🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 23 Sep 2001 🧢 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDWDWW

Sunday last brought the Anchorians to Linton Park, and having won the toss I did what any self-respecting skipper with a suspicious sky and an even more suspicious top order does — I stuck them in. For a while it looked the sort of decision they write limericks about, as M. Vowels compiled a serene 75 not out, with Gary Myers (41) and Eddie Stanford (35) offering cheerful assistance, and 200/3 off 29 overs went up on the board rather more briskly than any of us would have liked. Only Darren Styles emerged with real credit, snaffling 2-70 and, more tellingly, sending down two maidens — the sort of miserly spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their gloves.

Chasing 201, we might have feared the worst, but Russell Baldwin had other ideas. He and Clive Newman simply refused to be parted, Baldwin purring to 75 not out and Newman a composed 30 not out, the pair carrying us to 108 without loss from 17.2 overs before the innings — and the afternoon — ran out of road. A draw it was, honours shared, and nobody terribly upset about it.

Worth noting, as the season charts remind us, that Baldwin now sits second in the club's run-scoring列 for 2001 with 1053 to his name, and Styles fourth among the wicket-takers with 22. Not a bad afternoon's work, then. A draw against a side that put 200 on the board is no disgrace — call it a point salvaged, pride intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the real match-winner.

Sat 22 Sep 2001 🧢 2nd XIv EC Elliotts CC · HomeformWDWLW

Saturday 22 September 2001 saw us welcome Elliotts CC, and losing the toss meant we were straight into the field — never my favourite way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but there we were.

Elliotts settled in nicely and posted 185/7 from their 48 overs, built around a classy half-century from Ian Crickmore (59), with Steve Swindell (35) and Dave Gracey (22) chipping in to keep the scoreboard ticking. Credit where it's due, though: John Taylor was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 54 and five maidens besides, bowling like the pitch owed him money. Dave Todd (2-53) and Trevor Back (1-20) did their bit too, and between them we kept Elliotts to something gettable.

Chasing 186 from 41 overs, we made a fair fist of it. Russell Baldwin played the innings of the day, 68 sailing well past his fifty, with sterling support from D. Bunch (38) and John Taylor — clearly not content with his bowling exploits — unbeaten on 20. Poor Richard Ellis, though, will want this one struck from the record: out for a duck, and no doubt already plotting his revenge.

In the end we fell short at 174/9, honours shared in a draw that satisfied precisely nobody and disappointed nobody either. A fair result, all told — Elliotts had the better of the toss and the bowling figures were ours. Trevor Back continues to top our 2001 run charts and John Taylor sits third among the wicket-takers, so the season's shaping up nicely even if Saturday's verdict was a stalemate.

Sat 22 Sep 2001 🧢 1st XIv DC Detling CC · AwayformWDWDW

Saturday 22 September 2001 saw us take the road to Detling, and having called correctly at the toss there was never any real debate — on a day like that, you bat. Ambling to 178/4 from our 42 overs was a job thoroughly well done, with 84 not out from yours truly forming the backbone of the innings, nicely flanked by Adrian Caddick's unbeaten 33 and Piers McDonald's tidy 28.

Defending 178 always feels like a more comfortable proposition than it should, and so it proved. Detling never got going, bundled out for 95 in 34.4 overs, with Barry Town's 32 the only real resistance worth the name. Andrew Archer and Andy O'Nions were both sent back without so much as troubling the scorers, which is never a fun walk. The damage was done by Mike Redman, whose 3-3 (with three maidens thrown in for good measure) was miserly in the extreme, well supported by Michael Beeney's 2-9 and Howard Waters' 2-17. Not a run given away lightly indeed.

A personal note or two worth recording for posterity: I was quietly satisfied to bring up 19,000 career runs for the club along the way, while Piers McDonald's 28 saw him leapfrog John Ames into 10th on the all-time run-scorers' list. As things stand this season I lead the first team's run charts on 1057, with Michael Beeney sitting second among the wicket-takers on 32.

Two points, and thoroughly earned — won by 83 runs, and a very pleasant drive home.

Sun 16 Sep 2001 🧢 1st XIv NS Northend Sunday · HomeformDWDWD

Sunday 16 September, and we welcomed Northend Sunday for what turned into rather a fine advertisement for Sunday cricket. We lost the toss and were asked to bowl first, no great hardship as it turned out. Northend built steadily to 207 for 3 from their 43 overs, W Holmes anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 65, well supported by T Leach's polished 61 and P Beerling's unbeaten 39. R Swaisland fared rather less well, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. I did the damage with the ball, finishing with 1 for 13, while Michael Beeney and Darren Styles chipped in with a wicket apiece, Styles bowling three miserly maidens along the way and giving precious little away.

Set 208 to win, we made light work of the chase, cantering home in 35.3 overs for the loss of just three wickets. Russell Baldwin was magnificent, an unbeaten 105 that carried the innings from first ball to last, with Clive Newman keeping him fine company on a well-made 56. Adam Pooley's contribution was rather more modest, departing for a golden duck, but nobody much minded with Baldwin batting like that.

Baldwin's century keeps him second in this year's 1st XI run charts on 978, and I'll happily take my spot second in the wicket-takers' list with 31 for the season. Seven wickets to spare and smiles all round on the way home. A proper Sunday, and a very good day for the club.

Sat 15 Sep 2001 🧢 2nd XIv BC Borden CC · HomeformWWDWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 15 September 2001, and Borden CC came calling.

I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that either earns you a knowing nod from the committee or a quiet word about hubris. Happily, it was the former. Howard Waters played the innings of the day, a crisp 61, with Adrian Caddick (38) and David Castle (27) chipping in nicely as we reached a healthy 188/7 from our 42 overs. Poor Rob Jackson, alas, made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club ledger duly updated.

With the ball, we set about defending it in some style. Jon Harris was magnificent, 3-26, with Howard Waters and Adam Jackson lending a hand (2-1 and 2-9 respectively), while Michael Beeney bowled three miserly maidens to choke the runs. Richard Lucas and Kevin Jacques both departed without troubling the scorers. David Hollands (28), David Roche (26) and Tim Harwood (23) gave Borden something to cling to, but it was never quite enough, and they folded for 152. My own contribution behind the stumps was rather less distinguished — ten byes leaked, thank you David Castle for keeping a straight face.

Two lovely milestones to note: David Castle's 600th appearance in Linton colours, and Adrian Caddick reaching 1,000 career runs for the club — both thoroughly deserved. Jon Harris continues to lead our 2001 wicket charts with 25.

We got home by 36 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 12 Sep 2001 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDDDDD

Captain's Log, Wednesday 12 September 2001: Lord Cornwallis XI at home, and a rare afternoon where every decision I made looked clever in hindsight, starting with winning the toss and electing to bat.

We racked up 224 for 7 from our 40.5 overs, the innings built on a genuinely lovely hundred from Nigel Thirkell, unbeaten on 100, with Peter Whyte weighing in handsomely alongside him with 53. Not every name will want reminding of the day - Trevor Back and Tim Thirkell both walked back for ducks - but with three figures at the other end nobody was losing much sleep over it.

Whatever confidence 224 gave us with the bat, it looked positively generous once we got the ball in hand. The visitors were bowled out for 89 in 26 overs, only a-White offering any real resistance with an unbeaten 21, while John Mills and Jeremy Cornwallis both departed without troubling the scorers. Tim Thirkell was outstanding with the ball, taking 3 for 23, Adrian Caddick chipped in with 2 for 4, and I was pleased enough with my own afternoon's work, picking up 2 for 15. Trevor Back, having had a quiet time of it with the bat, made amends by bowling two tidy maidens.

A win by 135 runs, two points banked, and Nigel Thirkell and I now sit atop the season's run and wicket charts respectively - which I mention purely for the record, you understand. All told, a proper day's cricket, and one the tea urn will be talking about for weeks.

Sun 09 Sep 2001 🧢 1st XIv Chelsfield Park CC · HomeformWDWDW

Casting the toss decision, I opted to bat, and the lads rewarded my faith in style. Daniel Thirkell was simply magnificent, carrying his bat all the way to a chanceless century — 100 not out — while I chipped in with 74 of my own before the declaration-that-wasn't left us on a handsome 206/4 from our 47 overs. Not a bad afternoon's work with the willow, even if I say so myself.

Chelsfield Park came out swinging in reply, and Nick Polkinhorne gave us a proper working over with a classy 71, well supported by Robert McCanna's 34 and an unbeaten 31 from Roydon Sharr. But our attack never let them cut loose. Jon Harris was the pick of the bowlers with 2-49, Stuart Cheesman and Fred Cheesman chipped in a wicket apiece, and Darren Styles bowled with the meanness of a man protecting the tea urn — five maidens and barely a boundary in it. Even so, 175/5 from their 48 overs was enough to see the match out, and honours were shared.

Two small footnotes for the scorebook: Daniel's century nudges him past Frank Brattle into 19th on the club's all-time run charts, and Michael Beeney's solitary wicket edges him past Dick Langridge into 20th among our wicket-takers — history quietly being rewritten one Sunday at a time. Daniel remains streets clear at the top of this season's run charts, with Jon Harris lurking second among the wicket-takers.

A draw, then — honours even, nobody beaten, everybody fed. In good club cricket fashion, that'll do nicely.

Sat 08 Sep 2001 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWWDWD

There are days when the toss goes against you and you can sense, deep in your knees, that it doesn't much matter — and 8 September was one of those. West Farleigh won the call, chose to bat, and I trudged back to the boundary to set fields for the best part of 46 overs. Neil Tillott gave us the full village-green tour on his way to 75, with Richard Truelove (46) and Chris Bills (29) offering solid company, and they closed on a stiffish 201/8. Credit where due: Rob Doick was superb with 4-56, Daniel Thirkell chipped in a lively 3-32, Michael Beeney picked up one, and Matt Large simply refused to be scored off, sending down three maidens. N Manser, mercifully for him, went for a duck and won't remember the day fondly at all.

Chasing 202 is never a formality, but we set about it in fine order. I'll confess to rather enjoying myself at the crease, top-scoring with 62 — the sort of innings where everything seems to find the middle of the bat, though I shan't dwell on it further than that. Russell Baldwin's 47 and Rob Doick's unbeaten 47 carried us home in good style, with 25 handy runs gifted in extras for good measure. We wrapped it up in 34.3 overs for the loss of only four wickets.

A fine win by six wickets, then, and precious little to grumble about over tea. Onwards we go.

Sat 08 Sep 2001 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWWWDW

From the captain's chair, and what a chair it was on Saturday, perched somewhere between hope and horror at West Farleigh. We lost the toss, were sent out to field first, and I confess a small part of me wondered whether batting last on that square was the tougher half of the bargain. As it turned out, it rather was.

Our innings limped to 84 all out from 45.1 overs, which is the sort of total that makes for a long walk back to the pavilion and a longer look at the tea urn. Richard Piper's 22 were the runs that actually mattered, John Taylor chipping in an unbeaten 20 to lend the total what little shape it had. Elsewhere, Simon Thirkell, Trevor Back and Christopher Thirkell each contributed nothing more useful than a golden duck apiece — three ducks in one card is the sort of thing that gets mentioned in the bar for weeks.

Defending 84 was always going to ask a great deal, and while Trevor Back led the attack manfully with 1-14, well supported by Jon Harris and John Taylor with a wicket apiece, West Farleigh's Mark Meyrick and John Smith simply had too much in hand, seeing their side home unbeaten on 85/3 from 26.4 overs.

