🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 26 Sep 2004 🧢 1st XIv ML Matt Larges · HomeformWWLWD

Sunday last saw us welcome Dummy Site, and it began as these things so often do for us: I lost the toss, they fancied batting, and I trudged back to the boundary before a ball had been bowled. Twenty overs later they'd posted a brisk 130/6, which felt about par until Gareth Davies decided otherwise, mixing it up beautifully for 2-16 and setting a tone that Dennis Salisbury (2-17) and Daniel Thirkell (1-20) were only too happy to follow. A proper team effort with the ball, and we came off feeling rather pleased with ourselves.

Chasing 131, the top order rather let the middle order do the heavy lifting, and thank heavens they did. Mike Elworthy anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 27, with Adam Jackson (26 not out) and Simon Thirkell (25 not out) both looking entirely unbothered by the situation. I wish I could say the same for myself — I fell for a duck, and the less said about that the better. Russell Baldwin joined me in the Duck Club too, so at least I had company in the walk of shame.

Amid the wreckage, some genuine cause for celebration: Tim Thirkell brought up 100 career wickets, and Dennis Salisbury reached the milestone of 50 — both thoroughly deserved and worth raising a glass to, whatever the scoreboard said. Daniel Thirkell, meanwhile, continues to lead our season run charts with 459 and sits second in the wickets list with 20.

In the end we fell five wickets short. Not our day, but with bowling and milestones like that, hardly a black one either. Back to the nets, heads up.

Sun 26 Sep 2004 🧢 1st XIv RB Russell Baldwins · HomeformWWWLW

Skipper's Log, Sunday 26th September 2004. Dummy Site were our visitors for what turned out to be one of those honest, hard-fought draws that leaves everybody slightly the poorer for the lack of a result, and slightly the richer for having had a proper game of cricket.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — and for once my judgement wasn't laughed out of the pavilion. We set about compiling 130/6 from our twenty overs, with Matthew Carter batting with real composure for an unbeaten 35, and Richard Knowler (26 not out) and Matt Large (26 not out) both chipping in handsomely at the other end. I even managed to contribute a watchful 26 myself, though I'll leave the lads to judge whether that was captaincy or comedy.

In the field we gave a good account of ourselves. Craig Sands, who sits a rather lofty second in this season's run charts with 430 to his name, was sent back for a duck without so much as a whisper — proof that even the in-form can have an off day. Richard Knowler was magnificent with the ball, ripping through with 3-4, well supported by Jack Jenner and Matthew Carter, who both picked up a wicket apiece for 21. Poor David Castle had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking 8 byes, but nobody's perfect on a Sunday.

The visitors clawed their way to 133/5 and pinched it by the narrowest of margins on paper, but with honours effectively shared, I'll call this an honourable, well-fought draw — the sort that keeps everyone talking in the bar long after the covers go on.

Wed 22 Sep 2004 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLLDLD

Given the coin toss went against us, Penshurst asked us to bat, and we made a fair fist of it: 224/6 from our 40 overs, thanks in no small part to Craig Sands, who played beautifully for an unbeaten 79, well past his fifty. Matthew Carter chipped in an unbeaten 34 and Trevor Back a tidy 27 — though it's Trevor's other feat of the day that will live longer in the memory, more on which shortly. Jim Hall, meanwhile, made the long, lonely walk back for nought, and the Duck Club welcomes its latest member.

224 looked a defendable total, and for a good while it was — but K. Exton had other ideas, farming the strike to an imperious unbeaten hundred, with Nick Rees (36) and Peter Whyte (34) offering steady support. Mark Christmas toiled manfully for 3-55, well backed by Jon Harris's 1-25, and there was some small consolation in seeing off Cliff Mitchell for a duck of his own. But Exton simply had too much for us, and Penshurst eased home by six wickets with 22 balls unused.

There was, happily, a proper reason to raise a glass regardless: Trevor Back brought up 10,000 career runs for the club, a landmark few of us will ever sniff. Craig Sands continues to lead the season's run charts with 250, and Jon Harris sits fourth among the wicket-takers with five.

Verdict: a defeat, no dressing it up, but one bookended by a milestone worth celebrating and a top order in good order. Back to the nets, heads up — the runs are there, we just need the rest to follow suit.

Sun 19 Sep 2004 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformLDLDL

Sunday 19th brought Anchorians CC to Linton Park, and for once the coin actually landed the right way up for me — I had no hesitation in putting us in, a decision that for approximately three overs looked either shrewd or suicidal depending on your position at square leg.

The lads batted with real purpose, racking up 195 for 4 from our 35 overs. Daniel Thirkell was the architect, striding past his half-century to 79 with the kind of authority that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy, well supported by Adam Jackson's 37 and Richard Piper's 30. Extras chipped in a generous 30 of their own, which I like to think reflects the opposition's hospitality more than our running between the wickets.

In the field, Darren Styles set about the Anchorians order with 3 for 37, backed superbly by Jon Harris (2-11) and Matthew Carter, whose 2 for 20 also brought up 50 career wickets — one for the mantelpiece indeed, and thoroughly deserved. D Raggett gave us a scare with a fighting 90, ably assisted by N Wellard's 30, but the rest of the order came and went, with poor Andy Tutt and J Bacon trudging back for ducks. All out for 157 in 32.1 overs told its own story.

A 38-run win, then — the sort of afternoon that makes the teas taste sweeter and the drive home shorter. Onwards.

Sat 18 Sep 2004 🧢 2nd XIv EC Elliotts CC · AwayformDWLLW

Saturday 18 September 2004, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — Elliotts CC won the toss and sent us in, which on a warm afternoon felt like a mild insult we'd simply have to answer with the bat.

Answer we did, up to a point. 187 for 9 off our 44 overs was a respectable rather than swashbuckling total, built patiently around Adam Jackson's unbeaten 41, with Kevin Presneill (27) and Dennis Salisbury (24) chipping in their share of the graft. It says something about the conditions, or perhaps the accuracy of both attacks, that our extras column weighed in with a hearty 31 — practically an opening partnership in itself, and not one I'll be putting forward for a bonus at the AGM.

Then came the small matter of defending it, and here the afternoon rather ran out of road. Elliotts cruised to 28 without loss from just 7 overs before the clock, or perhaps the tea urn, called a halt to proceedings. Honours shared, then — a draw that flattered nobody and offended nobody, the cricketing equivalent of a firm handshake.

Elsewhere, Richard Piper continues his quietly excellent season, sitting second in the 2nd XI run charts with 346 to his name — a reminder that not everything about this campaign has been a shrug. As for Saturday's effort: a competent batting performance, an unfinished bowling one, and a result that will trouble nobody's memory for long.

Sun 12 Sep 2004 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv ? · HomeformDLDLD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 12 September 2004. Home fixture.

Winning the toss, I sent them in, which felt like a fine idea for about thirty-nine overs and then a bit less so. N Taylor gave us a proper lesson in application, easing to a classy 59, with K Stapley (22) content to play the straight man. Credit to the lads with the ball, mind — Michael Beeney was superb, prising out two for just 23, with Jon Harris (2-30) and Adam Jackson (1-10) doing their bit to drag them back. 136/8 from their 40 overs felt gettable, if not exactly a gimme.

And gettable it very nearly proved. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, 62 of good old-fashioned application, well supported by Mark Christmas's brisk 26. Alas, poor Nigel Thirkell endured the special indignity of the duck 🦆 — these things happen to the best of us, Nigel, chin up. We closed on 137/5 from 30.3 overs, beaten by five wickets, the gap between winning and losing measured this week in fine margins rather than fine batting.

Elsewhere, Richard Piper's knock nudges him up to third in the Sunday 1st XI run charts with 63 for the season, while Adam Jackson continues to lead the wicket-takers with five. Small consolations, but consolations nonetheless.

Verdict: outbowled, nearly outbatted, ultimately just outdone. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 11 Sep 2004 🧢 2nd XIv Teston CC · AwayformWDWLL

Saturday 11 September 2004, and off we trundled to Teston CC with the coin failing to co-operate — they had first knock, and for a little while it looked like it might be a long afternoon for us in the field. As it turned out, Jack Jenner had other ideas. Teston crawled to 95 all out in 24.5 overs, Dan Tyler (24), Geoff King (22) and Peter Webley (21) doing what scoring there was, while Martin Hubbard, Rory Stroud and R King were all despatched back to the pavilion without so much as a nibble. Jenner was magnificent — 7 for 29, a five-for and then some, richly deserved — with Joe Martin (1-13, three tidy maidens) and Jon Harris (1-21) offering fine support in a bowling display that did the club proud.

Chasing a modest 96, we contrived to make the whole business rather more dramatic than it needed to be, losing a wicket before the board had troubled the scoreboard operator, and later seeing both Christopher Thirkell and Chris Newman depart for ducks. Ron McCormick had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes escaping his gloves, but none of it mattered in the end thanks to Richard Piper, unbeaten on a composed 43, who eased us home at 96 for 4 with five wickets in hand.

Two points, and no argument about it — Jenner's spell won the match, Piper's bat sealed it, and the rest of us were merely passengers of the pleasantest kind.

Sat 11 Sep 2004 🧢 1st XIv EC Eynsford CC · HomeformWWWWL

Saturday 11 September 2004. Lost the toss, lost the argument — Eynsford CC fancied batting first, and who was I to disagree with the coin.

We took to the field knowing we'd need to graft, and graft we did. Eynsford compiled a stern 173/8 from their forty overs, built around Dan Wise's classy 59 and useful support from Jamie Wise's 22. But the real story was with the ball: Michael Beeney bowled beautifully for 3-11, two of those overs going for nothing at all, while Tim Wright (2-46) and Daniel Thirkell (1-1) chipped away at the other end. A proper team effort in the field, and one that kept the target within reach.

Chasing 174, we made harder work of it than the scorecard perhaps suggests, but got there with four wickets and an over to spare — 175/6 off 39. Daniel Thirkell was the anchor, unbeaten on 47, with Graham Walker ably supporting on 37; a generous 26 extras from our hosts didn't hurt either. I contributed a modest 17, more nurdle than knock, but every run counts when the required rate starts nibbling at your collar.

With Thirkell now second in the season's run charts and Beeney top of the wicket pile, the form book is looking rather healthy. A tight, tense affair, but a good day for the club — and, more importantly, a very good tea.

