🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 23 Sep 2007 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv ? · HomeformDDWDL

The lads knock up 234, we let a draw slip through our grasp — perfect fodder for a gazette report.

Sunday 23rd, the coin obliged, and I had no hesitation putting us in — a decision that, for once, looked rather clever by tea. Richard Piper set about the bowling with real intent for 91, and when he finally departed we found ourselves grateful for a seventh-wicket stand worth exactly 100 with Jim Hall, who finished unbeaten on a composed 53. Nigel Thirkell chipped in a handy 26 along the way, and 234 for 7 from our 45 overs felt like a total with a bit of bite to it.

And bite it did, for a while. A wicket with the very first run had the tea urn bubbling with optimism, and though C Hobbs (39), S Sims (23) and F Pearman (20) threatened to drag the visitors back into contention, the middle order simply imploded — 127 for 6 becoming 129 for 9 in the blink of an eye, with C Young, I Hart and Page all departing without troubling the scorers. Will Thirkell was the chief tormentor with 4 for 26, Matthew Carter (2-19) and Chris Newman (1-27) doing their bit, while Mark Christmas bowled with the kind of miserliness (7 maidens) that makes opening batsmen weep quietly into their gloves.

Nine down and nowhere to go, they somehow clung on at 140 for 9. Honours shared, then — a draw that felt, in truth, like two points we'd rather have banked, but with Piper and Newman both riding high in the season's charts, there's no shortage of reasons to keep smiling.

Sat 22 Sep 2007 🧢 1st XIv SC Sidcup CC · HomeformLLWLW

It was Sidcup CC at home on Saturday, and I lost the toss again — a run now stretching long enough that I suspect the coin itself has switched allegiance. They chose to bat, and by tea we'd have happily swapped places. Tim Dawes played beautifully for 89, Paul Jenkins carved out an unbeaten 56, and Daniel Corbett chipped in with 47, the pair of them putting on 89 for the fourth wicket after we'd had them 1 down early and dared to dream. Credit where due: Mark Christmas bowled with real discipline, two maidens among his 1-25, with Tim Wright and Jack Jenner both weighing in with a wicket apiece. Mark Amphlett departed for a duck at our hands, small mercies. Sidcup closed on 219/5.

Chasing 220, we never quite got the legs under us. Richard Piper batted with real class for 81, well supported by Kevin Presneill's 23, and twenty-nine byes and leg-byes did their bit to keep the scoreboard honest — though relying on extras as your third-highest partnership tells its own story. Jack Jenner, Tim Thirkell and Carl Davis all made the long walk back for nought, which is never a pleasant trio to keep company with in the book. All out 179 in 43.5 overs.

Beaten by 40 runs, then, and fairly so — Sidcup's middle order simply had more in the tank than ours. Craig Sands continues to sit proudly second in the season's run charts and Mark Christmas top of the wickets, so the engine room is in good order even when the rest of us stall. We'll regroup, we'll bowl straighter, and we'll be better for it next week.

Wed 19 Sep 2007 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLLDDD

Wednesday 19th September saw us make the trip to Penshurst Park, where a lost toss meant an afternoon in the field first — never my preference, but the lads shrugged and got on with it. Their innings ticked along to a stiff 226/7 off 40 overs, built chiefly around Rob Hunter's fine 76 and Ed Hill's polished 71, with Peter Eames chipping in 29. Jon Harris was the pick of our attack with 3-41, Darren Styles bowled with real discipline for 2-30 and three maidens, and Stuart Cheesman weighed in with 1-16. Andy Eames and Michael Meade both fell for ducks at our hands, which is always a small mercy when you're chasing a total like that.

Two hundred and twenty-seven to win is no stroll, but Mike Elworthy had other ideas, playing a simply magnificent innings of 120 to drag us home almost single-handedly. Trevor Back gave him fine support with 34, though poor Chris Newman's golden duck reminded us cricket rarely lets you have everything your own way. We scrambled to 227/8 off 38.5 overs, and I'll confess to a quiet satisfaction at chipping in three wickets myself earlier in the day.

A word for the history books: Mike's century sees him leapfrog Clive Newman into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — richly deserved. In the season standings, Craig Sands continues to lead the run charts on 332, with Jon Harris top of the wicket pile on 9.

A tense, thoroughly deserved win by two wickets. Onwards.

Sun 16 Sep 2007 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDDDWD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 16 September 2007. Anchorians CC were the visitors, and I lost the toss for my troubles; they took first use of a good pitch and made us pay for it in full.

James Hockley set about us with a magnificent 195, the sort of innings that makes you check the fixture list for when you might see the back of him, ably supported by J Thompson (84 not out) and D Thompson (41). The openers put on 132 before we so much as troubled the scorers, and a rampant third-wicket stand of 142 finished the job of demoralising us entirely. 348 for 3 from just 34.4 overs told its own story. Jon Harris toiled hardest for 1-38, with Carl Davis (1-67) and Michael Beeney (1-85) offering support of the moral rather than the statistical variety.

Chasing 349 was always a tale for the romantics, and briefly we told it well — James Piper's well-made 71 and Chris Newman's unbeaten 36 built on a bright 76-run opening stand. Then, as is our custom in these matters, the wheels came off spectacularly, 99 for 2 becoming 107 for 5 before anyone could reach for a cup of tea. Richard Piper and Jon Harris both walked for ducks, and your captain, leading from the front as ever, contributed a golden blob — proof that example is not always the example one hopes to set.

186 all out, beaten by 162 runs. A chastening afternoon, but James Piper's season continues to sparkle and we live, gratefully, to fight another Sunday.

Sat 15 Sep 2007 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformDWWWL

At Linton Park last Saturday, the coin let us down as usual — Marden won the toss and took first knock, which at least meant I could put my feet up in the field with a cup of tea rather than pad up straight away. Rupert Humphrey clearly fancied his afternoon, cruising to 79 not out, with Jim Hall (38) and Tim Thirkell (23) chipping in as the visitors racked up 189 for 3 from their 45 overs. Tim Wright did the damage with the ball, 2 for 51, while Darren Styles bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment — four maidens, not a run given away lightly.

Chasing 190, we made a proper fist of it. Graham Walker played a lovely innings for his 75, Richard Piper matched him stroke for stroke with an unbeaten 70, and Clive Newman's 23 kept the scoreboard ticking nicely. Poor Christopher Thirkell will want to forget his contribution — a duck, and not even a golden one worth boasting about at the bar. We got there in 42.1 overs, five wickets in hand, for the loss of only a modest slice of dignity.

A word for Richard Piper, whose 70 not out edged him past Paul Brattle into 18th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and who now sits proudly atop our 2nd XI's 2007 run charts with 399 to his name — the man is having a season.

Verdict: a thoroughly good day out, won with something to spare, and Piper once again the toast of the pavilion.

Sun 09 Sep 2007 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WK Westgate-On-Sea CC, Kent · HomeformWDDDW

Sunday 9th September 2007, and we welcomed Westgate-On-Sea CC to Linton Park for what turned out to be a proper old-fashioned arm-wrestle. I lost the toss – some things never change – and we were sent out to bowl first, which at least meant I didn't have to watch the top order fret over their pads for an hour.

Westgate ground their way to 190/9 off 45 overs, Keith Sandwell's 74 the innings' backbone, with a stubborn 52-run stand for the fifth wicket doing most of the damage. Credit where due: Matthew Carter was superb, 4-27 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed by Mark Christmas and Jon Harris. Special mention, too, for poor Ross Heathcote, sent back to the pavilion without so much as a single to his name – these things happen to the best of us.

We began the chase steadily, James Piper's 32 and a lovely 54-run fourth-wicket stand the platform, Carl Davis unbeaten on 24 and Richard Piper chipping in 23, though our extras column – a generous 28 – rather did the opposition's job for them, especially with 24 wides and 4 no-balls gifted in the field. Sloppy, but there we are.

We closed on 152/5 from our 40, short of the target but never disgraced. A quiet word of real pride amid it all: Mark Christmas brought up 2,000 career runs for the club – a landmark worth raising a glass to.

A draw, then, honours shared and pride largely intact – not the day for glory, but not one for hanging heads either.

Sat 08 Sep 2007 🧢 1st XIv EC Eynsford CC · HomeformLLLWL

From the captain's chair, Saturday the 8th of September, and Eynsford were the visitors to Linton Park on a day when, for once, the coin actually did as it was told. I called correctly, took one look at the pitch, and had no hesitation in putting us in — a decision that for once didn't require any furious backtracking come tea.

We rattled along to 247 for 5 from our 45 overs, the innings built almost entirely on the back of Paul Gibson, who cashed in for a magnificent 121. Nigel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 58, Richard Piper added a tidy 36, and the pair of them shared in a 139-run stand for the fourth wicket that took the game clean away from Eynsford before the ball had even been thrown down in anger.

If anything, the bowling was better. Eynsford's openers made a fist of it, putting on 64 before the first wicket fell, but from there it all rather came apart at the seams — 143 for 6 became 154 for 9 in the blink of an eye, and poor Dominic Syres departed for a golden duck. Gary Atkins (38), Phil Gay (27) and Howard Collins (26) were the only ones to trouble the scorers as the visitors folded for 176. Richard Knowler was magnificent, bowling us to victory with 6 for 34, well backed by Ryan Boyns (3-31) and Mark Christmas (1-40).

Gibson now leads the 2007 run charts with 691, Christmas the wickets with 34 — and we lead this one by 71 runs. Two points, thoroughly banked, and a very fine day's cricket.

Sat 08 Sep 2007 🧢 2nd XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformWDWWW

Saturday last took us down to Staplehurst, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I still maintain was the correct one, whatever the scoreboard might suggest by close of play. We compiled 166 for 8 from our 45 overs, the innings built around a fine, well-made fifty from Tim Wright (70), with Tim Thirkell (29) offering sturdy support in the middle order. I chipped in with 29 myself, for what it's worth. Less gloriously, poor Mike Elworthy endured the walk of shame for a nought — the Duck Club welcomes another member.

