🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 27 Sep 1986 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · HomeformLLLLD

Saturday 27th September 1986 saw Hastings & St Leonards Priory roll into Linton Park, and I duly lost the toss — a habit I'm beginning to suspect is less bad luck than a talent. They elected to bat, and we trooped into the field wondering what the afternoon held.

Nigel Thirkell had rather a lot to say about it, dismissing the openers cheaply and settling into a spell of such miserly accuracy — seven maidens! — that the Priory batsmen must have wondered whether the boundary rope had been quietly moved to the next parish. He finished with 3-23, well supported by Paul Gibson's 3-37 and a wicket for Paul Bowles, though Terry Wright (60) and Tim Booth-Jones (30) steadied things enough to see the visitors to 147/7 from their 51.2 overs — a total that felt gettable, if not gifted.

Our reply never quite found its stride. I managed to winkle out three wickets myself with the ball earlier, which I mention purely for the record and not at all because opportunities to boast are rare in this column. With the bat, though, poor Dave Todd contributed a golden duck to proceedings — these things happen to the best of us, Dave, and rather too often to the rest of us — and we stalled at 98/8 from 39 overs.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Not a classic for the ages, perhaps, but a thoroughly honest afternoon's cricket — and with Nigel Thirkell topping our bowling and running charts alike, we remain in thoroughly capable hands.

Wed 24 Sep 1986 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · AwayformLDWWD

Nigel Thirkell 66, Paul Bowles 61, David Castle 32 — three eighty-six for five looked, if I say so myself, thoroughly respectable when I dragged the lads out of the changing room and told them we'd be batting first. That 133-run stand for the third wicket was the innings in miniature: Thirkell and Bowles simply refusing to be parted, each easing past his half-century while the rest of us sat pad-up and increasingly redundant. Thirkell continues to lead our 1986 run charts with 251 for the season, and on this evidence nobody's catching him soon.

Defending 188 always promises an afternoon of nerves, and so it proved. C. Fry and D. Williams put together a stand that had us checking our watches rather more than we'd have liked, Fry making a tidy 66 and Williams seeing them home to 58 not out, unbeaten and unbowed. But we had our say too — Matt Large was superb, 3 for 29 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and among his victims were Littlechild and D. Cooper, the latter departing without troubling the scorers. Michael Chambers and Jon Harris chipped in a wicket apiece, Harris doing so in a season where he already leads our bowling table with 18.

In the end 185 for 6 from their forty overs wasn't quite enough, nor was our 188 for 5 out of reach for long — honours shared, and a draw that flattered neither side's ambition nor insulted either's effort. A fair result, even if the tea urn ran dry before the verdict did.

Sun 21 Sep 1986 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWLLLL

Anchorians CC were our visitors on Sunday 21 September, and I called correctly for once in my captaincy career, electing to bat without a flicker of doubt. It proved a wise call, if not an entirely convincing one — 160 for 7 from our 46 overs, built around a fine 56 from Keith Hatcher, well supported by David Castle's 27 and 23 from Hayzelton. Elsewhere in the order things were less flourishing; poor Matt Large will find his name inscribed in the ledger with a duck, and he took the walk of shame with the good grace we've all had to muster at one time or another.

In the field we set about defending our total, and the visitors replied with 121 for 7 from their 37 overs, Barry Diplock the chief nuisance with 44. Small consolation arrived when R Haley departed for nought at our hands. With the ball, Jon Harris was in imperious touch, snaring 3 for 29, with Nigel Thirkell (2-18) and Alan Boyns (1-8) chipping in handsomely, while Ian Brattle strangled the runs with two tidy maidens.

Season-long, Nigel continues to top our run charts with 951, and Jon now sits on 76 wickets for the summer — form neither side could shake loose today.

In the end honours were shared, and a draw it was — no defeat, mind you, which in this form of ours we'll happily bank as a result.

Sat 20 Sep 1986 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWLLL

Skipper's Log — 20 September 1986. Won the toss, and being a captain of unshakeable optimism, or possibly just poor judgement, I stuck us in. The lads did us proud, though: 160 for 5 off our 46, with Paul Bowles playing the innings of the day, 90 not out and still going strong when the overs ran out. The sort of knock that makes the tea taste sweeter.

Defending it was another matter entirely. West Farleigh lost an early wicket for just 1 and we allowed ourselves a hopeful glance at each other, but Tim Baker (79 not out) and Keith Patey (39) had other ideas and steadied the ship rather emphatically. Matt Large did his level best to keep the lid on things — 3 for 29 with five maidens, tight as you like — well supported by Paul Bowles (2-32) and Paul Gibson (1-16), but their last pair found 39 runs we could have done without, and Tony Hyde and M. Waters both departed without troubling the scorers 🦆. West Farleigh got there for the loss of seven, 164 to our 160.

Season's silver linings: Bowles now sits second in the 1st XI run charts with 820, and Large third in the wickets with 43 — proof there's method in among the muddle.

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

Wed 10 Sep 1986 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDLDWW

Wednesday 10 September 1986 saw us pack the kit bags off to The Mote CC, and for once the coin did as it was told — heads it was, and into bat we went, which on reflection may have been the shrewdest decision I made all season.

Losing an opener with just 3 on the board was the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the flask before the tenth over, but Dalrimple settled us with a fine 86, and a second-wicket stand of 105 alongside Ian Hammond's 44 put the innings back on an even keel. Paul Bowles chipped in a tidy 25 down the order and we closed on a respectable 199/6 from our 46 — enough, we felt, to make an afternoon of it.

Defending it, The Mote never quite let us relax, K. Hatcher and N. Mullarkey doing the early donkey work with 33 and 31 before a third-wicket stand of 55 threatened to run away from us. But Alan Boyns kept plugging away for 2-23, Paul Bowles was maddeningly economical with three maidens on his way to 2-24 — no mean feat given he'd already spent the morning making runs — and Michael Chambers picked up 2-50 to drag them back to 161/8 from their 42, with poor Jordan sent home for a duck along the way. I managed 25 myself, more through stubbornness than style.

In the end neither side could land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — the great English compromise, and on this evidence, entirely fair.

Sun 07 Sep 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLWLL

Sunday 07 September dawned promisingly enough, and with first use of the ball in our gift, I sent the visitors in — a call that for a good hour and a half looked like inspired captaincy. Our guests ground their way to 158 for 9 off 48.4 overs, built chiefly around L. O'Neill's watchful 34, H. Hunter's 32 and A.D. Robertson's 31, the pair sharing a stubborn third-wicket stand of 55. But once that partnership broke we tore through the middle order — 136 for 5 became 147 for 8 in the blink of an eye, and poor G. Clayton trudged off without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was magnificent, claiming five for 53, with Allan Cooper (2-40) and the metronomic Paul Gibson (1-25, four maidens, not a run given away lightly) keeping matters admirably tight.

With 159 needed, Keith Hatcher (64) and Trevor Back (50) both reached well-earned half-centuries, adding a commanding 107 for the fourth wicket after an early wobble at 1 for 1 threatened to unsettle us. Poor A. Hayzelton contributed nought for his troubles, and I chipped in with a workmanlike 16, as our innings closed on 161 for 6 from 41.3 overs.

Nigel Thirkell continues to top this season's run charts with 949, and Jon Harris now has 73 wickets to his name — form that will serve us well. In the end, though, we were beaten by four wickets. A curious way to lose a match we so nearly won, but there it is — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 06 Sep 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWLWL

Beaten by four wickets at home on a warm Saturday, but not before we gave them plenty to think about — and, in truth, a fair bit to write home about at our own end too.

Put into the field first, we watched R- Arnold help himself to a well-made 57, with N- Morgan (39) and P- Fox (37) chipping in as their opening pair put on 58 to set the platform. It looked ominous for a spell, but the bowlers dragged us back into it: Dave Todd was the pick of the attack with 3-27, Jon Harris weighed in with 2-57, Nigel Thirkell took 1-26, and Matt Large bowled two tidy maidens to keep things honest. Poor D- Eddie went for a duck without so much as a nibble. All told, 179/7 from their 42.1 overs — competitive, but gettable.

Chasing it, we lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board, which is never the tonic the tea urn needs. But Dave Todd, fresh from his bowling exertions, then played the innings of the day — 72 in fine touch — in a commanding 110-run second-wicket stand with Paul Gibson, who made a classy 56 of his own. We closed on 182/6 from 44 overs, agonisingly short in the end, going down by four wickets.