Sun 05 Sep 2004 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv EC East Sutton CC · HomeformWLDWL

Sunday the fifth of September saw East Sutton visit Linton Park, and having won the toss I did not so much ponder as pounce, sending us in without a moment's hesitation. It proved the day's shrewdest piece of captaincy, if I say so myself. Mike Elworthy and Clive Newman then batted as though the bowlers owed them money, both racing to unbeaten hundreds — 103 and 100 respectively — while the rest of us watched from the boundary with tea going cold in our hands. A generous 109 in extras suggested East Sutton's line was, at best, a work in progress. We closed on a mighty 267 for 3 from our forty overs.

Chasing that lot, East Sutton at least had the decency to make a fist of it. Robert Bray and James Titchener put together fifties apiece, 73 and 55, and the openers had launched proceedings with 76 for the first wicket before Russell Baldwin intervened with 1 for 17, backed up nicely by Darren Styles and Michael Beeney with a wicket apiece. Ben Tragett chipped in with 20, but 199 for 5 was never going to trouble a target set that high.

As for the captain, I managed a tidy century of my own leading from the front — though on a day when two colleagues carried the innings so ably, mine felt rather the supporting act. We ran out winners by 68 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the scrapbook.

Sat 04 Sep 2004 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWWWWW

Batting first at Linton Park, I made the bold call of actually electing to bat when I won the toss – a decision I'm delighted to report didn't blow up in my face, which around here counts as a triumph in itself. Russell Baldwin set about Shipbourne with a crisp 57, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself with 54, before Craig Sands finished things off in style, 36 not out, as we closed on a handsome 208/3 from our 46 overs.

Two hundred and eight looked a proper total defending it proved another matter entirely. Shipbourne's Paul Stovell played the innings of the day with 44, well backed by M. Cooper (38) and M. Rendle (37), and try as we might we simply couldn't shut the door. Richard Knowler was the pick of our attack with 2-44, Michael Beeney chipped in with 2-45, Dennis Salisbury took 1-30, and Daniel Thirkell bowled two tidy maidens for his trouble. Poor Craig Sands, having done his bit with the bat, then had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 11 byes as the ball kept finding gaps he'd rather it hadn't.

In the end Shipbourne squeezed home by 3 wickets, and much as it pains me to say it, we rather let this one slip through our fingers. Elsewhere in the season, Russell Baldwin continues to lead our run charts with 453 for the year, and Michael Beeney tops the wickets with 26 – small consolations on a day when the scoreboard read like a triumph and the result like anything but. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sat 04 Sep 2004 🧢 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWWDWL

As it stands: beaten by three wickets, but we gave Sissinghurst a proper afternoon's work for it.

I called it right on the toss and had few doubts about batting first on what looked a fair deck. Trevor Back was the innings in microcosm — watchful, then rather splendid, carrying us to 59 not out and dragging the total to a respectable 166/6 from our 46. Christopher Thirkell (24) and Kevin Presneill (23) chipped in usefully either side of him, and the extras column, with 25 to its name, did more for the cause than some of the specialist batsmen. Simon Thirkell will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but the ledger must be kept honest.

With the ball, we had them under some early pressure and never quite let go of it, but Sissinghurst had the answers when it mattered. Mick Winner's 43 and an unbeaten 40 from Stephen Brown, backed up by Andrew Macfarlane's 32, edged them past us with a wicket to spare and overs in hand — 167/7 from 41. Jon Harris toiled magnificently for 4-65, and Darren Styles was miserly throughout, four maidens among his 2-20, with Jack Jenner chipping in a wicket too. Poor Kevin had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes going astray — glovework is a cruel mistress.

Three wickets is close enough to sting and close enough to encourage. We'll dust ourselves down, raise a glass to Trevor's fifty, and go again next week.

Sun 29 Aug 2004 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Boughton & Eastwell CC · AwayformDDLDL

Sunday 29 August took us out to Boughton & Eastwell, and the coin, as it so often does when I'm doing the tossing, let us down at the crucial moment. They chose to bat, and we set about them with the ball in reasonably good heart. Simon Richardson departed for nought, which was a pleasing start, but Oliver Saxby had other ideas, compiling a fine 45, well backed up by Pete Wain's 37 and A Austen's 36 as the hosts ground their way to 169/6 from 55 overs. Tim Wright led from the front with 2-23, Adam Jackson chipped in admirably with 2-31, and James Piper took 1-14 — three maidens squeezed out along the way, credited, mysteriously, to a bowler the scorebook simply couldn't name.

Chasing 170 for the draw was never going to be a formality, but Mike Elworthy made light of it, batting through unbeaten on 56, past his fifty and looking thoroughly at home, with David Castle a sturdy ally on 42. I managed 42 myself, which I shall mention only in passing, being far too modest to dwell on it. We closed on 139/4 from 43 overs — short of the target, but never in danger of losing.

The real news of the day, though, was Mike's 9,000th run for the club, a landmark worth more than any single scorecard, and one that had him deservedly climbing to third in this season's Sunday run charts, with Adam Jackson sitting second among the wicket-takers.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on the day, entirely fair.

Sat 28 Aug 2004 🧢 2nd XIv LR Lord Raglan · HomeformDWWDW

Saturday last, 28 August 2004, saw Dummy Site pitch up at Linton Park, and for once the coin did as it was told — I called correctly and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, sent us in to bat. Adam Jackson led the charge with a fine 42, Ron McCormick chipped in a handy 33, and Matthew Carter finished unbeaten on 23 to see us to a respectable 185/8 from our forty overs. Not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but enough to make an afternoon of it.

With ball in hand we set about defending it, and for a while it looked promising. Jack Jenner was the pick of the attack, prising out three for 36, with John Taylor (2-26) and Kevin Presneill (1-7) offering fine support, while Darren Styles bowled two tidy maidens to keep the scoreboard honest. Alas, T- Parkin's 28, alongside P- Smith's 26 and a- Broome's 22, dragged the visitors home to 146/7. Poor Mike Elworthy had one of those afternoons behind the stumps — eight byes is the sort of thing that keeps a wicketkeeper awake at night, though he remains our leading run-scorer this season with 382, and Darren Styles sits proudly fifth in the wicket charts with ten.

In the end, beaten by 39 runs. Nothing shameful, but nothing to celebrate either — we'll be sharper with bat, ball and gloves next Saturday.

Sat 21 Aug 2004 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLDWWD

Saturday 21 August 2004 saw the road take us to Meopham CC, and losing the toss meant an afternoon in the field — never our first choice, but the lads took it in good spirit and got on with it. Meopham posted a competitive 173/8 from their 46 overs, built around a well-made unbeaten fifty from Dennis Smart (79 not out), with Greg Kingston (23) and Mick Clark (21) chipping in. Marc Howorth departed without so much as a squeak off the bat. With ball in hand it was Adam Jackson who did the real damage, a fine 4-37, backed up by Jon Harris (2-37) and the ever-parsimonious Matthew Carter, whose 2-51 came with three maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly.

Chasing 174, we were treated to something rather special. Mike Elworthy played an innings for the ages, 116 not out, and simply refused to give it back, ably supported by Graham Walker's composed 25 not out. Jack Jenner and Richard Piper both contributed golden ducks to the cause, though nobody much minded with Elworthy in that kind of touch. We cruised home at 174/3 from 34 overs.

With 361 runs to his name this season, Elworthy now tops the 2nd XI run charts, while Carter's three-maiden spell nudges him to second in the wicket standings. A fine win by seven wickets, and a thoroughly satisfying way to spend a Saturday. Onwards.

Wed 18 Aug 2004 🧢 Midweek XIv TC Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformDLLDL

Wednesday 18 August 2004, and we welcomed Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC to Linton Park. I lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think the coin has a grudge against me — and they sent us in.

We batted with more application than usual, posting 186/6 from our 42 overs. Trevor Back top-scored with a fine 34, while Mark Christmas and Craig Sands both chipped in with 29 apiece, their fifth-wicket stand of 58 the platform on which the innings was built. Not every man will look back on the day fondly, mind — poor Rob Jackson made his way back to the pavilion for nought, the walk of shame duly noted in the Duck Club ledger.

With the ball, we made them work hard for their 163/8 from 43 overs, though Ben Tragett had other ideas, cracking a splendid 76 with useful support from P. Tourle's 24 — their sixth-wicket pair adding a stubborn 74 after we'd had them wobbling at 5 for the loss of an early wicket. I. Wright and G. Chitty both departed without troubling the scorers at our hands. The bowling honours went to Matthew Carter, whose 3-27 did the real damage, with Darren Styles (2-9, and two miserly maidens besides) and Michael Beeney (2-33) chipping in admirably.

Richard Piper continues to lead our run charts this season with 187, and Carter now tops the wickets with 10. As for Wednesday's meeting — honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the decisive blow. A fair result, if not an entirely satisfying one.

Sat 14 Aug 2004 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWLDWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 14 August 2004. Bearsted CC at home, and I called correctly at the toss for once, which I took as an omen and stuck them in without a flicker of doubt.

As omens go, it was a mixed one. Richard Filmer settled in for a fine 67, and Alistair Mills farmed the tail beautifully with an unbeaten 30, the pair stitching together a 76-run eighth-wicket stand that turned a modest total into a defendable one — 171/8 from their 46 overs. Small mercies: Robin Cross departed for a duck without so much as scuffing the scorebook. Gareth Davies led the fightback with 2-26, Matthew Carter chipped in 2-29 (two tidy maidens besides) and Trevor Back matched him with 2-35, so the bowling at least kept us in the contest.

With the bat, we were tidy without being troubling, bundled out for 141 in 43.4 overs. Richard Piper batted with real class for 53, and but for Tim Thirkell's blob at the other end we might have made a proper fist of the chase. As for the captain — a golden duck, first ball back in the field. They do say a captain must lead by example; I rather think I led by cautionary tale instead.

Still, honours were shared in the end, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody. Richard Piper continues to top our 2nd XI run charts on 267 for the summer, Trevor Back leads the wickets on 19, and Linton Park lives to fight another Saturday.

Sat 14 Aug 2004 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWWWWW

Skipper's Log, Saturday 14th August 2004 — away to Meopham CC

I won the toss and stuck us in the field, which I'm quietly rather pleased about, because Meopham never really got away from us. They battled to 128 all out off 44.1 overs, with Adam Roxburgh (23), R Cutts (22) and James Fotheringham (20) doing the bulk of the graft against tidy bowling all round. Matt Sparkes departed for a golden duck, which I'm told is character-building. But the story of the innings was Daniel Thirkell, who bowled beautifully for 5-31 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — not a run given away lightly. Michael Beeney (2-31) and Dennis Salisbury (1-14) chipped in nicely alongside him.

