on the boundary — before Paul Bowles and Nigel Thirkell settled in and simply refused to leave, adding 107 together. Bowles made a fine 66, Thirkell 52, and I'll confess to a quiet pride in contributing 52 of my own from the middle order, for whatever that's worth on a captain's scorecard. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes the price of a lively surface, and Paul Fox, A Impett and D Price will want their names kept out of the papers this week.

We got home by 6 wickets, 146 for 4 in 40.5 overs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one Jon Harris — now on 70 wickets for the season — did rather more than his fair share to earn.

Sun 01 Sep 1985 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformWWWWL

Beacon CC away, Sunday morning, and I had no hesitation at the toss — flat pitch, bat first, no arguments. What followed was a bit of a grind: 113/6 from our forty-five overs, the innings held together by Richard Ashby's 42 and Nigel Thirkell's watchful 24. Poor David Castle, meanwhile, made his way back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers — the Duck Club adds another name to its ledger, and I dare say he'll not thank me for the mention.

A modest total to defend, and not one that had me brimming with confidence as we took the field. But cricket delights in confounding its captains. H Nankervis threatened to bat us out of it with 41, well supported by Jonathan Lean's unbeaten 27, yet once the lower order arrived we simply would not let go — 104 for 7 became 107 all out in the blink of an eye, Ralph Williams, E Thomas and David Hocking all departing for ducks of their own. Paul Bowles was magnificent, five for 34 and thoroughly deserved, with Michael Chambers miserly and menacing in equal measure — 4 for 37 with five maidens — and Nigel Thirkell chipping in for good measure.

Six runs the margin, two points the reward, and rather more grey hairs than I'd have liked. A famous, nerve-shredding win, and one the lads will dine out on for weeks.

Thu 29 Aug 1985 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformLWWWW

Beaten again, but not disgraced — Falmouth away, Thursday 29 August 1985, and Neptune once more sided with the home side when the coin came down against us. No matter; a spot of fielding practice never hurt anyone, even if it did rather run to forty overs.

They crawled to 3 for the loss of their opener before Ashburn and company settled in, Ashburn compiling a watchful fifty, Meneer 26 and Gimpson 25 lending sturdy support, and an eighth-wicket stand of 65 doing most of the damage. But then — glory be — the wheels came off in glorious fashion, 22-3 collapsing to 34-6 as Michael Chambers, bowling like a man possessed, spun his way to 6-23 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, ushering Lenderyou, Miller and Young back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer. Thirkell (1-6) and Back (1-19) tidied up what little was left. All out 127/9 felt, at the time, almost gettable.

It wasn't. Our reply subsided to 2-1 before it had properly begun, David Castle contributing a stylish nought, and only Nigel Thirkell's watchful 20 offered much resistance as we limped to 74/7. Fifty-three runs the wrong side of the ledger by the close.

Small consolations amid the wreckage: Chambers's six-for eases him past Stan Wratten to 25th on the club's all-time wicket list, and he now leads the 1985 Tour XI bowling with nine scalps, with Back handily placed second in the run charts. As for the rest of us — we'll be better for it next week. We'd rather like to be, anyway.

Wed 28 Aug 1985 🧢 Tour XIv SC St Austell CC · AwayformWLWWW

Wednesday last, we made the trip down to St Austell CC, and for once the coin behaved itself — heads, and I had no hesitation in sending us in, largely on the grounds that batting first meant I could put my feet up in the pavilion a while longer before facing anything sharp.

We stumbled early, 7 for 1, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for his hip flask, but David Castle steadied things beautifully on his way to a fine 60, well supported by Trevor Back's 32, and a stand of 75 for the fifth wicket did the honest work of turning a wobble into a total worth defending. We closed on 158 for 6 from our 45 overs — not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but cricket, thankfully, isn't played on paper.

St Austell began confidently enough before losing a wicket without scoring, and thereafter the innings rather came apart at the seams — 41 for 3 became 44 for 6 in the blink of an eye, with Roger Caddy, D Powell and R Lang all departing without troubling the scorers. Michael Chambers was superb, 3 for 12, backed up by Trevor Back's 2 for 11 (three maidens — not a run given away lightly) and Nigel Thirkell's 1 for 15. R Hawke's 33 and Keith Hore's 26 were the only real resistance, but St Austell were bowled out for 126.

A win by 32 runs, then, and a tidy little footnote besides — Trevor's 32 nudges him up to 23rd on our all-time run charts. Onwards.

Mon 26 Aug 1985 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDWDDL

Lost the toss on a warm Bank Holiday Monday and duly watched Bearsted make themselves at home in front of our own tea urn — the story of the summer, really. They raced to 63 without loss before we found our lines, and from 63-1 to 76-4 the game turned rather sharply in our favour. Norman Bateman and Robin Cunningham departed for ducks apiece, and credit where it's due: Jon Harris was superb, 4-26 including nine miserly maidens, with Nigel Thirkell (3-31) and Matt Large (3-35) squeezing from the other end. Mick Filmer's 31, backed by Mark Stevens's 26 and Andy Naish's 22, just about held their innings together, and 125 all out felt, at tea, like a target very much within our grasp.

It wasn't to be. Nigel Thirkell battled hard for 47 — the same score I managed myself, for what little comfort that offered — while Paul Gibson and David Piper both fell without scoring. Jim Hall's nine byes told their own tale of a trying afternoon behind the stumps, though nobody begrudged him a thing: this was his 400th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth raising a glass to regardless of the scoreboard. I chipped in with three wickets myself, for what it was worth.

125 all out, 112 all out — beaten by 13 runs, undone as much by our own carelessness as anything Bearsted did well. Thirkell and Large continue to lead the run and wicket charts respectively, and rightly so. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 25 Aug 1985 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformDDWDD

Won the toss on a bright Sunday and, with the sort of confidence I'd later regret, stuck us in against Dummy Site. Eighty-two all out in 46.2 overs is not the stuff of Wisden, though Paul Gibson's watchful 22 and Sean Charlton's brisk 20 gave the innings some backbone before it folded like a deckchair in a gale — 64 for 5 became 78 for 8 almost before I'd finished my tea. Jim Hall and Allan Cooper both contributed golden ducks to the cause, which I shall charitably call "sacrifices for the team".

Eighty-two felt thin to defend, and so it proved, though not without a fight. Their innings wobbled beautifully from 47 for 3 to 61 for 6, and for a heady twenty minutes I allowed myself to dream. Sean Charlton, having done his bit with the bat, did rather more damage with the ball — 2 for 15 — while Matt Large (2 for 19, three maidens of pure stinginess) and Nigel Thirkell (2 for 20) squeezed hard. But K Hewitt stood firm on 26 not out and steered them home on 83 for 6 in 40.1 overs.

