🧢 Captain's Log

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

Saturday 25 September 1993 found us on the road to Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC, and I lost the toss — never a great start to a Saturday, but there we are, we bowled first regardless.

They batted with some purpose, reaching 184/6 from their 48 overs. Barry Dixon led the way with a well-crafted 55, well backed up by B- Phillips' 47 and an unbeaten 30 from Peter Finch, the pair adding a crucial 76 for the second wicket that threatened to run away from us. But just as the floodgates looked set to open, 160/3 becoming 172/6 in a hurry, we found our discipline: Carl Read, N Davies and Tim Morgan all departed without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was the chief architect of the fightback, a superb 4-24, with Rob Doick chipping in at 1-34. Poor Clive Newman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 12 byes going begging, but the rest of us more than made up for it.

Chasing 185, David Castle played the innings of the day, 73 well past his fifty, ably supported by Dave Charlton's 26 and Piers McDonald's 24, the openers setting the tone with 52 for the first wicket. I chipped in with the bat myself, glad to see us home 186/6 with overs to spare, at 42.4.

A fine win by four wickets, and one to enjoy on the coach home. Onwards.

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

Called it right at the toss on that Saturday, 25 September, and never seriously considered anything but batting first against Yalding. The openers gave us the ideal start, motoring us to 105 before the first wicket fell — a platform too good to waste, and Mike Elworthy made sure it wasn't, cruising past his fifty to 61. I chipped in with 39, Ron McCormick added a tidy 21, and we closed on 147/5 from our 42 overs. Poor old Trevor Back will want this one struck from the record, undone for a duck, though with such a solid platform already laid, few of us dwelt on it.

Yalding's reply never threatened. From 45/2 the innings unravelled alarmingly to 54/5, and three of their number — Liam Hawkins, M Ashton and D Shrimpton — trooped back without troubling the scorers. Don Dansie was the chief tormentor, miserly and menacing with 4/20 including three maidens, and I found some rhythm with the ball too, picking up 2/6 in support, while Chris Tymms chipped in with 1/13. All told they mustered 78/8 from their 29 overs, a good forty-odd runs light.

By rights a home win, but cricket being cricket, the clock beat us and honours were shared. As it stands this season I lead the 2nd XI wicket charts with 30, and Tim Thirkell sits second in the run charts on 388 — encouraging signs, even if today ended all square. A draw, then, but a thoroughly satisfying one to have engineered.

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

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 19 September 1993, and Anchorians CC rolled up looking rather pleased with themselves — I won the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, stuck us in to bat. That confidence took an early battering when we slipped to 1 for 1, the sort of start that has a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. But cricket, mercifully, has a habit of forgiving early sins. I found some form and got us moving with 56, well supported by David Castle's 31 and Rob Doick's unbeaten 26, our stand for the fifth wicket worth a handsome 65. Even when wickets went again, the last pair weren't reading from the script — a defiant 41 added to drag us to a respectable 154 for 6 off our 42 overs.

Respectable, it turned out, was not quite enough. Anchorians simply strolled to it, Keith Wooding making an imperious 72 not out and Gary Myers keeping him company with a polished 52 not out, the pair chasing down 155 in just 30.1 overs without so much as a hiccup. Poor Clive Newman had an afternoon of it behind the stumps, 27 byes going begging — not his finest hour, though I doubt anyone was catching that lot cleanly.

Beaten by four wickets, then, and no dressing it up. Small consolation that I remain top of the 1993 run charts with 1106 for the season — runs I'd happily trade for a result today. We'll regroup, we'll dust ourselves down, and we'll be better for it next week.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 18 September 1993

There's a particular flavour of dread reserved for a lost toss on a grey Saturday, and West Farleigh's decision to bat gave us the full measure of it. Still, we set to work, and the lads acquitted themselves well enough with the ball. Fred Cheesman was the pick of the attack, tidying up with 3-20, while Ian Brattle bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that only four maidens can properly convey en route to 3-33 — a spell that, we later learned, nudges him past John Taylor and into 14th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the kind of thing you only appreciate over a pint afterwards. I chipped in with 1-15 myself. Ed DeLucy's 40 and Glen Aukett's 27 held their innings together after a shaky 8-1 start, and 135/8 felt, at the time, gettable.

It wasn't. Clive Newman's 28 and Dave Charlton's 20 gave us something to build on, but the middle order had other ideas, and a horror stretch from 102-6 to 109-9 rather took the wind out of our chase. Matt Large's duck didn't help matters. We folded for 117 and lost by 18 runs.

There are worse ways to lose a game of cricket, and there are worse days than one where you keep your season's top spot in the run charts intact and watch a teammate climb the record books. Beaten, not disgraced. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Dear Members,

Rainham (Kent) arrived on the 18th, won the toss, and – showing not a flicker of sentiment – put us into the field first. Alfie Fisher then proceeded to remind us why hospitality can be a mug's game, compiling a superb unbeaten 124, with George Foote (46) offering sturdy support in a second-wicket stand of 126 that rather took the game away from us for a spell. Credit where due: Don Dansie kept plugging away for 2-61, Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 1-22, and Jon Harris bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting his own teabags, nine maidens and 1-38 to show for it. They declared us down to 205/4 from their 54 overs.

Chasing 206, we were steady rather than swashbuckling, closing on 135/5 from 44 overs. Ron McCormick anchored proceedings nicely with an unbeaten 45, Don Dansie added a brisk 23 on top of his bowling shift, and I contributed a watchful 21 not out, doing my best impression of a man in no hurry whatsoever – though poor Paul Clayton will have less fond memories, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

So, honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Fisher's century will be talked about long after our modest chase is forgotten, but character was shown, wickets were shared about, and nobody's tea went cold. A fair result, all told, and one we'll happily settle for against a side batting like that.

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

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 · AwayformLWWDD

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

A grand day out at Beacon CC, deep in Cornwall, and I'll confess I felt rather pleased with myself for calling correctly at the toss and sticking us in to bat first. It's the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or reckless by close of play, and happily for us it was the former.

We posted 240 for 6 from our forty overs, and I'm rather chuffed to say I found some form myself, carrying my bat for 119 not out — the sort of innings that makes the long drive home feel considerably shorter. Matt Large chipped in with a tidy 28 and Rob Doick 26, with a stand of 57 for the fifth wicket giving the innings its spine, and a defiant last-wicket stand adding a further 46 to make the total properly respectable. Poor Paul Bishop's duck was the one blemish on an otherwise cheerful scorecard.

Two hundred and forty looked a useful total, and so it proved. Beacon fought hard through Kevin Thomas's fine 87 and Ralph Williams's 39, with an opening stand of 85 threatening to make a nonsense of our afternoon, but Daniel Thirkell bowled beautifully for 3 for 31, well supported by Alan Boyns and Adrian Caddick, and Matt Large kept things miserly with two maidens. Twelve byes gave poor Mike Elworthy a testing afternoon behind the stumps, but Beacon were bowled out for 205.

Thirty-five runs the margin, two points banked, and a very satisfactory drive home.

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

Lost the toss on a bright Saturday and asked to have a bowl first — which, given how the day unfolded, suited us rather nicely. Outwood set about building something respectable, with Roger Waller top-scoring on 47 and Michael Macleod chipping in a handy 42, Charles Murchie adding 26 to the cause. But for all their application, the middle and lower order simply couldn't get going — Siegle, O'Mahony and Beach all trooped back without so much as a nudge off the square, and by the 45.5-over mark they were all out for 160. Don Dansie was the chief architect of the collapse, spinning a web through their order for a superb 5 for 37, four of his overs going for nothing at all. Chris Tymms chipped away for 2 for 21, and I did my bit with 2 for 34.

Chasing 161, we made light work of it. Clive Newman batted like a man possessed, or perhaps just a man in very good form, compiling a magnificent unbeaten hundred that did the heavy lifting almost single-handedly, while Trevor Back played the perfect foil with an unbeaten 46. Between them they saw us home in just 35.3 overs, for the loss of only two wickets.

With Back now sitting proudly atop the 2nd XI's season run charts on 420, and Tymms leading the wicket-takers with 29, the engine room of this side is very much firing. An emphatic eight-wicket win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. Onwards indeed.

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

Friday last took us down to Mullion, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and, with visions of a flat, docile pitch, sent us in to bat. Whether that vision was accurate is a matter for debate, since we were bowled out for 145 in 44 overs, though not without a fight. Fred Cheesman played the innings of the day with a fine 33, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with a solid 22, and between them Simon Thirkell, Rob Doick and Adrian Caddick contrived to depart for three ducks apiece without troubling the scorers. Mullion's bowlers can take some credit, but so, generously, can their fielders, who gifted us 29 extras — nearly a fifth of our total, and rather more than I'd care to admit in print.

Defending 145 always feels like tiptoeing along a cliff edge, but the lads were magnificent. Nigel Thirkell, in irresistible form, ran through them with 4-12, backed up nobly by Jon Harris (2-19), Rob Doick (2-40) and a typically frugal Simon Thirkell with two maidens. Mullion slipped to 7-1 early and never quite recovered, Gary Pollard's 26 and Philip Burslem's 20 the only real resistance before they folded for 126. I'll confess my own afternoon behind the stumps was a scratchy one — thirteen byes slipped through my grasp like eels — but happily nobody seemed to notice amid the celebrations.

A tense, twitchy finish, but we got home by 19 runs. A good day for the club, and worth every anxious moment.

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

Beaten by three wickets, and I'll take that on the chin. Asked to field first, I can't say the sight of Truro CC padding up was one that filled me with dread — but cricket, as ever, had other ideas, and by the close it was our lads doing the shaking of hands rather than the taking of trophies.

With the bat we mustered 115 in 40.4 overs, and I'm rather pleased to report I top-scored with 22, ably backed up by Simon Thirkell's tidy 20. There was a wobble in there that would have tested the nerves of a far calmer captain than me — 15 for 1 became 22 for 4 before you could say "howzat", and poor Nigel Thirkell trudged off for a duck, joining the Duck Club with all the ceremony that dubious honour deserves. Credit where it's due, though: our extras column contributed a magnificent 33, rather more than some of us managed with the bat in hand.

In the field we gave a good account of ourselves. Jon Harris led the line beautifully with 2 for 24, Rob Doick chipped in with 2 for 27, and I managed 1 for 12 to go with my earlier runs. Nigel Thirkell, perhaps keen to make amends, bowled three miserly maidens, while Jonathan Kent departed without troubling the scorers at the other end. Truro got home on 116 for 7, Ryan Driver's 36 the difference between the sides.

