🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 27 Sep 2008 🧢 1st XIv Chelsfield CC · HomeformLLLDD

Saturday 27th of September saw Chelsfield CC roll into Linton Park, and after losing the toss we were asked to have a bowl first — no complaints from me, I do enjoy watching other people do the running about. Chelsfield settled in nicely and posted 227/5 from their 39, built around a fine innings of 85 from C Martin and well supported by U Hassan's equally handsome 53, with X Stuary unbeaten on 49 to round things off. Sam Boyns was the pick of our attack with 2-32, Chris Newman and Michael Beeney chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Richard Knowler bowled two overs so tight you couldn't have posted a letter through them.

Chasing 228 was always going to ask questions of us, and truth be told we didn't quite have the answers. Tim Thirkell played the innings of the day with a battling 38, Richard Piper supported nicely with 27, but we subsided to 147/8 from our 39 overs. Kevin Presneill's golden duck was matched, I'm sorry to report, by your own captain's effort — I shall draw a discreet veil over the details and simply say the walk back to the pavilion felt considerably longer than the walk out.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Piper's runs keep him handily placed in the season's charts, fifth with 181, while Beeney's wickets have him fourth overall on 13 — proof, if any were needed, that there's real substance in this side even on days when the captain contributes rather less than nothing.

Sat 20 Sep 2008 🧢 1st XIv SC Sidcup CC · HomeformLLLLD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 20 September 2008, and Sidcup CC in town for what turned into a proper old-fashioned arm-wrestle of a draw.

No luck with the coin, and Sidcup wasted no time making us pay for it, rattling along to 248/2 from their 38 overs. David G Rolls was the chief tormentor, an imperious 102 not out, with Kim O'Mara's well-crafted 77 and Stephen Shanks' 42 doing plenty of damage either side of a 129-run stand for the second wicket that had us chasing our tails in the field. Tim Thirkell was the one bright spark with the ball, snaffling 1-11 off a probing spell, with Richard Knowler chipping in for 1-45.

Chasing 249, we made a proper fist of it. James Piper produced an innings of real substance — 105, no less, and along the way brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, which rather puts the rest of us to shame. Nigel Thirkell gave him fine company with a well-made 70, the pair adding 126 for the fourth wicket to drag us right back into it. But cricket, being cricket, could not resist a late twist: from 227-5 we stumbled to 228-8 in the blink of an eye, Matthew Carter enduring the walk of shame for a duck along the way.

So honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. Piper's ton keeps him second in the season's run charts, and with Knowler still leading the wickets column, there's plenty to be cheerful about — even in a draw that felt, frankly, like a win we let slip through our fingers.

Wed 17 Sep 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformDLDDD

Wednesday 17th September, and the road took us to Penshurst Park CC — a fixture I'd circled with more hope than sense, as it turned out.

Put into the field, we watched Michael Koster help himself to a chanceless century, 101 of pure quality, with Keith Exton (44) and John Boyden (42) chipping in to haul the hosts to a stiff 247/5 from their forty overs. Rob Hunter, mercifully, went for nought against us — small mercies. Darren Styles was the pick of a willing attack, 2-34, with James Piper (1-8) and Matthew Carter (1-34) offering honest support, though truth be told the middle overs rather got away from us.

Chasing 248, Craig Sands played an innings of real class — 121, an absolute gem — and found a fine ally in James Piper, whose 72 kept the required rate honest for long enough to have us dreaming. Michael Beeney, less fortunately, walked the walk of shame for a duck, and when the dust settled we'd fallen 15 runs short on 232/7.

Sands continues to bat like a man with the season charts in his sights, now sitting top of the 2008 Midweek XI run pile with 544, while Carter's 9 wickets have him third in the bowling table.

Not our day, then — heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sun 14 Sep 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv AC Anchorians CC · HomeformDWLDW

Sunday 14 September 2008, and Anchorians CC rolled up to find the coin firmly against us — they batted, we bowled, and by tea we knew all about it. D Thompson led the charge with a chunky 57, Stiller stuck around for an unbeaten 44 and J Thompson chipped in with 38, carrying the visitors to a hefty 238/9 off their forty. Credit where due: Will Thirkell toiled away for a superb 4-57, with Daniel Jackson (3-38) and Iain Rawson (1-36) doing their bit, while Underwood and N Wellard were sent back for ducks — small mercies in a long afternoon.

Chasing 239 was always going to want something special, and, well, it didn't quite arrive. Mark Christmas top-scored with a battling 22, Ray Dixon matched him with 22 of his own, and I managed to scratch together 22 myself — evidently the club's lucky number this week, if not quite lucky enough. Joe Martin and Iain Rawson both fell without troubling the scorers, and we folded for 105 in 32.5 overs, the tail offering more resistance in spirit than in runs.

Elsewhere in the season, Tom Murphy continues to purr along nicely in third on the run charts with 225, and Iain Rawson still tops the wicket pile with 13 — proof there's genuine quality in this side, even when the scoreboard tells a sorrier tale. A 133-run defeat, then, and a case of heads up, boots off, and back to the nets. Not our finest Sunday — but we've had worse, and we'll have better.

Sat 13 Sep 2008 🧢 1st XIv NW National Winners · HomeformLLLLL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 13 September 2008. Dummy Site rolled up looking pleased with themselves, and my luck at the toss remained as reliable as ever — down it went, and we were put into the field.

They batted with a certain stubborn charm, closing on 197/8 from their forty. Jim Hall led the way with 31, David Castle chipped in 30 and Jon Harris 28 — a case of runs spread about like jam at a village fete, nobody greedy, everybody helping themselves. Credit where due to our attack, though: David Castle turned in a fine 2-9 with the ball having already top-scored with the bat, Jon Harris backed himself up with 2-30, and Nigel Thirkell picked up 1-6. Whoever bowled those two maidens — the scorebook simply shrugs and calls them Unsure — deserves a pint all the same.

Chasing 198, we set about it sensibly enough. David Castle, having bowled beautifully, now batted beautifully too, carrying on to a fine 51. Trevor Back's 26 and Brian Piper's 24 kept the innings ticking, though poor Andrew Moss will want to forget his golden duck 🦆 in a hurry — these things happen to the best of us, usually when we're watching.

We finished 174/9, seventeen runs shy, honours shared. A draw, then — the great English compromise, and perhaps the fairest result going, given neither side could land the decisive blow. Congratulations, incidentally, to Paul Gibson, now 2nd in our season's run charts with 348 — the rest of us merely watch and applaud.

Sat 13 Sep 2008 🧢 1st XIv NW National Winners · HomeformLLLLL

Saturday 13th September 2008, and Dummy Site rolled into Linton Park on a day that promised much and, in the end, delivered a proper old-fashioned arm-wrestle. I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough event in itself — and had no hesitation in batting first, on the theory that runs on the board settle the nerves better than any team talk of mine.

We posted a respectable 197/8 from our forty overs, built sensibly rather than spectacularly. Richard Piper led the way with 31, Mike Caddick chipped in a tidy 30, and Tom Murphy added 28 — a solid top order effort, if perhaps missing that one match-winning flourish.

In the field we scrapped hard. Matthew Carter was excellent with the ball, 3-37, even if he'll have less fond memories of his own duck with the bat earlier in the day — cricket's cruel sense of humour at work. Kevin Presneill matched him wicket for wicket at 3-37, and Mark Christmas chipped away with 2-22, with Unsure tying things down beautifully — four maidens is proper miserly stuff. But James Piper simply wouldn't be shifted, a well-crafted 51 anchoring their reply, ably backed by Rob Doick's 26 and Richard Knowler's 24.

In the end they got home by 23 runs, and there's no dressing that up. Craig Sands continues to lead our run charts with 546 for the season, and Mark Christmas sits second in the wickets with 20 — small consolations on an afternoon that got away from us. Not our day. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Wed 10 Sep 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv TC Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformDDLDD

Wednesday 10 September 2008, and welcome Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC to the ground. I won the toss and, with barely a moment's thought given to the alternative, put us in to bat — a decision that for once looked thoroughly sensible by close of play.

We batted with real purpose, closing on 205/4 from our 38.1 overs. Christopher Thirkell was the class act, striking a lovely 88, while Mike Elworthy chipped in with a well-made 53 and James Piper added a tidy 25. A total to defend, and defend it we duly set about doing.

The visitors replied with 157/7 from their 42, M- Whitmill the chief obstacle with an unbeaten 46, well supported by I- Wright's 36 and D Thompson's 27. Ballard and Simon Skinner departed without so much as a nibble at the scorebook. Matthew Carter was superb with the ball, 2-11 including two maidens — miserly stuff — with Michael Beeney (2-36) and Ian Brattle (1-16) chipping away at the other end. Craig Sands had a trickier time behind the stumps, eleven byes rather giving the game away, though nobody held it against him.

A word too for Trevor Back, who brought up his 600th appearance in Linton colours — a milestone the club doesn't see often, and one thoroughly deserving of applause.

In the end honours were shared, neither side able to force it home. A draw, then — but one earned by good cricket from both, and no bad way to spend a Wednesday.

Wed 03 Sep 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDDDLD

Wednesday last, we packed the whites and rolled out to Gravesend CC, where the toss did its usual trick of going against us and their skipper had no hesitation in taking first knock. Fair enough — we'd have done the same on a decent-looking pitch.

They set about building a proper total, with Scott McKechnie the chief architect of our afternoon's toil, compiling a fine 92, well supported by X Rivers' composed 57 and Ben Bowles' brisk 36. Poor Clarence Harding trudged off for a duck, which cheered us up no end. To Gravesend's 206/6 off their 41.3 overs we could at least point to Jon Harris bowling beautifully for 3-24, with Matthew Carter chipping in at 3-45 — and, if I may say so without too much blushing, three wickets fell to the skipper as well.

Chasing it down, we owe a great debt to Craig Sands, who batted with real class for an unbeaten 118 — a proper captain's-favourite of an innings — ably assisted by Michael Beeney's composed 27 not out. Between them they dragged us to 190/5 from our 36 overs, agonisingly short of the target but enough, in the context of the game, for honours to be shared.

A draw, then — neither side quite able to force it home, which given the quality on show from both camps felt about right. Sands continues to top our Midweek XI run charts with 416 for the season, and Harris now leads the wickets with 9. All told, a thoroughly satisfying day's cricket, and one we'll happily settle for.

Sun 31 Aug 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Cowdrey CC · HomeformWDWLD

Sunday 31 August saw Cowdrey CC roll up the drive, and after calling right at the toss my instincts said bowl first — a call I felt rather clever about by the close, and only slightly less clever at various points in between.

Cowdrey lost an opener for nought before Glen Warner decided enough was enough and simply batted us out of the ground, an unbeaten 124 the sort of innings that makes a fielding captain reconsider his life choices. Richard Marsh chipped in a tidy 35, and the pair put on 93 for the third wicket while the rest of us stood about admiring the scenery. They closed on 192/7, which felt like a lot until Iain Rawson remembered he had a ball in his hand and returned a magnificent 4-22, backed up nicely by Mark Christmas (2-27) and Jon Harris (1-37). Steve Smith and Samuel Cork were both back in the pavilion without so much as a nibble — ducks all round, bless them.

Chasing 193, Richard Piper played the innings of the day, 64 full of quiet authority, with Tom Murphy (36) and Mark Christmas (34 not out) doing the honest graft either side of him — the second-wicket stand of 68 the platform for everything. I managed a workmanlike 34 myself, more grateful than glorious. Best of all, Tom Murphy brought up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark worth more than any single afternoon's arithmetic.