Down by four wickets, then — not our finest hour, though Nigel Thirkell continues to top the season's run charts and Matt Large the wickets, so the engine room is still purring even when the chassis rattles. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Wed 21 Aug 1985 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformLWDWD

Wednesday 21 August, and Gravesend CC rolled up to Linton Park, won the toss, and had the cheek to put us in the field first — never my favourite start to proceedings. Their innings crawled to 45.4 overs before folding for 127, Colin Myers' watchful 33 doing the damage, John Hardy (22) and Dave Elliott (21) lending a hand either side. It might have been considerably worse but for Jon Harris, who span through them like a man possessed — 5 for 34 of pure witchcraft — well supported by Sean Riley's 3 for 42 and the ever-parsimonious Paul Gibson, whose 1 for 17 included three maidens that gave away precisely nothing. A happy day with the ball for yours truly too, it must be said — five wickets do wonders for the mood.

The bat, alas, told a rather different tale. We slid from 10 for 1 to 13 for 4 in a positively unseemly hurry, and though Richard Chapman fought manfully to a fine 52, the rest of the order rather let the side down — Dennis Salisbury, Andrew Kember and Jim Hall all making that familiar walk of shame for ducks. All out for 99 in 35.3 overs, 28 runs shy of the target.

Not our day, then, though the season charts still shine — David Castle leads our run-scoring with 96, Jon Harris the wickets with 9. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sun 18 Aug 1985 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · HomeformWDDWD

Sunday 18th August 1985, and Whitstable rolled up to Linton Park under skies that promised more than they delivered — much like our top order, most seasons. I lost the toss, they had a bat, and the lads trudged out to field with the resigned good humour that's kept this club afloat for donkey's years.

Whitstable ground their way to 190/9 off their fifty, Andy Parker top-scoring with 44 and finding useful company in Duncan Hardy and R Mills, both on 33, their third-wicket stand of 53 doing most of the damage. Credit where it's due: Nigel Thirkell was the pick of the attack with 2-20, Sean Charlton and Jon Harris chipped in with 2-41 and 2-58 respectively, and Paul Gibson bowled two maidens so mean you'd think he'd taken the club subs personally.

Chasing 190, we owed almost everything to Nigel Thirkell, who batted like a man with somewhere better to be — 70 of the finest, built on an 88-run second-wicket stand with Ian Webb (31), with Paul Gibson's 25 adding further backbone. We fell short at 183/8 from our 45, but not for want of trying.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, tea presumably better than the batting. With Thirkell now sitting proudly atop the run charts and Harris lurking second among the wicket-takers, one begins to suspect we've simply been assembling the season around two men and hoping the rest of us don't get in the way. On this evidence, not a bad policy at all.

Sat 17 Aug 1985 🧢 1st XIv BC Brackley CC · HomeformWWDDW

Saturday 17 August 1985, Brackley CC visiting Linton Park, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first strike — the sort of decision that either makes you look a genius or a fool by teatime.

Batting first, we made 143/9 from our 51 overs, and the innings owed most of its shape to Jim Hall, whose well-crafted 55 anchored things nicely, with Nigel Thirkell chipping in a handy 34 alongside him — the two put on 76 for the second wicket, which was very much the heart of our total. After that, though, it all rather came apart at the seams: 119-4 became 133-7 before anyone quite knew what had happened, and I confess I watched most of it through my fingers.

Defending 143 is never a comfortable brief, but the lads set about it well. Brackley slipped to 6-1 early, which had us purring, only for M Brown (38) and D Hutton (24 not out) to steady things with a stubborn 56-run stand for the sixth wicket. Then Matt Large decided enough was enough, tearing through with 5-22 — seven of his overs maidens, no less — well backed up by Nigel Thirkell's 2-22, and 6-1 became 17-4 as the innings unravelled. Brackley closed on 97/7 from their 45.

A word for the mantelpiece: Jim's 55 lifted him past Frank Brattle into 10th on the club's all-time run list. In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the decisive blow — fair enough on the day's evidence, and no disgrace in that.

Sat 27 Jul 1985 🧢 1st XIv NH Newchapel and Horne · AwayformWWWDD

Saturday 27 July 1985, and off we trundled to Dummy Site with the sun more or less behaving itself. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — the sort of decision that looks either visionary or reckless by teatime, and I'm delighted to report it was the former.

Andy Woollett and Sean Riley simply refused to give it back, cracking 221 for the first wicket before anyone in green even got a sniff. Andy went on to a magnificent 144, Mike Elworthy chipped in a tidy 64, Sean made 39, and even our extras column pitched in 25 as if it fancied a knock too. 309/3 from our forty overs was the sort of total that makes the tea urn taste sweeter.

Defending it, we were rampant. T Whyatt was superb with the new ball, finishing 4-45, with Matt Large (3-24) and the metronomic Nigel Thirkell (2-39, four maidens — not a run given away lightly) squeezing the life from the innings. P Wann's 43 and a defiant 71-run second-wicket stand were the only real resistance before it all came apart: 97-3 became 104-6 in a blink, and D McVitty and D Wann both departed without troubling the scorers. They were bowled out for 160. My afternoon behind the stumps was rather less distinguished — fourteen byes is not a number I'll be framing.

Andy's 144 also nudged him up to 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, past George Champion — no small feat. A fine win by 149 runs. Onwards.

Thu 25 Jul 1985 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWLWDW

Skipper's Log, Thursday 25 July 1985. We hosted, I won the toss, and had a rare rush of blood to elect to bat — for once, the right call, and I shall be dining out on that decision for weeks. The lads settled in nicely and ground out 168/6 from our 48.5 overs, the innings built almost single-handedly on the broad shoulders of David Castle, who batted through for a magnificent 90 not out. The rest of us contributed rather more modestly, but a total north of 160 felt like something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did. Jon Harris was in imperious touch, four wickets and four maidens to his name — the sort of miserly spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea. J. Milloy and Steve Petty chipped in with two apiece, and I even managed to rediscover some rhythm of my own with four wickets, which did wonders for the captain's authority. But A. Ashworth batted us out of it with an unbeaten 53, well supported by P. Robinson's 35, and their last pair saw out the overs to close on 156/9.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. With Castle now topping our 1985 run charts and Harris leading the wickets, there's real substance in this side — we merely lacked the final twist of the knife. A fair result, and, dare I say, rather a good watch.

Sun 21 Jul 1985 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformWWWWD

Ninth of the season we've had one of those — asked to bowl and made to work for every run of it.

Skipper's Log, Sunday 21 July 1985. Down to Folkestone, then, and losing the toss meant we were straight into our whites and out with the ball while the tea urn was still cold. Folkestone dug in rather than dashed, grinding their way to 165 for 9 off 55.2 overs — Adrian Bray the chief architect with 46, Stan Purcell chipping in 34 and Roy Downey 27, with a stubborn 52-run fourth-wicket stand doing most of the damage to our patience. Small mercy: Nigel Warwick departed for a duck at our hands, which at least gave the boundary rope something to laugh about.

The real story, though, was Jon Harris, who bowled as if he had a personal grievance with the Folkestone order — 6 for 36, a five-for and thoroughly earned, backed up nicely by Trevor Back's 2 for 35 and Matt Large's tidy 1 for 35, the latter locking down four maidens as if his overs were on a meter.

