🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 28 Sep 1996 🧢 2nd XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformDWWWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 28 September 1996

Won the toss against Linton Park and didn't so much choose to bat as feel the sun on my face and decide the decision had already made itself. Batting first, on a day like that, felt less like tactics and more like manners.

And how the lads repaid the faith. Stuart Cheesman cruised past his fifty and on to 56, batting with the unhurried confidence of a man who knows the tea urn will still be warm whenever he gets round to finishing. Dave Todd chipped in a brisk 48 and Richard Piper 36, the pair of them stacking bricks while Cheesman laid the foundations. I managed 27 myself, more workmanlike than watchable, but every run counts when you're building something worth defending. All told we posted 218 for 4 off our 37, a total with a bit of swagger to it.

Elsewhere in the club almanac, Clive Newman continues his quiet march up the 1996 First XI run charts, now sitting fourth with 778 for the season, while Trevor Back holds fourth in the Second XI standings on 321 — good men both, doing good work while the rest of us grab the headlines.

We closed it out by 5 wickets, two points banked and thoroughly deserved. A proper afternoon's cricket, capped off in the manner every captain dreams of and precious few actually get: comfortably, cheerfully, and with enough left over for a second slice of cake.

Wed 25 Sep 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv P Penshurst · HomeformDDDWW

Wednesday last, we welcomed Penshurst to the ground, took first use of the ball, and asked them to bat under skies that behaved themselves for once. They compiled a respectable 185 for 6 from their 45 overs, built chiefly around H. Zaltzman's well-made 57, with N. Keest's 30 and D. Smith's unbeaten 20 filling in the gaps around him. Darren Styles was pick of the attack with three for 26, while Stuart Cheesman chipped in with 2-12 and Trevor Back bowled with real discipline for 1-7, three maidens among them — not a run given away lightly.

In reply, the lads made light work of the target, racing to 189 for 3 in just 26 overs. Peter Whyte was in imperious touch with 86, well supported by Mike Elworthy's fine 67, and I chipped in with 16 of my own down the order. Peter did have a trickier afternoon of it behind the stumps, with 30 byes slipping past for the purists among you to wince at, but nobody was minded to hold that against him after an innings like his.

There was cause for wider celebration too. Elworthy's 67 eased him past Cliff Anscombe into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while David Castle continues to sit 2nd in this season's Midweek XI run charts on 138 and Stuart Cheesman 3rd in the wicket charts with 9. A fine win by 7 wickets, then, and a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work all round.

Sun 22 Sep 1996 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDDLLL

Sunday saw Anchorians visit us, and with the coin landing kindly I had few doubts about batting first on what looked a decent surface. David Castle set about proving me right with a classy 55, and Clive Newman kept the scoreboard humming with 49 of his own, the pair doing the heavy lifting before I chipped in with an unbeaten 24 to help us to a respectable 175/5 from our 40 overs. Tea was taken in reasonably good spirits, all things considered.

Defending it proved another matter entirely. Darren Styles gave us hope with a lively 2-18, and Fred Cheesman and Michael Beeney chipped in with a wicket apiece, Beeney bowling two tidy maidens into the bargain — but the Anchorians top order simply refused to read the script. M Claydon ground out an unbeaten 58 and Eddie Stanford cruised past his own fifty with 55, and between them they eased the visitors home on 178/4 with an over to spare. Chasing leather in the September sun rather took the shine off the day.

So it's six wickets to Anchorians, and a case of heads up and back to the nets for the lot of us. Small mercies: David Castle continues to lead the 1st XI run charts for the season with 1046 to his name, and Darren Styles sits third in the wicket-takers with 24 — proof, if any were needed, that not everything about the summer has gone against us. Onwards.

Sat 21 Sep 1996 🧢 2nd XIv HC Higham & Mockbeggar CC · AwayformWDWWW

Saturday last took us out to Higham & Mockbeggar, and the coin, as is customary these days, let us down straight away — they won the toss and elected to bat, leaving us to trot out into the field wondering whether our knees would hold up for forty-odd overs.

Hold up they did, more or less. Nick Shackleton gave us a proper going-over, farming the strike to 115 not out, with N Scudder chipping in a handsome 53 and Colin Robson adding 26 for good measure. 218/3 from their 49 overs felt like rather a lot to chase, though there was a small mercy when K Short trudged off for a duck. Adrian Caddick did the honest yeoman's work, 2-53 with a couple of maidens thrown in to keep the scoring at least honest, and Carl Davis picked up a wicket too.

Chasing 219 sounds like the sort of target that ends in tea and quiet recrimination, but Tim Thirkell had other ideas, batting through for a glorious 111 not out, with Kevin Shrimpton's fifty (51) and Dave Todd's brisk 23 doing sterling support work. We got there in 41.1 overs with six wickets and, remarkably, some daylight to spare.

Thirkell now sits proudly atop the 2nd XI's season run-charts with 544 — the man is quite simply in irresistible form, and the rest of us are content to bask in his shadow. A fine win by 6 wickets, then, and one to savour on the drive home. Onwards.

Sat 21 Sep 1996 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · HomeformLDDLL

Saturday last, we welcomed Hastings & St Leonards Priory to Linton Park, and I duly lost the toss — Which meant we were put into the field first, standard fare for a captain who apparently cannot win a coin flip to save his life. Hastings ground out 218 for 6 from their forty overs, built chiefly on N Chaplin's fine 82, with M Broadmore's 45 and an unbeaten 25 from B Phillips filling out the total nicely for them and rather less nicely for us. Darren Styles was our pick of the bowlers with 2 for 50, while Stuart Cheesman and Michael Beeney chipped in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 219, I was pleased to lead from the front, top-scoring with 73, and found good company in Clive Newman's 48 and Piers McDonald's 25. We were motoring nicely for a while, but two ducks — Keith Hatcher and Stuart Cheesman both suffering the walk of shame — undid our momentum, and we closed on 191 for 8, twenty-seven runs shy. Clive also had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, coughing up eight byes, though I shan't hold it against him; wicketkeeping in this county is a thankless trade.

Small consolations: I find myself third in this season's run charts with 855, while Matt Large continues to run away with the wickets tally on 46. Beaten, then, but not disgraced — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 15 Sep 1996 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformLLDDL

Another Sunday, another home fixture, and another lesson in why cricket is less a sport than a slow-motion morality play. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook eventually suggested. Rob Doick played the innings of the day, a handsome 88 that carried us for long stretches, with Stuart Cheesman chipping in a tidy 21 alongside him. Elsewhere the effort was rather more agricultural — 191 all out in 46.4 overs tells its own tale, and the Duck Club welcomed two new members in Peter Whyte and Richard Ellis, both undertaking that familiar walk of shame for a nought apiece. 🦆

With the ball, we set about defending it with more hope than method. Darren Styles was excellent, leading the attack with 2-14, and I was pleased enough with my own afternoon's work — 2-42 including a couple of maidens, not a run given away lightly. Piers McDonald chipped in with 1-19 for good support. But A Bray had other ideas, cruising past his fifty on the way to exactly that, well supported by J- Robertson's 40 and T Leach's 28, and they closed on 192/7 from 39 overs to see themselves home.

Beaten by three wickets, then — a match we should have squeezed rather harder. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 14 Sep 1996 🧢 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · AwayformWLLDD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 14 September 1996

Winning the toss at Clarion CC, I never wavered: on a day like this, you bat. What followed was 134 all out from 43.2 overs — a total that flattered to deceive, propped up by Daniel Thirkell's fine 45 and David Castle's steady 23, with a generous 29 extras doing more for us than three of our top order combined. Stuart Cheesman, Richard Ellis and yours truly all trudged the walk of shame for ducks, and I'll own mine plainly: a captain ought to lead by example, and on this occasion I led only by embarrassment.

Redemption, of a sort, came with the ball. Clarion pushed hard for the target, Steve Harris and S Cox putting on the bulk of the running with 48 and 37 respectively, but we kept chipping away — Richard Hilson, M Jeffrey and Andy Driver back in the hutch without scoring, and Stuart Cheesman among the wickets too with 2 for 10. For my part, I finally found some rhythm, finishing with 6 for 47 and a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure — not a golden day with the bat, but a golden one with the ball.

In the end it wasn't quite enough, Clarion edging home by a single wicket at 135 for 9. Cruel margins, cricket. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — there's a season run chart to keep David Castle on top of, and a wicket column to keep building.

Sat 14 Sep 1996 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · HomeformDWDWW

Alan Boyns here, and what a Saturday it turned out to be. Betsham CC arrived on the 14th, I called wrong at the toss, and duly found myself leading the lads into the field rather than padding up — the traditional captain's punishment.

Roy Wilkinson had other ideas about a quiet afternoon, ghosting to a magnificent 119 while Jason Hardy (36) and an unbeaten Steve Whitfield (36) filled in around him, the visitors closing on a stiff 214/3 from their 46.3 overs. I managed to keep things tidy with the ball, four maidens and 1-45 the pick of a hard-working attack, with Adrian Caddick chipping in for 1-53 — though "pick of the bowlers" felt a modest crown on a day when Wilkinson simply had the answer to everything we tried.

Chasing 215 is no picnic on a club afternoon, but Roly Edwards played beautifully for 63, well supported by Mike Elworthy's 52, and Adrian Robinson's brisk 26 kept the required rate honest. Poor Iain Cardew departed for a duck — these things happen to the best of us — but with the extras column doing sterling work to the tune of 26, we got home on 215/6 from 38 overs.

A three-wicket win, then, snatched rather than strolled, and a timely reminder that Tim Thirkell continues to lead our run charts while I potter along third in the wickets column. Onwards indeed — the tea urn has rarely been better earned.

Wed 11 Sep 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDDDDW

Wednesday the eleventh of September brought Lord Cornwallis XI to our ground, and won the toss I did — elected to bat, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than reckless. We compiled 188 for 8 from our 39 overs, built on a fine half-century from Nigel Thirkell, 67 well-constructed runs, with Paul Gibson's 27 and Rob Doick's 26 adding proper substance around him. Not every contribution sparkled — poor Mike Elworthy departed for a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that draws sympathetic applause and not much else.

Defending the total, we set about our work with the ball, and I'm delighted to report Michael Beeney ran thoroughly riot, plundering 6 for 19 with five maidens thrown in for good miserly measure — bowling of real discipline. Trevor Back chipped in with 2 for 13 and Piers McDonald with 1 for 31, while at the other end M- Oldacre and Jas Wilson both trudged back without troubling the scorers. The visitors fought hard through S- Ives, 72 hardly earned, ably supported by P- Barnett's 27 and C- Cornwallis's 26, but 170 all out from 45.1 overs left them short.

We got over the line by 18 runs, and with Rob Doick now heading our run charts on 200 and I leading the wickets column with 11, the season has a pleasing shape to it. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 08 Sep 1996 🧢 1st XIv SX Sunday Times XI · HomeformDWLLD

Sunday the 8th of September found us facing visitors on a pitch that, as so often at this stage of the season, seemed to favour bat over ball. I won the toss and, with more optimism than science, put us in.

It proved the right call, more or less. Darren Styles played the innings of the day, sailing past his fifty to 68, while Clive Newman chipped in an unbeaten 42 and Dave Charlton a tidy 25. A generous 29 extras rounded things out nicely, and we closed on 229 for 7 from our 38.1 overs — a total that felt, at tea, like more than enough.

The opposition had other ideas. P. Whyte set about our attack with a fine 98, well backed up by D. Mills' 27, and for a good while it looked as though our runs might not be safe. Adrian Caddick was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 51, Darren Styles chipped in again with 2 for 19 and a couple of miserly maidens, and I managed 1 for 38 for my own modest contribution. Poor Clive Newman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 16 byes leaking through, though nobody begrudged him after his batting exertions. The visitors finished on 208 for 8 from 42 overs.

So honours shared, and a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Frustrating in the moment, perhaps, but with Styles and Newman both prospering in the season's charts, there's more than enough to be cheerful about.

Sat 07 Sep 1996 🧢 2nd XIv BC Borden CC · HomeformWDWDW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 7th September 1996. Borden CC at home, and I lost the toss again — my coin-calling remains, statistically, the weakest part of my captaincy. They had first use of the bat and settled in as if they meant to stay all afternoon.