Chasing 129, we cantered home at 132/3 from 41 overs. Thirkell wasn't finished with the bat either, following his five-for with an unbeaten 52, well supported by David Castle (43) and Russell Baldwin (24). I managed 43 myself, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for the rest of the season. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, letting through eight byes — the gloves were not his friend today.

A word of celebration: Thirkell's five-for nudges him up to 19th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, past John Taylor. With Baldwin leading our run charts and Beeney topping the wickets this year, the season's shaping up rather nicely. Seven wickets to spare, and a very good day for the club.

Wed 11 Aug 2004 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWDLLD

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 11 August 2004, away at The Mote CC.

Won the toss, and there was never much debate in my mind — on went the pads, out we went to bat. Fifty overs later we'd posted 178/9, a total built almost entirely by two men doing the heavy lifting: Stuart Cheesman's 42 the backbone of it, Trevor Back chipping in a fine 37 alongside him. Elsewhere in the order things were rather quieter — Matthew Carter's golden duck being the standout of the wrong kind, though we shall let him keep that one to himself.

Defending 178 was always going to want discipline, and for a good while we had it. Piers McDonald was our pick of the bowlers, snaring 1-8 with a spell of real control, well backed up by Stuart Cheesman (1-15) and Trevor Back (1-19) — busy men all round today, those two. But Chris Back had other ideas, a composed 65 that did for us in the end, with Stephan Grobler (31 not out) and Mark Bristow (25 not out) seeing The Mote home at 185/5 with overs to spare. Five wickets the margin, and not our day.

As for the skipper — nought, and the least said about that innings the better. One shaft of real sunshine, though: Richard Piper brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and the one thing worth raising a glass to on the drive home. Verdict: outplayed by the better side on the day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 08 Aug 2004 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Harvel CC · AwayformWWLDW

Skipper's log, Sunday 8th August 2004: over to Harvel we trooped, and it must be said, the runs were rather more plentiful on their side of the ledger than ours.

Put into the field first, we watched Stuart Wakeman construct a proper captain's nightmare of a century — 112 of the finest, with Stewart Dimmick chipping in a handy 38, and between them a 121-run stand for the second wicket that did most of the damage as Harvel rattled up 228/8 from their forty. Not all doom, mind: Trevor Back toiled manfully for 2-36, Matt Coles and Gareth Davies picked up a wicket apiece, and Adam Jackson bowled two maidens as tidy as you like. Gary Millen, for what it's worth, departed for a duck at our hands — small mercies.

Chasing 229 was always a tall order, and so it proved. John Coles led the reply with a battling 45, well supported by Mike Elworthy's own 45 and an unbeaten 24 from Trevor Back, the pair adding a stubborn 69 for the fifth wicket to give the innings some backbone. We closed on 160/6 — respectable, but 68 runs shy of the target. Spare a thought for Adam Jackson, who bagged the duck this time round, completing rather a mixed afternoon for him personally. Jon Harris, meanwhile, continues to lead the Sunday 2nd XI wicket charts with 19 for the season.

Not our day. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 07 Aug 2004 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · HomeformLWWWW

Saturday last saw Milstead CC roll up the drive, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't so much ponder as blurt out "we'll bat" — a rare moment of decisiveness from your captain. It very nearly paid off in style. Russell Baldwin and Mark Christmas, both compiling handsome 48s, did the heavy lifting, with Craig Sands chipping in 20 and the extras column contributing a thoroughly undeserved 28 of its own. Matt Large, meanwhile, made his way back to the pavilion for nought, adding his name to the club's ever-growing Duck Ledger 🦆. All told, 200/9 from our 46 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough to be going on with.

Milstead had other ideas, and Paul Carlton's fluent 66 threatened to bat us out of it entirely, ably assisted by Mike Sellar's 42 and Neil Burnop's 28. But club cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and ours came from the bowlers: Matt Large redeeming his golden duck in some style with 2-28, Richard Knowler and John Taylor chipping in 2-30 and 2-38 respectively, and Daniel Thirkell tying things down with two tidy maidens. Mark Christmas, having batted so well, endured a rather more testing afternoon behind the stumps, with 14 byes finding their way past him.

They fell for 197. Three runs. That's the margin — the width of a misfield, the length of a full toss — and somehow it was enough. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a reminder that in this game the difference between glory and grief is often no wider than a single, nervous single.

Sat 07 Aug 2004 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · AwayformDWLDW

Saturday 07 August 2004, and off to Milstead we went, sunshine on our backs and not so much as a decent groundsman's tip for me at the toss – heads it was, and heads it wasn't, and so we were put into the field, which as any village skipper knows is really just an invitation to stand about admiring the scenery until tea.

Milstead battled to 153/7 from their 46 overs, Roger Chapman doing the heavy lifting with a fine 42, Ben Seaman chipping in with 26, while B Wright and Gareth Chick went back to the pavilion without so much as a run to their names. Jon Harris was the chief tormentor with 3-24, Jack Jenner and Michael Beeney took one apiece, and Ian Hollingworth bowled with the tightness of a man guarding the last biscuit, four maidens to his name.

Chasing 154, we wobbled our way to 159/8 in 43.5 overs – never comfortable, always interesting, which is the Linton Park way. Richard Piper played beautifully for 60, and brother Brian matched him stroke for stroke with 51, the two Pipers doing most of the damage between them. Less gloriously, Jack Jenner and Ian Hollingworth both walked back for ducks, presumably muttering into their tea about the unfairness of it all.

We scrambled home by two wickets in the end – no margin for error, plenty for the heart rate – and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Tue 03 Aug 2004 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformWWDLL

Tuesday 3rd August found us hosting Bexley CC, and honours were shared on a day when neither side could quite land the knockout blow. I lost the toss again — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has it in for me — and Bexley took first use of a good batting surface, racking up 203/5 from their 38 overs. Michael Ladbrook was in irrepressible form with 88 not out, well backed by Niheer Dasandi's 46 and Stephen Course's 32, the pair putting on 88 for the fourth wicket to give their innings its spine. Credit to the bowlers for keeping us in it: Ian Hollingworth was the pick with 2-46, Darren Styles and Michael Beeney chipped in a wicket apiece, and Adam Jackson bowled two tidy maidens without giving an inch.

Chasing 204, we lost an early wicket with just 7 on the board and I feared the worst — but Adrian Caddick and Craig Sands both made 42, sharing a commanding 99 for the fourth wicket, with Adam Jackson's 33 adding further ballast. Poor Matthew Carter will want to forget his duck, but the extras column did its bit with a generous 42 to help us to 197/8 from our 41.

So, seven runs short with two overs unused — a draw that felt like a point gained rather than two lost. Bexley will be the happier travelling home, but we can hold our heads high. A fair result, honestly earned.

Sat 31 Jul 2004 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformWLWWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 31 July 2004, away at Southborough CC.

Won the toss, elected to bat, and I'll stand by that decision even after what followed. We were bowled out for 122 in 35.4 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Russell Baldwin's watchful 43 and Stuart Cheesman's useful 26 in support. Elsewhere the innings had all the structural integrity of a garden shed in a gale, not helped by Kevin Presneill's golden duck — the sort of dismissal best filed under "least said."

Defending 122 away from home is not a job for the faint-hearted, but the lads set about it with real purpose. Southborough were dismissed for 112 in 43.4 overs, Carl Packeer's 34 and Colin Ayres's 21 the only real resistance, while Jamie Brown and Dave Fuller both departed for nought at our hands. Daniel Thirkell was magnificent — 3 for 27 with six maidens, bowling like a man who simply didn't fancy anyone scoring off him — and in doing so crept past Ron Hickman to 20th on the club's all-time wicket list. Michael Beeney (2-10) and Matt Large (2-16) chipped in handsomely alongside him.

Ten runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned by a bowling effort that papered over a batting performance we'd all rather forget. Southborough, wherever you are: we'll take that one all season.

Sat 31 Jul 2004 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWDWLD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 31 July 2004, and Headcorn CC were our guests on a day I'll be dining out on for weeks.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first, and for once the decision looked positively inspired rather than the usual coin-flip guesswork. Mike Elworthy played the innings of his life, 167 not out and utterly untroubled, while Richard Piper's 90 gave him the sort of company he barely needed but thoroughly deserved. Between them they hauled us to 302/2 from our 46 overs — the kind of total that has opposition bowlers quietly checking their run-ups and openers reaching for something stronger than tea at the interval.

With the ball, we knew 302 was a mountain, but Headcorn are not a side to lie down, and Paul Millen's fifty (65), backed up by Steve Kingsmill's 38 and Stephen Smith's 30, dragged them to a respectable 217/6 from their 44. It was Trevor Back who did the real damage, though — 4-38 of pure, relentless discipline — with Darren Styles chipping in for 2-42 to keep the squeeze on.

Elworthy now sits proudly atop our 2004 run charts with 245, and Back leads the wicket-takers with 17 — form that, on this evidence, shows no sign of deserting either man.

We got home by 85 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one the tea urn will be talking about long after the scorebook's put away.

Thu 29 Jul 2004 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDWWDL

Thursday 29 July 2004, and I'll admit to a small thrill at calling correctly for once — no debate needed, we were batting.

The lads made a proper job of it too. Mike Elworthy played the innings of the day, 53 to his name and past his fifty with something to spare, while Matthew Carter kept his head to finish unbeaten on 46 and Adam Jackson chipped in a handy 21. Even the extras column pulled its weight with 56 — I shan't ask too many questions about how, but I'll take them all the same. 206/7 from our 43 overs felt like a total with some steel in it.

Defending it, though, is where the story turned. T Gregory simply refused to leave, 72 of real quality, and Nathan Philpott stood alongside him unbeaten on 53 with P Patel weighing in with 24. Darren Styles toiled away superbly for 2-47 with two maidens to show for his discipline, and John Taylor and Trevor Back each picked up a wicket, but 207/5 came with 20 balls to spare and we were left to rue the missed moments. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes conceded, and no doubt his gloves feel it still.

Richard Piper continues to lead our run charts with 129 for the season, and Darren Styles the wickets with 6 — small consolations on a day that ended in defeat by three wickets. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 25 Jul 2004 🧢 Sunday NVKCv FC Findon CC · HomeformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 25 July 2004. Findon CC visited us, I called correctly and, with the sun out and the square looking a picture, had absolutely no hesitation in sticking us in to bat.

