🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 30 Sep 1995 🧢 2nd XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformWWWWL

Won the toss, and for once I trusted my own judgement rather than the weather forecast — elected to bat, and it was the right call, even if I say so myself. David Castle and the openers put on 152 before anyone troubled the scorebook, Castle purring to 81, and by the time Mike Caddick had cracked a fine 70 and Mike Elworthy steered us home unbeaten on 29, we'd posted a handsome 226 for 4 off our 42. A total to make Yalding's coach feel slightly unwell over his tea.

And so it proved. They lost a wicket before they'd troubled the umpires for guard — 1 for 1 — and never really recovered their poise, three of our number sending batsmen back without so much as a single to their name. Only Iain Cardew, with a gutsy 58 not out, offered any real resistance. Paul Bowles was superb with the ball, 3 for 28, Jon Harris metronomic with 2 for 12 and five maidens, and I chipped in with 2 for 0 — the sort of figures I shall be quietly reminding people of well into the winter. Poor Roly did leak 11 byes behind the stumps, though nobody's perfect.

Beyond the scoreline, a day of real landmarks: Castle's 12,000th run for the club, Elworthy's 200th appearance, and Caddick climbing past Mike Iliffe into 25th on the all-time list. Two points, 119 runs to the good, and thoroughly, deservedly earned.

Sat 23 Sep 1995 🧢 2nd XIv HC Higham & Mockbeggar CC · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday last, and Higham & Mockbeggar came calling to Linton Park with the sun still holding and the square looking a picture. I called correctly at the toss and never once considered bowling first — some habits die harder than others, and putting the ball down before us on a good pitch has never sat easily with me.

We laboured to 130 all out in 37.3 overs, which tells its own story, though Mike Elworthy batted like a man who knew exactly why he was there, cruising past his fifty to 65 and dragging the total to something respectable almost single-handed. The rest of us, it must be said, offered rather less resistance.

In the field we started brightly enough — Jon Harris bowling five miserly maidens and Dave Todd striking first with 1-22 — but Colin Robson and P Davis put on 81 for the first wicket before we so much as sniffed a breakthrough, and by the time N Scudder finished unbeaten on 27 the game had long slipped from our grasp. Beaten by seven wickets, no arguing with that.

Still, a day with real cause for pride: Mike Elworthy brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark few of us will match, and sits second in the 2nd XI run charts with 354 to his name, with Dave Todd third among the bowlers on 14 wickets. The result stung, but the club goes on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 10 Sep 1995 🧢 1st XIv CC Crowborough CC · HomeformLWDDD

Sunday 10 September saw Crowborough CC roll into Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss, I didn't need long to make up my mind — on a day like that, you bat first and ask questions later.

We made a real fist of it, cruising to 73 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and settled on 155 for 5 from our 43 overs. I was delighted to lead from the front with a fifty of my own, well supported by Mike Elworthy's 42 and Daniel Thirkell's unbeaten 29 to give the total some proper backbone. Not every contribution can be a heroic one, mind — spare a thought for Richard Ellis, who departed for a golden duck and will no doubt be reminded of it over the winter nets.

With the ball we set about defending it, and Crowborough, to their credit, refused to be shifted either way. Neither side could force the win, and honours were shared in the end — the sort of draw that leaves both dressing rooms mildly satisfied and mildly frustrated in equal measure.

As for the bigger picture, it's pleasing to see the runs adding up — I now sit third in the 1995 first XI charts with 873 for the season, though I'd trade every one of them for a result on a day like this.

Verdict: a fair draw, honestly arrived at — we shall take the point and the fifty, and leave Richard to take the ribbing.

Sat 09 Sep 1995 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · AwayformWLWDD

Saturday last took us down to Hastings & St Leonards Priory, where I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling has been in as poor form as some of our top order this summer — and we were put into the field. Their openers set about us with real intent, putting on 62 before we prised the first wicket loose, and from there Chaplin (47), Gillespie (44) and Stretton (43) all chipped in to carry them to 211 for 8 off their 40.4 overs. Credit where due: Jon Harris was superb, 4 for 38, with Darren Styles chiselling out one for 19. I managed 2 for 47 myself, three maidens included, which felt like honest toil against a side determined not to give it away cheaply.

Chasing 212, we never quite found the fluency to match it. Keith Hatcher's 42 was the innings' backbone, and I added 38 in support, with David Castle's 23 keeping things ticking — until a collapse of almost comic proportions saw 166 for 6 become 170 for 9 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Poor Michael Beeney contributed nothing but a golden duck, bless him, though he'll doubtless make amends with the ball — he sits second in our season's wicket charts with 55, while I find myself, somewhat bashfully, top of the run pile on 1386.

In the end, honours shared and a draw that flattered neither side. A fair result, if not a thrilling one — much like the tea.

Sat 09 Sep 1995 🧢 2nd XIv BC Borden CC · HomeformLWWWW

We hosted Borden CC on Saturday and, having lost the toss, found ourselves in the field on a morning when a bit of bowling seemed no bad thing. Borden made a solid enough fist of it, 165 all out in 40.2 overs, with Roy King (43) and Martin Noakes (40) putting on 71 for the third wicket to give their innings a spine, and Steve Bicker chipping in with 25. But the middle order rather lost its head — 126 for four became 129 for seven in the blink of an eye, with Lee Mellor and Peter Noakes both back in the hutch without scoring. The architect of the collapse was Adrian Caddick, who ran through them like a man late for his tea, finishing with a magnificent 6 for 41, well backed up by B Powell and Simon Thirkell, while Stuart Cheesman kept things miserly with two maidens.

Chasing 166, we contrived to make it interesting, slipping to 6 for 1 before Stuart Cheesman played the innings of the day — a well-crafted 55 — with sound support from Ron McCormick (49) and Roly Edwards, unbeaten on 37. An 80-run stand for the seventh wicket was the making of the innings, even as Ollie Priestly and B Powell departed for ducks of their own. We stumbled to 166 for 8 off the full fifty, but stumbled over the line all the same.

Quiet mention, too, for Dave Todd, whose solitary wicket nudged him past George Champion into 23rd on the club's all-time list — history made almost apologetically. A tense, scrappy, thoroughly entertaining two-wicket win, and on days like this you take it and say nothing more.

Wed 06 Sep 1995 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDDLDD

Wednesday the 6th of September found us on the road to The Mote, and any hopes I had of starting the day well evaporated at the toss — lost, again, and we were shipped straight into the field. Les Ferns settled in and made 85 look like the easiest thing in the world, with J Boreham chipping in a well-crafted fifty of his own and Brian Piper unbeaten on 24 to push them on to a hefty 218 for 7 from their 47.3 overs. It was left to Jon Harris to do the heavy lifting with 3 for 41, Adrian Caddick nipping in for 2 for 9, and Michael Beeney bowling with real discipline for 2 for 84 including three maidens — not that it stopped the runs flowing quite as freely as we'd have liked.

Chasing 219 always felt a stretch, but Steve Pearce played beautifully for 62, and I was glad to play my part with 36 not out, while Clive Newman's 30 gave us a third-wicket stand of 65 that briefly had me dreaming. Poor Richard Piper, meanwhile, will want this one struck from the record — a golden duck to file away. We closed on 186 for 6 from our 43 overs, short of the target but well short of humiliation too.

So honours were shared, and on reflection a draw felt about right — neither side quite deserved to lose, and neither of us was quite good enough to win. We'll take it, dust ourselves down, and go again.

Sun 03 Sep 1995 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformLWTDD

Here's the match report:

Sunday saw us on the road down to Beacon CC in Cornwall, and the coin toss did us no favours — asked to bat first, we could easily have folded. An early wobble to 8-1 had me wondering whether the tea urn would be doing more work than the scoreboard, and when poor Daniel Thirkell trudged back without troubling the scorers, the omens looked grim indeed.

But cricket, like the weather down there, has a habit of turning. I settled in and found some form, eventually getting past fifty and finishing unbeaten on 53, with Mike Elworthy chipping in a fine 31 alongside me to drag us up to a defendable-looking 144/9 from our 45 overs. Satisfying stuff, though I'll admit the celebrations were tempered by knowing we still had to bowl at them.

And bowl we did rather well, for a spell. Matt Large was the chief tormentor, prising out four for a miserly 19 runs and bowling three maidens that must have felt like being trapped in a lift with your bank manager. I chipped in with a couple myself (2-14) and John Phipps picked up one, and for a golden passage — 103-5 to 119-8 — it looked like a heist in the making. Alas, Larry Martin's 37 and a composed 23 not out from Simon Tripconey saw the Cornishmen home by two wickets.

Not our day, then, but no disgrace either. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Fri 01 Sep 1995 🧢 Tour XIv MC Mullion CC · AwayformLLWTD

Friday the first of September saw us take the road down to Mullion, and my luck at the toss remained as reliable as ever — we lost it, and were sent out to field. Mullion posted 179 for 7 from their forty-five overs, Nicholas Casley top-scoring with 38, well supported by Christian Bostock's 37 and Phil Wheatley's 30. An early wicket with just 4 on the board gave us hope of a rout, but a stubborn 51-run stand for the third wicket steadied their ship. Credit to the attack for keeping them honest throughout — M Jilbert departed for a golden duck, and Alan Boyns was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 16, well backed by Mike Caddick's 1 for 5 and Daniel Thirkell's tidy 1 for 15, the latter also slipping in two maidens for good measure.

Chasing 180, we replied with 170 for 5, never quite getting there but never quite losing either. We too shed an early wicket with only 5 on the board, and it was left to Mike Caddick to marshal the innings, finishing unbeaten on a magnificent 80, ably assisted by Adrian Caddick's 30 and John Phipps's 21, the pair adding a vital 90 for the fifth wicket. A day of milestones besides: Caddick brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and Simon Thirkell reached 50 career wickets. Fitting, then, that honours were shared — a draw that flattered neither side but satisfied both, and frankly, on a day like this, I'll take it.

Thu 31 Aug 1995 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformWLLWT

Lost the toss again on Thursday, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a personality trait. Falmouth had no hesitation sending us out to field first, and openly enough, Keith Meneer made rather a home of the crease, his 82 the backbone of their 240/6 from 42 overs, with A Wyatt's 52 and Sean Turner's 30 filling in nicely either side of a stand of 124 for the third wicket that threatened to bat us out of the day entirely. Credit to Stuart Cheesman for hauling us back into it with 3-38 and two miserly maidens, well supported by Matt Large's 2-24 and my own more modest 1-28. Ten byes down the other end told its own quiet story of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Peter Whyte.

Set 241 to win, we lost an early wicket with just 4 on the board and my heart briefly relocated to my boots, but a stand of 114 for the fifth steadied the ship beautifully. I was pleased to lead from the front with 76, David Castle chipping in an excellent 49 and Matt Large 29, as we crawled to 232/9 from our 47.

David Castle now tops our 1995 Tour XI run charts with 127, Matt Large leads the wickets with 8 — form the club can be proud of.

Honours shared, then. Not a win, but on a day when neither side would yield an inch, a draw felt like the fairest and most English of outcomes.

