🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 29 Sep 1990 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · HomeformWWDWD

Saturday last, up against Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC, I won the toss and didn't dither for a second — batting first on a day like that is not so much a decision as a formality. And how the lads repaid the faith. We raced along to 63 for the openers before the first wicket went down, and from there Piers McDonald simply refused to be parted from the crease, compiling a glorious 127 not out — three figures, no less, and made to look rather easier than it surely was. Peter Whyte chipped in nicely with 26, and the innings found its real backbone in a stand of 73 for the third wicket. We declared our efforts, so to speak, at 212 for 3 from 43 overs, which felt like a total to be proud of and slightly nervous about in equal measure.

Defending it, the visitors made a watchful start, ten for one from their three overs, with Matt Large the pick of our attack at 1 for 8 — economical enough to suggest we might have sneaked it, had the overs allowed.

A small note of pride amid the day's play: Tim Thirkell's 18 runs eased him past David Castle and up to eighth on the club's all-time run-scorers list — these things matter more than they ought to, and quite right too.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but on this evidence, no bad afternoon's cricket.

Wed 26 Sep 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWWLWL

Won the toss at Penshurst Park on Wednesday and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, stuck us in to bat — a call that for once didn't have the committee reaching for the sherry in despair. Tim Thirkell was the man of the hour, sailing past his fifty to 68, while Trevor Back's 48 and Piers McDonald's unbeaten 42 gave the innings real backbone, the pair adding a priceless 69 for the fifth wicket. We closed on 241 for 8 from 39.1 overs, a total that felt, even to my perennially pessimistic eye, like quite enough to be getting on with.

So it proved. Penshurst's T Bones threatened to spoil the party with a fine 72, well supported by P Grayland's 26 and an 85-run stand for the second wicket, but once we broke through it all rather came apart at the seams — 103 for 2 collapsed to 115 for 5 in the blink of an eye, poor David Smith sent packing without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was the chief tormentor with 3 for 54, Martin Larkin metronomic in support with 2 for 34 and three maidens, Alan Boyns chipping in with 1 for 18, and even your captain managed to rustle up three wickets, more by accident than design. They were all out for 143 in 36.1 overs.

A note for the scrapbook: Jon Harris sailed past 1700 career wickets, a landmark achieved with his usual air of mild indifference. A fine win by 98 runs, then — onwards, and rather pleased with ourselves.

Sun 23 Sep 1990 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLWWDW

Sunday 23rd September saw us welcome Anchorians CC, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation whatsoever in sending us in to bat — a decision I stand by in principle, if not entirely in outcome. What followed was twenty overs of what I might charitably call "character-building" batting, the innings folding for 69 all out. It was not, I confess, a total to strike fear into anyone, and there were one or two shots played that will be quietly revisited over a pint before they're revisited again in the retelling.

Credit where it's due, though — Peter Whyte stood firm throughout, carrying his bat for a splendid 36 not out while wickets fell around him like autumn leaves. Without him we'd have been discussing something considerably more embarrassing than 69, and the club owes him a round for services rendered.

With such modest fuel in the tank, containing Anchorians became the order of the day, and to the lads' great credit that's precisely what we did — a draw secured through grit, guile, and no small measure of stubbornness in the field.

Elsewhere in the season, it's worth noting Paul Gibson continues his fine form with the bat, sitting fourth in the 1990 first XI run charts on 591 — a reminder that not everything this season has been quite so scratchy.

Verdict: a scrappy 69 rescued by Whyte's defiance and a team effort in the field — no classic, but a draw earned is a defeat avoided, and we'll gladly take it.

Sat 22 Sep 1990 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWLWWD

Saturday the 22nd of September brought West Farleigh to Linton Park, and true to the season's form the coin let me down yet again — they won the toss, chose to bat, and left us out in the field wondering whether the groundsman doubles as their lucky charm. An early wicket at 0-1 promised much, though a stubborn fifth-wicket stand of 60 dragged them back into contention, with Mick Holness compiling a fine 78 and Don Fermor and Micky Back weighing in with 35 apiece. Nigel Thirkell was pick of our bowlers, 3-38 with four miserly maidens, well supported by Jon Harris (2-36) and Dave Todd (2-39), while poor Tim Baker and Norman Underdown departed for ducks at our hands. West Farleigh closed on 187/9 from 44.4 overs — gettable, if not exactly a formality.

And gettable it proved. David Castle batted with real class for an unbeaten 86, anchored by Nigel Thirkell's unbeaten 35 and Dave Charlton's 31, the second-wicket pair adding a crucial 92. I chipped in with 35 of my own and, having found some rhythm with the ball, took three wickets besides — not a bad afternoon's work, even by my own modest standards. We cantered home on 190/2 from 32.5 overs, five wickets to spare.

Worth recording for posterity: David Castle's 86 lifts him past Tim Thirkell into 8th on the club's all-time run-scorers, while Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our 1990 run charts on 1360, with Jon Harris second in the wicket-takers on 50. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one the lads can be proud of.

Wed 19 Sep 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv KC Kent Invicta CC · HomeformWWWLW

Wednesday the nineteenth of September found us at home to Kent Invicta, and I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season — they had no hesitation in batting first on a morning that promised runs. Promise, it turned out, was an understatement. M Janaway simply would not be shifted, compiling a magnificent 102 not out, with P Gibson chipping in a fine 64 alongside him; the pair put on 130 for the third wicket after we'd had the temerity to nick out an early wicket with just 5 on the board. Their innings closed on a formidable 226/3 from 41.5 overs. Ian Brattle toiled manfully for 2-68, well supported by Fred Cheesman's tidy 1-19, but the damage was done.

Chasing 227 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered rather too many of them wrongly, mustering only 137 all out in 29 overs. Peter Whyte's 37 and Piers McDonald's 36 gave us a platform, with Jon Harris adding 21 and a brisk 55-run opening stand, and I contributed 21 myself — though 22 byes rather told the story of Whyte's afternoon behind the stumps. Poor Ron Kemp departed for a golden duck.

Not our day, then — beaten by 89 runs. Piers McDonald continues to lead the Midweek XI run charts with 292, and Fred Cheesman sits third in the wickets with four, so all is not lost. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sun 16 Sep 1990 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformLWLWW

As it stands, the toss went my way and I had few qualms about batting first — the right call, I felt, and one I'll happily take credit for. Paul Gibson led the charge with a stylish 47, Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 43, and Trevor Back's 24 rounded out a respectable total of 169/7 from our 48 overs. I ought to mention my own small contribution of 43, purely in the interests of accuracy. Less fortunate were Keith Hatcher and Piers McDonald, who between them managed a golden duck apiece — the sort of thing that happens to the best of us, and occasionally to the rest of us too.

In the field we set about defending our total with the usual mixture of hope and gritted teeth. The visitors lost an early wicket for just 6, then steadied through a 55-run second-wicket stand that threatened to run away from us, before the innings unravelled beautifully — 153/6 becoming 160/9 in the blink of an eye, with W East and B East both departing without troubling the scorers. Trevor Back was the pick of the attack with 2/20, ably supported by Fred Cheesman and Paul Gibson (2/30 and 2/52 respectively), while Matt Large bowled four tidy maidens. Twenty-five byes, mind you, made for uncomfortable reading behind the stumps — a testing day for poor Trevor.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then — the great English compromise, and on this evidence, a fair one.

Sat 15 Sep 1990 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformDLWLW

It's Southborough away, back in September 1990. Not a fixture I'll forget in a hurry.

There's no sign of an opposition club side by that name in cricket circles I'd trust myself to invent details about — but that's fine, I don't need to invent anything. Let me write the report from exactly the facts given.

Losing the toss on a Southborough morning is never how you'd script it, but there are worse fates than being asked to bowl first, and so it proved. Southborough huffed and puffed their way to 169, with only Chris Bass playing anything like an innings for 46, and a sixth-wicket stand of 65 threatening for a spell to make a proper match of it. Paul Spencer, mercifully for us, never got that far — back in the hutch without so much as a single to his name. It was Matt Large who did the real damage, turning the ball square for 5-28 with eight maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of miserly, mesmerising spell that has opposition batsmen playing for the Sunday roast rather than the scoreboard. Sean Charlton (3-20) and Jon Harris (1-27) tidied up the rest.

A target of 170 should hold few terrors, and so it proved, though not without the odd hiccup — Dave Charlton's golden duck chief among them, and poor Peter Whyte having a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 23 byes leaking through like the Southborough drainage. But Paul Gibson (64 not out) and Brian Piper (53 not out) put together the innings of the day, a watchful second-wicket stand of 59 setting the platform, with Nigel Thirkell's 29 and my own modest 29 filling in the gaps. We cantered home by seven wickets with overs to spare.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and with Thirkell and Large continuing to top the season's charts for runs and wickets respectively, the engine room of this side is purring nicely. Onwards indeed.

Wed 12 Sep 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformLWWWL

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 12 September 1990. Home to The Mote CC.

Lost the toss, lost the choice, and lost the shade under the pavilion awning as we trooped out to field on what was starting to feel like a long afternoon. The Mote batted through 40.1 overs for 153, with Jared Barr the chief tormentor on 73, nicely propped up by Nigel Mullarkey (21) and Jason Dunk (20) in a second-wicket stand worth 60. But credit where it's due — Tom Whyte was magnificent, 3-29 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, while Nigel Thirkell (2-21) and Jon Harris (2-28) kept the squeeze on. A. Hales, P. Chesters and Paul Heynes will not be dwelling on their contributions — three ducks in a single innings is the sort of thing that gets mentioned at teas for weeks.

Chasing 154, we set off in fine style, 80 for the first wicket before the openers finally parted. Then, in the manner so beloved of village cricket, we contrived to make things interesting: 120-3 became 134-6 before you could finish your tea. Cue Piers McDonald, unmoved by the carnage around him, ushering us home with a composed 51, well supported by Steve Kember (29) and Ian Wicks (28).

Two points, and thoroughly earned, though my nerves would say otherwise. A tidy bowling performance nearly undone by a batting collapse of our own making — but a win by three wickets is a win by three wickets, and I shall not be asking any questions.

Sun 09 Sep 1990 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · HomeformDDLWL

We beat Sibton Park by six wickets at home on Sunday, having lost the toss and been asked to bowl — no great hardship, as it turned out.

Sibton Park's innings never quite found its feet. Poor C Wren departed for a golden duck at 6-1, and though M Woods dug in gamely for 21, the rest of the order couldn't build around him, and 100 all out from 38.3 overs was a modest total to defend. Sean Charlton was magnificent with the ball, 4-29, ripping through with the kind of spell that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy, while Tom Whyte (2-14) and Matt Large (2-21) mopped up efficiently either side of him — Large keeping his season's tally ticking nicely towards a rather startling 77 wickets for the summer.

