🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 01 Oct 1988 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · HomeformWWDLL

Lost the toss again — I do wonder some seasons whether the coin itself has taken against me — and Hastings & St Leonards Priory duly sent us out into the field. It began nervously, a wicket down with just 6 on the board, but a solid 51-run stand for the fourth wicket steadied matters and let Keith Turk (40), I Phillips (29) and Ian Gillespie (28) build them up to a competitive 196/6 off 45.2 overs. Matt Large was the pick of the attack, miserly with four maidens and finishing with 2-46, well backed by Simon Hammond (2-62) and David Castle (1-41). Their last pair then had the cheek to bolt on 50 further runs we could all have done without.

Chasing 197, we never quite found our rhythm. Tim Thirkell battled to 31 and I was glad to contribute 37 of my own, the two of us putting on 83 for the third wicket to give the innings some shape. But once that partnership broke, the middle and lower order went from 117-6 to 129-9 in a rush we'd rather forget, with poor Paul Sendles and Stewart Morrison both undone for ducks. Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps too, shipping 8 byes for his troubles. All out for 129 in 40.4 overs, we fell 67 runs short.

There was, at least, one thing to raise a glass to: Paul Gibson brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth savouring even in defeat. The season charts remain kind to us — I lead the run-scoring with 1,135, and Matt Large tops the wicket-takers with 68 — but on the day we were second best. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 28 Sep 1988 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLLDWD

Captain's Log — Wednesday 28 September 1988. Off we trooped to Penshurst Park, and I won the toss with all the swagger of a man who'd rather be doing anything other than fielding on a Wednesday, so naturally I put us in.

It wasn't our finest hour with the willow. We were bowled out for 143 in 39.4 overs, rescued from ignominy by Nigel Thirkell's fine 57 and Tim Thirkell's supporting 29. Elsewhere in the order things were less romantic — Peter Whyte and I both trudged back for ducks, and I can tell you the walk feels no shorter at my age than it did at twenty. Say no more about it.

In the field we scrapped hard but couldn't quite land the killer blow. Penshurst reached 144 for 5 in 35.3 overs, built on half-centuries from P Grayland (52) and John Hyde (50), whose third-wicket stand of 90 did the real damage. Simon Hammond bowled beautifully for 2-27, Ian Brattle strangled the scoring with two maidens, and Nigel Thirkell and I chipped in with a wicket apiece.

So it was Penshurst by five wickets, and Nigel Thirkell continues to lord it over the rest of us atop both the 1988 run and wicket charts — showing off, frankly. As for me, a pair of failures with bat and a solitary wicket with ball is a fair summary of a mixed afternoon. We'll regroup, we'll remember how to hold a bat properly, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 25 Sep 1988 🧢 1st XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformWWWDL

Sunday last, we welcomed the Lord Cornwallis XI to Linton Park in gentle late-September sunshine, and won the toss with my customary flourish of confidence — I stuck us in, on the theory that runs on the board settle nerves better than any team talk of mine ever could.

We were duly bowled out for 140 in 47.4 overs, which on reflection says rather more about our lower order than our top. Paul Gibson was the innings' backbone with a fine 46, and a stand of 59 for the third wicket gave the total some much-needed dignity. Not a score to frighten anyone, but not one to be embarrassed by either.

With ball in hand we made a promising start, sending Turner back without so much as a run to his name — the sort of duck that makes a captain's afternoon. But Lord Cornwallis steadied and, led by Rudd's polished half-century and useful support from Oldridge (29) and Allen (24), ground their way to 141 for 6 off 35.3 overs. Matt Large was magnificent, 4 for 46 with two miserly maidens thrown in, and duly leapfrogged Ron Hickman into 13th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a landmark worth raising a glass to. I chipped in with 2 for 20, which I mention only the once before modesty reasserts itself.

Four wickets the wrong side of victory, then, and a long walk back to the pavilion. Not our day — heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sat 24 Sep 1988 🧢 1st XIv MO Malta Maniacs - Other · HomeformWWWWD

Saturday 24 September 1988, and the coin fell kindly my way — I had no hesitation in asking our visitors to field first. It looked the right call for a while too, with Mark Stevenson (23) and Piers McDonald (23) laying a platform and Alan Boyns finishing unbeaten on 20. But in between came a collapse that will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons, 15 for 1 becoming 26 for 4 almost before anyone had settled into their deckchair. Poor Dave Todd will want this one struck from the record — a duck and the long walk back that the club ledger will not let him forget. All out for 140 in 45.5 overs felt, in the end, like a score we'd rather forget too.

Defending it wanted discipline, and for a while we had it. Piers McDonald led the attack superbly with 2 for 16, Tim Thirkell chipped in with 1 for 2, and I was happy enough to keep things tight, tucking away two maidens of my own. But D Wilkinson, unbeaten on a well-made 59, and B Piper with a well-made 55, simply would not be shifted, their second-wicket stand of 92 doing the damage — M Blumberg alone kept Todd company in the duck club. The visitors cruised home to 143 for 4 in 30 overs.

Five wickets down, then, on a summer in which I've otherwise been rather pleased to top the 1st XI's run charts with 1096. Not our day. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sun 18 Sep 1988 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWWWWW

The coin behaved itself for once and fell our way, so in we went to bat, and 202/6 from our 37 overs was no bad return for a Sunday afternoon. David Castle was the class of the innings, 87 not out and looking like he could have batted through tea and stumps both, while I was glad to chip in with a fifty of my own, 51 that felt rather better than my usual fare. The two of us put on 92 for the second wicket and gave the innings its spine, with Tim Thirkell chipping in a useful 23 further down. Poor Stewart Morrison, though, will not want reminding of his golden duck.

Defending 202 against Anchorians, we had our work cut out once their openers settled in and put on 111 before the breakthrough finally came. R Haley made a fine 72, well supported by Colin Myers (44) and C Tappin (37), and they closed on 202/7 from 43 overs — R King at least departed for nought to keep the ledger honest. Matt Large did the real damage with 2-31, Ian Brattle chipped in 2-45, and I managed 1-14 to go with my earlier runs.

So, honours even, and a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Frustrating in the moment, perhaps, but on a green and pleasant Sunday like this, sharing the spoils felt about right.

Sat 17 Sep 1988 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Chelmsfordians CC · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday 17 September 1988, and we welcomed Old Chelmsfordians CC to our ground in what proved a proper old-fashioned tussle. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, and I'll say so myself before anyone else does. We were bowled out for 157 from 39 overs, a total that owed much to Matt Large's fine 43 and good support from Tim Thirkell with 33. Not every name will want reminding of the scorebook, mind — a nought for Dave Charlton was the one blot on an otherwise respectable innings.

With the ball, the Old Chelmsfordians made us work for it, replying with 145 all out in 31.5 overs. Robertson's unbeaten 43 and Castle's 38 threatened to take the game away from us, but we kept chipping away — C Flint, Brewer and Greenwood all departed without troubling the scorers, which tells its own tale. Dave Charlton was magnificent with 3 for 12, and I was pleased enough with my own 2 for 24, while Matt Large weighed in with 1 for 11 to complete a proper team effort with the ball.

A red-letter afternoon in other respects too, as I notched up my 1100th career wicket — not the sort of milestone one plans around, but a welcome one all the same. The season charts make pleasant reading as well, with 1040 runs to my name and Matt Large's 60 wickets leading the way. As for the match itself: twelve runs the margin, two points thoroughly earned, and a result that will see me sleeping rather better than Old Chelmsfordians tonight.