With the bat we never quite got going, limping to 96 for 9 off our 46, Jim Hall's watchful 24 the one innings with any backbone to it. Nigel Thirkell still tops the run charts with 1225 for the season, and Harris now sits on 58 wickets — the man is turning into a menace.

Honours shared in the end. A draw that felt, frankly, like a mild triumph of stubbornness over style — and in village cricket, I'll take that every time.

Sat 20 Jul 1985 🧢 1st XIv RC Rainham (Kent) CC · AwayformLWWWW

Rainham (Kent) won the toss and inserted us — proof, if ever it were needed, that our reputation for hospitality extends even to giving the opposition first use of a flat pitch. They ground their way to 202 for 7 off 45.5 overs, Glen Cook the chief tormentor with a fine 86, well supported by Mark Richards's 43, the pair sharing 66 for the fourth wicket while the rest of us stood about admiring the scenery. Jon Harris, however, was in no mood for sightseeing, tearing through them with 5 for 53, while Nigel Thirkell bowled with the miserly discipline of a man checking the church collection plate — 1 for 49 with three maidens to show for his honesty.

Chasing 203, we lost an early wicket with just 4 on the board, which had the tea urn rattling nervously, but Nigel Thirkell — clearly not one to let a good bowling spell go unanswered — set about repairing things with a splendid unbeaten 71, adding 75 for the third wicket alongside Andy Woollett's 38. I confess to some quiet satisfaction in contributing 71 myself, leading from the front as any captain likes to claim, though the truth is I was simply following Nigel's lead. Poor Malcolm Pay departed for a duck, joining Paul Fisher in the club's growing gallery of golden nothings.

We closed on 138 for 5 off 37, honours shared. A draw, then — the great English compromise, and on this evidence, entirely fair. Nigel Thirkell continues to top our run charts and Jon Harris our wicket-takers, and if the rest of us can merely stay out of their way, 1985 may yet be remembered kindly.

Sun 14 Jul 1985 🧢 1st XIv MC Morden Village CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 14 July 1985, and I called correctly at the toss — a small mercy, given the week I'd had — and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first. We stumbled early, 8 on the board and a wicket gone, the sort of nervy start that has you reaching for the flask before the tenth over is out. But Sean Charlton and P Garratt steadied things with a stand of 54 for the second wicket, Charlton going on to top-score with 41, Garratt chipping in 26 and Paul Gibson 20, taking us to a respectable 154 for 7 from our 41.2 overs. I even managed 19 myself, which for a captain who spends most Sundays marshalling fields rather than middling anything, felt like a bonus.

Then to the field, where Dummy Site's innings simply came apart at the seams. 8 for 1 became 17 for 4 in a blur, R Pearce and R White both back in the hutch without troubling the scorers, and only Brown's watchful 24 lending the innings any shape at all — they were bowled out for 63 in 40 overs. Matt Large was the pick with 3 for 9, Nigel Thirkell matched him with 3 for 9 and six miserly maidens besides, and I was delighted to pocket 3 for 11 myself. Ten byes did rather give the game away for poor Paul Gibson behind the stumps, but no matter.

Won by 91 runs, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved. A grand day out.

Sat 13 Jul 1985 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWWLWW

Saturday 13 July 1985. Horton Kirby CC were the visitors, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or daft by teatime, and I'm delighted to report it was the former.

We stumbled early, losing our second man with the score on a nervous 2-1, but Nigel Thirkell and Andy Woollett steadied the ship magnificently, adding 122 for the third wicket. Thirkell's 69 and Woollett's 61 were the innings' backbone, and with 27 extras thrown in for good measure we reached a healthy 198/7 from our 46 overs. Poor Jim Hall, meanwhile, made his way back to the pavilion for a duck — the walk of shame indeed, though he'd make amends later.

With ball in hand we were rampant. Matt Large was in unplayable form, spinning his way to 5-62 and, en route, bringing up his 50th career wicket — a genuine mantelpiece moment. Jon Harris (3-23) and Nigel Thirkell (2-43) tidied up the rest, and Horton Kirby were bowled out for 139, Ian Scott's 26 and Keith Williams' 24 the only real resistance. A Lee went for nought to keep Jim Hall company in the Duck Club, though Jim's afternoon behind the stumps — 8 byes and all — was rather harder going than his bowlers'.

A comfortable 59-run win, then, and with Thirkell and Large leading the season's run and wicket charts respectively, the signs for 1985 are thoroughly encouraging. Onwards.

Sun 07 Jul 1985 🧢 1st XIv RA Reeds Aylesford · HomeformLWWLW

Sunday the 7th of July found us hosting Reeds Aylesford, and having called correctly at the toss I did the sensible thing and stuck us in to bat — a decision I shall claim full credit for, whatever the scorebook might later suggest about my own contribution with the willow. Brian Piper and Nigel Thirkell set about proceedings with real purpose, the pair putting on 67 for the first wicket before anyone in green could so much as trouble the scorers. Piper went on to a fine 74, Thirkell finished unbeaten on 66, and Paul Bowles chipped in a brisk 34 as we closed on a handsome 207 for 3 from our 54 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

In the field we were rather spoiled for choice. Bowles, having batted so nicely, turned his arm over to superb effect with 3 for 33, while Matt Large (2 for 17, with two tidy maidens thrown in for good measure) and David Iliffe (2 for 17) squeezed the life out of the innings. Poor Matt Lemoine departed without troubling the scorers at all. Only B Seager, with a battling 47, threatened to make a match of it, and Reeds Aylesford were all out for 155. I shall gloss over the 17 byes that crept past Mike Elworthy — a testing afternoon behind the stumps, if ever there was one.

A word, too, on Brian Piper's 5,000 career runs for the club — thoroughly deserved, and toasted accordingly. A fine win by 52 runs. Onwards.

Sat 06 Jul 1985 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformDLWWL

Saturday 06 July 1985, and Staplehurst CC came calling. I won the toss – a rare enough event to merit its own line in the scorebook – and, with the pitch looking obliging, had no hesitation in batting first.

Nigel Thirkell set about proving why he sits atop our season's run charts, compiling a fine 57, while Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 41; their 59-run opening stand gave the innings the spine it needed, and we closed on a respectable 177/7 from our 46 overs.

Defending it, we made hard work of the early exchanges as Pullen (46) and Rogers (43) put on 70 for the sixth wicket and threatened to make fools of us all. But cricket has a way of turning quickly, and turn it did — 32/2 became 39/5 before Staplehurst knew what had hit them, Bardsley and Munn trudging back without so much as a run to their names. Matt Large, our leading wicket-taker for the summer, was again the chief tormentor with 3-21, well backed by Jon Harris (2-34) and the admirably parsimonious Paul Gibson, whose 2-39 came with five maidens attached.

Staplehurst were bowled out for 154, leaving us winners by 23 runs and two points thoroughly banked. A day when the top order laid the foundation and the bowlers finished the job with real relish — precisely the sort of collective effort that makes captaincy, on occasion, look almost easy.