Down by seven wickets, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 01 Sep 2001 🧢 1st XIv EC East Malling CC · AwayformWWWDW

Lost the toss at East Malling, and predictably enough we were put out into the field first — no complaints from me, the square looked a shade too true for anyone's liking. Their openers settled in for the long haul, and James Davison made merry to the tune of 70, well past his fifty before we prised him out, with Russell Dack chipping in a useful 26 alongside him. I managed to have a hand in things myself, picking up 2-45, which at least gave the scorebook something to admire even if the rest of the attack toiled without much luck. They closed on 154 for 5 from their 45 overs — a target that looked eminently gettable over a pot of tea, and considerably less so once we were out there.

Chasing it down, we never quite found the fluency the situation demanded. Ian Brattle held the innings together with an unbeaten 33, watchful and sensible while wickets tumbled at the other end, ably supported by Trevor Back's 29 and Ron McCormick's 20. But 125 for 7 from 38 overs told its own story — enough application to avoid embarrassment, not quite enough daring to finish the job.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. Not the stuff of legend, but a fair reflection of an afternoon where nobody deserved to lose and nobody quite deserved to win either. Onwards.

Fri 31 Aug 2001 🧢 Tour XIv MC Mullion CC · AwayformLWLLW

Sitting in the skipper's chair after a Friday trip down to Mullion, I'll admit I quite fancied our chances when the coin bounced my way and I stuck us in. Nigel Thirkell made the decision look like genius, cruising to 81 with the sort of ease that made the rest of us look like we were swinging farm implements, and useful support from Stewart Morrison (36) and Stuart Cheesman (32) helped us to a very respectable 225/9 off our forty. Special mention, of course, to Adam Pooley, whose golden duck 🦆 we shall be reminding him of well into the winter.

Two hundred and twenty-six needed, and Mullion set about it with a purpose we couldn't quite blunt. Paul Warbis and J- Sammons both got in and stayed in for 48 apiece, James Pearson chipped in with 36, and between them they saw the home side home in 34.2 overs. Daniel Thirkell was excellent with the ball, 3-34 and picking up a tidy little landmark along the way — that solitary run took him past Stewart Morrison and into 20th on the club's all-time run list 📈. I did my bit too, 1-34 with the ball and 19 with the bat, while Stuart Cheesman weighed in with 1-39. Stewart Morrison had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 25 byes leaking away like the Cornish drizzle.

Beaten by five wickets in the end, then — no disgrace against a side that simply played the better cricket. Nigel keeps the 2001 run charts and Daniel the wickets, and we'll regroup, dust ourselves off, and be better for it next week.

Thu 30 Aug 2001 🧢 Tour XIv FC Falmouth CC · AwayformLLWLL

Thursday 30 August 2001, and off we trundled down to Falmouth CC in what passes for pursuit of glory in these parts. I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, stuck us in to bat. Adrian Caddick led the way with a fine 47, Rob Doick chipped in with 44, and I managed 36 of my own before doing something needlessly rash, as is tradition. We closed on 212 for 8 from our 40 overs — a total that felt, for once, like it might actually be enough.

And so it proved. Falmouth were bowled out for 147 in 35.4 overs, with only David Angove, unbeaten on 48, Antony Angove (32) and Dan Hadley (30) offering any real resistance. Sean Turner and Justin Stephens both departed for ducks, which I shan't pretend not to have enjoyed. Stuart Cheesman was the pick of the attack with 3 for 23, while I managed 2 for 4 and David Castle took 2 for 19 to see the innings unravel nicely.

There was a personal footnote to the afternoon too: my 36 runs nudged me past Stewart Morrison into 20th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, and I now lead the 2001 Tour XI for both runs and wickets — a statistic I intend to mention again before someone stops me.

We won by 65 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the scrapbook.

Wed 29 Aug 2001 🧢 Tour XIv TC Truro CC · AwayformLLLWL

Wednesday 29 August 2001, and the road took us out to Truro — a fixture that always promises a decent tea and, on this evidence, a decent hiding of the ball too. I lost the toss, they chose to bat, and I can't say the pitch or the omens gave me much cause for celebration.

Truro made it count. Justin Morris played the innings of the day, a chanceless-looking hundred, and found willing company in Neil Stoddard's classy 72 and Stephen Cockett's 34 — the pair adding 180 after we'd nipped out their opener for just 8. Adrian Caddick worked hardest for his 1-37, with Rob Doick and Daniel Thirkell chipping in a wicket apiece as 251/4 gradually became a stiff ask.

We gave it a fair crack. Nigel Thirkell batted beautifully for 77, Daniel Thirkell followed his bowling with 35 with the bat, and I managed 33 in a third-wicket stand worth 87 that for a while had me thinking we might just nick it. Extras did their bit too with 33. In the end 243/8 wasn't quite enough, falling eight agonising runs short.

It wasn't all doom, mind — hearty applause all round for Stewart Morrison and Daniel Thirkell both reaching 5,000 career runs for the club, for Daniel's 200th appearance in Linton colours, and for that 35 nudging him past Stewart into 20th on the all-time run list. Milestones like that don't come along every Wednesday.

Not our day, then — beaten by the narrowest of margins. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sat 25 Aug 2001 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · AwayformWWWWD

I called correctly at the toss on a fine Saturday down at Mersham, and with no hesitation at all I opted to bat — a decision that, for once, didn't come back to haunt me. We racked up a healthy 200/6 from our 46 overs, built on a proper foundation from Russell Baldwin, whose well-crafted fifty (57) set the tone. Rob Doick chipped in a handy 39, and Daniel Thirkell — who continues to make the rest of us look faintly ridiculous with the bat this season — added 31.

With the ball, Mersham gave it a real go. David Harman batted with some authority for his 48, and Andy Douglas made a useful 29 alongside him, but our attack kept chipping away. Ian Brattle was the pick of the bowlers with 2-23, well supported by Mike Redman (2-25) and Rob Doick, who followed his runs with the ball too — 2-33 and four maidens, not a single one of them given away lightly. There was even a touch of light relief when Baddupalli Balakrishna departed for a golden duck. Kevin Presneill, meanwhile, will not want reminding of the 27 byes that slipped through — a testing afternoon behind the stumps if ever there was one. I did my modest bit with 17 to the total.

Mersham fought hard to 186/9 from their 44, but it wasn't quite enough, and we got home by 14 runs. Daniel Thirkell continues to lead the 1st XI run charts with 897 for the season, while Michael Beeney sits second in the wickets with 27 — the club in thoroughly good health. All told, a proper team effort and a very good day for the club.

Sat 25 Aug 2001 🧢 2nd XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformLWWWD

Saturday, and I'll admit winning the toss and electing to bat felt like the easy part of the day's decision-making — the hard part was staying in long enough to make it count. Happily we managed rather more than that, posting a handsome 226 for 5 from our 46 overs. I found some form for once, going on to 80, while Trevor Back gave the innings real backbone with a fine 70 alongside me. Even the extras column pitched in with 28 — not quite a top-order partnership, but we'll take runs however the umpires care to gift them.

Two hundred and twenty-six is always a score with a bit of pressure attached, and Mersham Sports made us work for every wicket of it. L Grist compiled a classy fifty, 62 in all, well supported by Kevin Wise's unbeaten 32, and for a while 200 looked a formality rather than a target. But Dave Todd was outstanding with the ball, prising out three for 43, with Jon Harris chipping in at three for 49 and Darren Styles doing the miserly containing work — two maidens and a wicket for just 28 — that so often strangles a run chase without getting the headlines it deserves. The visitors fell short at 200 for 8 off their 44.

A win by 26 runs, then, earned rather than gifted, and with Trevor Back and Darren Styles both quietly building fine seasons at the top of the club's run and wicket charts. Onwards indeed.

Sat 18 Aug 2001 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformLWWWW

Nigel Thirkell's Match Report — 18th August 2001, vs Meopham CC

Won the toss, and with the kind of confidence that in hindsight probably owed more to bravado than meteorology, I stuck us in. It came off rather nicely. Our innings rattled along to a healthy 202 for 5 off 46 overs, built on a fine platform from David Castle, who made a classy 48, and finished off in style by young Daniel Thirkell, unbeaten on 42. I chipped in with 53 myself, which I shall claim was calculated aggression rather than blind swinging. Spare a thought, though, for poor Dave Charlton, who departed for a golden duck — the sort of dismissal that earns you a pint bought for you out of sympathy rather than celebration.

With the ball, we set about defending it, and Meopham never really got going, closing on 48 for 3 from their 20 overs, Andrew Powney unbeaten on 24 doing most of the damage to our figures. Daniel had an excellent day all round, taking 2 for 14 with two miserly maidens thrown in — bowling figures a father can be quietly smug about. Those 42 runs of his, incidentally, nudged him past Jon Harris and up to 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is no small thing in a club with our history.

In the end neither side could force matters home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the result the effort deserved, but on a good pitch against decent opposition, a fair reflection of two sides giving as good as they got.

Sat 18 Aug 2001 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformDLWWW

Right then, here it is:

We knew it would be a long day at Meopham when the coin came down against us and we were put straight into the field. Matt Sparkes made sure our afternoon dragged, motoring past his fifty to 75, with Colin Cable (41) and Tony Thatcher (31) chipping in to haul the home side to a stiff 204/6 off their 46 overs. Credit where it's due, though — Darren Styles was magnificent, tearing through them for 4-32, well backed up by Jon Harris (1-35) and Alan Boyns (1-66), and it was those wickets that kept the total within reach rather than turning into a rout.

Chasing 205, we simply cut loose. Mike Elworthy played the innings of the day, a crisp fifty on his way to 65, and I was glad to play my part alongside him with an unbeaten 29 as we raced to 101/1 from just 16 overs before bad light or time (call it what you will) brought things to a premature halt. Given the rate we were going, I'd have fancied our chances of knocking off the rest with overs to spare.

Nice moment for Darren too — those four wickets shuffled him past Terry Donovan and up to 16th on the club's all-time list, while he sits proudly atop the 2nd XI wicket charts for the season with 21, and Mike continues to rack up the runs, second in the 2nd XI batting with 444.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could force it — but on the balance of the afternoon's cricket, I know which dressing room walked off happier.

Fri 17 Aug 2001 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformLDDDD

From the captain's chair — Friday 17 August 2001. A glorious day for it, and Selsdon CC made the trip to Linton Park in good spirits, which was more than I could say for us once I'd lost the toss for what feels like the ninth week running. They chose to bat, naturally, and we were left to toil in the field.

Toil we did, though not without reward. C. Exton compiled a handsome 51, with David Shivmangal (48 not out) and Marcus Robertson (46) chipping in to push Selsdon to a stiff 233/7 from their 51 overs. Jon Harris was the pick of our attack, snaring 2-52 with the kind of relentless accuracy that's becoming his trademark this season, well backed up by Tom Parsons (1-26) and Stuart Cheesman (1-29).

Chasing 234, we owed almost everything to Mike Elworthy, who peeled off a magnificent 102 — three figures, no less, though his afternoon with the gloves earlier had been rather less serene, eight byes going walkabout while he was stood behind the stumps. Stuart Cheesman (52) and David Castle (24) gave sterling support, and we finished on 215/6 from our 43, agonisingly short of the target.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite force it home. Cheesman now leads our Midweek XI run charts with 113, and Harris tops the wickets with 8. A fair result, all told, and one we'll happily settle for after a match played in the very best spirit of the game.