Sun 11 Sep 1988 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformDWWWW

Sunday 11 September, and the toss fell kindly for once — I called correctly and, with the sky doing that classic English maybe-it-will-maybe-it-won't routine, sent Dummy Site in. They ground out a respectable 183/4 from their 47 overs, built on a watchful opening stand of 53 and knocks of 35 from B Fairall, an unbeaten 33 from T Smith and 30 from M Smith. Credit to the bowling unit for keeping a lid on things throughout: S Fielder was the pick with 2-19, well backed up by Ian Brattle (1-31) and Stewart Morrison (1-35), while Alan Boyns simply refused to be scored off, sending down three maidens.

Chasing 184, we flew out of the blocks — 103 for the first wicket before anyone so much as thought about a second — and never really looked back, closing on 187/4 with seven overs unused. Peter Whyte played the innings of the day, a commanding 81, with David Castle (40) and Dave Charlton (32) both making handsome contributions of their own.

If there was a blot on the afternoon it was behind the stumps — eight byes suggests Jim Hall was chasing shadows rather than catching them. Still, small mercies: David Castle continues his fine season, now up to second in the 1988 run charts with 871.

A six-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfactory way to spend a Sunday. Onwards.

Sat 10 Sep 1988 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformWDWWW

Saturday 10 September took us down to Southborough, and for once the coin obliged: heads, and I had no hesitation in sending us in first on what looked a decent strip to bat on.

Brian Piper treated the toss as merely the prelude to a proper carve-up, cracking a magnificent 102, while I hung about at the other end for 97 of my own — close enough to three figures to taste it, not quite close enough to claim it, which is rather the story of my batting career. Together we put on 215 for the first wicket before I finally departed, and Paul Gibson strolled in to finish things off in style with an unbeaten 52. With 25 extras thrown in for good measure, 280 for 2 off our 46 overs left Southborough a fair mountain to climb.

They gave it a decent go. Peter Young top-scored with a punchy 77, and a fourth-wicket stand of 91 between Simon Fisher and Steve Dann (29 apiece) threatened briefly to make a match of it, but Ian Brattle had other ideas, scything through for 3 for 37, well backed by Alan Boyns (2-11) and Gibson, who added a wicket to his earlier runs. Matt Large bowled two admirably tidy maidens, though poor Jim Hall endured a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 12 byes slipping past him. Ray Grayland and Barry Hart trudged off without troubling the scorers.

Southborough closed on 167 for 7 — 113 runs shy. A grand day all round: Gibson notched his hundredth career wicket, and Piper's ton eased him past Jim Hall into 10th on the club's all-time run list. Season honours, meanwhile, keep ticking along nicely, with David Castle second in the 1988 run charts on 831 and Matt Large leading the wickets with 59. A good day for the club, and no mistake.

Wed 07 Sep 1988 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDLLDW

Another Wednesday, another away trip into the Kent heartland, and this time it was The Mote who awaited us with the covers rolled back and, rather unhelpfully, the toss going their way. Put in to field, we watched Nigel Mullarkey construct a proper captain's innings of his own — a chanceless-looking century that anchored their 214/8, with G Lloyds (30) and Andrew Barr (26) offering support and a stubborn 63-run stand for the fifth wicket doing much of the damage. Small mercies came in the shape of two golden ducks, Dominic Chambers and N Patel both departing without troubling the scorers. I had the pleasure of leading the attack and finished with 3-60 — enough graft in there to remind the knees I'm not twenty-five any more — while Ian Brattle bowled with real discipline for 2-32 including two maidens, and Paul Bowles chipped in with 2-47.

Chasing 215, David Castle set the tone with a fine 38, Mike Bains (28) and Paul Bowles (26) lending a hand as we built a promising opening stand of 56, before the innings gently ran out of road at 151/5 from our 39 overs. Ten byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Mike Elworthy.

There was, at least, cause to raise a glass: Brattle's brace nudged him past Michael Morton to 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the real winner of the day.

Sun 04 Sep 1988 🧢 Tour XIv MC Mullion CC · AwayformWLLWL

Lost the toss on a Sunday down at Mullion, and watched them elect to bat — which, with the benefit of hindsight, was rather good of them. In the field we scrapped hard and kept them to 131/9 from their forty overs, no mean effort against Mark Johnson's 24, C Vincent's 23 and an unbeaten 23 from J White. J Gibbons was the pick of us with a fine 3-14, Jon Harris chipped in with 2-19, and I managed 3-22 myself, while Tim Baker bowled two maidens so mean you'd have thought he owned shares in the outfield grass.

Chasing 132 is never the tidy stroll it sounds on paper, and so it proved — an early wicket with just 4 on the board set the nerves jangling, and poor A Pay's duck did nothing to settle them. But David Castle played the innings of the day, 41 full of good sense, well backed by Will Vincent's 25 and my own 29, and somehow, agonisingly, gloriously, we got there with one wicket standing. Warm applause too for David reaching 4,000 career runs for the club — a landmark earned, not gifted — and he now sits second in the Tour XI's run charts, with Jon Harris second among the bowlers.

A one-wicket win is cricket at its most heart-stopping, and its most honest. Two points, thoroughly deserved, and a long, happy drive home.

Fri 02 Sep 1988 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformLWLLW

Skipper's Log, Friday 2nd September 1988 — away at Beacon CC, Cornwall

Won the toss, and there was never much debate in my mind about what to do with it — a wicket that looked fit for runs, and a batting line-up itching to be let off the leash. We duly posted 125 for 5 from our 25 overs, the innings built almost entirely around a wonderful knock from Tim Thirkell, unbeaten on 73 and looking good for plenty more had the overs allowed it. The stand of the day came for the fourth wicket, 74 runs' worth, and gave the total a very respectable look. Less gloriously, the Duck Club welcomed two new members, with Simon Thirkell and Ian Brattle both making that long walk back for nought — the quackery duly noted in the ledger.

With the ball, we fought hard. Beacon were given an early fright at 8 for 1, and S Hawkin joined our feathered friends without troubling the scorers, but Jonathan Lean (34) and C Martin (29) steadied things and dragged them home to 129 for 8. I can't claim to have solved the match — quite the opposite, as my own contribution with the bat was a first-ball-shaped nought best forgotten — but I did at least earn my keep with the ball, finishing with 2 for 13, well supported by Brattle (1-7) and David Castle (1-11).

Beaten by two wickets, then, in a match that had chances for us right until the death. Tim leads our season's run charts, I lead the wickets — small consolations. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Mon 29 Aug 1988 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWDWW

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report — Bearsted CC, Monday 29th August 1988

Lost the toss again. I do wonder sometimes whether the coin has taken against me personally, but Bearsted elected to bat and there was nothing for it but to trot out into the field and get on with it.

It didn't take long to sense we had the makings of a good day. Bearsted stumbled to 4-1 early doors and never quite recovered their poise, Mick Filmer and Mike Redman both departing without troubling the scorers on our side of things. Ian Lambert's 41 and useful contributions from Anthony Cornwell (23) and N Bateman (22) dragged them to 142 all out, but it was Matt Large who did the real damage — spinning a web through the middle order for 5-29, with twelve maidens that left the batsmen with nowhere to hide. I chipped in with 3-33 myself, and Brian Piper picked up one for 20, so there was plenty of the ball to go round.

Chasing 143, David Castle played the innings of the day, 92 not out and full of good sense, ably supported by Paul Gibson's 31 in a 66-run stand that took the sting out of the chase entirely. We cantered home at 143/2 in 34.1 overs — Jim Hall had a livelier time of it behind the stumps, 12 byes conceded, but nobody was counting by then.

An eight-wicket win, and a landmark too: David Castle's innings shoves him up to 14th on the club's all-time run charts. Onwards.

Sat 27 Aug 1988 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformWWWDW

Saturday 27 August 1988, and Maidstone Dissidents CC rolled into Linton Park under skies that, for once, seemed to favour the home side. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first strike — the right call, I felt, and for once I was proved right rather than merely lucky.