Mon 28 Aug 1995 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDWLWD

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report — Bearsted CC at Home

Monday last, and the coin let us down as it so often does — Bearsted won the toss, had a look at the sky, and decided to bat. I can't say I blamed them; it looked a belter of a wicket, and so it proved for a while. Mick Filmer got in and simply stayed there, 87 of the finest, with Stephen Heap chipping in a tidy 49 in support, and between them they laid the platform with 90 for the first wicket before we finally prised one out. Two-hundred-and-nineteen for eight from their 48 overs felt, at tea, like rather too many. But then Paul Bowles got his fingers working, spun through them like a man possessed, and finished with 6 for 31 — the sort of spell that has the tea ladies talking for weeks. Ian Brattle did the miserly bit at the other end, 2 for 59 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, and en route quietly brought up his 400th career wicket, which is rather more than most of us manage in a lifetime.

Chasing 220, Paul Gibson played the innings of the day — a well-made 63 — with David Castle keeping him company for 46, the pair adding a crucial 113 for the second wicket. I contributed 43 not out myself, more by accident than design. Fifteen byes did rather give the game away about poor Clive Newman's afternoon behind the stumps, but we finished on 203 for 6, agonisingly short.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite deserving to lose, and a fine watch for anyone lucky enough to be at Linton Park on a Monday.

Sun 27 Aug 1995 🧢 1st XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · HomeformDDWLW

Sunday 27 August 1995, and we welcomed the visitors in fine, if slightly hazy, spirit. Winning the toss meant a long afternoon in the field, and 194/8 from their 47 overs was the sort of total that always looks worse on paper than it felt in the moment — S Smith's watchful 49, with A Green (38) and A Conlin (25) chipping away either side of a 4th-wicket stand of 74 that did the real damage. S Thomas, mercifully, never troubled the scorers. Michael Beeney was the pick of the attack with 3-34, Daniel Thirkell and Rob Doick chimed in with 2-19 and 1-13 respectively, and I was happy enough tucking away four maidens of my own to keep the scoreboard honest.

Chasing 195, we replied with 156/6 from our 39, never quite in arrears but never quite threatening either. Clive Newman played the innings of the day, a composed 56, with Rob Doick's 32 the ideal foil during a 4th-wicket stand of 62 that kept us afloat. Spare a thought for poor Richard Ellis, whose walk back for a duck will earn him the traditional ribbing at the bar, and spare rather more than a thought for the 26 extras that flattered our total, plus the 8 byes that gave Peter Whyte a torrid afternoon behind the stumps.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite deserving more, and both sides left with just enough to grumble about over a pint. Village cricket in its purest form.

Sat 26 Aug 1995 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformDDDWL

I lost the toss at Marden CC, Kent — a result about as surprising as rain at a village fete — and duly found ourselves in the field. They ground their way to 201 for 9 off 46 overs, Gary Marshall's well-made 72 and T Sunnucks's equally handsome 68 doing most of the damage, with a stubborn 71-run stand for the third wicket the platform for it all. John Paul Sunnucks chipped in with 28 before the innings rather pleasingly imploded, 194 for 6 becoming 201 for 9 in a hurry, with S McHale and Harry Karim both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I had a rare afternoon of it with the ball, finishing with 5 for 36, while Matt Large (2-52) and the ever-tidy Rob Doick (1-29, and three maidens to boot) kept things honest at the other end.

Chasing 202, we made ourselves comfortable early and never really looked back, closing on 204 for 4 from 43.1 overs. Paul Gibson's unbeaten 57 was the innings of the day, well supported by Paul Bowles's 52 and, if I may say so without too much blushing, 56 of my own, the pair of us putting on 97 for the second wicket to see off any lingering nerves. Only Rob Doick had cause for complaint, gone for a duck.

A fine six-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying day all round with bat and ball. I notice I now lead the 1995 1st XI run charts with 1305, with Matt Large's 55 wickets topping the bowling — proof there's life in this old side yet. Onwards.

Sat 26 Aug 1995 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWLWWW

Saturday 26 August 1995 – Linton Park v Marden CC

Lost the toss, asked to bowl first – not the news I wanted with the sun out, but the lads set about it in the right spirit. Marden built steadily to 153/7 off their 46, with Furminger the chief architect on 46, well supported by Rutherford (29) and Sunnucks (26). Chris Newport departed for a duck, which cheered us no end, and I managed to get among the wickets myself with 3-31 – Caddick (2-22) and Back (1-26) chipped in nicely, while Darren Styles bowled with real discipline, three maidens speaking for themselves. A tidy, patient effort in the field.

Chasing 154, we could hardly have started better. Morrison and Thirkell put on 95 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and from there Morrison simply carried on, unbeaten on 99 – agonisingly close to the century but not a run of it wasted – with Thirkell's 28 the perfect foil. We cantered home to 163/2 in 27 overs, eight wickets in hand and time to spare.

A pleasing personal footnote too: those three wickets nudged me up to 15th on the club's all-time list, which is the sort of thing that means far more to me than it should to anyone else. And with Thirkell leading our run charts and myself the wickets for the season, there's a nice symmetry to it all.

All told, a thoroughly satisfying eight-wicket win – bowled tightly, chased calmly, and home in good time for tea. Onwards.

Sun 20 Aug 1995 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformWDDDW

Down by 6 runs at Whitstable on the 20th, and I still can't decide whether to blame the toss or the tea urn. Losing it meant an afternoon in the field, and Duncan Hardy made sure we felt it, ghosting past fifty to finish unbeaten on 80, with Andy Robertson (47) and Keith Mount (28) lending a hand. We nabbed an early wicket at 4-1 and thought we were onto something, but a stubborn third-wicket stand of 55 dragged the game away from us, and then their last pair, showing a complete disregard for the script, bolted on an unwanted 49. Paul Gibson was excellent for 3-39, my nephew Daniel chipped in with 2-21, and Michael Beeney bowled with the meanness of a man who begrudges every run, six maidens and 1-19 to show for it. All out for 198 felt about 25 too many.

Chasing 199, we were bowling along nicely enough until wickets started falling like deckchairs in a breeze, 103-3 crumbling to 114-6 in the blink of an eye. Clive Newman's 42 was the innings that mattered, and in doing so he sailed past Ray Howard into 23rd on the club's all-time run charts, which is the sort of thing that should earn a man a pint regardless of the result. I got in among the runs myself with 38, and Paul Bowles stayed unbeaten on 36, but it was the ninth-wicket pair who gave us real hope, adding a defiant 60. Sadly David Castle and Daniel Thirkell both went for ducks, and 192 all out from 43.5 overs left us six runs short.

A match we should have won and somehow contrived not to. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 19 Aug 1995 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformLWDDD

We travelled to Harrietsham CC on a fine Saturday, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in asking my lads to bat first — the right call, I felt, and I shall allow myself a small pat on the back for that alone.

It wasn't the smoothest of starts, the first wicket tumbling for just four, but the middle order steadied the ship handsomely, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, carrying my bat to 99 not out as we posted a highly satisfying 184 for 7 from our 46 overs. The tail wagged nicely too, plundering a final 39 to frustrate a tiring Harrietsham attack — though spare a thought for poor David Castle, who departed for a golden duck without troubling the scorers.

In the field, we were utterly ruthless. Harrietsham's reply never got out of second gear, slipping from 36 for 2 to 44 for 5 in the blink of an eye, with Micky Tong, M Hughes and T Fittall all back in the pavilion without scoring. Michael Beeney was magnificent, claiming five for 17, while Matt Large chipped in with four for 24 and four maidens for good measure, and Ian Brattle picked up one for 20. All out for a paltry 67 in 31.5 overs.

A comfortable 117-run victory, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Sat 19 Aug 1995 🧢 2nd XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformLWLWW

I put us in, and for once it paid off handsomely. We racked up 200/9 from our 46 overs, with Tim Thirkell playing the innings of the day — 89 full of proper cricket shots — while Stewart Morrison chipped in a tidy 24. I managed 21 not out myself, more through stubbornness than style, to help see us to a total that felt like it had a bit of substance about it. Gavin Saunders, less fortunate, made his way back to the pavilion for a duck, to the usual sympathetic jeers from the boundary.

Defending 200 is never quite the formality the scorebook suggests, and Harrietsham gave it a proper go. Dave Brooks took the game by the scruff of the neck with a well-made 69, well supported by John Prosser's 24, and for a spell it looked like we might be made to sweat. But our attack held its nerve. Darren Styles was superb, tearing through with 4-34, while Daniel Thirkell was miserly in the extreme — 4-40 including four maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Simon Thirkell picked up a handy 2-20. M Reynard departed for a duck of his own, and Harrietsham were bowled out for 165 in 43.2 overs.

A 35-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — Tim Thirkell continues to lead the run charts for the season with 465, and Darren Styles the wickets with 20. Tea was, as ever, better than the cricket deserved. Onwards.

Tue 15 Aug 1995 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformWDDLD

Tuesday 15 August, Selsdon CC at home, and I won the toss and had few doubts about what to do with it — batting first felt right, and for once the pitch and the players agreed with me. David Castle set the tone with a fine 84, and the opening stand of 97 gave us the platform to really build; Steve Orchard finished unbeaten on 55 and Mike Elworthy chipped in a composed 51 as we sailed to 228/3 from our 48 overs. Whatever we were doing over tea, it clearly worked.

Defending it, though, we ran into a force of nature in Deo Shivmangal, who ground out a magnificent unbeaten century, well supported by Ken Shivmangal's 86 and Trevor Cardew's useful 20. An early wicket for just 2 had us dreaming, but a stand of 148 for the fifth wicket put paid to that. Credit where it's due — Adrian Caddick was superb, 3 for 50 with three maidens thrown in for good miserly measure, backed up by Trevor Back's 2 for 44 and a wicket for Stuart Cheesman. I managed to get among the runs myself earlier in the season's tally, though today the visitors' middle order had other ideas, closing on 227/6 from 45.

So it finished all square — honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. A draw isn't the stuff of legend, but on a day when both sides batted with such purpose, I'll happily settle for honours even and the tea urn empty.

Sun 13 Aug 1995 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformDLWDD

Won the toss at Benenden and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I was right about something before lunch. We piled up 238 for the loss of a single wicket in 38.4 overs, a total that had David Castle to thank as much as anyone, 93 not out of pure, unfussy craftsmanship, while I was fortunate enough to find some form for a change and finished unbeaten on 108. A satisfying one, that. Twenty-eight extras rounded things out nicely — Benenden's bowlers were generous hosts, if nothing else.

Defending 238 always looks simpler on paper than it feels in the field, and so it proved. Gary Marshall (54) and Andrew Cloke (53) put together a stand of 101 for the fourth wicket that had us wondering whether we'd left the declaration too late, with B Carruthers chipping in a defiant 31. It took Ian Brattle, turning it prodigiously and conceding next to nothing — five for 21 including four maidens — to drag us back into contention, well backed up by Rob Doick's two for 40. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 33 byes disappearing past him like the tide coming in.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force it home. A draw, then — fair reflection of an afternoon where both sides had their moments, and a fine one for the season's charts, with Brattle now third among the wickets and yours truly still out in front with the bat.