So, three wickets the wrong way, but plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Monday, 30 August, and Bearsted rolled up looking rather too pleased with themselves for my liking. The coin fell kindly, so I sent us in first, on the theory that runs in the bank beat runs still to come. And runs there were: Dave Charlton batted beautifully for a well-made 65, Clive Newman chipped in with 38, and Piers McDonald a tidy 33, the pair combining for a priceless 67 for the fourth wicket. We closed on 204 for 7 from our sixty overs, which felt about right for a late-summer afternoon.

Bearsted's openers set about the target with real intent, putting on 136 before the first wicket finally fell, and for a while it looked ominous. Then, mercifully, the innings wobbled: 151 for 2 became 158 for 5 almost before we'd noticed, with Stephen Horrocks sent back without troubling the scorers. Mark Stevens made a well-made 74 of his own, Stephen Pearce added 47, and they closed on 190 for 8 from 57 overs — agonisingly short.

Matt Large was pick of the bowlers, 3 for 36 with six maidens that must have driven their middle order to drink; Dave Todd took 3 for 59 and Rob Doick 1 for 35. Clive Newman had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes leaking through, for which I shall tease him gently at nets. Piers McDonald's 33 nudged him past Cliff Anscombe into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — one for the mantelpiece. I find myself, somewhat improbably, leading our 1993 run charts with 1036, Large topping the wickets on 61.

Neither side could force it home, so honours were shared. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but an afternoon well spent.

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

Sunday saw us host Maidstone Dissidents CC, and with the coin obliging me for once, I had no hesitation in putting us in — a decision that looked shaky when we lost an early wicket with just 7 on the board. Nerves, however, gave way to application: a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 64 steadied the ship, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, top-scoring with 86 to carry the innings along, with Rob Doick (23) and Clive Newman (21) chipping in nicely as we closed on a respectable 190/8 from our 46 overs.

Defending that total, we were made to work for it. Dennis Salisbury led their reply with a stubborn 38, well supported by M Wilson's unbeaten 29, and a ninth-wicket stand of 69 threatened to spoil the afternoon entirely. But we found a purple patch, ripping through the middle and lower order from 64-5 to 71-8 in the blink of an eye — P Buchanan and Eddie Oyediran both departing without troubling the scorers. Trevor Back was the pick of the attack with 3-14, backed superbly by Matt Large (3-39), Nick Froom (1-15) and the miserly Rob Doick, who sent down four maidens. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes escaping his grasp, though he'll laugh about it over a pint.

In the end they finished 144/9 — honours even, and a draw that felt, on reflection, entirely fair to both sides.

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

Saturday saw us head out to Sheldwich, and for once the coin behaved itself, so batting first was never in doubt. I can report the day went rather well for me personally, an unbeaten sort of feeling I don't often get to write about — I made 108, my contribution finished with the ball too, but more on that shortly. Dave Charlton chipped in a fine 34 and Paul Bowles 31, the two of them building a third-wicket stand of 107 that put real substance into our 232/6 from 46 overs. Poor Piers McDonald had a day to forget, back in the pavilion for a duck, though nobody remembers that sort of thing by teatime.

Defending the total, Sheldwich made a fist of it through Martin Mills' 25, with Jonathan Heward and S Figgis chipping in 21 and 20 respectively off a 52-run opening stand, but our attack kept chipping away. Jon Harris was the pick of the bowlers with 3-45, Matt Large tidied things up beautifully with 2-28 and two maidens, and I added 1-13 for good measure. Jon Shields departed for nought. Clive Newman had a trickier afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes going astray, but nothing that troubled the outcome.

A word too for Dave Charlton, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth toasting in the bar. Won by 61 runs, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work all round.

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

Alan Boyns here, and for once the coin gods weren't smiling on us — Sheldwich won the toss and had no hesitation sending us out to field. Fifty overs of graft later they'd posted 195/9, Barry Hulks the chief architect with 41, well supported by Julian Beale's unbeaten 36 and R Snelling's 26, the pair putting on 53 for the fifth wicket to give their innings a spine. Paul Leandro was the pick of the attack with 3-49, Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 2-30, and I managed 1-4 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — not the sort of figures I'll be dining out on for long, but every run saved felt precious. Simon Green departed for a duck, which I shan't pretend didn't raise a smile in the field.

Chasing 196, Tim Thirkell played the innings of the day, a classy 54, with Stewart Morrison (35) and Mike Elworthy (33) lending sturdy support and a first-wicket stand of 57 setting the tone early. Poor Richard Piper's afternoon began and ended without troubling the scorers, but the rest of the order made light of the target, getting us home at 196/5 with overs to spare.

A thoroughly satisfying five-wicket win, and a timely reminder that patient bowling and steady batting still win most days out at Linton Park. Onwards to the next one — same time, same teapot.

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

I burst us on the coin toss and, sensing a decent surface, put the visitors in — no, wait, I mean I won the toss and elected to bat, which in hindsight took some nerve given we lost an early wicket with just five on the board. From there Piers McDonald played the innings of the day, a fine 59, with Mike Caddick (36) and Fred Cheesman (24) chipping in either side of a sturdy 63-run fourth-wicket stand that gave the innings its spine. Naturally, being Linton Park, we couldn't resist a late collapse, tumbling from 151-6 to 163-9 before somebody remembered how to bat again, closing on a respectable 171-9 from our 49 overs.

Out in the field, P. Brattle's XI dug in around M Brown's fighting 40 and Paul Brattle's 36, the pair sharing a stubborn 54-run third-wicket stand that threatened to see the game away from us. But I found some rhythm with the ball and things clicked nicely, finishing with 5-42 and five maidens for good measure, with Peter Whyte (1-9) and Rob Doick (1-10) squeezing the other end shut and poor G Larcombe sent back for a duck without troubling the scorers. Their innings closed on 146-9 from 43 overs — agonisingly short, and not for want of trying on either side.

A draw, then, honours shared, which felt about right for an afternoon where neither side could quite land the killer blow. Passing 1900 career wickets along the way was a nice personal note to end on — though I'd have swapped it gladly for the extra runs or wickets to finish the job.

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

Winning the toss on a fine Saturday, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat — a decision that, for once, looked rather clever by close of play. Clive Newman set the tone with a superb 82, built on a rock-solid opening stand of 121 that gave the innings the platform every captain dreams of, while Paul Bowles chipped in a handsome 51 and Piers McDonald a brisk 39 to push us to a formidable 219 for 4 from our fifty overs. I should confess my own contribution to proceedings: I strode out, took guard, and departed for a duck — leadership by example is a fine principle, though not always in the manner one intends.

Defending 219 is always a pleasant sort of problem to have, and Ian Brattle made sure it barely felt like one, spinning through Old Williamsonians with figures of 6 for 3 that will live long in the memory — and rightly moves him up to 15th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, past Ron Hickman. Paul Bowles (2-23) and Clive Newman (1-8) tidied up what little was left, Darren Styles bowled four miserly maidens, and David Bent's 29 and K Liddle's 24 were the only real resistance as the visitors folded from 74 for 2 to 75 for 5 and were all out for 107. Nine byes gave poor Piers a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, but no matter.

A win by 112 runs, two points banked, and a golden duck for the skipper to laugh about over tea. Thoroughly earned, thoroughly enjoyable — I'll take that every week.

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

Saturday 21 August 1993, and off we trundled to Hadlow CC with the coin gods smiling on me for once — I called correctly and, with the sun out and the pitch looking full of runs, had no hesitation in sticking us in.

And how the lads repaid that confidence. Brian Piper and the openers set about Hadlow's attack with real intent, putting on 85 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a dismissal — the sort of start that lets a captain sit back with his tea and pretend he knew all along. Piper went on to a fine 56, Steve Cheesman chipped in a brisk 47 and Tim Thirkell 41, and by the time we declared our efforts at 185/4 off 41.4 overs, Hadlow knew they had a job on.

With the ball, I finally found some rhythm of my own — 3-26 with three maidens thrown in, proof that even a captain who spends most of his time fretting over field placings can occasionally hit a length. Stuart Cheesman toiled hard for 3-59 and Paul Leandro picked up one for a tidy 15. Simon Dolding held Hadlow together with a gutsy 49, and Andy Portlock had the misfortune of a duck at our hands, but they could only manage 139/8 from their 38 overs before we ran out of daylight.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the door. Frustrating in the moment, perhaps, but with Thirkell and myself both climbing the season's charts, I'll happily call it a job well done and the beer tasted just as sweet.

Wed 18 Aug 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformWWLWW

Wednesday the 18th of August found us on the road to Gravesend, and for once the coin behaved itself — heads, and I did not hesitate before putting us in to bat. Mike Caddick and Andrew Hales got proceedings off to a rare old start, 152 for the first wicket before either fell, and Caddick went on to a magnificent century, 114 in the end. I chipped in an unbeaten 30 as we closed on a handsome 218 for 3 from 47 overs, though poor Dave Charlton will want to forget his afternoon entirely — out for a golden duck. It keeps Caddick top of our run charts for the summer with 420.

With that total in the bank I rather fancied our chances, but Gravesend had other ideas. Dave Elliott batted beautifully for 79, with Dave Bishop (31) and Peter Preston (25 not out) lending support, and a fourth-wicket stand of 55 threatened to run clean away from us. Darren Styles led the attack superbly, 2 for 8, with Alan Boyns and Fred Cheesman chipping in two apiece — Boyns' brace nudges him up to fifth in our season's wicket-takers — and Andrew Quinton and Glenn Spencer both departed for ducks at our hands. Fourteen byes, mind, told their own tale of a testing afternoon for Jim Hall behind the stumps.

Gravesend finished on 214 for 9 from 43 overs, five runs shy of us, and honours were shared. A draw, then — no defeat, but no victory either, and on a day we batted like champions, I cannot help feeling this one slipped through our fingers.

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

Whitstable, and a Sunday that felt like an excuse to be outdoors rather than a cricket match, though it turned into rather a good one of those too. I called correctly at the toss and, with the sun out and the outfield fast, there was really only one decision to make: we batted.

It didn't start well — the first wicket went for just 0 for 1, and poor David Castle departed for a duck without troubling the scorers. But Piers McDonald had other ideas, playing a genuinely superb innings of 107 that anchored everything around him, with Rob Doick's 38 and a crucial fourth-wicket stand of 70 giving the innings real backbone. I chipped in with 31 not out towards the close, and 233 for 7 from our 48 overs felt like a total with enough about it to defend.