To be fair to the lads, we dragged them out for 199 in 48.4 overs, which on a good pitch felt like a job well done. Steve Bicker's fifty (53) was the innings' backbone, with Paul Taylor (44) and Roger Truelove (27) filling in nicely round him — though we can console ourselves that John Truelove went back for a duck, which is the sort of small mercy a captain clings to. Darren Styles bowled beautifully for 3-32, Dave Todd chipped in with 2-31, and I managed 2-39 with four maidens thrown in, which I'm rather pleased with even if I say so myself.

Chasing 200 is never a formality, but Mike Elworthy's fifty (53) set the tone, and with Trevor Back (44) and Tim Thirkell (33) keeping the scoreboard honest, we eased home at 202/6 in 36.5 overs — four wickets and, more importantly, a Saturday saved. Tim Thirkell continues to lead the 2nd XI run charts this season with 418, and Dave Todd sits second in the wickets column with 22 — form that's rather hard to argue with.

A good day for the club, all told: tea was earned, the coin toss forgiven, and Borden sent home to reflect on what might have been.

Sat 07 Sep 1996 🧢 1st XIv BK Beverley CC, Kent · HomeformLDWLL

Saturday 07 September 1996, and Beverley CC came down to Linton Park with the sun out and, as it turned out, rather more runs than we could chase down. I lost the toss – no great surprise there, I lose most of them – and we were put into the field, which on a benign track felt like the harder end of the deal from the off.

K Anson made sure of that with a magnificent 124, the sort of innings that makes a captain rearrange his field more in hope than expectation, well supported by P Begg's polished 72 and M Slaughter's unbeaten 29 to close the innings out at 257/3 from their 40.4 overs. Rob Doick toiled manfully for his 2-72, and Piers McDonald chipped in usefully with 1-17, but truth be told the bat was on top all afternoon and we were grateful for tea.

Chasing 258 was always going to be a stretch, though the lads had a proper go at it. Mike Caddick led the way with a fine 66 – he continues to make the rest of us look faintly ordinary, sitting atop the 1996 run charts with 968 for the season – and I was rather pleased to get among the runs myself with 58, leading from the front for once rather than merely gesturing from mid-off. We closed on 205/8 from our 46, well short but not disgraced.

Honours shared, then – a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Not the eight points, but on this evidence a fair result, and a pleasant enough way to spend a September Saturday.

Sun 01 Sep 1996 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformDDLLW

Beacon CC, away, September the first — never an easy fixture on their patch, and never one I'd have swapped for a lazy Sunday in the garden. I called it right at the toss and, with the sun out and the outfield fast, batting first was hardly a decision at all. Michael Beeney set the tone with a crisp 73, and once David Castle and Rob Doick both cantered past their fifties (55 apiece, no less), we were sitting pretty on 283/7 from our 45. A total that felt less like a total and more like a small mountain range for Beacon to climb.

And climb it they did not. Larry Martin battled to 29 and Kevin Thomas chipped in 25, but our attack simply would not be denied — Daniel Thirkell steamed through with 3-2 to lead the charge, Richard Piper and Mike Elworthy mopped up two apiece, and Michael Beeney, not content with his runs, bowled four maidens as if bowling were merely his hobby and batting his profession. Beacon were bowled out for 138 in 33.1 overs, Christopher Fine and Steve Proctor both departing without troubling the scorers.

A special word, too, for Rob Doick, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth savouring over a pint or three, and rightly toasted alongside his season-topping 144 runs in the Tour XI charts.

We ran out winners by a rather emphatic 145 runs. A fine team performance, a proud individual milestone, and — dare I say it — a very good day indeed for Linton Park.

Sat 31 Aug 1996 🧢 2nd XIv Sibton Park CC · AwayformWWDWD

Here's the match report:

The road to Sibton Park is never one I mind, even when the coin lets me down and we're asked to bowl first, and this time it repaid us handsomely. They laboured to 138 all out from their 55 overs, with C. Clarke the mainstay on 40, well supported by T. Kingston's 30 and F. Hodgkiss's 23, while at the other end R. Timms and A. Tutton both trudged off for ducks. The story of the innings, though, was Darren Styles, who span a web through their order for a barely believable 7-17. Trevor Back chipped away at the other end for 2-16, seven of his overs maidens, miserly enough to strangle any momentum, with Paul Bowles picking up 1-48 for good measure.

Chasing 139, we made harder work of it than the bowling deserved, reaching our target for the loss of 5 wickets with four overs unused. Paul Davey played the innings of the day, a fine 55, and I was glad to lend a hand with 46 of my own alongside him. Paul Bowles's golden duck was the only real hiccup, and Roly Edwards had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 9 byes for his trouble.

All told, a five-wicket win and a good day for the club. Darren Styles's spell will live long in the memory, and with 385 runs to my name this season I've no complaints about how the summer is shaping up.

Thu 29 Aug 1996 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformTDDLL

Lost the toss at Falmouth on Thursday and duly volunteered to bowl first, which felt like sound tactics right up until G Floydd decided to bat as though he'd personally been offended by our attack, motoring to an unbeaten 127 as Falmouth closed on a hefty 182/4 from their 46 overs. Credit where due, though — Matt Large bowled beautifully for his 2-9, seven of his overs going for nothing at all, while Michael Beeney (1-14) and Adrian Caddick (1-28) chipped away either end of the carnage. Not a total we relished chasing, but not an execution to be ashamed of either.

Set 183 to win, we made surprisingly serene work of it, closing on 183/5 with 35.3 overs used. Rob Doick led the charge with a well-made 64, and Nigel Thirkell wasn't far behind with a lovely 63 of his own — the pair doing most of the heavy lifting while the rest of us tried to look useful. I added a watchful 19 down the order, which I shall claim as a captain's innings. Less watchful was Daniel Thirkell, who departed for a duck and now joins the Duck Club ledger in perpetuity. David Castle had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking 17 byes, though nobody's holding it against him.

A special mention, too, for Stuart Cheesman, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark worth more than any scorecard. We got over the line by five wickets in the end. A good day for the club, and, I'll admit, a lucky one for the captain.

Wed 28 Aug 1996 🧢 Tour XIv SM 1st Innings Mullion · AwayformWTDDL

Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'll die on that hill regardless of what follows. We limped to 139 all out from 42 overs, a total that owed rather more to our extras column (38, a fine team effort in generosity) than to any great batting. I top-scored with 26, which tells its own story about the rest of the order, and poor Daniel Thirkell endured a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that makes for a long walk back and an even longer wait for the tea urn.

Defending 139 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. They reached 142 for 7 in 41.4 overs, with C. Bostock unbeaten on 36 and C. Williams chipping in with 30 to see them home. I can't claim we didn't scrap — 3 for 21 with 4 maidens kept things tight at my end, and Stuart Cheesman (2-22) and Jon Harris (1-24) did their bit too — but it wasn't quite enough. Mike Elworthy had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes slipping through like eels, which can't have helped.

Not our day, then — beaten by an innings and 2 runs, and there's no dressing that up. Still, I lead the season's run and wicket charts, for what small comfort that's worth. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Mon 26 Aug 1996 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWLDWL

From the captain's chair — Monday 26 August 1996, and we made the trip to Bearsted CC for what turned into a properly chastening day out.

Batting first, we compiled 163 all out from 47.3 overs, the innings built around a fine 41 from Piers McDonald and 21 from Daniel Thirkell, the pair adding a valuable 53 for the fourth wicket. I chipped in with 38 myself, and later took 1-18 with the ball, so at least someone was consistent. It wasn't all sweetness and light, mind: from a healthy 146-6 we somehow contrived to shed three wickets for next to nothing, subsiding to 158-9 before the innings mercifully closed, and poor Ollie Priestly will want to forget his duck in a hurry.

Bearsted, however, made light work of the target, cruising to 164-2 in just 38.3 overs. Nigel Baker was the chief tormentor, unbeaten on a superb 83, well supported by David Parkes (29) and Stephen Pearce (20), the pair putting on a match-defining 82 for the second wicket. Michael Beeney bowled beautifully in a losing cause — 1-31 with five miserly maidens — while Piers McDonald had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes slipping through his gloves. Small consolations amid the gloom: Piers brought up 5,000 career runs for the club, and Michael his 100th career wicket. David Castle still leads our 1996 run charts with 952, and Beeney sits third in the wickets with 22.

Eight wickets down, and no arguing with it. Heads up, back to the nets — there's cricket yet to be played this summer.

Sat 24 Aug 1996 🧢 2nd XIv M Marden · AwayformLWWDW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 24 August 1996, away at Marden.

Winning the toss, I did what any captain raised on tea and optimism does: put us in and hoped for the best. What followed was, in truth, a bit of a wobble. We limped to 112/9 from our 46 overs, with three ducks on the card (Stewart Morrison, Trevor Back and Stuart Cheesman all back in the pavilion before they'd troubled the scorers) reminding us that not every innings can be a classic. Thank heavens, then, for Ron McCormick, unbeaten on 46 and playing the innings of a man who'd clearly had his Weetabix, with Keith Hatcher (25) and myself (24) doing what we could to give the total a bit of respectability.

If the batting was a scratchy affair, the bowling was where we found our swagger. Marden were reduced to a modest 20/3 from 14.4 overs, Chris Tymms doing the real damage with 2-8, while I settled into a more parsimonious groove, sending down four maidens and generally making life miserable for anyone trying to score off me.

A personal note for the scrapbook: I brought up 2,000 career runs for the club along the way — the sort of milestone that makes the aching knees feel almost worthwhile.

In the end, honours were shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue. Not a classic, but a fair reflection of two sides refusing to give an inch — and frankly, on a day when our batting misbehaved as badly as ours did, I'll happily settle for a share of the spoils.

Sun 18 Aug 1996 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformDWLDW

Sunday 18 August 1996, and a decent gathering turned out at home to watch us take on our visitors. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in asking the lads to bat first — the right call, I felt, and so it proved.

David Castle set the tone with a fine 72, and Clive Newman kept him company with 69, sailing well past his own half-century — better still, that innings carried him past 4,000 career runs for the club, a landmark very much worth raising a glass to. Dave Charlton chipped in with a useful 32, though poor Richard Ellis will want to forget his golden duck in a hurry. Thirty-three extras rounded out a healthy 236 for 4 from our 42 overs.

Defending that total, I had a happy afternoon with the ball, picking up 3 for 37, with good support from Stuart Cheesman (2-61) and Alan Boyns (1-15) — and I added 27 with the bat besides. But Henson's unbeaten 60 and Haywood's 55 did the bulk of the damage, backed up by Robins' 32, though Dickens departed for nought at our hands. Fourteen byes rather gave away what sort of afternoon it was for Jim Hall behind the stumps.

In the end they got home at 240 for 7 with two overs unused, and we fell three wickets short. Not our day, all told — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 17 Aug 1996 🧢 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformLDWLD

Saturday 17 August 1996, Harrietsham CC at home, and I won the toss with the sort of confidence that usually precedes disaster. I elected to bat, and for once the cricketing gods smiled on me rather than sniggering behind their hands. We were bowled out for 243 in 45.3 overs, the innings built on a magnificent hundred from Dave Charlton — 120 of pure class — with David Castle chipping in a tidy 40 and myself contributing 44, mostly by looking determined and occasionally middling one.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Harrietsham dug in and reached 215 for 9 off their 44, with Micky Tong compiling a fine 87 that had us checking the scorebook rather more often than we'd have liked, well supported by Dave Brooks (27) and John Prosser (24). But Darren Styles turned in a wonderful spell of spin, tying them in knots for 5 for 65, and I managed to get among the wickets myself with 3 for 76 — three maidens in there too, which felt like a minor miracle given how the ball was disappearing to the boundary for everyone else. Michael Massey, for what it's worth, departed for a duck at our hands, which cheered us up no end.

A fine win by 28 runs, then, earned the hard way — one big score and a lot of scrapping in the field. The lads can be proud of that one. Onwards to the next.

Sat 17 Aug 1996 🧢 2nd XIv S Shoreham · AwayformWLWWD

Saturday last took us down to Shoreham, and for once the toss actually went my way, which these days feels like an achievement in itself. I had no hesitation in batting first, though 134/9 from 43.5 overs was more grind than glory, salvaged largely by Adrian Caddick, unbeaten on 21 while wickets fell around him like autumn leaves.

