🧢 Captain's Log

Wed 30 Sep 1987 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformDLDWD

Wednesday 30th September saw us make the trip to Penshurst Park, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy career, there was never much doubt about what I'd do with it — up we went to bat.

What followed was as handsome a display as this scribe has had the pleasure of witnessing. The openers set the tone with 95 for the first wicket before either fell, and then David Castle simply took over, compiling a majestic 100 not out while Andrew Hales chipped in with a classy 64 and the pair added 110 for the second wicket. Paul Bowles' 35 rounded things off nicely as we closed on 206 for 2 from our 43.3 overs — the kind of total that makes the tea interval taste that bit sweeter.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Penshurst's Milns played a fine hand of 52, well supported by Darby (34) and Boyden (26), and a stand of 66 for the third wicket had us shifting in our boots. But cricket has a way of turning, and turn it did — they slid from 182 for 6 to 192 for 9, with G Cooper and John Lambert both back in the hutch without so much as a run to their name. Ian Brattle was magnificent, snaring 4 for 53, with Bowles (3-23) and Thirkell (1-10) offering fine support. My own contribution behind the stumps was rather less distinguished — 11 byes is not a figure I'll be framing.

A tense finish, but a fine win by 10 runs. Onwards indeed.

Sun 27 Sep 1987 🧢 1st XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDWDDD

The lads gathered on Sunday, all set for the visit of Dummy Site — and true to form, I lost the toss again, watching them elect to bat while I tried to look unbothered about it.

They ground their way to 158 all out in 57.4 overs, with Titchener-Barrett unbeaten on 34 and Allen (27) and Oldridge (26) chipping in respectably enough. For a while it looked ominous — 56-2 sliding to 70-5 in a hurry — before Jon Harris got among them properly, 4-46 with six miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, ably assisted by Alan Boyns (3-22) and Malcolm Pay (2-5). Poor Irwin and Jefferson trudged back without so much as troubling the scorers, which is never a pleasant walk.

Our reply was a rather more nervous affair. Two down for one run and I confess I did wonder what I'd say in this very report. But Keith Hatcher, calm as you like, played a lovely knock of 58, with David Castle (36) and Bob Lines (23) lending sturdy support — the third-wicket pair adding a priceless 73 before the middle order rather lost its head, 119-3 becoming 128-6 in the blink of an eye. Whyte, Simmonds and Large all made their way back for ducks, bless them, and we finished on 139-8. Castle also had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, 20 byes the price of an entertaining contest — though he can console himself as our leading run-scorer this season, just as Harris tops the wicket charts, and reached 1500 career victims in the process.

A draw, then — honours even, and on the balance of the day's fortunes, a fair result all round.

Sat 26 Sep 1987 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · HomeformLDWDD

Here is the match report.

Saturday last saw Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC roll up the drive, and my luck deserted me at the toss — they elected to bat, and I resigned myself to a long afternoon in the field. Jonathon Coles gave us the full tour with a polished 51, Ian Gillespie stuck around unbeaten on 46, and J Withers chipped in with 32, the openers laying down a maddeningly solid platform of 75 before the first wicket finally fell. They closed on 184/6 from their 40 overs, a total that felt heavier than it should have thanks to some excellent death bowling. Jon Harris was quite magnificent, prising out five for 54 — a spell to make the tea urn proud — while Matt Large toiled away for 1-85, his two maidens the only thing keeping the scoreboard honest. Terry Wright, for his part, departed without so much as a glance at the scorers.

In reply we were steady rather than spectacular, closing on 141/6 from 52 overs. Nigel Thirkell played the anchor role beautifully for 43, with Dave Todd offering fine support alongside on 23. I contributed a workmanlike 19 of my own, more graft than glory. Spare a thought for poor Peter Whyte, whose duck will be inscribed in the club's ledger of shame for weeks to come.

With David Castle still purring along nicely in the season's run charts and Jon Harris now boasting 94 wickets, the engine room of this side remains in rude health. As for Saturday — honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody, which in village cricket is very nearly a result.

Sun 20 Sep 1987 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLLDWD

Sunday 20 September saw us play host to Anchorians CC, and losing the toss meant we were straight into the field – never the ideal way to spend an English afternoon, but there we are. The visitors made themselves thoroughly at home, racing to 217/2 from their 42 overs on the back of a monumental 179-run second-wicket stand. Graham Siveyer batted with the serene indifference of a man who knows the bowling isn't troubling him, finishing unbeaten on 96, while Keith Wooding chipped in a handsome 80 alongside him. Credit where due: Matt Large kept plugging away for 2-42, and Alan Boyns bowled with the meanness of a man guarding his allotment, three maidens and all.

Chasing 218, we set off promisingly enough – 93 for the first wicket suggested a platform worth building on. Nigel Thirkell was the mainstay, striking a fine 89, well supported by David Castle's 40. But cricket has a cruel sense of comedy, and ours arrived between 141 and 146, three wickets tumbling in the blink of an eye. I contributed my own small footnote to that collapse with a duck – the sort of dismissal best filed under "least said." We limped to 149/9 from our 43, honours shared.

One shaft of sunshine amid the wreckage: David Castle brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth more than any scoreline. A draw, then – no losers, but with that middle-order wobble, no winners either. We'll take the point and the cap doff to Castle, and move swiftly on.

Sat 19 Sep 1987 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWLLDW

Nigel Thirkell here, filing from another sun-dappled Saturday in the good county of Kent, where West Farleigh had the good manners to win the toss and the poor judgement to bat first anyway.

We toiled honestly in the field, and it would have been a long afternoon indeed had Jon Harris not decided this was his day — 5-51 of the highest quality, the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen suddenly remembering appointments elsewhere. Mick Holness (42), Mick Beeney (29) and Tim Baker (28) all got in and got amongst it for the home side, but between Jon's five-for, a tidy 1-22 I managed to scrape together, David Castle's 1-24, and three maidens from the ever-parsimonious Matt Large, we dragged them back to 156 for 9 off their 48.3 overs — a score that felt, by teatime, distinctly gettable.

Alas, gettable is not the same as got. By the time we'd crept to 6 without loss off three overs, both captains cast a weather eye at the clock, shrugged in the manner of men who have seen enough village cricket to know a lost cause when the light's fading, and shook hands on a draw.

Elsewhere, the season ticks pleasingly along — David Castle now sits second in our 1987 run charts with 1246, and Jon Harris leads the wickets column with 89, proof if any were needed that some players are simply having a year of it.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the only clear winner.

Wed 09 Sep 1987 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDDLDW

Called it right at the toss on a fine September Wednesday and, with The Mote CC standing between us and a bit of tea-time glory, there was never really a question of doing anything but batting first. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of a man determined to make his 600th appearance in Linton colours one to remember, ending unbeaten on 80, while David Castle stroked a fine 51 and Paul Gibson chipped in with 37 — a knock that, almost incidentally, took him past Terry Whittaker and up to 20th on the club's all-time run charts, not to mention through the 3,000-run mark for his Linton career. That third-wicket stand of 86 was really the making of our 209 for 3 from 44 overs.

The Mote's openers then had the temerity to add 105 before we prised one out, Malcolm Bristow and Brian Piper both passing fifty in reply. I managed to find some rhythm and worked through for 3 for 52, with Nigel and Trevor Back chipping in a wicket apiece — Trevor's solitary strike enough to leapfrog Tony Snell into 15th on the wicket-takers' list — while Alan Boyns bowled with miserly discipline, seven maidens testament to a line the batsmen simply couldn't budge.

In the end, honours even. A draw, then — but a thoroughly good-natured one, and no complaints from this captain's chair.

Sun 06 Sep 1987 🧢 1st XIv MH Mad Hatters · HomeformWWLLD

Called correctly at the toss on Sunday and didn't think twice about batting first — a decent breakfast and a full team sheet, what more does a captain need. The openers gave us exactly the platform we dreamed of, 105 on the board before the first wicket fell, and from there Paul Gibson set about a fine 69, with David Castle right behind him on a well-made 54. I chipped in with 33 of my own, more luck than method, and we closed a handsome 224 for 5 from our 32 overs.

Mad Hatters replied in similarly bullish style, their openers putting on 106 before we prised the first wicket loose, and for a while a-D- Robertson looked set to bat us clean out of it with a fine 63, backed by R Lankester's unbeaten 35 and J Widgery's 32. But once the middle order arrived it fell apart rather beautifully for us — 106 for 1 became 113 for 4, with C O'Neill, P Maynard and C-J- Blackman all trooping back without troubling the scorers. Trevor Back was magnificent, 7 for 42 and thoroughly deserved, with Jon Harris (2-43) and Steve Cheale (1-4) chipping in. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes slipping through, but the damage was already done. Mad Hatters were all out for 169.

Worth a mention too: David Castle's 54 nudged him past Maurice Fenner into 24th on the club's all-time run-scoring list. Paul Gibson still leads our 1987 run charts with 1319, and Jon Harris tops the wickets with 83. A fine win by 55 runs — onwards.

