🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 28 Sep 1997 🧢 1st XIv M M.Large · HomeformDWLDD

It was M.Large at home on Sunday 28 September 1997, and having lost the toss I found us stuck out in the field on what was, by rights, a chasing man's afternoon. Still, no complaints from the ranks — we simply got on with it. M.Large closed on a stiff 152/7 from their 25 overs, Mike Elworthy playing the anchor role with a fine 44, well supported by Rob Doick's 29. But the ball did its share of talking too: Carl Davis was superb with 2-25, Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 2-35, and I managed to have a small say in proceedings myself with 1-16.

Chasing 153 to win, we made a fair fist of it, closing on 160/6 from our allotted 25 — although with the equation what it was, honours were always going to be shared rather than seized. Daniel Thirkell was in irresistible touch, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 54, a proper well-made fifty that held the innings together. Roly Edwards weighed in handsomely with 37, and young Nigel Thirkell added a useful 20 — no mean feat given he sits second in the 1997 first XI run charts with 827 to his name already.

So, honours shared it was — a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. Not the story of daring conquest the tea ladies might have hoped for, but a thoroughly good tussle, and on a warm September Sunday with bat and ball both earning their keep, I'll happily settle for that.

Sun 28 Sep 1997 🧢 1st XIv T T.Thirkell · HomeformLDWLD

Sunday 28 September brought T. Thirkell to Linton Park, and with the season winding down there was still plenty worth playing for. Winning the toss, I sent us into the field, and the visitors made steady progress to 160/6 from their 25 overs — nothing that had us panicking, thanks in no small part to Stuart Cheesman, who tore through with a fine 2-8, well backed up by David Castle's 1-19 and a wicket apiece for yours truly.

Chasing 161, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite getting there, closing on 152/7. Michael Beeney was the class act with a rich 44, Clive Newman chipped in handsomely with 34, and I was pleased to add 29 of my own down the order — though seven overs short and nine runs shy is the sort of arithmetic that makes for a long walk to the tea urn.

There was, mind you, a rather lovely footnote to the afternoon: David Castle brought up 15,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that rather puts one's own modest contributions in perspective and deserved every one of the cheers it got. Season-long, the old boy leads our run charts with 1,364, while I've somehow stumbled into pole position with the ball on 49 wickets — figures I shall enjoy for exactly as long as nobody looks too closely at my economy rate.

In the end, honours shared and nobody quite able to force the door open — a draw that felt, on balance, entirely fair, and as good an excuse as any for a second pint.

Sat 27 Sep 1997 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · AwayformDWDWW

Trevor Back stood at the crease like a man with a train to catch and no intention of hurrying, and 71 fine runs later I couldn't have called it better myself — winning the toss and batting first felt right the moment his bat started singing. Ron McCormick chipped in with a well-made 58 of his own, and between the two of them we had the makings of a proper total. Keith Francis kept his head down for an unbeaten 25, though the same couldn't be said for Mike Elworthy and Richard Ellis, who both departed for ducks — the sort of thing best filed under "character building" and never mentioned again. Even so, 181/5 off our 39 overs was a total with a bit of menace to it.

Defending it was another matter entirely, especially once A Munsey settled in and cruised past fifty to an unbeaten 78 — the sort of innings that makes a captain check his watch rather more than he'd like. Paul Matthewson's 26 kept the required rate honest, but Hunton simply ran out of partners: Jonathan Sceats, Dave Leppard and Thomas Matthewson all fell for ducks as the middle order crumbled around Munsey. Darren Styles led the charge beautifully with 2-30, Richard Ellis atoned for his blob with the ball (2-39), and P- Martin bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment, three maidens and 2-42 to show for it. All out for 145 in 34.3 overs.

A 36-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — the top order laid the foundation, the bowlers refused to be bullied, and honour was well and truly upheld for Linton Park.

Sat 27 Sep 1997 🧢 1st XIv Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformWLDWL

Rainham (Kent) arrived at Linton Park on a day made for cricket, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in putting them in — a decision that, for once, didn't come back to haunt me. The lads batted with real purpose, Clive Newman and the openers laying down a magnificent platform of 117 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scoreboard operator. Newman went on to a superb 91, Brian Piper chipped in a fine fifty of his own, and Daniel Thirkell's 31 rounded things off nicely as we declared ourselves happy at 211 for 5 off our 45.4 overs.

With the ball, it was a real team effort. Fred Cheesman set the tone with 2 for 15, Stuart Cheesman backed him up admirably with 2 for 21, and I managed to sneak in on the act with 2 for 24 — my one boast for the report, and I shall leave it there. Rainham fought hard, Glen Cook's classy 58 anchoring things with support from Paul Newton and Kevin Waters, but a middle-order collapse and two ducks kept them just short, finishing on 189 for 9.

As for my own batting contribution — a golden duck, and the less written about it the better. Far more worth celebrating were Clive Newman's 5,000 career runs and Daniel Thirkell's 1,000 — landmarks that will stand long after this scorecard is forgotten.

A draw, then, honours even. Not the win we wanted, but a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket all the same.

Wed 24 Sep 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLLLDW

Wednesday last took us to Penshurst Park, and for once the coin behaved itself: I called correctly and had no hesitation electing to bat, the pitch looking far too inviting to leave alone. We wobbled almost at once, slipping to 2 for 1, and I confess my heart was in my mouth — but the middle order steadied things nicely, a stand of 62 for the second wicket restoring some order, before Paul Gibson simply took charge. His unbeaten 123 was an innings of real class, carrying us to a handsome 212 for 8 from our 47 overs. Not every name from the card wants dwelling on, mind — poor Mike Elworthy's duck can be filed quietly under "one to forget."

Defending that total, we found Penshurst in no mood to surrender tamely. Andy Zaltzman batted with real authority for his 56, well supported by Good, unbeaten on 48, and Hunter with 42, the pair dragging the hosts to 207 for 7 from their fifty overs. Michael Beeney led the attack beautifully, miserly with two maidens on his way to 3 for 57, and I was glad to chip in myself with 3 for 67, having earlier made 19 with the bat — a fair day's toil, and enough at least to see off Clark for a duck.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the door. Between Paul Gibson's magnificent hundred, Michael Beeney's tidy bowling, and my own season's haul now up to 24 wickets, there was plenty to be cheerful about — a fine advertisement for patient, watchful cricket, even on a day the scoreboard refused to name a winner.

Sun 21 Sep 1997 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformWWLDW

I elected to bat after winning the toss, and for forty overs it looked a grand decision. Stewart Morrison's fifty-plus knock of 61 was the innings' backbone, with Piers McDonald (47) and Clive Newman (31) lending fine support after an early wobble at 7 for 1 threatened to derail us. The second-wicket stand of 114 rebuilt the innings handsomely, and even when the recognised batting ran out, the tail wagged for a defiant 41 to leave the Anchorians' fielders thoroughly weary. I can't claim any credit with the bat, mind — Stuart Cheesman and I both contributed golden ducks to proceedings, and a captain who preaches leading by example rather sheepishly returned to the pavilion for nought. We closed on 219 for 7.

Two hundred and nineteen felt defendable, and for a while it was. Graham Siveyer's unbeaten 60 anchored their chase, ably backed by Neil Mobey (43) and Eddie Stanford (39), the openers laying a platform of 70 before the first wicket fell. I did at least make amends with the ball, taking 3 for 35, with Stuart Cheesman and Jon Harris chipping in and Michael Beeney bowling three tidy maidens. But it wasn't quite enough, and the Anchorians got home by five wickets with 39.2 overs gone.

Not our day, then — a golden duck and a losing cause rarely sit well together, even with three wickets to soften the blow. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 20 Sep 1997 🧢 1st XIv EC Elliotts CC · HomeformDWWLD

A brighter sort of Saturday it turned out to be, this one against Elliotts CC, and I'll admit the toss couldn't have fallen kinder — no hesitation from me, we were batting. What followed was as handsome a display as Linton Park have put on all summer: 230 for 3 off our 43, built on a genuinely superb hundred from Paul Bowles, unbeaten on 115 and playing like a man who'd read the fixture list and decided this was his day. Mike Elworthy chipped in a tidy 42, Trevor Back a solid 36, and between them the innings simply purred along.

Defending that sort of total is, frankly, the easy part of captaincy, and so it proved. Elliotts were bowled out for 141 in 35.1 overs, never remotely threatening to chase us down. Gary Buckle's 21 and Max Wasson's 20 were about the only real resistance, while poor Rod Moodley trudged off for a duck. Carl Davis was the pick of the attack with 3 for 28, Dave Todd weighed in with 3 for 38 and Ian Brattle took 2 for 19 — no mean feat given he already sits third in this year's 1st XI wicket charts with 35 to his name. I pottered along with three maidens myself, more container than contributor, but happily so.

Eighty-nine runs the margin in the end, and two points thoroughly, unarguably earned. Elliotts never really got a foothold, and nor should they have. A grand day for the club, and one I'll enjoy retelling long after the tea urn's gone cold.

Sat 20 Sep 1997 🧢 2nd XIv BC Borden CC · AwayformLDWDW

Away at Borden, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly, and with barely a glance at the sky I stuck us in to bat. Paul Gibson set about proving that decision right with a really fine 58, the sort of innings that makes a captain look cleverer than he has any right to. I chipped in with 40 of my own, and Stuart Cheesman weighed in with a handy 31, the two of us putting on 68 for the third wicket while Gibson kept the scoreboard honest at the other end. Then, as so often happens in this game, the tail wagged rather too enthusiastically in the wrong direction — 167 for 6 became 172 for 9 in the blink of an eye, with Daniel Thirkell, David Lines and Adrian Caddick all contributing golden ducks to the cause. Still, 195 all out from 38 overs was a total worth defending.

And defend it we did. Borden never quite got going, subsiding from 74 for 5 to 93 for 8 as the pressure told, John Truelove departing without troubling the scorers. David Lines was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 34 including three maidens, well backed up by Daniel Thirkell's canny 2 for 6 and Jon Harris's 2 for 17. Richard Truelove's 23 was the only real resistance. Twenty byes did rather tell their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Gibson, but nothing could dent the eventual margin — home and dry by 75 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 14 Sep 1997 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformLDWWL

Sunday 14th September brought Northend Sunday to Linton Park, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision that, for once, I'll take full credit for. David Castle set about the visitors' attack in magnificent fashion, compiling a superb 124, while Clive Newman played the ideal supporting hand with a polished 52. The pair put on 165 for the first wicket before either was parted from the crease, a stand that did all the heavy lifting and left the middle order with little to do but watch. Not everyone enjoyed such fortune — poor Nigel Thirkell was back in the pavilion for a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that earns good-natured ribbing in the bar rather than the scorebook. We closed on a handsome 225/6 from our 43.3 overs.

Defending that total, Northend gave us a proper contest. R Swaisland played beautifully for 88, well supported by T Leach's 31 and D Bray's unbeaten 24, and their own openers matched ours stride for stride with 75 before the breakthrough came. I was pleased enough with my own afternoon's work, finishing with 1-23 from ten miserly overs including three maidens, while Michael Beeney and Darren Styles chipped in with 1-29 apiece to keep the shackles on. In the end Northend fell short at 187/5 from their 42, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — honest, hard-fought, and with Castle and Newman's batting the abiding memory of the day. Neither side could quite force the win, but on this evidence we're not far off finding one.

Sat 13 Sep 1997 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · AwayformWLDWD

Betsham CC, away, Saturday 13 September 1997. We lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling record being what it is — and were put into the field. Betsham made a solid fist of things, reaching 232/7 from their 48 overs, built around a well-crafted fifty from Simon Rasho (51 not out), with Roy Wilkinson (47) and Dennis Çuckow (36) chipping in handsomely. I did my best to stem the flow with 2-35, Trevor Back and Mike Elworthy took two and one respectively, and Darren Styles bowled three maidens of the sort that make batsmen mutter darkly to themselves.