Defending that sort of total against a competent side usually ends in the tea urn being packed away early and a long, quiet drive home. Not this time. Shoreham never got comfortable, losing Richardson and C. Robinson without either troubling the scorers, and for all R. Trick's gutsy 23 at the top, the innings folded for 123 in 41.3 overs. Caddick, having done the business with the bat, did it again with the ball, 4-45 and pick of the attack, well supported by Stuart Cheesman's 2-26 and Alan Boyns's tidy 2-4, seven of his overs maidens, which tells you all you need to know about how little width he offered.

I'll confess my own afternoon behind the stumps was less than tidy, ten byes going through that I'd rather forget, though thankfully not costly enough to matter. Elsewhere the season ticks on nicely, Trevor Back third in the 2nd XI run charts and Boyns third among the wickets.

Eleven runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly earned. We'll take that all day.

Wed 14 Aug 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv S Selsdon · HomeformLDDDD

Called it right at the toss on Wednesday and took not a moment's pause over batting first against Selsdon at home. It proved the correct call many times over. Mike Caddick set about the bowling with real relish and brought up a magnificent century, 129 in all, while David Castle gave him fine support with 99 of his own. Between them they hauled us to a formidable 278 for 4 off 36.5 overs, the sort of total that makes the tea interval taste that bit sweeter.

Defending it looked the formality it turned out to be, though Selsdon did not go quietly. Dev Shivmangal battled to 35 not out and M. Robertson chipped in with 23, but the innings never found its rhythm against Matt Large, who ran through the order for a thoroughly deserved 5 for 38. Kevin Shrimpton backed him up nicely with 2 for 24, Stuart Cheesman took one for 25, and Rob Doick was positively miserly, sending down three maidens. Selsdon were all out for 184 in 38.2 overs. I will confess our extras column made for uncomfortable reading, 21 byes charged against David Castle behind the stumps, evidently a trickier day standing up than it had been with the bat.

Castle now sits second in the season's run charts on 130, and Cheesman second among the wicket-takers with 7. A fine win, 94 runs the margin. Onwards.

Tue 13 Aug 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLLDDD

Captain's Log — Tuesday 13 August 1996. Away at The Mote CC, and for once the coin obliged me, so I had no hesitation in putting us in to bat.

It proved the right call, more or less. Steve Pierce set about the bowling in fine style, cruising past his fifty to 72, while Iain Cardew (38) and Piers McDonald (37) chipped in handsomely to help us to a respectable 193/5 from our 52 overs. Not a total to frighten anyone into early retirement, but enough to make an afternoon's work of it.

And work it was. The Mote dug in, with G- Fryer unbeaten on 33 and good support from N- Mullarkey (29) and Mike Foster (26) keeping their innings ticking along nicely — perhaps too nicely for my liking. I took the new ball myself and can report, with as much modesty as I can muster, figures of 3-54 for the skipper's afternoon. Piers McDonald backed me up with 2-19 and David Crompton chipped in with 1-11, while R- Shepherd bowled four maidens without so much as a run to show for the generosity — mean bowling indeed. Poor Clive Newman had rather a torrid time of it behind the stumps, eight byes going begging.

In the end The Mote closed on 153/7, and honours were shared — a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Frustrating, but with the bat and ball both earning their keep, and my own wicket tally now sitting nicely atop the Midweek XI charts, I'll happily call this one an honourable stalemate.

Sun 11 Aug 1996 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · HomeformLLDWL

Sunday 11 August 1996, Benenden CC the visitors, and for once the toss actually went my way. I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that looks either inspired or idiotic by teatime, and I'm delighted to report it was the former.

What followed was as handsome a batting display as we've managed all season. I found my rhythm early and kept finding it, eventually getting to 88 before running out of partners rather than ideas — the closest I've come to a hundred in a long while, and I shan't pretend I wasn't quietly chuffed limping off. Rob Doick was the model of composure at the other end, seeing us home unbeaten on 41, while Mike Caddick chipped in a typically sturdy 36 — no great surprise from a man who now sits proudly atop the 1st XI's season run charts with 893, a statistic he will doubtless remind us of at every opportunity between now and Christmas. Between the three of us we carried the innings to a thumping 197 for the loss of only two wickets in 32.4 overs, the sort of total that has opposition bowlers reaching for the liniment.

Benenden, to their credit, dug in and denied us the win our batting perhaps deserved, and honours finished shared. A draw is a curious thing in cricket — nobody's pint tastes quite as sweet as after a win, but nobody's tastes bitter either. All told, a thoroughly pleasant afternoon's work, and if we bat like that more often the results will surely follow.

Sat 10 Aug 1996 🧢 2nd XIv HC Higham & Mockbeggar CC · HomeformLWLWW

Saturday last, we welcomed Higham & Mockbeggar to Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss there was never much doubt in my mind — a good pitch, a fine afternoon, we'd bat. Trevor Back was in imperious touch, compiling a chanceless 54, with Stewart Morrison giving fine support at the other end with 31 of his own. I contributed rather less to proceedings, shuffling out for nought and doing my best to look nonchalant about it as I trudged off. Still, 165 for 7 from our 45 overs felt like a total with enough substance to defend.

And defend it we very nearly did. Darren Styles was in wonderful nick with the ball, prising out 3 for 14 including three tidy maidens, with Adrian Caddick chipping in admirably alongside him for 3 for 26 — between them accounting for Nick Shackleton and David Abernethy without troubling the scorers. But Allan Twitchett had other ideas, batting through unbeaten for a excellent 51, well supported by M Southwold's 40, and their innings closed on 124 for 6, just short of the finish line.

Two landmarks worth raising a glass to: Adrian Caddick brought up his hundredth career wicket, and Trevor Back's fifty carried him past William Buck into 12th on the club's all-time run list. Stewart Morrison, meanwhile, continues to lead our 1996 second-team run charts with 404, while Caddick now sits fifth among the wicket-takers.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on the balance of the afternoon's play, a fair result for both sides.

Sat 10 Aug 1996 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLLLDW

Saturday saw us off on the road again, and for once the toss fell my way — I had no hesitation in calling correctly and, fancying the look of things, opted to bat first. It proved a shrewd call, or at least Mike Caddick made it look that way, cracking a superb 102 to anchor us to 237/6 from our forty overs. Clive Newman chipped in with a tidy 34 and Neville Smith 33, giving the total a proper look about it.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Their reply began steadily enough, but S. Phipps settled in for a fine 79, A. Lee motored past his own fifty to 54, and A. Fordham added a further 26, and suddenly 237 didn't look quite so imposing. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4-77, with Dave Charlton chipping in alongside me on 3-54, but it wasn't quite enough to halt the charge — they reached 238/7 in just 35.1 overs and took the match by three wickets.

A bitter pill, given the effort with the bat. Small consolation up the season table, where Mike Caddick continues to lead our 1996 run charts with 857 to his name, and I find myself out in front of the wicket-takers with 31 for the summer. Still, cricket has a habit of humbling the confident and encouraging the beaten, and we'll be better for it next week.

Wed 07 Aug 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformWLLDD

Wednesday the 7th of August found us hosting Bexley CC, and the toss — inevitably — went against us, leaving the afternoon to leather-hunting rather than putting our feet up. Bexley made themselves at home, ambling to 210 for 8 from their 47 overs, Michael Ladbrook's polished fifty the backbone of it, with Richard O'Sullivan (40) and John Taylor (34) tidying up the rest. Stuart Cheesman was pick of our attack, two wickets and two maidens for just 39, tight as a drum; I chipped in with 2 for 46, and Rob Doick picked up one for 19.

Chasing 211, we somehow contrived to make hard work of what should have been gettable, closing on 205 for 9 from our 42 overs — agonisingly short. Rob Doick was the difference, a magnificent 144 that carried the innings almost single-handed, while the Duck Club welcomed three new members in Dave Todd, Richard Piper and Stuart Cheesman, each trudging back for nought. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes slipping through. As for the skipper — a golden blob, out first ball, rather proving that leading by example doesn't always extend to the scoreboard.

Up in the season's ledger, Doick now sits top of the run charts with 153, and I'll take quiet satisfaction in leading the wicket-takers with 7. As for Wednesday itself — honours even, a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. On this evidence, we're never boring, even when we're not winning.

Sun 04 Aug 1996 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LC Langleybury CC · HomeformWWWWW

It was the Langleybury lot who took spoils this time, and I lost the toss to boot — Sunday's classic script.

Sunday 04 August 1996, Langleybury CC visited Linton Park, and having called wrong I sent them in expecting our bowlers to have a canter. Instead Javed Khan settled in for a fine fifty, 58 in all, with Asad Khan (34) offering sturdy support, and between them they steered Langleybury to 189/9 from their forty overs. Small mercies: S-N- Palmer trudged back without so much as a single to his name. Rob Doick did the heavy lifting with the ball, 4-66, while Ian Brattle bowled with real discipline — four maidens and 2-20 — and I chipped in with 2-26 to keep things honest.

Chasing 190, we never quite found the rhythm, though Paul Gibson batted beautifully for an unbeaten 80, the innings' one real gem. I got in among the runs with 44, but Peter Whyte and Matt Large both fell for ducks, and 187/7 was all we could muster from our forty — two runs shy of the target, agonisingly.

As the season rolls on I find myself atop the 1996 Sunday run charts with 249, and Matt Large leads the wicket-takers with 14 — proof there's method behind the madness even on days like this.

Not our day, then, beaten by the barest of margins. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — we'll have our revenge yet.

Sat 03 Aug 1996 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformWLLLD

We travelled down to Southborough on a bright August Saturday, lost the toss, and were promptly invited to have a bowl — which, given how the day ended, I can't say I minded one bit. Southborough set about building a total, and Simon Fisher was the chief architect, cruising to 63, with Alex Presnell (31) and an unbeaten 25 from Chris Bass filling in the gaps either side of a fifth-wicket stand worth 51. They closed on 181/7 from their 46 overs, a total that felt just about gettable if we kept our heads. Michael Beeney was the pick of our attack by some distance — 3-55 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — while Rob Doick chipped in nicely with 3-62.

Chasing 182, we owe an enormous debt to Nigel Thirkell, who made light of the target with a magnificent century — three figures, no less — well supported by Neville Smith's brisk 36. I shall draw a discreet veil over my own contribution, save to say that both Clive Newman and I took the walk of shame for nought apiece; two ducks in a winning cause is about as much dignity as either of us can claim.

We got there with three wickets in hand, 182/6 from 43.2 overs. Thirkell's ton nudges him to third in the 1996 first-team run charts on 686, and Beeney sits third in the wickets列 with 20. A fine win, ducks and all. Onwards.

Sat 03 Aug 1996 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformWLWLW

Called it right at the toss on Saturday and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first — Southborough duly put in the field to watch us rack up 243/8 from our 46 overs. Mike Elworthy set the tone with a really fine 61, and Paul Bowles gave him excellent company with 52 of his own past the fifty mark, while Tim Thirkell chipped in a busy 39. Not every name in the book covered itself in glory, mind — Stuart Cheesman and Roly Edwards both took the long walk back for ducks, and I'm reliably informed the club ledger has been updated accordingly. A generous 26 in extras rounded out a total that always looked competitive.

Defending it, we found Southborough determined but ultimately short, bowled out for 208 in 43.5 overs. P. Spencer played the innings of the day for them with 55, well supported by D. Thorpe's 38 and M. Thorpe's 23, but the middle order never quite got going — S. Bliss and J. Booth both departed without troubling the scorers. Dave Todd was the story of the afternoon, spinning a web through their batting for 5-70, with Adrian Caddick chipping in 3-41 and Paul Bowles 1-9. I did my bit too, holding things tight for a couple of maidens.

Up in the season table, Tim Thirkell continues his fine form sitting 2nd in the 2nd XI run charts with 339, and Dave Todd sits 2nd in the wicket charts with 20 to his name.

A 35-run win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 31 Jul 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv IX Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI · HomeformDWLLD

A draw, sunshine, and Wednesday 31 July 1996 will not go down in the annals of Linton Park cricket as a classic, but by heavens it kept us on our toes to the very last over. The visitors won the toss and, with the sort of confidence that ought to have worried me more than it did, stuck us in the field. J Manning went about his business with a fine, unhurried 55, while Rick Jones (34) and T Taylor (33) chipped in handsomely as the total climbed to 182/7 from their 35 overs. Ian Brattle was the pick of our attack, hustling out 3-35, with Michael Beeney (2-19) tidy alongside him, Stuart Cheesman bowling two miserly maidens, and I did my modest bit with 2-33. Small mercies came in the shape of ducks for L Rayner and M Thew, proof that even a mediocre fielding side gets its moments.