Sat 05 Sep 1987 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · HomeformWWWLL

We lost the toss again on Saturday — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has a grudge against me — and Sibton Park duly chose to bat, leaving us to spend the afternoon on our feet under a watchful Linton Park sky. They ground out 194 for 5 from their 49 overs, built chiefly around a fine 61-run stand for the fourth wicket between I Clarke, who finished unbeaten on 54, and J Rouse, who made 52 of his own with N Turrell chipping in 26. Credit where it's due: they batted with real application, and we simply couldn't prise them apart when it mattered.

The bowling, though, was where we earned our corn. Jon Harris was superb, 3 for 37 with four maidens to show for his afternoon's toil — not a run given away lightly, as they say — with Sean Charlton offering fine support at 2 for 37. S Addis, at least, departed for a golden duck without troubling the scorers, small mercies and all that.

Chasing 195, we made a brisk enough start of 21 for 1 from just 3.3 overs before bad light or good sense (I forget which) brought proceedings to a close, and honours were shared. Paul Gibson continues to lead our run charts this season with 1250, and Jon Harris tops the wickets with 81 — the lad is making a habit of these performances. A draw, then, but a thoroughly honest one, and I'll happily take that against a side who made us work for every ball.

Mon 31 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDWWWL

Beaten by 3 wickets, but I'll say this for the lads: we made Bearsted work for it.

Monday 31 August 1987, and we had Bearsted CC in at Linton Park on what felt, at the toss, like a home fixture we ought to win. I called it right and elected to bat — or so I thought at tea. We were bowled out for 138 off 58.5 overs, which tells its own story of application rather than fireworks. Sean Charlton was the mainstay with 40, and a sixth-wicket stand of 56 dragged us to something defendable. Poor Matt Large will want this one struck from the record — a duck to open his afternoon, though he'd have his say later.

Defending 138 was always going to ask questions, and Bearsted answered most of them. An early wicket with just 1 on the board had us dreaming, but Rupert Humphrey (49) and Richard Coward (47) put together a stand of 76 for the fifth wicket that took the game away from us, N Bateman seeing them home unbeaten on 29. Credit where it's due: Matt Large atoned in style with 4-33, Sean Charlton and Allan Cooper chipped in, and Jon Harris bowled six overs as tight as his club-leading wicket tally suggests.

In the end, 144/7 in 54 overs edged us out by three wickets. Not our finest hour, but there was enough good cricket in there to suggest better days are coming — and coming soon, I hope.

Sun 30 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv BC Brighton & Hove CC · AwayformWDWWW

We lost the toss and were put in to field, which set the tone for a long afternoon down at Brighton & Hove. Their innings ran to 201/7 from 55 overs, and though we struck early — 3-1 was full of promise — a stubborn last-wicket stand did for us, adding 154 we could well have done without. Alan Boyns was magnificent, leading the attack with 4-36 including eight maidens, well supported by Matt Large's 3-86. P Knight and Tony Payne both fell for ducks to our bowling, small consolations against Hansford's unbeaten century and Bieber's well-made fifty, which did most of the damage.

Chasing 202, we never got going. Four down for one set an ominous tone, and from 29-2 we slid to 43-5 in what felt like the blink of an eye. Brian Piper, Huckstep and Alan Boyns all made the sorrowful walk back for nought apiece, and we were bowled out for 65 in 21.4 overs, a total that flatters nobody.

Beaten by 136 runs, then, and no way of dressing that up. Paul Gibson continues to lead our run charts for the season with 1228, and Matt Large sits second in the wicket-taking stakes with 71, so there is craft in this side yet, we simply need to remember where we left it. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 29 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformWWDWW

Saturday 29 August 1987, and Yalding CC came calling under skies that mercifully held. The coin obliged me for once, and with a touch of devilment I had few qualms about putting us in to bat. We stumbled almost before we'd begun — 0 for 1 felt like a poor omen — but Bob Lines and company steadied the ship in style. Lines compiled a fine 70, David Castle chipped in with 27 and Malcolm Pay 25, the pair at the second wicket adding a crucial 116 to haul us to 189 for 6 off 44.2 overs. Poor Paul Gibson departed for a golden duck, though a generous 25 extras from Yalding's bowlers did us no harm at all. I managed 21 myself, more through good fortune than good technique.

With the ball, we set about them properly. Yalding slid from 11 for 1 to 29 for 4 in a rush, with C Andrews, L. Hawkins and S Taylor all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Matt Large led the charge with 3 for 31, Jon Harris toiled admirably for 3 for 79 with four tidy maidens, and Paul Gibson picked up 2 for 10. Only Roger Taylor stood defiant, a superb 113 built largely on an 85-run stand for the sixth wicket, but it wasn't enough — Yalding were bowled out for 165 in 44.5 overs.

A fine win by 24 runs, then, and warm applause too for Malcolm Pay reaching 4,000 career runs for the club, with David Castle sitting second in this year's run charts on 1189 and Jon Harris topping the wickets with 77. A grand afternoon's cricket, and a result to be proud of.

Sun 23 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformLWWDW

Sunday 23rd August, and Dummy Site rolled up on a fine afternoon to take our coin-toss winning streak and stamp on it good and proper — they called correctly and had no hesitation in taking first knock. We trudged into the field wondering what sort of day it would be, and for a good while the answer looked like "long one," as K Hewitt settled in for a fine 54 and found willing company in S Smith (38) and R Smith (27), the pair adding a stubborn 68 for the sixth wicket that threatened to bat us out of the game entirely.

But cricket has a way of turning, and turn it did: from 149 for 7 they folded to all out for 149, D Goodger, R Cork and D Moore departing without so much as a run to their names. Matt Large was the chief architect of the collapse, spinning a web for 5-31, with Jon Harris (4-47, four miserly maidens) and Allan Cooper (1-18) refusing to let anyone settle.

Chasing 150, Paul Gibson set about proving why he sits atop our season's run charts with 1224 to his name, cracking a fine 75 and putting on 53 for the first wicket before Keith Hatcher (26 not out) saw us home in fine style — 150 for 3 off 31.2 overs. With Jon Harris also leading the wickets column on 74, this was very much a case of our senior men doing what they do best. Seven wickets, two points, and thoroughly, comfortably earned.

Sat 22 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformLLWWD

Paul Gibson's hundred moved him past Robert Chance to 21st on the all-time run-scorers list, and quite right too — the man carried the innings like it owed him money. Winning the toss at Horsmonden, I fancied batting, and 231 all out from 39.4 overs felt like a proper score, built on Gibson's magnificent 102 and Sean Charlton's fifty, the pair putting on 101 for the third wicket while the rest of us admired the view. Keith Hatcher chipped in with 23, though the tail rather lost its nerve — 215-6 became 221-9 before we knew what had hit us, and poor Stewart Morrison walked back for nought, the Duck Club's newest and least willing member.

Defending it, we needed early wickets, and got one with just 4 on the board to settle the nerves nicely. Sean Charlton, having done his bit with the bat, then set about doing rather more with the ball — 3-8 is the sort of spell that wins matches on its own. Matt Large backed him up superbly with 3-19 and three tidy maidens, Jon Harris took 2-48, and between them they had Horsmonden's last pair — including a duck for Donald Couchman — walking off at 143 all out, Peter Bateup's fighting 54 and Kevin Knight's 27 notwithstanding.

An 88-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Gibson continues to purr along in second in the season's run charts behind nobody much, Harris leads the wickets column with 70, and the rest of us are simply grateful to be along for the ride. Onwards.

Wed 19 Aug 1987 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWDDLD

Wednesday 19 August 1987, Gravesend CC visiting Linton Park, and I won the toss with none of the usual dithering — on a day like this, you bat.

And bat we did. Peter Whyte set about the Gravesend bowling for a fine 78, David Castle wasn't far behind with 66, and the pair put on 116 for the third wicket, the innings' backbone by some distance. Paul Gibson chipped in a brisk 36 further down — and, I'm reliably informed, in doing so eased past Maurice Fenner into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of quiet immortality this game specialises in. We closed on a handsome 202 for 5 from our 45.4 overs, and I confess I rather fancied our chances walking off.

So it proved. Gravesend never got going — three wickets down for 45 became six down for 51, and J Cross, Colin Myers and Steve Hasler all trooped back without so much as a single to their name. I had one of those days with the ball that a captain dreams about and rarely gets, four wickets for 25 with four maidens thrown in, Trevor Back and Nigel Thirkell mopping up either end. Only G Franklin, unbeaten on 23, showed any real resistance as the innings folded for 93 in 43.3 overs.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon, then — 109 runs to the good, two points banked, and the tea urn, for once, entirely justified.