We batted with real purpose to post 203 for 5 off our 40 overs. Tim Thirkell led the charge with a handsome 73, Paul Gibson chipped in a fine 38 and Bob Lines a solid 32, the pair of them putting on 70 for the third wicket to give the innings its backbone. A total to defend, certainly, though against a Dissidents side never short of fight, none of us were counting chickens over the tea urn.

And so it proved. Mike Bains gave us a proper fright with a well-struck 78, ably supported by Russell Longmuir's 32 and Steve Manser's unbeaten 26, and a sixth-wicket stand of 62 threatened to spoil our afternoon entirely — despite an early wobble at 2 for 1 and poor David Castle departing without troubling the scorers. It was Matt Large who saved our blushes, bowling like a man possessed to return 6 for 6 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — a spell that also nudged him past Dick Langridge into 14th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Jon Harris and Dave Charlton chipped in a wicket apiece to complete the job, and my own contribution with the bat played its small part in getting us to a defendable total.

We held on for a 19-run victory. A tight, nervy, thoroughly English afternoon — and a jolly good day for the club.

Sun 21 Aug 1988 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformDWWWD

Sunday brought Old Anchorians CC to Linton Park, and won the toss, no hesitation, I stuck us in to bat — the sort of decision that looks either brilliant or barmy by teatime, and today, thank heavens, it was the former. We piled up 198 for 2 from our 41 overs, the innings built on a second-wicket stand of 175 that took the game clean away from the visitors before they'd properly arrived. I'll allow myself one boast and no more: I made a hundred, and rarely has a bat felt so obligingly wide. David Castle was the perfect foil, 86 not out and utterly unflustered throughout.

Defending a total like that ought to be the easy part, and so it proved. Old Anchorians were bowled out for 86 in 27.2 overs, R Smith's 21 the only real resistance. Ian Brattle was magnificent, 4 for 32 and the pick of the attack, with Matt Large chipping in 3 for 34 and Alan Boyns tying batsmen in knots for 2 for 4, two maidens included, not a run given away lightly.

Milestones all round too — David Castle's 86 lifts him past Paul Gibson to 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Ian Brattle's four-for edges him past Ray Howard into 24th among the wicket-takers. I lead the season's run charts with 1025, Matt Large tops the wickets with 47.

A win by 112 runs, no arguments, no alibis needed. Onwards, as ever.

Sat 20 Aug 1988 🧢 1st XIv EC Elliotts CC · HomeformLDWWW

Saturday 20 August 1988, and Elliotts CC rolled up to Linton Park for what promised to be a proper afternoon's cricket. I won the toss and, with the pitch looking full of runs, had few qualms about batting first — a decision that occasionally comes back to haunt a captain, but not today.

We racked up a handsome 185 for 4 off our 41 overs, the innings built on a marvellous 125-run stand for the third wicket. Malcolm Pay was in fine touch for his 77, and I can say with a touch of family pride that Tim Thirkell chipped in with an unbeaten 69 at the other end — the sort of fifty that makes a captain's job look easy, even when it isn't.

Defending it, we made life harder for ourselves than necessary. Elliotts crept to 162 for 7 from their 32 overs, David Hales anchoring things with 34 not out, well supported by Paul Etheridge's 33 and Graeme Williams' 29. Steve Swindell and A Kearney departed without so much as troubling the scorers, but their last pair had the audacity to add 43 runs we really could have done without — the kind of late-order cheek that tests a captain's patience and vocabulary in equal measure. Alan Boyns did the heavy lifting with 4 for 58, Ian Brattle chipped in with 1 for 10, and Jon Harris, tidy as ever with two maidens, took 1 for 62. I contributed my own small part with the bat earlier in the day.

In the end honours were shared — a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed no one. All told, a thoroughly English afternoon.

Wed 17 Aug 1988 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWDLLD

Losing the toss on a Wednesday evening usually means resigning yourself to a long trudge in the field, and so it proved as Gravesend elected to bat. They made a watchful start to lose their opener with just 2 on the board, but rallied nicely, with D Holder compiling a fine 59, well supported by Colin Myers (43) and Barry Diplock (22) — the fourth-wicket pair adding a crucial 57 before we managed to drag things back. Alan Boyns bowled beautifully throughout, five maidens and 4-37 his reward, with Mike Bains (1-19) and N Fielder (1-29) chipping in as we sent Gary Myers, T Gulliver and Les Hewitt back without troubling the scorers. Gravesend closed on 181/8 from their 46 overs — a total that felt gettable, if not exactly a formality.

And gettable it proved. Paul Bowles played the innings of the season, a magnificent 115, while Paul Brattle stroked an unbeaten 65 in fine support, and between them they saw us home to 184/1 in just 34.2 overs — barely breaking sweat. Ten byes did rather give the game away for poor S Henry behind the stumps, a testing evening for him if nothing else.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Bowles continues to lead the run charts, and I'm rather pleased to find myself sitting second in the wicket-takers' table on 5 for the summer — not that anyone's counting, except everyone is.

A fine win by 9 wickets, then, and a thoroughly satisfying evening's work. Onwards.

Sun 14 Aug 1988 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformWLDWW

Sunday 14 August found us on the road to Whitstable, and for once the coin fell my way at the toss — I had no hesitation in choosing to bat first.

David Castle set about proving me right, ushering us to 69 without loss before the first wicket fell, and going on to a fine 54 that carried the innings. Trevor Back chipped in with 28, and I was happy to potter along to 43 not out at the other end while wickets tumbled around me — 116 for 4 became 129 for 7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Mercifully the tail wagged, adding a defiant 56 to frustrate the home side, though Simon Thirkell and Matt Large both took the long, silent walk back for ducks. We finished 185 for 8 from our 47 overs — respectable, if hard-won.

With ball in hand we fancied our chances, and so it proved. Whitstable's I Crossley made merry with 96, well supported by G Janes' 22, but P Townsend never troubled the scorers. Jon Harris did the heavy lifting with 4 for 63, I found some rhythm to pick up 3 for 37, and Matt Large — three tidy maidens among his 2 for 64 — squeezed the runs dry. All out for 168 in 37.4 overs.

A fine win by 17 runs, then, and with the season charts showing me on 920 runs and Large on 44 wickets, this old side still has some cricket left in it. Onwards.

Sat 13 Aug 1988 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformWWLDW

Nigel Thirkell writes:

Saturday brought Harrietsham CC to Linton Park, and it was a day that had rather a lot to say for itself. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my record in that department remains stubbornly poor — and we were sent into the field, which on a warm August afternoon is not always the hardship it sounds.

The visitors made a solid fist of things, closing on 146/5 from their 46 overs, built chiefly around Ray Tong's unbeaten 70 and a watchful second-wicket stand of 53 that threatened to get away from us. Matt Large was the pick of the attack by some distance, snaring 3-47 with two tidy maidens thrown in for good measure, and I chipped in with 1-33, which nudged me past Paul Bowles into second on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a nice line for the scrapbook, if nothing to get carried away about.

Chasing 147, we stumbled early to 6-1 and I did wonder whether we'd made rather too much of their total. But it settled into a thoroughly pleasant afternoon's batting; I found some form for 85 not out, with young Tim Thirkell a model of composure alongside me on 28 not out, and we cantered home by seven wickets with overs to spare. Eleven byes did rather suggest Jim Hall had an afternoon he'd sooner forget behind the stumps — sympathies extended.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a happy walk back to the pavilion.

Sun 07 Aug 1988 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformDWWLD

Sunday last saw us make the short trip to Benenden, where I duly called wrong and we were sent out to field first — never my favourite way to start a Sunday, but there it is.