So it proved. Whitstable never quite got away from us, stumbling to 5 for 1 early and never fully recovering despite M Drinkwater's 35 and useful contributions from Andy Stroud and Phil May. Don Dansie was magnificent, spinning his way to 5 for 53, while Rob Doick backed up his batting with 4 for 29 and four maidens — a proper captain's performance from a man who, we were delighted to note, has now passed 100 career wickets. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 18 byes his reward for standing up to Dansie's turn, but nobody was complaining as Whitstable folded for 168.

A thoroughly satisfying 65-run win, two points banked, and Piers's hundred now sits proudly 20th on the club's all-time run list. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

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

Called correctly at the toss on Saturday 14 August, I had no hesitation in sending us in to bat against Higham & Mockbeggar — a decision that looked distinctly shaky when we lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board, the sort of start that has a captain suddenly very interested in the state of the tea urn. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and the third-wicket pair set about repairing things with a stand of 164 that changed the whole complexion of the innings. Don Dansie played beautifully for a well-made 63, and I managed to find some rhythm of my own, falling three short of a hundred for 97 — the sort of score that makes the walk back to the pavilion feel both wonderful and faintly cruel. We closed on 181/4 from our 45 overs, a total with enough runs in it to make a game of it.

Defending it, the visitors never quite let us settle either. M Southwold led their reply with 44, well supported by Richard Shackleton's unbeaten 37 and Allan Twitchett's 29, their fourth wicket adding a stubborn 63. Darren Styles was the pick of our attack, miserly with four maidens and finishing with 2-15, with Fred Cheesman chipping in for 1-9. They closed on 147/5 from 38 overs, just short of the target and just out of our reach.

Honours shared, then — a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody, which is rather the spirit of the game.

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

Saturday 14 August 1993 dawned fair enough for cricket, and I've never regretted winning a toss less than I did this one — a good pitch, a decent outfield, and the sense that runs were there for the taking against Harrietsham. So it proved, up to a point. We stumbled to 190 for 7 off our 46, which sounds a good deal calmer than it felt in the middle. I was fortunate enough to find some form and carried the innings through to 60, with Paul Gibson (40) and Dave Charlton (22) lending sturdy support, the pair of us stitching together a third-wicket stand of 59 that gave the innings its spine.

Defending 190 always has an element of theatre to it, and Harrietsham obliged early with a wicket down for just the one run — the sort of start that has openers walking back muttering to themselves, and D Passey and Micky Tong duly joined the queue without so much as troubling the scorers. Keith Chaney's defiant 37 threatened briefly to spoil the party, but Paul Bowles was in irresistible touch, snaring three for 14, backed up nicely by my own two for 6 and Jon Harris's two for 32, while Paul Gibson strangled the life out of the middle overs with four maidens. They were bowled out for 103.

An 87-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — with the pleasant footnote that Gibbo's 40 nudges him past Stan Wratten and into 9th on the club's all-time run charts. A very good day for Linton Park.

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

Here's the match report:

Well, Sunday 8th August found us on the road to Benenden, and I'll admit winning the toss and putting them in felt like the right call at the time — a decision I stand by, whatever anyone says over the tea urn. Piers McDonald played the innings of the day, 49 well-crafted runs, with Clive Newman unbeaten on 46 and Dave Charlton chipping in 25; their fourth-wicket stand of 71 was the spine of the innings, and even our extras column pulled its weight with 34. All told, 194/4 from our 44 overs looked a tidy, defendable total as we trooped off for tea.

Defending it proved rather harder than posting it. Steve Grimes played a gem of an unbeaten 54, ably assisted by Steve Drake's 47 and Alex Presnall's 34, and while we struck early — 2 for 1 — a fifth-wicket stand of 94 rather undid our good work. Matt Large toiled hardest for 3-49, with Rob Doick (2-36, two tidy maidens) and Don Dansie (1-50) also among the wickets, and I contributed my own small piece to proceedings with the bat earlier in the day. Poor Clive had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 12 byes going begging.

They got there by 4 wickets in the end. Credit where it's due — Benenden played the better cricket on the day, but there was enough in our showing to suggest we'll have the last laugh before the season's out.

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

Not our day, this one, but there was much to admire in defeat.

Away at Bearsted, I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season and we were put into the field — no great hardship, as it turned out. The home side ground their way to 154 all out from 44.5 overs, Robin Cross top-scoring with a well-made 43 and Norman Bateman chipping in with 36, the pair putting on 58 for the fifth wicket to give their innings some backbone. I can't pretend I minded much, though — I had one of those days with the ball that come along once in a blue moon, finishing with 5-14, with Trevor Back (3-31) and Chris Tymms (2-59, three tidy maidens) squeezing the life out of the rest of the order.

With 155 to chase, we made a proper meal of it. I got us going with 38, well supported by Stewart Morrison's 36, and at 60-2 we looked in decent shape — then lost three for three in the blink of an eye and never quite recovered, bowled out for 147. Andy Naish and Doug Reid went without scoring, and poor Alan Boyns made the walk of shame for a duck of his own.

There was real cause for celebration amid the gloom, mind: Stewart Morrison brought up 1,000 career runs for the club and turned out for his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark that deserved a better result to go with it. As for us, seven runs short is seven runs short. Heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Not much luck with the coin on Saturday — Headcorn called correctly and had no hesitation shoving us into the field, which on a warm 07 August afternoon felt rather like being volunteered for the washing-up. They batted with real purpose, John Phipps compiling a fine 68 and Andrew Fordham not far behind with 65, the pair putting on 125 for the second wicket while we stood about admiring the scenery. They closed on 160 for 3 from their 42.5 overs. Paul Bowles worked hardest for his two wickets, chipping in for 59, Matt Large picked up one, and Jeff Todd was miserly throughout with five maidens — not a run given away lightly, even if the rest of us were rather more obliging.

Chasing 161, we never quite got the innings purring. I did my bit with 32, well supported by Clive Newman's 27 and Matt Large's 21, and a second-wicket stand of 55 promised more than we delivered. Wickets tumbled alarmingly from 113 for 4 to 123 for 7, and poor Ollie Priestly walked the long walk for a duck, joining the club's less illustrious ledger. We finished 124 for 8 from 41 overs — short of the target, but not disgraced.

Honours shared, then, and on reflection a fair result: neither side quite deserved to win, and both sides gave enough away to be grateful for the draw.

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

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 KX Kon UD Deventer CC (Holland) Tour XI · HomeformWDWWL

Won the toss on a bright Tuesday and, with the sort of decisiveness that surprises even me, stuck us in to bat against the touring Dutchmen of Kon Ud Deventer. It proved the right call. Paul Gibson played an innings for the ages — 123, an absolute joy to watch from the other end — while David Castle chipped in an unbeaten 28 and Dave Todd a tidy 22. We were 72 for none before anyone troubled the scorers, and 212/4 from our 28 overs left the tourists a proper mountain to climb.

Chasing it, they never quite let go of the rope. Lubbers batted beautifully for 89 and Vriezen added 48, and a second-wicket stand of 99 threatened to spoil our afternoon entirely — especially after an early wobble at 1-1 that promised so much for us and delivered so little. But cricket has a habit of turning, and turn it did: from 144-3 to 162-6 in the blink of an eye, with poor M Dirks collecting a golden duck along the way. I had the good fortune to lead the charge with the ball, finishing with 2-6, well backed up by Nick Froom's miserly 1-5 and two maidens, and Rob Doick's 1-20.

We held on for a 12-run win. Gibson now sits proudly atop the season's run charts, Doick second among the wickets, and the club can rightly call it a very good day indeed.

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 on Saturday, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat. Batting first on a good day is one of the few captaincy decisions I can make with total confidence, and this time it repaid me handsomely. We piled up 287 for 4 from our 46 overs, with Clive Newman striking a fine 64 and Paul Gibson chipping in with 41, the pair putting on 135 for the third wicket in the stand of the innings. I'll confess to rather enjoying my own afternoon in the middle, bringing up a hundred on the way to 111 — the sort of innings a captain dreams of and rarely gets, so I shan't apologise for mentioning it.

With 287 on the board, defending it felt less like a plan and more like a formality, and so it proved. Southborough never got going, subsiding to 94 all out in 27.2 overs. Simon Fisher's 29 was the only real resistance; everyone else seemed to be queuing up to get back to the pavilion, the innings collapsing from 77-5 to 80-8 in a blur, and poor Ray Grayland departing without so much as troubling the scorers. Matt Large was the architect of the carnage, bowling beautifully for 6-39 with three maidens, well supported by Paul Bowles and Sean Charlton with a wicket apiece.

A win by 193 runs, then — comfortable doesn't begin to cover it. A thoroughly good day for the club, and for once I can say the skipper's hunch at the toss came up trumps.

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 · HomeformLWDWW

Beaten by 6 wickets in the end — beaten, mind, not disgraced, and there's a difference in this game.

I won the toss on a fine Thursday evening and, in a fit of optimism that I'll be quietly reviewing, stuck us in. It looked the right call while Clive Newman was in full flow, his 82 the innings of the summer so far, and Dave Charlton chipping in a tidy 40 alongside him in a fourth-wicket stand worth 75 that carried us to respectability. Then, as so often happens at Linton Park, the innings rather fell off a cliff — 155 for 4 became 159 for 7 before anyone had quite worked out what had happened, and we limped home to 161 for 8 off our 45. I contributed my customary golden duck to proceedings, which I shall not dwell on further than to say the walk back to the pavilion felt considerably longer than the walk out.

With the ball, we huffed and puffed without ever quite blowing the house down. D Cryer made a fine 64, well supported by V Woollett and J Hawthorne, and an opening stand of 72 gave the Nondescripts the platform they needed. Paul Bowles did the damage with 1 for 25, with Paul Gibson and M Tabar chipping in either side of him, but 164 for 3 off 36 overs told its own story. Ten byes, meanwhile, made for a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Clive.

So, beaten by six wickets — a fair result, honestly reflected, and we'll be better for it next week.

Wed 28 Jul 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv IX Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI · HomeformDLWDW

Here's the match report:

Wednesday 28 July brought Ipswich Greyhounds CC – Kent Tour XI to Linton, and having won the toss I opted to bowl first, a decision that repaid us handsomely. Our attack was relentless: Piers McDonald ran through the top order to finish with 3-11, Dave Charlton chipped in with 2-15, Rob Doick with 2-26, and Paul Gibson bowled three tidy maidens without ever looking like conceding a run. The visitors slipped to 3-1 early and never truly recovered, though D Jones (27), K Banham (26) and S Thew (25) built a defiant 53-run stand for the eighth wicket before the innings folded for 139.

