🧢 Captain's Log

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

A dead coin toss and Matt Larges won the call, so we were straight into the field on a Sunday when I'd have quite fancied batting first myself. Twenty overs later they'd racked up 130/6, though it could have been considerably worse had Gareth Davies not bowled beautifully for 2-16, with Dennis Salisbury (2-17) and Daniel Thirkell (1-20) chipping away either side of him to keep things respectable.

Chasing 131, we got home in some style, 133/5 with an over to spare, and the top order did the heavy lifting. Mike Elworthy anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 27, Adam Jackson kept pace with 26 not out, and Simon Thirkell weighed in with 25 not out to see us over the line. My own contribution, for the record, was a golden duck, and the ledger will note it whether I like it or not — I fell for nought and we shall say no more about it.

Away from my personal shame, there were two proper landmarks worth toasting: Tim Thirkell brought up 100 career wickets, and Dennis Salisbury reached 50 of his own, both thoroughly deserved milestones for men who've put in the hard yards over the years. Daniel Thirkell, meanwhile, continues to lead from the front across the season, top of the run charts on 459 and second in the wickets on 20.

Five wickets in the bank, two points on the board, and a result thoroughly earned by the side even if my own scorebook entry does rather let the side down.

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

Sunday 26 September 2004, and Russell Baldwins rolled up expecting a stroll. Winning the toss and electing to bat felt like the obvious call, and for once I wasn't left second-guessing myself at square leg. Matthew Carter played the anchor role beautifully, 35 not out, while Richard Knowler and I both chipped in unbeaten with 26 apiece to nudge us to 130/6 from our twenty overs — not a total to frighten anyone, but enough, I hoped, to make them work for it.

And work they did. Craig Sands, presumably still trudging back to the pavilion, departed without so much as a nudge for his first golden duck of the day — small mercies. Richard Knowler was the star of the defence, ripping through with 3-4, while Jack Jenner and Matthew Carter tidied up a wicket apiece for 21 runs each. Between the four of us we squeezed the visitors hard, though our man behind the stumps had an afternoon to forget, leaking eight byes that will doubtless be mentioned again at the next nets session.

In the end Russell Baldwins matched us almost run for run, closing on 133/5, and honours were shared. A draw is cricket's great diplomatic compromise — nobody quite beaten, nobody quite triumphant — and on this occasion it felt about right: a scrappy, spirited afternoon that neither side deserved to lose.

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

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 22 September 2004

No luck with the coin at Penshurst Park, and once again I watched it land the wrong way up, so out we trooped to field first. Still, we've a habit of making the best of a bad toss, and so it proved: 224 for 6 from our forty overs, with Craig Sands the man of the moment, cracking a fine 79 not out to anchor the innings from start to nearly finish. Matthew Carter chipped in with a composed 34 not out and Trevor Back weighed in with 27 — though the less said about Jim Hall's contribution the better; a golden duck to add to the club ledger, and no doubt a pint or two owed at the bar for that particular walk of shame.

Two hundred and twenty-four looked a defendable total on paper, and for a good while it was. Mark Christmas bowled beautifully for his 3 for 55, and I was pleased enough with my own 1 for 25 in support, with Cliff Mitchell back in the pavilion for a duck at our hands. But there's no legislating for a batsman in the form of his life, and K. Exton simply had other ideas, marching to an imperious 106 not out to see Penshurst home at 227 for 4 with two balls to spare, ably assisted by Nick Rees and Peter Whyte.

There was, at least, one moment to raise a genuine cheer amid the gloom: Trevor Back brought up 10,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth savouring even on a losing afternoon. But six wickets is six wickets — not our day, lads. Heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Here's the match report:

It's not often the toss falls kindly and the sun shines on Linton Park in equal measure, but Sunday obliged on both counts, and with Anchorians CC the visitors I had no hesitation in putting us in. It proved the right call. Daniel Thirkell set about the bowling with real intent, cruising past his fifty to finish on a superb 79, while Adam Jackson chipped in a handy 37 and Richard Piper 30 more. Even the extras column pitched in with a generous 30, and we closed on a formidable 195/4 from our 35 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

Defending it, however, is never quite the formality the scoreboard suggests, and Anchorians made us work. D Raggett played the innings of the day for the visitors, motoring to 90, well supported by N Wellard's 30, and for a spell it looked as though our lead might be under siege. Andy Tutt and J Bacon, sadly, will remember little of their visit to the crease. Darren Styles was magnificent with the ball, tearing through with 3-37, and I was pleased to get among the wickets myself with 2-11, alongside Matthew Carter's 2-20 — figures that also brought Carter up to a tidy 50 career wickets, a fine personal landmark on a good team day.

Anchorians were eventually all out for 157, and we had ourselves a win by 38 runs. A proper afternoon of village cricket, and thoroughly deserved. Onwards.

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

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 NS Northend Sunday · HomeformDLDLD

Skipper's Log — Sunday 12 September 2004

Northend Sunday, and a home fixture I'd been rather looking forward to, if only for the excuse to put my feet up in the outfield sunshine between overs. We took first use of the ball and set about restricting the visitors, who eventually closed on 136/8 from their forty overs. N Taylor gave us a proper working over with a fine half-century — 59, no less — well backed up by K Stapley's 22. Credit where it's due: Michael Beeney was the pick of the attack with 2-23, tidy as you like, while I chipped in with 2-30 and Adam Jackson picked up 1-10 to keep things honest.

A target of 137 is never quite the formality the scorebook suggests, and so it proved, though we got there with something to spare. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, striding past his fifty to finish on 62, with Mark Christmas offering fine support on 26. Not every man can claim a good afternoon, mind — poor Nigel Thirkell departed for a duck, and I dare say he'll be buying the teas for a while yet.

We crossed the line by five wickets, which in the great ledger of Sunday cricket counts as a very good day indeed. Piper's innings now has him third in our 2004 Sunday run charts, and Jackson leads the wickets column with five. All told: a job done, a scorebook to be proud of, and a pint well earned.

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

Clive Newman's Match Report — Saturday 11 September 2004, away to Teston CC

The toss went against us, as tosses so often do when I'm the one calling it, and we were put into the field on a pitch that, frankly, looked far too kind for our own good. Not that it mattered in the end, because Jack Jenner decided he fancied bowling us to victory more or less single-handed, tearing through Teston's order for a magnificent 7-29. Dan Tyler (24), Geoff King (22) and Peter Webley (21) put up the only real resistance, but with Joe Martin (1-13, three tidy maidens) and Jon Harris (1-21) squeezing from the other end, and Martin Hubbard, Rory Stroud and R King all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, Teston were all out for a modest 95. A thoroughly satisfying morning's work.