Elsewhere, Nigel Thirkell continues to top the 1st XI run charts with 933 for the season, and Jon Harris leads the wickets column with 68 — both quietly getting on with being rather good at this game while the rest of us make the tea.

A defeat, then, but not a chastening one. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 31 Aug 1986 🧢 Tour XIv ? · AwayformWLWLL

Sunday 31 August, and we ventured away with the sun more or less on our side and, for once, a toss won and used wisely — I elected to bat, and I'll stand by that call to my grave.

We posted a healthy 176 for 7 from our 45 overs, built chiefly on Sean Charlton's fine 63 not out and David Castle's equally handsome 55 — the pair adding a priceless 69 for the fifth wicket while the rest of us fussed about the edges. I chipped in with 29, for what it's worth. Spare a thought, though, for Nigel Thirkell and Piers McDonald, both undertaking the sport's loneliest walk back for a duck apiece.

In the field we squeezed them out for 152 in 42 overs, Campbell (31) and Vincent (27) doing the early damage before Matt Large ran through them with a fine 3 for 26, backed superbly by Jon Harris's 2 for 17 and Michael Chambers's 2 for 46 — four of his overs maidens, not a run given away lightly. Chambers's brace, incidentally, nudges him past Ian Brattle into 25th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a quiet piece of history amid the general din. My own afternoon behind the stumps was rather less distinguished — 12 byes is not a figure I'll be framing.

Twenty-four runs the wrong side of the ledger in the end. Sean leads our Tour XI run-charts this season and Matt the wickets, and rightly so — the rest of us must simply try harder. Not our day, but heads up, and back to the nets.

Fri 29 Aug 1986 🧢 Tour XIv HC Helston CC · AwayformWWLWL

Friday 29 August 1986, and off we trundled to Helston in what can only be described as hope over expectation. I lost the toss — I always lose the toss — and Helston elected to bat, leaving us to toil away in the field for our sins. To our credit, we did rather well of it: 150/5 from their 45 overs was no disgrace, with T Drew (39) and A Plummer (36) doing most of the damage against us, ably backed up by Roy Marshall's 22. Michael Chambers was the pick of the attack with 2-25, Nigel Thirkell chipped in 2-31, and Matt Large bowled a typically miserly spell of 1-38 with two maidens thrown in for good measure — not a man to give you anything for nothing.

Chasing 150 should have been a stern but manageable task. It did not feel that way after five for the first wicket, and it felt considerably worse when we slid from 63-5 to 65-8 in the time it takes to put the kettle on. Piers McDonald, Richard Ashby and Simon Thirkell all made educational contributions of nought, and only Nigel Thirkell's gutsy 32 — with my own 32 alongside for what little it was worth — kept the scorebook from total embarrassment. All out 74 in 36.3 overs, beaten by 76 runs.

Not our day, by any measure. Heads up, backs straight, and back to the nets — Nigel leads the Tour XI run charts and Matt Large the wickets, so all is not lost. The rest of us have some catching up to do.

Thu 28 Aug 1986 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformWWWLW

Nigel Thirkell 41, Paul Gibson 34, Roger Crooks 22, David Castle 0, extras 26, 162/8 from 40 overs, chase 164/6 in 39.4, Keith Meneer 61*, paul stephens 25, Matt Large 3-20 with 3 maidens, Jon Harris 3-51, 15 byes, Mike Elworthy's 100th appearance, lost by 4 wickets — here's the report.

Thursday 28 August 1986, and we made the trip down to Falmouth CC with the sun out and spirits, briefly, high. I called it right at the toss and never seriously entertained the idea of doing anything but batting first — a decision that looked shaky indeed when we slipped to 7-1 before anyone had really settled. David Castle's golden nothing did little to steady nerves, but Nigel Thirkell (41), Paul Gibson (34) and Roger Crooks (22) dragged us back into respectability, with your humble captain chipping in 41 of his own. A generous 26 extras rounded out 162/8 from our forty overs — competitive, if hardly imposing.

Defending it, we asked plenty of Matt Large, and he duly obliged with a miserly 3-20 including three maidens, well supported by Jon Harris's 3-51. But Falmouth had an ace up their sleeve in Keith Meneer, whose unbeaten 61 — aided by paul stephens's 25 and a crucial 51-run fourth-wicket stand — steered them home at 164/6 with two balls to spare. Paul Gibson had a torrid time behind the stumps, 15 byes going begging, which in the end proved rather costly.

A word of real pride amid the disappointment: Mike Elworthy brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a fine landmark on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Down by four wickets, then — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 24 Aug 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDWWLW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 24 August 1986. Winning the toss on a fine Sunday felt like the easy part, and choosing to bat felt, at the time, like the sort of decision that gets you a pat on the back in the clubhouse afterwards. We rolled along to 158 for 9 from our 55 overs, a total built rather than blazed — Piers McDonald top-scored with 23, and Jon Harris chipped in a tidy 22 alongside him. I contributed 15 of my own, more grit than grace, and departed feeling we'd left a few out there.

With ball in hand we set about it properly. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent, five maidens and four wickets for 69 in an afternoon of real discipline, with Allan Cooper and Jon Harris chipping in a wicket apiece. For a good while it looked our day. But the opposition dug in — B. Goodger unbeaten on 33, well supported by P. Meadway's 30 and K. Hewitt's 29 — and then, cruelly, their last pair put on 38 we could really have done without, seeing them home at 159 for 6 with overs to spare.

So it's heads up and back to the nets rather than a pint of celebration. Nigel continues to lead our run charts with 920 for the season, and Jon Harris tops the wicket-takers with 66 — small consolations on a day that got away from us by four wickets. Not our day, but character-building all the same.

Sat 23 Aug 1986 🧢 1st XIv HC Hempstead CC · HomeformDDWWL

A splendid August afternoon it turned out to be, and against Hempstead at home I won the toss and, feeling uncommonly bold for a Saturday, elected to bat. Two runs on the board and we'd already lost a wicket — the sort of start that has a captain reaching for his hip flask before the tea urn's even on — but Paul Brattle and Bob Lines steadied the ship with a stand of 112 for the second wicket that put the fright back into Hempstead rather than us. Brattle made a handsome 61, Lines 49, and Keith Hatcher came in to finish unbeaten on 47, carrying us to a thoroughly respectable 192 for 3 off our 49.

Defending it, I can't pretend I wasn't nervous, but Jon Harris had other ideas, running through their order like a fox in the henhouse — 5 for 32, five of them maidens, no less, which is the kind of miserliness usually reserved for tea-time biscuit rationing. Malcolm Pay chipped in with 3 for 34, Sean Charlton took one, and I managed to find a bit of rhythm myself for 5 wickets — can't recall the last time that happened. J Beautridge (28) and D Marsden (27) gave Hempstead some hope, but they folded for 111 in 40.2 overs, P Nastaly departing without troubling the scorers. Nine byes did rather suggest poor Mike Elworthy behind the stumps had a testing afternoon of it.

A fine win by 81 runs, then, and a timely reminder — with Hatcher third and Harris top of the season's charts — that this side has no shortage of quality. Onwards indeed.

Wed 20 Aug 1986 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformLDLDW

Wednesday 20 August 1986. Gravesend CC arrived to find the coin siding with me, and — never one to overthink a decision I'll spend the rest of the day justifying — I stuck us in.

What followed was rather more than I'd bargained for. Nigel Thirkell and David Castle put on 177 for the third wicket, Nigel motoring to 95 and David following him past fifty to 89, the pair of them turning what might have been a modest afternoon into a proper declaration of intent. Poor Trevor Back had rather less fun of it, back in the pavilion for a duck before he'd had time to get comfortable, but with the scoreboard reading 220/5 off 38.5 overs, nobody was dwelling on it for long.

If batting first was the plan, bowling them out was the pleasure. Gravesend stumbled to 4-1 early and never really found their feet, collapsing further to 9-4 as Farouk Qureshi and G Diplock both departed without scoring. Jon Harris was magnificent, 4-32, with Matt Large miserly as ever (3-11 and six maidens to his name) and Mike Elworthy chipping in with 1-2. I'll confess to rather enjoying my own four wickets too — a captain's prerogative to mention it. All out for 63 in 27.3 overs, only Mark Housden's 22 offering any real resistance.