Chasing 140, we made life difficult for ourselves with an early wicket for no runs on the board, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the antacids. But Dave Charlton, fresh off his 100th appearance in Linton colours, played the innings of the day with a fine 38, and a stand of 61 for the fourth wicket with Ron McCormick (26) and Paul Gibson (27 not out) steadied the ship. I was glad to get among the runs myself as we edged home, sealing victory by two wickets from 39.5 overs.

A red-letter day all round, too, with Peter Whyte reaching 3,000 career runs for the club. Two hard-fought points, a nerveless finish, and a thoroughly deserved win.

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

The toss deserted me as it so often does at Hollingbourne, and I duly sent us out to field on a pitch that looked altogether too kind to batsmen. Mike Palmer set about proving the point with a well-made 67, Dave Kay chipped in with a fifty of his own, and Ted Holloway's 30 rounded out a sixth-wicket stand worth a hundred that had me pacing the boundary rope with increasing gloom. They finished on 199 for 8 from their 46 overs — a total that felt like a small mountain by the tea interval.

Credit where due, though: we scrapped hard. Trevor Scrivens departed for a duck without so much as a whimper, and I managed to do some damage myself, 3 for 47, with Ian Brattle (3-56) and the ever-miserly Matt Large (2-87, four maidens and barely a bad ball in him) keeping things respectable.

Chasing 199 always felt a stretch, and so it proved. Matt Large top-scored with 40, well supported by David Castle's 39 and Paul Bowles's 22, with the opening pair putting on 53 to give us hope. Alas, poor Piers McDonald made the long walk back for nought, and we subsided to 177 for 8, twenty-two runs shy.

A gallant effort, honestly beaten by the better side on the day — we'll dust ourselves down and come again next week.

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

Well, credit where it's due — Ashford won the toss and had the good sense to bat first, leaving me to ponder what I'd have done with the same luck. As it turned out, no harm done. We took to the field at the Linton Park and set about our work with real purpose. X Groves and D Kendal put together a stand of substance for the visitors — 29 and 28 respectively — but around them Ashford rather fell away, with X Head and Mark Brann both departing without so much as a nudge off the mark. Chris Tymms bowled with a miser's discipline, eight maidens testament to a spell that gave nothing away, while Trevor Back and Tim Thirkell chipped in usefully. I'll allow myself one boast: figures of 3-12 were about as good a day as I've had with the ball, and they did for the innings, Ashford bowled out for 124 off 54.3 overs.

With the bat, we made hardly a fuss of the chase. Ron McCormick anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 51, the shot of a man in no hurry whatsoever, while Trevor Back's 33 not out and Mike Elworthy's 23 filled in the gaps with good sense. We closed on 126 for 3 from 35.5 overs, comfortable throughout.

A seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — ball first, bat second, no alarms in between. Onwards we go.

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

I lost the toss on Tuesday and duly found myself put out to field, which on a warm July evening felt less like punishment and more like the polite version of being told to make ourselves useful. Old Fullerians duly built their innings around Gould's fine 62, well backed up by Nottingham's 22, while at the other end poor Waters departed without troubling the scorers. Bowles was the pick of our attack with three for 39, I chipped in with a couple for 30, and Brattle bowled beautifully tight, five maidens and a wicket to show for his miserliness.

Chasing, we set about our task with more enthusiasm than serenity. Thirkell's 46 was the innings that mattered, Bowles adding an unbeaten 24, and at 104 for 5 it looked a formality. Then, as only this club can manage, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion, three wickets for six runs, Caddick and Brattle both departing for ducks, and the score slipping to 110 for 8 while poor McDonald stood behind the stumps conceding eight byes and wondering what he'd done to deserve it.

We got there in the end, two wickets to spare, and the celebrations were doubled by Bowles reaching 27,000 career runs and Brattle passing 300 career wickets in the same match, milestones that rather put our nervous finish in perspective. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a proper reminder that at this club the scenic route is always preferred to the direct one.

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

Sunday 18 July 1993 dawned fair, and Tenterden CC rolled up looking rather too pleased with themselves. The toss went against us — as it invariably does when it matters — and they chose to bat, which in hindsight they may have regretted by close of play. They battled to 159 all out from their forty-nine overs, Duncan Purves compiling a fine half-century and Nick Hart chipping in with 30, but it was Jon Harris who stole the afternoon, spinning a web through the middle order for a remarkable 5-16. Trevor Back mopped up two more, I managed one for eighteen of my own, and Matt Large bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting his pennies, sending down four maidens. Our wicketkeeping, it must be said, was having one of those days — fourteen byes is not a total one boasts about in the tea interval.

With 160 to chase, we set about it with more caution than flair, easing to 72 for 2 from 27.2 overs before the rain, or perhaps just good sense, brought proceedings to a close. Dave Charlton batted beautifully for his unbeaten 47 and looked good for plenty more. As the season rolls on I find myself, somewhat to my own surprise, atop the run charts with 594, while Matt Large continues his relentless assault on batsmen everywhere with 38 wickets.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite deserving to lose, and the tea urn, mercifully, undamaged.

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

Saturday last saw Kennington CC visit for what turned out to be a rather splendid afternoon's cricket, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in asking the lads to bat — a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself handsomely.

Mike Elworthy and Alan Boyns set about the Kennington attack with real purpose, putting on 159 for the first wicket before Elworthy fell agonisingly short of what would have been a thoroughly deserved century, out for 97. Boyns followed for a fine 66, and between the pair of them they'd done most of the heavy lifting. There followed one of those spells so familiar to village cricket where 159/1 became 176/4 in the time it takes to put the kettle on, but I was able to see us home with an unbeaten 21 to help us to a respectable 241/8 from our 42 overs.

With the total defended, it was Trevor Back who stole the afternoon's headlines, tearing through the Kennington order with a marvellous 4-15, well supported by Chris Tymms (2-17) and Simon Thirkell (1-16), while Fred Cheesman fairly throttled the run rate with four maidens. Martin Watson (25) and Simon Sorokos (24) offered the only real resistance, but with an early wicket for no runs and a middle-order collapse from 97-6 to 101-9, Kennington were bowled out for 126.

A win by 115 runs, then — two points thoroughly banked, and a proper reminder of why we love this daft old game.

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

Sunday 11 July 1993, and the coin let Folkestone bat first — a decision that looked shrewd for most of the afternoon as Roy Downey compiled a magnificent 101, the sort of innings that makes a captain wonder whether he left his best bowlers in the shed. Sid Vignaux chipped in with 42 and Steve Salisbury an unbeaten 30, the pair putting on 128 for the second wicket while I shuffled the field and tried to look as though I had a plan. Ian Brattle was the pick of us, 2-82 with three tidy maidens thrown in for good measure, and I managed 1-27 without troubling the scorers unduly. Folkestone closed on a hefty 205/3 from their 46 overs — the kind of total that has you doing sums on the walk back to the pavilion.

Chasing it, David Castle set the tone with a well-made fifty, 55 in all, and Clive Newman kept things ticking with 37. The openers gave us a proper platform, 76 for the first wicket, and I was glad to add an unbeaten 33 down the order to help see us home. We reached 206/5 with six overs unused — a chase managed rather than a chase survived.

A word too for young Piers McDonald, whose 24 saw him leapfrog Mike Iliffe into 22nd on the club's all-time run charts, which pleased the tea table no end. A five-wicket win, then, earned the hard way against a very good total — the kind of afternoon that reminds you why you keep turning up.

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

I elected to bat when we won the toss on Saturday, and for once the decision looked as good three hours later as it did at the coin. We piled up 248 for 1 off our 39 overs, a total that had the tea urn rattling with nervous anticipation on the boundary. I found some form of my own, finishing unbeaten on 142 — the sort of innings you dream about on the drive to the ground and almost never get — while David Castle played the perfect foil with a classy 87 not out. Horton Kirby's bowlers must have wondered what they'd done to deserve it.

Defending a total like that ought to be the easy part, and so it proved. Their innings never found its feet: 8 for 1 early, a wobble from 34 for 2 to 41 for 5, and from there it was a formality. Jon Harris was simply magnificent, tearing through them with 7 for 28 including five maidens — the kind of spell bowlers talk about in the clubhouse for years. J Massiah and John Smith both departed without troubling the scorers, Matt Large chipped in with 2 for 35, and Paul Bowles picked up a wicket too. Peter Whyte had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, conceding 8 byes, though nobody was counting those with the game so thoroughly won.

Horton Kirby were bowled out for 79 in 28.1 overs, and we strolled home by 169 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and not a bad one personally either — 142 doesn't come along often, but I'll happily take it when it does.

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

Saturday 10 July found us on the road to Horton Kirby, and having won the toss I elected to bat — the right call, if I say so myself. We posted a solid 175 for 8 from our 46 overs, though it wasn't all plain sailing: the first wicket went down for just 3, and both Fred Cheesman and Mike Elworthy departed without troubling the scorers. Thankfully Trevor Back played the innings of the day, a fine 71, and found sturdy support from Steve Masters (40) and Steve Cheesman (29), the pair of them anchoring a fifth-wicket stand worth 64 that really was the making of our total.

Defending 175 always feels a touch nervy on paper, but Horton Kirby never got close, stumbling to 3 for 1 early on and never quite recovering their poise. Warren Bull top-scored with 28, backed up by Castleton (23) and Sanderson (21), while Ian Abernethy and Mick Hills both fell for ducks. Chris Tymms was the story of the innings, spinning his way to 5 for 47, and I was rather pleased with my own contribution too — five wickets at a miserly cost, five of my overs maidens, as we bowled them out for 124.

A day of extra significance, too: Trevor Back brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, and his 71 nudged him past Frank Brattle into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. A 51-run victory, a milestone innings, and a genuinely good day for the club.

Wed 07 Jul 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWDDLW

Wednesday 07 July 1993, and Gravesend CC rolled up to find us losing the toss and being sent out to field first — hardly the ideal start to a Wednesday, but the lads shrugged and got on with it. The visitors settled in nicely, posting 216 for 6 from their 45 overs, with Dave Bishop (69 not out) and A MacKenzie (59) putting on a stand of 66 for the third wicket that did most of the damage, Glenn Spencer chipping in with 23. Rob Doick was the pick of our attack, miserly as ever with two maidens on his way to 2 for 22, while I did my bit with 2 for 49 and Alan Boyns picked up 1 for 13. Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, conceding eight byes — the sort of thing that gives a keeper nightmares long after tea.

Chasing 217, we made a fair fist of it, closing on 212 for 7 from our 42 overs. Mike Caddick led the way in fine style with a well-made 66, Rob Doick supported handsomely with 43 and Alan Boyns added 26, the pair adding a crucial 85 for the fourth wicket to keep us in the hunt. Spare a thought for poor Steve Cheesman, who bagged a duck and took the walk of shame for the Duck Club ledger.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the win — a fair result, and with Caddick now leading our run charts and my own wickets column ticking along nicely, I'll happily settle for that.