Defending 166 was always going to want discipline, and for a long while we gave a good account of ourselves. Ian Brattle did the real damage with 3 for 45, backed up by Gareth Davies (1-18) and Trevor Back (1-20), while Tim Wright bowled two tidy maidens to go with his runs — quite the afternoon for him. Jim Hall had a trickier time of it behind the stumps, 10 byes going astray, and Staplehurst's Colin Breed made merry with a fifty of his own (60), Trevor Cardon chipping in with 27, as they closed out 171 for 6 in 44.5 overs.

There was, at least, cause for genuine celebration: Trevor Back brought up 11,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth savouring. Graham Walker sits second in the 2nd XI run charts with 297, and Gareth Davies leads the wicket-takers with 16. Beaten by four wickets in the end — chastening, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 02 Sep 2007 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Cowdrey CC · HomeformLWDDD

Sunday, 2nd September, and Cowdrey CC came to Linton Park with the sun out and, rather cruelly, the coin against us — we lost the toss and were sent in to bowl. No complaints; someone has to do the graft. Cowdrey ground their way to 174 all out in 38.2 overs, David Elliott top-scoring with a handsome 58, ushered along by Richard Marsh (36) and Jonathan Owen (21), the pair sharing 89 for the sixth wicket that threatened to run away from us entirely. But we don't go quietly — Chris Newman was in irresistible form with 4-15, Iain Rawson toiled away miserly for 3-53 with three maidens to his name, and Mark Christmas chipped in with 1-32. Three Cowdrey batsmen — Will Needham, Robert Hood and Ben Greehy — trooped off for ducks as we turned 169-7 into 174 all out in the blink of an eye.

Chasing 175, we made a nervous start, 1-1 down before some of us had found our sunglasses, but Tom Murphy played the innings of the summer, an unbeaten 81 that carried us home, well supported by Joe Martin's 28 and a sixth-wicket stand of 55. Ray Dixon and Mark Christmas both walked the walk of shame for ducks, and your correspondent must confess to one of his own — the less said, frankly, the better. A generous 28 extras from Cowdrey did us no harm at all.

We scrambled over the line by a single wicket — heart in mouth stuff, but a very good day indeed for the club.

Sat 01 Sep 2007 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWLLLW

Saturday saw us on the road to Shipbourne, and I won the toss and stuck us in — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook now suggests. Ben Spokes had other ideas, though, compiling a chanceless hundred that anchored their innings, with Neil Lee-Amies (36) and Mark Fenton (23 not out) offering sturdy support and a 68-run third-wicket stand doing the real damage. Just as we thought we had them shackled, their last pair cheerfully added 42 we could have done without, and they closed on 245/6 from their 45 overs. Jack Jenner was the pick of our attack with 1-14, well backed by Ian Hollingworth (1-38) and Richard Knowler (1-53), toiling manfully on an unforgiving afternoon.

Chasing 246, we never quite found our rhythm, losing our first wicket for just 3 runs and never fully recovering, despite a crucial fifth-wicket stand of 60. Paul Gibson battled to a fine 65, ably supported by Kevin Presneill's 26, but wickets fell steadily around them and we were bowled out for 131 in 38.4 overs. Mark Christmas and Ian Hollingworth both contributed golden ducks, and your correspondent, batting with all the authority of a startled pigeon, added his own — the less said, the better.

Paul Gibson now leads our 2007 run charts with 570, and Ian Hollingworth sits second among the wicket-takers with 19 — small consolations on a day we lost by 114 runs. Not our afternoon. Back to the nets, heads up, tea was decent.

Sat 01 Sep 2007 🧢 2nd XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · HomeformLWDWW

We fell to Cobham on the toss but got stuck in with the ball straight away, and I'll confess it looked a tidy total when they closed on 153/8 from their 45 overs. Les England was the chief architect at 39, with Ashley Church (32) and Peter Carter (27) keeping the scoreboard turning, but our attack held its nerve nicely — Darren Styles the pick with 3-53, Gareth Davies chipping in 2-18, and Ian Brattle bowling with the parsimony of a man counting out his own tea money, 1-27 and three maidens to show for it.

Chasing 154 is never a stroll, and for a good while it looked like one of those afternoons where the tail would be doing the arithmetic. Mike Elworthy, though, decided he fancied it, and 69 later — well past his fifty and playing the innings of the day — he'd hauled us into contention, with Christopher Thirkell's 30 lending very useful support. We limped home 155/8 off 41.2 overs, two wickets to spare, which in cricketing terms counts as comfortable and in captaining terms counts as several more grey hairs. Spare a thought, meanwhile, for poor Gareth Davies, whose golden duck earns him top billing in the club's less illustrious ledger.

A proud footnote to the day: Jim Hall brought up his 500th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark few of us will get within a country mile of. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a result that flattered our nerves rather more than our batting.

Sun 26 Aug 2007 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv YC Yalding CC · HomeformLLWLD

Sunday 26 August, and Yalding CC came calling. I lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a personality trait, and we were sent into the field.

We couldn't complain with how we bowled. Thomas Beeney set the tone with 2-22, Ray Dixon chipped in an admirable 2-31, and Matthew Carter was positively miserly — 1-15 and three maidens, not a run given away lightly. Yalding still nudged their way to 133/8 from their forty, Davinder Aujla unbeaten on 35 the chief architect, with Bradley Ford's 25 lending a hand, and a stubborn 51-run stand for the sixth wicket the one passage of play that got away from us. We had them 8-1 at one point and let the door swing shut rather too gently after that.

Chasing 134 should have been well within our compass, but cricket has a way of humbling the presumptuous. Christopher Thirkell, Chris Newman and Jon Harris all fell without troubling the scorers — three ducks is not a look anyone wants on the card — and though I managed a steadying 17, and extras did sterling work with 29, we were bowled out for 108 in the 32nd over. Twenty-five runs short, and no way of dressing that up.

Chris Knope continues to lead our Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 125, and Jon Harris tops the wicket-takers with 17 — small consolations on a day when the top order rather let itself down. Not our day, then. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sat 25 Aug 2007 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWWLLL

Saturday 25 August 2007, Sheldwich CC the visitors, and the coin let us down as ever – they had first use of a pitch that, by lunch, they must have wished they'd bowled on. We posted a handy 168/7 from our 45, Paul Gibson leading the charge with a fine 39, Nigel Thirkell chipping in 30 and Mark Christmas 28. Matthew Carter, in the interests of balance, offered up a duck – every side needs someone to keep the rest of us humble.

Defending it, the lads bowled with real discipline. Sheldwich never quite recovered from losing a wicket at 1-1, and though Daniel Ray (36) and Ian Hulks (33) threatened to drag them back into it, they were bowled out for 156 in the 44th over. James Harris departed for a duck of his own, so honours even there. Ian Hollingworth was superb – 3-25 with three maidens, not giving an inch – ably backed up by Matthew Carter (2-16) and Mark Christmas (2-23). I even managed 28 with the bat myself, which I shall mention only in passing, as captains should.

A notable day off the field too: Kevin Presneill brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that puts the rest of us mere run-scorers in the shade.

A fine win by 12 runs, then – tight enough to keep the heart rate up, comfortable enough to enjoy the tea. Onwards.

Sat 25 Aug 2007 🧢 2nd XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformWLWDW

Saturday 25th August 2007, away at Leeds & Broomfield, and for once the coin actually did what I asked of it. Won the toss, stuck them in — the right call, I felt, and I'm allowed to say that when it comes off. Our bowlers made the decision look positively inspired: Leeds & Broomfield were bowled out for a modest 92 from 33 overs, with only Steven Pike (29) and Barry Roles (20) offering any real resistance. James Ingarfield, Nathan Canty and Ian Harrison all trooped back for ducks, which tells you rather a lot about the pitch and rather more about our bowling. Ryan Boyns was the pick of them by some distance, a superb 4-12, with Ian Brattle chipping in 3-14 including three miserly maidens, and Gareth Davies proving equally hard to get away with 2-0.

Chasing 93, we cruised home at 95/1 from 20 overs, Graham Walker leading the way with a fluent 47 and Richard Piper unbeaten on 40 to see us over the line in some comfort — nine wickets to spare, thank you very much. Eight byes did rather suggest a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Glen Rawson, but nobody was complaining. Worth noting too that Piper's innings edged him past William Buck into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he continues to lead our 2007 Second XI run charts with 323, while Davies sits second in the wicket-takers with 13.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a rare afternoon where every decision I made looked like genius. I shall enjoy it while it lasts.

Sat 18 Aug 2007 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWLL

Saturday 18 August 2007 saw us make the trip to Bearsted, and losing the toss meant an afternoon in the field to open proceedings. Batting first, we stuttered early — 4 on the board and already a wicket down, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the flask before the second over's out. But James Piper settled things with a fine 74, and Mark Christmas, unbeaten on 70, joined him for a 96-run stand at the sixth wicket that turned a wobble into a total. Craig Sands chipped in with 28, the extras column did its bit with 26, and we closed on a healthy 246/7 from our 45.

Defending it, though, was a different story. Stephen Pearce simply wouldn't be shifted, compiling a superb unbeaten 109, with Richard Luxton (78 not out) alongside him and Greg Laurenson adding 38. We had them 2-1 early and dared to dream, but a 65-run third-wicket stand set them on their way and Bearsted cruised home on 250/3. Michael Beeney led our attack with 1-53, well supported by Ian Hollingworth's tidy 1-54 (three maidens to his name) and Mark Christmas's 1-66.

Two footnotes brightened the gloom: James Piper reached 2,000 career runs for the club, and Michael Beeney turned out for his 200th appearance in Linton colours — milestones worth raising a glass to. My own 70 was some personal consolation, but this was Bearsted's day, and we head back to the nets seven wickets the poorer for it.