Chasing 233 is never a stroll, but Brian Piper had other ideas, playing a captain's innings if ever I saw one — 93 not out, the bulk of our reply right there. Mike Elworthy gave him fine company with 73, and between the pair of them they turned a tricky target into something altogether more comfortable. We eventually got home with four wickets in hand from 47.5 overs, a genuine team effort dressed up as a batting masterclass.

A personal landmark along the way too — I brought up my 50th career wicket, which felt rather nice amid the general scramble for runs. And with Elworthy now sitting second in the 2nd XI run charts and Back fourth among the wicket-takers, the season's shaping up nicely. All told: a proper away win, snatched from a position that looked, at 232/7, rather more Betsham's than ours. I'll take that every week of the summer.

Sat 13 Sep 1997 🧢 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · HomeformWLDWW

The toss fell kindly for once, and with a green-looking pitch and a nagging voice at the back of my mind telling me runs on the board never hurt anybody, I had no hesitation in sending us in. Paul Gibson set about proving me right in style, cruising past his fifty, while Clive Newman chipped in with a fine 47 alongside him — the two of them putting on 77 for the third wicket in a stand that was, frankly, doing most of my captaincy for me. We closed on 162/7 from our 42 overs, a total that felt like a platform rather than a mountain, but a platform nonetheless.

Clarion's reply began nervously — an early wicket with just six on the board had us daring to dream — but Richard Hilson had other ideas, compiling a superb unbeaten 74 and finding a willing ally in R Lovell (28), the pair adding 62 for the second wicket to steady the ship. David Castle was the chief tormentor with 3-27, backed up admirably by Michael Beeney's 2-29 and Jon Harris's solitary but valuable strike. I did my bit with three tidy maidens, though miserliness alone wasn't quite enough to stem the tide, and Clarion got home with six wickets in hand and half an over to spare.

Not our day, then — down by four wickets, and a few home truths to digest over the teas. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.

Wed 10 Sep 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformLLLLD

Wednesday the 10th of September saw us play host to Lord Cornwallis XI, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in asking the lads to bat first — a decision that occasionally comes back to haunt a captain, but not on this occasion.

We posted 208 for 8 from our 44.2 overs, built chiefly around a lovely half-century from Piers McDonald, 71, who put on 101 for the second wicket in an innings that gave the whole total its shape. Mike Elworthy weighed in with a tidy 44 and David Castle chipped in with 26, and between them they left the bowlers precious little to work with.

Defending that total, we asked Lord Cornwallis XI to bat, and though S- Ives made a well-crafted fifty and found support from J Cornwallis (37) and P Carroll (30) in a 74-run fourth-wicket stand, the middle order rather ran out of ideas — 169 for 7 became 179 all out from 42.2 overs, with poor P- Barnett back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 6 for 54, while Darren Styles chipped in handsomely with 4 for 22.

Piers McDonald continues to lead our 1997 run charts with 242, and I'm pleased to say I currently top the wicket charts with 21. A fine win by 29 runs — onwards we go.

Sun 07 Sep 1997 🧢 1st XIv Southfleet CC · HomeformWWLDW

Sunday's fixture against Southfleet was one of those afternoons that reminded me exactly why I love this daft old game. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling form has been dire all season — and we were put into the field. Southfleet ground their way to 150/8 from 48 overs, with Geoff Lane's fifty (51) the backbone of the innings, well supported by S Waghorn's 38, and a fifth-wicket stand of 81 that threatened to bat us out of the game entirely. Credit to the lads, though: we clawed it back, ripping through the tail as 139/5 became 150/8 in a hurry, with M. Howard sent packing without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was superb up front, 3-25, backed up nicely by Darren Styles (2-32) and Daniel Thirkell (1-5), while I did my bit with three tidy maidens to keep things honest.

Chasing 151, we made light work of it — 154/3 in just 30.3 overs, thanks to a belting opening stand of 104 between Peter Whyte and David Castle. Whyte went on to a fine 59, Castle fell agonisingly one short of his own century-of-fifties moment on 51, and Daniel Thirkell finished the job unbeaten on 30. A word too for Peter, who brought up 4,000 career runs for the club along the way — not a bad afternoon's work by anyone's reckoning.

With Castle topping the season's run charts and yours truly leading the wickets column, the old boys of Linton Park are having rather a purple patch. A comfortable seven-wicket win, then, and one to savour on the drive home. Onwards.

Sat 06 Sep 1997 🧢 2nd XIv BC Borden CC · HomeformWWLDW

Saturday 06 September saw Borden CC pay us a visit, and my call at the toss went astray again — not for the first time this summer — so we were put into the field with little say in the matter. We made the best of it, largely: Richard Truelove settled in for a fine 89, well supported by John Whiskin's 28 and Steve Bicker's 26, their third-wicket stand putting on a stubborn 56 before we prised them apart. Martin Noakes and David Hollands fared rather less well, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — ducks to our name, no complaints from them. Adam Pooley was pick of the attack with 3-21, Chris Tymms chipped in with 2-33, and I managed 2-54 myself, adding to what's shaping into a decent season with the ball — though I'd have traded a wicket or two for tidier figures on the day. Trevor Back's two maidens meant nothing came easily. Borden were all out for 192 from 45.2 overs, a target that felt gettable.

With the bat we never quite found the fluency to chase it down, closing on 140 for 7 from our 35 overs, Richard Ellis the mainstay with a composed 48 not out while wickets fell steadily at the other end. Tim Thirkell, still top of the 2nd XI run charts with 585 for the summer, could only watch from the non-striker's end as others did the damage.

Honours shared, then — a draw that felt about right for an afternoon when neither side quite had the legs to force the matter.

Fri 05 Sep 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv H HILLHEAD · HomeformLLLLL

Friday, Hillhead at home, and the toss deserted me at the crucial moment — a familiar sensation. Put in to bowl, we watched Hillhead's openers set up shop with an unhurried 85-run stand before we could prise one loose, and from there Burns went about compiling a fine 83 while Moaker (31 not out) and Parmenter (23) tidied up the rest. They closed on a stiff-looking 237/6 from their 45. I was pleased enough with 2-60 in support of Dave Todd's excellent 2-48, with Fred Cheesman chipping in a wicket for good measure — though truth be told, on that pitch it felt like bowling into a headwind of runs.

Chasing 238, McDonald and Piper gave us exactly the sort of start you dream of but rarely get, 93 for the first wicket, before McDonald went on to a classy 57 with Thirkell (33) and Piper (30) lending sturdy support. We finished on 146/4 from 32.4 overs — never quite in the hunt, but never embarrassed either, and honours were shared in the end.

Personal milestones softened the disappointment: passing 2,100 career wickets is the sort of number that makes a man feel simultaneously proud and elderly, while McDonald's runs eased him past Jim Hall into 14th on the club's all-time list — a thoroughly deserved piece of history.

Verdict: a draw that flattered nobody and disappointed nobody — honest cricket, honestly shared.

Fri 29 Aug 1997 🧢 Tour XIv MC Mullion CC · AwayformLLWWL

Friday the twenty-ninth of August found us on the road at Mullion, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation whatsoever in sending us in to bat — a decision I stood by with rather more conviction than the scoreboard subsequently deserved. Twenty-two overs yielded a modest 52 for 6, the innings undone by one of those collapses that seem to afflict village sides with metronomic regularity: fourteen for one became twenty-five for four before anyone had quite worked out what had happened, wickets tumbling like deckchairs in a squall. Not our finest hour with the willow, and I shan't pretend otherwise.

Still, a captain's job is to make the best of what he's given, and so we turned to the ball with grim determination to defend our modest total. Credit to the lads — Mullion never did complete their reply, the innings left unresolved as stumps approached, and honours were shared on a afternoon where neither side could quite force the issue.

A draw, then, and no disgrace in it given how the day had started. For the record books, Simon Thirkell continues his steady season, sitting second in the Tour XI run charts with nineteen runs to his name — a reminder that there's substance in this squad even when the top order has an off day. All told, a fair result salvaged from a shaky start, and we head home with pride, if not points, intact.

Thu 28 Aug 1997 🧢 Tour XIv TC Truro CC · AwayformDLLWW

Thursday, 28 August, and we rolled up at Truro CC in good spirits. I lost the toss, we were asked to chase, and out we trooped to bowl first.

Make it count we did, in patches. Five runs on the board and we'd already claimed a wicket — a nervy start for us. But Truro steadied, the third-wicket pair adding a crucial 63, and Martin Phillips motored to 79, well supported by Justin Morris's 40 and Chris Penhaligon's 36, as the total climbed to a stiff 228 for 6 from their forty overs. Darren Styles was outstanding with the ball, 3 for 29 including two maidens, while Fred Cheesman — sharing my surname — took 2 for 26, and Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 1 for 41.

Chasing 229 was always going to ask questions of us, and we didn't have enough answers, folding for 135 in 39.5 overs. David Castle's defiant 48 was the innings' one real substance; Fred Cheesman and Darren Styles both walked the plank for ducks, and it rather summed things up that our second-highest contribution, 27, came in extras. Mike Elworthy had a torrid afternoon with the gloves besides, 15 byes going begging.

David Castle now tops our 1997 run charts, Darren Styles the wickets — proof there's craft in the squad even on a grim day. Beaten by 93 runs in the end, and no dressing it up: we'll need to find some resolve with the bat. Still, we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 23 Aug 1997 🧢 2nd XIv M Marden · HomeformLWWLD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 23 August 1997

Marden arrived on a fine Saturday, we won the toss, and I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, as it turned out, though I'll admit that's easy to say with 216 on the board. Richard Piper led the way with a lovely 47, and I was glad to chip in with 45 of my own alongside Chris Tymms' 40, the three of us dragging us to 216/8 from our 46 overs. Not everyone's afternoon went to plan — Paul Bowles and Adam Pooley both departed for golden ducks, the sort of dismissals that get you a sympathetic pint at the bar rather than a mention in despatches, though I suppose they've just got one here anyway.

With the total looking healthy, it was over to the bowlers, and what a treat they served up. Dave Todd was simply unplayable, spinning his way to 5-49 and, in doing so, easing past Tony Snell into 19th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a fine personal landmark on a fine team day. Chris Tymms backed him up admirably with 2-37, including two miserly maidens, and Trevor Back chipped in with 1-17. Marden's I- Taylor fought hard for his 34, but there was little else to trouble the scorebook, with three of their number back in the pavilion without so much as a run to their name.

A 69-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Onwards.

Sat 23 Aug 1997 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWWWLD

I struck a nervous glance at the sky, called correctly, and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first at Marden. It proved the right call. David Castle and Stewart Morrison put on a magnificent 151 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers, and from there the innings simply kept humming along. Castle went on to a superb century, 109 of real quality, Clive Newman chipped in a handsome fifty of his own with 60, and Morrison's 31 rounded off a total of 247/8 from our 46 overs that looked, even before tea, like a match-winning score.

So it proved. Marden's reply never quite got airborne, their opener I- Scott battling to a well-made half-century of 50 with support from T Rutherford (46) and R- Day (42), but wickets kept tumbling around them — 5-1 early on, and though the third-wicket pair rebuilt with a stubborn 82, the floodgates then opened spectacularly, 143-4 becoming 151-7 in what felt like the blink of an eye, with S McHale, G- Buck and James Humphrey all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I had the pleasure of running riot myself with 6-42, David Lines chipped in with 3-55, and Darren Styles kept things miserly with three maidens as Marden folded for 159 in 30.4 overs.