Chasing 101, we made hardly a fuss of it. Dave Charlton batted with real composure for an unbeaten 39, Sean Charlton — evidently not content with his heroics in the field — added 23 not out, and Piers McDonald chipped in with a breezy 21, seeing us home at 101/2 in just 20.3 overs.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, bowled and batted with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency. Six wickets to the good, and the Charlton family doing rather more than their fair share. Onwards indeed.

Sat 08 Sep 1990 🧢 1st XIv SC Sandwich Town CC · HomeformDDDLW

Saturday last saw Sandwich Town CC roll up the drive, and for once the coin didn't oblige me — they won the toss, took first knock, and we trooped out into the field wondering if the day might get away from us. It very nearly did before it began, Sandwich stumbling to 4 for 1, before Mark Baldock and S Smith settled in for a stand of 128 that put paid to any early promise. Baldock made a fine 78, Smith 71 in support, and they closed on a formidable 201 for 4 from their 48 overs. Jon Harris toiled hardest for 2 for 61, with Nigel Thirkell and Matt Large chipping in — Large, in particular, bowling three tidy maidens for figures of 1 for 48.

Chasing 202 was always going to ask questions of our batting, and we answered most of them wrongly. An early wicket at 4 for 1 set an uneasy tone, and having steadied to 90 for 6 we somehow contrived to lose three more for a baker's dozen and finish 108 all out in 40.3 overs. Nigel Thirkell's 32 and Brian Piper's 25 were the only real resistance — I managed 32 myself — while Peter Whyte and Fred Cheesman both took the long walk back for nought.

One bright spot amid the wreckage: Tim Thirkell's five runs eased him past David Castle into 8th on the club's all-time run charts. Beaten by 93 in the end, no question — but we'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Mon 03 Sep 1990 🧢 Tour XIv SC St Austell CC · AwayformLWWWW

Here's the match report:

Monday last found us on the road at St Austell, and having won the toss I did what any self-respecting captain does with a decent-looking strip and elected to bat — the right call, I'll say that much for myself before anyone else does. We were bowled out for 216 in 44.3 overs, a total built on Paul Gibson's unbeaten 52, with Alan Boyns (48) and Nigel Thirkell (42) lending sturdy support. Less gloriously, Matt Large and Jon Harris both made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club welcomes two new members.

With 216 to defend, the bowling did the rest. St Austell were rolled for just 105 in 33 overs, D Tregunna's 25 and Jeremy Grigg's 23 the only real resistance, while A Truscott, L Williams and Stuart Watson all quacked their way back to the pavilion. Jon Harris was in irresistible form, ripping through the order for 5-10, with Fred Cheesman (3-9) and Nigel Thirkell (1-8) mopping up admirably. I even managed to get in on the act myself, with 18 runs and 3 wickets for the skipper — not bad for an old man having a rare day among the statisticians.

The day had a touch of history about it too, as Nigel brought up 23,000 career runs for the club — a staggering number that puts the rest of us rather in the shade. Paul Gibson, meanwhile, continues to lead both our run and wicket charts for the Tour. Two points, 111 runs to the good, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sun 02 Sep 1990 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformWLWWW

Sunday last took us down to Beacon CC in Cornwall, and for once the toss actually went my way — I called correctly and had no hesitation in batting first, a decision that for once did not come back to haunt me. The lads made handsome use of it: Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day with a fine 85, Paul Gibson chipped in a stylish 60 and Dave Charlton 55, their second-wicket stand of 98 doing the real damage before we declared our efforts at 259/4 from the forty.

Defending it proved rather more of a nerve-jangler than the scoreboard suggests. Kevin Thomas made a determined 59 for the home side, with Larry Martin and David Hocking both getting in on the act with 37 apiece, and a stubborn 90-run seventh-wicket stand threatened to spoil our afternoon entirely. Mercifully Matt Large was in miserly, wicket-taking form — 3 for 13 with two maidens — well supported by Paul Gibson and David Castle with two apiece, while yours truly managed three of his own. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps, 17 byes escaping his gloves, but Beacon fell short at 249/9.

Ten runs the margin, a good deal of grey hair the cost, but a very good day for the club nonetheless.

Fri 31 Aug 1990 🧢 Tour XIv MC Mullion CC · AwayformWWLWW

Friday last saw us on the road to Mullion, and the coin did us no favours — theirs was the call, and theirs was the bat. No matter; there's a quiet pleasure in bowling first on a good August afternoon, and the lads set about it with real purpose. David Roberts made a fine, unhurried fifty for them, well supported by Jonathan Gibbons (24 not out) and B McOrkhill (23), and they closed on a competitive 156/8 from their 40. Fred Cheesman was the pick of our attack with 2-19, David Castle and Dave Charlton chipped in a wicket apiece, and Jon Harris fairly throttled the scoring with three maidens. All told, a job well done with the ball.

Our reply had its wobble — Martin Hearn, Will Vincent and John Watkins all departed without so much as a squeak from the scorebook, and poor Richard Ashby will not thank me for mentioning his duck in these pages. But openers laid a proper platform, 125 for the first wicket, and I'm rather pleased to say I found some form myself, carrying on past fifty to 81 — apparently enough to nudge me past Frank Brattle into 13th on the club's all-time run list, which I shall be insufferable about for at least a fortnight. David Castle's 32 kept things ticking, and we cantered home on 157/5 with overs to spare.

A five-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards to the next one.

Thu 30 Aug 1990 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformWWWLW

As it stood at Falmouth on Thursday, I fancied a bowl first, and for once the coin and my instincts agreed with each other. It proved the making of the day: after an early wobble left them 0-1, our attack simply refused to let go, with Paul Gibson leading the charge in fine style (3-14), well backed by Matt Large (3-26, four maidens of pure stubbornness) and Alan Boyns (3-26). Falmouth crawled to 133/9 off their 52, Keith Meneer's 30 the top score, with David Toseland (26) and Steven Young (23 not out) tidying up around him. Jeremy Gimpson, L Driver and M Blackmore all trooped back without so much as a nudge to the scoreboard — a hard day at the crease, and no mistake.

Chasing 134, we were rather more sedate about it, but got there with something to spare. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, 62 not out and now up to second in the Tour XI run charts, with Andrew Hales (41) alongside him in a second-wicket stand of 71 that did the heavy lifting. Peter Whyte and Matt Large both bagged ducks, poor souls, and Whyte's afternoon behind the stumps was rather summed up by the ten byes we leaked — a testing shift for him all round. We closed on 137/5 in 34.3 overs.

A five-wicket win, two points banked, and Paul Gibson now sits proudly atop the wicket charts. All told, a thoroughly satisfying day's work — the sort that makes the tea afterwards taste that much better.

Wed 29 Aug 1990 🧢 Tour XIv PC Paul CC · AwayformDWWWL

Wednesday 29 August 1990 saw us make the trip to Paul CC, and my luck with the coin was as reliable as ever — none at all. They won the toss, chose to bat, and set about building what looked, for a while, like a useful total.

T Addicoat led their charge with 35, well supported by Philip Stephens (26) and A James (20), and 118/8 from their twenty overs seemed a fair par score. But we found another gear in the middle, tearing through them from 100-4 to 105-7 in the blink of an eye, sending R Badcock and Paul Osborne back without troubling the scorers. Paul Gibson was the chief tormentor with a fine 4-20, well backed up by Stewart Morrison (1-10) and Nigel Thirkell (1-20).

Chasing 119, Peter Whyte and Matt Large gave us the ideal platform, the openers putting on 69 before the first wicket fell — Whyte going on to an unbeaten, well-made 62, with Large a handsome 37 in support. Fred Cheesman's duck was the only real blemish on an otherwise tidy card, and we cantered home by five wickets with 19.4 overs on the clock. Whyte's keeping was rather more generous than his batting, mind, with 10 byes leaking through, but nobody was complaining on a day like this.

A word too for Simon Thirkell, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark well worth raising a glass to. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club.

Mon 27 Aug 1990 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWDDDL

We toed the mark at Bearsted on Bank Holiday Monday with more hope than confidence — the toss went against us, they had first use of the pitch, and there's rarely much comfort to be found in a Linton Park loss of the coin. We took the field wondering whether the ground would punish us for it.

For a while it looked like it might not, with Bearsted stumbling to 6 for 1 and the lads sniffing an early breakthrough, but David Gibson (55) and Christopher Filmer (44) put together a stand of 112 for the sixth wicket that dragged the innings back onto an even keel, with Murray Pennells chipping in 20 more. Ian Lambert, Norman Bateman and Mike Redman were all sent back for ducks, which at least kept the scorebook honest. Matt Large, though, was in no mood to be denied, tearing through the order for 5 for 49, with Paul Gibson (2-14) and the wonderfully parsimonious Jon Harris (2-32, seven maidens) squeezing the life out of the rest. All out for 156 from 60.3 overs — a target we felt we could chase.

And chase it we did, in some style. Dave Charlton played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 71, well supported by Peter Whyte's 34 and Paul Gibson's unbeaten 22, the pair adding 54 for the second wicket to see us home at 158 for 3. Whyte had a trickier time of it behind the stumps, with ten byes going astray, but nobody was counting once the winning runs were in.

A fine win by six wickets, and one to enjoy on the journey home.

Sun 26 Aug 1990 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformWWDDD

Beloved Sunday, 26th August, and Dummy Site came calling at Linton Park with the sun more or less behaving itself. I won the toss and didn't so much as pause for breath before opting to bat — a decision I'm rather pleased with in hindsight, which doesn't happen every week.

David Castle played the innings of the day, 79 well past his fifty, and found the ideal foil in Nigel Thirkell, who also cruised past his own half-century, the pair putting on a crucial 101 for the second wicket. Dave Charlton chipped in with 22, and I was rather chuffed to lead from the front myself with a fifty of my own. Poor Nick Froom, meanwhile, made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club welcomes a new member. We closed on a handsome 215 for 8 from our 43 overs.

Defending it, we made hard work of the start before Matt Large produced the spell of the season — 5 for 18, richly earned — backed superbly by Jon Harris's 2 for 47 (three miserly maidens in there) and a wicket for Nigel Thirkell to boot. M Heather threatened to spoil the party with a fine 62, well supported by S Smith's 25, but once we got amongst them it was 148 for 7 to all out for 153 in the blink of an eye — Hughes and Sparke both back without scoring. Fifteen byes gave poor Peter Whyte a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, and rather too generously we let them within 62 runs of us.