Sat 18 Aug 2007 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWLWD

Saturday 18 August 2007, and Headcorn CC rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and, rather more inconveniently for us, the toss going their way. They took first use of the pitch, and we resigned ourselves to a long afternoon in the field.

Long it was, but not disastrous. Headcorn ground their way to 150/5 off their 45 overs, largely on the back of Nick Sparks, who made a thoroughly polished 81 not out and looked, frankly, like he'd been sent by the opposition to spoil our day single-handedly. Lance Grist (22) and Pete Sparks (20) chipped in dutifully, but the bowlers kept it tight throughout — Tim Wright the pick of them with 2-30 and three maidens besides, well backed by Thomas Beeney (2-31) and Tim Thirkell (1-19). John Phipps, for his part, contributed nothing at all — out for a golden duck, which is always a small mercy for the fielding side.

Chasing 151, we made harder work of it than the scorebook perhaps suggests, but got there on 153/6 from 44 overs. David Castle's 36 was the innings' backbone, Trevor Back finished unbeaten on a very useful 35, and Mike Elworthy's 25 kept the required rate honest. Poor Simon Thirkell endured the walk of shame for a duck of his own — group solidarity with Mr Phipps, if nothing else.

A four-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — scrappy in places, but victories rarely need to be pretty. Onwards.

Wed 15 Aug 2007 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDLLDD

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 15 August 2007.

We travelled to The Mote CC with the sun on our backs and, more importantly, the toss in our pocket. I had no hesitation electing to bat, and for once the decision aged rather well. Clive Newman played the innings of a man entirely unbothered by the responsibility, compiling a composed 86 not out and steering us to a healthy 170 for 5 from our 43 overs, with Craig Sands chipping in a valuable 35 alongside him.

Defending that total, our bowlers set about their work with real discipline. Jon Harris was the pick of the attack, prising out 2 for 25, while James Piper and Chris Newman did their bit with a wicket apiece. Gareth Davies, meanwhile, bowled with the sort of miserly precision that makes opposition batsmen mutter into their gloves — two maidens and barely a boundary in sight. Kraig Corke, unbeaten on 36, and Mark Bristow's 30 kept The Mote in the hunt, and they closed on 136 for 6 from their 45, just short of what was required and just long enough to deny us the win.

So honours shared — a draw, for all the endeavour on both sides. Craig Sands continues to lead our 2007 run charts with 324, and Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with 6. Not the victory we craved, but a thoroughly good afternoon's cricket, and one I'll happily put my name to.

Sat 11 Aug 2007 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hadlow CC · HomeformLLWLW

Lost the toss on Saturday 11th August, asked to have a bowl first, and if I'm honest my heart sank a little watching Hadlow CC stride out — this pitch has a habit of humbling the fielding side. My worries proved needless. We climbed to a very handsome 177 for 4 from 44.3 overs, built almost entirely on the back of Richard Piper, who batted with the calm authority of a man who knows exactly what he's doing and simply got on with it — 103 not out, a proper captain's-dream of an innings. Glen Rawson chipped in nobly with 40, and poor Mike Elworthy will want this gazette pulped before it reaches print after his golden duck. 🦆

Out in the field, we were made to work for it. Hadlow's Gopal Krishnan played the innings of the day, 77 well-constructed runs, and dragged them to 175 for 7 from 44 overs before we could shut the door. Tim Thirkell was superb, 3 for 32, with Trevor Back (1-11) and Kevin Presneill (1-19) chipping away either side of him. I even found a bit of rhythm myself for three wickets — proof that even a captain long past his best can still turn an arm over usefully. Nine byes did rather give the game away about poor Jim Hall's afternoon behind the stumps, though we've all had days like that.

In the end honours were shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody. With Piper now top of our 2nd XI run charts on 280 and Thirkell third in the wickets on 11, the season's shaping up nicely — this was two good sides cancelling each other out, and no shame at all in that.

Thu 09 Aug 2007 🧢 Tour XIv CC Cleethorpes CC · AwayformWLLLW

Beaten by the toss? No, won it — and true to Linton Park tradition, I stuck us in to field, which in hindsight may have been the last sound decision I made all day.

Cleethorpes made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 198/7 from their forty overs. Richard Woodward played the anchor role beautifully for an unbeaten 61, with Dan Tolson right behind him on 50 and Stuart Harvey chipping in a brisk 32. Credit where it's due: Chris Newman did the real damage with 2-25, while Darren Styles and Thomas Beeney took a wicket apiece — Beeney bowling with real discipline, two maidens and barely a run to be had off him.

Our reply never quite got out of second gear. Richard Piper battled hard for his 33, but the rest of us rather admired his effort from the other end, and we stumbled to 131/8 from our forty overs — 67 runs shy in the end.

Amid the wreckage, one moment worth toasting: Thomas Beeney brought up his 50th career wicket for the club, a landmark that deserved a rather better occasion but was no less deserved for it. He now leads the 2007 Tour XI wicket charts with 6, while James Piper continues to top the run charts on 238.

A long drive home, then, with more questions than answers about our batting. But these things build character, or so I keep telling the lads. We'll be better for it next week.

Tue 07 Aug 2007 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformLDLLD

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 07 August 2007. Bexley CC at home, and the coin did its usual trick of landing the wrong way up for us: they won the toss, chose to bat, and settled in for what promised to be a long afternoon in the field.

Long it duly was. Michael Ladbrook made a proper nuisance of himself with a magnificent 122, and just when we thought we might get a breather, Christopher Castleton set about us for 67, with Christopher Thirkell chipping in 22 more for good measure. Bexley closed on a commanding 242/4 from their 42.4 overs. Credit where due — Jon Harris toiled manfully for 2-45, while Desmond High's tidy 1-5 and Michael Beeney's 1-49 offered the odd flicker of hope amid the carnage.

Chasing 243 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. We came home on 103/3 from 25.3 overs, with Craig Sands the one man seemingly unbothered by the size of the task, batting through unbeaten on 27. The rest of us, it must be said, admired his effort more than we replicated it.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue — though let's be honest, one side did rather more of the forcing than the other. Sands continues to lead our run charts for the season with 289, and Harris the wickets with 4, proof that even in a manful mauling, class tells. A day for gritted teeth and gracious applause; we live to bowl another day.

Sat 04 Aug 2007 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLWWWL

Here is the match report:

Saturday last saw us make the pilgrimage to Meopham, having lost the toss and been asked to field first — never the news you want on a warm August afternoon, but we squared our shoulders and got on with it. Meopham built steadily to 242/6 from their 45 overs, with Darren Deeks (80) the chief architect, well supported by C Beard (66) and Andrew Powney (52) — a top order that simply refused to give us a sniff. Credit where it's due, though: Mark Christmas was magnificent, tearing through with 5-53 including a couple of maidens for good measure, while Michael Beeney chipped in with a wicket of his own. Mark Burton and James Fotheringham departed without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 243, we made a nervy start — 6 on the board and already a wicket down — before Paul Gibson set about repairing things in style, cracking a superb 91. A sturdy 73-run fourth-wicket stand, with Stewart Morrison (39) and Nigel Thirkell (29) both playing their part, dragged us back into contention. I managed a scratchy 27 with the bat but found some form with the ball, picking up 5 wickets myself. Sadly Craig Sands and Kevin Presneill both fell for ducks, and we finished on 230/9.

Twelve runs short in the end — agonisingly close, but not our day. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 04 Aug 2007 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWLLWL

Saturday 4 August 2007, and we had Bearsted CC in town for what turned out to be a proper old-fashioned tussle. I won the toss and never seriously considered anything but batting first — a decision I'll happily take the credit for.

We rattled along nicely early on, 100 up before Bearsted so much as glimpsed a wicket, and Glen Rawson's well-crafted 62 was the innings of the day, with Richard Piper's 43 lending fine support in a first-wicket stand worth exactly a hundred. Then, as is tradition at this club, the middle order decided enough was enough — 124-2 became 138-5 before anyone had really noticed, and Trevor Back and Simon Thirkell both made that lonely walk back for ducks. I chipped in with 15 of my own, more workmanlike than watchable. We settled for 178/9 off our 45, which felt a touch light but defendable.

And defend it we did. Tim Thirkell was magnificent with the ball, 4-34, backed superbly by Gareth Davies (3-22, three maidens — not a run given away lightly) and Trevor Back (1-15). David Bracey departed for nought, and despite Tim Lush's 36 and Mick Clifton's 33, Bearsted were bowled out for 145.

A 33-run win, two points thoroughly banked, and the ducks be damned — a very satisfactory Saturday's work.

Wed 01 Aug 2007 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDLDLL

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 01 August 2007

Winning the toss on a fine August afternoon, I did what every optimistic captain does and stuck the opposition in, fancying a bit of early swing for the lads. Whether there was much in it or not, our attack certainly made a fist of things. Rory High was the pick of them, snaffling 2-20 with real discipline, while Jon Harris (2-29) and Gareth Davies (1-20) chipped in nicely, and Darren Styles bowled two tidy maidens that must have driven their openers to distraction. Even so, Nathan Philpott (56) and C Sadler (56) both raised fifties and set a platform, with R Manning (30) adding useful runs, and their innings closed on a healthy 217/6 from 42 overs — a target that had "tricky run chase" written all over it.

We set off after it with intent. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, a well-made 57, with Carl Davis (41) and James Piper (36) lending sturdy support in the middle order. Chris Newman, alas, contributed what the scorebook cruelly records as a golden duck 🦆 — these things happen to the best of us. Poor Clive Newman had one of those afternoons behind the stumps, nine byes going begging, though nobody's holding it against him. We closed on 213/8 from 43 overs, agonisingly short.

A draw, then — honours shared, and probably a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side could quite land the killer blow. Frustrating to fall four runs shy, but with Craig Sands now topping our run charts this season, there's plenty to be cheerful about.

