🧢 Captain's Log

Wed 22 Sep 1999 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformDDWDL

I called it right and, for once, took the harder road — bat first on a Wednesday, September the 22nd, out at Penshurst Park. Whether that was captaincy or bloody-mindedness, the lads didn't argue.

We ground our way to 166 for 6 off 43 overs, which felt like a proper score without ever feeling like a big one. Mike Elworthy was immense — 89 of the finest, carrying the innings almost single-handedly and doing his level best to make it three figures before falling agonisingly short. Stuart Cheesman chipped in nicely with 39, the sort of unfussy support act every long innings needs. Elsewhere the Duck Club took its usual toll: Peter Whyte and Trevor Back both trudged off for nought, joining the season's growing and increasingly infamous roll of honour.

With the ball, we set about defending it — and Penshurst simply couldn't be shifted, closing us out unbeaten. A stalemate at the death, honours even, nobody quite able to land the killer blow.

Up on the season's run charts, Elworthy continues to make the rest of us look ordinary, his 89 pushing him to 310 for the summer and keeping him well clear at the top of the Midweek XI.

The verdict, then: a draw that flattered no one and disappointed no one — a fair result on a day when 166 always looked defendable, and very nearly wasn't enough to matter either way.

Sun 19 Sep 1999 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLDWLL

Anchorians CC came calling on Sunday, and having won the toss there was really only one decision to make on a day like that — we batted.

And what a time we had of it. Piers McDonald played beautifully for his 64, Daniel Thirkell wasn't far behind with a fine 58, and Clive Newman chipped in a tidy 53 of his own — three half-centuries stacking up nicely as we rattled to 261/7 from our thirty overs. Poor Richard Piper, though, will not be troubling the scorers this week beyond a golden duck; these things happen to the best of us, and I dare say the tea urn got the warmer reception of the two.

Two hundred and sixty-odd is always a total to bowl at rather than defend, and so it proved. Gary Myers led their reply with 45, well backed by Eddie Stanford's 37 and T Appleby's 31, but Anchorians never quite found the boundaries to match ours. K- Holmes was superb, snaring 3-36, with David Castle (2-25) and Stuart Cheesman (1-4) tidying up nicely around him. They closed on 201/9 — a battling effort, but a losing one.

Sixty runs the margin, two points the reward, and not a shred of luck required. David Castle continues to top our run charts this season with 943, and Jon Harris sits second in the wickets with 29 — the engine room of a very fine campaign. A thoroughly professional afternoon's work, and one the tea ladies will talk about for weeks.

Sat 18 Sep 1999 🧢 2nd XIv EC Elliotts CC · HomeformDLLLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 18 September 1999. We hosted Elliotts CC in what I'd hoped might be a season highlight, though the coin had other ideas, coming down against us and sending us into the field first.

If losing the toss stung, the bowling at least gave us something to cheer. Dave Todd was the pick of the attack with 2-38, while the Thirkell brothers did their bit — Daniel chipping in with 1-27 and two tidy maidens, Tim adding 1-30. But Elliotts had answers of their own, David Hales making a handsome 68 and Ian Crickmore a well-crafted 57, with Mike Ling's 43 rounding out a total of 227/5 from their 44 overs that always felt just out of reach.

Chasing it down, we were given brief encouragement by Mike Elworthy, whose 59 was the innings' backbone, ably supported by Tim Thirkell's 48 and your captain's own modest 48. Beyond that, though, support was thin, and we folded for 174 in 34 overs — 53 runs shy. Special mention, if that's the word, to Jon Harris, who walked for a golden duck and can add his name to the club's ledger of shame.

Elsewhere, the season marches on regardless: Mike Elworthy sits proudly atop the 2nd XI run charts with 442, and Dave Todd leads the wickets with 36 — small consolations on an afternoon that got away from us. Not our day, then. Heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sun 12 Sep 1999 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformDLDWL

Sunday 12th September, and Dummy Site rolled up to find the coin doing me a favour for once — heads it was, and with a rare flash of tactical wisdom I stuck us in.

We limped rather than strode to 176 for 9 off our fifty, which on reflection was about twenty short of what the pitch owed us. Stewart Morrison held the innings together with a tidy 40, and Michael Beeney showed the youngsters how it's done with an unbeaten 29. Special mention, as ever, to Darren Styles, who marked his golden duck with the sort of dignity only a man who's had plenty of practice can muster. 🦆

In the field we scrapped hard without ever quite laying a glove on them. N Taylor made merry with an unbeaten 76, well supported by T Leach's 58, and between them they simply had too many overs and too little bowling luck to contend with. Darren Styles atoned nobly for his morning's work with 1 for 24, Stuart Cheesman and Michael Beeney chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Matt Large bowled two maidens that deserved a better home. They cantered home by six wickets with the best part of eleven overs unused.

Not our day, then — Clive Newman and Michael Beeney continue to fly the flag in the season's charts, but the rest of us have some catching up to do. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 11 Sep 1999 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · AwayformLDLLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 11 September 1999, away at Betsham CC, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled, leaving us to chase.

We took the field first, and Betsham set about us in the way sides do when they've won the toss they wanted: Simon Rasho compiling a fluent 82 and Roy Wilkinson a similarly polished 79, the pair of them steering their side to 206 for 7 from their 43 overs. K- Martin, mercifully for us, was sent back without troubling the scorers. Amid the runs there was real substance in the field, however — Darren Styles toiled away for figures of 4 for 80, five of his overs maidens into the bargain, with Stewart Roberts chipping in handsomely at 3 for 40. Without them it might have been a good deal worse.

Chasing 207 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and we never quite found the answers, subsiding to 102 for 8 from 26.2 overs. Tim Thirkell battled to 28, well supported by Trevor Back's 23, and I managed to contribute 28 of my own from the captain's berth — though Darren Styles, so parsimonious with the ball, could offer nothing at all with the bat, back in the pavilion for a golden duck.

Beaten by 104 runs, then, and no dressing it up as anything other than a hiding. But with Trevor Back now 2nd in the 2nd XI run charts and Darren Styles 3rd among the wicket-takers, there's craft in this side yet — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 11 Sep 1999 🧢 1st XIv MN macknade 2nd · HomeformLDLDW

Skipper's Log, Saturday 11 September 1999. We won the toss — or rather, we didn't; the coin let us down and Dummy Site elected to bat, leaving us to trudge out under grey club-cricket skies wondering whether we'd rue the decision that wasn't ours to make.

As it turned out, we needn't have worried. Dave Todd was in mean-spirited form with the ball, snaring 3-25, while Jon Harris and Matt Large chipped in with two apiece, and Michael Beeney bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that had the batsmen counting their blessings rather than their runs — three maidens for his troubles. P- Thompson (44 not out), L Rigden (36) and J- Heward (34) kept the total respectable, but A Corcoran departed for a golden duck, and 168/8 from their 46 overs felt like a total we could chase down with tea still warm in the pot.

Chase it we very nearly did. I'm rather pleased to report I led from the front with 77 of my own, while David Castle played the innings of the day — a glorious 77 that not only formed the backbone of our reply but also nudged him past John Thirkell into third on the club's all-time run-scoring list. Clive Newman (45 not out) and Stuart Cheesman (22) offered fine support, though poor P- Martin and Richard Piper both trudged back for ducks of their own.

In the end, 169/5 from 38 overs wasn't quite enough, and we fell by five wickets. A fine effort, honourable milestones, but ultimately a defeat — we'll be better for it next week.

Wed 08 Sep 1999 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDDDWD

Wednesday 8th September saw us welcome Dummy Site to Linton Park, and it must be said the coin let us down before a ball had been bowled — they won the toss and, unsurprisingly on our featherbed, chose to bat.

They made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 216 for 5 from their 53 overs. P Carroll (53 not out) and J Cornwallis (52) both raised well-made fifties, with C-Griffith-Jones chipping in 39 for good measure — enough to have the tea urn muttering darkly. Credit where due: Jon Harris toiled superbly for 2-58, Fred Cheesman and David Castle each nabbed one, and Darren Styles was positively stingy, squeezing out three maidens when every run felt hard-won.

Chasing 217, we set about it with more heart than composure. Mike Elworthy led from the front with a fine 54, well supported by Trevor Back (46) and Piers McDonald (29), while I did my bit with 27 down the order. Poor Roly Edwards, however, departed for a golden duck 🦆 — these things happen to the best of us, and he took the ribbing with his usual good grace. In the end we fell agonisingly short, 218 for 6 from 41.3 overs simply not quite enough, going down by four wickets.

Not our day, then, but no disgrace in it — Elworthy and Harris continue to lead our season's run and wicket charts respectively, proof there's real substance in this side. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sun 05 Sep 1999 🧢 Sunday NVKCv WC Woodhouse Grange CC · AwayformWWWWL

Sunday 5th September 1999 saw us on our travels to Woodhouse Grange, and for once the coin obliged me: heads it was, and I had no hesitation in taking first knock. What followed was as pleasant an afternoon's batting as a captain could wish for. Nigel Thirkell set about proceedings with a well-made 60, Daniel Thirkell chimed in with an unbeaten 50, and Paul Gibson chipped in a handsome 35 as we closed on a formidable 195 for 4 from our forty overs.

With the total looking healthy, it fell to Ian Brattle to do the real damage with the ball, a magnificent 4 for 33 that had the Woodhouse Grange middle order checking the fixture list for the next away day. Matt Large (2-40) and Nigel Thirkell (1-24) tidied up the rest, though Jon Bean's well-made 55 and Mike Burdett's unbeaten 46 gave the opposition brief hope, and S Young departed for a golden duck at our hands. In the end they fell short on 175 for 8, and we held on for a thoroughly deserved 20-run victory.

A word too for Brian Piper, who brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark to make the rest of us feel rather inadequate. My own 60 was a satisfying contribution, but the real story was a team performance from top to bottom. Two points, warmly received, and a fine day for the club.

Sat 04 Sep 1999 🧢 2nd XIv BC Blue Star CC · AwayformWLDLL

Saturday 04 September 1999. Away to Blue Star, and I lost the toss — never a good omen, and so it proved. Asked to bowl first, we did rather well to keep them to 198/7 from their 40 overs, though Ron Jerrom gave us all a stern examination with a well-made 77, well supported by K Wilesmith (32) and Mike Peters (24). Small mercies came in the shape of Greg Trahar's golden duck at our hands, and rather larger mercies from Trevor Back, whose 3-39 was pick of the bowlers, backed up nicely by Darren Styles (2-27, two tidy maidens besides) and Dave Todd (2-29).

Chasing 199 was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved. We limped to 136/9 from our 40, Trevor Back again to the fore with 40, Mike Elworthy (26) and Ron McCormick (25) chipping in, and your captain adding a workmanlike 26 of his own. Poor Roly Edwards had a torrid time behind the stumps — ten byes is the sort of afternoon that makes a wicketkeeper take up gardening instead.

One footnote for the scorebook: Dave Todd's brace nudged him past John Taylor and into 16th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a fine bit of history-making on an otherwise chastening day. Elworthy and Todd continue to lead our season's run and wicket charts respectively, which is some consolation.