A special word for Paul Gibson, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours — one for the mantelpiece indeed. We were beaten, fair and square, but with Large and Thirkell topping the season's charts, we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 25 Aug 1990 🧢 1st XIv PC Petts Wood CC · HomeformWWWDD

We hosted Petts Wood CC on Saturday and I lost the toss, which on this ground is never good news — sure enough, we were straight out into the field. John Walshe gave us a torrid time of it, 69 to the good, with Chris Watson chipping in a tidy fifty of his own and Neil Symonds unbeaten on 28; that second-wicket stand of 76 was the innings' backbone and left us chasing shadows as they declared themselves at 204/9 from 46 overs. Credit where due, though — Jon Harris ran absolutely riot with the ball, 5-60 and three maidens to boot, with Dave Charlton (3-67) and Fred Cheesman (1-7) mopping up round him.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear. Phil Fry and Andy Symonds departed without troubling the scorers, and poor Mike Bains joined them for a golden duck, but Jon Harris — evidently not finished for the day — top-scored with 41 not out, well supported by Piers McDonald's 31, and a defiant last-wicket stand of 61 hauled us up to a respectable-looking 139/7 from 29.3 overs. I managed 41 myself and picked up five wickets, which I shall modestly note without further comment. Steve Cheesman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 17 byes going begging, but the day belonged to Piers, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — champagne moment indeed.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could force it home — and on this evidence, entirely fair.

Wed 22 Aug 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDLWWW

Skipper's log, then, and what a curious old game it is. We won the toss at Gravesend and, in a fit of optimism I may live to regret less often than I fear, stuck us in. For once the top order didn't let me down: Keith Hatcher played the innings of the day, 67 to his name, with Tim Thirkell chipping in a tidy 29 and the two of them putting on 62 for the fourth wicket that turned a wobble into a total. We closed on 190/9 from our 43 overs — respectable enough, though I'll draw a discreet veil over Brian Piper's contribution, who departed for a duck and can expect the traditional ribbing in the clubhouse. 🦆

Defending it, we simply ran into a man in irresistible form. Danny Burnett helped himself to a chanceless 114 not out, with Gary Myers keeping him company on 66 not out, and between them they walked Gravesend home on 195/1 with more than two overs unused. Nigel Thirkell alone emerged with real credit — 1-37 off his allotment, three maidens among them, bowling as though the runs were his own money.

Beaten by nine wickets, then, comfortably outplayed by a batsman having the kind of day club cricketers dream about and wake up from. Keith Hatcher's fine form at least keeps our season ticking along nicely — he now leads our 1990 run charts with 241. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 12 Aug 1990 🧢 Sunday NVKCv GC Goatacre CC · AwayformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 12th August 1990. The road wound out to Goatacre, and I called wrong at the toss for what felt like the ninth week running, so it was straight into the field for us on a morning that promised more than it delivered.

We toiled hard with the new ball, but Kevin Iles simply would not be shifted, cruising to 75, with Mark Hunt's well-made 53 and John Spencer's 37 stitching around him — the pair adding a chunky 89 for the fourth wicket that put the game beyond our early grasp. Sean Charlton led the attack manfully for 2-53, Ian Brattle chipped in with 2-64, David Castle took 1-27, and Nigel Thirkell kept things admirably tight with a couple of maidens. Only Paul Rose departed for a duck to spoil their day. They closed on 252/7 from their 40, a proper total.

Chasing it down, Paul Gibson batted beautifully for 67, Nigel Thirkell added 44, and Keith Hatcher 34, with a fine 105-run third-wicket stand giving us genuine hope. I contributed 44 myself, glad to do my bit, but the middle order then folded like a deckchair in a gale — 186-6 became 194-9 in the blink of an eye, with Trevor Back and Sean Charlton both walking back for ducks. All out 197 in 37.5 overs, beaten by 55 runs.

A proud footnote amid the disappointment: Brian Piper turned out for his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a wonderful achievement. We'll be better for this next week.

Sat 11 Aug 1990 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDWWWD

Since we won the toss and I sent us in, David Castle carted the Headcorn attack to all corners for an unbeaten hundred – a genuinely superb knock, and one that brought up his 7,000th career run for the club along the way. Not a bad afternoon's work, that. He found willing company from Nigel Thirkell, who continues his extraordinary season with a classy 80 (the man now sits proudly atop our 1990 run charts with 1171 for the summer – somebody give him a rest), while Peter Whyte chipped in a useful 20. We did stumble to 6-1 early doors, which briefly had me reaching for the antacids, but the second-wicket stand of 141 put paid to any Headcorn ambitions and we declared our innings, so to speak, at a handsome 228/3 from 35.

In the field, I led by example with 80 with the ball myself – modesty forbids further comment, so I'll simply let the figure stand. Tim Thirkell bowled beautifully for 2-28, with Fred Cheesman and Sean Charlton chipping in a wicket apiece, and Matt Large tied things down with two tidy maidens. Alas, our keeper had one of those days – eight byes speaks volumes, and I shall say no more about it over tea.

Headcorn's Phipps brothers had other ideas, John unbeaten on 75 and Simon a fluent 65, and their 94-run second-wicket stand kept the game alive to the very last over, finishing 202/4.

Honours shared, then. A fair result, if I'm honest, and one both sides could walk away from with heads held high.

Thu 09 Aug 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Mundford CC · HomeformLDLWW

As we chose to bat first (the toss went against us, though Mundford's choice to field suited us just fine), Dave Charlton and Piers McDonald set about the Mundford bowling with real intent, putting on 119 for the first wicket before either fell — the sort of start that has the tea urn practically boiling itself in anticipation. Charlton went on to 81, McDonald 64, and Brian Piper finished unbeaten on 28 as we declared our efforts at a handsome 219/3 from 36.5 overs. Batting, for once, was the easy part of the day.

Defending it was rather more entertaining. Mundford stumbled early to 0-1, and though Robin Mail played a fine hand of 67 with M Woods chipping in 23, and their last pair had the cheek to add 100 runs we frankly could have done without, it was never quite enough. Trevor Back was magnificent, claiming 5-24 with two tidy maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by Jon Harris (3-40) and Ron Kemp (2-29) — I even found some rhythm myself with 3 wickets, for whatever that's worth. Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes his cross to bear, but no lasting damage done.

Mundford were bowled out for 165 in 35.2 overs, and we came home 54 runs to the good. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine afternoon's cricket all round.

Wed 08 Aug 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDLDLW

Skipper's Log, Wednesday 08 August 1990. Bexley CC came to visit, I called correctly at the toss, and elected to bat — I'll confess to a small swagger about that decision even before a ball was bowled.

Our openers set about the job with real purpose, cantering to 92 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and Keith Hatcher took the baton to compile a handsome 64, the innings' cornerstone. Dave Todd chipped in with a brisk 36 and Nigel Thirkell finished unbeaten on 28 as the tail wagged for a final 35 runs, much to Bexley's visible irritation. Not every man enjoyed the sunshine, mind — Steve Cheesman's golden duck was the one blemish on an otherwise handsome 190/7 from 42.4 overs.

Defending that total, Bexley never quite found their rhythm, losing an early wicket with just 4 on the board and never truly recovering, despite Dean Webster's gutsy 35 and Neil Mobey's 33. Jon Harris was simply magnificent, running through the order with 6-25 including three miserly maidens, well supported by Sean Charlton (2-39) and Martin Larkin (1-28) — and I permitted myself a quiet satisfaction at chipping in with 6 wickets of my own with the ball. Paul Ladbrook, Tom Appleby and John Trice all fell without troubling the scorers, but by then the damage was done, Bexley bowled out for 152.

A 38-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — Hatcher and Harris continue to lead our run and wicket charts respectively, and long may that continue.

Sun 05 Aug 1990 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformWDWWW

As it stands, I'll do 5 August 1990, Staplehurst CC at home — batting first for them, chasing for us, honours shared.

Sunday the 5th of August found us hosting Staplehurst, and the coin, as it so often does when it matters least, went against us. We took to the field wondering whether the sun or Staplehurst's top order would prove the more punishing, and it was rather the latter: A Henson made merry with a magnificent 101, and J Escott's 31 gave him steady company, the pair adding a stubborn 92 for the fourth wicket. Yet we did not go quietly. Matt Large bowled with real purpose for 3-42, Keith Hatcher and Trevor Back chipped in admirably, and David Castle, tight as a Sunday collection plate, sent down four maidens without conceding a run. A West, mercifully, departed for a duck.

Chasing their total, we began like men possessed — the openers put on a glorious 100 before the first wicket fell, and for a while it looked a formality. Then, as club cricket so loves to remind us, the wheels came off: 126-3 became 135-6 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. David Castle's 52 and Keith Hatcher's 40 had done the heavy lifting, but poor Brian Piper contributed nought, and I regret to inform the gazette that your correspondent also made a duck — the less said, the better. Jim Hall stood firm behind the stumps despite nine byes escaping his grasp.

We finished 163-8. A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact, and tea, as ever, the true winner of the day.

Sat 04 Aug 1990 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformWWDWW

The lads couldn't have picked a finer day for it. The toss went against us, and Maidstone Dissidents CC took first use of the strip — as it turned out, not the worst piece of fortune that could have befallen us, though nobody was saying that at 5 for 1. Piers McDonald's contribution amounted to a golden duck, poor lamb, and it might have been carnage from there had Matt Large not decided to spin us a fairytale. Six for 22 from our man is the sort of figures that make a captain wonder why he bothers setting fields at all — with Nick Froom, Jon Harris and the ever-miserly Dave Todd (four maidens, not a run given away lightly) mopping up the rest, the Dissidents were bowled out for a modest 114.

Chasing was never going to be a formality on our ground, and so it proved — 115 for 5 off 27 overs, with more stumbles along the way than a Monday-night quiz team. Nigel Thirkell's 31 was the innings' backbone, Dave Charlton (29) and Malcolm Pay (23) lending sturdy support, while your correspondent chipped in with 31 of his own, mostly by accident. Fred Cheesman, meanwhile, made the long and lonely walk back for nought — the club's duck ledger duly updated.

Amid all this, Matt Large quietly sailed past 500 career wickets and up to eighth on the all-time list — a landmark rather buried beneath the scorecard's noise, but not by us. Five wickets, a fine win, and home in time for tea. Onwards indeed.

Thu 02 Aug 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Moreton CC · HomeformWDLDL

He walked into cricket, opened the bat and, God help us, our team hasn't been the same since. And so, on Thursday 2nd August, we welcomed Moreton CC to Linton Park, and I won the toss — and, naturally, took first strike, feeling rather pleased with myself for about the first two hours.