Sat 12 Aug 1995 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLDLWD

Saturday 12th August 1995, and Headcorn CC arrived at Linton Park for what promised to be a proper contest. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains a weak link in an otherwise sound captaincy — and we were sent into the field.

Simon Phipps made us pay for it in some style, compiling a magnificent 105 while Andrew Fordham anchored the other end unbeaten on 29, the pair putting on a hundred for the sixth wicket that rather took the shine off our afternoon. Credit where due, though: Matt Large tore in for 3-38, Adrian Caddick and Paul Gibson chipped in a wicket apiece, and Michael Beeney bowled two maidens that felt like small victories in themselves. Headcorn closed on 198/7, a total that left us with plenty to do.

We set about the chase with real application. Clive Newman played the innings of the day, 61 full of the sort of shots one remembers on the walk to the pavilion, and he and Paul Gibson — 44, and now up to sixth on the club's all-time run charts, past Brian Piper no less — put on 94 for the second wicket to give us a platform. I added an unbeaten 25 down the order to help see us home to 171/6, though eight byes suggested Jim Hall had rather a testing day behind the stumps.

In the end honours were shared, and rightly so — neither side could quite land the killer blow. A word too for Rob Doick, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours; not a bad milestone to mark with a draw against decent opposition.

Wed 09 Aug 1995 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformLWDDL

Lost the toss on a warm Wednesday and asked to field first — not the afternoon I'd have chosen, but Bexley CC duly made themselves at home, posting 213/8 from their forty overs. Simon Williams top-scored with a polished sixty, well supported by A Burroughs's 49 and Tom Appleby's 37, their third-wicket pair putting on a stand of 55 that threatened to get away from us entirely. Some consolation came when Stuart Hume departed for a duck, and I managed to find some rhythm through the middle overs, spinning my way to 5-59 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that makes the long walk back to the pavilion feel a little less like a formality. Dave Todd (1-17) and Trevor Back (1-62) chipped in dutifully alongside me.

Chasing 214, we never quite got away either, closing on 146/9 from our forty-six. Trevor Back batted sensibly for an unbeaten 26, Adrian Caddick added a useful 24, and twenty-nine extras did more heavy lifting than we'd like to admit. Poor Paul Leandro's afternoon began and ended with a golden duck.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue — which, given the size of their total, felt rather like daylight robbery in our favour. Elsewhere in the midweek averages, Mike Caddick continues to bat like a man with somewhere important to be, and Dave Todd leads the wicket charts. A fair result, all told, and one we'll happily take.

Sun 06 Aug 1995 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformDLDLW

Sunday 6th August 1995, and we welcomed our visitors on a day when the covers had, mercifully, stayed in the shed. I won the toss and elected to bat, and for once my judgement was vindicated rather than merely tolerated by the committee.

The openers set about their work with real intent, putting on 68 before the first breakthrough, and a handsome second-wicket stand of 96 gave the innings its backbone. Mike Caddick was in irresistible form, cruising past his fifty to 90, with David Castle a fine foil on 46. I chipped in with an unbeaten 34 down the order, which I shall claim was calculated rather than merely fortunate. We closed on a hearty 232 for 4 from our 46 overs.

In the field we made early inroads, reducing them to 1 for 1, and though R Swainsland (68) and A Bray (39) threatened to rebuild the innings with a 97-run partnership, the middle order crumbled from 117 for 3 to 128 for 6, with three batsmen departing without troubling the scorers. Adrian Caddick was magnificent, bowling us into the game with 6 for 58, well supported by Michael Beeney and Richard Ellis with a wicket apiece, while Matt Large strangled the scoring with five miserly maidens. They battled to 133 for 9 from their 40.

Honours even, then — a draw that felt, on reflection, rather like the fairest result the day had to offer.

Sat 05 Aug 1995 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformLDLDL

Nigel Thirkell's Skipper's Log — Saturday 5th August 1995

Southborough CC, at home, and the coin let me down before a ball was bowled — they won the toss and had first use of a wicket that, in hindsight, wasn't quite as friendly as they might have hoped. We took to the field in reasonable spirits, and reasonable spirits were more than justified: Southborough were eventually bowled out for 110 in 39.2 overs, a total that flattered them somewhat given they'd slumped from 103-4 to 107-7 in a collapse that would have had their tea urn rattling with nerves. Martin Thomas made a fine 51, well supported by Peter Young's 22, but otherwise the middle order simply melted away — Ray Grayland, Simon Fisher and Mark Woodward all departed without troubling the scorer. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 9-32 from 9 maidens, which I shall modestly describe as a career highlight, not least because it took me past 1300 wickets. Michael Beeney chipped in with 1-39.

Chasing 111 was never going to be a formality — it never is, on a club afternoon when every run feels like it's been wrestled rather than scored — and so it proved, as we crawled and nudged our way to 111-7 from 39 overs. I made 25 of the runs that mattered, and mattered they did, seeing us home with wickets, if not composure, to spare.

Three wickets the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned. A scratchy, nervy, thoroughly English win — precisely the sort we'll take all day.

Sat 05 Aug 1995 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformWLWLW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 5th August 1995. We travelled to Southborough CC, lost the toss, and were asked to field first — a decision the opposition may have come to regret by teatime.

Keith Hatcher played the innings of the day, a magnificent unbeaten 105, while Tim Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 70. We lost our first wicket for just 1 run, which had me reaching for the Rennies early, but a marvellous 162-run stand for the third wicket steadied every nerve in the pavilion and carried us to a commanding 203 for 3 from our 46 overs.

Defending that total, Southborough fought back through Stefan Knowles, who passed his fifty with a fine 52, well supported by Steve Dann's 26 and Glenn Farmer's 25. Poor Thompson departed for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 5 for 26, while Dave Todd toiled well for 2 for 63 and Chris Tymms bowled two tidy maidens on his way to 1 for 22. Southborough were dismissed for 152 from 41 overs.

Beyond the result, it was a landmark afternoon: Tim Thirkell reached 9,000 career runs for the club, and Dave Todd passed 200 career wickets, his brace also lifting him above Alan Tucker to 24th on the all-time list. A 51-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Mon 31 Jul 1995 🧢 Midweek XIv CC Cleethorpes CC · HomeformWLWDD

Called it right on Monday and took first knock without a second thought — on a shirtfront like that, you bat. Caddick set the tone in glorious fashion, cruising to 78, while Elworthy and McCormick weighed in with 41 apiece to give the innings real backbone. The openers laid the platform with 76 before the first wicket fell, and the innings' finest stand — 88 for the third — kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. Not every contribution sparkled, mind: poor David Castle marched out, marched back, and left with nothing but a golden duck for his troubles. Still, 196 for 5 from our 49 overs felt like a total with substance.

Cleethorpes had other ideas. I Drummond played the innings of the day, an imperious 93 that dragged them within sight of victory, well supported by Will Abe's 33 and an unbeaten 22 from C Willerton, their fourth-wicket pair adding 73 in the process. I did what I could with the ball, taking 2 for 37, with Castle atoning for his duck with 2 for 59 and Trevor Back chipping in with 1 for 55; Darren Styles bowled tidily too, three maidens to his name. It wasn't quite enough, and they got home by 5 wickets from 38.3 overs.

Caddick continues to lead our 1995 run charts on 173, and I'll happily take the six wickets that keep me atop the bowling table — small consolation on a losing afternoon. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 30 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · AwayformWLDLD

Sunday last took us up the road to Clarion CC, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly and had no hesitation in taking first knock, the square looking a shade too good to leave for later in the day. Clive Newman and I put on 92 for the first wicket before anything went wrong, which by our standards constitutes a small miracle, and while the middle order rather lost the thread thereafter, I was pleased to lead from the front with 74, Clive chipping in a fine 37 of his own. We closed on 167 for 9 from our 41 overs — respectable, if not entirely comfortable, and I'll draw a discreet veil over Michael Beeney and Ian Brattle's matching ducks, save to say the Duck Club ledger grows ever fatter.

Defending it proved another matter entirely. Richard Hilson played the innings of the day, an assured 83, and with W Drew (23) and Andy Driver (22 not out) offering sturdy support around him, Clarion were seldom troubled after their own opening pair put on 69. Michael Beeney atoned handsomely for his golden duck with 2 for 38, Rob Doick and Ian Brattle chipped in a wicket apiece, and Brattle's two maidens at least kept the arithmetic honest — but 170 for 5 came with overs still in hand, and the game, and three wickets, slipped away from us.

One genuine cause for celebration amid the gloom: Clive Newman brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly toasted afterwards. I remain proud to sit atop the 1st XI's run charts this season with 920, and Michael Beeney continues to lurk menacingly in second place among the wicket-takers with 42 — form he will no doubt wish to rediscover with the ball rather sooner than later. Not our day, in truth; heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 29 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDWLDL

I elected to bat when we won the toss at Hollingbourne on Saturday, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than reckless. Paul Gibson set the tone with a fine 61, and once David Castle had chipped in a tidy 45 the pair put on 80 for the third wicket to give our total real backbone. Dave Charlton finished unbeaten on 26 to see us home to 200 for 5 from our 46 overs — the sort of score that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than gnaw at the biscuits.

Defending it, we were made to work. Hollingbourne's openers set about us with 88 for the first wicket before we managed to prise one loose, Mike Donald departing without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball myself, finishing with 3 for 53 including a couple of maidens, while Matt Large (2-42) and Michael Beeney (2-45) kept chipping away. But Russell Baldwin's 48, backed up by Dave Hinks' 42 and Mike Palmer's 38, dragged them agonisingly close, and they closed on 198 for 8 from 44 — just two runs shy.

A word for the record books: Michael Beeney brought up 50 career wickets, and Clive Newman's 24 nudged him past Terry Whittaker into 25th on the club's all-time run charts. Honours shared, then — a draw that felt like a win to them and a loss to us, which is probably the truest definition of village cricket there is.

Sat 29 Jul 1995 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformWWLWL

The toss went against us on Saturday, and Hollingbourne elected to bat — a decision they may well be regretting still. It didn't take long for things to unravel for the visitors: 2 for 1 inside the first few overs set a nervy tone, with poor P Bannister trudging back for a golden duck. From there the innings never recovered, and Hollingbourne were bowled out for a modest 79 in 34.2 overs. I can't claim total impartiality, but I did find something close to the perfect line that day, finishing with 5-21 and seven maidens for good measure — the sort of spell a captain dreams about and rarely gets. Darren Styles chipped in superbly with 3-13, and Chris Tymms picked up 2-35 to complete the rout.

Chasing 80, we made light work of it. Stewart Morrison batted with real class for an unbeaten 51, and Tim Thirkell offered steady support with 26 not out, the pair seeing us home for the loss of no wickets in just 18.3 overs. Ten wickets in the bank and the tea urn barely cold.

A quiet word for the record books: those five wickets nudged me past Ron Hickman and into 16th on the club's all-time list, which is the kind of milestone that means everything to nobody but me. Tim Thirkell continues to lead the season's run charts, and Darren Styles the wicket charts — the engine room of a fine campaign.

A thoroughly good day for the club, and one to savour on the drive home.