We got home by six wickets. A thoroughly good day, and one Cowdrey will remember chiefly for Warner's century — we'll remember it for winning anyway.

Sat 30 Aug 2008 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformLLLLL

Down by three wickets at Hollingbourne, and losing the toss really set the tone for the day — invited to bat first on a ground where the tea, at least, is always reliable.

We were 2 for the loss of an early wicket, the kind of start that has you reaching for the flask before the tenth over is out, but a battling 53-run second-wicket stand steadied things nicely. Craig Sands top-scored with a typically busy 33, and James Piper (32 not out) and Rob Doick (31 not out) saw us home to something respectable, helped no end by a defiant last-wicket stand of 42 that turned a modest total into a defendable one. Poor Glen Rawson's contribution began and ended with a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, Glen, chin up. We finished on 170/6 from our 45.

In the field we gave it a proper go. Iain Rawson was the pick of the attack with 3-41, backed up by tidy support from Rob Doick (2-43) and the ever-miserly Richard Knowler, whose 1-39 including three maidens suggested the batsmen were never quite comfortable against him. Andy Griffiths went the way of Glen earlier, without troubling the scorers. But Mike Palmer's 41, with Tom Osborne (28) and Dave Latter (25) alongside him, and a sturdy 53-run fourth-wicket stand, edged Hollingbourne past us to 173/7.

Not our day, then — beaten by three wickets, with heads up and back to the nets we go. Still, Craig Sands' season tally now stands at a handsome 545 runs, and Richard Knowler leads the wicket-takers with 23 — reminders, if we needed them, that the summer isn't done with us yet.

Sat 30 Aug 2008 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 30 August 2008. A fine morning for cricket, if not, in the end, for the scoreline. We rolled up to Headcorn full of hope, lost the toss as is traditional, and were duly sent into the field — the sort of decision that tells you the opposition fancy their chances on a good batting deck, and so it proved.

Robert Sparks made merry with a fine 55, well supported by Lance Grist's 40 and Pete Sparks' unbeaten 31, as Headcorn compiled a stern 200/3 from their 45 overs. Gareth Davies was our shining light with the ball — miserly through three maidens and finishing with 1-31 — while Tim Wright chipped in with 1-47 for good measure.

Chasing 201, we gave it a proper go. Richard Piper's classy 62 was the innings' backbone, Laurie Probert's 46 and Tim Wright's 29 kept the required rate honest, but 188/7 from our 45 overs left us 12 runs shy at the death. Poor Chris Newman will want to forget his golden duck, and Laurie, having earned his fifty with the bat, spent an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes the price of a tricky pitch.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: Simon Thirkell brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded. But medals aside, this was not our day. Twelve runs short, heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 23 Aug 2008 🧢 2nd XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformLWWWW

Here's the report:

We won the toss — no, we didn't, we lost it, and were duly invited to have a bowl first at Gravesend. Waqaz Arif proved the thorn in our side with a well-made 34, and got useful company from Nico de Jong (24) and Clarence Harding (22), as the hosts crawled to 165/9 from their forty overs. Credit to the attack for keeping a lid on things throughout: Sam Boyns led from the front with 2-15 and a couple of tidy maidens thrown in for good measure, while Tim Wright (2-27) and Rory High (2-29) chipped away either end. A workmanlike, disciplined effort in the field, and 165 always felt a target within our compass.

So it proved. Christopher Thirkell played the innings of the day, a classy 54 that set the tone and did most of the heavy lifting, with brother Simon Thirkell unbeaten on 27 to see us home in composed fashion. The extras column did its bit too, chipping in 43 of its own — not the prettiest runs on the scorecard, but they count the same in the book. We got there with 5 wickets and a couple of overs to spare, 169/5 from 37.5.

Elsewhere, the season ticks along nicely — Trevor Back sits second in the 2nd XI run charts with 224, and Tim Wright second among the wicket-takers with 15. A fine win, then, achieved with minimum fuss and maximum tea consumed. Onwards.

Sat 23 Aug 2008 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLLLLL

As the man who called it right at the toss, I dined out on that decision alone this week — everything after was rather less kind to me.

Saturday 23 August, and Headcorn CC came to Linton Park with the sun out and the outfield fast. I won the toss and stuck them in without a second thought, a call that looked shrewd for about twenty minutes and merely adequate thereafter. Michael Beeney was magnificent with the new ball, 3-15 off four maidens — miserly doesn't begin to cover it — while Rob Doick chipped in with 3-52 and Iain Rawson 2-24. Peter Westrop's 42, backed by Steve Marks (35) and Mike Donnelly (32), dragged Headcorn to 173 all out, though James Barker, Kevin Richardson and Adam Tyler all trooped off for ducks, which cheered us no end at the time.

Chasing 174, we never quite got there. Craig Sands played a lovely, composed innings for 73, with James Piper's 21 the only other score of note, but Mark Christmas and Kevin Presneill both fell for ducks and the middle order rather ran out of puff. I contributed nought — a captain's innings in the worst sense, and one we shall draw a discreet veil over. We closed on 161/9, twelve runs shy.

Sands continues to lead the season's run charts with 512, and Richard Knowler tops the wickets with 22 — the engine room still purring even when the top brass, namely me, is misfiring. Not our day, then. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Wed 20 Aug 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv TC Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformLDDDL

Wednesday 20th August, and Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC came calling. Lost the toss, they stuck us in — the usual midweek pleasantries — and the lads set about building something defendable. Trevor Back led the way with a fine 39, James Piper stayed unbeaten on 38 to shepherd the tail, and Laurie Probert weighed in with 24 to help us to a respectable 191/7 off our 45. Not a total to frighten anyone into retirement, but enough to bowl at.

And bowl we did. Chris Newman was in irresistible form, ripping through with 3-18, while Thomas Beeney (2-13) and Sam Boyns (2-19) chipped away either end. Andy Rauf-Arnold departed for nought at our hands, and Lee Tidey bowled with the miserly discipline of a man who begrudges every single run, three maidens to his name. Tunbridge Wells were pegged back to 94/9 off their 38 — a proper collapse, though not quite enough wickets in the bank to finish the job.

Spare a thought for Craig Sands behind the stumps, who had one of those afternoons — ten byes is the sort of tally that gets mentioned at the bar rather more than his season-leading 298 runs. Chris Newman, meanwhile, continues to lead our wicket charts with nine.

In the end, honours shared. A draw that flattered neither side's ambitions, but with bowling like that, we'll take it.

Sun 17 Aug 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Chelsfield Park CC · HomeformLWDWL

Sunday 17 August 2008, and Chelsfield Park CC came calling on a day that promised much and, in the end, delivered honours shared and consciences clear.

Losing the toss, we were put in to bat, which on paper sounds like a punishment but proved rather to our liking. Glen Rawson set about the Chelsfield attack with real intent, cruising to 71, while David Castle played the anchor's part beautifully, finishing unbeaten on 60 to bring up his own fifty in the sort of composed innings that makes a captain's job easy. Craig Sands chipped in with 22 not out, and a generous 26 extras suggested the visitors' lines wandered more than once. All told, 179 for the loss of just one wicket from 38 overs — a total to defend with confidence, if not complacency.

And defend it we very nearly did. David Pinchin batted with real class for his unbeaten 48, well supported by Roydon Sharr's 34 and Greg Snape's 24, as Chelsfield crept to 140/2 from their 36 overs. Thomas Beeney was the pick of our bowlers, tight and probing for 1-15 with two maidens to show for his discipline, Chris Newman offering fine support with 1-32. Ten byes, mind you, told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for David Castle.

In the end, neither side could force the door open, and a draw was the fair, if faintly frustrating, verdict — honours shared, and the tea urn, as ever, the only clear winner.

Sat 16 Aug 2008 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWLLLL

Beaten, but not disgraced. Winning the toss, I did the sensible thing and had us in first — still think it was the right call, whatever the scorebook might suggest afterwards. Ninety-one for eight from our forty-five overs wasn't the declaration of intent I'd hoped for, and when we slumped from 11-1 to 25-4 in the space of what felt like three overs and a tea break, I did wonder if I'd sent us out to a beheading rather than a batting innings. James Piper's twenty was the innings' one shaft of sunlight, and the rest of us huddled around him like campers round a dying fire.

Meopham, sportingly, allowed us to bowl at them afterwards, and for a while it looked like we might make a match of it. Richard Knowler was again our chief tormentor, 1 for 25 of tight, disciplined stuff, but Mark Burton's forty and Miles Richardson's unbeaten twenty-two — built on a watchful fifty-nine-run opening stand — saw them stroll home in just over twenty-three overs. Ninety-two for two. Barely time to finish the tea urn.

Eight wickets the margin, and no arguing with it. Knowler's twenty-one wickets keep him top of the season's charts, and Paul Gibson's 326 runs sit proudly in second — small consolations on an otherwise chastening Saturday. We'll be better for it next week. We rather have to be.

Sat 16 Aug 2008 🧢 2nd XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · AwayformLLWWW

Saturday 16 August 2008, and off we trundled to Cobham CC in glorious Kent, losing the toss and being sent out to field — never our favourite start to proceedings, but such is club cricket.

Cobham posted a respectable 171/7 from their 45 overs, built around Simon Waters' 41, with Regis Chenu (24) and Duncan Fitness (23) chipping in nicely. Credit where due: Jon Harris was the pick of our attack with 3-36, while Darren Styles bowled with real discipline — 2-33 and three maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Ben Wright chipped in with 1-7. A fair effort in the field, and a target that felt gettable without being generous.

Our reply began in the worst possible fashion — a wicket down with just 1 on the board, the sort of nervy start that has you reaching for the tea urn early. But Andy Bee played a lovely, well-made innings of 78, ably supported by Tim Wright's 46, and the pair added a crucial 123 for the fourth wicket to drag us back into it. Then, as is tradition, we contrived to make it interesting again: 161-5 became 161-8 in a flurry, with Darren Styles, Alan Probert and Harry Bee all collecting ducks. As for your skipper, a golden blob — a captain should lead by example, though evidently not with the bat that day. Thirty-one extras did their bit too.

We scrambled home by 2 wickets, 174/8 from 44.3 overs. Scrappy, nerve-shredding, thoroughly unnecessary drama — but a win is a win, and a very good day for the club.

Fri 15 Aug 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv KA Kingswood College - South Africa · HomeformDLDDD

Here's the match report:

The coin gods deserted us on Friday, as they've had an unfortunate habit of doing all season, and Dummy Site were duly invited to bat first at home. They made themselves rather too comfortable, racking up 240 for 7 from their 45 overs, with K Van Nickerk leading the charge on 76 and C Savage chipping in a tidy 56, J Shirk adding a further 34 for good measure. Credit where it's due, though — James Creed was superb with the ball, snaring 3-28, while the Wilsons, M and R, chimed in with 2-44 apiece to keep us in the hunt.

Chasing 241 was always going to ask questions of the top order, and 171 all out from 39 overs tells its own story. Stuart Cheesman held things together with a gritty unbeaten 51, the sort of innings that deserved better support than it got, and James Creed — busy man — added 26 to his earlier heroics with the ball. Elsewhere the innings rather fell away, as these things do.

Small consolation: Cheesman's knock nudges him up to 4th in the Midweek XI run charts for the season, with 96 to his name — a bright spot on an otherwise grey afternoon.

All told, a 69-run defeat and not much to dress it up as. Heads up, shoulders back, and it's straight down to the nets — we'll have this put right before the season's out.

