🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 25 Sep 1993 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · AwayformDDWLL

As of Saturday 25th September 1993, we set off to Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC with the coin already conspiring against us — the toss lost, and the visitors electing to have first knock. Not that it much mattered in the end. Barry Dixon and B- Phillips put on a crucial 76 for the second wicket to give the innings some backbone, with Dixon's 55 the pick of it and Peter Finch chipping in an unbeaten 30, and for a while 172-6 looked like the platform for something uncomfortable. But Jon Harris had other ideas, ripping through with 4-24 — Carl Read, N Davies and Tim Morgan all shipped ducks to our bowling 🦆 — with Rob Doick chiming in for good measure, and 184/6 from 48 overs felt, by the finish, a touch short of the mark.

Chasing it down, David Castle played the innings of the day — 73 well past his fifty — anchoring things beautifully after Dave Charlton and Piers McDonald had laid a foundation worth 52 for the first wicket. Poor Clive Newman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 12 byes going begging, but nobody was counting those come tea. We got home at 186/6 with overs to spare.

Nigel Thirkell continues to plunder runs for fun atop the season's charts, and Jon Harris's four today nudge him further up the wicket-takers' table — the pair of them fast becoming the engine room of our summer. A fine win by four wickets, and one we'll happily bank. Onwards.

Sat 25 Sep 1993 🧢 2nd XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformDDWWD

As the summer of 1993 wraps up, honorary opening the ledger:

Skipper's Log, 25 September 1993: Yalding CC visited, I won the toss, and there was never much doubt what I'd do with it — a decent strip and a settled dressing room meant batting first was the only sensible course. Mike Elworthy played the innings of the day, motoring past his fifty to 61, while Dave Todd (39) and Ron McCormick (21) filled in the gaps either side of him. The openers deserve the real credit though — 105 for the first wicket is the kind of platform captains dream about and rarely get, and it took the shine off Trevor Back's afternoon somewhat, undone for a duck while the scoreboard ticked merrily on around him. We closed on 147/5 from our 42, a total that felt like enough without ever feeling like plenty.

So it proved. Yalding's reply never found its rhythm — 45/2 became 54/5 in the blink of an eye, and Liam Hawkins, M Ashton and D Shrimpton all trooped back without so much as a run to show for it. Don Dansie was the chief architect, 4-20 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — miserly barely covers it — with Dave Todd (2-6) and Chris Tymms (1-13) tightening the noose. I even chipped in with 39 myself, more by accident than design.

Yalding scrapped to 78/8 from their 29 before somehow escaping with a draw. Honours shared, then — though on the balance of an afternoon like that, we'll happily settle for calling it a win in all but name.

Wed 22 Sep 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLWDDL

Wednesday 22 September 1993, and off we trundled to Penshurst Park, blessed with a coin toss that actually went our way for once — I had no hesitation in batting first.

What followed was rather splendid. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of a man born to bat on Penshurst's outfield, striking a magnificent 115, while Paul Bowles chipped in with a classy 55 alongside him — the pair adding 135 for the second wicket and doing most of my captaincy for me. We closed on 221 for 5 from our 38 overs, a total I was rather proud to defend, and a fitting stage for Nigel to bring up 27,000 career runs for the club — not a milestone one reaches by accident.

Defending it, however, proved less straightforward than the scorebook suggests. We had them 6 for 1 and dreaming of an early bath, but C Williamson (67) and Simon Leegood (50) stitched together a stubborn 122 for the third wicket that had me checking my watch rather too often, with John Darby's unbeaten 24 threatening to see them home. Thankfully Piers McDonald had other ideas, spinning his way to a magical 5 for 45, John Hicks fell for a golden duck, and Fred Cheesman (2-48) and the miserly Darren Styles (1-5, four maidens and not a run given away lightly) squeezed the last drops out of them. Penshurst finally folded for 210.

Eleven runs the margin, nerves thoroughly tested, but a very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 19 Sep 1993 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWDDWL

Sunday 19th September, 1993, and Anchorians CC came calling. I won the toss, and there was never much doubt in my mind what I'd do with it — up the light aircraft steps we went to bat first.

It wasn't the tidiest of starts, I'll admit. One down for one hardly had the tea urn steaming with confidence, and for a while we rather resembled a side unsure whether it was arriving or leaving. But Nigel Thirkell, playing the innings of the day, ground his way to 56, with David Castle chipping in a handsome 31 and Rob Doick unbeaten on 26. The two of them shared a fifth-wicket stand of 65 that dragged us back into some sort of shape, and then, when all seemed done and dusted, our last pair found 41 runs from somewhere — heaven knows where, possibly the tea table — to leave us with a total, 154 for 6 from our 42 overs, that had a whiff of respectability about it.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Keith Wooding and Gary Myers simply declined the script, putting on an unbroken opening stand of 155 in just over 30 overs — 72 and 52 apiece, both unbeaten, both entirely too good for us. Poor Clive Newman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 27 byes going begging, though in fairness the bowling gave him little to work with. I did my best to lead by example with 56 of my own, and Thirkell's knock keeps him top of the 1st XI run charts with 1106 for the summer — some comfort there.

Beaten by four wickets in the end. Character-building stuff, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 18 Sep 1993 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWWDDW

As they came off nine down at 109, someone muttered "well, that escalated quickly" — and that about summed up our afternoon at West Farleigh.

Losing the toss and being put in to bowl is never how you'd script it, but the lads made a fair fist of it. An early wobble saw the hosts slip to 8-1, and for a while it looked like we might have them in real trouble, only for a stubborn 63-run stand for the second wicket to steady the ship. Ed DeLucy (40) and Glen Aukett (27) did the heavy lifting with the bat, but our attack kept plugging away — Fred Cheesman the pick of them with 3-20, Ian Brattle miserly as ever with 3-33 and four maidens, and Nigel Thirkell chipping in with 1-15. Mick Beeney departed for a duck at our hands, which was at least some consolation. All told, 135-8 from their 42 overs felt gettable.

And for a while it was. Clive Newman (28) and Dave Charlton (20) gave us something to build on, but cricket has a cruel sense of humour, and ours arrived in the form of a horror stretch from 102-6 to 109-9 that unravelled almost before anyone had sat back down with their tea. Matt Large's golden duck rather summed up the mood.

Eighteen runs the wrong side of the ledger in the end. One bright note amid the wreckage: Ian Brattle's three wickets nudged him past John Taylor into 14th on the club's all-time list — some solace for the drive home. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 18 Sep 1993 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformLDDWW

Saturday 18 September 1993, and we welcomed Rainham (Kent) CC to Linton Park under grey skies and greyer prospects, having lost the toss for what felt like the ninth week running. They chose to bat, and by the time the dust had settled they'd carted us to 205 for 4 off their 54 overs, the bulk of it courtesy of Alfie Fisher, who ground out a magnificent unbeaten 124 while George Foote chipped in a handy 46 alongside him — a stand of 126 for the second wicket that, frankly, did for us before tea. Don Dansie was pick of our attack with 2 for 61, Daniel Thirkell picked up one, and Jon Harris, miserly as ever with nine maidens to his name, took 1 for 38.

Chasing 206, we set about it in the sensible, unhurried fashion for which the Linton Park middle order is not always celebrated. Ron McCormick anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 45, with Don Dansie (23) and Dave Todd (21 not out) offering good support, and I managed to scratch together 21 of my own before growing restless. Poor Paul Clayton, alas, departed without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin.

In the end 135 for 5 off our 44 overs left us well short of the target but comfortably shy of defeat too, and honours were shared. A draw, then — nobody's idea of glory, but on a day when one man's century did most of the damage, escaping with our dignity intact felt rather like a result.

Sat 11 Sep 1993 🧢 1st XIv High Halstow CC · HomeformWWWDD

I'll be delighted to hoy — David Castle carrying the innings, Alan Boyns cutting through their lower order. Let me write this up.

Saturday 11 September 1993, and a rare thing occurred: I called correctly at the toss. Even rarer, I knew exactly what to do with it — no umming, no consulting the senior pros, straight up and bat. High Halstow CC were the visitors, and by close of play they'll have wished I'd fluffed the call.

David Castle set about proceedings as if he had all afternoon, which, as it turned out, he very nearly did — 96 not out, the innings built squarely on his shoulders, with Clive Newman's fifty and Dave Charlton's 40 lending sturdy support. The openers put on 117 before anyone troubled the scorers, which rather set the tone, and even our extras column turned in a handy 27, as if embarrassed to be left out. We closed on 220/2 from 49.2 overs — a total that had High Halstow's bowlers reaching for the liniment.

In the field, the lads were merciless. Alan Boyns led the charge with 3-9, Jon Harris chipped in 3-14 with four maidens of the miserly sort that sap a batting side's will to live, and Dave Todd took 2-36. Poor Chris Dockwray departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers, and High Halstow slid from 91-6 to 97 all out, Tony Wallace's battling 38 not out the only real resistance.

We won by 123 runs. And a word for the mantelpiece: David Castle brought up 10,000 career runs for the club during that innings — the sort of milestone that puts a lump in an old skipper's throat. A very good day indeed.

Wed 08 Sep 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLLWDD

Wednesday last, we set off for The Mote in reasonably good spirits, which in hindsight was our first tactical error of the day. Lost the toss, got put in to field first, and I confess a small part of me was relieved to delay the reckoning with the bat.

That relief didn't last. We were bowled out for 97 in 45.1 overs, an innings that never quite found its rhythm, and featured golden ducks for both Adrian Caddick and Richard Piper — two for the price of nought, as it were. It's the sort of scoreline that has you studying your bootlaces rather awkwardly during the tea interval.

With the ball we at least showed some fight, but The Mote's openers simply had other ideas. Steve Tunnicliffe cruised to 49 not out, with A Baxter keeping him company on 45 not out, and between them they knocked off 98 without loss in a brisk 18 overs — over before some of us had finished our second cup of tea. Elsewhere, credit where due: Mike Caddick continues to lead the 1993 Midweek XI run charts with 461 for the season, a rare bright spot to cling to on the drive home.

Ten wickets is a proper hiding by anyone's measure, and there's no dressing it up. Heads up, though, lads — back to the nets, and better luck at the next fixture.

Mon 06 Sep 1993 🧢 Tour XIv RC Redruth CC · AwayformLDLWW

We were up against it from the toss, and asked to bowl first — and somehow that turned out to be the least of our worries.

The opposition ground their way to 185/6 from 40 overs, D Thomas anchoring things with an unbeaten 53 and N Hambly chipping in a tidy half-century of his own with 50. To our credit the bowling never gave up the ghost — Paul Bishop was the pick of us with 2-14, Rob Doick and Matt Large both chipped in with 2-29 and 2-37 respectively, and Doick's two maidens showed there wasn't much on offer for the strokemakers.

Chasing 186, we replied with 155/9 from 38.2 overs, Rob Doick top-scoring with a fine 45 and Adrian Caddick right behind him with 43 — the two of them putting on 70 for the seventh wicket in the only real stand of the innings. Elsewhere it was a rockier tale: Paul Bishop's duck rather cancelled out his heroics with the ball, ten byes had Steve Cheesman quietly wishing the ground would swallow him, and your captain contrived a golden blob — leading from the front is all very well, but not, apparently, when it's back to the pavilion first ball.

One shaft of sunlight: Rob Doick brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly earned on this evidence. Beaten by 30 runs in the end — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 05 Sep 1993 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformWLDLW

We won the toss at Beacon CC and, without much hesitation, chose to bat — the pitch had that look about it, and I like to think I read it correctly. Nigel Thirkell certainly justified my confidence, compiling a magnificent 119 not out, the sort of innings that makes a captain's decisions look a good deal shrewder than they are. Matt Large (28) and Rob Doick (26) chipped in nicely, and their fifth-wicket stand of 57 gave the innings its backbone, while a spirited last-wicket flourish of 46 rounded us out to a very respectable 240/6 from our forty overs. Poor Paul Bishop will not want reminding of his duck, but these things happen to the best of us, and rarely at the worst possible moment.

With the ball, we set about defending it in some style. Kevin Thomas gave Beacon hope with a fine 87, well supported by Ralph Williams' 39, and their openers put on a hearty 85 before we made any inroads at all — Craig Thomas departing for nought was scant consolation early on. But Daniel Thirkell was the difference, prising out three for 31 with real skill, backed up handsomely by Alan Boyns and Adrian Caddick, while Matt Large bowled two tidy maidens that gave nothing away. Twelve byes did rather suggest poor Mike Elworthy had one of those afternoons behind the stumps.

In the end Beacon fell for 205, and we came away 35 runs to the good — two points thoroughly banked, and a rare pleasure to lead from the front with the bat as well as the coin toss.

Sat 04 Sep 1993 🧢 2nd XIv OC Outwood CC · HomeformWLDDW

Saturday 04 September 1993 — Outwood CC the visitors, and after losing the toss I was informed, with the usual diplomatic firmness, that we'd be bowling first. No complaints from me; the pitch looked like it had a bit in it, and so it proved.