Wed 15 Aug 2001 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDLDDD

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 15 August 2001. We were away at The Mote CC, and when I lost the toss and watched them elect to bat, I confess my heart sank a little into my boots, though at least it spared us the ordeal of padding up first in that August heat.

The Mote made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 212 for 4 from their 47.4 overs, with Thomas Harvey compiling a superb century and Mark Bristow chipping in a fluent 61 alongside him — the sort of partnership that has opposing captains reaching for the smelling salts. Full credit to the lads for not folding under it: Dave Todd bowled beautifully for his 2 for 24, with Stuart Cheesman chiming in at 2 for 29 to keep us in the contest.

Chasing 213, we posted a spirited 186 for 7 from our 41, Daniel Thirkell leading the way with a splendid 64, well supported by Trevor Back's 21 and Stewart Morrison's 20. Poor Richard Piper's golden duck was the one blot on an otherwise honest effort, and even our extras got in on the act with a generous 27. Thirkell's innings was no small thing either — it eased him past Mike Caddick into 22nd on the club's all-time run charts, and keeps him second in this season's Midweek XI run standings, with Cheesman sitting proudly second among the wicket-takers.

In the end honours were shared, and on a day when the opposition batted us into a hole, a draw felt very much like a job well done.

Sun 12 Aug 2001 🧢 1st XIv WK Westgate-On-Sea CC, Kent · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 12 August 2001, Westgate-on-Sea CC came calling, and true to form, the toss deserted me and they elected to bat. Never mind — a captain's job is to make the best of what fate hands him, and 156/8 from their forty overs felt, by close of their innings, like a total we could chase down over tea and sandwiches. Gary Sandwell gave us a proper working-over with a stylish 53, ably backed up by his kinsman Keith, unbeaten on 49 — the Sandwell family clearly had their eye in that afternoon. Credit to the attack, though: Jon Harris toiled away for 3-46, Darren Styles and Michael Beeney chipped in with two apiece, and Mike Redman bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment, three maidens and barely a run to spare.

Chasing 157, I'm rather pleased to say I found some form and led from the front with an unbeaten 64 — the sort of innings that makes the long drive home feel considerably shorter. Stuart Cheesman played his part nicely with 29, and Michael Beeney rounded things off with an unbeaten 20 to see us home on 160/6 with four overs unused. Spare a thought, though, for poor Mike Redman, who atoned for his miserly bowling by donating a golden duck to the club ledger — the walk of shame, immortalised for all to see.

A fine win by four wickets, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket all round. Onwards.

Sat 11 Aug 2001 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWLWW

The toss deserted me again — call it my one reliable talent this season — and Shipbourne elected to bat, leaving us to toil away for 46 overs at Shipbourne CC this Saturday just gone. They ground out 180 for 9, built chiefly around Andrew Thompson's watchful 58 not out and useful support from Paul Stovell's 24. Credit where due: Daniel Thirkell ran through them for 3-55, with Rob Doick (2-22, and five miserly maidens to boot — the man barely let the batsmen breathe) and Stuart Cheesman (2-32) tidying up nicely around him.

Chasing 181, we made hard work of what should have been comfortable, crawling home at 186 for 7 from 43.2 overs. I'll allow myself one boast and no more: 84 not out, and rather pleased to have led from the front for once. Rob Doick backed it up handsomely with a well-made fifty of his own, and David Castle chipped in a tidy 20. Less happily, both Daniel Thirkell and poor Kevin Presneill departed for ducks, and Presneill's afternoon behind the stumps was further blighted by ten byes leaking through — a day to forget with the gloves, if not with the bat.

Elsewhere, David Castle sits second in the club's 2001 run charts with 758, and Daniel Thirkell tops the wicket-takers on 34 — the lad's form shows no sign of slowing. We scrambled over the line by three wickets, which will do nicely. A good day for the club, even if my heart couldn't take many more like it.

Sat 11 Aug 2001 🧢 2nd XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformLDLWW

Saturday 11 August 2001, and we welcomed Shipbourne CC to the ground for what would prove a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Losing the toss and being asked to field is never how a captain wants his day to start, but there are worse things in life, and as it turned out the lads made rather light of it.

Once our turn came with the bat, we set about building a proper total. Trevor Back led the way with an unbeaten 57, calm and correct as ever, while Mike Elworthy weighed in with a well-made fifty of his own and Ron McCormick chipped in a handy 44. Three fine contributions saw us to 189 for 3 from our 46 overs — a score that always felt a good sight more than useful.

In the field, Shipbourne fought hard and Matt Kendle's 46 kept them in the contest longer than we'd have liked, but Jon Harris was in inspired form, prising out three for 41, with Dave Todd (2-35) and Darren Styles (1-12) doing their bit, and Ian Brattle miserly with three maidens. Poor Richard Lee-Amies departed without so much as troubling the scorers. We were, it must be said, generous to a fault with 6 wides and 23 no-balls — the sort of profligacy that gives a captain grey hairs — but even that couldn't derail us, and Shipbourne fell short at 145 for 9.

A word too for Ian Brattle, whose wicket nudged him past Terry Whittaker into 7th on the club's all-time list — quiet history being made while the rest of us weren't looking.

A 44-run win, two points banked, and honestly rather more comfortable than the extras column suggests. I'll take it.

Sat 04 Aug 2001 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWWLW

Nigel Thirkell here, filing from the pavilion, where the tea urn is doing better work than my footwork did on Saturday.

Lost the toss again — I'm starting to think that coin has it in for me — and Headcorn CC duly stuck us in. No matter: we built a proper total, 186 for 6 off our 46, with young Daniel Thirkell playing an absolute blinder for 92, the innings very much resting on his shoulders. I chipped in with 22, Stuart Cheesman finished unbeaten on 22, and between us we gave the total some respectability. Special mention, as ever, for Russell Baldwin, whose golden duck earns him this week's entry in the Duck Club ledger — commiserations, Russell, the walk of shame awaits.

Defending 186 is never a formality, and Headcorn made us work for every run, reaching 177 for 9 off their 44. Kevin Richardson gave us a proper fright with 75, well supported by Rob Mansell (23) and Paul Gibbs (22), but our bowlers held their nerve. Matt Large was superb, 4 for 37, with Ian Brattle chipping in 3 for 25 and Daniel Thirkell a wicket too. I managed four maidens myself, which felt rather like standing in a doorway saying "not today, thank you." Neil Levett, Matt Boatwright and Mike Donnelly all departed without scoring — another gathering for the Duck Club.

Nine runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned. A proper old-fashioned scrap, and we came out the right side of it.

Sat 04 Aug 2001 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLLDLW

The toss, as is traditional at Linton Park, went against us, and Headcorn duly elected to have a bat. There are worse ways to spend a Saturday than watching the opposition bowl themselves into the ground, and so it proved: their innings limped to 138/8 from 46 overs, D. Moffit the chief architect with an unbeaten 59, well supported by Andrew Chapman's 27. C. Wilde departed for nought, much to our collective delight, while Trevor Back was the picture of miserly menace, 3-29 with six maidens to make the point, ably backed up by Darren Styles (3-31) and John Taylor (1-28).

Chasing 138 ought to have been a formality, and in the loosest sense of the word it was, though not before we had contrived to make it interesting. Kevin Presneill's 44 was the innings' backbone, Trevor Back chipped in an unbeaten 27, and Simon Thirkell a tidy 21. I, meanwhile, continued my one-man crusade against the scoreboard operator, falling for a duck of my own — we shall, as agreed, draw a veil over it. Ron McCormick joined me in that increasingly crowded club, the pair of us adding our names to a Duck Club ledger that grows more distinguished by the week.

We got there in 35.1 overs, four wickets in hand, a win that was rather more comfortable than my own contribution deserved. Trevor Back continues to top the season's run charts, Darren Styles the wickets — proof, if any were needed, that some of us are carrying rather more than others. A fine win nonetheless. Onwards.

Wed 01 Aug 2001 🧢 Midweek XIv IX Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI · HomeformDDLDD

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 1st August 2001. Visitors in, and I lost the toss, so we found ourselves toiling in the field first on what turned into a proper shirt-soaker of an afternoon. The visitors ground their way to 229 for 8 off their 47, built on a watchful 46 not out from K Banham, well supported by J Davey's 43 and M Haywood's 38. Small mercies came our way too — D Hunter walked back for a duck without troubling the scorers, and I managed to do a spot of damage myself, finishing with 3 for 59. Fred Cheesman chipped in nicely with 2 for 18, Tim Thirkell picked up one, and Nigel Thirkell bowled a tidy, miserly spell with two maidens to his name.

Chasing 230, we made a fair fist of it, closing on 207 for 8 from our 42 overs. Nigel Thirkell was in imperious touch, striking a fine 80, with Clive Newman (40) and Russell Baldwin (26) lending sturdy support. Poor Adam Pooley endured the walk of shame for a duck — the Duck Club ledger grows ever fatter.

Beyond the scoreline, there was real cause for celebration: Nigel brought up 36,000 career runs for the club, a staggering landmark, while Clive's 40 eased him past Stan Wratten into 12th on the all-time run-scorers' list. A closely fought contest that neither side could quite prise open — honours shared, and no complaints from this captain.

Sun 29 Jul 2001 🧢 1st XIv Knockers CC · HomeformLLWWL

Chasing 191, we got there in some style — 191/3 from 35.1 overs, with David Castle's well-crafted 82 the innings' backbone, Clive Newman weighing in with 49, and a generous 26 extras from a Knockers attack that occasionally lost its way. Spare a thought for Peter Whyte behind the stumps, who had a torrid afternoon of it with 12 byes going begging — not his finest hour, but he'll have forgotten it by Tuesday nets.

Elsewhere in the season, Russell Baldwin continues to lead our run charts with 731, and Thirkell tops the wickets with 28 — form that shows no sign of deserting either man.

A seven-wicket win, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfactory Sunday all round.

Sat 28 Jul 2001 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformDLLWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 28 July 2001. We travelled to Milstead, and I confess the toss couldn't have gone better for us — I called correctly and had no hesitation in taking first knock, a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself as the day wore on.

We batted our way to 192/9 from the full 46 overs, the innings built almost single-handedly around Russell Baldwin, who cantered past his fifty and kept going all the way to 92 — a proper captain's innings, even if I say so myself. Daniel Thirkell chipped in with a tidy 53 to give the total real backbone. Matt Large, meanwhile, contributed what the scorebook rather unkindly records as a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, Matt, chin up.

Defending 192 asked us to bowl and field for our lives, and for a good long while we did just that. Michael Beeney led the line beautifully with 1-24, with Ian Brattle and Matt Large (redeeming himself nicely with three tidy maidens) both weighing in with a wicket apiece. But Paul Carlton had other ideas, compiling an unbeaten 68 that anchored the chase, well supported by Gareth Chick's 38 and Richard Annand's unbeaten 31, and Milstead eased home by seven wickets with 4.4 overs unused.

A pleasing footnote amid the gloom: Daniel Thirkell's 53 nudges him past Malcolm Pay into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Russell Baldwin also continues to lead our 2001 run charts with 725, and Michael Beeney sits second in the wicket-takers with 22.