What followed was pure theatre from Daniel Thirkell, who batted through for a superb unbeaten 109 — the innings' backbone, its heartbeat, and very nearly its entire highlights reel. Paul Gibson chipped in nicely with 22, and though we lost our first wicket for just 8, a handy stand of 58 for the third wicket steadied the ship. We closed on 193 for 6 from our 40 overs, which felt like a total with some teeth in it.

Defending it proved a different matter. Findon's John Rogers had other ideas, compiling a magnificent unbeaten 102, with John Cox playing the perfect lieutenant on 26 not out. We had them early, one down for just a single run, and even after a stand of 54 for the second wicket I still fancied us — until their last pair put on an infuriating 99 that owed us nothing. John Taylor toiled manfully for 3 for 21, with Rob Doick and Mark Christmas chipping in, and Thirkell somehow found two maidens despite everything else he'd already done that day with the bat.

A word before I go: Daniel Thirkell brought up 8,000 career runs for the club — remarkable stuff, and thoroughly deserved.

Beaten by four wickets in the end, then, on 194 for 6 from 38.3. We gave rather too much away at the death, but there was enough here to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 24 Jul 2004 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformWWLWW

Hollingbourne came to Linton Park on a Saturday that promised much and, for once, delivered. Winning the toss, I had little hesitation putting us in — a decision that looked rather clever once Daniel Thirkell got going, compiling a magnificent 122 that will live long in the memory, ably supported by Paul Gibson's well-crafted 74. Russell Baldwin's contribution, a golden duck, was rather less celebrated, though the club statisticians tell me Thirkell's innings has now nudged him past Piers McDonald to 11th on our all-time run charts — no mean feat. We closed on 246/6 from our 46, a total that felt competitive without being wholly safe.

So it proved, as Neil Taylor set about our bowling with a fine 83, finding support from Tom Osborne (37) and Dave Hinks (24). But Mark Christmas had other ideas, running through the order with 5-36 in a spell of real quality, while Rob Doick (1-22) and Dennis Salisbury (1-29) chipped in dutifully — Doick's solitary wicket bringing up 300 for his career, a landmark worthy of a pint or three. Hollingbourne fell for 215, Adeel Hussain and Mike Palmer both departing without scoring.

A 31-run victory, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — built on Thirkell's brilliance and sealed by Christmas's five-for. Craig Sands and Christmas continue to lead our charts this season, and on this evidence, long may it continue. Onwards indeed.

Thu 22 Jul 2004 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWDWWD

Thursday 22 July saw us take the field with a spring in our step, and the visitors put in to bat first on a day that promised much. They posted 185/9 from their 35 overs, with R Weyz the chief architect of our discomfort on 49, well supported by R Lubbers' 34. Credit where it's due, though — young M Dirks was despatched for a golden duck, and the bowling attack did us proud throughout: Matthew Carter led from the front with 2-35, Jon Harris chipped in with 2-36, and Adrian Caddick picked up a handy 1-3. A target of 186 felt gettable, if not exactly gentle.

Alas, our reply never quite found its rhythm. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, a fine 59 that had us daring to dream, and got good company from Mike Elworthy (29) and Richard Piper (25). But wickets fell at the wrong moments and we were all out for 162 in 34.5 overs, 23 runs shy of the finish line.

Small consolations for the scrapbook: Richard Piper continues to top the Midweek XI run charts this season with 126, and Matthew Carter leads the wicket-takers with 5. As for the rest of us — well, the tea was good, the company better, and the cricket, on this occasion, not quite good enough. We'll dust ourselves off and come back stronger next week.

Wed 14 Jul 2004 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDWDWW

Wednesday 14 July saw Dummy Site pay us a visit, and the coin, as ever, showed no loyalty to its captain — they called correctly and sent us in. No matter; the lads set about the task with more purpose than my pre-match team talk deserved.

Richard Piper was the story of the innings, an assured 79 that anchored everything around him and did the bulk of the heavy lifting. Mark Christmas chipped in with a brisk 44 and Craig Sands added a tidy 22, while our extras column swelled to a generous 31 — not the prettiest runs on the board, but they count the same as any other. All told, 218/8 from our 46.2 overs felt like a total with enough substance to work with.

Defending it, we gave a good account of ourselves without quite landing the killer blow. Matthew Carter was superb with the ball, his 3-31 the pick of the attack, backed up nicely by Adrian Caddick's 2-31 and two tidy maidens plus a wicket from Mark Christmas. Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, though — eight byes is the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint. Dummy Site's Claire Taylor made light of it all with an unbeaten-in-spirit 50, well supported down the order, and they crept to 212/8 from their 52 overs.

So honours shared, a draw that flattered neither side into bragging rights. Piper leads our season run charts and Carter sits proudly second among the wicket-takers — proof, if any were needed, that this was no fluke of an afternoon, just Linton Park doing what Linton Park does: nearly, but not quite, finishing the job.

Tue 13 Jul 2004 🧢 Twenty20v Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWW

Tuesday 13 July 2004 saw us make the trip to Bearsted CC, and for once I was almost glad to lose the toss — bowling first on a ground like that always feels the more honest examination. Bearsted elected to bat, and it's fair to say the innings did not so much unravel as come apart at the seams. From 66-6 to 71-9 in the blink of an eye, they were bowled out for a modest 77 in 19 overs, with Rob Doick the chief tormentor (2-8), well supported by Richard Knowler (2-14) and Mark Christmas (2-15). Special mention to Stephen Horrocks, sent back for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us.

Chasing 78, we made harder work of it than the bowling figures suggested we might, stumbling to 79-4 off 17.4 overs. Russell Baldwin held the innings together with a fine 35, though Mark Christmas, so effective with the ball, endured the golden-duck ignominy with the bat — cricket's little joke on the all-rounder. Poor Craig Sands, meanwhile, had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, shipping nine byes that will have done nothing for his figures or his temper.

Still, with Baldwin now leading the season's run charts on 175 and Knowler topping the wickets with 7, the engine room is purring nicely. A scrappy performance, perhaps, but a six-wicket win is a six-wicket win. Onwards.

Sun 11 Jul 2004 🧢 Sunday NVKCv RC Rowledge CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday 11 July 2004, and Rowledge CC arrived at Linton Park with the sun out and the toss going against us — chase it is, then, though not before an afternoon in the field first. That old routine of losing the coin and being asked to bowl still stings the pride a touch, but the lads set about it with good cheer, and it showed: Rowledge were shepherded along to 157/8 from their 37.3 overs, never quite allowed to cut loose. Rob Doick was the chief tormentor with a fine 3-40, Matt Large chipped in nicely with 2-16, and Mark Christmas bowled a tidy spell for 2-46 including two maidens — not a run given away lightly, as they say. Nigel Thirkell departed for a golden duck among the wickets to fall, which I'm sure he'll not thank me for mentioning.

With 158 needed, the reply had a touch of calm assurance about it. Craig Sands anchored things beautifully, cruising to 58 not out, while Daniel Thirkell (27 not out) and Paul Gibson (25 not out) played their parts with sensible, unflustered batting to see us home at 159/5 with an over in hand.

David Castle continues to top the season's run charts with 358, and Rob Doick sits second among the bowlers with 7 wickets — form that bodes well.

A five-wicket win, achieved without alarm and with barely a raised pulse. Losing the toss has rarely mattered less — a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 11 Jul 2004 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformLWWLD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 11 July 2004, and Mersham Sports CC the visitors to Linton Park.

I won the toss and, with the pitch looking full of runs for someone, elected to bowl. It didn't look the boldest of decisions when Matt Roberts (45) and Kevin Burton (45 not out) got themselves comfortable, but the lads kept plugging away and the middle order duly folded, 154-7 becoming 163 all out with Rudi Stassen, Jack Wilson and Sam Burton all walking back for ducks. Michael Beeney was superb, 3-13, with Jon Harris (2-16) and Matthew Carter (1-14) chipping in, and Darren Styles gave nothing away with two tidy maidens. A satisfying morning's toil.

Chasing 164, Adam Jackson (54) and Jack Jenner (50) put on a magnificent 115 for the second wicket and had us cruising — until, in the way club cricket insists on reminding you never to relax, 133-2 became 142-5 in the blink of an eye, Matthew Carter completing a miserable pair with a duck of his own. Clive Newman, meanwhile, was having a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes finding their way through. But cooler heads prevailed and we got over the line at 165-6.

A nervy finish dressed up as a comfortable one, but two points are two points, and thoroughly deserved — won by four wickets.

Sun 04 Jul 2004 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sherwood CC, Kent · AwayformWLWWL

Sunday 4th July saw us motor into Kent to take on Sherwood CC, and honesty compels me to admit it was the sort of afternoon that leaves a captain scratching his head over exactly what to write home about.

Put into the field, we watched Sherwood build a steady 186/8 from their 45 overs, Frank Woollett top-scoring with a fluent 36, well supported by Steve Rowe's unbeaten 27 and Nick Webster's 25. Poor Ivan Willis will not want reminding of his contribution — back in the pavilion without so much as a run to his name. Credit where it's due, though: Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, 4-26 and a real thorn in Sherwood's side, backed up nicely by Samuel Harris and Tom Motum with a wicket apiece, while Adam Jackson strangled the scoring with three tidy maidens.

Chasing 187, we made a fair fist of it, closing on 166/6 from our 41 overs — not quite enough, but a spirited effort carried almost single-handedly by Mark Christmas, whose 94 was a proper captain's innings even if it wasn't the captain doing the batting. I contributed a modest 17, more stubbornness than style, while behind the stumps Clive Newman had a torrid time of it, 28 byes going begging — not his finest hour, though he'll dine out on worse.

With honours even and neither side able to press home advantage, it finished a draw. Elsewhere in the season, Matthew Carter continues to lead our run charts with 162, and Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with 13 — both men very much the engine room of this Sunday side. All told: a hard-fought stalemate, no shame in it, and the tea was very probably the best part of the day.

Sat 03 Jul 2004 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformTWWLW

A cracking afternoon at Shipbourne, this — the sort of match you dream of when you're driving down with the kit bags rattling in the boot.

Winning the toss, I sent Shipbourne in, and for a while it looked like I'd got my sums wrong as M. Cooper set about us with a fine 74, well supported by Paul Stovell (33) and E. Gelling (21). They posted a stiff 184/7, and only some tight bowling kept us in it — Daniel Thirkell was the pick of the attack with a superb 4-28, while Dennis Salisbury bowled with real discipline, four maidens among his figures of 1-31, and John Taylor chipped in with 1-36. S. Price, mercifully, never troubled the scorers.