Outwood battled to 160 all out in 45.5 overs, Roger Waller top-scoring with 47 and getting decent support from Michael Macleod (42) and Charles Murchie (26), but the middle order rather fell apart at our feet — Siegle, O'Mahony and Beach all back in the pavilion without so much as a nibble. The architect of the collapse was Don Dansie, who span a web through them for 5-37 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that makes you wonder why we bother with the rest of us. Chris Tymms (2-21) and Dave Todd (2-34) tidied up nicely round the edges.

Chasing 161, we barely broke sweat: 161/2 in 35.3 overs, and the innings belonged entirely to Clive Newman, whose unbeaten century — a magnificent 100 not out — was the sort of innings you tell your grandchildren about, ably supported by Trevor Back's composed 46 not out. Back continues to lead our 1993 run charts with 420, and Tymms tops the wicket pile with 29 — the engine room doing exactly what it says on the tin.

An eight-wicket win, achieved with minimum fuss and maximum style. Onwards indeed.

Fri 03 Sep 1993 🧢 Tour XIv MC Mullion CC · AwayformLWLDL

From the captain's chair — Friday 03 September 1993. We travelled to Mullion CC, and for once the coin obliged me, so naturally I did what any captain raised on tea and optimism does: I stuck us in.

It was, by our modest standards, a solid effort. We were bowled out for 145 in 44 overs, Fred Cheesman leading the charge with a fine 33, Nigel Thirkell chipping in with 22 of the sturdiest sort. Elsewhere the scorebook makes for less flattering reading — Simon Thirkell, Rob Doick and Adrian Caddick all departed without troubling the scorers, ducks all round, though I note with some pride that our extras column, a generous 29, rather outshone them.

In the field we set about defending it, and Mullion were dismissed for 126 in 39.5 overs, Gary Pollard (26) and Philip Burslem (20) doing most of the damage before Nigel Thirkell got among them with a superb 4-12 to lead our attack, well backed by Jon Harris (2-19) and Rob Doick (2-40), with Simon Thirkell tying things down for two maidens. The first wicket fell for just 7, and M Whyte, J Stanley and Christian Bostock all walked back for ducks of their own — a small mercy for poor Mike Elworthy, who had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 13 byes escaping his gloves like they had a bus to catch.

We got home by 19 runs. A scrappy, ducks-strewn, thoroughly English victory — and a very good day for the club indeed.

Wed 01 Sep 1993 🧢 Tour XIv TC Truro CC · AwayformWLWLD

As it stood on the fixture card, we'd lost the toss and been sent out to bat at Truro — never the ideal way to start a Wednesday. We huffed and puffed our way to 115 all out in 40.4 overs, with Alan Boyns top-scoring on 22 and Simon Thirkell chipping in a fair 20 alongside him. In between there was a wobble that would have had the tea urn shaking — 15-1 became 22-4 before most of us had found our rhythm — and poor Nigel Thirkell endured the long, lonely walk back for nought. Mercifully the extras column, generous to a fault as ever, weighed in with 33 to keep the total respectable.

Truro's reply of 116-7 from 35.4 overs never quite got away from us, thanks largely to Jon Harris steaming in for 2-24 and Rob Doick backing him up nicely with 2-27; Alan Boyns picked up one for good measure, while Nigel Thirkell atoned handsomely for his golden duck with three tidy maidens. Ryan Driver (36) and Jason Merry (27) did most of the damage for the home side, though we did send Jonathan Kent back without so much as a run to his name.

I managed 22 myself, which at least keeps me out of the bottom of the batting order, and Alan Boyns now leads our early-season run charts with the same score, Rob Doick topping the wickets column.

In the end it was Truro by three wickets — a narrow squeak that felt more like a moral victory than a loss. We'll regroup, dust off the whites, and come back stronger next week.

Mon 30 Aug 1993 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWWWWD

As a captain who came off worse this weekend, the ducks pass me by

Monday 30 August 1993, and Bearsted CC rolled up for what turned into a proper old-fashioned arm-wrestle of a draw. Won the toss, and with the sun out and no earthly reason to do otherwise, I stuck us in. Dave Charlton played the innings of the day, a fine 65, while Clive Newman (38) and Piers McDonald (33) chipped in nicely either side of him — the pair adding a crucial 67 for the fourth wicket to give us something to bowl at. We closed on a respectable 204/7 from our sixty overs.

Bearsted's openers, though, had other ideas, putting on 136 before we so much as looked like taking a wicket — the sort of start that has a captain rearranging his field purely for something to do. Mark Stevens (74) and Stephen Pearce (47) did the bulk of the damage, but credit to the lads for hauling things back from 151-2 to 158-5 in a hurry, Stephen Horrocks even collecting a duck for his trouble. Matt Large was superb, 3-36 with six miserly maidens, well backed by Dave Todd (3-59) and Rob Doick (1-35) — though poor Clive, having batted so well, then leaked 11 byes behind the stumps for his trouble.

In the end Bearsted finished 190/8, a few runs short but a wicket or two shy of the finish line too. Honours shared, then — and a nice personal note for Piers, whose 33 nudged him past Cliff Anscombe and into 19th on the club's all-time run list. A draw, but not a dull one.

Sun 29 Aug 1993 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformLWWWW

On Sunday 29th August, 1993, Linton Park welcomed Maidstone Dissidents CC, and with the coin obliging me I had no hesitation in putting the visitors into the field first.

We were rocked early, losing a wicket with just 7 on the board and wondering if we'd bitten off more than we could chew. But the fourth-wicket pair steadied the ship with a crucial 64, before I found some rare rhythm myself, top-scoring with 86, with Rob Doick (23) and Clive Newman (21) chipping in nicely to see us to a respectable 190 for 8 from our 46 overs.

With the ball, the Dissidents threatened to make a match of it, ambling to 144 for 9 in their 42, Dennis Salisbury (38) and M Wilson (29 not out) doing the bulk of the resisting, with an obstinate ninth-wicket stand of 69 that rather spoiled our afternoon's plans. But before that late rally we had them reeling — 64 for 5 collapsing to 71 for 8 in the blink of an eye, with poor P Buchanan and Eddie Oyediran both departing without troubling the scorers. Trevor Back was superb, 3 for 14, well backed by Matt Large (3 for 39), Nick Froom (1 for 15) and the miserly Rob Doick, who sent down four maidens for good measure. Spare a thought for Peter Whyte behind the stumps, who had a trickier time of it — eight byes going begging.

In the end neither side could quite land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the result the lads will remember fondly, but a fair reflection of a day where both sides gave as good as they got.

Sat 28 Aug 1993 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformDLWWW

We travelled to Sheldwich on Saturday 28th August with the sun out and, for once, my toss call going the right way. No hesitation in batting — a pitch like that doesn't come around often, and Nigel Thirkell made sure we didn't waste it, compiling a thoroughly magnificent 108. He found willing company in Dave Charlton (34) and Paul Bowles (31), the pair putting on 107 for the third wicket while I paced about at the boundary trying to look like I'd planned it all along. Not every man can claim a golden duck as his contribution, but Piers McDonald obliged, and we closed on a handsome 232/6 from our 46 overs.

Defending that kind of total ought to be the easy part, though Sheldwich made us work for it, reaching 171/8 from 44 with Martin Mills (25), Jonathan Heward (21) and S Figgis (20) doing the early graft — 52 for the first wicket before the breakthroughs came. Jon Shields departed for a duck of his own, small consolation for the calamity that had by then befallen ours. Jon Harris was the chief destroyer with 3-45, Matt Large tidied things up beautifully with 2-28 and two maidens, and Nigel Thirkell, not content with his century, chipped in with 1-13. Poor Clive Newman had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, eight byes going begging, though nobody held it against him.

A personal 108 was, I confess, rather satisfying — but the real story of the day belonged to Dave Charlton, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club. Won by 61 runs, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved.

Sat 28 Aug 1993 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWWLDD

The lads gathered on Saturday 28 August 1993 to welcome Sheldwich CC to Linton Park, and I duly lost the toss — no shock there, my coin-calling remains as reliable as an English summer. They chose to bat, and we set about them with the ball, chipping away steadily rather than spectacularly. Barry Hulks top-scored with 41, with Julian Beale unbeaten on 36 and R Snelling adding 26, their fifth-wicket pair putting on a stubborn 53 to give the innings some backbone. Simon Green, less fortunate, departed for a golden duck. Paul Leandro was the pick of our attack with 3-49, Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 2-30, and Alan Boyns bowled a beautifully mean spell of 1-4 with four maidens — not a run given away lightly. Sheldwich closed on 195/9 from their 50.4 overs.

Chasing 196, Tim Thirkell played the innings of the day, a fine 54, well supported by Stewart Morrison (35) and Mike Elworthy (33), while our openers laid the platform with a rollicking 57-run stand. Richard Piper's contribution was rather briefer — out for a duck — but the rest held their nerve, and we got home on 196/5 in 41.1 overs.

A five-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — Tim Thirkell continues his fine season, now second in the 2nd XI run charts, with Alan Boyns third among the wicket-takers. Onwards, indeed.

Wed 25 Aug 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv PO P.Brattle's XI - Other · HomeformLLLWD

Right, kettle's on, pads are off — time to report on Wednesday's affair against Dummy Site.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in sending us in, and for a while it looked the sound decision. Losing a wicket with only 5 on the board was hardly the tonic anyone wanted, but Piers McDonald settled things beautifully, compiling a classy 59, with Mike Caddick (36) and Fred Cheesman (24) chipping in handsomely. A sturdy 63-run stand for the fourth wicket did the real work of the innings, before, in time-honoured club fashion, the tail rather lost its nerve — 151 for 6 became 163 for 9 quicker than you could pour a tea. We closed on 171 for 9 from our 49 overs, a total with enough about it to make a game of it.

In the field, the story rhymed with our own. M Brown (40) and Paul Brattle (36) built a firm 54-run partnership for the third wicket, and poor G Larcombe departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers. But Jon Harris was magnificent, running through them with 5 for 42 — five maidens among them, the sort of miserly spell that makes a captain's job easy — well supported by Peter Whyte and Rob Doick, one apiece. I even found some rhythm myself, picking up five. Dummy Site closed on 146 for 9 from 43 overs, just short of the finish line.

So honours shared, a draw to send everyone home neither elated nor crestfallen — which, in truth, is club cricket doing exactly what it does best.

Sat 21 Aug 1993 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformLDLWW

Here's the match report:

Saturday last, we welcomed Old Williamsonians CC to the ground, and having called correctly at the toss, I chose to bat without so much as a second thought — a decision the scoreboard would go on to vindicate handsomely. Clive Newman set the tone with a splendid 82, and the openers laid a proper platform, putting on 121 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a dismissal. Paul Bowles chipped in a fine 51 and Piers McDonald a tidy 39 as we motored to 219/4 from our fifty overs. Not everything gleamed, mind — poor Matt Large's name appeared on the card with a duck beside it, and as for the skipper, the less said the better: a golden blob that will not trouble the ghostwriters of cricketing folklore.

With that total to defend, Ian Brattle proceeded to run through the visitors like a man late for his tea, spinning his way to a remarkable 6-3, well backed by Bowles (2-23) and Newman (1-8), with Darren Styles refusing to yield a run through four tidy maidens. Old Williamsonians slid from 74-2 to 75-5 and were bowled out for 107 in 38.5 overs, David Bent's 29 the only real resistance. Nine byes did rather give away Piers McDonald's afternoon behind the stumps, but no matter.

Elsewhere, Jon Harris brought up 1900 career wickets, and Brattle's haul lifted him past Ron Hickman into 15th on the club's all-time list. A 112-run win, two points banked, and a golden duck the only blemish on an otherwise thoroughly satisfying day's work.

Sat 21 Aug 1993 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hadlow CC · AwayformWWWLD

Saturday 21st August 1993 saw us make the short trip to Hadlow, and for once the coin obliged — I called correctly and, with the sky fair and the outfield quick, had no hesitation in putting us in.

What followed was as handsome an innings as we've strung together all season. Our openers set the tone with 85 for the first wicket, and from there Brian Piper played the innings of the day, a crisp 56, with Steve Cheesman (47) and Tim Thirkell (41) keeping the scoreboard humming nicely behind him. We closed on a formidable 185 for 4 from our 41.4 overs — the sort of total that has opposition openers exchanging glances.

With the ball, we set about them with real purpose. Andy Portlock departed without troubling the scorers, and Alan Boyns was in inspired form, tying an end down with three maidens on his way to 3 for 26 — miserly stuff. Stuart Cheesman chipped in with 3 for 59 and Paul Leandro took one, while I even found a spot of rhythm myself for three wickets. Only Simon Dolding, with a battling 49, stood firm enough to drag Hadlow to 139 for 8 from 38 overs before the overs ran out.

Honours shared, then, and on reflection a fair result — though with that top order and Boyns steaming in, a small part of me can't help feeling we let a win slip through our fingers on a lovely August afternoon.

Wed 18 Aug 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLLLLW

It was Wednesday 18 August 1993, away at Gravesend, and having called correctly at the toss there was really only one decision to make on a day like that — we batted.

What followed was as handsome an innings as this old captain has had the pleasure of watching from the other end. Mike Caddick made a magnificent 114, three figures no less, while Andrew Hales chipped in a tidy 39 and Trevor Back finished unbeaten on 30. The openers set the tone entirely, putting on 152 before the first wicket fell — the sort of platform bowlers dread and captains dream of. I added 30 myself down the order, and poor Dave Charlton will not thank me for recording that he departed for a golden duck, though he bears it, as ever, with good humour. We declared our efforts at 218/3 from 47 overs, a total that felt like runs in the bank.

