🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 27 Sep 1998 🧢 1st XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformWDLWW

Sunday 27 September 1998 saw us out on the road as visitors, and when the coin came down my way I didn't dither for a second — bat first, no question, on a day that looked made for runs.

And runs there were. Paul Gibson set the tone with a thoroughly well-made 78, batting with the sort of authority that makes a captain's life easy, while Michael Beeney chipped in a handsome fifty of his own, 56 to his name, and Clive Newman added a brisk 45 for good measure. Not everyone's afternoon sparkled quite so brightly — poor Peter Whyte trudged back for a duck, the sort of dismissal that draws sympathetic groans and rather too much laughter from the boundary. Even so, 235 for 7 from our thirty overs was a total to be proud of, and gave the bowlers something substantial to defend.

Defend it they did, seeing us home by 26 runs in the end, comfortable enough to enjoy the tea rather than chew our nails through it. It rounds off a fine season for Clive Newman too, who now sits second in the 1998 1st XI run charts with 610 runs to his name, while over on Sundays Roly Edwards leads the 2nd XI's charts with 70.

All told, a thoroughly good day for the club, the sort of Sunday that reminds you why you turn up in whites in the first place.

Sat 26 Sep 1998 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWWDLW

Saturday 26 September brought Bidborough to Linton Park, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and one I was rather pleased with myself about by teatime.

We batted our way to 167 all out in 36.5 overs, a total built on Clive Newman's fine 42 and handsomely backed up by Brian Piper's 37 and David Castle's 21. Not every name will trouble the record books, mind — Nigel Thirkell and Jon Harris both departed for golden ducks, the sort of dismissal that gets you a consoling pint but not much sympathy.

With the ball, Bidborough fought hard, reaching 160 all out in 39.4 overs on the back of P Wood's 39 and useful contributions from Mark Mitchell (33) and J Waller (22). Stephen Towner and A Dobson went for ducks of their own — misery loves company. But the day belonged to yours truly: I bowled the spell of my life, 8 for 44, a five-for and then some, richly deserved if I say so myself. Daniel Thirkell (1-19) and John Taylor (1-26) chipped in nicely, while Nigel Thirkell bowled three miserly maidens to keep the squeeze on. With the bat I'd added a workmanlike 16 earlier — sandwich filling to the top order's fine work.

We got over the line by seven runs. A tight, twitchy finish, but a thoroughly good day for the club — and I'll allow myself just this once to say the captain had rather a say in it.

Sun 20 Sep 1998 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLWWDL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 20 September 1998, and a rare day when the toss actually mattered and I got it right, electing to bat against Anchorians on our own patch. What followed was, by our modest standards, something of a batting clinic: 220/5 from our 35 overs, built on a proper platform from Piers McDonald, who cruised past fifty to 72, while I found some unexpected form of my own, carrying my bat all the way to 105 not out. Three figures — I still can't quite believe it looking back at the scorebook. Not every contribution sparkled, mind — Richard Piper and Trevor Back both made the lonely walk back for ducks, and the club ledger duly noted it.

Two hundred and twenty is a total that asks questions of any side, and to their credit Anchorians never really found the answers. Stuart Cheesman set the tone with 2-15, Jon Harris chipped in with 2-19, and young Daniel Thirkell picked up a wicket for the princely cost of a single run. Trevor Back, having atoned nicely for his duck, bowled two tidy maidens and, in doing so, edged past John Thirkell into 11th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a fine bit of history-making on a Sunday afternoon. Adam Pooley, it must be said, had a rather testing time behind the stumps, with 11 byes leaking through — we shall put that down to a lively pitch and say no more.

Anchorians were bowled out for 115 in 31 overs, and we walked off 105 runs to the good. A personal contribution of 105 was satisfying indeed, but this was very much a team performance from top to bottom. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a result to make the long drive home feel considerably shorter.

Sat 19 Sep 1998 🧢 2nd XIv EC Elliotts CC · AwayformWWWWW

Saturday last took us to Elliotts CC, and the coin did us no favours — I called wrong, and we were put into the field on a pitch that looked to have runs written all over it. So it proved. Ian Crickmore played the innings of the day, 98 that never quite found its century, well backed by Alan Ricketts and Gary Buckle with twenty apiece, and they finished on a stout 186/8 from their 47 overs. Credit where due to the lads with the ball: Paul Croucher was superb, 3-33, with Alan Boyns snapping up 3-39 and Ian Brattle chipping in with one, while John Taylor bowled two tidy maidens and we did at least see off Max Wasson for a duck to keep the total honest.

Chasing 187, we never quite got the rhythm going. Ron McCormick batted beautifully for 61, with Roly Edwards adding a useful 39 and I found some form of my own with 30, but three ducks on the card — John Taylor, Dave Todd and Paul Croucher all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — did for us, and we were bowled out for 170. Poor Roly had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps too, twelve byes going begging.

Sixteen runs the wrong side of the ledger in the end. Elsewhere in the club there's cheer enough — Mike Elworthy sits second in the Second XI run charts and Ian Brattle leads the wickets — but for the First XI this was one that got away. We'll regroup and come back stronger next week.

Sat 19 Sep 1998 🧢 1st XIv HC Hastings & St Leonards Priory CC · HomeformDLWWD

Saturday the nineteenth of September, and Hastings & St Leonards Priory rolled up as our final visitors before autumn set in properly. Won the toss, and with a decent look at the square I fancied runs first — in we went to bat.

175 for 8 off our forty overs was a fair total, built on a lovely half-century from Piers McDonald — 54, and the man's now sitting second in the season's run charts with 600 to his name, no less. Paul Gibson chipped in a handsome 48, Clive Newman 32, and between them they gave the innings a proper backbone even as wickets went down at the other end.

Defending it, though, was another matter entirely. B. Phillips simply had one of those days, unbeaten on 70, and with P. Lindfield (40) and B. Collins (36) offering sturdy support, they cantered home in 24.3 overs — 176 for 2. Fred Cheesman toiled manfully for his 1-19 and Daniel Thirkell picked up 1-26, but there was precious little else to trouble the scorers; the lads bowled with heart but the pitch, and Phillips in particular, had other ideas.

Seven wickets is a comprehensive beating by any measure, and there's no dressing it up as anything else. Heads up all the same — we scored well enough to win most weeks, we just met a man in irrepressible form. Back to the nets, and better luck next Saturday.

Wed 16 Sep 1998 🧢 Midweek XIv Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformWDDLD

Won the toss on a fine Wednesday evening and, with visitors Tunbridge Wells Wednesday in town, I fancied runs on the board and sent us in. It proved a mixed blessing. Trevor Back set the tone with a brisk 31, Peter Whyte chipped in with 27 and Troy McConnell finished unbeaten on 25, but the card had its blemishes — both Piers McDonald and Fred Cheesman departed without troubling the scorebook. Twenty-seven extras arrived like a benevolent tail-ender, and we closed on 163 all out from 41 overs — respectable, if not one to frighten the neighbours.

With ball in hand we set about redressing the balance. Ian Brattle was magnificent, ripping through their order for 4-27, while Fred Cheesman made amends with 2-27. I did my bit too, taking 2-32 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly. Iain Barker went the way of McDonald and Cheesman, back in the pavilion without scoring, though Withers (22) and Tedder (20) held firm enough to see their side to 109/9 from 47 overs and safety.

A landmark evening for Brattle, whose four wickets nudged him past Gordon Fenner into eighth on the club's all-time list — a round of applause well earned. Honours, in the end, were shared: a draw that satisfied no one and disappointed no one either. Fair result, on reflection.

Sun 13 Sep 1998 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformWDLWW

From the captain's chair, Sunday 13th September 1998: Dummy Site were our visitors, and having lost the toss I could only watch as they chose to bat first — never our preferred script, but there we are.

They ground their way to a respectable 195 for 6 off their 46 overs, T Leach playing the innings of the day with a chanceless-looking 89, well supported by J Scamp's 42. Only D Bray troubled our attack not at all, departing without so much as a nudge to the scorers — the sort of duck that raises a wry cheer from the boundary rather than any real sympathy. Darren Styles was the pick of a disciplined bowling effort, 2 for 51 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and he had capable company in Daniel Thirkell (1-20) and Stuart Cheesman (1-27). Not a side to concede runs lightly, and it showed.

Chasing 196, we mustered 104 for 7 from our 42 overs — a touch short of what was needed, if truth be told, though Adam Pooley's unbeaten 25 held things together admirably and spared our blushes.

Honours shared in the end, then — a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Frustrating in the moment, perhaps, but with Stewart Morrison leading the run charts on 601 and Darren Styles second in the wickets on 23, the season's engine room is clearly in fine working order. A fair result, all told, and no disgrace in it.

Sun 06 Sep 1998 🧢 Tour XIv BC Beacon CC, Cornwall · AwayformWLDDD

Sunday 6th September saw us make the long haul down to Beacon CC in Cornwall, and I lost the toss — never a good omen, and so it proved. They put us into the field first, and 180 all out from their thirty overs felt like a mid-table score at best on a decent morning. Simon Tripconey led the way with 41, well supported by Steve Proctor's 34 and David Weeks's unbeaten 22, though credit where it's due: Mike Elworthy was superb, 3 for 24, with Darren Styles (2-23) and Adam Pooley (1-22) chipping away throughout. Robert Bath and David Proctor went for nought apiece, so it wasn't all one-way traffic.