A landmark day off the field as well as on it: David Castle brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Nigel Thirkell his 17,000th — numbers that rather put my four wickets in perspective. A 157-run victory, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 17 Aug 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWDDWW

Sunday, 17th August found us setting off with the usual mix of optimism and mild dread, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first. Trevor Back gave us the platform with a fine 95, and when he and Piers McDonald put on 75 for the sixth wicket — McDonald finishing unbeaten on 31, David Castle chipping in with 28 — 176/6 from our 53.1 overs felt a respectable return, notwithstanding golden ducks for both Nigel Thirkell and Jim Hall, who shall be permitted to forget the whole business by teatime.

Defending it, we toiled honestly. Paul Bowles bowled beautifully for his 4-83, five maidens among them — not a run given away lightly, whatever the final figures suggest — with Ian Brattle and Jon Harris chipping in for one apiece, and C- Clark back in the hutch for a duck at our hands. But R- Mills (63 not out) and A- Robertson (54 not out) batted us out of it, R- Janes weighing in with 21, and then that wretched last pair conjured 115 runs we could all have lived without, closing on 178/7 from 40.4 overs.

As for my own contribution — nought, and the less said the better; we shall draw a veil over it.

So, down by three wickets, and not our day. Small consolation that Paul Bowles sits second in the season's run charts and Jon Harris tops the wickets — heads up, lads, and back to the nets.

Sat 16 Aug 1986 🧢 1st XIv BC Brackley CC · HomeformDWDDW

As it stood at the toss, I'll confess the coin let us down and Brackley elected to bat — but as any old hand will tell you, sometimes fielding first is a blessing dressed as a disappointment. Jon Harris was in irresistible form, scything through the top order to finish with 4-26, while Ian Brattle chipped in with 4-36 and Nigel Thirkell picked up one for a miserly six. Matt Large bowled with the discipline of a man who simply refused to be hit, sending down three maidens for good measure. Brackley slipped to 6-1 early and never quite recovered their poise, though J Rule (42) and M Brown (37) added some respectability with a 72-run stand for the sixth wicket before the innings folded for 136 in the 48th over.

With the ball having done its job, it fell to the bat to finish things off, and finish them off in some style we did. Tim Thirkell anchored the chase superbly, cruising to 53 not out, with Sean Charlton (47) providing splendid support and Nigel Thirkell unbeaten on 28 to see us home at 140/1 — a rather emphatic nine-wicket win. I'll allow myself a small moment of pride at contributing that 53.

Two footnotes worth raising a teacup to: Tim Thirkell brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, and Ian Brattle's four wickets carried him past Michael Chambers into 25th on the all-time list. With Nigel Thirkell (905 runs) and Jon Harris (59 wickets) still setting the pace for the season, the future looks bright. A fine afternoon's work, and onwards we go.

Wed 13 Aug 1986 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bobbing Court CC · AwayformWLDLD

Wednesday 13 August 1986, away to Bobbing Court, and I won the toss with all the strategic brilliance of a man guessing correctly — batting first, no debate required.

The lads did me proud. Roger Crooks played the anchor with a well-crafted 49, Mike Elworthy chipped in a solid 38, and Andy Woollett kept the scoreboard honest with 26, taking us to a respectable 168/7 off our 39. Not a total to have Bobsley Court quaking in their whites, perhaps, but enough to work with.

And work with it we did. Trevor Back steamed in for 3-53, with Ian Brattle and Jon Harris both weighing in with two apiece — Harris bowling a spell of quite monastic discipline, seven maidens and only 36 runs conceded, the sort of over-after-over parsimony that makes a captain's job easy. R Paul gave the home side something to cheer with a classy 56, but wickets fell around him and they were all out for 147 in the 42nd, twenty-one runs short. I will say our 18 byes made for uncomfortable viewing behind the stumps — a testing afternoon for poor Mike, gloves and all — but no matter, the scorebook doesn't ask how.

Roger Crooks now sits second in the Midweek XI run charts with 74, and Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with 13 — form the club can be proud of. A fine win by 21 runs, and frankly, byes aside, I'll take it every time. Onwards.

Sun 10 Aug 1986 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformLDWDD

Sunday 10 August 1986, away at Benenden CC, and the toss went against us — or perhaps I generously elected to bowl, memory being a flexible instrument at my age. Either way, we found ourselves in the field, and did rather well of it: Benenden closed on 183 all out from their 47 overs, Sam Andrews the chief tormentor with 40, Nigel Phelps and Gary Marshall chipping in 23 and 21 apiece. Jon Harris was magnificent, 4 for 52 of pure Kentish menace, with Sean Charlton (2-25, two miserly maidens) and Paul Gibson (2-25) refusing to let anyone settle.

A gettable target, then, though our reply was never going to be dull. Keith Hatcher played the innings of the day, a composed 51, with Paul Gibson (37) and David Castle (29) lending sturdy support — the pair adding a vital 56 for the second wicket. I contributed a workmanlike 22 myself, more grit than grace. Then, as is our club's ancient custom, we conspired to make hard work of it: 171 for 5 became 178 for 8 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, with poor Allan Cooper and Simon Thirkell both back in the pavilion for ducks. Twelve byes, meanwhile, spoke of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for David Castle.

We scrambled home 184 for 8 from 37.3 overs — a win by two wickets, earned the hard way. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our run charts with 877, Jon Harris our wickets with 55. Not pretty, but a win's a win. Onwards.

Sat 09 Aug 1986 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLLDWD

Saturday last saw us motor down to Headcorn CC in reasonably good heart, and having won the toss I had little hesitation in putting us in to bat — a decision I'm rather pleased to say I'll stand behind. Paul Bowles was in fine touch, compiling a handsome 58 that formed the backbone of our innings, with Sean Charlton (28 not out) and Malcolm Pay (25) chipping in nicely around him. It wasn't all sunshine, mind — Nigel Thirkell and Dave Todd both departed for ducks, the sort of thing that has a captain studying his boots rather intently. Still, 167/6 from our 44 overs felt like a total with something to say for itself.

Out in the field, Ian Brattle set about the defence with real purpose, snaring 3-38, while Matt Large was a picture of miserliness — six maidens and 2-36 — squeezing the life out of Headcorn's batting. They fought hard, Ian Barker (25 not out) marshalling things well with support from G Wickens and Rob Parnham (23 apiece), and P Cooper and Ali Lee were sent back without troubling the scorers. Our keeper, it must be said, had a torrid afternoon of it — ten byes is not a figure one boasts about in the clubhouse.

In the end Headcorn closed on 112/6, well short but with wickets in hand, and honours were shared. A draw, then — honest cricket, honourably stalemated, and frankly neither side deserved to lose it.

Sat 02 Aug 1986 🧢 1st XIv BK Blackheath CC, Kent · HomeformDLLDW

The lads will be pleased to hear the coin behaved itself for once, and I had no hesitation putting Blackheath in the field first on a Saturday that promised runs.

And runs we duly got. Paul Bowles and Bob Lines set about the Blackheath attack with real intent, 106 up before either of them so much as looked troubled, and by the time Bowles finally departed — for a magnificent 109 not out, no less — the platform was well and truly laid. Paul Gibson chipped in with a fine fifty of his own, I rattled along to 18, and we declared the scorers' pencils worn down at 231 for 2 off our 39 overs. A proper batting effort, and one that let me enjoy my tea rather more than usual.

Defending it proved a stiffer examination of the nerves. X Carr played the innings of the day for the visitors, 66 full of quiet menace, with Thirkell and Calland offering steady support, and Blackheath crept to 169 for 6 off their 47 without ever quite cutting loose. Steve Cheale was superb for us, 3 for 26, backed up nicely by Malcolm Pay and Bowles again with the ball, while Jon Harris bowled with the miserliness of a man guarding his last biscuit. Kafi Khan and Andrew Hughes did for a couple of their top order without troubling the scorers at all. Sixteen byes, mind you, made for an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps for poor Jim Hall.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. A draw, but one we'll happily take — runs on the board, wickets shared about, and Nigel Thirkell still purring along nicely atop the season's run charts.

Sun 27 Jul 1986 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLDLLD

Sunday took us to The Mote, and the coin did me no favours again — they won it, chose to bat, and left us to toil first with the ball. Their 230 for 4 off fifty-two overs owed everything to a superb unbeaten 118 from Hughes, ably backed by Hartshorn's 40 and Dubec's unbeaten 25, the pair sharing a crucial 98 for the second wicket. Chambers and Tillott at least fell for ducks at our hands, and Paul Bowles (1-24), Sean Charlton (1-27, four miserly maidens) and yours truly (1-30) kept things respectable enough to leave 231 a gettable target.