Chasing 183, we never quite found the fluency required, limping to 124/7 from our 40. Stuart Cheesman was the mainstay with 24, Neil Manning battled to 21 not out, and poor Gareth Thomas departed for a duck without troubling the scorers. Adam Pooley, meanwhile, spent the afternoon chasing leather behind the stumps and leaked 15 byes for his trouble — the sort of afternoon that makes a keeper take up gardening.

So honours shared, and on reflection a fair result: neither side quite had the legs to force it home. A draw earned rather than stolen, and frankly, at our level, that will do nicely.

Mon 29 Jul 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv CC Cleethorpes CC · HomeformDDWLL

29 July 1996 – Linton Park CC v Cleethorpes CC

No luck with the coin – Cleethorpes called correctly, elected to bat, and left us traipsing out into the field before we'd even had a chance to complain about the state of the square. They made themselves thoroughly at home too, racking up 220 for 5 off their 47 overs, with Bob Leafe playing the innings of the day for 73, John Coles unbeaten on 45, and I Drummond chipping in with 38. It was a long old afternoon out there, though not without its bright spots — Jon Harris toiled manfully for 2-77 with two tidy maidens, while I managed to sneak in with 1-6 and Ian Brattle picked up 1-38. Not exactly a bowling masterclass, but nobody gave their runs away cheaply either.

Chasing 220 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. We limped to 85 for 8 from our 40 overs, with Adrian Caddick top-scoring gamely on 21. I added a workmanlike 19 of my own, but beyond that the batting card made for grim reading, not least the twin ducks from Rob Doick and Ian Brattle — a matching pair nobody was proud of.

Still, cricket has a way of being kind when you least deserve it, and with Cleethorpes unable to force the win either, honours were shared. A draw, then — not the abject surrender the scorecard suggests, but not a triumph to sing about from the pavilion roof. We live to fight another Monday.

Sun 28 Jul 1996 🧢 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · AwayformDWLLL

Sunday 28 July found us on the road to Clarion CC, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, sent us in to bat. It proved the right call. We compiled a handsome 211 for 5 off our 44 overs, built on the back of Mike Caddick's fine 69, with Dave Charlton (41) and David Castle, unbeaten on 38, lending sturdy support. I contributed rather less to proceedings, departing for nought — the walk of shame performed with what dignity I could muster.

Defending that total, Clarion made a decent fist of it, reaching 168 for 8 from their 42 overs. Andy Driver's well-crafted 64 was the innings' backbone, with J Marcus chipping in 27, though M Jeffrey went back to the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorers. Alan Boyns was the chief tormentor with 3 for 17, well backed by Jon Harris (2-33) and Adrian Caddick (2-53); I did my bit too, keeping things tight for a couple of maidens. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 16 byes finding their way past him.

As for the skipper — a golden blob to bookend the day. A captain should lead by example; today I merely led by demonstration of how not to bat. Still, David Castle continues to top our 1996 run charts on 823, and Jon Harris sits fourth among the wicket-takers. A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, about right.

Sat 27 Jul 1996 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformDDWLL

I won the toss on a warm Saturday and, with the pitch looking full of runs, elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook eventually suggested. It didn't quite come off as planned: we were bowled out for 135 in 45.2 overs, a total that felt light even as I compiled 39 near the top of the order, ably supported by Mike Caddick's 32. Clive Newman and Stewart Morrison both contributed golden ducks to the cause, of the sort best forgotten over a pint rather than dwelt upon in print.

With the ball, though, we made a proper fist of it. Hollingbourne were given a stern examination, Ian Brattle chief among the tormentors with three for 41 and three maidens of genuinely miserly quality, Matt Large chipping in with two for 52 and Michael Beeney one for 23. We even had the satisfaction of sending Dan Pritchard back for a duck. But Mike Donald had other ideas, ground out a fifty and finished on 51, well supported by S Wall's 28, and between them they nudged Hollingbourne home to 136 for 6 in 41.1 overs.

So, not our day — beaten by three wickets, agonisingly close enough to sting. David Castle continues to lead our run charts this season with 785, and Matt Large tops the wicket pile with 27, so all is far from lost for 1996. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 27 Jul 1996 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformWWLWL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 27 July 1996, away at Hollingbourne CC.

Won the toss, and I had no hesitation in electing to bat — one of those rare decisions that actually looked clever by teatime. Trevor Back set the tone with a handsome 63, Ron McCormick weighed in with a really fine 59, and Chris Tymms chipped in a brisk 30 to help us to a healthy 231 for 8 off our 46 overs. Not a bad afternoon's work with the willow, and enough runs, I felt, to make Hollingbourne's afternoon rather uncomfortable.

And so it proved. Hollingbourne never quite got going in reply, bundled out for 121 in 39.4 overs despite a battling 45 from Steve Wilson and useful support from Andrew Hales with 32 — the rest of their card made grim reading, with J Bannister, P Bannister and J Hudson all back in the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorers. Rob Doick was the chief tormentor, tearing through with 4 for 15, while Trevor Back backed up his batting with 3 for 3 and a couple of tidy maidens for good measure, and Darren Styles picked up 1 for 21. I managed to get among the wickets myself, which was pleasing enough, and sits nicely alongside a season in which I'm now second in the 2nd XI wicket charts with 17 — Tim Thirkell meanwhile continues to pile up the runs, second in the batting charts with 300.

A win by 110 runs, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the sort of afternoon that makes the teas taste all the sweeter.

Sun 21 Jul 1996 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Barns Green CC · AwayformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 21 July 1996

Lost the toss again at Barns Green – I'm beginning to suspect the coin has it in for me – and so we were put into the field to make the best of a Sunday afternoon. Barns Green batted with more patience than we'd have liked, John Coxon compiling a watchful, unbeaten 48 while A Taylor (34) and Steve Godfrey (26) chipped in either side of him. They closed on 172/7 from their forty overs, a total that felt gettable but not gift-wrapped. With the ball, Matt Large was the pick of us by some distance, 2-37 earned the hard way, while Ian Brattle and Michael Beeney both weighed in with 1-23 apiece to keep things honest. I managed a couple of maidens myself, which on a day like this counted as a minor triumph of stubbornness over skill.

Chasing 173, we made no great fuss of it in the end. Dave Charlton played the innings of the day, a well-crafted 72, and found the perfect foil in Paul Gibson, whose unbeaten 56 saw us safely home with overs to spare – 173/4 from 35.4 overs, six wickets in hand. I'll admit I'm rather enjoying leading the Sunday run charts with 205 for the season, though Matt Large's 13 wickets suggest he's having rather more fun than the rest of us combined.

All told, a thoroughly good day for the club – professional in the field, ruthless with the bat, and home in time for tea. More of the same, please, lads.

Sat 20 Jul 1996 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWLW

Saturday took us down the road to Bearsted, and I can't pretend the omens were glowing when we folded for 147 in 35.1 overs — though "folded" does a disservice to Chris Tymms, who battled to 41, with Stewart Morrison chipping in a tidy 27 to give the total a bit of respectability. It wasn't a score to frighten anyone, but on a good pitch you always fancy your bowlers to have a say.

And for a while they did. Bearsted lost an early wicket with just 5 on the board, and there was a moment — one of those fleeting, treacherous moments club cricketers live for — when 147 looked almost plenty. Then a 58-run third-wicket stand put paid to that daydream, and David Parkes, ably supported by Stuart Gorman and P Martin, ground us down to reach 151 for 5 in the 37th over. Darren Styles bowled beautifully for his 1-12, Dave Todd chipped in with 1-14, and I managed to get among the wickets myself with 1-13 — small consolation on the day, though it does keep me handily placed second in the 2nd XI wicket charts with 16 for the season, behind Stewart Morrison's imperious 373 runs. Poor Roly Edwards had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 10 byes leaking away like the last of our hopes.

The one genuine cause for celebration was Mike Caddick reaching 4,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth more than any single afternoon's result. Beaten by 5 wickets, then, but we'll be better for it next week.

Thu 18 Jul 1996 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDDDWL

From the captain's chair — Thursday 18 July 1996. We travelled to The Mote, and having called correctly for once, I did what any self-respecting skipper does with a moment of good fortune: I made things harder for us by putting us in to bat.

Sixty all out from fourteen overs is not the stuff of legend, and it would have looked a good deal worse without David Castle's battling 24, which stood rather lonely atop the scorecard. Michael Beeney and Ian Brattle both fell for ducks, proving that cricket, like the English weather, shows no mercy and less warning. We trudged off to tea wondering whether we'd left enough runs on the board to trouble anyone at all — the honest answer, in hindsight, was no.

With the ball we at least made them work for it in patches. Ian Brattle was the pick of the attack with 1-19, tidy and probing, and I chipped in with 1-25, more relieved than proud to get among the wickets. But M. Laurenson batted with the calm assurance of a man who'd seen our total and fancied his chances, striking an unbeaten 36 as they cantered home to 61-2 in just nine overs.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguing with it. David Castle continues to lead our run charts for the season with 774, and I'm grateful to say the wickets column still has my name on top with 25 — small consolation on a day when the bat let us down badly. We'll be better for it next week; we could scarcely be worse.

Wed 17 Jul 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv IC Ingham CC · HomeformDDDWL

Lost the toss on Wednesday and, as is tradition at Linton Park, watched Ingham CC trot out to bat while I trudged off to set the field. Two hundred and seven all out from forty-five overs told its own story — M Mixer entertaining the tea ladies with 59, well backed up by S Jessup's tidy 57 — but the lads clawed plenty back. Darren Styles was the pick of the attack with 2-29, Gavin Saunders and Jon Harris both chipped in with 2-33 and 2-37 respectively, and I did my bit tucking in two maidens, more out of stubbornness than skill.

Chasing 207 was always going to ask questions of a batting order that, frankly, answered most of them wrong. We were bowled out for 134 in 36 overs, a scoreline that flatters nobody. I top-scored with 23, which on this occasion was rather like being the tallest jockey. Mike Elworthy, Trevor Back and Steve Cheesman between them contributed a golden duck apiece — a hat-trick of nothings that even the extras (a heroic 31) outscored comfortably.

There was, at least, one moment of quiet pride amid the wreckage: I brought up 13,000 career runs for the club, a milestone I shall allow myself thirty seconds to enjoy before returning to the nets. Neville Smith continues to lead our season's run charts with 63, and Stuart Cheesman sits second among the wicket-takers with four. As for Wednesday — beaten by 73 runs, no arguments, no excuses. Back to the nets, heads up, kettle on.

Sun 14 Jul 1996 🧢 1st XIv FC Folkestone CC · AwayformWDDDW

Not much luck at the toss on the fourteenth, and none needed either — Folkestone won it and, showing the confidence of a side who fancied batting first, put us into the field. What followed was a lesson in application from their top order: Paul Bradbury made a fine 85, Steve Salisbury weighed in with a classy 54, and Joe Dawes finished unbeaten on 45 as they racked up 245/5 from their 40.4 overs. Small mercies came from Matt Large, who bowled with real discipline for 2-32 including two maidens and had the satisfaction of sending Paul Webb back without troubling the scorers, well supported by Gavin Saunders (1-17) and Adrian Caddick (1-35).

Chasing 246 was always going to want something special, and it never quite arrived. I contributed what I could, but it was Neville Smith's battling 25 that stood out on an otherwise sorry afternoon, as we subsided to 73 all out in 35.5 overs. Richard Piper and Gavin Saunders both departed for ducks, and the scorebook made for grim reading long before the innings mercifully ended.

A crumb of comfort amid the wreckage — Matt Large's afternoon's work kept him out in front of the 1996 1st XI wicket charts with 24 for the season, proof there's craft in the ranks even when the rest of us are misfiring.

Down by 172 runs, then, and no dressing it up. Not our day by any stretch. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 13 Jul 1996 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWWWWL

Rain threatened but never arrived, which was probably wise of it, given the mood I was in after winning the toss. I had no hesitation in choosing to bat, and for once the lads didn't make a fool of me for it. Trevor Back set the tone with a fine 61, Tim Thirkell followed with a well-made 57, and Paul Davey rounded things off in style, unbeaten on 53. Only Stuart Cheesman's golden duck spoiled an otherwise handsome scorecard — these things happen to the best of us, Stuart, and will again. We closed on 230 for 7 from our 46 overs, a total that felt, even as we walked off, like rather more than a formality.