Beaten by 62 runs, then, and no arguing with the scoreboard. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Thu 02 Sep 1999 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformDDDLL

Beaten by seven wickets away at Falmouth, but not before we gave them a proper afternoon's work for it. Winning the toss on a Thursday that felt like it belonged to summer, I had few qualms about batting first — a decision I stand by even now. Stuart Cheesman anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 34, Stewart Morrison chipped in a tidy 29 and Daniel Thirkell added a brisk 24, the middle order doing its quiet, unfussy best to see us to 170 for 5 from our forty overs. Respectable, if not quite the total to keep the tea urn boiling with excitement.

Then Falmouth had other ideas. Keith Meneer, in irritatingly fine form, sailed past his fifty and finished unbeaten on 90 — the sort of innings that makes a fielding captain reach for the sunscreen and philosophy in equal measure. Trevor Angove (27) and Jeremy Gimpson (25) offered support he barely needed. Credit where due: Darren Styles toiled superbly for 2 for 31, Adrian Caddick chipped away with 1 for 29, and Alan Boyns bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding the last biscuit, four maidens to his name. I even had a small say myself, contributing 23 with the bat.

174 for 3 in 39 overs told its own story, and seven wickets was the final margin. Still, with Thirkell and Styles both climbing the season charts, there's real substance building in this side. We'll be better for it next week — we usually are.

Wed 01 Sep 1999 🧢 1st XIv TC Truro CC · AwayformWLDLD

From the captain's chair — Wednesday, 1st September 1999, away at Truro CC, and for once the coin behaved itself.

Winning the toss, I had few doubts about batting first on a pitch that looked fit for a decent total, and so it proved. We posted 201/6 from our forty overs, built on a fine 69 from yours truly and handsome support from Nigel Thirkell (41) and Mike Caddick (27) — a name I've borrowed a wicket's worth of confusion from before, but no matter. A sturdy 72-run stand for the fifth wicket was the innings' backbone, and even the extras column pitched in a generous 25, for which I thank Truro's bowlers rather than our batsmen.

Truro's reply never quite got away from us. Three wickets fell without so much as a run against them — David Crewdson, Stephen Heayn and David Hill all walking back for ducks — and though Stephen Mankee (45 not out) and Adrian Cockett (34) tried gamely to repair things, the damage was done. Simon Thirkell was magnificent with 4-45, backed superbly by Michael Beeney, four maidens and miserly as ever, and Darren Styles chipping in besides. Truro closed on 135/8.

A 66-run victory, then, and a red-letter day all round — Stewart Morrison's 18 nudged him past Dave Charlton into 24th on the club's all-time run list. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and one I'll happily claim a small hand in.

Tue 31 Aug 1999 🧢 Tour XIv HC Helston CC · AwayformLDDDL

Beaten by 35 runs at Helston, and honestly we've no complaints — they simply held the sharper edge all afternoon.

Lose the toss, get put into the field on a Tuesday in high summer, and you know you're in for a long forty overs. So it proved: R Kirby and S Pollard put together the meat of 193/7, with Mark Thomas unbeaten on 35 to see them home. Credit where due — Alan Boyns was excellent, 3-35 and a duck each for S O'Byrne and J Ludlam to show for it, Michael Beeney chipping in with 2-40, and Darren Styles bowling with the sort of miserly discipline (three maidens) that makes batsmen mutter into their gloves.

Chasing 194, we never quite found the rhythm, closing on 158/8. Mike Caddick was the shining light — a proper half-century, 55 well made — with Daniel Thirkell (25) and Nigel Thirkell (21) offering support that promised more than we delivered. I managed a modest 19 myself, more workmanlike than watchable, and poor Stewart Morrison had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes testament to a pitch that clearly had ideas of its own.

Mike Caddick now tops our Tour XI run charts, Alan Boyns leads the wickets — small consolations on an afternoon that got away from us. Beaten, not disgraced. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 31 Aug 1999 🧢 Midweek XIv KC Kenn CC · HomeformWDDDW

As we posted a par-plus 210 for 6, I'll wager most of Kenn's XI fancied an early tea. It didn't quite work out that way, but let me not get ahead of myself.

Winning the toss on a fine Tuesday, there was never much doubt in my mind — bat first, ask questions later. Clive Newman played the innings of a captain's dreams, 57 not out and calm as you like while wickets fell around him, with Dave Charlton (39) and Trevor Back (37) doing sterling work either side of him. 210 for 6 off our 39.4 overs felt like a total we could defend, if only the lads could hold their nerve in the field.

And hold it we did, more or less. Tim Thirkell — marking his 700th appearance in Linton colours, a milestone that rather puts the rest of us to shame — ripped through with 3 for 24, backed up by Dave Todd's 3 for 67 and a wonderfully mean spell from David Castle, 1 for 8 with four maidens that gave Kenn's batsmen precisely nothing to work with. I even chipped in with 3 wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season. P. Willis (52) and N. Davey, dismissed for a golden duck, made for a match of contrasting fortunes, but Kenn dug in to close on 171 for 8.

A word too for Dave Charlton, whose 39 runs eased him past Stewart Morrison into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — quietly climbing the ranks while the rest of us make the headlines.

In the end, honours shared. A draw is rarely satisfying, but with Kenn refusing to buckle, it was the fairest result going — and a thoroughly pleasant way to spend a Tuesday.

Sat 28 Aug 1999 🧢 2nd XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformLWLDL

Saturday last, we ventured to Yalding with hope in our hearts and, frankly, not much else in our legs. Winning the toss, I fancied a bat first — a decision I've had rather more time to reflect on than I'd like, given we were rolled for 124 in 41.1 overs. Mike Elworthy's 34 was the innings' backbone, John Taylor chipping in an unbeaten 22, but too many of us contributed the sort of cameo better suited to a blooper reel than a scorebook.

Defending 124 was always going to require something special, and instead we got Gareth Shelbourne, who ground us into the Kent turf with an unbeaten 80, ably assisted by Craig Sands's unbeaten 41. Yalding cantered home at 129 without loss in just 27.4 overs — a chase so serene they barely had time to finish their tea. I managed 15 with the bat, which felt like scant consolation as I watched our attack search in vain for an answer.

Amid the wreckage, one shaft of sunlight: Tim Thirkell brought up 11,000 career runs for the club, a milestone thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded even as the rest of us slunk about the field. Elworthy, meanwhile, continues to lead our 1999 2nd XI run charts with 357 for the season — a rare beacon of consistency.

Ten wickets down, pride dented, egos humbled. Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sat 28 Aug 1999 🧢 1st XIv HC Herne Bay CC · HomeformWWLDL

Cricket, cruel and kind in the same afternoon — here's how it went.

Herne Bay rolled up on Saturday, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in putting us in to bat, a decision that I'm rather pleased to report vindicated itself in style. We rattled along to 237 for 3 off our 46 overs, and if you weren't there, you missed something rather special: David Castle simply refused to get out, carving out a magnificent 113 not out, the sort of innings that has the tea urn conversation buzzing for weeks. Daniel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 51, and Clive Newman's tidy 21 rounded off a total that felt, from the boundary rope at least, thoroughly commanding.

Defending it proved a rather sterner examination of the nerves. Herne Bay dug in and chased hard, closing on 218 for 6 from their 41, with Simon Roots giving us a torrid time on 99 — agonisingly short of the hundred, much to our relief — well supported by Neil Hackshall's 45 and Gavin Hall's 21. It was Michael Beeney who kept us in the fight throughout, bowling beautifully for 4 for 45, with Stewart Morrison chipping in a wicket and Matt Large refusing to be milked, sending down two tight maidens.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. Modesty forbids me dwelling too long on my own contribution, but leading from the front with 113 was a fine way to spend a Saturday. Add in Clive Newman easing past Paul Brattle into 13th on the all-time run list, and this was a thoroughly satisfying, if ultimately undecided, afternoon of cricket.

Sat 21 Aug 1999 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · HomeformLLWLD

It was Meopham CC at home on Saturday, and having lost the toss I did what any captain does when handed a bowl-first afternoon he didn't ask for: put a brave face on it and hoped the lads would deliver. Deliver they rather did. Meopham huffed and puffed their way to 171 all out from 46 overs — Bryant's fifty (60) the innings' backbone, with Beard (27) and Cutts (20) chipping in dutifully — but it was Dave Todd who owned the afternoon, spinning it square for a magnificent 6-49 and, in doing so, easing past Ron Hickman into 17th on our all-time wicket list. Trevor Back and Jon Harris picked up a wicket apiece, Darren Styles bowled three maidens without so much as a run escaping, and both R- Edwards and Phil Aldred departed for ducks at our hands.

Which left us needing 172, and needing it rather more than we managed. Our reply folded to 67 all out in 27 overs, Jon Harris, Trevor Back and Simon Thirkell all failing to trouble the scorers, and only Mike Elworthy — with a defiant 33 — showing much appetite for the fight. Fourteen byes, meanwhile, made for uncomfortable reading behind the stumps. There was still cause for a raised glass, mind: Elworthy's knock brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours and nudged him past Keith Hatcher into 17th on the club's run-scoring list — a fine personal landmark on an otherwise chastening day.

We were beaten by 104 runs, no arguments. Heads up, chins forward, back to the nets.

Sat 21 Aug 1999 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWWWLD

Saturday 21 August 1999, and off we trundled to Meopham CC in what I can only describe as a match of two very different halves.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in taking first knock — a decision I stand by, even now. Nigel Thirkell anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 48, well supported by David Castle's 35, as we crawled to 141/8 from our 46 overs. Runs, it must be said, that came harder than they should have. Special mention, as ever, must go to the Duck Club, whose newest and most reluctant member is Piers McDonald, dismissed for a duck and enduring that long, lonely walk back to the pavilion with his dignity in tatters.

Defending 141 was always going to require something special, and for a while Nigel gave us hope, chipping in with 1-0 and three miserly maidens, ably backed by Stuart Cheesman's 1-7. But Meopham had other ideas. Andrew Powney played a genuinely fine half-century of 59, with James Fotheringham unbeaten on 47 in support, and they cantered home to 143/2 inside 34 overs without ever looking troubled. I did my bit with the bat second time round, 48 of my own, though it counted for little.

Beaten by eight wickets in the end — a chastening afternoon, and no mistake. David Castle continues to lead our 1999 run charts with 751 to his name, which is some consolation. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 15 Aug 1999 🧢 Sunday NVKCv ? · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday 15th August 1999, and Linton Park welcomed the visitors on home soil in fine August sunshine. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in sending us in — a decision that looked shrewd as we ambled to 181 for 5 from our forty overs. Paul Gibson was the architect, an unbeaten 61 built with quiet authority, well supported by Brian Piper's 41 and Nigel Thirkell's 40. Poor David Castle, mind you, will want this page torn from the gazette — a duck to his name, though I daresay the tea urn offered some consolation.

Defending 181, it never quite came off. They battled to 166 for 9, C. Panter the chief tormentor with 49, backed by P. Jennings (32) and I. Lewis (26 not out). Daniel Thirkell was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 27 of pure craft, while David Castle and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with a wicket apiece, Nigel additionally proving as tight as my trousers after the tea interval with three maidens. G. MacClean, at least, joined David Castle in the duck club. I even had a bowl myself for 40 — don't ask which discipline, I shan't embarrass myself further by specifying.