Not our day, then, but plenty to build on. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 28 Jul 2001 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · HomeformWLLDL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 28 July 2001

Milstead CC at home, glorious opportunity to get us back on the right side of a ledger that has, in recent weeks, not always smiled kindly upon us. Won the toss, elected to bat — and for once I shall permit myself a small pat on the back, as it proved the right call. We rattled along to 170/8 from our 46 overs, built chiefly on a fine, watchful fifty from Ron McCormick (54), with Kevin Presneill (29) and an unbeaten Roly Edwards (28) lending sturdy support in the middle order. Not every family name covered itself in glory, mind — young Simon Thirkell managed the ignominy of a golden duck, for which I shall be teasing him well into August. Thirty extras rounded out the total, which either speaks well of our running between the wickets or rather less well of Milstead's line — I leave the reader to judge.

In the field we held our nerve nicely. Milstead pressed to 135/3 from their 44, with A. Wright unbeaten on a chanceless 57 the main obstacle, ably assisted by Gareth Chick (32) and R. Wright (29). I was pleased enough with my own contribution of 2-37 with the ball, while John Taylor chipped in a useful wicket for 31, and Trevor Back bowled with metronomic discipline — four maidens, not a run given away lightly. Back continues to top our 2nd XI run charts this season with 376, and Taylor now sits fourth in the wicket-takers with eight.

A fine win by 35 runs, then — the sort of afternoon that reminds you why you bother with the whites and the wet grass. Onwards.

Sun 22 Jul 2001 🧢 1st XIv WK Westgate-On-Sea CC, Kent · HomeformWDLLW

Sunday 22 July, and Westgate-on-Sea rolled into Linton Park with the sun very much on our side. I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody in the pavilion argued with me.

We batted with real purpose, posting 183 for 5 from our forty overs. Stuart Cheesman was the innings' beating heart, unbeaten on 56, well supported by Richard Piper's 28 and Daniel Thirkell's 23 — and a generous 39 extras from the visitors did our cause no harm either.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Westgate replied with 174 for 9, Martin Arnold's 42 and Tom Hammond's unbeaten 39 doing the bulk of the damage against us. But Daniel Thirkell — a man having the summer of his life — ripped through with 3 for 15, Michael Beeney chipped in 3 for 29, Fred Cheesman took one for his troubles, and Darren Styles bowled two tidy maidens and, in claiming his solitary wicket, ambled quietly past John Taylor into 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Sid Patel departed for a duck at our hands, which felt about right. Behind the stumps I let through 8 byes — my one contribution to an otherwise disciplined display, and thankfully not enough to cost us.

We got home by 9 runs. Daniel Thirkell continues to lead both our 2001 run and wicket charts — 666 runs, 26 wickets — and the rest of us are, frankly, simply along for the ride. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 21 Jul 2001 🧢 1st XIv N nonnington · AwayformWWDLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 21 July 2001. We travelled to Nonnington in fine spirits, and after winning the toss I had little hesitation in electing to bat, which even I will admit for once turned out to be the right call.

The lads set about their work sensibly, posting 187/5 from our 43 overs. It was, if I say so myself, one of those days where everything I middled found grass rather than fielder, and I finished unbeaten on 77 to anchor the innings. Daniel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with a well-made 53, and between the two of us we gave the total a rather healthy look on the board.

Then came the small matter of bowling them out, and here Nonnington simply had no answer. R Harrison departed for a golden duck without troubling the scorers, which rather set the tone. Mike Redman was magnificent, tearing through the order with 4-13, while Luke Wallond backed him up superbly with 4-22. Fred Cheesman weighed in with 1-10, and Michael Beeney bowled two tidy maidens, not a run given away lightly. Nonnington were dismissed for a paltry 89 from just 28 overs.

Elsewhere in the season, Daniel Thirkell continues to top our run charts with 643, and Michael Beeney sits second among the wicket-takers with 18. A fine all-round showing from the club this year.

A 98-run victory and two thoroughly earned points. Not a bad afternoon's work at all.

Sat 21 Jul 2001 🧢 2nd XIv NC Northfleet CC · AwayformDWLLD

The coin fell kindly on Saturday, and I had few qualms about putting Northfleet CC in on their own ground. It proved a shrewd toss to win. Alan Boyns was magnificent with the new ball, tearing through their order for 4-16, while John Taylor bowled with real discipline, five maidens among his 3-23, and Darren Styles chipped in with 2-11. Neil Morris and Force both departed without troubling the scorers, and for all Denis King's 37 and Tim Whittingham's watchful 27, we had Northfleet all out for 120 from 43 overs. A fine morning's work, and one that suggested we might make light work of the chase.

We didn't. Ninety-five all out in 34.1 overs tells its own sad story, and no amount of soft-focus prose will dress it up as anything other than a collapse. Ron McCormick battled hard for his 28 and deserved better company. I contributed what I could with the bat, though clearly not enough, and poor Darren Styles, so miserly with the ball, gave us nothing at all with it, a golden duck to bookend his afternoon.

So, beaten by 25 runs, undone by our own batting rather than their bowling. Trevor Back continues to top the run charts and Darren Styles sits second among the wicket-takers, proof there's real quality in this side. We'll dust ourselves down and come again next week rather better, I hope, with the bat than the tongue.

Sun 15 Jul 2001 🧢 1st XIv Chestfield CC · AwayformWWWDL

Sunday 15 July saw us make the trip to Chestfield, hopeful of a good day out, and it started conventionally enough with the coin refusing to cooperate — they won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. Forty overs later they'd posted a stiff 190/7, built chiefly around Dominic Chambers' fine 81, with Tim Jones (28) and Stephen Cox (25) chipping in dutifully. I can't claim much modesty here, having done the early damage with 3-35, but the real backbone of the effort was Darren Styles, whose three maidens and 1-15 were as tight as anything bowled all season, well backed up by Stuart Cheesman's 1-33.

Chasing 191, we made a fair fist of it, reaching 177/8 from our own forty. Russell Baldwin was magnificent, motoring past fifty to 69, and found a willing ally in Stuart Cheesman's 49. Extras chipped in a handy 29, which tells you something about the arm-wrestle nature of the innings. Poor Luke Wallond's duck was the one blot on an otherwise respectable card, and as for the skipper — well, a golden blob is not the example one hopes to set, though at least I'd got my contribution with the ball in first.

Thirteen runs short in the end, and no disguising the disappointment. Russell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 607, and Michael Beeney sits second among the wicket-takers with 17 — reminders, at least, that the engine room is purring even when the skipper misfires. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 14 Jul 2001 🧢 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · HomeformWWWWD

Here's the match report:

I lost the toss on Saturday and, as is so often my lot, was invited to go and stand in a field for the afternoon. Not the worst outcome, as it turned out, because our batting had one of those days best filed under "character-building." Seventy-eight all out in 34.2 overs is not a total to trouble the scorers, and with Stuart Cheesman, Mike Redman and Michael Beeney all completing the walk of shame for ducks, the Duck Club ledger did rather brisker business than our run rate. Russell Baldwin's 21 was the shining exception, a lone candle against a stiff breeze.

Needing to defend a total that wouldn't have troubled a decent tea interval, we set about it with rather more spirit than the maths suggested was sensible. Leeds & Broomfield lost Geoff Hunt and George Horton for ducks of their own, and for a while it looked like a proper contest. I had a happy day with the ball myself, taking 3 for 5, with Matt Large (2-21, four tidy maidens) and Daniel Thirkell (1-6) keeping things admirably mean at the other end. Daniel's afternoon had extra shine to it too, passing 200 career wickets along the way — and he continues to lead both our run and wicket charts for the season, 584 and 23 respectively, in imperious fashion.

In the end, though, 78 was never quite enough, and they got home by 3 wickets. A defeat, but not a disgrace — we bowled and fielded like a side worth its salt, and simply didn't give ourselves enough runs to play with. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 14 Jul 2001 🧢 2nd XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformWDWLL

Saturday 14 July 2001 saw us make the trip to Leeds & Broomfield, and I lost the toss with my usual coin-tossing brilliance, leaving us asked to bat first on what turned out to be a rather agreeable pitch for it.

We made ourselves quite at home, closing on 163/6 from our 46 overs. Richard Piper was in fine touch for his 54, and Stewart Roberts kept him honest company with a well-crafted 50 of his own — between them the innings had a solid backbone, even if the rest of us contributed rather more modestly to proceedings.

Defending the total, we made the perfect start when Malcolm Broadway departed without so much as a run to his name — the sort of moment that has a captain suppressing a grin behind his sunglasses. Darren Styles was the chief tormentor with figures of 2-13, ably assisted by Trevor Back's 1-20, and between them they had Leeds & Broomfield reeling to 33/3 from 13 overs before the innings, frustratingly, closed there. Trevor continues to top our 2nd XI run charts for the season with 362, while Darren sits second in the wicket-takers' table on 11 — both men doing their bit to keep the club's honour intact.

In the end neither side could force matters through to a result, and honours were shared. A draw it may have been, but with bat and ball both firing, I'll happily call this one a job well done — and the tea, as ever, was the real winner of the day.

Wed 11 Jul 2001 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLDDLD

We lost the toss at Gravesend and were duly invited to bowl — which, on a flat Wednesday evening pitch, felt rather like being handed the washing-up before the pudding's even served. Openers Robertson and company set about repairing the club's mood with a watchful 53 from T Robertson, well supported by John Simmonds' 29 and Dave Elliott's 24, and by the close of their 46 overs they'd posted a stiff 197/8. Credit where it's due: Stuart Cheesman was miserly and menacing in equal measure, plundering 2-5, while Michael Beeney chipped in with 2-32 and I managed 2-39 myself, more through persistence than genuine hostility. Trevor Back, meanwhile, bowled as though each run conceded caused him physical pain, sending down two maidens for good measure.

Chasing 198 was always going to be a stretch on a ground that size, and so it proved. Roly Edwards played the innings of the day, a composed 31 that gave us something to build around, with Stuart Cheesman following his morning's bowling heroics with a brisk 21 of his own. But wickets fell at inconvenient intervals and we finished on 116/8 from our 39 overs, honours — and, frankly, the tea urn — shared.

A draw, then, and not an unwelcome one given the arithmetic. Fred Cheesman continues to lead our run charts for the season with 37, and Stuart Cheesman tops the wickets with 4 — a fine advert for keeping it in the family. As for the rest of us: solid, unspectacular, and very much alive for next week.

Sun 08 Jul 2001 🧢 1st XIv FC Falconwood CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday 8th July, and Falconwood CC rolled up to find your captain in an uncharacteristically decisive mood — I called it right at the toss and didn't dither for a second before choosing to bat. Whether that was wisdom or simple impatience to get the tea urn on early, I'll let the reader decide.

Runs came, if not exactly flowed. Russell Baldwin's 38 was the innings' spine, Steve Cheesman chipped in a handy 28, and Fred Cheesman saw us home unbeaten on 21 as we closed on 128/8 from our 42 overs. Less gloriously, both Stuart Cheesman and Adam Pooley contrived to depart for ducks — the sort of scores that get you a sympathetic pat on the back and absolutely nothing else.

Defending it, we turned into a different side altogether. Daniel Thirkell was simply magnificent, ripping through with 4-13, while Jon Harris (2-3) and Michael Beeney (2-6, and five parsimonious maidens besides) squeezed the life out of anything Falconwood tried. T Lee, R Furze and G Clay all walked back for ducks of their own, and the visitors subsided to 44/9 from 34 overs before honours were called shared.

A draw, then — neither side quite able to finish the job. With Thirkell now sitting proudly atop both our run and wicket charts for the season, one wonders whether we ought to just let him bat and bowl all day and give the rest of us the afternoon off.