Get it we did, and in some style: 231 for 2 off just 39 overs. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 101, while I found some form of my own with 60 before Paul Gibson (63 not out) saw us home — Bowles and I adding 115 for the second wicket along the way. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 13 byes the toll of a lively pitch.

Two milestones worth raising a glass to: Bowles reached 22,000 career runs for the club, and my own 60 shuffled me past John Thirkell into second on the all-time run-scorers list — modest company to keep. I lead this year's 1st XI run charts with 837 to my name, though Jon Harris keeps the bowlers honest at the top of the wicket-takers with 51. Eight wickets the final margin, and about as good a Sunday as club cricket offers. Onwards.

Sat 26 Jul 1986 🧢 1st XIv AK Ashford CC, Kent · AwayformDLDLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 26 July 1986. We travelled to Ashford CC, Kent, on a day when the toss deserted us as reliably as ever; they won it, and chose to bat, and who could blame them.

They made themselves thoroughly at home, the openers stitching together 110 for the first wicket before we so much as glimpsed a breakthrough, and by the close of their innings had racked up 227/3 from 52 overs. Julian Day's 64 was the innings' backbone, with F Claridge's 60 and Duncan Purves's 54 lending it broad shoulders either side. Credit where due to Jon Harris, who toiled away for figures of 2-60 including four maidens — not a run given away lightly, whatever the scoreboard might suggest — with Keith Hatcher chipping in at 1-52.

Chasing 228 to win, we set about it sensibly rather than heroically, closing on 159/4 from our 51 overs. Ian Webb top-scored with a tidy 52, well supported by Keith Hatcher's 32 and Nigel Thirkell's 26, the pair adding 64 for the third wicket to give the innings some shape. I contributed a watchful 26 of my own from the captain's berth, more occupation of the crease than entertainment, it must be said.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue — and on a Kent afternoon against opponents who'd made 227 look almost routine, I'll happily take it as a job saved rather than a chance missed.

Wed 23 Jul 1986 🧢 Midweek XIv LC Leigh On Sea CC · HomeformLWLDL

We won the toss and, with what I like to think was captain's instinct rather than sheer bloody-mindedness, I put us in to bat. It proved the right call, even if 185/7 from our 41 overs left a touch more on the table than I'd have liked. Nigel Thirkell was the innings' backbone, a fine 90 that had the tea urn bubbling in anticipation of three figures, well supported by Ian Hammond (24) and Jim Hall (21). Elsewhere the card made for grimmer reading, with both Keith Hatcher and Dennis Salisbury back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us, and did.

With ball in hand we set about Leigh On Sea CC with genuine purpose, restricting them to 126/8 from their 40.5 overs despite a stubborn 53 from M- Thompson and useful support from Kenneth Sandeman (29). R- Everitt and T- Eve departed cheaply for their trouble. Jon Harris was the chief tormentor with a splendid 4-54, Michael Chambers bowled with real discipline for 2-20 including five maidens, and I allowed myself a quiet moment of satisfaction with 4 wickets of my own. Fourteen byes did rather undermine Keith Hatcher's afternoon behind the stumps, though we've all had days like that.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force it home. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but with Thirkell and Harris both flying high atop the season's charts, one senses better days are coming for the Midweek XI.

Sun 20 Jul 1986 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLDLDL

As it stands, 20 July 1986, and I duly won the toss and had a good old think about it — batting looked right, and for once I was proven correct.

We set about our business and posted 172/7 from our 52 overs, with young Nigel Thirkell playing the innings of the day for 57, and Keith Hatcher chipping in nicely with 41 alongside him — the pair of them putting on 77 for the third wicket, which was rather the making of our total. I'll confess I was quietly pleased with my own contribution too, 57 to lead from the front, though modesty forbids me dwelling on it further.

Folkestone, chasing 173, made us work rather harder than we'd have liked, reaching 174/8 from 41.3 overs to see us off by two wickets. Gary Waddup gave us the full tour with 61, well supported by John Tredwell's unbeaten 24, and a 54-run stand for their second wicket did the real damage. We did have our moments — Bruce Oxenford and R Bates both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and Nigel Thirkell following his fifty with the ball too, 4-48 to lead our attack, Jon Harris chipping in with 2-54 and Ian Brattle miserly as ever, 1-35 with three maidens. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes leaking away like the afternoon itself.

Not our day, then — down by two wickets, heads held not quite as high as we'd like, and back to the nets we go. Still, with Thirkell striding out at 751 runs and Harris hunting his 48th wicket, the season has rather more good chapters left in it than bad.

Sat 19 Jul 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLDLD

We were the home side, first use of the ball on a good-looking Saturday for it — 19th July, and Linton Park's finest turned out expecting a tidy afternoon's cricket. What we got instead was a proper lesson in application from the visitors, K- Morris compiling a classy 62 and finding willing company in P- Phipps, unbeaten on 48, and G- Cook's 40, the pair putting on 77 for the second wicket while our attack toiled without quite landing the killer blow. Matt Large was the pick of us, 1-34 and four maidens to boot — miserly enough to suggest he'd rather bowl a hosepipe than a cricket ball — with Paul Bowles and Paul Gibson chipping in a wicket apiece. 196 for 3 from their 47 overs left us with real work to do.

To our credit, we didn't blink. The openers gave us a platform of 66 before the first fell, and when Bob Lines and Paul Bowles added a crucial 70 for the second wicket, the chase began to feel less like arithmetic and more like destiny. Bowles made a fine 41, Lines 39, but it was Nigel Thirkell who took the innings by the scruff of the neck with a superbly constructed 70 — form that, incidentally, keeps him top of our 1986 run charts with 694 for the season. I'll confess to rather enjoying leading from the front myself with 70, though modesty insists I mention it only in passing.

199 for 4 in the end, but 6 wickets down the other end — beaten, fair and square, by the better side on the day. Chins up, though: we'll be sharper for it next week.

Wed 16 Jul 1986 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLLWLD

Wednesday 16th July found us on the road to Gravesend, where the toss went against us and we were put in to field on a pitch that gave absolutely nothing away for free. Gravesend ground out 135/9 from their 49 overs, T Morris top-scoring with a patient 32, well supported by Colin Myers (27) and A Penney (20). But it was Paul Bowles who stole the show, spinning a web through their middle order for 5-59 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that makes the rest of us look on with quiet envy. Paul Gibson (2-24) and Mike Bains (1-14) tidied up nicely at the other end.

Chasing 136, we never quite got out of second gear, folding for 105 in 39.5 overs. Mike Elworthy battled hardest for his 25, but poor Trevor Back will want this one struck from the record — a golden duck to open proceedings rather set the tone. Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, conceding nine byes to a Bowles who, it must be said, was rather harder to keep than to bat against. I managed to find some rhythm myself with the ball for five wickets, though runs, in the end, were what we lacked.

So it's back to the nets with heads up rather than bowed — beaten by 30 runs on a day when our bowling did all the asking and our batting simply couldn't answer. Consolation, of sorts, comes from the season table: Paul Gibson leads the run charts with 65, and Paul Bowles sits second among the wicket-takers with 7. Character-building stuff, as we like to call it.

Sun 13 Jul 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLDL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 13 July 1986. We hosted the visitors on what turned out to be a proper day's cricket, and for once the coin obliged: I won the toss and, with the sun out and the outfield running fast, had no hesitation in asking us to bat.

I can't pretend I wasn't delighted with how it went from there. I found some form I'd been quietly hoping was still in the locker and carried my bat to 100 not out, while David Castle played a lovely, correct 74 alongside me — the two of us putting on 169 for the second wicket before I could decently stop. We closed on 189 for 2 from our 41 overs, which felt like a total with some teeth in it.

Defending it, the lads never quite let go of the contest. An early wicket with just 2 on the board had us purring, but a stubborn 58-run stand for the fifth wicket dragged the visitors back into it, G- Henry's well-made 55 and D Grayson's 27 the backbone of the reply. Jon Harris was in irresistible touch, spinning his way to 5 for 53 with five maidens, well backed by Allan Cooper's 2 for 25 and J- Milloy's solitary strike — with poor P Mitchell collecting a duck along the way.