In the end, 15 runs shy — not a thrashing, but a nudge in the ribs from a cricketing gremlin. Gibson and Daniel Thirkell continue to lead the county's run and wicket charts respectively, which is some comfort. Not our day, lads — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 14 Aug 1999 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · AwayformWLLWL

Sunday, 14th August 1999 found us on the road to Milstead, and the coin — as ever, my nemesis — went against us. They chose to bat, and we settled in for the long haul with the ball. It was a patient, honest shift: A. Wright and R. Wright put on a fine father-and-son-sounding stand of 81 not out and 55, both reaching well-made fifties, while our attack toiled without quite finding the breakthrough their effort deserved. Darren Styles was the pick of the bowlers, tight as a drum with five maidens and figures of 1-9, with John Taylor chipping in at the other end. They closed on 171/2 from their 46 overs — a score built on application rather than fireworks.

Our reply, alas, was rather more a formality than a chase — 19/0 from 8 overs before honours were shared and the covers, metaphorically, went on. Not the day for heroics with the bat, though there was a quiet footnote worth raising a glass to: Darren Styles's solitary wicket nudged him past Frank Taylor into 21st on the club's all-time list, a reminder that even a modest afternoon adds a brick to the wall. He remains third in the Second XI's season wicket charts, with Dave Todd holding steady at third in the run-scoring ledger.

A draw, then — honours even, nobody beaten, tea presumably very good. We'll take it, dust ourselves down, and go again next week.

Sat 14 Aug 1999 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · HomeformLWWWL

Saturday last, the fourteenth of August, and Milstead came to Linton Park with the sun out and, for once, so was my batting order thinking straight. The coin did its bit and I had no hesitation putting us in — a decision that looked rather clever once Nigel Thirkell and David Castle got going. Nigel finished unbeaten on 79, David made a classy 74, and Brian Piper chipped in with 36 as we rattled up 201 for 2 from our 35 overs. I'll confess to a quiet satisfaction at contributing 79 of those runs myself, though I'll let the scorebook do the boasting rather than me.

Defending it, Milstead never let us relax. Mike Sellar played a fine hand of 61 and N Fisher supported him with 37, dragging them to 166 for 7 from 42 overs before the overs ran out on them. Michael Beeney was superb with the ball, 4 for 48, with Ian Brattle and Daniel Thirkell chipping in a wicket apiece — Daniel tight as ever with two maidens — and T. West departed without troubling the scorers.

Milestones aplenty: Brian Piper reached 10,000 career runs for the club, Nigel Thirkell passed 34,000, and Michael Beeney's four wickets carried him past Rob Doick into 25th on our all-time list. A day thick with history, then, but thin on a result — honours shared, and on this evidence, no bad thing.

Fri 13 Aug 1999 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformDWDDD

From the captain's chair — Friday 13th August, and no shortage of irony there, for it was a date on which precious little went wrong for us. Selsdon CC visited, lost the toss's spoils by winning it, and elected to bat, which on paper is precisely the sort of decision that ought to have gone against us. It didn't. We bowled them out for 166 in 50.4 overs, with Marcus Robertson's 46 the chief obstacle, and Anuj Malhotra (30) and Keith Exton (25) lending useful support. But it was Jon Harris who did the real damage — 4-29, three of those overs maidens, bowling with the sort of miserliness normally reserved for a man doing his own tax return. Robert Quirk and Troy McConnell chipped in with two apiece, and I'll modestly note I found some rhythm myself, finishing with four wickets.

Chasing 167, we made surprisingly light work of it, reaching 168 for 4 in just 32 overs. Mike Elworthy was magnificent, sailing past his fifty to finish 92 not out, and Roly Edwards's 48 kept him fine company. Six wickets in hand at the close, and the job done with overs to spare.

A special word, too, for Fred Cheesman, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark achieved, fittingly, on a day of good omens rather than bad. Mike continues to climb the season's charts, now second among the Midweek XI runscorers, while Jon sits proudly atop the wicket-takers. Two points, thoroughly earned, and not a black cat in sight.

Wed 11 Aug 1999 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDDWDD

As we didn't win the toss but The Mote CC chose to bat, we were straight into the field on a Wednesday that felt built for cricket. They ground their way to 219/5 from 51 overs, with Chris Back playing the anchor's part beautifully for 78, well supported by Tom Harris (45) and Michael Warden, unbeaten on 38. Thomas Harvey did at least oblige us with a duck. Darren Styles was superb with the ball — 3-52 and four maidens, not a run given away lightly — while Stuart Cheesman and Fred Cheesman chipped in a wicket apiece to keep things honest.

Chasing 220 was always going to ask questions of the top order, and 152/7 from our 48 overs tells you we never quite found the gear to get there. David Castle held things together nicely with 31 not out, Stuart Cheesman weighed in with 30 and Trevor Back with 26, though Christian Gatehouse's duck was rather the blot on an otherwise respectable card.

Two footnotes worth raising a teacup to: Stuart Cheesman brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, and Trevor Back's 26 eased him past Basil Sears into 8th on our all-time run charts — history quietly made between overs, as it so often is.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force the issue. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but an afternoon of good cricket, good company, and Darren Styles reminding us all why nobody fancies facing him with the new ball.

Sat 07 Aug 1999 🧢 2nd XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWLLW

Beaten but not bowed at Shipbourne on Saturday, though I'll confess the toss was the highlight of my afternoon's decision-making. I called correctly, chose to bat, and watched us huff and puff our way to 126/9 from 46 overs — a total that owed almost everything to Paul Davey's 48, the rest of us contributing with the enthusiasm of men queuing for a dentist's appointment.

With the ball, though, we had them rattled for a spell. Darren Styles was quite magnificent, 2-22 off a spell containing four maidens that would have had the tea urn boiling in sympathy, and Trevor Back chipped in handsomely with 1-16. But G. Bone had other ideas, compiling a fine 41 with David Bell's 36 in support, and between them they nudged Shipbourne home to 127/6 with three overs to spare — a four-wicket win for the hosts.

Not all gloom, mind. Mike Elworthy's solitary run was enough to see him leapfrog Frank Brattle into 18th on the club's all-time run list, and Darren Styles's brace of wickets took him past Paul Gibson into 23rd among our wicket-takers — both moving quietly up the honours boards while the rest of us make the tea. Trevor Back continues to lead the 1999 2nd XI run charts with 313, and Styles sits third in the wicket table with 16.

A defeat, then, but an instructive one — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 07 Aug 1999 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWLWWW

Saturday 07 August 1999, and Shipbourne CC roll up as our visitors, cheerfully win the toss, and stick us in the field – which, given what followed, tells you all you need to know about how the day would go. Andrew Gillam decided he fancied three figures and duly helped himself to 105, with Mike Cooper chipping in 36, as they cruised to 181 all out. To our credit we didn't just stand about admiring the scenery: Michael Beeney ran absolutely riot with 5-38, the Thirkell brothers did their bit too – Nigel miserly with 3-40 and three maidens, Daniel picking up 2-27 – and somewhere in there Beeney quietly brought up his 200th career wicket, which is the sort of thing that ought to come with a small brass band.

Chasing 182, we never really got going. Pete Townson, M. Edmondson and John Wakeman all departed without so much as a nibble, and poor David Castle joined them on a golden duck. Daniel Thirkell top-scored with a battling 41, Piers McDonald weighed in with 21 (though he leaked 8 byes behind the stumps for good measure), I scratched around for 17, and picked up 3 wickets to at least feel useful with the ball. All out 130. One bright footnote: Dave Charlton's 19 runs eased him past Stewart Morrison into 24th on the club's all-time run charts, proof that history is written in singles as much as centuries.

Beaten by 51 runs, then, no arguing with that. Daniel Thirkell still leads our run charts this summer and Beeney the wickets, so the engine room is sound – we just need the rest of us to stop admiring Gillam's batting from the boundary. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 03 Aug 1999 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDDDWD

Tuesday the third of August found Linton Park hosting Bexley CC, and my luck with the coin was, as ever, entirely absent — over it went to them, and they had no hesitation in padding up first. Fifty overs later they'd racked up 178 for 9, thanks mainly to Michael Ladbrook's tidy 57, with Stuart Hume (45) and John Taylor (20) chipping in round him. Small mercies: Christopher Allbut departed for a duck at our hands, which felt like a minor triumph amid the graft. With the ball, Michael Beeney was superb — 2 for 13 and two maidens besides, not a man in generous mood — well backed by Chris Back (2-19) and David Castle (2-20).

Chasing 179, we made a fair fist of it without quite getting there, closing on 161 for 8 from our 45. Daniel Thirkell led the reply with a composed 48, ably supported by Chris Back's 28. Poor Michael Beeney, hero with the ball, endured the cricketing indignity of a duck with the bat — the game does love its little cruelties.

Thirkell, incidentally, now sits proudly atop our 1999 Midweek XI run charts with 134, while Jon Harris leads the wicket-takers with ten. As for Tuesday's efforts — honours shared, a draw when neither side could force it. Not the stuff of legend, but an honest afternoon's cricket, and nobody left Linton Park disgraced. We'll take it.

Sun 01 Aug 1999 🧢 Sunday NVKCv EC Eversholt CC · AwayformLWWWW

Sunday the 1st of August found us on the road to Eversholt CC, and for once the coin obliged me — I called correctly and had no hesitation in taking first knock on what looked a decent strip.

The lads did me proud. Paul Gibson led from the front with a splendid 93, David Castle chipped in a composed 51, and Dave Charlton weighed in with 44 of his own — that innings, incidentally, easing him past Stewart Morrison into 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a fine personal landmark on a busy afternoon. Extras did their bit too, 30 of the useful sort. Not every visit to the crease was so glorious — Clive Newman and Stuart Cheesman both suffered the ignominious duck's walk back — but 262/8 from our 40 overs was a total to be proud of.

Eversholt gave chase gamely, David Garratt unbeaten on 69 and Paul Garratt 53 keeping them in the hunt, with Simon Davis's 35 not far behind. But Nigel Thirkell was in irresistible form, 3-30 and — rather wonderfully — passing 1400 career wickets in the process, ably backed by Matt Large (2-36) and Daniel Thirkell (2-71), the latter still leading our 1999 Sunday NVKC wicket charts with 13. Paul Litchfield departed without troubling the scorers. I managed 20 with the bat and, happily, 3 wickets with the ball, while David Castle continues to top our season's run charts with 257.

They fell 10 runs short. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — onwards we go.

Sat 31 Jul 1999 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWWWLL

Trevor Back, our top run-scorer in this year's 2nd XI, opens the bowling for us against Bearsted CC, taking 3-9.

Toss won, and against all footballing instinct I actually elected to bat first — the pitch looked good enough to trust, and the lads didn't let me down. Mike Elworthy led the way with a fine 40, Tim Thirkell chipped in with 29 and John Taylor 26, while our openers gave us exactly the sort of start you dream about, 69 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came. Forty-six overs later we'd posted 227/9 — a total that felt, even as we walked off, rather more than merely respectable.