Chasing 185, we made harder work of it than the final margin suggests, though Paul Gibson batted beautifully for 62, ably backed up by Nigel Thirkell (46) and Daniel Thirkell (28) — that man again, doing it with bat and ball. I rattled along to a watchful 15 myself, while poor Craig Sands had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, 13 byes escaping his gloves like eels.

Special mention, though, for Nigel Thirkell, who brought up his 1,100th appearance in Linton colours — a quite staggering piece of service to the club, and one raised a genuinely proud toast to in the bar afterwards.

A three-wicket win, then, scrappy in places but thoroughly deserved. Onwards indeed.

Sat 03 Jul 2004 🧢 2nd XIv BC Benenden CC · HomeformWWDWL

Saturday 3 July saw Benenden CC pay us a visit, and I'll admit I rather fancied our chances upon winning the toss – batting first felt the only sensible option under the circumstances.

The lads duly obliged with 170/6 from our 45 overs, built on the sort of innings that makes a captain's job easy. Tim Thirkell was in fine touch for his 53, with Trevor Back (35) and Graham Walker (29) chipping in handsomely around him. A total to defend, certainly, though not one to relax over.

And relax we did not, though the bowling made light work of it. Trevor Back was simply magnificent, tearing through with 4-24, backed up nicely by Michael Beeney (2-34) and Jon Harris (1-29), while Adam Jackson kept things admirably tight with two maidens. Andrew Morrison fell for a duck against us, though Peter Newman's classy 66 kept Benenden in the hunt as they closed on 151/7 from 43 overs – enough, in the end, for honours to be shared.

I don't mind saying my own 53 gave me quiet satisfaction, but the day belonged to Graham Walker, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club – a landmark worth raising a glass to, and fitting given he now leads our 2004 2nd XI run charts with 224, with Trevor Back (12 wickets) sitting proudly second among the bowlers.

A draw, then – no losers, and on this evidence, no shortage of pride either.

Tue 29 Jun 2004 🧢 Twenty20v Headcorn CC · HomeformWWW

Tuesday 29 June found Headcorn CC visiting us on what I like to call a proper cricketing evening, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I shall be dining out on for weeks. Russell Baldwin set about the bowling with real purpose for 67, Rob Doick matched him stride for stride with a handsome 60, and Stewart Morrison finished unbeaten on 27 to see us to a formidable 187/3 from our twenty overs. Poor Paul Gibson, meanwhile, was reminded that cricket is a cruel game, departing for a golden duck — though he would have his revenge before the evening was out.

Defending that total, we bowled and fielded with real snap. Richard Knowler was outstanding, 2-10, with Adam Jackson (2-21) and the aforementioned Gibson (1-2, redemption complete) offering fine support. Mike Donnelly battled hardest for the visitors with 22, but Robert Sparks joined Gibson in the club's less illustrious column, bagging a duck of his own. Headcorn subsided to 83/9 from 17.2 overs. I shall gloss over our nine byes, save to say David Castle will not thank me for mentioning them, and to note Rob Doick continues to top our Twenty20 run charts with 166 while Darren Styles leads the wicket-takers with six.

A hundred and four runs the right way — a thoroughly good day for the club, and one I intend to enjoy on the drive home.

Sun 27 Jun 2004 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Horndon On The Hill CC · AwayformLWWWW

Sunday 27 June 2004, and off we trundled to Horndon On The Hill, where I called correctly and, in a rare fit of confidence, stuck us in. It very nearly justified the swagger. Paul Gibson played the innings of the season — a chanceless, unbeaten ton, the sort that makes the rest of us look faintly ornamental by comparison — and found willing company in Stuart Cheesman, unbeaten on 27, and David Castle's tidy 22. Extras chipped in a splendid 49, which by our standards counts as a top-order partnership in itself. Less gloriously, Craig Sands departed for a duck, though he wore it, as all good club cricketers must, with a shrug and a small piece of his soul. We closed on 239 for 6 from our 40, a total with real teeth.

Defending it, Horndon threatened for a while — Jason Plom unbeaten on 46, Philip Keeping's 35 and Paul Bennett's unbeaten 24 kept things respectable — but 120 for 2 from 24.2 overs was never going to trouble a total like ours. Mark Christmas was the pick of our attack with 1 for 25, and I even had a small say myself with 22 with the bat earlier on.

David Castle continues to lead our 2004 Sunday run charts with 357, and Mark Christmas sits third in the wickets with 5. A comfortable 119-run win, two points banked, and, dare I say it, a thoroughly satisfying Sunday's work.

Sun 27 Jun 2004 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv MC Minster (Sheppey) CC · AwayformLWLWW

Sunday 27 June saw us head to Minster (Sheppey), where I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season and duly volunteered us into the field. Not that Minster needed volunteering — they set about accumulating with real purpose, Mike Rees (72) and Joe O'Donoghue (70) putting on 145 for the second wicket and taking the game clean away from us. Darren Styles did what he could, two wickets and two miserly maidens for his 32, with Adam Jackson and Matthew Carter chipping in with a couple apiece, but 235/6 from 40 overs was always going to be a mountain.

And so it proved. We slipped to 8 for an early wicket and never quite found our footing, though Michael Beeney's gutsy 41 and a battling 58-run stand for the eighth wicket gave the scorebook a bit of dignity. Matthew Carter, having bowled his heart out, returned the favour with the bat by collecting a golden duck — cricket's way of keeping a man humble. Behind the stumps Joe Martin had a torrid afternoon, 10 byes telling their own story of a pitch that clearly had ideas of its own.

All out for 130 in the 30th over, beaten by 105 runs — a proper hiding, no dressing it up. Small consolations: Richard Piper sits third in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts, Darren Styles second among the wicket-takers. The rest of us will just have to find our consolations elsewhere. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 26 Jun 2004 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformWTWWL

Skipper's Log, Saturday 26 June 2004: away at Milstead, and having called correctly at the toss there was never much doubt what I'd do with it — you don't turn down a bat on a good pitch, not even to be polite. And how it repaid us. David Castle played the innings of the day, 93 that really ought to have had three figures on the end of it, while Russell Baldwin kept him fine company with 87 of his own. Craig Sands finished unbeaten on 36 to see us home to 244/2 from our 46 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

Defending it, Milstead never quite let go, Richard Moxon's 85 dragging them along with support from Mike Sellar and Stuart Burnop, and 196/8 from 44 overs was a proper effort on their part. But the bowling did its job in the end: Daniel Thirkell led from the front with 2-36, Mark Christmas chipped in with 2-42 and two tidy maidens, John Taylor took 1-55, and poor Paul Mills departed without troubling the scorers.

A word for the record books: Daniel's 23 runs eased him past John Ames into 13th on the all-time list, while Craig continues to lead our 2004 run charts and Mark sits third among the wicket-takers. As for my own 93 — I shan't pretend I wasn't rather pleased with that.

A fine win by 48 runs. Onwards.

Sat 26 Jun 2004 🧢 2nd XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWWWDW

Saturday 26 June 2004, and Shipbourne CC rolled up as our visitors with the sun more or less behaving itself. I lost the toss — a growing habit of mine — and Shipbourne, without hesitation, sent us into the field. No complaints from this corner; a bowl first is no bad thing on a good morning.

They batted with real application, working their way to 181/9 from 46 overs. Edward Gelling led the charge with 42, well backed up by Bob Scott's 35 and Chris Clarke's 33 — a partnership of grafters rather than swashbucklers. R- Gray, mercifully, departed for a duck before troubling our bowlers further. It was Ian Hollingworth who did the real damage, a fine 3-26, with Matthew Carter (2-26) and Adam Jackson (1-44) chipping away dutifully at the other end. A total of 181 always felt a shade beyond us, if we're honest.

And so it proved. We were bowled out for 134 in 36.5 overs, Ron McCormick top-scoring gamely with 36 and Matthew Carter unbeaten on 22, but wickets fell around them at inconvenient intervals — Adam Jackson's golden duck summing up our afternoon rather neatly. Graham Walker continues to top the 2nd XI run charts on 195, and Carter's all-round efforts have him leading the wickets column too, with 13.

Beaten by 47 runs, then, and fair enough — Shipbourne were the better side on the day. We'll dust ourselves down, have a pint, and fancy our chances again next week.

Tue 22 Jun 2004 🧢 Twenty20v EC East Sutton CC · AwayformWW

Skipper's Log, 22 June 2004. Lost the toss at East Sutton, which these days I take as a mercy — one less decision to get wrong before tea. Put in the field, we watched Paul Kelly play the innings of the day, 43 well-constructed runs, with Ben Tragett tidying up on 21 not out to see them to 124/5 from their twenty. James Titchener, for his part, was sent back to the pavilion without so much as a glance at the scoreboard — harsh, but cricket rarely deals in sympathy. John Taylor was the chief tormentor with 2-11, ably assisted by Darren Styles and Rob Doick, one apiece and both doing their bit to keep the total honest.

Chasing 125, we made light work of it — 126/2 in just 14.3 overs, Paul Gibson compiling a really rather elegant 58 not out, with Stewart Morrison keeping him company on 48 not out. Between them they left the rest of us with little to do but applaud and reach for the scorebook.

A quiet footnote worth recording: Rob Doick's wicket eased him past Dick Langridge to 22nd on the club's all-time list — these things matter more than we let on. He also sits proudly atop this season's Twenty20 run charts with 106, while Darren Styles leads the wicket-takers with five.

A comfortable six-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the sort of afternoon that makes the drive to East Sutton feel entirely worthwhile.

Sat 19 Jun 2004 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWTWW

We're away at Bearsted, and for once winning the toss and deciding to bat felt less like tradition and more like genuine tactical genius on my part. Nigel Thirkell certainly thought so, cashing in with a well-crafted 53, and Russell Baldwin chipped in a handy 32 while Brian Piper finished unbeaten on 21 to nudge us to a respectable 157/6 from our forty overs. Not everyone's afternoon sparkled, mind — Craig Sands and John Taylor both trudged back for ducks, proof that cricket has a cruel sense of humour even on a good day.

With the ball, alas, our joy was short-lived. Bearsted simply strolled to 159/1 in 34.1 overs, Stephen Pearce unbeaten on a masterful 74 and Noel Johnston purring along to 66 of his own — the pair of them batting like men who'd read the script and decided we weren't in it. Michael Beeney did what he could up front with 1-36, and John Taylor at least kept things tidy with three maidens, though eight byes behind the stumps told their own tale of a wicketkeeper having one of those days.

