🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 01 Oct 1989 🧢 Marriedv Linton Park CC · HomeformDDDWW

Here's the report:

Sunday saw us at home to face our visitors, and having called correctly at the toss, I didn't need asking twice before electing to bat first on what looked a decent surface. We were rewarded handsomely: 173 for 6 from our 25 overs, built around a lovely third-wicket stand of 58 between Tim Thirkell, whose 48 was the innings' backbone, and myself, chipping in with 37. Bob Lines finished unbeaten on 27 to give the total real heft, while extras chipped in a generous 30 of their own — the sort of contribution that never gets a commemorative mug but is always gratefully received. Poor Allan Cooper, alas, will want the scorebook to record rather less about his contribution, departing for a golden duck; these things happen to the best of us, and no doubt he'll make amends next time out.

There was a genuinely special moment amid the runs, too: Tim Thirkell brought up 7,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that deserved rather better support from the rest of us on the day than we ultimately gave it. Nigel Thirkell now sits second in the 1989 1st XI run charts with 880, Tim leads the Married run charts, and David Castle tops the Singles table — form lines worth watching as the season matures.

Sadly, 173 proved nowhere near enough, and we were beaten by 8 wickets, our bowling and fielding unable to defend a total that had promised so much. Not our day, then — heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 30 Sep 1989 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · HomeformDWLDL

Saturday last, under skies that couldn't quite decide their intentions, we welcomed Hastings & St Leonards Priory to Linton Park. I won the toss and, ever the optimist about our attack, stuck them in.

It looked a shrewd move for a while — until B. Phillips settled in for a proper fifty, 51 of the good, old-fashioned variety, with Tim Booth-Jones (36) and I. Phillips (25) chipping in either side of him. A stand of 53 for the sixth wicket did the real damage to our afternoon, dragging them along nicely before Jon Harris, bowling with real zip, mopped up for 4-40. I managed to find a bit of rhythm myself, taking 4-48 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — not that I'd ever say so twice. They closed on 184/8 from their 49.1 overs, a target that felt gettable and faintly ominous in equal measure.

Our reply had its moments of both comfort and cardiac stress, settling on 175/7 from the full fifty. I found something approaching form with the bat, 95 runs' worth of it, though the rest of the order will insist I hogged the strike. We simply couldn't close the gap in the overs left, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — the great English compromise. With David Castle still ploughing on at the top of our run charts and Jon Harris lurking second among the wicket-takers, the season ticks along nicely. Not a win, but not a defeat either, and on a day like this, I'll happily settle for honest toil and tea in the pavilion.

Wed 27 Sep 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformDDWLW

Wednesday 27 September saw us head down to Penshurst Park, and winning the toss I took one look at the pitch and stuck us in — a decision that, for once, I didn't spend the rest of the day regretting. Andrew Hales set the tone with a fine 53, and when Piers McDonald joined him the pair put on 97 for the second wicket, the kind of stand that makes a captain feel unreasonably pleased with himself for a toss he had nothing to do with winning. McDonald's 48 and Nigel Thirkell's 43 kept the scoreboard ticking, and we closed on a healthy 219/5 from our 42 overs.

Defending it, we had Penshurst in real trouble at one stage, only for I Mitchell to play the innings of the day — 95 of pure defiance — with M Latter's well-made 52 alongside him worth 86 for the sixth wicket. Just when we thought we had them, they wobbled from 204/6 to 211/9 under pressure, with three poor souls collecting golden ducks along the way. Alan Boyns was the pick of the attack, miserly and menacing in equal measure with 3-37 and four maidens, backed up nicely by Martin Larkin and Nigel Thirkell, both 2-19. I chipped in with a wicket or two myself, which happened to bring up 1,600 for my career — nice timing, even if I say so myself. Nigel also passed 21,000 club runs, a landmark worth more applause than the tea-time sandwiches got.

In the end neither side could quite finish the job, and honours were shared. A draw that felt, on the balance of the day's cricket, entirely fair — and rather more entertaining than the scorecard alone lets on.

Sun 24 Sep 1989 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWDWLD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 24 September 1989. We hosted Anchorians CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in asking the lads to bat first. It felt the right call at the time, and for a good while it looked a very right call indeed.

Trevor Back set about the Anchorians attack with real purpose, finishing unbeaten on a fine 73, and found the perfect foil in David Castle, whose 61 was every bit as handsome. Their third-wicket stand added a crucial 71 and did the heavy lifting of the innings. Elsewhere the card wasn't so kind — poor Piers McDonald departed for a duck — but 185/6 from our 41 overs looked a defendable total on a good pitch.

And defend it we very nearly did. Anchorians reached 186/8 from their 40, with G. Tappin's 47 the backbone, well supported by Roberts and Grubb, and a third-wicket stand of 53 threatening to take the match away from us. We hauled them back beautifully, ripping through the middle order from 144-5 to 160-8, with Keith Wooding sent packing without troubling the scorers. I'll confess to a quiet satisfaction with my own 3-31, backed superbly by Alan Boyns' miserly 2-29 with three maidens, and Nick Froom's 1-28 — though poor Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes going astray.

Beaten by a single wicket in the end — cruel arithmetic for an afternoon that deserved better. We'll be all the better for it next week.

Sun 17 Sep 1989 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformWWDWL

Sunday 17 September, and Northend Sunday made the trip to face us — perfect weather for it, and I fancy the coin knew that, because it fell my way and I had no hesitation in sticking us in.

Batting first has a habit of exposing a captain's judgement, but the lads made it look like the easiest decision I've ever taken. We racked up 208 for 3 off 42.3 overs, built around a second-wicket stand of 162 that rather took the game away from Northend before tea was even a thought. I'll allow myself one boast for the scrapbook — I made it to a hundred, and there are few better feelings than raising the bat to your own side's applause. Trevor Back was every bit my equal in support, cracking a fine 78 and giving the innings the sort of backbone that turns a good total into an imposing one.

With 208 to defend, the ball did its job without quite finishing it. Northend crept to 143 for 7 off their 46 overs, W Creed the chief obstacle with a well-crafted 67 before P Dann saw them home unbeaten on 20. Dave Todd was miserly and menacing in equal measure — 2 for 35 with five maidens, the kind of spell that strangles an innings rather than blows it away — while Stewart Morrison chipped in with 2 for 50 and Ian Brattle 1 for 15.

In the end neither side could force the door open, and honours were shared. A draw feels almost a waste of a century, but cricket rarely asks our permission — I'll take the runs, the sunshine, and the handshakes, and call it a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Wed 13 Sep 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWDDWL

We beat The Mote CC by 5 wickets in a run chase on a September Wednesday.

We lost the toss — never a good omen — and were sent out into the field, where The Mote set about compiling a stiff-looking 185/7 from their 45 overs. Mike Cutler was the chief architect with a well-crafted 44, with Dave McInnes (33) and Nigel Mullarkey (33 not out) lending sturdy support, the pair putting on 55 for the 7th wicket just when we thought we had them contained. Credit to the bowlers, though — Alan Boyns led from the front with 2-33, Trevor Back and Ian Barker chipped in a wicket apiece, and Pete Westrop, tight as ever, squeezed out two maidens for good measure.

185 is never a formality on a Mote pitch, but Paul Gibson had other ideas. He and David Castle put on 79 for the second wicket to set the platform, then Gibson simply refused to get out, finishing unbeaten on a magnificent 85. Castle's 51 and Trevor Back's brisk 41 filled in the rest of the picture as we cantered home on 186/2 with overs to spare — five wickets in hand and, frankly, more comfort than the scoreline suggests. A tidy footnote for the scorebook: Gibson's innings nudges him up to 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, past Malcolm Pay, while Castle continues to sit 3rd in this season's Midweek run charts and Nigel Morton 2nd among the wicket-takers.

All told, a thoroughly good day out — professional in the field, ruthless with the bat, and home in time for tea.

Sun 10 Sep 1989 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · AwayformDWWDW

Sunday the 10th of September found us on the road to Sibton Park, where I lost the toss — a coin that has developed a worrying habit of disliking me — and we were put straight into the field. Andy Allon had clearly had his Weetabix, compiling a chanceless 112 not out to march Sibton to 215 for 8 from their forty-one overs, with Paul Fox chipping in a tidy 21. I managed to prise out a couple myself, 2 for 30, and take some satisfaction from that amid the carnage, while Alan Boyns bowled with real thrift — two maidens among his 2 for 50 — and Matt Large toiled hard for his 2 for 74.

Chasing 216 was always going to want more than the lads had left in the locker, and when we slipped to 6 for 1 early doors the writing was more or less on the pavilion wall. Peter Whyte battled to 26, Brian Piper made a spirited 25 and Mark Stevenson 20, but three ducks — for Trevor Back, Alan Boyns and Matt Large — meant we folded for 136 in 42.3 overs.

Elsewhere in the season, David Castle continues to bat like a man possessed atop the run charts with 1,058, and Matt Large's 88 wickets keep him out in front with ball in hand — small consolations on a long drive home. Beaten by 79 runs, then, and no arguing with it. We'll regroup, dust ourselves down, and be better for it next week.