And so it proved. Bearsted never got close to matching our intent, subsiding to 107/9 from 39.3 overs. Trevor Back was magnificent with the new ball, ripping through with 3-9, while John Taylor backed up his batting with 2-26 and three tidy maidens for good measure, and Tim Thirkell took 1-2. Poor W. Marshall departed without troubling the scorers — a duck to file alongside the rest. I even had a modest hand myself with 29, more for the scorebook than the highlight reel.

A 120-run win, two points banked, and Trevor Back's name now sitting proudly atop the season's run charts with 304 — Dave Todd, meanwhile, continues his own quiet demolition job with 26 wickets to his name. All told, a thoroughly satisfying afternoon: the sort of result that makes the tea taste that little bit sweeter.

Sat 31 Jul 1999 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWLWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 31 July 1999, and the road took us to Bearsted CC in reasonable spirits, which turned out to be justified.

Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody argued with me about it. We posted 231/5 from our 46 overs, a total built almost entirely on the broad shoulders of David Castle, who carried the innings to a magnificent 102 not out. Piers McDonald chipped in a handy 41, Stuart Cheesman 35, and the fifth-wicket pair added a crucial 78 when things needed steadying. Less gloriously, poor Dave Charlton walked the walk of shame for a nought — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin, or at least I assume he did from a safe distance.

Defending 231 always feels comfortable until it suddenly doesn't, and Bearsted made us work, reaching 162-5 before subsiding to 169-8 and eventually 192 all out from 42.2 overs. Mick Clifton's fifty was the innings of note, well supported by Andrew Dampier and Andy Naish, but Ian Brattle was magnificent with 4-22, backed up nicely by Matt Large's 3-42 and Nigel Thirkell's solitary strike. Michael Beeney bowled two tidy maidens, though poor Daniel Thirkell had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 16 byes. I managed 20 with the bat, which felt like a supporting role in someone else's triumph.

A fine win by 39 runs. Onwards.

Wed 28 Jul 1999 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLDDDW

Skipper's Log, Wednesday 28 July 1999. We won the toss, put ourselves in the field, and spent the afternoon watching the ball disappear to all corners as our visitors ground out 176/7 from their 47 overs. N Parry made merry to the tune of 65, with J Davey (38) and an unbeaten 27 from K Cook keeping the scoreboard ticking nicely without us. Credit where it's due, though: Matt Large was superb, three wickets for a miserly 11 runs and three maidens to boot, ably assisted by Michael Beeney (2-21) and Jon Harris (2-37). L Healey and M Thew departed without so much as a single to their name — the ducks were laid early.

Chasing 177, we rallied gamely to 173/9 off our 42, falling agonisingly short. Nigel Thirkell's 40 was the innings' backbone, David Castle finished unbeaten on 34, and Clive Newman chipped in with 30. Less gloriously, Piers McDonald, Fred Cheesman and Michael Beeney all took the long walk back for nought, and our man behind the stumps had a torrid time of it, letting through nine byes that we could ill afford.

Elsewhere in the club almanac, Stuart Cheesman sits second in the season's run charts on 79, and Jon Harris now tops the wicket-takers with nine.

So — honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Four runs short of glory, but four runs is still a heartbeat closer than defeat. We'll take it, dust off the whites, and go again.

Sun 25 Jul 1999 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv KC Knockers CC · HomeformWL

It was Knockers CC at home, and having lost the toss we were sent out to field — which, given how things ended, I shall claim was cunning strategy all along rather than the coin's doing.

The visitors ground their way to 162 all out from 42.2 overs, Stuart Seldon (44) the chief architect, with Gutherie Miller (37) and Rawlings (24) filling in the mortar. Darren Styles was the pick of the attack with a fine 3-23, Fred Cheesman toiled hard for his 3-54, and Jon Harris chipped in with 2-22. Michael Beeney bowled three maidens and gave nothing away lightly, while R Botting and Steven Trounce both departed for ducks at our hands.

Chasing 163, we made a proper meal of it — 163/9 from our 39 overs, with the outcome in doubt rather longer than any captain's nerves would like. Piers McDonald anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 63, well supported by Clive Newman (35) and Daniel Thirkell (30). Less gloriously, Duncan Keene and Darren Styles both took the long walk back for nought, and ten byes conspired to make life difficult for poor Piers behind the stumps.

But a win is a win, and by the barest of margins — one wicket — we scrambled home. Not pretty, not comfortable, but ours. Onwards.

Sat 24 Jul 1999 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWWWWL

Not our day, but I'll write it up.

---

Down to Headcorn on Saturday, and I lost the toss — no surprises there, my coin-calling remains as reliable as the Kent weather forecast. They elected to bat, and truth be told, they made rather a meal of enjoying themselves at our expense.

189/7 from their 46 overs told the story: Nick Sparks unbeaten on a chanceless-looking 80, with Kevin Richardson chipping in a tidy 63 and Steve Kingsmill 32 for good measure. Credit where due — Trevor Back toiled manfully for 3-51, Dave Todd chimed in with 2-49, Darren Styles picked up 1-59, and John Taylor bowled two maidens as tight as his top button. We did at least see off Paul Millen and Robert Hubble for ducks, small mercies in a long afternoon.

Chasing 190, we never remotely threatened it. Dave Todd's 31 was the only innings of substance, and the rest of us rather queued up to get out, Trevor Back, Richard Piper and John Taylor all completing the ignominious hat-trick of noughts — the Duck Club takes some new members today. All out for 95 in 37.3 overs, beaten by 94 runs, and no amount of tea and cake could sweeten that arithmetic.

One crumb of comfort: Trevor's three wickets shuffled him past John Thirkell into 11th on the club's all-time list, so history was made even if the match wasn't won. Heads up, though — it's back to the nets this week, and no arguments.

Sat 24 Jul 1999 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWLWLW

Saturday 24th July 1999, and Headcorn CC rolled up as our guests. I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough event to mark in the diary — and, with the sun out and no good reason to overthink it, chose to bat.

It was not, in truth, a vintage day with the willow. We were bowled out for 137 in 42.3 overs, rescued from real embarrassment by Piers McDonald's 44 and Clive Newman's watchful 40, while Daniel Thirkell and Matt Large both contrived to depart for golden ducks — the sort of pair that has you studying your boots rather rather more attentively than the scoreboard.

One hundred and thirty-seven felt, at tea, like a total we'd be defending rather than enforcing. But cricket, bless it, has a way of humbling the pessimists. Jon Harris was magnificent, prising out three for a miserly 20, well backed by Ian Brattle's three for 37 and a wicket apiece for Matt Large, who made amends with the ball for his morning's failings. Michael Beeney simply refused to be got away, sending down seven maidens of the tightest, most infuriating length. Headcorn fought hard — Neil Levett's unbeaten 44 and Alastair Lee's 28 kept them in it deep into the innings — but they fell agonisingly short on 132 for 9, with Mike Donnelly departing for a duck of his own.

A win by five runs, then — the kind that owes everything to the bowlers and precious little to the batsmen, and is all the sweeter for it. Onwards.

Sun 18 Jul 1999 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Hursley Park CC · AwayformLLWWW

Skipper's log, 18 July 1999 — away at Hursley Park, and for once the coin actually loved me. Won the toss, no dithering: we'd bat.

184 for 6 off our forty overs was a tidy platform, built on David Castle's 43, with Paul Gibson (36) and Peter Whyte, unbeaten on 28, keeping the innings honest. Not every man covered himself in glory, mind — Dave Charlton contributed a duck to the ledger, and the walk back to the pavilion looked every bit as long as tradition demands.

Out in the field, we set about defending it, and Matt Large was in irresistible form, ripping through Hursley Park for 4-23. Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 4-48, Dave Charlton picked up one for 24 (redemption of sorts for the earlier duck), and Nigel Thirkell bowled with the miserly precision of a man counting out his own pension, three maidens to his name. C Hall's 39, with support from Ross Cambray (25) and S Rothwell (24), threatened to make a match of it, but Hursley folded for 155, and Paul Edwards joined the duck club for company.

A word for the mantelpiece: Dave Charlton reached fifty career wickets — a proper landmark, whatever the scorebook said about his batting that day. David Castle continues to lead the season's run charts on 206, with Daniel Thirkell topping the wickets on 11.

A win by 29 runs, then, earned rather than gifted. Onwards.

Sat 17 Jul 1999 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformDWWWW

Saturday 17th July, and we welcomed Dummy Site to Linton Park under skies that gave no hint of the 74-run drubbing to come. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling record remains a stain on an otherwise blameless captaincy — and they had no hesitation in batting first.

They made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 212/4 from their 46 overs. D Baxter played the innings of the day, 72 not out and barely troubled throughout, with Ken Hill (42) and Brian Newman (40) offering sturdy support. Dave Todd was our chief tormentor with 2-52, Chris Quirk chipped in with 1-33, and Darren Styles bowled with real discipline, three maidens to his name — proof that not everything went for runs, even if it occasionally felt that way from mid-off.

Chasing 213, we never quite got the platform we needed, undone rather too early by poor Jon Taylor's golden duck. Alan Boyns dug in gamely for 30 not out, but wickets fell around him and we closed on 138/7 from our 44, well short of the target.

Elsewhere, the season ticks on regardless of Saturday's gloom — Trevor Back continues to lead our 2nd XI run charts with 279, and Dave Todd sits second in the wickets with 23.

Beaten by 74 runs, then, and no dressing it up. But there was enough application in there — Styles's maidens, Boyns's obduracy — to suggest we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 17 Jul 1999 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformDWLWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 17th July 1999, and the road took us out to Sheldwich, where I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat. Call it captain's instinct, call it luck; either way it proved the right one. Piers McDonald played the anchor role beautifully for a well-made 52, with Matt Large (46) and Nigel Thirkell (31) lending fine support, and I chipped in with 31 of my own down the order. Poor Robert Quirk will want this page torn from the gazette — a duck 🦆 is a duck, however you dress it up — but 185/9 from our 46 overs felt like a total with substance.

Defending it, Jon Harris was quite magnificent, four wickets for a miserly 19 with four maidens to boot, and found willing accomplices in Matt Large (3-30) and Nigel Thirkell (1-4). Sheldwich fought hard — Mark Hammond's unbeaten 27, ably backed by David Prior (24) and Steve Blythin (20), kept us honest — but they fell short at 124/9 from their 44 overs.

A word too for Piers McDonald, who brought up 7,000 career runs for the club — a landmark achieved with typical understatement. Elsewhere, Daniel Thirkell continues to lead our 1999 run charts on 615, with Matt Large top of the wicket pile on 22.

Sixty-one runs the margin, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 11 Jul 1999 🧢 1st XIv RC Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformWDWLW

Sunday 11th July saw Rainham (Kent) roll into Linton Park, and for once the coin actually liked me — heads it was, and I had no hesitation in sending us in.

I'm glad I did, for a while at least. Stewart Morrison played the innings of the summer, 84 not out and looking like he'd have batted through Christmas if we'd let him, with Clive Newman (46) and Piers McDonald (35) putting on handsome support acts either side of him. 194/3 off our 35 overs felt like a total with some teeth in it, and I confess I allowed myself a quiet, premature smile at tea.

That smile did not survive the chase. Matthew Goodwin strolled to an imperious 104 not out, with James Austin keeping him company on a classy 72 not out, and between them they simply took our total apart with four and a half overs to spare. 195/0. Not a wicket to our name. There is not much a captain can say to his bowlers after that beyond "thank you for your effort" and "see you at training."