Small mercies: my own 53 was some personal consolation, and Beeney's solitary wicket nudged him past John Thirkell into 13th on the club's all-time list — one for the mantelpiece, if nothing else. Nigel sits handsomely second in the season's run charts, Beeney top of the wickets. But nine wickets down is nine wickets down. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 19 Jun 2004 🧢 2nd XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformWWWWD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 19 June 2004, away at Staplehurst CC.

Lost the toss, which these days feels less like misfortune and more like tradition, and duly found ourselves put into the field. Staplehurst crawled and occasionally galloped their way to 141 all out in 40.4 overs, C Liddicoat top-scoring with 33, well backed by K Millen (31) and J Ward (25), while G Hubbard and I Pullen went the way of all ducks. It could have been considerably worse for us had Matthew Carter not decided to run entirely amok, returning a magnificent 5-30, with Jon Harris (3-29) chipping in handsomely and Ian Hollingworth (2-42, three maidens) refusing to let anyone settle. Not a run given away lightly, as they say — and for once, they were right.

Chasing 142, we made rather serene work of it, reaching 146 for 3 in 36.2 overs. Stewart Morrison, unhurried as ever, sailed past his fifty to finish 68 not out, with Graham Walker (23) and Richard Piper (23) offering fine support. A special mention too for Stewart, who brought up 7,000 career runs for the club along the way — the sort of landmark that deserves rather more than a polite round of applause in the beer tent, though that is doubtless what he got.

Graham Walker continues to lead our 2004 run charts with 188, and Matthew Carter tops the wickets with 11 — both showing no signs of letting the rest of us catch up. A seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 16 Jun 2004 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformWDWDW

Wednesday, 16 June 2004, and Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC rolled into Linton Park under skies that suggested a decision was needed. Winning the toss, I did what any captain haunted by memories of chasing 250 in the gloom would do — stuck them in.

It rather looked the wrong call for a while. Glen Warner made an ominous, unanswerable century — 122 of the finest — with P Styles (31) and L-Manuel (30) offering enough support to push Sevenoaks to 228 for 6 off their 46 overs. Credit where due: Darren Styles bowled beautifully for 3-51, three of those overs maidens, proof that not every ball need be treated as an invitation. Trevor Back and Jon Harris chipped in with a wicket apiece, and we walked off feeling we'd at least kept the door ajar.

Chasing 229 is no picnic on a midweek pitch, but Nigel Thirkell decided the club gazette needed a headline and duly provided one — 93 not out, the innings of the season so far, with Stewart Morrison (46) and Trevor Back (25) lending sturdy support. Poor Fred Cheesman departed for a golden duck, the sort of dismissal one simply pats on the back and moves swiftly past.

We scrambled home by 3 wickets with half an over in hand, level pegging with the heartbeat. A special mention, too, for Piers McDonald, who brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours — a feat rather more remarkable than anything achieved with bat or ball today. A grand day for the club, and for Piers, a landmark for the ages.

Sun 13 Jun 2004 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday last, we welcomed Shipbourne CC to Linton Park, and having called the coin correctly for once in my captaincy career, there was never any doubt what I'd do with it — bat, and bat first.

What followed was as fine an innings as I've had the pleasure of watching from the other end. Nigel Thirkell simply strode to a magnificent 111, the sort of hundred that makes the tea urn boil quicker in anticipation, and he found willing company in Daniel Thirkell, whose 65 suggests the surname carries more than its share of the family's batting genes. David Castle chipped in with a tidy 42, as did I, and 258/4 off our forty overs felt like runs enough to be getting on with.

And so it proved. Shipbourne's reply never got out of first gear, bundled out for 128 in 29.2 overs, undone chiefly by Mark Christmas, whose 4-10 was bowling of real hostility, backed up handsomely by Dennis Salisbury's 3-34 and a wicket apiece for Daniel Thirkell. Less gloriously, poor David Castle bagged a pair and Craig Sands went twice without scoring — and Craig's afternoon behind the stumps told its own tale too, with nineteen byes conceded that he'll not want reminding of at the clubhouse bar.

Still, with David Castle leading our season's run charts and Dennis Salisbury climbing the wicket-takers' table, the engine room is purring. A win by 130 runs, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfactory Sunday's work.

Sun 13 Jun 2004 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformDLWLW

Sunday 13 June 2004 saw us make the trip to Harrietsham CC, and I lost the toss for my trouble — they had first use of the pitch and sent us in. No matter: the lads made light work of it, racking up 288/5 from our 40 overs. Richard Piper led the charge with a superb 93, Matthew Carter wasn't far behind with a classy 87, and Chris Newman chipped in a brisk 40. A total that felt, even as we walked off, rather more than comfortable.

If our batting was a feast, Harrietsham's reply was a famine. Bowled out for a paltry 87 in 32 overs, with only John Higgs offering any real resistance in his knock of 44. Jon Harris was simply unplayable, tearing through the order for 4-3 with three maidens to boot, while Darren Styles (2-8) and Joe Martin (2-18) mopped up what was left. Three unfortunate souls — Martin Jones, Jay Stubberfield and Peter Jones — departed for ducks, and one suspects the walk back to the pavilion felt rather longer than usual.

As for your captain, the less said the better — a golden blob, out first ball, proof that leading from the front doesn't always extend to the scorebook. Still, with Carter now topping our season's run charts on 152 and Harris leading the wickets with 9, the engine room is purring nicely.

Two points, won by 201 runs — a proper trouncing, and thoroughly earned by everyone except me.

Sat 12 Jun 2004 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformLWWTW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 12 June 2004. We hosted Meopham CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sending us in. It's not often the coin loves you back, so I wasn't about to waste it.

We made ourselves comfortable at the crease, posting a handsome 237/6 from our 46 overs. Nigel Thirkell led the charge with a well-made 61, and David Castle wasn't far behind with 58, the pair putting Meopham's bowlers through a proper afternoon's work. Craig Sands chipped in a brisk 32, and if young Daniel Thirkell's golden duck raised a chuckle in the pavilion, he more than made amends later, as we'll come to.

With the ball, the lads were magnificent. Meopham fought hard — Mick Plumb's 47 and useful contributions from Darren Deeks and M Daley kept them in the hunt at 204/7 — but Mark Christmas was in inspired form, plundering 3-32 with two tidy maidens, well supported by Richard Knowler and Dennis Salisbury with a wicket apiece. Gavin Tovey departed for a golden duck of his own. Poor Stewart Morrison had a torrid time behind the stumps, 14 byes escaping his gloves, but the damage was already done elsewhere.

I was quietly chuffed to lead from the front with 58, though the day belonged to Daniel Thirkell, who brought up 300 career wickets — no small feat. A 33-run victory, two points banked, and thoroughly earned.

Sat 12 Jun 2004 🧢 2nd XIv EC East Malling CC · AwayformWWWWW

Saturday 12 June 2004, and off we trundled to East Malling with the coin toss firmly against us — they had first use of the field, and no arguing with that.

Batting first is never quite the free ride it sounds when the shine's still on the ball, but Graham Walker settled any early nerves with a fine 69, the innings' undoubted backbone, while Simon Thirkell chipped in a handy 28. The pair's 63-run stand for the fourth wicket was the platform on which the whole innings was built, and we closed on a respectable 160/6 from our 42 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but enough to make a game of it.

And a game it duly became. East Malling's openers set about us with real intent, motoring to 92 before we finally prised the first breakthrough — by which point the required maths had swung comfortably their way. Gavin Wenborn anchored the chase superbly for an unbeaten 74, with Roger Fowle (36) and Robert Davies (26) offering sturdy support. Darren Styles was our pick of the bowlers with 1-33, Trevor Back chipped in with 1-34, and Matthew Carter bowled two tidy maidens to at least keep the scoring honest. They finished on 151/3 from 41 overs, agonisingly short of home.

A draw, then — honours shared, and on reflection a fair result: we never quite had the firepower to finish them off, but nor did they have the overs to run us down. A hard-fought stalemate, and no shame in that.

Tue 08 Jun 2004 🧢 Twenty20v DC Detling CC · HomeformW

It was Detling CC at home, Tuesday 08 June, and I lost the toss for my trouble — Detling had first knock, and I trudged back to the boundary to set the field.

They ground their way to 116/4 from the twenty overs, Gavin Wenborn the main author of our discomfort with a handsome 53, Paul Batchelor chipping in a tidy 26 alongside him. But credit where due — Matt Large ran in and bowled beautifully for 1-10, and he had willing lieutenants in Adam Jackson (1-15) and Richard Knowler (1-23), who between them kept the total from getting properly out of hand.

Chasing 117, we got there with three balls and five wickets to spare, 121/5 in 17.3 overs — though not without the usual palpitations that make this game what it is. Rob Doick played the innings of the day, a classy 51, with Russell Baldwin lending fine support on 44. Poor Stewart Morrison, meanwhile, contributed nothing at all to the cause — a golden duck, first ball back to the hutch, and I daresay he'll be buying the teas for a while yet.

Rob Doick continues to top the Twenty20 run charts this season with a hundred to his name, and Richard Knowler sits second in the wickets column with three — both men doing rather more than their fair share of the heavy lifting.

Two points, five wickets, and a captain who'll happily lose more tosses if it keeps ending like this.

Sat 05 Jun 2004 🧢 2nd XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformLWWWW

Saturday 05 June 2004, away to Leeds & Broomfield, and I won the toss with my customary air of a man who has absolutely no idea why the coin keeps landing my way. I looked at the strip, ignored whatever it was actually telling me, and stuck us in to bat. It proved a shrewd call, or at least a lucky one, as we ground out 203/7 from our 46 overs. Stewart Morrison was the star turn with a composed 59 not out, well backed up by Christopher Thirkell's 32 and Tim Thirkell's 29 — and I'll happily take credit for my own watchful 29, thank you very much.

Defending it, we asked Leeds & Broomfield to find 204, and the bowlers set about making life as awkward as possible. Jon Harris was superb, 3-36, with Tim Thirkell (2-25) and Trevor Back (2-30) chipping away either end, while Darren Styles kept things miserly with three maidens. Barry Nixon (45) and Jason Tharp (41 not out) threatened to make a match of it, with Neil Dibben adding 31, but Carl Barker and Stephen Jupe both departed for ducks and the innings folded on 158/9.