Sun 03 Sep 1989 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformWDWWW

Sunday, the third of September, and the coach rattled us down to Beacon CC in Cornwall for what turned into a proper cricketing education. Won the toss, and with the sun out and no earthly reason to do otherwise, I put us in — a decision I stand by, whatever came after.

Nigel Thirkell batted like a man who'd had a good breakfast, carrying us to 81 and giving our 168 for 9 some genuine backbone. The rest of the order rather let the side down on that front — Peter Whyte, Mark Stevenson and Mike Bains all contributed the traditional golden duck, which is not a hat-trick anyone wants their name attached to.

With the ball, we huffed and puffed for 37.3 overs while Larry Martin (52) and Clive Thomas (51) put on a stand of 102 for the second wicket that rather took the game away from us, Kevin Thomas seeing them home unbeaten on 26. Bryn Martin and Ralph Williams at least fell without scoring, small mercies. Thirkell was our pick again with the ball, 1 for 15, and I chipped in with 1 for 18 and a couple of maidens for good measure, David Castle picking up 1 for 41. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes escaping his gloves like eels.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, no disgrace in that against a side batting so well. Thirkell continues to pile up the runs for the season and I'm quietly rather pleased with how the wickets column is shaping up. We'll regroup, we'll go again — that's village cricket for you.

Sat 02 Sep 1989 🧢 Tour XIv SC St Austell CC · AwayformLWDWW

Saturday 2nd September, and the road took us to St Austell — where I promptly lost the toss and was invited to have a bowl. Not the worst fate on a warm afternoon, and the lads set about it with real purpose. St Austell ground their way to 172 all out from their 45 overs, built around A Hancock's fine 54 and useful contributions from N Carter (38) and I Collings (26), with a 2nd-wicket stand of 68 threatening to get away from us before we hauled it back. Nigel Thirkell was quite magnificent — 2-13 with seven maidens is the kind of spell that makes batsmen question their life choices — while Alan Boyns (2-40) and David Castle (1-21) chipped in handsomely. A Bray, meanwhile, departed for a duck, presumably wondering what he'd done to deserve us.

Chasing 173, David Castle set about the bowling with real intent, cracking a superb 83, and I was rather chuffed to play my part alongside him with 53 of my own — the two of us putting on 144 for the first wicket before anyone so much as troubled the scorers with a wicket falling. A generous 25 in extras rounded things off nicely, and we cantered home at 173/3 with overs to spare.

A word for the season so far: David Castle now leads our 1989 Tour XI run charts with 212, and Alan Boyns sits third in the wickets with 6 — both fully justified on this evidence. All told, a six-wicket win, a fine team performance, and a very good day for the club.

Fri 01 Sep 1989 🧢 Tour XIv MC Mullion CC · AwayformWLWDW

The road to Mullion is a long one, and I confess I spent most of it wondering whether the coin toss gods owed me a favour after last week's shocker. This week they obliged, and with the sun doing its level best over the ground I had no hesitation in putting us in to bat — a captain's prerogative I intend to keep exercising until it stops working.

It rather came off. Piers McDonald batted like a man who'd read the script, compiling a glorious 87, and he and his opening partner put on 112 before Mullion so much as glimpsed a breakthrough — the sort of start that lets a captain sit back with a flask of tea and pretend he planned it all along. Mike Bains chipped in an unbeaten 49 and Mark Stevenson a brisk 41 to see us home to 227 for 5 from our forty overs, a total with a bit of menace about it.

Defending it, the ball did the talking. Stewart Morrison was the pick of us with 3 for 39, and I was delighted to get among the wickets myself with 2 for 17, well matched by David Castle's 2 for 26, as Mullion were bowled out for 169. Reuben Curnow's 22 and Ben Willey's 20 were the best Mullion could muster in reply, though poor Peter Whyte behind the stumps had a torrid afternoon of it, shipping 17 byes — my sympathies, and my apologies for whatever it was we were bowling at him.

With Castle now topping the season's run charts and Morrison closing in on the wickets table, the Tour XI is shaping up nicely. A fine win by 58 runs, and a very pleasant drive home.

Thu 31 Aug 1989 🧢 Tour XIv TC Troon CC · AwayformLWLWD

Thursday 31st August 1989, and off we trundled to Troon, in reasonably good heart and, for once, reasonably good weather.

Winning the toss, I fancied a bat, and it's fair to say the lads didn't let me down — 194 for 4 from our 25 overs is a proper score by any village reckoning. David Castle was in imperious touch, cruising to 98 not out, and found the perfect foil in Nigel Thirkell, whose own well-crafted 56 helped the pair put on 130 for the second wicket — the innings in microcosm, really. Elsewhere the card wasn't so kind: poor Piers McDonald marched out and back again without troubling the scorers, a duck to file quietly away and never mention again (consider it mentioned).

In the field we set about defending it, and defend it we did. Troon were held to 129 for 9, with only Tuckey making any real inroads on 22. Chapple went first ball — sorry, cheaply, at 2 for 1 — to set the tone, and from there Alan Boyns ran through them with a fine 4 for 27, well backed by Stewart Morrison's 3 for 31 and Matt Large's 2 for 16. Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps, 15 byes escaping his grasp, though nobody's holding it against him after a display like that up front.

Sixty-five runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved. Castle now tops our Tour XI run charts with 128, Large leads the wickets with 6 — form the pair of them can keep, thank you very much.

Tue 29 Aug 1989 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformLLWLW

Tuesday last took us down to Falmouth, where the coin did us no favours whatsoever and we were shown straight into the field. Their openers settled in as though they owned the ground, and by the time John Lowry had cantered to 56, with N Barrington chipping in 36 and Keith Meneer unbeaten on 27, we were beginning to wonder if 43 overs would ever end. Small mercies arrived in the form of Jeremy Gimpson, gone for a golden duck, and in Matt Large, who bowled with the discipline of a man who actually reads the club handbook — 3-61 and four maidens to show for it, ably backed by Jon Harris's 2-34 and Simon Thirkell's solitary but useful scalp. Falmouth closed on 200/7.

Chasing it down, we made a decent fist without ever quite making a fist of it. Peter Whyte's 51 was the innings' spine, with David Castle's 30 and Thirkell's 25 either side of a handy 56-run stand for the sixth wicket. Then, as is our club's ancient custom, the middle order dissolved — 42-1 became 56-4 quicker than you could pour a tea, and Stewart Morrison and Tim Lush both departed for ducks. Whyte's afternoon behind the stumps cost nine byes, though nobody's counting. We finished 180/9.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, and Matt Large sliding past John Thirkell into ninth on the club's all-time wicket list. Not victory, but not a wasted Tuesday either.

Mon 28 Aug 1989 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDDWWD

Bearsted CC came calling on Monday, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first strike — the sort of decision that looks wise precisely because it worked. Brian Piper batted beautifully for his 74, well supported by David Castle's classy 54, and between them the openers put on a priceless 131 before the first wicket fell. After that platform we did our level best to spoil it, losing wickets in a rush from 164 to 167 for 9, and I confess I contributed to the carnage myself with a golden duck — as did poor Sean Charlton. Still, 182 all out from 45.3 overs felt like a defendable total, and so it proved.

Bearsted never quite got going in reply. An early stumble to 5 for 1 set the tone, and though D Howson battled to 30 not out, with Ian Lambert and Sarath Chandrasekera chipping in, wickets kept falling at the other end — three of theirs departing without troubling the scorers. Matt Large was the pick of the attack with 3 for 39 and two miserly maidens, Sean Charlton matched him with 3 for 39, and I was pleased enough with 2 for 14 to make amends for my batting. They folded for 111 in 32.2 overs.

A tidy little footnote for the ledger: those two wickets nudged me past Paul Bowles into second on the club's all-time list, while Piper's innings shoved him past William Buck into eighth. A fine win by 71 runs — the sort of afternoon that makes the winter seem a long way off.

Sun 27 Aug 1989 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformDDDWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 27 August 1989

We won the toss against Old Anchorians and I had few doubts about what to do with it — bat first, and see what runs we could bank against a side who, on their day, can chase most things down. Fifty-four overs later we'd posted 171/7, a total that owed everything to David Castle's fine 62, the innings' backbone, with Keith Hatcher (30) and Brian Piper (20) chipping in either side of a sturdy 53-run stand for the fourth wicket. Not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but enough to give our bowlers something to work with.

And work with it they did. Old Anchorians never quite got away from us, losing an early wicket with just 2 on the board and never fully recovering their poise, despite M Heather's excellent 73 and support from S Smith (26) built around a 65-run stand for the fifth wicket. Matt Large was magnificent throughout — 5-54 with six maidens, a spell of real discipline that had them hanging on. I chipped in with 2-45 myself, and poor G Pole departed without troubling the scorers. Peter Whyte had a trickier afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes escaping his gloves, but no one begrudges him that on a long, tiring day.

They finished 149/7 from their 45, and honours were shared. A red-letter day off the field too — Keith Hatcher reached 2,000 club runs, and Matt Large's five-for eased him past Tony Gauna into tenth on our all-time wicket list. A draw, then, but one that felt, on reflection, entirely fair to both sides.