Benenden battled to 117 all out in 31 overs, Ray Harding the chief architect with 45, well supported by Richard Wall's unbeaten 22, the pair adding 61 for the eighth wicket when it looked for a while like the innings might run away from us. But run through them we did — from 39-2 to 46-5 in the blink of an eye, with poor Andrew Cloke, Adam Playford and Mike Chambers all shown the door without so much as a run to their names. The engine room of it all was Sean Charlton, who simply ran riot, returning a magnificent 7-67, with Matt Large (2-34, and four maidens besides — not a run given away lightly) and Jon Harris (1-14) tidying up the rest.

Chasing 118, we lost an early wicket with just 4 on the board and a few of us on the boundary edge started reaching for the tea flask rather early. But Brian Piper settled things with a fine 38, and Sean Charlton, not content with his heroics in the field, added an unbeaten 36 to complete a proper captain's-dream of an afternoon for him. We eased home by seven wickets.

A thoroughly good day for the club, and Sean Charlton's name will be on everyone's lips at the clubhouse bar tonight.

Wed 03 Aug 1988 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDWDLL

Wednesday the 3rd of August found us hosting Bexley CC, and my heart sank the moment I lost the toss — a shirtfront if ever I saw one, and they duly took first knock. H Mohammed set about us for 48, with Graham Ball and Richard Holliman both chipping in 37 apiece, and Bexley closed on a healthy 202 for 8 from their 49 overs. Credit where it's due: Nigel Thirkell was quite superb, 3 for 13 with six maidens of the kind that make batsmen question their life choices, while I chipped in with 3 for 42 and Dave Todd picked up one.

Chasing 203, we never quite got the platform going. Alan Boyns played the innings of the day with 48, Mark Stevenson finished unbeaten on 37, and Heine Costen made a handy 29, but wickets tumbled alarmingly from 74 for 2 to 90 for 5 in the sort of collapse that has grown men reaching for the biscuit tin. It was only a stubborn 67-run stand for the seventh wicket that hauled us to respectability at 171 for 7. Poor S Fielder will be looking over his shoulder after his duck, and Heine's afternoon with the gloves was no picnic either, eight byes going begging.

With Nigel now sitting proudly atop both the season's run and wicket charts, the lad is fast becoming a one-man band. As for us — 171 for 7 wasn't quite enough to chase down 203, and honours were shared as bad light and stubborn defiance conspired to deny either side the win. A draw, then: nobody's idea of glory, but nobody's disgrace either.

Sun 31 Jul 1988 🧢 1st XIv CC Chadwell Thors Oak CC · AwayformWDWWL

From the captain's chair, and a rather satisfying Sunday it was too, even if the heavens didn't quite deliver a result. We travelled with high hopes and, for once, actually met them with the bat, posting 214 for 4 off our 39 overs — a total that had me quietly purring into my tea.

I can't pretend I wasn't pleased to lead from the front with 77, though credit where it's due: Brian Piper's well-made fifty, 59, kept the scoreboard ticking nicely alongside me, and Paul Gibson's unbeaten 36 rounded things off in style. Not a bad afternoon's work for a side that spent most of April dropping catches in the nets.

Then it was our turn in the field, and here Steve Cheale did the real damage, prising out three for 34 with the sort of hostile control that makes a captain's job easy. Brian Piper chipped in again with the ball, 1 for 1 no less, while Matt Large bowled miserly figures of 1 for 12, studded with four maidens — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their gloves. Ward's well-made fifty, 60, and Hutchinson's 28 kept them afloat, and they finished on 146 for 7 from their 45.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. As it stands this season I'm leading the run charts with 792, and Matt Large tops the wickets with 37 — proof, if any were needed, that this is a side with runs and wickets to spare, if only the weather and the clock would let us finish the job.

Sat 30 Jul 1988 🧢 1st XIv KX Kon UD Deventer CC (Holland) Tour XI · HomeformWWDWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 30 July 1988. We hosted, and having won the toss I elected to bat, a decision I still stand by even after what followed. We laboured to 103 all out from 44.1 overs, with Paul Bowles' 28 the innings' one real pillar of respectability. There was a spell in the middle where the wheels came off in spectacular club-cricket fashion — 84 for 5 became 97 for 8 before we'd so much as finished our tea, and poor Alan Boyns will want to forget his golden duck as quickly as the scorebook allows.

Defending 103 was always going to ask a great deal of the bowlers, and in truth the opposition never let us dream. C Ruskamp made light work of us with an unbeaten 59, well supported by D Bekedam's unbeaten 35, and they cantered home at 109 for 0 in just 26 overs — scarcely troubled throughout. Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes finding their way past him, which tells its own story about the state of our attack.

Amid the gloom, one shaft of sunlight: Sean Charlton brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to. I'll confess to some quiet satisfaction of my own too, having now passed 715 runs to lead the 1st XI's season run charts. But personal milestones aside, this was not our day — beaten by nine wickets, heads up, and back to the nets.

Thu 28 Jul 1988 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Moreton CC · HomeformWDWDL

Won the toss on a Thursday evening that promised more than the scoreboard eventually delivered, and I had no qualms about batting first against Moreton. Which made the sight of us at 2-1 all the more alarming — I'd barely sat down with my tea before the openers were in trouble. Credit to the middle order for steadying things: Brian Piper's 66 was the innings that mattered, ushered along by Mick Filmer's 30 and Nigel Thirkell's unbeaten 29, with the fourth-wicket pair's stand of 60 doing the heavy lifting. Poor Peter Whyte, meanwhile, made his own kind of history with a golden duck — the walk of shame performed to perfection. We closed on 166/6 from 55.2 overs, a total I felt had just enough substance to defend.

It wasn't quite enough. Moreton's Mike Howat played the innings of the day, an imperious 84, well supported by J Linton's 23, and their third-wicket stand of 57 turned the tide firmly their way. Paul Bowles fought hard for us, finishing with 4-56 and, in doing so, climbing above Nigel Thirkell into second on the club's all-time wicket-taking list — a nice consolation on a losing night. Dave Todd and Thirkell chipped in too, but Moreton got home by 3 wickets.

Brian Piper still leads our 1988 run charts, Nigel Thirkell the wickets — small comforts. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 24 Jul 1988 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · HomeformLWWDW

Won the toss on a bright Sunday and, with the sort of confidence that usually precedes disaster, I stuck us in. For once the top order repaid the faith handsomely: David Castle and Paul Bowles put on a magnificent 110 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a dismissal, Castle eventually falling for a classy 66 and Bowles following for 64. I came in and simply tried not to spoil the party, finding some form of my own along the way to finish unbeaten on 59 — a personal contribution I'll admit to being rather chuffed with. We declared the innings closed, if you can call being all out at 213 for 2 a declaration, from 42.4 overs.

Mote A's reply never got going. Bowles, having done his bit with the bat, turned his arm over to devastating effect with 4 for 15, backed up nicely by Dave Todd and Mark Stevenson with two apiece, while Matt Large strangled the middle order with three tidy maidens. They slid from 64 for 4 to 75 for 7 and were all out for a paltry 84 in 31.2 overs, with N Tillott and J Booth both departing without troubling the scorebook. Eight byes did rather suggest poor Piers McDonald behind the stumps had a long afternoon of it, but no matter.

A win by 129 runs, two points banked, and both bat and ball firing on the same day — you don't get many better Sundays than this one.