Sun 30 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLWW

Skipper's Log, Sunday 30 June 1985

Well, that's cricket for you. Won the toss, put them in, and for a while it looked a reasonable shout — one down for just 1 had us thinking we'd nicked an early breakthrough, but P Cox and T Iliffe had other ideas, adding a chunky 81 for the third wicket and taking the shine off everything. Cox got to a fine 58, Iliffe 48, Andy Woollett chipped in with 23, and we were left to rue that early promise. Small mercies: P Garratt back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. Paul Gibson span his way to 5-97 — and en route brought up 50 career wickets, which deserves a raised glass regardless of the final margin — while Matt Large bowled a tight, miserly 3-39 with three maidens thrown in for good measure.

Chasing it down was never going to be straightforward, and so it proved. Brian Piper's 39 was the one bright thread through our innings, but 49-1 unravelling to 52-4 in what felt like the time it takes to put the kettle on rather undid us, with Trevor Back and Sean Cook both back in the pavilion for ducks. All out 89 in 34.5 overs told its own sorry story.

So, down by 107 runs — not our day, not by a distance. Sean Charlton continues to hold up his end in the run charts, Matt Large leads the wickets, and Gibbo's half-century of scalps is one for the scrapbook. The rest of us, though: heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 29 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWLDLW

Saturday 29 June 1985, and Meopham CC rolled up on a day that felt, for once, entirely on our side. I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, elected to bat — a decision that took roughly no thought at all and, for once, no second-guessing afterwards either.

We settled to 150/4 off our 46, built on a fine platform from Paul Bowles, who middled his way to a well-crafted 59, and a 2nd-wicket stand of 70 that did all the heavy lifting. Bob Lines chipped in unbeaten on 29, Malcolm Pay made a tidy 27 — a knock that, we later discovered, also nudged him past Jon Harris into 13th on the club's all-time run charts, which is the sort of thing that gets you a nod at the bar even on a day you were dismissed for a modest 20 yourself, as I was.

In the field Meopham gave it a proper go, reaching 145/8 in their 44 thanks to R Woodbridge's determined 49, with support from W Gunyon and Paul Lamb. But Paul Bowles, four wickets and six maidens to his name, strangled the innings at the death, with Jon Harris weighing in with three more. Poor Barrie Lewis-Ranwell and M Pennells never got off the mark.

Five runs the margin, five runs the story. A proper afternoon's cricket, and a very good day for the club.

Tue 25 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformDWLDL

Tuesday 25th June, Dummy Site, and a lovely evening for it. I won the toss and elected to bat, which for once even I got right. The lads set about their work with real purpose — Nigel Thirkell playing a proper captain's innings of his own, 69 not out, while Paul Bowles chipped in a handy 33 alongside him. Sixteen overs and 124 for the loss of just one wicket is the sort of total that lets you enjoy your tea rather than gulp it down, and I confess I did both.

Defending it was never going to be a stroll, and so it proved. J. Adams gave us an uncomfortable evening with a fine 47, well supported by R Warboys' 26, and the pair put on 72 for the first wicket before we so much as glimpsed a breakthrough — there were one or two moments in the field where I found something very interesting to study on my bootlaces. But patience and Allan Cooper's excellent 2 for 31 dragged us back into it, Nigel Thirkell chipping in again with the ball for 1 for 43, because naturally the man can't help himself. They finished on 100 for 3 from their sixteen, 24 runs shy.

A good day for the club, and no mistake — Nigel Thirkell continues to make the rest of us look faintly ornamental, but we'll take the win, the sunshine, and the extra pint it earns him at the bar.

Sun 23 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDWLD

Here it is, ready for the gazette:

Well, that was a funny old game. Winning the toss on Sunday, I put us into the field first — a decision that looked shrewder by the over as the visitors were shot out for 103 in 51 overs, R Atkinson's watchful 28 and J Best's 20 the only real resistance. The rest came and went with alarming regularity, none more so than the three unfortunate souls — D Barton, S Sanford and R Edwards — who departed without troubling the scorer. Sean Cook was magnificent with the new ball, a spell of 4-11 that had them hopping, well backed by Jon Harris's 3-25 and Nigel Thirkell's tidy 1-12, while Matt Large bowled four maidens of such parsimony you'd think he'd invented the concept himself.

So far, so promising. Alas, cricket has a way of keeping a captain humble, and our reply of 104/4 from 35.4 overs told its own story of nerves and near misses. Nigel Thirkell top-scored with 38, Sean Charlton chipping in an unbeaten 31, and the pair's 56-run stand for the fourth wicket was the only thing standing between us and outright embarrassment — but it wasn't quite enough, and we slipped to defeat by five wickets.

Thirkell continues to churn out the runs at the top of the club's charts with 865 for the season, and Large keeps hoovering up wickets with 38 to his name — small mercies on an otherwise chastening afternoon. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 22 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDLDWL

Saturday 22 June 1985 — West Farleigh CC the visitors, and honours shared in the end, though not without a fair bit of drama along the way.

Lost the toss again, which by this point in the season I've come to regard less as bad luck and more as a personal vendetta from the coin itself. West Farleigh chose to bat, and for a good while looked set to make a proper afternoon of it. But this is where the lads earned their tea. Matt Large, spinning away as though the pitch owed him money, tore through the middle and lower order for 5-64, ably supported by Paul Gibson's tidy 3-8 and Jon Harris, who bowled with the miserly discipline of a man checking everyone's change twice — 1-7 and four maidens to show for it. Grant Wells departed for a duck, which I shall not dwell on further out of professional courtesy. Simon Day's 20 was the best West Farleigh could muster as they slid from a promising 101-7 to all out for 108 in 43 overs — a proper collapse, the kind that warms a captain's heart even as it strains the fielders' knees.

With 108 to chase, we never looked remotely troubled. Nigel Thirkell, who continues his quietly magnificent season, steered us to 52-1 from 18 overs with an unbeaten 35 that had all the urgency of a man strolling to the pub. He now leads our run charts with 827 for the summer, while Matt Large sits proudly atop the wickets column with 37.

A draw, then — honours shared, tea taken, and nobody's ego too badly bruised. I'll call that a good day's work.

Thu 20 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformDDLDW

1985 was a mixed evening. We won the toss — no, hang on, we didn't; Staplehurst won it and had first use of the bat, which on a Thursday evening always feels like the wrong end of the stick.

They laboured to 103/9 from their sixteen overs, R Thomas doing the heavy lifting with 28 while the rest of the order came and went around him — 86 for 6 became 96 for 9 in the sort of collapse that has spectators reaching for their tea rather too eagerly. Matt Large was the chief architect of the discomfort, snaring 4-23, with Jon Harris (3-37) and Nigel Thirkell (1-27) chipping away either side of him. A fine effort in the field, and one that left us needing 104 to win — eminently gettable, or so we told ourselves.

Alas, our own innings had the same wobble built in. Brian Piper's 25 and Nigel Thirkell's 20 gave us a platform, and I contributed 20 of my own, but 61 for 3 became 79 for 6 all too briskly and we subsided to 86/7. Jon Harris, fresh from his bowling heroics, completed the full cricketing indignity with a golden duck — the sort of symmetry only this game can serve up.