Sun 20 Aug 1989 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · HomeformDDDDW

Sunday last saw us welcome Whitstable CC, and having called correctly I had no hesitation in batting first — the pitch looked too good to leave to chance, and so it proved. We posted 214/6 from our 47 overs, built around a lovely half-century from Trevor Back (57), with Peter Whyte (38) and yours truly (48) doing our best to keep him company. The innings turned on a stand of 92 for the fifth wicket, the sort of partnership that changes the temperature of an afternoon, and even when wickets fell late a defiant last-wicket stand of 36 gave the total a respectability it might not otherwise have deserved.

Whitstable's reply never really got out of second gear. Duncan Hardy played a lone hand for 56, but around him we simply ran through the order — 12-1 became 23-4 almost before the tea urn had boiled, and they were bowled out for 124 in 31.1 overs. Matt Large was magnificent, 4-31 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by Nick Froom (3-23) and Jon Harris (1-18). Not a run was given away lightly.

A word too for Peter Whyte, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded by all.

Ninety runs the margin, two points banked, and honestly rather more comfortable than village cricket usually allows. I shall try not to let it go to my head.

Sat 19 Aug 1989 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday 19 August 1989, away at Harrietsham CC. I won the toss and never seriously considered fielding — the square looked a belter, and I fancied runs on the board before tea.

We got them too. 232 for 6 from our 45 overs, built around a fifth-wicket stand of 93 between Paul Bowles (47) and Peter Whyte (46), the sort of partnership that turns a decent total into a match-winning one. I was fortunate enough to bat through to 98 not out, which I shan't pretend wasn't satisfying — though I'll spare everyone the blow-by-blow.

With the ball, Paul Gibson was in unplayable form, spinning his way to 5 for 27 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly. Paul Bowles chipped in with 4 for 34 and Sean Charlton took 1 for 28, and between them they had Harrietsham reeling, sliding from 132 for 7 to all out for 139 in 42.2 overs. Keith Chaney (42) and Micky Tong (35) put on 54 for the second wicket and gave their innings some respectability, but three of our victims — D Winskill, P Cusworth and T Fittall — departed without troubling the scorers, and once the middle order went the tail had nowhere to hide. I'll note, in the spirit of full disclosure, that 12 byes suggests Peter Whyte had rather a testing afternoon behind the stumps.

Elsewhere in the season, David Castle continues to lead our run charts with 932, and Bowles now sits third in the wicket charts with 25. As for Harrietsham: won by 93 runs, two points banked, and thoroughly earned.

Sun 13 Aug 1989 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · HomeformWDDDD

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report, 13 August 1989

Benenden CC visited us on a Sunday that had all the makings of a proper club fixture, and I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'll take the credit while it's going. We stumbled early, losing our first wicket for just a solitary run, which is never the tonic a captain wants before his tea has gone cold. But David Castle and I set about repairing the damage with a partnership of 113 for the second wicket, David going on to a fine 52 and I following him to a well-made fifty of my own — the sort of innings where you stop counting and just enjoy the sunshine. Alan Boyns chipped in unbeaten with 32, though poor Dave Charlton will be buying the drinks after his golden duck. We closed on a healthy 200/7 from our 44 overs.

In the field, Stewart Morrison was magnificent, four maidens and 3-34 that strangled the life out of Benenden's innings, with Nick Froom and Matt Large chiming in for two apiece — the latter, I'm reliably informed, notching up his 400th career wicket in the process, a landmark worth raising a glass to. Richard Fautly's 39 and Peter Stubbins' unbeaten 30 gave them hope, and when it slipped to 80-8 the game looked ours, but their last pair had other ideas, farming 42 runs we could have done without.

In the end honours were shared. A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and entirely in keeping with the spirit of the game.

Sat 12 Aug 1989 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWWDDD

No luck at the toss on the twelfth, and Headcorn CC elected to bat first on what turned out to be a proper shirt-front. They ground their way to 200 for 7 off 36.2 overs, and truth be told we let them off the hook after a promising start — an early wicket with just 4 on the board had us dreaming, before Simon Phipps (69) and Paul Millen (59) put together a stand of 86 for the third wicket and squeezed the life out of us. Credit where due to our attack, though: Matt Large was the pick with 4 for 39, I chipped in with 2 for 35, and Alan Boyns took 1 for 36 on the day he brought up a hundred career wickets — a proper mantelpiece moment, that. John Phipps departed for a duck, which was some small consolation.

Chasing 201, we never quite got the innings purring. I made 37 to top the order, with David Castle (31) and Mark Stevenson (29) offering steady support after a first-wicket stand of 58 got us going nicely. But wickets tumbled alarmingly from 115 for 4 to 117 for 7, and poor Simon Thirkell's golden duck won't be troubling the highlight reel. We limped to 151 for 9 off our 37, well short of the target.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could force the win — and on reflection, a fair result for a match we probably should have won with the ball and probably shouldn't have lost with the bat. Village cricket in a nutshell.

Thu 10 Aug 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Mundford CC · HomeformLWDDW

Here's the match report:

We won the toss on Thursday and, with Mundford CC the visitors, there was never really a debate in my mind — we were batting first.

It proved the right call, and how. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, an assured 76 built on real application, while Gary Fryer chipped in an unbeaten 35 and Mark Stevenson a tidy 31. Their third-wicket stand of 116 was the platform for our 187 for 7 from the forty overs — though I'll draw a discreet veil over poor Keith Francis, whose golden duck earns him this week's walk of shame.

With the ball, we simply couldn't quite finish the job. Mundford's G Bamford played beautifully for his 67, well supported by Tony Veal (29 not out) and G Garrett (25 not out), and their fifth-wicket pair added a stubborn 76. It was their last pair's unwanted 45 that really stung — the sort of thing that has a captain quietly grinding his teeth at mid-off. I did at least manage to send Julian Bamford back without troubling the scorers, and picked up 1 for 57 with a couple of maidens for good measure, while Nigel Thirkell was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 19 and Nigel Morton chipped in with 2 for 82. They got there in the end, 188 for 6 from 42.2 overs.

Not our day, beaten by four wickets. Heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Wed 09 Aug 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformWLWDD

Lost the toss on a Wednesday in August and asked to have a bowl first — which these days feels less like tactics and more like Bexley doing us a favour, given what followed. Neil Mobey settled in like he owned the square and simply never left, carrying his innings to an unbeaten 126, with Paul Ladbrook chipping in a tidy 41 and Ian Kersey 30. They were 72 without loss before we so much as looked at a wicket, and their fifth-wicket pair put on 94 while I stood at mid-off wondering if the ball had been swapped for a rock. David Pask at least gave us something to cheer, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. David Castle did the real damage with 2-29, I chipped in with 2-47 of my own, and Paul Bowles took one, as Bexley closed on 242/6 from their 51.3 overs. Poor Piers McDonald had a torrid time behind the stumps, too, with eight byes finding their way through — the sort of afternoon that ages a wicketkeeper by several seasons.

Chasing 243 looked a tall order on paper, but Gary Fryer built the innings beautifully for a well-made 53, Mark Stevenson matched him with 50, and Paul Bowles finished unbeaten on 44, the pair sharing a priceless 57 for the seventh wicket to see us home. We reached 243/7 in 45 overs and stole it by three wickets — a proper smash-and-grab. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Brian Piper sits third in the run charts with 128, and I find myself, rather improbably, leading the wickets with ten. A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly enjoyable win — the very best kind.

Sun 06 Aug 1989 🧢 1st XIv CC Chadwell Thors Oak CC · HomeformLWWDD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 06 August 1989. We hosted the visitors on a fine afternoon, and won the toss — I elected to bat, and for once I'll take the credit, because it was the right call.

We posted 179/9 from our 46 overs, built on a fine top order: Sean Charlton top-scored with 39, Trevor Back chipped in 36 and Mark Stevenson 32, while the seventh-wicket pair put on a priceless 63 to give the innings some backbone. Before that, mind, the wheels came off rather alarmingly — 71-3 became 78-6 before we knew what had hit us, and poor Dave Charlton and Peter Whyte will want to forget their ducks in a hurry.

Defending 179 in 42 overs, we made the visitors work for every run. Their first wicket fell for just 1, and for a while it looked like our afternoon — Sean Charlton bowled beautifully for 3-50, four maidens and not a run given away lightly, while I picked up 2-26 and Nick Froom chimed in with 1-4. Jacks and Smith both departed without troubling the scorers. But an unbroken 84 for the last pair, led home by Benton's unbeaten 46 and Page's 37 not out, dragged them to 126/6 and safety.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could force it, though on the balance of the afternoon's play I fancy we shaded it. Elsewhere, David Castle continues to plunder runs at the top of our season charts, and I'm rather pleased to find myself sitting second in the wicket-takers with 34 for the summer. Not a bad Sunday's work, all told.