Chasing such a small total should have been a formality, and yet we contrived to make it interesting, losing a wicket with the score still on nought — the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the antacids. Christopher Thirkell and I both fell for ducks, which I mention once and shall not dwell on further, thank you very much. It was left to Richard Piper, unbeaten on a splendid 43, to marshal us home at 96 for 4. Poor Ron McCormick had a torrid time behind the stumps, conceding nine byes, but nobody's perfect.

Two points, five wickets to spare, and a Jenner five-for to remember. A fine day out, even if my own contribution was best forgotten.

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 East Sutton CC · HomeformWLDWL

Sunday 5th September, and East Sutton CC were the visitors to Linton Park. I won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat — get some runs on the board and let the sun do the worrying.

What followed was one of those afternoons a skipper dreams about. Mike Elworthy played beautifully for an unbeaten 103, and I found some form of my own alongside him, finishing not out on a hundred as we posted 267 for 3 from our forty overs. The scorers were kept busy elsewhere too — 109 extras is not a total you see every week, and East Sutton's attack will be reviewing their lines over a pint or three.

Defending it should have been the easy part, though East Sutton did not make it comfortable, their openers putting on 76 before the first wicket fell. Robert Bray battled to a fine 73 and James Titchener chipped in with a well-made 55, Ben Tragett adding 20, but Russell Baldwin, Darren Styles and Michael Beeney shared the damage between them to rein things in. East Sutton closed on 199 for 5, and we were home and dry by 68 runs.

A fine team performance, and with 204 runs now to my name in the Sunday 2nd XI charts this season, I shan't grumble. A thoroughly good day for the club.

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

There was no need for that tool call — here's the match report.

Winning the toss on a fine Saturday against Shipbourne, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for once the decision looked rather clever rather than merely lucky. Russell Baldwin set about the bowling with real purpose, cruising to a fine 57, while I was happy to play something of a supporting hand, easing past my own half-century to finish on 54 — a personal contribution I shan't pretend wasn't satisfying. Craig Sands, unbeaten on 36, ensured we finished with real substance: 208 for 3 from our 46 overs, a total that felt like runs in the bank.

Defending it proved rather more nerve-shredding than the scorecard suggests. Paul Stovell led Shipbourne's reply with 44, well supported by M. Cooper (38) and M. Rendle (37), and though Richard Knowler picked up 2 for 44 with good support from Michael Beeney (2-45) and Dennis Salisbury (1-30), and Daniel Thirkell squeezed out two tidy maidens, the visitors edged home on 209 for 7 with two overs to spare. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes going begging — proof, if any were needed, that cricket has a cruel sense of humour.

Amid the disappointment, a lovely note: Nigel Thirkell brought up 39,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth savouring long after this result is forgotten. Baldwin continues to lead our run charts this season with 453, and Beeney tops the wickets with 26.

Beaten by three wickets, then, but not disgraced. We'll be better for it next week.

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

The coin came down kindly at Sissinghurst, and with a green-tinged pitch and a duty of care to the top order, I had no hesitation in sending us in to bat first.

It proved a shrewd if unspectacular knock. Trevor Back was the rock of the innings, ushering us past his fifty and finishing unbeaten on 59, with Christopher Thirkell (24) and Kevin Presneill (23) chipping in nicely around him. Extras did their bit too, a generous 25 swelling the coffers, though poor Simon Thirkell will not thank me for reminding the club of his golden duck. We closed on 166/6 from 46 overs — a total that felt defendable, if not decisive.

And so it proved, almost. Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, snaring four for 65 and looking every inch the man topping our 2004 wicket charts with 20 already banked, while Darren Styles bowled with real discipline — four maidens and 2-20 — and Jack Jenner picked up one. Sissinghurst's Mick Winner (43) and an unbeaten 40 from Stephen Brown, ably supported by Andrew Macfarlane's 32, edged them home, though we did send Michael Daley packing without troubling the scorers. Kevin Presneill had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes escaping his gloves.

Beaten by three wickets in the end — honourable, hard-fought, and utterly maddening. We'll be better for it next week.

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

The toss went against us again — I really must have a word with that coin — and Boughton & Eastwell were only too pleased to bat first on a pitch that looked to owe us nothing in particular. Fifty-five overs and 169 for 6 was the return, built patiently around Oliver Saxby's 45, with Pete Wain (37) and A Austen (36) chipping in enough to keep our bowlers honest. Simon Richardson, mind you, departed for a duck at our hands, which offered some small consolation. Tim Wright was the pick of the attack with 2 for 23, well backed up by Adam Jackson's 2 for 31 and James Piper's 1 for 14, and there were three maidens bowled somewhere in there too, for those keeping close count.

Chasing 170, we settled into something altogether more sedate — 139 for 4 from our 43 overs, never quite hurrying, never quite panicking either. Mike Elworthy anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 56, and I was glad to play my part alongside him with 42. Rather fittingly, Mike's innings also brought up 9,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth raising a glass to, whatever the scoreboard said.

In the end neither side could quite force the door open, and a draw was a fair reflection of an afternoon where nobody blinked first. Honours shared, then — and on a warm Sunday against decent opposition, I'll happily take that.

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

Well, another Saturday, another toss won and another decision to bowl first snapped up — sorry, I mean bat first, which is what I actually did, and for once the lads made me look like a genius rather than a fool. Lord Raglan came to Linton Park and we put together a tidy 185 for 8 off our 40, built around Adam Jackson's fine 42. Ron McCormick chipped in with 33 and Matthew Carter finished unbeaten on 23, giving the total the sort of respectable shape that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through the cucumber sandwiches in nervous silence.

Defending it turned into a proper arm-wrestle. T. Parkin looked the most likely to spoil our afternoon with 28, well supported by P. Smith's 26 and A. Broome's 22, and for a while Lord Raglan threatened to bat us out of it. But Jack Jenner was superb, plucking out 3 for 36, with John Taylor (2-26) and Kevin Presneill (1-7) chipping away at the other end, and Darren Styles kept things admirably tight with two maidens. I'll own my own part in proceedings without dwelling on it further, and admit Mike Elworthy had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes going walkabout, though he'll shrug that off given he still leads our 2004 2nd XI run charts with 382. Styles, meanwhile, sits a creditable 5th in the wicket-takers with 10.