One shaft of light amid the wreckage: Clive Newman's 46 nudged him past William Buck and up to 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now sits 4th in this season's 1st XI charts with 474 runs — some consolation on a grim afternoon.

Ten wickets is as chastening a margin as this game offers. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — Goodwin and Austin have given us plenty to think about.

Sat 10 Jul 1999 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDDWWW

Saturday 10 July 1999, and the road took us to Hollingbourne — a fixture that always promises more questions than a village green ought to ask, chief among them: why did I lose the toss again? Put in to field, we watched Hollingbourne compile a workmanlike 150 all out in 45.3 overs, built on useful contributions from Ian Gutteridge (30) and Dave Hales (30), with Steve Wilson (23) chipping in. Jon Harris was the story of the innings, though — a superb 5-39 that had no business being anything other than match-defining, backed up handsomely by Alan Boyns (3-39) and the metronomic John Taylor, whose 2-11 and four maidens suggested the batsmen had rather better things to do elsewhere. Dan Pritchard's duck was the only blot on an otherwise tidy morning.

Chasing 151, we set about it with more composure than usual. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 65 that anchored everything, with Tim Thirkell (33) and Dave Todd (24 not out) offering fine support, and I was rather pleased to contribute 33 of my own. Trevor Back and Stewart Roberts both fell for ducks, proof that this game delights in humbling everyone eventually, but the total came home for the loss of only four wickets with overs to spare.

A thoroughly deserved six-wicket win, two points banked, and Jon Harris continuing to lead the wicket charts in some style. Every dog, as they say, has his day — and today Hollingbourne were simply outclassed.

Sat 10 Jul 1999 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformDWDWL

Sunday, 10 July 1999, and I did the only sensible thing at the toss: called it right, and elected to bat. Some captains overthink these decisions. I have never had that problem. The lads duly obliged, ploughing on to a handsome 218 for 5 off our 46 overs, with Clive Newman playing the innings of the day for 68, well past his fifty and clearly enjoying himself rather more than the Hollingbourne bowlers were. Daniel Thirkell chipped in with a tidy 53 of his own, and David Castle's 34 rounded things off nicely. A total that felt, even from the boundary rope, like more than enough.

So it proved. Hollingbourne's reply never quite got out of second gear, folding for 171 in 41.2 overs despite Richard Swaisland's gutsy 64 and useful contributions from Andy Golding (22) and Alan Ovenden (20) — Dave Kay, less fortunate, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Matt Large was the chief destroyer with a superb 4 for 34, backed up handsomely by Dave Charlton's miserly 1 for 0 and Ian Brattle's 1 for 26, while Michael Beeney strangled the middle overs with three maidens. I'll gloss politely over Daniel Thirkell's 21 byes behind the stumps — even our leading run-scorer, now on 613 for the season, is allowed an off day with the gloves.

A fine win by 47 runs, then, and Matt Large's four-for nudges him further up the wicket charts to second with 19. Onwards, as ever, to the next one.

Wed 07 Jul 1999 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDLDDD

Wednesday 7th July found us on the road to Gravesend, toss lost, chase set — the sort of afternoon that separates the cricketers from the also-rans, and for once we knew which side of that line we wanted to be on.

Put in the field, we watched M Bates compile a stubborn 52, with A Cust (36) and Dave Elliott (31) doing their level best to bat us out of the game, Gravesend eventually bowled out for 161 in the 48th over. Credit where due: Michael Beeney was a man possessed, tearing through with 6-33, while Jon Harris bowled with the miserly precision of a man who begrudges every run (3-31, three maidens to boot) and Stuart Cheesman chipped in with 1-28. Not a bad afternoon's work with the ball at all.

The chase, as chases at Linton Park so often are, was never entirely straightforward. Piers McDonald led from the front with a fine 48, Stuart Cheesman (32) and Mike Elworthy (26) lending sturdy support, while poor Richard Piper made his way back for a duck without so much as scuffing the scorer's pencil. I allowed myself a small purr of satisfaction with three wickets of my own earlier in the day, though it was with the bat that nerves were truly tested — home by the narrowest of margins, two wickets to spare.

A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly satisfying win. Gravesend will wonder how it slipped away; we shall simply enjoy the taste of it on the drive home.

Sun 04 Jul 1999 🧢 Sunday NVKCv OC Outwood CC · HomeformWLLWW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 04 July 1999, and Outwood CC were our visitors on a day that, thankfully, went entirely to plan.

I won the toss and didn't so much as blink before choosing to bat — some decisions make themselves. We set about building a proper total, and 196/7 from our forty overs was exactly the sort of score to make the tea interval a pleasant one. Daniel Thirkell was the architect, 55 stylish runs the backbone of the innings, with Nigel Thirkell (40) and Dave Charlton (29) filling in the mortar around him. I chipped in with 40 myself, though I'll let others judge whether "chipped in" is generous.

Defending it was a different sort of afternoon — Outwood's Neil Stevens (45), M- Cass (35) and A- Mackenzie (31) all had designs on chasing us down, and for a while it looked lively. But Ian Brattle bowled like a man with a wicket-taking habit to feed, 3-40 doing the damage, with Matt Large (2-29, and two miserly maidens besides) and Nigel Thirkell (1-34) squeezing the life out of the rest. D- Indo departed without troubling the scorers at all.

They fell 17 runs short, all out for 179 in 39.2 overs. A tidy, well-earned win, and with David Castle and Ian Brattle both sitting proudly atop the season's charts, it's shaping up to be rather a good summer for Linton Park.

Sat 03 Jul 1999 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformWDDWW

Saturday 3rd July, 1999. Home to Southborough CC, and I lost the toss again — I'm starting to think that coin has it in for me. They chose to bat, as they always do when they win the call, and settled in for what looked like it might be a long afternoon in the field.

It wasn't. Southborough were rolled for 99 in 39 overs, and the day belonged entirely to Dave Todd, who bowled like a man possessed to finish with 6-34 — a thoroughly deserved five-for, and richly celebrated as it happened to be his 300th career wicket. Darren Styles (3-28) and Ian Brattle (1-23) tidied up nicely around him, John Taylor strangled the run rate with four maidens, and even Tom Carmichael got in on the act, departing for a duck at our hands. Chris Dyer's 22 was as good as it got for them.

Chasing 100 should never trouble a side, and it didn't trouble us for long. Mike Elworthy played the innings of the day with 39, Trevor Back saw us home unbeaten on 29, Tim Thirkell chipped in with 21, and I managed a tidy 21 myself. James Vincent, less fortunately, joined the Duck Club with a nought of his own — the walk of shame indeed.

Home by seven wickets, two points banked, and Todd's milestone the icing on the cake. A proper afternoon's cricket, and no complaints from this captain.

Sat 03 Jul 1999 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformDDWDW

Not our finest afternoon down at Southborough, but here it is.

Saturday 3rd July, and Southborough's ground doing its usual trick of looking idyllic right up until we lost the toss and were sent out to field, which on a warm day is roughly the cricketing equivalent of being handed the washing-up before you've even had pudding. Simon Fisher and Ray Grayland both went past their fifties — 60 not out and 59 not out respectively, thick as thieves at the crease and no doubt enjoying every minute of it — while David White's 41 kept the scoreboard humming along nicely, thank you very much. They closed on 222/4 from their 46 overs. Stuart Cheesman was the pick of our attack with 1-23, Jon Harris and Michael Beeney chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Matt Large bowled three tidy maidens that deserved rather more reward than they got.

Chasing 223, Clive Newman played the innings of the day — 83 of real substance — with Brian Piper unbeaten on 41 and David Castle adding 26 to give us genuine hope. I contributed 26 myself, more relief than glory. Poor Stewart Morrison, though, walked back for a golden duck — the Duck Club ledger duly updated, much to his chagrin. We finished 216/6 from our 44, agonisingly six runs short.

Not our day, but no shame in it — a proper arm-wrestle of a match, lost by the finest of margins. Heads up, backs straight, and into the nets we go.

Sun 27 Jun 1999 🧢 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · HomeformDDDWD

Sunday 27th June saw Clarion CC roll into Linton Park, and I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, stuck us in to bat. It proved rather a shrewd call. Piers McDonald played the innings of the day, a fine 61, while David Castle (27) and Stuart Cheesman (26) chipped in handsomely around him. Not everyone's afternoon was quite so golden — poor Adam Pooley managed a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that gets you a knowing look at the bar rather than any sympathy. Still, 169/5 off our thirty overs was a total to be proud of.

Clarion's reply never really got going. Steve Harris top-scored with 26, but wickets tumbled around him, E Driver and J Harris both departing without troubling the scorers. Fred Cheesman was the chief destroyer with 3-20, backed up superbly by Stuart Cheesman (2-11) and Darren Styles, whose 2-12 and three maidens spoke of real discipline with the ball. I even managed to get among the runs myself with 27 earlier on, though the bowlers rather stole my thunder. Clarion were bowled out for 97 in 27.5 overs, and we ran out winners by 72 runs.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and a timely reminder — with Daniel Thirkell and Michael Beeney leading the season's charts — that this Linton Park side has plenty of substance to go with the style.

Sat 26 Jun 1999 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWWDDW

Saturday last took us down to West Farleigh, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy career, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat. Trevor Back set about the West Farleigh attack with real intent, cashing in for a handsome 57, while James Vincent (33) and John Taylor (32) chipped in nicely around him. Poor Mike Elworthy will want to forget the day entirely, departing for a duck, but 185/8 off our 46 overs felt like a total with a bit of bite to it.

Whether it had quite enough bite was the question as we took the field to defend it. Paul Edwards played a lovely hand for his fifty, ending on 65, well supported by Paul Newman's 32, and for a while West Farleigh looked ominously set. But Dave Todd had other ideas, running through them for a magnificent 6-42, with Jon Harris (3-32) and James Vincent (1-28) mopping up, and Darren Styles keeping things tight with two maidens. Alan Smith and Gerry Rush went back without scoring, and the innings folded for 146 in 40.5 overs.

Nice to note Trevor's knock nudged him past John Ames into 9th on the all-time run charts, and Dave's six-for pushed him past Dick Langridge into 18th among our wicket-takers — both leading our 1999 2nd XI charts besides. A 39-run win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 26 Jun 1999 🧢 1st XIv BC Blue Star CC · HomeformLDDDW

Saturday 26 June 1999, and the sun was kind enough to let us play cricket rather than watch it, which around here counts as a good toss to win — and win it I did, choosing to bat without a flicker of doubt.

What followed was rather more than I dared hope for. Daniel Thirkell played an innings of real substance, 108 not out, the kind of knock that makes the tea urn seem to boil quicker out of sheer excitement. He found the perfect foil in Clive Newman, whose unbeaten 89 was no mean supporting act, with Piers McDonald chipping in a brisk 26. Blue Star CC must have wondered what they'd walked into as we racked up 232 for the loss of a single wicket from our forty overs.