Chasing 180, we simply never got going. Ninety all out from our thirty overs tells its own sad story, with three ducks on the card — Richard Piper, Stuart Cheesman and Simon Thirkell all back in the pavilion before troubling the scorers. Stewart Morrison's 26 was the one innings with any real substance, and I managed a workmanlike 18 myself, though it was rather like rearranging deckchairs.

Elsewhere in the season, Brian Piper continues to sit second in the Tour XI run charts on 77, and Darren Styles leads the wicket-takers with four.

The verdict: beaten by 90 runs, and thoroughly outplayed on the day. Nothing for it but to dust ourselves down, get back to the nets, and try again next week.

Thu 03 Sep 1998 🧢 Tour XIv TW Trengilly Wartha · AwayformWWLDD

Thursday the 3rd of September found us on the road to Trengilly Wartha, a fixture I've always enjoyed, if only for the tea. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than stubborn. Brian Piper set about the bowling with real purpose for a fine 61, and I was glad to chip in with a fifty of my own, 56, while Alan Boyns weighed in with a useful 25. Stuart Cheesman departed for nought without troubling the scorers, but 214/9 from our fifty overs felt like a defendable total on a good pitch.

So it proved, almost. Trengilly Wartha replied gamely, but it was one man's innings that threatened to spoil our afternoon — J- Robertson refused to get out, compiling a magnificent unbeaten 128, well supported by R- Esses's 27. Three of their number, R- Boutflower, R McKay and S- Lentern, went back without scoring, and it was Alan Boyns who did the real damage, an excellent 4-64 including two tight maidens, backed up by Stewart Morrison's 3-49 and John Phipps's solitary strike. Poor Adam Pooley had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes going begging.

They finished on 212/9 from 39 overs — agonisingly, honours even. A personal landmark passed unnoticed amid it all: somewhere in that innings I brought up 33,000 career runs for the club, which rather puts one's aches and pains into perspective. A draw, then — not quite the win our bowling deserved, but with Robertson in that mood, I'll happily settle for honours shared.

Tue 01 Sep 1998 🧢 Tour XIv HC Helston CC · AwayformLWWLD

John Phipps chalked up 75, ably supported by Darren Styles' 20, but a middle-order stumble — culminating in poor Stewart Morrison's golden duck — dragged us back to 169/9 from our 46. Not the total I'd hoped for when I won the toss and, with what I like to think was captain's foresight, opted to bat first, but a defendable one on a good Helston pitch, or so I told myself walking off.

With the ball, the lads were magnificent. Helston never quite got away from us, N Akhtar's 35 and S Pollard's 20 the only real resistance as they subsided to 116/9 from their 45. I managed to find a bit of rhythm myself, finishing with three wickets, while Darren Styles chipped in with two and Stuart Cheesman claimed one. Michael Beeney bowled with real discipline, four maidens a testament to a line and length that gave the batsmen nothing whatsoever to work with.

In the end neither side could quite land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw always feels like a slightly unsatisfying outcome when you've done the hard work of bowling a side out for under 120, but that's cricket, and Helston for the day. Up the season's charts, John Phipps now leads the Tour XI's run-scorers with his 75, and I find myself, rather modestly, atop the wicket-takers with three. All told, a fair result, honestly earned by both sides.

Sun 30 Aug 1998 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformWWDLW

Sunday 30 August 1998 saw us make the trip to Town Malling CC, and for once I called the coin correctly at the toss. Never one to overthink a decision, I stuck us in to bat, and the lads repaid my confidence handsomely — 190/6 from our 37 overs, built on a fine 44 from Piers McDonald, sturdy support from Richard Ellis with 43, and Brian Piper unbeaten on 33 to see us to a total that felt, even by the tea interval, like rather a lot.

So it proved. Town Malling's reply never got out of second gear, subsiding to 96 all out in 31.3 overs. S. Thompson and Adam Nix both chipped in with 22 apiece, but beyond that it was three back-to-the-pavilion ducks for R. Palmer, Simon Uttridge and A. Thompson, who between them troubled the scorers not one jot. Darren Styles was the chief tormentor, a superb 4-5, with Fred Cheesman miserly and menacing in equal measure for 3-28 including two maidens, and Adam Pooley picking up 1-0 for good measure. I contributed a workmanlike 15 with the bat, more diligent than dashing.

With the season's run and wicket charts showing Piers McDonald and Darren Styles both sitting second in the club, it's clear the current form isn't a fluke. A 94-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — onwards we go.

Sat 29 Aug 1998 🧢 1st XIv HC Herne Bay CC · AwayformWWWDL

Saturday 29 August 1998 saw us make the journey to Herne Bay CC, and for once the coin cooperated — heads it was, and into bat we went.

What followed was as handsome a batting effort as I can remember. Paul Gibson batted with the serenity of a man who knew exactly what he was about, carrying his bat to a magnificent hundred, while Mike Elworthy purred along at the other end to an unbeaten 67, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with a spirited 27 to help us to 222 for 4 off our 44.2 overs. I shall draw a discreet veil over Stuart Cheesman's contribution, save to note that a diamond duck earns its place in the ledger whether we like it or not — the pond awaits, Stuart.

Herne Bay came out swinging in reply, and John Rose's well-crafted fifty, with Neil Hackshall and A Guy lending sturdy support, kept them in the hunt longer than was comfortable. But our bowlers had other ideas. Tim Thirkell was magnificent, prising out four for 31, with Brian Piper and Richard Ellis both claiming three apiece, and Darren Styles bowling with a miser's discipline for his four maidens. Poor Elworthy had a wretched time of it behind the stumps, 11 byes going begging, but nobody was going to hold that against a man who'd just made 67 not out — a knock that, pleasingly, also nudged him past Malcolm Pay into 20th on the club's all-time run-scoring list.

Herne Bay were bowled out for 209, and we held on by 13 runs. A thoroughly good day for Linton Park, and Gibson's ton keeps him purring along nicely in fifth place in this season's run charts.

Sat 22 Aug 1998 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformLWWWD

Here's the match report:

Saturday 22 August 1998, and off we trundled to Milstead for what I'd hoped would be a happy day in the sun. No such luck at the toss — we lost it, and were sent out to field, which at least meant I got first go with the ball before anyone had to think too hard about tea.

Milstead built steadily to 184 for 8 off their 46, with Richard Annand playing the innings of the day for a fine 54, well backed by Mike Sellar's 33 and A Wright's 27. We did our bit in reply, sending both N Sloan and Robert Goodwin back for ducks, and it was Nigel Thirkell who did the real damage — four wickets for just 22, with four maidens thrown in for good measure, the sort of spell that has batsmen playing for their guard rather than their shots. Stuart Cheesman chipped in with two, and I managed one for 37, more workmanlike than wonderful.

Chasing 185, we made a real fist of it, reaching 181 for 7 off our 44 — heartbreakingly close. Piers McDonald anchored things beautifully with 57, a knock that also nudged him up to twelfth on the club's all-time run charts, no less. I added 40 of my own, and Nigel Thirkell kept the scoreboard ticking with 38. Nine byes, mind you, told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Piers.

Three runs short in the end — the cruellest of margins. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 22 Aug 1998 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · HomeformDWWWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 22 August 1998. Milstead CC the visitors, and a fine day for it.

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once the decision looked wise rather than wilful. Mike Elworthy played the innings of the day — 129 not out, an absolute peach of a hundred that did the bulk of the damage — while I chipped in with 50 of my own, and Paul Davey's 30 rounded things off nicely. 257/3 from our 46 overs left Milstead a proper mountain to climb, and not much margin for error on a ground where errors tend to get punished.

They gave it a decent go, I'll say that for them. Chris Rawson's unbeaten 61 and G Youdale's 58 not out kept the scoreboard ticking, with Glen Rawson's 41 offering further resistance, and 187/3 from 44 overs was no disgrace. But it was never quite enough. Ian Brattle was the pick of our attack with 2-30, Alan Boyns chipped in with 1-43, and John Taylor squeezed the life out of proceedings with two tidy maidens.

A personal 50 was satisfying, though the day belonged to Elworthy — his 129 quietly nudges him past Mike Caddick and into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing you only notice weeks later in the scorebook and then can't stop grinning about.

A fine win by 70 runs. Onwards.

Sun 16 Aug 1998 🧢 1st XIv PC Pembury CC · HomeformLLWWW

Sunday 16 August 1998 — Pembury CC at home, and after winning the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat. On a day like this, you take first use of the pitch and hope your top order does the rest.

They didn't just do the rest — they did us proud. Stewart Morrison played the innings of the day with a fine 84, and I was glad to chip in myself with a well-made 61, while Daniel Thirkell's unbeaten 39 rounded things off nicely as we declared, if you can call reaching 240/2 off 38 overs a declaration of intent. It felt, at the time, like a total Pembury would need something special to chase.

And to their credit, they had a fair crack at it. Robert Eaton led their reply with 41, well supported by Colin Barden's 29 and D. McLintock's 28, while poor Chris Buckle trudged off for a golden duck without so much as a look at the scoreboard. Our bowling did its job without quite finishing it — Darren Styles was excellent with 3-30, Jon Harris chipped in with 3-55 and four maidens of pure miserliness, and Richard Piper picked up 1-28. Pembury battled to 191/8 off their 46 overs, and there the game ended, honours even.

A word too for Clive Newman, whose 38 runs quietly nudged him past Jim Hall into 15th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a nice footnote on an afternoon of shared spoils. A draw, then: not quite the victory the top order deserved, but an honest result all the same.