Sat 28 Jul 2007 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · HomeformLLWWW

Beaten by five wickets at home to Milstead on Saturday, and I'll admit the toss going against us set the tone before a ball was bowled. Asked to bat, we never quite found our rhythm, subsiding to 127 all out in the 43rd over. Paul Gibson batted with real application for his 47, and Kevin Presneill chipped in handsomely with 27 — the pair anchoring things after we'd lost our first wicket for the princely sum of 1. Credit too to the fifth-wicket stand, which added a much-needed 66, though the collapse either side of it (113 for 5 to 115 for 8 in the blink of an eye) rather undid the good work. Carl Davis and Michael Beeney both took the long walk back for ducks — the club ledger duly updated, quacks and all.

In the field we scrapped hard but couldn't quite defend it, Milstead cantering home on 128 for 5. Mike Sellar's unbeaten 46 did the bulk of the damage, well supported by Neil Burnop's unbeaten 24. Ian Hollingworth was our pick of the bowlers with 3 for 32, and honourable mentions to Michael Beeney (1 for 16, seven miserly maidens) and Richard Knowler (1 for 32) for keeping things tight even as the game slipped away.

Amid the gloom, one shaft of sunshine: Kevin Presneill brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved. Craig Sands continues to lead our 2007 run charts with 398, and Hollingworth sits second in the wickets column with 14.

All told, a losing afternoon but not a lifeless one. We'll regroup, dust off the ducks, and come back stronger next week.

Sat 28 Jul 2007 🧢 2nd XIv Mersham Sports CC · AwayformWWLLW

Down by 6 wickets and into the club gazette we go, from the captain's chair on Saturday 28 July 2007, off to Mersham Sports CC.

It began, as these things so often do, with the coin letting us down. They had first say and chose to field, which in hindsight was rather astute of them, because our innings resembled less a batting effort and more a group therapy session. Fifty-nine all out from 34.2 overs is not the sort of total you build a Sunday roast around, and when Ray Dixon, Gareth Davies and Thomas Beeney all contributed golden ducks 🦆 to the cause, one did wonder whether the club's collective bat had been left at home.

With the ball, though, we showed rather more spine. Jack Jenner was magnificent, ripping through them for 3-18, and en route reached the not inconsiderable landmark of 50 career wickets 🎯 — a round of applause in the clubhouse thoroughly deserved. Thomas Beeney chipped in with 1-7, redemption of sorts after his morning duck, while Ian Brattle bowled with the miserliness of a Yorkshireman checking a bar tab, three maidens to his name. Ollie Austen's unbeaten 22 nonetheless carried them home at 60/4 from 21.3 overs.

Trevor Back continues to purr along nicely at second in the 2007 2nd XI run charts on 169, and Jack Jenner sits proudly atop the wicket pile with 13. As for the rest of us — heads up, chins out, back to the nets. Not our day, but Linton Park has weathered worse storms than 59 all out.

Sun 22 Jul 2007 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Blue Star CC · HomeformWLLWL

Under a grey Sunday sky on 22 July, Blue Star arrived at Linton Park and the coin fell their way, leaving us to bat first — never quite the tonic for the collective nerves. We huffed and puffed our way to 120 all out from 43.3 overs, a total that felt about as sturdy as a garden shed in a gale, David Castle the honourable exception with a fighting 34 that at least gave us something to bowl at.

And bowl we did. Michael Beeney was in inspired, miserly form, snaffling 2 for 10 off a stack of overs that included five maidens — the sort of spell that has batsmen muttering into their gloves. Carl Davis (2-18) and Iain Rawson (2-25) chipped in handsomely, and between us we had Blue Star wobbling from 58 for 4 to a distinctly nervous 61 for 7. Poor Jordan Christy departed without so much as a sniff of the strike, off for a golden duck. Only Steve Chenery, unbeaten on 27, kept his side's hopes breathing, steering them to a final 111 for 9 from 39 overs — agonisingly short.

Thirteen byes crept through, and Craig Sands will know all about it behind the stumps; a word in his ear at nets, perhaps, though no malice meant. In the season's ledger, Chris Knope continues to lead our Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 110, while Carl Davis's efforts nudged him to second in the wickets table with seven. In the end, honours were shared — a draw that pleased nobody and disappointed nobody, which, in club cricket, is very often the truest result of all.

Wed 18 Jul 2007 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDDLDL

Wednesday 18 July 2007, and Dummy Site rolled up to Linton Park with the sun out and, worse still, the toss in their pocket. They chose to bat, and for once I can't blame them — 250/8 off their 51 overs was a proper score, built on Claire Taylor's classy 59, C Gibbons' well-made 56 and J-D-Jefferson chipping in with 47. Darren Styles bowled his heart out for 3-54, three of those overs maidens for good measure, with Carl Davis (2-35) and Chris Newman (1-26) doing tidy work either side of him. Not a total we were thrilled to chase, but not out of reach either.

And for a while it looked like Craig Sands might drag us there almost single-handedly. A superb, unbeaten 110 — the kind of innings you tell your grandchildren about, assuming they'll sit still long enough — but wickets fell around him and we subsided to 189/9 from 42.5 overs. Chris Newman and Carl Davis both made ducks, which is either very unlucky or very funny depending which end of the bar you're standing at.

There was real reason for cheer regardless: Clive Newman brought up 10,000 career runs for the club, and Craig Sands reached 7,000 — milestones that don't come along every Wednesday. Sands also leads our season's run charts, Styles the wickets.

Beaten by 61 runs, then, but with enough to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 14 Jul 2007 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformWLLWW

From the captain's chair, Saturday 14 July, and Mersham Sports CC visiting us in what turned into rather a good afternoon's work. I won the toss and, with the sun out and the outfield running fast, had no hesitation in batting first — a decision that required no great tactical genius, only the willingness to take the credit afterwards.

Craig Sands set about the bowling with real purpose for 86, while Paul Gibson, unbeaten on 85, and Nigel Thirkell's well-made fifty gave the innings its spine — the two of them putting on 143 for the third wicket while I did little more than admire proceedings from the boundary. Two hundred and seventy-three for three off our 45 overs, with a generous 25 in extras thrown in for good measure, felt like a total to defend rather than merely enjoy.

And defend it we did. Mersham fought hard through Matt Wilson's fifty and useful contributions from Alan Stevens and Rob Wilson, but once Richard Knowler got among them with a superb 4-35, ably backed by Michael Beeney and the ever-miserly Mark Christmas, the innings unravelled from 159-3 to 173-6 in a hurry, Dave Fagg and Kevin Wise both departing without troubling the scorers. All out for 203.

A word too for Richard Piper, who brought up 6,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth toasting in the bar. Seventy runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved.

Sat 14 Jul 2007 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWWWLL

As it stands 14th July 2007, off to Rumwood we went, lost the toss, and were put straight into the field — the traditional Linton Park welcome.

Batting first, we assembled a very respectable 195 for 5 from our 45 overs, the innings built almost entirely off the bat of Graham Walker, who eased to 95 in a knock that flirted outrageously with three figures before falling agonisingly short. Jack Jenner chipped in a handy 30 and Tim Thirkell finished unbeaten on 24 to give the total some late polish. I managed 24 myself, more graft than grace. Spare a thought, though, for Matthew Carter, whose golden duck earned him the walk of shame and a permanent line in the Duck Club ledger — the club's harshest, and most democratic, honour.

With 195 to defend, the bowlers made short work of it. Thomas Beeney led from the front with 2 for 12, Darren Styles was typically stingy with 2 for 14 and three maidens, and Matthew Carter — redemption arc in full swing — took 1 for 8 to erase any lingering memory of his duck. Rumwood limped to 110 all out in 42.1 overs, Ben Powell's unbeaten 34 the only real resistance. Poor Glen Rawson had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking 11 byes, though nobody had the heart to mention it in the bar.

An 85-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — Walker and Styles continuing to lead our season's charts with bat and ball respectively. More of the same, please, lads.

Wed 11 Jul 2007 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLDDLD

Skipper's Log, Wednesday 11 July 2007 — the road took us to Gravesend, and it took the toss with it, which meant an afternoon leathering a cricket ball in the July sun while the openers had all the fun. Gravesend ground their way to 178/7 from their 47 overs, P Carter compiling a proper fifty (53) with Robert James chipping in a handy 42. Credit where due: Dave Todd was among the wickets and among the runs given away, finishing with 2-20, ably backed by Matthew Carter (2-28) and Darren Styles (1-16), while Michael Beeney bowled like a man with a bus to catch, five maidens and barely a run leaking through.

Chasing 179, we made a decent fist of it without quite landing the killer blow. Carl Davis batted with real class for his 59, Richard Piper stroked a tidy 33, and Trevor Back finished unbeaten on 27 to keep us in the hunt longer than perhaps we deserved. I managed a workmanlike 27 myself — nothing to write home about, though apparently enough to write in the gazette. All out for 153 in 35.4 overs, we fell 25 runs short.

So it's Gravesend's day, and fair play to them. Craig Sands still tops our Midweek run charts with 95, and Dave Todd leads the wickets with 3 — for what that's worth on a losing scorecard. We'll dust ourselves down, have a pint, and be better for it next week.

Tue 10 Jul 2007 🧢 Twenty20v Bearsted CC · HomeformLLLLD

It was our turn to bat first after I called correctly, and 120/5 off our twenty overs felt like a par-plus total on a decent Tuesday evening deck. Richard Piper played the anchor with a fine 35, Ray Dixon chipped in a breezy 27, and Mark Christmas finished unbeaten on 23 to give us something to bowl at. I'll even own up to my own 23 with the bat, purely in the interests of full disclosure.

With ball in hand we had Bearsted rocking — 23 for 1 became 33 for 4 in the blink of an eye, and Andrew Dampier won't be dining out on his golden duck any time soon. Ian Brattle was magnificent, 3 for 11 of pure village-green theatre, with Matthew Carter (2-38) and Thomas Beeney (1-23) chipping away either side of him. But cricket has a cruel sense of humour, and Bearsted's last pair — cheered on, no doubt, by their own tea urn — put on an unwanted 36 to drag them home at 124 for 7, Stephen Horrocks top-scoring with 27.