Gravesend gave it a proper go in reply. Dave Elliott played a fine knock of 79, well supported by Dave Bishop's 31 and Peter Preston's unbeaten 25, and a fourth-wicket stand of 55 threatened to run away from us. But Darren Styles bowled beautifully for 2-8, with Alan Boyns and Fred Cheesman both weighing in with 2 apiece, and Andrew Quinton and Glenn Spencer were both sent back without scoring. They closed on 214/9 from 43 — agonisingly short. Fourteen byes, mind, made for uncomfortable reading behind the stumps, and poor Jim Hall will be keen to forget the day.

In the end honours were shared, and on reflection that felt about right — a hard-fought, good-spirited draw that pleased no one and satisfied everyone.

Sun 15 Aug 1993 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformWLDLW

Sunday 15 August 1993, and the road took us to Whitstable in high spirits and, for once, decent weather. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — a decision I felt rather pleased with by the close, though the openers gave us a wobble, with the first wicket gone for nought before we'd properly settled our deckchairs. Piers McDonald had other ideas, though, playing a truly superb innings of 107 to anchor us, with Rob Doick (38) and Nigel Thirkell (31 not out) lending sturdy support, and a crucial 70-run fourth-wicket stand steadying the ship. Poor David Castle will want the scorebook burned — a duck to his name — but 233/7 from our 48 overs was a total to be proud of.

With ball in hand we never let Whitstable settle either, reducing them to 5-1 early doors. Don Dansie was quite simply unplayable, spinning his way to 5-53, with Rob Doick miserly and menacing in equal measure — 4-29 with four maidens — and Phillip Morrison chipping in with 1-7. Three of their number, Ali Murrell, Lee Newman and Duncan Hardy, departed without troubling the scorers, though M Drinkwater (35), Andy Stroud (32) and Phil May (27) built a stubborn 62 for the fifth wicket. It wasn't enough — 168 all out.

A day for the history books besides: Rob Doick brought up 100 career wickets, and Piers's century lifted him to 20th on the club's all-time run list. Won by 65 runs — thoroughly earned, and thoroughly enjoyed.

Sat 14 Aug 1993 🧢 2nd XIv HC Higham & Mockbeggar CC · HomeformWWWWL

Skipper's Log, Saturday 14 August 1993. Higham & Mockbeggar came to us on a fine day for it, and having called correctly at the toss, I didn't dwell long on the decision — batting first it was, and no regrets there.

We lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board, the kind of nervy start that has you reaching for a second cup of tea rather sooner than planned. But the middle order steadied us wonderfully, with the third-wicket pair adding a crucial 164 to put the innings back on an even keel. I'm rather pleased to report I led from the front with 97 — agonisingly short of the century, but I shan't complain, especially with Don Dansie chipping in a fine 63 alongside. We closed on a healthy 181/4 from our 45 overs, a total that gave the bowlers something to work with.

In the field, Darren Styles was miserly and menacing in equal measure, finishing with 2-15 and four maidens to keep the shackles on, while Fred Cheesman weighed in with 1-9. Higham fought hard through M Southwold's 44 and Richard Shackleton's unbeaten 37, with a stubborn fourth-wicket stand of 63 threatening to run away from us, but they fell short on 147/5 from their 38 overs.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Not the win we might have hoped for after that start, but a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket all the same.

Sat 14 Aug 1993 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformDWLDL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 14 August 1993. We travelled to Harrietsham CC, I won the toss, and with the sun out and the outfield fast I didn't dither for a second: we'd bat.

190/7 from our 46 overs was a fair reflection of a solid, unspectacular effort, held together by a 59-run stand for the third wicket. I'll confess to a spot of pride here, since 60 of those runs came from my own bat, though Paul Gibson's watchful 40 and Dave Charlton's 22 did just as much to give the total some backbone. Nigel Thirkell's fifty was the innings' engine, and he's clearly in no mood to stop, sitting proudly atop the 1st XI's run charts for the season with 805.

Defending it, we made the perfect start we always dream of and rarely get — a wicket with just 1 on the board, Harrietsham nervy from ball one. Paul Bowles was magnificent, 3-14 of pure menace, with Nigel Thirkell (2-6) chipping in with bat and ball alike, and Jon Harris (2-32) mopping up. Paul Gibson's four maidens strangled the life out of any recovery. Keith Chaney's 37 was the only real resistance before they folded for 103 in 40.2 overs — D Passey and Micky Tong departing for ducks along the way.

Won by 87 runs, then, and thoroughly deserved. Two points in the bag, and a very pleasant drive home.

Sun 08 Aug 1993 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformLDWLD

As it stands 08 August 1993, we've reached a full 6-wicket-down against Benenden's 4-wicket margin — but here's the report.

Captain's Log, Sunday 08 August 1993. A pleasant enough drive down to Benenden, the sun doing its best village-green impression, and the coin obliged me by landing the right way up. Bat first, I said, with the confidence of a man who has read far too many cricket almanacs and understood none of them.

We batted our way to a respectable 194 for 4 off 44 overs, the innings built on a sturdy 71-run stand for the fourth wicket. Piers McDonald played the anchor role beautifully for 49, Clive Newman finished unbeaten on 46, and Dave Charlton chipped in a tidy 25. Even the extras got in on the act with 34 — practically an all-rounder in their own right.

With the ball, Matt Large did his level best to bowl us to glory, snaring 3 for 49, well backed by Rob Doick's tight 2 for 36 (two maidens, no charity given) and Don Dansie's 1 for 50. Ed Smith, J Steer and Andrew Cloke all departed without so much as a nibble at the scorebook — three ducks in one afternoon is either very bad luck or very good bowling, and I'll let history decide which. But Steve Grimes played the innings of the day, unbeaten on 54, ably assisted by Steve Drake's 47 and a 94-run stand for the fifth wicket that rather did for us. Poor Clive had a torrid time behind the stumps too, twelve byes going begging.

Beaten by four wickets in the end — no disgrace, but no cigar either. We'll dust ourselves off and come back stronger next week.

Sat 07 Aug 1993 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWWW

Saturday last saw us venture to Bearsted, and it was a day when we lost the toss, our bowlers earned the plaudits, and our batting somehow still contrived to hand it back.

Put into the field, we watched Bearsted crawl to 154 all out in 44.5 overs, Robin Cross (43) and Norman Bateman (36) stitching together a 58-run stand that briefly threatened to run away from us. It never quite did. Dave Todd was in irresistible form, ripping through them for 5-14, with Trevor Back (3-31) and the ever-miserly Chris Tymms (2-59, three maidens and not a run given away lightly) squeezing the life out of the rest.

Chasing 155 should have been routine. It was not. Andy Naish and Doug Reid went cheaply first time round, but the real drama came with the bat: Dave Todd (38) and Stewart Morrison (36) built us a platform, only for the innings to stagger from 60-2 to 63-5 as if the wheels had been quietly unbolted. Alan Boyns's duck will not trouble the highlights reel. I contributed 38 with the bat and, happily, 5 wickets with the ball — cold comfort in a losing cause, out by 7 runs.

There was, at least, real cause for celebration: Stewart Morrison brought up 1,000 career runs and his 100th appearance in Linton colours, milestones any club should be proud of. Trevor Back and Chris Tymms continue to lead the 2nd XI's season charts. As for the result — heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 07 Aug 1993 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDLDWL

A dour toss to lose, but a fine day's cricket for all that. Headcorn won the call and elected to bat, and for a good while it looked like being their afternoon: John Phipps and Andrew Fordham put on 125 for the second wicket in a partnership that had us chasing leather more often than we'd like to admit. Phipps eventually fell for a well-crafted 68, Fordham for a fluent 65, and Headcorn declared themselves happy at 160/3 from their 42.5 overs. Credit where it's due — Paul Bowles worked hard for his 2-59, Matt Large chipped in with 1-16, and Jeff Todd was miserliness personified, sending down five maidens that kept the scoreboard honest when little else would.

Our reply began steadily enough, Nigel Thirkell (32) and a second-wicket stand of 55 giving us something to build on, with Clive Newman (27) and Matt Large (21) offering good support — and I'll modestly note my own 32 in the mix. But cricket has a cruel sense of timing, and a collapse from 113-4 to 123-7 threatened to undo all the good work in the blink of an eye. Poor Ollie Priestly will want this one struck from the record — a golden duck to add insult to injury.

In the end we closed on 124/8 from 41 overs, honours even, and a draw the fairest result on a day where both sides had their moments and neither could land the killer blow. Frustrating, but no shame in it.

Wed 04 Aug 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDLLLL

Wednesday 04 August 1993 brought Bexley CC to Linton Park, and after losing the toss I duly sent us out into the field with the sinking feeling that is every captain's lot. Stuart Hume made us pay for it, cruising to 95, with Paul Ladbrook's fifty (51) and Adrian McCarthy's unbeaten 40 piling on the misery — though there was a flicker of hope when we had them 1 down inside the first over, before that pesky third-wicket stand of 116 put paid to any early optimism. Bexley closed on a stiff 219/6 from their 44. Adrian Caddick was magnificent with the ball, 4-54 of pure toil, with Trevor Back and Darren Styles chipping in either side of him — Styles's two maidens a small monument to parsimony in a day of runs. Neil Mobey, for his part, contributed a golden duck to the scorebook, bless him.

Chasing 220, we simply did not lose a wicket. Mike Caddick played the innings of the season — an imperious, unbeaten 122 — with Paul Brattle (76 not out) his ideal foil, and we strolled home in 42.3 overs without so much as a alarm.

A word too for Trevor Back, whose solitary wicket eased him past Terry Donovan into 12th on the club's all-time list — history quietly made while the rest of us weren't looking. Mike Caddick now tops the season's run charts, Adrian Caddick sits second among the wicket-takers, and the side, frankly, is flying. A fine win by seven wickets: chastened in the field, imperious with the bat. Onwards.

Tue 03 Aug 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLDLLL

Captain's Log — Tuesday 03 August 1993

Won the toss, and there was never much debate in my mind — on a pitch like that, we were batting. And how the lads repaid the faith. Paul Gibson played an innings I'll be dining out on for weeks, 123 of pure class, while David Castle (28 not out) and Dave Todd (22) built sensibly around him. We were flying from the off, 72 for no loss before they even got a sniff, and 212/4 off our 28 overs felt like a total to defend with a cup of tea in hand rather than white knuckles.

Naturally, we made it interesting. Their openers stumbled early at 1-1 and we thought "here we go" — only for M Lubbers (89) and J Vriezen (48) to stitch together 99 for the second wicket and drag the game away from us. Credit to the lads with the ball, though: we clawed back hard, ripping through the middle order from 144-3 to 162-6, M Dirks bagging a golden duck along the way. Matt Large was superb up front (2-6), with Nick Froom miserly as ever (1-5, two maidens) and Rob Doick chipping in (1-20).

In the end, 12 runs short. Gibson now tops the Midweek XI run charts with 284, and Doick sits second in the wickets — small consolations on a big disappointment. Not our day, but heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sun 01 Aug 1993 🧢 1st XIv BC Battle CC · HomeformLDLDW

Sunday brought Battle CC to Linton Park, and with the coin falling kindly I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once I shall allow myself the small vanity of being proved correct. We slipped to 0-1 almost before the tea urn had boiled, which is never the tonic a captain wants, but Paul Brattle and Brian Piper set about repairing the damage with a marvellous stand of 126 for the third wicket. Brattle went on to an unbeaten 83, Piper cantering nicely past his own fifty to 51, and Mark Stevenson finished things off with an unbeaten 30 as we closed on a handsome 191/3 from our 41 overs. Poor Piers McDonald contributed nothing but a golden duck to proceedings — these things happen to the best of us, Piers.

Defending it, we simply couldn't get the visitors under any real pressure. David Castle and Tim Eldridge put on 94 for the first wicket before we so much as glimpsed a breakthrough, Castle motoring to an unbeaten 75 and Eldridge to a fine unbeaten 58, with Ian Withers chipping in 33. Mark Stevenson was our pick of the bowlers with 1-30, but it wasn't nearly enough, and Battle got home with four wickets in hand.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Brattle's 83 nudged him past William Buck to 11th on the club's all-time run-scoring list — one for the mantelpiece. But not our day on the field. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 31 Jul 1993 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformWLDLD

It was Southborough CC at home, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't dawdle over the decision — on a pitch that looked to be asking for runs, we batted. And how we batted. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the season, 111 of pure class, while Clive Newman's 64 and Paul Gibson's 41 kept the scoreboard humming along nicely; their third-wicket stand of 135 was the real backbone of the innings. We closed on 287/4 from our 46 overs, which felt, even to my cautiously optimistic captain's eye, like rather a lot.

It proved to be. Southborough never got their bearings — 77/5 became 80/8 in the blink of an eye, and poor Ray Grayland trudged off without so much as a single to his name. Matt Large was the chief architect of the collapse, six wickets for 39 including three maidens, with Paul Bowles and Sean Charlton chipping in for good measure. Only Simon Fisher, with a gritty 29, offered any real resistance before the innings folded for 94 in 27.2 overs.