Lord Raglan were shut out on 146 for 7, and we came home 39 runs to the good. A proper club win, hard-earned and thoroughly deserved. Onwards indeed.

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 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

Won the toss on a bright Saturday and, with a wicket that looked full of runs, I fancied our bowlers more than our batsmen, so I put Bearsted in without a second thought. They made themselves comfortable early doors and eventually posted 171 for 8 from their 46 overs, Richard Filmer the chief architect with a polished 67, and Alistair Mills unbeaten on 30 lending the innings a sturdy spine, the pair adding 76 for the eighth wicket when we thought we had them shot of ideas. Small mercies came our way too, with Robin Cross back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Credit to the attack: Gareth Davies led from the front with 2 for 26, Matthew Carter and Trevor Back chipped in with 2 apiece, and Carter's two maidens were the sort of over batsmen learn to respect rather than enjoy.

Chasing 172 should have been a straightforward Saturday afternoon's work, but our reply never quite found its rhythm and we were bowled out for 141 in 43.4 overs. Richard Piper battled through for a fine 53, and I'll own my part in the collapse with a duck of my own, the sort best filed away and never mentioned again, except here, once, for the record.

A draw, then, honours shared, and on reflection a fair result. Bearsted had the better of the toss's gift, we had the better of the tail-end nerves, and cricket, mercifully, called it even.

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

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

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation putting Meopham in — the right call, as it turned out, though I'll admit that's easier to say with the benefit of hindsight and a result in the bag. They battled to 128 all out in 44.1 overs, Adam Roxburgh leading the way with 23, well supported by R Cutts (22) and James Fotheringham (20). Poor Matt Sparkes will have gone home with nothing to show for his innings but a golden duck, which I suspect stung rather more than any of our bowling figures. And what figures they were — Daniel Thirkell was simply magnificent, ripping through the order for 5-31 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, a spell as tight as it was destructive. Michael Beeney (2-31) and Dennis Salisbury (1-14) chipped in nicely alongside him.

Chasing 129, we made steady if unspectacular work of it, cruising home on 132/3 from 41 overs. Thirkell, not content with his heroics in the field, carried on where he left off with an unbeaten 52, while I was glad to contribute 43 of my own down the order, with Russell Baldwin adding a brisk 24. Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps — eight byes is not an afternoon he'll frame for the clubhouse wall — but nobody begrudges a keeper his off days when the result reads seven wickets in our favour.

A splendid all-round performance, capped by Thirkell's five-for nudging him up to 19th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. All told, a fine day's work and a thoroughly deserved win.

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 Harvel CC · AwayformWWLDW

Sunday took us to Harvel, and with first use of the ball we found ourselves in the field wondering what on earth we'd done to deserve Stuart Wakeman in this kind of mood. His magnificent 112 was the innings of the day, ably supported by Stewart Dimmick's 38, and the pair put on a chastening 121 for the second wicket before Harvel closed on 228 for 8 from their forty overs. There was at least a small mercy in seeing Gary Millen depart for a duck, and credit where it's due — Trevor Back did the real damage with 2 for 36, well supported by Matt Coles (1-23) and Gareth Davies (1-24), while Adam Jackson bowled two admirably miserly maidens. I'll allow myself one boast: those wickets keep me atop the 2004 Sunday 2nd XI charts with 19 for the season, for all the good it did us on the day.

Chasing 229 was always a tall order. John Coles (45) and Mike Elworthy (45) both batted with real application, and a battling 69-run stand for the fifth wicket, capped by Trevor Back's unbeaten 24, gave the innings some much-needed backbone before we closed on 160 for 6 — respectable, but well short. Adam Jackson's afternoon ended as a golden duck, to be filed alongside his earlier maidens in the club's ledger of honours and horrors alike.

We went down by 68 runs in the end, fairly beaten by the better side. Heads up, humility intact, and back to the nets for the lads.

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 IX Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI · HomeformDWWDL

Thursday last, with the visitors making the trip to Linton Park, I won the toss and, with the sun doing its best impression of summer, had no hesitation in asking my side to bat first. It was the right call, if I say so myself. Mike Elworthy set about proving it with a fine 53, and Matthew Carter finished unbeaten on 46 to give the innings real backbone, while Adam Jackson chipped in a handy 21. We were rather generously assisted by 56 extras — not the sort of contribution one likes to see on the scorecard, but they count all the same — and closed on a healthy 206 for 7 from our 43 overs.

Defending it proved another matter entirely. T Gregory played beautifully for 72 and Nathan Philpott matched him stroke for stroke with an unbeaten 53, with P Patel adding 24, and between them they gradually eased the target within reach. Darren Styles toiled manfully for 2 for 47, including two tidy maidens, John Taylor picked up 1 for 22, and I managed to prise out one for 29 myself, though none of us could quite stem the flow. Poor Craig Sands had an afternoon of it behind the stumps, 9 byes going begging.

In the end we fell three wickets short of victory. Not our finest hour, but there was enough good cricket in there — not least from Richard Piper and Darren Styles, who continue to lead our run and wicket charts this season — to suggest we'll bounce back next week.

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

Skipper's Log — Sunday 25 July 2004. We hosted Findon CC.

Won the toss, and with the sun out and the tea urn presumably already on, I had no hesitation putting Findon in the field. It proved a shrewd call, up to a point: we lost our opener cheaply at 8-1, the sort of start that has committee members reaching for the biscuit tin in despair, but the middle order steadied the ship with a crucial 58-run third-wicket stand. From there Daniel Thirkell simply took over, compiling a magnificent unbeaten 109 — a proper captain's innings, even if the captain himself was watching from the balcony — with Paul Gibson chipping in a tidy 22. We closed on 193/6 from our 40 overs, a total that felt like a platform rather than a fortress.

Defending it, we made early inroads with Findon slipping to 1-1, and for a while the plan held: John Taylor bowled beautifully for 3-21, backed up nicely by Rob Doick and Mark Christmas, while I managed to squeeze in two maidens of my own for good measure. But John Rogers had other ideas, farming the strike to an unbeaten 102 of real class, well supported by John Cox's unbeaten 26, and an infuriating last-wicket stand of 99 dragged the game away from us just as we sensed it was ours.