We were bowled out for 177 in 52.3 overs, which sounds modest until you remember it very nearly wasn't enough. Keith Hatcher and Piers McDonald gave us the platform, sharing 64 for the first wicket, with Hatcher carrying his bat to an unbeaten 50 and McDonald falling agonisingly short on 49. After that it rather fell away — Fred Cheesman, Ron Kemp and Jon Harris all departed for ducks, and I confess I contributed nothing whatsoever, out for nought myself. We shall, as ever, draw a veil over the captain's innings.

Moreton made us sweat for every run of it, reaching 46 overs before being dismissed for 175 — Howat, Hessey and Wilson all threatening to bat us out of it. But Jon Harris was magnificent, 6 for 48 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by Ian Brattle's 2 for 39 and Ron Kemp's solitary wicket. I chipped in with six of my own, which almost excuses the batting.

Two runs. That was the margin — thin as a slip of paper, and every bit as glorious. A proper club cricket classic, and a fine win.

Mon 30 Jul 1990 🧢 1st XIv Addington Village CC · AwayformWWWDW

David Castle's fifty set us up, but truth be told, I nearly lost my nerve calling correctly at the toss on Monday — a rare enough event that I gave the umpire a second look before choosing to bat, as though he might change his mind for me. Off we trotted to Addington Village, and to our credit the openers took the game by the scruff of the neck, putting on 64 before the first wicket finally went down. David Castle carried that fine start into a proper, well-made fifty — 60 in all — and 154/5 from our sixteen overs felt like a total with a bit of bite to it. My own contribution of 17 will not trouble the record books, but every run counts, as my old coach used to say while looking pointedly at me.

With the ball, we made early inroads that set the tone for the whole innings — N Tasker back in the pavilion without so much as a nibble, and Addington wobbling to 8-1. Nigel Thirkell led the attack beautifully, 1-24, with Ian Brattle chipping in at 1-25 to keep the squeeze on. B Currie's unbeaten 31, well supported by Nik Robinson's 21, gave the chase some respectability, but they could only manage 105/6 from their sixteen — 49 runs shy of us at the close.

A tidy afternoon's work all round, and a word for Brian Piper, whose 16 runs quietly nudged him past Tim Thirkell into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — these things matter more than we let on. A fine win by 49 runs. Onwards.

Sun 29 Jul 1990 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Horndon On The Hill CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday 29th July, and Horndon On The Hill came to visit us on what turned out to be a rather splendid afternoon for the home side. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and it proved the right call — 210 for 6 off our forty overs was a total with some real substance to it. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, 81 well-struck runs, with Peter Whyte a fine ally in a 102-run fourth-wicket stand that was really the making of the innings; Brian Piper's 20 added further ballast. Poor Paul Gibson departed for a golden duck, though I'm sure the tea urn offered some consolation.

With 210 to defend, our attack set about their task with real purpose. Horndon fought hard through Dave Stitson's well-crafted fifty and useful contributions from Barry Stanley and Ashley Norton, but once we got amongst them — 172 for 6 tumbling to 178 for 9 in a blur — there was no way back, M Wilson and D Stitson Snr both back in the pavilion without scoring. Ian Brattle was the chief destroyer with a superb 4 for 38, Matt Large miserly as ever with 2 for 18 and three maidens, and I chipped in with 1 for 24 to round off a personal day to remember with the bat too.

A fine win by 32 runs, then, and one to enjoy on the drive home. Onwards.

Sat 28 Jul 1990 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformWWWWD

Saturday 28 July 1990, Hollingbourne CC visited, and I called correctly at the toss. Batting looked the sensible option, though our top order clearly hadn't read my script — 0 for 1 inside the first over is no way to settle the nerves of a home crowd sipping tea by the boundary. Thankfully Brian Piper had other ideas, playing a captain's innings of his own to the tune of 81, well past his fifty, and finding an ally in a fine 66-run stand for the second wicket. Nigel Thirkell (31) and Keith Hatcher (21) chipped in soundly, I managed 31 myself, and poor David Castle's contribution was a golden duck — the kind of nothing that earns you a ribbing in the bar rather than the scorebook. We closed on 182/7 from our 46, a total that felt defendable rather than daunting.

And defend it we did, though not without a few grey hairs. Hollingbourne fought back through Mike Palmer (36), Neville Smith (32) and Dave Hinks (29), with a stubborn 52-run stand for the seventh wicket threatening to spoil our afternoon. Step forward Matt Large, spinning a web through the middle and lower order for 5-61 with three maidens to boot, ably backed by David Castle (1-20) and Jon Harris (1-62). They fell agonisingly short on 175/7 from 44 overs.

A seven-run win, then — the sort that ages a skipper prematurely but tastes wonderful by close of play. Onwards.

Thu 26 Jul 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv FO Fred Kenyons XI - Other · HomeformDWDLD

From the captain's chair — Thursday 26th July 1990. It was Dummy Site at home, and I lost the toss for what would prove a fairly comprehensive lesson in the folly of putting the opposition in when they were quite so keen to bat.

They made hay early doors, 124 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a dismissal, and rolled on to a formidable 257/7 from their forty overs. J Mitchell (76) and J Ranger (72) both notched well-made fifties, with G Thomas (67) not far behind, and honestly there wasn't a great deal we could do about it except keep plugging away. Credit where due: Fred Cheesman toiled hardest for 2-22, with Stewart Morrison (2-36) and Jon Harris (2-49, three tidy maidens among them) offering sterling support in an otherwise chastening afternoon in the field.

Our reply, in the kindest possible light, did not go to plan. Eighty-three all out in 25.4 overs, the middle order evaporating from 64-4 to 64-7 in the sort of collapse that has spectators suddenly remembering urgent business elsewhere. Bob Lines battled to 29 and deserves a medal for effort alone, but ducks for Steve Cheesman, Fred Cheesman and Jon Harris told their own sorry tale — and I'll own mine too, for what it's worth, which wasn't much.

A defeat by 174 runs, then, and no amount of tea-hut philosophy will dress that up as anything but a hiding. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — there's work to do before the next one.

Wed 25 Jul 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv CW Coleshill CC, Warks · HomeformWDWDL

Wednesday last brought Coleshill CC to Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss, I had few qualms about batting first — a decision that still looks sound in hindsight, whatever the scorebook says about our finishing position. Forty overs brought us 171 for 9, a total built rather than blazed. Brian Piper was the mainstay with a fine 44, well backed up by Jon Harris, unbeaten on 28, and Nigel Thirkell's tidy 23. Elsewhere the top order found the going stickier, and poor Adrian Simmonds made his way back to the pavilion for nought — the Duck Club welcomes its latest, and no doubt reluctant, member.

In the field we held our nerve without ever quite landing the killer blow. Coleshill's Daunceys gave us a torrid time of it, M and R putting on a crucial 53 for the first wicket before M went on to 35 not out, ably supported by R's 32 and Paul Brattle's 29. Dave Todd toiled manfully for figures of 4 for 89, with Jon Harris chipping in 2 for 18 and Nick Froom picking up one, but 157 for 7 from their 45 overs meant honours finished shared. I added a watchful 23 of my own along the way.

There was, at least, one moment worth savouring above the result — Brian Piper reaching 7,000 career runs for the club, a landmark stat worth raising a glass to. A draw, then: not the victory we wanted, but with milestones like that, no disgrace either.

Sun 22 Jul 1990 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Hursley Park CC · HomeformWWWWW

We hosted Hursley Park CC on Sunday, and having lost the toss for what felt like the fortieth week running, I watched them elect to bat with the weary resignation of a man who knows exactly how this script goes. Credit where due: C Surry's 46, with Paul Wright (38) and M Fletcher (29) chipping in and a second-wicket stand of 62 doing the real damage, carried them to a stiff 185/6. Ian Brattle was magnificent with the ball, 3-33, with Matt Large (2-42) and Jon Harris (1-31) keeping things honest enough to leave it gettable.

Gettable, yes. Straightforward, absolutely not. Paul Gibson's composed 39 anchored the chase, well supported by Brian Piper (24) and Nigel Thirkell (22), and a fourth-wicket stand of 50 had us purring at 134-4. Then, in the time it takes to put the kettle on, we contrived to stumble to 144-7, and several grey hairs later I found myself wielding both bat and nerve for 22 as we edged home, 187/9 off 39.4 overs, by the barest of margins — one wicket.

A word for Paul Gibson, who quietly brought up 5,000 career runs for the club amid all the chaos — a milestone that rather deserved a calmer backdrop. Nigel Thirkell continues to top our 1990 Sunday run charts with 212, and Matt Large leads the wickets with 15.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a win that aged me considerably. We'll take it — cricket, like the tea urn, rarely runs smoothly, but somehow it always comes good.

Sat 21 Jul 1990 🧢 1st XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformLWWWW

It was Gravesend CC at home on Saturday 21st July, and having lost the toss I was despatched to the field with a hopeful heart and a leaky memory of last season's efforts against them. We had first use of the ball, and Gravesend built steadily to 217 for 8 from their 49 overs, Richard Walker the chief architect with a handsome 75, well supported by Gary Myers (35) and Simon Cross (25) — the pair of them stitching together a 78-run third-wicket stand that gave our afternoon its shape. Credit where due: Jon Harris was the pick of the attack, 4 for 63 and four maidens of positively monastic discipline, with Stewart Morrison (2-36) and Matt Large (2-45) chipping in gamely. Mark Aaron, at least, departed for a duck at our hands — small mercies.

Chasing 218 we made a fair fist of it early on, David Castle top-scoring with a composed 32, before the innings folded like a deckchair in a gale — 86 for 4 became 95 for 7 in the blink of an eye, and we limped to 123 for 9 from our 41. Matt Large made the walk of shame for nought, and I regret to report I joined him in the duck club myself; the less said of my dismissal the better.

There was, happily, real cause for cheer: Matt Large brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark earned over many such afternoons, while David Castle continues to sit second in the season's run charts and Large himself leads the wicket-takers with 50. Honours were shared in the end — a draw that flattered nobody but satisfied nobody's grievance either. All told: a day for milestones rather than glory.

Sun 15 Jul 1990 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformLLWWW

Steve Salisbury 56, well-made fifty, carried the innings, ably supported by Lawrence Po-Ba 52, fine half-century, Kevin Allon 25.

Sunday 15 July found us at home to Folkestone CC, and the coin, as is so often its custom with me, sided firmly with the visitors. They chose to bat, and for a good while it looked the shrewder call, Steve Salisbury compiling a well-made 56 and Lawrence Po-Ba matching him almost stroke for stroke with a fine 52, the pair putting on 64 for the second wicket while Kevin Allon chipped in with 25. Jon Harris was the pick of our attack with 2-48, David Castle and Alan Boyns took one apiece, and Matt Large, ever the miser, squeezed out two maidens as Folkestone closed on a stiff 207/5 from their 46 overs.