A 193-run victory, then, and about as comfortable an afternoon as this club has enjoyed in some time. I'll confess a certain quiet pride in leading from the front with the bat, though the headline act was undoubtedly Matt Large's spell. With Thirkell now sitting atop the season's run charts and Large the wickets, this Southborough demolition was less a shock than a statement of intent. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 31 Jul 1993 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformWWWWW

31 July 1993 — an away trip to Southborough, and one that has restored my faith in the toss.

I called it right and had no hesitation about batting first, and the lads didn't let me down. Steve Masters played the anchor role beautifully for 69, with Stewart Morrison chipping in a handsome 52 alongside him — the two of them put on a hundred for the third wicket while I paced nervously somewhere near the boundary rope with a lukewarm tea. There was, admittedly, a wobble — 144 for 3 became 156 for 6 in the time it takes to say "well bowled" — but 211 for 9 off our 46 overs was a total with enough about it to make Southborough work.

And work they did, Kevin Parkinson especially, whose 78 was the innings of the day for the visitors and had us all muttering into our sandwiches. Danny Coombs and Andrew Hinds gave him company, and their own third-wicket stand of 80 threatened to undo us. But this is where Don Dansie earned his tea, snapping up 2 for 12, with Chris Tymms — four maidens of pure parsimony — and Tim Thirkell chipping away either side of him. Alan Honess, for what it's worth, departed for a diplomatic duck.

We held our nerve, and Southborough closed on 170 for 8. Forty-one runs to the good, and — with Masters and Tymms both riding high in the season's charts — a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. A very good day for the club indeed.

Thu 29 Jul 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv ON Oxford Nondescripts · HomeformLLDLL

It was Dummy Site at home on Thursday, and the coin did me the courtesy of landing my way. I looked at a good strip, thought of glory, and put us in to bat — a decision I stand by, even if the golden ducks of Don Dansie and Matt Large suggested otherwise. Clive Newman played the innings of the day, 82 well-earned runs, with Dave Charlton chipping in 40 in support; their stand of 75 for the fourth wicket was the spine of our 161 for 8 off 45 overs, though the collapse from 155 for 4 to 159 for 7 was the sort of rush that keeps a captain's tea lukewarm and his nerves worse.

As for your correspondent, I contributed precisely nothing — a duck, and the less said the better.

With the ball we huffed and puffed without ever quite blowing the house down. D Cryer's fifty, 64 well made, with V Woollett and J Hawthorne offering steady support, saw them home to 164 for 3 off 36, built on a stand of 72 for the first wicket that we simply couldn't prise apart early enough. Paul Bowles led the attack with 1 for 25, Paul Gibson and M Tabar chipping in with a wicket apiece. Ten byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Mike Caddick — though he leads our run charts with 184 for the season nonetheless, with Bowles second in the wickets.

Beaten by six wickets, then. Character-building stuff. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 28 Jul 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDLLDL

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 28 July 1993

We had first use of the ball against our visitors, and for a while it looked the right call. A stumble to 3-1 promised much, but D Jones (27), K Banham (26) and S Thew (25) steadied things, and an eighth-wicket stand of 53 dragged the innings up to a respectable 139 all out from 45.5 overs. Piers McDonald was the pick of the attack with 3-11, well backed by Dave Charlton (2-15), Rob Doick (2-26) and three tidy maidens from Paul Gibson. B Newson departed for a duck at our hands, which is always a small mercy.

Chasing 140, we lost an early wicket with nothing on the board and briefly wondered whether we'd be following the visitors' top order into embarrassment. But Dave Charlton played the innings of the day with 38, ably supported by Paul Gibson (27 not out) and Ron McCormick (26), a fourth-wicket stand of 61 doing the heavy lifting. Clive Newman and Rob Doick both contributed golden ducks, which the scorebook records but the soul does not dwell upon. We closed on 144-8 from 39.5 overs — enough to make a match of it, not quite enough to win it.

There was much to celebrate regardless: Peter Whyte brought up 3,000 career runs and, with his 16, climbed past Terry Whittaker to 24th on the all-time list, while Dave Charlton marked his 100th appearance in Linton colours in style. Gibson and Doick continue to sit second in the Midweek XI's season charts for runs and wickets respectively.

Not our day, in the end — down by two wickets. Heads up, lads, and back to the nets.

Sun 25 Jul 1993 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWLDL

Sunday last saw us venture to The Mote, a ground that has a habit of exposing whatever frailties a side has been quietly hiding all season, and true to form it found a few of ours. Losing the toss and being put into the field, we watched Matthew Baker compile a beautifully paced 98 and Matthew Dunk an unbeaten 53, the pair sharing 143 for the third wicket while John Rayner chipped in with 30 — the sort of stand that has captains reaching for the sunscreen and the sympathy vote. Credit where due: James Bowles broke through for 1-25, with Matt Large (1-27, two tidy maidens) and Ian Brattle (1-45) refusing to let anyone simply help themselves. Their 235/3 declared a fair test.

In reply, an early wicket at 5 had the nerves jangling before a solid second-wicket stand of 50 steadied things, and Brian Piper produced an innings for the ages — a magnificent unbeaten 107 — ably supported by Chris Tymms, unbeaten on 20, as we closed on 174/5. Nine byes, mind you, told their own tale of a distinctly testing afternoon behind the stumps, and no wicketkeeper's tea will have tasted entirely comfortable.

The abiding warmth of the day came with Clive Newman reaching 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved from a man who now sits fourth in this season's run charts, with Matt Large still leading the wickets column. In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force it home — a fair reflection of an afternoon where good cricket outran the result.

Sat 24 Jul 1993 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDWWLD

Beaten men of Linton Park, gather round — Saturday saw us head to Hollingbourne with high hopes and, as ever, no luck at the toss, which meant an afternoon in the field to open proceedings.

Hollingbourne made hay to the tune of 199/8 from their 46 overs, built chiefly around a sixth-wicket stand of 100 that we simply couldn't prise apart quickly enough — Mike Palmer's 67 and Dave Kay's 55 doing most of the damage, with Ted Holloway chipping in 30 for good measure. Credit where due, though: Nigel Thirkell toiled manfully for his 3-47, Ian Brattle wasn't far behind with 3-56, and Matt Large, for all his 2-87, bowled four maidens of such parsimony you'd think he was rationing the tea. Trevor Scrivens departed for a golden duck, which felt, in hindsight, like the least of our worries.

Chasing 200, we replied with 177/8 — a battling if ultimately short effort anchored by an opening stand of 53, with Matt Large's 40 the innings' backbone, ably assisted by David Castle's 39 and Paul Bowles's 22. Piers McDonald, alas, took the long walk back for nought, joining the Duck Club's ever-growing membership.

I did manage three wickets myself, which offered some private satisfaction amid the general gloom. Twenty-two runs shy in the end — no disgrace against a side that batted so patiently, but a defeat all the same. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sat 24 Jul 1993 🧢 2nd XIv AK Ashford CC, Kent · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday 24th July, and Ashford CC came to Linton Park with the sun out and their tails up. I lost the toss — again — and duly watched them elect to bat, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a personal vendetta from that coin.

Still, the lads had the last laugh. Ashford ground their way to 124 all out in 54.3 overs, Groves (29) and Kendal (28) doing most of the damage without ever really cutting loose. Dave Todd was magnificent, 3 for 12 and a model of control, while Trevor Back chipped in with 3 for 42 and Tim Thirkell picked up one. Chris Tymms, meanwhile, bowled eight maidens and generally made batting look like a punishment. At the other end our top order had a quieter afternoon of it — X Head and Mark Brann both back in the pavilion without a run to their name, which even I'll admit stung a little.

Chasing 125, we made rather more sensible work of it. Ron McCormick played beautifully for an unbeaten 51, Trevor Back kept him fine company with 33 not out, and Mike Elworthy weighed in with 23 as we cantered home on 126 for 3. I even managed three wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season.

A comfortable seven-wicket win, then, and Trevor Back and Chris Tymms continuing to lead the runs and wickets charts respectively. Onwards indeed.

Tue 20 Jul 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv OC Old Fullerians CC · HomeformDDLLD

Here's the report.

The old adage says never trust a wicket you can't read, and Tuesday's toss confirmed it — Dummy Site called correctly and sent us into the field, which at least meant first use of the new ball fell to us. It proved a productive burn: Paul Bowles was the pick of the attack with 3-39, Jon Harris chipped in with 2-30, and Ian Brattle bowled with the parsimony of a man counting his pennies, five maidens and 1-6 to show for it. T Gould gave us the runaround with a polished 62, well supported by M Nottingham's 22, while P Waters departed without troubling the scorers — a duck that raised the loudest cheer of the innings.

Chasing was never going to be straightforward, and so it proved. Nigel Thirkell's 46 was the innings' backbone, Paul Bowles kept the scoreboard honest with an unbeaten 24, but from a healthy 104-5 the middle order rather lost its nerve, and we slid to 110-8 before anyone could reach for the smelling salts. Adrian Caddick and Ian Brattle both left with golden ducks, and poor Piers McDonald had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes testament to a pitch with a mind of its own.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: Ian Brattle brought up 300 career wickets, a landmark worth raising a glass to even in defeat. But 137/8 was never quite enough, and we went down by two wickets. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 18 Jul 1993 🧢 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · HomeformWDWWL

Sunday 18 July 1993, and Tenterden CC rolled up expecting a stroll. I lost the toss – no great surprise this season – and duly found myself leading us out into the field, which at least meant no one could blame my batting for what followed.

They battled to 159 all out from their 49 overs, Duncan Purves grinding out a fifty and Nick Hart chipping in 30, but it was Jon Harris who turned the afternoon on its head, spinning a web of 5-16 that had them hopping about like cats on hot tin. Trevor Back (2-23) and Nigel Thirkell (1-18) tidied up the rest, while Matt Large simply refused to be scored off, sending down four maidens with the quiet menace of a man who knows exactly what he's doing. Somewhere behind the stumps, alas, 14 byes went begging – enough extras to make a useful number six batsman, and a reminder that gloves are not merely decorative.

Chasing 160, we ambled to 72/2 from 27.2 overs before the heavens, or at least the umpires' patience, called a halt. Dave Charlton stood firm on 47 not out, giving the scoreboard a respectability it barely deserved given the tea interval seemed to arrive rather too early for my liking.

So honours shared, a draw that pleased no one and offended no one – rather like village cricket's answer to a lukewarm cup of tea. Jon Harris's spell was the day's gem; the rest of us merely orbited around it.

Sat 17 Jul 1993 🧢 1st XIv KK Kennington CC, Kent · AwayformLWDWW

Saturday 17 July 1993 saw us head down to Kennington CC in good spirits, if not entirely good sense — we lost the toss and were promptly invited to bat, which on a Kent afternoon always feels a touch like being asked to go first in a game of chicken.

We got on with it well enough, posting 173/8 from our fifty overs. Don Dansie played the innings of the day, a really fine 60, while David Castle (32) and Piers McDonald (29) chipped in handsomely either side of a lovely little stand of 60 for the fifth wicket that gave the innings its backbone. Not everyone had their name in lights, mind — poor Nick Froom departed for a duck, and one suspects the walk back to the pavilion felt considerably longer than the walk out.

With the ball, alas, we ran into a couple of Kennington batsmen in irresistible form. David Flawn made a superb 98 not out and Neil Tegg an unbeaten 63, and between them they simply took the game away from us, cantering to 176/1 in just 30.5 overs. Paul Bishop battled away manfully for his solitary wicket, but it was that sort of afternoon where the bowlers were mere spectators to someone else's masterclass.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Piers McDonald's 29 nudged him past Ray Howard into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while David Castle continues his fine season, sitting second in our 1993 run charts on 542. Small mercies. On the day itself, though, there's no dressing it up — beaten by nine wickets. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 17 Jul 1993 🧢 2nd XIv KK Kennington CC, Kent · HomeformLWWWW

Since 1969, English club cricket has been ruined by fewer sixes and more rain delays, but on Saturday the sun and the scoreboard both cooperated. Winning the toss and electing to bat felt like the obvious call, and for once obvious was right — Mike Elworthy played beautifully for 97, agonisingly shy of the ton, while Alan Boyns kept him honest with a fine 66 of his own. The pair put on 159 for the first wicket before Kennington finally found a way through, and what followed was one of those spells where a comfortable position turns briefly hair-raising — 159 without loss became 176 for 4 before Dave Todd's unbeaten 21 steadied things and saw us home to a handsome 241 for 8.

Two hundred and forty-one is always a total that lets a captain relax slightly, but Kennington made a nervous habit of losing an early wicket — none on the board when the first fell — and never really recovered, save for a spirited 25 from Martin Watson and 24 from Simon Sorokos. Trevor Back was magnificent, ripping through the middle order for 4 for 15, with Chris Tymms (2-17) and Simon Thirkell (1-16) tidying up either side of him, and Fred Cheesman refusing to leak a run with four maidens. Quinton Tanton and Ray Lancaster both departed without troubling the scorers, and 97 for 6 became 101 for 9 almost before I'd finished my tea.

All out for 126, beaten by 115 runs — thoroughly earned, and I did contribute the grand sum of 21 with the bat, which felt positively decadent. Two points in the bag and a very happy dressing room.