Defending it, the bowling did its honest best. Ian Brattle was the pick, 3 for 20, with Alan Boyns miserly as ever (2 for 16, three maidens) and Stuart Cheesman chipping away for 2 for 43. Mick McKinnon (41), Andrew Harper (26) and Gavin Hornby (25) kept Blue Star in the hunt, and poor Alistair Allen departed for a duck. Clive, having batted so nobly, then had a torrid time behind the stumps, coughing up 9 byes for his trouble — you can't have everything, Clive.

In the end, 196 for 8 wasn't quite enough, but nor could we finish the job: honours shared, a draw that pleased no one and disappointed no one either. My own 89 was satisfying enough on a personal note, but the abiding memory will be Thirkell's century — and a season in which he and Michael Beeney continue to lead from the front.

Sun 20 Jun 1999 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Harvel CC · HomeformWWLLW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 20 June 1999. We hosted Harvel CC, and true to form the coin let us down before a ball was bowled; they won the toss and took first use of a decent-looking strip, which is never quite the news a captain wants over the pre-match tea.

We took to the field in reasonably good heart and, all things considered, did rather well to peg them back to 162/8 from their forty overs. Nicholas Portman was the main author of their innings with 36, well supported by Philip Darby's 29, but it was Nigel Thirkell who did the real damage with a fine 2-26. Daniel Thirkell chipped in handsomely too — 2-35 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure — while Paul Gibson picked up a wicket for 29. All told, a total that felt gettable, and so it proved.

With the bat we chased down 165/5 in 37 overs for a five-wicket win. David Castle was the innings' backbone, cruising past his fifty to finish on 60, with Paul Gibson (38) and Daniel Thirkell (36 not out) lending fine support. Less gloriously, Nigel Thirkell departed for a duck, and I myself contributed precisely nought — the least said about that, the better.

David Castle now leads the 1999 Sunday NVKC run charts with 135, and Daniel Thirkell tops the wicket charts with 6. A fine win, ducks and all. Onwards.

Sat 19 Jun 1999 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWWWDD

Saturday 19 June 1999, and Rumwood CC were our visitors on a day made for batting — which was just as well, since I called correctly at the toss and didn't waste a second before saying we'd have first knock. The lads duly obliged: Stewart Roberts led the way with a fine 59, and he wasn't short of company, with Mike Elworthy (51) and Dave Todd (51) both bringing up well-made fifties of their own. Even the extras column got in on the act with a hearty 39. I contributed a modest 46 myself, happy enough to play a supporting role to such riches, and we declared our efforts at a formidable 295/5 from 46 overs.

Defending that sort of total is the pleasant end of captaincy, and Jon Harris made sure of it, scything through Rumwood with 4-19 and five miserly maidens for good measure, well backed up by James Vincent's 3-28 and a wicket for Tim Thirkell. Only B- Nicholls, with 27, threatened to trouble the scoreboard, while John Burbridge, S- Light and Mark Roberts departed without so much as a run to their names. Poor Mike Elworthy had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 25 byes slipping past him — though he'll not mind too much, having brought up 5,000 career runs for the club in the same match, a landmark worth raising a glass to.

Rumwood were bowled out for 122 in 44.1 overs, and we walked off 173 runs to the good. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine day all round for Linton Park.

Sat 19 Jun 1999 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWLDDD

As it stands from Rumwood, 19 June 1999 — I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, elected to bat without a moment's hesitation. It proved the right call. Clive Newman set the tone with a stylish 55, well supported by Nigel Thirkell, who matched him run for run with a fine half-century of his own, and Daniel Thirkell chipped in a tidy 22. We closed on 184/4 from our 46 overs — a total that felt, even from the pavilion steps, like more than enough.

So it transpired. Our bowlers went about their business with real purpose: John Taylor was the pick of them, ripping through with 3-9, while Matt Large and Michael Beeney offered sterling support with 2-13 and 2-19 respectively. Stuart Cheesman kept things admirably tight with three maidens, and between us we sent Ray Moon and R. Seath back for ducks. Only K. Curtis threatened any resistance with 42, but Rumwood folded for 87 in 28.3 overs.

I confess a personal 55 was rather satisfying, though it paled beside the afternoon's real headline — Clive Newman brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserving of the teapot's finest. Nigel continues to top our run charts this season, with Michael not far behind among the wickets.

A 97-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 16 Jun 1999 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDDLDD

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 16 June 1999. We hosted Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC, and having lost the toss I found myself condemned to watch rather than choose, sent straight into the field with the sun barely up over the square.

Sevenoaks batted through to 201 all out in 49.1 overs, and credit where it's due — Paul Seldon's 60 was a proper half-century, the sort that dictates an innings, with E. Lombard (32) and J. Grindley (21) tidying up around him. Jon Harris was magnificent with the new ball, 4-25 and the pick of the attack, while Fred Cheesman (3-39) and Adrian Caddick (1-16) chipped away at the other end. Darren Styles bowled two maidens that gave nothing away, and I managed to find some rhythm myself, picking up four wickets along the way.

Chasing 202, we replied with 185/6 from our 38 overs — short of the target, but not short of substance. Daniel Thirkell was the innings, 86 not out and utterly composed, ably supported by Stuart Cheesman's 22. Piers McDonald had a trickier afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes slipping through, but nobody's perfect on a Wednesday.

The real story of the day, though, was Daniel bringing up 2,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth toasting long after the scorebook's shut. With honours shared and neither side quite able to force it, I'll call this one an honest draw, and a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket.

Sun 13 Jun 1999 🧢 1st XIv BC Blue Star CC · HomeformWWLDD

Sunday 13 June saw Blue Star CC roll into Linton for what turned into a proper old-fashioned tussle, honours finishing all square. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — and for once the decision looked a shrewd one rather than the usual coin-flip guesswork. We laboured to 143 all out in 49 overs, Adam Pooley top-scoring with a watchful 25, well supported by Clive Newman and James Vincent, both good for 21 apiece. The extras column, ever the club's most reliable batsman, chipped in 31. Less gloriously, Piers McDonald and Jon Harris both made the long walk back for ducks — the sort of pair that gets you a round of applause and a round at the bar, in that order.

Defending 143 was always going to ask questions of the bowling, and Jon Harris answered them emphatically, making amends for his golden duck with a superb 3 for 34, five of his overs unhurried maidens. Michael Beeney (2-29) and Darren Styles (1-23) squeezed hard at the other end, but Mike Peters played the innings of the day with 46, and Blue Star crawled home to 119 for 6 off their 44 — just short of the finish line, honours shared.

A word too for Stewart Morrison, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark achieved with rather more dignity than most of our batting. All told, a draw that flattered no one and disappointed no one: proper cricket, honestly fought, and precisely the sort of afternoon this old game was invented for.

Sat 12 Jun 1999 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformLWWWD

Skipper's Log, Saturday 12th June 1999. Away to Horsmonden, and my coin-tossing luck deserted me yet again — we were put in to field beneath what threatened to be a long afternoon in the deep. Horsmonden batted with more patience than flair, grinding to 177/8 from their 46 overs. Chris Bills was the chief architect at 44, with Matt LeMoine chipping in a handy 32, though credit where it's due — we did at least have the satisfaction of sending Martyn Hook back for a duck, his innings over before it began.

The bowling, I'm delighted to report, was the day's real story. Jon Harris was magnificent, scything through with 4-28, while James Vincent toiled honestly for his 2-54 and John Taylor picked up a well-earned 1-20. Darren Styles, meanwhile, bowled two maidens with the sort of miserliness that would make a Yorkshireman proud, keeping the scoreboard honest when it mattered.

Chasing 178 in the time remaining was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved — we reached 34/2 from our 11 overs before bad light or good sense (I forget which) brought proceedings to a close. Honours shared, then, neither side able to force the issue.

A word for the season's form guide: Trevor Back sits second in our 2nd XI run charts with 161 to his name, and Jon Harris now leads the wicket charts with 11 scalps — the same Jon Harris who did the damage here. A draw it was, but one earned with real character, and I'll happily take that on the road.

Sat 12 Jun 1999 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformWWWLD

Saturday last saw Horsmonden CC roll into Linton Park under fair skies, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in sticking us in first — a call I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself handsomely. David Castle set about the bowling with real intent, farming 91 in an innings that had the tea urn rattling with excitement, while Nigel Thirkell weighed in with a stylish 86 and Dave Charlton finished unbeaten on a brisk 43. We declared our efforts at a formidable 286/5 from 46 overs. Less gloriously, Stewart Morrison endured the walk of shame for a duck — the Duck Club ledger duly updated, much to the lads' amusement.

With the ball in hand, Horsmonden's reply lasted all of one delivery beyond the over before the heavens, or something very like them, brought proceedings to a swift halt at 0/0 from 0.1 overs — leaving honours shared in the most anticlimactic of draws.

Personally, I was chuffed with my own contribution of 86, though the day belonged to two rather special milestones: David Castle brought up 16,000 career runs for the club, a landmark few of us will ever sniff at, while Dave Charlton's 43 nudged him past Stewart Morrison into 24th on the all-time run-scorers list. Castle, meanwhile, continues to lead our 1999 run charts with 436 to his name.

A draw it may have been, but with runs like these on the board, we'll happily call it a triumph of substance over result.

Sun 06 Jun 1999 🧢 Sunday NVKCv UC Underriver CC · AwayformLWWLL

Sunday the sixth of June found us setting off for Underriver, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat — a decision I stand by, whatever the scorebook might later suggest under interrogation. We limped and nudged our way to 105 for 9 from our forty overs, a total that owed almost everything to David Castle, whose 52 was the innings' one genuine piece of substance, with Stuart Cheesman chipping in a useful 20 alongside him. Elsewhere the card made grim reading, with Stewart Morrison, Daniel Thirkell and Peter Whyte all departing for ducks — three of them, no less, which is either terrible luck or a worrying pattern I shall not be investigating too closely.

With the ball, though, we were a different side altogether. Underriver were bowled out for 92 in 37.2 overs, R Scott's 35 and B Kimpton's 20 the only real resistance, while T Purchon, Oli Pendered and Ollie Close all fell without scoring — proof that ducks, like rain, come to us all eventually. Ian Brattle was magnificent, 4 for 18 and now leading our season's wicket charts, backed superbly by Paul Gibson's 3 for 9 and six miserly maidens from Nigel Thirkell.

A thoroughly deserved 13-run victory, and two points banked. Not pretty, but cricket rarely need be — just occasionally, glorious.

Sat 05 Jun 1999 🧢 2nd XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · HomeformDLWWW

As the captain, they'd never let me put my feet up on a Sunday — Saturday delivered enough drama for one week.

Saturday 5th June saw Leeds & Broomfield roll into Linton Park, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first strike — the wicket looked a belter, and so it proved. Brian Piper played the innings of the day, an assured 73 that anchored us beautifully, while Dave Todd chipped in with a busy 41 and Mike Elworthy added a tidy 32. Between them they steered us to a thoroughly respectable 203/5 from our 46 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than gulp it down.

Amid the runs came a moment worth pausing for: Dave Todd brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that deserved rather more than the polite ripple of applause it got from the boundary. Mantelpiece material, that.

Out we came to defend it, and the visitors, whether through good sense or simple caution, never troubled the scorers unduly, crawling to 27/0 from their twelve overs before the heavens — or perhaps just common sense — called a halt. Honours shared, then, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody in equal measure.