There was a proper silver lining, mind: Nigel Thirkell brought up 15,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth toasting in the bar regardless of the result, and he continues to lead our 1985 run charts with 792, with Jon Harris top of the wicket pile on 33.

Beaten by 17 runs in the end. Character-building stuff, and we'll be better for it next week.

Tue 18 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · HomeformWDDLD

Leybourne CC came to Linton Park on a fine Tuesday evening, we lost the toss, and duly found ourselves in the field first – which, in the fullness of time, suited us rather well.

They laboured to 76/7 from their sixteen overs, J Collyer holding firm for 37 not out while wickets tumbled around him, the innings never quite finding its rhythm after slipping to 5-1 early doors. Jon Harris was the chief architect of the collapse, turning his off-breaks square for a magnificent 5-19, with Nigel Thirkell chipping in usefully at 2-18. Poor Mark Folkard fell for a duck at our hands, which he will no doubt hear about in the bar for weeks to come.

Requiring only 77 to win, we made light work of it, racing to 78/1 in a mere seven overs. Nigel Thirkell led the charge with a breezy 48, Brian Piper offered admirable support with 30 not out, and I permitted myself a modest 48 of my own – purely, you understand, in the interests of getting the job done efficiently.

Nigel continues to top the 1985 run charts with 772 to his name, and Jon now sits proudly on 30 wickets for the season. A comfortable nine-wicket victory, then, and a thoroughly pleasant evening's work. Onwards we go.

Sun 16 Jun 1985 🧢 Sunday NVKCv UC Underriver CC · AwayformWLWWW

Beaten by a Whisker at Underriver

Skipper's Log, 16th June 1985. There are days when the toss feels like a formality, and days when it feels like the whole match hinged on it — this was firmly the latter. Underriver called correctly and put us into the field, and we trooped out under a sky that, like our top order later on, promised more than it delivered.

To our credit, the lads scrapped hard. Underriver crawled to 123/9 off their forty, D Hardy's 31 the only real substance, with Adrian Barr-Smith chipping in 21. For a golden spell they wobbled from 93-5 to 102-8, and we very nearly had them there and then. Allan Cooper led the attack beautifully with 2-20, Paul Bowles backed him up with 2-23, Trevor Back picked up a canny 1-6, and Jon Harris bowled three maidens of positively monastic discipline. James Lister departed for a duck, which offered us a rare flicker of hope.

Chasing 124, we simply couldn't get there. Bob Lines batted with real class for 49, Nigel Thirkell supported nicely with 20, and the pair put on 68 for the fourth wicket that had us dreaming. But Jim Hall, Allan Cooper and Matt Large all made ducks, poor Jim also shipping 9 byes behind the stumps, and we folded for 118.

Five runs. Five wretched runs. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our Sunday run charts, Jon Harris our wicket charts — small consolations on a long drive home. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 15 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformWWDDL

It was Dummy Site at home on Saturday, and having called correctly at the toss I fancied a bat on a track that looked, for once, worth trusting. That trust took an early knock when we slipped to 8-1, but the middle order stiffened admirably, a fine 87-run stand for the third wicket steadying the ship. I found some form myself, 96 before falling agonisingly short of what would have been a rather nice landmark, with Malcolm Pay's tidy 26 lending sturdy support. We closed on 148/4 from our 46 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, we hoped, to be defended with a bit of discipline.

And discipline there was. Sean Cook was the pick of the attack, 3-23 of genuine hostility, while I chipped in with 2-52 and Jon Harris bowled beautifully in defeat, 1-45 with three maidens to show for his miserliness. Dave Goodyer's unbeaten 36, backed by Geoff Dearing's 22 not out and Pete Worsnop's 20, kept the visitors in the hunt, and an infuriating last-wicket stand of 59 — the sort that has grown men muttering into their tea — carried them to 143/6 from 48 overs.

Honours shared, then, and on reflection a fair result. My 96 keeps me handsomely clear at the top of the season's run charts, and Jon's parsimony has him second among the wickets — small consolations from an afternoon where honest cricket, rather than glory, was the order of the day.

Tue 11 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv Teston CC · AwayformLWWDD

Beaten by one wicket at Teston, but by heaven we made them work for it. Winning the toss on a fine Tuesday, I had no hesitation in batting first — a decision that looked rather shaky when we slumped to 5-1 before the ink was dry on the scorebook. Credit to the middle order for steadying the ship: a stout 51-run stand for the fifth wicket dragged us back to something respectable, with Jon Harris compiling an unbeaten 40 and yours truly chipping in with the same. We closed on 101/6 from our sixteen overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, we hoped, to give the bowlers something to bowl at.

And bowl at it they did. Teston lost an early wicket with just five on the board and looked there for the taking, but Geoff King's 33 kept them ticking over. When they slid from 77-4 to 84-7 I allowed myself a quiet smile — premature, as it turned out. Jon Harris was magnificent, following his batting with a five-for (5-27) that was thoroughly deserved, well supported by Matt Large's 2-27, and I managed five wickets myself for good measure. Yet Teston, showing the sort of nerve that wins matches and loses hair, somehow squeezed home by a single wicket.

A cruel margin for a match with so much to admire in it. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 09 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformDLWWD

From the captain's chair, Sunday 9th June 1985 — Sheldwich CC visited us, and won the toss's opposite, since I called correctly and sent us in. It was, in truth, a day of two halves and one very quiet skipper.

We laboured to 158 all out from 55.2 overs, rescued from ordinary by Sean Charlton's chunky 63 and Allan Cooper's dependable 40, the pair adding a match-turning 68 for the seventh wicket when all else looked bleak. Elsewhere the top order rather fancied a collective afternoon off — Tim Thirkell, Matt Large and Adrian Simmonds all contributing golden nothings to the cause. As for your captain, a golden blob of my own — one does like to lead from the front, though not, evidently, with the bat in hand.

Sheldwich's reply promised more than it delivered. Martin Mills battled to 41, but from 79-4 the innings unravelled to 81-7 in the blink of an eye, Nigel Mannouch and A Godden both back in the pavilion without scoring. Jon Harris was the chief tormentor, a magnificent 6-40, with Allan Cooper (1-8, four maidons of pure meanness) and Sean Charlton (1-13) squeezing every drop. Sheldwich crawled to 109-9 from their 46 and the draw was shared.

A special word for Jon Harris, who marked his 400th appearance in Linton colours in style, his 13 runs also nudging him past Malcolm Pay to 13th on our all-time run charts. Honours even, then — but a red-letter day for club history all the same.

Sat 08 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDDLWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 08 June 1985. We hosted Rumwood CC, and won the toss with the sun out, which meant only one decision needed making: bat. I made it gladly, and for once nobody in the pavilion argued.

What followed was as handsome an innings as we've put together all season. Nigel Thirkell batted with real authority for his 89 not out, and found the perfect foil in Jim Hall, whose 68 kept the scoreboard honest through a stand of 88 for the second wicket that more or less settled matters. Bob Lines chipped in a tidy 28, and by the close of 52 overs we'd posted 225 for 3 — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew on it.