Sun 16 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · HomeformWLLWW

We hosted Whitstable CC on Sunday, and I lost the toss — the one contest of the day I'm certain I lost — so we were put into the field. Duncan Hardy (66) and T Bowell (56) put on 85 for the second wicket and dragged Whitstable to a stiff 206/5 from their 52.3 overs, with Andy Simpson unbeaten on 43 for good measure. David Castle bowled beautifully for his 2-22, and Matt Large, four maidens and all, was a picture of miserly restraint for his 2-60; Trevor Back chipped in with 1-34.

In reply we made a fist of it early, Peter Whyte (35) and Paul Gibson (34) putting on 62 for the first wicket before the breakthrough, with Mike Elworthy (26) also weighing in. But cricket, in its infinite capacity for cruelty, then turned 123-3 into 130-6 before most of us had finished our tea, and we subsided to 158/9 from 46 overs — Trevor Back and David Iliffe both walking back for ducks, joining the club's less illustrious ledger.

There was much to raise a glass to regardless: Trevor Back brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, Paul Gibson's runs edged him past Andrew Moss to 24th on the all-time run charts, and Matt Large's wickets took him past George Champion into 19th among our leading wicket-takers. David Castle continues to lead the 1987 run charts, with Large second among the bowlers.

Honours shared, then — a draw, and on the evidence of that middle-order wobble, one we were rather relieved to escape with.

Sat 15 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformLWLLW

We travelled to Harrietsham on Saturday, lost the toss, and dear reader, we bowled — which after this result I shall claim as tactical genius rather than the coin's indifference. Harrietsham posted 159 all out in 42.2 overs, built on 43 from Micky Tong, 33 from S Tong and 26 from Kevin Grebbell, with a fifth-wicket stand of 60 doing most of the damage. But the tail folded in a hurry, 155-7 becoming 159-10 before anyone could catch breath, as J Swift, B Amey and John Smith departed without so much as a run to their names. Paul Gibson was the chief architect with 3-25, Matt Large chipped in miserly (2-45, three maidens) and Sean Charlton took one for 17.

With 160 needed, our openers set about it properly, putting on 93 before the first wicket fell — the stand of the innings. Paul Gibson carried on his good day with the ball into a fine 62, David Castle made a classy 59, and Keith Hatcher saw us home unbeaten on 23, wrapping things up at 162-3 in 43.3 overs. Jim Hall had a wretched afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes going begging, though nobody was cruel enough to mention it in the bar.

Milestones tumbled: Matt Large passed 200 career wickets, Sean Charlton reached his half-century of scalps, and Gibson's 62 eased him past Andy Woollett to 25th on the club's all-time run list. Castle remains top of our 1987 run charts, Large second among the wicket-takers.

A comfortable seven-wicket win, and frankly more than we deserved on the toss alone. Onwards.

Sun 09 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · HomeformLLWLL

Here is the match report.

I called it right at the toss and, with the sun out and no reason to think twice, put us in to bat. It proved a shrewd call. Sean Charlton set about the Benenden attack with real purpose for a fine 56, and David Castle matched him stroke for stroke with 53, the pair adding a priceless 79 for the sixth wicket after some early order troubles. I came in and saw us home to a competitive 177 for 6 from our 37 overs with an unbeaten 24, though I'll draw a discreet veil over the ducks collected by Bob Lines and Tim Thirkell — these things happen to the best of families.

Defending 177 always felt like a decent proposition, and so it proved. Benenden never got going, losing their first wicket for just 6, and although Tim Hartley battled hard for 47, wickets tumbled around him. Jon Harris was magnificent, tearing through the middle order for 4 for 54 with six miserly maidens to his name, well backed up by Paul Gibson's 3 for 3 and Ron Kemp's 3 for 18. From 88 for 7 they simply folded, all out for 98 — Peter Stubbings and J Wilson departing without troubling the scorers themselves.

A splendid afternoon all round, capped by Bob Lines bringing up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — ducks forgiven and forgotten. We ran out winners by 79 runs: a proper, thumping team performance, and a very good day indeed for the club.

Sun 09 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLLLWL

Lost the toss again on Sunday — I'm beginning to think the coin has a personal grudge against me — and so we trooped out into the field at The Mote with more hope than expectation. For a while it looked promising: their opener back in the pavilion with just one on the board, and I allowed myself a small, foolish smile. That smile did not survive the middle overs. Adrian Smith settled in and simply refused to leave, ending unbeaten on a chanceless fifty while wickets fell around him from 63-4 to 79-7 in the sort of collapse-that-wasn't-quite-a-collapse that keeps club cricket interesting. Matt Large was superb, 3-32, well backed by Sean Charlton (2-25) and Alan Boyns (2-34), and we held them to 104/9 from their sixteen — Bristow, Pitt and Joseph all departing without troubling the scorers, which is one way of saying they made ducks.

Chasing 105 in sixteen overs is never comfortable, and losing an early wicket with just 8 on the board did nothing for the nerves. David Castle then played the innings of the day, 36 well made, and I was glad to lend a hand alongside him, chipping in with 34 as we put on 68 for the second wicket and briefly had the run chase looking sane again. It wasn't quite enough — we finished on 98/5, beaten by six agonising runs.

Castle continues to lead our run charts for the season with 1027, and Large sits second in the wickets with 53 — small consolations on a long drive home. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 08 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWLLLW

Saturday 8 August found us welcoming Headcorn CC, and history will record that the toss did us no favours at all — put in to field, we trudged out wondering whether the tea urn had even warmed up yet.

Headcorn made a watchful start, Simon Phipps (30) and John Phipps (28) putting on 57 for the first wicket while Paul Millen chipped in a tidy 25, and for a while 142 looked like it might be the tip of something larger. But cricket, mercifully, has a sense of humour, and ours arrived in the shape of Jon Harris, who bowled like a man possessed to return 6-54 and turn 101-4 into 117-7 before anyone quite knew what had happened. Dave Todd (2-33) and the ever-parsimonious Matt Large (1-30, four maidens and not a run to spare) tidied up the rest, with poor Clive Wickens and Steve Kingsmill both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer.

Chasing 143, we rather specialised in self-sabotage. Two down for one run set an unhappy tone, and although Malcolm Pay battled to 24 not out, wickets fell around him with a regularity that would have made Headcorn's bowlers blush with pride — Matt Large and Jon Harris both departing for ducks, proof that even our matchwinners are human. All out for 116, we fell 26 runs short.

Not our day, then. Heads up, chins slightly less so, and back to the nets — David Castle and Jon Harris continue to lead the run and wicket charts respectively, so the season's silver linings remain firmly intact.

Sat 01 Aug 1987 🧢 1st XIv CC Coney Hall CC · HomeformWWLLL

Saturday the first of August, and Coney Hall CC rolled up to find me in confident mood. I called correctly at the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, stuck us in to bat first — a decision that looked rather clever by close of play. David Castle produced an innings for the ages, 150 not out and still there at the death, while Keith Hatcher played the perfect foil with a classy unbeaten 56. Between them they steered us to 229/1 from 45.5 overs, the sort of total that has the opposition reaching for their thermos rather sooner than planned.

If our batting was a procession, our bowling was a demolition. Coney Hall subsided to 99 all out in 40.1 overs, with only J Abbett (33) and N Burgess (23 not out) offering any real resistance. B Burman, J Browne and T Stoneham all departed for ducks, and the reason for their discomfort had a name: Matt Large, who simply ran riot, returning a staggering 6-10. Malcolm Pay (2-13) and Nigel Morton (1-7) chipped in nicely, while Dave Todd strangled the life out of the innings with four miserly maidens. Spare a thought, though, for poor Peter Whyte behind the stumps, who endured a torrid afternoon and shipped 17 byes for his trouble.

Season-long, David Castle now tops our 1987 run charts with 975, and Matt Large sits second among the wicket-takers with 49 — form both showed no sign of abandoning today.

A thumping 130-run victory and two points banked. As verdicts go, this one writes itself: emphatic, thoroughly deserved, and a very pleasant Saturday indeed.

Sun 26 Jul 1987 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWWLL

Nigel Thirkell here, and if there's a lesson from Sunday's trip to The Mote, it's that 188 doesn't always cut the mustard — even when it comes with a spring in its step.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation putting us in, and for a while it looked a shrewd call. Our openers set about their work with real purpose, putting on 80 before the first wicket fell — the kind of start that has you mentally composing the match report before tea. Keith Hatcher was the anchor, ending unbeaten on a well-crafted 59, while Paul Gibson chipped in handsomely with 57. I added an unbeaten 31 down the order to nudge us to 188 for 4 off our 52 overs — respectable, if perhaps a touch shy of imposing. Spare a thought, meanwhile, for poor Trevor Back, whose duck will earn him a place of dishonour in the club ledger.

Defending it, we simply ran into a batsman in irresistible form. David Barkaway set about our attack with 94, laying a platform of 94 for the first wicket alongside his opening partner before Mickey Back (45 not out) and Dominic Chambers (28) mopped up the rest with disconcerting ease. Paul Gibson (1-28) and Jon Harris (1-42) did what they could, but 190 for 2 came up inside 43 overs — comfortable by anyone's reckoning.