An 88-run win, two points banked, and a proper away-day thrashing to write home about — Castle's bat and my own bowling arm both in irresistible early-season form. We'll take that all day.

Sun 17 Aug 1997 🧢 1st XIv Whitstable CC · AwayformWWWWL

Sunday 17th August found us on the road to Whitstable, where the coin let us down and we were put into the field — never the outcome one hopes for on a warm summer's afternoon, but there we were. Stuart Sinclair had clearly had his Weetabix, compiling a chanceless 107 not out, with J Coope (82) and Peter Carey (50) lending stout support as the home side rattled to 282/4 from their 37 overs. Michael Beeney toiled away for 2-64 to lead our attack, with David Castle and Daniel Thirkell chipping in a wicket apiece — honest, unspectacular graft on what looked a belter of a pitch.

Chasing 283 is no picnic, but Stewart Morrison had other ideas, batting through for a magnificent 113 not out that kept the required rate honest and the tea urn boiling. Daniel Thirkell's unbeaten 43 and Paul Gibson's 31 added the necessary ballast, and a generous 33 extras suggested Whitstable's bowlers were feeling the pressure too. Poor Clive Newman, meanwhile, will not be troubling the scorers this week — a golden duck to file quietly in the club ledger.

In the end we finished on 253/6 from our 55, agonisingly short but honours even. With David Castle topping the season's run charts and Beeney lurking second among the wicket-takers, the engine room is clearly purring. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but a fair reflection of two sides giving as good as they got.

Sat 16 Aug 1997 🧢 2nd XIv Addington Village CC · AwayformLLWWL

We travelled to Addington Village CC in good spirits, and I won the toss and, with the pitch looking full of runs, had no hesitation in sending us in first. Dave Todd set about proving me right, compiling a fine half-century on his way to 50, with Richard Ellis giving him steady company for 25. The middle order rather lost the thread thereafter, and poor Darren Styles trudged back for a golden duck, but 138/8 from our 47 overs felt a defendable total on a used-looking track.

So it proved, more or less. Addington's M Francis played the innings of the day, a classy 50 that kept them in touch throughout, well supported by M Harvey's 26 and Steve Gunner's 20 — though Jim Paulett will want to forget his own duck at our hands. Trevor Back was the pick of the attack with 2-22, Dave Todd chipped in again with 2-50, and I managed to get among the wickets myself with 1-16. Darren Styles, still smarting from his batting, atoned handsomely with six overs of miserly, unplayable maidens.

In the end 132/6 wasn't quite enough to catch us, and honours were shared — a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. As it stands I lead our 2nd XI's run charts this season with 527, and Dave sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 19. A fair result, then, and one that leaves us all rather looking forward to the tea urn back at the pavilion.

Sat 16 Aug 1997 🧢 1st XIv DC Downham & Bellingham CC · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday 16 August 1997 saw us welcome Downham & Bellingham to Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and one I was rather pleased with myself for making. We rattled along nicely to 193/6 from our 43 overs, though "we" is doing some heavy lifting there, as Nigel Thirkell simply refused to get out, compiling a majestic 119 not out. Mike Caddick chipped in with a handy 22, and the pair put on 61 for the sixth wicket to give our total some real substance.

Defending it, however, proved a different matter entirely. Downham & Bellingham flew out of the blocks, racing to 83 before we so much as troubled the umpire for a wicket — an opening stand that rather set the tone. Doug Eaton played the anchor role beautifully for his 69, well backed by Chris Mendham's 38 and Keith McCann's 33, and by the time they closed on 197/5 from 38.5 overs the game had slipped from our grasp. Jon Harris toiled manfully for 2-31, with Adrian Caddick matching him figure for figure, while I did my bit with 1-38 and a couple of maidens to at least keep the scoreboard honest for a spell.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, and fair play to them — 83 unanswered runs first ball to fourth were not going to be clawed back with hope alone. Character-building stuff, and we'll be better for it next week.

Fri 15 Aug 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformLLLLL

Not our finest performance in the field, but plenty for the club gazette all the same.

Winning the toss on a fine Friday against Selsdon, I had no hesitation putting them in to bowl at us — and the lads made me look rather clever early on, with the openers putting on 60 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with dismissals. Dave Todd led the charge with a fine 63, and Daniel Thirkell chimed in with an unbeaten 59, while Piers McDonald's 35 was a tidy contribution in its own right — and, for the statisticians among you, enough to nudge him past Jim Hall into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. We closed on a handsome 223/4 from our 41 overs. Spare a thought, though, for poor Phil Randall, who contributed rather less memorably — a golden duck and the walk of shame back to the pavilion.

Defending 223 should have been comfortable, and for a while it was, but Selsdon had other ideas. Matt Churchley's 68 set the tone, well supported by David Shivmangal's unbeaten 48 and Deo Shivmangal's 38, and a stubborn 75-run stand for the fourth wicket did for us in the end. I did my bit with 13 wickets to my name this season and can't complain about my own efforts here, though credit where due — Trevor Back was superb, 2-14 with three miserly maidens, backed up by Colin Bentwood and Fred Cheesman with a wicket apiece. It wasn't quite enough, and they got home by three wickets with five overs in hand.

Not our day, then. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there are runs and wickets still to be had this season, not least for Daniel Thirkell, who leads our charts with 171 for the summer.

Tue 12 Aug 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDLLLL

Beaten by 6 wickets in the end, but there was plenty in this one to be cheerful about, and I'll take that any day of the week.

Winning the toss, I fancied a bat first, and the lads didn't let me down. We eased to 181/5 from our 53 overs, built on a fine 44 from Brian Piper and handy support from Piers McDonald (35) and Daniel Thirkell (30) — a proper foundation, the kind you build a competitive score around.

Then came the small matter of Geraint Hughes, who decided he fancied an unbeaten century and duly obliged with a chanceless 118 not out, ushering The Mote home in 43.2 overs with Adam Luscombe (23) for company. There's precious little you can do when a man bats like that against you — we tried everything, and Nigel Thirkell's 2-61 was the pick of a willing attack, with I chipped in with 2-62 for good measure.

So the six-wicket margin flatters neither side, truth be told — Hughes simply batted us out of the game on his own. Brian Piper now sits proudly atop the 1997 Midweek XI run charts with 130, and I'm rather chuffed to lead the wicket-takers with a dozen scalps so far this season. Small consolations, but consolations nonetheless.

We'll dust ourselves down, put the kettle on, and be better for it next week — as we always say, and as we always must believe.

Sun 10 Aug 1997 🧢 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformWWWWW

Sunday 10 August found us on the road to Benenden, and for once the coin obliged me — heads, and no hesitation in sending us in to bat. What followed was as satisfying an afternoon as this diary has recorded in some while. I found something close to my best form and went on to make 109, ably supported by Clive Newman, whose well-crafted 64 kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. Even the extras column pitched in a handy 26, and we closed on a commanding 233 for 4 from our forty overs — a total that felt, even as we walked off, rather beyond Benenden's reach.

So it proved. Darren Styles set about their order with real venom, finishing with 3 for 21, while the Thirkell brothers tidied up either end — Nigel 2 for 4, Daniel 2 for 12. Jon Drake, W. Milling and Mike Chambers all departed without troubling the scorers, and only Ben Fowler, with a stubborn 40, threatened to make a match of it, supported by Andrew Cloke and Roger Lake, both 22. All out for 149 in 37.4 overs — well short, and 84 runs the final margin.

There was a special note to add besides: Piers McDonald brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark few of us will ever reach. And for the record books, that 109 keeps me atop the 1997 first-team run charts on 1030, with Darren Styles now fourth in the wicket standings on 21. A thoroughly earned two points, and about as complete a team performance as you could wish for.

Sat 09 Aug 1997 🧢 2nd XIv HC Higham & Mockbeggar CC · AwayformWLLWW

As it stands, Saturday the 9th of August found us on the road to Higham & Mockbeggar, and winning the toss I did what any self-respecting captain does on a fine morning – had a look at the strip, nodded sagely, and stuck us in to bat. The right call, I still maintain, whatever anyone tells you in the bar afterwards.

We compiled a tidy 176/6 from our 45 overs, the innings owing everything to Brian Piper, whose unbeaten 68 was the sort of well-made fifty-and-more that makes a captain's job easy. Paul Bowles chipped in nicely with 39 not out and Roly Edwards weighed in with 25, while poor Adam Pooley walked back for a golden duck, the sort of thing that happens to the best of us and, on the evidence of Saturday, to him first.

Defending it, we simply ran into a force of nature. N Scudder made merry with an unbeaten 129 – the kind of innings you applaud through gritted teeth – ably assisted by P Davies' unbeaten 21, and between them they saw the home side home at 180/2 from 42 overs. Dave Todd toiled honestly for his 1-26, Alan Boyns picked up 1-50, and Darren Styles bowled with real discipline, three maidens to his name for his trouble. Tim Thirkell continues to lead our run charts this season with 526, and Todd sits second in the wickets with 17 – small consolations on a chastening afternoon.

Beaten by six wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Heads up, chins forward, back to the nets.

Sat 09 Aug 1997 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · AwayformDWWWW

Up at Mersham Le Hatch on the 9th of August, I won the toss and, with the outfield running quick under a decent sky, had no hesitation putting them in the field. Daniel Thirkell played the innings of the day, a fine 62 that gave us the platform, with useful support from Dave Charlton (24) and Paul Gibson (22) — the latter continuing a fine season that now sees him fourth in the club's run charts. A crucial stand of 54 for the seventh wicket rescued us from a mid-innings wobble, and the extras column weighed in with a generous 27, which we'll gladly take. My own contribution was rather less illustrious — a first-ball duck, one of three ducks in the innings, and the walk back to the pavilion was every bit as long as you'd imagine. We were bowled out for 188 in the 40th over, a total that felt about right for the conditions.

In the field, it was a different story entirely. Ian Brattle was simply magnificent, tearing through their order for 5-25 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, and now leads the club's wicket charts with 33 for the season. Adrian Caddick (3-27) and Gavin Saunders (2-10) mopped up admirably in support, and a rapid collapse from 75-4 to 78-7 — three more ducks among them — put the result beyond doubt. C Childs's 28 was the only real resistance as they folded for 97 in 36.4 overs.

A 91-run win, and a thoroughly good day for the club — even if my own scorebook entry reads rather more modestly than most.

Tue 05 Aug 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDDLLL

Losing the toss on a bright Tuesday against Bexley CC felt, in hindsight, like the least of our problems. Put into the field, we watched Ross Lupton play the innings of his life — 172 not out, an utterly magnificent century that put the game beyond us almost single-handedly — while Steve Rudduck ticked along serenely to an unbeaten fifty and Gregory Playfoot chipped in with 24. Gary Joyce and A Towers did at least give us something to cheer, both back in the pavilion for ducks. Daniel Thirkell was superb with the ball, 2-27 and, we're delighted to report, his fiftieth career wicket along the way — a landmark thoroughly deserved. Matt Large and Darren Styles offered honest support either side of him. Still, 268/4 from 38 overs is a mountain by any Linton Park standard, and we trudged off knowing the summit was rather beyond us.

So it proved. Thirkell, not content with his bowling heroics, top-scored with 44, J- Knot made a tidy 21 and I chipped in with 20, but around us the innings simply fell away — Piers McDonald, Richard Piper and Matt Large all departing without troubling the scorers. All out for 144 in 31.1 overs told its own sorry story.