Sat 15 Aug 1998 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformDLLWW

It was a soggy sort of contest at heart, but as August afternoons at Shipbourne go, this one had everything.

Losing the toss and being asked to field is rarely the invitation you'd choose, and 204/7 from their 46 overs felt like a stiffish ask by tea, Mick Johnson's 48 the backbone of it, with Barry Hart (32 not out) and Mike Cooper (28) tidying up the loose ends we left lying about. Daniel Thirkell was the pick of our attack by some distance, 2-61 earned the hard way, while Stewart Morrison chipped in a wicket and I managed one myself for 34 — more relief than triumph, but I'll take it.

Chasing 205 is never the leisurely stroll it sounds on paper, but Paul Gibson's 38 set the tone, with Clive Newman (36) and David Castle (35) all playing their part in getting us home with half an over to spare — 205/6 from 43.3 overs. I will say the 11 byes conceded made for uncomfortable viewing from the boundary, and poor Clive Newman will be dreaming about it behind the stumps for a week yet.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Stewart Morrison continues to bat like a man who's read the fixture list and decided to hoard runs for winter, 498 of them and counting, while I find myself, rather improbably, second in the wicket charts with 17.

Four wickets, two points, and a long drive home made shorter by the winning of it. Thoroughly earned, and thoroughly enjoyed.

Sat 15 Aug 1998 🧢 2nd XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWDWWW

Saturday 15 August 1998 saw Shipbourne CC visit, and I called correctly at the toss — no hesitation about it, we batted.

Runs came in fits and starts as we crawled to 144/9 from our 46 overs. Brian Piper led the way with a tidy 30, well supported by Alan Boyns (29) and Keith Hatcher (23), though Mike Elworthy and Trevor Back both contributed a golden duck apiece to the cause, which raised a chuckle in the pavilion if not much else. Not a total to frighten anyone, but cricket has a habit of making fools of us all, and so it proved.

Defending 144 felt a tall order, but the lads dug in. Shipbourne replied with 126/7 from their 44, Eddie May's unbeaten 39 the innings' backbone, ably supported by Edward Gelling (30) and G. Bone (23). It was Ian Brattle who won us the day, though — a magnificent 5-54 including four maidens, not a run given away lightly, with Darren Styles chipping in 2-25 to squeeze the life out of the chase. I managed a small hand with the bat myself, but this one belonged to the bowlers.

A word too for Roly Edwards, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark worth more than any scoreline.

A fine win by 18 runs, ground out rather than strolled to. Onwards.

Tue 11 Aug 1998 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLWDDL

Tuesday 11 August found us on the road to The Mote CC, and I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season — they had first use of the bat, we had first use of the ball, and there wasn't much we could do about either. They settled in nicely and rattled up 206/7 from their 52 overs, Paul Fuggle the chief architect with a fine 49, Cameron Eve chipping in 40 and Tom Harris finishing unbeaten on 35. M- New departed for a duck without so much as scuffing his guard. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4-64, Gavin Saunders chipped in 2-60, Fred Cheesman took one, and Trevor Back bowled two tidy maidens to keep the tea urn from boiling over.

Chasing 207, we made a fair fist of it. Brian Piper's well-crafted fifty was the innings' backbone, Piers McDonald's 47 and Clive Newman's 27 kept the required rate honest, though poor Mike Elworthy's golden duck won't be troubling the highlight reel. We finished on 197/8 from our 46, six runs shy with the overs run out from under us.

A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side could quite land the killer blow. Small consolation on the way home: Trevor Back's unbeaten-looking 17 nudged him past Stan Wratten into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of statistic that keeps a midweek captain warm on the drive back. Not a bad day's cricket — just not, in the end, a winning one.

Mon 10 Aug 1998 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformLLWDD

Monday brought Selsdon CC to Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain. Nigel Thirkell was in imperious form, his 80 the backbone of our 211 for 7 off 35 overs, with Richard Ellis chipping in a tidy 33 and Mick Potter unbeaten on 26 to see us to a total that felt, at tea, like a defendable one.

Defending it proved rather trickier than the arithmetic suggested. Marcus Robertson simply refused to leave, cruising to 85 not out, and found a willing partner in Keith Exton, whose unbeaten 52 kept the required rate ticking over nicely from their end. I did what I could with the ball, picking up 2 for 23 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, while Adrian Caddick toiled manfully for 2 for 47 and Mick Potter grabbed one for 17. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid time of it behind the stumps — twelve byes tell their own sorry tale of a wicket that misbehaved rather more than he did.

In the end Selsdon got home by five wickets with half an over or so to spare. Elsewhere, credit to Piers McDonald, who sits second in the Midweek XI's season run charts with 99 to his name — some consolation on an otherwise chastening afternoon. We were beaten fair and square, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 09 Aug 1998 🧢 1st XIv CC Cosmos CC · HomeformLDLLW

Sunday the 9th of August dawned kind to Linton Park, and kinder still when the coin fell our way — I had no hesitation putting us in to have a bat first. It wasn't a vintage total but a solid one: 168 for 8 off our 46 overs, the innings carried by a typically composed fifty from Daniel Thirkell, while the rest of us pottered about making up the numbers around him.

Defending under a summer sky is always a nervous business, but Cosmos CC never really troubled us. X Watson battled to 31 and N Vest chipped in with 20, yet wickets tumbled at the other end with alarming regularity — J Bird and X Newton both departed without troubling the scorer, ducks that will live long in the club's collective memory if nowhere else. Stuart Cheesman was the wrecking ball with 4 for 12, Darren Styles chipped away for 1 for 12, and I found some rhythm of my own with the ball, finishing 4 for 14 with nine maidens that left the Cosmos middle order precious little to work with. They folded for 91 in 38.1 overs.

A 77-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Stewart Morrison continues to lead our season run charts with 487, and I'm rather chuffed to report the wickets column now reads 40 in my favour. A good day for the club, and one to enjoy on the way home.

Sat 08 Aug 1998 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDLDLL

What a corker of an afternoon it turned out to be. I called correctly on Saturday and, with the sun doing its best village-green impression, elected to bat first against Bearsted — a decision that for once didn't come back to haunt me. Dave Charlton and David Castle set about proceedings with real intent, the pair of them putting on 108 for the first wicket before either so much as looked troubled, and by the time Charlton fell for a handsome 70 the platform was well and truly laid. Castle chipped in with 42 and Stewart Morrison finished unbeaten on 40, though what came between was rather less serene — 155 for 3 became 162 for 6 in the time it takes to pour a tea, a collapse of the sort that keeps club cricket honest. Special mention, sadly, for Piers McDonald, whose golden duck earns him this week's walk of shame. We closed on a healthy 222 for 9 from our 46.

With the ball, Bearsted never quite got parity within reach. Jon Harris was magnificent, 2 for 25 studded with four maidens — not a run given away lightly, that man — with Daniel Thirkell (2-34) and Paul Gibson (1-4) offering fine support. Sarath Chandrasekera's 32 and useful knocks from Stephen Heap and Mick Clifton kept the visitors interested without ever threatening, and poor Peter Clark joined the duck club without troubling the scorers. They fell 62 runs short on 160 for 9.

A thoroughly good day for the club, and with Morrison and Harris both flying at the top of the season's charts, the omens for the rest of the summer look rosy indeed.

Sat 08 Aug 1998 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWDWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 08 August 1998. We travelled to Bearsted CC in good spirits, and, winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat. The right call, I felt, and for once I shall be permitted to say so without a chorus of groans from the boundary.

The lads batted with real application, posting 200 all out from 45.5 overs. Trevor Back led the way with a fine 70, ably supported by Keith Hatcher's equally fine 52, while Alan Boyns chipped in a tidy 20. The 87-run second-wicket stand was the spine of the innings, and a very good one it was too. Less gloriously, Richard Piper endured the walk of shame with a duck — the Duck Club ledger grows ever fatter, and I dare say he'll not live it down at teas.

In the field we defended with purpose, bowling Bearsted out for 162 in 41.4 overs despite Steve Heads' battling 41, supported by Rod Maloney and Alistair Mills with 25 apiece. Alan Marshall departed for a duck at our hands, some small consolation. Darren Styles was superb, leading the attack with 4-39, with Ian Brattle (3-43, four maidens no less) and Alan Boyns (2-28) tightening the screws throughout.

We got over the line by 38 runs. A good day for the club, and — Piper's blushes aside — one to savour on the drive home.

Tue 04 Aug 1998 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDLLWD

Wednesday, 4th August, and Bexley CC rolled up for what turned into a proper afternoon of cricket. The coin let us down as usual, and Bexley elected to bat, leaving us to toil away in the field for 46 overs while they built a solid 212/6. Stuart Ladbrook led the charge with a well-crafted fifty, and had willing company from his brother Michael, unbeaten on 41, plus a handy 38 from T Allen — the sort of batting that makes a captain wish he'd won the toss just this once. Credit to the attack for keeping it respectable: Daniel Thirkell was the pick with 2-24, Fred Cheesman chipped in with 2-25, and I managed to prise out a couple myself for 39.

Chasing 213 was always going to ask questions of our order, and Trevor Back answered them best, batting through to finish unbeaten on 48 — an innings of real substance from a man who's been in irresistible form all summer. Mick Potter's 40 and Clive Newman's 34 gave the innings its backbone, but time and overs ran out before we could quite get there, closing on 200/7 from our 42.

So, honours shared — a draw that felt entirely fair given how evenly matched the sides were. Trevor Back continues to top the run charts and I'm rather chuffed to be leading the wickets column, but really this was a match neither side deserved to lose. A good, honest contest, a tea well earned, and the kind of afternoon that reminds you why you keep turning up.