Beaten by four wickets in the end — not for want of character, just for want of one more twist. Special mention to Daniel Thirkell, who brought up 8,000 career runs for the club along the way, a landmark worth savouring even in defeat. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Saturday brought Hollingbourne CC to Linton, and having called correctly for what felt like the first time all season, I had no hesitation in sending us in — the sort of decision that looks either inspired or idiotic by teatime. Happily it was the former. Daniel Thirkell played the innings of the summer, a majestic 122, while Paul Gibson chipped in a handsome 74 in fine support. Russell Baldwin's contribution was rather more modest — a golden duck, bless him — but 246/6 from our 46 overs was a total with genuine substance.

Defending it, we never quite let Hollingbourne settle. Neil Taylor batted beautifully for his 83, and got useful help from Tom Osborne (37) and Dave Hinks (24), but Mark Christmas simply refused to be denied, running through their order for a magnificent 5-36 — Adeel Hussain and Mike Palmer both fell without scoring at our hands. Rob Doick (1-22) and Dennis Salisbury (1-29) tidied up either end, and 215 all out left us 31 runs to the good.

A day thick with milestones besides: it was my 1100th appearance in Linton colours, which made me feel every one of my creaking joints; Rob Doick sailed past 300 career wickets; and Daniel's 122 lifted him above Piers McDonald into 11th on the all-time run charts. Craig Sands still leads our 2004 run-scorers on 320, with Mark Christmas now second in the wicket column on 11.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket, and a victory built on substance rather than luck. Onwards.

Thu 22 Jul 2004 🧢 Midweek XIv KX Kon UD Deventer CC (Holland) Tour XI · HomeformWDWWD

I opened the ball for Linton Park, sent M Dirks packing without troubling the scorers, and settled in on a warm Thursday evening full of quiet optimism. It didn't last, but let's get to that.

We put the visitors in and watched R Weyz play the innings of the night, 49 well-constructed runs, with R Lubbers chipping in a brisk 34 to help them to 185/9 from their 35 overs. It could have been considerably worse had Matthew Carter not bowled with real menace to finish with 2-35 - the sort of spell that keeps a captain's blood pressure in check. I managed to do my bit too, 2-36 for the afternoon, and Adrian Caddick nipped in with a handy 1-3 to keep the scoreboard honest.

Chasing 186, we never quite found the rhythm the target demanded, though Craig Sands played a lovely, well-made fifty of 59 that gave us genuine hope, backed up nicely by Mike Elworthy's 29 and Richard Piper's 25. Wickets fell around them at inconvenient intervals, though, and we were all out for 162 in 34.5 overs, 23 runs short at the death.

Piper continues to lead our 2004 run charts with 126 for the season, and Carter tops the wicket pile with 5 - small consolations on a night when the collective effort just fell short. Beaten, but not disgraced; we'll dust ourselves down and be better for it 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

Losing the toss on a bright Sunday morning and being asked to field is never quite the tonic one hopes for at 11.07.2004, but Rowledge CC duly took first use and we set about them with intent. They ground their way to 157 for 8 off 37.3 overs, Nigel Thirkell departing for a duck at our hands along the way — always a satisfying line to write in the book. Rob Doick was magnificent with the new ball, leading the attack home with figures of 3 for 40, while Matt Large chipped in nicely with 2 for 16 and Mark Christmas, tighter than a Sunday collection plate with two maidens to his name, took 2 for 46. Not a run given away lightly, and not a bad shift for an afternoon's honest toil.

Chasing 158, we were made to work for it, closing on 159 for 5 from our 40 overs. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, motoring past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 58, well supported by Daniel Thirkell (27 not out) and Paul Gibson (25 not out) as the total ticked along nicely. I'll admit some quiet satisfaction in still leading the 2004 Sunday run charts with 358 runs, though Rob Doick is snapping at heels elsewhere with 7 wickets to his name this season.

Home by five wickets, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the kind of Sunday that makes all the winter nets worthwhile.

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

Winning the toss on a bright Sunday against Mersham Sports CC, I didn't hesitate — into the field we went, fancying there'd be something in it for the bowlers. So it proved, eventually. Matt Roberts (45) and Kevin Burton, unbeaten on 45, threatened to bat us out of the game, taking their side to 154 for 7 before the innings folded in a heap to 163 all out from 40 overs — Rudi Stassen, Jack Wilson and Sam Burton all departing without troubling the scorers. Michael Beeney was superb, 3 for 13, with Jon Harris (2-16) and Matthew Carter (1-14) chipping in, while Darren Styles bowled two miserly maidens. A fine collective effort, and 163 looked eminently gettable.

So it proved, if not without incident. Adam Jackson (54) and Jack Jenner (50) put on a magnificent 115 for the second wicket, both reaching well-crafted fifties, and I allowed myself to relax rather too soon. From 133 for 2 we lurched to 142 for 5 in a spell of self-inflicted chaos, Matthew Carter completing a miserable pair-of-sorts with a duck. Thirty extras, including eleven byes off my own glovework, told of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for your captain — I shan't pretend otherwise.

Still, 165 for 6 got us home. With Richard Piper third in this season's run charts and Jon Harris topping the wickets table, the engine room is purring nicely. Four wickets, two points, and a thoroughly satisfying way to spend a Sunday.

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

Sunday the fourth of July found us on the road to Sherwood CC, Kent — never a fixture for the faint-hearted, and so it proved.

Put into the field, we watched Frank Woollett settle in for 36, with Steve Rowe (27 not out) and Nick Webster (25) keeping the scoreboard ticking along nicely, and Sherwood closed on a stern-looking 186/8 from their 45 overs. If there was a crumb of comfort it came at the top, where Ivan Willis departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was magnificent with the ball, 4-26 and full value for every wicket, well backed by Samuel Harris (1-10) and Tom Motum (1-18), while Adam Jackson bowled with the meanness of a man who begrudges every single run — three maidens to his name.

With 187 to chase in 41 overs, Mark Christmas played the innings of the day, motoring past his fifty to finish on a superb 94 and dragging us to a highly respectable 166/6. My own afternoon was rather more modest — 17 with the bat, and a stint behind the stumps that cost 28 byes, which I shall put down to a wicket with ideas of its own rather than dwell on further.

So a draw it was, honours shared when neither side could quite force the door open. Given Sherwood's total, I'll take it gladly — a fine team effort, capped by Christmas in irresistible form, and proof that Linton Park travel well even when the going is tough.

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 brought Benenden CC to our ground, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't dither for a second — a good batting surface, and we were having first knock. We settled to 170 for 6 from our 45 overs, a total built on a fifty from yours truly (53, and I shan't pretend I wasn't rather pleased with it), with Trevor Back chipping in 35 and Graham Walker a tidy 29 to give the innings some backbone.