So it proved. Horton Kirby never really got a foothold in the chase, labouring to 150 for 9 from their 44 overs against an attack that simply refused to let up. Dave Todd was the chief tormentor with 3 for 43 — and, I'm reliably informed, that little haul has nudged him past Paul Gibson into 22nd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of statistic that will mean everything to Dave and absolutely nothing to his knees tomorrow morning. I chipped in with a couple of wickets myself, and Darren Styles took one, while Chris Tymms bowled two miserly maidens that squeezed the life out of any hint of a fightback. Ryan Bull's 29 was the best the visitors could muster.

Eighty runs to the good at the close. A thoroughly good day for the club, and not a bad one for the teapot back in the pavilion either.

Sat 13 Jul 1996 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWWDDD

Skipper's Log, Saturday 13 July 1996: away to Horton Kirby CC, lost the toss, and duly asked to bat first — never quite the news you want, but the lads set about it in the right spirit. We were bowled out for 199 in 43.2 overs, a total that felt about right for the day rather than spectacular. I was pleased to lead from the front with 74, and Stewart Morrison chipped in handsomely with 59 — a genuinely fine half-century, and one that also brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, which is no small landmark and thoroughly deserved. Elsewhere the innings was less romantic: Rob Doick, Michael Beeney and Jon Harris all took that lonely walk back for nought, and the Duck Club ledger grows heavier by three.

Defending 199 always asks questions of the bowlers, and this lot answered them beautifully. Horton Kirby fought hard, with M Wray making a fine 55 and Alan Powell and Alastair Scott adding 44 and 20 respectively, but it was never quite enough. Adam Washington departed for a duck of his own, some small justice restored, while Matt Large simply ran riot — 6 for 34, six of those overs maidens, figures that also carried him past 900 career wickets for the club. Ian Brattle and Jon Harris chipped in too, and Horton Kirby were all out for 172.

Two points, thoroughly earned, won by 27 runs — a proper away win, and a day to remember for more than just the scorebook.

Sun 07 Jul 1996 🧢 Sunday NVKCv RC Rowledge CC · HomeformLWWWW

As a lifelong wicketkeeper who's stood behind enough stumps to know a good day when I see one, let me have a go at this.

Well, the coin let us down as usual — Rowledge won the toss and stuck us in, which these days feels less like a tactical masterstroke on their part and more like an act of charity, given how the afternoon unfolded. We batted with real purpose, racking up 229 for 7 in our forty overs. Paul Gibson chipped in with a brisk 42 and David Castle followed with a sound 38, while I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, easing to 61 and feeling rather pleased with it. Special mention, as tradition demands, for Rob Doick, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings — the sort of innings best forgotten by tea and never, ever by his teammates.

Two hundred and twenty-nine looked a handsome total defending, and so it proved. Rowledge never really got away from us, P Offord's gutsy 43 notwithstanding, and they were bowled out for 154 inside 36 overs. Matt Large was quite simply magnificent, ripping through their order with 6 for 34, well backed up by Doick — redeeming himself splendidly with bat-shaped grievances forgotten — taking 3 for 36.

Seventy-five runs the margin, two points safely banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. If Sunday cricket is meant to be enjoyed, this was as good as it gets.

Sat 06 Jul 1996 🧢 1st XIv ? · AwayformDWWDD

From the captain's chair, Saturday 6th July 1996. Away from home, and the coin did us the courtesy of falling our way — I had no hesitation in putting us in, on the theory that runs on the board beats runs in the legs on a warm afternoon.

And what runs they were. We piled up 217 for 3 from our forty overs, built on an innings of real substance from Clive Newman, unbeaten on 89 and looking for all the world like a man who could have batted through tea and into next week had the overs allowed. David Castle chipped in handsomely with 46, and I was happy to get among the runs myself with 42 — not that I'll dwell on it, there was a proper batsman at the other end doing the heavy lifting.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, Clive quietly went about his business of rewriting the record books, his 89 easing him past Peter Whyte and into 21st on the club's all-time run-scoring list — the sort of landmark that deserves rather more fanfare than a chap gets while he's busy accumulating boundaries. David, meanwhile, continues to lead our 1996 charts with 733 runs to his name, a tally the rest of us can only admire from a respectful distance.

In the end neither side could force matters home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but with knocks like these, hardly a wasted afternoon.

Sat 06 Jul 1996 🧢 2nd XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday the sixth of July, and Staplehurst were our visitors. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling has never troubled the record books — and we were put into the field. They batted solidly enough, closing on 156 all out in 40.3 overs, J. Ward top-scoring with 35 and C. Rogers chipping in 24. J. Munn, mind you, departed for nought without so much as a nibble at the strike bowling.

With the ball I rather enjoyed myself for once, finishing with 3 for 44 and four maidens to show I wasn't simply serving up long hops, though it was Chris Tymms who took the eye with 4 for 65, and Trevor Back who did the real damage economically with 2 for 6. A tidy shift all round, even if I say so myself.

Batting, alas, is another story entirely. We subsided to 104 all out in 40.2 overs — Paul Bowles held things together with 27, well supported by Stuart Cheesman's 22, but Stewart Morrison, Trevor Back and Dave Todd all fell for ducks, and I completed the collection with one of my own. The less said, the better.

Elsewhere in the season, Tim Thirkell sits second in the 2nd XI run charts with 204, and Chris Tymms tops the wicket pile with 21 — some consolation amid the gloom. Beaten by 52 runs in the end. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 30 Jun 1996 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDDWWD

Won the toss under bright skies at home to The Mote, and there was never much doubt which way I'd call it — good pitch, fast outfield, we were batting first. David Castle made an utter mockery of the bowling with a magnificent unbeaten 117, serene as you like, while Alan Boyns held up the other end nicely with 20 not out. I chipped in with a workmanlike 19 down the order. Less said the better about Rob Doick, Richard Ellis and Adrian Caddick, each making that long, lonely walk back for a duck — the tie hanging heavier than usual on those return journeys. We closed on 200/8 from 55.1 overs, a total that felt defendable rather than imposing.

Defend it we did, for the most part. The Mote replied with 198/8 from their fifty, B- Piper's polished 64 the backbone of the chase, well supported by M- Dunk (42) and Mark Bristow (30). Rob Doick was outstanding with the ball — 2-35, three miserly maidens, nothing given away lightly — and found fine support from Jon Harris (2-58) and Darren Styles (1-15). In the end just two runs stood between us at the close.

A draw, then, and honestly about right — neither side could quite land the killer blow. Castle continues his imperious march towards the season's top of the run charts, and with 16 wickets to my name I'm not doing too badly in the bowling column myself. Honours shared, heads held high, tea thoroughly earned.

Sat 29 Jun 1996 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLDDWW

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report — Saturday 29 June 1996

I called correctly at the toss, and there was never much doubt what I'd do with it — bat, and hope the ground held its breath along with us. It repaid the faith handsomely. Paul Gibson set about proving that the pitch owed us nothing but runs, cruising to a fine 69, while I found my own rhythm for a well-made fifty, ending on 60 — the kind of innings where every shot seems to find grass rather than fielder. David Castle chipped in with a tidy 37, and by the close of our allotted 46 overs we'd posted a handsome 205 for 4. Declarations were not required; the scoreboard did the talking.

Defending it proved rather more of an afternoon's work. J. Fotheringham threatened to make a nuisance of himself with 43, and got no shortage of company from S. Beard (37 not out) and Mark Wellbelove (34), while poor L. Hogg trudged off for a golden duck, no doubt cursing my name all the way to the pavilion. As it happened, he had good reason — I found some form with the ball to go with the bat, running through their order for 5 for 42, three of those overs maidens for good measure. Ian Brattle (1-9) and Matt Large (1-46) kept things honest at the other end, but 193 for 7 from 44 overs was as far as they could push it.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow — and for a captain who got among the runs and the wickets in the same afternoon, I shan't complain one bit.

Sat 29 Jun 1996 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWWWWW

This is outside my toolset's scope but is just a writing task, so here's the report.

Saturday last saw Meopham CC pay us a visit, and having won the toss I had few doubts about what to do with it — batting first felt right, and so it proved. The lads set about building a proper total, Daniel Thirkell leading the way with a well-crafted 62, Stewart Morrison right behind him with a fine 55, and Mike Elworthy chipping in a useful 26 to help us to 229/7 from our 46 overs. A total, I felt, with enough in it to trouble anyone.

So it proved. Meopham never quite got the innings they needed, subsiding to 174/9 from their 44 overs. Chris Tymms was the chief tormentor, snaring 4-24 and looking every inch the man currently topping our 2nd XI wicket charts with 17 for the season, while I was pleased to get among the wickets myself with 2-13. Trevor Back weighed in with 1-11 and Darren Styles bowled with real discipline, three maidens to his name. Poor Roly Edwards had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 10 byes conceded, though nobody's holding it against him.

A 55-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Stewart Morrison continues to lead our run charts with 346 for the season — form he'll want to keep hold of. Onwards indeed.

Sun 23 Jun 1996 🧢 Sunday NVKCv EC Eynsford CC · HomeformLLWWW

The toss went against me, as it so often does, and Eynsford duly stuck us into the field on a fine Sunday for it. Forty overs of honest toil later they were all out for 155, Pete Day compiling a handsome fifty while Greg Playfoot (41) and Lindsay Hamill (33) chipped in to keep our feet moving. Ian Brattle was the pick of the attack with 3-23, I managed 2-29 for my afternoon's exertions, Matt Large picked up 2-44, and Sean Charlton bowled with the kind of miserly discipline that sends sponsors' wives to sleep in deckchairs — four maidens' worth. Credit too to our lower order with the ball, who kept things tight throughout.

With the bat, we set about the target in altogether breezier fashion. David Castle played beautifully for his fifty, well supported by Paul Gibson, unbeaten on 47, and Mike Caddick with a fluent 28. I contributed a watchful 19 somewhere in the middle, more nudge than flourish, before the openers and Gibson finished the job with time and wickets to spare — 158 for 2 in 33.5 overs.

Spare a thought for Paul Geear, T Haden-Scott and Dan Wise, who between them contributed rather less to the cause than the scorebook would like, though such is cricket. Mike Caddick continues to top our Sunday run charts and Ian Brattle the wickets, and on this evidence both totals will keep climbing. An eight-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work — tea was good too.

Sat 22 Jun 1996 🧢 1st XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · HomeformDLDDW

The toss went against us on a fine Saturday at home to Cobham CC, and Kent's finest duly elected to bat — which, if I'm honest, is never quite the news you want to hear over the coin. Still, we set to work with the ball and kept them to a respectable-but-gettable 133/6 from their 46 overs. Andrew Powney was the chief architect of that total with a watchful 37, well supported by T Mitchell's 28 and Matt Waters' unbeaten 20. Jon Harris was the pick of our attack by some distance, snaring 3-32, and I was pleased enough with my own 2-11 in support. Rob Doick bowled with real discipline too, tucking away three maidens, while Matt Large chipped in for 1-56.

A target of 134 is the sort of number that either brings out the best in a side or invites a wobble, and thankfully it was the former. Mike Caddick played the innings of the day with a crisp 45, ushered along by David Castle's 41 and Paul Gibson's unbeaten 30, and I added a modest 17 of my own down the order for good measure. We cantered home with 22 overs still on the clock and five wickets in hand.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — Caddick continues to top our season's run charts in some style, and Large keeps ticking over nicely with the ball. Onwards indeed.

Sat 22 Jun 1996 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWWWWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 22 June 1996, away at West Farleigh CC.

No luck with the coin; they called correctly and stuck us in the field. No complaints, though — we had first use of the ball, and it showed. West Farleigh were bundled out for a modest 81 in 29.5 overs, S. Phillips digging in for an unbeaten 31 while wickets tumbled around him. Dave Todd was the story of the day, a superb 5-44 that had the lads purring, with Chris Tymms (3-9, and six miserly maidens to boot) and Trevor Back (2-13) mopping up the rest. A bowling performance to write home about.

Chasing such a modest total should have been a formality, and in the end it very nearly wasn't. We stumbled to 85/5 from 24.2 overs, with a. Smith, I. Daniels and P. Curtis all trudging back without so much as a nibble at the bowling. Keith Hatcher, too, joined the Duck Club with a golden nought — the walk of shame performed with due solemnity. Thankfully Stewart Morrison kept his head, top-scoring with 37 and steering us home with something to spare.

Stewart continues to lead the 2nd XI run charts for the season with 291, and Chris Tymms tops the wicket pile with 13 — the engine room of the side, and no mistake.