Beaten by 124 runs, then — no dressing that up. But Thirkell's half-century of wickets is a genuine highlight to bank, and with Phil Randall's bat and Thirkell's ball both flourishing in the season charts, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 03 Aug 1997 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone YMCA CC · HomeformLDWWW

Lost the toss, as one does, and found ourselves in the field on a fine Sunday at home to Maidstone YMCA. I can't say I minded — a look at the surface and I fancied first use of the ball would serve us well, and so it proved. The visitors were bowled out for 149 in 44.3 overs, R. Hunter's fine 66 doing the heavy lifting and T. Shaw chipping in a useful 32. Fred Cheesman was the chief tormentor with 4-49, Darren Styles bowled with real discipline for 2-13 including five maidens, and Michael Beeney weighed in with 2-21. D. Warboys and P. Ecclestone both departed without troubling the scorers, which is always a small mercy for a captain's nerves.

Chasing 150, Piers McDonald played the innings of the day, unbeaten on 68, and found an admirable ally in Daniel Thirkell, whose 45 helped forge a second-wicket stand worth 107 — really the match in a nutshell. We coasted home at 150/3 in 27.4 overs, seven wickets to spare, though poor Peter Whyte will not thank me for committing his duck to the club ledger for posterity.

Piers continues to enjoy a fine season, now 4th in the 1st XI run charts with 355, while Michael Beeney sits 2nd among the wicket-takers with 31. Two points, and thoroughly earned — a thoroughly satisfying Sunday all round, and one I shall enjoy writing up rather more than most.

Sat 02 Aug 1997 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformWWLLW

I elected to bat first at Southborough, which I'll happily take credit for, and the lads didn't let me down: 203/6 from our 46 overs, with Richard Piper leading the way on 43, Chris Tymms right behind him with 42, and yours truly chipping in with 33. A solid platform, built the proper way — no fireworks, just steady accumulation and the odd streaky boundary I'll take without complaint.

Then came the small matter of defending it, and here the bowlers turned in the kind of afternoon you dream about on the drive home. Alan Boyns was the pick of the attack with 4-24, cutting through the middle order, while Darren Styles (3-22) and Paul Bowles (2-5) mopped up either end. Chris Tymms, not content with his runs, then bowled three tidy maidens for good measure — a proper captain's dream, that man. Southborough's S. Dann fought hard for his fifty, 61 in all, but it was a lone effort, and D. Thorpe and P. Spencer both departed without troubling the scorers. The opposition were held to 133/9 from their 44, well short of the target.

A comfortable 70-run win, then, and one that keeps the season ticking along nicely — I'm still out in front in the run charts with 517, and Darren Styles leads the wickets column with 17. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club: bat first, bat well, bowl them out. Long may it continue.

Sat 02 Aug 1997 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformWLDWW

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think the club coin has taken against me — and Southborough had no hesitation in taking first knock on a warm Saturday. Runs they duly got, ambling to 194 all out from 46 overs, Colin Ayres leading the way with a polished 54, well supported by Glenn Farmer's 42 and Steve Hebditch's 35. We had them 3 for 1 at one stage and thought we were onto something, but a stubborn 78-run stand for the fourth wicket dragged them back into the contest. Happily I found some rhythm with the new ball, finishing with 4-32, with David Lines miserly as ever — 2-37 and five maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Michael Beeney chipping in with 1-16.

In reply we made altogether cleaner work of it. Dave Charlton played beautifully for 64, Clive Newman was unbeaten on a composed 59, and Nigel Thirkell weighed in with 39 as a second-wicket stand of 72 set the tone; we got there at 197 for 3, needing just 38.3 overs. Nice touches along the way too — Nigel brought up 32,000 career runs for the club, and Clive's 59 eased him past Malcolm Pay into 18th on the all-time run list. Poor John Pickett and Reeves will want the scorebook burned; both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

A seven-wicket win, two points banked, and — for once — a Saturday that went entirely to plan.

Wed 30 Jul 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv IX Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI · HomeformWDDLL

Wednesday 30 July 1997, and we had the visitors round for tea and, as it turned out, rather too generous a helping of runs to go with it. Ball in hand first, we watched T Gregory play the innings of the day, a fine 67 that anchored their total to 206 for 8 off 45 overs, with Paul Mobbs (25) and David Goodchild (24) chipping in around him. Gavin Saunders was the pick of the attack by some distance, snaring 4-47, while I picked up a couple for 38 and Daniel Thirkell one for 19; Michael Beeney bowled two tidy maidens to keep things honest even when the boundaries were flowing elsewhere.

Their 206 always had the look of too many, and so it proved. Richard Piper played the anchor role beautifully for 41, well supported by Daniel Thirkell's 38 and Michael Beeney's 20, but from a healthy-looking 112 for 4 the innings unravelled alarmingly to 128 for 7, and we were bowled out for 165 in our 40 overs. Spare a thought for poor Fred Cheesman, who contributed nothing but a duck to proceedings — the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint in the bar afterwards.

On the season's charts, Phil Randall continues to lead the run-scoring for the 1997 Midweek XI with 89, while I find myself topping the wicket-takers with 10 — small consolation on a day when we came up 41 runs short. We were second best from the moment Gregory got going, but there's plenty of season left, and we'll be better for this one come next week.

Sun 27 Jul 1997 🧢 1st XIv Knockers CC · HomeformWWLDW

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to suspect the club coin has a grudge against me — and Knockers CC had no hesitation in sending us out to field. Forty-five overs and 197 for 9 later, we'd learned the hard way what Stuart Seldon's bat can do when it's in the mood; a composed 52, well supported by Pask (31) and Rawlings (25), gave their innings its backbone. Small mercies came in the shape of C Spencer Allen, gone for a duck at our hands, and I managed to find some rhythm with the new ball myself — 3 for 34 and four maidens, which felt rather like earning my tea. Caddick chipped in with 3 for 64 and Cheesman with 2 for 27, the latter bringing up his hundredth career wicket for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to.

Chasing 198 is never a stroll, and losing our first wicket for just 1 run had the tea urn rattling nervously. But Daniel Thirkell (55) and David Castle (54) steadied things beautifully, stitching together a marvellous 102 for the fourth wicket, while I saw us home unbeaten on 29. Ducks for Newman, McDonald and Cheesman kept things suitably nail-biting, but we scrambled over the line at 198 for 7 with half a dozen balls in hand.

Three wickets, two points, and a result thoroughly earned rather than gifted. With Castle now sitting proudly atop the season's run charts and yours truly leading the wickets column, Linton Park can call this one a proper team effort — the kind of afternoon that makes the teas taste that bit sweeter.

Sat 26 Jul 1997 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformWWWLL

Saturday 26 July 1997, and Hollingbourne CC rolled up hoping for a bit of festival cricket. We lost the toss, were invited to have a bowl, and for once nobody complained too loudly about that on a green-ish square. Chris Tymms was the story of the morning, prising out four for 43 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of miserly, relentless spell that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy — well supported by Trevor Back's 2 for 22 and Darren Styles' solitary wicket. Ian Gutteridge battled hard for his 45, but the rest of the Hollingbourne order rather melted around him, and 108 all out from 38 overs felt like a very fair result for an afternoon's honest toil in the field.

Chasing was a different sort of theatre altogether. Mark Austin and C Findlay both departed without troubling the scorers, which sounds alarming until you remember we still had ten wickets in hand and a mountain of overs to spare. Stewart Morrison then simply took the game away from Hollingbourne with a composed, well-made unbeaten fifty, while I chipped in at the other end with 45 not out, happy to play the supporting role for once. We cantered home at 109 for 0 in 22.2 overs — eight wickets to spare, and barely a bead of sweat wasted.

A word for Trevor Back, who quietly passed 400 career wickets today — a magnificent, unfussed landmark from an unfussed cricketer. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club: clinical with the ball, ruthless with the bat, and home in time for tea.

Sat 26 Jul 1997 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDWWLD

As it stands, this must go down as one of the good ones. Away to Hollingbourne, I won the toss and elected to bat — and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than stubborn, as Paul Gibson set about the bowling for a superb 90 and Dave Charlton chipped in with a fine 63 to give us real substance. Keith Hatcher's 36 added further ballast, and we rolled on to a handsome 251 for 7 from our 46 overs. Not everything gleamed, mind — Nigel Thirkell and Piers McDonald both departed for ducks, proof if it were needed that this remains a game of glorious uncertainty even when the total looks rosy.

Defending 251 is never a formality, and Hollingbourne made us work for it. Mike Donald played a lovely 95 to keep them in the hunt, well supported by Dave Kay's 34 and an unbeaten 20 from Andy Griffiths, while A Pawley and Dan Pritchard both fell without scoring. In the end it was the bowlers who saw us home — I found some rhythm to finish with 3 wickets, with Ian Brattle (2 for 57, and two tidy maidens besides) and Michael Beeney (1 for 49) doing the honest graft. They closed on 218 for 8 from their 44, 33 runs shy.

A special mention, too, for Paul Gibson, who brought up 10,000 career runs for the club — a landmark to be properly toasted in the bar. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a result that will do very nicely indeed.

Fri 25 Jul 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv HC Heffle Cuckoos CC · HomeformWWDDL

Friday 25th July, and Heffle Cuckoos CC arrived with the toss in their pocket, electing to bat and leaving us in the field for the afternoon — the classic captain's fate of losing a coin toss and paying for it in overs bowled. Russell Domingo's fine 73 anchored their innings, well supported by Tim Gold's 49 and Martin Blake's 48; the openers put on 78 before the first breakthrough, and a stubborn third-wicket stand added a further 95 just when we most needed a wicket. Heffle closed on 240 for 4 from 40.3 overs. I led the attack with 3 for 60, with honest support from Trevor Back's 1 for 45.

Chasing that total, the lads found few answers up top — 8 for 1 told its own story early on. Brian Piper's battling 43, backed up by Phil Randall's 32, were the only real resistance as we folded for 140 in 34.1 overs. My own contribution with the bat amounted to a duck; we shall move swiftly on.

Not all was gloom, however: Brian Piper brought up 9,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth toasting even in defeat, and now sits atop our 1997 Midweek XI run charts with 86, while I lead the wicket charts with 8.

Down by a hundred runs in the end — not our day, and it's heads up, back to the nets.

Wed 23 Jul 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv HC Heffle Cuckoos CC · HomeformWWWDD

As I confess in the report, I made a duck. Here it is:

Well, there's no dressing it up: I lost the toss, we were put in the field, and by the close we'd been beaten by 100 runs. But let me take you through it as it unfolded, because there was cricket of real quality on show, most of it wearing the wrong shirt.

Heffle Cuckoos batted with a purpose that our attack could only partially blunt. R. Domingo's 73 was the innings that broke us, well supported by T. Gold's 49 and M. Blake's 48, and by the time they declared their innings closed at 240/4 after 40.3 overs, we knew we had a mountain in front of us. I did what I could with the ball, finishing with 3-52, and Trevor Back chipped in with 1-39, but 240 was always going to take some chasing.

Chasing it, alas, we did not manage. An early wobble at 8-1 set the tone, and though Brian Piper battled to 43 and Phil Randall supported nicely with 32, we folded for 140 in 34.1 overs. As for your correspondent's batting, the less said the better — a duck, and I shall leave it there.

Small consolations: Phil Randall now sits third in our 1997 Midweek XI run charts, and I find myself, somewhat improbably, leading the wicket charts with five for the season. Beaten by 100 runs, then, and no hiding from it. But there was enough good cricket in there to suggest we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 20 Jul 1997 🧢 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · AwayformWDWWL

It was a Sunday to remind you why you fell in love with this daft game in the first place. Off to Tenterden CC we went, I won the toss and never doubted for a second that we'd bat first on a pitch that plainly fancied it.

And bat we did. David Castle produced an innings of real substance, 121 not out, while Clive Newman ticked serenely along to 57 not out and Piers McDonald chipped in a tidy half-century of his own, 50. Their third-wicket stand of 85 was the platform the whole innings was built on, and 257 for 3 off our 43 overs was a total to be proud of. Less proud was your captain, who contributed a first-baller to the cause — I shan't dwell on it, except to say a leader ought to lead from the front, and on this occasion I led from somewhere closer to the pavilion steps.