Beaten by three wickets, then, and a lesson in never underestimating a last-wicket stand. There was a proud moment amid the gloom, mind: Craig Sands brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, and still leads our Twenty20 run charts with 109 this season, with Brattle top of the bowling pile on 6. We'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Sat 07 Jul 2007 🧢 1st XIv EC Eynsford CC · AwayformWWLLW

Under grey Kentish skies at Eynsford, I won the toss and put them in — the right call, I felt, and for once I get to say that without wincing. Eynsford limped, then galloped, to 177 all out in 44.2 overs: Ben Wise led the charge with 48, Howard Collins and Ian Playfoot chipped in with 35 and 28, and their second-wicket pair put on a stand of 75 that had us checking our shoelaces. But the floodgates opened — 131-3 became 147-6 in a blur, and poor Greg Playfoot was sent back for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers. Richard Knowler was the chief tormentor with 3-31, well backed by Carl Davis (2-23) and Rob Doick (2-34), while Ian Hollingworth bowled two maidens of quiet menace.

With 178 to chase, we made a steady fist of it, closing on 183/5 from 45 overs. Craig Sands played the innings of the day — 63 of real substance — with Mark Christmas unbeaten on 36 seeing us home in style. I contributed a workmanlike 36 myself, more grafter than stylist as ever.

Sands now sits proudly atop the 2007 run charts with 307, and Christmas leads the wickets with 24 — a fine season taking shape for both. Five wickets, two points, and a thoroughly deserved afternoon's work: we'll take that all day.

Sat 07 Jul 2007 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · HomeformLWWWL

Here's the match report:

Another Saturday, another lesson in humility, though this one came wrapped in glorious July sunshine. Meopham CC rolled into Linton Park on 07 July, I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season, and we were duly sent out to field first. They ground their way to 204/9 from their 45 overs, with Mick Clark (53) and Tony Pearce (52) both bringing up handsome fifties, and Darren Deeks chipping in 28. The one shaft of light was Iain Rawson, who bowled beautifully for 4-46, backed up nicely by Darren Styles and Trevor Back, one wicket apiece.

Chasing 205, we never really got out of second gear, subsiding to 138/9. Trevor Back top-scored with a gritty 39, Tim Thirkell offered support with 21, and poor Kevin Presneill will want to forget his afternoon entirely — out for a duck. As for your skipper, I can only offer a wry smile and a golden blob; leading by example is all very well in theory. Behind the stumps Glen Rawson had his work cut out, 13 byes telling their own story, while 20 wides and 5 no-balls from the bowlers handed Meopham runs we simply couldn't spare.

Amid the wreckage, one genuine cause for cheer: Mike Elworthy's 18 runs eased him past Clive Newman into 10th on the club's all-time run charts. Beaten by 66 runs in the end — chastening stuff, but with Trevor Back leading the 2nd XI run charts and Darren Styles among the wickets, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 23 Jun 2007 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformWWWLL

Saturday last took us to Sheldwich, and winning the toss I did what any self-respecting captain does on a decent morning — stuck them in. The right call, I still maintain, even after James Creed made us pay for it with a superb, chanceless hundred, well marshalled by Andrew Carr's 25 in a fourth-wicket stand worth 55. They were eventually bowled out for 202 from their 45 overs, with Rob Doick doing the real damage, 4-39, backed superbly by Richard Knowler's 3-35, Iain Rawson's 2-23, and Mark Christmas keeping things tight with two maidens. Daniel Ray, Ian Turton and G Osbourne all fell for ducks at our hands — three names for the club's rather full ledger.

Chasing 202, we lost an early wicket with just 4 on the board, the kind of start that has you reaching for the flask rather than the scorebook. But the second-wicket pair steadied things with 83, and from there Craig Sands (67) and Paul Gibson, unbeaten on 66, simply took charge, with Glen Rawson's 25 rounding out the effort. We closed on 206/5 from 44 overs — and yes, Rob Doick, hero with the ball, took the walk of shame with the bat.

Craig Sands now leads our 2007 run charts with 244, and Iain Rawson sits second in the wickets with 12 — form both are entitled to enjoy. A fine win by five wickets, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work. Onwards.

Sat 23 Jun 2007 🧢 2nd XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWLWWW

Beaten by 64 runs, but on a warm June afternoon at Linton Park you take that on the chin and reach for the tea urn.

Shipbourne won the toss, elected to bat, and made themselves thoroughly at home. Paul Stovell was the chief offender, an imperious 138 that left our attack thumbing through the record books for sympathy, with Matt Tollworthy's unbeaten 83 rubbing salt into rather deep wounds. Credit where due, though: Trevor Back kept things honest with 1-22, while Darren Styles and Jon Harris chipped in with a wicket apiece, Darren's three maidens a rare oasis of calm in the storm. 268/3 from 45 overs was always going to take some chasing.

Chase it we did, after a fashion. I'm rarely one to blow my own trumpet in these pages, but 86 not out felt like the least I could offer the side after that arithmetic, and Richard Piper's 27 gave the innings some backbone. Jim Hall, meanwhile, will want a quiet word with himself — fifteen byes is not a stat one puts on the mantelpiece.

A word of cheer amid the wreckage: Trevor's 15 runs eased him past Daniel Thirkell into 8th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, while Graham — that's me, though it feels odd writing it — sits atop the 2nd XI's 2007 run charts, with Darren second in the wickets. Small mercies, honestly earned.

Verdict: outgunned by a very fine Stovell innings, but there's enough character in this side to bounce back next week.

Wed 20 Jun 2007 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformLLDDL

Wednesday 20 June 2007, and Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC came calling. I won the toss, and there was never much debate in my head — the wicket looked a belter, so we batted, and I'm pleased to say the boys didn't make a liar of me.

182/4 off our 42 overs, built almost entirely off the bat of Craig Sands, who compiled a lovely 93 that had the tea urn boiling early in anticipation of three figures — sadly not to be, but no complaints from this captain. James Piper chipped in unbeaten on 41 and Richard Piper made a tidy 33, the latter innings quietly historic: it eased him past Jim Hall and into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which I'm reliably informed calls for a small plaque, or at the very least a pint bought in his honour.

Defending 182 is never a formality, and Sevenoaks made us work for every run, reaching 146/3 from their 46 overs. D Cotton played the innings of the day for them with 96, well supported by John Huntley's unbeaten 22, and try as we might we couldn't quite prise out the breakthrough that would have opened the game up. Dave Todd led the attack superbly, choking the runs for 1-1, with Chris Newman (1-18) and Michael Beeney (1-29) both doing their bit among the wickets.

In the end honours were shared — a draw when neither side could force the issue. On another day we might have snatched it, but with a knock like Sands' and a slice of club history for the Piper name, I'll happily call it a good day out.

Tue 19 Jun 2007 🧢 Twenty20v DC Detling CC · HomeformLLLLL

19th June, 2007 — Detling CC visited Linton Park, and for once the coin actually did what I asked of it. Heads, and into the field they went — a decision that felt bold at the time and merely reckless in retrospect, though as it turned out we needn't have worried.

The lads batted with a nice blend of application and impatience, racing to 98 for 2 off just 15.2 overs, which by our standards counts as positively breakneck. Paul Gibson anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 32, the sort of innings that makes a captain look wiser than he has any right to be, while Craig Sands chipped in a brisk 26 to keep the scoreboard honest. Sands continues to have a season worth boasting about down the pub — he now leads our 2007 Twenty20 run charts with a tidy 100 for the summer, and on this evidence he shows no sign of slowing down.

What followed thereafter needn't detain the reader long, save to say that neither side could quite land the decisive blow, and honours finished shared. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but no disgrace either, and rather fitting for an evening where both teams seemed more interested in enjoying the sunshine than forcing a result.

Verdict: a tidy top-order effort, a rising star in Sands, and a result that pleased nobody and offended nobody in equal measure — which, in village cricket, is really rather the point.

Sat 16 Jun 2007 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWWWWL

Batting stumbled early — 0 for 1 was hardly the start we'd ordered — and though Craig Sands battled to a top score of 21, the rest of the card makes for grim reading in the ledger. Three ducks in a single innings (Stewart Morrison, James Piper and Ian Hollingworth all taking the long walk back) is the sort of thing a captain notices, and 87 all out from 35.5 overs is not a total anyone puts their feet up over.

Still, we had a go with the ball. Bearsted lost an early wicket at 5, and for a fleeting moment there was hope of something daft and heroic. Then Greg Laurenson and Noel Johnston put on 76 for the second wicket and quietly strangled the life out of any comeback — Laurenson finishing on 46, Johnston unbeaten on 41. Carl Davis was our pick of the bowlers, tidy figures of 1 for 0, with Ian Hollingworth chipping in at 1 for 29 having already had his own miserable afternoon with the bat. Stephen Pearce, at least, joined Morrison, Piper and Hollingworth in the duck club, so the batting order can console itself it wasn't lonely.

Bearsted got home by 8 wickets with overs to spare, and there's no dressing that up. Craig Sands remains our leading run-scorer for the season on 177, and Hollingworth sits third in the wicket charts on 9 — small mercies to cling to on the drive home. A chastening one, all told, but we'll dust ourselves off, have a stern word with the top order, and go again next Saturday.

Tue 12 Jun 2007 🧢 Twenty20v West Farleigh CC · HomeformWLLLL

Tuesday last, we welcomed West Farleigh CC to Linton Park for a Twenty20 that promised much and, in the end, delivered a familiar sort of heartache. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains a work in progress — and West Farleigh took first use of a pitch that looked, in fairness, rather good to bat on.