A scrappy nervy chase, but a five-wicket win is a five-wicket win. We'll take it, dust off the ducks, and march onwards.

Fri 21 Jun 1996 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWDLDD

Friday the twenty-first of June, and Staplehurst CC rolled up to find us in a mood to bowl. First use of the new ball is a captain's privilege I don't often turn down, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than merely traditional. The Henson brothers did their best to build something substantial — I. Henson top-scoring with a brisk 45, A. Henson chipping in 20 — but 120/7 from sixteen overs never felt like a total that would trouble us unduly. I took the new ball myself and finished with 2-22, which I mention once and shall not mention again, while Michael Beeney bowled tidily for 2-38 and Ian Brattle chipped away for 1-31.

Chasing 121, we barely broke sweat. Dave Charlton played the innings of the day, a fluent 47 that took the sting out of any Staplehurst hopes, with Keith Hatcher unbeaten on 30 and Paul Gibson a brisk 23 either side of him. We got there in twelve overs for the loss of three wickets, which by our usual standards of self-inflicted drama counts as positively serene.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, David Castle continues to churn out runs and sits second in the 1st XI charts with 492, while Ian Brattle leads the wicket-takers with 18. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a seven-wicket win to send Staplehurst home wondering what happened to their afternoon.

Wed 19 Jun 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · AwayformLDDDW

Beaten by a mile, but there's a certain dignity in being beaten thoroughly rather than scrappily, so let's take what comfort we can from that.

Wednesday 19 June saw us make the trip to Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC, and it was clear from the moment we lost the toss that the day had decided to test our character rather than flatter our egos. Put in to bowl, we watched R. Alexander cruise to 60, with Peter Day (49) and Stuart Taylor (38 not out) chipping in to haul the hosts to a healthy 215/8 from their 46 overs. Credit where it's due: Adrian Caddick was superb with 2-28, Michael Beeney chimed in with 2-48, and S. Hallows picked up 1-17, while at the other end J. Bowden, G. Styles and S. Iqbal all had the good manners to depart for ducks against us.

Chasing 216 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. Darren Styles top-scored with a battling 39, well supported by Michael Beeney's 38, but beyond that the innings had the structural integrity of a garden shed in a gale — S. Hallows, Stuart Cheesman and Mike Elworthy all fell without troubling the scorer, and we folded for 112 in 30.1 overs.

There were individual bright spots amid the wreckage: Styles now sits third in the Midweek XI run charts with 43 for the season, and Caddick leads the wicket-takers with 4. Small mercies.

In the end, 103 runs was too wide a gap to bridge, and honesty compels me to call this one a proper hiding. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word about application, and go again next week — the tea, at least, was excellent.

Sat 15 Jun 1996 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformLWDLD

Saturday saw Sheldwich CC visit us, the sun (mostly) on our side and, for once, so was the coin — I called correctly and had no hesitation in batting first.

What followed was as handsome a total as this diary's seen in a while: 201 for 4 off our 46 overs. I'll admit to enjoying myself rather more than modesty allows, top-scoring with 90, though Neville Smith's brisk 40 and Keith Hatcher's unbeaten 29 did every bit as much to get us into three figures and beyond. Two hundred on the board and the tea urn barely cold — a fine platform, and one I was rather proud to have laid a good chunk of myself.

In the field we set about defending it with real purpose. Jon Harris was the chief architect of Sheldwich's discomfort, prising out four for 49, with Sean Charlton (2-38) and Dave Charlton (1-5) chipping away either end, and Rob Doick keeping things miserly with four maidens — not a run given away lightly, as they say. a-Godden's 35 was the only real resistance, a-Marsh departing without so much as troubling the scorers, and Sheldwich were eventually shut out on 130 for 9 from their 44.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. With the bat in fair order for the season (I'm told I now sit second in the run charts, and Dave Charlton fifth among the wickets), there's plenty to be cheerful about. A good day's cricket, honestly fought, and no complaints from this captain.

Sat 15 Jun 1996 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformLWWWW

Saturday last took us to Sheldwich, where I lost the toss and we were invited to have a bowl — no great hardship on a morning that smelled more of leather than sunscreen. Trevor Back was in irresistible mood, prising out four for a miserly 17 including six maidens that must have driven their middle order to distraction, and found willing accomplices in Chris Tymms (3-18) and Darren Styles (1-14). Poor D. Ray departed without so much as a single to his name, and B. Hulks's battling 21 was as good as it got for the home side as they were shut out for 94/9 from their 46 overs.

Ninety-five to win is the sort of target that ought to be routine, and for once we made it look that way. Stewart Morrison played the innings of the day with a fluent 45, while Tim Thirkell and Richard Ellis both saw us home unbeaten on 20 apiece, wrapping things up in a brisk 18.4 overs. I can't claim quite the same tidiness behind the stumps — eight byes went through my gloves like I'd left the tradesman's entrance open, and I shall be having words with myself before next week.

Special mention, though, for Stuart Cheesman, who brought up fifty career wickets — a landmark thoroughly deserved and thoroughly celebrated. With Morrison now top of the 2nd XI run charts on 254 and Tymms leading the wickets on ten, the season's shaping up nicely. Nine wickets to the good and home in time for tea: a very good day for the club.

Sun 09 Jun 1996 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Headcorn CC · AwayformLLLWW

Called it right at Headcorn on Sunday and, with early June sunshine no doubt clouding my judgement, elected to bat without a flicker of hesitation. It came off rather nicely. Keith Hatcher led the way with a fine 44, David Castle chipped in with 41 of his own, and between them they set the tone for a total of 165/5 from our forty overs, helped along by a generous 27 in extras that Headcorn's bowlers will be keen to forget.

Defending that total is never a formality in this league, and Headcorn made us work for it. P. Westrop threatened to make a real match of it with 34, well supported by A. Lee's 23, but our attack kept chipping away. Michael Beeney was the pick of the bowlers with 3-28, Dave Charlton matched him for wickets with 3-38, and Ian Brattle picked up one for 28. I did my bit too, tying an end down for four maidens while the wickets fell at the other. Headcorn were held to 133/9 from their forty, and we came home 32 runs to the good.

Elsewhere in the season's reckoning, Mike Caddick continues to top the Sunday run charts with 154, and Michael Beeney now leads the wicket standings with five for the summer. As for Headcorn, well, we came, we batted sensibly, we bowled tighter, and we left with the points. A thoroughly good day out for the club.

Sat 08 Jun 1996 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLLWDL

Saturday the 8th of June found us hosting the visitors at Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in asking my side to bat first — the outfield looked quick and I fancied there'd be runs to be had. As it turned out I was not far wrong: 188 for 9 from our 46 overs was a tidy total, built chiefly around Clive Newman's fine 62, a proper captain's-eye innings if ever I saw one. Paul Gibson chipped in with a useful 26, and I was pleased enough with my own 40 down the order, though poor Neville Smith will want to forget his golden duck in a hurry.

With the ball in hand, we set about defending our total with rather more hope than menace, it must be said. The visitors' A. Perks played the innings of the day, a commanding 75, well supported by S. Martin's 35 and A. Cornwall's 28, and they eventually reached 150 for 4 from 36.3 overs. Matt Large was our pick of the bowlers with 3 for 37, Michael Beeney chipping in with 1 for 35, and we did at least have the small satisfaction of sending Pete Humphries back for a duck.

In the end neither side could force matters, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the glory of victory, but on a Saturday like this, with Newman batting so handsomely, I'll happily settle for that. Mike Caddick continues to lead our run charts this summer with 568, and Beeney's fourteen wickets keep him handily placed second in the bowling — proof, if any were needed, that there's life in this old side yet.

Sat 08 Jun 1996 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformLLWWW

Winning the toss and choosing to bat felt like the right call before a ball was bowled, and so it proved. Trevor Back set the tone with a well-made 73, and once Mike Elworthy had eased past his own fifty to 55, with Alan Boyns chipping in a handy 34, we found ourselves with 229 on the board from our 44 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather too much.

Defending it was, in the end, a rather more comfortable afternoon than the scorebook's twists might suggest. Rumwood battled to 161 all out in 44.5 overs, D. Light top-scoring with 38 and M. Jenkins unbeaten on 26, but R. Seath's duck rather summed up their struggles against our attack. Trevor Back was pick of the bowlers with 2-11, backed up admirably by Chris Tymms (2-27) and Alan Boyns, whose three maidens and 2-36 spoke to a spell nobody was scoring off in a hurry. Mike Elworthy had a busier time behind the stumps, 13 byes the only blemish on an otherwise tidy team performance — and I chipped in with what I could too, glad to see the total defended in style.

With Alan Boyns leading our 1996 2nd XI wicket charts on 10 and me sitting second in the run charts on 148, the season's shaping up nicely. A 68-run win, two points banked, and the road home from Rumwood felt a good deal shorter than the one there. Thoroughly earned, and thoroughly enjoyed.

Sun 02 Jun 1996 🧢 1st XIv BC Broadstairs CC · HomeformDLLWD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 2 June 1996. Broadstairs CC at home, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat. Not always a decision that pays off in this game, but on this occasion the lads made it look almost sensible.

We racked up a handsome 206/2 from 41.3 overs, and I'll admit to a certain quiet satisfaction in bringing up a hundred myself, finishing unbeaten on 102 — the sort of innings one tries not to go on about too much at the bar afterwards, though I daresay I shall. Mike Caddick gave me splendid company with a fine 72, and between us we put Broadstairs to the sword rather more comprehensively than the scorebook perhaps suggests.

Defending it, however, proved a rather more nail-biting affair. Chris Newton played beautifully for his 65, well backed up by Lee Hewit's 40 and Ben Futter's 24, and Broadstairs crept agonisingly to 207/7 from 36.3 overs. Dave Charlton did the real damage with 2-21, with Rob Doick (2-40) and Michael Beeney (1-20) chipping in gamely, and we did at least have the pleasure of sending R Muir back for a duck. Small mercies.

In the end we were beaten by a single wicket — the cruellest of margins, and precisely the sort of result that has you replaying every over on the drive home. Still, a hundred for me and a fifty for Caddick is no bad way to lose, and we'll certainly be better for it next week.

Sat 01 Jun 1996 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformWDLLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 01 June 1996.

There are worse ways to spend a Saturday than watching your top order do just enough and no more, and that, in a nutshell, was our day. We crawled to 132/8 from our 46 overs, a total that owed everything to a top-order effort and precious little to the tail. I got us going with 30, Neville Smith chipped in with a tidy 24, and Mike Caddick added 23 to keep the board ticking over — though poor Clive Newman will want this one struck from the record, bagging a duck that even the ducks on the boundary seemed to sympathise with.

In the field we scrapped hard for a total that never quite looked enough, and for a long while it wasn't clear it would need to be. They replied with 133/2 from 35.1 overs, built around a composed half-century from Baxter (51 not out) and sturdy support from Moxon (47) and an unbeaten 23 from Sellar — Fisher, at least, departed without so much as a run to his name. I picked up the solitary boundary in more ways than one, taking 1-10 to go with my earlier 30, Michael Beeney chipped in with 1-42, and Matt Large bowled tighter than a Sunday collection plate, three maidens and barely a run given away.

In the end neither side could land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — the cricketing equivalent of agreeing to split the last biscuit. I'll take it.

Sat 01 Jun 1996 🧢 3rd XIv OC Old Anchorians CC · Awayform—

Saturday 01 June took us to Old Anchorians CC, and for once the coin obliged me. I called correctly at the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat, fancying our chances on a day that felt made for batting.

The lads did not let me down. Ron McCormick anchored the innings with a fine 60, well past his fifty, while Trevor Back matched him for application with 50 of his own, also past the mark. Richard Ellis chipped in with a tidy 49, and between the three of them we were carried to a formidable 221 for 5 from our 43 overs. Tea was taken in good spirits, the sandwiches tasting all the sweeter with a total like that behind us.

Defending it, the side turned positively hostile. J- Stapleton set the tone with figures of 3 for 11, Brian Piper backed him up with 3 for 19, and a- Francis weighed in with 2 for 4, while Darren Styles throttled the scoring with four maidens. Poor R- Beale never troubled the scorers, departing for a duck. Old Anchorians were bowled out for a paltry 80 from their 30 overs, and we strolled home by 141 runs.

A thumping win all round, and fitting reward for Ron McCormick and J- Stapleton, who now sit atop the club's run and wicket charts for the season. If this is the standard, it promises to be a fine summer for Linton Park.