Sun 02 Aug 1998 🧢 1st XIv WC Wye CC · AwayformWDLDL

Lost the toss again — Wye CC's captain barely had to think before sticking us in the field, and off we trudged to leather-chase under a Kentish sky. They made themselves thoroughly at home, closing on 189 for 6 from 45.4 overs, built chiefly around Colin Blaskett's fine 84, with Chris Hollins (32) and Spight (25) filling in the gaps rather too comfortably for our liking. Credit where due: Gavin Saunders was our pick of the attack with 2 for 19, while Stuart Cheesman and Darren Styles chipped in a wicket apiece — Styles bowling with real discipline, four maidens and barely a run to be had off him.

Chasing 190, we never quite got out of second gear. Stuart Cheesman, having earlier bowled tidily, top-scored with 33 and looked the only man truly untroubled, but wickets tumbled around him and we were bowled out for 109 in 47.1 overs. It was a grim afternoon for the top order especially — Piers McDonald, Ian Brattle and, I confess with all due humility, your captain, each contributed a well-crafted nought to proceedings. Mine arrived first ball, a golden blob that rather undercut any pretence of leading by example. Piers also had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes going begging.

Not all doom, mind: Stuart Cheesman passed 100 career wickets, a landmark worth raising a glass to, and Stewart Morrison and Darren Styles continue to sit handsomely in the season's charts. But an 80-run defeat is an 80-run defeat. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Wed 29 Jul 1998 🧢 Midweek XIv IX Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI · HomeformDDLLW

Here's the report:

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 29 July 1998, at home, and what a tussle it turned out to be. Winning the toss, I put the visitors in, and for long spells it looked a shrewd call gone spectacularly wrong as T Green played the innings of the day, a magnificent 104, with T Gregory (42) and C Sadler (38) offering sturdy support to push the total to a stiff 221/8 off 42.5 overs. Poor N Parry, at least, can have no complaints — back in the pavilion without so much as a look at the scoreboard. I did manage to get among the wickets myself, finishing with 4-41, while Tom Judges bowled with real discipline for 2-27 including three maidens, and Fred Cheesman chipped in with 1-22.

Chasing 222 was always going to ask questions of our batting, and while we never quite got the required rate within reach, John Phipps played a genuinely lovely innings, unbeaten on 62, ably supported by Fred Cheesman's unbeaten 29, to steer us to a respectable 136/6 from our 42 overs and see out the draw with dignity intact.

So honours shared on the day — nobody quite had the legs to force it home, though T Green's century will linger long in the memory, mine included. With 9 wickets now to my name in the Midweek XI charts and Piers McDonald handily placed on 87 runs, the season ambles on nicely. A draw, then, but an honest one — earned by application rather than adventure, and no bad way to spend a Wednesday.

Sat 25 Jul 1998 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWWDLD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 25 July 1998, and we welcomed Sheldwich CC to Linton Park under conditions that, in hindsight, favoured the man with the bat rather more than the men without one. I lost the toss, they had no hesitation in batting first, and by the time their innings closed at 310 for 3 off 46 overs, I understood why. James Creed treated us to a magnificent, chanceless 183 not out, with Simon Green (54) and David Prior (42 not out) offering polite support in the demolition. Daniel Thirkell kept his dignity intact with 2 for 70, Rob Doick chipped in with 1 for 55, and poor Daniel Ray departed without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 311 was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved, though not without pride. Stewart Morrison's 47 was the innings' backbone, Dave Charlton (35) and Clive Newman (29 not out) lent good support, and I contributed a workmanlike 26 of my own. Rob Doick, alas, made amends for his bowling with a golden duck — cricket's way of keeping a man humble on the same afternoon. We closed on 216 for 8 from our 44 overs.

Beaten by 94 runs, then, against a Creed innings that will live long in the memory — mostly as a cautionary tale. Piers McDonald continues to lead our season's run charts with 431, a reminder that not all is lost. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 25 Jul 1998 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformWWWDW

The road to Sheldwich is never a short one, and I confess the drive gave me ample time to talk myself into batting first once the coin fell our way. Right call, as it turned out, though 141 all out from 44.1 overs was hardly a declaration of intent to frighten anyone. Brian Piper led the way with 33, Trevor Back weighed in with a typically dependable 30, and Richard Ellis chipped in 26 to give the innings some shape. Poor Ian Brattle, meanwhile, made his contribution with the bat entirely in the negative — a golden duck to file away and never mention again, except here, in print, forever.

Defending 141 always feels like asking the lads to guard a garden fence with a colander, but bowl they did, and how. Sheldwich were bundled out for 93 in 33.5 overs, their openers Voller and Taylor both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Ian Brattle, evidently keen to make amends for his batting, tore in for 4-33, with Dave Todd (3-14) and Alan Boyns (2-15, five miserly maidens) squeezing the life out of the rest. I managed 21 with the bat myself, more relief than glory.

Trevor Back now leads our 2nd XI run charts with 351 for the season, and Dave Todd tops the wicket pile with 21 — both men doing rather more than their fair share of the heavy lifting. A 48-run win, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sun 19 Jul 1998 🧢 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · HomeformWWWDL

As I put us in to bat, sunny skies over Linton Park and a coin that finally fell our way, I never imagined we'd need every one of our 46 overs to feel secure. Clive Newman set the tone with a composed unbeaten 52, and Piers McDonald chipped in a busy 42 to help us to 244/5. I'll allow myself one mention of my own contribution — 51, and a satisfying one at that — before handing the platform properly back to the team, because a total like that is built on more than one man's afternoon.

Tenterden came at us with real intent, T Curties compiling a handsome 57 and getting good company from D Prosser (43) and N Upton (32), and for a good while 206 felt like it might just be enough to spoil our tea. But the ball did for them what the bat had done for us: I managed 1-8 with the damage done early, Fred Cheesman and Daniel Thirkell chipped in a wicket apiece, and Darren Styles bowled with the miserly discipline of a man refusing to buy the first round — three maidens and barely a boundary in sight. Spare a thought for Peter Whyte behind the stumps, who had one of those afternoons where the ball simply wouldn't sit still — eight byes is not a number he'll be framing.

There was a tidy bit of history too: Piers's 42 nudged him past William Buck and into 13th on the club's all-time run-charts, which is the sort of thing that means rather more to us than it perhaps should.

In the end neither side could quite finish the job, and honours were shared. A draw, but an honest one — earned, not settled for.

Sat 18 Jul 1998 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDWWWD

The coin gods were in a mischievous mood again on Saturday, and Hollingbourne CC duly called correctly and elected to bat, leaving us to toil away in the field under a full Kentish sky. Toil we did, and not without reward: Mike Donald and Andy Golding put on a masterclass, ambling to 88 not out and 78 respectively as Hollingbourne racked up 215 for 3 from their 46 overs. Ian Brattle was our one shining light with the ball, snaring 3 for 49 and, rather more remarkably, sailing past 500 career wickets in the process — a landmark that deserves its own plaque, if not a small statue outside the pavilion.

Chasing 216 was always going to want a touch of application. We found instead a collective loss of nerve, bundled out for a wretched 26 in just 18 overs. Piers McDonald, David Castle and Stewart Morrison all departed without troubling the scorer, and I'm afraid your correspondent must add his own name to that unhappy list — I too fell for a duck, and the less said about the shot in question, the better. Small consolation came in reaching my 300th appearance in Linton colours, though I'd have traded the cap for a single run.

Clive Newman continues to fly the flag in the season's charts, now third with 328 runs — a reminder that not all was doom. But down by 189 runs, this was a chastening afternoon. Nets await, and plenty of them.

Sat 18 Jul 1998 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformWWWWD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 18th July 1998, Hollingbourne CC at home.

Won the toss, and there was never much debate in my mind — on went the pads. We made 178 all out from our 46 overs, propped up handsomely by Mike Elworthy's well-crafted 62 and Trevor Back's steady 36, with my own 20 doing its bit down the order. Alan Boyns and Richard Ellis both went quietly for ducks, the sort of thing that happens to the best of us and, on this occasion, to two of our better ones — I shan't dwell on it, and neither, I suspect, will they.

Hollingbourne's reply never quite got going. Matthew Jones battled to 25, but the innings folded for 119 in 43 overs under sustained pressure from the ball. Jon Harris was superb, leading the line with 3-22, backed up by Dave Todd's 3-29 and Darren Styles' 2-33, while Alan Boyns made amends for his golden duck by keeping things miserly with two maidens. Not a run was given away without a fight.

A word beyond the scorecard: Trevor Back brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that rather puts the rest of us in the shade. He also sits atop the 2nd XI's season run charts with 321, while Dave Todd leads the wickets with 18 — form both men can be rightly proud of.

Two points, won by 59 runs, and thoroughly deserved. A fine day's cricket, and tea wasn't bad either.

Tue 14 Jul 1998 🧢 Midweek XIv IC Ingham CC · HomeformWDDLL

I lost the toss and, rather cheekily, was invited to bowl first at Ingham on a warm Tuesday evening. Graham Tufts had other ideas about our afternoon, cruising to 65, while S Jessup weighed in with a watchful 42 not out after an earlier knock of 40. R Whitlam went first ball, or near enough, nicking a duck to our attack, but the rest of the order dug in and 233/9 off 41.3 overs felt every bit as stiff a target as it sounds. Trevor Back did the damage with 2-46, with Darren Styles (2-48) and myself (2-74) mopping up around him.