Sat 16 Jul 1988 🧢 1st XIv Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformWLWWD

Losing the toss and being sent out to bowl first is never how I'd choose to start a Saturday, but with Rainham (Kent) in town for a proper ding-dong, there were worse fates. We struck early doors — just the solitary run on the board when the first wicket fell — and though Alfie Fisher played a lovely hand for 41, well supported by R Mercer's 27 and Dave Wood's 26, we kept chipping away to bowl them out for 131 in 48 overs. The middle order simply evaporated on us — sorry, on them — 109 for 6 collapsing to 117 for 9 in the blink of an eye, with Terry Crickmore, P Patel and Ivan Willis all trooping back for ducks. Dave Todd was the pick of the attack with 4 for 54, Paul Bowles chipped in with 3 for 30, I managed a tidy 1 for 14, and Matt Large bowled like a man possessed, five maidens and barely a boundary in sight.

Chasing 132, we wobbled our way to 134 for 6 off 36.5 overs — never entirely serene, but never in real danger either. I found some rare late-season form with 34, and Simon Thirkell batted nicely alongside for 26 to see us home. It rather caps off a fine year for me personally, sitting atop the 1st XI run charts with 648, while Matt Large continues his one-man wrecking crew act with 35 wickets to his name.

Four wickets, two points, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — the tea urn, as ever, the real hero of the day.

Sun 10 Jul 1988 🧢 1st XIv MC Morden Village CC · HomeformWWLWW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 10 July 1988. We hosted, and for once the toss actually went my way, so naturally I did what any self-respecting skipper does with a decent pitch under his feet: I put us in.

It rather paid off. We posted 179/9 from our 43 overs, built on a lovely stand of 65 for the second wicket between Tim Thirkell and David Castle. Tim made a superb 54, Castle chipped in with 29, and I managed to get in on the act myself with 51 — a half-century I shan't pretend I wasn't rather pleased with. Then, as is our club's time-honoured tradition, we contrived to throw it away in the manner of a man dropping the tea tray at 157-6, we were 170-9 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a pint, with poor Steve Cheale bagging a duck for his troubles.

With the ball, we made them work for every run. K Singh and T Miller put together a fine 65-and-49 effort to drag them to 154/7, but we had them rattled early at 0-1 and A Trickey went for nought. I was happy enough with 2-20, Trevor Back and Matt Large both took two apiece, and Large bowled beautifully mean, eight maidens in his spell.

A nice postscript: Tim's 54 nudges him past William Buck into 7th on the club's all-time run charts. In the end, honours were shared — a draw, and on this evidence, a fair one.

Sat 09 Jul 1988 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWWWLW

Saturday the 9th of July took us down to Horton Kirby, and having called correctly at the toss, I fancied a bat on what looked a good surface — no hesitation there. The lads repaid that confidence handsomely, 256/4 from our 46 overs a proper score by any village standard. I was fortunate enough to find some form and carried on to 102 not out, though the innings owed just as much to Paul Gibson's fine 54 and David Castle's watchful 28, the pair of us putting on a hundred for the third wicket that really set the platform.

Horton Kirby made a fist of the chase, Ian Scott's 61 and useful contributions from J Thomas and Graham Connold keeping them in the hunt after an opening stand of 81 threatened to run away from us. Their last pair's defiant 35 was rather more than we'd have liked to concede, and Peter Whyte had an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps with 19 byes to his name. But Paul Bowles was superb with the ball, 3-37 doing the real damage, well backed by Matt Large's 3-81 and Alan Boyns's solitary strike. Keith Williams and Lindsay Hamill both departed without troubling the scorers, which we can forgive on a winning day.

A landmark too — 19,000 career runs for the club, which rather puts the aching knees into perspective. We got home by 30 runs: a thoroughly good day for Linton Park.

Sun 26 Jun 1988 🧢 1st XIv CP Canterbury Pilgrims · HomeformWWWWL

I won the toss on a fine Sunday and, fancying our chances, decided we'd bat first against Canterbury Pilgrims. That decision looked shaky when our first wicket fell for just a single run, but David Castle steadied things beautifully, top-scoring with 47 while I chipped in with 46 and Trevor Back added a useful 27, a solid third-wicket stand of fifty holding the innings together as we posted 200 for 8 from our 48 overs. Not a total to frighten anyone outright, but enough, as it turned out, to be going on with.

In the field we started nervously, letting Canterbury's Henderson and Garrett put on a stubborn fifth-wicket partnership of 51, and for a while 132 looked a distant target for us to defend rather than an imminent collapse for them. But Paul Bowles had other ideas, running riot with 5 for 41, well backed by Paul Gibson and Allan Cooper with two apiece, and I managed three tidy maidens of my own as we tore through the last five wickets in a hurry, 122 for 7 becoming 132 all out in no time, S Murray and Andy Brewster both departing without troubling the scorers. Nine byes did rather suggest Jim Hall was having a testing afternoon behind the stumps, but no matter.

A fine win by 68 runs, and a personal nod for David Castle, whose 47 sends him past Cliff Anscombe into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Onwards we go.

Sat 25 Jun 1988 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLWWWW

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report — Saturday 25 June 1988, away to Meopham CC

Won the toss, and with the sun out and my batsmen looking uncharacteristically confident in the car park, I did what any captain worth his salt does with a good pitch and a false sense of security — I put us in. Bob Lines gave the innings a proper backbone with a fine 27, but from a promising 47-3 we contrived to slide to 66-6 in the sort of collapse that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. Spare a thought for poor Matt Large, who departed for a duck with the bat, though he'd more than make amends later. All out for 119 in 45.4 overs — respectable, not commanding.

With the ball, though, we gave a proper account of ourselves. Meopham lost an early wicket cheaply at 6-1 and never quite shook us off, despite a stubborn 50-run stand for the fourth wicket built around J Ward's 36 and an unbeaten 36 from Mark Wellbelove, with Beale chipping in 27. I had the pleasure of picking up 2-33 myself, with good support from Sean Charlton (1-27) and Matt Large, who redeemed his golden duck in style with 1-42 and four maidens that gave away nothing.

In the end, 122-4 got Meopham home by six wickets. Not our finest afternoon with the bat, but plenty of character in the field. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Thu 23 Jun 1988 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Invicta CC · AwayformWLWWW

Thursday 23 June 1988, and the road took us down to Maidstone Invicta CC with the sun out and, rather more worryingly for the tourists among them, the toss lost. We were put in the field first, which on paper felt like a mixed blessing but proved rather the opposite.

Invicta huffed and puffed their way to 80/7 from their sixteen overs, D Britten doing the honest, patient work of a top-order man with 27, but around him the innings kept losing its footing — 34-1 became 43-4 as the pressure told, and poor A Reynolds departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers, bless him. Paul Bowles was the chief architect of the collapse, a splendid 3-13 that did most of the damage, with Martin Larkin (2-33) and Alan Boyns (1-19) tidying up what was left.

Eighty-one to win, then, and we barely broke stride: 84/1 in ten overs, Paul Gibson striding to an unbeaten 53 with the minimum of fuss, Paul Bowles chipping in 26 not out having presumably not yet taken his bowling boots off. Gibson, it should be said, now leads the 1988 first-team run charts with 448 to his name, while Boyns sits fourth among the wicket-takers with ten — quietly building rather good seasons for themselves while the rest of us admire from the boundary rope.

A nine-wicket win, achieved with time and dignity to spare. Onwards, indeed — and long may the tea urn keep pace with us.

Wed 22 Jun 1988 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · AwayformDWDWD

Not our finest Wednesday, but here it is – 22 June 1988, and the road took us to Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC, where we duly lost the toss and were sent out to field first. Story of the season, that.

Batting second on paper suits nobody, and so it proved when we finally had our go: 96 all out in 42.4 overs is not a total to frighten anyone, though David Castle's 34 and Nigel Thirkell's watchful 20 at least gave the innings some backbone. We lost an early wicket with just 5 on the board, which set the tone rather, and then came the collapse of collapses – 94 for 7 crumbling to 96 all out in a flurry that nobody in the pavilion much enjoyed watching. Three ducks on the card (Martin Larkin, Alan Boyns and Paul Lines all failing to trouble the scorers) did nothing for the mood at tea.