With the ball, Benenden made us work for it, replying with 151 for 7 from 43 overs. Peter Newman played the innings of the day, a well-crafted 66 that threatened to run away from us, though we did have the small mercy of seeing Andrew Morrison depart for a duck. Trevor Back was the pick of the attack by some distance, 4 for 24 that kept dragging them back, with Michael Beeney (2-34) and Jon Harris (1-29) offering fine support, and Adam Jackson bowling two miserly maidens to squeeze the scoring.

A word too for Graham Walker, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth raising a teacup to. He now leads our 2004 2nd XI run charts with 224, with Trevor Back sitting second in the wicket column on 12.

In the end neither side could quite land the killer blow, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the story either captain wanted to tell, but an honest one.

Tue 29 Jun 2004 🧢 Twenty20v Headcorn CC · HomeformWWW

Right, off the top!

We won the toss on Tuesday against Headcorn, and with a wicket that looked fit for runs I had no hesitation in sticking us in first — the right call, I felt, and one I'll happily take credit for while it stands. Russell Baldwin set about proving me right in style, cracking a fine 67, with Rob Doick right alongside him for a classy 60 of his own. Stewart Morrison chipped in an unbeaten 27 to see us home to a handsome 187 for 3 from our twenty overs. Paul Gibson, meanwhile, contributed rather less with the willow — a golden duck to remind him where his real talents lie.

And so they did, because with the ball Gibson struck alongside the rest of our attack to dismantle Headcorn for a modest 83 for 9 in 17.2 overs. Mike Donnelly's battling 22 was about the only resistance on offer; poor Robert Sparks departed without so much as troubling the scorers. Richard Knowler was pick of the bowlers with a tidy 2 for 10, well backed up by Adam Jackson's 2 for 21 and Gibson's redemptive 1 for 2. I confess my own day behind the stumps was rather less tidy — nine byes leaked through is not a figure I'll be framing for the clubhouse wall.

Still, byes and all, we cantered home by 104 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one I'll take the credit for the toss and quietly forget the rest.

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

Sunday 27 June found us on the road at Horndon On The Hill, and for once the coin obliged — I called correctly and had no hesitation in taking first knock on what looked a decent surface. Wisdom vindicated, as it turned out.

Paul Gibson played the innings of the season, ghosting to an unbeaten century — three figures, no less — while Stuart Cheesman farmed the strike nicely for 27 not out at the other end. I chipped in with 22 of my own down the order, and would happily have taken more, though poor Craig Sands will want this report burned before it reaches his mother, his golden duck the only blemish on an otherwise merry afternoon. Extras, ever reliable clubmen that they are, chipped in 49 of their own. We closed on a handsome 239 for 6 from our forty overs.

Defending that kind of total ought to be the easy part, and so it proved, even with Jason Plom and Philip Keeping threatening briefly with 46 not out and 35 respectively, ably assisted by Paul Bennett's unbeaten 24. Mark Christmas did the damage that mattered, prising out the key wicket for 1-25, and the innings folded tidily on 120 for 2 from 24.2 overs. A comfortable 119-run victory, and two points banked. With the season's charts now showing me handily out in front with 357 runs and Christmas lurking third among the wicket-takers, spirits in the camp are, I'm delighted to report, thoroughly unpunctured.

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

I called it right at the toss on a fine Saturday down at Milstead, and with no great cricketing insight beyond "the pitch looks flat and my knees don't fancy fielding all day," I chose to bat. It proved a shrewd call, or a lucky one — the same thing, in my experience. Russell Baldwin and I put on a stand that carried us most of the way, he cruising to 87 past his fifty while I found some rare rhythm for 93, the nearest I've come to embarrassing myself with a century all season. Craig Sands finished things off in style with an unbeaten 36, and 244/2 from 46 overs felt like a total to bowl at rather than defend nervously.

And bowl we did, with real discipline. Richard Moxon batted beautifully for Milstead, 85 the sort of innings that keeps a captain up at night, well supported by Mike Sellar and Stuart Burnop. But poor Paul Mills departed for a golden duck, and our attack squeezed hard throughout — Daniel Thirkell leading with 2-36, Mark Christmas tidy and miserly with 2-42 including two maidens, John Taylor chipping in with 1-55. They fell 48 runs short in the end.

A tidy footnote: Thirkell's runs with the bat nudged him past John Ames into 13th on the club's all-time list — the sort of statistic that means everything in the bar and nothing anywhere else. A fine win, and long may it continue.

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 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

Down at Bearsted on a fine Saturday, I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or daft depending entirely on what follows, and for a while it looked shrewd enough. We laboured to 157 for 6 from our forty overs, a total built rather than blazed. I was pleased to see my own innings click into gear for a well-made fifty, 53 in the end, with Russell Baldwin chipping in a useful 32 and Brian Piper unbeaten on 21 to give the total some late respectability. Less happily, both Craig Sands and John Taylor departed for ducks, proof that not every name can go on the honours board on the same afternoon.

With the ball, Bearsted made light work of it. Stephen Pearce anchored the chase with an unbeaten 74 and Noel Johnston kept him company with a fine 66 of his own, and between them they saw the innings home in just 34.1 overs for the loss of a single wicket. Michael Beeney toiled away for 1 for 36, and John Taylor, ducks notwithstanding, bowled tidily with three maidens. Eight byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Craig Sands.

There were individual crumbs of comfort — I sit second in the 1st XI's run charts this season with 204, and Michael Beeney leads the wicket charts with 19 — but the team result was the only one that mattered. Beaten by nine wickets, no arguments. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 19 Jun 2004 🧢 2nd XIv 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

The coin behaved itself for once, and against my better instincts I sent Sevenoaks & District Wednesday in under a docile June sky. They made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 228 for 6 off their 46 overs, the bulk of the damage done by Glen Warner, who ground out a chanceless 122 while P Styles (31) and L-Manuel (30) played the supporting cast rather too well for our liking. Darren Styles was our chief tormentor with the ball, 3 for 51 including three maidens that must have felt like penance to the batsmen facing them, Trevor Back chipped in with 1 for 29, and I did my bit too, going at rather more expense than I'd have liked for my own solitary wicket.

Chasing 229 was never going to be a stroll, but Nigel Thirkell decided otherwise, batting through for an unbeaten 93 of real substance, well backed by Stewart Morrison's 46 and Trevor Back's 25. Poor Fred Cheesman departed for a duck, the sort of nought that draws sympathetic applause rather than mockery from a good club.