In the end 142 for 8 from their 46 overs wasn't quite enough, nor was it quite too little — honours shared, and on this evidence, honours fairly earned.

Sat 12 Jul 1986 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWLDLD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 12 July 1986. We travelled to Horton Kirby CC on a day that promised much and, in the end, delivered a familiar sort of heartbreak.

Losing the toss and finding ourselves asked to chase is never the tonic a captain wants, but with ball in hand first we had our moments. Nigel Thirkell was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 7-47 and making the Horton Kirby middle order look thoroughly bamboozled, while Jon Harris bowled with real discipline — 7 maidens and 1-18, not a run given away lightly. Between us we had them wobbling at 57-3 and then 66-6, Keith Lockyer removed for a duck along the way, and honestly it should have been a rout. Alas, their last pair had other ideas, bolting on 43 runs we could frankly have done without, and Andy Scott's unbeaten 31 dragged them to 111/8 from their 46 overs.

Chasing 112, we never quite found our rhythm. An early wicket with just 1 on the board set the tone for a nervy, stop-start innings, and though Bob Lines battled to 20, wickets tumbled alarmingly from 43-4 to 51-7. We were all out for 76 in 42.5 overs, well short of the target.

A happy note amid the gloom — 7 wickets for the skipper, for what that's worth on a losing day. Down by 35 runs in the end. Not our day, lads — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 06 Jul 1986 🧢 1st XIv RA Reeds Aylesford · AwayformLWLDL

Sunday 06 July 1986 saw us venture to Reeds Aylesford in fine spirits, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat — a decision that, for once, looked rather clever by lunch.

David Castle set about proving me right in the grandest fashion, compiling a magnificent 127, while Ian Webb chipped in handsomely with 50 of his own. The pair of openers put on 147 before the first wicket finally fell, which is the sort of start that makes a captain feel he might actually know what he's doing. We closed on a healthy 197/6 from 49.3 overs, though the lower order rather let the side down — Trevor Back, Mike Elworthy and Nigel Thirkell all departed for ducks, three quacks too many for comfort.

In the field, we chipped away well without ever quite finishing the job. Their innings wobbled early at 0-1 before Michael Caddick (36) and support from Fred Baker (30) and Steve Martin (27) steadied things, with a 66-run second-wicket stand doing the damage. Matt Large was superb throughout, 3-33 with five miserly maidens, well backed by Dave Todd (3-67) and Allan Cooper (2-19), and G Wood and Matt Lemoine both went for ducks of their own. They finished 149/9 from 43 overs, nine down and grateful for the close.

As for my own contribution — nought, and the less said the better; we shall draw a veil over it. Honours shared, then: a draw earned by two sides neither able to land the final blow, and frankly a fair result on the day.

Thu 03 Jul 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDLWLD

Captain's Log — Thursday 03 July 1986

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once my judgement was vindicated rather than mocked over tea. We lost the first wicket for a solitary run, which had me reaching for the antacids early, but the middle order steadied the ship handsomely. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 63, well supported by Paul Gibson's 37, and the two of them stitched together a vital fourth-wicket stand of 55 that turned a wobble into a platform. We closed on a healthy 145/4 from our 16 overs — a total I was rather proud to have set.

Defending it proved a sterner test of the nerves. Their number three, G. Pocock, played a genuinely fine half-century of 55, ably assisted by G. White's 28, and between them they dragged the game back their way. We did have our moments — T. Allen back for a duck was a personal highlight — and Nigel, not content with his runs, turned his arm over for 3-64, with Sean Charlton (2-15) and Matt Large (1-38) chipping in gamely. It wasn't quite enough, and they got home by four wickets in the end.

A word for the season: Nigel now leads our run charts with 515, and Matt sits second in the wickets with 30 — the engine room is in fine order even when the results aren't. As for the verdict — beaten, but not disgraced. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 29 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLWL

Sunday 29 June, and Linton Park played host — I decided we'd have first use of the ball, and by close of play that call looked rather shrewd. Our visitors were bowled out for 154 in 51 overs, though they didn't go quietly. I Scones made a watchful 53, well supported by N Lewis (36) and D Arcari (22), and after early alarm at 4 for 1 their fourth-wicket pair steadied things with a stand of 51. Then the floodgates opened: 144 for 6 became 147 for 9 in a hurry, and P Henderson and S Rogers were both sent back without troubling the scorers — ducks, the pair of them. The day belonged to Jon Harris, whose 5 for 41 was a spell of real quality and thoroughly deserved; Ian Brattle (2-37) and Matt Large (2-39) chipped in nicely, while Allan Cooper's two maidens were mean enough to make anyone thirsty.

With the bat we made a fine fist of it. David Castle top-scored with a classy 61, ably supported by Ian Webb's 35, the pair of them putting on 92 for the first wicket before the first wicket fell. We closed on 150 for 4 from our 40 overs, honours even.

So it finished all square — a draw that flattered neither side nor shortchanged either. Keith Hatcher remains our leading run-scorer this season with 453, and Harris tops the wicket-takers with 40; the pillars, it would seem, on which this rather likeable side is built.

Sat 28 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDLDLW

Beaten by six wickets, but by heavens we didn't make it easy for anyone.

Winning the toss on a Saturday that promised more than it delivered, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — and for once the decision looked a sound one. Keith Hatcher played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 72 of real class, with Paul Bowles chipping in a handy 44 alongside him. Then, as is our custom, the tail decided enough was enough: 139 for 6 became 155 for 9 with barely time to reload the tea urn, David Castle and Tim Thirkell both departing for ducks and joining me in a rather crowded corner of the pavilion — three of us managed the feat between us today, which must be some sort of record nobody wants.

Defending 155 was always going to want discipline, and Sean Charlton gave us exactly that, two wickets and two maidens of proper miserliness, backed up nicely by Jon Harris and Matt Large with a wicket apiece. But Mark Wellbelove had other ideas, farming the strike to an unbeaten 62, with useful support from Hiatt and Smart, and steered them home at 158 for 4.

As for your correspondent — a golden duck, and the less said the better. Small consolation that Keith continues to sit second in the season's run charts and Jon tops the wicket pile. We'll dust ourselves down and be considerably better for it next week.

Fri 27 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Monchelsea CC · AwayformLDLDL

Off it went to Boughton Monchelsea on a fine Friday evening, 27 June, and won the toss I did what any captain with a scrap of optimism does — stuck them in the field and hoped for the best. It nearly went horribly wrong. One run on the board and we'd already lost a wicket, the sort of start that has you eyeing the tea urn for comfort rather than cake. Keith Hatcher (37) and Paul Gibson (25) steadied things nobly, but 78-4 became 88-7 before you could say "extra cover," and poor Bob Lines walked back for a duck, presumably to a chorus of sympathetic quacking. We limped home to 119/9 from our sixteen overs — hardly a total to strike fear into anyone, but cricket has a habit of making fools of us all.

And so it proved. Boughton Monchelsea's reply had all the same jitters we'd shown, a wicket down for nought before anyone had settled. Mike Sendles (37) and K Ladwa (25) threatened to bat us out of it, but the middle order simply evaporated — 108-7 crumbling to 111 all out, with Jeremy Chapman, Trevor Wratten and A Davis all failing to trouble the scorers. Allan Cooper bowled beautifully for 2-19, backed superbly by Sean Charlton (2-24) and Alan Boyns (2-27).

An eight-run win, then, of the sort that leaves you more relieved than triumphant — the cricketing equivalent of finding your car keys in the coat you'd already checked twice. Onwards we go.

Wed 25 Jun 1986 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · AwayformLLLWL

Wednesday, 25th June 1986, and off we trundled to Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC, where I called correctly at the toss and, with the sun doing its best village-green impression, had no hesitation in taking first strike. It did not begin well — 3 for 1 inside the first few overs is the sort of start that has a captain studying his tea leaves — but David Gibson (43) and Trevor Back (31) steadied things nicely, with M. O'Neill chipping in 22 and a fourth-wicket stand of 51 giving the innings some backbone. Poor Jim Hall, meanwhile, contributed nothing but a golden duck 🦆, which he will no doubt hear about at the bar. All out 164 in 49.1 overs — respectable, if not one to frighten the neighbours.