Sat 05 Aug 1989 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformWLWWD

Saturday saw the Maidstone Dissidents roll into Linton Park under grey but forgiving skies, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once I shall allow myself the satisfaction of saying so. Brian Piper anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 49, with Peter Whyte weighing in handsomely alongside him with 47 and Tim Thirkell chipping in 35, their third-wicket stand of 71 the platform on which the innings was built. We closed on a healthy 219 for 5 from our 42 overs, the sort of total that makes tea taste that much sweeter.

Then came David Castle, who proceeded to remind us all why cricket is a humbling game. After the Dissidents stumbled to 6 for 1 and things briefly threatened to become a rout — 10 for 4 in a blink — Castle simply refused to be parted from his bat, compiling a magnificent unbeaten 114 and finding an admirable ally in Mike Bains (36) for a fifth-wicket stand of 68. Matt Large toiled superbly for 4 for 31 with five miserly maidens, and Simon Thirkell chipped in with 2 for 13, while Piers McDonald, D Diamond and Tim Lush all departed without troubling the scorers 🦆. Sixteen byes behind the stumps did little for the blood pressure, and their last pair's defiant stand of 90 was, frankly, more than we needed to see.

Honours shared in the end — a draw that flattered nobody and disappointed nobody, which is perhaps English cricket in a nutshell.

Thu 03 Aug 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Moreton CC · HomeformLWLWD

Not luck, but Moreton's captain won the toss and had no hesitation shoving us into the field on a fine Thursday for this one. R Dawson made us pay for it in some style, ninety-three of the finest, with M Peel and Mike Howat weighing in with 38 apiece as the total crept to a testing 255 for 6 off the fifty. The openers put on 69 before we made the first breakthrough, and then a second-wicket stand of 103 threatened to bat us clean out of the game. Credit to Dave Todd, whose 2 for 37 dragged us back into it, with Trevor Back tidy at 1 for 22 and I picked up 1 for 51 for my afternoon's toil. Jeff Todd, meanwhile, bowled as if runs were rationed, sending down two maidens.

Chasing 256, we made a fair fist of it. Brian Piper batted beautifully for 72, Trevor Back added a splendid 43, and Mark Stevenson chipped in with 33, the openers laying a platform of 82 before the innings needed rebuilding around them. Poor Ron Kemp will want to forget his duck, and eleven byes suggest Jim Hall spent more time chasing leather than he'd have liked. We closed on 197 for 7 — short of the target, but not by shame.

A word of cheer amid the toil: Trevor Back's 43 nudged him past Cliff Anscombe into 17th on our all-time run-charts, while I find myself, somewhat improbably, still leading the midweek wicket-takers with eight. Honours shared in the end — a draw that flattered neither side, but insulted nobody either.

Sun 30 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLWLWW

I elected to bat when we won the toss on Sunday, and for once the decision looked as good at close of play as it had at eleven in the morning. Trevor Back and Keith Hatcher simply refused to be parted, the pair of them putting on 152 for the first wicket before anyone so much as troubled the scorers with a wicket. Trevor's 89 was the innings of the day, Keith wasn't far behind with 87 not out, and between them they carried us to a handsome 203/2 from our 45 overs. I can't claim any part of that total myself — in fact the less said about my own contribution the better, a first-ball duck that had me trudging off before I'd even got the feel of the bat in my hands.

The Mote CC gave us a proper fight in reply, stumbling to 6-1 early but recovering through Alan Hughes, 58, and Geraint Hughes, 54, who put together 106 for the second wicket and dragged the game back level. Jon Harris did the bulk of the damage for us with 4-83, Matt Large chipped in with 2-40 and three tidy maidens, and we did at least have the satisfaction of sending Bruce Nissen back for nought. In the end they closed on 189/6 and pipped us at the post for nothing — honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. A draw, then, and on this evidence a fair one.

Sat 29 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformWLWLW

Saturday saw us take the road out to Hollingbourne, and having called correctly at the toss, I fancied a bat first on what looked a decent surface — no hesitation from me whatsoever, which in hindsight was either bold captaincy or blind optimism. Losing our opener at 4-1 gave the purists among us palpitations, but we steadied nicely thanks to a second-wicket stand of 51, and I was glad to chip in with 30 of my own, with Brian Piper (29) offering fine support. Poor Matt Large's afternoon with the bat lasted precisely no deliveries worth mentioning, but we'll gloss over that. All told, 162/9 from our 46 overs felt like a total with enough runs in it to have a go.

And what a go it turned out to be. Hollingbourne raced to 64 without loss and looked to be cruising, but from there it fell apart spectacularly — 88-4 became 96-7 in the blink of an eye, with Neville Smith and Kevin Phillips both back in the hutch without scoring. Bob Dyer's 38 and Andrew Hales's 30 were the only real resistance. Matt Large, so short with the bat, made up for it in spades with a magnificent 7-39, and I had the great pleasure of chipping in with 3-25 and four maidens besides — a happy day with the ball if not entirely with the willow. There was cause for double celebration too, with Brian's runs and my own wickets both nudging us up the club's all-time lists.

A fine win by 55 runs, then, and a proper reminder of why we love this ridiculous game. Onwards.

Fri 28 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformDWLWL

Friday last took us down to Benenden, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly and had no hesitation in sending us in, reasoning that the shirt-front of a pitch deserved punishing before it dried out and started doing something nasty.

Punish it we did. The openers set about laying a platform so solid you could have built a pavilion on it, 139 for the first wicket before the stand finally broke, and from there Brian Piper carried on to a fine 60 while I found some rare rhythm of my own for 63. We closed on 147 for 3 from our sixteen overs, which felt, even by our modest standards, rather smug.

Defending it required rather more graft. Benenden's top order wobbled early, 0 for 1 inside the first over, and though Gary Marshall dug in gamely for an unbeaten 45, well supported by Peter Newman's 28, and a stand of 60 for the fourth wicket threatened to spoil the afternoon, the ducks kept coming at the other end — Ray Harding, Nick Holmes and Andrew Cloke all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Matt Large did the damage with 2 for 23, and I chipped in with 1 for 10, Alan Boyns adding 1 for 33 for good measure. They finished 93 for 4.

Elsewhere in the season, David Castle continues to plunder runs for fun at the top of the charts with 814, and Matt Large's 55 wickets make him a thoroughly marked man. As for Friday: a 54-run win, two points banked, and a rare afternoon when everything I touched came off — I shan't get used to it.

Mon 24 Jul 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv CW Coleshill CC, Warks · HomeformLLWLW

Jon Harris here, penning this month's despatch from Coleshill CC, Warks, on a fine Monday, 24 July. Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody in the pavilion argued with me.

We posted 166 for 7 from our 44 overs, built on a fine 69-run stand for the third wicket. David Castle top-scored with a handsome 49, Keith Hatcher chipped in 32, and Brian Piper finished unbeaten on 27 — a knock made rather more special by the fact it carried him past 6,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserving of the teapot's finest brew. We did wobble from 113 for 3 to 125 for 6 in the space of a few overs that I'd rather forget, and poor Matt Large's afternoon began with the walk of shame for a golden duck.

In the field we held Coleshill to 127 for 9 from their 40, a result that owed everything to some tight, disciplined bowling. Matt Large more than made up for his batting with 3 for 15 and four miserly maidens, Darren Styles chipped away for 3 for 28, and I managed 2 for 48 myself, which I'll happily take. J Lutwyche held their innings together with 33, but once they slid from 68 for 3 to 81 for 6 the game was there for the taking — except neither side could quite force the door open.

Honours shared, then, and on this evidence a draw was a fair reflection — though I suspect we'll both be replaying those middle overs in our heads for a while yet.

Sun 23 Jul 1989 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HH Hambledon CC, Hants · HomeformLWWWW

Won the toss on a bright Sunday and stuck them in — the right call, I felt, and for a good while it looked it. Hambledon lost an early wicket for just five, but Mark Le-Clercq settled in for a fine fifty, adding 96 with Adrian Magrath (40) while Simon James chipped in 36 to see them home to 185 for 6 off their forty. Matt Large was in miserly form all afternoon, four maidens and 3 for 24 doing most of the damage, with Alan Boyns and Jon Harris chipping in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 186, we contrived to lose our first wicket without troubling the scorers, before Brian Piper played the innings of the summer — a glorious 83 — and shared 78 with Keith Hatcher, who made a tidy 28. I added my own 20 down the order, and for a while 186 looked eminently gettable. Then, as club cricket so often insists, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion: 152 for 4 became 159 for 7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, David Castle and Dave Charlton both departing for ducks, and we were bowled out for 180 with the game — and the two runs we somehow contrived to leave out there — slipping away.

Beaten by five runs, then, which stings rather more than a hundred would have. Piper's bat and Large's ball remain the season's twin engines, and there was no shame in this one — only a lesson, again, about finishing what we start. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 22 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDDWLW

Lost the toss again — Gravesend duly sent us out to field, which these days feels less like misfortune and more like tradition. They ground their way to 192 for 6 off their 47, with Mark Aaron the chief architect on 56, T Gardner chipping in a tidy 51, and Richard Barrett unbeaten on 46 for good measure. We had them wobbling at 8 for 1 early doors and I allowed myself a quiet smile, but the sixth-wicket pair put paid to that, adding a stubborn 85 and taking the game rather firmly out of our hands. Credit where due: Sean Charlton was excellent with 2 for 26, well backed up by brother Dave (1-16) and Matt Large (1-17).