Amid the gloom, two bright notes: Paul Brattle raised 6,000 career runs for the club, and I was delighted to bring up 18,000 of my own. Small mercies. All told, an eight-wicket defeat and a chastening afternoon — heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 25 Jul 1987 🧢 2nd XIv NH Newchapel and Horne · Awayform—

Newchapel and Horne it was on Saturday, and my luck deserted me before a ball was bowled — lost the toss, put in to field, and off we trotted into what turned out to be a very long afternoon of leather-chasing. Noakes made merciless use of the invitation, ambling to a chanceless 139, with Wann keeping him honest company for a batting fifty of his own; the pair put on 198 for the first wicket before we finally prised them apart, by which point 216 for 2 off 53 overs had rather taken the game away from us. Small mercies: Ian Brattle bowled with real discipline for 2-50, and Jon Harris strangled the scoring with four maidens when lesser men would have wilted.

Set 216 for a share of the honours, I rather fancied leading from the front, and 94 later I can't complain — though a fairer world would have found me six runs from something rounder. Simon Thirkell's 38 and Mike Elworthy's 25 kept the innings ticking, and a stand of 71 for the fifth wicket held our nerve when it mattered. Less gloriously, Stewart Morrison and A Hayward both took the long walk back without troubling the scorers — the Duck Club welcomes two new members — while the extras column, ever reliable, chipped in 26. We closed on 210 for 9 off 42, agonisingly short.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride dented but intact, and I'll happily bank a season-topping 94 while Brattle heads the bowling charts. On this evidence, we're a side that fights to the very last over, even when the maths says otherwise.

Sat 25 Jul 1987 🧢 1st XIv AK Ashford CC, Kent · HomeformWWWWL

We lost the toss on a grey Saturday at the tail end of July and Ashford CC, up from Kent, asked us to field first and chase down whatever they left us. They ground their way to 120 for 9 from 47 overs, Julian Day top-scoring with a watchful 21 while the rest fell around him. Sean Charlton did the real damage with 3 for 27, Matt Large chipped in 3 for 37 — six of his overs maidens, the kind of miserly spell that has batsmen muttering into their gloves — and I added 2 for 42, which felt like considerably harder graft.

A target of 121 should not have troubled us unduly, but cricket delights in humbling the confident. We slipped to 5 for 1 almost before the tea urn had cooled, and the rot never really stopped: Paul Gibson, Bob Lines and David Iliffe all trooped back without so much as troubling the scorers, and we folded for 78 in 36.4 overs. I found some form with 22, well supported by Malcolm Pay's own 22, but it was a lonely stand against the tide. Malcolm's afternoon behind the stumps was no easier, with ten byes conceded — the sort of thing that gets raised, gently, over a pint afterwards.

The season presses on regardless: David Castle sits second in the 1st XI run charts with 803, and Matt Large second among the wickets with 43. None of it, sadly, softened a 42-run defeat. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Fri 24 Jul 1987 🧢 1st XIv TX The Cricketer National Village XI · HomeformWWWWW

Losing the toss and being asked to field is never how you want to start a Friday evening, but there are worse fates than bowling first on a decent shirt-front, and so it proved — up to a point. The Cricketer National Village XI settled in nicely, with S Palmer compiling a watchful, well-made fifty of 60, and finding willing company in A Prior (45) and G Riddick (33), the pair adding 95 for the third wicket while we toiled rather helplessly in the field. Matt Large was the pick of us by some distance — 2-6 and three maidens is the sort of spell that makes a captain look clever for tossing him the ball — with David Castle (2-42) and Sean Charlton (1-16) chipping in. Even so, 194/6 from their forty overs felt like a defendable total, and to their credit it was.

Our reply had its moments. An early wobble to 3-1 threatened a rout, but I found some form and got us moving, adding 95 for the second wicket alongside David Castle's tidy 42, with Peter Whyte's 22 also useful. My own 69 was, I'll admit, rather satisfying — the sort of innings you replay in your head on the drive home. But cricket has a cruel sense of timing, and from 127-3 we subsided to 140-6 in the time it takes to make a cup of tea, and we were bowled out for 189.

Five runs short. Heads up, back to the nets — and spare a thought for Paul Gibson and Matt Large, both quietly having splendid seasons regardless.

Wed 15 Jul 1987 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformWWDDL

Wednesday the fifteenth of July found us on the road to Gravesend, and for once the coin actually did as I asked — I won the toss and had no hesitation in putting us in to bat. David Castle then set about reminding everyone why he opens: 98, agonisingly shy of the ton, was the innings' backbone, and a watchful 65-run stand for the third wicket gave the rest of us licence to play with a straight bat and a clear conscience. Keith Hatcher finished unbeaten on 36, I contributed a workmanlike 28, and we closed on a handsome 193 for 5 off our 45.

Defending it proved sterner work. Gravesend leaned heavily on a monumental 113-run second-wicket stand, with T Morris compiling a fine 77 and D Holder 40 alongside him, well supported by A Penney's 25. But we had our moments — three batsmen back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and A Hughes bowling like a man possessed for 5 for 20, the pick of a tidy attack that also saw Hatcher chip in with 1 for 14 and my own 1 for 41, while Matt Large strangled the scoring with five maidens. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes slipping past him, though there was cheer in Large's wicket nudging him to 21st on our all-time list.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared — a fair result, if I'm honest, for a day of good cricket on both sides.

Tue 14 Jul 1987 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWWWWW

Tuesday the 14th, and Staplehurst CC were the visitors on a day when, for once, my toss call went right — I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and it duly paid off. We eased to 149 for 2 from our sixteen overs, though the top order wobbled early, seven for one gone in a blink. What followed, though, was the stand of the innings: 125 runs for the second wicket, with Paul Bowles compiling a handsome 65 while I found some form of my own with an unbeaten 72. Poor David Castle contributed rather less to proceedings, departing for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin.

Defending 149 always has its nerves, but Staplehurst never quite found their rhythm, undone early at 3 for 1 and never fully recovering despite John Robins's battling 31, well supported by Neil Pullen's 29 and A Henson's 22. They finished 126 for 7, twenty-three runs short. I was fortunate enough to find some rhythm with the ball too, 3 for 26, with Jon Harris (2 for 49) and Matt Large (1 for 32) chipping in admirably.

A nice footnote to the afternoon: those three wickets nudge me past Paul Bowles into second on the club's all-time list, while Jon Harris still leads our 1987 wicket charts with 57 and I sit third in the run charts on 680. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a thoroughly satisfying Tuesday's work.

Sun 12 Jul 1987 🧢 1st XIv MC Morden Village CC · HomeformLWWWW

Sunday 12th July came up sunny, and Morden Village CC found themselves invited to bat second — a call I made without a flicker of hesitation, and one I'd happily make again. Peter Whyte set about proving me right in style, compiling a majestic 113 not out, the innings anchored by a fine 86-run stand for the third wicket. David Castle chipped in with 40 — and en route quietly brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, which is very much one for the mantelpiece — while Brian Piper added a brisk 21. Simon Gibson's contribution began and ended with a golden duck, but nobody was dwelling on it with 207/4 on the board from our 40 overs.

Defending that total, I'll confess I had one of those afternoons every spinner dreams of and few ever get. The ball seemed to find the edge, the pad, the stumps, more or less wherever it fancied, and I finished with 7-50 and five maidens thrown in for good measure — including seeing off R White for a duck. Steve Cheale (1-15) and M Clarke (1-20) tidied up either end, and P Mitchell's battling 25 was as good as it got for the visitors as they folded for 135 in 41 overs.

A 72-run win, then, and a thoroughly good day all round — centuries, milestones and a seven-for don't come along together very often. I shall try not to let it go to my head, though the lads may find that easier said than done.

Sat 11 Jul 1987 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWLWWW

Nigel Thirkell here, and I'll confess the toss was the easiest decision I made all day — flat pitch, good weather, no earthly reason not to bat. A jittery start, losing a wicket with just 4 on the board, threatened to spoil the mood entirely, but Paul Bowles and Keith Hatcher settled things beautifully with a second-wicket stand of 119 that turned a nervous afternoon into a comfortable one. Bowles's 77 was the innings of the day, Hatcher finished unbeaten on a tidy fifty, and I chipped in with 41 of my own — enough to feel useful without troubling the history books. We closed on a healthy 206/6 from our 46 overs.

Horton Kirby's reply never quite got going. Ian Scott and Peter Tungate threatened briefly with 41 and 33 respectively, but the middle order simply melted away — 114/5 became 123/8 before anyone could catch breath, and poor L Tucker departed without troubling the scorers at all. The day, though, belonged entirely to Paul Bowles, whose 6-13 was bowling of the highest order and, rather wonderfully, enough to leapfrog me into second on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a changing of the guard I'm only too pleased to applaud. Matt Large toiled admirably for 2-33 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, and Alan Boyns picked up a wicket too.