A word, too, for Piers McDonald, who brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark that puts the rest of us rather in the shade.

We scrambled home by 3 wickets with half an over gone spare. A proper contest, honestly won, and a very good day for the club.

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

David Castle called correctly at the toss and, with sunshine on the shoulders and nothing much to fear in the pitch, had no hesitation in batting first. It proved a shrewd call. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, a superb 111, and found excellent company in Daniel Thirkell, who cruised past his fifty to finish on 65. I chipped in with 42 down the order, and between us we set Shipbourne a stern 258 for 4 off our forty overs — the sort of total that has the tea urn practically boiling itself in anticipation.

Defending it, it must be said, was rather more fun than my own contribution at the crease, where I departed twice without troubling the scorers — greedy, some might say, to get out twice in one afternoon, but there it is. Craig Sands endured a testing day all round, not least behind the stumps, with nineteen byes speaking volumes. No matter: Mark Christmas was quite magnificent with the ball, ripping through Shipbourne with 4 for 10, while Dennis Salisbury (3 for 34) and Daniel Thirkell (1 for 15) mopped up the rest. All out for 128 in 29.2 overs — the innings, like most of their batsmen, never really got going.

A emphatic 130-run victory, then, and two points thoroughly earned. With the runs I've now got 335 for the season atop the Sunday charts, and Dennis sits second in the wickets — form the whole side can be proud of. A cracking day's cricket, and long may it continue.

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

An afternoon at Harrietsham CC on Sunday 13 June, and precious little luck with the coin — they called it right and sent us in. No matter: Richard Piper made light of the request with a superb 93, ably supported by Matthew Carter's fine 87, while Chris Newman chipped in a brisk 40 as we piled up a formidable 288 for 5 from our forty overs.

Defending that sort of total is the kind of problem a captain dreams about, and the lads made it look almost unfair on our hosts. Harrietsham's reply never got going — John Higgs battled to 44, but around him wickets tumbled, with Martin Jones, Jay Stubberfield and Peter Jones all departing without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris was quite simply unplayable, returning 4 for 3 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, while Darren Styles (2-8) and Joe Martin (2-18) mopped up what resistance remained. Eighty-seven all out from thirty-two overs told its own story.

As for my own efforts — a golden blob, first ball, the captain leading by example in entirely the wrong direction. Still, one man's failure is easily swallowed by a total of 288, and I shan't lose sleep over it. Matthew Carter now leads our Sunday 2nd XI run charts for the season with 152, and Jon Harris tops the wicket-takers with 9 — both richly deserved.

Two points banked, and a thumping 201-run win. A splendid day out, blob and all.

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

Saturday 12 June 2004 saw Meopham CC roll into Linton Park for what turned into a proper old-fashioned humdinger. I won the toss and, with barely a flicker of contemplation, decided we'd bat — sunshine on my back and a pitch that looked altogether too good to leave for later.

Nigel Thirkell set the tone with a well-made 61, and I was rather chuffed to get in on the act myself, easing past my own fifty to finish on 58 — the sort of innings that makes the tea interval taste that bit sweeter. Craig Sands chipped in handsomely with 32, though poor Daniel Thirkell will want this report kept well away from his mother, departing for a golden duck. All told, 237/6 from our 46 overs felt like a total with some bite to it.

Meopham gave it a proper go in reply, Mick Plumb leading the chase with 47, Darren Deeks unbeaten on 39 and M Daley adding 34, but they never quite got their noses in front. Mark Christmas was magnificent with the ball — 3-32 including two miserly maidens — well supported by Richard Knowler and Dennis Salisbury, who shared a wicket apiece. Craig Sands had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes escaping his grasp, though nobody begrudged him after his runs. Gavin Tovey departed without troubling the scorers, and amid it all Daniel Thirkell quietly passed 300 career wickets — some consolation for that duck.

Two points, won by 33 runs, and thoroughly deserved.

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

Saturday found us on the road to East Malling, where I lost the toss and did the only thing a captain can do in that situation — watched politely as they chose to field. Batting first on an away strip is always a lottery, but Graham Walker made light of it, motoring nicely past his fifty to 69, well supported by Simon Thirkell's brisk 28. Their fourth-wicket stand of 63 did much of the heavy lifting as we posted 160 for 6 from our 42 overs — a total that felt useful rather than commanding.

Defending it, we knew we'd need something special, and for a good while it looked as though we wouldn't get it. East Malling's openers put on a flying 92 before we so much as looked at the wicket column, Gavin Wenborn compiling a well-made 74 not out with sturdy company from Roger Fowle (36) and Robert Davies (26). Credit to the bowling for hauling things back: Darren Styles was pick of them with 1 for 33, Trevor Back chipped in with 1 for 34, and Matthew Carter bowled two miserly maidens to keep the runs honest. They finished on 151 for 3 from 41 overs — short of home, but out of our reach too.

Elsewhere, Graham Walker continues to lead our 2004 second-eleven run charts with 165, and Trevor Back tops the wicket-takers with 8 — both very much in the runs and wickets that mattered today. The verdict: honours shared, a draw when neither side could force the door open, and on a decent pitch against decent opposition, no bad way at all to spend a Saturday.

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 at Leeds & Broomfield, and for once the coin actually listened to me. I called correctly and never seriously considered fielding first on what looked a decent surface — you don't get many favours from village pitches in early June, so best to bank the runs while the sun's out.

We batted with real purpose, posting 203 for 7 from our 46 overs. Stewart Morrison was the innings' backbone, unbeaten on 59 and looking thoroughly unbothered by the whole affair, while Christopher Thirkell chipped in a tidy 32. I managed 29 myself, more by accident than design, but every run counts when you're setting a target.

Defending it was where the afternoon turned into proper theatre. Leeds & Broomfield gave it a real go — Barry Nixon top-scoring with 45, Jason Tharp unbeaten on 41 and Neil Dibben adding 31 — and for a while it felt closer than the scoreboard suggested. But we kept chipping away: Jon Harris was the pick of the attack with 3 for 36, I picked up 2 for 25, Trevor Back weighed in with 2 for 30, and Darren Styles bowled three maidens that strangled any momentum they threatened to build. Carl Barker and Stephen Jupe both departed without troubling the scorers.

They fell short on 158 for 9 from their 44, and we came home 45 runs to the good. A thoroughly satisfying day's work — the sort of result that makes the tea taste sweeter on the drive home.