Chasing 193, we never remotely looked like getting there. Two wickets down for one was hardly the platform we'd hoped for, and when 67 for 4 became 78 for 7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, the innings had rather given up the ghost. Dave Charlton's 26 was the lone flag planted on an otherwise bare hillside, and poor Matt Large — so miserly with the ball — went for a painful duck with the bat, proof that cricket delights in evening its scores. All out for 99 in 31.5 overs, beaten by 93 runs.

Elsewhere in the ledger, Peter Whyte continues to sit a creditable fifth in this season's run charts with 264, while Matt Large tops the wicket-takers with 53 — small consolations on a chastening afternoon. We'll be better for it next week.

Fri 21 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv ME Maidstone Etc · HomeformLDDWL

Here is the match report.

From the captain's chair, I confess I did very little to deserve the acclaim, but that has never stopped a Linton Park skipper before. Put in first on Friday evening, we watched Maidstone Etc labour to 57/6 from their sixteen overs, with M Thorneycroft's 20 the only real resistance the scorebook records. Matt Large was quite magnificent with the ball, tearing through to finish 3-27, and found willing accomplices in Alan Boyns (1-5) and Ian Brattle (1-13), the three of them between them doing rather more than their fair share of the afternoon's work.

If our bowlers were tidy, our batsmen were positively indecent about it. M Dickerson and M Smith departed without troubling the scorers, which is never the ideal way to begin a chase, but Paul Gibson and David Castle had other ideas entirely, and I was happy simply to watch from the shade as they cantered us home in a brisk 4.2 overs, Gibson unbeaten on 34 and Castle following close behind on 24 not out. I did manage my own small contribution with bat in hand, though I shall let the openers keep the headlines, as they earned them.

Castle continues to lead our 1989 run charts with 812 to his name, while Large now sits atop the wicket-takers with 52, and on this evidence neither shows the faintest sign of slowing down. Two points, a five-wicket win, and home in time for tea — a thoroughly satisfactory evening's work.

Thu 20 Jul 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv KX Kon UD Deventer CC (Holland) Tour XI · HomeformDLLWL

Thursday 20 July, and out came the Dutch — Kon Ud Deventer CC's Tour XI, over from Holland and clearly not short of ambition. Put in to bat, they compiled a workmanlike 171 for 9 off their forty, built chiefly around Heyden's 35 with useful support from Luenen and Winters, both 23. We did at least strike early — poor T Sikkema back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, the board reading a distinctly nervous nought. I managed to find some rhythm that afternoon and finished with 5 for 71, with Nigel Morton tidy and miserly at 3 for 29, including two maidens that must have felt like torture to face, and Darren Styles chipping in with 1 for 55.

A chase of 172 is never quite the formality the scoreboard suggests, and when our first wicket fell for just 8 the tea urn was already being eyed nervously. But Keith Hatcher, calm as ever, simply refused to get out, anchoring the innings all the way to 93 not out. Gary Fryer's 26 and Piers McDonald's 22 gave him company, and a stand of 63 for the fourth wicket settled matters, taking us home at 174 for 4 in 36.4 overs.

A thoroughly satisfying five-wicket win, then, and one that leaves Keith sitting proudly atop the season's run charts with 270, while I find myself, somewhat improbably, leading the wickets column. Onwards we go.

Sun 16 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformWLDDW

It was Folkestone away, a coin toss lost before we'd even had our tea, and the sort of afternoon that reminds you why English summers are best enjoyed with low expectations.

Put in to bat, we ground out 150 all out in 59.3 overs — hardly a declaration-worthy total, but a battling one. David Castle led the way with 38, Brian Piper chipped in a fine 36, and the two of them put on 57 for the first wicket to give the innings some spine before it inevitably wobbled. Elsewhere the effort was more modest — Paul Gibson's contribution to the Duck Club ledger was a duck of the purest vintage, and your correspondent must confess to matching him stroke for stroke with one of his own. We shan't dwell on it.

With the ball, we simply couldn't land the killer blow. Folkestone strolled to 151/1 in 37 overs, Roy Downey unbeaten on a classy 84 and Martin Daniels supporting nicely with 41 not out. Matt Large was our one shining light, miserly as ever with four maidens and figures of 1-37 — the sort of spell that deserved better luck at the other end.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: David Castle's 38 sees him leapfrog Frank Brattle into 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he continues to lead our 1989 charts with 788 runs, with Matt Large's 49 wickets keeping him top of the bowling table.

Seven wickets down, then, and pride rather dented. Back to the nets it is.

Sat 15 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWWLDD

It was Horton Kirby CC at home, and for once the coin let us down, which meant a long afternoon in the field beckoned. As it turned out, that suited us rather nicely. Horton Kirby were bowled out for a modest 98 in 42.2 overs, Keith Lockyer top-scoring with 29 and Alastair Scott chipping in 23, but the middle order simply evaporated — 10 for 1 became 19 for 4 before some of their batsmen had so much as glanced at the scoreboard, with Alan Powell, Zak Wick and Ken Gibbins all departing without troubling the scorers. I had one of those days you dream about with the ball, finishing with 7 for 33 including seven maidens, well supported by Sean Charlton's 3 for 35 — and a lovely personal landmark for Sean too, passing 100 career wickets.

Chasing 98 should never be taken for granted in this game, and to our credit we didn't. Peter Whyte led the way with a composed 40, well supported by David Castle's unbeaten 32, and the openers set the tone brilliantly, putting on 60 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the bowlers. We eventually got home at 100 for 4 in 36.4 overs, winning by 5 wickets.

A red-letter day all round — Sean's century of wickets, David Castle still leading our run charts for the season, and myself out in front with the ball. Bowled out the opposition, chased it down without alarm: this was about as good as village cricket gets.

Wed 12 Jul 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformWDLLW

We were away at Gravesend on Wednesday 12th July, and Trevor's coin lost us the toss for the third week running — chase it was.

Put in the field first, we watched Gary Myers compile a well-made 98, with Danny Burnett's fine 83 and Dave Elliott's 36 doing the rest of the damage as Gravesend racked up 228/4 off their 33.1 overs. Their openers put on 140 before the first wicket fell, which rather set the tone. David Castle was our pick of the bowlers with 2-31, Stewart Morrison and Nigel Morton chipping in with one apiece, though by the close it felt a touch like rearranging deckchairs.

We began our reply full of purpose — Keith Hatcher and Roger Crooks put on 86 for the first wicket, and Hatcher went on to a truly magnificent century, 109 of pure class, ably supported by Crooks' 35. But cricket has a cruel sense of humour, and from 149-3 we collapsed to 153-6 in the blink of an eye, with Mike Bains, Simon Hammond and Simon Thirkell all departing for ducks. As for your captain, I contributed a golden blob — leading by example is all very well, but not, on this occasion, with the bat in hand. All out for 180 in 45.3 overs, we fell 48 runs short.

Not our day, then, but Keith's ton keeps him top of the Midweek XI run charts, and there's always the nets to lick our wounds in before next week.

Sun 09 Jul 1989 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BS Blackheath CC, Surrey · AwayformWLWWW

We won the toss on a bright Sunday down at Blackheath, and I had no hesitation putting the opposition in — the pitch had "bowl first" written all over it, and for once I read it right.

It could scarcely have gone better. Blackheath stumbled to 4 for 1 almost before the tea urn had boiled, and from there the innings simply came apart at the seams — 47 for 5 became 58 for 8 in the blink of an eye, with C Card, P Jones and J Card all trudging back for ducks. Sean Charlton was the chief tormentor, spinning a web through their middle order for a magnificent 6 for 12, ably supported by Matt Large's 2 for 11. I chipped in myself with 1 for 7 and three maidens — not a run given away lightly, even if I say so myself — and Blackheath were skittled for a paltry 59 off 33 overs.

Chasing such a modest total ought to have been a formality, and true to Linton Park tradition we made rather more of a meal of it than was strictly necessary. An early wicket with just 4 on the board set the nerves jangling, and poor Brian Piper contributed a golden duck to proceedings. But we steadied, stumbled, and eventually scrambled home at 63 for 7 after 21.3 overs.

A three-wicket win, then, earned the hard way after making the easy way look difficult. Sean Charlton's spell will live long in the memory — and, with David Castle and Matt Large leading the season's run and wicket charts respectively, this club is not short of form. A fine day's work, even if my heart rate suggests otherwise.

Sat 08 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWWWLD

We hosted Staplehurst CC on Saturday and, winning the toss, I never seriously considered doing anything but batting first on it. The lads gave a decent enough account with the willow, posting 124/8 from our 46 overs — Peter Whyte led the way with a tidy 27, well supported by David Castle's 20, while poor Jim Hall endured the walk of shame for a nought that will live long in the Duck Club ledger. I chipped in with 19 myself, more through persistence than class.

Defending 124 is never a comfortable business, but Staplehurst's reply lasted all of 0.1 overs before the heavens, or something very like them, intervened, leaving them stranded on 0/0. Not quite the tense run-chase finale one dreams of, but there's a certain dry comedy in a game settled by the weather rather than the bowling figures.