In the field we chased leather manfully. Sevenoaks built nicely through A. Dean's fine 51, with Peter Day (29) and G. Patterson (28) lending support and a second-wicket stand of 62 threatening to run away from us. But I finally found some rhythm with the ball — 5 wickets, 5-51 with three maidens to show for the toil — while B. Dillnutt (3-31) and M. O'Neill (1-22) mopped up the rest, Pat Reynolds departing for a duck 🦆 along the way. They finished 164 for 9 off 42 overs.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could force it. Worth noting: Trevor Back's 31 nudged him past Robert Chance into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list 📈. A fair result, honestly earned, and tea was, as ever, the real winner.

Tue 24 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWLDLD

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 24 June 1986. Fine weather, a full tea urn, and a scoreline I'd rather not dwell on, but dwell I must.

Winning the toss, we sent them in, and for a while it looked a canny move. John Coles had other ideas, though, ghosting past his fifty to 69 and generally making our bowling look like something you'd order off a menu you regretted. P. Jackson and R. McCormick chipped in with 20 apiece, the pair of them putting on 58 for the second wicket while we stood about rearranging the field to no great effect. Credit where due — Allan Cooper kept plugging away for 2-29, with Jon Harris and Alan Boyns a wicket apiece, and 139/4 from sixteen overs could easily have been worse.

Chasing it, we made a right hash of things. Three-for-one felt merely careless; thirteen-for-two into nineteen-for-five felt like a genuine emergency, the sort where you start checking the fixtures list for an easier team to play next week. Jim Hall, Matt Large and J. Milloy all trooped off for ducks, and only Keith Hatcher, unbeaten on 25, showed any real sense that the ball was there to be middled rather than merely survived. We limped to 53/7.

Beaten by 86 runs, then, and no arguing with that margin. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's a lot of throwing balls at Jim Hall to be getting on with before next Tuesday.

Sun 22 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformWWLDL

From the captain's chair, Sunday 22 June 1986. The visitors arrived to find us electing to bowl first, a decision that looked rather shrewd once we'd reduced them to 36-5, Mike Stapley back in the hutch for a duck and the innings wobbling nicely. Ian Brattle was in miserly, metronomic form — 4-33 with seven maidens, the sort of spell that has batsmen playing shots they didn't know they owned — with Paul Gibson (3-38) and Allan Cooper (1-20) chipping in dutifully. But cricket has a habit of humbling the confident, and a stubborn 59-run stand for the tenth wicket, built on J Best's well-made 69, dragged the visitors all the way to 163 all out in 47.5 overs. The floodgates we'd opened were rather firmly shut again.

In reply we made a nervy start, 2-1 down before we'd properly settled, but Paul Bowles set about repairing things with a composed, well-made unbeaten fifty, ably supported by David Gibson's useful 24. We closed on 95-3 from 20.1 overs — though not without further contributions to the Duck Club ledger, David Castle and Paul Gibson both departing for nought.

With Bowles now second in the season's run charts on 361 and Jon Harris still top of the wicket pile with 33, the form is there even if the result wasn't quite. Honours shared, then — a fair reflection of an afternoon neither side could quite grab by the scruff of the neck.

Sat 21 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDWWLD

Saturday 21st June saw us head down to West Farleigh, and having won the toss I did the traditional captain's thing and stuck us in — a decision I stood by right up until the moment we were bowled out for 145 in the 42nd over, at which point I quietly reconsidered my career as a strategist. Bob Lines held things together with a fine 40, and Keith Hatcher chipped in handsomely with 32, but the rest of us contributed rather more to the West Farleigh tea urn than the scorebook.

Defending 145 was always going to want something special, and for a while Jon Harris looked capable of conjuring it out of thin air, spinning his way to a magnificent 5-30 while Sean Charlton toiled away miserly and unlucky in equal measure, three maidens and a wicket to show for real graft. But Keith Patey's 40, with support from Micky Back (28) and Fred Baker (21), nudged the home side past us to 148/6. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps too — nine byes is the sort of statistic that follows a man home.

Four wickets the wrong side of victory, then, and not our day. Still, Paul Bowles quietly sits second in the season's run charts and Jon Harris leads the wickets table by some distance, so the engine room is purring even if the scoreboard didn't agree with us. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sun 15 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · HomeformLDWWL

As we lost the toss and were put into the field, I already sensed a long Sunday ahead — and Bexhill duly made themselves at home, cruising to 219/6 from their 48 overs. John Holland (70) and Martin Grimes (69) put on a chanceless 95 for the third wicket while I shuffled the field and wondered aloud whether anyone fancied bowling at them, and Steve Cox's 47 kept the scoreboard ticking merrily along. Credit where due, though: Sean Charlton dragged us back into it with 2 for 39 and four maidens of real discipline, Jon Harris chipped in with 2 for 76, and Keith Hatcher took 1 for 35 for good measure. Still, 207 became 217 in the blink of an eye, as these things do.

Set 220 to win, we made a fine fist of it. David Castle (48) and Bob Lines (38) gave us the ideal platform with 69 for the first wicket, and Keith Hatcher then carried his bat all the way to an unbeaten 70 — though he might have a quiet word with himself about the 12 byes that went astray behind the stumps at the other end of his day. We closed on 202/6 from 53 overs, agonisingly short with wickets in hand but overs run out.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly a fair reflection of an afternoon where both sides had their say. Keith continues to churn out the runs (third in our 1986 charts with 271) and Jon Harris keeps piling up wickets (27 and counting, tops in the club). Not a win, but not a bad way to spend a Sunday either.

Sat 14 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformWLDWW

Not our finest hour, but here goes. We rocked up on a fine Saturday and, winning the toss, put the opposition in — a decision that looked shrewd enough when their opener departed for a duck at 2-1, but they steadied nicely, adding a crucial 59 for the second wicket before J Adams (42 not out) and useful contributions from J Golding and P Husband (33 apiece) carried them to a stiff 169/7 off their 45. Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball — 4-37 and three miserly maidens, not a run given away lightly — with Nigel Thirkell (2-23) and Dave Todd (1-30) chipping in dutifully. P Worsnop, for what it's worth, went home without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 170, we made a fair fist of it. Nigel Thirkell batted beautifully for an unbeaten 73, well supported by Paul Gibson's 52 and Keith Hatcher's composed 30 not out, the pair adding a vital 74 for the second wicket. I confess a personal 73 gave me no small satisfaction on a day when little else did. Poor Jim Hall, however, had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes finding their way past him — these things happen to the best of us.

We fell eight wickets short in the end. Not our day, but heads up — back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Thu 12 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLWLDW

Thursday last saw us rattle down to West Farleigh, and for once the coin favoured me — I called it right and had no hesitation in batting first, a decision I shall be dining out on for weeks. We made a tidy 121 for 5 off our sixteen overs, the innings built around Keith Hatcher's unbeaten 40, with Paul Gibson (35) and Bob Lines (22) doing sterling work alongside him — the pair of Hatcher and Gibson put on 61 for the fourth wicket, which was rather the making of the innings and rather the saving of my nerves at the tea urn.

Defending it was another matter entirely. West Farleigh lost Fred Baker for a duck with the scoreboard still embarrassingly blank, and though Don Fermor (29) and Keith Patey (20) threatened to make a proper fist of the chase, they never quite got there, closing on 102 for 7. Jon Harris did the heavy lifting up front with 2 for 35, and Nigel Thirkell (1 for 10) and Paul Gibson (1 for 21) kept things admirably tight throughout.

A word for the mantelpiece: that single wicket for Nigel edges him past Paul Bowles into second on the club's all-time list — no small thing, and quietly the highlight of my afternoon. Add in his 379 runs leading our season's charts, and Matt Large's 24 wickets doing likewise, and it's plain the engine room is purring nicely.

We got home by 19 runs. A thoroughly satisfying day, and I shall claim full credit for the toss.

Tue 10 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformWLWLD

Splendid Tuesday it was for a Linton Park skirmish, and I won the toss, called it right, and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first — a rare moment of decisiveness from your captain. Bob Lines set about the Hollingbourne attack with real purpose, cracking a fine 74, while Nigel Thirkell chipped in a tidy 31 alongside him as the pair put on 68 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a wicket. We finished on a healthy 128/3 from our sixteen overs — though I must, in the interests of transparency, report that Alan Boyns endured the walk of shame for a duck, and the Duck Club ledger has been updated accordingly. 🦆

Defending it looked a formality until Alan Ovenden decided otherwise, batting beautifully for an unbeaten 60 and dragging Hollingbourne to within sight of us at 119/4. Matt Large kept his head and his line to finish with 2-33, Nigel Thirkell backed him up with 1-23 (busy man, that — bat and ball both), and I even found time to trouble the scorers myself with 31 with the bat. In the end nine runs was enough, though not nearly as many as my nerves would have liked.