Horton Kirby were bowled out for 129, and we ran out winners by 77 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one Bowles in particular will remember fondly.

Sun 05 Jul 1987 🧢 1st XIv RA Reeds Aylesford · HomeformWWLWW

Sunday the fifth of July, and Reeds Aylesford arrived to find the coin unwilling to cooperate with me — they called correctly, elected to bat, and off we trotted into the field wondering what sort of afternoon we were in for.

As it turned out, a rather splendid one. An early breakthrough with just 4 on the board set the tone, and from there it became a procession — 35 for 4 collapsing to 39 for 7 in the sort of spell that has opposition dressing rooms muttering darkly into their tea. Tim Baker and A Keynes both departed without troubling the scorers, and I found myself with the wind at my back, finishing with 6 for 28 — a five-for I shall be dining out on for some time yet, though I promise not to mention it again. Matt Large chipped in handsomely with 3 for 18, and Paul Gibson bowled with the sort of miserly discipline (1 for 6, six maidens) that makes captaincy easy — Reeds were bowled out for a modest 71 in 43.4 overs.

Chasing such a total ought never to be taken for granted in this game, but Jim Hall (36 not out) and David Castle (30) made light work of it, steering us home at 73 for 1 in just 25.2 overs. Nine wickets to spare, and hardly a bead of sweat.

A fine team performance from start to finish, and with Castle now second in the season's run charts and my own wicket tally ticking along nicely, one senses a side hitting its stride. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 04 Jul 1987 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformDWWLW

Wednesday, the fourth of July, and Staplehurst arrived to a losing toss and a decision to bat first — which, on reflection, suited us rather nicely. Forty-six overs later they'd crawled to 126/9, John Robins doing the honest bulk of it with 32, N Pullen chipping in 21, but the middle order simply came apart at the seams: 46-4 became 60-7 before anyone had really settled their tea, and poor I Pullen departed without so much as a run to his name. Matt Large was the chief architect of the collapse with a fine 4-40, Alan Boyns tightened the screws with 3-29 (three maidens of positively miserly parsimony), and Jon Harris mopped up with 2-24.

That left us needing 127, and we barely broke sweat getting there — 127/1 from 27 overs, home with nine wickets intact and time to spare for a proper pint afterwards. Paul Bowles was in imperious form, sailing past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 51, while I was happy enough to play the supporting hand with 46 not out — the sort of innings where you convince yourself you're timing it beautifully and nobody has the heart to tell you otherwise. Paul Gibson added a brisk 21 before we wrapped things up.

Elsewhere in the season, Gibson continues to plunder runs for fun — 882 for the year now — while Harris keeps quietly dismantling batting line-ups, 42 wickets and counting. As for Staplehurst: a batting collapse to remember, for all the wrong reasons. A thoroughly good day for the club, and I'll take nine-wicket wins all season if they keep coming this comfortably.

Thu 02 Jul 1987 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton Malherbe CC · HomeformWDWWL

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report — Thursday 2 July 1987, Boughton Malherbe CC (h)

Won the toss and, with the sun out and the outfield fast, there was really only one decision to make: we'd bat. Paul Gibson set about proving me right with a thoroughly well-made fifty, 51 of the good, old-fashioned sort, while I chipped in with 37 to keep him company. That said, it wasn't all plain sailing — we lost our first wicket for just 5, which had me reaching for the scorebook in mild despair before Gibson and I put on 86 together and restored some sanity. Poor Dave Todd, meanwhile, will not want reminding of his golden duck, though I dare say the tea-time cake softened the blow. We closed on a highly defendable 133 for 6 off our sixteen.

Boughton Malherbe's reply never quite got going. They too shed an early wicket cheaply, at 2 for 1, and though L Wraight battled hard for his 35, he had precious little support. Matt Large was magnificent with the ball, 3 for 14, and in doing so climbed to 22nd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a landmark worth raising a glass to. Jon Harris backed him up nicely with 2 for 14, and I managed a wicket of my own for just the 1 run. They subsided to 73 for 8.

Sixty runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved. A proper team performance, and precisely the sort of afternoon that reminds you why you bother with this funny old game.

Tue 30 Jun 1987 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformWWDWW

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 30 June 1987, away at Hollingbourne CC.

I lost the toss, they had a look at the pitch and chose to bat, and off we went into the field. It didn't start well for them — 7 for 1 had me thinking this might be our day — but Mike Donald and his partner strung together 129 for the second wicket and the game slipped away from us rather. Donald made a fine 79, and Ian Hammond chipped in with an unbeaten 51 to push them on to 147/3 from their sixteen overs. Jon Harris was miserly as ever, 1-19 the pick of the bunch, with Matt Large and Alan Boyns each picking up a wicket for their trouble. Dave Hales, sent back to the sheds without so much as a run to his name, will not thank me for the mention.

Chasing 148 was always going to be brisk work, and so it proved. Paul Gibson batted beautifully for 46, ably supported by Matt Large's 28, and the pair put on 53 for the second wicket to keep us in the hunt. But from 139 for 7 the innings simply fell apart, and we were bowled out for 144 in the same over count — three agonising runs short. Spare a thought for Nigel Morton and M Clarke, both back in the pavilion for ducks, joining the club nobody wants to captain.

Gibson continues to lead our run charts with 810 for the season, and Harris tops the wickets with 38 — small consolation on a evening when the margins were cruelly thin. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 28 Jun 1987 🧢 1st XIv CP Canterbury Pilgrims · AwayformLWWDW

Sunday last took us down to Canterbury Pilgrims, and I'll admit the coach journey had a nervier air than usual. Put in to field, we watched them stumble to 2 for 1 before Henderson and Carnell steadied things, the former carrying his bat to 32 not out and the latter chipping in with 26 as they crawled to 94 all out in 46.4 overs. Matt Large was in irresistible form, tearing through with 5 for 35 including five maidens, ably backed up by Ian Brattle's 2 for 19 and, for once, I managed to make a fist of it myself with 2 for 5. R Lynch and S Rogers, sadly, never troubled the scorers.

Chasing 95, we made hard work of it in the way only Linton Park can. An early wicket with just 7 on the board threatened to unsettle us, and Steve Cheale will not thank me for recording his golden duck for posterity. But Trevor Back played the innings of the day, unbeaten on 44, with Paul Gibson's 20 steering us home at 97 for 6 after 37.3 overs.

Special mention too for Matt Large, whose five-for nudged him past Ray Howard into 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a fine effort in a fine season for him. A four-wicket win, then, away from home, with the bowlers doing the heavy lifting throughout. All told, a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sat 27 Jun 1987 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformDLWWD

Captain's Log — Saturday 27 June 1987. Hosted Meopham CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I fancied a bat on what looked a decent surface — no hesitation there, though a few of the lads reckoned I'd simply forgotten how to bowl.

Whatever the reasoning, it came off handsomely. Paul Gibson batted like a man possessed, cracking a magnificent 110, and I was only too pleased to play second fiddle with a fifty of my own, 70 not going to waste alongside him as we put on 95 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a wicket falling. David Castle chipped in with a tidy 20, and we declared our efforts closed at a formidable 227/3 from 46 overs. Tea was taken with considerably more swagger than usual.

Defending that total, we simply ran riot. Meopham never remotely settled — 36-2 became 45-5 in the blink of an eye, S Ledbetter departing without troubling the scorers at all, and the whole innings folded for a miserly 67 in 37.2 overs. Jon Harris was superb, snaring 3-13, with Sean Charlton (3-21, six of those overs maidens — the sort of miserly spell that saps a batsman's will to live) and Alan Boyns (3-21) mopping up the rest between them. Poor Jim Hall had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping his gloves, but nobody much minded given the scoreline.

A 160-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the kind of Saturday that makes the winter nets all feel worthwhile.

Wed 24 Jun 1987 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDWWDD

Won the toss on a fine Wednesday evening and, with the pitch looking full of runs, I had few qualms about asking Sevenoaks & District Wednesday to have a bowl first. It looked a shrewd call for about one ball, as we slipped to 0-1 before anyone had settled a boot in the crease — the sort of start that has me reaching for the scorebook with dread. Trevor Back and Malcolm Pay steadied things, putting on a crucial 79 for the third wicket — Pay making 38 before Back went on to an unbeaten 85, with Paul Bowles adding 20. Ian Hammond and Bob Dyer both fell for ducks, but 164/6 from our 53 overs felt defendable — and rather special too, as it carried Trevor past 3,000 career runs for the club, moving him to 19th on the all-time list, past Terry Whittaker. Champagne moment, that — and enough to put him top of our 1987 run charts, with Dennis Salisbury leading the way for wickets taken this term.