Off the field, the season continues to belong to David Castle, whose 718 runs keep him well clear at the top of the 1st XI charts — a fine effort the rest of us can only admire from a respectful distance.

So, honours shared: a draw born of circumstance rather than stalemate. Not the result any of us set out for, but with Jim's duck safely tucked away and Castle's runs still piling up, there was plenty for the tea room to chew over.

Sun 02 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv CP Canterbury Pilgrims · AwayformWWWWL

The road took us again on Sunday, and having lost the toss we found ourselves with the ball in hand — never the worst outcome when you fancy your seamers might find something in the morning. Our hosts made a watchful start of it, losing an early wicket with just five on the board, before N Lewis settled in for a proper fifty-plus knock of 68 not out, calmly seeing his side to 196 for 6 from their 48 overs. The innings really turned on a stand of 102 for the fifth wicket, with G Bennett (44) and X McCall (37) doing the damage either side of it. I managed 2 for 22 with the ball, Matt Large chipped in with a similarly tidy 2 for 26, and Alan Boyns bowled with real discipline — three maidens and 1 for 41 — to keep things respectable.

Chasing 197, we set about it sensibly rather than spectacularly. P Carnell's afternoon began and ended without troubling the scorers, a sight none of us enjoy watching from the boundary, but the middle order steadied things nicely: Mark Stevenson's 29 laid the groundwork, David Castle continued his extraordinary season with 42, and Piers McDonald saw us home to a composed 171 for 4 from 45, unbeaten on 44.

Honours shared, then, and rightly so — neither side quite had the legs or the overs to force it. A fair result, a good toss lost and a good day's cricket played; you can't ask for a great deal more than that on the road.

Sat 01 Jul 1989 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWWWWW

Down by 11 runs at Linton Park on Saturday, but there's honour in a game like this — I lost the toss, Meopham chose to bat, and truth be told they never quite let us off the hook. Sambrook's 36 was the spine of their innings, with useful support from Turner (34) and Beard (30), and they closed on a stiff 186/8 from their 46 overs. Credit where it's due: Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, 4-20 and full value for every one of them, while I chipped in with 3-42 and Alan Boyns kept things tidy with 1-15. Poor A Ogden departed without so much as a squeak off the bat — the first of two ducks on the day.

Chasing 187, we never quite found our rhythm. An early wobble at 8-1 set an uneasy tone, and though Keith Hatcher battled to 32, with Dave Todd and I both contributing 26 apiece, wickets fell around us at the wrong moments and we were all out for 175 in the 44th over. Trevor Hales will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but the ledger must be kept honestly, however painful.

There was, at least, one moment to raise a warm cheer amid the gloom: David Castle brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, a landmark achieved in some style and richly deserved — he continues to lead our 1989 run charts with 656, while Harris sits second in the wickets with 27.

Eleven runs. That's all it was. A day of fine individual efforts undone by fine margins — back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sun 25 Jun 1989 🧢 Sunday NVKCv CC Crockham Hill CC · AwayformWWLWW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 25 June 1989. The road took us to Crockham Hill CC, and no luck at all with the coin: they called correctly and had first use of the bat, leaving us to trudge into the field wondering what sort of afternoon we were in for.

As it turned out, a perfectly good one. Crockham Hill posted a healthy 206/6 from their 40 overs, built chiefly around Stuart Seal's fine 81 and A Walker's own half-century of 50, the pair putting on a crucial 136 for the third wicket while the rest of us chased leather. Stuart Taylor added an unbeaten 20 to round things off. J Mantovani, at least, departed for a duck — small mercies. Matt Large led our attack beautifully with 2-25, with Dave Charlton (2-55) and Alan Boyns (1-54) chipping in to keep the total honest rather than alarming.

Two hundred and seven to win is no formality, but you'd hardly have known it watching Paul Gibson and Brian Piper bat. Gibson finished unbeaten on 69, Piper unbeaten on 61, with David Castle's brisk 49 setting the tone early and 29 useful extras swelling the total nicely. We cantered home on 208/1 with overs to spare, the coin toss a distant memory.

David Castle now tops the 1989 Sunday NVKC run charts with 120, and Matt Large leads the wickets with 7 — form the club can be proud of. A fine win by 9 wickets, then, and one that rather made a mockery of losing the toss. Onwards.

Sat 24 Jun 1989 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWWWWW

It was West Farleigh CC at home on Saturday last, and for once the coin did the decent thing and let us know exactly where we stood: it landed against us, they took first knock, and we trooped out into the field wondering whether the tea urn had been switched on yet.

To their credit they batted with some purpose. An early wicket for just 3 gave us hope of a quick finish, but Tim Baker (58) and Fred Baker (30) steadied things, and a stubborn 64-run third-wicket stand for the third wicket kept us honest. When it looked like getting away from us at 99-3, we hauled it back to 112-6 and never let go — Paul Bowles bowling beautifully for 4-45, Matt Large chipping in with 4-47 and a pair of tidy maidens, and Ian Brattle taking 2-40, in the process easing past Brian Fuller into 22nd on the club's all-time wicket list. Don Fermor departed for a duck, which cheered nobody more than the man himself, I'm sure. All out 166 in 45.4 overs.

Chasing that down, David Castle (68 not out) and Paul Bowles (62) put on 91 for the first wicket and left the rest of us with precious little to do but pad up and admire the view. We cantered home at 167-2 in 42.2 overs for the loss of just two wickets. Eight byes gave poor Jim Hall behind the stumps a testing afternoon, but nobody's perfect.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine day's work all round — won by six wickets.

Wed 21 Jun 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDWDLL

Wednesday 21 June 1989, and Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC came to call. The toss went against us — no great surprise, my luck with the coin this season has been fairly agricultural — and we were put into the field. What followed was a fairly one-sided education in the art of batting, as John Salako helped himself to a majestic 108, sharing a commanding 109-run second-wicket stand with P. Styles, who chipped in a fine 51, while S. Hallbrook stroked an unbeaten 50 to see them home to 228 for 3 off their 46 overs. Stewart Morrison at least kept us respectable with a tidy 1 for 20, and I did my bit too — 1 for 45, with a couple of maidens to show I wasn't simply feeding the scoreboard — while Alan Boyns picked up 1 for 89 for his troubles.

Chasing 229 looked a stiff ask on paper, but the lads had other ideas. I found some form with the bat, 86 that felt thoroughly satisfying to compile, and had excellent company from Keith Hatcher's fine 68 in a second-wicket stand worth exactly 100 — the platform from which the chase was won. Jim Hall's 22 kept things ticking, though his day behind the stumps was rather trickier, judging by the 9 byes that slipped through. Poor Martin Mears, meanwhile, made the long walk back for nought — the duck club gains another member.

We got there with three wickets in hand, 229 for 7 off 50.3 overs, and two well-earned points banked. A match that threatened to be one-way traffic turned, thankfully, into rather a triumph — chins up, and onward.

Sun 18 Jun 1989 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · HomeformWWWWW

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report, 18th June 1989 — Linton Park CC v Bexhill CC

We lost the toss, which these days feels like less a coin-flip and more a formality, and were duly asked to bowl. No complaints from me — I rather fancy us with the ball on our day, and so it proved. Bexhill ground out 175/8 from their forty-five overs, Richard Matthews top-scoring with 35 and Steve Cox and Billy Hunter chipping in 24 apiece either side of a stubborn third-wicket stand of 57 that threatened to run away from us. It didn't, chiefly because Matt Large decided to bowl like a man possessed — 8 for 60, four of those overs maidens, figures that will read like a misprint in years to come. Simon Funnell's duck at our hands was a small mercy amid all that.

Chasing 176, Brian Piper played the innings of the day, 76 full of the strokes we all wish we still possessed, with sound support from Tim Thirkell's 37 and Trevor Back's unbeaten 35 after an early wobble at 3 for 1. As for the skipper, the least said the better — a golden blob, and I'm assured Mark Stevenson and I can console each other in the Duck Club this week. Leadership by example clearly has its limits. Fourteen byes gave poor Jim Hall an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, but no matter.

A four-wicket win, deserved on the balance of play, and one Matt Large in particular can be proud of. Onwards to the next one, ducks and all.

Sat 17 Jun 1989 🧢 1st XIv TP Thames Poly · HomeformWWWWW

I'll pull this together into the full report now.

Not many days a captain gets to sit down and write a report like this one. Winning the toss and having a bat felt like the right shout from the moment I made the call, and by close of play I'd been thoroughly vindicated.

David Castle set about the Thames Poly attack in magnificent fashion, compiling a superb hundred — 106 in all — while Alan Boyns played the perfect foil with an unbeaten 59. The openers gave us the platform we needed, putting on 65 before the first wicket fell, and the innings found its real momentum in a third-wicket stand worth 69. All told, 214 for 3 from our 44 overs was a total to be proud of, and frankly rather more than the lads across the way fancied chasing.