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

Sunday, 30 May 2004, and the road took us to New Ifield — always a fixture I enjoy, if only because their tea urn has never once let us down. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for once the decision looked good rather than merely brave.

What followed was as fine an afternoon with the willow as I can remember. I found some early rhythm and simply kept going, eventually reaching 108 — a hundred that, I'll confess, felt rather satisfying by the time I finally got out. Russell Baldwin gave the innings real backbone with a superb 72, and in doing so brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, which is the sort of landmark that deserves rather more than a polite ripple of applause from the boundary. Daniel Thirkell chipped in with a brisk 20 as we closed on a handsome 236/5 from our forty overs.

Defending it, New Ifield made us work, with M. Holdstock compiling a fine 70 and useful support from Gareth Stearn (29) and S. Ellis (24). But John Taylor was superb, prising out 3-26 with two miserly maidens to go with it, and Thirkell chipped in again with the ball for good measure. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, leaking 8 byes, but even that couldn't dent our afternoon.

A 53-run win, a hundred to treasure, and Baldwin's milestone besides — a red-letter day by any village standard. Onwards indeed.

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

Under a sky that couldn't decide what it wanted to do, we travelled to Southborough CC and I duly lost the toss — asked to field first, which at least saved me the trouble of pretending I wanted to bat. Southborough made themselves at home to the tune of 175/8 from their 46 overs, built around Ronald Hart's unbeaten 62 and Ian Moore's tidy fifty, the pair putting on 97 for the second wicket after we'd nabbed one for two early doors. Full credit to the bowlers for hauling it back from there: Matthew Carter was the pick with 3-25 and four maidens of pure stinginess, well backed by Adam Jackson's 3-42 and Jon Harris's 1-35, with Steve Dann sent packing for a duck.

Chasing 176, we made harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, but Ron McCormick played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 68 that anchored everything around him, with Trevor Back's 47 not out and Graham Walker's 28 doing the heavy lifting alongside. My own contribution amounted to a golden duck — the sort of innings best described briefly and moved on from swiftly, which is precisely what I intend to do.

We got over the line by five wickets with a few overs to spare, and Ron McCormick now sits proudly atop the 2004 run charts while Matthew Carter leads the wickets — a fine advert for both ends of the game. A scrappy, occasionally comic afternoon, but three points is three points, and I'll take a golden duck all day long if the lads keep winning around me.

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

Lost the toss at Harrietsham on Sunday and duly found ourselves out in the field before we'd so much as loosened up — never the ideal start to a Sunday afternoon. We were bowled out for 173 in 41.4 overs, a total that owed plenty to Christopher Thirkell's excellent 48 and useful support from Simon Thirkell with 27. Poor Joe Martin managed only a golden duck for his troubles, though the extras column did its bit too, chipping in a generous 28 — not quite the top order we'd have chosen, but a total to bowl at nonetheless.

Defending it, we scrapped hard. Adam Jackson was the pick of the attack, snaring 2-26 with a couple of miserly maidens thrown in, and I chipped in with 1-20 myself, with Joe Martin taking 1-21 in good support. We even had Rod Martenstyn back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. But Daniel Ford played the innings that mattered, an unbeaten 70 shepherded home by Michael Anstead's composed 20 not out, and Harrietsham eased to 174/7 in 44.2 overs.

If I'm honest, the story of the day was in the extras: 15 byes told its own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps, and 18 wides and 6 no-balls besides suggested our discipline had gone missing along with the sunshine. Beaten by three wickets in the end — no disgrace, but we know exactly where the improvement needs to come from 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

As the outgoing hero of a scorching stalemate, I'm putting the kettle on and the pen to paper.

Skipper's Log, 22 May 2004 — away to Hollingbourne, and what a marathon it turned out to be. In we went first, and while the scorebook shows 189 all out, it rather flatters the smoothness of the process. Craig Sands set the standard with a really fine 60, the kind of innings that makes the tea taste sweeter, and I was glad to chip in with 44 alongside Rob Doick's tidy 26. Elsewhere the card wasn't quite so rosy — Nigel Thirkell and Michael Beeney both trudged back for ducks, the sort of thing best laughed off over a pint rather than dwelt upon.

Defending 189, we asked Hollingbourne the same question and got much the same answer — 189/8 back at us, agonisingly close enough to taste. Andy Griffiths led their reply with 47, well supported by Neil Taylor's 41 and Mark Styche's 32, and try as we might we couldn't quite prise out that last breakthrough. Michael Beeney was excellent with the ball, 3 for 48 and full value, with Rob Doick (1-23) and John Taylor (1-38) chipping away too.

Two landmarks to raise a glass to: Craig Sands brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, and Michael Beeney's three wickets nudged him past John Thirkell into 13th on the all-time list — both leading their respective 2004 charts as things stand.

A tie, then — honours even after a full day's honest toil. Nobody wins, nobody loses, everybody's shattered. Cricket at its most maddeningly fair.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 22 May 2004. Biddenden CC came calling, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat — the sort of decision that looks either inspired or idiotic by teatime, and I'm delighted to report it was the former.

We batted with real purpose to post 211/7. Mike Redman led from the front with a fine 56, and he was given excellent company by Ron McCormick, whose 54 was a proper half-century built the hard way. Graham Walker chipped in with a brisk 29, and between them the top order gave us a total that had Biddenden looking distinctly thoughtful over their sandwiches.

With the ball, it was a different kind of carnage. Biddenden were bowled out for 135, despite James Piper's defiant 48 — the lone bright spark in an otherwise grim afternoon for the visitors, who lost Martyn Summers and James Harrison without either troubling the scorers. Darren Styles was superb, taking 3-23 to lead the attack, I chipped in with 2-8, and Trevor Back picked up 1-1. P- Bacon was miserly throughout, sending down three maidens that strangled any hope of a recovery. Mike Redman now leads our 2004 second-team run charts with 70, and Darren Styles tops the wicket-takers with four.

We ran out winners by 76 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one the tea urn will be talking about for weeks.

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

Sunday 16 May 2004, Bells Yew Green at home, and for once the coin behaved itself — I called correctly and didn't waste a second before deciding we'd bat. It felt like a batting sort of day, and so it proved.

We racked up 299 for 3 from our forty overs, which even by the generous standards of village cricket is a proper score. I found some form and went on to 151, Russell Baldwin gave sterling support with 64, and Stuart Cheesman finished unbeaten on 28. The extras column added a cheerful 35, presumably out of solidarity.