Sun 11 Jul 1993 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformWLWDW

Sunday 11 July 1993, and we welcomed Folkestone CC to Linton Park under skies that, mercifully, held their nerve. I lost the toss — a habit I'm beginning to suspect is now hereditary — and Folkestone chose to bat, leaving us with first use of the ball and, as it turned out, plenty of use for it.

Roy Downey helped himself to a chanceless-looking century, 101 of the finest, with Sid Vignaux (42) and Steve Salisbury (30 not out) offering sturdy company either side of a 128-run second-wicket stand that rather took the sting out of our afternoon. Ian Brattle toiled manfully for his 2-82, three tidy maidens a small mercy amid the carnage, with Nigel Thirkell chipping in at 1-27. Folkestone closed on 205/3 from their 46 overs — a total that had "gettable, but only just" written all over it.

And gettable it proved. David Castle played the innings of the day, a composed 55, with Clive Newman (37) and Nigel Thirkell (33 not out) keeping the required rate honest. The openers gave us a platform of 76 for the first wicket, I contributed a workmanlike 33, and we crossed the line at 206/5 with overs to spare. A word too for Piers McDonald, whose 24 runs eased him past Mike Iliffe into 22nd on the club's all-time run-scorers' list — quietly climbing the ladder while the rest of us made the headlines.

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

Sat 10 Jul 1993 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWWLWD

Nigel Thirkell won the toss for me and I called correctly this time, electing to bat — sound judgement, I like to think, rather than blind luck. What followed was as one-sided an afternoon with the willow as Linton Park have enjoyed in some time. Nigel Thirkell simply refused to get out, cruising to an unbeaten 142, while David Castle purred along at the other end for 87 not out. Between them they saw us to 248 for the loss of a single wicket from our 39 overs, and I confess I rather enjoyed watching from the boundary once my own contribution of 142 was safely banked.

Horton Kirby's reply never remotely threatened. They lost an early wicket at 8 for 1 and never found their feet, slipping from 34 for 2 to 41 for 5 as the innings unravelled in front of us. John Smith departed without troubling the scorers, and it was Jon Harris who did the real damage — seven wickets for 28, five maidens in the mix, and not a run given away without a fight. Matt Large chipped in with two, Paul Bowles with one, and poor Peter Whyte behind the stumps had his work cut out, shipping eight byes for his trouble. Horton Kirby were all out for 79 in 28.1 overs.

A win by 169 runs, then — comfortable barely covers it. With Nigel now sitting proudly atop the run charts on 555 for the season and Matt Large leading the wickets column with 37, the 1st XI are purring nicely. A thoroughly good day for the club, and tea, I'm reliably informed, went down rather well too.

Sat 10 Jul 1993 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformLLWWW

As the toss favoured us and I sent us in, I confess I felt rather pleased with myself — and for once the cricketing gods agreed. Trevor Back played the innings of the day, a classy 71, with Steve Masters (40) and Steve Cheesman (29) lending fine support to see us to 175/8 from our 46 overs, the fifth-wicket stand of 64 doing the heavy lifting after an early wobble at 3-1. Fred Cheesman and Mike Elworthy will not want their contributions dwelt upon — ducks both — but nobody's perfect, least of all this captain.

In the field we made early inroads, Horton Kirby slipping to 3-1 themselves, with Ian Abernethy and Mick Hills back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Warren Bull (28), X Castleton (23) and X Sanderson (21) threatened to drag them back into it, but Chris Tymms was in unplayable form, spinning his way to 5-47, while Alan Boyns bowled a miserly spell of 5-51 with five maidens to strangle any momentum. I even managed to rustle up five wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks to come.

A landmark day off the field too — Trevor Back's 300th appearance in Linton colours, crowned by an innings that lifted him past Frank Brattle to 14th on the club's all-time run charts. He now sits proudly atop the 1993 2nd XI run pile with 334, with Tymms leading the wickets on 20.

We came home 51 runs the better side. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 07 Jul 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformLDDLL

Sat 07 July 1993 saw Gravesend CC pay us a visit, and true to form I called wrong at the toss, leaving us to bowl first and chase whatever they set us. They made a decent fist of it too — 216/6 from their 45 overs, built around a hearty stand of 66 for the third wicket between Dave Bishop (69 not out, batting like he owned the square) and A MacKenzie (59, no mean effort himself). Glenn Spencer chipped in with 23 to round things off nicely. Credit where due to the attack, mind: Rob Doick bowled with real discipline for 2-22 and a pair of maidens, Jon Harris toiled manfully for 2-49, and Alan Boyns kept things tight with 1-13.

Chasing 217, we made a proper go of it. Mike Caddick top-scored with a classy 66, Rob Doick continued his fine all-round day with 43, and Alan Boyns added 26, the pair sharing a vital 85 for the fourth wicket to keep the required rate honest. We finished on 212/7 from our 42 — agonisingly, tantalisingly short. Poor Steve Cheesman will want to forget his afternoon entirely, departing for a golden duck, while Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping eight byes for his trouble.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side had the wit or the will to force a result. Not quite the win we craved, but with Caddick and Harris flying the flag atop the season's charts, there's life in this old side yet.

Tue 06 Jul 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLLDDL

Under leaden Linton Park skies on Tuesday 06 July 1993, we hosted the visitors, and having won the toss I did what any self-respecting captain does with a decent strip underfoot — elected to bat, and for once the decision looked wise rather than reckless.

The lads batted with real purpose, racking up 185/2 from 39.4 overs. Mike Caddick was the picture of composure, farming the strike to 85 not out, while Paul Bowles gave gentle, unflustered support with 64 not out — two fine half-centuries that did the job without so much as breaking a sweat. Amid all that, Bowles quietly brought up 27,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that deserved rather more fanfare than a polite ripple of applause between overs.

Defending 185 always looks generous on paper, and so it proved. The visitors lost their first wicket for just 1 run and never really recovered their poise, sliding from 74-5 to 83-8 as the pressure told. Jon Harris was magnificent, snaring 4-34 to lead the 1993 Midweek XI wicket charts to 14 scalps, with Andy Bryan (3-9) scarcely less destructive and Adrian Caddick chipping in with 2-31. R Barnes bowled three miserly maidens for good measure. S Gear's 42 and F Mason's 21 were the only real resistance as they folded for 138.

A 47-run victory, then — and not, in the end, a bad day at the office at all. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets on Thursday.

Sun 04 Jul 1993 🧢 1st XIv PC Pembury CC · HomeformWWWLW

Sunday 04 July, and Pembury CC came calling on what I'm reliably informed was a decent pitch — good enough that I had no hesitation calling correctly at the toss and sticking us in first. Nigel Thirkell and his opening partner set the tone with an 85-run stand for the first wicket, and though we eventually folded for 190 in 40.4 overs, Nigel's 61 was the innings' backbone, with Brian Piper (47) and Clive Newman (44) filling in nicely around him. Less nicely, Simon Thirkell and Ian Brattle both made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club ledger duly updated, and I dare say the tea-time ribbing was merciless.

With the ball in hand we set about defending it, and Pembury never quite got away from us, closing on 157 for 8 from their 38 overs. Alan Moxon's obdurate fifty (51) was the main obstacle, ably assisted by Denis and Gary Cole, but Jon Harris was magnificent, plucking out 3 for 26, with Don Dansie (3-52, two tidy maidens) and a sharp cameo from Simon Thirkell (1-1) squeezing the life out of the rest. Melvyn Cole joined the ducks' club for good measure.

A personal 61 was pleasing enough, though I'll confess Brian Piper's 47 was the real story — enough to nudge him past Tim Thirkell into 5th on the club's all-time run charts, a proper landmark. With honours shared, it wasn't quite the winning afternoon we wanted, but on this evidence — Nigel motoring along nicely atop the season's run charts, Jon lurking second among the wicket-takers — Linton Park are building something rather promising.

Sat 03 Jul 1993 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformLWWWL

There was a time-honoured symmetry to it: I lost the toss on Saturday, Staplehurst had first knock, and by the close we'd somehow contrived to win anyway. Their innings ran to 183/9 off 46 overs, built on a stand of 107 for the first wicket that had me wondering whether I'd ever be handed the ball again. M Robinson (51) and I Henson (50) both brought up fifties with the sort of composure that makes a fielding captain feel entirely superfluous, while Q Haywood chipped in with 28. Thankfully N Pullen and I Gosling weren't so fortunate — Gosling departing for a duck, poor fellow. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent, tearing through with 5-45, Jon Harris backed him up handsomely with 4-49, and Ian Brattle kept things tidy with two maidens.

Chasing 184, we too found our feet early — the openers put on 90 before the first wicket fell, and Paul Gibson batted beautifully for his 90, well supported by David Castle's 33 and an unbeaten 29 from the tireless Thirkell, who'd clearly decided one match-winning performance wasn't enough for the day. I managed 29 with the bat and, rather pleasingly, 5 wickets with the ball — not bad for an old skipper who mostly captains from memory these days. We got home by 6 wickets, David Castle continues to top our season's run charts, and Harris sits second in the wickets. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the scrapbook.

Sat 03 Jul 1993 🧢 2nd XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformWLLWW

Lost the toss again at Staplehurst — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has it in for me — and duly found ourselves in the field. Their innings ambled to 153 all out in 38.1 overs, built chiefly around a handsome half-century from Braganza, though credit to the lads for turning the screw at the end: 146 for 7 became 153 all out under real pressure. Alan Boyns was the chief tormentor with 4 for 71, Trevor Back chipped in with 3 for 41, and Chris Tymms was positively parsimonious, 2 for 20 with five maidens to his name — the sort of bowling that makes batsmen question their life choices.

Chasing 154, we got there with something to spare, 157 for 6 off 42 overs, Tim Thirkell playing the anchor role beautifully with 37, well supported by Mike Elworthy (28) and Trevor Back (27), who thus had a hand in both innings. Poor M Chapman, mind, departed without so much as a whisper on the scoreboard.

Two footnotes for the record books: Thirkell's 37 eases him past Brian Piper into 5th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and Boyns's four wickets lift him past Frank Taylor into 19th among the wicket-takers — both thoroughly deserved.

A four-wicket win, a personal milestone or two, and Trevor Back and Chris Tymms still setting the pace in this season's charts. All told, a thoroughly satisfactory Saturday.

Sun 27 Jun 1993 🧢 1st XIv HC Hadlow CC · AwayformWLWWW

David Castle 70, Piers McDonald 58 and a watchful Brian Piper 20 not out took us to 187 for 7 at Hadlow on Sunday, and for once I can't grumble too much about the toss — my correct call and decision to bat looked a shrewd one as Castle and McDonald put on 97 for the third wicket to give the innings a proper spine. Poor Simon Thirkell will want to forget his golden duck, but with two half-centuries in the book and Piper farming the tail sensibly, 187 felt like a defendable total on a good pitch.

And defend it we very nearly did. Jon Harris toiled manfully for 2 for 57, with Nigel Thirkell (1 for 29, two tidy maidens) and Paul Bishop (1 for 33) chipping away, and when Andy Portlock departed for nought it looked promising. But Neil Williams had other ideas, compiling a magnificent, chanceless century that simply blunted everything we threw at him, ably supported by W Reynolds and Dominic Boulle with 32 apiece as the second wicket added 94. Ten byes past Clive Newman's gloves didn't help our cause on an afternoon when little went our way behind the stumps.

There was still much to celebrate — Nigel Thirkell's 800th appearance in Linton colours is a landmark worth toasting on its own, and Brian Piper's 20 runs eased him past Tim Thirkell into 5th on the club's all-time run charts. But a five-wicket defeat is a five-wicket defeat. Williams simply outbatted the lot of us, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 26 Jun 1993 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformDWLWW

Saturday last saw Meopham CC roll up the drive, and for once the coin behaved itself — heads it was, and I had no hesitation in sticking us in. Whether that proved genius or luck is a question I shall leave for the bar to settle. We rather undermined my confidence by losing the first wicket for just 6, and for a while it looked like one of those afternoons. But Nigel Thirkell (39) and Paul Bowles, unbeaten on 39, steadied things nicely, David Castle chipped in with 20, and a wonderfully defiant last-wicket stand of 61 dragged us up to a respectable 154/6 from our 46 overs.

Defending it, we discovered Matt Large in irresistible form — 4-44 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, not a run given away lightly. Paul Bowles backed that up with 2-7, and Jon Harris took one for 39. Brian Sambrook fought hard for 28 for the visitors, but Meopham never really got away from us, closing on 113/8 from their 44. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own, and I managed a useful 39 with the bat myself.

The real story of the day, though, was Nigel Thirkell reaching 26,000 career runs for the club — a staggering number, and thoroughly deserved applause all round. He now leads our 1993 run-charts with 318, with Matt Large top of the wicket pile on 35. A fine win by 41 runs. Onwards.

Sat 26 Jun 1993 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLWLLW

Saturday last took us down to Meopham, and for once the coin actually did as it was told — I called correctly, and there was never any doubt in my mind: we'd bat. Trevor Back set about proving me right with a fine 67, and Tim Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 45, the pair putting on a crucial 101 for the third wicket that formed the spine of our innings. It rather came apart in a rush after that — 145 for 5 became 159 for 8 before we could catch breath — and poor Chris Tymms trudged off for nought, the walk of shame duly noted for the Duck Club ledger. Still, 173 for 9 off our 46 overs felt like a total with substance.