A 45-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — the sort of afternoon that reminds you why you keep turning up on a Saturday even when your knees have their own opinions about it. Ron McCormick and Trevor Back continue to lead the season's charts with bat and ball respectively, and on this evidence, neither looks like slowing down. A good day for the club, no argument.

Sun 30 May 2004 🧢 Sunday NVKCv NC New Ifield CC · AwayformWWLWW

Sunday 30 May, and the road took us to New Ifield — a fixture that, on paper, threatened peril, but which turned into rather a triumph. Winning the toss and electing to bat felt, if I say so myself, the correct call, and so it proved. David Castle set about the New Ifield attack with real relish, compiling a magnificent 108, while Russell Baldwin's 72 gave the innings its backbone and Daniel Thirkell chipped in a brisk 20. We closed on 236/5 from our 40 overs — a total that felt, even as we walked off, rather more than defendable.

And so it proved, though not without New Ifield making a fair fist of it. M. Holdstock cruised past fifty to 70, with Gareth Stearn (29) and S. Ellis (24) offering support, but John Taylor was the difference — 3-26, two of them maidens, bowling with the kind of miserliness that makes a captain's job easy. Thirkell weighed in with 1-31. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes leaking away, but nothing that dented the result: New Ifield finished 183/6, 53 runs short.

A personal 108 was, I'll admit, rather satisfying — though the day belonged just as much to Russell Baldwin, who brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to. With Castle now leading the Sunday run charts and Taylor the wickets, the season has a rather pleasant look to it. A fine win. Onwards.

Sat 29 May 2004 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformDLWWT

Southborough CC rolled up to Linton Park on Saturday 29 May 2004 to find yours truly in unusually decisive mood at the toss — I called correctly, and there was never any doubt in my mind: we were batting. Daniel Thirkell made that decision look like genius rather than habit, compiling a magnificent 133 not out as we posted 226/5 from our 46 overs, with Russell Baldwin (44 not out) and Craig Sands (23) lending sturdy support. Not every man's afternoon sparkled, mind — Paul Gibson and Rob Doick both made the long walk back for ducks, and I shall say no more about that.

With the ball, we set about defending the total in the sort of workmanlike fashion that wins matches without troubling the highlights reel. Southborough fought hard, reaching 170/8 from their 44, Abdul Basit's fifty the chief obstacle, with Peter Young (33) and Jamie Brown (30) chipping in. But Dennis Salisbury was the pick of the attack with 3-21, well backed by Michael Beeney (2-38), Daniel Thirkell (1-4), and the ever-parsimonious Matt Large, who sent down three maidens and barely a run-scoring opportunity besides. Doug Bird, for his part, joined the ducks' club without troubling the scorers.

A word too for Rob Doick, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark worth far more than the blob beside his name.

We got over the line by 56 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 29 May 2004 🧢 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformWLWWW

Southborough CC, away, Saturday 29th May 2004. We lost the toss — never a good omen — and were duly sent out to field, which on a warm afternoon is roughly equivalent to being asked to mow the outfield before you've had your tea. Southborough set about building a total, and while we prised out an early wicket for just 1, a 97-run second-wicket stand rather took the wind out of our sails. Ronald Hart and Ian Moore both brought up well-earned fifties, with Carl Packeer chipping in 28, and 175/8 from their 46 overs felt like a proper working total. Credit where it's due: Matthew Carter was superb, 3-25 with four maidens to show for his miserliness, well backed by Adam Jackson's 3-42 and Jon Harris's solitary scalp. Steve Dann departed for a duck, which I'm sure he'll want no further mention of.

Chasing 176, we set about it sensibly rather than spectacularly. Ron McCormick, unbeaten on 68, played the innings of the day and now leads our 2nd XI run charts for the season with 125 — a man clearly in the mood. Trevor Back's unbeaten 47 gave him excellent support, and Graham Walker's 28 kept the required rate honest. Poor Simon Thirkell will be buying the teas after his golden duck, though nobody begrudges him — we've all been there.

In the end we got home by 5 wickets with something to spare, Matthew Carter's earlier spell the platform on which the whole afternoon was built. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one that suggests, toss notwithstanding, we're rather enjoying our cricket at present.

Tue 25 May 2004 🧢 Twenty20v West Farleigh CC · Awayform—

Well now. Tuesday 25th May saw us make the trip to West Farleigh, and I'll confess the toss coin barely had time to settle before I was calling for a bowl first — some decisions require no great cricketing intellect, just a look at the sky and a hunch.

And what a hunch it proved. West Farleigh limped to 101/9 from their 20, with only Richard Truelove offering any real resistance on 43. Darren Styles was quite magnificent, ripping through with 4-17, and found willing accomplices in Ian Hollingworth (2-15) and Richard Knowler (2-23) — between the three of them there wasn't much for the rest of us to do but applaud from the field.

Chasing 102, we got there in a canter — 103/5 in just 14.1 overs — though "canter" perhaps flatters us, given three ducks graced the scorebook along the way courtesy of Martin Hoare, Gary French and David Crouch. Thankfully Rob Doick played the innings of the day with 49, Russell Baldwin chipping in nicely with 26, and between them the target never looked in doubt. Spare a thought, though, for poor Craig Sands behind the stumps — 14 byes is not a number one wants engraved anywhere, and it was evidently one of those afternoons.

A five-wicket win, Doick and Styles both topping their respective season charts, and the lads in good spirits on the bus home. Onwards indeed.

Sun 23 May 2004 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Harrietsham CC · AwayformWDDLD

Beaten again — but this time we gave Harrietsham a proper fright before folding by 3 wickets, and that's the sort of defeat you can hold your head up after.

Put in to bat, we made a spirited fist of it. Christopher Thirkell led the charge with a fine 48, and brother Simon chipped in with 27, the pair putting some respectability on the board before we subsided to 173 all out in 41.4 overs. Poor Joe Martin will not be framing his golden duck for the clubhouse wall, and with extras contributing a generous 28, one does wonder whether the Thirkells or the byes column should be topping our order.

In the field we started brightly, with Adam Jackson – miserly with two maidens – doing the early damage at 2 for 26, well backed up by Chris Newman and Joe Martin (who, credit to him, made amends for his duck with the ball) taking a wicket apiece. Rod Martenstyn departed for nought at our hands, and for a while it looked like honours might be shared. But Daniel Ford had other ideas, farming the strike to an unbeaten 70, ushered home by Michael Anstead's steady 20 not out. Fifteen byes and a generous helping of wides and no-balls suggest our glovework and our lines wandered when it mattered most.

Beaten by three wickets, then, but not disgraced. Chris Thirkell's runs and Jacko's wickets keep us ticking over nicely in the season charts. We'll sharpen up the discipline and come again next week.

Sun 23 May 2004 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Blue Star CC · HomeformWDLWL

Sunday 23rd May 2004, and Blue Star CC rolled up as our visitors under a sky that, for once, seemed to know it was cricket season. Winning the toss and sticking us in the field, I confess my heart sank a little when Christopher Holman and Andrew Harper got their heads down and simply refused to leave — 146 for the second wicket is the sort of stand that has a captain rearranging his field more out of superstition than strategy. Holman's 91 and Harper's 59 hauled the visitors to 182 for 4, and there were moments in the deep when I felt more like a spectator than a leader of men. Credit where it's due, though: John Taylor kept plugging away for 3 for 46, and Ian Hollingworth was a picture of miserliness, three maidens and 1 for 20, the sort of spell that makes the tea urn taste sweeter.

Chasing 183, we could have been forgiven a few nerves, but Craig Sands had other ideas entirely. He simply took the game by the scruff of the neck and didn't let go, an imperious 117 not out that had the boundary boards working overtime, while John Taylor — evidently not content with his bowling figures — chipped in with an unbeaten 46 to see us home. Nine wickets to the good, and Sands now sits proudly atop our 2004 Sunday run charts, with Taylor lurking second in the wickets.

A thoroughly good day for Linton Park: outbowled early, outbatted late, and home in time for a proper cup of tea.

Sat 22 May 2004 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformWDLWW

We drew at Hollingbourne on Saturday, and I'll admit a tie feels almost too tidy an ending for a day that swung about as much as this one did.

We won the toss and had first use of a track that seemed to reward patience, though not everyone found it — Nigel Thirkell and Michael Beeney both departed without troubling the scorers, which rather spoiled an otherwise handsome card. Craig Sands was the man of the innings, cracking a fine 60, with David Castle (44) and Rob Doick (26) lending sturdy support as we posted 189 all out. Rather wonderfully, Craig's innings also brought up 2,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth raising a glass to, and a fitting one given he now leads our 2004 run charts with 220 for the season.

Defending it, we had Hollingbourne under pressure but never quite finished the job, as they clawed their way to 189/8. Andy Griffiths (47) and Neil Taylor (41) did the early damage, with Mark Styche (32) keeping the chase alive, but Michael Beeney atoned handsomely for his golden duck with the ball, taking 3-48 to lead our attack and stretch his season's tally to 16 wickets — tops in the club. Rob Doick and John Taylor chipped in a wicket apiece, and I did my modest bit with 44.

Level after a whole day's cricket — you simply couldn't split us. A fair result, and rather a fitting one for a game that gave as good as it got.

Sat 22 May 2004 🧢 2nd XIv BC Biddenden CC · HomeformLWLWW

Saturday 22 May 2004, and Biddenden CC rolled into Linton Park under skies that, for once, seemed to know what a village green is for. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — call it captain's instinct, call it luck, but I'll take the credit while it's going.

The lads gave the visitors a proper working-over with the bat. Mike Redman played the innings of the day, cruising past his fifty to 56, with Ron McCormick right alongside him on a classy 54, and Graham Walker chipping in a brisk 29. We closed on 211 for 7 — the kind of total that lets a captain sleep easy over his tea.

Biddenden's reply never really got going. James Piper battled hard for his 48, but he had precious little support — Martyn Summers and James Harrison both departed without a run to their names, which I'm reliably informed counts as a duck twice over. Darren Styles was magnificent with the ball, ripping through for 3 for 23, backed superbly by Tim Thirkell's 2 for 8 and Trevor Back's 1 for 1, while P- Bacon strangled the life out of the innings with three maidens. All out for 135 — no contest in the end.

A 76-run victory, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Redman tops our run charts and Styles our wickets for the season so far — long may that continue. Verdict: a proper team performance, and Biddenden left with nothing but the drive home to think it over.