They made hay to the tune of 128/7, with young Jimmy Emmett a thorn in our side throughout for an unbeaten 47. Credit where it's due, though: Carl Davis bowled beautifully for 2-13, with Michael Beeney and Ian Brattle chipping in a wicket apiece to keep us in the hunt.

Chasing 129, we never quite found our rhythm, closing on 104/9. Both Beeney and Brattle will want to forget their afternoons with the bat, each departing for a golden duck, and honours were fairly even up and down the order thereafter — I did my modest bit with 17, more application than artistry. Elsewhere in the season, Adam Jackson continues to have a fine campaign, sitting top of the run charts with 76 and second among the wicket-takers with four.

In the end we fell 24 runs short, a defeat that owed more to our batting than our bowling. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there are worse ways to spend a Tuesday evening than losing narrowly to good opposition, but we shan't make a habit of it.

Sun 10 Jun 2007 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLWDD

Sunday 10 June, and the tea urn was on early — a good job too, given what followed.

Winning the toss and batting, we set about our task with real intent, racing to a hundred before anyone so much as troubled the scorebook — the opening stand doing exactly what an opening stand should. From there it was the Stewart Morrison show: 169 not out, an innings of such quality it will have the club historians reaching for the record books, ably backed by James Piper's 35 and Paul Gibson's 22. We closed on a handsome 253/6 from 33.5 overs, though poor Mike Elworthy and Thomas Beeney will be nursing golden ducks over their pints tonight.

Defending it, we made life harder than it needed to be. G Millar played the innings of the day with a well-crafted 66, well supported by S Slater's 48 and a battling 37 from Styles, and when their fourth wicket added a stubborn 70, the total began to look uncomfortably gettable. A Foxall departed for nought, but that was scant consolation as they crept to 225/8 from their 56 overs. Ian Brattle led the attack with 3-62, Michael Beeney choked the runs beautifully — five maidens and 2-28 — with Carl Davis chipping in 2-45. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes going begging.

A draw, then — honours even, and on Morrison's day, perhaps fair enough. He climbs to 15th on the club's all-time run charts, past Stan Wratten, and leads our Sunday run-scoring for 2007. A good day's cricket, if not quite a winning one.

Sat 09 Jun 2007 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rusthall CC · HomeformDWLWW

We put Rusthall to the sword at home and lived to tell the tale, though not without the usual quota of comedy along the way.

Batting first, James Piper played the innings of the day — a fluent 76 — while Graham Walker's 35 gave the total a proper backbone. Between them they hauled us to 168/6 from our 44 overs, a total with a bit of meat on it. Trevor Back, meanwhile, was busy contributing nothing at all to the cause, departing for a golden duck with the kind of style only he can manage.

Defending it, the bowlers did us proud. Jack Jenner steamed in for 4-46 to lead the line, with Trevor Back (2-0) and Tim Thirkell (2-15) chipping in nicely — Back clearly saving his best work for when he had a ball in his hand rather than a bat. Darren Styles bowled three maidens without conceding a run lightly, and we picked up three ducks along the way for good measure. Sean Lloyd's 48 and Nigel Cheek's unbeaten 27 threatened a scare, but Rusthall folded for 133 in 34.4 overs. Eight byes did rather give the game away about Trevor's day behind the stumps.

As for your captain — a golden blob, out first ball, because leading from the front apparently doesn't extend to the batting crease. Still, the lads didn't need me: a fine win by 35 runs. Onwards.

Tue 05 Jun 2007 🧢 Twenty20v EC East Sutton CC · AwayformWWLLL

It was down to East Sutton CC on Tuesday the 5th of June that we trooped, lost the toss, and duly found ourselves leather in hand while the home side had first dibs on the run-scoring. Rob Davies (34) and Robert Bray (28) did the early damage before our attack found its rhythm — we had them tottering from 21-2 to 30-5 in a spell that felt, for a few glorious overs, like proper cricket. Credit to Iain Rawson, whose 4-15 did the heavy lifting, with Darren Styles (2-7) and Ian Brattle (2-26) mopping up admirably, and a special word for whoever it was that sent Nick Worsfold packing without so much as a run to his name. Still, an obstinate eighth-wicket stand of 60 dragged East Sutton up to 144/9, a total rather larger than the earlier carnage had promised.

Chasing 145, Craig Sands played the innings of the evening — 57 not out, calm as you like while wickets clattered around him — but we could only muster 109/5 and fell 35 runs short. Mark Christmas endured a duck alongside his shirt, though it came on the happier occasion of his 100th appearance in Linton colours, which rather softened the blow. As for your correspondent's own contribution — a duck, and a swift one — the less said the better.

A defeat, then, but not a disgraceful one. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 03 Jun 2007 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · AwayformLWLLW

Sunday the 3rd of June found us on the road to High Halstow, and for once the coin behaved itself — heads, and no hesitation from me about what to do with it. Batting first on a day like that always feels like the right call until your top order disagrees, and disagree it did, with the first wicket gone for a miserly 8. But Craig Sands and I dug in for a proper stand, both reaching our fifties and stitching together 62 for the fourth wicket to give the innings some backbone. Then, as club cricket loves to do, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion — 153 for 6 became 167 for 9 almost before I'd finished my tea, and poor Chris Newman made his own private contribution to the Duck Club ledger. 168 for 9 off our forty overs felt light, and so it proved.

Defending it, we scrapped hard — Ben Phillips fell for a duck at our hands, and Mark Christmas, Paul Webber and Iain Rawson all found the edges they needed — but Christopher Maurice's 67 and a stubborn 78-run fourth-wicket stand saw the home side home at 169 for 5 with two-thirds of an over to spare. Small consolations: Clive Newman's 3 runs eased him past Mike Elworthy into the all-time top ten, and I find myself, somewhat sheepishly, atop the season's run charts.

Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 03 Jun 2007 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LR Lord Raglan · AwayformLWLLW

Sunday 3 June, and off we trundled to Dummy Site with the sun more or less behaving itself. I won the toss and had no hesitation in putting them in — the sort of decision that either makes you look shrewd or foolish by teatime, and for once I'll take the credit. Their innings limped to 115 all out in 31.4 overs, R Hancox's 29 the only real substance, and once it slipped from 65-3 to 79-6 the tail had nowhere to hide — P Crafter departed without so much as troubling the scorers. Rory High was superb, 3-27, with Carl Davis (2-7, two maidens and not a run given away lightly) and Jon Harris (2-10) squeezing the life out of them.

115 looked gettable, and for a while it was. Ollie Howarth and Jason Brooks both made handsome 36s, their fourth-wicket stand of 60 the backbone of the innings, and Carl Davis finished unbeaten on 30. But 76-4 became 86-7 in the blink of an eye, with Boyns, Dixon and McCormick all collecting golden ducks, and nine byes did nothing for poor Joe Martin's afternoon behind the stumps. We fell agonisingly short, 116-8, beaten by two wickets.

A game we really ought to have won and somehow didn't — the top order will need to have a word with the tail this week. Character-building stuff, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 02 Jun 2007 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformDWWWW

It was Meopham CC at home, and the toss went their way — they sent us in to field, which in hindsight was the correct call, though we didn't know that yet.

They posted 168 all out in 44.3 overs, wobbling early to 4-1 before Gary Howorth (58) and Adam Roxburgh (31) stitched together 76 for the second wicket and steadied the ship — ably backed up by Andrew Powney's 21. Iain Rawson was the pick of our attack with 4-43, Mark Christmas chipped in 3-25 with three tidy maidens, and Carl Davis took 2-23. James Fotheringham and N Richardson both walked for ducks, which was some small consolation on an otherwise stern morning in the field.

Chasing 169, we made a decent fist of it. Craig Sands (51) and Nigel Thirkell (45) added 71 for the second wicket after our own early hiccup at 7-1, and James Piper's unbeaten 29 kept the tail wagging as best it could — though a horror collapse from 137-4 to 142-7 did us no favours. Paul Gibson, Kevin Presneill and Mark Christmas all made the long walk back for nought, and your captain, leading from the front as ever, contributed a golden blob — redeemed only slightly by three wickets with the ball, proof I'm rather better at removing batsmen than being one.

We fell 18 runs short in the end. Nigel Thirkell continues to top the run charts and Mark Christmas the wickets, so the engine room is purring even if the chassis is rattling. Onwards — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 02 Jun 2007 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLDWLW

Ah, West Farleigh — never our happiest hunting ground, and having lost the toss on 2 June 2007 we were duly sent out to chase, which is club-cricket code for "have a bowl first, chaps." No complaints from me; the lads fancied it.

And how they delivered. West Farleigh were bundled out for a modest 89, with only Colin Fry (29) offering any real resistance. Ian Brattle was quite magnificent, 3-9 with five maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of miserly spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their tea. Jack Jenner (2-19) and Gareth Davies (2-20) provided sterling support, and between them they left West Farleigh's innings looking rather threadbare.

Chasing 90, we made harder work of it than the target strictly demanded, slipping to 90/5 before getting over the line — Tom McKellow and R Jackson both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and poor Graham Walker contributing his golden duck to proceedings. Thankfully Glen Rawson played the innings of the day, 42 well-made runs that steadied what threatened to become a wobble into a comfortable stroll.

Rawson now leads our 2nd XI run charts for the season with 122, and Davies sits second in the wicket-takers' list with 6 — both men very much pulling their weight.

A five-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work: professional with the ball, occasionally comical with the bat, but a win is a win. Onwards.

Sat 26 May 2007 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformDDWWW

Saturday 26th May 2007, and off we trundled to Milstead, spirits high and kit bags heavier than our top order's average.

Winning the toss, I put them in — and for once the captain's hunch didn't blow up in his face. Milstead limped to 72 all out in 24.5 overs, the innings unravelling from a wobbly 67-6 to a positively collapsing 72-9, with only Stuart Burnop's 21 offering any resistance. Mike Sellar, Andy Fenton and Kevin Pooke were shown the door without so much as a nibble at the scoreboard, and the architect of it all was Mark Christmas, spinning a web of mischief for 6-28 off five maidens — utterly unplayable, and frankly a little embarrassing to face in the nets next week. Michael Beeney (3-13) and Ian Hollingworth (1-29) mopped up the rest, leaving Milstead's batsmen wondering what they'd done to deserve it.