In the field, Rumwood set about the chase with intent, B Aiston leading the way with 47, well supported by Geoff Griffiths (38 not out) and John Pearson (26), their own second-wicket pair adding 60. But Jon Harris was miserly all afternoon, eight maidens and 1 for 16 that squeezed the very breath out of their innings, with Nigel Thirkell and Matt Large chipping in a wicket apiece. I even found time to contribute 18 of my own, which for me counts as a purple patch.

In the end Rumwood closed on 154 for 3 from their 49, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but the sort earned rather than settled for, and with Thirkell (626 runs) and Large (25 wickets) still setting the pace this season, I'll happily take it.

Thu 06 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Monchelsea CC · AwayformLDDLW

Thursday 06 June 1985 saw us make the trip to Boughton Monchelsea, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that makes you look either wise or foolish by close of play, and for once I'll take the credit. Paul Bowles set the tone with a lovely 44, and we found ourselves a healthy 103/4 from our sixteen overs, the sort of total that gives a captain a bit of a spring in his step at tea.

It very nearly all went wrong early doors when Boughton reached 27/2 and looked set, before it unravelled spectacularly to 33/5 — M Cross trudging off for a golden duck along the way, poor chap. Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, then ran through them with the ball, 3-13 of pure menace, well backed up by Matt Large (2-13) and Jon Harris (2-21). They rallied gamely to 82/7, but the early wicket at just 4 had done for them, and we held on for a fine win by 21 runs.

A red-letter day all round, mind — Paul Bowles brought up 21,000 career runs for the club, a staggering number to type let alone score, while Malcolm Pay's watchful 19 nudged him past Jon Harris into 13th on the all-time list. Nigel Thirkell and Matt Large continue to lead the season's run and wicket charts respectively. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards we go.

Tue 04 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLLDDL

West Farleigh CC came to Linton Park needing only to win the toss to sensibly bat first, which they duly did – and that's about the only thing that went their way all afternoon. From 2-1 in the opening overs, through a procession of Baker, Holness and Beeney back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer, the visitors never found their footing, limping to 87/9 off their sixteen. Barry Brigden's 28 was the only innings of note amid the carnage, and carnage it rather was: Allan Cooper bowled like a man with a train to catch, taking 3-28, with Matt Large (3-32) and Nigel Thirkell (2-21) queuing up to help finish the job. Three ducks in one innings is the kind of thing that gets a chap a nickname down the clubhouse, and I dare say a few will be wincing at the scorebook for weeks yet.

Chasing 88 was never going to trouble us on that surface, and so it proved. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 57 gathered with the calm assurance of a man who knows the tea urn is already on, and his second-wicket stand of 50 did the heavy lifting. We coasted home at 88/2 in just fourteen overs for an eight-wicket win, barely breaking sweat or spilling a drop of squash.

With Thirkell now top of the season's run charts on 528 and Large leading the wickets column with 22, the side is purring rather nicely. A fine, comfortable win, and frankly rather good fun to captain. Onwards.

Sun 02 Jun 1985 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Headcorn CC · AwayformLWLWW

Sunday, 2 June, and off we went to Headcorn on a day when the coin, as ever, betrayed us — they called correctly and had no hesitation in batting first. Not that it looked like trouble early on, with a wicket down for just 4 and the lads sniffing a rout. But cricket has a habit of humbling the smug, and Headcorn steadied through a stubborn 53-run stand for the sixth wicket before John Phipps anchored his way to an unbeaten 53, with useful support from N Benson (24) and Richard Chapman (20), to leave them at 136/7 from their forty. Allan Cooper was magnificent with the ball — 3 for 21, two of them maidens, tighter than my trouser waistband after tea — with Trevor Back and Matt Large chipping in for one apiece.

Chasing 137, we too stumbled early — 7 for 1 hardly the stuff of confidence — before Nigel Thirkell, in the form of his life this season, played the innings of the day: a classy 54 that, allied with a vital 69-run third-wicket stand, put the result beyond real doubt. Trevor Back's unbeaten 42 and Brian Piper's 20 saw us home in some style, wrapping it up at 137/3 with more than four overs unused.

A seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — bowled and batted with real substance, and not a nerve left standing by the close.

Sat 01 Jun 1985 🧢 1st XIv JC J & E Hall CC · HomeformDLLDD

Beaten by six wickets, but by heaven we made them work for it.

Won the toss on a fine Saturday and, contrary as ever, had no hesitation in batting first. Nigel Thirkell led the way with a fine 45, well supported by Sean Charlton's 40 and Brian Piper's unbeaten 27, though it wasn't all sweetness and light — we lost the first wicket for just a single run, and Malcolm Pay, Simon Thirkell and Steve Cheale between them contributed a golden duck apiece to the cause 🦆. Thankfully a crucial 66-run stand for the sixth wicket dragged us up to a defendable 173 for 8 from our 49 overs.

Defending it, we gave it everything, but J & E Hall CC had other ideas. I Bates played a fine knock of 81, well supported by R Singh's unbeaten 45 and P Smith's 30, the openers laying a platform of 61 before the first wicket fell, and an 86-run second-wicket stand doing the real damage. Nigel Thirkell was pick of our bowlers with 2 for 43, Sean Charlton chipped in with 1 for 25, and Jon Harris bowled tidily for three maidens. I did my modest bit with the bat, 21 not troubling the scorers unduly.

One bright note on the mantelpiece: Jon Harris's 7 runs saw him leapfrog Malcolm Pay into 13th on the club's all-time run-scorers list 📈 — and Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our 1985 charts with 519 runs, sitting second among the bowlers with 15 wickets.

Beaten by six wickets in the end, but we'll be better for it next week.

Mon 27 May 1985 🧢 1st XIv XM XII Men · HomeformWDLLD

It was Dummy Site at home on Bank Holiday Monday, and for once the sun remembered its fixture list — pity our luck with the coin didn't follow suit. They won the toss, elected to bat, and though we struck early with the score on just 1, that proved the high-water mark of our discipline: their last pair put on an unwelcome 63 to drag them to 138/7 from their 39 overs. John Payne (37 not out), M. Cornett (33) and John Hartridge (25 not out) did the damage, but the day belonged to Nigel Thirkell, who turned his off-breaks on them for a magnificent 5-66 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — miserly even in success. Matt Large chipped in with 1-22 in good support.

Chasing 138 in reply, we never quite got out of second gear. Paul Bowles battled to 35, Paul Brattle added 20, but wickets fell in a rush from 46-1 to 58-4, and we stumbled to a respectable 83/6 from our 38 overs without ever threatening the target.

There was, however, rather more to celebrate than the cricket alone: Nigel Thirkell brought up his 500th appearance in Linton colours, a milestone that puts his current feat with bat and ball — 474 runs and now that superb five-for — into proper perspective, while Matt Large continues to lead the wicket charts with 19 for the season.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride reasonably intact, and a cap doffed to Nigel on a landmark day for club and captain alike.