Sat 07 Jul 2001 🧢 1st XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformDWWWW

Down at Horton Kirby on a fine Saturday, the coin obliged me and I had no hesitation in asking my lads to strut their stuff with the willow first. Wisdom, as it turned out, rather than luck — David Castle produced an innings of real substance, three figures in the book with 103, while Russell Baldwin kept him company in fine style with 74. Daniel Thirkell chipped in a useful 31 further down, and by the time we declared our efforts closed at 242 for 3 off 36 overs, Horton Kirby had a proper mountain to climb.

I managed 18 myself, more a nudge than a knock, before turning my attention to marshalling the defence. Their reply promised fireworks through Ryan Taylor, whose 78 was a genuinely fine half-century, well supported by J Thomas (43) and Paul Evans (25) — but poor Geoff Rameaux never troubled the scorers, back in the pavilion for a golden duck almost before his pads were on. Ian Brattle bowled beautifully for 2 for 37, Michael Beeney chipped away for 2 for 45, and I picked up 1 for 23 to play my small part as the innings folded at 191 for 7 off 35 overs.

A 51-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day at the office. With Daniel Thirkell now sitting proudly atop the season's run charts on 565 and Michael Beeney lurking second in the wickets列 with 14, the engine room is purring nicely. All told: job done, tea well earned.

Sat 07 Jul 2001 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWWDWL

Saturday brought Horton Kirby CC to Linton Park, and having won the toss I elected to field — the right call, I felt, though the scoreboard would later have its own opinion on that. We toiled through 46 overs as the visitors compiled a hefty 235 for 5, Darren Chambers the chief architect with a commanding 83, well supported by V Ratnayke's fifty (53) and Adam Washington's unbeaten 48. John Taylor led our attack manfully for 2-86, with Jon Harris (1-33) and Trevor Back (1-36) chipping in, while Darren Styles bowled two tidy maidens to keep things honest.

Chasing a stiff target was always going to ask questions of the top order, and we posted a battling 184 for 7 from our 44 overs. Richard Piper's 39 anchored things nicely, Mike Elworthy (38) and Ron McCormick (33) lending fine support. Less nicely, I contributed a golden duck to proceedings — a captain, they say, must lead by example, and on this occasion I led rather too enthusiastically back to the pavilion. Behind the stumps Roly Edwards had a torrid time of it, with 9 byes going begging.

There was a moment of real warmth amid the gloom, though: Mike Elworthy brought up 7,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved. Elsewhere the season ticks along nicely, with Trevor Back topping the 2nd XI run charts on 361 and Jon Harris leading the wickets with 14.

In the end Horton Kirby ran out winners by 51 runs. A defeat, certainly, but not a disgrace — we'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 01 Jul 2001 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · HomeformWWW

Won the toss on a Sunday that threatened rain and never quite delivered on the threat, and with Clarion CC standing between us and tea, I did what any self-respecting skipper does when unsure of the pitch: put them in to field and hoped for the best. Daniel Thirkell set about proving my hunch right with a fine 43, I chipped in with 29, and Clive Newman's 28 gave the innings some much-needed backbone. Elsewhere the scorebook told a sorrier tale — Luke Wallond, Fred Cheesman and Alan Boyns all departed for ducks, three quacks that rather undersold the effort elsewhere. We limped, then rallied, to 144 for 9 off our forty, a total that felt distinctly gettable.

Clarion clearly thought so too, and Steve Harris set about making us pay with a composed unbeaten 77, ably assisted by Richard Hilson's 25. For a while it looked ominous. But cricket, like the English weather, delights in changing its mind: Mike Redman found his radar for 3 for 26 with two tidy maidens thrown in, while Daniel Thirkell (2 for 21) and Jon Harris (2 for 24) chipped away at the other end. Three Clarion batsmen — Drew, Elks and Smith — joined our own club of ducks, and when the last wicket fell, they were all out for 140 off 38.3 overs.

Four runs. That's all it was. A nerve-shredding, gloriously narrow victory, and two points thoroughly, if breathlessly, earned.

Sat 30 Jun 2001 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformDDWWW

Lost the toss again on Saturday — Hollingbourne took one look at the pitch and elected to field first. As is customary in these situations, I said nothing useful and simply got on with padding up.

They needn't have looked so pleased with themselves for long. David Castle played the innings of the day, a magnificent 101, while Paul Gibson supported him handsomely with a well-made fifty of his own, 60 to his name, and Russell Baldwin's brisk 28 rounded things out nicely. We finished on 242 for 6 from our 46 overs — a total with substance, and enough, I hoped, to give the lads something to bowl at.

So it proved, though not without a proper scrap. Hollingbourne made us work for every one of those runs, with Dave Hinks digging in for an unbeaten 59, capably backed up by Andy Golding's 33 and Mike Donald's 24. For a good while it had the look of a match slipping away from us. Then Matt Large turned it on its head, spinning his way to a superb 5 for 41 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, while Stuart Cheesman picked up 1 for 21 and Daniel Thirkell — who tops both our run and wicket charts this season and isn't about to let anyone forget it — added a tidy 1 for 31. Hollingbourne finished on 231 for 9.

Eleven runs the margin, and every one of them hard-earned. A proper old-fashioned arm-wrestle, but the right result. Onwards.

Sat 30 Jun 2001 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformWWWDW

Saturday last saw us make the trip to Hollingbourne, and having called correctly at the toss I had few qualms about batting first — a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself, more or less. Richard Piper set the tone with a busy 48, Michael Beeney chipped in an unbeaten 28 and Trevor Back weighed in with 21, while the extras column — a magnificent 54 — very nearly opened the batting itself. We closed on 187/7 from our 46 overs, a total that felt defendable, if not entirely daunting.

So it proved not quite enough. Matthew Jones played the innings of the day, an imperious 87 that did most of the damage, with Keith Weller offering sturdy support on 46 not out as Hollingbourne got home on 191/4 with two overs to spare. Jon Harris toiled manfully for his 2-42 and Michael Beeney backed him up with 1-45, but 13 byes told their own sorry tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Roly Edwards, who I'm sure would rather forget it.

There was, happily, one thing no scoreline could dampen: Michael Beeney brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark thoroughly earned and warmly toasted in the bar afterwards. Trevor Back and Jon Harris continue to lead our season's run and wicket charts respectively, which offers some consolation.

Verdict: beaten by six wickets, no disgrace in it, but heads up and back to the nets — there's work to do.

Sun 24 Jun 2001 🧢 1st XIv BC Bossingham CC · HomeformLDDWW

Sunday last brought Bossingham to Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat — a decision that, for once, I'm entitled to feel rather smug about. We posted a respectable 169 for 6 off our forty overs, built chiefly around Daniel Thirkell's fluent 36, with Stewart Morrison chipping in 22 and yours truly seeing us home unbeaten on 26. Truth be told, the extras column had a fine match too, adding a generous 47 — the Bossingham bowlers were kinder to us than they perhaps intended.

Defending 169 always feels a shade uncomfortable, but the lads set about it with real purpose. A Keir led the Bossingham reply with 33, well supported by J Middleton and X Sear with 29 apiece, but three of their batsmen departed without troubling the scorers at all. I had one of those days where everything comes off the middle of the seam, finishing with 3 for 12, while Daniel Thirkell backed up his batting with 3 for 25 and Russell Baldwin took 2 for 32. Stuart Cheesman, meanwhile, bowled two maidens of the miserly, teeth-gritting variety that captains dream about. Bossingham were all out for 147 in 39.4 overs, and we ran out winners by 22 runs.

A word too for Stewart Morrison, whose 22 runs quietly nudged him past Jon Harris into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the sort of milestone that deserves more than a footnote. All in all, a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and a fine advertisement for cricket played the right way.

Sat 23 Jun 2001 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformWLDDW

As Nigel Thirkell, here's the report for the gazette:

Saturday 23 June found us on the road at Southborough, and when their captain called correctly at the toss and put us into the field, I confess my heart didn't exactly leap with joy. Still, we set about it with good grace, and while Danny Coombs made merry with a fine 59, ably backed by Ray Grayland's 44 and Colin Ayres' 32, we kept plugging away. Ian Brattle was magnificent, prising out three for a miserly 32 with three maidens to boot, and I did my modest bit with 2-49 while Michael Beeney chipped in with one. There was even a duck for Glenn Farmer, which always cheers a fielding side more than it probably should. They closed on 240/7 from their 46 overs — a total, but not an insurmountable one.

Chasing it, we simply batted them out of the game. David Castle played the innings of the day, 98 not out and unlucky not to reach the ton, while Russell Baldwin's fifty and Daniel Thirkell's 58 gave the innings real backbone. We cantered home on 246/3 with the best part of seven overs unused — though ten byes suggested Castle's day behind the stumps was rather more testing than his day in front of them.

Two milestones to raise a glass to: Russell Baldwin reached 1,000 career runs for the club, and Dave Charlton turned out for his 200th appearance in Linton colours. A seven-wicket win, two proud landmarks, and a long drive home made considerably shorter by good cheer. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 23 Jun 2001 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformWWWWD

My eyes met the coin for approximately half a second before it landed against us, and Southborough duly elected to bat — the story of my captaincy career in a nutshell.

They set about their 46 overs with quiet efficiency, losing an early wicket for 6 but otherwise giving us precious little cheer, closing on a stout 172/3. Tom Carmichael's 68 was the innings' backbone, with Paul Spencer unbeaten on a tidy 61, the pair sharing a chastening stand of 111 for the third wicket that rather took the sting out of our afternoon in the field. Trevor Back was the pick of our attack — 1-24 with two maidens, miserly as ever — with John Taylor also among the wickets for the same figures. Ten byes went begging past the gloves, which we shall discuss no further.

Chasing 173, we were given real substance by Mike Elworthy's 76, a proper captain's-innings fifty-and-more, with Trevor Back — clearly determined to have a say in every department — adding an unbeaten 55 of his own, the two combining for a vital 65 for the third wicket. Richard Piper and Stewart Roberts both contributed golden ducks, in the fine tradition of village cricket generosity, but we got home in 43.3 overs for the loss of seven, three wickets to spare.

Trevor Back continues to lead our 2nd XI run charts on 307 and sits third in the wickets list on 8 — the form horse of the summer, no question. A tight, nervy, thoroughly satisfying win. Onwards.

Wed 20 Jun 2001 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDLDDL

Lost the toss again on Wednesday — I really must start practising that coin flip — and Sevenoaks & District Wednesday duly stuck us in the field. It proved a long old afternoon as Petters set about us with a fine 89, ably supported by Pat Reynolds's unbeaten 41 and Paul Styles's 28, the visitors closing on a hearty 196/5 from their 48 overs. Stuart Cheesman was the pick of our attack with 2-23, Darren Styles chipped in with 2-47, and I managed to prise out one for 40 myself, though by the end my arm felt every one of those overs.

Chasing 197 was always going to ask questions of us, and we didn't quite have the answers. Trevor Back's watchful 22 and Stewart Morrison's 21 were the backbone of the innings, but wickets fell steadily around them and we subsided to 109/8 from our 39, block and bar firmly shut by the close. Stuart Cheesman, so miserly with the ball, returned the footballing compliment with a golden duck — cricket's way of keeping a man humble.

One bright note amid the grind: Darren Styles's brace nudged him past Ron Hickman into 18th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a genuinely proud moment on an otherwise workmanlike day. With honours shared, it was a fair result — neither side could quite find the killer blow, and we'll happily take a draw against a side that outbatted us so handsomely.