Defending it, we struck early before A Dean and G Hitchins added 61 for the fourth wicket and threatened to bat us out of it, Dean making a well-made 81. Dennis Salisbury and Bob Dyer chipped away with 2-36 apiece, P Styles departed without scoring, and I did my bit too, going for 2-57 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — not that it stopped them getting home, Sevenoaks completing victory by four wickets. Credit where it's due: we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 21 Jun 1987 🧢 1st XIv DC Dimanchians CC · HomeformWDLWW

Nigel Thirkell here, hand still faintly stinging from the leather, to bring you news from Sunday's tussle with Dimanchians CC.

Winning the toss, I had few doubts about batting first on what looked a decent track, and for a good while it justified my faith. Our openers gave us the perfect platform, 79 without loss, and Paul Gibson went on to compile a handsome 82 while I chipped in with 43 of my own to keep things ticking. But cricket has a way of humbling a settled side, and from 160-3 to 165-6 the innings rather fell off a cliff, Stewart Morrison and Ian Brattle both departing for ducks in the sort of collapse that makes a captain reach for the teapot rather than the scorebook. All out for 181 in 44.2 overs — respectable, if a little breathless by the end.

Defending it, we made Dimanchians work hard. M Burnett's 68 and a watchful knock from R Atkinson underpinned their innings, but wickets fell steadily enough to keep us interested, G Saville departing without troubling the scorers among them. Jon Harris bowled beautifully for 3-30, and I was rather pleased with my own 3-35 (three maidens to boot, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks), with Matt Large chipping in too. Eight byes told poor Jim Hall's story behind the stumps. They closed on 156-8.

A draw, then, honours even — and I'll happily take that, along with the news that those three wickets nudge me up to second on the club's all-time list. Not a bad Sunday's work at all.

Sat 20 Jun 1987 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDWDLW

Saturday 20th June and West Farleigh CC came to Linton Park under blue skies, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain. Paul Bowles led the charge with a fine 48, well supported by Bob Lines (31) and Paul Gibson (23), their third-wicket stand of 51 the backbone of our 174/8 from 46 overs. We rather threw the doors open thereafter, slumping from 142-4 to 151-7 in a spell of batting that would have had the tea urn boiling over, with Sean Charlton and Jim Hall both contributing golden ducks to the cause.

With ball in hand we set about defending it, and though Mick Holness (36) and Fred Baker (31 not out) built a watchful opening stand of 55 for West Farleigh, we squeezed the innings from 55-1 to 65-4 and never quite let go, save for an irritating last-wicket stand of 46 that made the finish closer than it needed to be. I was pleased to chip in with the ball myself, and pick of the attack was Paul Bowles, whose 4-35 with four miserly maidens also nudged him past Nigel Thirkell into second on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a lovely footnote to a good day. Alan Boyns weighed in with 2-10, while nine byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Jim Hall.

A fine win by 47 runs, then, and David Castle and Paul Bowles continue to lead the charge at the top of this season's charts. Onwards.

Thu 18 Jun 1987 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWDWDL

Skipper's Log — Thursday 18 June 1987. The road took us to Sissinghurst CC, and for once the fixture gods were kind to us, though I'd never admit that before the toss.

We lost the toss, they batted, and there was a nervous moment when I wondered whether we'd be chasing something silly. They closed on 128/6 from their sixteen overs, Mike Burgess middling everything for a well-made 53 and Jon Gurr tidying up with an unbeaten 21. Small mercies: Hall trudged off without troubling the scorers, and Paul Bowles made sure of a few more empty walks back to the pavilion with 3-31, backed up nicely by Alan Boyns (1-23) and Matt Large (1-32). A decent, containable total, all things considered.

With the bat we simply didn't hang about. David Castle and I put on 73 for the first wicket before the first breakthrough came — the sort of start that makes the rest of the innings feel like a formality, even if it never quite is. Castle made a fine 32, and I was rather pleased to lead from the front with an unbeaten 55, seeing us home on 129/4 with an over or two to spare.

A six-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — Sissinghurst never quite got a foothold, and the top of the order did exactly what was asked of it. David Castle continues to top our run charts for the season, Bowles lurks second among the wickets, and I return home rather smugly humming to myself. Onwards.

Tue 16 Jun 1987 🧢 1st XIv RA Reeds Aylesford · HomeformLWDWD

It was a Tuesday to forget more than remember, if I'm honest. Reeds Aylesford came to Linton Park, the coin fell their way, and they had few complaints about the toss once they'd posted 140/6 from their sixteen overs — Chapman's 30 the spine of it, Caddick and Webster chipping in handsomely either side. We did have our moments in the field: Matt Large bowled with real purpose for 2-30, Nigel Thirkell and Martin Larkin lent honest support, and B King departed for a duck, which was about the only laugh we allowed ourselves all afternoon.

Then we batted. Or attempted to. One for one set an ominous tone, and by the time we'd slithered from eleven for two to twenty-nine for five, the tea urn was already being filled early doors. Three ducks for the club ledger — Bowles, Large and Spencer all walking the walk of shame — and ten byes besides, which said everything about a testing day for the man behind the stumps. As for your captain, a golden blob first ball; leading from the front is all very well, but not, perhaps, quite like that.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: Matt Large's brace edged him past Herbert Rayner into 24th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and the season charts still flatter us, with Thirkell fourth in the 1st XI run-making and Large third among the wicket-takers.

Beaten by 101 runs, then — a proper hiding, no dressing it up. But cricket has a marvellous way of humbling you on Tuesday and forgiving you by Saturday. We'll dust ourselves down, mend the top order, and come again.

Sun 07 Jun 1987 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWLWDW

Sunday the 7th of June found us hosting Sheldwich CC, and having called correctly at the toss for once in my captaincy career, I didn't so much as blink before choosing to bat. It proved the right call, if a nervy one by the end — 174 all out from 45.4 overs, with David Castle the undoubted star of the show, a lovely 76 that anchored everything around him, well supported by Paul Gibson's 31 and Trevor Back's 27. Credit where due, though the tail did its best to undo the good work, tumbling from 166 for 7 to all out in a rush. Allan Cooper and Adrian Simmonds will not want reminding of their ducks, but such is cricket.

In the field we set about defending our total, and the lads did us proud. Sheldwich were bowled out for 128 for 9 off 47 overs, N Hammond (31) and A Collard (30) the chief resistance, though we had them 4 for 1 early and poor D Elliott went for a duck of his own. Matt Large was quite magnificent — 3 for 19 with five maidens, miserly doesn't begin to cover it — with Sean Charlton (2-18) and Allan Cooper (2-25) chipping in nicely.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw, then, but a thoroughly honest one — and with Castle now top of our season's run charts and Large third among the wicket-takers, there's plenty to be cheerful about as the summer rolls on.

Sat 06 Jun 1987 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDWLWD

Saturday last brought Rumwood CC to Linton, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first strike. It proved the right call, even if my own afternoon with the bat amounted to a golden blob – not the example a captain likes to set, though I'd argue it's character-building for all concerned. Paul Gibson, marking his 100th appearance in our colours no less, played the innings of the day with a chanceless 98, and with Bob Lines chipping in 30, the pair put on 112 for the first wicket before Rumwood found any answer at all. Then came the customary Linton wobble – 142 for 3 became 147 for 6 in a flurry of confusion, with Dave Todd, Nigel Morton and yours truly all failing to trouble the scorers. Still, 182 all out was a total worth defending.

And defend it we did. Matt Large simply ran amok, 8 for 54 with five miserly maidens thrown in, elbowing his way past Ian Brattle to 25th on the club's all-time list. Jon Harris chipped in with 2 for 14, and for all R Simmonds' battling 37, Rumwood subsided from 111 for 7 to 117 all out.

A 65-run victory, two points banked, and Gibson now sitting proudly second in this year's run charts. A thoroughly satisfactory afternoon – for everyone except, perhaps, the man who led it.

Sun 31 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · HomeformWDWLW

Here's the match report:

There are moments in captaincy when the toss feels like the biggest decision of the day, and calling correctly against Leeds & Broomfield gave me one of them. No hesitation — we batted first, and I'm glad we did.

Two hundred and twenty-eight for seven off our forty-nine overs and change was a proper effort, built around a Thirkell innings that fell agonisingly short of three figures — ninety-eight, and not a run of it easy on the nerves from the boundary rope, I imagine, let alone the middle. Paul Gibson's seventy-eight was the perfect foil, and between them the pair put on a hundred and six for the second wicket that set the whole innings on its feet. Alan Boyns chipped in a tidy twenty-three, and I'll happily own my own small contribution to the effort with the bat, if only to say I did my bit.

Defending it was another matter entirely. R Coulter simply refused to be shifted, ninety-eight not fully behind us in memory before he'd ground his way to an unbeaten hundred and seventeen of his own, well supported by Andy Creamer and P Thomas. Allan Cooper was our pick with the ball, Sean Charlton and Jon Harris chipping away either side of him, and Ian Brattle bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the family silver. David Castle had a torrid time behind the stumps, byes leaking like a village hall roof, but he'll have taken quiet satisfaction from topping our season's run charts.