Tue 12 Aug 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLDLDD

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 12 August 2008. Away at The Mote, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled; they won the toss, chose to bat, and left us leathering it about the field for the best part of the afternoon.

They made a solid fist of it, running up 217/5 from their 45 overs, with Matthew White's fine 90 the backbone of the innings and Dan Taylor's brisk 60 keeping the scoreboard honest alongside him. Full credit to Thomas Beeney, whose 2-42 was the pick of the attack, with Jon Harris (2-53) and Iain Rawson (1-60) chipping in nicely, and Lee Tidey tying things down with two maidens — not a run given away lightly, as they say.

Chasing 218, we made a proper go of it. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, 95 well-constructed runs that had us dreaming of victory, with Hal Pearson unbeaten on 48 and Glen Rawson's 30 lending sturdy support. We closed on 195/4 from 44, agonisingly short. Poor Kevin Presneill will want to forget this one entirely — out for a duck, and then, by way of insult added to injury, 12 byes conceded that told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps.

So it finished all square — honours shared, neither side able to force the issue. With Sands now top of the season's run charts on 290 and Harris leading the wickets on 6, there's no shame in a draw like this: a tale of two fine fifties, and a demonstration that sometimes cricket simply refuses to pick a winner.

Sun 10 Aug 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv EC East Sutton CC · HomeformWLWDW

Sunday 10 August 2008, and a rare treat: East Sutton CC at home, sun out, and I actually won the toss. I put us in — bold, or possibly reckless, we'd soon find out.

We stumbled early, 0-1 down before most had found their deckchairs, but Laurie Probert steadied the ship with a lovely 57, and got fine support from Tom Murphy (36) and Glen Rawson (31), the pair putting on 77 for the fifth wicket to give the innings some shape. Mark Christmas and Ray Dixon both fell for ducks, and as for the skipper — a golden blob, out first ball, which is not the example one hopes to set from the top of the order. Still, 152/7 from our 44 overs felt like something to bowl at.

And bowl we did. Michael Beeney was superb, 4-28, backed up by Chris Newman's 3-40 and two tidy maidens from Joe Martin, while poor Mark Christmas had the sort of day behind the stumps that 11 byes rather sums up. Ian Bailey went for nought at our hands, but Ali Carter (44 not out) and Nigel Edmed (43) steered East Sutton home, 153/7 in 36.1 overs.

Beaten by three wickets, then — a match that had all the makings of a home win until it quietly slipped through our fingers. Plenty to be proud of, plenty to work on, and we'll be better for it next week.

Thu 07 Aug 2008 🧢 Tour XIv L Louth · AwayformLWLLL

Beaten but not bowed, Thursday last saw us make the trip to Dummy Site, where the coin let us down before a ball was bowled and their captain, sensing an advantage that never truly existed, sent us into the field. Z- Ahmed's 36 and J- Tuxworth's supporting 25 gave their innings a bit of shape, but Thomas Beeney kept things honest with 2-21, James Piper chipped in with 2-22, and H- Martin picked up one for 29 as we restricted them to 153/6 from their 35 overs — a target that felt eminently gettable over the tea urn.

It wasn't to be. Tom Murphy fought hardest for us with a battling 27, James Piper (22) and Richard Piper (21) lending steady support, but wickets fell at the wrong moments and we subsided to 134/9, nineteen runs short when the last over ran out. Spare a thought for Thomas Beeney, whose golden duck with the bat rather undid his fine work with the ball — the walk of shame duly logged in the Duck Club ledger. Elsewhere the season charts tick along nicely, with James Piper out in front on 135 runs and Beeney second among the wicket-takers on four.

A defeat, then, but an honest one — closer on the scorecard than it felt in the field, and there's a positive result in there somewhere if we can just find twenty more runs next time. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 06 Aug 2008 🧢 Tour XIv GC Grimsby Town CC · AwayformLLWLL

Wednesday last took us up the A18 to Grimsby Town CC, where the coin did its usual trick of landing the wrong way up for me, and we were asked to field first — no bad thing on a day when the legs still remembered Saturday's exertions. Grimsby ground their way to 196 for 9 off their forty, with A Hardy top-scoring on 40 and Graham Thompson unbeaten on 27 lending things a rather more solid look than we'd have liked. Tom Lehman chipped in 25. Chris Newman, though, was in irresistible mood, tearing through with 4 for 11 — the sort of spell that makes a captain look far cleverer than he is — while H. Martin (2-52) and Thomas Beeney (1-28) kept the pressure honest.

Chasing 197, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite threatening to get there, bowled out for 162 in 38.1 overs. James Piper was the innings, and then some, cruising to 73 while the rest of us fussed about him — poor Mark Christmas the exception, done for a duck without troubling the scorers at all. Twenty-seven extras did more for our cause than most of the batting order.

The real headline, though, had nothing to do with the scorebook: Richard Piper brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours, a milestone that puts the rest of our efforts firmly in perspective. Beaten by 34 runs in the end — no disgrace, and we'll be better for it next week.

Mon 04 Aug 2008 🧢 Tour XIv N Norden · AwayformLLLWL

Skipper's Log — Dummy Site, Monday 04 August 2008. Won the toss, and with the sky looking kind I did what any self-respecting captain does with a good toss and no earthly idea what the pitch would do: I stuck us in. Credit to the lads, they made a proper fist of it — 198 for 8 off our 40, with James Piper playing the anchor role beautifully for 40, Mark Christmas chipping in a tidy 31, and Ron McCormick weighing in with 22. A total that felt like it had enough about it, though not so much that I could put my feet up in the field.

And so it proved, eventually. The opposition batted with more stubbornness than style, crawling to 167 all out in 34.2 overs — J- Symes unbeaten on 35, Z- Arthur with 31, and D- Cryer also seeing it through for an unbeaten 30. James Piper, not content with his runs, went and took the ball away from everyone with 2 for 19, while Mike Elworthy and Tom Murphy snaffled one apiece, and H- Martin bowled two maidens as tight as my trousers after the tea interval. I even found time to nudge along 31 of my own with the bat.

For all that toil, we came up 31 runs short. Beaten, not disgraced — and with Piper topping both our run and wicket charts for the season, there's clearly method somewhere in this madness. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 03 Aug 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv RC Rodmersham CC · AwayformLWLWD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 03 August 2008, and off we went to Rodmersham CC in fine spirits, though rather less fine after losing the toss and finding ourselves invited straight into the field. No matter; we've made peace with such indignities over the years.

Rodmersham were bowled out for 117 in 21.4 overs, which on paper sounds a tidy enough total, but the manner of its arrival was pure club cricket theatre. Darren Nokes played the innings of the day with a well-made 67, ushered along by Dan Ansley's 20, and for a while 84-3 looked ominous. Then, as these things do, the wheels came off spectacularly — 89-6 in a blur, with Brad Wright, Chris Ansley and Matthew Baker all departing for ducks. Chris Newman was magnificent with 3-12, Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-6, Gareth Davies took 2-35, and Michael Beeney bowled two maidens that gave nothing whatsoever away.

Chasing 118, we made distinctly harder work of it than we'd have liked, crawling to 119/7 from 39.3 overs. Iain Cardew's 28 and Clive Newman's 25 did the heavy lifting, though Clive's day behind the stumps was rather less serene — 11 byes is a number that speaks volumes, and I suspect he'll not thank me for mentioning it.

Still, we got home by three wickets, and a win is a win. A scratchy, nerve-jangling, thoroughly typical Sunday — but a good day for the club nonetheless.

Sat 02 Aug 2008 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformLWLLL

It was a rare afternoon at Linton Park when everything went to plan except the result. Winning the toss on 2 August, I fancied our bowlers on a green-tinged morning and had no hesitation putting Shipbourne in. It looked the right call for a good while — until Mark Fenton settled in and simply refused to leave, ambling to 63 while James McCulley (38) and Neil Lee-Amies (29) played their supporting roles rather too well. Michael Beeney was the pick of us by a distance, 3-14 with five miserly maidens, well backed by Iain Rawson (2-53) and Richard Knowler (1-51), and at least poor Edward Gelling had the decency to go for nought. Shipbourne closed on 163/8 from their 45 — competitive, but not, we felt, insurmountable.

Chasing it, James Piper batted with real class for an unbeaten 62, Craig Sands chipped in with 27 and Nigel Thirkell 20, but three ducks — Paul Gibson, Mark Christmas and Rob Doick — undid the good work, and yours truly can offer no defence for his own contribution beyond a swift and silent walk back to the pavilion. All out 144 from 42.4 overs, nineteen runs shy.

Craig Sands still tops our run charts for the season with 439, Richard Knowler our wickets with 20, so the engine room remains sound even when the top gear fails us. Not our day, then — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 02 Aug 2008 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWLLWW

We travelled down to Marden CC on Saturday and, having lost the toss, were promptly put in the field, which is never quite how one hopes to spend a August afternoon in Kent. The home side ground their way to 160 all out from 44 overs, Christopher Watts (34) and Nigel Bardsley (29) doing most of the damage, but our bowlers kept remarkably tight, with Chris Newman running through them for 4-23 and Tim Thirkell metronomic as ever, six maidens and 2-13 to show for his afternoon's toil. Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-35, and honestly, 160 felt like a score we could chase down over the teas.

And chase we did. Glen Rawson played the innings of the season, 78 well past his fifty, and put on 123 with Richard Piper (34) for the first wicket before either of them so much as broke sweat. Then, as is our club's grand tradition, we conspired to turn a canter into a nail-biter — 123 without loss became 138 for 4 in the sort of collapse that has grown men reaching for the scorebook in disbelief. Poor Mike Elworthy had a torrid time behind the stumps too, sixteen byes going begging, which I shall put down to the Kent air rather than any failing of the gloves.

We got there in the end, 163 for 6, winning by four wickets and pocketing two points thoroughly earned, if rather more nervously than the situation ever demanded. A victory, then — scruffy round the edges, but a victory nonetheless, and I'll take that every day of the week.

Wed 30 Jul 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWLDLD

Wednesday 30 July 2008, and I won the toss against the visitors — no hesitation from me, I stuck them in. A decision I still stand by, whatever the scorebook says about my own contribution later on.

They rattled up 221/7 from their 44 overs, T Burge leading the charge with a well-made 66, Ed Thorogood chipping in with a fine 61, and J Manning adding 36 for good measure. Small mercy: Nathan Philpott walked back for a duck. Gareth Davies was the pick of our attack with 2-46, backed up by Darren Styles and Chris Newman, one apiece at 21 runs each — tidy, honest toil in the field.

With the bat, we simply couldn't get over the line, bowled out for what the book rather bluntly records as "None." Mike Elworthy battled hard for 46, well supported by Stuart Cheesman's 45, but around them the innings rather fell away — Craig Sands, Chris Newman and Gareth Davies all completing the walk of shame for nought. And your captain, leading from the front as ever, contributed a golden blob. If leadership is about setting an example, I set entirely the wrong one.

Elworthy continues to top the season's run charts with 201, and Newman leads the wickets with 6 — small consolations on a day when neither side could force the issue. A draw, then: honours shared, pride bruised, and the tea urn, mercifully, undefeated.

Sun 27 Jul 2008 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CC Colemans Hatch CC · AwayformDWLWW

Sunday 27 July found us on the road to Colemans Hatch, and the coin, ever fickle, went their way. They chose to bat, and for a good while it looked the wiser call, as Steve Singer and Tim Singer both compiled fine half-centuries — 76 and 71 respectively — with Steve Pollard chipping in 32 to see them to a stiff-looking 228/4 off their 43 overs. Credit where due to Jon Harris, whose 2-42 was the pick of our attack, with Joe Martin and Alan Boyns doing tidy support work either side of him.