Sun 17 Jun 2001 🧢 1st XIv BC Blue Star CC · HomeformWWLDD

Sunday 17 June saw Blue Star CC roll up to Linton Park, and having won the toss I did what any self-respecting skipper does on a decent morning — stuck us in to bat and hoped for the best. We got to 173 for 7 off our 40, which felt a fair par score even before Russell Baldwin played the innings of the day, 57 of good, honest strokeplay, with Daniel Thirkell right alongside him on 54. Not everything gleamed, mind — Adam Pooley and Luke Wallond both departed for ducks, the sort of dismissals that make a captain suddenly find something fascinating to look at in his tea.

Out in the field, Blue Star gave it a real go. Gavin Hornby was in irresistible form, cracking 91 that had us checking the scoreboard rather more nervously than we'd have liked, with Ron Jerrom chipping in 24. But this is where the lads earned their tea: Thirkell, not content with his runs, turned his arm over for 3 for 23, Darren Styles bowled a spell of real discipline — 2 for 8 with five maidens, barely a run conceded — and Mike Redman weighed in with 2 for 17. N Spackman and P Humphries never troubled the scorers, and Blue Star folded for 150 in 38.3 overs.

Quiet note for the scorebook: Thirkell's 54 nudges him past Peter Whyte into 24th on the club's all-time run charts, and he continues to lead both our run and wicket columns for the summer.

Twenty-three runs the margin, two points banked, and a thoroughly deserved afternoon's work.

Sat 16 Jun 2001 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWWWLD

We lost the toss on Saturday and, with grey Kentish skies overhead, were duly invited to have a bowl — Marden CC being our guests for the afternoon. Not the outcome I'd have chosen at the coin, but there's a certain honest pleasure in being put in the field first, and the lads set about their work with more discipline than the scorebook might suggest. Marden ground their way to 116/7 from 36 overs, A. Betts top-scoring with 35 and John Paul Sunnucks chipping in a tidy 31, but nothing ever felt like running away from us.

The bowling was the story of the day. Ian Brattle was the pick, prising out three for 35, with Michael Beeney (2-20) and Rob Doick (2-24) offering sterling support — Doick in particular refusing to give an inch, two maidens testament to a spell bowled on a length and not an inch off it.

Chasing 117, we made a brisk if brief start — 28 without loss from just six overs, with your humble captain contributing 17 before the heavens, or perhaps just common sense, called a halt to proceedings. So a draw it was, honours shared, no losers on the day.

Elsewhere, the season ticks along nicely — David Castle sits third in the club's run charts with 227, and Rob Doick tops the wicket-takers with a dozen scalps. All told, a fair result against decent opposition: not a win, but not for want of trying, and there are certainly worse ways to spend a Saturday than watching Doick strangle the life out of an opening partnership.

Sat 16 Jun 2001 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformLWWWW

Saturday 16 June 2001, away at Marden CC, and I called it right at the toss — no hesitation, we were batting. Trevor Back played the anchor beautifully, 44 not out, with Ron McCormick (34) and Richard Piper (21) building nicely around him, and we closed on a respectable 151/6 from our 40. Less said the better about brother Simon's duck, though I'm sure it'll be raised at every family gathering between now and Christmas.

Out in the field, Marden never quite got the innings moving they needed — Jon Harris was superb, 2-6 and thoroughly unplayable for a spell, well backed by Dave Todd's 2-11 and Darren Styles bowling two tidy maidens to choke the scoring. J. Marshall departed for a duck of his own, which at least made it two apiece on the day. T Rutherford top-scored gamely with 27, but with the rest of the order struggling for oxygen, they stalled at 53/5 from their 23 before the overs ran out. I had a quiet dabble with the ball myself, picking up 16 runs' worth of contribution along the way, though the real work was done by others.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. Frustrating, perhaps, for a bowling attack that good to not finish the job, but a draw earned honestly on a day when we outplayed them for long stretches is no bad way to spend a Saturday. Trevor Back continues to top the 2nd XI run charts and Jon Harris the wickets — the season's shaping up nicely, and Marden will be glad to see the back of us.

Sun 10 Jun 2001 🧢 Sunday NVKCv EC Eynsford CC · AwayformWWLWW

Nigel Thirkell writing to the club gazette

Sunday 10 June saw us make the trip to Eynsford, where I duly lost the toss and was invited to have a bowl — never the outcome I'm hoping for when that coin goes up, but there we are. Eynsford made hay to the tune of 234/7 off their forty, Ian Playfoot the chief architect with a fine 66, well supported by Paul Geear (33) and Jamie Wise (32). I managed to winkle out a couple myself, 2-37, with Daniel Thirkell (2-38) and Ian Brattle (2-47) chipping in nicely, but 234 always felt a stretch too far on a ground that doesn't give much away.

So it proved. We replied with 162 all out in 37.2 overs, a chase that never quite got out of second gear. I was pleased to lead from the front with 63, and Stuart Cheesman gave me good company with 41, but beyond that the effort rather petered out, with Rob Doick and Matt Large both departing for ducks. Down by 72 in the end — heads up, back to the nets, as they say.

There was, at least, one thing to raise a glass to: Stuart Cheesman brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that deserves rather better applause than a soggy Sunday defeat can offer. And for the record books, I lead the 2001 Sunday NVKC run charts with 131, while Daniel tops the wickets with seven.

All told: a battling defeat, a proud milestone, and a squad that knows exactly where the nets are next week.

Sat 09 Jun 2001 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformWWWWL

Here's the match report:

There's a certain ritual to losing the toss, and Saturday's version at Sheldwich followed the script to the letter — heads it wasn't, and we were duly invited to field. Forty-six overs later I understood why they'd fancied their chances with willow in hand: Martin Mills compiled a fine 57, Simon Smith stayed unbeaten on 31, and Mark Hammond weighed in with 28 as Sheldwich posted a healthy 218/7. Only Jon Taylor departed cheaply, sent back for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers — a small mercy in an otherwise productive afternoon for the home side.

With the ball, honours were rather more ours. Michael Beeney was the pick of the attack by some distance, prising out three for 42 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, while Stuart Cheesman and Rob Doick chipped in with a wicket apiece to keep the total from running away entirely.

Chasing 219 was always going to be a stretch in the overs available, and so it proved — we settled for 87/3 from 26.3, content to bat out the draw rather than throw wickets away chasing a lost cause. I was pleased to see us home unbeaten on 30, the runs that mattered most in keeping the innings together.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody quite satisfied, everybody home in time for tea. Given the position we found ourselves in after their innings, I'll happily take it.

Wed 06 Jun 2001 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Blue Star CC · HomeformDDLDD

Lost the toss on a fine Wednesday evening and, inevitably, Blue Star chose to bat — I do wonder if I should stop calling at all and let them have it every week. They made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 194 for 5 from their 43 overs, with Hilton Bayayi timing a fluent 67 and Mike Peters ushering them home unbeaten on 45. To our credit we didn't let it become a procession: Rob Jackson bowled beautifully for 2-31, Michael Beeney was miserly with 1-26 and two maidens besides, and Alan Boyns chipped away with 1-35.

Chasing 195 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered rather too many of them in the negative. Steve Cheesman led our reply with a tidy 33, Fred Cheesman and Jim Hall weren't far behind with 32 and 31, and I contributed 25 myself — enough, I'm reliably informed, to nudge me past Mike Caddick into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, for whatever comfort that's worth on a losing night. Adam Pooley and Rob Jackson both fell for ducks, and from there the innings rather ran out of road, folding for 150 in 46.5 overs.

Steve Cheesman and Rob Jackson now head our early-season charts for runs and wickets respectively, so there's something to build on. As for this one: a 44-run defeat, honestly earned by the better side on the day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 03 Jun 2001 🧢 1st XIv FC Fordcombe CC · HomeformWWWWW

Here's the match report:

I'll confess, when I called it right at the toss on Sunday and elected to bat, I did feel rather pleased with myself — a state of affairs that lasted almost exactly as long as it took the top order to get comfortable. We were bowled out for 151 in 39.4 overs, which reads better than it felt at times. Mike Redman was the mainstay with a fine 39, well supported by Steve Cheesman's 24, while I chipped in a workmanlike 18 further down. Poor Michael Beeney will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but the Gazette waits for no man, and even our extras column got in on the act with a hearty 26.

Fordcombe's reply was the sterner half of the day. Simon Bellamy and Hamish Anderson batted us out of it beautifully, unbeaten on 48 and 40 respectively, and though I managed to prise out three wickets myself for 34 — including sending Colm Perry back for a duck — and Michael Beeney and Mike Redman chipped in with one apiece, the runs kept coming. Eleven byes off Steve Cheesman's afternoon told their own quiet story of a day when little went entirely to plan.

In the end Fordcombe got home by five wickets, and fair play to them. We'll dust ourselves down, learn what we can, and be better for it next week.

Sat 02 Jun 2001 🧢 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWWWWW

There are worse ways to spend a Saturday than winning the toss, and I like to think I've learned when to trust my gut — in went the decision to bat first, and for once nobody in the changing room questioned the skipper's judgement.

What followed was as handsome a batting display as Linton Park has served up in a while. David Castle led from the front with a polished 55, Clive Newman matched him stroke for stroke past his own fifty, and Russell Baldwin finished unbeaten on 47 to see us home to 253 for 3 off our 46 overs. I added a watchful 46 of my own down the order, more grateful graft than glamour, but every run counts on a day like this. And it was rather special besides — David quietly brought up 18,000 career runs for the club, a mark that deserves rather more fanfare than a soggy sandwich at tea.

Defending 253 should have been the comfortable part, and so it proved. Staplehurst never got close, subsiding to 132 for 8 from their 44 overs despite a battling unbeaten 64 from Colin Breed and support from K Millen. Matt Large was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 5 for 24 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure — and in doing so passed 1,100 career wickets for the club. Ian Brattle and Rob Doick chipped in with a wicket apiece, Rob's shuffling him up to 23rd on our all-time list.

A comfortable 121-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day to be a Linton Park man.

Sat 02 Jun 2001 🧢 2nd XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformWLWWW

Well, we lost the toss at Staplehurst, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like tradition, and duly trudged into the field. Still, 208/7 from our 46 overs was no disgrace at all, built on a fine 78 from Trevor Back and ably backed up by Richard Piper's 51 — both comfortably past their fifties and both thoroughly deserved. Simon Thirkell chipped in an unbeaten 21 to see us home to a respectable total, though his brother Christopher will be less keen to relive his own contribution: a golden duck to open proceedings.

Out in the field, Staplehurst made a fair fist of the chase, reaching 181 all out from 43.5 overs with John Swannick top-scoring on 42, supported by G Wyatt's 30 and J- Ward's 28. We did at least return the favour with a duck of our own, seeing off C Liddicoat without so much as a run to his name. The day belonged to Michael Beeney, whose 5-35 was a five-for richly earned and the difference between a tense finish and a comfortable one, with Trevor Back (2-23) and Stewart Roberts (1-15) chipping away either side of him, and Darren Styles metronomic with four maidens. Nine byes did rather give the game away for poor Roly Edwards behind the stumps — a testing afternoon for him if nothing else.

I'm pleased to say my own 167 runs still leads the 2nd XI's season charts, with Jon Harris out in front on wickets with nine. Two points, and thoroughly earned — a 27-run win to bank and enjoy on the drive home.