Tue 06 Jul 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Shebbear College · HomeformWWDDL

Tuesday brought Shebbear College to Linton Park, and having won the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'm rather pleased to have made, as it turned out.

The lads batted with real purpose, racking up 185 for the loss of only two wickets in our 39.4 overs. Mike Caddick was in imperious form, cruising to 85 not out, while Paul Bowles gave him fine support with an unbeaten 64 of his own. Two half-centuries and barely a scare in sight — the sort of batting that makes a captain's job look easy, even if it never quite is.

Defending 185, we knew we had runs to play with, and so it proved. Shebbear never really got going, subsiding to 138 all out in 39.1 overs, their first wicket falling for just a solitary run and a horror collapse from 74 for 5 to 83 for 8 doing the real damage. Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, taking 4 for 34, with Andy Bryan (3 for 9) and Adrian Caddick (2 for 31) mopping up the rest, and R Barnes bowling three miserly maidens to choke the scoring. I chipped in with the ball myself, glad to play my part in a proper team effort.

A comfortable 47-run win to send everyone home happy — and with Mike Caddick third in our run charts and Jon Harris leading the wickets, the season's shaping up rather nicely. Onwards we go.

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

Won the toss on a warm Sunday against Pembury and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I wasn't proved a fool by tea. Openers Simon Thirkell and Ian Brattle gave us the platform of dreams, 85 for the first wicket, before both perished for ducks in the manner of men who'd used up all their luck in one partnership — the Duck Club ledger duly updated. From there Brian Piper (47) and Clive Newman (44) kept the innings ticking, and I was rather chuffed to contribute a half-century of my own on the way to 190 all out from 40.4 overs — not least because it arrived on my 800th appearance in Linton colours, a milestone I intend to celebrate with considerably more tea than dignity.

Pembury replied with real application, Alan Moxon's fifty (51) the backbone, well supported by Denis and Gary Cole, and a second-wicket stand of 53 threatening to run away from us. But Jon Harris was magnificent, 3-26, backed superbly by Don Dansie's 3-52 (two maidens, not a run given away lightly) and a sharp 1-1 from Simon Thirkell, who thus atoned handsomely for that earlier duck. Melvyn Cole departed for nought at our hands, and Pembury closed on 157/8.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could force it, and a thoroughly fitting way to mark 800 games. Brian Piper's 47 also nudged him past Tim Thirkell into 5th on the all-time run-scorers' list, which called for a celebratory pint or three in the clubhouse.

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

Saturday 3 July 1993 saw us play host to Staplehurst CC, and the day started as so many of mine do — losing the toss and being invited to spend the afternoon chasing leather round the boundary. Staplehurst made themselves nicely at home too, with M Robinson (51) and I Henson (50) putting on a hundred and seven for the first wicket while I stood at various points on the field wondering when my luck might turn. It turned, eventually — five wickets for 45 runs is not a return I'll pretend to be modest about, and with Jon Harris weighing in with four more and Ian Brattle keeping things miserly with a couple of maidens, we hauled them back to 183 for 9 off their 46 overs. Poor N Pullen and I Gosling won't want reminding they went for ducks.

With that kind of chase in front of us, it could easily have gone the other way, but Paul Gibson set about it in the grand manner with 90, and David Castle chipped in a tidy 33 as the openers put on ninety themselves before the first wicket fell. I added an unbeaten 29 down the order to help see us home, and home we duly came, six wickets to spare.

A rare day when both bat and ball behaved for the same man, and a thoroughly good one for the club. David Castle continues to top our run charts for the season, Jon Harris climbs the wicket-takers' table, and Staplehurst, I suspect, will be plotting their revenge over a pint before they've even left the car park. Verdict: a proper team performance, and long may it continue.

Sat 03 Jul 1993 🧢 2nd XIv 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

I called correctly at the toss on Sunday and, with the sun out over Hadlow, there was only ever going to be one decision from me — we were batting.

David Castle set about proving why he's top of our 1993 run charts, cracking a fine 70, while Piers McDonald weighed in with a well-made 58 alongside him — their third-wicket stand of 97 was the innings, plain and simple. Brian Piper chipped in an unbeaten 20 to round things out nicely, though poor Simon Thirkell will want this one struck from the record — a duck to nurse on the drive home. All told, 187 for 7 from our 47 overs felt like a competitive total to defend, if not quite untouchable.

And so it proved. Neil Williams simply refused to read the script, striking a magnificent century — 103 of pure defiance — with W Reynolds and Dominic Boulle both weighing in with 32 apiece to keep him company. Jon Harris toiled manfully for his 2 for 57 and sits deservedly third in the season's wicket charts, while I was pleased enough with my own 1 for 29, two maidens included, and Paul Bishop chipped in too. Andy Portlock went for nought and Clive Newman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps with ten byes gifted away, but nothing could stem the tide. I did at least reach 26,000 career runs for the club along the way — a small personal landmark amid the wreckage.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, undone by one magnificent innings we simply couldn't answer. We'll be better for it next week.

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

I toed the coin, called correctly, and — old habits — sent Meopham in to field first. It's not always the popular decision on a bright Saturday, but it felt right, and by close of play I wasn't about to argue with myself.

We limped from the blocks, 6-1 was hardly the platform anyone dreamed of, and for a while it looked as though tea might be a gloomy affair. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and so it proved: I found some form with 39, Paul Bowles matched me stroke for stroke with an unbeaten 39, and David Castle chipped in a tidy 20. Best of all was the tail, who apparently hadn't read the script — a last-wicket stand worth 61 dragged us to a very respectable 154/6 from our 46 overs.

Defending it meant asking plenty of Matt Large, and he delivered handsomely: four wickets for 44, four of his overs maidens, bowling that would have tested patience as much as technique. Paul Bowles, not content with his runs, added 2-7 with the ball, and Jon Harris chipped in with one. Brian Sambrook fought hardest for the visitors with 28, but Meopham never quite got away from us, closing on 113/8. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps — nine byes tells its own tale — but no lasting harm done.

Forty-one runs the right side of the ledger, and with 318 runs to my name this season, I'll allow myself a small, entirely unearned, smile. A good day for the club.

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

I called it right at the toss on that trip down to Meopham and never seriously considered fielding first — the pitch looked too good to leave batting to someone else. And so it proved, with 173/9 from our 46 overs a thoroughly defendable total, built chiefly around Trevor Back's fine 67 and good support from Tim Thirkell's 45, the two of them putting on a crucial 101 for the third wicket before things went a bit haywire in a rush from 145-5 to 159-8. Spare a thought for Chris Tymms, whose name goes into the Duck Club ledger for a golden duck — the walk of shame, cricket's cruellest indignity, though he'd more than make amends later.

Defending the total, we bowled and fielded like a side that meant business. Meopham were bowled out for 105 in 37.5 overs, Roddy Campbell's 31 and D Payne's 28 the only real resistance, while Tony Thatcher, White and Laurence Hurley all trudged off for ducks against our attack. The day belonged to Chris Tymms, whose earlier batting horror show was forgotten in an instant as he ran through them with 6-37, richly deserved and thoroughly celebrated. Alan Boyns chipped in admirably too, 4-36 including four maidens, not a run given away lightly.

A comfortable 68-run victory, then, and two points banked. Trevor Back continues to lead our 1993 2nd XI run charts with 236, and Chris Tymms now sits second in the wicket charts with 13 — proof, if any were needed, that a duck is no predictor of a five-for. A very good day's work all round.

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

Wednesday 23 June 1993, and Marlow CC came calling. I lost the toss, we were put in to field first — never the ideal start to an evening, but there we are.

With the ball we made a fair fist of it. Fred Cheesman was the pick of the attack, snaring 2-27 and bowling two miserly maidens for good measure, while Trevor Back chipped in with 1-26 and I managed 1-26 of my own. But A Martyn (43 not out) and D Young (41 not out) saw Marlow home to 118/4 off 23.5 overs, and there wasn't a great deal more we could do about it once those two got settled.

Batting first, however, was where the evening truly unravelled. One down at 1 for 1 set the tone, and it never quite recovered from there — Andrew Hales's 21 was as good as it got, and poor Stewart Morrison departed for a golden duck, bless him. All out for 116 in 41.2 overs was, frankly, a modest total to defend against opposition batting as well as Marlow were. I added 18 with the bat, which felt like scant consolation given the wider carnage.

Beaten by five wickets in the end — no disgrace against a side that batted with such composure, but there's plainly work to do with the willow before we're troubling anyone at the top of the table. Peter Whyte continues his quiet rise up the run charts, sitting third with 53 for the season, and I find myself third in the wickets column with a modest two. We'll be better for it next week — we usually are, eventually.

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

Toss won, decision made, and — for once — I got it right: on a Tuesday evening like this, you bat first and ask questions later. West Farleigh were put in the field, and the lads made them work for every run. We raced to 158/4 off our sixteen overs, with the openers putting on a superb 73 before the first wicket even fell — the sort of start that lets a captain sit back with a cup of tea and pretend he always planned it that way. I was pleased to lead from the front with a well-made 57, and had good support from Piers McDonald (40) and David Castle (21), who continues to look ominously good for someone sitting second in the season's run charts.

Defending 158 in sixteen overs is never a formality, and West Farleigh gave it a proper go, closing on 141/5 with Glen Aukett (41), Tim Baker (31) and Adrian Smith (24) doing the damage for them. But Paul Bowles was superb with the ball, 3-24, backed up by Sean Charlton's 1-37, and poor Don Fermor departed without troubling the scorers. Ten byes did rather give the game away for Jim Hall behind the stumps — a testing day for him, and no mistake.

A word too for Piers McDonald, who quietly brought up 3,000 career runs for the club — remarkable service.

A fine win by 17 runs. Onwards.

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

It was High Halstow's turn to enjoy the sunshine at our expense on the 20th of June, the coin falling their way and their captain sensibly opting to bat first on what looked a decent surface. Early on there was a glimmer of hope when we had them 4 for 1, but Brumbaugh and company had other ideas, and a third-wicket stand of 110 rather took the wind out of our sails. Brumbaugh cruised to 60, Whelan finished unbeaten on a tidy 59, and by the close of their forty overs they'd racked up 163 for 9. I can't grumble too much with the ball myself — 1 for 12 from four maidens is the sort of figures that keep a captain's ego intact even in defeat — while Charlton bowled beautifully for 4 for 50 and Large chipped in with 3 for 24. Three of their lads went for ducks, which was some small consolation.