Chasing was a formality in the end — 73/2 in 17.5 overs, Nigel Thirkell top-scoring with a tidy 24 and David Castle unbeaten on 20 to see us home. Eight wickets in hand and barely a bead of sweat.

And a rather satisfying footnote — six wickets for the skipper, not a bad line for the scorebook. With Paul Gibson still topping the run charts on 156 and Mark Christmas now up to 20 wickets for the season, this one goes down as a proper team effort. Two points, thoroughly earned, and the tea urn never tasted sweeter.

Sat 26 May 2007 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformLLDWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 26 May 2007, and a fine one to be sat in it, Horton Kirby the visitors and the coin, for once, doing exactly what I asked of it. I had no hesitation putting them in, and the lads repaid the faith handsomely: 175 for 5 on the board, with Richard Piper the architect of it all, a really classy 68, Trevor Back chipping in with 40 and Tim Thirkell unbeaten on 28 to see us home. A total we felt was competitive, if not quite untouchable.

And so it proved. Horton Kirby set about the chase with Darren Bridges playing the innings of the day, 61 well-struck runs, backed up by Alastair Scott's 31 and Andy Chapman's 20, and for a good while it looked ominously like their afternoon. But Darren Styles had other ideas, bowling with real discipline for 3 for 13 and six maidens to boot, ably supported by Carl Davis (2-36) and Trevor Back (1-16), while three of their number — Geoff Rameaux, Darren Chambers and Richard Collins — trooped back for ducks. In the end it came down to the last of the 45 overs, 174 for 8 the final reckoning, and we squeaked it by a single, glorious run.

Richard Piper's innings also nudged him past Russell Baldwin into 21st on the club's all-time run list — a nice bit of history to go with two hard-earned points. A nervy finish, but a deserved one: character over comfort, and we'll take it every time.

Tue 22 May 2007 🧢 Twenty20v HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformLWWLL

Tuesday the 22nd of May found us on the road to Hollingbourne, sun more or less out and optimism, as ever, wildly disproportionate to our recent form. Winning the toss I had no hesitation in batting first — the right call, I felt, and I'll die on that particular hill regardless of what followed. Adam Jackson set about proving me right with a fine unbeaten 61, the innings closing on a respectable 125/4 from our twenty overs. I chipped in with 19, which in this company counts as a supporting role rather than a headline.

Defending it, we simply couldn't quite squeeze hard enough. Matthew Jones played the innings of the day, a composed 58, with Simon Jarrett's 29 and D Ford's unbeaten 25 doing the necessary tidying-up work around him. Mike Palmer, mercifully for him, was the only man to depart without so much as troubling the scorers — a duck he can blame entirely on circumstance. Adam Jackson, not content with runs, then took the ball and picked up 2-22, with Mark Christmas chipping in admirably at 1-21. It wasn't enough; Hollingbourne cantered home on 126/3, seven wickets in hand.

Adam Jackson now leads both our run and wicket charts for the summer, which is either deeply reassuring or faintly embarrassing depending on your view of the rest of us. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 20 May 2007 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LC Limpsfield Chart CC · AwayformWLWLL

Sunday 20 May 2007, and the road took us out to Limpsfield Chart, a fixture that promised sunshine, sandwiches, and the usual quiet dread of losing the toss. Which, naturally, we did — condemned to bowl first while the rest of the county apparently enjoyed a lie-in.

With bat in hand we ground out 135/7 from our forty overs, a total that owed everything to Tom Murphy's unbeaten 36, with James Piper (26) and Mark Christmas (22) chipping in to stop the innings looking too much like a collapse dressed up as a total. Not a score to frighten anyone over tea, but enough, as it turned out, to be getting on with.

Defending it looked a tall order until Iain Rawson steamed in and took an outstanding 4-32, ripping the heart out of their order while W. Wild's 25 kept us honest at the other end. Mark Christmas, not content with a fine 22 with the bat, then bowled two miserly maidens and picked up 2-16, with Richard Knowler chiming in at 2-19, as Limpsfield Chart folded for 112 in 38.4 overs. A red-letter day for Christmas besides — he brought up 200 career wickets, a landmark that deserves rather better than a passing mention in the club gazette, but there it is.

Twenty-three runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned. Tom Murphy now leads our Sunday run charts, Rawson the wickets — early days yet, but on this evidence, a season worth watching.

Sun 20 May 2007 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC Nuxley CC · HomeformDLWLL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 20th May 2007. We hosted Nuxley CC, I called correctly and, in a fit of tactical daring, stuck us in the field first. Whether that was inspiration or simply fancying a longer tea break, I shall leave to the letters page.

Nuxley set about accumulating in that patient, faintly irritating way good sides do, closing on 181/6 from their 40 overs. B May made a fine 72 not out, with A Hudson chipping in 35, the pair putting on 67 for the fifth wicket while the rest of us stood about admiring the scenery. Credit where due, though: Jon Harris kept things honest with 2-30, Paul Webber weighed in with 2-33, and Ian Brattle bowled two tidy maidens on his way to 1-26 — not a man in the mood to give runs away for nothing.

Chasing 182, we got there with something to spare, 182/7 from 38.4 overs, Ryan Boyns playing the innings of the day with 74 not out, ably assisted by Carl Davis's 38, the two adding 56 for the fifth wicket to steady what could have been a wobble. Ryan's afternoon wasn't entirely glorious, mind — 11 byes went begging past the gloves, proof that no hero returns entirely unscathed.

We came home by 3 wickets. A scratchy, occasionally comic, thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket — and, crucially, a win in the book.

Sat 19 May 2007 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformLDDWW

Saturday 19 May 2007, and Hollingbourne CC rolled up to Linton Park with the sun out and, rather more importantly, the toss in their pocket. They put us in, which after their innings looked less like a masterstroke and more like a favour.

They laboured to 135/9 off their 45, wobbling to 8-1 early on before Steve Wilson (22), Mark Styche (21) and Trevor Scrivens (21) dragged things towards respectability. Mark Christmas was the chief tormentor with 4-30, Iain Rawson chipped in with 2-30, and Michael Beeney bowled with the miserly discipline of a man who'd left his generosity at home — 1-23 and four maidens. Poor Neil Taylor, meanwhile, went first ball for nought, which he will not thank me for mentioning.

Set 136, we strolled home in 37.5 overs for the loss of a single wicket. Paul Gibson batted like a man with somewhere better to be, unbeaten on 64, with Craig Sands (29 not out) and Nigel Thirkell (27) doing the tidying up around him. I even found some rhythm with the ball myself, four wickets to my name, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for some time.

A nine-wicket win, then, and a proper one. Gibson leads the run charts, Christmas the wickets, and Linton Park leads the way. Onwards.

Sat 19 May 2007 🧢 2nd XIv EC Eynsford CC · AwayformLLLDW

Beaten? Yes. Bowed? Not remotely.

Saturday took us to Eynsford, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they won the toss and, with the confidence of men who'd checked the forecast, elected to bat. We consoled ourselves with first use of the ball, and for a while it looked the wiser lot, Eynsford stumbling to 4-1 before a settling stand of 60 for the third wicket steadied their nerves rather more than ours. Phil Gay played the anchor beautifully for a fine 85, with Lindsay Hamill (33) and Colin Bruin (25) chipping in as the total crept towards respectability and then, in the last few overs, rather beyond it — 187-5 became 195-8 in the blink of an eye, and they closed on a stiff 221/8. Thomas Beeney was our shining light with the ball, 3-16 of real discipline, backed up by Jack Jenner (2-38) and Gareth Davies (1-31), without whom the target might have read considerably worse.

Chasing 222 was always going to ask questions of us, and Clive Newman answered most of them with a composed, well-earned 62, finding a willing partner in Trevor Back's 42. Between them — and a generous 33 extras, gratefully received — we hauled ourselves to 197/9 from our 45, but the equation never quite balanced and we fell 24 runs short.

A losing afternoon, then, but not a lifeless one — Gay's 85 will linger in Eynsford's memory, and Newman's 62 now has him third in our 2nd XI run charts, with Jenner third among the wicket-takers. We'll dust ourselves down, take the positives, and be better for it next week.

Sat 12 May 2007 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · AwayformWLDDW

Saturday 12 May 2007, and off we trundled to Mersham Sports CC with the sun (allegedly) on our backs. I called correctly and, in a fit of tactical daring, stuck us in – a decision I stood by right up until the middle order started treating the crease like a hot tin roof. In the end 139/8 off our 45 was a decent recovery job, built around Craig Sands's watchful 27 and Nigel Thirkell's tidy 21, with the extras column contributing a generous 32 – our most reliable partnership of the summer, frankly.

Defending it looked a stretch, but cricket is a funny old game. Iain Rawson set about them with 3-19, Mark Christmas chipped in 3-25 (five maidens – the man simply refused to feed the ducks), and Ian Hollingworth mopped up with 2-27. I even found some rhythm myself for three wickets, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity until Christmas. Darren Pugh's 34 threatened to derail us, but Mersham were done for 115 in 44.4 overs. Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps – 16 byes is not a number one puts on the mantelpiece – but he made amends with the bat, and his 27 nudged him past William Buck into 18th on the all-time run charts.

A 24-run win, two points banked, and Sands and Christmas both sitting proudly atop this season's charts. All told: a scratchy performance dressed up as a triumph – which, as any club cricketer knows, is the very best kind.

Sat 12 May 2007 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · HomeformDLLLD

Saturday last, we welcomed Milstead CC to Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook says about our lower order. A total of 107 from our 40 overs was never going to have Milstead quaking, though Peter Davies batted with real application for his 37. We rather let ourselves down thereafter, subsiding from 100 for 6 to 107 for 9 in the sort of rush that gives captains grey hairs, and poor Carl Davis will want to forget his duck entirely.