A fine win, then, and a reminder that this game rarely lets you relax. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 375, and Matt Large sits proudly atop the wickets column with 23 — both men, it should be said, rather busier than their captain. Onwards. 🏏

Sun 08 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformDWLWL

Sunday the 8th of June saw us take the road to Sheldwich, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in putting us in to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'm sticking to that story regardless of what followed. An early wobble at 4-1 threatened to make a liar of me, but the middle order dug in gamely. Sean Charlton was the class act of the day, ticking past his fifty on the way to a fine 56, with Nigel Thirkell (23) and Allan Cooper (23) lending sturdy support. A doughty 61-run stand for the seventh wicket did the real rescue work, before we folded for 134 off 49.5 overs. Less said the better about Trevor Back and Alan Boyns, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — quack, quack.

In the field we set about defending our modest total with more discipline than the batting had shown. Matt Large was magnificent, bowling with real control for figures of 4-44 including three maidens, and Jon Harris chipped in with 1-30 to keep the squeeze on. Nigel Mannouch's 20 was the only real resistance as the visitors stuttered to 124-8 from their 45 overs — I even had a small say myself with 23 in the field's honour. In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — not the story I'd have written, but with Charlton in form and Large steaming through the season's wicket charts, there's plenty to be cheerful about on the road home.

Sat 07 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformLDWLW

Saturday the 7th of June found us on the road, and if the away dressing rooms of this world ever compiled a guestbook, ours would be a familiar signature. Put into the field, we set about our visitors with more purpose than usual, though 140 all out from 45.5 overs owed much to a stubborn 64-run stand for the fifth wicket between G. Griffiths (47) and N. Smith (33). Matt Large was magnificent, four for 41 and three maidens to boot, ably assisted by Jon Harris (3-31) and Alan Boyns (2-39). Poor Roger Crooks, meanwhile, departed for a duck — my sympathies, old boy, we've all been there.

With the ball's work done, the bat took over, and Paul Gibson's well-crafted fifty set the tone, a brisk 76 for the first wicket before we lost our openers. Nigel Thirkell (40 not out) and Bob Lines (25) kept the innings ticking along nicely, and I contributed 40 of my own — modest by the standards on show, but I'll take it. We closed on 142 for 2 from 39.2 overs.

A word for Matt Large, who brought up his 100th career wicket — a landmark worth raising a glass to. Nigel continues to lead the run charts with 321, Jon Harris the wickets with 18. And yet, for all that, it wasn't our day — down by eight wickets. Heads up, lads, back to the nets.

Thu 05 Jun 1986 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformLLDWL

Staplehurst were the visitors on Thursday 5th June, and having lost the toss I duly volunteered us for a fielding stint — never the plan, but as ever we made do. Bowling and fielding well from the off, we had them 4-1 before they'd properly settled, and though John Bowers threatened to make a real match of it with a fighting 35, the middle and lower order simply capitulated around him — 50-5 became 59-8 in the blink of an eye, with Neil Pullen, Ian Pullen and Peter Askew all back in the pavilion without so much as a run to show for it. Staplehurst were bowled out for 61 in just 13.1 overs, Nigel Thirkell the chief destroyer with a beautiful 4-14, well backed up by Matt Large's 4-27.

Chasing 62 ought to have been a formality, and we did our level best to make it anything but. Wickets clattered from 31-2 to 36-5 as Paul Gibson, Allan Cooper and Matt Large each contributed nothing but their presence at the crease, and for a nervy spell it looked as though we might contrive to lose the unloseable. Keith Hatcher, unbeaten on 23, kept his head when the rest of us were losing ours, and steered us home by three wickets.

A day of two contrasting spells with the ball for the skipper too — four wickets to go with the captaincy, which I shall be insufferable about at the bar. Paul Bowles still tops the run charts and Nigel Thirkell the wickets, but today the honours were shared all round. A scratchy, nervous, thoroughly typical village win. Onwards.

Wed 28 May 1986 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Burghill & Tillington CC · HomeformDLLLW

Wednesday 28th May, and Burghill & Tillington were the visitors on what turned out to be a chastening afternoon for the home side. Losing the toss meant we bowled first, which by close of play might have been the highlight of our day. They ground their way to 184/8 from 46 overs, with Nick Osborne (48 not out) and David Mokler (46) putting on 58 for the sixth wicket in the sort of stand that makes a captain reconsider his field placings hourly. Paul Bowles was the pick of the attack with 2-19, well backed by Jon Harris (2-43), Sean Cook (2-46) and the parsimonious Matt Large, who bowled two maidens and looked thoroughly unimpressed by everyone else's economy rate.

Chasing 185, we never quite got going. A wicket down for 6 set an unhappy tone, and though Paul Gibson battled to 40, supported by Kevin Draper (29) and Alan Boyns (22), the innings collapsed from 116-4 to 127-7 in the sort of rush that has spectators reaching for their flasks. Sean Cook and Jon Harris both fell without scoring, and your correspondent, I'm afraid, contributed a duck of his own — the details of which are best left to posterity's mercy. All out for 128 in 34.3 overs.

There was, happily, something to toast: Paul Gibson brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Malcolm Pay's 15 leapfrogged him past Jon Harris to 13th on the all-time run list. Beaten by 56 runs, then, but not without cause for a raised glass. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 26 May 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLLDW

Beaten but not bowed at Linton Park on Monday 26 May 1986, and I dare say there's a report in it worth the telling.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and how the lads repaid that confidence — 236/6 from our sixty overs, built around a magnificent century from Paul Bowles, 116 of the finest, with Nigel Thirkell purring along to 74. Their third-wicket stand of 157 was the innings in microcosm, though poor Ian Webb's golden duck reminds us cricket keeps a sense of humour even on the good days.

Defending it proved rather more fraught. Our visitors replied with 239/7 from 64.4 overs, and though we had them at 2-1 early doors, a 76-run third-wicket stand dragged them back into contention. Jon Harris toiled manfully for 3-65, with Matt Large tidy as you like — 2-44 and five maidens for his trouble — and Keith Hatcher chipping in with 1-10. a- Armstrong's well-made fifty (60) was the difference, well supported by P- Nicholls and an unbeaten 31 from John Hartridge. Poor Malcolm Pay had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes going begging, while I'll confess my own 74 with the ball was some small personal consolation amid the wreckage.

Beaten by three wickets in the end — not the result we wanted, though with Bowles now top of the season's run charts and Harris leading the wickets, there's plenty to be cheerful about. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 25 May 1986 🧢 Sunday NVKCv ? · HomeformWWWLW

Sunday 25 May 1986, and I trudged out to toss the coin wondering what the day had in store for us. As it turned out, not a great deal to write home about with the bat: 93 all out in 36.5 overs is the sort of total that makes for a short tea interval and a long walk back to the pavilion. We lost our first wicket for just 4, which set the tone rather, and though Tim Thirkell battled to 23 – and in doing so climbed past Paul Brattle into 8th on the club's all-time run charts, which is no small thing – support was thin. Special mention, in the Duck Club ledger sense, to Matt Large, who contrived a golden duck; still, he made amends later, more of which shortly.

With the ball, we at least made a fist of it. Jon Harris led the attack nicely with 1-26, Paul Bowles matched him with 1-26 of his own, and Matt Large bowled two tidy maidens to keep things respectable. But the visitors' openers put on a breezy 61 before the first wicket fell, and from there W. Buckley (51 not out) and E. May (30) saw them home at 94/2 in just 28.5 overs. I chipped in with 18 with the bat, for what little comfort that offers.

Eight wickets is a beating by any measure. Bowles continues to top our 1986 Sunday NVKC run charts and Harris sits third among the wicket-takers, so there are green shoots amid the wreckage. But today, quite simply, wasn't our day. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sat 24 May 1986 🧢 1st XIv CK Castle Hill CC, Kent · HomeformLLLLD

We hosted Castle Hill CC on a fine Saturday, lost the toss, and were sent into the field — which, on reflection, suited us rather well. Jon Harris was the chief architect of the collapse that followed a watchful 95-6, tearing through to finish with 4-34 and, in the process, sailing past 1,300 career wickets — a number that still sounds faintly ridiculous written down. Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 3-26, enough to leapfrog Nigel Thirkell into second on the club's all-time list, while Matt Large bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the tea urn — six maidens and just 1-23 — as Castle Hill folded for 116 off 45 overs, Brian Henley's 30 the only real resistance.