Chasing 164, we contrived to lose our first wicket with the score on precisely nought, and from there it was a case of watching the collapse unfold in slow motion — 0 for 1 became 15 for 4 before most of us had found our seats. Charlton (26) and I (21) at least offered some resistance, but 90 all out, with two more ducks for the album, was never going to trouble High Halstow. Beaten by 73 runs — not our finest hour, but the tea was good and the nets await.

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

Nigel Thirkell here, and what a Saturday it turned out to be against West Farleigh. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and by the close of our 46 overs I was rather pleased with myself for it. David Castle played an absolute blinder — a magnificent century, no less — while Paul Gibson chipped in handsomely with 48 and the two of them put on 105 for the third wicket to give the innings its spine. I contributed a modest 27 of my own, which I shall mention here and nowhere else, before we declared ourselves satisfied at 236 for 6.

Defending that kind of total is meant to be the easy part, and so it proved. West Farleigh never got going — an early wicket at 0-1 set the tone, and though Adrian Smith and Tim Baker did their best to rebuild with 49 and 31 respectively, the middle and lower order simply capitulated, tumbling from 72-5 to 76-8 in the blink of an eye. Andy Golding, Glen Aukett and Norman Underdown all made the long walk back without troubling the scorers. Matt Large was the chief destroyer, a superb 6 for 40 with three tidy maidens thrown in, well backed up by Paul Bowles (2-16) and Ian Brattle (1-17). They folded for 119.

Nice landmarks too — Paul Bowles brought up 1,200 career wickets, and Paul Gibson's solitary scalp saw him leapfrog George Champion into 22nd on the club's all-time list. A fine win by 117 runs, and frankly, we'll take that every week.

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

Saturday the twelfth of June, and Sheldwich came to Linton Park with the sun rather better behaved than our batting. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-tossing form has been as patchy as my off-side game — and we were asked to field first, which in hindsight might have been the kinder half of the day.

Batting was a grim business. We were 0 for 1 before some of the lads had finished their tea, and from there it never really recovered. Mike Elworthy and Nick Froom both departed for ducks, proving that even a village green can be a cruel, unforgiving place. I dug in for 23, which felt at the time like defiance but in retrospect was merely the tallest tree in a rather flat forest, and we were all out for 96 in 44 overs.

With the ball, we at least gave a account of ourselves. I managed 2 for 19, Chris Tymms chipped in with 1 for 21, and Alan Boyns bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the church roof fund, four maidens and 1 for 38. We even sent R Snelling back without troubling the scorers. But Brian Newman, unbeaten on 38, and Robin Evans, unbeaten on 20, calmly walked Sheldwich home at 100 for 4 in 31.4 overs.

Six wickets the wrong way, then. Not our finest Saturday, but heads up and back to the nets — there's a run chart and a wicket column still worth chasing.

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

Friday brought Lashings World CC to the ground, and I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling has never troubled the scorers. They opted to field, and we set about building a total that never quite got going, closing on 88/9 from our 16 overs. Special mention to poor Paul Gibson, who contributed a duck to the club ledger — the walk of shame indeed, though he'd have his say later.

Defending 88 was always going to ask a lot of the lads, and so it proved. B Fourie played the innings of the day, calmly seeing Lashings home with an unbeaten 55, and their reply closed at 90/2 from 15 overs — really rather too comfortable for our liking. There were bright spots with the ball, mind: Gibson atoned handsomely for his golden duck with a fine 1-20, and I managed to chip in myself with figures of 1-39. I'd also added 17 with the bat earlier, so at least I could say I'd had a hand in both innings, for whatever that was worth on the day.

We went down by four wickets in the end, comfortably enough that there's no dressing it up. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our 1993 run charts with 252, and I'm pleased to say the wickets column still has my name at the top with 25 for the season — small consolations on an otherwise chastening Friday. Not our day, then. Heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Tuesday the 8th of June brought The Mote CC to Linton Park, and the toss went against us. We battled to 90 all out in 15.2 overs, with Trevor Back's 26 and Piers McDonald's 25 the backbone of the innings. Then, as so often happens on a club cricket Tuesday, the middle order lost its nerve, and we slid from 81 for 6 to 89 for 9 in a flurry. Ian Brattle's contribution was a golden duck - the sort of misfortune cricket seems to relish handing out.

Ninety looked gettable, but The Mote CC never found their feet. Their first wicket went for just 8, and a slide from 38 for 5 to 38 for 8 all but settled matters. Jason Dunk, Steve Maddock and Robert Doick each fell for nought as our attack pressed home the advantage. Chris Tymms led the way with 4 for 17, Ian Brattle backed him up with 3 for 5, and I took 1 for 10 myself. The Mote were bowled out for 58 in 15 overs - a 32-run win, and two points banked.

There was extra cause for cheer afterwards. Piers McDonald's 25 carried him past Terry Whittaker into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Ian Brattle's three wickets lifted him past Dick Langridge into 16th among the wicket-takers. McDonald now stands fourth in this season's 1st XI run charts with 168, and I lead the wicket column with 24 for the summer.

A scrappy 90 made to look plenty with the ball - not our prettiest cricket, but thoroughly earned all the same.

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

Sunday, and once again the toss deserted me — I called wrong, they chose to bat, and off we trotted into the field on a pitch that clearly had plenty of runs in it. St Lawrence & Highland Court made full use, racing to 246/4 from their 39 overs on the back of a rock-solid 107-run stand for the second wicket. Tim Luckhurst's 74 was the innings' backbone, with Andy Simpson's well-crafted 52 and G Jonas unbeaten on 53 doing plenty of the heavy lifting besides. Dave Charlton kept us in the contest with 2-39, and Alan Boyns and Ian Brattle chipped in a wicket apiece, though poor Peter Whyte behind the stumps had an afternoon of it, 10 byes leaking through.

Chasing 247, we replied in the finest style — an opening stand of 132 set the tone before the first wicket fell, and Clive Newman went on to compile a majestic, unbeaten 111, the sort of innings the tea urn talks about for weeks. Brian Piper's crisp 57 and Piers McDonald's useful 23 not out kept the required rate honest all the way through our 42 overs. I can't claim any part of the glory myself — a golden duck for your captain, out for nought, and the least said about that the better.

We finished on 196/2, short of the target but very much unbowed, and honours were shared as neither side could force the win. A draw that felt more like a friendly stalemate between two well-matched sides — no shame in it, and with Newman third in the club's run charts and Brattle second among the wicket-takers, the season ticks along nicely even if my own duck won't be troubling either list.

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

Won the toss on a fine Saturday and had no hesitation calling it correctly — in, please, thank you very much. Rumwood duly turned up to bowl at us, and while it wasn't the smoothest of afternoons with the bat, we ground our way to 170 all out in 45.3 overs. The innings belonged to Jon Harris, who sailed past his fifty and kept going to a magnificent 90 — and what a week for him, that knock coming up alongside his 500th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that deserved every ounce of the applause it got. I chipped in with 20 down the order, and it was the eighth-wicket stand, worth 74, that really rescued us from what could have been an embarrassing total. Not every tale was a happy one, mind — poor Paul Bishop endured the walk of shame with a golden duck, and the Duck Club ledger grows fatter still.

In the field we scrapped hard. Ian Brattle was the pick of the attack, miserly with three maidens and finishing with 3-31, well backed by Paul Bishop's 2-44 and Dave Charlton's solitary but useful 1-23. But Kevin Mullins had other ideas, farming the strike to an unbeaten 47, with G Appleby (31) and Darren Brame (21) lending sturdy support in a match-defining sixth-wicket stand of 56. Rumwood got home on 172/6.

Four wickets the wrong side of the ledger, then — not our day. Heads up, chins up, back to the nets we go.

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

Lost the toss again on Saturday — I'm beginning to think the club coin has it in for me — and Rumwood duly stuck us in the field on their own patch. They ground their way to 159 all out in 47.4 overs, D Hales top-scoring with a stubborn 49, well supported by Light (31) and Curtis (27), the pair adding 52 for the fifth wicket to give the innings some backbone. But once that stand broke the floodgates opened in spectacular fashion — 138 for 5 became 152 for 8 in the blink of an eye, with Bailey, Bray and Seath all walking back for ducks. Fred Cheesman was magnificent, 4 for 2 off a miserly five maidens, backed up nicely by Simon Thirkell (2-19) and Don Dansie (1-5).

Chasing 160, we never quite got going. I made 45 and did what I could to hold things together, but an early stumble to 8 for 1 set an ominous tone, and from there it was 21 for 4 before we'd barely settled — Tymms, Hanbury and Pooley all joining the club's duck ledger. We were bowled out for 99 in 45.3 overs, 60 runs short and heads well and truly down.

A small consolation amid the wreckage: Trevor Back's solitary wicket nudged him past John Taylor into 13th on the club's all-time list, and I find myself sitting second in this year's run charts with 130 and out on my own atop the wicket charts with 14. Small mercies. Not our day, lads — back to the nets.

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

Wednesday 2 June found us on the road down to Ashford CC, a proper away day if ever there was one, and matters got off to the worst possible start when I lost the toss and was invited to go and stand in a field for the afternoon. So field we did, and rather too obligingly, as Robert Kelly and John Seccombe helped themselves to an opening stand of 154 before either of them so much as considered getting out. Kelly went on to an unanswerable 106 not out, Seccombe chipping in a handsome 68, and by the time Ashford declared themselves satisfied at 234/5 from 48.1 overs my figures of 2-52 felt like scant consolation, ably backed up as I was by Dave Hales (1-19) and Rob Doick (1-45) mopping up what they could.

With 235 to chase, Clive Newman played the innings of the day, 99 not out and unlucky not to reach three figures, while Paul Gibson's 48 and a handy 24 from Mick Filmer built around a fine second-wicket stand of 95 kept us in the hunt. Doick and Hales, it must be said, both departed for ducks, and poor Steve Cheesman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, coughing up eight byes for his trouble. We closed on 201/5 from our 47 — short of the target, but honours even on the day.

A word of real cheer amid the toil: Paul Gibson brought up 7,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded by all. A draw, then — no losers, no glory, but a fine way to spend a Wednesday, and a result I'll happily take home.

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

A tricky Bank Holiday Monday against Xii Men — won by them in the end, but not without us making them work for every run.