Fri 28 Jul 1995 🧢 Midweek XIv HC Heffle Cuckoos CC · HomeformDWLWD

There are days when winning the toss feels like the easy part, and Friday was one of them: Heffle Cuckoos rolled up, I called correctly, and batting first on a good-looking strip was never in doubt. What followed was as handsome an opening stand as I've had the pleasure of watching from the non-striker's end — well, mostly the pavilion — as Clive Newman and Mike Caddick put on 112 before anyone in cuckoo-coloured whites so much as troubled the scorer. Clive went on to an unbeaten 78, Mike a fine 58, and I chipped in with 35 to help us close on a hearty 187 for 2 from our 39 overs. Declarations were discussed and quietly dismissed.

Defending it looked a formality until the Cuckoos decided otherwise, grinding to 183 for 9 in reply and giving my nerves rather more of a workout than the scoreboard suggests they should have. Grayland's 34, with Massie and Bowles chipping in either side of 30 and 25, kept them relevant longer than any of us would have liked. It was left to Daniel Thirkell to do the heavy lifting with 3 for 36, backed up nicely by Michael Beeney's 2 for 17 and Ian Brattle's solitary but valuable wicket. I managed to keep things tight enough for three maidens, though I'll admit to raising an eyebrow at our 15 byes — poor Peter Whyte behind the stumps had one of those afternoons best forgotten quickly and generously.

In the end four runs separated the sides and neither could quite land the killer blow — a draw, honours shared, and frankly a fair result for an entertaining scrap.

Wed 26 Jul 1995 🧢 Midweek XIv IX Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI · HomeformDDWLW

Wednesday the 26th of July found us hosting Ipswich Greyhounds CC's Kent Tour XI, and with the toss falling our way I opted to have first use of the ball, fancying our seamers might find something in it. They found plenty, in the end, though not before David Goodchild had made merry with a fine 51, well supported by I Croton's unbeaten 33 and J Manning's 25. Still, the early breakthrough at 2 for 1 set the tone, and B Newson and Paul Mobbs both trudged back for ducks. Dave Todd was magnificent, 4 for 23, with Matt Large chipping in 3 for 30 and Michael Beeney metronomic for 2 for 23, three maidens among them. All out for 188 off 43.5 overs — a fair total, but not an insurmountable one.

Our reply never quite got away from us. Paul Bowles anchored things beautifully with 39 not out, Clive Newman added a breezy 32 and Paul Gibson 20, but Matt Large and Trevor Back both fell without scoring, and we limped to 153 for 8 off our 40, rescued somewhat by 31 extras. Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 12 byes the toll of a lively pitch.

With Bowles now third in the season's run charts and Todd top of the wickets, there's plenty to be cheerful about. A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the real winner.

Tue 25 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · AwayformWDWLD

Beaten again by the coin – Hartley won the toss and had no hesitation sticking us in the field, which on a Tuesday evening always feels like the away side's lot in life. They ground out 107/8 from their fifteen overs, Justin Crouch top-scoring with a watchful 37 and O Senneck chipping in with 26, the pair putting on 56 for the second wicket while we toiled without much luck. Credit to the lads for pulling it back though – from 101/4 to 103/7 in a blur, with Ben Carter and Colin Senneck both back in the shed without troubling the scorers. Rob Doick was the pick of the attack with 3-28, and I was pleased enough with 2-25 to add to the season's tally, Ian Brattle mopping up with 1-20.

Chasing 108, we never really got going. Eighty for nine from our fifteen overs tells its own sorry story, and a collapse from 44/2 to 53/5 did for us in the space of a few overs – poor Piers McDonald departing for a duck amid the carnage. Twenty-seven runs short in the end, and no arguing with that.

Amid the gloom, one shaft of sunshine: Clive Newman brought up his hundredth appearance in Linton colours, a fine achievement and one the whole club should raise a glass to. Nigel Thirkell continues to lead the run charts and I'm keeping the wickets column ticking over, but individual landmarks count for little on a losing night. We'll regroup, dust ourselves down, and be better for it next week.

Sun 23 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · AwayformWWDWL

I won the toss on a fine Sunday down at Tenterden and, with the pitch looking true, there was really only one decision to make — we batted. It didn't start smoothly, the first wicket tumbling for just a single run, but Paul Gibson set about repairing things in style, compiling a wonderful 98 while Rob Doick (41) and David Castle (38) played their parts either side of a stand of 131 for the fifth wicket that put the innings back on solid footing. The tail wagged gamely for a final 36, though poor Clive Newman will want this report kept from his mother, dismissed without troubling the scorers. I added a workmanlike 26 myself, and we closed on a healthy 246/6 from 42.2 overs.

Defending that total, our attack held firm. Nick Hall counter-punched with a fine 53, well supported by Jason Matthews' 27, and we did well to send Chris Hobbs back for a duck along the way. Ian Brattle was miserly and menacing in equal measure, 3-61 with four maidens, backed up by Mike Caddick (2-34) and Michael Beeney (1-8). Twenty-one byes, however, tell their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Peter Whyte. Tenterden closed on 174/8 from their 45.

With the season charts showing me leading the run-scoring and Michael Beeney second among the wickets, there was individual satisfaction to take. But on the day, honours were shared — a draw, and no more than either side deserved.

Sat 22 Jul 1995 🧢 2nd XIv Linden Park CC · HomeformWWWLW

Saturday 22nd July, and Linden Park arrived on a day that promised more than it eventually delivered for us. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — and for a good while it looked the shrewdest decision I'd made all season. Elworthy and Thirkell put on 56 for the first wicket to set us on our way, Elworthy going on to a fine 57 and Thirkell chipping in with 43. Morrison's 26 kept the innings ticking, though poor Chris Tymms will want this page torn out of the gazette — a golden duck to file alongside the rest of his season. We closed on 194/7 from our 46, a total I fancied would take some chasing.

And chase it they did. Neil Penfold played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 95 that our bowlers simply couldn't dislodge, with Harvey (26) and the equally immovable Gasking (22 not out) lending sturdy support — their fifth-wicket stand of 62 the innings that did for us. Beeney toiled manfully, 2-48 with three miserly maidens, and got good company from Todd (2-63) and a redemptive 1-30 from Tymms, but Penfold simply had too many answers. They got home by 5 wickets with an over to spare.

Not our day, then, though Elworthy's continued form atop the run charts and Tymms's bowling figures (duck notwithstanding) offer some consolation. Heads up, back to the nets — there are sunnier Saturdays ahead.

Fri 21 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDWWDW

The coin at least came up trumps, and I sent us in to bat, fancying a total on that Mote track. Six runs in and we were already rocking on our heels, an early wicket doing its best impression of a false alarm before David Castle steadied the ship with a fine, well-crafted fifty. He and his partner put on 52 for the second wicket, the innings' foundation stone, and we limped home to a respectable-looking 130 for 6 off our sixteen overs — the sort of total that always looks better on paper than it feels out in the field.

And so it proved. The Mote strolled to 133 for 1 in just 12.2 overs, James Barr farming the bowling for an unbeaten 70 and James Hodgson keeping him fine company with a classy 56 not out, the pair barely troubled by anything we could offer. Michael Laurenson at least gave us a moment's cheer, back in the hutch without scoring, and I managed to prise out the solitary wicket at the other end for 1-51 — scant reward for a lot of toil, though it does at least keep me atop the season's wicket pile on 42, while Nigel Thirkell continues his own stately procession at the top of the run charts with 808.

Beaten by nine wickets, then, and no amount of gloss dresses that up as anything but a hiding. We'll dust ourselves down, have a pint, and be better for it next week — that, at least, is one tradition we can always rely on.

Thu 20 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv BC Betteshanger Colliery Welfare CC · AwayformWDWWD

Skipper's Log — Thursday 20 July 1995

We travelled out to Betteshanger Colliery Welfare CC with the sun more or less behaving itself, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat — a decision I'm rather pleased to say I can take full credit for. The lads set about building a proper total, and it was Nigel Thirkell who set the tone with a smashing 53, the innings' backbone by any measure. I chipped in with 30 and David Castle added a tidy 27, the two of us combining in a 53-run stand for the fifth wicket that steadied things nicely after a wobble or two. We closed on 143 for 5 from our fifteen overs, a score that felt like it had enough about it. Special mention, as tradition demands, to Dave Charlton, whose golden duck earns him this week's walk of shame.

Out in the field, the shoe was rather satisfyingly on the other foot. Dave Charlton, all is forgiven, ripped through with 3 for 5, backed up by Ian Brattle's 2 for 13 and a couple more for me to round things off. Betteshanger wobbled from 52 for 4 to 64 for 7 under the pressure, D Reed's battling 20 the best the home side could muster, and they were bowled out for just 73.

A comfortable 70-run victory, then, and a proper team effort with bat and ball alike. Onwards to the next one — long may the Duck Club ledger stay somebody else's problem.

Sun 16 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · HomeformWWDWW

Lost the toss on a Sunday that promised much, and dutifully we trooped into the field first while Folkestone made themselves at home. Salisbury proceeded to help himself to a chanceless hundred — 104 not out, if you're totting up the damage — with Daniels chipping in a handsome 60 and Waddup an unbeaten 39, the pair putting on 64 for the second wicket that rather took the sting out of our afternoon. We toiled manfully: Large the pick of a weary attack for 1-64, Beeney chiselling out 1-78, and Brattle bowling two maidens with the quiet discipline of a man saving his pennies. Folkestone closed on 245/2 from their 44.2 overs — a total that had "declaration of intent" written all over it.

Chasing it down looked a fool's errand until Caddick and his opening partner simply refused to be troubled, carting 184 off the new ball before the first wicket finally fell — Caddick going on to a magnificent 132, McDonald following with a classy 65 of his own, and Large adding a brisk 20 to keep the required rate honest. We finished on 241/4 from our 45, agonisingly short but never disgraced. Nice footnote to the day: McDonald's fifty edged him past Malcolm Pay into 16th on the club's all-time run list. I'll confess a quiet satisfaction too, having crept to the top of this summer's 1st XI run charts with 738 — though on this evidence I'd have swapped the lot for four more runs.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the real winner.

Sat 15 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWWWDW

Saturday 15 July 1995 saw Horton Kirby CC visit Linton Park, and having lost the toss, we were dispatched into the field first — never my favourite way to start a Saturday, but there we were. It began brightly enough: T Blain departed for a duck with the score on 8-1, and honestly I don't think he troubled the scoreboard operator for a moment. Matt Large was in imperious touch, tying the visitors down with six maidens on his way to 4-29, with Ian Brattle (2-32) and Michael Beeney (1-15) chipping in dutifully. Graham Connold played the innings of the day for the opposition, a stubborn 41, but 129 all out from 43.1 overs was always going to leave us with work to do rather than a mountain to climb.

And climb we did not need to — we simply strolled. David Castle and Paul Bowles opened up and never looked back, seeing us home to 130 without loss in 26 overs. Castle's 59 not out was polished and unhurried, Bowles matched him stroke for stroke with a fine 54 not out, and between them they didn't so much chase the target as tuck it away in a back pocket. Castle continues his fine season, now fifth in the 1st XI run charts, while Large's tally of 38 wickets keeps him top of the pile.

A ten-wicket win, bowled and batted with real authority — a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 15 Jul 1995 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWWWWL

I write, and cricket bloody well breaks the drought.