Sat 01 Jun 1996 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · HomeformLLLWW

Saturday brought Milstead CC to Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in asking us to bat first — the right call, as it turned out, and I shan't apologise for saying so. Stewart Morrison set about proving the point with a fine 75, the sort of composed fifty that lets everyone else play with a bit of freedom, and Paul Bowles chipped in handsomely with 42 as we motored to 215/7 from our 46 overs. A total with a bit of substance to defend.

Milstead never quite got the required rate within reach, closing on 155/6 from their 44. K. West battled to 33 not out and P. Tooke to 31 not out, with C. Pearson's 30 the other notable contribution, but R. Frizzell departed without troubling the scorers, and wickets at the other end kept the required rate honest. Dave Todd was the pick of the attack with 3-41, and Chris Tymms bowled a tidy spell for 2-31, including two maidens that strangled the scoring when it mattered most. Eight byes did rather tell their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Roly Edwards, though nothing that dented the result.

Sixty runs the right side of the ledger by the close, and a thoroughly satisfying one for the club — Morrison now sits proudly atop the 2nd XI run charts for the season with 209, and Todd is snapping at the heels of the wicket-takers with six. A good day's work all round, and one to build on.

Thu 30 May 1996 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformDWDLL

Thursday the 30th of May, and Sissinghurst CC rolled up as our visitors with the sun doing its best village-green impression. I put us in the field first, more hope than science as it turned out, because inside sixteen overs we'd shot them out for 97/9. A. Knowler top-scored with 24, but R. Knowler fared rather less gloriously, sent back for a duck without so much as a nervous single to his name. The real story, though, was Ian Brattle, who turned his arm over like a man possessed and finished with a scarcely believable 6-28. Sean Charlton chipped in with 2-8 and Dave Charlton with 1-23, tidying up what Brattle left behind.

Chasing 98 should never have been the formality it was, and yet Nigel Thirkell made sure it was exactly that, batting through unbeaten for 41 and steering us home with Paul Gibson's brisk 25 alongside him. We got there in 15.3 overs for the loss of just three wickets, which is about as comfortable as club cricket allows itself to be.

A word for the record books: Brattle's six-for nudges him past John Thirkell and into tenth on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is no small thing to have your name attached to. He now leads the 1996 first-team wicket charts with 17, while Mike Caddick continues to pile up the runs at the top of the table with 452.

A fine win by seven wickets, then, and precious little to grumble about over tea.

Wed 29 May 1996 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Boughton Monchelsea CC · HomeformDLDDD

Wednesday saw Boughton Monchelsea CC roll into Linton Park for what turned out to be a thoroughly memorable afternoon. I won the toss and elected to bat without much hesitation — the sort of call that looks either shrewd or foolish depending entirely on what follows, and for once it looked shrewd. We were bowled out for 147 in 41.2 overs, a total built almost entirely on Trevor Back's well-made fifty (55) and Neville Smith's equally handsome half-century (50). Less gloriously, Dave Todd, Adrian Caddick and I all trudged back for ducks — I shan't dwell on the indignity of a captain's golden blob, except to say that leading by example has its limits.

Defending 147, the lads were magnificent. Boughton Monchelsea were shot out for 128 in 41.5 overs, M Tucker's 37 and J Knowles' 20 the only real resistance. Paul Bowles did the damage with 2-17, well supported by Adrian Caddick's 2-29 and Darren Styles' 1-6, while I did my bit with the ball, sending down four tidy maidens to make up for my earlier failings with the bat. Steve Kember, M Hogben and S Smitherman all departed without troubling the scorers, and poor Roly Edwards had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes the price of a lively pitch.

A word of real celebration amid it all: Trevor Back brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded. A fine win by 19 runs, then — proof that even a golden duck can't spoil a good day's cricket. Onwards.

Mon 27 May 1996 🧢 1st XIv XM XII Men · HomeformWDWDL

Lost the toss on a fine Monday evening — 27 May, if the gazette wants precision — and dutifully sent Xii Men in to bat, which in hindsight was rather like inviting the fox to inspect the henhouse. John Hartridge made merry with an assured 83, well supported by Brad McNee's 46 and Andrew Baker's 35, and between them they steered the visitors to 225 all out in 51.5 overs. Credit where due: Francis was the pick of our attack with 2-17, Adrian Caddick and Michael Beeney chipped in with 2-24 and 2-46 respectively, and I did my bit for the cause with four maidens, keeping things tight even if the wickets column stayed stubbornly blank.

Two hundred and twenty-six to win was always going to ask questions of our batting, and we answered them badly. Forty-six all out in 17.3 overs is not a total one dwells on with any fondness — Neville Smith, Adam Pooley and Peter Whyte all took the long, lonely walk for ducks, a hat-trick of quacks that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

There was, mind you, one gleam amid the wreckage: Mike Caddick's watchful 19 eased him past Peter Whyte and up to twentieth on the club's all-time run-scoring list — a small mantelpiece trophy on an otherwise chastening afternoon. He continues to lead our 1996 run charts with 448, while Michael Beeney tops the wicket-takers with 11.

Beaten, comprehensively, by 179 runs. We shall regroup, lick our wounds, and no doubt be better for it next week.

Sun 26 May 1996 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWLLLW

I won the toss on a bright Sunday at the end of May and, with barely a glance at the sky, chose to bat. Dave Charlton set the tone with a lovely unbeaten sixty, the innings gathering shape around him as David Castle chipped in with 32 and I added the same down the order, the lads carrying us to a healthy 190 for 6 from our forty overs. Not a fireworks display, but a total with substance, the sort that makes fielders think twice before their tea.

Sissinghurst's reply never quite got its wheels under it. Andrew Knowler played the innings of the day with 41, and there was defiance from J- Hammond and T- Wright, but wickets fell steadily around them, and poor N- Chambers trudged off for a golden duck without so much as a single to his name. I found some rhythm I hadn't expected, finishing with 3 for 20 including a couple of tidy maidens, while Matt Large and Michael Beeney kept the squeeze on at the other end. Sissinghurst folded for 148 in 36.5 overs.

A comfortable 42-run win, then, and a rather special afternoon personally, marking my 900th appearance in Linton colours. With Mike Caddick leading our run charts and yours truly out in front with the ball this season, the engine room is humming nicely. A good day for the club, and a fine one to have been part of.

Sat 25 May 1996 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWLLLW

Saturday 25 May 1996, and the road took us to Bearsted — never an easy fixture, but one I've always relished. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation electing to bat, and for once the decision looked thoroughly justified as we posted 164/9 from our 46 overs. Keith Hatcher was the architect, striding to 76 with the kind of authority that makes a captain's job easy, well supported by Dave Todd's tidy 22, and the pair's 61-run stand for the seventh wicket was the innings' backbone. Not every card is without blemish, mind — poor Stuart Cheesman departed for a duck, and I dare say he won't thank me for putting that in print.

With the ball, we had our work cut out as Bearsted replied with 162/3 from 44 overs, Gareth Oakland unbeaten on 66 and Glyn Parham likewise not out on 39, with Ian Lambert's 27 and a stubborn third-wicket stand of 54 keeping them in the hunt right to the wire. I did what I could with the new ball, taking 1-27, with Dave Todd and Chris Tymms chipping in either side of me, and Daniel Thirkell bowling three miserly maidens to keep the screws turned.

In the end it came down to the barest of margins — two runs the difference, and a nervier finish than any of us needed. A splendid team effort, thoroughly earned, and quite possibly the most English of victories: won by less than you'd spend on a round of drinks afterwards.

Sat 25 May 1996 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLWDWD

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think the club coin has it in for me — and Bearsted CC made themselves at home with the bat. Stephen Pearce made merry to the tune of 108 not out, and by the time their fourth pair had added a crucial 59 we were chasing our own tails rather than wickets. Credit where due: Ian Brattle bowled beautifully for 3-42, Matt Large chipped in with 2-64 and four miserly maidens, and I managed 1-33 for my own trouble. We did at least see off Stuart Gorman for a duck, small mercies. Still, an infuriating last-pair stand of 35 dragged them to 180/6 from their 46, a few more than we'd have liked.

In reply, we never quite got out of second gear. An early wicket with just 1 on the board set a nervy tone, and though David Castle's 51 and useful support from Paul Gibson (34) and Neville Smith (28) built a decent platform, including a 59-run third-wicket stand, the innings unravelled from 141-5 to 151-8 in the sort of collapse that ages a captain prematurely. Poor Mike Caddick had a duck to forget. We closed on 167/9 from 44, thirteen runs short.

Beyond the scoreline, a day of milestones: David Castle brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours, and Brattle's three wickets nudged him past Tony Gauna into 11th on the club's all-time list. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 19 May 1996 🧢 1st XIv JC J & E Hall CC · AwayformLLWDW

Sunday 19 May 1996 saw us pack the kit bag for J & E Hall CC, and for once I got the coin toss right — bat first, I said, with all the confidence of a man who's guessed wrong the previous five times. This time it paid off handsomely.

What followed was less an innings than a demolition, conducted at leisure. Mike Caddick and David Castle simply declined to get out, ambling to 244 without loss from 37.2 overs — Caddick unbeaten on a magnificent 151, Castle a classy 87 not out alongside him. I'm told there are captains who worry about their batting order; I spent the afternoon working out how many teas I could reasonably ask for.

Defending that mountain, J & E Hall gave it a proper go — R Scudder's well-crafted 62, with J Stapleton (30) and N Winterman (23 not out) chipping in, dragged them to 180/6 from their 39. Ian Brattle was the pick of our attack, 3-29 with three tidy maidens thrown in for good measure, Ollie Priestly (2-33) and Michael Beeney (1-11) doing their bit besides. Poor David Castle, having batted like a dream, spent the field innings leaking 14 byes — you can't have everything.

A draw, then — honours shared, neither side quite able to force the issue. With Caddick sitting proudly atop the season's run charts and Beeney leading the wickets, the signs for the summer are rather promising. A day, on balance, we'll happily take.

Sat 18 May 1996 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLWLLL

Saturday last took us down to Headcorn, and for once the toss actually went my way — I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and by the close I was rather pleased with myself for it. Stewart Morrison set about the bowling in the sort of form that suggests our scorer will need a new pencil, falling agonisingly short of a hundred on 99, while Mike Elworthy chipped in with a brisk 42 and Chris Tymms saw us home unbeaten on 38. All told, 228 for 5 off our 46 overs was a total with a bit of menace to it.

Defending it, though, is always the nervous part, and I confess I do enjoy that walk out with the new ball rather more than I let on. Everything seemed to click, and I finished with 6 for 30 off my allotted overs, four of them maidens, which is about as tidy as this old arm gets these days. Adam Pooley kept things honest at the other end with 2 for 21, Adrian Caddick chipped in with one, and only Deacon, unbeaten on 24, showed any real fight as Headcorn folded for 90 in 38.3 overs.

A thumping win by 138 runs, and two points banked without much argument. Stewart continues to top our run charts for the season and I'll happily own the wickets column myself — a proper afternoon's work, and one the tea urn thoroughly deserved.

Tue 14 May 1996 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDLLWD

Tuesday evening at home to Rumwood, and for once the tea urn wasn't the only thing under pressure. We put them in, and watched them crawl to 107 for 5 off their sixteen overs, propped up almost single-handedly by Perks, who carried his bat to a well-made unbeaten 57 while wickets fell steadily at the other end. I managed to get among them myself with 2 for 25, and Nigel Thirkell and Dave Charlton chipped in with a wicket apiece, Thirkell for 25 and Charlton for 29, so between us we kept a lid on things even as Perks refused to budge.

With 108 needed, we barely broke sweat. Mike Caddick played the innings of the night, 46 crisp runs that set the platform, with Nigel Thirkell again showing his worth, this time with the bat, unbeaten on 26 as we cantered home to 111 for 2 in just 12.3 overs.

Rather splendidly, Caddick's 46 also nudged him past Cliff Anscombe into 21st on the club's all-time run-scoring list, which is the sort of statistical immortality that ought to earn a man a pint on the house. He continues to lead our 1996 run charts with 278, while I'll happily settle for 4th in the wicket table on 5 and let him hog the limelight.

An eight-wicket win, achieved with time and dignity to spare. We'll take that all season long.