And so it proved. Meopham never threatened it, subsiding to 105 all out in 37.5 overs despite Roddy Campbell's watchful 31 and D Payne's 28. Tony Thatcher, White and Laurence Hurley all departed for ducks of their own — turnabout being fair play — while Chris Tymms, restoring his pride at a stroke, ran through them with a magnificent 6 for 37. Alan Boyns starved the other end of anything loose, four maidens among his figures of 4 for 36.

A word too for Tim Thirkell, whose 45 eased him past Brian Piper into fifth on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a fine season getting finer. Won by 68 runs, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved.

Wed 23 Jun 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Marlow CC · HomeformDLLDD

Wednesday 23rd June, and we welcomed Marlow CC to Linton Park under skies that promised more than our top order delivered. Losing the toss meant padding up first, and it showed - 1-1 was the sort of start that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. Andrew Hales battled through for a top score of 21, but wickets tumbled around him and we were shepherded out for 116 in 41.2 overs. A word for Stewart Morrison, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings - the sort of nought that will follow a man good-naturedly round the clubhouse for weeks.

With the ball, though, we found our smile again. Fred Cheesman was the pick of the attack, 2-27 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, miserly enough to make Marlow's batsmen work for every run. Trevor Back and Alan Boyns chipped in with a wicket apiece, both 1-26, keeping things tight from the other end. I even had a bowl myself and managed 18, which I shall be quietly proud of for at least a week. But A Martyn's unbeaten 43, well supported by D Young's 41 not out, saw Marlow home at 118/4 with overs to spare.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, then - no disgrace against a side that batted with such composure. Elsewhere, Peter Whyte continues to hold third in the run charts and Alan Boyns third among the wickets, so the season ticks along nicely even if Wednesday didn't. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 22 Jun 1993 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLDWLW

Won the toss on a fine Tuesday against West Farleigh and, with barely a thought spared for the alternative, elected to bat. I'm rather glad I did, because Matt Large and our openers set about it with real intent, the pair putting on 73 before the first wicket finally fell — the kind of start that makes the rest of the order's job a good deal easier. Large went on to a well-made 57, and I confess a certain quiet satisfaction at leading from the front with the same score myself. Piers McDonald chipped in a brisk 40 and David Castle 21 as we reached a healthy 158/4 from our sixteen overs.

Defending that lot, West Farleigh gave it a real go — Glen Aukett's 41 and useful contributions from Tim Baker and Adrian Smith kept them in the hunt — but poor Don Fermor departed without so much as troubling the scorers, and Paul Bowles was in destructive mood, snaring 3-24 to go with Sean Charlton's 1-37. Ten byes did rather betray a tricky day behind the stumps for Jim Hall, but no matter. They closed on 141/5.

A word for Piers, who brought up 3,000 career runs for the club and climbed past Terry Whittaker to 23rd on our all-time list — no small landmark, and thoroughly deserved.

A fine win by 17 runs, then. Onwards, as ever.

Sun 20 Jun 1993 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · HomeformWWLWW

Sunday 20th June saw High Halstow CC visit us in what I can only describe as a day of two contrasting fortunes. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains as unreliable as ever — and we were put into the field. High Halstow got off to a shaky start, four on the board for the loss of an early wicket, and I allowed myself a hopeful smile. That smile faded rather quickly as their third-wicket pair put on a stand of 110, with Daren Brumbaugh cruising to 60 and Paul Whelan unbeaten on a classy 59. They finished on 163/9 from their 40 overs. Credit where due: Sean Charlton bowled beautifully for 4-50, Matt Large chipped away with 3-24, and Nigel Thirkell was positively parsimonious, four maidens en route to 1-12.

Chasing 164, we never quite got out of the blocks. From 0-1 we slumped to 15-4 in a flurry that had me wincing from the pavilion, and though Dave Charlton (26) and Nigel Thirkell (21) fought manfully, and I contributed a steady 21 myself, we were all out for 90 in 33.4 overs. Two ducks for the ledger — David Castle and Matt Large both walked back for nought.

A 73-run defeat, then, and no arguing with it. Not our day, but the tea was good and the company better. Back to the nets, lads.

Sat 19 Jun 1993 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLLDWL

David Castle's century wasn't so much scored as bulldozed, and once it was in the book we knew we were in for a good afternoon.

Winning the toss and having a bat felt like the obvious call, and by the close of our 46 overs I was rather pleased with myself for saying so. Castle went to three figures in style — 103 of the finest — with Paul Gibson (48) and Nigel Thirkell (27) queuing up to keep him company, the pair's 105-run stand for the third wicket the platform on which the whole innings was built. 236/6 felt like a total to bowl at rather than merely defend.

And bowl at it we did. West Farleigh stumbled from the very first ball, losing their opener without a run on the board, and though Adrian Smith (49) and Tim Baker (31) tried to steady things, the rest of the order rather fell over itself to get back to the pavilion — 72-5 became 76-8 almost before the urn had cooled, with Golding, Aukett and Underdown all departing for ducks. Matt Large was the chief executioner, a magnificent 6-40 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by Paul Bowles (2-16) and Ian Brattle (1-17). I even had a small say in proceedings myself, chipping in with 27. All out for 119 in the 38th over — a win by 117 runs.

Beyond the scoreline, there was history in the making: Paul Bowles brought up 1,200 career wickets, and Paul Gibson's solitary strike nudged him past George Champion into 22nd on the club's all-time list. A thoroughly satisfying Saturday, and Nigel Thirkell and Matt Large continue to lead the season's charts with justified swagger. Onwards.

Sat 19 Jun 1993 🧢 2nd XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformWLWLL

Saturday last, 19 June, saw us on the road to Yalding, and I'll admit I fancied our chances the moment the coin fell my way. In I elected to bat, and though we wobbled alarmingly at 0-1 — the sort of start that has a captain studying his boots rather rather more closely than usual — the lads steadied splendidly. Trevor Back played the innings of the day, 83 not out, with Don Dansie (54) and Tim Thirkell (48 not out) lending fine support in a third-wicket stand worth 90. Poor Mike Elworthy, meanwhile, was presented with a duck for his troubles — these things happen to the best of us. We closed on a handsome 195/3 from our 45.

Yalding chased hard and gave us a fright, reaching 189 all out from 41.5 overs despite losing their own first wicket for next to nothing. K Harrison (31), Iain Cardew (29 not out) and Mike Caddick (26) did the donkey work for them, but Chris Tymms was in destructive mood, 3-27, with Alan Boyns (3-40, three miserly maidens) and Don Dansie (2-41) squeezing the life from the chase. N Tasker joined the ducks' club at our hands.

A cherry on top: Trevor Back brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, and sits proudly atop the 2nd XI run charts with 169, while Dansie lurks second in the wickets column with 12. A six-run win, nerves and all — I'll take it every time. Onwards.

Sat 12 Jun 1993 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWWLWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 12th June, and Sheldwich CC were the visitors at Linton Park. We lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a formality, and were duly asked to field first.

Batting, though, was where the afternoon really unravelled. Ninety-six all out from forty-four overs tells its own sorry tale, and it began about as early as it possibly could, with the scoreboard reading a chastening 0-1 before some of us had even found our guard. Dave Todd stood rather alone with a battling 23, while Mike Elworthy and Nick Froom both departed for ducks, proving that misery, like tea, is best shared. I contributed my own 23, which felt like scant consolation at the time.

With the ball, we at least gave Sheldwich something to think about. They reached 100 for 4 from 31.4 overs, Brian Newman anchoring things nicely with 38 not out and Robin Evans unbeaten on 20, but we did have our moments — R Snelling back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. Dave Todd was the pick of the attack again, 2-19, with Chris Tymms (1-21) and Alan Boyns (1-38, and four tidy maidens) chipping in dutifully.

Down by six wickets, then, and no dressing it up as anything other than what it was. Dave Todd continues to carry the side almost single-handedly — second in the run charts, top of the wickets. The rest of us, heads up, back to the nets.

Fri 11 Jun 1993 🧢 1st XIv LC Lashings World CC · HomeformWLLDW

Down by four wickets, but not without a few tales to tell. Lashings World CC won the toss and stuck us in, which on reflection may have been the shrewder call — we huffed and puffed our way to 88/9 from our sixteen overs, a total that owed more to grit than grace. Special mention, as tradition demands, for poor Paul Gibson, who contrived to depart for a golden duck; the walk back to the pavilion was, by his own account, the longest twenty-two yards in cricket.

Still, 88 felt defendable on a morning when nothing much was flying off the bat, and for a while it very nearly was. Gibson, sportingly redeeming himself with ball in hand, struck to finish with 1-20, and Matt Large chipped away for 1-39, but B Fourie had other ideas, compiling an unbeaten 55 that rather took the sting out of our efforts. Their innings closed on 90/2 with an over to spare — a chase that looked, frankly, more comfortable than our total deserved to allow.

I contributed a workmanlike 17 with the bat, more application than artistry, and watched the rest unfold from the middle with the particular helplessness of a captain who knows the game has slipped away. Elsewhere in the ledger, Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our 1993 run charts with 252, and Matt Large tops the wickets with 25 — the season's silver linings persist even when the Friday fixture doesn't.

Verdict: outbatted with the bat, outgunned by Fourie, and out of luck at the toss. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Tue 08 Jun 1993 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWWLLD

Skipper's Log — Tuesday 08 June 1993, The Mote CC at home.

Lost the toss, put into the field, and made to bat first on a pitch that seemed to promise rather more than it delivered. Trevor Back (26) and Piers McDonald (25) put together the sort of stand that had me quietly reaching for the scorebook and a self-satisfied cup of tea, only for the innings to collapse around our ears from 81-6 to 89-9 quicker than you could say "sticky wicket." Ian Brattle's golden duck did little to steady nerves, and 90 all out from 15.2 overs felt, at the time, like a total more suited to apology than defence.

And yet. The Mote's reply never got out of first gear — 8-1 early, then a horror stretch from 38-5 to 38-8, with Jason Dunk, Steve Maddock and Robert Doick all shipped back without troubling the scorers. Chris Tymms was magnificent, 4-17, with Ian Brattle (3-5) and Matt Large (1-10) mopping up the rest. All out for 58. Bowled out, in every sense.

Nice milestones tucked in among the chaos: Piers's 25 eased him past Peter Whyte into 24th on the all-time run charts, and Ian's three wickets lifted him past Dick Langridge to 16th among the club's wicket-takers — both now sitting proudly in this season's leading lights, Piers 4th with 168 runs, Matt topping the wicket pile with 24.

A 90 that shouldn't have been enough proved plenty. Won by 32 runs — two points banked, and thoroughly, if scruffily, earned.

Sun 06 Jun 1993 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · AwayformDWWLL

We ambled down to St Lawrence & Highland Court on Sunday, lost the toss as is now something of a tradition, and were sent out to field under a sky that gave nothing away either.

They made hay early, 246 for 4 off their 39 overs testament to a stand of 107 for the second wicket that we simply couldn't prise apart. Tim Luckhurst set about us for a chanceless 74, G Jonas and Andy Simpson chipping in with half-centuries of their own (53 not out and 52 respectively), and by the time the innings closed we felt we'd bowled rather better than the total suggested. Dave Charlton was the pick of the attack with 2 for 39, well supported by Alan Boyns and Ian Brattle.

Chasing 247, Clive Newman decided enough was enough and played the innings of the season — 111 not out, an innings of real substance, laying the foundation with an opening stand of 132 before Brian Piper (57) and Piers McDonald (23 not out) kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. We closed on 196 for 2 from 42, honours even. Matt Large's golden duck and my own nought at the top of the order shall, by mutual and unspoken agreement, never be mentioned again — though Peter Whyte's ten byes behind the stumps rather suggests I wasn't the only one having an off day.

A draw, then, and a fair one — but with Newman's ton and Brattle's wickets keeping our season charts healthy, I'll happily take honours shared over the alternative.

Sat 05 Jun 1993 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWDWWL

Saturday 05 June 1993, and we had Rumwood CC round for what turned into rather a rollercoaster of an afternoon. Won the toss, elected to bat — still think it was the right call, whatever anyone says down the club bar — and 170 all out from 45.3 overs is a perfectly respectable return, even if "all out" is doing some heavy lifting there. Jon Harris was the class act, 90 to his name and well past his fifty, with Matt Large chipping in a tidy 20 alongside him; the two of them put on 74 for the eighth wicket, which frankly saved our blushes. Elsewhere in the order, less said the better — Paul Bishop's golden duck earns him top billing in this season's Duck Club ledger, and I suspect he knows it.

With the ball we scrapped hard. Ian Brattle was the pick of the attack by some distance — 3 for 31 off his three maidens, proper miserly stuff — with Paul Bishop (2-44) and Dave Charlton (1-23) chipping in. I even managed 20 with the bat earlier and felt rather pleased with myself for about ten minutes. But Kevin Mullins wasn't to be shifted, 47 not out, well supported by G Appleby's 31 and Darren Brame's 21, their 56-run sixth-wicket stand doing for us in the end as Rumwood got home on 172 for 6.