And yet – cricket, eh. With ball in hand we were a different side entirely. Paul Lines was simply unplayable, spinning his way to 5 for 8 with seven miserly maidens, while Nigel Thirkell (2-35) and Martin Larkin (1-21) chipped in handsomely. We had them 49 for 3 sliding to 60 for 6, and sent both A Housden and P Styles back without scoring, but S Hallbrook's unbeaten 24 steadied the ship just enough, and they scrambled home by 2 wickets with 97 for 8 on the board. Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own.

Small consolations: Castle now leads our run charts with 72, Lines our wickets with 5. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 19 Jun 1988 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Chestfield CC · AwayformLWWWW

Beaten at Chestfield on Sunday, and it started as these things usually do for me — losing the toss and being invited to spend the afternoon standing in a field. Chestfield made the most of batting first, reaching 180 for 7 from their forty overs. Paul Taylor compiled a handsome 65, with Neil Williams (33) and Paul Hutley (29) chipping in either side of an early wobble that saw them lose a wicket with just 5 on the board. Their second-wicket stand of 80 did most of the damage, though we clawed back a little pride when Clinton Wells trudged off for a golden duck. Paul Bowles led the attack superbly with 3 for 33, Trevor Back and Matt Large chipped in with a wicket apiece, and I was content to bowl tight, sending down three maidens of my own.

Chasing 180 was always going to ask searching questions of our top order, and we didn't much care for the answers, subsiding to 116 all out in 35 overs. Wickets tumbled from 15 for 1 to 23 for 4 in the sort of spell that has a captain reaching for the biscuit tin, and both Paul Gibson and Matt Large fell for ducks. Malcolm Pay stood firm for an unbeaten 33, well supported by Sean Charlton's 20, but it was never quite enough to trouble the target.

Some cheer amid the wreckage: Trevor Back's 18 runs eased him past Mike Iliffe and into 20th on the club's all-time run charts, while David Castle sits second in this season's Sunday run charts on 137 and Matt Large tops the wicket charts with 13. Beaten by 64 runs in the end. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 18 Jun 1988 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDWLWW

Lost the toss at West Farleigh on Saturday and duly found myself put into the field, which is never quite the afternoon one plans for, but the lads set about it with good cheer. West Farleigh crumbled to 1-1 early on and never really recovered their poise, eventually mustering just 110 all out in 33 overs, Micky Back's unbeaten 36 the lone note of resistance. Mick Holness, Trevor Back and D Alloway all departed for ducks, which tells its own story about the discipline of our attack. Matt Large was the pick of the bowlers with a fine 4-34, Sean Charlton chipped in with 3-52 including four tidy maidens, and I managed 2-17 myself, more through luck than genius.

With just 111 to chase, our reply was a stroll in the sunshine. Paul Gibson played the innings of the day, a composed unbeaten 58 that anchored everything, with Paul Bowles offering excellent support on 36 not out as we cruised home at 114/1 in 18.4 overs.

There was extra reason to raise a glass afterwards: Gibson's fifty saw him leapfrog Cliff Anscombe into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now sits second in this season's run charts with 395, while Matt Large continues to lead the wicket-takers with 28. A thoroughly professional nine-wicket win, and two points banked. Can't grumble at that.

Sun 12 Jun 1988 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · HomeformWDWLW

Here's the match report:

There's a certain ritual humiliation in losing the toss and being sent into the field on a Sunday, and Bexhill CC duly obliged us with that particular pleasure. Still, the lads set about their work with more enthusiasm than the coin flip deserved, and by the 44.3-over mark we'd bowled them out for 159 — a total that flattered them rather less than it might have. Simon Reynolds top-scored with a watchful 38, with Richard Matthews (27) and John Holland (26) lending support, but it was Sean Charlton who stole the afternoon, spinning his way to 5-45 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly. Matt Large chipped in handsomely with 4-50, Jon Harris picked up one, and Simon Funnell and Stephen Green both trudged off for ducks.

A target of 160 looked entirely gettable, and so it proved, though not without the usual comedy — poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, 15 byes slipping past him like he was standing in for a sieve. With the bat, though, we were rather more assured: Peter Whyte made a fine 46 and David Castle 24, the pair putting on 55 for the first wicket to set us on our way. I was fortunate enough to see it home, finishing unbeaten on 49 as we reached 162-4 with overs to spare.

Four wickets and a Sunday well spent — Charlton's spin, a touch of application with the bat, and byes notwithstanding, a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 11 Jun 1988 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · AwayformWWDWL

Here is the report.

From the captain's chair, I confess I'm still smiling as I write this. Saturday took us to Maidstone Ymca CC, and we posted 128/9 from our 43 overs after a start that would test anyone's nerves — gone for nought before the scoreboard had even cleared its throat. Paul Gibson steadied things beautifully with a fine half-century, well supported by Ron Kemp's 27, and the pair put on 65 for the second wicket to drag us back into the contest. Then, in the way only village cricket can manage, the wheels came off in short order, 65-2 becoming 78-5, with poor Dave Todd departing without troubling the scorers.

In the field, though, we were a different animal entirely. The opposition never got going, stumbling to 6-1 and sliding rapidly to 16-4, with J- Adams sent back for a duck along the way. Matt Large was simply unplayable, spinning his way to 6-27, and I found some rhythm of my own alongside him, finishing with 4-13 and five maidens for good measure. They were bowled out for 69 from 31.2 overs, and we came home 59 runs to the good.

A day to savour all round, and a personal footnote too — Paul Gibson's half-century sees him leapfrog David Castle into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. With Castle still second in this season's charts and Large leading the wicket-takers, the form book says this Linton Park side is very much on the up. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 05 Jun 1988 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Benenden CC · HomeformLLWWW

Sunday the 5th of June, and Benenden CC came calling. We won the toss, and I elected to bat — a decision I felt rather pleased with before a ball had even been bowled.

We didn't exactly cut a swathe through the Benenden attack, limping to 140 for 9 off our forty overs, but it proved enough. I got among the runs with 31, well supported by Dave Todd's watchful 20, and later chipped in with the ball too, taking 1 for 21 for good measure.

Benenden's reply started poorly for them — 2 for 1 — and never really recovered. We ran through the middle order at a gallop, 85 for 6 collapsing to 90 for 9 in the blink of an eye, with poor Richard Fautly, Mick Fagg and Richard Wall all trudging back for ducks. The star of the show was undoubtedly Matt Large, whose 6 for 11 — including two miserly maidens — was a spell to savour and thoroughly deserved. Sean Charlton chipped in handsomely too, with 3 for 11. Ray Harding's 20 was the only real resistance as the visitors folded for 107 in 36.3 overs.

A word for the record books: David Castle's 8 runs eased him past Paul Gibson into 16th on the club's all-time run charts, while Matt Large's six-for lifted him past Trevor Back into 15th among our all-time wicket-takers — though Paul Gibson, with 145, and Matt Large, with 12, still sit proudly atop this season's Sunday NVKC charts.

A fine win by 33 runs. Tea was well earned, and so, I rather think, was the walk home.

Sat 04 Jun 1988 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWWWDW

Here's the match report:

Rumwood's captain called it right, and it was our turn to trot out into the field first — never the outcome you want when you've fancied your chances with the willow. Still, we clawed our way to a respectable 199 for 7 off the full fifty overs, with the openers doing us proud early on, putting on 67 for the first wicket before the initial breakthrough came. I was fortunate enough to find some form and carried on to 75, with David Castle giving sterling support in a well-crafted fifty of his own. A tidy total, if not quite the fortress we'd hoped for.