With Piper now sitting proudly atop the 2nd XI's season run charts on 172, the omens are good. A fair result, all told — though I'll confess I'd rather have had the extra overs to finish the job.

Sat 05 Jun 1999 🧢 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformLWWWL

It was a good toss to win and, on a green Leeds & Broomfield track, no toss at all to think about — we batted. 149/9 off our 46 wasn't going to trouble anyone for elegance, but Nigel Thirkell's fifty (57) was the innings' spine, and Michael Beeney (26 not out) and Dave Charlton (22) chipped in respectably around him. Less respectably, Stewart Morrison, Daniel Thirkell and David Lines all contrived to bag ducks — three of them, which even by our own generous standards of profligacy took some doing. Still, 149 felt defendable on a pitch doing a bit, and so it proved.

In the field, Daniel Thirkell atoned handsomely for his golden duck with the ball, 2-11 and three maidens of proper miserliness, choking the life out of the Leeds & Broomfield reply before it ever threatened. They limped to 32/2 off 13 as the covers came on, and honours were shared — a draw earned as much in the bowling as denied by the weather.

Personally, 57 was a satisfying return, though I'll admit the real story of the day belonged to Clive Newman, who turned out for his 200th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark that puts my own contribution rather in the shade, and rightly so. Up in the season's charts, David Castle continues to purr along in second with 345 runs, while Daniel Thirkell now leads the wickets with 16.

Verdict: no victory, but no shame either — a draw shared fairly, and an afternoon that belonged, in the end, to Clive's cap rather than anyone's scorecard.

Mon 31 May 1999 🧢 1st XIv WC Wadhurst CC · AwayformDLWWW

Down at Wadhurst on Bank Holiday Monday, and I fancied us all the more for the sunshine on our backs. Won the toss, elected to bat — a decision I'll take credit for, thank you very much — and the lads didn't let me down. Daniel Thirkell played a lovely hand for 72, Mike Elworthy chipped in a fine 58, and Stewart Morrison's 32 kept things ticking, the innings rounding out at a handsome 217/3 from our 38 overs. Declarations were never on the agenda; we simply ran out of overs while still purring along nicely.

Defending it should have been the easy part. It wasn't. Geoff Smith gave us a proper going-over with 72, and just when we thought we had the door closed, Brignall and Joe Everdell barricaded it shut with unbeaten 48 and 45 to see Wadhurst home on 220/6 with two overs in hand. Darren Styles toiled manfully for his 4-59, Michael Beeney picked up one, and Stuart Cheesman's three maidens were about the only currency we didn't hand over freely — unlike our eight byes, which poor Peter Whyte will not be reliving fondly over his cornflakes.

One shaft of light amid the gloom: Stewart Morrison's 32 eased him past Dave Charlton into 24th on the club's all-time run list, which is the sort of thing you cling to when the scoreboard's turned against you. Thirkell continues to lead our season's charts handsomely, Beeney sits second among the wicket-takers, and the rest of us slink back to the nets to remember which end of the bat is which. Not our day, beaten by three wickets — but character, if not silverware, was very much on display.

Sat 29 May 1999 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformLDLWW

Saturday 29 May 1999 — hosted Marden CC, and a rather fine afternoon it turned out to be. Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once my judgement wasn't the source of dressing-room mirth it usually is. Brian Piper played the innings of the day, 87 full of proper strokes, while Trevor Back (37) and Dave Todd (25) chipped in nicely to see us to a healthy 190 for 5 off our 46 overs. A total, I felt, with enough substance to make Marden work for it.

And work for it they did not, in the end. Simon Day fought a lone rearguard with 36, but around him the innings simply came apart — J Manington and Peter Lampard both back in the pavilion without so much as a run to show for their troubles. Dave Todd, having contributed handsomely with the bat, then turned the screw with the ball, 4 for 17 of probing, disciplined stuff, well supported by Jon Harris's 4 for 23 and a tidy 1 for 22 from Darren Styles. Marden were bowled out for 101 in 33 overs, and the game was as good as won long before the last ball.

Trevor Back continues to lead our 2nd XI run-scoring this season with 136, and Darren Styles tops the wicket charts with 8 — both men doing their bit again here. All told, a thoroughly satisfying day's work: two points banked, an 89-run victory, and the tea, I'm reliably informed, went down rather well too.

Sat 29 May 1999 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformDDLWW

Nigel Thirkell won it with a magnificent, undefeated hundred, and I'll not pretend otherwise — though as captain I'll take a modest bow for the toss.

Marden CC came down to Linton Park on a fine Saturday, and I fancied a bat first, so bat first we did. Nigel Thirkell set about the Marden attack with real purpose, ticking past three figures and finishing unbeaten on 120 — the kind of innings that makes the tea interval taste that much sweeter. Dave Charlton chipped in handsomely with 61, and Stewart Morrison's 41 gave the innings a proper spine. 300 for 6 off our 46 overs was a total to be proud of, and one that had Marden's openers looking distinctly uneasy before a ball had even been bowled at them.

And so it proved. John Paul Sunnucks played a lovely, lonely century for the visitors — 103 of real quality — with R. Day offering support to the tune of 37, but beyond that the innings simply had no legs. T. Sunnucks, A. Wilkins and I. Scott all trooped back without so much as a run to their names, and the damage was done chiefly by Matt Large, whose 4 for 37 did for the middle order, backed up nicely by Daniel Thirkell's 3 for 28 and Michael Beeney's tidy 2 for 55, complete with a pair of maidens for good measure. Marden folded for 209.

A 91-run win, then, and a rather good one to file away. Dave Charlton's 61 nudges him up to 24th on the club's all-time run list too — the mantelpiece groans a little more each week. All told, a proper day's cricket, and one Marden will not be in a hurry to revisit.

Sun 23 May 1999 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SL Seal St Lawrence · AwayformWLWWL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 23 May 1999, away at Dummy Site, and for once the coin gods smiled on me. Won the toss, elected to bat, and I'll admit I said as much to the lads with more confidence than I actually felt at the time — turned out to be the right call. We rattled along to a handsome 257/8 from our forty overs, built on a lovely fifty from Paul Gibson (70), fine support from Nigel Thirkell (57), and a composed 39 not out from Peter Whyte to finish us off in style.

Two hundred and fifty-seven is the kind of total that lets you enjoy your tea, and so it proved. Their reply never got out of second gear, bowled out for 117/8 in 32.3 overs, with only C Leonard (60) offering any real resistance, backed by M Evans (21) and P Cook (20). The rest came and went with alarming regularity — three ducks in there, poor souls. Daniel Thirkell was the chief tormentor, a superb 3-24 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, ably supported by Jon Harris (2-28) and even I managed to sneak in on the act with 1-2.

Personally, 57 with the bat felt rather satisfying, and there was more to celebrate besides — Daniel Thirkell into his 100th career wicket, Jon Harris past 2200, and Stewart Morrison's 30 nudging him up the all-time run charts. All told, a proper team performance from top to bottom, and a 140-run win to be thoroughly pleased with. Heads up, chests out — this is the standard now.

Sat 22 May 1999 🧢 2nd XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformWLDLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 22 May 1999. Staplehurst CC at home, and I won the toss and elected to bat, a decision I'm still rather proud of. We crawled and cantered our way to 141/8 from our 46 overs, Trevor Back leading the charge with a fine 33, Dave Todd chipping in a tidy 20. The extras column, ever the unsung hero, weighed in with 32. Less gloriously, the Duck Club welcomed two new members in Tim Thirkell and Jon Harris, both enduring that lonely walk back without troubling the scorers.

Out in the field, we set about defending our modest total with rather more menace than the runs suggested we'd manage. Staplehurst were bowled out for 140 in 44 overs — D Roots (28) and Q Hayward (26) did their best to spoil the afternoon, but Jon Harris redeemed his batting with the ball, snaring 3-25, well backed by Darren Styles (3-32) and Dave Todd (3-37), while Ian Brattle bowled three miserly maidens. Poor Roly Edwards had a torrid time behind the stumps, 9 byes escaping his grasp, and as for your correspondent — I made a duck myself, and the less said the better.

One footnote worth toasting: Darren Styles's three wickets nudged him past Rob Doick into 24th on the club's all-time list. We got home by a single, agonising run. A scratchy performance, but a win's a win — and we'll take it gladly.

Sat 22 May 1999 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformWDDLW

Saturday 22 May 1999, and off we trooped to Staplehurst, the toss falling kindly my way. Not for the first time this season I fancied runs on the board rather than leather-chasing, and duly stuck us in.

179/8 from our 46 overs was, I felt, a thoroughly respectable effort in the circumstances. Nigel Thirkell was in fine touch, cruising to 57, with Piers McDonald (35) and Stuart Cheesman (33) chipping in handsomely around him. Less happily, poor Dave Charlton and Mike Elworthy both trudged back for ducks, and I dare say the tea urn saw them before anyone else did.

Defending it was another matter entirely, and Staplehurst made us sweat for every run. L Bull's 42 was the innings that threatened to undo us, well supported by S Hammond (33) and Tim Watts (30), and for a good while it looked touch and go. John Robins, at least, joined our unfortunate duck club before he'd troubled the scorers. It was Michael Beeney who turned the screw with 3-42, David Lines chipping in with 1-22 and five miserly maidens for good measure, and I allowed myself a wicket too, 1-33 rounding off a personal contribution of 57 with bat that I shan't pretend wasn't satisfying.

We got home by 21 runs — a proper day's cricket, hard-fought and thoroughly deserved. David Castle continues to lead our run charts this season with 323, and Beeney's nine wickets now have him sitting third among the bowlers. A good day for the club, and, dare I say, for the captain too.

Sun 16 May 1999 🧢 1st XIv BC Brasted & Sundridge CC · HomeformWWDDL

Sunday, 16 May 1999, and Brasted & Sundridge CC rolled up to Linton Park under skies that, for once, favoured the bold. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation putting us in — and how the lads repaid that faith. David Castle, marking his 500th appearance in our colours in the finest possible style, made a glorious 126, with Stewart Morrison ushering him along superbly for 78 and Piers McDonald chipping in a brisk 41. We closed on 281/4 from our 36 overs, a total that had the tea urn rattling with anticipation.

In reply, Brasted & Sundridge never got close, folding for 141 in 37 overs. Darren Hastain (22) and Dave Bentley (21) offered the only real resistance, while poor X Burton trudged back without troubling the scorers at all. Michael Beeney was the pick of the attack with 3-16, Daniel Thirkell chimed in with 2-2, and Darren Styles bowled with real discipline for 2-23 and three maidens. Adam Pooley had a wrestling match with the gloves — 14 byes tells its own tale — but no lasting harm done.

Beyond the scoreline, a proud day for the record books: Stewart Morrison and Darren Styles both leapfrogged club legends into 25th on the all-time lists. As for my own 126 — well, someone had to lead from the front, and I shan't apologise for enjoying it. A 140-run win, two points banked, and a very happy dressing room.

Sat 15 May 1999 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWWLDL

15 May 1999, away at Horton Kirby CC, and the coin let us down as usual — put in to field on a day I'd rather have batted, but there we are.