So it proved. Stewart Morrison ran through them with 3 for 22, and he had excellent company — Matt Large chipped in with 2 for 4 and four maidens for good measure, tight enough to squeeze the life out of anyone, while Dave Todd took 2 for 6. Lee's unbeaten 23 was the only real resistance on offer, and three Thames Poly batsmen departed without troubling the scorers. I even had my own small say in proceedings with the bat earlier on. All out for 75 in 28.5 overs told its own story.

A win by 139 runs, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. Onwards indeed.

Sun 11 Jun 1989 🧢 Sunday NVKCv FC Falconhurst CC · AwayformWWWLW

Sunday 11th June found us away at Falconhurst, where I lost the toss for what felt like the ninth week running and duly sent us out to field. Falconhurst posted a handy-looking 173/8 from their 40 overs, built on a solid opening stand of 53 and carried along by Simon Knechtli's 49 and useful contributions from C Lewis (46) and W Bellamy (25). For a while it looked like a proper afternoon's work, but we found our rhythm at just the right moment, ripping through the middle and lower order from 163/5 to 169/8 in the blink of an eye. Poor F Griffith-Jones departed without so much as a single to his name — my sympathies extend, sir. I managed 2-25 myself, with Matt Large (2-28, two miserly maidens) and Alan Boyns (2-45) doing the rest of the damage.

With 174 needed, David Castle set about the bowling in fine style, cruising to 63 and anchoring an opening stand of 81 that took the game away from Falconhurst before most of the tea urn had cooled. I chipped in with an unbeaten 37, and Paul Gibson stayed just as calm at the other end for 35 not out, seeing us home in 34.3 overs.

An eight-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — the sort where the drive home feels shorter than usual. I find myself atop the Sunday run charts with 110 for the season, and Matt Large leads the wickets with five. Long may it continue. Onwards.

Sat 10 Jun 1989 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWWWWW

Won the toss on Saturday and stuck us in to bat, which I shall now, with all the false modesty I can muster, remind everyone was the right call. We rattled along to 150 all out in 48.3 overs, though "rattled" rather undersells the wobble in the middle order. Piers McDonald played the innings of the day with 47, and David Castle chipped in a tidy 23, the pair putting on 51 for the first wicket before the rest of us decided to make things interesting — 78 for 2 became 96 for 5 with alarming speed, the sort of collapse that has spectators reaching for their flasks a little earlier than planned.

Still, 150 proved plenty. Rumwood never quite got going, undone by tight bowling and their own top order's generosity — 5 for 1 was the sort of start that puts a real dent in confidence. Kevin Mullins (26) and C Sage (21) did what they could, but the floodgates opened again from 70 for 3 to 83 for 6, and poor N Armstrong departed for a duck. Alan Boyns led the charge magnificently with 4 for 56, backed up by Matt Large's miserly 2 for 19 (three maidens — not a run given away lightly) and Jon Harris's 2 for 29. All out for 123.

A fine win by 27 runs, then, and with David Castle now topping the season's run charts and Matt Large the wickets, the engine room is purring nicely. Onwards.

Sun 04 Jun 1989 🧢 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · HomeformWWWWW

It was one of those Sundays when the toss actually mattered, and having called correctly and opted to bat, I like to think I earned my keep with the coin as much as anything else that followed. We ground our way to 229 for 7 from 52.4 overs, a total built on a hearty second-wicket stand of 109 that gave the innings its spine. I was fortunate enough to find some form and get among the runs myself with 68, while David Castle played beautifully for a well-made 54 and Trevor Back chipped in with a workmanlike 33 — enough, in the end, to move him past Robert Murray into 18th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing that means rather more to us than it perhaps should.

Defending 229 always feels a more comfortable business than making it, and so it proved. Leeds & Broomfield never got going, subsiding to 114 all out in 36.1 overs, with only Stonestreet (21) and John Hartshorn (20) offering any real resistance before the innings fell away alarmingly from 112 for 6 to 112 for 9, taking in two golden ducks along the way. Jon Harris was magnificent, running through them with 6 for 31, well supported by Dave Todd's 3 for 56 and five miserly maidens from Alan Boyns. Twelve byes suggested poor Peter Whyte earned his tea the hard way.

A fine win by 115 runs, then — the sort that makes the drive home feel considerably shorter. Onwards.

Wed 31 May 1989 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Burghill & Tillington CC · HomeformLDWDL

I put us in to bat on winning the toss on a fine Wednesday evening against Burghill & Tillington, and for once the decision looked like genius rather than luck. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the night, 74 not out and full of the timing that makes the rest of us look like we're using the wrong bat entirely, with Paul Bowles a wonderfully fluent 65 and Andrew Hales chipping in a brisk 30 as we motored to 200/2 from our 37 overs. Runs, as they say, in the bank.

Defending it proved rather more nerve-shredding. D Gower made a well-crafted 53, P Sparrow 44 and Nick Osborne 21 kept the required rate ticking along nicely from where we were sat, and Bob Dyer had an evening to forget behind the stumps with 8 byes gifted along the way. Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, then ran through the top order for a superb 4-82, Trevor Back chipped in with 2-37, and I did my bit with the ball too — two maidens, not a run given away lightly, if not quite enough wickets to boast about. Burghill & Tillington got home by 3 wickets from 36.2 overs, agonisingly close to a night we deserved rather more than we got.

There was, at least, real cause for celebration amid the defeat: Paul Bowles brought up 24,000 career runs for the club and Nigel Thirkell reached 20,000 — landmarks any club would be proud of, and both now sit atop the Midweek XI's 1989 charts for runs and wickets respectively. Not our day on the scoreboard, then, but not a bad one for the history books. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Mon 29 May 1989 🧢 1st XIv XM XII Men · HomeformWWWWW

Monday saw us at home to XII Men, and having lost the toss I watched with a sinking heart as we were asked to bowl first, hardly the ideal start to a Bank Holiday fixture. XII Men made themselves at home early, their openers putting on 77 before the first wicket fell, and eventually reached 191 all out in 61.1 overs, Andrew Baker doing the bulk of the damage with 45, ably supported by A Pattenden's 30 and David MacInnes's unbeaten 27. Had it not been for Paul Bowles, spinning through them for a magnificent 5 for 39, four of those overs maidens, that total might have looked a good deal more troubling. Martin Larkin (2-14) and Alan Boyns (2-58) tidied up what Bowles left behind.

Chasing 192, we made it look almost straightforward. Brian Piper led the way with a fine 77, Paul Bowles followed his bowling heroics with a well-made 62, and between them the openers put on 118 for the first wicket, a platform from which the rest of the innings rather took care of itself. I chipped in with 36 not out, more relieved than heroic, as we reached 194 for 2 in 43.2 overs.

Spare a thought for your captain's pride, mind: Bowles's five-for that afternoon shoved me down to third on the club's all-time wicket-taking list, and he now sits second in both this season's run and wicket charts besides. Still, I can hardly complain when he is doing so much of the winning for us. A fine win by seven wickets, and long may Bowles continue making my life difficult.

Sun 28 May 1989 🧢 1st XIv MC Morden Village CC · HomeformLWWWW

Here's the match report:

There are days a captain can barely believe his luck, and Sunday 28 May was one of them. I called correctly, put Morden Village in to field, and watched David Castle bat as though he'd read the script in advance, cruising to 88 before he was finally prised out. Peter Whyte kept him honest with a classy unbeaten 58, Mike Bains chipped in with 22 not out, and a first-wicket stand of 57 gave the innings the platform it needed. 212/3 from our 44 overs felt like a very useful score indeed.

Defending it, though, was where the afternoon turned into something special. Morden lost an early wicket with just 7 on the board and never really recovered their poise, M Popple and Holcombe both departing without troubling the scorers. Paul Bowles was in unplayable form, spinning his way to 5-22, with Jon Harris tidy and relentless alongside him for 3-36, four of his overs going for nothing at all. I managed to sneak in 2-9 myself, which I'm reliably informed nudges me up to second on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, past Bowles himself, though on this evidence he won't stay behind me for long. Miller's defiant 55 not out was the one bright spark for the visitors, and Whyte's afternoon behind the stumps was rather harder work, nine byes testifying to that.

All out for 131 in 33.4 overs, an 81-run win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 27 May 1989 🧢 1st XIv Castle Hill CC, Kent · AwayformWLWWW

Nigel Thirkell's Skipper's Log — Castle Hill CC, away, Saturday 27 May 1989

Won the toss, and with the sun out over Castle Hill I never seriously considered doing anything but batting first. It proved the right call. David Castle produced something rather special — 131 not out, an innings of real substance that anchored the whole afternoon — while I was able to chip in with 81 myself, and Paul Bowles's 44 rounded things off nicely. The openers set the tone with 97 for the first wicket, and a stand of 163 for the second put the game utterly beyond reach. Not everyone had a day to remember, mind: poor Tim Thirkell managed only a duck, and can expect no mercy in the clubhouse this week. We closed on 276/3 from our 44 overs — a mammoth total by any Linton Park standard.

With the ball, Castle Hill never quite got away from us, for all that Brian Henley's gutsy 70 threatened to. Matt Large was magnificent, 3-33 with six maidens squeezed out of the man, supported by Jon Harris and Paul Bowles among the wickets. Twenty-nine byes did rather give the game away for our unfortunate keeper, but no matter — they closed on 187/7, well short.