Then came the hard part. Rumwood's Mick Palmer settled in like he owned the crease and finished unbeaten on 64, with Ted Holloway (47) and John Appleyard (32) chipping in handsomely, and a partnership of 58 for the fifth wicket that did the real damage. We fought hard with the ball — Ron Kemp was the pick of the attack with 1 for 8, Dave Charlton chimed in with 1 for 23, and I managed 1 for 26 with a couple of maidens to show for my efforts — but Rumwood eased home by five wickets with overs to spare.

A word of cheer amid the gloom: Paul Gibson's unassuming 11 runs nudged him past David Castle and up to sixteenth on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of small victory a losing side clings to. I remain, for what it's worth, top of the 1st XI run charts this summer with 364, and Jon Harris sits third among the wicket-takers with nine.

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

Wed 01 Jun 1988 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Burghill & Tillington CC · HomeformLDWDW

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 1st June 1988. Home to Burghill & Tillington CC.

Lost the toss, put in to field, and I confess my heart sank slightly as it always does when the coin lets you down. Burghill made a decent enough fist of it, ambling to 144 all out from their 40 overs, K Bayliss the chief architect with a well-made 48, Nick Osborne (33) and L Sparrow (23) lending sturdy support. Credit to the lads, though — we squeezed hard in the middle overs and turned 69-3 into 83-6, with poor C Rose trudging off for a duck. Paul Gibson was magnificent, ripping through with 4-17, and I was pleased enough to chip in with 2-26 myself, Dave Charlton rounding things off with 1-20.

Chasing 145, we never quite found the fluency to match the bowling effort, crawling to 136-8 from our 45. David Castle anchored things nicely with 38 — enough, I gather, to nudge him past Robert Murray into 17th on the club's all-time run charts, a nice footnote to a scratchy afternoon. I added an unbeaten 25 in support, though the less said about Matt Large's golden duck the better; the ledger doesn't lie.

So, honours shared. Not the day for garlands, but nine runs short with the bat tells its own tale — we'll take the draw, dust ourselves down, and fancy our chances of turning these narrow squeaks into wins before the season's out.

Sun 22 May 1988 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWLLWW

Sunday last took us down the road to Shipbourne, and having lost the toss we were put straight into the field — never our favourite start to a Sunday, but the lads set about it with more enthusiasm than the fixture list strictly demanded.

Shipbourne slipped to 7 for an early wicket and we allowed ourselves a quiet smile, but a stubborn third-wicket stand of 60 dragged them back into the contest before the innings wobbled again, 81 for 3 becoming 89 for 6 in a hurry as three of their number departed without troubling the scorers. Barry Hart's unbeaten 45, well supported by Eddie May's 36, saw them home to 121 all out from their 40 overs — a total that flattered to deceive. Sean Charlton was the pick of our attack with 4 for 18, Matt Large chipped in with 3 for 16 and three tidy maidens, and Jon Harris took 1 for 34 for his troubles.

Chasing 122, we lost an early wicket with just 8 on the board and for a moment old habits threatened to resurface. But Paul Gibson played the innings of the day, 48 well-crafted runs that not only steadied the ship but eased him past Robert Murray into 16th on the club's all-time run charts — a fine feat for a Sunday afternoon. Sean Charlton, having already done the damage with the ball, added an unbeaten 26 to see us home for 122 for 4.

A six-wicket win, two points banked, and Gibson and Harris continuing to lead our Sunday charts. Thoroughly earned, and thoroughly enjoyed.

Sat 21 May 1988 🧢 1st XIv Castle Hill CC, Kent · HomeformWWWWD

I put us in to bat on winning the toss, and by the close I was rather glad I had. Paul Gibson set the tone with a well-crafted 55, Tim Thirkell weighed in with 33, and between us we put on 93 for the fifth wicket that took the game clean away from Castle Hill before tea was properly poured. I was fortunate enough to still be at the crease come the 44th over, unbeaten on 86 and thoroughly enjoying myself, while even our extras column pitched in a handsome 30. We closed on 266 for 5 — the sort of total that has visiting sides muttering into their tea.

In the field we were relentless. Jon Harris led the line beautifully with 3 for 26, Matt Large bowled with real discipline for 3 for 33, including five maidens that gave Castle Hill precisely nothing to work with, and Sean Charlton chipped in with 2 for 17. Michael Carter's 33, with support from Brian Henley and P Rowe on 23 apiece, was all they could muster, folding on 131 for 8. Twelve byes spoke of a lively, testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Peter Whyte.

Off the field, Paul Gibson's 55 nudges him up to 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while I find myself, somewhat improbably, leading this season's run charts on 289, with Matt Large top of the bowling on 14 wickets. Won by 135 runs — two points, and thoroughly earned.

Sun 15 May 1988 🧢 1st XIv BC Battle CC · AwayformWWWWW

Sunday 15 May found us on the road to Battle, and my call in the air was as reliable as ever — wrong. Put into the field, we watched Clinton Douch and Tim Eldridge put on 81 for the first wicket before we so much as laid a glove on them, Douch eventually unbeaten on 59 and Eldridge falling agonisingly short of a fine fifty on 53, with C Mason chipping in 38. I can claim little credit for our patience, but I'll happily claim the wickets: five for 53, seven of my overs going for nothing at all, which is about as good a day as I'm ever likely to have with a cricket ball in my hand. Battle closed on 212 for 5 from their 52 overs — a total that felt like rather a lot to chase on a ground where the boundaries seem to retreat as the afternoon wears on.

Our reply began in the worst possible fashion, the first wicket gone for a single run, and matters weren't helped by David Castle and Simon Thirkell both departing for spectacular nothings — the Duck Club ledger duly updated. But Brian Piper, unmoved by the carnage around him, played the innings of the day: 81 not out, built on a stout 51-run stand for the second wicket, with Paul Gibson (26) and Alan Ovenden (25) lending sturdy support. Fifteen byes told their own tale of a trying afternoon behind the stumps for Peter Whyte. We closed on 163 for 7 from our 43 overs.

Piper's innings, incidentally, eases him past Frank Brattle into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Gibson now sits second in this season's run charts with 206. Honours even, then — a draw that flattered neither side and insulted neither: entirely fair, and rather typical of village cricket.

Sat 14 May 1988 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDWWWW

Won the toss on a bright May Saturday and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or daft depending entirely on what follows, and for once it looked shrewd. We batted with real purpose to reach 215 for 5 from our 46 overs, a total built on a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 59 between Paul Bowles, who made a tidy 38, and Sean Charlton, who chipped in with 36. I was fortunate enough to still be there at the close, unbeaten on 52, which I shall modestly describe as "doing my bit" and leave it at that.

Headcorn came at us with intent and Richard Chapman's fifty — a genuinely fine 55 — kept them in the hunt, well supported by Simon Phipps (37) and John Phipps (28). But Matt Large bowled beautifully for his 4 for 77, three maidens included, and Sean Charlton and Paul Bowles chipped away with the ball as they had with the bat, taking two and one respectively. Headcorn fell agonisingly short on 208 for 9 from their 44, and we held our nerve to win by 7 runs.

A word too for David Castle, whose 34 runs eased him past Paul Gibson into 17th on the club's all-time run-scoring list — the sort of quiet milestone this game specialises in. All told, a tense, well-fought contest and a deserved win. Onwards indeed.

Sun 08 May 1988 🧢 Sunday NVKCv FC Four Elms CC · AwayformLWLLW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 8th May 1988. Away to Four Elms, and the coin did us a favour for once; I called it right and had no hesitation sticking us in, much to the surprise of anyone who's watched me call a coin before.