Honours shared, then — and on Coulter's evidence, no verdict but a draw would have been fair.

Sat 30 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Gravesendians CC · AwayformDWDWL

We lost the toss at Old Gravesendians and were asked to field first, which on a Saturday always feels like being sent to do the washing up before pudding's even served. Their openers set about us with real intent, putting on 65 before we made the first breakthrough, and a stubborn second-wicket stand of 79 kept us toiling. Their own Harris top-scored with a fine 70, well supported by R Kidd's 42 and P Latham's 21, and they closed on 161 for 5 from their 54 overs.

Credit to the lads for hauling things back. Ian Brattle was superb, 2 for 14 with six miserly maidens to show for his afternoon's graft, and R Smith departed for a duck to remind the home side it wasn't all plain sailing. I managed a couple myself, 2 for 58, with Paul Gibson chipping in 1 for 20.

A target of 162 looked eminently gettable, and so it proved. David Castle played the anchor role to perfection, unbeaten on a splendid 79, with a crucial second-wicket stand of 52 easing any nerves along the way. We got there at 162 for 4 in 36.3 overs, though nine byes told of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Castle. Better news came with Bob Lines reaching 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark well worth raising a glass to.

Castle now leads our 1987 run charts with 498, and I'm rather chuffed to top the wicket-takers with 25. Five wickets, two points, and a thoroughly satisfying day at the office.

Fri 29 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv M MCC · HomeformWDWDW

We lost the toss on Friday 29th May and were duly sent in to field — not the start any of us fancied, but that's cricket for you. Keith Wooding gave us an early lesson in patience, compiling a superb 110, and found willing company in W Evans, whose well-made 84 kept the scoreboard humming. A Crockert chipped in with 38 as the pair put on 98 for the first wicket before Trevor Back finally prised out the breakthrough, finishing with 1-17. Paul Gibson and Jon Harris took a wicket apiece, and Matt Large bowled three tidy maidens, but 285/5 from their 54.5 overs left us with a proper mountain to climb.

Sadly, we barely troubled base camp. At 2-1 the top order had already gone missing, and though Paul Gibson batted beautifully for 89 — the innings' one shining light — and Paul Bowles added a useful 25, with the fifth-wicket pair contributing a crucial 54, we subsided to 191 all out in 42 overs. Spare a thought for Matt Large and Ian Brattle, who both endured the walk of shame with ducks to their name.

David Castle continues to lead our 1987 run charts with 419, and Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with 23 — small consolation on a day we finished 94 runs shy. Not our finest hour; heads up, and back to the nets.

Mon 25 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv XM XII Men · HomeformLWDWD

I elected to bat when we won the toss, and on a decent Bank Holiday Monday it looked the right call from the off. David Castle set about proving me correct with a fine 83, while brother Nigel weighed in with 73 of his own — the pair putting on 158 for the second wicket after we'd stumbled to 3 for 1 in the most Linton Park manner imaginable. Paul Gibson chipped in with 23 as we posted a healthy 236 for 5 from our 60 overs, which felt like a total worth defending, even against a side who might fancy the chase.

And defend it we did, though not without the opposition making us work. Andrew Baker's 53 and useful contributions from Haywood (40) and Campling (32) — who put on 76 together — threatened to make a match of it, but Paul Bowles was the pick of our attack with 3 for 31, backed up nicely by Jon Harris (3 for 91) and the miserly Matt Large, whose 2 for 25 included a couple of maidens for good measure. S Milsted departed for a duck at our hands, which never fails to raise a cheer from the boundary. Eight byes did rather give the game away about poor Jim Hall's afternoon behind the stumps, though I'll say no more on that.

All out for 205, and we'd done it — a fine win by 31 runs. I contributed a little with the bat myself, but this was a team performance through and through. Onwards.

Sun 24 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv JB John Fisher Old Boys · AwayformWLWDW

The toss fell kindly for once, and with the sun doing its best over at John Fisher Old Boys, there was only ever going to be one decision from me — we'd bat.

David Castle set about proving why he's top of our 1987 run charts, compiling a lovely 90, while Paul Gibson chipped in with a well-crafted 72 of his own; the pair put on 143 for the third wicket after an early wobble had us 7 down for none. It wasn't all smooth sailing — we lost early, then somehow contrived to slide from 181-3 to 187-6 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, with Martin Thompson and Alan Boyns both walking back for ducks. Still, 188/7 from 53.2 overs was a total worth defending.

And defend it we did, just about. John Fisher stumbled to 5-1 early doors, rallied through a battling 61 for the fourth wicket, and pushed to 138/9 thanks largely to K Mullaney's 43. Alan Boyns bowled beautifully for 3-16, Sean Charlton chipped in with 2-15, and I did my bit too, 2-28 with eight maidens — not a run given away lightly, even if the figures were modest company for Alan's. David Castle's gloves had a busy afternoon, 11 byes the only blemish.

Honours shared in the end. No shame in a draw against that lot — we'll take it and dust ourselves down for next week.

Tue 19 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv KH KCC Highways · HomeformLWLWD

Batting first at home to KCC Highways, I did the sensible thing on winning the toss and stuck us in — though "sensible" looked rather optimistic once we'd slumped to 4 for 1. Credit to Malcolm Pay for steadying the ship with a fine 28, well backed up by Paul Gibson's 24, but 113 all out in under sixteen overs was never going to have the opposition quaking in their boots. A par score at best, and I said as much to the lads over the water bottles.

What followed, frankly, made the whole afternoon. D Harden threatened to bat us out of it with a stubborn 33, but once we found our lines the innings simply imploded — 81 for 7 became 84 all out in the blink of an eye, S Khambay and N Brown both back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. I'll allow myself one line of self-congratulation: I found some real rhythm with the ball and finished with 4 for 23, with Sean Cook (3 for 9) and Paul Gibson (1 for 3) mopping up in style either side of me.

A modest total defended with real character — the sort of scrappy, low-scoring win that makes the tea afterwards taste that much better. David Castle continues to purr along nicely in the season's run charts, and I'm not complaining about topping the wicket pile either. Twenty-nine runs the margin, and thoroughly deserved. Onwards indeed.

Sun 17 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv BC Battle CC · HomeformWLWLW

Sunday 17 May 1987, and Battle CC came calling at Linton Park with the sun doing its best to behave. I lost the toss, which these days feels less like misfortune and more like tradition, and we were asked to field first. No great hardship, since it meant getting the ball into Battle's top order before the tea urn had boiled.

They made a watchful 176 for 6 off 57.3 overs, though an early wobble at 2 for 1 promised more drama than followed. Joe Hanson led the way with a fine 61, well supported by J Quinnell's composed 53, the pair adding a crucial 82. Bob Holland chipped in with 27. Credit to Alan Boyns, whose 3 for 34 did the real damage, Ian Brattle picking up 2 for 51 and sending Tim Eldridge back for a duck, while Jon Harris strangled the middle overs with six tidy maidens.

In our reply we made 104 for 1 off 31.1 overs, comfortable enough but well short of the target as the draw took shape. Bob Lines anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 56, David Castle keeping him company with 40 not out, a knock that keeps him second in the season's run charts on 241. Jim Hall, less happily, walked for a duck of his own.

A draw, then, honours shared, and Ian Brattle can console himself with a tidy little footnote, having climbed past Michael Chambers into 25th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Nobody won, but nobody much minded either.

Sat 16 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLWLWL

Saturday last took us down to Headcorn, and for once I actually got the coin to behave — called correctly, and didn't dither for a second before sticking us in to bat. Small victories.

It nearly went wrong early doors, with just 4 on the board when the first wicket fell and a ripple of quiet panic passing round the boundary rope. But a magnificent 130-run stand for the second wicket put paid to any nerves. Paul Bowles was in imperious touch, farming the strike all the way to 99 not out without quite the decency to get over the line, while Nigel Thirkell compiled a thoroughly classy 55 at the other end. Dave Todd came in and finished things off with a brisk 20 not out, and we declared our efforts, so to speak, at 193 for 3 off 46 overs — a total with a bit of menace to it.

Out in the field, Headcorn's Paul Millen threatened to spoil the party with a fine 80, but once G Wickens departed for a golden duck the innings never quite recovered its poise, and they slid from 160 for 7 to all out for 176 in 44 overs. Jon Harris was magnificent, running through them with 5 for 51, well supported by Bowles (2-49) and Nigel Thirkell (1-32).

Paul Bowles continues to lead both run and wicket charts for the season, and rightly so. A fine win by 17 runs — home in one piece, and no complaints from this captain.

Tue 12 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv Teston CC · HomeformWLWLW

Tuesday 12 May, and we welcomed Teston CC to Linton Park under grey but forgiving skies. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling record remains a standing joke in the pavilion — and we were asked to bowl first.