Saturday 15 July at Horton Kirby, and I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this summer — they had first knock, and for once I wasn't unduly troubled by it. Given the state of our ball-handling that afternoon, I'd have quite happily lost the toss every week. Horton Kirby's innings folded like a garden deckchair in a stiff breeze: 16-1 became 26-4 before anyone had finished their tea, and it never really recovered, closing at a modest 68 all out in 34.1 overs. Darren Styles was simply unplayable, tearing through with 3-2, Chris Tymms chipped in with 3-30, and I had the great pleasure of taking 3-33 myself, including four maidens that I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season. Poor A Poole never troubled the scorers at all.

Chasing 68 should never be cause for alarm, and so it proved, though we did our level best to make it interesting, stumbling to 70-2 off 19.2 overs. Tim Thirkell led the way with a tidy 21, well supported by Dave Todd's 20, and between them they saw us home without any need for heroics.

Up the table, Thirkell continues to top the run charts with 237 for the season, while Styles now leads the wickets with 13 — the lad is in irresistible form. Two points banked, seven wickets to spare, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work all round.

Wed 12 Jul 1995 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDDDWL

Toss won, and there was really only one option on a shirt-front like that at home to Gravesend — we batted. I'll confess to some early jitters, losing a wicket with just three on the board, but Trevor Back (44) and Paul Leandro (42) steadied things nicely with a fine second-wicket stand of 75, and Mike Caddick chipped in with a useful 32 to help us to a respectable 198 for 7 from our 43 overs. Special mention, as ever, to poor Adam Pooley, whose golden duck will not trouble the club's batting averages this season.

Defending 198 is never comfortable, and Gravesend made us sweat for it. Tony Reely batted beautifully for his 97, well supported by Peter Preston's 22, and for a good while it looked as though our total might not be quite enough. But we chipped away — L Hart departed without troubling the scorers, and Richard Piper was the pick of the attack with an excellent 1 for 7. I did my modest bit with 1 for 38, Stuart Cheesman matching those figures, while Michael Beeney bowled two miserly maidens to keep the shackles on. Gravesend were eventually all out for 170 in 33.3 overs.

A win by 28 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Paul Leandro continues to lead our run charts for the season, Michael Beeney tops the wickets — long may both continue. Onwards to the next one.

Tue 11 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWWWWD

Won the toss at Meopham on a Tuesday evening in July, and with no great agonising I stuck us in. The lads made hay early doors, Dave Charlton and David Castle putting on a crucial 57 for the first wicket that set the tone nicely. Charlton went on to 37, Clive Newman chipped in a tidy 30, and Castle's 26 rounded out a total of 131 for 5 from our fifteen overs — a proper score to defend. I ought to mention, in the interests of full disclosure, that I contributed precisely nothing to that total, trudging back for a duck that the scorebook will remember longer than I'd like.

With the ball, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Meopham's top order simply couldn't get going — the first wicket fell for a mere 7, and from a wobbly 67 for 4 the innings unravelled to 68 for 7 in the blink of an eye. M Wabe and Laurence Hurley both departed without troubling the scorers, and Meopham were bowled out for 75 in just 12.2 overs. Ian Brattle was magnificent, tearing through with 4 for 9, well backed by Rob Doick's 3 for 13 and Michael Beeney's 3 for 24 — the latter now sitting second in our 1995 wicket charts with 33 for the season, while Mike Caddick continues his fine year, third in the run charts on 514.

A 56-run victory and two points banked. Ducks and all, I'll take that.

Sun 09 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · AwayformWWWWW

Sunday the ninth of July found us on the road at Sibton Park, and as is customary when the coin lands the wrong way up for me, we were asked to trot out into the field first. Two hundred and fourteen all out from 40.2 overs told its own story — a story of Steve Hickmott's well-crafted 68 and Ian Betts's fifty-plus 54, with Martyn Wren chipping in 35 for good measure. Their innings wobbled early at 0 for 1, which gave us false hope, before a seventh-wicket stand of 89 put paid to any notion of a quick finish. Credit where due: Matt Large was superb, plucking out four for a miserly twelve, Michael Beeney backed him up nicely with three for 23, Adrian Caddick took two, and I managed to keep things tight with a couple of maidens of my own.

With 214 to chase, we replied with 158 for 7 from our 45, honest rather than heroic. I was pleased to lead from the front with 58 not out, David Castle played his part with 30, and Mike Caddick added 22. Spare a thought for poor Stuart Cheesman, undone for a golden duck — the walk of shame indeed. With the season ticking along nicely for both club and captain — I lead the run charts, Matt Large the wickets — this one petered out into a draw, honours shared, and frankly, against that total, I'll happily take it.

Sat 08 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformLWWWW

It began, as these things so often do, with the toss falling kindly my way, and I had no hesitation in sending Staplehurst out to field. The openers set about their business with real purpose, putting on 80 before the first wicket finally went, and from there the innings never lost its shape. A splendid 98-run stand for the fourth wicket was the platform on which everything else was built, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, top-scoring with 82 in what I'll modestly call a satisfying afternoon's work. Paul Bowles played handsomely past his own fifty with 52, and Paul Gibson chipped in a tidy 31. We closed on 248/4 from our 46 overs — a total that felt, even as we walked off, rather more than useful.

Defending it, we never quite let Staplehurst settle. N Johnson batted with real determination for his unbeaten 62, and had support from M Wilson (32) and A Bourne (22), with a 51-run third-wicket stand the closest they came to wresting back the initiative. But Michael Beeney was in irresistible form with the ball, snaring four for 71, while Matt Large bowled with the miserly discipline of a man auditioning for the Bank of England, four maidens and 1-39 to his name. Poor I Henson departed for a golden duck. Staplehurst finished 168/5 from their 44.

Eighty runs the right way, two points banked, and — dare I say it — rather a fine day to be a Linton Park man.

Sat 08 Jul 1995 🧢 2nd XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformDWWWW

As pretty a Saturday as you'll find, the 8th of July, and the road took us out to Staplehurst with the sun on our backs and, thanks to a kindly coin, first use of the square.

170/9 from our 46 overs wasn't a total to frighten anyone, but it had its moments. Mike Elworthy played the innings of the day for 48, with Roly Edwards weighing in handsomely alongside him for 42 — the pair of them doing most of the heavy lifting while the rest of us, Stuart Cheesman and Daniel Thirkell among them, offered up golden ducks for the cause. 🦆 Every side needs its martyrs.

In the field we did our bit and more. Darren Styles was superb, snaring 3-30 and continuing his fine season with the ball, ably backed up by Chris Tymms — two wickets, two maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Trevor Back chipping in with one. But Staplehurst had their own heroes: Q Hayward's 45 and a stand of 74 for the fourth wicket did the real damage, and then, just as we sniffed victory, their last pair added an infuriating unbeaten 50 to see them home on 172/6.

Beaten by four wickets, then, and no disgrace in it. Plenty to build on, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 01 Jul 1995 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWLWWW

Called it right at the toss and, with a green look to the square and no wind to speak of, there was really only one decision to make: we batted. Paul Bowles set about it with real intent for a fine 73, and I was fortunate enough to find some form alongside him, our first-wicket stand carrying us to 117 before the breakthrough finally came. Mike Caddick chipped in nicely with 41, and though there was a flurry of wickets from 206 for 5 to 221 for 8 — poor Matt Large bagging a duck among the rubble — 232 for 8 off our 46 overs felt like a total with substance and a bit of menace to it.

Menace it duly proved. Meopham never quite got going, losing an early wicket with just 2 on the board, and while S Beard's 29 and useful contributions from M O'Donnell and C Beard threatened to build something, Matt Large simply would not be denied, spinning his way to 5 for 35 with three maidens thrown in for good measure. Ian Brattle (3 for 24) and Paul Bowles (1 for 14) tidied up the rest, and Meopham were bowled out for 141.

A personal note: bringing up 29,000 career runs for the club along the way was a lovely thing to have happen almost by accident on an afternoon that was really about the team. A 91-run win, handsomely deserved. Onwards indeed.

Sat 01 Jul 1995 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWDWWW

Saturday the 1st of July found us on the road to Meopham, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody in the changing room disagreed with me. We didn't half wobble early doors, 2 for 1 sending a ripple of quiet panic through the deckchairs, but Dave Todd steadied things in fine style with a top-scoring 49, and Tim Thirkell chipped in a handsome 37. I was happy enough to potter along to 34 not out myself, and down at eight the tail wagged nicely, adding a priceless 59 to see us to 192 for 8 off our 46 — though poor Keith Hatcher will want no reminder of his golden duck.

With the ball, Meopham never got going. They were bowled out for a paltry 85 in 36.5 overs, Barrie Lewis-Ranwell's 27 the only real resistance, while three of their number departed without troubling the scorers. I had one of those afternoons where everything comes out right, finishing with 4 for 21 including four maidens, ably backed up by Stuart Cheesman and Tim Thirkell among the wickets — and I'm told that tidied me past 300 career wickets, which is a nice number to have on the mantelpiece.

A comprehensive win by 107 runs, then, and exactly the sort of afternoon that makes the drive home feel shorter. Onwards.

Sun 25 Jun 1995 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformDWLWW

We won the toss for the coin, at least — though it counted for nothing, as Horsmonden asked us to field first at Linton Park on a fine June Sunday.

Truth be told, we did the hard work early. Horsmonden battled to 165 all out from 48.2 overs, Terry Tester giving them something to build around with a well-made 58, but our attack simply wouldn't let them cut loose. Rob Doick was the pick of a fine bowling effort, snaring 3-7 with four miserly maidens that strangled the middle overs, while Ian Brattle (2-14) and Piers McDonald (2-40) chipped away either side of him. All told, a proper team bowling performance — the kind that makes a captain's job easy.

With 166 to win, we made it look rather more straightforward than cricket usually allows. Clive Newman played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 58, and found the perfect foil in Paul Gibson (43) and David Castle (27), the pair putting on 94 for the second wicket to take the game away from Horsmonden almost before they'd settled into the field. I contributed a watchful 23 of my own, more spectator than protagonist as the top order did the damage. We cantered home 171-2 in 33.2 overs, eight wickets in hand.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved. Paul Gibson continues to top our season's run charts and Michael Beeney sits second among the wicket-takers — form that bodes well. All in all, a Sunday when everything clicked: tight bowling, calm batting, and tea tasted all the sweeter for it.

Sat 24 Jun 1995 🧢 1st XIv NC Norton Sports CC · HomeformLDWLW

As it stands, Norton Sports were the visitors and the coin fell kindly for once, so I had no hesitation putting us in. What followed was, frankly, a rare treat. Paul Bowles played the innings of the season, 136 not out and utterly unmoved by anything the visitors tried, while I chipped in with 43 alongside Mike Caddick's useful 28 as we posted 216 for 3 — a total built on a second-wicket stand of 124 after a brisk opening 66. Not every departure was so glorious: poor Stewart Morrison's golden duck earns him a place of dishonour in the Duck Club ledger, and he knows exactly where the kettle is next week.