Chasing 229 is no stroll in the churchyard, but the lads set about it with real intent. Kevin Presneill led the way with a well-made 66, Chris Knope sailed past his own fifty to 58, and Joe Martin finished the job unbeaten on 55 — three fifties in one innings is the kind of batting that makes a captain's job easy. A generous 27 extras from our hosts didn't hurt either, and we cantered home in just 28.5 overs.

Behind the stumps, poor Kevin had rather a busman's holiday of it, shipping 14 byes for his trouble — though nobody was complaining with the bat doing the talking. Chris Knope continues to sit second in our Sunday 2nd XI run charts, while Jon Harris leads the wickets column with ten.

An eight-wicket win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards indeed.

Sat 26 Jul 2008 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · AwayformLLWLL

James Piper's fifty set the tone on a Saturday that took us out to Mersham Sports CC, and winning the toss to bat first felt, if I say so myself, like the one decision I got unquestionably right all afternoon. Fifty-six from Piper, ballast from Mark Christmas (32) and Nigel Thirkell (31), and I stumbled to 32 of my own before we closed on a respectable 164/7 from our forty-five overs. Only Stewart Morrison will wince at the scorebook — a duck to file away and forget, or at least try to.

In the field we scrapped hard. Richard Knowler was magnificent, three wickets for 35 and four maidens besides, the sort of spell that makes a captain's job look easy even when it isn't, with Rob Doick (2-43) and Ian Hollingworth (1-44) chipping away at the other end. But James Fearne played the innings of the day, 46 not out, shepherded home by John Southern's unbeaten 35 and Rob Wilson's 26, and Mersham eased past us with seven balls to spare, 166/7 from 42.1 overs.

Three wickets the wrong side of the ledger, then, and a long drive home to chew it over. Craig Sands still tops our run charts this summer with 412, Knowler now has nineteen wickets to his name, and the season goes on regardless of one Saturday's misfortune. We were competitive, we were unlucky, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 26 Jul 2008 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformLWLLW

Off Rumwood at home on Saturday 26th July, and if you'd offered me a fifteen-run win at breakfast I'd have bitten your hand off — though the manner of getting there did wonders for my blood pressure. We lost the toss, were put in, and set about building something respectable. Richard Piper's 27, with Glen Rawson and Iain Cardew both chipping in with 25 apiece, gave us a foundation via a fine 56-run opening stand. Then, as is our custom, we conspired to make hard work of it, slipping from a healthy 118-4 to a distinctly wobbly 128-7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Special mention to Tom Murphy, who walked the walk of shame for a golden duck — the ledger doesn't lie. Still, 171/9 from our 45 was a total with a bit of substance to it.

Defending it, Rumwood gave us a proper fright. Luscombe's 48 and a 72-run second-wicket stand had them motoring, but credit to the lads for refusing to fold — a collapse from 109-3 to 109-6 turned the tide our way. Gareth Davies was outstanding with 4-48, Tim Thirkell chimed in with 3-21, and Darren Styles bowled with real discipline for 1-10 including three maidens. Even the skipper managed three wickets, which doesn't happen every week. Ten byes gave Mike Elworthy a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, but nobody's perfect.

Two points, thoroughly earned, won by 15 runs. A day of nerves, ducks and defiance — and I'll take it every time.

Sun 20 Jul 2008 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLDWLW

Sunday 20th July found us on the road at Bearsted, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy career, I stuck us into the field — a decision that felt considerably shrewder by close of play than it did at the time. Bearsted rattled along nicely early doors before we prised out that vital first wicket for just one run, but a stubborn 4th-wicket stand of 111 threatened to drag the game away from us entirely. Credit to the lads for dragging it back — from 150-5 to 161-8 was proper collapse-under-pressure stuff, with Jon Harris (2-21), Iain Rawson (2-24) and Josh Smitherman (2-30) sharing the wickets round nicely, and Daniel Jackson bowling with the miserly precision of a man checking his round at the bar, three maidens and all. David Bracey and Jason Preston-Reeves both departed without troubling the scorers 🦆, and Bearsted were eventually all out for 174.

Chasing 175, Mark Christmas played the innings of the day — 89 of pure class — with Iain Rawson chipping in an unbeaten 26 to see us home, their 65-run third-wicket stand doing the heavy lifting. We coasted in at 175-3, seven wickets and plenty of overs to spare. Ron McCormick, meanwhile, endured a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes rather giving the game away.

A thoroughly good day for the club, and one to file under "job done, no fuss." More of the same, please.

Sun 20 Jul 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Blue Star CC · HomeformDLWLW

It was Blue Star CC at home, Sunday 20 July, and for once the coin behaved itself — heads, or possibly tails, but either way it fell my way, and I had no hesitation in sticking us in. It felt like the right call after Tom Murphy and his opening partner put on 82 for the first wicket, laying a platform so solid you could have had tea on it. Murphy went on to a really rather fine 77, Daniel Thirkell chipped in 35 and Christopher Thirkell 33, and the extras column did its patriotic duty with 29. Only poor Joe Martin let the side down with the bat, golden duck and all, but 198/8 off 38.1 overs was a total to be proud of.

Defending it looked a formidable task once Andy Kidby got stuck in for a well-crafted 51, ably assisted by Mike Peters (35) and Daniel Crump (20), with a stubborn 53-run stand for the fifth wicket threatening to spoil our afternoon. But this is where Joe Martin made amends in some style — 3-39 with four maidens thrown in for good measure, miserly as a Yorkshireman at a whip-round — while Daniel Thirkell (2-19) and Michael Beeney (2-23) tidied up the rest. The opposition fell agonisingly short at 172/9 from their 46.

So honours shared, and a draw that felt, in the end, entirely fair. My own 77 was a satisfying afternoon's work, and with Murphy now third in the season's run charts and Beeney third among the wicket-takers, there's plenty to be cheerful about as we amble on through the summer.

Sat 19 Jul 2008 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformLLLWL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 19 July 2008. Staplehurst CC at home, and lose the toss we did, which meant padding up on a morning that already smelled of trouble.

106 all out in 34.2 overs is not the sort of total you write home about, and losing a wicket with just 6 on the board set the tone rather too honestly. Paul Gibson's 26 was the innings' one shaft of sunlight, while the Duck Club committee did a brisk trade — Mark Christmas, Michael Beeney and Ian Hollingworth all walked back for nought, and your correspondent completed the set. Four ducks in one innings is, I'm reliably informed, a personal club best we could all have lived without.

With the ball we made a proper fist of it. Staplehurst slipped to 2-1 early and wobbled again from 44-3 to 52-6, and for a good while it looked as though 106 might just be enough. Iain Rawson led the attack beautifully with 3-36, Ian Hollingworth chipped in with 2-39, and Richard Knowler bowled with real discipline — 1-9 off four maidens, miserly in the finest club tradition. But John Swannick's unbeaten 36, well supported by Tim Watts' 31 and a stubborn 54-run seventh-wicket stand, dragged them home 110-7.

Down by three wickets, then — not our day, and with the bat frankly a day best forgotten. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 19 Jul 2008 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · AwayformWLWLL

The coin, as ever, had other ideas, and Milstead CC elected to bat on a Saturday that promised more sunburn than seam movement. Their innings crept to 170/7 from 45 overs, built chiefly around T Wicks' well-made 52 and Michael Brown's 44 — though we did at least have the satisfaction of sending Roger Chapman back for a golden duck, which is the sort of small mercy a captain clings to. Ian Brattle was pick of the attack with 2-26, Gareth Davies chipped in with 2-46 and three miserly maidens, and Chris Newman took 1-21. Poor Mike Elworthy had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, leaking eight byes, though I shall put that down to a wicketkeeper's occupational hazard rather than any lack of application.

Chasing 171, we made it look rather comfortable — 172/2 from 40 overs, with Iain Cardew unbeaten on a classy 67 and Trevor Back matching him fifty-for-fifty on 59 not out, ably assisted by a generous 27 extras from our hosts. Worth noting, too, that Trevor's innings eased him past Brian Piper into 7th on the club's all-time run charts — a lovely footnote to a tidy win. Cardew continues to lead our 2008 second-team run charts with 215, and Brattle sits third among the wicket-takers with nine.

Eight wickets, two points, and a thoroughly satisfying day out — the sort of Saturday that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter.

Wed 16 Jul 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDWLDL

Wednesday 16th July, and we welcomed Dummy Site to Linton Park under skies that, for once, held their nerve until the final over. Winning the toss, I sent us out to bowl first, and it was a decision the lads repaid handsomely at times, if not entirely. Dummy Site posted a stiff 234/7 from their 44 overs, built on a fine 73 from J. D. Jefferson and 53 from C. Gibbons, with M. Erskine unbeaten on 41 to see them home to a total that had us doing some anxious arithmetic over the tea urn. Chris Newman was magnificent with the ball, 3-24 of relentless, probing stuff, backed up nobly by Jon Harris (1-30) and Ian Brattle (1-41), while Michael Beeney bowled two maidens that the batsmen simply couldn't get away — not a run given lightly, as they say.

Chasing 235, we made a fair fist of it, reaching 177/7 from our 41 overs. Craig Sands anchored the innings with a well-crafted fifty, and got sound support from Thomas Beeney (40) and an unbeaten 25 from Michael Beeney. Sands did have rather a mixed afternoon of it, mind — eleven byes escaped his gloves, proof that even our steadiest heads have their off days behind the stumps.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. Sands now leads our season's run charts with 195, and Newman tops the wickets with 5 — both men doing their bit while the rest of us make up the numbers. A draw, then, and on this evidence a fair one: honest toil, no disgrace, tea was good.

Sun 13 Jul 2008 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformDLDWL

I called correctly for once, and with a decent surface underfoot at Bidborough there was never much doubt about my choice: we'd bat. Richard Piper set the tone with a fine 43, Glen Rawson chipped in an excellent 39, and Kevin Presneill weighed in with 27, while our extras column apparently fancied itself as a top-order batsman with a rollicking 34. We closed on 175/5 from our 30 overs — not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but enough, as it turned out, to be going on with.

In the field, Kevin Presneill swapped his bat for the gloves and had a torrid afternoon of it behind the stumps, leaking 8 byes, though he more than made amends with the ball later, tearing through Bidborough's order with a superb 4-24. Michael Beeney (2-14, with three miserly maidens to his name) and Ian Brattle (2-18) offered splendid support, and poor Pat Rossiter was sent packing without so much as a single to his name. Alex Latham (41) and Alex Mills (31) threatened briefly to make a match of it, but the Bidborough innings folded for 132 in 28.1 overs. I contributed a workmanlike 16 with the bat, mostly by way of moral support.

A word for the record books: Michael Beeney's brace edged him past John Ames into 7th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a quiet, unassuming sort of immortality, but immortality nonetheless. A comfortable 43-run victory, two points banked, and the tea, I'm reliably informed, was rather good too.