Losing the toss on a day like this always feels like handing over the initiative, and so it proved as we were put into the field. Xii Men ground their way to 226 all out from 68 patient overs, Andrew Baker's well-made 88 the innings' backbone, nicely supported by Alex Tait's 38, the pair adding 73 for the fourth wicket while the rest of us toiled in the sunshine. Credit where it's due, though: Paul Bishop was superb, 3-17 to lead the attack, Don Dansie and David Lines chipped in with 3-46 and 2-57 respectively, and Jon Harris bowled with the kind of miserly discipline that suggested he'd brought his own sandwiches rather than give away a run — 9 maidens is proper county-standard stinginess.

With 227 to chase, we made a nervous start, four down for just one, and for a moment it looked like a long afternoon beckoned. But Don Dansie, having already done his bit with the ball, dug in for an unbeaten 57, Keith Hatcher added a tidy 29, and I was fortunate enough to find some rhythm for a personal 66 — the pair of us putting on 86 for the third wicket to give the innings some respectability. Stuart Cheesman and David Lines will want to forget their ducks, and our keeper had a torrid time of it too, 15 byes going begging.

In the end, 185 all out from 50.1 overs wasn't quite enough, and we fell 41 runs short. Honest toil, a few individual honours, but a defeat all the same — we'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

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

The coin bounced my way and, with visions of runs on a green, promising morning, I had no hesitation in sticking us in first. It was, in hindsight, a decision that flattered to deceive: 118 all out in 38 overs is not a total to frighten anyone at Underriver. Jon Harris played the innings of the day with a fighting 33, David Castle chipped in nicely with 20, and at the other end poor Paul Gibson and Alan Boyns both trudged back without so much as troubling the scorers. Not our finest hour with the willow, and I said as much at tea, though possibly with rather less charity than I'm showing now.

Happily, cricket has a wonderful habit of correcting itself, and Underriver's reply was a procession from the first ball, a wicket falling at 1-1 to set the tone. From 17-3 we were suddenly 25-6, D Adams, James Lister and N Baxter all departing for ducks, and the whole innings folded for a paltry 33 in 32.1 overs. I had the rub of the green with the ball myself, finishing 4-1 with six maidens and, rather pleasingly, easing past 700 career wickets along the way. Jon Harris backed it up superbly with 3-7, and Paul Gibson's 2-13 saw him through 200 career wickets and past Alan Tucker on the club's all-time list.

A batting collapse forgiven, a bowling masterclass delivered: 85 runs the margin, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

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

Sunny enough for whites, if nothing else, when we rolled up at Milstead on Saturday and I duly called it wrong at the toss — asked to bowl, which suited us fine. Milstead never got going: 5-1 became 20-4 before some of their lads had worked out which end the pavilion was, and Mike Sellar, Fisher and Hollingsworth all trooped back without a run to their name. Paul Gibson was the star turn with a thoroughly deserved five-for (5-24), while I found some rhythm of my own, nine maidens and 5-26 to match him wicket for wicket. P Sloan's unbeaten 22 was the only real resistance as they folded for 74 off 46 overs — a total that never looked like troubling us.

Except, this being Linton Park, it very nearly did. David Castle's 31 had us purring along nicely, 55-2 looking positively serene, before we contrived a collapse to 65-5 that had me reaching for the Rennies. Piers McDonald's golden duck won't be troubling the highlights reel. But we got there in the end, 75-6 off 25.5 overs, for a 4-wicket win that was rather more dramatic than the scoreline suggests.

A proper old-fashioned tale of throttling them with the ball and then nearly gifting it back with the bat — but a win's a win, and I'll take four wickets and four runs to spare any day of the week. Onwards to the next one.

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

Saturday 29 May 1993, away at Milstead, and I won the toss with a spring in my step and no hesitation about batting first – some decisions make themselves.

We crawled and cantered our way to 149/9 from 46 overs, and it was very much a captain's knock keeping things together with 39, well backed up by Steve Masters' 38 and Don Dansie's 28, the second-wicket pair adding a priceless 51 before the middle order rather lost the thread. From 148-6 to 149-9 in the time it takes to make a cup of tea – Roly Edwards, J Hanbury and Phillip Morrison all took the walk of shame for the Duck Club ledger, and I shan't be letting them forget it.

With the ball, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Milstead lost Ben Seaman for a duck with just 4 on the board, and while Chris Rawson played a proper captain's knock of his own – 74, well past his fifty, carrying their innings almost single-handed – he never had enough support to get them home. I had the day of days with the ball, 6-41, with J Hanbury (2-25) and the metronomic Darren Styles (2-31, four maidens and not a run given away lightly) squeezing the life out of the rest. They were all out for 135 from 42.4 overs.

Fourteen runs the margin, two points banked, and – with Masters leading our run charts and yours truly topping the wickets column for the season – a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Tea was, as ever, the real MVP.

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

A fine morning at the ground, the sun doing its best impression of summer, and Upperton CC rolling in as our visitors for the Wednesday fixture. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat — a decision I'll happily take credit for, given how things unfolded.

We batted with real purpose, closing on 207 for 4 from our 43 overs. Paul Gibson was the architect, a handsome 81 that leads our run charts for the season so far, and he found willing company in Peter Whyte's 46 and Piers McDonald's unbeaten 43. The third-wicket pair put on a crucial 80 that took the game away from Upperton before they'd properly arrived at it.

In the field we set about defending the total, and Upperton were made to work for every run. Colley top-scored with 30, well supported by Gausden's 28 and Hookway's 26, but there were nervous moments in the middle order as they slid from 135 for 5 to 141 for 8 — poor Noon back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I had one of those days with the ball that you dream about on the drive home, finishing with 6 for 45 to top our season's wicket charts, with Ian Brattle and Paul Bowles chipping in a wicket apiece, Bowles particularly miserly with three maidens. Upperton finished on 168 for 9 from their 46 overs.

In the end neither side could force the door open, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but one that felt, from where I was standing, rather more ours than theirs.

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

From the captain's chair, and what a Sunday it turned out to be. Down at Lenham, the coin let us down as usual, and we were put into the field on a pitch that, frankly, gave nothing away. Andrew Barr set about proving that himself with a fine 38, Mike Fraser chipping in with 34 and Alan Barr 23, and for a good while Lenham looked well set for something substantial. But cricket has a habit of turning quickly, and 152 for 7 became 165 all out in the blink of an eye. Jon Harris was the chief architect of the collapse with 4 for 66, Trevor Back and Matt Large tidied up either end with 3 for 24 and 1 for 12, and I managed to do my bit by keeping things quiet with three maidens.

With 166 needed, it was Peter Whyte who did the heavy lifting, an unbeaten 55 of real substance, with Keith Hatcher unbeaten on 46 for gallant company and Clive Newman adding a tidy 22. A stand of 56 for the fourth wicket was the making of the chase, and we squeezed home with four wickets in hand and something to spare.

A word for the history books: Peter's fifty nudged him past Piers McDonald and up to 24th on the club's all-time run charts — not bad for a Sunday afternoon in Kent. All in all, a thoroughly satisfying win, and with the season charts looking rosy too, long may it continue. Onwards.

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

Saturday 22 May 1993, and Old Askeans rolled up to Linton Park under skies that, for once, seemed to favour us. I won the toss and, in a fit of uncharacteristic decisiveness, chose to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever certain members of the committee bar mutter.

We made a fine fist of it. The openers put on 64 before the first wicket fell, and from there Paul Bowles simply refused to get out, finishing unbeaten on a magnificent hundred. 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 a bit of menace to it.

Menace, as it turned out, was met with equal stubbornness. Martin and Tyrrell put together a chanceless-looking 49 and 48, with Medland weighing in with 24, and a 3rd-wicket stand of 70 threatened to run away from us entirely. Matt Large kept his head to finish with 2 for 26, Bowles and Charlton chipped in two apiece, and I did my bit with a couple of maidens to try to strangle the scoring. It wasn't quite enough to finish them off — they closed on 210 for 9, level with us to the run.

So: honours shared, a draw that satisfied precisely nobody and offended nobody either. A afternoon of good cricket, better tea, and a result that leaves both sides free to claim they had the better of it.

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

Saturday 22 May 1993, and we made the trip out to Stockbury CC with the sun on our backs and, for once, the coin on our side. I called it right and had no hesitation putting us in — a decision that looked shrewd for about as long as it takes to make a cup of tea.

We limped to 125 all out from our 46 overs, rescued from utter embarrassment by Roly Edwards, whose well-crafted 67 was the only innings of substance on the card. Steve Masters, Chris Tymms and Simon Thirkell all departed for ducks, and frankly the less said about that trio the better.

With the ball, though, we were a different side entirely. Stockbury's top order — C Styles (34), I Sharp (26) and P Kingsford (23) — threatened to make the game a formality, but we hauled them from 85-2 to 85-5 in a spell that had the tea urn rattling, sending Cooney, Sellings and Bromley back without a run to their names. Don Dansie was magnificent, tearing through with 5-32 including four maidens, well backed by Fred Cheesman's 2-12, and I chipped in with 2-39 myself. With the bat I'd made precisely nought — we shall draw a veil over that, as agreed.

In the end Stockbury edged home by a single wicket, 127-9 to our 125, which is about as narrow and as cruel as this game gets. Not our day, but plenty to be proud of in that bowling effort. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

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

I elected to bat when I won the toss on Tuesday, and for once the decision paid off handsomely. David Castle set about the Leybourne attack with real purpose, cantering to 62, while Piers McDonald (26) and Dave Charlton (26 not out) kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely behind him. We were 88 for the first wicket before Leybourne so much as troubled us, and 147 for 2 off our sixteen overs was a total that had the tea urn practically boiling over with optimism.

Defending it, though, is never quite the formality it looks on paper, and Leybourne made us work. Nigel Bacon (29) and D Towse (26) threatened to make a real fist of the chase, but M Lock departed for a golden duck to keep the pressure on, and I managed to find some rhythm with the ball, picking up 2 for 10 to go with useful support from Martin Larkin (1-14) and Jon Harris (1-23). Poor Piers had a torrid time of it behind the stumps by contrast, shipping nine byes — cricketing justice, perhaps, for making batting look so easy earlier in the day.

In the end 106 for 5 wasn't enough, and we came away 41 runs to the good and two points richer. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and with Piers now fourth in our 1st XI run charts and myself leading the wicket column with fifteen, the season's shaping up rather nicely. More of the same, please, lads.

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

Sunday 16 May took us down to Shipbourne, and having called correctly at the toss for once, I had no hesitation in sticking us in to bat — a decision that looked shrewder by the over. Paul Gibson batted with the serenity of a man having his day, cruising to 93 not out, while I contributed 55 of my own to a total that never once looked in doubt. Matt Large's brisk 28 rounded things off nicely, and the 105-run stand for the third wicket was the platform the whole innings was built on. We closed on a thoroughly handsome 220 for 4 from our forty overs.