We batted with real purpose, closing on 177 for 8 from our forty overs. David Castle was the innings' backbone, a handsome 68 that anchored everything around him, with Paul Gibson chipping in a tidy 31 and yours truly adding 21 down the order — the second-wicket stand of 54 the platform on which the whole total was built. A score we were quietly rather pleased with, walking off for tea.

Then came the fun part. Four Elms never got going, bundled out for 104 in 34.5 overs despite a battling 47 from T Theobald that threatened, briefly, to make a match of it. But we simply ran through them — 89 for 5 became 94 for 8 almost before anyone had finished their tea, poor Jon Pike collecting a golden duck along the way. Jon Harris was magnificent, 4 for 21, with Matt Large snapping up 3 for 26 and Paul Gibson among the wickets too; I did my bit tucking in two maidens to keep things honest.

Off the field, the day had extra sparkle — Paul Bowles brought up his 700th appearance in Linton colours, a wonderful landmark, while Paul Gibson's runs saw him leapfrog David Castle into 17th on the all-time list.

Home by 73 runs. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 07 May 1988 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDDWWW

Saturday the 7th of May, and Rumwood CC came calling at Linton Park under skies kind enough to let cricket happen. Winning the toss, I did what any captain fancying a long afternoon in a deckchair does and stuck us in first. Paul Gibson set about proving that theory handsomely with a superb 116, while at the other end Paul Bowles matched him stroke for stroke with an unbeaten hundred of his own — the pair adding a whopping 185 for the second wicket after David Castle's 47 had helped lay the platform. We declared, as it were, on 271 for 2 off 42.1 overs, which is the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather more than usual.

Defending it should have been the easy part, and for once it very nearly was. Rumwood lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board, and though Terry Ketley (35) and Ted Holloway (30) did their best to steady things, our attack never let them settle. Paul Bowles, evidently not content with runs alone, took 2 for 8 with the ball, Matt Large and Sean Charlton chipped in with two apiece, and Matt bowled three tidy maidens for good measure. David Castle had a fiddly afternoon behind the stumps — eight byes is eight byes — but nobody was counting by the time they folded for 143.

A special day all round: Paul Bowles brought up his 700th appearance in Linton colours, and Gibson's century nudged him past Castle into 17th on the all-time run charts. Victory by 128 runs — a very good day for the club indeed.

Mon 02 May 1988 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDDDWW

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report — Monday, 2 May 1988: Linton Park CC v Bearsted CC

Won the toss on Monday and, with the sun making a rare and welcome appearance over the ground, there was really only one decision to make — we batted. A wobble at 8 for 1 threatened to put a dampener on proceedings before we'd barely got the tea urn warm, but the middle order steadied the ship handsomely. David Castle played the innings of the day, a really fine 81, and the third-wicket stand of 63 was the platform from which we built. I chipped in with 26 myself, more graft than grace if I'm honest, while poor Matt Large's duck was the one blemish on an otherwise satisfying scorecard. We closed on 174 for 9 from our 46 overs — not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but enough, as it turned out, to be getting on with.

Defending it, Bearsted made a fair fist of things through Richard Coward's 41 and a stubborn 82-run third-wicket stand, but once we broke that partnership the innings unravelled in a hurry — 129 for 5 to 135 all out in the blink of an eye, with Clive Elliott and Robin Cunningham both departing for ducks in the collapse. Ian Brattle was the chief destroyer with 3 for 19, well supported by Alan Boyns and Matt Large, the latter miserly enough with his two maidens to make up for his blank with the bat. Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 13 byes rather more than he'd have liked, but no one begrudges a wicketkeeper an off day when the scoreboard reads victory by 39 runs. Two points, thoroughly deserved, and a very pleasant drive home.

Sat 30 Apr 1988 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformDDDDW

Called correctly at Bidborough on Saturday and, with early-season sunshine still a novelty, there was never much doubt I'd stick us in to bat. David Castle and I put on 97 for the first wicket before anyone troubled us at all, and I went on to make 103 not out — my first hundred of the summer and, I'll admit, rather a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Castle fell for a well-crafted 75, Malcolm Pay chipped in with 44, and we declared our efforts at a handsome 260 for 5 from 43 overs.

Defending that kind of total ought to be the easy part, and so it proved. Alan Boyns was magnificent, scything through the middle order for 6 for 19 — a thoroughly deserved five-for and then some — with Jon Harris (2-23) and the ever-miserly Matt Large (2-32, four maidens) squeezing from the other end. M King's 26 and useful contributions from J Bowart and R Davis were the only real resistance; M Tolhurst departed without troubling the scorers. Nine byes suggested poor Piers McDonald behind the stumps had rather a testing afternoon of his own. Bidborough were skittled for 126 in 40.2 overs, and we strolled home by 134 runs.

A day for the record books besides: Castle reached 3,000 career runs for the club, Boyns his 50th career wicket, and Large climbed past Frank Taylor on the all-time list. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Sun 24 Apr 1988 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformWLWLL

Right on the wicket, morning, 24 April 1988. Horsmonden CC the visitors, and I won the toss.

Won the toss, no hesitation whatsoever — up went the bat before Horsmonden had even finished tightening their bootlaces. Paul Gibson set about proving why he leads our 1988 Sunday run charts, ticking past his fifty and on to 60 in fine style, with David Castle keeping him honest at the other end for 46 of his own — and rather handy 46 they were too, enough to nudge him past Terry Whittaker and into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which I daresay will earn him a pint or two down the club bar. Their second-wicket stand of 88 was the innings in miniature. I chipped in with 27 down the order, before the middle order rather lost its nerve — 168 for 5 became 187 for 8 in the blink of an eye, the sort of collapse that has committee members reaching for their scorebooks in disbelief.

Still, 187 looked a defendable total, and so it proved. Horsmonden never got going, subsiding to 109 for 9, with only Simon Poore's watchful 40 offering any real resistance. We were ruthless in the field — 88 for 4 became 89 for 7 before anyone had settled back into their deckchair, and Martyn Hook, N Dean and Chris Tyler all departed without troubling the scorers. Alan Boyns was the pick of the attack with 3 for 21, well supported by Jon Harris's 3 for 28 and Sean Charlton's tidy 2 for 15, two of them maidens. Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes rather spoiling his ledger.

A fine win by 78 runs, then, and one to file happily in the scrapbook. Onwards.

Sat 23 Apr 1988 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformWDDDD

Saturday the 23rd of April dawned kind enough for cricket, and Penshurst Park arrived looking rather too pleased with themselves for my liking. I won the toss and, with the pitch looking true, had no hesitation in choosing to bat.

We made a fair fist of it, closing on 178 for 7 from our 38 overs. Tim Thirkell led the way with a tidy 31, well supported by Paul Bowles (28) and Paul Gibson (27), while the openers laid the platform with a brisk stand of 57 for the first wicket. Even our extras column pulled its weight, chipping in 27 – not quite a specialist innings, but not to be sneezed at either.

If 178 felt merely useful, it looked positively daunting once we took the field. Penshurst's innings unravelled in spectacular fashion, tumbling from 55 for 2 to 60 for 5 in the blink of an eye, poor Michael Meade departing without troubling the scorers. Dave Todd was the chief tormentor, spinning his way to a wonderful 7 for 18 with four maidens thrown in, while Jon Harris (2-33) and Ian Brattle (1-10) mopped up the rest. Only David Castle had a testing time of it behind the stumps, 9 byes slipping past as Todd's turn proved as hard to gather as it was to read. Penshurst were bowled out for 87 in 42.1 overs.

A 91-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. Tim tops the season's run charts, Dave the wicket charts, and I'll happily settle for keeping the trophy cabinet ticking over.