Defending it, we gave Tenterden every chance to make a game of it, and they very nearly did. Will Pillinger's unbeaten century, 104, and Nick Upton's fifty, 51, kept them in the hunt, with Nick Daynes adding 34 in a stubborn third-wicket stand of 69. Darren Styles was excellent with the ball, 1 for 25 including two tidy maidens, with Jon Harris and Richard Piper each chipping in a wicket, and we did at least have Nick Rundell back in the hutch without scoring. Fifteen byes past poor Clive behind the stumps was the only real blemish.

A draw, then — honours shared, and worth a mention that Clive's runs nudged him up to 19th on the club's all-time list. Fair reward for a good day's work all round, mine excepted.

Sat 19 Jul 1997 🧢 2nd XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWWWL

Saturday 19 July found us on the road to Shipbourne, and true to form the coin let me down again — they won it, and chose to bat, leaving us to toil in the field first. Toil we did, watching them compile a stubborn 195/8 from their 46 overs, D. Bell playing the anchor with a well-made fifty, well supported by A. Grove's 47 and G. Bone's 40. Some comfort came at the other end, with Brooks and N. Lee-Amies both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Trevor Back led our attack beautifully with 3-43, Dave Todd and Chris Tymms chipping in with three and two respectively, while Darren Styles somehow squeezed out two maidens against that lot.

Chasing 196, we made a fair fist of it, reaching 167/7 from our 44 overs. I'm pleased to say I led from the front with a well-made fifty of my own, and Chris Tymms batted superbly for 44, with Mike Elworthy's watchful 20 keeping the innings ticking — though poor Stuart Cheesman fell without scoring.

There was, however, a proper reason to raise a glass regardless of the result: Mike Elworthy brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a landmark few of us will ever sniff. And with the season charts showing me leading the runs and Dave Todd the wickets, the 2nd XI engine is clearly ticking over nicely.

In the end, beaten by 28 runs — no disgrace against a well-set total, and we'll be sharper for it next week.

Sat 19 Jul 1997 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWWDWW

Saturday, 19th July 1997 — and there's a certain cruelty to losing the toss on a fine afternoon and being sent straight out to field, but that's cricket for you. Shipbourne set about building a proper total, 219/8 from their 46 overs, with Mike Cooper looking thoroughly untroubled on his way to 56, and useful support from Paul Stovell (33) and Chris Winning (31) — their fourth-wicket pair put on 91 between them, which was really the difference in the match. I managed to find a bit of rhythm through the middle overs, taking 3-31 with four maidens thrown in for good measure (not that I'm one to dwell on my own figures), while David Lines chipped away for 3-53 and Daniel Thirkell picked up one for 21.

Two hundred and twenty is always a stiff ask on a club ground, and we made a proper fist of it. David Castle played beautifully for 78, the innings' clear backbone, with Nigel Thirkell (36) and Paul Gibson (23) lending sturdy support, and a second-wicket stand of 75 gave us something to build on. In the end we fell agonisingly short, all out for 201 from our 44, beaten by 18 runs — the sort of margin that has you replaying overs in your head on the drive home.

Still, no complaints from this corner. Castle continues to lead the run charts with 720 for the season, and I'll happily take third in the bowling with 21 wickets banked. We were beaten by the better side on the day, but there was enough character in that response to suggest we'll be better for it next week.

Wed 16 Jul 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv IC Ingham CC · HomeformDWWWD

Wednesday 16 July 1997, and we welcomed Ingham CC for what turned into an honest, hard-fought stalemate. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling has been questionable all season — and we were asked to field first, which on a warm afternoon is rarely the gift it sounds.

Ingham made themselves at home, working their way to 243/5 from 47.4 overs. T Youngs was the chief architect with a polished 72, well backed up by S Jessup's 48 and R Wagner's 38. Credit to John Woodhams, who bowled beautifully for 2-24 and kept us in the contest, while Richard Ellis chipped in with 1-18 and Trevor Back squeezed the run rate with two tidy maidens. I managed to get among the wickets myself, taking 1-40 — not the most economical figures I've posted, but I'll take a breakthrough on a day like that.

Chasing 244, we set about it sensibly rather than spectacularly, closing on 213/9 from our 51 overs. Peter Whyte was magnificent, top-scoring with 77 and looking, for a spell, like he might chase the lot down single-handedly, with Darren Styles (31) and Piers McDonald (26) offering good support. Spare a thought for poor John Woodhams, whose golden duck with the bat rather undid his fine work with the ball.

In the end honours were shared — a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Frustrating in the moment, but a fair reflection of two well-matched sides, and no bad way to spend a Wednesday.

Tue 15 Jul 1997 🧢 1st XIv S Snodland · HomeformLWWDW

Tuesday brought Snodland to Linton Park, and for once the coin obliged me — heads, and I had no hesitation in taking first knock. It proved the right call, if not without the usual alarms. Daniel Thirkell set about it properly for 36, and I was glad to potter along in support with 27 not out, the pair of us dragging us to a respectable 109/6 from our sixteen overs. Poor Piers McDonald will not thank me for mentioning his duck, but a captain's report is nothing if not honest, and honesty demands I record it.

Defending totals like that is never a comfortable business, and Snodland made us work for every run of it. T. Fermor played the innings that threatened to undo us, 29 well made, with K. Shrimpton chipping in 24 alongside him, while M. Goodger departed without troubling the scorers. It was the bowlers who won the day, though — Michael Beeney bowled beautifully for 3-24, with Darren Styles (2-10) and Fred Cheesman (2-33) squeezing the life out of the chase at the other end. Snodland fell short at 99/7.

Ten runs the margin, and not a run to spare. It only adds to the season's tale that I sit atop the run charts with 642 and Michael leads the wicket-takers with 27 — but Tuesday belonged to the whole side. A fine win, honestly earned, and onwards we go.

Sat 12 Jul 1997 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWWWWW

Batting for us — we lost the toss, and Horton Kirby had us out in the field first, which felt like a mixed blessing the moment their innings began to sprawl. Ryan Taylor top-scored with 37, but our attack kept chipping away: Darren Styles was the pick of the bowling with 4-34 (and three tidy maidens to show for his discipline), well supported by Jon Harris (3-48) and Alan Boyns (2-7). All out for 114 off 43.1 overs felt like a score we ought to have chased down without alarm.

We did not chase it down without alarm. Our reply limped and stuttered to 104 all out in 43.4 overs, ten runs light of the target and several lessons light of where we'd like to be. I made 30, which did at least keep the scoreboard ticking over, but support was thin on the ground, and the Duck Club claimed two fresh members for its ledger — David Hayman and Roly Edwards both departed for nought, the walk of shame performed with the weary dignity such occasions demand.

Still, the season ledger has its bright spots: I lead the 2nd XI run charts on 388 for the year, and Darren Styles tops the wicket pile with 13 — proof there's method behind the mishaps. But Saturday's verdict is plain enough: beaten by 10 runs, heads dropped on the coach home, and nothing for it but back to the nets, where humility is cheap and net practice is free.

Sat 12 Jul 1997 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformDLWWD

Saturday 12 July, and Horton Kirby CC were the visitors — a fine afternoon for it, and win the toss, have a bowl I did not; I had no hesitation putting us in.

The lads made handsome use of it. Paul Bowles played the innings of the day, 78 in fine style, and the platform he and his opening partner laid — 117 without loss before the first wicket fell — was the sort of start that lets a captain sit back with a cup of tea and pretend everything is under control. David Castle chipped in with a tidy 40, and Clive Newman finished unbeaten on 40 to help us up to a healthy 220 for 7 from our 46 overs. Declaring was never on the cards; we simply ran out of overs, which is about the most English problem a batting side can have.

Defending it, Horton Kirby never quite let go of hope, Geoff Rameaux batting through for an unbeaten 50 and getting handy support from Alastair Scott (27) and P Smith (22), with a 5th-wicket stand of 62 threatening to make a match of it. But Ian Brattle was in irresistible form, snaring 3 for 26, with Michael Beeney (2-37) and David Lines (1-33) chipping away either end — Chris Williams and Warren Bull both back in the hutch without scoring. I kept it tight enough myself, three maidens for my afternoon's work, and Horton Kirby closed on 149 for 7.

A win by 71 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — onwards we go.

Wed 09 Jul 1997 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDDWWW

Wednesday the 9th of July, and Gravesend CC rolled up to Linton Park with the sun out and my coin-tossing luck nowhere to be found. Called wrong again — I really must practise that skill — and duly found ourselves in the field. Farouk Qureshi and T Rowell then batted as though the square belonged to them, adding a monstrous 162 for the third wicket, Qureshi falling agonisingly short of a century on 93, Rowell chipping in a fine 75. Ian Brattle was pick of our attack with 3-46, hauling us back into it, Stuart Cheesman tying an end down beautifully for 2-8 with two maidens, and I added 1-45 for what it was worth. They closed on 212/6 from their 47 overs — a target that felt distinctly gettable and distinctly stiff in equal measure.

Our reply began nervously, an early wicket down with just 2 on the board threatening one of those afternoons. But Stuart Cheesman, clearly not finished for the day, top-scored with a splendid 58, D- Warren made a valuable 46 and Nigel Thirkell 39, the sixth-wicket pair adding a crucial 79 to drag us to 208/7 from our 40 overs. Poor Mike Elworthy had a torrid time behind the stumps, 9 byes conceded testifying to some lively bowling rather than dodgy gloves, we hope.

Honours shared, then — a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody, which is perhaps the most English result of all.

Sun 06 Jul 1997 🧢 1st XIv BC Barbados Overseas CC · HomeformWDLWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 06 July 1997

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once the decision looked good the moment I made it. David Castle played the innings of the summer — 108, a proper hundred, the kind that has you leaning on the boundary rope grinning like a fool — while Clive Newman ground out a very tidy 50 alongside him, and Stuart Cheesman chipped in with 20. The openers set the tone with 132 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers, and by the time we declared our innings closed at 222/3 off 41.1 overs, I confess I was already composing the celebratory tea-hut speech.

Defending it proved rather less straightforward. M Gaskin gave us a torrid time with a well-made 62, backed up by F Smith's unbeaten 38 and T Forte's 29, and their own openers matched ours for application with 60 before the breakthrough came. To our credit, the bowling attack refused to be cowed — Nigel Thirkell was superb with 3-9, Paul Gibson and Richard Ellis chipped in with two apiece, and Darren Styles bowled three tight maidens that the batsmen simply couldn't get away. Paul had a trickier time with the gloves, shipping nine byes, but nobody's perfect on a Sunday. They finished on 208/9 — agonisingly short, honours even.

A word of cheer amid the toil: Clive's fifty nudged him past Mike Caddick into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing that makes the long drive home feel worthwhile. David, meanwhile, continues to lead our 1997 run charts with 575, and Nigel sits fourth in the wickets column with 15.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and not a bad afternoon's work.

Sat 05 Jul 1997 🧢 2nd XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformWWWWW

Lost the toss yet again — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has a grudge — and Staplehurst wasted no time electing to bat. It proved the wrong call. We shot them out for 111 in 42.4 overs, J- Ward's 30 and D- Roots' 20 the only innings of real note while the rest came and went without troubling the scorers, T- Cardon and M- Apps among them, both back in the pavilion without a run to their name. David Lines was the story of the innings, running through the order for 5-22, the kind of spell that leaves a batting line-up quietly reassessing its life choices. Darren Styles chipped in with 2-30, his season's wicket tally now second in the 2nd XI charts, while Chris Tymms bowled with real discipline, five maidens in a tidy 1-39.