Sun 26 May 1985 🧢 1st XIv SC Sandwich Town CC · AwayformWWDLL

Sunday, 26 May 1985, and off we trundled to Sandwich Town, where the coin came down against us and we were put straight into the field — never the most cheering way to start a Sunday.

What followed was, in truth, rather a lot of leather-chasing. Kevin Beaumont settled in and simply refused to leave, finishing unbeaten on 140, and Mark Baldock kept him company with a superb century of his own, 109 not out, the pair of them putting the shine on the ball and the smiles off our faces as the total climbed to 273/1 from 47 overs. Allan Cooper toiled manfully for his solitary wicket at 1-80, and Matt Large, to his great credit, kept things honest with two maidens amid the carnage — a lone voice of restraint in a day of runs.

Chasing that lot was never really the point, and so it proved. We lost an early wicket with just 4 on the board, which did nothing for the nerves, but Bob Lines played the anchor beautifully for an unbeaten 25 as we settled for 47/2 from our 18.4 overs, content to bat out the game rather than chase shadows. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 469, though he'll have added nothing to that tally today.

A draw, then — honours shared, no shame taken, and the tea urn, at least, was unbeaten too.

Sat 25 May 1985 🧢 1st XIv CK Castle Hill CC, Kent · AwayformWWWDL

Saturday 25 May 1985 saw us motor down to Castle Hill CC, Kent, in reasonably good spirits — spirits that took a knock the moment I lost the toss and we were invited to have a bowl in the sunshine, which in club cricket is rarely the gift it first appears.

Castle Hill made themselves nicely at home, running up 190/6 from their 46 overs. Brian Henley set the tone with a polished 51, and got fine support from Michael Carter (43) and Richard Beale (27), the pair adding a very handy 84 for the fourth wicket while we searched, not always successfully, for a way through. Paul Gibson led our attack manfully with 2-35, Matt Large and Jon Harris chipped in with two apiece, and Jon deserves a special mention for four maidens of real discipline amid the carnage elsewhere.

Chasing 191, we never quite got the innings up on its feet, losing an early wicket with just 1 on the board to set the nervous tone. Malcolm Pay top-scored with a gritty 32 — enough, pleasingly, to nudge him past Cliff Anscombe into 13th on the club's all-time run-charts — with Paul Bowles and Jim Hall both weighing in with 20 apiece. Bob Lines, meanwhile, made his own kind of history, collecting a golden duck for the ledger.

We finished 135/8 from our 44, 55 runs shy. Not our day, gentlemen — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 19 May 1985 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · HomeformWLWLW

Lost the toss again on Sunday — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has it in for me — and High Halstow CC, unsurprisingly, chose to bat. We took to the field at Linton Park with the usual mixture of optimism and indigestion, and restricted the visitors to 131 for 9 from their forty overs, which on a day like this felt like rather good business. Paul Whelan (30 not out) and B Rayner (29) did the heavy lifting for them, with Colin Sykes chipping in 20, but once they'd nudged along to 105-5 the innings rather fell apart at the seams, three wickets tumbling for a mere twelve runs — P Miller, M Ring and Nigel Copleston all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was the chief tormentor, 3 for 19 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, well backed up by Allan Cooper (2-25) and Paul Bowles (2-31).

Chasing 132, we lost our opener for just a single run and I confess my heart was in my boots — but Nigel Thirkell, unruffled as ever, played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 66 that steadied everything. He found willing company in Paul Bowles and Trevor Back, both good for 23 apiece, the pair sharing a crucial stand of 68 for the third wicket that took the game away from High Halstow. We cantered home on 132 for 3 with overs to spare.

A footnote worth raising a teacup to: Jon Harris passed 1200 career wickets in the same afternoon he took three more — not a bad way to reach a landmark. A thoroughly earned seven-wicket win, two points banked, and for once the sun shone on Linton Park as much as our cricket.

Sat 18 May 1985 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWWWWD

Given the ball on 6 for the loss of an early wicket, Nigel Thirkell's unbeaten 54 was the innings that held us together, well supported by Paul Bowles's 21 — though the middle order rather went missing, with Andrew Kember, Martin Mears and Jon Harris all contributing that most traditional of club cricket offerings, the golden duck. 121/9 from our 46 overs was never going to have Headcorn quaking, but it was something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did, gamely if ultimately in vain. Paul Bowles, having done his bit with the bat, turned his arm over to fine effect with 3-38, while Jon Harris toiled away for 1-56 and four maidens — miserly enough to suggest the figures rather flattered the batsmen he was up against. But Simon Phipps's 33, backed by useful contributions from G Wickens (22) and John Phipps (20), saw Headcorn home at 123/4 with overs to spare, and we succumbed by six wickets.

There was, happily, rather more to smile about than the scoreboard suggested. Jim Hall brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to regardless of the result, and Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our 1985 run charts in fine style, with Jon Harris now sitting fourth among the wicket-takers.

As for the cricket itself: honest, occasionally golden-duck-laden, and beaten fair and square. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 12 May 1985 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · AwayformWWWWW

Called it right at the toss on a fine Sunday down at St Lawrence & Highland Court, and with the pitch looking true I had no hesitation in taking first strike. It proved the correct call, if I say so myself. Nigel Thirkell set about compiling a fine 59, Jim Hall chipped in with 45, and Trevor Back finished unbeaten on 45 as the pair added a crucial 92 for the third wicket to haul us to 193 for 3 from our 51 overs — with a generous 27 extras thrown in for good measure, which I'm told counts just the same on the scorecard.

Defending that total, we found their number three, one Holmes, in irresistible touch, sailing past his fifty to finish 87 not out, well supported by D Sabine (31) and Hamish MacGregor (30), whose 67-run stand for the fifth wicket threatened to take the game away from us entirely. We did at least send Short back for a duck without so much as a whimper. Nigel Thirkell, tireless all day, led the attack superbly with 4 for 94, Trevor Back picked up one, and Matt Large bowled with real discipline, sending down four maidens. They closed on 191 for 5.

A word of celebration amid the toil: Trevor Back's 45 runs saw him leapfrog George Champion into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Thirkell, meanwhile, continues to lead our 1985 run charts with 407 and sits third among the bowlers with 8 wickets.

Honours shared, then, and on this evidence entirely fairly — a draw that flattered neither side and shortchanged neither either.

Sat 11 May 1985 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWWWWW

Saturday 11 May 1985, and the trip took us out to Rumwood — where losing the toss meant we were straight into the field, boots barely laced.

They made a solid fist of it, 159 all out from 45.5 overs, built on a brisk opening stand of 62 that had us chasing shadows early on. Geoff Griffiths (51) led the way with B Aiston (41) and C Palmer (24) chipping in nicely. But once we found our rhythm we were ruthless, tumbling them from 151-7 to 159 all out in a blur — D Ashford, R Simmonds and John Pearson all trudging back without so much as a run to their name. Jon Harris was the pick with 3-23, Matt Large and Paul Gibson chipped in with three and two apiece, and Nigel Thirkell bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment.