Teston made a fist of it. Alan Randall and Keith Jarrett put on 84 for the first wicket before we found a breakthrough, and Randall went on to an unbeaten 74, well supported by Jarrett's 37, as they closed on 150 for 4 from their sixteen overs. I can't pretend it wasn't hard graft in the field, though I did manage 2 for 31 — handy enough that I've now nudged past 1400 wickets for the career tally, a milestone that earned a decent cheer and, I suspect, an extra round at the bar. Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2 for 32 alongside me.

Chasing 151, we set about it with intent. Nigel Thirkell, clearly not content with his day's work behind the ball, top-scored with 46, and Bob Lines added 45 in a stand of 79 for the second wicket that had us dreaming. Martin Larkin's 21 kept things ticking, but we could only reach 145 for 5 from our sixteen overs — five runs short at the death, cruel arithmetic on a day when we'd done so much right.

Beaten by five runs, then, and there's no dressing that up. But with David Castle sitting second in this season's run charts on 197 and yours truly second among the wicket-takers with 8, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 10 May 1987 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LK Leigh CC, Kent · HomeformWWLWL

Sunday 10 May 1987, and Leigh CC of Kent came calling. I lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a personal character flaw, and we were sent into the field.

Colin Fry gave us a torrid afternoon, motoring to 65 not out, with Nick Waite (48) and Mark Wood (25) lending willing support after a first-wicket stand of 60 got them away to the sort of flying start that has a captain rearranging his field and his stomach in equal measure. Credit where due, though — Jon Harris was quite magnificent, 3 for 23 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and he chipped in later with a nice round number too, while Matt Large picked up a wicket of his own. Chris Harding and Charlie Raker fell for a pair of ducks, and 194 for 6 felt like a target with teeth.

Chasing, David Castle led beautifully with 44, Bob Lines finished unbeaten on 43, and Keith Hatcher's 39 helped forge a second-wicket stand of 65 that briefly had us dreaming. Nine byes, mind you, told their own tale of poor Jim Hall's afternoon behind the stumps.

There was real cause for celebration amid the defeat — Keith brought up 1,000 career runs, and Jon passed 1,400 wickets, milestones this club will raise a glass to long after the scoreline is forgotten. We fell 13 runs short in the end. A fine effort, honest defeat, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 09 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDWLWL

Saturday 09 May 1987 saw us head to Rumwood in fine spirits, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and had no hesitation in batting first. 222/9 off our 46 overs was a very tidy return, built on Keith Hatcher's watchful 47 and David Castle's 44, with the pair adding 81 for the second wicket to give the innings its spine. Paul Gibson chipped in a useful 28 lower down, and we walked off feeling we'd left ourselves something to bowl at.

Rumwood, however, did not read the script. Brian Aiston and Rod Bailey put on 83 for the first wicket and looked, for a good while, as though they might simply bat us out of the game — Aiston going on to 44, Bailey 33. But cricket has a wonderful habit of turning, and turn it did: from 115-4 to 131-7 in the blink of an eye, with Geoff Griffiths, S Moorhouse and Paul Heynes all failing to trouble the scorers. Sean Charlton was the architect of the collapse, a magnificent 7-33 that thoroughly deserved its five-for billing, with Paul Bowles chipping in 3-42 for good measure. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 17 byes going begging, but even that couldn't dent the day.

Rumwood were bowled out for 154 and we ran out winners by 68 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and Paul Bowles continues to lead both our run and wicket charts this season — the man's clearly playing a different game to the rest of us.

Mon 04 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDDWLW

Lost the toss on a bright Monday at Bearsted, and predictably enough the coin decided we'd be spending the afternoon in the field rather than the deckchair. Bearsted made hay to the tune of 194 for 9 off their 46 overs, built chiefly around Mick Filmer's fine 74, with N Bateman unbeaten on 25 and Ian Lambert chipping in 20 — their second-wicket pair adding a rather inconvenient 75 while we toiled. Jon Harris was excellent with the ball, 4 for 40 and two maidens to show for his miserly spell, and I was pleased enough with my own 2 for 20, while Ian Brattle kept things honest with 1 for 39.

Chasing 195, we lost an early wicket with the score still reading nought — never the ideal way to settle the nerves — before Paul Gibson played the innings of the day, a composed 68, well supported by my 33 as we added 96 for the third wicket to drag us back into it. But cricket has a cruel sense of timing, and between 161 for 5 and 166 for 8 the innings simply fell apart; David Castle, Matt Large and Ian Brattle all walked back for ducks in the ensuing carnage. All out for 177 in 42.4 overs, 17 runs short.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage — Matt Large's solitary wicket nudged him past Michael Chambers into 25th on the club's all-time list, a small but honest achievement. As for the wider season, I find myself leading both the run and wicket charts for the 1st XI, which is flattering, if scant consolation for a Monday spent on the wrong side of the result. A battling effort, undone by a shocking middle-order collapse — we'll dust ourselves down and come again next week.

Sat 02 May 1987 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformLDDWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 2nd May 1987, and Bidborough CC rolled up the drive for our first fixture of note.

We lost the toss, were sent out to field, and I confess I muttered the usual prayers to whichever deity governs damp English outfields. Bidborough's openers had other ideas, however, putting on 94 for the first wicket before we so much as glimpsed a breakthrough, and they motored on to a healthy 168 for 3 from their 52 overs. David Tolhurst was the chief architect, unbeaten on 73, with Brian Wood chipping in a handsome 63. Credit where due — our Paul Bowles kept his head when all about were losing theirs, bowling five overs' worth of pure miserliness among his figures of 2 for 12. Not a happy hunting ground for the batsmen facing him, at any rate.

Set 169 to win, we might have been forgiven a nervous cup of tea at the interval, but David Castle had other plans, anchoring the innings with a classy unbeaten 64. Dave Todd's 34 and Paul Bowles's 32 gave him fine support, built on an opening stand of 66 that set the tone nicely. We cantered home by 7 wickets with overs to spare — a canter, mind you, not a stroll, though it rather felt like one from the boundary rope.

Paul Bowles continues to lead the way in both run-scoring and wicket-taking this season, and on this evidence long may it continue. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one I'll happily write up twice if asked.

Sun 26 Apr 1987 🧢 1st XIv CC Chatham Nomads CC · HomeformWLDDW

Sunday last, we welcomed Chatham Nomads down to Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss — a rarer event in my captaincy than I care to admit — I didn't so much as pause before choosing to bat. It proved the right call, and then some.

Paul Bowles and David Castle simply took the game away from our visitors, cantering to 185 without loss before either so much as looked troubled. Bowles went on to a magnificent 113, the sort of innings that has small boys asking for his autograph and large men asking for his secret; Castle stood firm at the other end for a composed 81 not out. We closed on 204/2 from our 47 overs, which felt, over the tea urn, like more than enough.

It nearly wasn't. Barry Martin and M Groves put on 130 for the second wicket — 76 and 55 respectively — and dragged the Nomads back into a contest we thought we'd settled. Bruce Crump's unbeaten 27 kept them ticking to the last. Jon Harris did what he could with 2-71, and Bowles, tidy as ever with two maidens to his name, chipped in with 1-25, but 11 byes through my own gloves did us no favours at all. They got home at 205/5 with two overs unused.

Bowles now tops our run charts for the summer and sits second among the wicket-takers, which is scant consolation for a captain who has just watched a 185-run start turn to defeat by five wickets. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 25 Apr 1987 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWWLDD

Off it went at 84, not out to worry — a fifty for Keith Hatcher and a match won in the same afternoon.

We trundled down to Penshurst Park last Saturday with the sun making a rare and welcome appearance, and I promptly lost the toss for my trouble. They elected to bat, which on a good-looking pitch felt like the obvious call, and their openers made early hay, putting on 59 for the first wicket before Keith Hatcher decided enough was enough. He bowled beautifully — 4 for 35 with seven maidens, tighter than my trousers after the tea interval — and with Paul Bowles chipping in for three, we hauled them back from 73-4 to all out for 181, R Pickles' unbeaten 42 the chief obstacle, though their last pair's defiant 43 did test the patience somewhat.

Chasing 182, we contrived to make hard work of easy runs. Five for one felt like the script writing itself, another Linton Park collapse in the offing, but Keith Hatcher — clearly deciding one good performance deserved another — followed his four-for with a rollicking 84, and Dave Todd's 48 gave the innings its spine, the pair adding a priceless 102 for the fourth wicket. Wickets then tumbled in the familiar late flurry, David Castle and Nick Stephens both departing without scoring, and David Castle's afternoon behind the stumps cost eight byes for good measure. My own 18 will not trouble the scorers' memories.

In the end we got there by the barest of margins — one wicket — which is either nerveless cricket or shameless good fortune. I shall claim the former. Two points, thoroughly, agonisingly earned.