A target of 112 was always going to be within our compass, and so it proved. Stewart Morrison batted sensibly for an unbeaten 39, well supported by Trevor Back's 32, though Daniel Thirkell will not thank me for recording a golden duck against his name. My own contribution kept the season ticking along nicely too — 358 runs and counting, still leading the 2nd XI run charts. We got over the line by six wickets, a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Bowled first, batted second, won comfortably — the sort of Saturday that makes the whole enterprise worthwhile. A good day for the club, and one Staplehurst will be glad to see the back of.

Sat 05 Jul 1997 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWWDLW

I won the toss on a fine Saturday against Staplehurst and, with no great agonising, opted to bat first. It didn't start smoothly — we lost our opener with just 4 on the board — but Clive Newman settled things beautifully with a well-made 61, and his stand of 89 with Nigel Thirkell (35) was the making of the innings. Dave Charlton finished unbeaten on 24, and along the way brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, which felt rather fitting given the shape of the day. Thirty extras rounded us out to a competitive 179 for 5 from our 46 overs.

Staplehurst replied in some style, racing to 73 without loss before we found a breakthrough, and N Johnson's 75 and J Wilson's 41 kept them in the hunt for a good while. But cricket has a way of turning, and their innings folded alarmingly from 155 for 4 to 160 for 7, with John Robins, A Bourne and S Berry all departing without scoring. Nigel Thirkell was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 5 for 46, with Ian Brattle chipping in for 3 for 47 and I picked up 2 for 29 myself. Michael Beeney bowled with real discipline, four maidens and barely a boundary ball among them.

A 14-run win, then, earned the hard way after handing them too generous a start — but thoroughly deserved once the visitors were made to work for every run. Onwards we go.

Sat 21 Jun 1997 🧢 1st XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · AwayformWWWDL

Saturday 21st June saw us head to Cobham CC, and I lost the toss for what felt like the fourth week running — they had first use of a wicket that, in truth, looked rather more helpful to us with the ball. So it proved. Cobham were bowled out for 129 in 46 overs, and while A Lane (26) and useful contributions from Jim Jackson (23) and Colin Knight (22) kept the scoreboard ticking early on, the middle order rather lost the plot, 117 for 6 becoming 129 for 9 in a hurry, and poor T Mitchell trudged off without so much as a single to his name. Michael Beeney was the chief architect of the collapse, spinning his way to a magnificent 5 for 33, with Ian Brattle chipping in with 2 for 34 and me picking up 2 for 19 to play my part. Nigel Thirkell, meanwhile, was miserly in the extreme, sending down six maidens and giving the Cobham batsmen precisely nothing to work with.

Chasing 130, we made harder work of it than the bowling figures suggested we might, eventually getting there for the loss of five wickets in 36.1 overs. Keith Hatcher led the way with a fine 46, and it was his fourth-wicket stand of 54 with Nigel Thirkell (35, adding runs to go with those maidens) that really settled things down and saw us home.

A five-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work — bowled well, batted solidly enough when it mattered, and with Beeney and Thirkell both continuing to top the season's charts, the engine room of this side looks in very good order indeed.

Sat 21 Jun 1997 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 21 June 1997. West Farleigh CC away to us, and for once the coin behaved itself: I called it right and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first.

We settled in nicely and eventually declared ourselves at 174/5 from our 46 overs, the innings built around a really well-crafted 81 not out from Paul Bowles — the sort of knock that makes a captain's job easy — with Dave Todd chipping in a sound 27 alongside him. Not everyone's day, mind: Richard Ellis was back in the pavilion for a duck before he'd had time to get comfortable, which the ledger will not let him forget.

Defending 174 is never a formality, and West Farleigh made us work for it, reaching 157/7 from their 44 overs on the back of Simon Phillips's 34, with Paul Edwards unbeaten on 32 and Paul Baines contributing 27. But the bowling held its nerve throughout — David Lines led from the front with 2-26, I did my bit with the ball as the overs ticked down, and Dave Todd (2-56) and Darren Styles (1-22, and a remarkably tidy four maidens) kept the pressure on when it mattered. Matt Smith departed for nought, which felt like fair reward for a disciplined spell all round.

A fine win by 17 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket. Onwards.

Tue 17 Jun 1997 🧢 1st XIv MT Maidstone Teachers · HomeformLWWWD

Tuesday the 17th of June found us welcoming Maidstone Teachers to Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss, I didn't dither for a second before sending the lads out to bat. It was one of those totals that felt better than it read on paper: 124/7 from our sixteen overs, built on a splendid 59-run stand for the second wicket. Troy McConnell was the chief architect with a fine 47, David Castle held things together with an unbeaten 22, and I chipped in with 21 of my own. Elsewhere, the Duck Club took on two new members, with Adrian Caddick and Michael Beeney both departing for ducks — the walk of shame performed with due solemnity.

With the ball, we simply couldn't stem the tide. R McCormick sailed past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 54, ably assisted by Richard Gardner's unbeaten 42, and their innings closed out at 125/1 in just 15.1 overs. Darren Styles led the attack manfully, snaring 1-18 for his troubles, but it wasn't to be our day in the field.

There was, at least, cause for celebration amid the gloom: David Castle brought up 14,000 career runs for the club, a landmark few will ever see. He now sits second in this year's run charts with 454, while Styles sits fourth among the wicket-takers with a dozen scalps.

Nine wickets the margin in the end — a proper hiding, if I'm honest. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 15 Jun 1997 🧢 1st XIv BC Bexhill CC · HomeformDLWWW

Sunday 15th June found us hosting Bexhill CC, and when the coin cooperated I had no hesitation in putting them in the field first — a decision that, for once, I won't be dining out on with any particular smugness, though it did no harm.

We posted a satisfying 195 for 9 off our 42 overs, built on the sturdy foundations of Stuart Cheesman's unbeaten 66, well supported by Phil Randall's 34 and Piers McDonald's 26, with a 79-run stand for the seventh wicket doing most of the heavy lifting. Poor Richard Ellis will be nursing his golden duck for a while yet, though the extras column's cheerful 28 more than made up for it.

Defending the total, we found Bexhill in no mood to be dismissed cheaply, closing on 195 for 6 from their 44 — level pegging, and honours shared in the end. Peter King's 45, alongside Matthew Blackman's 42 and Ian Cox's 35, kept them in the hunt throughout. Piers McDonald toiled hardest with the ball for 2 for 48, well backed by Stuart Cheesman and Michael Beeney, while I did my bit with a couple of maidens to keep things tight, chipping in with 2 wickets myself.

The real cause for celebration, though, was Stuart Cheesman reaching 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved after a knock like that. A draw, then: honest, hard-fought, and, on the whole, a fair reflection of two sides giving as good as they got.

Sat 14 Jun 1997 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformDWWWW

I called correctly at the toss and, on a wicket that promised runs, didn't need asking twice about batting first. Ninety-five came my way at the top of the order — the sort of innings where I'd have swapped every run for that last five if the cricketing gods had been in a generous mood, but there we are, I'm told to be grateful and I am. Clive Newman batted beautifully for his 92 not out, Ron McCormick tidied things up at the death with an unbeaten 22, and a generous 28 extras from Sheldwich rounded us out to a handsome 238/2 from our 46 overs. Declaring wasn't required — we simply ran out of overs, which is as good a problem as a captain can have.

With the ball, Sheldwich made a proper fist of the chase, reaching 185/7 from their 44, and credit where due to a- Christensen, whose 75 was the innings of their reply, and B- Newman's 42 alongside him. But it was Alan Boyns who did the real damage, tearing through with 3-23, backed up nicely by David Lines, whose 1-7 and six maidens were an exercise in quiet strangulation, and Jon Harris chipping in with 1-44. J- Taylor departed for a golden duck, which never fails to lift a fielding side's spirits more than is strictly sporting.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved, won by 53 runs. With 341 runs to my name this season I'm keeping decent company at the top of the charts, though Dave Todd's 11 wickets remind us this is very much a team effort. A thoroughly satisfying Saturday all round.

Sat 14 Jun 1997 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformWDLWW

As I put us in, David Castle steadied the innings with a fine 69 built on a stout 67-run stand for the second wicket, and we limped—albeit gratefully—to 152 all out in 45.3 overs. Not every man covered himself in glory: Ian Brattle's afternoon with the bat ended, rather abruptly, on a duck.

With the ball, though, we were a different proposition entirely. Sheldwich never quite recovered from an early wobble to 7 for 1, and Daniel Ray and Simon Green were both sent packing without troubling the scorers. Michael Beeney bowled beautifully for his 3-36, Ian Brattle chipped in with 2-13, and I was pleased enough with my own afternoon's work, finishing with 2-19 and four maidens for good measure — miserly, if I do say so myself. Martin Mills fought hard for his 44, but it was never enough, and the home side folded for 113 in 38.2 overs.

A word for the season so far: David Castle continues to rack up the runs and now sits second in the 1st XI averages with 427 for the summer, while Ian Brattle leads the wicket charts with 17 — proof, if any were needed, that a man can bag a golden duck one week and still be first name on the teamsheet the next.

All told, a 39-run win, earned rather than gifted, and a thoroughly satisfying way to spend a Saturday. Onwards we go.

Sun 08 Jun 1997 🧢 1st XIv R roserate · HomeformLWDLW

David Castle here, filing another dispatch from the Linton Park pavilion.

We lost the toss on a fine Sunday and were sent in to bowl first against Roserate, which always feels like a poisoned chalice until it isn't. Darren Styles simply refused to let them settle, ripping through the order for 4-31, while Michael Beeney bowled with the kind of parsimony that makes a captain purr, 2-17 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and Jon Harris chipped away for 2-40. Usman's 34 and support from Adnan and Amanjit dragged them to 153 all out, but three of our victims went for ducks and Roserate never really recovered from being 8-1 down at the start.

Chasing 154, we made a proper job of it. Piers McDonald played the innings of the day, a composed 56, and found an excellent ally in Mike Elworthy, whose 39 helped the pair add 87 for the second wicket and effectively bat the game out of Roserate's reach. I added a workmanlike 16 in support, happy enough to play my part while the real business was done at the other end, and twenty-nine extras arrived as a cheerful bonus we shall not question too closely. We closed on 157/4 with overs to spare.

Six wickets, two points, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Sits nicely alongside a decent season with the bat so far, and long may the sunshine and the run charts continue.

Sat 07 Jun 1997 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWDWWW

Won the toss on a fine Saturday at home to Rumwood, and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and one that paid off handsomely. Piers McDonald played the innings of the day, motoring to 54, while Trevor Back chipped in with a tidy 30 and I found some form of my own with 40. Not every ledger entry was so cheerful — poor Roly Edwards suffered the walk of shame for a duck — but 199/9 from our 46 overs was a total to be proud of, and gave the lads something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did. Chris Tymms was quite magnificent with the ball, tearing through Rumwood's order for 4-14 including three maidens that strangled any hope of momentum, with Dave Todd (2-18) and Darren Styles (1-24) mopping up admirably. D- Light departed for nought at our hands, and though G- Appleby fought hard for his 57, it was never enough — Rumwood were bowled out for 105 from 44 overs, the run chase well beyond them.

A comfortable 94-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. It rounds off a fine season so far for the club too — I'm pleased to lead the 2nd XI's run charts with 246, while Dave Todd sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 10. Onwards we go, in good heart and better form.

Sat 07 Jun 1997 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformLLWDL

Saturday last took us down to Rumwood, and for once the coin obliged me — heads it was, and I had no hesitation in sending us in. Nigel Thirkell set about the bowling in the manner we've come to expect this summer, an excellent 83, while Keith Hatcher anchored things beautifully with 61 not out, and David Castle chipped in with 24. We'd lost an early wicket at 6-1 and I confess I was eyeing the scoreboard nervously, but the fourth-wicket pair put on a priceless 107 to haul us up to a very respectable 203/5 from our 46 overs.