Sat 12 Jul 2008 🧢 2nd XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformWWLWL

Saturday 12 July, and Mersham Sports CC rolled up hoping for sunshine and runs — they got the runs. Winning the toss, I fancied a bowl, and for a good while it looked the shrewder half of the decision: Robert Hansen and Craig Calvert both walked back without so much as a squeak, but William Colthup had other ideas, ground out a fine 61, and found willing company in Ollie Austen (42) and an unbeaten Stephen Darlington (20), the sixth-wicket pair putting on a stubborn 76 to haul Mersham to 173/7. Tim Wright was superb, 3-30 and, we're told, his 50th career wicket into the bargain — a lovely landmark on an otherwise chastening afternoon with the ball. Matthew Carter bowled two tidy maidens among his 2-38, and Darren Styles chipped in with one.

Chasing 174, we made a hash of the start — 5 on the board and already a wicket down — before Trevor Back (60) and Iain Cardew (43) settled things with a handsome stand of 87 for the third wicket and had us dreaming. Then, as is our club's proud tradition, the innings imploded: 155 for 6 became 157 for 9 in the time it takes to pour a tea, with Richard Piper and Simon Thirkell both completing the walk of shame for ducks. Twenty-five extras and poor Mike Elworthy's 14 byes did little to help a beleaguered keeper's afternoon.

Seven runs short in the end. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there's a half-century in most of us yet.

Sat 05 Jul 2008 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformLLLLW

Rain was the last thing on my mind when I won the toss down at Sheldwich on the 5th of July — I stuck us in, and for once the decision looked like genius rather than luck. Paul Gibson made sure of that: 118, a properly magnificent hundred, with Craig Sands ticking along nicely for 48 alongside him as the two of them put on 102 for the third wicket. From there we motored to 240/6 off our 45, which felt like a total with a bit of steel in it.

Turns out steel wasn't quite enough. James Creed simply refused to leave, compiling a chanceless 130, with Phillip Stanford (72 not out) and Martin Mills (21 not out) content to watch from the other end as Sheldwich cantered to 241/1 in 38.2 overs. Matthew Carter toiled manfully for his 1-62 and Michael Beeney kept things tight with two maidens, but with Creed in that mood there was precious little any of us could do — myself included, my own 18 runs a modest footnote to the day.

Small consolation that Craig Sands still tops our 1st XI run charts for the season with 375, and Matthew Carter sits 4th in the wickets with 7. But nine wickets is nine wickets, and there's no dressing that up. We'll lick our wounds, put the kettle on, and be better for it next week.

Sat 05 Jul 2008 🧢 2nd XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformWWWLW

Beaten at home by Staplehurst — 179 for 8 plays 168 for 9 — and there's no dressing that up as anything other than a defeat, though it was a good deal closer than the scorecard's right to be after the tea I put away.

Winning the toss on a Saturday and putting the opposition in always feels like the captain's prerogative rather than his wisdom, but I'll take credit for this one. Staplehurst ground out 179/8 from their 45, D Watkins doing the real damage with a well-crafted 56 and G Hubbard chipping in with 36. The bowling, though, was where we earned our corn: Tim Thirkell was quite magnificent, 4 for 16 and a joy to watch, with Tim Wright (2-39) and Ian Brattle (1-39, and two miserly maidens to his name) doing the honest legwork either side of him. And I'll allow myself a quiet word about the skipper's own 4-for — not bad for an old man's knees.

Chasing 180, Tom Murphy (44) and Iain Cardew (40) gave us hope, and a generous 25 in extras did its bit, but 168/9 left us 11 runs short at the death. Spare a thought for poor Chris Newman, who walked the walk of shame for a duck — these things happen to the best of us, Chris, chin up.

Tom Murphy now leads our 2008 run charts with 148, Thirkell the wickets with 11 — and on this evidence, both totals will keep climbing. A narrow, honourable defeat. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 02 Jul 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv PC Portsmouth and Southsea CC · HomeformDDWLD

Wednesday the second of July found us hosting Portsmouth and Southsea CC, and the day began as these days so often do for me — losing the toss. They chose to bat, and duly set about compiling 213/6 from their forty overs, built chiefly around Mark Smith's fifty-plus 52, with Mike Elworthy (38) and Thomas Beeney (29) filling in nicely around him. Credit to the bowlers for keeping us in it: Jon Harris led from the front with 2-26, Matthew Carter chipped in 2-27, and Dave Todd was tidiness itself with 1-10 — and Carter at least had the decency to depart for a golden duck when his turn came with the bat.

Chasing 214, Craig Sands played the innings of the day, 66 full of the old certainties, well supported by Mike Elworthy (35) and Trevor Back (34). Joe Martin and Chris Newman both fell for golden ducks, and as for the skipper — well, a captain must lead by example, and on this occasion I led by demonstrating precisely how not to build an innings, out for a golden blob of my own. We closed on 192/8, twenty-one runs shy.

There was real cause for celebration amid the gloom, though: Craig Sands brought up 8,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth far more than the runs we lacked. Mike Elworthy continues to top our season run charts on 155, with Dave Todd leading the wickets on four.

Not our day, then — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 29 Jun 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · HomeformDDLWL

Sunday 29th June, and Clarion CC came to Linton Park with the sun out and, rather less agreeably, my coin call wrong yet again — they had a look at the pitch and sent us in. No matter: Paul Gibson decided this was to be his afternoon and made a magnificent 116, the kind of innings that makes a captain's job look easy, with Tom Murphy (34 not out) and Chris Knope (29) tucked in alongside him and a real match-winning stand of 96 for the fourth wicket. I chipped in with 34 of my own, more by accident than design, and we closed on a handsome 235 for 5.

Defending it was another matter. S Cox gave us a proper fright with 91, well supported by Richard Hilson's fifty (53) and Steve Harris's 24, and a third-wicket stand of 114 had us checking our watches nervously. But cricket, like the English weather, can turn quickly, and we turned Clarion from 186 for 3 to 202 for 6 in no time at all. Thomas Beeney was the chief architect with 3 for 39, Matthew Carter chipped away for 2 for 56, and Michael Beeney kept things tight with two maidens. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid day behind the stumps — nine byes tell their own story — though he still leads our run charts for the season with 192, while Beeney now leads the wickets with 8.

We got over the line by 27 runs in the end. A proper club cricket scrap, and a jolly good day for Linton Park.

Sat 28 Jun 2008 🧢 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformLLLLL

Saturday 28 June 2008, and Hollingbourne CC came calling. Won the toss, took first knock — the right call, though I say so myself every time it comes off. Craig Sands then set about proving me a genius, compiling a glorious unbeaten 109, the sort of innings that makes captaincy look easy even when it isn't. James Piper chipped in with 47 not out and Kevin Presneill 27 to help us to 236/3 from our 45 overs, though a wicket down with just 7 on the board had briefly threatened a much twitchier afternoon.

Defending 236 always looks straightforward on paper and never is in practice, but the bowlers made a fair fist of it. Neil Taylor's 66 gave Hollingbourne some hope, backed up by Mike Donald (29) and Paul Kelf (27), yet once Richard Knowler got among the stumps — a fine 3-40 — the innings folded like a deckchair in a gale, 166-6 becoming 170-9 in the blink of an eye. Matthew Carter (3-42) and Mark Christmas (2-13, with three tight maidens for good measure) mopped up the rest, S Harrison and Ray Osborne both departing without troubling the scorers. All out 179 in 40 overs.

A nice personal footnote too: Craig's century eased him past Piers McDonald into 12th on the club's all-time run list, and he now leads our 2008 run charts with 327, with Mark Christmas topping the wickets on 18.

A 57-run win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 28 Jun 2008 🧢 2nd XIv BC Brasted & Sundridge CC · AwayformLWWWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 28 June 2008, and the road took us to Brasted & Sundridge CC, sun on our backs and, for once, a toss won and the right call made: we batted first.

What followed was as fine an innings as this club has seen in some time. Tom Murphy simply refused to get out, ambling to a majestic 104 not out and dragging us to a formidable 226/7 from our 40 overs, with Jamie Ratcliffe (25) and Chris Newman (23) chipping in nicely, and the bowlers' generosity — 35 extras — doing its bit too. A total to defend, certainly, though defending has never been our strong suit.

And so it proved tense. Brasted & Sundridge gave it a proper go, Alan Manderson striking a lovely 75 and Sam Plumb following with a well-crafted fifty of his own, Vince Reynolds adding 38 for good measure, and they finished on 214/8 — 12 runs shy. Thomas Beeney led the attack beautifully with 2-17, well backed by Tim Thirkell (2-28) and Trevor Back (2-37), while Tim Wright bowled three miserly maidens for those keeping count. Our keeper, it must be said, had rather a torrid afternoon — 18 byes is not a number one puts in the scorebook with pride.

Elsewhere, a nod to history: Jon Harris sailed past 2,700 career wickets, a number that rather puts the rest of us to shame.

A scratchy, nervy, thoroughly enjoyable win by 12 runs. We'll take it.

Tue 24 Jun 2008 🧢 Twenty20v Bearsted CC · HomeformDLWWL

Tuesday 24 June 2008, and Bearsted CC rolled into Linton Park for what turned into as even a contest as this old scorebook has ever recorded. Batting first, we huffed and puffed our way to 125/6 from the twenty overs, the innings held together by Craig Sands, whose well-made 53 was the sort of knock that makes a captain's job easy, with James Piper chipping in a useful 20 alongside him.

Defending it, we discovered Bearsted had read the same script — 125/6 in reply, level pegging all the way. G Cook's 29 and an unbeaten 22 from Jason Preston-Reeves kept them in it, but Carl Davis was again our chief troublemaker, snaring 2-21, with Ian Brattle (1-22) and Chris Newman (1-25) both doing their bit to keep the visitors honest. Poor Tom Murphy had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes going begging — the sort of thing that gives a keeper nightmares, though I shan't mention it to him again after this.

Two milestones worth raising a glass to: Carl Davis reached 50 career wickets, and Craig Sands's 53 eased him past Basil Sears into 13th on the club's all-time run-scoring list — Sands now sits proudly atop our 2008 Twenty20 run charts with 126, while Davis is third in the wicket charts with four.

In the end, honours shared, neither side able to prise out the win. A fair result, if not a thrilling one — like a good pot of tea, satisfying but unlikely to be remembered by Christmas.

Sun 22 Jun 2008 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv TC Tyler Hill CC · HomeformDDLDW

Down by the burning stump, Sunday 22 June 2008 — a chastening one, this. Losing the toss meant we were put in the field, and R Cousin proceeded to give us a lesson in the gentle art of century-making, 111 not out and barely a false stroke in it by the sound of things, with K Sutcliffe (67 not out) offering cheerful support and Arnold chipping in a brisk 24. James Mercer at least gave us something to cheer, snapping up 2-26 with real discipline, and Chris Newman weighed in with 1-43, but 242/4 from 37.2 overs was always going to take some chasing. It did.

Our reply was, in the interests of honesty, a bit of a horror show. Dave Todd contributed a duck of the purest gold, and your captain — never one to ask of his men what he won't do himself — went one worse with a golden blob, which I'm reliably informed is not the sort of leading-by-example anyone had in mind. All out for 111 in 49 overs, a margin of defeat that rather speaks for itself.

One shaft of light: Chris Knope continues his fine season with the bat, now up to 2nd in the 2008 Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 78 runs, and long may that continue even as the rest of us wonder where our footwork has gone.

Verdict: a 131-run beating that leaves no room for excuses. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there's work to be done before we trouble the scorers again.

Sun 22 Jun 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformLDDLW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 22 June 2008, and the road took us to Yalding CC, coin lost, feet up on grass, ball in hand from the off.