Horton Kirby made their way to 130 all out in 44.1 overs, built mainly around Alastair Scott's 33, with R Green (28 not out) and Geoff Rameaux (21) chipping in besides. David Lines was the chief tormentor with a fine 4-34, Michael Beeney bowled with real discipline for 3-17 including six maidens, and John Taylor picked up 2-42 for good measure. A tidy shift in the field all told, and 130 always looked a target within our compass.

So it proved, though not without the usual palpitations — 133 for 5 in 37.4 overs, Mike Elworthy the pick of our batsmen with a composed 35, well supported by Trevor Back's 31. I contributed a watchful 17, more useful than pretty, and we squeaked home by 5 wickets.

The real story of the day, though, belonged to Darren Styles, who brought up 200 career wickets — a landmark achieved with typically little fuss, and one for the mantelpiece if ever there was one. Elworthy now leads our 2nd XI run charts for the season with 82, and Styles sits second in the wickets column with 4.

Verdict: a good day for the club — professional in the field, nervy but sufficient with the bat, and a slice of history thrown in besides.

Sat 15 May 1999 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformLWWDD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 15 May 1999. Horton Kirby CC were the visitors, and I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season; they took first use of a decent-looking wicket without a moment's hesitation.

We toiled hard in the field and, in truth, could have no complaints about 239/8 from their 46 overs. Ryan Taylor gave us a proper going-over with a magnificent 109, and he had willing company from Paul Love (45) and Paul Evans (40) while we chased leather for much of the afternoon. Small mercies: Bradley Bull departed for a duck at our hands, and Matt Large kept plugging away for figures of 3-73, well supported by Nigel Thirkell (1-20) and Ian Brattle (1-47).

Chasing 240, we made a fair fist of it. Dave Charlton led from the front with a lovely 79, Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 40 and Stewart Morrison with 33, while I contributed a modest 25 that I shall not dwell on. In the end 229 all out from 42 overs left us ten runs shy — agonisingly close, the sort of margin that has you replaying every dot ball on the drive home.

There was cheer amid the disappointment: Matt Large brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and Dave Charlton's 79 nudged him past Cliff Anscombe into 24th on our all-time run-scorers list. Daniel Thirkell continues to lead the 1st XI run charts with 275, and Large sits third in the wicket-takers with eight. A fine effort, narrowly undone — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 09 May 1999 🧢 1st XIv WK Westgate-On-Sea CC, Kent · HomeformLLWWD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 09 May 1999. We hosted Westgate-On-Sea CC, Kent, and having called correctly for once in my life, I had no hesitation in putting us in. Sometimes a captain's greatest talent is knowing when to let others do the hard work, and so it proved: 231/3 from our 36 overs, built around a magnificent, chanceless-looking hundred from Daniel Thirkell, 117 not out, with Paul Gibson (49) and Clive Newman (28) offering fine support around him. A total to make the tea urn feel important.

Defending it was another matter entirely, and Westgate made us sweat for every run of it, closing on 208/9 from their 44 overs. Ian Sandwell's well-made 65 and Chris Flint's 57 kept them in the hunt long after sensible men would have folded, with Stephen Winch's 37 adding further discomfort to my afternoon by the boundary rope. But the story of the innings belonged to Jon Harris, who span his way to 6-58 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure — bowling of the sort that has opposition batsmen muttering to themselves on the walk back. Darren Styles and Michael Beeney chipped in loyally either side of him, and G- Love's golden duck was a small mercy gratefully received.

A landmark day off the field too, with Daniel Thirkell reaching his 100th appearance in Linton colours — fitting that he marked it with a hundred of a different kind. Wickets and runs shared, honours shared, and a draw that flattered no one and disappointed no one. A proper afternoon of cricket, and a very good one to have been part of.

Sat 08 May 1999 🧢 2nd XIv ? · HomeformWWWLD

Called correctly, I elected to bat first on winning the toss — a decision that looked shrewd for about three hours and rather less shrewd thereafter. Nigel Thirkell led the way with a fine fifty, Trevor Back chipped in with 35 and Ron McCormick 26 as we posted 196 for 7 from our 37 overs, a total that felt competitive, if not commanding. Poor Roly Edwards will not want reminding of his contribution — out for a duck, and doubtless keen to get back to the nets before next weekend.

Defending it, we asked plenty of questions but one man simply refused to answer them: T Knight ground out a magnificent, chanceless 114, the sort of innings captains dream about when it's your own side batting and have nightmares about when it isn't. M Phipps offered useful support with 20, but around them our bowlers did real damage — Trevor Back was outstanding with 4 for 21, backed up by Nigel Thirkell (2-21) and Simon Thirkell (2-41), and three of their batsmen departed without troubling the scorers. In the end the visitors were all out for 181 in 43.3 overs, edging home by 15 runs.

A word of cheer amid the gloom: Trevor Back's 35 sees him leapfrog Stan Wratten into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers' list — a lovely bit of history for a losing effort. We were beaten, fair and square, by one magnificent hundred. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 08 May 1999 🧢 1st XIv KK Kennington CC, Kent · AwayformWLLWW

The road to Kennington took a little longer than the toss did, which we duly lost, and so it was pads off, boots on, and out into the Kent sunshine to bowl first. Kennington rattled along nicely enough at the top — 6-1 inside a handful of overs suggested we might be home for tea early — before Stuart Lancaster (42) and Andy Young (39) put on 80 for the third wicket and reminded us that cricket, like the English weather, rarely does what you expect. Credit to the lads for regrouping: from 115-5 to 135-8 in no time at all, with Jon Harris the chief architect on 4-43, well supported by Daniel Thirkell (2-35) and Matt Large (1-11), while Darren Styles bowled with the miserly discipline of a man who's never once bought a round, four maidens and all. Ian Hughes departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorebook. Kennington closed on 154/8 from their 48.

In reply, David Castle (41) and Stewart Morrison (34) shared 78 for the third wicket to steady matters, though Piers McDonald's walk of shame — another entry for the Duck Club ledger — raised the usual chuckles. Poor Clive Newman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes leaking through like a village hall roof in a downpour. We finished on 116/7 from 45, short of the target but nowhere near defeat.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and David Castle and Daniel Thirkell both quietly building rather handsome seasons. Not a bad day's work at all.

Mon 03 May 1999 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformWWLLW

We hosted Maidstone Dissidents CC on a bright Bank Holiday Monday, and the toss went against us — they elected to bat, and 48.4 overs later had racked up 170 all out. Mike Redman led the way with 40, Steve Pearce chipped in an unbeaten 31, and A Wyatt made 20, but the real story was our attack, marshalled beautifully by James Vincent, whose 4-36 did most of the damage. Matt Large bowled with real discipline — 2-14 and three maidens, not a run given away without a fight — while Daniel Thirkell picked up 1-22. Steve Heap, for what it's worth, departed for a golden duck; these things happen to the best of us, and no doubt he'll dine out on it less than his teammates will remind him of it.

Chasing 171, we made ourselves thoroughly at home. Paul Gibson played the innings of the day, a classy fifty, well supported by Daniel Thirkell's 42 and Stuart Cheesman's unbeaten 38, and we cantered home on 173/3 in just 26.4 overs — six wickets in hand and time to spare for the tea urn. Thirkell's all-round contribution continues to catch the eye: he now sits second in the season's run charts with 112 and tops the wicket-takers with 7, a man clearly intent on doing the job of two.

All told, a thoroughly earned two points and the sort of afternoon that reminds you why you bother with the early alarm and the dodgy knee. Comprehensive with bat and ball, six wickets to spare — we'll take that every Monday going.

Sat 01 May 1999 🧢 2nd XIv Sherwood CC, Kent · HomeformLWWWL

Saturday 1 May 1999. Sun out, coin up, and for once it landed my way — I had no hesitation shoving Sherwood CC of Kent into the field first. What followed was a proper Linton Park effort with the bat: 183 for 8 off our 47, built on a lovely 46 from Stuart Cheesman, sturdy support from Tim Thirkell (42) and Mike Elworthy (25), with your captain contributing a workmanlike 42 of his own — mostly running twos and looking busy, if I'm honest.

Defending it, we bowled with real discipline. Darren Styles was the pick, 3 for 40 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly, and not much sympathy for the batsmen either. Simon Thirkell (3-44) and Paul Croucher (2-4, remarkably tidy) chipped in nicely, and we had Sherwood's Elliott Melford and Antony Marriott back in the pavilion without so much as a single to their name. Martin Selves, though, had other ideas, compiling a fine 74 that kept the visitors in the hunt as they closed on 158 for 8 off 43.

A nod, too, to Mike Elworthy, whose 25 today nudges him past Jon Harris and into 19th on the club's all-time run-scoring list — quiet history being made between the teas.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — honest toil, good cricket, and absolutely nobody's fault but the clock's.

Sat 01 May 1999 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWWLL

Saturday 1st May, away at Bearsted, and the coin let us down as usual — asked to bowl, which suited us just fine.

Bearsted set off shakily, losing a wicket with just 1 on the board, and though Mick Clifton (72) and Andrew Dampier (33) stitched together a handsome 68 for the third wicket to give the innings some respectability, our attack never let them get comfortable. Daniel Thirkell was the chief tormentor with 3-44, backed superbly by Matt Large (2-11, and three tidy maidens to boot) and Michael Beeney (2-15). Poor Stephen Heap, Stephen Horrocks and Thomas Judges all trooped back without so much as a single to their names — three ducks in one innings takes some doing. All out for 176 from 42.1 overs; a total that looked more dangerous on paper than it ever felt in the field.

Chasing it down, we barely broke sweat. David Castle played the innings of the day, 81 not out and full of the shots that have made him our leading run-scorer this summer, with Daniel Thirkell — not content with his morning's bowling — adding an unbeaten 69 to underline why he tops our wicket charts too. Stewart Morrison chipped in with a breezy 25, and we cantered home on 177/1 with a dozen overs unused.

A thumping nine-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work all round — bat and ball both purring nicely. Onwards.

Sun 25 Apr 1999 🧢 1st XIv MA Mote A · AwayformDLWWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 25 April 1999, and the road took us to Dummy Site, where I promptly lost the toss for the umpteenth time and watched them elect to bat. Some things never change.

They ground their way to 170/4 off their fifty-three overs, and credit where it's due, Chris Back's unbeaten 43 was the innings' backbone, with T- McKellow (34) and R- Luscombe (33) chipping in handsomely. Daniel Thirkell was the pick of our attack with a fine 3-29, while James Vincent kept things admirably tight for 1-30, four maidens included — not a run given away lightly, and not a bad afternoon's toil in the field.

Chasing 171, we made light work of it, racing home on 171/2 in just 36.1 overs. Nigel Thirkell was magnificent, striding past his fifty to finish on 72, with David Castle unbeaten on a classy 57 and Clive Newman weighing in with 32. I'll confess a personal note of satisfaction in that 57 of my own — the sort of innings a captain quietly hopes for and rarely gets.

Nigel now tops our 1999 run charts and Daniel leads the wickets, which rather sums up the day: a proper team performance, bowled and batted with real application.

Down by 8 wickets it may read on paper for them, but make no mistake — this one was ours from start to finish. A thoroughly satisfying day's cricket, and precious little for the nets to worry about this week.