Defending that total, we could scarcely have dreamed of what followed. Rumwood lost a wicket before troubling the scorers at all, and from 0-1 they slid to 10-4 almost before the tea urn had boiled — Mark Wellbelove, Kevin Mullins and John Pearson all back in the pavilion without scoring. Ian Brattle was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 5-16 with five maidens thrown in for good measure, and I found some rhythm of my own to finish with 5-22. Rumwood were bowled out for a paltry 43 in 22.3 overs, and we strolled home by 160 runs.

A red-letter day all round, capped by Keith Hatcher bringing up 5,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved. With Nigel leading the run charts and Ian topping the wickets, this Linton Park side is purring nicely. A very good day for the club indeed.

Tue 03 Jun 1997 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLLLWD

As stationmaster this June, I can report that our Tuesday jaunt to The Mote CC did not go entirely to plan — though "entirely" may be doing some heavy lifting there.

Losing the toss, we were put into the field, and watched The Mote canter to 181 for 6 off their sixteen overs. Jared Barr eased past his half-century to finish unbeaten on 59, with Stephen Fuggle keeping him fine company on a well-crafted 56, and Glen Aukett chipping in a brisk 25. To our credit, Rob Doick toiled manfully for figures of 2 for 56, with Jon Harris (1-8) and Darren Styles (1-23) offering tidy support from the other end — not enough to stem the tide, but enough to suggest we weren't entirely asleep out there.

Chasing 182, we never quite found our rhythm, subsiding to 92 for 7 from our sixteen. The top order set the tone in the worst way — the first wicket fell with just one run on the board — and things rather unravelled from there. Dave Charlton fought hardest for his 35, a genuinely defiant knock amid the wreckage. As for the captain's own contribution: I strode out, played no visible stroke of note, and returned for a golden duck — leadership by example, evidently, is not always the example one hopes to set.

A defeat by 89 runs, then, and a chastening one. Michael Beeney continues to lead our wicket charts with 11 for the season, which is more than can be said for my batting average. Nets beckon, heads are up, and next week is another day.

Sun 01 Jun 1997 🧢 1st XIv BC Broadstairs CC · HomeformWLLLW

Sunday found us at home to Broadstairs, and my luck at the toss remains a running joke in this club — I called wrong again, and they had no hesitation in taking first knock. On a day when the coin refuses to cooperate, all a captain can do is set the field and hope.

They made the most of the invitation, racing to 214 for 9 off their 49 overs. Terence Bond played the anchor role beautifully for 76, with Neil Brennan (42) and Ben Futter (30) putting on a chastening 93 for the third wicket while we toiled in the field. Credit to the bowlers for dragging it back: David Lines was the pick with 2 for 38, Michael Beeney and Jon Harris chipped in with two apiece, and Darren Styles bowled five maidens of the sort that make batsmen mutter to themselves. Poor Andrew Marshall trudged off for a duck at the other end of the day's fortunes.

Chasing 215, we never quite got there but never quite lost our heads either, closing on 162 for 5. Stuart Cheesman carried the innings with an unbeaten 53, well supported by Steve Cheesman's 29, while I contributed 36 to the cause — currently good enough to have me second in the season's run charts, behind only Michael Beeney's ten wickets at the top of the bowling list. Piers McDonald's golden duck and ten extras in byes suggested a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Steve.

Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered nobody and disappointed nobody. We live to fight another Sunday.

Sat 31 May 1997 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · AwayformWWDWW

Milstead away, and the coin toss did us no favours — asked to field first under grey skies, which is never quite how one hopes to spend a Saturday afternoon. Milstead ground their way to 159 for 9 off 46 overs, with G. Chick's fifty-two the backbone of the innings and A. Douglas chipping in a useful 39, but our bowlers kept chipping away throughout. Trevor Back was pick of the attack with three for twelve, Chris Tymms picked up three for thirty-seven, and Darren Styles weighed in with one for seventeen, while Alan Boyns simply refused to be scored off for two full maidens. M. Ivory and I. Rawson departed without so much as troubling the scorebook.

Chasing 160, I found some early form and made 44 to set things moving, with Mike Elworthy playing a fine supporting hand of 38 and Chris Tymms seeing us home unbeaten on 23. We closed on 165 for 6 with three overs in hand and no little relief in the dressing room.

A day for the record books besides the result. I brought up 10,000 career runs for the club, Chris Tymms passed his century of wickets, and Mike Elworthy's innings nudged him past Peter Whyte into 22nd on the all-time run-scorers list. Elworthy still leads our 1997 Second XI run charts and Dave Todd the wickets, so the form lines were all pointing the right way before a ball was bowled.

Two points, thoroughly deserved, and a very satisfactory afternoon's work — won by four wickets.

Sat 31 May 1997 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · HomeformLWLLL

Won the toss on a bright Saturday and, with Milstead CC visiting Linton Park, I fancied runs first and asked the lads to bat. It didn't look a masterstroke when we lost our opener with the score still reading nought — the sort of start that has a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces — but David Castle and Nigel Thirkell steadied things with an eighty-run stand that put the innings back on its feet. Thirkell went on to something rather special, 123 of pure class, and with Clive Newman chipping in a brisk 30 we closed on a healthy 223 for 7 from our 46 overs. Poor Paul Bowles will not want reminding of his contribution — a golden duck, first ball gone, though he bore it with the good grace the club expects.

Milstead set off in reply as though they meant to chase it down without breaking sweat, Chris Annand ending unbeaten on a superb 80 and Mike Sellar cruising past his fifty, their fourth-wicket pair adding a stubborn 82. But we kept plugging away — Michael Beeney the pick of the attack with 2 for 36, Ian Brattle weighing in with 2 for 56, and I did my bit too, 1 for 23 with three maidens to squeeze the scoring. Richard Annand fell for a duck at our hands, and Milstead's innings finally subsided on 194 for 7 from 44 overs.

A twenty-nine run win, then, earned the hard way after that early wobble. Thirkell now sits proudly atop the season's run charts on 388, Beeney leading the wickets with eight — and this captain, for one, is rather glad the coin fell our way.

Sun 25 May 1997 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Milstead CC · AwayformWWWLW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 25 May 1997. We travelled to Milstead CC, lost the toss, and were asked to chase — which, given how the afternoon unfolded, feels like the toss coin had already read the script and was chuckling to itself.

Put into the field, the lads did us proud with the ball. Milstead posted a stern 177/9 from their forty overs, N Fisher (35) and Stuart Burnop (34) doing the early graft, Chris Annand chipping in 20. But Michael Beeney was in inspired form, tearing through with 3-21, backed up nicely by Ian Brattle (2-23) and Daniel Thirkell (2-42), while Nigel Thirkell refused to give an inch, three maidens and not a run gifted.

Chasing 178 should have been within our compass, and Paul Gibson certainly thought so, compiling a fine 51 with David Castle keeping him honest on 25. But cricket, as ever, delights in cruelty — we lost the first wicket for just 1, and having steadied to 104-5, promptly imploded to 116-8 as if the wickets had been greased. Poor Stewart Morrison walked, looked, and departed without troubling the scorers — a golden duck to remember, if not to celebrate.

All out for 127, we fell fifty runs short. Gibson's form continues to shine, now topping the 1997 Sunday run charts on 145, and Brattle sits second among the wicket-takers with 3 — small mercies on a chastening day. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets: character, like a good cover drive, is best built under pressure.

Sat 24 May 1997 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWLWLL

We were beaten by 8 runs at Bearsted, having lost the toss and been sent in to field — the usual damp start to proceedings, and the usual case of Sod's Law when you'd rather have had a bat.

Bearsted made hay early, racing to 96 without loss before we finally prised out an opener, and finished on a healthy 198/6 from their 46 overs, with Stephen Heap (55) the chief architect, well supported by Stephen Pearce (43) and Richard Luxton (34). Stuart Cheesman was the pick of our attack with 2-39, and Nigel Thirkell bowled with real discipline — three maidens and 1-35 — while Jon Harris chipped in with 1-44. A competitive total, but not, we felt, an insurmountable one.

Our reply had all the hallmarks of a classic Linton Park innings: an early wicket down cheaply at 6-1 threatening to unravel the whole afternoon, before Nigel Thirkell (56) and David Castle (52) steadied the ship with a fine 97-run stand for the second wicket. Paul Gibson weighed in with 25 and I managed a watchful 20, but three ducks on the card — for Stewart Morrison, Mike Elworthy and Jon Harris — told their own story, and we subsided to 190 all out from 44 overs.

Eight runs short in the end, close enough to torment us on the drive home. Thirkell continues to lead the season's run charts with 265, and Cheesman the wickets with 7 — proof there's real quality in this side, even when the scoreboard doesn't quite agree. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 24 May 1997 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWWWDW

Saturday last, under skies that threatened more than they delivered, Bearsted CC came calling at Linton Park, and I won the toss with what I like to think was captainly good sense — we had a bowl first.

It paid off handsomely. Bearsted never quite found their rhythm, stumbling to 3 for 1 before the ink was dry on the scorebook, and though they steadied for a while, the middle and late order folded from 92 for 7 to 94 all out in 34.1 overs — Richard Simes and Adrian Dawson departing without troubling the scorers. Dave Todd was the chief architect of the collapse with a splendid 4 for 29, well backed by Alan Boyns's tidy 2 for 12 and Chris Tymms's 1 for 16, while Darren Styles kept things admirably mean with two maidens. Not a run given away lightly, as they say.

Chasing 95, we were rather more sedate about it, easing to 98 for 3 in 27.5 overs. I was pleased to lead from the front with an unbeaten 53, and a good 50-run stand for the third wicket settled any nerves. A word too for Trevor Back, whose useful 13 nudged him past Paul Brattle into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — history quietly made while the tea urn boiled.

A comfortable seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Tue 20 May 1997 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformLWLWL

Beaten in the field or beaten by the sun — Hollingbourne's ground always has a knack for exposing a batting side, and Tuesday was no exception. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first; on reflection I still think it was the right call, even if the scorebook doesn't entirely back me up. A first-ball wicket at 1-1 gave us all a nasty jolt before we'd got our pads dry, and poor Rob Doick's golden duck won't be troubling the highlights reel any time soon. Thankfully David Castle steadied the ship with a fine 39, and we limped home to 99/6 from our sixteen overs — a total that felt, at the time, like something to bowl at.

It wasn't to be. Hollingbourne's openers put on a breezy 50 for the first wicket and never really let us back into it, chasing down 102/2 with overs to spare. Matthew Jones's 32 did the early damage, and Mike Palmer's unbeaten 26 finished the job with a minimum of fuss. Daniel Thirkell (1-15) and Michael Beeney (1-17) at least gave us something to cheer, prising out the two wickets we did manage — and Beeney continues his fine season, now second in the club's wicket charts.

Five wickets the margin, and no arguments from me. Castle's runs keep the season ledger respectable, but as a batting effort it was thin gruel. We'll regroup, dust off the pads, and be better for it next week.

Sun 18 May 1997 🧢 1st XIv DC Downham & Bellingham CC · HomeformWLWLW

Lost the toss again — a habit I'm beginning to take personally — and found ourselves in the field on a Sunday that promised more than it delivered. Downham & Bellingham made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 212 for 7 from their 46.1 overs. Douglas Eaton anchored things with a well-crafted 76, and got fine support from Nick Goddard's classy 51 and Christopher Goddard's 36, the pair adding 98 for the second wicket to take the game away from us. Credit where due to the attack, though: Adrian Caddick prised out two for 22, Michael Beeney chipped in with two for 24 off four tidy maidens, and Stuart Cheesman took one for 29, while John Warman departed for a golden duck.