Chasing it down looked a tall order on paper, and 8 byes down the order suggested poor Piers McDonald was having rather more of the ball posted through to him than any wicketkeeper would like. But the top order dug in, Alan Boyns making 33 and David Castle 31, and then came the innings of the day — I found some rare touch of my own, farming the strike to 96, with a stand of 95 for the fifth wicket that put the result beyond doubt. We got there on 208/6 with just over four overs to spare, a three-wicket win and two thoroughly earned points.

A proper afternoon's cricket, and no complaints from this captain — chasing a total that size and getting home with wickets and overs in hand is exactly the sort of nerve-jangling, ultimately triumphant cricket that keeps you coming back. Nigel Thirkell now sits proudly atop the season's run charts with 1012, and Matt Large leads the wickets with 48 — the engine room of this side is purring nicely. Onwards.

Sat 14 Jul 1990 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWLLWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 14 July 1990. We travelled to Horton Kirby, and for once the coin obliged me, so in we went to bat.

What followed was a proper afternoon of cricket. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the season, a magnificent 127, and I'll allow myself a small note of pride at chipping in with 49 alongside him — an 89-run stand for the second wicket that gave the whole innings its spine. We closed on 231/6 from our 46 overs, a total that felt like it might just be enough, though at Horton Kirby you never quite know.

And so it proved trickier than we'd have liked. Keith Lockyer batted beautifully for his unbeaten 56, with Ian Scott (43) and Michael Rushton (29 not out) lending real support, and a last-wicket stand of 98 that had us wondering whether we'd left the door open rather too wide. Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps — 17 byes is not an afternoon he'll frame — but it was Matt Large who won us the match, tearing through their order with 5-62 and four miserly maidens, backed up by Nigel Thirkell and myself with a wicket apiece. Zak Wick, Alan Powell and Keith Williams all fell for ducks, which won't trouble their consciences for long.

They finished on 205/7 from 44 overs — 26 runs short. A good day for the club, and with Nigel now leading our run charts and Matt topping the wickets, the season's shaping up rather nicely.

Wed 11 Jul 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformLWDWD

Lost the toss on Wednesday and, with Gravesend CC visiting, found myself condemned to the field rather than the deckchair — never my preferred start to proceedings, but there it is. They batted with real purpose, closing on 184 for 6 from their fifty-two overs, built chiefly around a handsome fourth-wicket stand of 76 between Ben Williams, whose well-made fifty (54) was the innings' backbone, and Peter Preston (37), with Steve Hasler (29) chipping in besides. I can't grumble too much about my own evening's work — 3 for 66 kept me honestly employed — while Jeremy Thorpe (2-45) and Kevin Mullins (1-21) did their bit, and Trevor Back bowled four maidens of positively monastic discipline.

Chasing 185, we made a fine fist of it without quite landing the blow. Trevor Back, in glorious form with bat as well as ball, top-scored with a commanding 76, and shared 58 for the first wicket with Jeremy Thorpe (24); Fred Cheesman weighed in with 21. Poor Kevin Mullins, so parsimonious with the ball, contributed nothing but a golden duck at the crease — cricket's little joke, and we've all been the punchline. All out for 161 in 37.4 overs, we finished 23 runs short.

Trevor now tops our 1990 run charts, and I lead the wickets — small consolations on a day that got away from us. Heads up, lads; back to the nets.

Tue 10 Jul 1990 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWLLW

Under leaden Linton Park skies on Tuesday 10th July we made the trip to The Mote, lost the toss, and were put into the field – which, given how the day unfolded, was rather the best thing that could have happened to us.

The Mote laboured to 102/8 from their 16 overs, Dave McInnes (26 not out) and John Lawrence (20) the only ones to really get going, while the rest of the order came and went as we squeezed them from a promising 49-2 down to a distinctly nervous 59-5. Pete Westrop was the chief tormentor with a fine 3-34, backed up handsomely by Nigel Thirkell (2-18) and Matt Large (1-35), the three of them fairly taking it in turns to knock over stumps and confidence in equal measure.

A target of 103 always looked gettable, and so it proved. Brian Piper and Nigel Thirkell put on 74 for the first wicket before either of them so much as looked troubled, Piper eventually departing for a splendid 41 and Thirkell following up with 31 of his own. I contributed a modest 31 myself, more by accident than design, and we cantered home to 104/3 in 15.4 overs with six wickets and, one suspects, several sandwiches still to spare.

Nigel Thirkell continues to lead the season's run charts with 789, and Matt Large the wickets with 42 – both men once again central to the cause. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a job very tidily done.

Sun 08 Jul 1990 🧢 Sunday NVKCv FC Fletching CC · HomeformLWWWW

Lost the toss on a bright Sunday and asked to bowl first against Fletching CC — not the outcome I'd have chosen, but the lads set about it with proper purpose. Fletching were dismissed for 161 in 39.2 overs, Clive Horscroft (42) and Andy Horscroft (32) doing the bulk of the damage before our attack got a stranglehold. Matt Large was the pick of the bowlers with 3-32, Ian Brattle chipped in with 3-42 and David Castle mixed things up nicely for 2-20, while I did my bit with four miserly maidens. A tidy, disciplined effort all round.

With the bat we made harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, though 164/4 from 39 overs was never really in doubt once G Cogger and M Elwin fell early without scoring — two ducks best glossed over quickly. David Castle's 69-run opening stand set the platform, he contributing 30, before I was fortunate enough to carry things through to 82 not out and see us home.

Off the field, a lovely footnote: Ian Brattle's three wickets nudged him past George Champion into 20th on the club's all-time list — a fine achievement, and the pints were on him. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a six-wicket win to keep the season ticking along nicely.

Sat 07 Jul 1990 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformWWWLL

Saturday last took us down to Staplehurst, and for once the coin obliged me — I had no hesitation in asking the lads to bat, and by the close of our forty-six overs I was rather glad I had. Nigel Thirkell and David Castle put on 191 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a dismissal, and by the time Nigel reached his hundred — a magnificent 104 — I'd quite lost track of how many boundaries I'd applauded. David fell for 83, Paul Gibson finished unbeaten on a tidy 57, and we declared our innings closed, so to speak, at 292 for 4.

With that total in the bank, our bowlers rather enjoyed themselves. Jon Harris was in irresistible form with 4 for 29, Dave Todd matched him with 4 for 38, and Matt Large bowled two maidens on his way to 1 for 17 — miserly stuff. John Robins battled hardest for the home side with 32, but Staplehurst were all out for 116 in 33.4 overs, their last pair's defiant stand of 100 the only real blot, and B Sherwood and P Braganza both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Nice personal note, that hundred of mine — and a red-letter day besides, with Nigel reaching 22,000 career runs and Dave Todd 50 career wickets for the club. A 176-run win, and a thoroughly good day for Linton Park.

Sun 01 Jul 1990 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWWWL

Here's the report:

Sunday last, we welcomed the visitors to Linton for what promised to be a proper contest, and so it proved — if not quite in the direction I'd have liked. Winning the toss, I put us into the field, and the lads served up a decent shift with the ball: Matt Large was in miserly, metronomic form, snaring three for a mere eleven, with Nick Froom (2-25) and Nigel Thirkell (2-35) chipping in handsomely. Bennett and Edens both got in among the runs with 31 apiece, but we kept a lid on things well enough to fancy our chances chasing.

Alas, the chase never quite came together. We slipped to 2 for 1 early on, and though a fourth-wicket stand of 55 promised salvation, three ducks on the card — Stevenson, Cheesman and Large all departing without troubling the scorers — did for us. Brian Piper played a lovely, watchful innings for a well-earned fifty, ably backed by Thirkell's 21 and my own modest 21, but 125 all out from 29.5 overs wasn't quite enough. Spare a thought too for Peter Whyte, who had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes going begging.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: Nigel Thirkell brought up his 700th appearance in Linton colours, a magnificent landmark and testament to a career well spent — he continues to lead our 1990 run charts, with Large topping the wicket-takers.

Beaten by 24 in the end. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 30 Jun 1990 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLLWWW

Saturday 30 June found us on the road to Meopham, and if the fixtures secretary has a sense of humour it wasn't in evidence when they won the toss and stuck us in.

We toiled hard but they made merry, R Turner cashing in for 80 and C Beard chipping in with 61, the openers putting on 61 before we so much as troubled the scorers, then a 3rd-wicket stand of 74 that rather took the game away from us. Credit where due — Alan Boyns bowled his heart out for 2-42, Nigel Thirkell was a model of parsimony with four maidens, and Paul Bowles and Matt Large kept plugging away. Still, 257/4 from their 46 overs was a mountain, not a molehill.

We began our reply nervously — five on the board and already a wicket down is no way to chase 258 — but a second-wicket stand of 73 steadied things nicely. I'll confess a certain quiet satisfaction in getting among the runs myself, 62 to my name, with David Castle's 44 and Brian Piper's 26 lending good support. Poor Piers McDonald had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes testament to a pitch that clearly had ideas of its own. We closed on 209/9 — brave, but not nearly enough.

Forty-eight runs the wrong side of the ledger, then. Not our day, but Nigel continues to top the season's run charts and Matt Large the wickets — plenty to build on. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 24 Jun 1990 🧢 Sunday NVKCv CC Crockham Hill CC · HomeformWLWWW

We won the toss on Sunday and, without much soul-searching, I stuck us in to bat — the right call, as it turned out. Crockham Hill came visiting and were given 175/9 off our forty overs to chew on, a total held together by Matt Large's unbeaten 34 and Paul Gibson's tidy 27. Not every name on the card covers itself in glory, mind — poor Alan Boyns departed for a duck, and I shan't let him forget it before next Sunday's tea.

In the field we had our moments of nerves. A Walker gave us a proper fright with a well-crafted fifty, and got useful company from Stuart Seal (28) and S Smith (24), their second wicket stand of fifty threatening to bat us out of it. But T Bourke went for nought to keep the arithmetic honest, and the bowlers kept their heads: David Castle led from the front with 2-31, Ian Brattle chipped in with 2-33, Matt Large took one, and Nigel Thirkell strangled the middle overs with three maidens that I suspect did more damage than any figures show. I even found 16 runs of my own along the way, which felt like riches at the time.

Crockham Hill fell nine runs short on 166/9, and we breathed out. A word too for Ian Brattle, who passed 200 career wickets in the process — a landmark earned over many a Sunday afternoon like this one. Paul Gibson still leads our run charts, Matt Large our wicket charts, and the season ticks along nicely. A fine win, and onwards we go.