Mon 28 May 2001 🧢 1st XIv WC Wadhurst CC · AwayformWWWWW

Monday last took us down to Wadhurst, where the coin did its usual trick of landing the wrong way up and we were put in the field. Wadhurst made themselves at home for 42 overs, building a total of 209 for 7 on the back of Pratt's fine 98, with Brignall (41) and Brough Cooper (24) chipping in around him. We did have our moments — N Iggulden back in the pavilion for a duck was one of them — and John Taylor bowled beautifully for 3-53, two of his overs going for nothing at all. Darren Styles kept the pressure up with 3-60, and I did my bit with 1-19, tidy enough not to embarrass myself in front of the tea urn.

Chasing 210, we could have been forgiven for a nervous knock, but Stewart Morrison had other ideas, striking a magnificent 120 that carried us home in some style — ably backed up by Stuart Cheesman's unbeaten 38 and Richard Piper's 24. Christopher Thirkell's contribution was, shall we say, a golden nothing, but nobody was counting once Morrison got going. We got there in 38.3 overs, six wickets down, job done.

Worth a special mention: Morrison's ton nudges him up to 22nd on the club's all-time run charts, past Malcolm Pay, and keeps him 4th in this year's first-team run standings on 146. As for the bowling table, I find myself out in front with 10 wickets for the season — long may it continue.

Two points, four wickets in hand, and a proper away win. Not bad for a Monday.

Sun 27 May 2001 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SW Sevenoaks weald · AwayformWWWLW

Nigel Thirkell's Sunday afternoon, and away to Sevenoaks Weald we went, losing the toss and finding ourselves in the field before the tea urn had even warmed up. It could have gone worse, and it very nearly did, but 120 all out from 36.5 overs was a fair reward for our efforts. D. Stringer's 42 was the innings' backbone, with M. Addison (24) and Ian Hindley (23) chipping in, but three of their batsmen never troubled the scorers, departing for ducks. Matt Large was the chief tormentor with a fine 4-19, Daniel Thirkell snapped up 4-24 in good support, and I chimed in with 1-10, while Rob Doick bowled two maidens' worth of parsimony that the batsmen found no answer to.

Chasing 121, we made rather serene work of it, cruising home on 121/2 from 32.2 overs. David Castle was imperious, unbeaten on 61 and well past his fifty, and looked in no mood to give the bowlers a sniff. Eight byes did rather give the game away on Peter Whyte's afternoon behind the stumps, a reminder that even a comfortable win has its blemishes.

David Castle continues to lead our 2001 Sunday run charts with 113, and Daniel Thirkell tops the wicket pile with 5, and on this evidence neither looks like relinquishing their crown soon. Eight wickets and two points, thoroughly deserved, and a very tidy way to spend a Sunday in Kent.

Sat 26 May 2001 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Horsmonden CC, away, Saturday 26 May 2001. Won the toss and, with the sun out and the tea urn presumably already on, had absolutely no hesitation in sticking us in to bat. It's the one decision I never lose sleep over.

The lads duly obliged. Russell Baldwin played the innings of the day, 98 not out and unlucky not to reach the century his effort thoroughly deserved, with Rob Doick chipping in a fine 54 and Stewart Morrison steering us home unbeaten on 23. Two hundred and forty-three for six off our forty-six overs left Horsmonden a proper mountain to climb, and frankly I'd have taken that total and gone straight to the tea tent myself.

Whatever confidence they had evaporated fast. Gary Sargent, D Wright and H Padgett all trooped back without so much as a run to their name, and from there it was a procession — Rob Doick ripping through with 4-19, Fred Cheesman mopping up with 3-16, and Michael Beeney tidying the innings off with 2-13, while John Taylor strangled the life out of things with five miserly maidens. All out for 79 in 32 overs; the mountain never got climbed.

A nice personal footnote for Rob, whose four wickets edge him past Paul Gibson into 25th on the club's all-time list — the ledgers never lie, even if his knees occasionally do.

A win by 164 runs, no argument about it. Onwards.

Sat 26 May 2001 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformLWLWW

Called correctly at the toss on a fine Saturday and had no hesitation electing to bat against Horsmonden. Runs came in fits and starts, but Stewart Roberts (52) and Richard Piper (51) both raised handsome half-centuries to give the innings real backbone, while Mike Elworthy chipped in a tidy 22. Less happily, the card wore a trio of blob-shaped blemishes — Darren Styles, Simon Thirkell and Paul Croucher all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — as we closed on 168 for 9 from our 46 overs.

Defending 168 always promises an afternoon of nerves, and so it proved. Horsmonden fought hard through Richard Lester-Smith's 42, with Chris Bills (31) and Glen Christian (27) offering support, but our bowlers kept chipping away. Jon Harris was superb, leading the attack with 4 for 51, while Trevor Back bowled with real discipline — three maidens among his figures of 3 for 45 — and Darren Styles picked up 1 for 28. Three Horsmonden batsmen, Ade LeMoine, W Farrer and Mark McCulley, departed without scoring, and the innings folded on 158 for 9 from 44 overs.

A day for the scrapbook in more ways than one: Darren Styles brought up 300 career wickets in the process. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Mike Elworthy continues to lead our run charts with 158, and Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with 8. As for the match itself — ten runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly, nervously earned. I'll take that every week.

Sun 20 May 2001 🧢 1st XIv MC Margate CC · HomeformWWWWW

It was a fine Sunday for it, 20 May, Margate CC the visitors to Linton Park. I won the toss and, with a pitch that looked to have runs in it, had no hesitation in putting us in.

The lads did not disappoint. We compiled a handsome 231 for 4 from our forty overs, and I confess to rather losing myself in the batting — I found some form and carried on to 118 not out, my first century of the summer and a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. David Castle gave excellent support with a polished 79, and between us we set Margate a target that would require some application.

They gave it a good go. R Glet played the anchor role beautifully for 48, with Neil Canham (34) and S. Humphries (23) chipping in, but they never quite got ahead of the required rate, finishing on 197 for 9. Darren Styles was miserliness personified — three maidens and figures of 3 for 21 that strangled any momentum — while Russell Baldwin (2-34) and Adam Pooley (1-17) mopped up either end. We did leak an alarming 21 byes, which made for a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor David Castle, but no matter.

We got over the line by 34 runs. With that century I now lead the 1st XI's run charts for the season on 292, while Jon Harris continues to lead the way with the ball on 9 wickets. All in all, a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 19 May 2001 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWLWLW

No luck with the coin at Rumwood on Saturday, and their captain took no time at all deciding we'd be the ones sweating first. Batting can be a mixed blessing on a good pitch, and so it proved with the bat doing rather more talking than the toss suggested it might. Mike Elworthy set the tone with a fine 66, well supported by Ron McCormick's polished 58 and Trevor Back's own half-century, also 58. Not everyone found the middle of the bat, mind — Roly Edwards, Simon Thirkell and Dave Todd all trooped back for ducks, proof that even a good day has its share of gallows humour. Even so, 219 for 8 from our 46 overs was a total with real substance.

Defending it, we never really let Rumwood settle. Dave Light's 20 was as good as it got for them, while T Dennis, P Robinson and S Smith all fell without scoring, undone by an attack in irresistible form. Darren Styles was the chief destroyer with 3 for 12, Trevor Back and Jon Harris chipped in with 2 for 4 and 2 for 16 respectively, and Michael Beeney strangled the life out of proceedings with six maidens. Rumwood were bowled out for 74 in 36 overs, nowhere near troubling us.

A thumping 145-run win, and with Elworthy now topping our season's run charts and Styles leading the wickets, this side is building a habit worth keeping. Onwards indeed.

Sat 19 May 2001 🧢 1st XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDWWWW

I called correctly at the toss on Saturday and, with the sun out and the outfield running fast, there was never really any doubt: we batted.

We made 178 for 7 off our 46, which felt like a decent par score on a pitch that wasn't giving much away. Daniel Thirkell played the innings of the day, a fine 59, and I was glad to play my part alongside him with 48 of my own before David Castle chipped in with a useful 20 to round things off. Not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but enough to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did. Rumwood fought hard through P Humphries' 38, with John Burbridge (25 not out) and S Chapman (23 not out) threatening to see them home, but John Taylor was excellent up front with 2 for 32, well supported by Stuart Cheesman and Daniel Thirkell, who each picked up a wicket apiece, while Ian Brattle strangled the middle overs with two maidens that never let the required rate settle. They fell short on 145 for 4 off their 44 — a 33-run win, and thoroughly deserved.

A word too for Paul Gibson, who made his 400th appearance in Linton colours — a quite remarkable landmark, and one the whole club should raise a glass to. Daniel Thirkell's 59 also moved him up to 25th on the all-time run-scorers list, and he now leads our 2001 run charts with 174, sitting second in the wickets too. All in all, a proper team effort, two points banked, and a very satisfying afternoon's work.

Sun 13 May 2001 🧢 Sunday NVKCv CC Crockham Hill CC · AwayformWWWWL

Here is the match report.

The road to Crockham Hill CC is never a hardship, and won the toss on a fine May Sunday, I did what any sensible captain does with a good pitch under his feet — I had a bat. The lads repaid the faith handsomely, racing to 228 for 4 off our 40 overs. David Castle led from the top with a well-crafted 52, Daniel Thirkell chipped in a brisk 44, and I was fortunate enough to find my range for an unbeaten 55 — a personal contribution I'm rather pleased with, and one I shan't mention twice.

With that total in the bank, it was over to the bowlers to make it count, and count they did. Crockham Hill never got going, subsiding to 105 all out in 36.3 overs. Adam Webb (33) and M. Packer (25) offered the only real resistance, while Paul Kane, Kevin Westcott and J. Bass all trooped back without so much as a run to their names — ducks all round, and no complaints from this corner. Rob Doick was the pick of a fine attack with 3 for 29, backed up nicely by Paul Gibson (2-6) and Ian Brattle (1-10).

A word too for Daniel Thirkell, who quietly brought up 4,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth raising a glass to, half-century or not. With this result I find myself atop the Sunday NVKC run charts and Rob Doick leading the wickets — early days, but not a bad place to be.

A comfortable win by 123 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards to the next one.

Sat 12 May 2001 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWDWWW

Won the toss on a bright May Saturday against Bearsted, and I had no hesitation in calling it correctly and sending us in to bat first — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or reckless depending entirely on what follows, and thankfully it was the former. We wobbled early, 3 for 1 before anyone had really settled into their deckchair, but Daniel Thirkell steadied things magnificently with a fine 73, well supported by Rob Doick's 37 and Nigel Thirkell's 30, dragging us to a respectable 171 for 7 from our 46 overs. Poor Clive Newman, meanwhile, made his way back to the pavilion for a duck — the walk of shame performed with what I'm told was admirable dignity.

Defending that total, Bearsted made us work for it. An early wicket at 3 promised much, but an 81-run second-wicket stand threatened to bat us out of it, Richard Luxton top-scoring with 46, Peter Clark chipping in 33 and Ian Sandwell finishing unbeaten on 30. Happily the floodgates then opened — 84 for 2 became 96 for 5 in a hurry, Noel Johnston departing for a duck of his own. Daniel Thirkell did the real damage with 2 for 27, and I was pleased to chip in with 2 for 34 and a couple of maidens, Rob Doick matching me with 2 for 39.

We got home by 15 runs. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon, and a proper day for the club.

Sat 12 May 2001 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWWLWL

Right, Bearsted at home — let's give this the proper village-gazette treatment.