Chasing 213, we never quite found our rhythm. Stewart Morrison led the way with 38, Rob Doick made a handy 35 and Alan Boyns 27, the two of them putting on 64 for the second wicket, but wickets fell around them at awkward intervals. I contributed 19 down the order, Adrian Caddick's luck deserted him with the bat this time for a duck of his own, and 26 extras — 16 of them byes, a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Piers McDonald — did little to plug the gap. All out for 189 in 36.1 overs.

Beaten by 23 runs, then, but not disgraced. Plenty to work on, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 17 May 1997 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWWWWD

Saturday 17 May, Headcorn CC came to us, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first strike — a decision that looked rather shrewd by close of play. Stewart Morrison played the innings of the season, a magnificent 135, while Paul Bowles anchored the other end with a well-made fifty, 52 not out. I chipped in with 36 down the order, and between us we posted a formidable 244/3 from our 45 overs.

Defending that kind of total is meant to be the easy part, though Headcorn didn't make it entirely comfortable. P- Hughes battled hard for an unbeaten 42, ably supported by L- Grist (32) and J- Phipps (24), but the required rate was always beyond them, and poor N- Deacon trudged off for a golden duck without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was pick of our attack with 3-32, backed superbly by Dave Todd (2-34) and the ever-frugal Alan Boyns, whose 1-21 included two maidens that strangled any hope of momentum. Headcorn closed on 157/7.

There was a personal milestone amid the celebrations too — those two wickets took Dave Todd past Frank Taylor and into 20th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list, a fine achievement quietly earned. With Morrison now second in the 2nd XI's season run charts and Harris leading the wicket standings with seven, the season is shaping up rather nicely.

An 87-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 17 May 1997 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLWLWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 17 May 1997, and the road took us out to Headcorn.

We lost the toss, were put in to bowl, and for once that seemed to suit us rather nicely. Headcorn were shepherded out for 137 in the 45th over, with Neil Levett top-scoring on 44, but the story of the innings was Nigel Thirkell, who span a web through their middle and lower order for a quite magnificent 5-18, five of his overs going for nothing at all. Ian Brattle chipped in handsomely with 4-20, which left precious little for Headcorn's batsmen to enjoy and even less for their scorebook.

Chasing 138, we made harder work of it than the bowling perhaps deserved, edging to 139/5 from 42 overs. David Castle led the way with a watchful 42, Paul Gibson saw us home unbeaten on 30, and Nigel Thirkell, not content with his heroics in the field, added 29 more with the bat for good measure. Poor Mike Elworthy had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 9 byes going begging, but even that couldn't dent the mood.

Five wickets to the good, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Nigel Thirkell continues to top our 1997 run charts with 209, and Ian Brattle now leads the wicket-takers with 6 — on this evidence, long may both continue. A good day for the club, and a very good day for the tea urn.

Tue 13 May 1997 🧢 1st XIv LC Lashings World CC · HomeformLLWLW

Lost the toss again on Tuesday – I really must start practising that particular skill – and Lashings World CC had no hesitation in batting first on a pitch that plainly fancied them more than us. We slipped early, prising out their opener with the score at just 8-1, and for a moment I allowed myself a flicker of hope. It didn't last. Harrigan and McNee settled in and simply refused to leave, compiling a murderous stand of 136 for the second wicket, Harrigan finishing unbeaten on 97 and McNee chipping in with a fluent 56 of his own. Daniel Thirkell toiled manfully and deserved better than 1-25, with Ian Brattle lending a hand at 1-39, but 168/2 from sixteen overs was always going to take some chasing.

Chase it we did not. Dave Charlton's watchful 22 was the innings' backbone, and I was glad to lend some support with 22 not out myself, but 86/7 in reply tells its own story. Behind the stumps, poor Roly Edwards endured one of those afternoons where the ball simply will not sit still, ten byes slipping past for company. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Piers McDonald continues his quiet climb up the run charts, now fifth with 25 to his name – small consolation on a bruising day.

Beaten by 82 runs, then, and no amount of gloss can disguise it. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets – Lashings were simply too good for us this time.

Sun 11 May 1997 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Chestfield CC · HomeformWWWWL

I need this at Chestfield and Nigel Thirkell in there — it's just prose, no tools needed. Here's the report:

The toss fell my way, and with a wicket that looked fit for runs I had no hesitation putting Chestfield in the field. Early on it looked a rash decision when we shipped our first wicket for just a single run, but what followed was the stuff club cricket dreams are made of. Paul Gibson and I put on 173 for the third wicket, and I'll admit to more than a little satisfaction bringing up a hundred of my own, finishing unbeaten on 113 while Gibbo fell agonisingly short of the same landmark on 94. Down the order David Castle and Mike Elworthy both trudged back without troubling the scorers, but by then the damage had been done and 235 for 4 from our forty overs looked a formidable total to defend.

And defend it we did, in some style. Chestfield never got going — David Fields and the middle order scrapped for 25 and 21 apiece, but wickets tumbled at the other end with alarming regularity, 42 for 1 becoming 50 for 4 in the blink of an eye, with Daniel Patching and E Boaler both departing without scoring. I had my say with the ball too, picking up 4 for 12, while Stuart Cheesman and Chris Tymms chipped in either side of him and Michael Beeney simply refused to be scored off, three maidens and all. Chestfield were bowled out for a paltry 92.

A win by 143 runs, then, and a day when everything I touched turned to runs and wickets alike. One can get used to afternoons like this.

Mon 05 May 1997 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformLLLWL

Skipper's Log — Monday 5th May 1997. Maidstone Dissidents CC came calling, the coin came down against us, and the visitors elected to bat, leaving us to spend the afternoon toiling in the field before we could get our pads on. Not that any of us minded much once things got going — a bowling performance like this doesn't come along every week.

Adrian Caddick was the star of the show, prising out 3-20 with the kind of nagging accuracy that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea. Chris Tymms (2-8) and Stuart Cheesman (2-27) chipped in handsomely, and Darren Styles bowled with such miserly discipline that four maidens went unrewarded by the scorers but not unnoticed by anyone watching. Richard Filmer walked back for a duck, and the Dissidents were shot out for 139 in 46.1 overs — Piers McDonald's 37, with support from Mike Redman (30) and Mike Bains (23), the only real resistance.

Chasing 140, we made comfortably heavy weather of what should have been straightforward, in the fine tradition of village cricket everywhere — though in truth it never looked in serious doubt. Paul Gibson played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 56, well supported by David Castle's unbeaten 30. Poor Phil Randall's contribution began and ended with a duck, but with Gibson and Castle in such fluent form it mattered not a jot. We reached 145-4 in 39.2 overs, wrapping up victory by six wickets.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine day's work all round.

Sat 03 May 1997 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformWWWWW

As it stands, we headed to Horsmonden on the 3rd of May full of quiet optimism, and for once it wasn't misplaced. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation putting us in, and Mike Elworthy proceeded to remind everyone why: a magnificent 104, the kind of innings that has the tea urn gossiping for weeks. Paul Bowles chipped in an unbeaten 40 and Trevor Back a tidy 32 as we sailed to 219/3 from our 41 overs — a total with a bit of menace to it.

Defending it, though, proved harder graft. Dominic Warren played a lovely hand of 54 to keep Horsmonden interested, well supported by D Colborne (24) and Dean Larkin (21), and they pushed us all the way to 147/8. Credit to the lads with the ball — Trevor Back was superb, 2 for just 5, with Darren Styles (2-14, five miserly maidens) and Mike Elworthy (1-3) squeezing the life out of the scoring. A Jones departed for a duck, poor soul. Roly Edwards had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes going astray, and I stumbled to 15 with the bat, more useful than pretty. The real story, though, was Darren Styles quietly bringing up 100 career wickets — a proper landmark, and about time we bought him a pint for it.

In the end honours were shared, a draw that flattered neither side but satisfied both. On this evidence, we're a side worth watching this season.

Sat 03 May 1997 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformLLLLW

Saturday brought Bidborough CC to Linton Park, and with the coin falling kindly I had no hesitation in sending us in first — sunshine, a good square, what could possibly go wrong. Quite a lot, initially: we were 0 for 1 before the tea urns had even boiled, and it took a magnificent effort from Nigel Thirkell to steady the ship. Thirkell was imperious, carving out a superb 119, and found the ideal foil in Clive Newman, whose fifty-plus knock of 51 helped forge a monumental 172 for the third wicket. Elsewhere the card made grim reading — David Castle, Piers McDonald and Adam Pooley all departed without troubling the scorers — but 27 useful extras helped us to 212 for 6 from our 43 overs, leaving us something to bowl at.

And bowl we did, though not quite well enough. Bidborough's M Knoth played the innings of the day, unbeaten on 55, well supported by M Tolhurst (39) and Steve Waller (25), the pair adding 73 for the fourth wicket to keep the chase alive. Stuart Cheesman led our attack with 2 for 24, Michael Beeney chipped in with one, and I did my bit too, sending down three maidens on the way to 2 for 59. Poor Clive Newman, having batted so well, then had a torrid time behind the stumps, gifting 26 byes we could ill afford. Bidborough got home by three wickets from 41.2 overs — not our day, and a reminder that byes, like ducks, come home to roost. Back to the nets.

Sun 27 Apr 1997 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformDLLLL

There are days when you win the toss and simply know it's the right call, and Sunday against Sheldwich was one of them. I put us in to bat, and the lads made me look rather clever, cruising to 233 for 3 off our 44.3 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew on it. David Castle led the charge with a well-crafted 66, and I was delighted to chip in with 61 not out myself, while Paul Gibson's unbeaten 55 rounded out a innings that had Sheldwich's bowlers thoroughly outnumbered.

Defending 233 ought to be the easy part, and so it proved. Sheldwich never really got going, subsiding to 139 all out in 41.2 overs. Jamie Rickard's 44 was the only real resistance, with Daniel Ray (23) and James Creed (20) offering support that never threatened to trouble the scoreboard seriously — and poor Jon Taylor departed for a golden duck, which is never a pleasant walk back to the pavilion. Darren Styles was the pick of our attack with a tidy 3 for 13, backed up nobly by Matt Large (3-32), Michael Beeney (2-20), and Stuart Cheesman, whose two maidens spoke to a spell of proper miserliness.

A word, too, for Peter Whyte, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours — a milestone that rather puts the rest of us jobbing amateurs in our place, and one for the club mantelpiece if ever there was one.

A 94-run win and two well-earned points. Sheldwich were beaten fair and square, and we head home rather pleased with ourselves.

Sat 26 Apr 1997 🧢 2nd XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformWWWWW

Saturday 26th April found us on the road to Yalding, where we lost the toss and were invited to have a bowl first — never our first choice, but there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than watching Jon Harris steam in.

And steam in he did, 3-31 to lead the attack, with Adrian Caddick chipping in for 2-36 and Darren Styles bowling as tight as his aunt's Sunday purse strings, 1-12 and six maidens to show for it. Nigel Niblett gave us the runaround with a well-made 53, and Anthony Shepherd stood firm to 51 not out, with M Myers' 29 filling out the total nicely. Graham Walker and Richard Gardner, however, will not be troubling the scorers this week, both back in the pavilion for ducks courtesy of our attack. Yalding closed on 178/6 from their 45 overs — competitive, respectable, but not, as it turned out, quite enough.

Chasing it down, we barely broke sweat. Mike Elworthy played the innings of the day, 64 in fine touch, with Tim Thirkell adding a handsome 58 and Keith Hatcher unbeaten on 49 to see us home. We reached 182/2 in just 31 overs, cantering over the line by 8 wickets with time to spare for a proper pint.

A thoroughly good day for the club — bowled with discipline, chased with class, and home well before last orders.