With 160 needed, Bob Lines (60) and Paul Bowles (53) put on 98 for the first wicket and made the chase look a good deal simpler than it had any right to be. Nigel Thirkell finished unbeaten on 35, and I contributed a modest 35 of my own — happy to say I was there, if not exactly the headline act. The real story of the day was Bob Lines bringing up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved.

Eight wickets, two points, and a very satisfying drive home.

Mon 06 May 1985 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDWWWW

Since Bearsted chose to bat, we ended up in the field first — no runs on the board for us before the graft even began. Ordinarily a lost toss is a minor irritation; this time it merely set the scene for a match that refused to run smoothly for anyone.

Bearsted made a watchful 141/9 from their 46 overs, undone early when Rupert Humphrey fell for a duck with just 2 on the board — the sort of start that has a batting side muttering into their tea. Mark Stevens (28), Sean Carter (21) and an unbeaten 20 from Alan Spong dragged them to something respectable, but Matt Large was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 5-42, with Nigel Thirkell (2-42, four tidy maidens) and Paul Bowles (1-34) squeezing the innings from the other end.

Chasing 141/9 should perhaps have been tidier than it was. Paul Bowles played a lovely hand of 80 not out, and I was rather pleased to contribute 52 myself, the two of us putting on 97 for the fourth wicket that looked, for a while, to have settled matters comfortably. Then, as club cricket so loves to do, it all went briefly haywire — 126-4 became 132-7 in a flurry of ducks for Brian Piper, Andrew Kember and David Iliffe, while poor Jim Hall endured a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 12 byes escaping his grasp.

We scrambled home by 3 wickets at 143/7. Untidy, occasionally alarming, but two points banked and thoroughly earned all the same.

Sun 05 May 1985 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWWLWL

A gloomy toss to lose against Sissinghurst on the 5th of May, but the lads made the most of being sent into the field.

Sissinghurst's openers settled in nicely, putting on 65 before we could prise the first one out, and for a while it looked like we might be chasing a hefty total. But cricket, like an English summer, is fickle, and we tightened the screws to reduce them from 65-1 to 69-4 — Andrew Knowler, Jon Gurr and B Streatfield all shipped out without troubling the scorers. Graham White (58) and James Hammond (33) did their best to repair the damage and dragged the innings to a respectable-looking 130/9 from their 40 overs, but respectable is not the same as troubling, and Paul Bowles (3-27) led a fine bowling display, well supported by Brian Piper (2-24) and the metronomic Jon Harris (2-26, with two maidens to boot).

With 131 needed, we barely broke sweat. Brian Piper played the innings of the day, a chanceless 63, while Paul Bowles — not content with his morning's work — added an unbeaten 58 to complete a rather splendid personal double. We cantered home in 27 overs for the loss of a single wicket, and I dare say the tea afterwards tasted all the sweeter for it.

Two points, nine wickets to spare, and a captain thoroughly pleased with his lot — Sissinghurst were beaten fair and square, and the season table is beginning to make pleasant reading indeed.

Sat 04 May 1985 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformLDWWW

Saturday 4th May 1985, and Bidborough CC came to Linton Park under obliging skies. I won the toss and, with barely a moment's deliberation, sent us in — some decisions make themselves.

What followed was a proper afternoon of stroke-play. Nigel Thirkell set about the Bidborough attack with real purpose, compiling 91 that had the tea urn rattling with anticipation of a hundred, while Paul Bowles played the perfect foil, motoring to 64 not out. Together they put on 133 for the second wicket, the kind of partnership that wins matches before the other side has bowled a ball in anger, and we closed on a handsome 182 for 2 from our 38 overs.

Defending it, we set about our work with the same purpose. Bidborough never found their rhythm, undone chiefly by Matt Large, who bowled beautifully for 5 for 36 — three of his overs maidens, not a run given away lightly — a five-for as deserved as any I've seen from the pavilion steps. Jon Harris chipped in with 3 for 34, Andrew Kember with 1 for 19, and I confess to a quiet satisfaction in claiming 3 wickets myself. Only Stephen Hebditch, with 26, offered any real resistance, and Bidborough were all out for 108 in 42.2 overs.

A win by 74 runs, then, and a thoroughly happy one. Nigel now leads our run charts for the season with 261, and Matt tops the wickets with 8 — the engine room is purring nicely. Onwards.

Sun 28 Apr 1985 🧢 1st XIv CC Chatham Nomads CC · HomeformWLDWW

Chatham Nomads rolled up to Linton Park on a fine Sunday and, having lost the toss call to my choice, found themselves in the field first — which, I'll admit, felt like the right decision the moment Nigel Thirkell got going. He and Paul Bowles put on 167 for the second wicket in a stand that had me quietly beaming from the boundary, Thirkell motoring to a magnificent 117 and Bowles content to play the perfect foil for his own fine 68. We closed on 221/3 from our forty overs, which felt like a total with a bit of steel in it.

Defending it was another matter, and Barry Martin gave us a proper fright with a brisk 74, well backed up by D Pullen's 37 and K Barton's 23. But Trevor Back was in irresistible form, snaring 3-13 to blow holes in their order, Matt Large chipped in with 3-38 and a couple of tidy maidens, and Bowles, not satisfied with his runs, added 2-31 for good measure. P Loader and W Raven both departed without troubling the scorers, and poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, twelve byes leaking through — a lesson, no doubt, in standing up rather than standing back next time.

The Nomads were bowled out for 184 in 44 overs, leaving us victors by 37 runs. A word too for Allan Cooper, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth more applause than we probably gave it in the moment. A thoroughly satisfying win, and the season's shaping up nicely. Onwards.

Sat 27 Apr 1985 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformLWLDW

On Saturday we welcomed Penshurst Park to Linton Park, I called it right at the toss, and with barely a moment's deliberation stuck us in to bat — a captain's prerogative I do enjoy exercising, whatever the wisdom of it proves to be. We lost an early wicket with just 4 on the board, which had me chewing my thumbnail rather more than the occasion warranted, but Nigel Thirkell settled things beautifully with a fine 53, well supported by Jim Hall's 23. Elsewhere the lower order found the walk back to the pavilion rather more familiar than the walk to the crease — ducks for both Paul Bowles and Andrew Kember — while a generous 28 extras from the visitors did us no harm at all. All out for 137 in 38.3 overs; a total we felt we could defend, if not exactly boast about over tea.

And defend it we did. Penshurst lost an early wicket of their own at 7, then P Coleman (37) and a stubborn John Lambert, unbeaten on 30, strung together a 62-run stand for the seventh wicket that threatened to undo us entirely. But we regrouped, tearing through the middle order from 43-3 to 49-6 in a spell that had everyone on the boundary grinning, with Robertson, Watenbach and Meade all back in the shed without troubling the scorers. Paul Gibson was quite magnificent — 6 for 45 off five miserly maidens — with Jon Harris chipping in a wicket too. All out for 122.

A fine win by 15 runs, and a thoroughly deserved cup of tea afterwards. Onwards.