Defending that sort of total ought to be the easy part, and for once it was. Barry Hart threatened to spoil the script with a well-made 53, ably supported by Paul Stovell's 27 in a stand of 55, but once that partnership was broken the innings had all the structural integrity of a garden shed in a gale. From 130 for 6 they slid to 134 all out, with I Matheson, D Lear and M Grove all departing without troubling the scorers. Matt Large did the real damage with 4 for 11, Paul Gibson chipped in with 3 for 38 and a couple of tidy maidens, and Dave Charlton weighed in with 2 for 0 for good measure.

An 86-run victory and two well-earned points, with Gibson and Large now sitting proudly atop the season's run and wicket charts. A most satisfying afternoon's work — even the tea urn seemed pleased with us.

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

Saturday 15 May 1993 saw us make the trip to Headcorn, and for once the coin cooperated — I called correctly and had no hesitation in taking first strike on a pitch that looked worth batting on. So it proved. We ground our way to 168 for 6 off 46 overs, the innings built on a fine 83 from yours truly, with a crucial stand of 53 for the fifth wicket giving the total some real substance. Not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but as it turned out, quite enough.

Because what followed at the other end was carnage of the most agreeable variety. Headcorn's reply disintegrated from 46 for 5 to 57 for 8 in the time it takes to pour a tea, and poor Rob Parnham departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was magnificent, tearing through with 4 for 19, ably supported by Paul Bowles (2 for 10) and Ian Brattle (2 for 13), while Matt Large starved the bat of anything loose with two maidens. Only Graham Mackman, with a defiant 25, offered any resistance before the innings folded for 69 in 38.2 overs.

Won by 99 runs, then — as comprehensive a victory as the gazette will report all season. My 83 leaves me proud, and handily atop the 1st XI run charts with 231 for the summer, while Brattle's efforts have him second in the wicket column with 11. A thoroughly earned two points, and a Saturday that reminded us why we bother getting out of bed for this game.

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

Saturday 15 May 1993, Headcorn CC the visitors, and for once the coin behaved itself. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and one I shall no doubt remind the lads of for weeks to come. Steve Masters played the innings of the day, 83 not out and barely troubled throughout, while Mike Elworthy's well-crafted 68 gave him fine support in a second-wicket stand worth 74. Trevor Back chipped in a tidy 28 as we motored to 239/4 from our 46 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

Defending it, the bowlers did the rest. Poor Robert Westrop departed without troubling the scorers, and though G Wickens battled to a stubborn 47, Headcorn were rolled for 129 in 42.1 overs. I'll allow myself one boast for the gazette: I led the attack with 3-28, three of them maidens, with Don Dansie (2-17) and Fred Cheesman (2-20) chipping in handsomely to strangle any hope of a chase. Eleven byes did rather tell their own tale of poor Roly Edwards's afternoon behind the stumps, though nobody's perfect.

With the bat I added a workmanlike 25 to go with the wickets — not a bad day's work for the old captain, and it keeps me handily placed at the top of the 1993 2nd XI bowling charts, with Steve Masters leading the run-scoring. A comfortable 110-run victory, two points banked, and thoroughly earned. Cricket, when it goes like this, really is rather a splendid game.

Thu 13 May 1993 🧢 Midweek XIv O OPGS · HomeformWDLDW

Beeston Green, Thursday 13 May. Winning the toss on a morning that promised more than it usually delivers round here, I had few qualms about batting first, and it was the right call, even if 96 for 4 off our sixteen overs felt a touch scratchy at times. We lost our first wicket for just five, which is the sort of start that has me chewing my nails at the boundary rope rather than enjoying my tea, but Fred Cheesman steadied things beautifully with an unbeaten 24, well supported by Stewart Morrison's 20, and between them they dragged us to a total that gave the bowlers something to work with.

And work with it we did. Opgs replied with 92 for 7, and for a spell it looked like we might be chasing our tails, particularly once Andy Griffiths, unbeaten on 35, and C Grayhurst, with 21, put on a stand of 54 for the second wicket that had our lot glancing nervously at the scorebook. But cricket has a way of turning, and turn it did, four wickets tumbling as 81 for 4 became 89 for 7 in short order, J Dosseter and N Garner both departing for ducks along the way. I'll allow myself one line of self-congratulation here and note I chipped in with 2 for 15 to help tip the balance.

In the end we held on by four runs, the sort of finish that ages a captain by several years but tastes all the sweeter for it. A proper club cricket nail-biter, and a fine way to open the season.

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

Tuesday 11 May 1993, and we welcomed Lashings World CC to Linton Park for what promised to be a proper test of nerve. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains one of the truly reliable failures of this captaincy — and we were asked to field first.

Credit where it's due, the bowling was the making of the day. Paul Gibson was quite magnificent, prising out three for a mere 13, with Ian Brattle snapping at his heels with three for 17 and Pete Webster chipping in for one for 26. Between them they had Simon Phillips, J Smith and M Dunderdale trudging back without so much as a run to their names, and Lashings were all out for 87 in just 16 overs — S. Sunnucks's 25 the only real resistance. A grand effort in the field, and for a while it felt like we'd done the hard part.

Then we batted. Nine-point-four overs later, we were all out for 53, and the less said the better. Dave Charlton and M Milstead joined me in the golden-duck club — I fell for nought myself, and we shall draw a veil over the details of that particular dismissal.

Beaten by 34 runs, then, and a chastening reminder that bowling like champions counts for little if you can't get bat on ball. Still, Gibson's now third in the 1st XI run charts and Brattle second in the wickets — plenty to be proud of. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Saturday the 8th of May found us on the road at Rumwood, and I'll admit to a small flutter of pride when I won the toss and stuck us in to bat — the sort of decision that either gets you a pat on the back or a stern word in the bar afterwards. This time, thankfully, it was the former. Paul Gibson played a lovely innings for his 73, and Paul Bowles wasn't far behind with a well-crafted 67, the pair putting on 93 for the third wicket to give our total real substance. Naturally, being Linton Park, we couldn't make it easy on ourselves — a collapse from 166-5 to 180-8 saw us stumble rather than stride to 188/9 from our 46 overs, with poor Mike Elworthy contributing a duck to the ledger and a very long walk back to the pavilion.

With the ball, it was a different story altogether. Rumwood's Paul Webster held firm for an unbeaten 74, well supported by Neville Smith's 30, but it was never quite enough. Their innings folded to 137 all out in 36.5 overs, undone by an early wicket at 1-1 and three batsmen — Mark Styche, C Keithson and Ian Grognet — sent back without so much as troubling the scorers. Matt Large was the story of the day, spinning his way to 5-52 with nine miserly maidens, ably backed by Alan Boyns (2-38) and myself, who chipped in with 2-42.

A 51-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying one. We batted with flair, wobbled as only we can, and bowled Rumwood into submission — a good day for the club, no argument there.

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

Monday found us on the road to Bearsted, and having won the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, though the pitch gave nothing away for free. We ground out 161 for 6 off 46 overs, anchored by a fifth-wicket stand of 56. I was fortunate enough to still be there at the close, unbeaten on 71, with Paul Bowles (27) and Piers McDonald (25) both lending sturdy support along the way.

Defending 161 always feels a touch precarious in this fixture, but Bearsted never quite got their sums right. An early stumble at 1-1 set the tone, and though Tim Lush (34), Martin Constable (26) and Richard Coward (22) threatened to drag them back into contention, the innings subsided from 103 for 4 to 110 for 7 as the middle order lost its nerve — David Gibson, Christopher Filmer and Matt Wilson all departed without troubling the scorers. I had a merry afternoon with the ball, taking 3 for 12, with Ian Brattle (3-25) and Matt Large (3-41, four maidens, not a run given away lightly) doing the rest. Bearsted were bowled out for 114 in 36.4 overs.

A word too for Paul Bowles, who brought up his 800th appearance in Linton colours — a staggering feat of loyalty rather undersold by a chilly Monday at Bearsted. My 139 runs this season now lead the 1st XI's run charts, with Matt Large topping the wickets on 8.

Verdict: a 47-run win, thoroughly deserved, and a very good day for the club.

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

As we chased leather rather than runs at Chestfield, I can report that the toss did us no favours – asked to bowl first on a flat May afternoon, we watched the hosts compile a steady 183 for 7 off their 52 overs. Brian Melliard Sr set the tone with a well-crafted fifty (53), with son Brian Melliard Jr (37) and Neil Gowers (34) chipping in handsomely to keep the scoreboard ticking. Credit where due, though: Ian Brattle was superb with the ball, snaring 3 for 21 with four maidens to show for his miserly spell, D Briley departing without troubling the scorers at his hands. Matt Large (2-36) and Chris Tymms (1-26) offered fine support, though we couldn't quite finish the job.

With 184 needed and 25 overs on the clock, it was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved as we settled for 104 for 2 – though not without some personal satisfaction, as I found some form to remain unbeaten on 68, a score I was rather chuffed with. Paul Bowles, meanwhile, will want to forget his afternoon behind the stumps; 17 byes rather gives the game away, and I suspect the tea urn saw him before anyone else did.

So honours shared, then – a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. Small consolation perhaps, but it's pleasing to lead the run charts early in the season, and with Brattle and Large among the wickets, there's plenty to build on. A fair result, all told, and one we'll happily bank before the drive home.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 1st May 1993, away at Ryarsh.

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once the coin-flip conviction paid off handsomely. It wasn't all plain sailing — 7 for 1 had a few of us pacing behind the boundary rope wondering if we'd been too bold — but the innings settled beautifully around a magnificent 87 not out from Keith Hatcher, nursed along by Alan Boyns' unbeaten 38. A cheeky last-wicket flourish of 91 had the Ryarsh fielders thoroughly fed up by the time we declared our overs used, closing on 158 for 6 from 51.

With the ball, discipline was the watchword. Trevor Back was in miserly, metronomic form — 2 for 14 with four maidens, the kind of spell that makes batsmen question their life choices — well supported by Simon Thirkell's 2 for 22 and Phil Randall's 1 for 3. C Carder departed without so much as a run to his name, and Ryarsh could only muster 96 for 7 from their 47, M May's gutsy 22 the one substantial contribution.

Neither side could quite force the door open, so honours were shared — a draw that felt, on the balance of the afternoon's play, entirely fair. I was rather chuffed to bring up my 100th appearance in Linton colours on the day, while Trevor's two wickets nudged him past Ron Hickman into 14th on the club's all-time list. A fine outing, spoiled only by the absence of a result — but you can't have everything on a Saturday in May.