Chasing 234 is the sort of task that separates the calm from the twitchy, and for long stretches we were mercifully calm. Trevor Back, having already softened them up with the ball, turned executioner with the bat too, batting through to 76 not out. Piers McDonald played the innings of a lifetime for a well-made fifty, 53 to be exact, and Adrian Caddick's 26 kept the scoreboard honest in between. I contributed nothing whatsoever, out for a duck myself, and the less said about that the better.

In the end it came down to the very last pair, and we scrambled home 234/7 off 47.1 overs, winning by a single wicket. Nerve-shredding, occasionally farcical, but a victory is a victory. Trevor Back now tops both our run and near enough our headlines this season, and I'll happily lead the wicket charts while quietly hiding my batting average. A cracking win, and a good day for the club.

Sat 11 Jul 1998 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformLWWWW

Linton Park hosted Southborough on a Saturday that will live long in the memory of anyone who enjoys a good stalemate. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat, a decision that owed rather more to gut instinct than any deep tactical genius, but one that paid off handsomely enough. Trevor Back set about the Southborough bowling with real purpose, compiling a fine 55 that anchored the innings, while Paul Davey played the perfect foil with an unbeaten 37 at the other end. Together they steered us to a healthy 119 for 3 from our 28 overs, and I confess I strolled off at the halfway mark feeling rather pleased with myself.

Then came our turn with the ball, and here the report grows a touch mysterious, for the scorebook simply records Southborough's innings as closed on "None all out" — a result so enigmatic it could have kept the clubhouse debating over pints long into the evening. Whatever the truth of it, neither side could force home the advantage, and honours were shared in a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody in equal measure.

Trevor's knock keeps him handsomely clear atop the 2nd XI's season run charts, now on 285 for the summer — the man is in irrepressible form. As for the match itself: a fair result, honestly earned, and precisely the kind of afternoon that reminds you why village cricket refuses to be rushed.

Wed 08 Jul 1998 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDWDDL

Wednesday found us on the road to Gravesend CC, and my luck with the coin remained exactly what it has been all season — nonexistent. They won the toss, chose to bat, and set about making us toil for a full 49 overs. S Dwimaj led the way with a fine 58, well backed by Dave Elliott's 50 and Tony Reely's 47, while poor Dave Bishop trudged off for nought without troubling the scorers. Fred Cheesman was pick of our attack with 2-23, Darren Styles chipped in with 2-34 and four tight maidens besides, and Stuart Cheesman took 1-33 as we held them to 208/6.

Restricted is perhaps too generous a word — 208 was always going to be a stiff ask on that ground, and so it proved. Our reply never got going. Trevor Back's 20 was as good as it got, with both Phil Randall and Christian Gatehouse departing for ducks, and we were bowled out for 80 in 32.4 overs. Piers McDonald had an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps too, 11 byes leaking through for good measure. Small consolation that I currently lead our Midweek XI run charts this season with 81 to my name, though on this showing it says rather more about the company I keep than about any class of my own.

A hefty defeat by 128 runs, then, and not much to dress it up as. Heads up, back to the nets, and onwards to the next one.

Sun 05 Jul 1998 🧢 1st XIv BC Barbados Overseas CC · HomeformWDWWW

Sunday 5th July 1998, and Linton Park welcomed the visitors under skies that promised more than our bowling attack could quite deliver. Put into the field, we watched M Forte compile a majestic 104 not out, the sort of innings that makes a captain reach for the tea urn in quiet resignation, with M Gaskin (38) and A Broomes (23) offering sturdy support around him. Small mercies came our way when F Smith departed for a duck, and credit where it's due — Jon Harris toiled manfully for 4-56, backed up nicely by Darius Andrew's 3-31 and Darren Styles chipping in with 1-31. They closed on 247/9 from their 46 overs, a total that had "declaration of intent" written all over it.

Set that imposing target, we settled instead for defiance over glory. Piers McDonald played the innings of the day, a composed 63 not out that anchored us admirably and kept the scoreboard ticking without ever threatening the required rate. I contributed a modest 15 of my own, more useful for occupying the crease than troubling the bowlers. We finished on 113/5 from 35 overs, well short but unbowed.

Piers continues to lead our 1998 run charts with 364 to his name, while Jon Harris sits atop the wicket-takers with 33 — the pair of them quietly carrying the side through the season. As for Sunday's效果: honours shared, a draw wrought not from ambition but from stubbornness. We'll take it, dust off the whites, and go again next week.

Sat 04 Jul 1998 🧢 1st XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · AwayformWWDWW

Saturday the fourth of July found us trundling down to Cobham CC, coin in my pocket and, for once, luck on my side. I called correctly and had no hesitation in putting us in — a decision that looked rather clever once Stewart Morrison got going. He made a truly well-crafted 89, the sort of innings that makes captaincy feel easy, with Mike Elworthy chipping in 34 and Rob Doick seeing us home unbeaten on 24. We closed on a handsome 212 for 4 from our 46 overs, and I confess I rather enjoyed watching from the boundary rather than doing the work myself for once.

Cobham's reply never really got out of the blocks. Matt Waters top-scored with 31, Andrew Powney weighed in with 30, but around them the innings simply fell away — David Pearce, Ben Smith and John Jackson all trooped back without so much as a run to their names. I found some rhythm with the ball myself and picked up 3 for 22, while Michael Beeney bowled beautifully for 3 for 27, including two miserly maidens, and Stuart Cheesman matched him with 3 for 31. All out for 122 in 37.2 overs — the match, and the points, safely ours by 90 runs.

A day for the history books too, as Stewart Morrison brought up 3,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly toasted afterwards. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a proper reminder of why we love this daft old game.

Sat 04 Jul 1998 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWLWWW

Saturday brought West Farleigh to Linton Park, and after a fairly agreeable coin flip I decided we'd bat first — a decision I'm delighted to say vindicated itself. Brian Piper played the innings of the summer, a magnificent hundred that anchored everything around him, and with Dave Todd chipping in 24 and myself adding 36, we posted a handsome 211/6 from our 46 overs. Spare a thought, though, for poor Alan Boyns, whose golden duck will earn him nothing but ribbing at the bar for weeks to come — the ducks, as ever, take their toll.

With that total in the bank, our attack set about West Farleigh with real purpose. Ian Brattle was simply magnificent, tearing through their order for 6-30 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — the kind of spell that has batsmen quietly reconsidering their technique on the walk back. Dave Todd backed him up nicely with 2-10, John Taylor chipped in with one, and though Ian Prideaux (37) and Martyn Brinklow (23) tried to build something for the visitors, they were bowled out for 115 inside 38 overs. I'll confess to rather enjoying watching that scoreboard tick over in our favour.

A splendid all-round effort, then, capped by the news that Brattle's six-for has nudged him past Allan Cooper into 9th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a fine bit of history to go with a fine day's cricket. Won by 96 runs, two points banked, and the tea urn thoroughly earned.

Sun 28 Jun 1998 🧢 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · HomeformWWWDW

Lost the toss on a fine Sunday, 28 June, and watched Clarion CC waltz out to bat first — never our preferred script, but there it is. They set about accumulating with unhurried purpose, racing to 236 for 2 off their 42 overs, built almost entirely around two centuries: Steve Harris eased to 109, and S Cox stayed unbeaten on 101, the pair leaving our bowlers chasing shadows for long spells. Carl Davis was pick of a hard-working attack with 1 for 36, Matt Large chipped in with 1 for 47, and Darren Styles, tight as a Sunday roast, sent down three maidens without once being taken lightly.

Two centuries seemed an awful lot to chase, and for a while I feared we'd simply be making up the numbers. Instead Daniel Thirkell played the innings of the day, sailing past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 90, while Stewart Morrison's 37 kept the scoreboard honest in between. I was delighted to get among the runs myself, finishing 64 not out, and between us we hauled in 238 for the loss of just two wickets with an over to spare — 41 in all.

A remarkable run chase, seven wickets to the good, and one that leaves me sitting atop the season's run charts with 314, with Matt Large now second in the wicket-takers on 12. Two hundreds conceded and we still won by seven wickets — you couldn't script it, and long may it continue.

Sat 27 Jun 1998 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDWWWD

I won the toss on a bright Saturday and had no hesitation in taking first strike against Rumwood — the right call, as it turned out, though I'd have said that regardless. What followed belonged almost entirely to Nigel Thirkell, who peeled off a magnificent 138 while the rest of us admired from the other end. David Castle chipped in an unbeaten 30 and Stewart Morrison a tidy 25, and by the time we declared our innings closed at 261 for 5 off 44 overs, I confess I was already totting up sums in my head that Rumwood wouldn't enjoy.

Defending that sort of total ought to be the easy part, and for the most part it was, though Rumwood didn't fold quietly. Mark Wellbelove made a determined 36, with Rod Bailey unbeaten on 34 and G Appleby weighing in with 29, and there were a few overs where I found myself glancing at the scoreboard with rather more attention than I'd have liked. Jon Harris led the attack beautifully with 2 for 30, I managed to prise out a couple myself for 39, and Keith Hatcher took one for 10 — while Rob Doick simply refused to be scored off, sending down three maidens that strangled any momentum they had. They finished on 159 for 6 from their 46 overs, well short.

A comfortable 102-run victory, then, and two points thoroughly banked. Thirkell now sits second in our 1998 run charts with 263 to his name, and Harris tops the wicket-takers with 29 — form that bodes rather well for the rest of our season. All in all, a proper day's cricket, and one I'll happily take the credit for calling correctly at the toss.