Beaten by four wickets, then — no disgrace, but no cigar either. Matt Large now sits third in the season's run charts, Ian Brattle second among the wicket-takers, so the individual furniture is in good shape even if the result wasn't. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 05 Jun 1993 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDWWLW

Saturday 5th June 1993, and a trip down the road to Rumwood proved rather more sobering than the drive suggested. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my luck with the coin has been consistently rotten this season — and we were sent into the field.

Rumwood ground out 159 all out in 47.4 overs, with D Hales top-scoring on 49, well supported by Light (31) and Curtis (27), and a stubborn 52-run stand for the fifth wicket that gave their innings its spine. But once that partnership broke, the innings rather concertinaed, 138-5 becoming 152-8 in a flurry, with Rod Bailey, D Bray and Seath all falling for ducks. Fred Cheesman was the chief tormentor, a superb 4-2 with five miserly maidens, backed up nicely by Simon Thirkell (2-19) and Don Dansie (1-5). Credit where it's due — a genuinely fine team bowling effort.

Chasing 159, though, we never quite got going. Dave Todd batted well for 45, and I chipped in with 45 myself, but 8-1 became 21-4 before anyone had settled, and three of ours — Chris Tymms, J Hanbury and Adam Pooley — took the walk of shame for nought. All out for 99 in 45.3 overs told its own story.

A nod to Trevor Back, whose solitary wicket nudged him past John Taylor into 13th on the club's all-time list, and to Dave Todd, sitting second in this season's run charts and top of the wicket charts — small consolations on a chastening afternoon.

Sixty runs the wrong side of the ledger. Not our day. Back to the nets.

Wed 02 Jun 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv AK Ashford CC, Kent · AwayformLDLLD

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 2nd June 1993, and the road took us to Ashford CC, Kent, for what turned into a proper old-fashioned arm-wrestle of a draw.

I lost the toss — I usually do — and duly found myself standing in a field watching Ashford make themselves very much at home. Robert Kelly and John Seccombe put on 154 for the first wicket before either of them so much as coughed, and by the time Kelly reached a magnificent 106 not out, ably supported by Seccombe's 68, the lads were beginning to wonder if the tea urn would run dry before the innings did. Credit where it's due, though: Jon Harris eventually prised things open with 2-52, with Dave Hales and Rob Doick chipping away either side of him, and 234/5 from 48.1 overs was, all things considered, a result we could live with.

Our reply had its own tale to tell. Clive Newman batted beautifully for 99 not out, Paul Gibson supported handsomely with 48, and Mick Filmer chimed in with 24, the pair of Newman and Gibson putting on 95 for the second wicket to steady what could have wobbled — not least because Doick and Hales both departed for ducks. Steve Cheesman had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own. There was still time for warm applause as Paul Gibson brought up 7,000 career runs for the club — a landmark achieved with characteristic understatement.

201/5 in reply, honours even, and a draw that felt, on the day, entirely fair to both sides.

Mon 31 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv XM XII Men · HomeformWWDWW

Beaten by 41 runs, but with N Sellens gone for a duck we had them 4-73 at the fourth wicket before Andrew Baker's 88 and Alex Tait's 38 dragged them up to 226 all out. Paul Bishop bowled beautifully for his 3-17, with Don Dansie (3-46) and David Lines (2-57) chipping in, and Jon Harris was miserly as ever with nine maidens tucked into his figures — not that the scoreboard always tells that story.

Chasing 227, we made a horror start at 4-1, and when both Stuart Cheesman and David Lines fell without scoring it looked grim from the pavilion. But Matt Large played the innings of the day, 66 well-earned runs, and found an admirable partner in Don Dansie, unbeaten on 57, the two of them putting on 86 for the third wicket to drag us back into it. Keith Hatcher's 29 kept the middle order ticking, and I'll confess a personal contribution of 66 was rather satisfying, even if it wasn't enough in the end. Fifteen byes went begging behind the stumps, which on another day might have been the difference — 185 all out from 50.1 overs left us 41 runs short.

There was, though, a moment worth savouring above the scoreline: Jon Harris turned out for his 500th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that rather puts one bad afternoon with the bat into perspective. He sits third in this year's wicket charts, Keith fourth in the run charts, and the engine room of this side is plainly still purring nicely.

A defeat, then, but not a dispiriting one — plenty to build on, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 30 May 1993 🧢 Sunday NVKCv UC Underriver CC · HomeformLWWLW

Sunday 30 May 1993 arrived fine and mild, and Underriver CC came calling. The coin bounced kindly and I had no hesitation putting us in — a decision I spent a fair chunk of the afternoon quietly reappraising. We were bowled out for 118 in 38 overs, Jon Harris the pick of the willow-wielders with a spirited 33, David Castle chipping in nicely with 20. Less said the better about Paul Gibson and Alan Boyns, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorer — every side has its off days, and today they shared theirs.

Happily, 118 proved more than enough once we took the field. Underriver never found their feet, losing their first wicket at 1-1 and never really recovering their composure. We tore through the middle order in a blur — 17-3 became 25-6 almost before the tea urn had cooled — with D Adams, James Lister and N Baxter all departing without scoring. Matt Large was the chief destroyer with 4-1 and six miserly maidens to boot, well backed by Jon Harris (3-7) and Paul Gibson (2-13). Underriver were all out for 33 in 32.1 overs, and I allowed myself a small captain's indulgence of 4 wickets in the process.

Milestones abounded: Matt Large brought up 700 career wickets, Paul Gibson 200, and David Castle now sits third in the season's run charts with Large leading the wickets table. A handsome 85-run win, and a very fine way to spend a Sunday.

Sat 29 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformLWWDW

Saturday 29 May 1993, away to Milstead, and I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season and duly asked to chase — though as it turned out, the lads had other ideas about who'd be doing the chasing.

We took the field and simply ran through them. Milstead never got going, stumbling to 5-1 early and never really recovering, sliding from 20-4 to all out for 74 in 46 overs, with only P Sloan (22 not out) offering any real resistance. Paul Gibson was magnificent, five wickets for 24 runs, while Matt Large chipped in with 5-26 and nine — nine! — miserly maidens for good measure. Mike Sellar, Fisher and M Hollingsworth all trooped back without scoring, which tells its own story.

Chasing 75 should have been a formality, and for a while it was, David Castle leading the way with 31 in a knock full of good sense. Then, as club cricket does so cruelly, we conspired to make hard work of it, 55-2 becoming 65-5 before you could say "steady the ship." Piers McDonald's contribution to the cause was a first-baller, the walk of shame duly noted for the Duck Club ledger. I found some late rhythm myself with five wickets earlier in the day, which at least gave me licence to fret loudly from the boundary rather than do anything useful.

We scrambled home by 4 wickets from 25.5 overs. Ugly, occasionally alarming, but a win is a win — onwards we go.

Sat 29 May 1993 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · AwayformDDWWL

Saturday 29 May 1993, away at Milstead, and for once the coin did as it was told. I won the toss and never seriously entertained the idea of bowling first — 149/9 from our 46 overs was solid rather than spectacular, built on Dave Todd's 39, Steve Masters' 38 and Don Dansie's 28, with the second-wicket pair chipping in a very useful 51. Then, as is tradition round these parts, the tail simply evaporated — 148 for 6 became 149 for 9 before anyone had finished their tea, with Roly Edwards, J Hanbury and Phillip Morrison all making the lonely walk for nought. The Duck Club, I'm afraid, dined well.

Defending it should have felt precarious, and for a while it did, until Dave Todd decided the ball was his personal property and returned a magnificent 6-41 — support from J Hanbury (2-25) and the metronomic Darren Styles (2-31, four maidens) meant nothing was given away cheaply. Milstead lost an early wicket at 4, Ben Seaman gone for a duck of his own, but Chris Rawson dragged them back into it with a fine 74 before they folded for 135 in 42.4 overs. I even managed 39 with the bat and 6 wickets with the ball, which is about as good a Saturday as this skipper gets.

Two well-earned points and a 14-run win — Steve Masters still tops the run charts, Dave Todd the wickets, and the tea, as ever, was the only thing more reliable than our top order's nerve.

Wed 26 May 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv UC Upperton CC · HomeformDLDLL

Wednesday 26th May, and Dummy Site rolled up on a good drying pitch with, I confess, a spring in their step that I rather fancied taking down a peg. Winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the right call at the time, and for once I wasn't wrong — 207 for 4 off our 43 overs was a proper score. Paul Gibson played the innings of the day, a splendid 81, with Peter Whyte (46) and Piers McDonald (43 not out) lending sturdy support either side of him; the third-wicket stand of 80 was really the making of the total, and I dare say the tea urn was working overtime by the time we declared our efforts complete.

Defending it, we were made to work. Colley top-scored for the visitors with 30, well backed by Gausden (28) and Hookway (26), and there was a nervy passage where 135 for 5 threatened to run away from us before they subsided to 141 for 8 — poor Noon departed without so much as troubling the scorers, bless him. But it was Jon Harris who turned the afternoon into his own personal benefit match, a magnificent 6 for 45, with Ian Brattle and Paul Bowles chipping in a wicket apiece and Bowles positively parsimonious with three maidens. Six for me too, which I shan't pretend not to be pleased about.

In the end they held out at 168 for 9 off 46, and honours were shared. A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and rather more entertaining than the scoreline lets on.

Sun 23 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv LC Lenham CC · AwayformWLWWD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 23 May 1993, away at Lenham CC. Lost the toss, they had first bat, we had first use of the ball. All told, not the worst luck we've had this season.

Lenham posted 165 all out from 48.3 overs, Andrew Barr (38) and Mike Fraser (34) doing the early graft, Alan Barr chipping in with 23. It looked like it might drift towards a bigger total, 152 for 7 threatening to become something uncomfortable, but the innings folded fast to close at 165. Jon Harris was the chief architect of that collapse with a fine 4 for 66, Trevor Back (3-24) and Matt Large (1-12) tidying up round him, while Nigel Thirkell bowled three maidens and gave away precisely nothing for his trouble — the sort of spell that doesn't always earn the wickets column but wins matches all the same.

Chasing 166, we got there for the loss of six wickets with four overs unused, 168 for 6 the final word. Peter Whyte anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 55, Keith Hatcher unbeaten on 46 alongside him, and the two put on 56 for the fourth wicket to see off any nerves. Clive Newman's 22 kept the middle order honest along the way. Whyte's fifty, incidentally, eases him past Piers McDonald to 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — quietly historic stuff for a Sunday in Kent.

A fine win by four wickets, then, and one the lads can be proud of. Onwards.

Sat 22 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv OA Old Askeans · HomeformWWLWW

Off strode Paul Bowles from the pavilion on Saturday, and by the time he'd finished he'd not so much won the toss for us as won the day. I'll admit the decision to bat first was mine, and for once I shall take the credit rather than the customary blame.

The openers set the tone with a splendid 64 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a dismissal, and from there Bowles simply carried on regardless — 100 not out, a proper hundred, the sort that has the tea urn talked about for weeks. Dave Charlton chipped in an unbeaten 45 and Clive Newman a tidy 23, while our extras column, ever the reliable middle-order batsman, added a generous 26. We closed on 210 for 2 from our 45 overs, which felt like a total with some substance to it.

Dummy Site, to their credit, did not oblige us by folding. A third-wicket stand of 70 between their middle order kept them in the hunt, Martin's 49 the backbone of it, well supported by Tyrrell's 48 and Medland's 24. Matt Large was the pick of our attack with 2 for 26, Bowles and Charlton both chipped in with the ball as well as the bat, and Nigel Thirkell bowled two miserly maidens to keep the brakes on. They finished 210 for 9 from their 42 — level pegging almost to the run.

A draw, then, honours shared, and on this occasion entirely deserved — though with Bowles now second in the run charts, I fancy he'll have designs on outright victories before the season's out.

Sat 22 May 1993 🧢 2nd XIv SC Stockbury CC · AwayformWDDWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 22 May 1993. We travelled to Stockbury CC in fine spirits, and, the coin obliging, I had few qualms about putting us in first.

Qualms arrived soon enough. Roly Edwards batted with real substance for his 67, a proper well-made fifty that for a while had us thinking of something respectable, but around him the card told a grimmer tale — Steve Masters, Chris Tymms and Simon Thirkell all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and the innings folded for 125 off 46 overs. I contributed nought myself; we shall, as promised, draw a veil over it.

Stockbury's reply gave us hope aplenty. C Styles (34), I Sharp (26) and P Kingsford (23) built the bones of it, but Don Dansie was magnificent, tearing through them for 5-32 with four maidens that choked the life out of the scoring, well supported by Fred Cheesman (2-12) and Dave Todd (2-39). We had them wobbling from 85-2 to 85-5 in a blink, and sent Cooney, Sellings and Bromley packing for ducks along the way. For one glorious passage it looked ours.

Alas, cricket delights in cruelty, and Stockbury edged home at 127/9 from 46.1 overs — beaten by a single wicket. A match we should have won, lost by the barest of margins. Heads up, back to the nets, and onward.