Sun 12 May 1996 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SC St Lawrence CC · HomeformWWLLL

Called it right at the toss on a fine Sunday and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first. Mike Caddick then proceeded to bat as though he'd been promised a knighthood for every run past three figures, and 122 from him did the heavy lifting in our 265 for 3 from the forty. I chipped in with 79 of my own, and Clive Newman's 27 rounded out a total that had St Lawrence's fielders looking distinctly weary by tea.

Defending that sort of score ought to be the easy part, though cricket has a way of reminding you otherwise. St Lawrence never quite let go of it, with Armitage compiling an unhurried 64 not out and getting good company from Pitcairn-Knowles's 36 and Mitchell's 28. We did strike early against Williams, who departed for a duck, and it was Jon Harris who did most to keep us ahead of the game with 2 for 35, well backed up by Ian Brattle's 2 for 51 and a tidy 1 for 31 from my own bowling. They finished on 217 for 6, forty-eight runs shy.

A word too for the record books: Caddick's century eased him past Clive Newman and into 22nd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while he now tops our 1996 Sunday run charts with Harris leading the wickets. All in all, a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 11 May 1996 🧢 2nd XIv FC Flimwell CC · AwayformWLWLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 11 May 1996, and the road took us to Flimwell CC in reasonable spirits, if not entirely reasonable weather-readiness.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than merely stubborn. We ground our way to 166/7 from the full 49 overs, the innings resting largely on Brian Piper's fine 48, with J- Stapleton chipping in an unbeaten 21 to see us home to a total with a bit of respectability about it. Not every contribution sparkled, mind — Roly Edwards's golden duck being the sort of thing best forgotten over a pint in the bar afterwards.

Out in the field, defending 166 felt like a fair proposition, but Flimwell had other ideas. Martin Noon played the innings of the day, 48 well-crafted runs, backed up by Richard Holloway's 32 and Ian Atkin's 25, and between them they chased us down in a brisk 28.2 overs. We did have our moments — John Bates back in the hutch without troubling the scorers, and J- Stapleton bowled beautifully for 2-15, well supported by Tim Thirkell's 1-9 and Adam Pooley's 1-16. I even managed 19 with the bat for what little comfort that offered.

In the end, though, it wasn't to be — beaten by two wickets, a match that slipped through our fingers rather than one we were outclassed in. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets.

Sat 11 May 1996 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWDLLW

Saturday 11 May 1996 – Linton Park Cricket Club v Rumwood CC

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once the decision looked sound before a ball was bowled. We rattled on to 211 for 3 off our 48.4 overs, a total built on the sort of application that makes a captain's tea taste sweeter than usual. I managed to find some rhythm at the crease for a half-century of my own, and once I'd departed the innings didn't so much fade as settle into a comfortable armchair, with Neville Smith and Clive Newman both finishing unbeaten on useful, unhurried contributions that took the shine off the new ball and the sting out of the afternoon.

Rumwood's reply was a rather more measured affair. Pete Humphries played the innings of the day for them, seeing his side to 165 for 3 from 44 overs with an unbeaten knock that our attack simply couldn't shift, well supported down the order. Darren Styles was the pick of our bowlers, prising out the solitary wicket to fall for the meanest of returns, with a bit of everything from the rest of us — I chipped in myself, Paul Bowles toiled manfully, and Alan Boyns bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that suggests he counts every run personally. Clive Newman had a trickier time behind the stumps, eight byes slipping past him, though his bat had already done more than enough to earn him a spot in the club's all-time top twenty-two run-scorers — no mean feat.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then, but a thoroughly good-natured one — the kind that leaves you satisfied on the drive home and only mildly regretful about the eight byes.

Mon 06 May 1996 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformDWDLL

Lost the toss again — Maidstone Dissidents CC won the call and had no hesitation in batting first, leaving us to do the honours in the field. Toil we did, though not without reward: their innings ran to 33.4 overs and 174 all out, with Steve Heap standing rather immovably in the way, compiling a superb unbeaten 104, ably supported by Russell Longmuir's 45. Everything else came and went in a hurry — Tim Lush, Mike Bains and Andrew Naish all trooped back for ducks, proof that our attack had its moments. Ian Brattle was pick of the bowlers with 3-44, Dave Charlton chipped in with 2-19, and Michael Beeney, tidy as ever with two maidens, took 2-32.

175 needed, then, and we duly got there, if not without the usual palpitations. Mike Caddick was the mainstay with 49, well backed by Dave Charlton's unbeaten 34 and Paul Gibson's 30, seeing us home in 38.1 overs for the loss of five wickets. Not every contribution can be a classic — Peter Whyte's walk to the crease produced a duck for the ledger, the sort of innings best forgotten by teatime.

Caddick's 49 was worth more than the scoreboard let on, easing him past Robert Murray into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list. He now leads our 1996 run charts with 190, while Beeney tops the wickets with eight — the pair of them quietly building rather good seasons.

A fine win by five wickets, then. Onwards.

Sun 05 May 1996 🧢 1st XIv Chestfield CC · HomeformDDWDL

Sunday 5 May saw Chestfield roll up for what turned into one of those matches you file under "character building." I won the toss and, with the sun out and the square looking a picture, had no hesitation in batting first — a decision I stood by right up until the final over.

We built a proper total. Piers McDonald played the innings of the day, a well-crafted 67, while Keith Hatcher was there at the close with an unbeaten 54 of his own, and Daniel Thirkell chipped in a handy 38. Two fifties and a solid supporting cast took us to 215 for 6 off our 42 overs — the kind of score that usually has the tea urn boiling with quiet confidence.

Then Ian Wigg happened. The man simply refused to get out, ending unbeaten on a magnificent 149, with Paul Wickens lending a hand at the other end with 21. Michael Beeney toiled away superbly for 3 for 71, squeezing in two maidens along the way, and I did what I could with the ball, picking up 2 for 57, while Adrian Caddick chimed in with 1 for 54. Poor Mike Elworthy had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, conceding ten byes as the ball kept finding gaps he'd rather it hadn't. Chestfield edged home at 218 for 7 with three balls in hand.

Down by two wickets, then — not our day, and one man's innings for the ages the difference between the two dressing rooms. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 04 May 1996 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformWWLWL

Saturday 4th May, and I won the toss for the visit of Horsmonden CC — always a nice feeling, though whether it was genius or luck electing to bat I'll leave for wiser heads to judge. As it turned out, I fancy I got that one right.

We crawled to 131/9 off our 46.5 overs, which on reflection wasn't quite the platform we'd hoped for but was honest toil in the circumstances. I chipped in with 38, well supported by Paul Bowles with an equally handy 38 and Stewart Morrison's 24 — the middle order doing its bit while the top order, shall we say, admired the scenery. Special mention to poor Roly Edwards, who bagged a golden duck and will be buying the teas for some weeks yet.

In the field, we simply couldn't stem the flow. Mark Flemington played a genuinely fine knock of 66 not out, ushering Horsmonden home with the loss of only four wickets and eight overs unused. Dean Larkin and Chris Bills chipped in usefully too. Our own G Dilton went for a duck, which was some small consolation. Ollie Priestly was easily our pick with the ball, 2 for 10 of genuine hostility, with Paul Bowles and Dave Todd chipping in a wicket apiece — though against Flemington in that mood, it rather felt like bailing out a boat with a teacup.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, and fair enough — the better side won on the day. Tim Thirkell tops the 1996 2nd XI run charts and Ollie Priestly the wickets, so the engine room is ticking over nicely even if the scoreboard didn't smile on us this time. We'll regroup, put the kettle on, and come back stronger next week.

Sat 04 May 1996 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformDDDWD

Bidborough, Saturday last, and a rare sun-trap of a day for early May. Winning the toss I had no hesitation in batting first — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the lads in the bar might say afterwards. Mike Caddick played the innings of the day, a fluent 77, and I chipped in with 44 while Clive Newman's 36 kept things ticking along nicely. All told, 209/4 from our 48 overs looked a tidy total to defend.

Defend it we very nearly did. Peter K Eames simply refused to get out, compiling a fine 85, with David Tolhurst's 53 and Tom Bayley's 20 offering sturdy support — though we did at least see off poor A Steptoe without so much as a single run to his name. I managed 2-35 with the ball, Matt Large chipped in with 2-43 and bowled beautifully tight, five maidens speaking for themselves. Ten byes, alas, made for an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps for Clive.

There was cause for real celebration amid the defeat: I brought up 30,000 career runs for the club, Mike Elworthy reached 3,000, and Clive's 36 nudged him past Robert Murray into 22nd on the all-time list — proper club history being made even as we were losing the match.

Beaten by four wickets, then, and back to the nets we go. Not our day — but on an afternoon like that, who could really begrudge Bidborough their win?

Sun 28 Apr 1996 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformDDDDW

Sunday last saw us travel to Sheldwich, and for once the coin obliged me – I called it right and had few qualms about batting first on what looked a decent track.

We made hay to the tune of 249 for 4 off our 44 overs, which is about as good a total as this captain has had the pleasure of watching from the non-striker's end. David Castle led the charge with a classy 64, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, matching him run for run with 64 of my own – I shan't pretend that didn't feel rather splendid. Keith Hatcher then finished things off in style with an unbeaten 41, while poor Piers McDonald contributed nothing at all to the arithmetic beyond a duck, which the extras column rather generously made up for with 25 of its own.

If our batting had been generous, our bowling was positively stingy. Sheldwich were held to 173 for 8, with only J. Beal, unbeaten on 62, ever threatening to spoil the party. Darren Styles was the chief architect of the containment, bowling with real discipline for figures of 4 for 23 including six maidens, well backed by Michael Beeney's 2 for 18 and a wicket apiece for yours truly and S. Brissenden and A. Godden, who both departed without scoring.

A draw it was, honours shared and nobody quite able to land the killer blow – but with Styles reaching his half-century of club wickets and Hatcher climbing the run-scorers' list, there was plenty for the tea hut to toast regardless.

Sat 27 Apr 1996 🧢 1st XIv P Penshurst · AwayformWDDDD

Here's the match report:

Well, they say the toss is half the battle, and having called it right at Penshurst I fancied our chances with the willow first. What followed was a proper batting effort — 204 for 9 off our allotted 47.2 overs, the kind of total that gives a captain a spring in his step on the walk back to the pavilion. I managed 45 myself, nothing to write home about but enough to set a platform, with Paul Gibson chipping in 43 and David Castle a tidy 37 alongside him. Not every duck swims serenely, mind — Paul Bowles and Adam Pooley both trudged back for nought, and I shan't pretend the walk of shame gets any shorter with repetition.

With the ball in hand we set about dismantling the reply, and dismantle it we did — Penshurst folded for 144 in 42 overs. Leegood's 47 was the only real resistance, well held up by Mitchell's 28, but Fuller-Rowle departed without troubling the scorers. The day belonged to Paul Bowles, whose 5 for 71 was a five-for thoroughly deserved, with Adam Pooley (3-15) and Michael Beeney (1-18, six miserly maidens) squeezing the life out of the innings alongside him.

A special mention for Paul Gibson, who brought up 9,000 career runs for the club — no small feat — while Mike Caddick's 16 nudged him past Ray Howard into 24th on the all-time run-scorers' list. Sixty runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned both.

Sat 27 Apr 1996 🧢 2nd XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformWWWLW

Saturday 27 April 1996 — a rare treat, home fixture against Yalding CC, and the coin gave me the pleasant task of putting the opposition into the field. Stuart Cheesman set about proving that decision correct with a fine 52, the innings' backbone by some distance, and I was glad to chip in with 37 of my own alongside Dave Todd's tidy 26 as we ground our way to 168/9 off 45.1 overs. Not every contribution sparkled, mind — poor Mike Elworthy's walk back for a duck will earn him nothing but ridicule in the clubhouse this week, and rightly so; that's what the ledger is for.

Out in the field, though, Yalding rather had the better of the conversation. R. Innes played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 51 that quietly strangled our hopes, well supported by I. Cardew's 42 and S. Orchard's undefeated 27, and between them they saw their side home on 170/3```` with overs to spare. It wasn't for want of trying with the ball — Alan Boyns bowled beautifully for 1-17, five of his overs maidens, about as mean a spell as you'll see on this ground, with Stuart Cheesman and Chris Tymms chipping in for a wicket apiece. But five maidens don't win you a cricket match on their own.

So, seven wickets the wrong way, and a long drive home to reflect on it. Cheesman leads our run charts and Tymms tops the wickets after just one match — early days yet, plenty of season left to put this right. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.