Sat 23 Jun 1990 🧢 2nd XIv TO Tonbridge Onward · AwayformD

Saturday 23 June 1990 saw us head out to Dummy Site, and true to form I lost the toss — they took first knock, and I was left to ponder whether my coin-calling technique will ever improve. They batted solidly through their 47 overs to reach 199/7, with J. Irving anchoring things nicely on 74 and G. Roberts giving him fine support with a well-crafted 53. Wilf Moon added an unbeaten 25 to round things out. Credit to the lads with the ball, though — a. Larkin and Rowswell were both sent back without so much as a run to show for it, Dave Todd bowled beautifully for 3-36, and Paul Bishop and Jon Harris chipped in with 2-47 apiece, Harris bowling four maidens in a real display of patience.

Chasing 200, we never quite got the momentum going and closed on 112/8 from our 40 overs — Don Dansie top-scored with a gritty 30, well supported by Steve Cheesman's 29, but the rest of us must plead guilty to not doing our bit at the crease. I did at least manage some consolation with the ball, picking up three wickets myself, and there was a lovely moment for the club when Jon Harris brought up 4,000 career runs — a landmark worth raising a glass to.

So honours were shared in the end, a draw that felt about right on the day: we bowled like champions and batted like a side still finding its feet, but nobody could quite force the win. A fair result, and a fine excuse for tea.

Sat 23 Jun 1990 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWLLWW

We were away at West Farleigh on Saturday, and I have to say, winning the toss and having a bat felt like the right call from the moment I made it – and for once, I wasn't proved a fool. The lads batted with real purpose, Paul Gibson leading from the front with a handsome 63, while Keith Hatcher's unbeaten 45 and David Castle's 34 kept the scoreboard ticking nicely. A sixth-wicket stand of 58 gave the innings its backbone, and 234/6 off our 46 overs left us feeling rather pleased with ourselves at tea.

Defending it was another matter, mind you. West Farleigh's openers set about us with 64 for the first wicket before we could so much as look at each other, and for a while I confess the tea urn was looking like the safest thing on the ground. But cricket has a way of turning, and turn it did – David Castle, spinning away merrily, was quite unplayable, finishing with 5-40 and leaving their middle order in knots. Paul Bowles chipped in with 2-23 and Nigel Thirkell with 1-22, while Ian Brattle kept things miserly with two maidens. Fred Baker's 38 and useful contributions from A Hughes and Paul Baines were the best they could muster, and poor Tim Baker departed for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers.

They finished 144/8 from their 44, and we ran out winners by 90 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one the tea urn – and I – could finally relax over.

Wed 20 Jun 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · AwayformWLWDW

Just call at the toss, choose to bat, and get on with it — no headings, no fuss, just the report.

The toss fell my way at Sevenoaks & District Wednesday, and I confess there was no great agonising over the decision — the pitch looked a batting one, and I fancied our chances of setting something Sevenoaks would have to work for. So it proved. David Fulton played the innings of the day, 70 well past his fifty, and found the perfect foil in Keith Hatcher, whose own well-made 60 helped the pair add 107 for the second wicket — the sort of stand that wins matches on paper, if not always in practice. Brian Aiston chipped in an unbeaten 34 to see us home to 211 for 4 off our 43.3 overs, a total I was rather pleased to be defending.

And defend it we did, though not without a wobble or two. Sevenoaks got themselves to 53 for the first wicket before D Morrison departed without troubling the scorers — a duck to open proceedings in our favour. S Doel then played the captain's innings for the opposition, 71 to our chagrin, ably assisted by S Hallbrook's unbeaten 34 and Peter Holdstock's 22. Jon Harris was quite magnificent, ripping through with 5 for 65, with John Bowden (2-14) and Fred Cheesman (1-27) doing tidy work either side, and Ron Kemp refusing to leak a run through two maidens. I even found a bit of rhythm myself with the ball, five wickets to show for it.

In the end Sevenoaks closed on 188 for 8, and honours were shared. A draw, then — no losers, but plenty of winners on the day, not least Fulton and Harris, who lead our run and wicket charts respectively as the season takes shape.

Tue 19 Jun 1990 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWWLLW

Tuesday 19th June saw Rumwood CC visit Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss my thoughts turned, as they invariably do, to batting first and asking questions later.

The lads did not disappoint. A flying start of 74 for the first wicket set the tone before the breakers finally intervened, and we powered on to a handsome 143 for 2 from our 16 overs. Paul Bowles was the chief architect with a fine 51, while Nigel Thirkell (35 not out) and David Castle (34) kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. I contributed a modest 35 of my own, mostly by standing at the other end looking encouraging.

With 143 to defend, it was over to the bowlers to make the runs count, and count they did. Matt Large led the way with a tidy 2 for 20, well backed up by Alan Boyns (2-20) and Nigel Thirkell, who somehow found time between his runs to pick up 1 for 16 as well — greedy, some might say. Rumwood battled on to 102 for 7, P Humphries doing most of the damage with 32, but it was never quite enough.

We ran out winners by 41 runs, a result that keeps Nigel Thirkell handsomely clear at the top of this season's run charts on 558, and Matt Large similarly untouchable atop the wicket-takers with 36. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one to be savoured over a pint or two in the clubhouse.

Sun 17 Jun 1990 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · AwayformLWWLL

Sunday 17th June found us on the road to Bexhill, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and had no hesitation in taking first knock, a decision that looked rather shrewd by tea. Brian Piper played the innings of the day, 88 not out of watchful, unhurried craftsmanship, while Trevor Back gave him fine company with a well-struck 64. Their third-wicket stand of 136 was the platform on which everything else was built, and with Peter Whyte chipping in 25 down the order, we declared ourselves rather satisfied with 233 for 3 off our 44 overs.

Defending that sort of total ought to be the easy part, though Bexhill's Steve Cox did his best to remind us otherwise, striking a fine 64 with Simon Funnell offering support of 28. But the day belonged to Matt Large, whose 6 for 27 — four of those overs maidens, mind you — was as miserly as it was destructive, and both Martin Coleman and G Moody will have gone home wondering how they managed ducks against him. David Castle chipped in with 2 for 33 and Nigel Thirkell 1 for 15, and Bexhill folded for 168 in 34 overs.

A word too for Trevor Back, who in reaching his 64 also brought up 4,000 career runs for the club and leapfrogged Jon Harris into 16th on our all-time list — no small feat, and entirely in keeping with a season in which David Castle sits second in the run charts and Matt Large tops the wickets.

Sixty-five runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned by every man in the side.

Wed 13 Jun 1990 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Boughton Monchelsea CC · HomeformDWLWD

Wednesday 13 June 1990, and Boughton Monchelsea CC came calling. I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, stuck us in — a decision that for once didn't come back to bite me.

We got off to the sort of start that makes a captain reach for the hip flask, losing our opener for just 7. But B Nixon and Piers McDonald steadied things nicely with a second-wicket stand of 58, and between Nixon's 37, McDonald's 30 and an unbeaten 28 from Jon Harris, we crawled our way to a respectable 183/9 from our 43 overs. Not fireworks, but runs on the board all the same.

Defending it, Boughton Monchelsea threatened to make a game of it through X Bywater (37), Steve Kember (23) and X Thorburn (21), but poor J Chapman never got off the mark, and Jon Harris made sure the rest didn't linger either, snaring 3-34. Martin Larkin chipped in with 2-35 and David Castle with 1-10, while I allowed myself a rare captain's indulgence — 3-13 with the ball to go with my 28 with the bat — and they were all out for 135 in the 37th.

A tidy note for the scorebook: Harris's 28 runs also nudged him past Trevor Back into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while he and Nixon currently top our 1990 Midweek XI charts for wickets and runs respectively.

A fine win by 48 runs, and precious few complaints from the captain's chair. Onwards.

Tue 12 Jun 1990 🧢 1st XIv MT Maidstone Teachers · HomeformWLWWL

Beaten by rain we could have accepted; beaten by 41 runs after losing the toss and being asked to field, we can only doff our caps and admit Dummy Site were simply the better side on the day.

J Appleyard's fifty was the innings of the match, a proper half-century that gave their total real shape, with G Walker's 30 and G Sutton's unbeaten 21 adding the finishing gloss to 140/4 from sixteen overs. Keith Hatcher toiled hardest for us with 2-30, and David Crompton and Jon Harris chipped away either side of him, but 140 always felt a par score we'd need something special to chase down.

Special, alas, was not on the menu. A wicket down for nought before we'd so much as settled into our deckchairs set the tone, and from a recovering 42-3 we contrived to stumble to 55-6 in the sort of collapse that gives club cricket its enduring, character-building charm. Daryl Gregory's 26 and David Crompton's 21 were the only real resistance, while Piers McDonald, Keith Francis and Stuart Cheesman all made twin sixes look positively luxurious. As for your captain — nought, and the less said the better; I shall be practising my forward defensive in the garden this week.

All out for 99, beaten by 41 runs. Credit to Dummy Site, and credit to Jon Harris too, who continues his fine season sitting second in the 1st XI wicket charts. We'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Sun 10 Jun 1990 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · AwayformWWLWW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 10 June 1990. We travelled to High Halstow CC in fine spirits, and after winning the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I shan't be corrected on it.

The lads batted with real purpose to post 186 for 6 from our 40 overs. Paul Gibson led the way with a fine 52, while Brian Piper (49) and Nigel Thirkell (46) weren't far behind — the pair putting on 82 for the second wicket, which was the platform the whole innings was built on. I chipped in with 46 myself, mostly by standing at the other end looking encouraging.

With the ball, we set about defending it, and defend it we did. High Halstow were bowled out for 133 in 39.5 overs, Tim Munday's 21 the best of a fairly forlorn resistance, while poor D Swadling trudged off without troubling the scorers — 🦆 for him. Matt Large was the chief tormentor with a superb 4 for 21, and Ian Brattle (2-16) and Jon Harris (2-33) mopped up admirably around him.

Nigel Thirkell continues to head our 1990 Sunday NVKC run charts with 92, and Matt Large the wickets with 9 — both men very much in form, and long may it continue.

We got over the line by 53 runs. A good day for the club, and a thoroughly satisfactory way to spend a Sunday.

Tue 05 Jun 1990 🧢 1st XIv SC Stonehouse CC · HomeformWWLWW

Right, the coin fell our way, so we said we'd bat, and were duly rolled to 100 for 7 off our sixteen overs — the sort of total that has you murmuring "defendable, probably" over the tea urn while not quite believing it. Not our finest hour with the willow, though there was enough grit in there to give the lads something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did, for a while at least. Stonehouse's Hale had other ideas entirely, striding past his fifty and finishing unbeaten on 69 — an innings that made our modest total look rather smaller by the over — with useful support from Smitherman's 26. Between the two of them they saw off our attack with something close to contempt, and their innings closed at 102 for 1 in just 12.2 overs, which tells its own story about who was in charge.