A word of celebration: David Castle's century also nudged him up to 13th on the club's all-time run-charts, past the great Malcolm Pay, and he now leads our 1989 run-scoring alongside Matt Large topping the wickets column.

Verdict: a comfortable, well-earned 89-run win, and one of the more complete team performances of the summer. Onwards.

Sun 21 May 1989 🧢 1st XIv BC Battle CC · HomeformWWLWW

Sunday last, we had Battle CC round for tea and, as it turned out, rather more besides. I won the toss and had no hesitation electing to bat — call it captain's instinct, call it luck, I'll take either — and for a few overs it looked a shocking decision as we slumped to 5 for 1 before anyone had really found their guard. Credit to the middle order for steadying the ship: a stand of 67 for the third wicket dragged us back into the contest, and from there Brian Piper simply cut loose, motoring past his fifty to finish on a magnificent 74. Peter Whyte chipped in handsomely with 48 and Tim Thirkell added a tidy 39, taking us to a thoroughly respectable 234 for 7 off our 39.4 overs.

If 234 felt like a defendable total over tea, it proved a positive fortress once we got the ball rolling. Battle never got going, subsiding from 59 for 4 to 61 for 7 in the sort of collapse that has opposition committee members suddenly very interested in their shoes — Brian Scollay and Terry Howard both departed without scoring, and only Bob Holland's gutsy 22 offered any real resistance. Matt Large was the chief tormentor with 3 for 11, well supported by Trevor Back (3 for 22) and the metronomic Alan Boyns, whose 3 for 23 included five maidens for the mean-spirited among us to admire. Battle were bowled out for 111.

A word too for Matt Large, whose three wickets nudged him past Terry Donovan into 11th on the club's all-time list — a fine achievement, and one that also keeps him top of this season's wicket charts on 18, with Paul Bowles leading the run-scoring on 139.

Two points, and thoroughly earned: victory by 123 runs, and the tea urn has rarely tasted sweeter.

Sat 20 May 1989 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLWWLW

Lost the toss again on Saturday, which by now feels less like bad luck and more like a personal vendetta from the coin itself. Headcarn duly stuck us in, and for a while it looked routine as Richard Chapman ground out 33 to be the mainstay of their innings. But then the middle order rather lost the plot — 62 for 4 became 72 for 7 in the blink of an eye, with T Jones, Dave Harden and John Keynes all trudging back for ducks, looking for all the world like men who'd rather be anywhere else. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 5 for 20, while Matt Large chipped in with 5 for 48 at the other end, and Headcarn were bowled out for a distinctly modest 72 from 22.4 overs.

Chasing so little should have been a formality, and in the end it very nearly wasn't, but 75 for 3 in 18.1 overs got us home by two wickets, with Paul Bowles unbeaten on 38 doing the heavy lifting with the bat. Nice to see the old boy still topping our run charts for the summer, even if I did just leapfrog him into second on the club's all-time wicket list — sorry Paul, I'll buy the first round to make up for it.

A scratchy chase, a splendid bowling display, and two points safely pocketed. All in all, a very good day for the club.

Sun 14 May 1989 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · HomeformWWWWL

We won the toss at home to High Halstow, and I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'll admit a certain satisfaction in saying so. Eight for one had the tea urn rattling early and a few of us muttering about the state of things, but we dug in, and I found some form to carry the innings through to 73 not out, the top score of the day. Alan Boyns' duck was the one blot on an otherwise respectable card, rescued in fine style by a defiant last-wicket stand that added a stubborn 53 and took us to 150 for 8 from our forty overs — rather more than the scorecard promised at one stage.

Defending it, we set about High Halstow with intent. They lost their first wicket without troubling the scorers, and Paul Cherrison departed for a duck of his own before Paul Whelan's 27 gave their innings its only real substance. Our attack was relentless: Matt Large the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 24 and two tidy maidens besides, well supported by Alan Boyns and Ian Brattle, both finishing with 2 apiece. High Halstow were bowled out for 95 in 36.5 overs, well short of the target.

A win by 55 runs, two points banked, and — should anyone ask — I'm rather chuffed to be topping the Sunday run charts this season, with Matt Large leading the way with the ball. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sat 13 May 1989 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformLLWWL

Well, we shall have to console ourselves with 130 all out, tossed the coin badly again on Saturday and Rumwood CC took first knock — a decision that, on reflection, suited us rather nicely. J Appleyard threatened to make a proper afternoon of it with 32, but once we found our rhythm the middle order simply evaporated: 73 for 3 became 78 for 6 before anyone had finished their tea, with John Burbridge and J Winnington both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer. Jon Harris was the chief architect of the collapse, spinning his way to a magnificent 6 for 31, ably backed up by Matt Large (2 for 26, five maidens of pure parsimony) and Paul Bowles (1 for 27). All out for 130 in 43.3 overs — a fine team bowling effort, if I do say so myself.

Chasing it down, we were rather more sedate about things, cruising to 131 for 2 in 29.1 overs. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 51 not out and unbothered by the whole affair, with Paul Gibson lending excellent support on 43 — their second-wicket stand of 56 did the real damage. Bowles now sits second in the season's run charts with 100, while Large tops the wicket-takers on 10, and on this evidence neither shows any sign of slowing down.

A seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — bowled well, batted sensibly, and were home in time for a leisurely pint. Onwards.

Sun 07 May 1989 🧢 1st XIv SC Sandwich Town CC · AwayformLLLWW

Sunday 7 May took us down to Sandwich Town, and I lost the toss again — a run of luck that's beginning to feel personal. They chose to bat, and after Tony Curwen and his opening partner put on 84 without loss, I feared the worst. Curwen went on to a magnificent 103, S Smith chipped in a classy 57, and Mark Baldock finished unbeaten on 44, with a 151-run third-wicket stand doing most of the damage. They declared their innings closed, so to speak, at 248/4 from 43.1 overs. With the ball I did what I could — 1-75 isn't figures to frame on the wall — while Matt Large toiled hardest for 2-79.

Chasing 249, Trevor Back played an innings of real substance, 111 to carry us for long stretches, ably supported by Brian Piper's 28 and David Castle's 20. A fourth-wicket stand of 73 kept hope alive, but cricket has a cruel sense of timing, and we lost four wickets in a rush from 132 to 142. Ron Kemp and Adrian Simmonds both fell without troubling the scorers, and last man out at 207 in the 54th over, we were left 41 runs short.

Back now leads our 1989 run charts and Large tops the wicket-takers — small consolations on a long drive home. Not our day, but there's no shame in losing to a century; heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 06 May 1989 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformDLLLW

We had first use of the ball on a bright May Saturday, and if the coin wouldn't play ball, Bidborough at least had the decency to bat as if they too weren't quite sure what to do with the good fortune. D Stead compiled a tidy 53, with David Tolhurst chipping in 38, and a 93-run stand for the third wicket did most of the damage to our figures after we'd struck early with the first wicket down for just 8. Credit where it's due, though: Matt Large bowled beautifully for 3-28, six of his overs going for nothing at all, with Paul Bowles (2-37) and Alan Boyns (1-26) tidying up around him. 143/6 from their 51 overs felt like a target we could have a proper go at.

And go at it we did. Peter Whyte played the innings of the day, 50 not out and calm as you like, with Piers McDonald unbeaten on 29 and David Castle a brisk 26 either side of him. We cantered home on 147/3 with plenty of the 27.5 overs to spare — six wickets and, frankly, a stroll compared to the tension the scorecard might suggest.

A nod, too, to the record books: Matt Large's three wickets nudged him past John Taylor into 12th on the club's all-time list, while he and Piers McDonald continue to top this season's bowling and batting charts respectively. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club — bat, ball and biscuits all present and correct.

Sun 30 Apr 1989 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWDLLL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 30 April 1989. Sheldwich CC were the visitors, and I won the toss and elected to bat, which for once turned out to be the right call rather than the customary act of self-sabotage.

It didn't look it early on, mind. We were 4-1 before some of the lads had finished their tea, and things unravelled further to 12-4 in a rush that had me wondering whether I'd sent the wrong XI out. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and a fine stand of 71 for the fifth wicket dragged us back into respectability. Malcolm Pay top-scored with a splendid 46, I chipped in with 29, and Piers McDonald finished unbeaten on 26 to see us home to 128/7 from our 40.5 overs. Paul Bowles and Peter Whyte both fell without troubling the scorers — the sort of ducks best filed under "for the good of the team" and never mentioned again.

With the ball, we were altogether more clinical. Sheldwich slipped to 4-1 themselves and never recovered, bowled out for 96 despite a lively 29 from Jon Shields and 22 from A Creed. Matt Large was superb, ripping through with 3-8, while Alan Boyns bowled with real miserliness — four maidens and 3-25 — and Paul Bowles chimed in with 2-34, en route to a rather splendid personal landmark: 1100 career wickets.

We got over the line by 32 runs. A scratchy start, a proper finish, and a very good day for the club indeed.