Two hundred and sixteen felt like runs to bowl at, and so it proved. Norton fought hard through Stuart Coulter's unbeaten 77 and a third-wicket stand of 74 with R Godley, but once we prised them apart at 129 for 7 the whole thing came away like loose thatch, three more batsmen — E Pout, M Seager and T Philpott — all falling for ducks as the innings folded to 137 all out. Phil Randall was the chief architect with a magnificent 5 for 28, well backed by Adrian Caddick's 3 for 47, Jon Harris's solitary but valuable wicket, and Darren Styles bowling five miserly maidens to choke the life out of any recovery.

A 79-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. If we can bowl and bat like that more often, this could be rather a good summer.

Sat 24 Jun 1995 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDWDWW

Saturday 24th June saw us make the trip to West Farleigh, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy career, I had no hesitation in sticking us in – a decision that, mercifully, didn't come back to haunt me.

We rattled along to 159 all out from 41 overs, built on a fine 38 from Tim Thirkell and stitched together nicely by Phillip Morrison's 24. I found some form of my own with 37 not out, which felt rather pleasant after a lean patch. Less pleasant was the sight of D Brown and Ollie Priestly both departing for ducks – the sort of thing that keeps a captain reaching for the biscuit tin at tea.

Defending 159 always asks a question, but Richard Ellis answered it emphatically, spinning his way to a magnificent 5-27 and leaving West Farleigh's innings in tatters. Chris Tymms was miserliness personified, his 2-5 including two maidens, with Ollie Priestly chipping in 2-20 to make amends for his golden duck. Only Guy Wilson's unbeaten 27 offered any real resistance as they folded for 96 in 26.2 overs.

A word for the record books: Tim's 38 nudged him past Brian Piper into 5th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now leads the 1995 2nd XI charts with 170 runs, with Richard sitting 3rd among the wicket-takers on 6.

A 63-run victory, two points banked, and the tea urn well and truly earned.

Wed 21 Jun 1995 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformWDDDW

Sevenoaks & District Wednesday were the visitors on 21 June, and my run of luck with the coin continued in the wrong direction — I called incorrectly, and they had no hesitation in sending us in.

It was not the most convivial of starts, the first wicket going down for a solitary run before we'd barely settled. From there it was a case of digging in: I found some form to make 33, ably backed up by Piers McDonald's 32 and Peter Whyte's watchful 21, but 137 all out in 35.4 overs was scant reward for the effort. Spare a sympathetic thought, meanwhile, for Mike Caddick and Stuart Cheesman, both required to make that long, lonely walk back for nought.

Defending 137 was always going to want something special, and Sevenoaks duly obliged. P Styles played the standout innings with a commanding 52, well supported by J Ashdown's unbeaten 46 and C Hinds's unbeaten 26, their openers laying the platform with a stand of 52 that rather took the sting out of our attack. I picked up 1-42 for my troubles, while Michael Beeney was miserly in a losing cause, wheeling down six maidens without due reward. They eased home on 138 for 2 from 38.5 overs, winning by six wickets with overs and dignity to spare.

A sobering Wednesday, in short — 137 was never quite enough runs to hang our hats on. We'll dust ourselves down and come back sharper next time out.

Tue 20 Jun 1995 🧢 1st XIv DC Ditton CC · HomeformWLDWL

From the captain's chair, Tuesday 20th June 1995: Ditton CC visited Linton Park, and for once the coin obliged me. I called correctly, had no hesitation in putting us in, and could not have asked more of the lads with the bat. Paul Gibson was in irresistible form, cracking a fine 85, while Piers McDonald played the perfect foil with 49 of his own — the two of them adding a positively indecent 136 for the third wicket. We closed on 153 for 4 from our fifteen overs, a total that had the tea urn practically boiling with anticipation.

Ditton's reply never quite got going. An early wicket at 4 for 1 set the tone, and though Mike Bains fought manfully for his 36, the middle order simply evaporated — 48 for 4 became 63 for 7 almost before anyone had finished their sandwich. Michael Beeney was the chief architect of the collapse with a superb 3 for 9, well backed up by Dave Charlton's 2 for 16 and Ian Brattle's 1 for 29. They limped to 84 for 8, and we were home by 69 runs.

As for the skipper — a golden blob, out without troubling the scorers. A captain should lead from the front; on this occasion I merely led from the pavilion steps back to the bench. No matter. With Gibson now top of the 1st XI run charts on 504 and Beeney second in the wickets on 21, the engine room is purring nicely. A thoroughly good day for the club, blob and all.

Sun 18 Jun 1995 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · HomeformWWLDW

Sunday 18 June 1995, and Bexhill CC rolled into Linton Park under skies that, for once, seemed to favour bat over bowler. I called it right at the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or reckless depending entirely on what follows, and for a while it looked shrewd enough.

We ground our way to 167/7 from 46 overs, built chiefly on Mike Elworthy's 30 and Trevor Back's 29, with the tail contributing a spirited late 37 that had the Bexhill fielders muttering into their sunhats. Not everyone's afternoon sparkled, mind — poor Michael Beeney departed for a golden duck, a fate I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, let alone a clubmate.

With the ball, we simply couldn't find the breakthroughs we needed. Andrew Wilson played the innings of the day, 80 not out and untroubled throughout, well supported by Brad Smith's 42 and Jason Wickenden's unbeaten 37, their second-wicket stand of 61 the platform from which Bexhill strolled home in just 31.5 overs. Trevor Back (1-19) and Alan Boyns (1-25) toiled honestly without reward to match their effort. Elsewhere, there's cheer to be had — Mike Caddick sits second in the 1995 run charts with 421 to his name.

Beaten by six wickets, then, and no arguing with it. We batted with enough application to give ourselves a chance and bowled without quite enough luck to take it. We'll be better for it next week.

Thu 15 Jun 1995 🧢 1st XIv LC Lashings World CC · HomeformWWWLD

Thursday brought Lashings World CC to Linton Park, and when the coin fell my way I had no hesitation — into bat we went. It proved the right call, more or less: 140/6 from our sixteen overs, built on a brisk opening stand of 57 between David Castle, who made a fine 36, and Piers McDonald, unbeaten on 35. Paul Gibson chipped in a useful 26 lower down, and we walked off feeling we'd given ourselves something to bowl at, even if not quite enough to relax over the tea urn.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Lashings found an early stumble — just 5 on the board — before B Greenway and Brad McNee settled things with a stand of 91 that had us wondering whether the toss had been a poisoned chalice. Greenway went on to a well-made 55, but the floodgates then opened spectacularly, 107-4 crumbling to 119-7 in a blur, C Walter departing without troubling the scorers. I took 1-27 myself, Sean Charlton weighed in with 2-31, but the day belonged to Michael Beeney, whose 5-26 was a five-for thoroughly earned and gratefully received. They finished on 130/8 — ten runs short.

Milestones abounded: Piers's 35 eased him past Jon Harris into 17th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, Nigel Thirkell continues to lead our season's run charts on 464, and I'm pleased to say I'm currently topping the wicket-takers with 24.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved. A scrappy, nervy, quintessentially English afternoon's cricket — and we'll take it every time.

Sun 11 Jun 1995 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence & Highland Court CC · AwayformLWWWL

Sunday took us out to St Lawrence & Highland Court, and losing the toss meant we were straight into the field on a morning when I'd rather have had a bat first myself. Still, no complaints — the lads made the most of it. St Lawrence ground their way to 142/9 off 47 overs, with Guy Parker's 45 and an unbeaten 45 from Simon Luckhurst doing the heavy lifting, Ollie Hayward chipping in 20. David Else departed for a duck, and Ian Brattle was the pick of our attack with 3-33 and five miserly maidens — the sort of spell that makes the tea urn taste sweeter. Michael Beeney and Jon Harris weighed in with two apiece, and 142 always felt a target within reach.

So it proved, if not without alarm. We slipped to 4-1 early doors, the kind of start that has a captain reaching for the antacids, before Mike Caddick's unbeaten 38 and Michael Beeney's 32 steadied things beautifully, the pair adding 60 for the sixth wicket to drag us back into the contest. I did my bit with 28 down the order, though Piers McDonald and Ian Brattle both walked back for ducks of their own — the Duck Club ledger swelling nicely on both sides of the innings today.

In the end neither side could force it, and 136/7 from our 40.5 overs left honours shared. A draw, then, but an honest one — hard-fought, generously contested, and exactly the sort of afternoon that makes the long drive home feel worthwhile.

Sat 10 Jun 1995 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWLWWW

The coin, as is so often its custom with me, sided against us at Rumwood, and I duly sent us out to field on a morning that felt like it owed us better. Rumwood ground out 209/4 from their 46 overs, built on an opening stand of 63 and a second-wicket alliance of 92 that did most of the real damage. Peter Humphries was the chief architect, 95 not out and unshiftable, with useful support from Neville Smith (36) and Steve Martin (32). We did at least prise out Kevin Light for a golden duck, and among the wickets Michael Beeney (1-30), Matt Large (1-48, two tidy maidens) and Ian Brattle (1-51) all had their say, without ever quite turning the tide.

Chasing 210, we made a fist of it. Paul Gibson top-scored with 42, Mike Caddick chipped in 40 and David Castle 36, and an opening stand of 78 had us dreaming. But cricket, as ever, had other ideas — 155 for 5 became 160 for 8 in the time it takes to put the kettle on, with Beeney and Brattle both departing without troubling the scorer. All out for 169 in 43.2 overs. I currently lead our run charts for the season with 431, which was some consolation, though not much use to the lads chasing leather.

One bright note amid the gloom: Ian Brattle brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth more than any scoreline. As for the match itself, honesty compels me to call it exactly what it was — a defeat by 40 runs, heads up, and back to the nets.

Mon 05 Jun 1995 🧢 1st XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · AwayformWWLWW

From the captain's chair — Monday 5 June 1995. We travelled to Hunton Wanderers CC, lost the toss, and were invited to have a bowl first, which on a warm June morning I took as a compliment to our attack rather than a slight on our batting.

And how they repaid the faith. Hunton were bowled out for a modest 80 from just 15 overs, John Aldous doing the bulk of the damage with 39, but he found precious little support at the other end. Ian Brattle was the chief destroyer with 3-13, ably assisted by Matt Large's 2-18 and Jon Harris chipping in with 1-5. A tidy morning's work, and one that left us needing not very much at all.

Needing not very much, of course, is precisely when Linton Park likes to make life interesting. We slipped to 3-1 early, then compounded matters by sending Gavin Lee and Andy Munsey both back for ducks — not our finest passage of batting, and one that had me pacing rather more than the target warranted. But Clive Newman steadied the ship beautifully, batting through unbeaten for 41, and I was glad to lend a hand myself as we eased home at 84-4 with 6 wickets in the bag.

A thoroughly good day for the club: bowled them out cheaply, wobbled just enough to keep everyone honest, then got over the line in style. You could hardly ask for a better script.