Sun 21 Jun 1998 🧢 1st XIv BC Bromley Common CC · HomeformLDWWW

Sunday 21 June brought Bromley Common Common to our ground, and the coin, as is tradition, deserted us — they elected to bat, and off we trotted into the field with nothing but hope and Jon Harris.

Hope, it turned out, was not entirely misplaced, even if the scoreboard occasionally suggested otherwise. Bryan Kirby settled in for a fine 86 and Brett Walker chipped in with a stylish 67, the pair putting our attack through its paces while Simon Webb added a brisk 26. Steve Taylor, mercifully, departed for a duck at our hands — the sole small mercy of the afternoon. Jon Harris toiled away for a very respectable 2-58, with Carl Davis (1-23) and Ian Brattle (1-36) offering honest support, and Darren Styles bowled two maidens with the sort of miserliness the club treasurer would thoroughly approve of. All told, 211/5 from their 44 overs was a stiff enough target to be chasing sandwiches by tea.

With the bat, we set about it steadily rather than spectacularly. Clive Newman played the innings of the day, sailing past his fifty to 91 — a captain could ask for little more — ably supported by Stewart Morrison's 24. But 174/8 from our 44 overs left us short of the finish line, though not for want of trying.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow — and frankly, after Newman's innings and Harris's toil, I'll happily settle for that. A fair result, fairly fought.

Sat 20 Jun 1998 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformWLDWW

Down at Horsmonden on a bright Saturday, the coin actually smiled on me for once, and — ever the incurable optimist — I stuck us in to bat. It was not, I'll confess, a vintage effort: 146 all out from 46 overs, rescued chiefly by Clive Newman's fluent 38 and Dave Charlton's tidy 22. Poor Piers McDonald will want that innings struck from the record, marching back for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers. Twenty-nine extras did more for the total than most of the top order, myself included — I scratched my way to 18 and felt I'd earned every one of them.

Defending 146 looked a stiff ask on paper, but the lads bowled with real discipline. Jon Harris was superb, ripping through for 4-34, while Daniel Thirkell strangled the innings with five miserly maidens. Darren Styles chipped in with 1-7, and I managed 2-22 myself, pleased to do my bit as G Dilton's defiant 24 was about the only resistance Horsmonden could muster. They subsided to 104/8 from their 44 overs, 42 runs shy at the close.

Amid the toil, a quiet piece of club history: Dave Charlton's 22 nudged him past Robert Murray into 25th on the all-time run-scorers list, an achievement I fully expect him to mention at the bar for weeks. Stewart Morrison sits handsomely 4th in this season's run charts on 166, while Jon Harris now leads the 1998 wicket-takers with 25.

Two points, thoroughly earned. A scratchy day with the bat, redeemed by a disciplined one in the field — I'll take that every time.

Sat 20 Jun 1998 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformDWLWW

Saturday brought Horsmonden CC to Linton Park, and having won the toss I never seriously considered doing anything but batting first — a decision I stood by all afternoon, if not without the odd wobble. We were bowled out for 135 in 44.5 overs, a total that owed everything to Paul Davey's watchful 37 and Dave Todd's brisk 35, with my own 29 chipping in somewhere in the middle order scramble. Less gloriously, Mike Elworthy, Peter Dean and Roly Edwards all trooped back for ducks, proof that even in a village fixture the cricketing gods enjoy a laugh at our expense.

Defending 135 always felt like asking for trouble, but the lads had other ideas. Andy Bateup threatened to bat us out of it with a fine 44, ably supported by Peter Bateup's unbeaten 26 and N Fogg's 25, and for a while Horsmonden looked ominously comfortable. Then Dave Todd turned his arm over and simply took the match away from them — 7 for 37 of spin bowling that bordered on cruelty, with Dean Larkin and Graham Bateup both collecting ducks in the carnage. John Taylor did his bit too, miserly as ever with five maidens and 2 for 21, as the visitors stumbled to 112 for 9 off their 45.

Twenty-three runs the right way, two points banked, and Dave Todd sitting proudly atop both season charts. A scrappy total defended by a man in inspired form — I'll take that every Saturday of the summer.

Wed 17 Jun 1998 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · AwayformLDWDD

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 17 June 1998, and off we trundled to Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC, losing the toss and finding ourselves asked to bowl first, which on a truer pitch might have been no bad thing.

Sevenoaks made themselves nicely at home, racking up 224 for 5 from their 39 overs, with G. Styles compiling a handsome 65 and getting fine support from C. Simpson and Paul Seldon, both making 47. Mike Chapman toiled manfully for his 2 for 57, Troy McConnell chipped in with 1 for 35, and I managed to prise one out myself for 42 runs — not my finest figures, but a wicket's a wicket, and I'll take it.

Chasing 225 was always going to ask serious questions of our top order, and frankly we didn't have many good answers. Piers McDonald battled to a top score of 24, but wickets tumbled around him and we were bowled out for a rather sorry 98 in 37.3 overs. Spare a thought, as ever, for the Duck Club ledger — Adam Pooley and Christian Gatehouse both took the walk of shame for nought, and I'm reliably informed the tea urn wept quietly in sympathy.

Still, this season has its bright spots — I find myself leading the Midweek XI run charts with 71 to my name, and sitting second in the bowling with 3 wickets, for whatever comfort that's worth on a losing Wednesday. As for the verdict: a chastening afternoon with bat and ball alike, well beaten by the better side, and one for the lads to shrug off before the next fixture.

Sun 14 Jun 1998 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence CC · AwayformDWLDW

As the away captain, back at St Lawrence on a June afternoon with the coin landing the wrong way up, here's the report.

The toss went against us on Sunday, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like tradition, so we trooped into the field wondering what sort of afternoon lay ahead. St Lawrence made steady if unspectacular progress to 116/9 from their 38 overs, T. Jordan top-scoring with a well-made 32 and C. Leonard chipping in with 21. Jon Harris was the chief architect of the collapse, prising out four for 31, with Darren Styles (2-23) and Fred Cheesman (1-5) tidying up either end, while Stuart Cheesman bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the tea urn, four maidens and barely a boundary in sight. Poor Paul Wood, meanwhile, will not want reminding that he departed for a duck.

A target of 117 looked gettable, and so it proved, though not without the usual quota of nervous glances at the scorebook. We eased home at 120/4 with 2.2 overs unused, the innings built entirely around Piers McDonald, who batted with real class for an unbeaten 65, comfortably clearing his fifty and doing the bulk of the chasing himself while the rest of us admired from the other end.

Six wickets, two points, and a season that keeps rewarding the same two men handsomely — McDonald now tops the run charts with 252, Harris the wickets with 21. On this evidence, long may it continue. A thoroughly deserved win, and one that owed everything to bowling discipline up front and one man's class with the bat.

Sun 07 Jun 1998 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Milstead CC · HomeformLWLWW

We lost the toss on a fine Sunday and were asked to bowl first against Milstead CC — no bad thing, I told the lads, better to know exactly what we're chasing. Milstead settled in nicely and pushed on to 194 for 5 from their 40 overs, N Fisher the architect of it all with a fine 53, ably supported by Mike Sellar's 33 and Richard Moxon's 28. Ian Brattle did the real damage with 2-54, and I chipped in with 1-27, a modest addition to what's been a rather pleasing season with the ball — I currently lead the 1998 Sunday NVKC wicket charts with 6. Rob Doick took 1-39, a wicket that, we since discovered, nudged him past George Champion and up to 24th on the club's all-time list — a lovely bit of trivia for the clubhouse noticeboard.

Chasing 195 to win, we never quite got there. Nigel Thirkell batted beautifully for 55, continuing to lead the season's run charts with 157, and found good company in Rob Doick's 34 and Dave Charlton's 28. Sadly Ian Brattle, so miserly with the ball earlier, walked back without troubling the scorers — a blot on an otherwise excellent afternoon's work. All out for 187 in 39.4 overs, seven runs shy of the target.

A cruel margin, and one that will sting a little on the drive home, but there was far too much good cricket played today for genuine gloom — plenty of runs, plenty of wickets, and a season still building nicely. We'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Sat 06 Jun 1998 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWDWLD

Won the toss at Marden on Saturday and, in a fit of confidence I can only put down to the sunshine, elected to bat. Wise, as it turned out. David Castle played the innings of the day, an assured 78, while Clive Newman finished unbeaten on 46 and Stewart Morrison chipped in a handy 31, the three of them steering us to a respectable 200 for 5 off our 46 overs. Not a total to have the opposition trembling in their tea tent, but enough, we hoped, to give the bowlers something to work with.

And work with it they did. Marden set about the chase through John Paul Sunnucks, whose fifty was the sort that makes a fielding captain start doing sums under his breath, well supported by Nigel Bardsley (23) and D. Tipples (22). It was Rob Doick who kept us in the contest, his 2 for 42 the pick of the attack, with Nigel Thirkell (2-56) and Jon Harris (1-34) both doing their bit to keep the scoreboard honest. I contented myself with three maidens, which in this company felt like a minor triumph of restraint. Marden fell agonisingly short on 188 for 8 off 44.

A word for the history books: Rob Doick's brace took him past 200 career wickets and above Alan Tucker into 25th on the all-time list — a proper landmark, wrung out of a proper cricket match.

Twelve runs, two points, and a thoroughly earned win. We'll take that all season long.