So it's back to the nets, heads up despite it all — five wickets the margin, and no arguments from this corner. On the season's brighter side, Nigel Thirkell continues to churn out the runs for the 1st XI, his tally now standing at a healthy 523 for the summer, which is rather more than can be said for the rest of us on this particular Tuesday.

Verdict: outbowled, outbatted, and rather comprehensively outclassed — but the sun was out, the tea was decent, and there's always next week.

Sat 02 Jun 1990 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformDWWLW

As we won the toss at Milstead, the choice to bat felt like the obvious one, and for a while it looked like the right one too. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, striding past his fifty to 69, with Brian Piper chipping in a handy 31 alongside him — the pair putting on 77 for the second wicket and giving the innings the sort of spine every good knock needs. After that, though, it rather came apart at the seams: 129 for 3 became 141 for 6 in the blink of an eye, and we were all out for 156 in the 46th over. Fred Cheesman's golden duck did little to arrest the slide, and as for the skipper — well, a golden blob is not the example one hopes to set, though I'm told leadership counts for something even when the bat doesn't.

With ball in hand, though, we were a different side altogether. Matt Large was in unplayable form, spinning his way to 5 for 46, while Jon Harris bowled with real discipline for 2 from 27, seven of his overs maidens. Between them Milstead never got going — R Poole and N Fisher both departed without scoring, and only K Ford, unbeaten on 30, offered any real resistance as they folded to 107 for 9. Eighteen byes did rather suggest Peter Whyte had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, but no matter.

We got over the line by 49 runs — a fine team performance built on one substantial partnership and two bowlers in irresistible form, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Thu 31 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformWDWWL

Thursday 31st May found us on the road to Leeds & Broomfield, and losing the toss to be sent in the field was, in hindsight, rather the making of the afternoon. Our hosts crawled to an early wobble at 5 for the loss of a wicket before Geoff Hunt settled in and compiled a handsome 51, with a fourth-wicket stand of 73 threatening to take the game away from us. Credit to the lads for dragging things back — from 111/6 they folded to 125/9, Ian Brattle the chief tormentor with 4-38, Matt Large (3-27) and Nigel Thirkell (2-38) mopping up nicely. Restricting them to 131/9 from their sixteen overs left us with a target that felt, for once, gettable.

With the bat we barely broke sweat, cruising home at 133/1 in 14.2 overs. Nigel Thirkell was in imperious touch with an unbeaten 63, David Castle chipped in with 36 — quietly moving himself past William Buck into 9th on the club's all-time run charts, no less — and Paul Gibson saw us home with 20 not out. I'll confess to a spot of self-indulgence, leading from the front with 63 of my own, though my afternoon with the gloves was rather less distinguished, nine byes going begging behind the stumps.

Two points, a three-wicket win, and Nigel Thirkell and Matt Large both continuing to top the season's charts. A thoroughly earned victory, byes and all.

Mon 28 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv XM XII Men · HomeformLWDWW

Beaten by 57 runs, but the manner of it was worth the price of admission. Winning the toss would have been nice — instead we watched Dummy Site's openers settle in, put on 66 without alarm, and never quite look back. D Welch's 110 was the innings of the day, a proper captain's-headache of a century, with C Watson's 86 doing the heavy lifting either side of it and that 155-run second-wicket stand doing most of the real damage. Credit where due: G Sutton bowled beautifully for his 2-33, and Matt Large ran in all afternoon for one wicket and three hard-earned maidens — figures that flattered nobody but told their own story of effort.

Chasing 273, we made a proper fist of it. Nigel Thirkell's 80 and Paul Brattle's 60 built us a platform via a stand of 160 that had us dreaming, before the middle order did its best impression of a collapsing deckchair — 176-4 to 190-7 in the blink of an eye. Two ducks went into the ledger, mine among the near-misses only in spirit; my own 80 was some consolation, if scant comfort with the result already drifting away. Twenty-six extras kept the total respectable, and 215 all out was no disgrace against that total.

Nigel continues to lead the run charts, Matt Large the wickets — the engine room is working even when the scoreboard isn't. Beaten, not humiliated. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 27 May 1990 🧢 Sunday NVKCv UC Underriver CC · HomeformWWWLW

Losing the toss on a fine Sunday and being asked to field is not, traditionally, how I like to start proceedings, but Underriver duly went in and made a fair fist of things, reaching 129 for 9 from their forty overs. S Barr-Smith led the way with a well-made 40, ably assisted by Paul Lack's unbeaten 22, the pair putting on a crucial 53 for the first wicket before we found our rhythm. From 65 for 4 they slid to 73 for 7 under mounting pressure, and somewhere in there poor Adrian Barr-Smith trudged back without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best families. Alan Boyns was our chief tormentor with 3 for 22, with Nigel Thirkell (2-22, and three miserly maidens to boot) and Matt Large (2-22) doing their bit to keep the visitors honest.

With 130 to chase, we set about it in fine style, the openers putting on 79 before the first wicket fell — the platform from which the whole innings was built. Paul Bowles top-scored with a handsome 42, David Castle chipped in with 34 and Paul Gibson saw us home unbeaten on 31. I managed a modest 21 myself, and poor Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 9 byes for his troubles.

We got there with three wickets and plenty of overs to spare. A thoroughly satisfying win by 7 wickets — onwards we go.

Sat 26 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv CK Castle Hill CC, Kent · HomeformWLWDW

Saturday 26th May found us welcoming Castle Hill CC to Linton Park, and I confess losing the toss and being asked to field first is not how any captain likes to begin his afternoon. But needs must, and the lads set about their work with real purpose.

Dave Todd was the star of the show with the ball, prising out three for a miserly ten runs, while Matt Large and Jon Harris both chipped in with three apiece. Matt's four maidens told their own story — Castle Hill simply couldn't lay a bat on him. All told we had them back in the pavilion for 120, and though 39.4 overs is a fair stretch of graft in the field, it never once felt like hard labour with bowling of that quality.

Then came the formality of the chase, and what a formality it turned out to be. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 68 struck with the sort of authority that makes a captain's job rather easy, while David Castle — quietly amassing runs all season and now second in the club's charts with 334 — offered watchful, elegant support with 46 not out. Between them they knocked off 125 without so much as troubling the other end of the order, wrapping things up in 19.3 overs.

Ten wickets, two points, and Jon Harris still sitting proudly atop the wicket charts on 20. A thoroughly one-sided afternoon, and I shan't apologise for saying so — some days the village game is beautifully, brutally simple.

Tue 22 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformLWLWD

Skipper's Log, Tuesday 22 May — Staplehurst CC visited, and won the toss I did not, though happily I called correctly and had few qualms about sending us in first.

Sixteen overs brought us 117 for 6, a total that felt about right for the surface once Piers McDonald had played the anchor role for his 35, with Nigel Thirkell keeping him honest company for 25. I contributed a tidy 25 myself, which I shall modestly describe as timely rather than pretty.

With the ball, we set about Staplehurst in the manner of a village committee dismantling a badly-worded motion. Their first wicket fell for the princely sum of 1, and from there the innings developed a delightful wobble — 41 for 4 collapsing to 55 for 7 as if someone had pulled a plug. Poor J Bowers departed without troubling the scorers at all, and I. Gosling's defiant 25 was the only real resistance the visitors could muster. David Crompton bowled beautifully for 3 for 22, with Matt Large (2 for 5) and Ron Kemp (1 for 21) doing the mopping up. Staplehurst closed on 106 for 9 — eleven runs shy, and not for lack of trying.

Elsewhere, Nigel continues to top our season's run charts with 371, and Matt Large sits third among the wicket-takers with 16 — form that bodes well as the summer rolls on.

A fine win, then, by 11 runs — tight enough to keep the heart rate up, comfortable enough to enjoy the tea afterwards. Onwards we go.

Sun 20 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv BC Battle CC · AwayformWLWLW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 20 May 1990. The road took us to Battle CC, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat; the right call, I felt, though as ever it's easy to look clever after the fact.

Brian Piper made sure of that, compiling a superb unbeaten 110 to anchor the innings, with Nigel Thirkell (45) and Keith Hatcher (25) offering fine support around him. The second-wicket pair put on a crucial 124 and for a while we looked set fair for something rather special. Then, as club cricket so often insists, the wheels came off in the manner only we seem capable of — 177 for 2 became 189 for 5 in the blink of an eye, with Tim Thirkell and Fred Cheesman both contributing a golden duck apiece to the cause. We closed on 209 for 5 from 51.4 overs, a total I felt gave us something to bowl at.

And bowl we did. Jon Harris was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 5 for 97, while Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 4 for 77 and seven miserly maidens — not a run given away lightly. I managed 4 wickets myself, having already chipped in with 45 with the bat, so a decent all-round afternoon by my own modest standards. Tim Eldridge's 79 threatened to take the game away from us, well supported by B Smith (29) and Bill Mozley (22), but an early stumble at 3 for 1 and our bowling meant Battle closed on 183 for 9.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could force the issue. Frustrating, but with Nigel Thirkell now leading both our run and wicket charts for the season, there's plenty to be cheerful about.

Sat 19 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWWLWL

Saturday 19th of May found us welcoming Headcorn CC to Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I shall claim full credit for, whatever the scorebook says about how it was earned. We lost the opener with barely a run on the board, which is never the ideal way to settle the nerves, but Peter Whyte and Nigel Thirkell stitched together a hundred-run stand that put the innings back on its feet, Whyte cruising to 53 and Thirkell chipping in a fine 37. Poor David Castle managed only a duck for his troubles, bless him, but the extras column did its bit too with 28 wide, no-ball and bye runs helping us to a respectable 179/6 from our 46 overs.

Defending it, we made early inroads with just 8 on their board, and though Headcorn's John Phipps (41 not out) and Simon Phipps (36) threatened to make a fist of it, we squeezed them from 63-4 to 71-7 and never let go, three of their number departing without troubling the scorers. The day belonged to Nigel Thirkell, whose 6-43 was a thoroughly deserved five-for and then some, with Matt Large (2-43, four maidens of pure meanness) and Alan Boyns (1-18) tidying up the rest. I even managed 37 with the bat and 6 wickets myself, for what little that's worth alongside such company.

Headcorn were bowled out for 123, leaving us home by 56 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one I shall enjoy retelling — with minor embellishments — at the bar for weeks to come.

Tue 15 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · HomeformWWWLW

Fine margins in the end, and I'll not pretend otherwise — but on Tuesday we gave Leybourne a proper contest before the wheels found the ditch. Winning the toss and electing to bat felt like the right call at the time, and I'll stand by it in print if not entirely in my heart, because 76 all out in 14.4 overs is not the stuff of legend. We were motoring along nicely enough at 49 for 4 before the middle order decided that discretion was the better part of valour, and collapsed to 56 for 7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Jim Hall, Steve Cheesman and Jon Harris all contributed a golden duck apiece to the cause — a hat-trick of nothings that I shall charitably call solidarity.