Yalding got themselves in first, and made hay of it — 206/4 from their forty overs, with Muhammad Shahzad Rafiq the chief architect on 71, Usman Pervaiz keeping him honest with a tidy 54, and Adnan Pervaiz chipping in 31 for good measure. To our credit, the ball wasn't entirely surplus to requirements: Iain Rawson did the early damage with 1-25, Michael Beeney and Thomas Beeney both weighed in with a wicket apiece, and Matthew Carter bowled two overs that yielded absolutely nothing, which these days counts as a personal triumph.

Chasing 207, we made a fair fist of it without ever threatening the improbable — 150/7 from our forty, Thomas Beeney leading the way with 25, Matthew Carter and Iain Rawson both unbeaten on 24, and 25 extras doing more for the cause than several of us managed with the bat. Special mention, as ever, to Carl Davis, who contributed his now-customary golden duck — a man of admirable consistency, if nothing else.

Glen Rawson continues to mount the season's run charts in second, and Iain Rawson still leads the wicket-takers, so the individual furniture is in good order even as the team ledger reads red. Beaten by 56 runs, then — not our day, heads up, and back to the nets. Onwards.

Sat 21 Jun 2008 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWLLLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 21 June 2008, away at Headcorn CC.

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once I'll take the credit for a decision that actually paid off. The lads set about accumulating a proper total, with Craig Sands the pick of the willow-wielders for a well-made 56, James Piper chipping in a tidy 33 and Nigel Thirkell unbeaten on 32 to see us home at 170/4 from our 45. The 3rd-wicket stand of 76 was the innings' backbone, and I'll happily own my own contribution of 24 — modest, but every run counts when you're the one writing the report.

Defending 170 always feels a touch light in the modern game, and so it proved. We struck early, having their opener back for a duck without so much as a scoreboard flicker at 0-1, and Matthew Carter set about the middle order with 2-28, well supported by Richard Knowler and Carl Davis with a wicket apiece, while Mark Christmas bowled two miserly maidens for his 2-26. But Kevin Richardson had other ideas, compiling a chanceless 73 not out, and with Neil Levett's unbeaten 44 alongside him in a defiant 51-run stand, Headcorn eased home by 5 wickets with 171/5 from 43.4 overs.

A battling total undone by one man's class innings — no disgrace in that. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sat 21 Jun 2008 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformWLWWW

As the Linton Park skipper standing forlorn at the toss, coin lost yet again — Hollingbourne saw fit to stick us in, and one suspects they'd studied our top order's early-season form rather too closely.

We shuffled to 101 for 8 off our 45, and it wasn't pretty. Glen Rawson, Jack Jenner and Tim Thirkell all trooped back without troubling the scorers — three ducks is the sort of thing that gets you a round bought at the bar, not in celebration. Thankfully Clive Newman, immovable and unbeaten on 42, held the innings together more or less single-handed, propping up a total that felt light before we'd even taken the field again.

And light it proved. Hollingbourne strolled to 102 for 2 in 33 overs, Geoff Griffiths purring to an unbeaten 44 with Dave Latter (31 not out) content to play the supporting act. Gareth Davies at least gave us something to cheer, snaring the best figures of the day with 1-16, Iain Rawson chipping in with 1-22, and Tim Thirkell — as if to atone for his golden duck — sent down three miserly maidens. Small mercies.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Clive Newman remains our leading run-scorer for the season on 111, Iain Rawson still tops the bowling with 7 wickets, so all is not lost. But this was not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Wed 18 Jun 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDDDWL

We won the toss, I stuck us in to bat, and for once the decision looked positively inspired rather than a lucky guess dressed up as tactics. Mike Elworthy played the innings of a lifetime, ghosting to an unbeaten 106, while Glen Rawson kept him honest company with a crisp 85. Between them they hauled us to 220 for 1 off our 36 overs — the sort of total that has the tea urn practically boiling itself in anticipation, and frankly leaves the rest of the top order wondering why we bothered padding up at all.

Defending it should have been the easy part. Sevenoaks & District, however, had other ideas, with Jack Redden compiling a fine 53 and getting handy support from M. Smyth (45) and P. Day (41) to keep them in the hunt. Carl Davis did his level best to spoil their afternoon with 3 for 23, backed up by useful strikes from Dave Todd and Joe Martin, and Chris Newman bowled with the sort of miserly discipline that would make a Yorkshireman proud — three maidens and barely a run to be had off him. Even so, Sevenoaks battled to 178 for 6 off their 43 and refused to be shifted further.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue. With Elworthy topping our run charts and Davis leading the wickets, I'd call it a thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work — no defeat, no false modesty required, and the tea was very good indeed.

Sun 15 Jun 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Hadlow CC · AwayformDLDDL

Craig Sands 150. Say no more, really — though I shall, obviously.

Winning the toss on a fine Sunday down at Hadlow, I had a look at the surface and decided there was nothing for it but to bat first, a decision that required no great cricketing brain once Craig Sands got going. He batted with the calm assurance of a man who knew exactly what he was about, striding to a magnificent 150 and dragging the rest of us along in his slipstream. Glen Rawson chipped in with a tidy 33, and the pair added 107 for the third wicket while the rest of us admired the view. We closed on 232/6 from our 40 overs — a total that felt, even before a ball had been bowled in reply, thoroughly beyond Hadlow's reach.

So it proved. Only Greg Pickering, with 28, offered any real resistance; everyone else seemed rather keen to get back to the tea tent, with three of their number departing without troubling the scorers. Thomas Beeney was magnificent, running through them with 4-14, Iain Rawson bowled with real discipline for 3-10 including three maidens, and Joe Martin snapped up 2-3 as Hadlow slid from 72-7 to 75 all out inside 27.3 overs.

A day to remember off the field too — Glen Rawson brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, Chris Newman reached 50 career wickets, and Craig's 150 pushed him past John Ames into 14th on our all-time run list. A 157-run win, and not a bad afternoon's work all round.

Sun 15 Jun 2008 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Buckhurst CC · HomeformLDDLD

Sunday 15 June 2008, and Buckhurst CC rolled up for what turned into rather a satisfying afternoon's work for Linton Park. Winning the toss, I sent them in, and for a while it looked as though we might be made to pay for that decision — Joe Drown compiled an unbeaten 63, with Ken Sayers giving him fine company on 54, the pair putting on 107 for the sixth wicket while the rest of us stood about rather helplessly in the field. Nigel Riley chipped in with 23. But where there's a stubborn partnership, there's usually a collapse waiting in the wings, and so it proved: Julius Marshall, S Riley and Kenny Perry all departed without troubling the scorers, ducks all round, as Rory High weighed in with 2-32, Lee Tidey took 2-36, and James Mercer bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting his own biscuits, 1-11 and three maidens. Buckhurst closed on 158/6 from their 45.4 overs — a total that felt more like a starting offer than a final word.

And so it proved. Chasing was never going to trouble us once I'd found some rhythm at the top, and I confess to no small satisfaction in leading from the front with 81 not out, Laurie Probert keeping me steady with an unbeaten 30, and Ron McCormick adding a brisk 20. We cantered home on 161/2 with four overs unused, an eight-wicket win that never really looked in doubt after the early overs.

A thoroughly good day for the club, and with 137 runs to my name this season I'll take the applause quietly — Rory High, meanwhile, continues to lurk menacingly second in the wicket charts. Buckhurst will want their revenge; we shall be very happy to oblige.

Sat 14 Jun 2008 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLWLLL

As Skipper of Linton Park, I've filed enough of these reports now to know how to break bad news gently — so here goes. Saturday took us to Meopham, where we lost the toss, were sent out to field, and duly watched them post 182 all out. It wasn't all plain sailing for the home side either — an early wicket with the score still on nought, and a late wobble from 167-7 to 182-10, gave us hope. Simon Burton's fifty was the innings' backbone, with Miles Richardson and Gavin Tovey chipping in handsomely. Credit where due: Mark Christmas bowled beautifully for 3-32, backed up nicely by Carl Davis and Michael Beeney.

Chasing 183, we never quite got out of second gear. Craig Sands battled to 41, James Piper finished unbeaten on 25, and Nigel Thirkell added 24, with a stand of 56 for the fourth wicket the only real foothold in the innings. But cricket has a cruel sense of humour, and ours collapsed from 111-5 to 114-8 faster than you could pour the tea, with three ducks littering the scorebook. As for your correspondent — I contributed precisely nothing with the bat, though I did at least atone with three wickets, so let's call it quits.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: Mark Christmas's three scalps eased him past Tony Snell into 25th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list — a fine achievement on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Beaten by 46 runs, then. We live to fight another Saturday.

Sat 14 Jun 2008 🧢 2nd XIv EC Eynsford CC · HomeformWWLWW

We won the toss, and for once my instincts didn't betray me — in went the bat. Kevin Presneill played a genuinely fine innings, 85 of the finest, and with Mike Elworthy chipping in a tidy 23, we posted 187 for 8 from our 45 overs — a total with a bit of substance to it. Not everyone's afternoon sparkled, mind; Tim Thirkell and Lee Tidey both contributed what the scorebook cruelly calls a golden duck, and I shall address my own contribution shortly.

Eynsford set about the chase with Paul Smyth compiling a composed 57 not out, well supported by Stephen Ball's unbeaten 34 and Colin Simmons's 28, but the required rate never quite came within reach and they finished on 145 for 4. Desmond High was the pick of our attack by some distance — 2 for 22 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure — while Lee Tidey and Dave Todd chipped in a wicket apiece to keep the pressure on. Mark Hammond departed without troubling the scorers, which felt only fair given the golden ducks we'd handed out ourselves. Roly Edwards had a trying day behind the stumps, eight byes conceded, though nobody's perfect — least of all your captain, who fell for nought and would rather this paragraph ended here.

Elsewhere, Mike Elworthy's 23 nudged him past Clive Newman into 10th on the club's all-time run charts, and Kevin Presneill now sits 3rd in this season's Second XI run standings. A win by 42 runs, then — the scorebook doesn't lie, even if my innings suggests otherwise. Onwards.

Tue 10 Jun 2008 🧢 Twenty20v West Farleigh CC · HomeformLDLWW

Tuesday 10 June saw West Farleigh CC roll into Linton Park, and won the toss I put us in — the sort of decision one only ever gets full credit for after the match. We laboured a touch to 124/9 from our twenty, saved from mediocrity by Mark Christmas, whose unbeaten fifty was the innings in miniature: patient, then punishing. Elsewhere the card told a familiar tale of good intentions gone astray, none more so than poor Thomas Beeney, back in the hutch without troubling the scorers.

In the field we made an ideal start, prising out the opener with the score on a wobbly 8-1, and for a moment we allowed ourselves to dream. But Senthil Muniyasamy had other ideas, playing the anchor role to perfection for 37, with D Dada (28 not out) and Ryan Ravenscroft (22) content to play cameo roles around him. Thomas Beeney, still smarting from his duck, atoned handsomely with the ball — 2-20 — and Joe Martin chipped in for one, but West Farleigh strolled home with seven wickets and the better part of three overs to spare.

Not, in the end, our afternoon. Craig Sands and Thomas Beeney continue to lead the club's season charts with bat and ball respectively, which is some consolation, but consolation only goes so far when you've been beaten at home. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there's always next Tuesday.

Sun 08 Jun 2008 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · HomeformWLLWL

Sunday brought High Halstow CC to Linton Park, and my luck at the toss remains as reliable as an English summer — they called correctly and sent us in. What followed was, in truth, a bit of a nibble: 99 all out in 33.4 overs, with only Mark Christmas showing any real appetite for runs, compiling a fine 41 while wickets fell around him. James Piper and Nigel Thirkell will not want reminding of their ducks, though I daresay the tea urn heard a few choice words on that score.