Chasing 117, we made a proper meal of what should have been a formality. Nigel Thirkell and Keith Hatcher both made useful 30s, their third-wicket stand of 57 the backbone of the innings, and I managed a tidy 30 of my own. Then, as is tradition at Linton Park, the wheels came off spectacularly — 93-4 became 107-7 before we'd so much as finished our sandwiches, poor Jim Hall not helping matters with eight byes gone astray behind the stumps.

We scrambled home by three wickets in 43.4 overs, hearts in mouths rather longer than necessary. A good day for the club, milestones ticked off, and a reminder that we do enjoy making the simple things difficult.

Sun 18 May 1986 🧢 1st XIv BC Battle CC · AwayformDLLLL

Sunday 18 May 1986, away to Battle CC, and for once the toss actually went my way — a decision to bat that, in retrospect, might have owed more to hope than judgement. We limped to 139/8 from our 43 overs, rescued from mediocrity by Nigel Thirkell's fine 64 and a watchful 22 not out from Alan Boyns, the pair putting on 65 for the fifth wicket while the rest of us looked on admiringly. What followed was less admirable: 122/5 became 130/8 with startling speed, and Paul Gibson, J. Milloy and Simon Thirkell all made that lonely walk back for ducks. The less said about that passage of play, the better.

In the field we were made to work for every run as Battle replied with 139/9 from their 42. Tim Eldridge's 38 and Joe Hanson's 33 did the early damage, with Brian Scollay's unbeaten 22 threatening to see them home, but our bowlers kept faith — Allan Cooper the pick with 3-27, well backed by Jon Harris and Ian Brattle, both with 3-36-ish figures and Brattle tidy enough to bowl two maidens. P. Meredith joined the ducks' club without troubling the scorers. Eight byes did rather give the game away for poor David Castle behind the stumps.

So honours even, level scores, and nobody quite able to land the decisive blow. A draw that flattered no one and disappointed no one — which, on a warm May Sunday at Battle, felt about right.

Sat 17 May 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLDLLL

Saturday 17th May, and Linton Park's finest gathered on home turf hoping for better than we'd get.

Put into the field, we watched the visitors compile 172/9 from their 46 overs, S. Phipps leading the way with 47, well backed by R. Chapman's 30 and D. Harden's unbeaten 29. We struck early — 7-1 had us purring — but a stubborn third-wicket stand of 67 dragged the game away from us before B. Cooper departed cheaply to restore some order. Nigel Thirkell, bless him, simply ran amok: 6-80 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, ably assisted by Sean Charlton (2-48) and Matt Large (1-13). Not a bad shift for an afternoon's toil.

In reply, 167/5 from our 44 overs was honest but ultimately five runs shy of the mark. Paul Bowles played beautifully for 99 — agonisingly close to the century he so richly deserved — with Nigel Thirkell chipping in a handy 25. I managed 25 myself with the bat, and found some unexpected rhythm with the ball to bag six wickets, for what little consolation that offers on a losing afternoon.

Amid the disappointment, two milestones worth raising a glass to: Nigel Thirkell brought up 16,000 career runs for the club, and his six wickets nudged him past Paul Bowles into second on our all-time wicket-takers list. Bowles still tops the 1986 run charts with 165, Thirkell the wickets with 12.

Not our day, then — beaten by five runs when the game was there for the taking. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Tue 13 May 1986 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLDLL

Tuesday 13th May 1986, and we had the visitors in for what would prove a rather cruel afternoon of cricket. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for once my judgement wasn't entirely misplaced. Paul Bowles played a lovely innings for his 60, Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 31, and Bob Lines added 28, the pair putting on 53 for the third wicket to give our total real backbone. All told, 133 for 4 from our sixteen overs looked a tidy score as we trooped off for tea, chests modestly puffed.

Defending it should have been the easy part. It wasn't. M- Everest set about us for 40 and found a willing ally in D- Brooker, unbeaten on 38, the two of them putting on 61 for the sixth wicket that undid all our good work — this despite us removing their opener for just 6 and sending M- Brooker back for a golden duck, which raised a cheer that proved premature. Nigel Thirkell bowled beautifully for 2 for 25, with Jon Harris (2-32) and Matt Large (1-24) also among the wickets, and I did what I could with the ball for 31 runs' worth of runs conceded elsewhere in support. But 119 for 6 got them home by 14.

Nigel Thirkell now leads our season's run and wicket charts both, which is either splendid form or a sign the rest of us need to pull our socks up. Not our day, then — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 11 May 1986 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Benenden CC · AwayformLWWWL

Sunday 11th May found us on the road to Benenden, where we lost the toss and were sent straight into the field — no better way to blow away the cobwebs. Benenden made 100 all out from 38.2 overs, though it might have been fewer had we not let Gary Marshall (38) and Ray Harding (22) steady things after an early wobble at 2 for the loss of their opener. Ian Brattle was magnificent, 3 for 7 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, and he had willing support from Matt Large (3-22) and Jon Harris (2-21). Tim Hartley, Nigel Phelps and Roger Lake all walked back without troubling the scorer, which tells its own tale.

A target of 101 was never going to trouble us unduly, and so it proved. Paul Bowles played the anchor role to perfection, unbeaten on 59, with David Castle chipping in a handsome 25 alongside him. I added a modest 16 of my own, more for the look of the thing than out of necessity, and we cruised home at 106 for 1 with overs to spare.

A red-letter day off the field too, as Nigel Thirkell brought up 1,000 career wickets — a milestone the whole club can raise a glass to. Nine wickets, two points, and precious little to trouble the sleep of the Linton Park committee. A fine away day, all told.

Sun 04 May 1986 🧢 1st XIv SC Sandwich Town CC · HomeformWDLDL

We were sent in to field on Sunday afternoon under grey Kentish skies, and if I'm honest I had rather fancied our chances after Sandwich Town lost an opener for a duck. But a stubborn 85-run stand for the fifth wicket dragged them back into the contest, and half-centuries that weren't quite half-centuries from Stuart Smith (41), David Mills (41) and Kevin Beaumont (40) carried them to a respectable 171 for 8 off their 49. Matt Large was the pick of the attack by some distance — four wickets, three maidens, mean as you like — with Nigel Thirkell (2-8) squeezing the tap shut at the other end and Jon Harris chipping in.

Chasing 172, we never quite found our rhythm. Keith Hatcher's 21 and David Castle's 20 were the only scores of note, and what should have been a solid platform at 74 for 4 became a horror show at 77 for 7 before we'd had time to reach for another cup of tea. Alan Carpenter and Alex Smith went without scoring in the first innings, Nigel Thirkell and David Iliffe repeated the trick in the second, and I contributed my own blob to the collection — the less said, the better.

There was, at least, a footnote worth raising a glass to: Jon Harris's four runs eased him past Malcolm Pay into 13th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Small mercies. All told, though, we were beaten by 80 runs, fair and square, and we'll need to find rather more application with the bat before Sandwich Town come calling again.

Sat 03 May 1986 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformDWDLD

Saturday 03 May 1986, away at Bidborough, and I won the toss and never seriously considered doing anything but batting — a decision that in hindsight owed more to instinct than analysis. We shuffled our way to 118/8 from 48 overs, a total that flattered to deceive somewhat, rescued largely by Nigel Thirkell's fine 55, an innings of real substance while the rest of us huffed and puffed around him. Special mention, as tradition demands, for Dave Todd, who departed for a golden duck and will no doubt be reminded of it well into the winter.

With the ball we fought hard to make a match of it. Bidborough got themselves to 119/7 from 44.4 overs, D Francis leading their reply with 30, well supported by David Tolhurst and M Tolhurst with 20 apiece. Our bowling had its moments of real quality — Ian Brattle was excellent, 3-37 including four maidens, not a soul allowed to settle against him — while Nigel Thirkell (2-12) and Jon Harris (2-41) chipped in handsomely too. It simply wasn't quite enough.

I'll confess some quiet satisfaction in leading from the front with that 55, and in seeing Nigel and Ian atop the season's run and wicket charts respectively — small consolations on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Beaten by three wickets in the end. Not our day, but heads up — back to the nets, and back stronger.