Sun 16 May 2004 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Bells Yew Green CC · HomeformLWWLW

I called correctly on a fine Sunday, 16 May, with Bells Yew Green the visitors, and there was never any doubt what I'd do with that coin safely pocketed - out we went to bat, thank you very much.

What followed was, frankly, one of those afternoons every skipper dreams of and few ever get. David Castle simply refused to get out, compiling a magnificent 151 that had the teas committee abandoning the urn to come and watch. Russell Baldwin chipped in a fine 64, Stuart Cheesman finished unbeaten on 28, and even our extras column fancied itself, contributing 35 for good measure. We declared - well, ran out of overs, which amounts to the same thing - on a mountainous 299/3 from 40.

Chasing that lot was never going to be a stroll, and so it proved. Dennis Salisbury was quite magnificent, 3-17 with two maidens thrown in for those who like their bowling mean as well as effective, while Matt Large (3-18) and Michael Beeney (2-6) made sure nobody settled. Bells Yew Green subsided to 68 all out inside 20 overs, M Within, James Cox and Tarif Chowdhury all departing without troubling the scorers.

Personal milestones abounded: my own 151 was satisfying enough, but David Castle's ton took him past 21,000 career runs for the club, and Stuart Cheesman's 28 nudged him past Peter Whyte into 25th on the all-time list. We won by 231 runs. A very good day indeed.

Sat 15 May 2004 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformDWDLW

Skipper's Log, 15 May 2004. Won the toss against Sheldwich CC, and with the sun making a rare and welcome appearance over Linton Park, there was really only one decision to make — we batted.

What followed was as fine an innings as I've had the pleasure of watching from the other end of a scorebook. Craig Sands played an absolute blinder, 129 not out, the sort of innings that has the tea urn conversation buzzing well before the players are back in the pavilion. David Castle chipped in handsomely with 53, and between them they carried us to a formidable 236/3 from our 46 overs. I confess I did very little that afternoon beyond nodding approvingly from the boundary rope.

Defending it was never going to be a stroll, and Sheldwich made us work for every run, reaching 231/7 from their 44. Darren Halls (60) and David Prior (51) both passed fifty and threatened to spoil the party, with Martin Mills' 34 keeping the required rate ticking along nervously. It was our bowlers who kept us in it — Michael Beeney the pick with 3-73, John Taylor and Dennis Salisbury chipping in with 2-33 and 2-39 respectively, Salisbury tight enough to squeeze out three maidens. I did my bit with the bat earlier, 53 alongside the openers, which I mention purely for the record and not out of any excess of modesty.

We held on by 5 runs — the sort of margin that ages a captain by several years in the space of a single over. Craig Sands now leads our run charts with 160, Beeney the wickets with 13. A nervy finish, but a very good day for the club.

Sat 15 May 2004 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLLWLW

Saturday 15 May 2004, and the road took us to West Farleigh CC on what turned into one of those days that reminds you why you keep turning up.

Eighty-six all out from 45.4 overs was never going to have the scorers reaching for superlatives, and the sight of Gareth Davies trudging back for a duck did little to lift the mood in the tea interval. Runs, frankly, were like hen's teeth out there. But cricket has a wonderful habit of rewarding those who keep the faith, and so it proved.

With the ball, we turned into different animals entirely. Matthew Carter set about the West Farleigh order like a man with a grudge, returning a splendid 3-13, while Trevor Back and Mike Redman piled in either side of him, both claiming 3-19 and 3-17 respectively — sorry, 3-17 and 3-19, though frankly at that point who's counting, other than the scorebook. Redman was miserliness personified, five maidens testament to a man who simply refused to be hit. West Farleigh folded for 70 in 39.3 overs, and a total that looked embarrassing at tea suddenly looked golden.

A nod, too, to the history books: Trevor Back's three wickets nudged him past Gordon Fenner and into 9th on the club's all-time list — a fine achievement quietly earned. He also leads our 2004 2nd XI run charts with 16, while Redman tops the wicket pile with 3.

A win by 16 runs, built on grit rather than glamour. We'll take it, and take the long way home.

Sun 09 May 2004 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Chelsfield Exiles CC · AwayformWWDDL

Stewart Morrison and Nigel Thirkell both put together superb unbeaten hundreds, chasing down 235/0 for us, and Michael Carter took 4-25 with the ball as we drew away at Chelsfield Exiles.

Lost the toss again on Sunday, which by now is less a run of bad luck than a personal character flaw, and duly found ourselves put in to field first at Chelsfield Exiles. No matter — the lads dug in when it came to our turn with the willow, and dug in rather magnificently. Stewart Morrison and Nigel Thirkell put on an opening stand for the ages, both reaching three figures and both still there at the close, 118 and 108 not out respectively, as we racked up 235 without loss from our 36 overs. I confess to watching most of it from the boundary with a cup of tea and very little to do.

Defending that sort of total ought to have been the easy part, and for long stretches it was. Spring led their reply with 45, D Butler chipped in 25 and McNab was unbeaten on 23, but Matthew Carter was in inspired form, tearing through their order for 4-25, well backed up by Russell Baldwin and Dennis Salisbury with a wicket apiece and Michael Beeney bowling two tidy maidens. They finished on 171/7 from their 41, short of the target but stubborn enough to see out the overs.

I managed 108 myself leading from the front, which I shall mention here and nowhere else for fear of sounding pleased with myself. A draw, then — honours shared, nobody beaten, and a long drive home to reflect on a match we really ought to have won but can hardly complain about.

Sun 02 May 2004 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Milstead CC · HomeformWLWWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 02 May 2004, and a rare treat: sunshine over Linton Park and Milstead CC our willing visitors.

We lost the toss, which these days feels less like misfortune and more like tradition, and were sent out to field first. No matter — the lads clearly had runs on their minds for later, and so it proved. Our innings brought 182/6 from the full 40 overs, built on a fine platform from David Castle, whose 34 leads our own 2004 Sunday NVKC run charts, well supported by Paul Gibson's 31 and Nigel Thirkell's watchful 29. Not the most explosive of totals, but a defendable one, and defend it we duly did.

With the ball, John Taylor was quite magnificent — 4-21 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, tighter than my collar after Sunday lunch, and now the man leading our 2004 wicket charts. Rob Doick and Russell Baldwin chipped in with 2-15 apiece, and even your captain managed 34 with the bat to keep things moving. Michael Beeney's brace of wickets quietly nudged him past Tony Gauna into 14th on the club's all-time list — a nice footnote on a good afternoon. Milstead fought via Stuart Burnop's 37 and Michael Annand's 22, but poor Ken West departed without troubling the scorers, and 119 all out was always going to leave them short.

A fine win by 63 runs. Onwards.

Sat 01 May 2004 🧢 1st XIv FC Flimwell CC · HomeformLDWDL

Skipper's Log, Saturday 1 May 2004. Flimwell CC, at home, and for once the coin actually liked the look of me — I called correctly and had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in, which for those who know my track record with a toss is roughly on a par with a stopped clock being right twice a day.

The lads duly repaid the confidence. Forty overs brought 213/3, built on a proper captain's innings from Nigel Thirkell — 90 not out, unbeaten, unbothered, and frankly should have had me composing this report about a century rather than a fifty. Adam Jackson (31 not out) and Paul Gibson (31) filled in the gaps rather nicely either side of him. Not that I'd know much about batting heroics myself, mind — my own contribution of 90 I shall allow to speak, quietly, for itself.

Defending 213 ought to have been nervy, but Flimwell never got out of the blocks. Jamie Dench departed for a golden duck, and from there it was carnage: Michael Beeney ran through them with 3-5, Ian Hollingworth chipped in 3-16, Chris Newman took 1-8, and Matthew Carter bowled three maidens as tight as my collar after Sunday lunch. All out for 92 in 35.1 overs.

Off the field, warm applause for Clive Newman reaching 9,000 career runs, and for Darren Styles, who slipped past John Thirkell into 12th on the all-time wicket list.

Victory by 121 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 24 Apr 2004 🧢 1st XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDLDWD

Beaten by 13 runs at home to Gravesend on Saturday, and if I'm honest, we probably bowled well enough to have won it and batted just well enough to lose it — which is about as village-cricket a sentence as I've ever written.

Put in to field, we scrapped hard. Michael Beeney was superb, leading the attack with 3-47 and continuing his fine season with the ball, while Paul Gibson and Dennis Salisbury chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Adam Jackson bowled three miserly maidens that kept the scoreboard honest. Gravesend still ground their way to 162/6, built around a well-made fifty from Graham Savill and useful support from Kally Burger (35 not out) and Thomas Neave (26). Poor Matthew Burnett departed without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us.

Chasing 163, Russell Baldwin batted beautifully for his fifty, backed up nicely by Paul Gibson's 33, and for a while it looked gettable. But cricket has a cruel sense of humour, and when Kevin Presneill, Richard Piper and Matthew Carter all fell for golden ducks, the required run rate crept up faster than my patience in the deep. We finished 149/9 from our 45, thirteen runs short.

A fair contest, honestly earned defeat, and Baldwin's knock keeps him handily placed second in our run charts while Beeney sits proudly atop the wickets column. We'll dust ourselves down, put the kettle on, and be better for it next week.

Sat 17 Apr 2004 🧢 1st XIv SC Sidcup CC · HomeformWDLDW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 17 April 2004, and a fine spring afternoon to welcome Sidcup CC to Linton Park. The coin obliged, and, sensing runs in the square, I had no hesitation in sending us in to bat.

What followed was a proper batting effort. Kevin Presneill was in imperious form, ticking past his fifty and on to 97 not out without so much as breaking sweat, while Adam Jackson (22 not out) and David Castle (21) chipped in either side of a crucial 56-run fourth-wicket stand. Even our extras column got in on the act with a generous 25. We declared our innings closed, so to speak, at 209/5 from 43 overs — a total with a bit of menace to it.

Sidcup fought hard in reply, Alan McCawley playing a lovely hand of 72 and Matt Ferguson unbeaten on 22, but Michael Beeney was in irresistible mood, tearing through with 4-30, well supported by Russell Baldwin and Jon Harris with a wicket apiece, and Dennis Salisbury bowling three maidens of pure stubbornness. They closed on 141/7 from their 41 — short of the target, but enough overs gone that honours had to be shared.

Two milestones to raise a glass to: Kevin Presneill's 1,000th career run for the club, and Michael Beeney's 400th career wicket — both thoroughly deserved. I even managed 21 myself, for what that's worth. A draw, then, but one that felt very much like ours to have won.