Defending 99 always asks for a minor miracle, and for a while the lads conjured one. Mark Christmas, having top-scored with bat, turned his arm over for 2-20 — a proper captain's performance, had I any say in the matter — with Carl Davis (2-21) and Rob Doick (1-25) chipping away dutifully alongside him. I managed 41 myself, more by luck than design, but Luke Donnelly's unbeaten-in-spirit-if-not-in-fact 23 nudged High Halstow home at 100/5 in the 38th over. Five wickets the margin, and no complaints from us — we simply didn't have the runs to work with.

Amid the gloom, one shaft of proper sunshine: Matthew Carter brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that deserves rather more than the fifty-odd runs we mustered around it. Mark Christmas, meanwhile, sits proudly atop both the season's run and wicket charts — one man doing the work of an entire top order.

Beaten, then, but not disgraced. We'll sharpen the bats and be better for it next week.

Sun 08 Jun 2008 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv KC Knockers CC · AwayformDLDDL

With the willow warmed and the tea urn on, here's the report for the club gazette.

Sunday 8 June saw us pack the bags and head to Knockers CC, hopeful of a result and, as ever, hopeful of some sun. Put into the field, we watched Knockers build steadily to 181/9 from their 43 overs, Stuart Seldon getting in and going well past his fifty, with Lynden Spencer Allen (31 not out) and Gutherie Miller (26) chipping in for good measure. Small mercies, though — Ken Cowan was sent back for a duck, and Jon Harris was in inspired form, ripping through with 4-32, well backed up by Rory High's 2-22 and Daniel Jackson's 2-42.

A target of 182 is never a doddle, and so it proved. We stumbled to 130/7 from our 41 overs, Glen Rawson leading the way with a battling 31, Joe Martin and Chris Newman both weighing in with 20 apiece. Ray Dixon, alas, will want to forget his own contribution — another golden duck to file away.

Happily, the skipper found some form with the ball, snaring four wickets of his own, which at least gave me something to smile about on the drive home. Glen Rawson continues his quiet rise up the season's run charts, now fourth with 42, while Daniel Jackson sits second in the wicket-takers with five.

In the end, honours were shared — a draw that flattered neither side, but with Ken and Ray both walking back without scoring, I'd call that a fair and honest stalemate.

Sat 07 Jun 2008 🧢 1st XIv EC Eynsford CC · HomeformWLWLL

Off, back to the nets we go. Skipper's log for Saturday, 07 June 2008.

We lost the toss and were put in the field first against Eynsford CC, which on reflection was rather the shape of the whole afternoon. They rattled us early with a wicket at just 4, before Howard Collins (49) and Jamie Wise (32) steadied things and a 51-run third-wicket stand threatened to run away from us. Credit to the lads for hauling it back — 131-7 became 138 all out from 41.2 overs, with poor Callum Hamill sent packing without troubling the scorers. Richard Knowler was superb, 4-33, with Rob Doick (2-42) and a positively miserly Mark Christmas (1-19, five maidens no less) squeezing the life out of the middle overs. Worth a mention too: Rob Doick's brace edged him past John Taylor into 20th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a quiet bit of history amid the toil.

Chasing 139, we never quite found our rhythm. Paul Gibson (30) and Craig Sands (22) put together a fifty-run stand for the fifth wicket that promised much, and I chipped in with 18, but 91-5 became 95-8 in the blink of an eye and the tail — Kevin Presneill, Richard Knowler and Thomas Beeney — all fell for ducks. All out 107 from 40.1 overs, 31 runs short.

Gibson remains our leading run-scorer this season with 121, and Christmas tops the wickets with 12 — small consolations on a day that got away from us. Not our day, then. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 07 Jun 2008 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWWWLW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 07 June 2008. Away at Meopham CC, and no luck with the coin: they had first say and chose to field, which on reflection might have been the shrewder call given what followed.

We were put in and made 175 all out from 44.2 overs, though "made" rather flatters the wobble at the start — a wicket down with nought on the board is no way to settle the nerves. Credit to Tim Wright, unbeaten on 45, and Mike Elworthy with 43, whose second-wicket stand of 72 gave the innings some spine before it all came apart again in a rush from 72-2 to 85-5. Iain Cardew chipped in with 26, but three of our number — Clive Newman, Tim Thirkell and Ian Brattle — took the walk of shame for ducks. As for the skipper, a golden blob; a captain should lead by example, and on this occasion I led the retreat to the pavilion rather smartly.

With the bat having let us down somewhat, it fell to the ball to save the day, and save it it did. Meopham were bowled out for 152, Andrew Bryant's 48 and Richard Saunders' 35 the only real resistance. Ian Brattle was magnificent with 3-20, well backed by Gareth Davies (3-38) and Tim Wright (2-43), while Iain Rawson strangled the runs with three maidens. A fine win by 23 runs, and a notable landmark too — Gareth Davies past a hundred career wickets. Onwards, indeed.

Tue 03 Jun 2008 🧢 Twenty20v EC East Sutton CC · AwayformLLDLW

Right at the toss on Tuesday 3 June 2008, and never in much doubt about what to do with it — East Sutton away, sun (probably) out, and I put us in without so much as a second thought.

The lads did us proud with the bat. Craig Sands led the charge with a fine 48, Joe Martin chipped in nicely with 33, and Rob Doick saw us home unbeaten on 21 to leave us a defendable 142/6 from our twenty. Not everyone's afternoon went to plan, mind — Mark Christmas took the walk of shame for a golden duck, and I can't cast the first stone there, having made one myself. The less said about my own contribution, the better.

In the field we held our nerve. Chris Back gave us a proper fright with a rapid 63, well supported by Nick Worsfold's 20, but East Sutton could only muster 134/9 in reply — Darren Thompson sent back without troubling the scorers for company on the duck front. Michael Beeney was magnificent, 3-18 the pick of the bowling, with Carl Davis (2-26) and the redoubtable Mark Christmas (1-17) chipping in either side of his own batting mishap.

A word too for Craig Sands, whose 48 eased him past Stan Wratten and into 16th on the club's all-time run charts — quietly building a season to remember, and now our leading 2020 run-scorer with 62, while Christmas tops the wicket pile with four.

Eight runs the margin, and a thoroughly deserved one. Onwards, indeed.

Sun 01 Jun 2008 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LR Lord Raglan · AwayformLDLDD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 01 June 2008. We were away at Dummy Site, and having lost the toss we found ourselves in the field, which on reflection may have suited nobody more than the openers, who could put off their reckoning a while longer.

They rattled us early with a stumble to 4-1, and for a moment it looked as though the lads might run through the lot of them. Alas, cricket has a habit of humbling the optimist, and one Davis settled in for a fine unbeaten 56 to drag the total up to 132 all out from 40.4 overs. Hutchinson and D Curtis both fell to us without troubling the scorers, small mercies in an otherwise composed innings from the visitors. Ian Brattle was the pick of our attack with a tidy 2-9, well supported by Joe Martin (2-18) and Lee Tidey (2-26).

Chasing 133, we contrived to lose a wicket before a run was on the board, which is never the tonic a captain hopes for. Tom Murphy played the innings of the day, a well-made fifty that for a while had us dreaming, aided by a crucial 51-run stand for the fifth wicket. But ducks for Darren Styles, Thomas Beeney and Joe Martin undid the good work — and I confess I contributed my own, the least said about which the better. All out for 103 in 40.3 overs, we fell 29 runs short.

Tom Murphy now sits third in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts, and Joe Martin leads the wickets column with seven — proof there's method amid the muddle. A defeat, but not a disgrace; we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 31 May 2008 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformLWLWL

Down at Shipbourne on the last day of May, the coin let us down before we'd even taken guard, and we were put into the field with little choice in the matter. Shipbourne crawled to 133/8 off their 45, Mark Fenton (34 not out) the chief architect, with James McCulley and Neil Lee-Amies chipping in either side of him. It wasn't all one-way traffic, mind — Mark Christmas bowled beautifully for 4-28, Richard Knowler backed him up with 2-22 (and, rather splendidly, notched his 50th career wicket along the way), and Ian Hollingworth was miserly enough to bowl three maidens on his way to 1-32. Matt Kendle departed without so much as a scoring stroke to his name.

Chasing 134, we contrived to make a proper mess of it. Two on the board and already a wicket down set the tone, and from 19-4 to 35-7 the innings simply came apart at the seams — Rob Doick and Thomas Beeney both walked back with blank scorecards. I did manage to find a bit of rhythm with the ball earlier, taking four wickets, but with the bat all I could do was watch, along with everyone else, as we folded for 41 in 25 overs.

A 92-run defeat, no way of dressing it up. Paul Gibson continues to sit handsomely second in this season's run charts and Mark Christmas leads the wickets, so not all is doom — but for the rest of us, it's back to the nets and a stiff word with ourselves before next week.

Sat 31 May 2008 🧢 2nd XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · HomeformLWWWL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 31 May 2008. Leeds & Broomfield CC visited, and the coin let us down, so it was pads on for the field rather than the bat first.

We laboured a touch to 147/6 from our 45 overs — nothing to frighten anyone, but a total with a bit of stiffness in its bones. Simon Thirkell held things together nicely for 28 not out, with Tim Wright's 28 and Trevor Back's 20 giving it some shape, and I'll happily take the 31 extras as a contribution too, even if nobody's putting that partnership in the scorebook.

With the ball, we found our rhythm properly. Gareth Davies was superb, 3-24 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and he had willing company in Matthew Carter (3-34) and Ian Brattle (2-20) — between them they simply didn't let Leeds & Broomfield settle. Barry Roles top-scored with 37 and Jason Tharp chipped in an unbeaten 28, but the rest never got going, and poor R Hancox marched off for a golden duck. Clive Newman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps — ten byes is the sort of thing that gives a keeper sleepless nights — but he's still sat second in the 2nd XI run charts on 69, so no lasting damage done, and Iain Rawson continues to lead the wicket-takers with five.

They fell 12 runs short in the end. A scrappy, nervy sort of win, but a win all the same — and in this game, you never apologise for those.

Sun 25 May 2008 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWLDLD

Sunday 25 May 2008, and Sissinghurst CC was the destination for what turned out to be a proper old-fashioned tussle. Lost the toss, asked to bowl first — no complaints there, it gave the lads first crack with the ball. Sissinghurst posted a stiff 188 all out from their 36 overs, built around a couple of well-made fifties from Trevor Wright (69) and Mike Burgess (53). We threatened a top-order collapse of our own making when Ian Wicks, Stephen Brown and Ben Larkin all trooped back without troubling the scorers, but Joe Martin had other ideas, ripping through with 5-21, backed up nicely by Thomas Beeney (2-21) and Daniel Jackson (2-35). A fine effort to keep them to 188.

Chasing 189, we crawled and clattered our way to 141/6 from our 40 overs — never quite in the hunt, but never disgraced either. David Castle was the rock, 56 not out, a proper half-century that held the innings together, with Joe Martin chipping in 20 for good measure. Tom Murphy's blob rather spoiled his afternoon, and we leant gratefully on 31 extras to bulk out the total. I'll confess a personal 56 was rather satisfying, even if it wasn't enough to chase down the target.

So, honours shared — a draw when neither side could force the issue. With Chris Knope topping our run charts and Joe Martin our wicket-takers this season, spirits remain high. A fair result, all told: we bowled like champions, batted like a village side clinging to its nerve, and left Sissinghurst with the scorebook — and our pride — largely intact.