We lost the toss on a bright Saturday and were sent out to field, which is never the news you want at the start of the day, but the lads set about their business well enough. With the bat we posted a very respectable 188/4 from our 46 overs, though an early stumble at 0-1 gave the scorebook a wobble before we'd properly got our boots dry. Mike Elworthy was the class of the innings, sailing past his fifty to finish on 70, with Richard Piper chipping in a tidy 38 and Simon Thirkell unbeaten on 34 to see us home to a total worth defending. I contributed rather less to proceedings, falling for a duck — the sort of innings best filed under "seen, not heard."

Bearsted came at us with intent but never quite got there, closing on 164/7 from their 44. S Poore's 37 was the innings that threatened to spoil our afternoon, well supported by Andy Naish's 36 and Christopher Filmer's 23, and a 62-run second-wicket stand briefly had us checking our watches nervously — especially after their top order had gone cheaply at 7-1. But Dave Todd was superb with the ball, 3-44 and full of menace, backed up handsomely by Jon Harris (2-36) and the ever-miserly Darren Styles, whose 1-38 with two maidens quietly nudged him past Dick Langridge to 19th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — one for the mantelpiece indeed. As for my own contribution with bat in hand for a second time, we shall draw that veil rather more firmly shut.

Twenty-four runs the right side of the ledger in the end. A very good day for the club, ducks and all.

Mon 07 May 2001 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformLWDWW

I elected to bat first upon winning the toss, and for once my judgement wasn't entirely misplaced. We closed on a very respectable 154/4 from our forty overs, with Nigel Thirkell the undoubted architect of the innings — 63 not out, a genuinely handsome knock — while Rob Doick chipped in a tidy 30 and Peter Whyte added a further 22 to keep the scoreboard ticking along nicely.

With the ball, we had Maidstone Dissidents in early trouble and never quite let them settle. Stewart Morrison and Piers McDonald both departed without troubling the scorers, sent back by an attack that never let up. Jon Harris was the pick of the bunch with a superb 4-19, Rob Doick backed up his batting with 2-11, and I managed to get in on the act myself with 1-12. Darren Styles bowled two tidy maidens to squeeze things further, though it was a slightly chastening afternoon behind the stumps for Peter Whyte, who'll no doubt want a quiet word with himself about those 12 byes. The Dissidents fought hard to 146/9 from their forty overs, David Castle top-scoring with a fine 85, but it wasn't quite enough.

We got home by 8 runs — closer than the bowling figures might suggest, and all the sweeter for it. A proper club cricket afternoon: some early jitters, some fine individual performances, and a scoreboard that finished firmly in our favour. Good day for the club, and one worth savouring on the drive home.

Sun 06 May 2001 🧢 1st XIv Willesborough CC · HomeformWLWDW

As we lost the toss — sorry, won the toss, and there'll be no living that one down given how the afternoon panned out — I had no hesitation in electing to bat first on a bright Sunday against Willesborough.

The lads set about it in fine style. Russell Baldwin was the class act, a proper half-century, 69 in the book, and I was glad to chip in alongside him with a fifty of my own — always a satisfying thing, and I shan't dwell on it further than that. Daniel Thirkell finished unbeaten on 40 to give the total real heft, though poor Stewart Morrison's duck was the one blemish on an otherwise handsome scorecard. 189/3 from our forty overs felt like a competitive total, and so it proved.

Defending it, we turned to the ball with intent. S Parker played a lone hand of real substance for the visitors, 43 well made, with Graeme Marsh and Anil Pieris offering support, but three ducks at our hands — Holloway, Scamp and Green all back in the hutch without scoring — told its own story. Jon Harris was magnificent, 4-39 the pick of the attack, with Daniel Thirkell's 3-8 quite brilliant in support and Michael Beeney miserly as ever with 1-17 and two maidens. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes leaking through, but no matter.

A twenty-four run victory, and a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's cricket. Onwards.

Wed 14 Mar 2001 🧢 Tour XIv CA Cuylerville CC- South Africa · AwayformWLLLW

Wednesday saw us away, and after losing what I can only assume was an uninspiring toss, we found ourselves in the field first — never my favourite way to start proceedings, but there we are. Our hosts made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 251 for 6 from their 45 overs, with X Purdon (59) leading the way, well supported by C Handly's unbeaten 58 and X Pike's 47. Small mercy: X Elliott departed for a duck, proof that even the home side isn't immune to a bad afternoon.

Stuart Cheesman was pick of our attack with 3 for 53, while Daniel Thirkell chipped in 2 for 35 with three tight maidens — not a man in a generous mood — and David Castle picked up 1 for 41. Between them they kept things from getting properly out of hand, even if 251 still felt a stretch too far.

Chasing 252, we were bowled out for 215 in 44.5 overs, a battling effort rather than a triumphant one. Nigel Thirkell's 75 did the bulk of the scoring, ably backed by Adrian Caddick's 44 and Daniel Thirkell's 35, though David Castle and James Piper both fell for ducks, adding their names to a rather well-populated waterfowl list.

On the season charts, Daniel Thirkell now leads the 2001 Tour XI with 301 runs, and Stuart Cheesman sits third in the wickets with five — reassuring proof that not everything is going wrong. Beaten by 36 runs in the end. Credit to the opposition, but we'll be better for it next week.

Mon 12 Mar 2001 🧢 Tour XIv MA Moss Crocs South Africa · AwayformWWLLL

Fixture. We'd lost the toss and been sent out to field first, which on a Monday afternoon always feels like a mixed blessing, but Moss Crocs South Africa's 184/9 from their 40 overs was a total we always felt was within range. Basil Deal's 36 was the innings' backbone, with Hilton Abrahams (33) and an unbeaten 31 from Alf Du Plessy chipping in, but Anton Du Plooy went for a duck against us, and Mike Redman was outstanding with the ball, taking 2-16. Adrian Caddick backed him up nicely with 2-18, and John Taylor chipped in with 1-5, so between them they kept Moss Crocs to a total we felt we could chase down.

And chase it down we did. I can't pretend I wasn't rather pleased with how the bat felt in hand that day, and 95 not out is about as close to a hundred as makes a captain quietly grind his teeth on the walk off. Stuart Cheesman's 26 gave good support, and a generous 28 in extras did no harm either, though 9 of those came as byes, which tells you Piers McDonald had one of those days behind the stumps we've all had at some point.

185/3 from 37 overs, seven wickets to spare, and a thoroughly good day for the club. With the bat now on 266 for the season and Redman leading the wickets column with 8, the signs for the rest of the tour are rather promising indeed.

Sat 10 Mar 2001 🧢 Tour XIv GA Groot Drakenstein South Africa · AwayformTWWLL

Saturday 10th of March found us a long way from home, out at Groot Drakenstein, blinking in the Cape sun and doing our best impression of a cricket team. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody in the changing room argued with me. Stuart Cheesman set about proving me correct with a fine 57, and with Mike Elworthy (30) and Piers McDonald (24) chipping in around him, we hauled ourselves to a respectable 185 for 8 off our forty overs — the sort of total that looks either handsome or hopelessly light depending entirely on what follows.

What followed, alas, was Alf Cupido and B- Bing, who between them decided our bowling attack needed taking apart with a half-century apiece — 53 and an unbeaten 53 — while R- Bertrem's 33 kept the scoreboard humming along nicely for the visitors. John Taylor toiled manfully for 2 for 40 and Howard Waters picked up one for 37, but 187 for the loss of only three wickets, reached inside thirty-two overs, told its own story.

For what it's worth, I remain a modest 2nd in this season's run charts with 107 to my name, and John Taylor sits 2nd among the wicket-takers with five — small consolations both. Beaten by seven wickets in the end, no arguing with that scoreline. We'll be better for it next week.

Thu 08 Mar 2001 🧢 Tour XIv SA Stellenbosch South Africa · AwayformDTWWL

Beaten to it we called Thursday, and I confess the toss was the easiest decision I made all day — a good surface, and I never hesitated in sending us in.

The lads didn't disappoint. Daniel Thirkell batted with real composure for his unbeaten 68, and brother Nigel wasn't to be outdone, cruising past his own fifty to 65 — a proper family feud with the scorebook, that. Stewart Morrison chipped in a tidy 20, and between them we posted a very respectable 203/6 from our forty overs. Runs enough, I thought, to make the opposition sweat a little.

And sweat they did — for a while. R Oertull, though, had other ideas, playing a captain's innings of his own, unbeaten on 82 and refusing to be shifted. He had support from X Rensburg (29) and H Trollip (25), while at the other end P McNaughton departed without troubling the scorers 🦆. Mike Redman toiled superbly for 3-46, and John Taylor weighed in with 2-32, but 204/6 crept up on us in the fortieth over and they nicked it by three wickets.

Daniel Thirkell now leads our 2001 run charts with 171, and Mike Redman tops the wicket-takers with six — small consolation on a long drive home. A cruel finish, agonisingly close, but nothing here we can't put right next week.

Tue 06 Mar 2001 🧢 Tour XIv CA Cape Tech South Africa · AwayformLDTWW

Tuesday found us all, kit bags packed and optimism largely intact, for another chapter in the Linton Park story. I won the toss and elected to field — the right call, I felt, and one I'm sticking to even with the benefit of hindsight, that most unsporting of teammates.

The opposition made themselves rather too comfortable, racking up 255 for 9 from their 40 overs. Lees compiled a fine unbeaten 72, ably supported by Puoaro's 59 and Eben's watchful 23, while Stemmet and Ozzie both trudged off for ducks at our hands. Mike Redman was the pick of the attack with 3 for 46, Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 1 for 23 and two admirably tidy maidens, and Adrian Caddick took 1 for 39 — not a run given away lightly, even if the total rather got away from us in the end.

Chasing 256, we gave it a proper go. Stewart Morrison led the way in fine style with 74, Daniel Thirkell continued his excellent season with an unbeaten 64, and I weighed in with 40 down the order. Simon Thirkell's duck was the one blot on an otherwise respectable card, and thirty handy extras did their bit besides. We fell agonisingly short, beaten by 19 runs.

Daniel Thirkell now tops our season's run charts with 103, and Mike Redman leads the wickets with three — small consolations on a day that got away from us. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sun 04 Mar 2001 🧢 Tour XIv EA Elgin South Africa · AwayformWLDTW

We travelled to Elgin, South Africa, which even by the standards of our fixture list is a fair old way to go for a game of cricket, and I confess I spent most of the coach journey wondering whether my sunhat would survive the contrast in climate. Batting first, we compiled 144 for 5 from our 35 overs, built around a thoroughly classy half-century from Mike Elworthy, 57 in the end, well supported by a spirited 39 from Daniel Thirkell, who I should stress shares only a surname with your correspondent, not that I discouraged anyone from assuming otherwise.

Defending 144 always has the whiff of a tightrope walk about it, and so it proved. The opposition replied with 142 for 7 from their 35, Richard top-scoring with 31, Francois unbeaten on 31 and Peter chipping in with 27, the sort of middle-order resistance that has captains reaching for the antacids. It was Darren Styles who did the damage that mattered, 2 for 29 of real substance, with Stuart Cheesman (1 for 15) and David Castle (1 for 18) squeezing the game shut from the other end.

Two runs. That was the margin, and I have rarely signed a scorebook with such trembling gratitude. Elworthy now leads our season's run charts, Styles the wickets, and the whole side deserves the two points that followed. A win to treasure, and one the heart could barely take.