Sat 06 Jun 1998 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWDWLW

Saturday saw Marden roll into Linton Park under grey Kentish skies, and having called correctly I had, for once, no doubt in my mind — we'd bat. It proved a decent shout, if not a glorious one: 148 for 8 off our 46 overs, built patiently around Martin Mears' 37 and useful contributions from Trevor Back (22) and Dave Todd (21). The middle order wobbled more than I'd have liked, and there was an unwelcome duck for Paul Davey. As for the skipper — well, we'll come to that.

Defending 148 always asks questions of the bowlers, and Trevor Back answered emphatically with 4 for 17, backed superbly by Ian Brattle's 4 for 39 (two maidens included) and a tidy 1 for 25 from Darren Styles. Stuart Milstead threatened to spoil the afternoon with a fine 63, but wickets fell steadily around him — Ian Brattle accounting for one for a duck at our hands — and Marden subsided to 130 for 9 from their 42.2 overs. Eighteen runs to the good, and two well-earned points.

I ought to mention my own afternoon with the bat: a golden blob. A captain is meant to lead by example, and on this occasion I led rather too enthusiastically back to the pavilion. Still, cricket has a way of balancing the books — Roly Edwards brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Trevor Back's four-for nudged him past Tony Gauna into 12th on our all-time wicket-takers list. A day of individual milestones, then, if not personal glory for the skipper. On the whole, a thoroughly satisfying win — I'll simply keep my pads on standby for redemption next week.

Sun 31 May 1998 🧢 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformLWDWL

We fielded — sorry, batted — first at home to Town Malling on a Sunday that will live long in the Linton Park memory, and for once winning the toss and choosing to bat looked less like habit and more like genuine cricketing insight. Stuart Cheesman set about proceedings in fine style, finishing unbeaten on 76, while Clive Newman kept him honest with a well-crafted 64 and Piers McDonald chipped in a brisk 40. Poor Daniel Thirkell will not want reminding of his golden duck, though he'd more than make amends later. Even the extras got in on the act with a generous 40, and 228/4 from our 35 overs felt like a total with a bit of everything in it.

Town Malling replied with 150/8 from their 47, never quite matching our tempo, with Simon Uttridge and Adam Nix both making tidy 38s to keep them in it. But the day belonged to Jon Harris, whose 5-40 — five maidens included — was bowling of real discipline and no little menace, well supported by Thirkell's 1-14 and Darren Styles' 1-21. Our 17 byes, it must be said, told their own tale of a keeper having rather a testing afternoon.

Amid the runs and wickets, two milestones deserve their moment: Piers McDonald reached 6,000 career runs for the club, and Clive Newman's 64 nudged him past Keith Hatcher into 16th on our all-time run charts. With McDonald now 2nd in this season's run standings and Harris leading the wicket-takers with 16, the engine room is purring nicely.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but one that felt, on reflection, thoroughly earned by both.

Sat 30 May 1998 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformDLWDW

Saturday 30 May, and we welcomed Staplehurst CC to Linton Park with all the usual optimism of a captain who's about to lose the toss. Lose it I duly did, and Staplehurst chose to bat, which on a good drying pitch felt like the correct call even before J Wilson and A Henson set about proving it, both compiling fine half-centuries (59 and 58 respectively) to carry the visitors to 188/8 from their 46 overs. Credit where due — we hardly let it become a procession. I managed to find some rhythm and picked up 3-35, with Nigel Thirkell (2-38) and Daniel Thirkell (2-40) chipping in nicely either side of me, while Michael Beeney bowled three tidy maidens and didn't give a run away lightly.

188 was always going to be a stretch on that surface, and so it proved. We were bowled out for 96 in 32.5 overs, the innings never quite finding its feet, and poor Paul Gibson contributed a golden duck to a collective effort that can charitably be described as brief. Not our finest hour with the willow, it must be said.

So it's a 92-run defeat, no way of dressing that up. As things stand this season Piers McDonald sits second in the run charts with 147, and I find myself second in the wicket charts with 8 — small consolations on an afternoon that offered precious few. Heads up, though: back to the nets, and better days will come.

Sat 30 May 1998 🧢 2nd XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformWWDWL

Off with a good day for a batting collapse — theirs, thankfully. Staplehurst won the toss, chose to bat, and we spent Saturday afternoon reminding ourselves why that's not always the blessing visiting captains fear. They limped to 123 all out in 45.4 overs, D Roots doing the only substantial digging with 21. John Taylor was the chief architect of the demolition, 3-14 and metronomic with it, well backed by Alan Boyns (3-36) and Ian Brattle (2-29), while Darren Styles bowled like a man with a grudge against boundaries, four maidens and barely a run to be had.

Chasing 124, we were rather more sedate about it — no need to panic when the target's that modest, though I'll admit a few of us were quietly hoping someone would just get on with it. Mike Elworthy obliged in style, an excellent 72 that did the bulk of the carrying, with Trevor Back playing the perfect foil, 37 not out and unbeaten at the close. We eased home at 126/2 in 29.4 overs, eight wickets to the good.

Special mention, and rightly so, for Trevor Back, who along the way brought up 7,000 career runs for the club — a landmark that deserves rather more than a passing sentence, but he'd be the first to wave it off and ask what's for tea. He now leads our 1998 2nd XI run charts with 208, while John Taylor tops the wickets with 7.

A thoroughly satisfying eight-wicket win, professionally done from ball one to the last. Onwards.

Tue 26 May 1998 🧢 Midweek XIv KC Kenn CC · HomeformLLDWD

Jon Harris here, and what a curious old game cricket can be — I called wrong at the toss, Kenn CC put us in, and by tea-time we'd somehow ended up honours even after a proper old-fashioned ding-dong. We posted 235/6 off our 39.4 overs, with Mike Elworthy the pick of the order on a well-crafted 68. I chipped in with 60 of my own — happily nudging me past Malcolm Pay to 19th on the club's all-time run charts, which is either a fine achievement or simply proof of how long I've been doing this — while Stuart Cheesman's 48 kept things ticking along nicely. Poor Adam Pooley, meanwhile, will not want reminding of his golden duck.

Two hundred and thirty-five looked a fair total, but Kenn had other ideas, Pete Murfin (80) and Whiley (53) putting on a real show before Daniel Thirkell finally called a halt to proceedings. What a spell it was too — 5-20 with two maidens thrown in, thoroughly miserly and thoroughly deserved. I managed a couple of wickets myself for 56, Michael Beeney chipped in with one, and Peter Chislett departed for a duck at our hands. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own.

In the end, honours shared — a draw when neither side would give an inch. Frustrating, perhaps, but with Mike leading our run charts and Danny topping the wickets, there's plenty to toast in the clubhouse tonight.

Sun 24 May 1998 🧢 Sunday NVKCv CC Crockham Hill CC · AwayformWLWLW

The toss went against us at Crockham Hill, and with the sun doing its best village-green impression, they had no hesitation in sticking us in. No matter — we set about building something substantial. Stewart Morrison played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 68 that anchored everything around him, with Nigel Thirkell chipping in a fine 35 alongside. Even our extras column pulled its weight with 29, which either speaks to the bowlers' generosity or our running between the wickets — I shall let history judge. We closed on 203 for 6 from our forty overs, a total that felt like it had some bite to it.

Defending it, the lads were magnificent. J- Bass and Chris Harding were sent back without troubling the scorers, and from there Crockham Hill never really got up off the mat, despite a defiant fifty from Stuart Seal. I found some rhythm with the ball myself, finishing with 3 for 9 and a couple of maidens for good measure, with Daniel Thirkell (3-18) and Nigel Thirkell (2-12) doing equally handsome work either side of me. They were bowled out for 125 in 36.2 overs. As for my batting — a duck, and the less said the better, though I'll admit the bowling more than made amends.

Nigel Thirkell now tops our 1998 Sunday run charts, and I find myself, somewhat sheepishly, leading the wickets. A 78-run victory, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 23 May 1998 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformDDLWD

Saturday 23 May, and off we trundled to Horton Kirby with the sun more or less behaving itself. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the pitch looked a belter, and for once my hunch was right. Dave Charlton played the innings of the day, a glorious 66, while Stewart Morrison held things together with an unbeaten 25 and Daniel Thirkell chipped in a useful 22. We closed on 157 for 9 from our 46 overs, though the Duck Club secretary was kept busy: Nigel Thirkell, David Castle and Michael Beeney all took the long walk back for nought, quacking gently as they went.

In the field, Horton Kirby never quite got away from us. M Wray battled to 26 and J Thomas made 23, but the rest came and went with alarming regularity — Paul Evans among them, off the mark before he'd started. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4 for 34, which as it happens brought up my 1000th career wicket — not a bad afternoon's work, even if I say so myself. Jon Harris backed me up handsomely with 3 for 34, Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 2 for 32, and Michael Beeney was positively parsimonious, sending down three maidens. They were bowled out for 132 in 43.3 overs.

A 25-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Paul Gibson continues to top our run charts for the season with 236, and Jon Harris leads the wickets with 11 — the engine room of this side is purring nicely. All in all, a very good day for the club.

Sat 23 May 1998 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWWWDW

Saturday 23 May 1998 saw us make the pilgrimage to Horton Kirby, and having called correctly at the toss, I fancied our chances with the bat on what looked a decent surface. I needn't have looked so pleased with myself. Trevor Back played the anchor role beautifully for 36, with Ron McCormick chipping in a tidy 29 alongside him, but the rest of the card made grim reading — John Taylor and Roly Edwards both departed for golden ducks, and we were all out for 133 in the 42nd over. A total that, even as it was being posted, felt about twenty runs light of a defendable one.