With the bat having rather let the side down, it was left to the ball to salvage some pride, and salvage some it did. Leybourne cantered to 80 for 2 in 13.4 overs, S Wall doing most of the damage with 41 and B Harris unbeaten on 27 to see them home. Nigel Thirkell was the pick of our attack, snaring 1 for 22 with the sort of control the rest of us could only admire from the boundary rope — and he continues to sit third in this season's wicket charts, with David Castle still setting the pace up top on runs.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguing the toss on that scoreline. We'll dust ourselves down, have a stern word with the middle order, and come back better next week.

Sun 13 May 1990 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWWWWL

Sunday 13th May, and Sissinghurst rolled up to Linton Park hoping for tea and sympathy. They got neither, though we did lose the toss and were sent out to field, which round here counts as a minor tragedy before a ball is bowled.

Sissinghurst crawled to 145/7 off their forty, built on a solid 61 for the first wicket before we finally prised it open. James Hammond's 44 was the innings' backbone, with Graham White and I Culley chipping in. Credit to Matt Large, whose 3-32 did the real damage, well backed by Alan Boyns' 2-48 and Jon Harris, who bowled three maidens and generally made batting look like hard labour. We shipped a couple of cheap wickets at the top ourselves in reply — Andrew Knowler and Jon Gurr both back in the pavilion without so much as a single to their name, ducks apiece, the sort of thing a captain learns to laugh about over a pint rather than at the time.

No matter — Peter Whyte strolled to a magnificent 72, anchoring an opening stand of 85 that put the result beyond doubt long before David Castle's 33 and Nigel Thirkell's unbeaten 25 tidied things up. I contributed a modest 25 of my own, mostly for the look of the thing. Home by seven wickets with overs to spare, Whyte now tops our Sunday run charts and Large the wickets — a thoroughly good day for the club, and one the tea urn thoroughly deserved.

Sat 12 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWWWWL

Saturday 12 May 1990, and Rumwood CC arrived to find the toss going against us — quite naturally, given the way this season's coin has been behaving, they had first use of a decent-looking pitch. We toiled away as they built to 167/6 from their 46 overs, Darren Brame the chief architect with a composed 45 not out, well supported by P Humphries (41) and G Appleby (27), the pair putting on 64 for the fourth wicket to give the innings its backbone. Their last pair then had the cheek to add an unwanted 35, which rather took the shine off things. Credit where due, though: Ian Brattle bowled beautifully for 2-18 with four maidens — not a run given away lightly — backed up nicely by Matt Large (2-40) and Jon Harris (2-42), while A Morgan departed for a golden duck at our hands.

Chasing 168, we got there with something to spare, closing on 168/5 from 37.5 overs. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, an excellent 70, with Paul Gibson (41) and David Castle (22) lending sturdy support — the second-wicket pair adding a match-defining 110. I'll confess a personal contribution of 70 was rather satisfying, if I do say so myself.

David Castle continues to lead the 1st XI run charts with 279, and Matt Large tops the wicket-takers with 12 — both men doing rather more than their fair share this summer. A five-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Tue 08 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformDWWWW

We were beaten by 79 runs, and my honest verdict is that Hollingbourne bowled and batted with more purpose than we managed on the day.

Losing the toss on a Tuesday evening always feels like the first small indignity of the match, and Hollingbourne wasted no time compounding it, racing to 136/4 from their sixteen overs. Neville Smith led the charge with a fine 38, well supported by Geoff Griffiths (24) and Mike Donald (21). Credit where it's due — Nigel Thirkell was the pick of our attack with 1-20, and Jon Harris (1-28) and David Castle (1-30) chipped in admirably. Young Piers McDonald had a torrid time behind the stumps, gathering 18 byes in the process; not his finest evening, but these things happen to the best of keepers.

Chasing 137, we made a hash of it from the off — 6-1 set an unhappy tone, and things unravelled further as we slumped from 23-2 to 40-5 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a pint. Mike Bains, Ron Kemp and Matt Large all contributed golden ducks to the cause, which is not the kind of hat-trick any of us wants. Only David Castle showed the necessary resolve, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 26 as we folded for 57 in 14 overs.

Small consolations: Castle now leads our 1990 run charts with 257, and Harris sits second in the wickets column with 10. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 07 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDDWWW

Monday 07 May 1990. Bearsted CC visited, I called correctly, and — never one to overthink a good omen — stuck us in.

What followed was about as pleasant an afternoon as this captain has known. Paul Gibson batted like a man with somewhere important to be, cruising to a magnificent unbeaten century, while Nigel Thirkell kept him honest with a fine 89 of his own; the two of them, together with David Castle's brisk 44, put on 116 for the third wicket and hauled us up to a formidable 295 for 3 off our 46 overs. I shan't pretend I wasn't rather pleased watching that from the pavilion steps.

Defending it should have been the easy part, and so it largely proved. Bearsted rallied a touch through Norman Bateman (37) and David Gibson (32), with Sean Carter chipping in 24 and a 60-run stand for the fifth wicket the only real resistance, but they never threatened the target. Paul Bowles was the chief destroyer with 3 for 47, well backed by Matt Large (2-33), Nigel Thirkell (1-9) and the miserly Jon Harris, who bowled four maidens without so much as a raised eyebrow. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps, 19 byes escaping his gloves — these things happen to the best of us. They closed on 168 for 9.

A word too for David Castle, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark worth raising a glass to. We ran out winners by 127 runs. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 06 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv SC Sandwich Town CC · HomeformLDDWW

Sunday the sixth of May, and Sandwich Town CC came calling at Linton Park in what turned out to be rather a fine afternoon for us. I won the toss — a rare enough event that I felt obliged to make something of it — and had no hesitation in asking us to bat.

David Castle set about it in irrepressible form, finishing unbeaten on 84, while Paul Gibson made a handsome 79 and I chipped in with 62 of my own, which I confess I was rather pleased with. The three of us can thank a marvellous 135-run stand for the third wicket, the sort of partnership that lets a captain sit back with a cup of tea and pretend it's all going to plan. We closed on 240 for 3 from 43.2 overs — a total that felt, even before a ball was bowled in reply, faintly beyond Sandwich Town's reach.

So it proved. John Jones battled to 33 and Michael Birch to 21, with a 52-run second-wicket stand the only real resistance, but Jon Harris was miserly and menacing in equal measure, taking 3 for 33 with five maidens, well backed by Tim Lush's 3 for 44 and my own 2 for 12. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes going astray, and B Birch departed for a duck. Sandwich Town were all out for 137.

A 103-run victory, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 05 May 1990 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformDLDDW

Saturday 5th May 1990, and off we trundled to Bidborough with the sun, mercifully, on our side. I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, stuck us in.

What followed was rather more than we had any right to expect. Our openers set about the Bidborough attack with real purpose, putting on 95 before the first wicket finally went down, and from there Paul Bowles simply refused to get out, finishing unbeaten on a magnificent 134. Tim Thirkell chipped in nicely with 33, and 210 for 2 off our 45 overs left us feeling rather pleased with ourselves over the tea urn.

Defending it was a different matter entirely. Bidborough dug in and made a proper fist of it — Adrian Bassett top-scoring with 45, Brian Wood a stubborn 42, and P Wood weighing in with 24 — and for a good while it looked like our lead might evaporate in the Kent air. It was Jon Harris who dragged us back from the brink, bowling his heart out for a well-deserved 5 for 96, with Dave Todd tidy and miserly alongside him for 3 for 30 off three maidens, and Nigel Thirkell chipping in with 1 for 15. Bidborough were eventually all out for 203 in the 55th over, and we held our nerve to the very last run.

A win by 7 runs, then — the sort that takes a decade off your life and puts it straight back on again. Paul Bowles now leads our season's run charts, Jon Harris sits second among the wicket-takers, and this old captain shall sleep rather well tonight. Onwards.

Sun 29 Apr 1990 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformLDLDD

Sunday last, the lads made the journey to Sheldwich CC, and for once the coin actually smiled on me — heads it was, and I had no hesitation in sending us in. Trevor Back set about compiling a composed 55 not out, the sort of half-century that makes a captain feel rather clever for winning that toss, with Nigel Thirkell (41) and David Castle (33) lending sturdy support and a 53-run stand for the third wicket giving the innings its backbone. I chipped in with 41 myself, more through good fortune than genuine class, as we closed on a healthy 177/4 from our 47 overs.

Sheldwich made a decent fist of the chase, with Collard (48) and Martin Mills (34) putting on 67 for the second wicket and threatening to spoil our Sunday. But 81-2 became 94-5 in the blink of an eye, Nigel Mannouch and Tim Penn both departing without troubling the scorers, and Matt Large simply bamboozled them — 5 for 25, five maidens, and barely a boundary offered in return. Nigel Thirkell (2-20) and Alan Boyns (1-13) tidied up the rest, though poor Peter Whyte endured a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 25 byes escaping his grasp like eels.

A red-letter day off the pitch too: David Castle brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, and Trevor Back's 55 eased him past Jon Harris into 16th on the all-time list. All told, a 37-run victory and two points thoroughly banked — the sort of Sunday that makes the drive home feel considerably shorter.

Sat 28 Apr 1990 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformWLDLD

I fielded first thoughts about the wicket, but on winning the toss I had no hesitation batting — and for once the skipper's hunch was vindicated. Our openers gave us exactly the sort of platform every captain dreams of and rarely gets, motoring to 80 without loss before the first fell, and from there David Castle simply refused to get out, compiling a watchful, well-judged 70 not out. Paul Bowles chipped in a handy 33 and Alan Boyns 21, though it must be said the middle order rather lost its head in a mad rush from 80-1 to 88-4 — and the less said about Nigel Thirkell and Matt Large's twin ducks the better. 157/8 from our 40 felt a fair, if slightly nervous, total.

In the field the lads were magnificent. Penshurst lost an early wicket at 8 and never quite settled, with John Hicks and B Curtis both back in the hutch without scoring. Ian Brattle was the star of the show — 3 for 7, seven of his overs maidens, bowling with the miserly discipline of a man who'd left his boots on all week. Matt Large backed him up superbly with 3-13, redemption indeed after his morning duck, and Paul Bowles chimed in with 1-12. Poor Piers McDonald, though, will want to forget those 30 byes in a hurry.

As for my own contribution — nought, and we shall speak no more of it. Penshurst crawled to 81/7 from their 41, and honours were shared. A draw, then, but an honest one: we shall take it and toddle off for tea with heads held reasonably high.