Fri 02 Jun 1995 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWWWLW

Elected to bat on winning the toss at Rumwood, and for once my judgement was vindicated in full — 152/2 from our sixteen overs is the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it. Nigel Thirkell was in imperious touch, 83 not out and looking barely troubled by anything Rumwood could offer, with Mike Caddick playing the perfect foil on 47 not out. Not every ledger entry was so glowing, mind — poor Paul Gibson departed for a duck, and I understand the walk back was a long one. 🦆

In the field we had to work rather harder for it. Rumwood replied with 135/6 from their sixteen, Peter Humphries the chief nuisance with 36, well supported by C Keithson's 21 and Mark Styche's 20. Michael Beeney was pick of the attack with 2-40, keeping things tight when it mattered, while I chipped in with 1-31 and Ian Brattle picked up 1-37 to keep the pressure on throughout.

So it's a win by 17 runs, and a thoroughly satisfying one at that. Nigel continues to plunder bowlers across the county, now sitting atop the 1st XI run charts with 426 for the season, and I'll admit to a quiet satisfaction at leading the wicket charts with 20. A fine team performance, and one to build on. Onwards. 🏏

Tue 30 May 1995 🧢 1st XIv Offham CC · AwayformWWWWL

Under a bright Bank Holiday sky at Offham, I did at least get one thing right on Tuesday: winning the toss and sticking us in to bat. What followed was a proper old-fashioned battering. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the season, 98 not out and cruelly denied his century, while Piers McDonald (47 not out) and David Castle (43) queued up to take the shine off the ball. After an early hiccup — 1-1 inside the first over — Thirkell and his partner put on 82 to set the tone, and we finished on a mighty 197/2 from our fifteen. As for the captain's own contribution, the less said the better: a golden duck, out for nought without so much as a run to my name. Leadership by example, they say. Not today.

With 198 to chase, Offham never looked like troubling us. An early wicket with just 7 on the board set the nerves jangling in their camp, and though Trevor Wratten (24) and R. Woolley (20) tried to build something, the innings folded to 91/5. I managed to make amends with the ball at least, finding some rhythm to take 4-21, with Michael Beeney chipping in nicely alongside me on 1-21.

A word too for David Castle, who brought up 11,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth savouring long after this scorecard is forgotten. A win by 106 runs, then, built on Thirkell's brilliance and salvaged personally with the ball after a batting contribution best described as forgettable. Onwards we go.

Mon 29 May 1995 🧢 1st XIv XM XII Men · HomeformWWWWW

Monday 29 May 1995, and we played host under skies that promised more than the pitch ultimately delivered. Put in first, we shuffled to 184 all out from a marathon 69.2 overs, and it could have been considerably worse — we were tottering at 4 for 1 before Paul Brattle decided enough was enough and played the innings of the day, 67 not out, with Peter Whyte chipping in a handy 36 to give the total some respectability. I added 19 to the pile, which nudges me to fourth in this year's run charts on 245 — modest company for Brattle's effort. Mike Caddick and Dave Charlton, meanwhile, both collected ducks, and I shall say no more about that beyond noting the club gazette does love a "0" in print.

Defending 184 was always going to want something special from the bowlers, and for a while Rob Doick threatened to provide it, two tidy maidens among his figures of 1 for 40 — miserly stuff that at least kept the scoreboard honest for a spell, and enough to see him sit fifth in the wicket charts. But Alex Tait had other ideas, farming the strike to a majestic 109 not out, ably assisted by Brad McNee's unbeaten 61, and between them they cantered home in just 34 overs for the loss of a solitary wicket.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguing with the scoreboard. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there are worse ways to spend a Monday than watching a man make a hundred against you, even if I'd rather not make a habit of it.

Sun 28 May 1995 🧢 1st XIv LC Lenham CC · AwayformWWWWW

Nigel Thirkell writing to the gazette. The road to Lenham CC on Sunday, 28th May, and rather a good day out for once.

Winning the toss, I had few doubts about batting first on what looked a decent surface, though the loss of our first wicket for just five ran a small shiver through the deckchairs. No matter — Piers McDonald and I settled things with a stand of 102 for the third wicket that put the innings back on an even keel. I'll allow myself one mention of the fifty I brought up along the way, ending on 76, while Piers played his part handsomely with 66 of his own. Peter Whyte finished things off in fine style with an unbeaten 27, and 231/5 off our 46.4 overs looked a total worth defending on any Kent afternoon.

And defend it we did, emphatically. Lenham never got going — Mike Fraser departed without so much as troubling the scorers, and 7-1 had the home dressing room looking distinctly glum. Matt Large was the chief destroyer with 4-26, well backed by Dave Todd's 3-12 and Adrian Caddick's 2-24, while Alan Boyns bowled with the miserly discipline of a man begrudging every run, four maidens to his name. Simon Beaney's 22 was the only real resistance as Lenham folded for 87. Peter Whyte had a busier time behind the stumps than his batting suggested, 15 byes testament to a lively pitch rather than any want of effort.

Special mention, too, for Adrian Caddick reaching 50 career wickets — a landmark earned, not given.

A 144-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 27 May 1995 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWWW

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report — Saturday 27 May 1995, away to Bearsted CC

Lost the toss again — my luck with the coin remains as dependable as an English summer — and duly found ourselves in the field. Bearsted made themselves at home, ambling to 185 all out from their 46 overs, with Richard Luxton (34) leading the charge and Stephen Heap and Ian Sandwell (28 apiece) keeping the scoreboard ticking. Mercifully, Tim Lush departed for a duck at our hands, and the bowling did us proud throughout — Michael Beeney the pick with 3-25, Jon Harris and Ian Brattle chipping in with three apiece, and Harris tighter than a Sunday collection plate with four maidens thrown in. Not a run given away lightly indeed.

Chasing 186, we crept home at 186/8 from our 40, and what a knock it was built around. Paul Gibson, marking his 300th appearance in Linton colours with rather more than a token gesture, carried the innings to an unbeaten 121 — three figures, no less, from the man now sitting proudly atop the season's run charts with 351. I did my bit with a tidy 22 to keep him company, though the Duck Club secretary will have had a busy afternoon logging blobs for Piers McDonald and Matt Large.

Two wickets to spare, a century from our finest, and a milestone innings to remember it by — a very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 27 May 1995 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLDWDW

Saturday 27 May 1995, and Bearsted CC were our visitors under skies that, for once, behaved themselves. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first — a decision I shall claim full credit for, regardless of what the scorebook might otherwise suggest. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 93 not out and unlucky not to see three figures, while Stuart Cheesman's unbeaten 35 and Tim Thirkell's 33 gave the total real backbone — their third-wicket stand of 61 was the making of the innings. Poor Trevor Back, meanwhile, departed for a golden duck, though he would have his say later. We closed on a handsome 214 for 4 from our 46 overs.

Defending that kind of total ought to be the easy part, and so it very nearly proved. Andy Naish batted beautifully for his unbeaten 74, well supported by David Gibson's 29 in a second-wicket stand of 59, and for a while Bearsted looked capable of chasing us down. But Trevor Back atoned handsomely with 2 for 16, Paul Bowles and Richard Ellis chipped in either side of him, and I did my bit with three maidens, not a run escaping through my end lightly. Ian Lambert went back for nought, and Bearsted fell 54 runs short at 160 for 5.

Elsewhere, congratulations to Mike Elworthy, second in the seconds' run charts with 139, and Chris Tymms, fifth among their wicket-takers with three. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — onwards we go.

Sat 20 May 1995 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDWWWW

Saturday 20 May 1995 — the road took us to Headcorn, and my luck with the coin was as reliable as ever, which is to say non-existent. They won the toss, elected to bat, and I did my best to look unbothered while quietly resigning myself to a long afternoon in the field.

As it turned out, it wasn't such a long afternoon after all. Headcorn huffed and puffed to 115 all out in 41.4 overs, Andrew Fordham (25) and Matt Boatwright (23) the only ones to trouble the scorers, before a middle-order collapse from 103 for 7 saw them shed their last three wickets for a dozen runs — Alastair Lee, Neil Levett and Mark Jenkins all departing without scoring, much to their annoyance and our quiet delight. Matt Large was the chief architect of the carnage, 4 for 32 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that makes batsmen wish they'd stayed in the pavilion — with Jon Harris (3-21) and Ian Brattle (2-33) mopping up admirably.

Chasing 116, we made hardly a meal of it. An opening stand of 58 set the tone, and though wickets fell — two of them, to be precise, which even by our standards counts as tidy — we cruised home at 117 for 2 in 43.1 overs. Clive Newman (37) and Mike Caddick (25) played their parts, and I was happy to see us over the line unbeaten on 38.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and an eight-wicket win to make the drive home feel a good deal shorter than the drive there.

Sat 20 May 1995 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLLDWD

Saturday 20 May 1995, and Headcorn CC rolled into Linton Park under skies that, for once, seemed to be on our side. I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, sent us in to bat.

It was Stewart Morrison who set the tone with a rock-solid 42, and he had good company — Trevor Back chipped in with 34 and Mike Elworthy with 32, the openers putting on 65 before Headcorn found a way through. We motored along nicely until, in the manner of these things, the innings developed a sudden and inexplicable wobble, tumbling from 157-4 to 165-7 as if the pavilion tea urn had gone off like a starting pistol. Poor Steve Masters had the misfortune of a golden duck amid the carnage. Still, 194/8 from our 46 overs was a total with some substance to it.

Headcorn's reply never quite got airborne. Lance Grist played a fine lone hand with 63, well supported by P Hughes's 22, but the middle order caved from 117-6 to 124-9 in a hurry, and they were all out for 142. Dave Todd was superb with 3-29 — a spell that, pleasingly, also carried him past Brian Fuller into 25th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — backed up nicely by Stuart Cheesman and Darren Styles, while Chris Tymms strangled the scoring with six miserly maidens.

A 52-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sun 14 May 1995 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LK Leigh CC, Kent · AwayformLWWLL

Beaten by 5 runs at Leigh CC, but honestly, I've seen far worse Sunday afternoons in Kent. The toss went against us — never a good omen — and we were put into the field, watching Leigh's top order settle in far too comfortably. Matthew Topliss and Clive Gordine put on 53 for the first wicket before we finally got a look-in, and 163/7 from their forty overs felt like a score with a bit of bite. I can't take much credit for slowing things down early, though I did chip in with 1-18, while Matt Large bowled beautifully tight — three maidens and 1-24 — and Jon Harris weighed in with 1-37. Chris Van't Hoff, mercifully, didn't trouble the scorers at all.

Chasing 164, we stumbled to 7-1 almost before anyone had found their guard, and for a while it looked grim. Enter Clive Newman, calm as you like, compiling a lovely unbeaten 59 that held the whole innings together, well supported by Rob Doick (21) and Peter Whyte (20). Mike Caddick and Jon Harris both made the long walk back for ducks, joining the club's less illustrious ledger, and we finished five runs shy at 158/9.

A cruel margin, and one that will sting more on the drive home than it should. But there was genuine substance in that chase, and Newman's innings alone is worth building on. We'll dust ourselves off, have a word about those early wickets, and come back sharper next week.

Sat 13 May 1995 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWDWWW

It was Rumwood CC at home, 13 May, and I lost the toss as reliably as ever — no choice but to put the pads away and stick us in the field. Rumwood made themselves comfortable at 190/3 off 45.5, though there was a flicker of hope when they stumbled to 6-1 early on. That flicker didn't last: Neville Smith and A Perks put on 152 for the third wicket, Smith cruising to 83 and Perks unbeaten on a well-made 77, and by the end of it our bowling figures were reading like a cautionary tale. Credit where due, though — Ian Brattle kept plugging away for 2-18, and Matt Large did the unglamorous graft, two maidens and 1-23, the kind of spell that doesn't win man of the match but wins matches all the same.