Tue 18 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · HomeformDWWLW

Tuesday, 18th May, and Leybourne came to us for what turned out to be a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's cricket.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'll happily take credit for. David Castle set about the Leybourne bowling with real purpose, his 62 the backbone of a total that had 88 on the board before we lost our first man, a stand as handsome as any we've put together this season. Piers McDonald chipped in with 26 and Dave Charlton finished unbeaten on the same, and 147/2 from our sixteen overs left us more than happy with our afternoon's work.

Defending it, Nigel Bacon and D Towse threatened to make a game of it with 29 and 26 respectively, but Matt Large — leading our 1993 wicket charts and looking every inch the part — set about them with 2-10, backed up nicely by Martin Larkin and Jon Harris. Poor M Lock trudged off for a duck without so much as a bruise on the scoreboard. Keith Hatcher, it must be said, had one of those afternoons behind the stumps — nine byes is nine byes, and no amount of warm applause disguises it — but it mattered not a jot in the end.

Leybourne closed on 106/5, we closed the afternoon 41 runs the better side, and two points went into the book. A fine day's work all round, and one I'll enjoy retelling in the clubhouse for weeks to come.

Sun 16 May 1993 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWLWWL

Sunday 16 May 1993 saw us make the trip to Shipbourne, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't dither for a moment — on a day like this, you bat first and ask questions later. The lads duly obliged. Paul Gibson played the innings of the season, 93 not out and still hungry when the overs ran out, while Nigel Thirkell weighed in handsomely with 55 and Matt Large chipped in a tidy 28. Their third-wicket stand of 105 was the spine of the innings, and 220 for 4 off our forty overs felt like a total with some teeth in it.

Shipbourne made a fight of it early, Barry Hart batting nicely for his fifty and Paul Stovell lending support in a second-wicket stand of 55, but once that partnership broke the innings rather lost its nerve. From 130 for 6 they slid to 134 all out, three of their number departing without troubling the scorers. Matt Large was the chief tormentor with 4 for 11, Paul Gibson backed up his batting with 3 for 38 (two maidens besides — not a run given away lightly), and Dave Charlton's 2 for 0 was as mean as it sounds. I even managed 55 myself with the ball, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season.

Eighty-six runs the margin, two points banked, and Gibson and Large now sitting proudly atop the season's charts. A thoroughly satisfying Sunday all round.

Sat 15 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLDWWL

We won the toss at Headcorn on Saturday and, in a rare flash of tactical clarity from your captain, I chose to bat first. It proved the right call — 168/6 from our 46 overs was a total with a bit of backbone to it, built chiefly around Nigel Thirkell's excellent 83, with the fifth-wicket pair chipping in a valuable 53 to give the innings some shape when it might otherwise have sagged.

Defending it, we set about Headcorn with real purpose. Jon Harris was magnificent, tearing through with 4-19, well supported by Paul Bowles (2-10) and Ian Brattle (2-13), while Matt Large kept the miserly end going with two maidens for good measure. Graham Mackman's 25 was the only real resistance; everything else crumbled around him, 46-5 becoming 57-8 in the blink of an eye, and poor Rob Parnham departed for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers. Headcorn were bowled out for 69 in 38.2 overs — a properly comprehensive collapse.

A personal 83 was, I'll admit, rather satisfying, and it's pleasing to see the runs keeping me atop the 1st XI charts on 231 for the season, with Ian Brattle now second in the wickets list on 11. But this was a team performance through and through — bat and ball both firing.

Won by 99 runs, two points banked, and thoroughly earned. Not a bad afternoon's work at all.

Sat 15 May 1993 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWDDW

Saturday 15 May, Headcorn CC visited, and I won the toss with what I like to think was minimal hesitation before deciding to bat. Steve Masters played the innings of the day, 83 not out and quite unbothered by anything Headcorn offered him, with Mike Elworthy weighing in handsomely at 68 and Trevor Back chipping in with 28. Their second-wicket stand of 74 was the platform the whole innings was built on, and 239/4 from our 46 overs left me feeling rather pleased with my toss-winning instincts.

Defending that kind of total is meant to be the easy part, and for once it more or less was. Only G Wickens threatened with 47, poor Robert Westrop departed for a golden duck, and the rest of the order simply couldn't cope with Dave Todd, whose 3-28 (three maidens besides) set the tone beautifully, backed up nicely by Don Dansie's 2-17 and Fred Cheesman's 2-20. Headcorn were bowled out for 129 in 42.1 overs, though eleven byes did rather suggest Roly Edwards was having one of those afternoons behind the stumps.

I'll confess to a quietly satisfying all-round contribution myself — 25 with the bat and three wickets to follow — captain's privilege, perhaps, but I'll take it. With Masters now topping our season's run charts and Todd leading the wickets, the engine room looks in fine order. A comfortable 110-run victory, two points banked, and a thoroughly happy drive home.

Thu 13 May 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWDLDL

Thirteenth of May, and we welcomed our visitors to Linton Park under grey but forgiving skies. Winning the toss, I did what any captain with a middle-order full of nerve does — I stuck us in, and rather fancied our chances of building something respectable.

Respectable is about what we got. We slipped to 5-1 early on, the sort of start that has you reaching for the flask rather than the scorebook, but Fred Cheesman battled through unbeaten on 24, with Stewart Morrison chipping in a tidy 20, to drag us up to 96/4 from our sixteen overs. Not fireworks, but a total with enough about it to defend, or so I told the lads at the break with rather more conviction than I felt.

With ball in hand we made a real fist of it. Andy Griffiths and C Grayhurst put on a stand of 54 that had us worried, but then the floodgates opened — 81-4 became 89-7 in a hurry, with Jon Harris the chief tormentor at 2-15, and both J Dosseter and N Garner departing without troubling the scorers. For a moment victory was there for the taking. In the end they crept home at 92/7, four runs shy of what would have been a proper thrashing, and four runs is precisely what did for us.

Beaten by the narrowest of margins, then, and no shame in it. We'll sharpen up at practice and come back stronger next week.

Tue 11 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv LC Lashings World CC · HomeformWLDWW

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 11 May 1993. We hosted Lashings World CC, lost the toss, and were sent out into the field, which on reflection was rather kind of them.

Their innings closed on 87 all out from just 16 overs, S. Sunnucks doing the bulk of the damage with 25. But credit where it's due — Paul Gibson was magnificent with the ball, 3 for 13 and barely a loose delivery in sight, well supported by Ian Brattle's 3 for 17 and Pete Webster chipping in with 1 for 26. Restricting them to 87 felt, at the time, like a job rather well done.

Then we batted. Simon Phillips, J Smith and M Dunderdale went back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and matters did not improve from there — Matt Large, Dave Charlton and M Milstead all contributed a golden nothing apiece, and I fell for a duck myself, over which the less said the better. We shall draw a veil over it, as tends to be the custom on these occasions. All told, 53 all out in a mere 9.4 overs — beaten by 34 runs, and rather comprehensively at that.

Small mercies: Paul Gibson continues to sit 3rd in the 1993 run charts with 98, and Ian Brattle 2nd in the wicket charts with 9 — proof the season isn't a total washout, even if Tuesday certainly was. We'll be better for it next week. We rather have to be.

Sat 08 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWWLDW

Saturday 8 May, away at Rumwood, and I won the toss with the sort of confidence that usually precedes disaster — but not this time. I put us in, and 188/9 off our 46 overs was a tidy return, built on a lovely stand between Paul Gibson (73) and Paul Bowles (67), who put on 93 together and made the middle overs look positively leisurely. Then, in the way only this club can manage, we contrived to slide from 166-5 to 180-8 as if someone had let the air out of the innings, poor Mike Elworthy departing for a golden duck along the way. Still, 188 felt like enough to be going on with.

And so it proved. Rumwood never got comfortable, losing their first wicket for just 1, and Matt Large turned the screw beautifully — 5-52 with nine miserly maidens, spinning them into all sorts of bother. Mark Styche, C Keithson and Ian Grognet all walked back for ducks, Alan Boyns and Paul Gibson chipped in with two apiece, and only Paul Webster's unbeaten 74, with useful support from Neville Smith's 30, kept the scoreboard respectable as they folded for 137.

A 51-run win, then, and a thoroughly good day out. Nigel Thirkell continues to top the season's run charts and Matt Large the wickets — on this evidence, deservedly so. More of the same, please, lads.

Sat 08 May 1993 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWLWDD

Turned out at Rumwood and found ourselves inserted, which as any club captain will tell you is either a compliment to your bowling or an insult to your batting — we shall assume the former. The lads made a fair fist of restricting the visitors to 143/9 from their 46 overs, with only A Bray really getting his eye in for 49. Don Dansie was the chief architect of the damage with 2-16, well backed up by Trevor Back and J Hanbury, both 2 apiece, Back adding five miserly maidens for good measure. P Page and K Curtis both trudged off for ducks, which I understand is now a running joke down at the club rather than a source of shame.

Chasing 144 should have been the easy part. It rarely is. We stumbled to 1-1 before Trevor Back, fresh from his bowling exploits, set about repairing things with a fine 49, aided by Fred Cheesman's 36 and Steve Masters' 27 in a stand of 71 for the third wicket that looked, for a while, like seeing us home in comfort. Then came the customary collapse — 139-6 became 143-9 quicker than you could pour the tea — with Dansie and Simon Thirkell joining the Duck Club themselves. I contributed a nervous 17 and rather more grey hairs.

We scrambled home by one wicket, which is the sort of margin that ages a captain a full season in an afternoon. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a match that will live longer in the memory than in the scorebook — precisely as it should be.

Mon 03 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWLD

Skipper's Log, Bearsted CC, Monday 3rd May 1993. Won the toss, elected to bat — and for once nobody could accuse the skipper of overthinking it. We settled to 161/6 from our 46 overs, the innings built around a lovely knock from Nigel Thirkell, unbeaten on 71, with Paul Bowles (27) and Piers McDonald (25) doing the honest graft either side of him. The fifth-wicket pair chipping in 56 together was the sort of unglamorous partnership that wins matches while nobody's watching.

Defending it, we made a hash of the opening exchanges — 1 for 1 is never the tone you want to set — but Bearsted never quite got away from us. They wobbled from a steady-looking 103-4 to 110-7, three of their number departing without troubling the scorers, and from there it was only ever a matter of tidying up. Tim Lush (34), Martin Constable (26) and Richard Coward (22) were the only real resistance. Nigel Thirkell, not content with his runs, then took the new ball to pieces with 3-12, Ian Brattle and Matt Large weighed in with three apiece, and Matt Large's four maidens meant nothing came easily off him either.

A quiet word of pride from the skipper: 71 with the bat and 3-12 with the ball made for a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. And a note for the club historians — Matt Large's three wickets nudge him past Alan Wilkes into 4th on our all-time list.

Home by 47 runs. A good day for the club, and a rather good day for the skipper too.

Sun 02 May 1993 🧢 1st XIv Chestfield CC · AwayformDWWWL

Sunday 2nd May, and we trundled off to Chestfield with the toss already lost and a long afternoon in the field guaranteed. No complaints from me — a captain takes what he's given, and what we were given was 52 overs of graft. Chestfield ground their way to 183 for 7, Brian Melliard Sr the chief architect with a well-made 53, brother Brian (37) and Neil Gowers (34) filling in nicely around him. D Briley, mercifully, contributed a duck at our expense. The bowling honours went firmly to Ian Brattle, whose 3 for 21 — with four maidens thrown in for good measure — was as mean as anything served up in the tea interval, backed up handsomely by Matt Large (2-36) and Chris Tymms (1-26).

Chasing 184, we made surprisingly light work of it, romping to 104 for 2 from just 25 overs before the heavens, or at least the umpires, called it a day. Nigel Thirkell was the man of the moment, unbeaten on 68 and looking like he could have batted through Sunday lunch and into tea. I'll confess a personal 68 not out was rather satisfying to walk off with, even if 17 byes suggested our man behind the stumps had a torrid afternoon of his own.

The real headline, though, belonged to Paul Bowles, marking his 800th appearance in Linton colours — a innings in itself, and one deserving of considerably more applause than anything the bat did today.

A draw, honours shared, and nobody quite able to land the decisive blow. On reflection, a fair result — and a fine day to wear the cap for the 800th time.

Sat 01 May 1993 🧢 2nd XIv R Ryarsh · AwayformDWLWD

Skipper's log, and what a Saturday it was out at Dummy Site. I won the toss and had no hesitation whatsoever in electing to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever anyone says down the pavilion afterwards. We wobbled early, slipping to 7-1 before I could even settle into my deckchair, but Keith Hatcher played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 87 of real class, with Alan Boyns doing sterling work alongside him for an unbeaten 38. The tail then had its say, cheeky runs frustrating the fielders no end, and we closed on a very respectable 158/6 from our 51 overs.

Out in the field, the damage was done by Trevor Back, miserly and menacing in equal measure with 2-14 and four maidens to his name, well supported by Simon Thirkell's 2-22 and Phil Randall's 1-3. C Carder departed without so much as a whimper, though M May's 22 kept the opposition afloat, and they finished on 96/7 from their 47 — enough to deny us, not enough to beat us.

Two notes for the honours board: Dave Todd brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a fine landmark by any measure, while Trevor Back's two wickets edged him past Ron Hickman into 14th on the club's all-time list. A draw, then — honours shared, tea earned, and honestly, on a day like this, nobody much minded.