Defending such a modest total asked serious questions of the lads, and to their enormous credit they answered them. Milstead were bowled out for 91 in 35.1 overs, Darren Styles the chief architect with a superb 4 for 26, two of those overs maidens for good measure, ably backed by Tim Thirkell's miserly 2 for 1 and Gareth Davies's 2 for 14. Neil Burnop's 35 and Paul Barton's 24 gave Milstead hope, but J Warren's duck at our hands set the tone, and the innings never quite recovered.

A word too for Darren Styles, whose four wickets nudged him past Trevor Back into tenth on the club's all-time list — no small feat, and thoroughly deserved as he now leads our 2007 Second XI wicket charts, with Glen Rawson (80 runs) setting the pace with the bat.

A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly English sixteen-run win. Two points banked, and not one of them undeserved.

Sun 06 May 2007 🧢 Friendly XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformDWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 6th May 2007, and a rare thing to report: everything went right.

Selsdon CC came to Linton Park and were sent packing, but it wasn't straightforward. Batting first, we crawled and cruised our way to 198/9 off 44.5 overs, with David Castle top-scoring on 42, well backed up by Craig Sands (38) and Clive Newman (23) — the pair of them putting on 61 for the second wicket to give the innings its spine. Poor Ollie Howarth departed for a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that gets you a pint bought for you in sympathy and a photo taken all the same.

With 198 on the board, it was always going to be a tall order for the visitors, and so it proved. Selsdon subsided to 113 all out in 35.2 overs, David Shivmangal's 34 and Marcus Robertson's 22 the only real resistance, while Trevor Cardew went the way of Ollie earlier — a duck to match. The day belonged to Thomas Beeney, whose 5-17 was a five-for of the highest quality, ably supported by Darren Styles (2-20, with two miserly maidens for good measure) and Michael Beeney (2-23). I contributed a watchful 15 with the bat, which I shall claim as captain's innings of substance.

An 85-run win, David Castle top of the season's run charts, Beeney top of the wickets. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 05 May 2007 🧢 2nd XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWDLLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 5th May 2007. We hosted Bidborough CC, and no luck with the coin this week: they had first say and elected to bat.

They set about compiling 223 for 6 from their 44 overs, with Andy Hollins the chief architect on 87 not out, well backed up by Paul W Eames with a fine 63 and Matthew White's useful 26. H Blamey, for his part, contributed nothing but a duck at our hands, which was some small consolation. With the ball, Ray Dixon toiled manfully for figures of 3 for 53, with Trevor Back and Jack Jenner chipping in a wicket apiece, while Peter Davies kept things admirably tight with two maidens. Not a run given away lightly, all told, even if 223 felt a good deal more than we'd have liked chasing.

In reply we mustered 172 for 9 from our 43, Glen Rawson the mainstay with a well-made 67, Peter Davies giving fine support with 39. Less happily, Christopher Thirkell, Trevor Back and Ray Dixon all managed golden ducks between them, and it fell to the extras column — a handy 26 — to do rather more than its fair share of the scoring. Poor Jim Hall had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes going begging past the gloves.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue — and on a day when Glen Rawson tops our season's run charts and Ray Dixon leads the wickets, I'll happily call that a fair result, even if my heart wanted rather more.

Sat 05 May 2007 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLWLDD

Saturday 5th May 2007, and off we trundled to Staplehurst with the covers stowed and hope, as ever, doing most of the heavy lifting.

Put into the field first, we set about our hosts with rather more purpose than the tea urn had prepared us for. Staplehurst crawled to 171 all out in 44.4 overs, Henson (46) and S Wavell (42 not out) doing the bulk of the resisting, with John Swannick chipping in 24. But Ian Hollingworth was in no mood for pleasantries, scything through with 4-40, while Mark Christmas bowled with the miserly discipline of a man auditing the club accounts — 2-27 and seven maidens to show for it — and Michael Beeney tidied up with 1-18.

Chasing 172, we made a proper fist of it. Paul Gibson played the innings of the day, a classy 70, and found the perfect foil in Craig Sands (43 not out), the pair sharing 94 for the second wicket and steadying what could easily have wobbled. James Piper and Stewart Morrison, alas, contributed matching ducks to the cause — these things happen to the best of us — while I did my bit with a watchful 16. We reached 175/5 in 39.5 overs, home by five wickets.

A fine team performance all round, and with Gibson leading our run charts and Christmas topping the wickets, the season is shaping up rather nicely. A good day for the club, and, dare I say it, a rather good one for the captain's tea order too.

Sun 29 Apr 2007 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDLLWD

Sunday 29 April 2007, away at Bearsted, and for once the toss and the weather gods seemed to smile on us in equal measure — enough to see 36 overs bowled and a proper total posted. The openers gave us the platform every captain dreams of and few ever gets, 88 for the first before the stand finally broke, and from there it was a case of keeping the good work going. Mark Christmas played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 66, with Paul Gibson right alongside him for a well-made fifty and Tom Murphy chipping in 27. Even the extras column pulled its weight with 33 — bowlers on both sides doing their bit for our cause today, it seems. We closed on 223 for 4, a total that felt like runs on the board rather than runs we'd have to defend nervously.

And defend it we did, though Bearsted made us work for every wicket. Yannick Oakland was the thorn in our side, unbeaten on 78, well supported by Murray Pennells' 44 and Richard Piper's 38, the pair adding 89 for the fourth wicket to drag the game back level. Chris Newman was superb with the ball, 3 for 23, backed up nicely by Michael Beeney and Gareth Davies, the latter miserly with three maidens as the visitors closed on 206 for 8.

As for my own 66, I shan't pretend it wasn't satisfying — a man does like to lead from the front occasionally. In the end, honours were shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow, and a draw at Bearsted on a fine April Sunday is no bad way to spend an afternoon.

Sat 28 Apr 2007 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformLLWLD

Saturday last, The Mote CC rolled up to Linton Park for what turned into a good old-fashioned arm-wrestle of a draw, and I for one am still feeling it in my shoulders.

Put in first, we watched the visitors' openers set up camp for 120 runs before we so much as glimpsed a wicket — the kind of start that makes a captain reacquaint himself with the sky. Matthew White (82 not out) and Andy Barr (77) did the damage, and 228/7 off 42.5 overs felt like a proper mountain by tea. Credit to the lads for hauling it back at all: Mark Christmas bowled beautifully for 3-51, Jack Jenner chipped in with 2-47, and Michael Beeney was the picture of thrift with 1-25 and two maidens. Christopher Bell and Howard Waters, alas, contributed nothing but ducks with the bat later — sorry, wrong innings, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Chasing 228, we never quite got going. Nigel Thirkell's 37 was the innings' backbone, Mark Christmas added a brisk 21 not out, and yours truly managed 21 and found some rhythm with the ball for 3 wickets — small mercies. But 124 for 6 became 133 for 9 in the sort of collapse that has you studying your boots, with Craig Sands, Jack Jenner and Ian Hollingworth all ducking out for nothing. Only a generous 41 extras kept the total respectable at 141/9.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride dented but intact. Given the hole we dug ourselves at 120 for none, I'll happily take it and buy the bowlers a pint.

Sun 22 Apr 2007 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Wilmington CC · HomeformWDLLW

We batted first and set 186/2, then defended it to a draw at 140/9.

Sunday 22 April brought Wilmington CC to Linton Park, and for once the tea urn stayed warmer than the pitch. Put in first, we made a rather handsome 186/2 off our 40, the innings built almost entirely by two men in irresistible form. Craig Sands went to a magnificent unbeaten century, 102 not out, batting with the calm authority of a man who had clearly had his Weetabix, while Glen Rawson kept him admirable company with a well-made 56 not out. Elsewhere on the card there was rather less to celebrate — poor Ray Dixon departed for a duck, and was, I imagine, first to the bar afterwards to drown his sorrows.

Defending the total, we found ourselves needing something special, and Tim Wright duly provided it, ripping through the middle order for 3-33 including three tidy maidens, well supported by Mark Christmas (2-7) and Ollie Howarth (1-13). We had them wobbling from 35-2 to 50-5 in the blink of an eye, only for Mark Barber (33) and company to steady things with a stubborn 59-run stand for the sixth wicket, Kevin Saunders (22) and Cj Nicholson (21) lending a hand. Glen Rawson, having batted so beautifully, then had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 13 byes — nobody's perfect, and the ball clearly knew it.

Wilmington closed on 140/9, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but with Sands and Wright now topping our season's run and wicket charts respectively, I'll happily take it as a job well begun.

Sat 21 Apr 2007 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDLLWL

Saturday last, and Headcorn came to Linton Park with bat in hand and mischief in mind, winning first use of the ball off us and setting about accumulating 186 all out from their 42 overs. Mike Donnelly (42) and Pete Sparks (38) put together a stand of 58 for the fifth wicket that threatened to get away from us entirely, but the bowlers kept their nerve — Jon Harris weaving through the middle order for 3-40, with Mark Christmas (2-12) and the ever-parsimonious James Piper (2-23, and two maidens besides) squeezing the extras out of proceedings. Sakthivel Sureshkumar, mercifully for us, departed for a duck.

In reply we limped rather than strode to 138/9 from our 41, the top order collapsing to 4-1 before anyone had really got comfortable, and both Tom Murphy and Matthew Carter contributing what the scorebook rather unkindly calls a golden duck apiece. It fell, as it so often does, to one man to rescue the innings — James Piper, having already done his bit with the ball, batted on serenely to 52 and dragged us into respectability. Our discipline in the field, it must be said, left something to be desired, with 3 wides and a rather startling 21 no-balls gifted to the visitors.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue — and on this evidence, Piper is fast becoming indispensable, leading our run charts for the season while Harris tops the wickets. A fair result, if not quite the story we'd have scripted.