So it proved. Horton Kirby set about the chase with an ease that had us checking our watches rather early. Geoff Rameaux made hay with a polished, unbeaten 55, and Ryan Taylor gave him fine company with 49 not out, the pair seeing their side home to 135-2 inside 30 overs without so much as breaking sweat. Ian Brattle toiled manfully for his 2-44 and deserved better luck, while John Taylor at least kept things honest with two tidy maidens.

Trevor Back continues to lead our 2nd XI run charts for the season on 171, and Brattle's efforts nudge him into fourth on the wicket-takers' list — small crumbs of comfort on an otherwise chastening afternoon. We went down by five wickets, well and truly outbatted at the death. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 17 May 1998 🧢 1st XIv HC Hadlow CC · HomeformDDDLW

Sunday 17 May 1998, Hadlow CC at home, and I won the toss and did what any self-respecting captain does with the sun out and the tea urn warming up — I stuck us in.

We batted first and made a proper fist of it: 231 for 6 off 41.5 overs, built around a lovely 90 from Stewart Morrison, who never looked in a hurry to give it back. Daniel Thirkell chipped in a handsome 61, Matt Large kept things ticking with 32, and poor Darius Andrew's contribution began and ended with the walk back to the pavilion — a golden duck to remind us cricket keeps everyone humble.

In the field we squeezed the life out of Hadlow, restricting them to 137 for 9 from their 45 overs. Andy Wren stood firm for 43 not out, but he had precious little company — Bill Foley departed for nought, and Jon Harris was in inspired form with 3 for 12, well backed by Darius Andrew's 3 for 30 (redemption of sorts with the ball) and Darren Styles's tidy 2 for 19, three maidens and all. Eleven byes, mind, told poor Piers McDonald it wasn't quite his day behind the stumps — though he can console himself sitting second in this season's run charts, while Jon Harris now leads the wickets column.

With 231 on the board and Hadlow well short, honours were shared rather than earned outright — a draw that, on the balance of the afternoon, felt like a point stolen from us as much as a point gained by them.

Sat 16 May 1998 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformDDDDL

It was Meopham CC at home on Saturday 16 May, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, as it turned out.

We batted through our 46 overs in fine style, closing on 244/7. Paul Gibson was the story of the innings, farming the strike to a magnificent unbeaten 126, with Nigel Thirkell weighing in handsomely alongside him, 62 well-earned runs. Not every name will make the highlights reel, mind — poor Piers McDonald departed for a duck, and I'm sure the tea urn had a few words of sympathy waiting for him.

With 244 on the board, I fancied our chances, and so it proved. Meopham never got close to the pace required, bowled out for 147 in 36.4 overs. Rigden battled hardest for them with 44, well supported by Monk's 28, but there was little else to trouble the scorebook — Fotheringham and Clark both trudged off without scoring. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent with the ball too, a fine allrounder's day capped by 3-15 including two miserly maidens, with Jon Harris (3-22) and David Lines (2-25) mopping up in support.

A comprehensive 97-run win, then, and one that leaves Paul Gibson sitting proudly atop our 1998 run charts with 218, while Jon Harris leads the wicket-takers with five. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — onwards we go.

Sat 16 May 1998 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · HomeformDWWWD

Saturday 16 May 1998, and Meopham CC came calling to Linton Park. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the umpires may have muttered. Paul Davey led from the front with a fine 49, and I was glad to lend a hand with 42 of my own before Trevor Back chipped in a handy 35. We rattled along to 210 all out in 44.4 overs, though it wasn't all glory — Adam Pooley and John Taylor both departed for ducks, which I'm sure felt considerably less amusing to them than the little webbed emoji suggests.

Defending 210, the bowlers did us proud. Dave Todd was magnificent, 3-48 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed by Darren Styles (3-50) and John Taylor, who followed his golden duck with a rather more useful 2-23 — redemption of the finest club-cricket sort. Meopham fought hard, Tony Thatcher's 44 the backbone of their reply, with Brian Sambrook (38 not out) and Barrie Lewis-Ranwell (38) keeping them in the hunt to the tune of 189/8. Poor Roly Edwards had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 13 byes going begging — but not, thankfully, the match.

We held on for a 21-run victory and two thoroughly deserved points. Trevor Back now tops our 1998 2nd XI run charts and Dave Todd the wickets — form which, on this evidence, shows no sign of deserting either man. A proper day's cricket, and a result to be pleased with.

Sun 10 May 1998 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWLWL

Sunday saw us on the road to Shipbourne, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't linger over the decision — bat first, always bat first, especially when the sky looks kindly disposed. Nigel Thirkell made the choice look thoroughly justified, easing to 67 not out with the sort of unhurried authority that leaves fielders wilting in the deep, while Dave Charlton chipped in a fine 42 and Keith Hatcher stayed unbeaten on 26. We closed on 169 for 4 from our forty overs, a total with enough about it to make the tea-interval chat rather more relaxed than usual.

Defending it, the bowlers did the rest. David Lines was the pick of us, 3 for 29 and full of menace, while I managed to prise out a couple myself for 34 runs and Stuart Cheesman picked up one for a mere 4. Michael Beeney bowled with the miserly discipline of a man who simply refuses to be hit, four maidens to his name. Edward Gelling threatened briefly with 35, but Peter Gray departed without troubling the scorers, and Shipbourne were held to 124 for 9.

A word for the mantelpiece: Keith's 26 nudges him past Frank Brattle and into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — a quiet sort of immortality, but immortality all the same. A fine win by 45 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfactory way to start the week. Onwards.

Sat 09 May 1998 🧢 2nd XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWDWWW

Batting first at home to Staplehurst, we posted 203 for 8 from our 47 overs, the innings built almost single-handedly around Trevor Back's magnificent unbeaten century — a proper captain's-innings century, if he'll forgive me stealing the phrase — with Adam Pooley (21) and Dave Todd (20) chipping in useful support. I threw in a workmanlike 16 of my own, more filler than flourish.

Defending the total, we had Staplehurst on the ropes at various points but couldn't quite finish the job, restricting them to 152 for 9 from their 43 overs. M Potter played the innings of the day for them with a well-made 74, while M Roche departed without troubling the scorers. Dave Todd was outstanding with the ball, 3 for 49 and clearly the pick of our attack, John Taylor bowled a tidy, miserly spell for 2 for 18 with three maidens, and Peter Dean picked up a wicket for no runs at all. Eleven byes did rather give the game away about Roly Edwards's afternoon behind the stumps — we'll say no more, in the spirit of club charity.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. With Back top of our 1998 run charts and Todd leading the wickets, the season's shaping up nicely even if today's effort fell just short of victory. A fair result, all told — Staplehurst will be as relieved as we are frustrated, and there are worse ways to spend a Saturday than watching a captain's ton go unrewarded by the scoreline.

Sat 09 May 1998 🧢 1st XIv Rainham (Kent) CC · AwayformLDDDD

Lost the toss again — I do wonder if Rainham keep a lucky coin in the umpire's pocket — and so it was pads on, into the field we trooped, wondering what sort of Saturday Kent had in store for us. As it turned out, a rather good one with the bat: we posted a handsome 204 for 6 from our 49 overs, built almost entirely around a magnificent, chanceless-looking century from Piers McDonald, unbeaten on 108. I chipped in with 27 and took a couple of maidens for good measure, Paul Gibson added a tidy 21, and poor Matt Large will be keen to forget his contribution of nought — these things happen to the best of us, usually in front of the biggest crowd.

Rainham's reply had rather more bite to it than we'd have liked. Geoff McCue eased to a fine 58, well supported by James Austin and Keith Morris with 32 apiece, and a third-wicket stand of 61 dragged the game away from us just when we sensed a foothold. Jon Harris was our pick with the ball, 2 for 29, backed up nicely by Darius Andrew's 2 for 38 and Ian Brattle's solitary strike. Eight byes told their own story of a trying afternoon behind the stumps for Piers, whose bat had already done quite enough work for one day.

In the end, four wickets the wrong way and a long drive home to reflect on. Character-building stuff — we'll come back stronger next week.

Mon 04 May 1998 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformWLDDD

David Castle here, and I'll admit calling the toss correctly on a bright May bank holiday felt like the easy part of the day — deciding to bat looked rather more inspired once we'd posted a handsome 206/5 from our 44 overs. I was in fine touch myself, finding 75 before holing out, though it was Paul Gibson's watchful 71 that gave the innings its backbone — and, we later discovered, nudged him past Tim Thirkell into fifth on the club's all-time run charts. Not a bad afternoon's work with the bat between us.

Maidstone Dissidents made us work hard for it in reply, Steve Heap's 57 the spine of their innings with useful support from Piers McDonald and Ian Sandwell, but Darren Styles was in irresistible mood, spinning his way to 5-43 and thoroughly earning his spot atop our season's wicket charts. Michael Beeney chipped in admirably with 2-41 and a pair of tidy maidens, Darius Andrew adding a wicket of his own, and between them they dragged the Dissidents back to 203/8 from their 46. Spare a thought for Peter Whyte behind the stumps, though — a tricky afternoon with the gloves saw 22 byes slip past him, the sort of day every wicketkeeper would rather forget.

In the end there simply wasn't time or wickets enough for either side to force it, and honours were shared. A draw feels almost the fair result after a match with runs, wickets and mishaps enough for both sides — frustrating for neither, satisfying for both, and thoroughly good fun for the rest of us watching on.