Three hundred needs defending, and the lads set about it with real intent. Bells Yew Green never got going, bundled out for 68 in just 20 overs, with M Within, James Cox and Tarif Chowdhury all failing to trouble the scorers. Dennis Salisbury was superb — 3 for 17 including two maidens — with Matt Large (3-18) and Michael Beeney (2-6) mopping up either side of him.

A day for the record books besides: I brought up 21,000 career runs for the club, while Stuart's 28 eased him past Peter Whyte into 25th on the all-time run-scorers' list. I now lead this season's Sunday run charts with 185, and Michael sits second among the wicket-takers with four.

We won by 231 runs. A very good day for the club indeed.

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

I put us in on a decent morning at Linton Park, fancying our chances with willow rather than leather. And how the lads repaid that faith – 236 for 3 off our 46 overs, built around a superb unbeaten century from Craig Sands, 129 not out of pure class. I chipped in with 53 myself, glad to get among the runs and give Craig some company at the other end while he did the real damage.

Defending 236 is never a formality, and Sheldwich made us sweat for it, racing to 231 for 7 off their 44. Darren Halls (60) and David Prior (51) both went past fifty and for a good while looked like they might spoil our afternoon, with Martin Mills chipping in 34 besides. It was the bowlers who dragged us over the line in the end – Michael Beeney the pick with 3 for 73, backed up nobly by John Taylor's 2 for 33 and Dennis Salisbury's tidy 2 for 39, three of those overs maidens, not a run given away lightly.

In the end we scraped home by 5 runs – the kind of margin that has you chewing your nails into the tea urn. Craig now leads our 2004 run charts with 160, and Michael tops the wicket pile with 13, so the season's shaping up nicely. A properly nerve-jangling watch, but a good day for the club, and I'll happily take five runs over five wickets any Saturday.

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

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

Sunday 9th May 2004 saw us make the trip to Chelsfield Exiles, and things got off to the usual start when I lost the toss and they sent us in to field first — some things never change. As it turned out, that decision suited us rather nicely.

With bat in hand we simply couldn't be shifted, racing to 235 without loss from our 36 overs. Stewart Morrison played the innings of the season, an unbeaten 118, and I was more than happy to play my part alongside him, finishing 108 not out myself — the sort of day every captain dreams of, leading from the front and watching the runs flow.

Defending that total, we asked Chelsfield to chase it down and they gave it a fair go, closing on 171 for 7 from their 41 overs. Spring led their reply with 45, well supported by D Butler's 25 and an unbeaten 23 from McNab. Matthew Carter was the pick of our attack by some distance, a superb 4 for 25, with Russell Baldwin (1-15) and Dennis Salisbury (1-20) chipping in dutifully, while Michael Beeney bowled two tidy maidens to keep things honest throughout.

In the end neither side could force the win, and honours were shared. Stewart Morrison now leads our 2004 Sunday run charts, and Matthew Carter tops the wicket-takers — both fully deserved. A draw it may have been on the scorecard, but with two centuries and a four-for to admire, this felt like a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket.

Sun 02 May 2004 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Milstead CC · HomeformWLWWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 2nd May 2004, and a fine day for it as Milstead CC rolled into Linton Park.

Lost the toss, put into the field, which is never the news you want over the tea urn, but the lads knuckled down and posted a very respectable 182/6 from our forty. I chipped in with 34 up top, and it was good to have company — Paul Gibson (31) and Nigel Thirkell (29) both playing their part to give the total some proper backbone.

Then out we went with the ball, and this is where the afternoon turned thoroughly enjoyable. John Taylor was in inspired form, four wickets for just 21 and two maidens to boot — miserly barely covers it. Rob Doick and Russell Baldwin chipped in with two apiece, and poor Ken West won't want reminding of his golden duck. Stuart Burnop (37) and Michael Annand (22) did what they could to steady Milstead's ship, but 119 all out from 32.4 overs was always going to leave them short. A word too for Michael Beeney, whose two wickets nudged him past Tony Gauna into 14th on the club's all-time list — quiet history being made while the rest of us weren't looking.

A win by 63 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — bat and ball both doing their bit. Onwards to the next.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday, 1st May 2004. Flimwell CC at home, and with the coin landing kindly I had no hesitation in sticking us in, on the theory that a good long knock might blow off the cobwebs of the winter. As theories go, it wasn't a bad one.

We batted with real purpose, racking up 213 for 3 off our forty overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than gnaw at it. I found some form of my own with 90 not out, a score I'm rather chuffed with, and I had good company: Adam Jackson finished unbeaten on 31 and Paul Gibson chipped in with 31 of his own. Declarations were never on the cards, but 213 felt like plenty to defend.

And so it proved. Flimwell's reply folded for 92 in 35.1 overs, poor Jamie Dench departing without so much as a squeak off the bat. Michael Beeney was the chief destroyer with 3 for 5, backed superbly by Ian Hollingworth's 3 for 16 and Chris Newman's 1 for 8, while Matthew Carter simply refused to be scored off, sending down three maidens. A tidy afternoon's work all round.

There were milestones too: Clive Newman brought up 9,000 career runs for the club, a thoroughly deserved landmark, and Beeney's haul nudged him past Alan Boyns and into 15th on the all-time wicket-takers' list.

We ran out winners by 121 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the scrapbook.

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

I put us in to bat and, having taken one look at Sidcup's opening spell and another at my own reflexes, decided the coin had done us a favour. We batted with real purpose to reach 209/5 from our 43 overs, the innings built on a superb 97 not out from Kevin Presneill — a proper captain's knock, and I only wish I'd had the courage to declare him not out for the century in the scorebook of destiny. Adam Jackson chipped in nicely with 22 not out, and I contributed 21 as the fourth-wicket pair put on a crucial 56. Twenty-five extras rounded things off nicely, proof that Sidcup's line was almost as wayward as my own occasionally is.

Sidcup's reply was built around a fine 72 from Alan McCawley, well supported by Matt Ferguson's unbeaten 22, but our bowlers kept chipping away to restrict them to 141/7 from their 41 overs. Michael Beeney was magnificent, leading the attack with 4-30, with Russell Baldwin and Jon Harris weighing in with a wicket apiece, while Dennis Salisbury bowled three miserly maidens that would have tested the patience of a saint.

Two lovely landmarks to toast in the clubhouse afterwards: Kevin Presneill brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Michael Beeney passed 400 career wickets — the sort of milestones that remind you why we keep turning up on cold April mornings.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, but a thoroughly good-natured one — the sort that leaves everybody happy to see the tea urn come out.