Chasing 191, we set off like the house was on fire — 72 for the first wicket before anyone so much as looked troubled. Paul Gibson led from the front with a fine 62, Mike Caddick chipped in a tidy 53, and David Castle's 28 kept the scoreboard honest. I contributed a modest 16, which in this company counted as a supporting role rather than a headline. Ten byes did rather give the game away for poor Clive Newman behind the stumps — a testing afternoon for him, though he remains our leading run-scorer this season with 231, and Matt Large tops the wicket charts with 7.

We got home by 5 wickets. A good day for the club, and — dare I say it — a rather satisfying one to write up.

Sat 13 May 1995 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformLLLDW

We travelled to Rumwood on a bright Saturday, and the coin - for once - obliged me, so I had no hesitation putting us in. Tim Thirkell led the way with a fine 45, Trevor Back weighed in with 44, and Roly Edwards saw us home unbeaten on 29, the pair sharing a sturdy 68 for the third wicket to give the innings its backbone. 187/6 from our 48 overs felt like a total with enough about it to trouble anyone, and I'll admit my own contribution of 19 was rather more agricultural than artistic, but every run counts on a slow Rumwood pitch.

With ball in hand the lads were tidy without being ruthless. Darren Styles was the pick of the attack, prising out three for 25, with Chris Tymms and Adrian Caddick chipping in with a wicket apiece - Caddick, true to form, bowling as though overs were rationed, four maidens and just 37 conceded. But John Burbridge had other ideas, batting through unbeaten on 38 and finding an able ally in Light for a stand of 53 that gradually took the sting out of our efforts. They closed on 117/5 from 43, short of our total but very much still in it.

So honours were shared, neither side quite able to land the decisive blow. Frustrating for a captain who fancied his side's chances at tea, but a fair result all told - and Trevor Back and Darren Styles both continue to lead the way in the season's run and wicket charts, which is some consolation as we pack the kit bags for home.

Sun 07 May 1995 🧢 1st XIv Chestfield CC · AwayformLWDWW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 07 May 1995. We travelled to Chestfield CC on a day when losing the toss and being asked to chase felt, at the time, like the natural order of village cricket reasserting itself.

In the field we were the tighter side by a distance. Chestfield laboured to 129 all out in 55.3 overs, Eddie Roberts top-scoring with 28 and Brian Melliard Sr chipping in 21, but nothing came easily against us. Jon Harris was magnificent, 3-17 with five maidens that strangled the innings at both ends, and he had fine company in Michael Beeney (3-27) and Alan Boyns (2-18). Not a run given away lightly, as they say.

With the target set, Piers McDonald and Mike Caddick simply took the game away from them, the openers putting on a serene 100 before the first wicket fell — McDonald composing a fine 59, Caddick unbeaten on 55, and we cantered home at 133/3 in 29.4 overs. Poor Matt Large contributed his golden nothing, though with the pair in that mood it barely registered.

Fitting milestones too: McDonald's 59 nudges him past Keith Hatcher into 18th on the club's all-time run charts, and Boyns's brace lifts him past Dick Langridge into 17th among the wicket-takers. Caddick now sits 2nd in this season's run charts, Large still tops the wickets despite his duck.

A fine win by 7 wickets. Onwards.

Sat 06 May 1995 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformLLWDW

Nigel Thirkell's Captain's Log, 6th May 1995. We lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains as reliable as an English summer — and were put into the field against Bidborough. M King gave us an early lesson in application, compiling a fine 58, with Peter K Eames chipping in a watchful 36, and for a while it looked as though we might be chasing something rather large. But cricket, like the club tea urn, has a habit of turning at the most opportune moment. Once we found a way through, the innings fell apart in glorious fashion — 49 for 1 became 57 for 4 in the blink of an eye, with P Wood, Ian Moore and J Codd all trudging back without so much as a run to their names. Matt Large was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 5 for 32 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, while I did my bit with 2 for 5 and Paul Bowles picked up 1 for 26. Bidborough were bowled out for 174 in 46.5 overs — a total that flattered them not at all.

With the bat, Mike Caddick played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 70 that anchored us throughout, and I was glad to lend a hand with 42 of my own, adding 83 for the second wicket to set things beyond doubt. Clive Newman's tidy 22 rounded things off nicely as we cruised to 177 for 3 in 35.1 overs. Fitting, too, that Mike should bring up 2,000 runs for the club and Matt his 800th wicket on the same golden afternoon. A seven-wicket win, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying way to spend a Saturday.

Sat 06 May 1995 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformWLLLD

Won the toss on a bright May Saturday down at Horsmonden and had no hesitation sticking us in first — always fancy our chances of setting something for the lads to bowl at. Lost an early one with the board still reading nought, which had me chewing my nails on the boundary, but Mike Elworthy and Trevor Back put that right in some style, adding 137 for the third wicket, Elworthy motoring to 77 and Back to 65. I chipped in with 36 myself before the middle order rather lost the plot — 151 for 3 became 161 for 6 quicker than you could pour a tea — but the tail rallied gamely, cobbling together a final 60 to leave the Duck Club regretting two entries, Keith Hatcher and Roly Edwards both walking back for nought. All told, 221 for 7 off 41.3 overs — a total I was rather pleased with by the close of our innings.

Horsmonden's reply never quite got the legs it needed. Mark Flemington's 52 and Stephen Brown's 42 built a handy 72-run stand for the second wicket, but once that broke the innings folded in a hurry, 110 for 3 crumbling to 122 for 6 and all out for 145. Dave Todd led the attack beautifully with 3 for 59, Keith Hatcher and Daniel Thirkell chipped in with two apiece, and Michael Beeney strangled the scoring with three tidy maidens.

A 76-run win, and a thoroughly good day out for the club.

Mon 01 May 1995 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformWLLWD

A cracking village-cricket win, at 249/3 and a well-earned 85-run victory.

Skipper's Log, Monday 1 May 1995 — Maidstone Dissidents CC at home, and for once the coin actually did what I asked of it. Winning the toss, I had precisely one thought in my head, which was to bat first and worry about the consequences later. As selectorial genius goes, it turned out rather well: Clive Newman and I put on 132 for the first wicket before anyone troubled us, and by the close of our 44 overs we'd racked up a handsome 249 for 3. Clive made a well-crafted 73, I chipped in with 72 of my own — thoroughly satisfying, and not a word more about it — while Paul Gibson's brisk 53 rounded things off nicely. Not a bad afternoon's work for a side that generally treats 200 as a distant rumour.

Defending it should have been the hard part, but the Dissidents obliged us by finding their own way to make life difficult for themselves. Steve Heap battled to 43 and Ian Sandwell added 35, with a stand of 55 for the second wicket the only real resistance, but from 93 for 3 they slid to 108 for 6 and never recovered, eventually bowled out for 164. Piers McDonald did the heavy lifting with 3 for 37, Rob Doick was maddeningly economical with five maidens on his way to 2 for 11, and Paul Bowles took 2 for 35 for good measure. Steve Manser and Kevan Hodges both departed without troubling the scorers.

An 85-run win, then, and thoroughly deserved. Onwards we go.

Sun 30 Apr 1995 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformLWLLW

Sunday 30 April brought Sheldwich CC to Linton Park, and having won the toss I fancied a look at that pitch and stuck us in. Wisest call I've made all season. Two down on the board and I was already composing my apology to the tea ladies, but Paul Gibson and Clive Newman had other ideas, stitching together 174 for the third wicket in the sort of partnership that makes a captain look far cleverer than he has any right to. Gibson farmed the strike beautifully for a majestic 104, Newman wasn't far behind with 84, and Peter Whyte's unbeaten 20 rounded us off nicely at 252/5 from our 48 overs.

Defending that total, Sheldwich never quite got away from us, though Graham Carter's 42 and a stubborn 52-run stand for the seventh wicket kept us honest deep into the innings. Rob Doick was the pick of the attack by a distance — three wickets, five maidens, miserly enough to make you wonder if he'd brought his own tea rather than drink ours — while Piers McDonald and Stuart Cheesman chipped in with two apiece. Sam Hill departed without troubling the scorers, which I'm reliably informed is what that little duck symbol means.

Eight byes did rather give the game away behind the stumps, and I suspect Peter Whyte will be finding leather in odd places for a week. In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force it home — which, given the way the afternoon had ebbed and flowed, felt about right. A draw, but a thoroughly good one.

Sat 29 Apr 1995 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformWLWLL

Lost the toss again on Saturday — Penshurst Park duly obliged us by choosing to bat, which by now feels less like misfortune and more like tradition round these parts. They ground their way to 168 for 6 off their 43 overs, with Ncholson looking thoroughly untroubled on his way to an unbeaten 55, and May (42) and Simon Leegood (31) doing enough to keep things ticking along nicely for them, their fifth-wicket pair putting on 74 before we finally prised them apart. Credit where it's due: Paul Gibson bowled with real purpose for 2 for 44, Jon Harris chipped away for 1 for 11, and Ian Brattle was miserly as ever, tucking away three maidens en route to 1 for 22 — a spell that, we're reliably informed, has now nudged him past Trevor Back and into 12th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list. Quietly historic stuff, delivered with his customary lack of fuss.

Chasing 169, we made rather harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, but got there with four wickets and a few overs to spare on 169 for 6. Mike Caddick set the tone with a fine 40, Clive Newman finished unbeaten on 37, and I added 32 in a second-wicket stand of 76 that really was the making of the innings.

A fine win, all told, and just the sort of afternoon that makes the drive home feel considerably shorter than the drive there. Onwards.

Sat 29 Apr 1995 🧢 2nd XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformDWLLL

I called correctly at Yalding and never doubted the decision — batting first on a good April morning always feels like the right call, right up until it doesn't. We laboured to 152/9 from our 45 overs, rescued in large part by Tim Thirkell, who cruised to a fine 54 and gave the innings a spine it badly needed. Dave Todd chipped in with 27 and I managed 25 myself, and the two of us helped Tim add a really valuable 82 for the fifth wicket. Then, as so often happens in this fixture list, the tail went into freefall — 139 for 5 became 146 for 8 almost before anyone had sat back down, and poor Don Dansie contributed his golden duck to proceedings, presumably muttering all the way back to the pavilion.

Defending 152 always demands early luck, and Yalding gave themselves every chance through Kevin Shrimpton's 42 and Iain Cardew's 41, the pair putting on 79 for the second wicket that threatened to bat us out of it entirely. But cricket has a habit of turning, and 96 for 2 became 101 for 5 in a hurry as Don, having made amends emphatically with the ball, ran through them for 4/16, well supported by Darren Styles and Michael Beeney. Roly Edwards had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes testament to a tricky pitch rather than tired hands.

In the end honours were shared, and on a day when both sides threatened to win and neither quite managed it, a draw felt like the only fair verdict — and, frankly, the only one Yalding's tea hut deserved after that.