Sat 24 May 2008 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformWLWLW

Saturday 24 May 2008, and Mersham Sports CC rolled up as our visitors. I lost the toss again — my coin-calling remains a stain on an otherwise blameless captaincy record — and we were put into the field.

They batted first and made a solid 240/6 from their 45 overs, built on a rapid 71-run opening stand before Richard Knowler finally prised them apart with a fine 3-53. Rob Doick (1-29) and Mark Christmas (1-53) chipped in too, but Darren Pugh's 80 and Ian Fagg's well-made 59, with Simon Possee's 43 in support, gave them a total that always felt a touch beyond us.

So it proved. We replied with 163/8 from our 45, Craig Sands the mainstay with an unbeaten 60, well supported by James Piper and Richard Piper with 25 apiece. Rob Doick and Carl Davis both fell for ducks, which is never a pleasant walk back to the pavilion, and the required rate simply got away from us.

There was, however, a moment to savour amid the gloom: James Piper brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth more than any scoreline. Craig Sands continues to top our 2008 run charts on 99, and Mark Christmas leads the wickets with 7.

Verdict: beaten by 77 runs, no arguments. Not our day at all — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 24 May 2008 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWLWWW

Saturday 24 May 2008, and the Log records a journey down to Horton Kirby CC — one of those away days that starts with optimism and a flask of tea and, alas, doesn't end that way.

The toss went against us, so it was pads off and boots on for a long afternoon in the field. Horton Kirby ground their way to 125 all out in 44.2 overs, built chiefly around Alastair Scott's 43 and James Scott's watchful 25. Credit where it's due, though — the bowling attack kept us firmly in the contest throughout. Michael Beeney was quite simply magnificent, returning 3-11 with seven miserly maidens, while Iain Rawson (2-19) and Tim Thirkell (2-26) chipped away in support. Geoff Rameaux and J Gower were both sent back without troubling the scorers, which tells its own tale.

125 should have been well within reach. It wasn't. Our reply folded to 93 all out in 35 overs, Glen Rawson's 24 standing rather lonely at the top of the card, and ducks for both Jack Jenner and — cruelly, after his heroics with the ball — Michael Beeney. Clive Newman had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 11 byes leaking away like the afternoon itself.

One bright note amid the gloom: Michael Beeney brought up 600 career wickets, a landmark worth toasting in the bar regardless of the result. But toast it we did with the score at 93 for 125 — beaten by 32 runs. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Tue 20 May 2008 🧢 Twenty20v HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformLLLDL

We were away at Hollingbourne on Tuesday 20th May, and winning the toss I decided we'd bat first — the right call, as it turned out, though you'd hardly know it watching the lads huff and puff their way to 135/7 from the twenty overs. Rob Doick led the charge with a tidy 26, James Piper chipped in with 23, and the extras column did its bit too, contributing a generous 26 of its own — one wonders whether Hollingbourne's bowlers ought to have been handed a bowling average and asked politely to reconsider their line.

With the ball in hand we set about defending it, and Mark Christmas was the star turn, scything through with 3-17, well supported by Thomas Beeney's 3-30 and Dave Abrahart's solitary but useful 1-15. Hollingbourne wobbled from a healthy-looking 77-3 down to 92-6, which is exactly the sort of collapse that keeps a fielding captain (that's me, 23 not entirely out of place with the bat either, if I say so myself) grinning behind his sunglasses. But R Mokowen had other ideas, digging in for an unbeaten 30, ably assisted by Mike Palmer's 28 and Brett Mokowen's 23, dragging them agonisingly close to 130/9.

In the end we held our nerve and got over the line by five runs — the kind of finish that ages a captain by several years in the space of twenty overs. Rob Doick now tops our 2008 Twenty20 run charts and Thomas Beeney the wickets, and all told, a thoroughly good day for the club.

Wed 14 May 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv TC Tenterden CC · AwayformLDDDW

Wednesday 14 May 2008, away at Dummy Site, and your captain must report a defeat — though not, I hasten to add, one entirely without merit. Put into the field first, we watched the hosts settle in for the long haul, eventually declaring themselves at 196/8 from 42.5 overs. R Vernon anchored the innings with a polished fifty, well supported by P Braben (30) and F Pearman (28), while our bowlers took it in turns to have their say: Dave Todd the pick of them with 2-12, Chris Newman and Darren Styles both chipping in with 2-24 and 2-25 respectively. A spirited shift in the field, even if the scoreboard rather got away from us.

Chasing 197, we gave it a proper go. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, an excellent 79, with Clive Newman (35) and Carl Davis (30) lending sturdy support, and the third-wicket pair adding a valuable 67 together. Alas, poor Trevor Back's contribution was a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he has our sympathy over tea. Ten byes, meanwhile, made for uncomfortable reading behind the stumps for Clive Newman, who I'm sure will want that one back.

In the end we fell four wickets short at 197/6 from 38.5 overs — agonisingly close, but not our day. Craig Sands and Darren Styles now sit atop the Midweek XI's run and wicket charts respectively, which is something to build on. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sun 11 May 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Wingham CC · HomeformWDLDD

Sunday 11 May 2008 brought Wingham CC to Linton Park, and having called correctly I did what every captain does with a rare bit of luck – batted first and hoped for the best. We were rewarded handsomely. Richard Piper set the tone with a fine 62, Mark Christmas finished unbeaten on 48 and Craig Sands chipped in with 30, while a sturdy opening stand of 59 gave the innings the backbone it needed. 194 for 5 from our 45 overs felt like a total with a bit of steel in it.

Defending it proved rather more painful than compiling it. Michael Pilbeam gave us a torrid afternoon with a well-crafted 76, and Andrew West's unbeaten fifty at the other end meant the momentum never really swung our way, their fifth-wicket pair adding 81 in the sort of stand that has grown men wincing into their tea. Michael Beeney toiled hard for 2 for 71, with Chris Newman and Iain Rawson chipping in a wicket apiece, but 195 for 6 arrived with three overs to spare. I did my bit with the ball figures rather better than with anything resembling a plan, and my own 48 with the bat earlier felt like scant consolation by the close.

Beaten by four wickets, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. Heads up all the same – we'll be back in the nets before the next one, plotting our revenge over a lukewarm cup of tea.

Sat 10 May 2008 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformLWLWL

Saturday 10 May 2008 – Home to Sheldwich CC

Won the toss, and for once didn't have to agonise over the decision — a good pitch and a settled stomach said bat, so bat we did. The lads set about accumulating rather than swashbuckling, and 214/7 from our 45 overs was a thoroughly respectable return. Craig Sands led the way with a sound 39, Nigel Thirkell chipped in a tidy 33, and Paul Gibson's 25 kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. I contributed a workmanlike 19 of my own, more graft than glory.

Sheldwich made a real fist of the chase. Ian Turton's 40, backed by Ian Hulks' 30 and Jon Taylor's unbeaten 28, kept us honest, and their seventh-wicket pair put on a stubborn 69 to drag the game back their way. Their last pair then had the cheek to add 40 more we could have done entirely without — the sort of last-wicket cussedness that ages a captain prematurely. Mercifully the middle order did the damage: Rob Doick was superb with 3-25, Michael Beeney and Mark Christmas chipped in with 3-57 and 2-42 respectively, and Richard Knowler bowled three miserly maidens to squeeze the life out of things. Andrew Carr and Sam Reed made ducks, poor souls, but the collective effort saw Sheldwich fall 38 runs short.

A tidy note to finish on — Michael Beeney's three wickets nudged him past Terry Whittaker into 8th on the club's all-time list, while Paul Gibson and Mark Christmas continue to lead this season's run and wicket charts. A fine, honest win. Onwards.

Sat 10 May 2008 🧢 2nd XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWLWW

Skipper's Log, Saturday 10 May 2008. The road took us to Shipbourne, and having won the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I shall be allowed to say so without contradiction. Glen Rawson set the tone with 39, Clive Newman chipped in a tidy 36, and Jack Jenner weighed in with 31, the three of them dragging us to a respectable 188/8 from our 45 overs. The extras column did its patriotic duty with 32. Only poor Iain Cardew had a Saturday to forget, back in the hutch without troubling the scorers.

Out we went to defend it, and defend it we did in some style. The opposition folded for 81, undone chiefly by Jack Jenner, whose 4-33 was a thing of real craft, with Tim Thirkell (2-1) and Tim Wright (2-10) mopping up either end and Darren Styles bowling five miserly maidens that must have felt, to the Shipbourne batsmen, rather like being slowly strangled by a man in whites. Michael Fenton departed without scoring. Behind the stumps Clive Newman had his hands full, 14 byes the only blemish on an otherwise triumphant afternoon — though his 36 with the bat was enough to nudge him past Mike Elworthy into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is the sort of thing a man can dine out on for weeks.

A fine win by 107 runs, then, and Glen Rawson and Jack Jenner both sit atop their respective 2nd XI charts for the season. Onwards, in good heart and better form.

Sun 04 May 2008 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv PC Plaxtol CC · HomeformLWLDL

Here's the match report:

There's nothing quite like winning the toss and feeling that little flutter of certainty as you make the call — bat first, no hesitation, no second-guessing, no committee. Chris Knope was in the sort of form that makes a captain look wise for reasons entirely of his own making, cashing in with a well-crafted fifty, while James Piper's unbeaten 36 and Richard Piper's 35 gave the innings real backbone. Their stand of 91 for the fourth wicket was the difference between a modest total and a genuinely defendable one, and even the extras column pitched in with a generous 25, which I like to think reflects Plaxtol's generosity rather than our running between the wickets. We closed on 172 for 4 from our 43 overs, a total that felt, at tea, like it might just be enough.

And so it nearly proved. Mark Christmas led from the front with the ball, snaring 2 for 10 and setting the tone, with Daniel Thirkell (2-28) and Iain Rawson (1-15) chipping away at the other end. Poor Hal departed without troubling the scorers — a duck to treasure, if not to dwell on. Charles Munton's 40 and Jesse Waipura's unbeaten 38 threatened to spirit the game away from us, but Plaxtol could only muster 143 for 7 from their 35 overs before the overs ran out.

Honours shared, then — a draw that satisfied nobody and disappointed nobody, which in village cricket is really the house speciality. A fair result, even if my scheming at the toss deserved rather more reward.

Sat 03 May 2008 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWLWLW

As it stands, honesty compels me to admit this one got away from us.

Bearsted CC, first Saturday of May, and the coin toss betrayed us early — asked to bat, we managed a workmanlike 112 all out in 43.3 overs. David Castle led the way with 31, Richard Piper chipping in a handy 29, and for a while it looked respectable enough. Then, as is so often the way with this side, the innings developed a sudden and violent allergy to the crease: 75 for 4 became 91 for 7 before you could say "tea's ready," with Rob Doick and Ryan Boyns both departing for ducks and joining the walk of shame.

In the field, though, we scrapped hard. Bearsted lost an early wicket at 6 and looked nervy, but a stand of 67 for the fourth wicket steadied them, built largely around Greg Laurenson's fine 52 and Christopher Filmer's useful 22. Credit where it's due — Mark Christmas bowled beautifully for 3-15 with three maidens, well backed by Rob Doick's 2-28 and Ian Hollingworth's 1-34, and I took some quiet satisfaction in three wickets of my own. Stephen Heap and P Mancktelow both fell for nought.

But 116 for 8 in 33.3 overs got them home by two wickets, and no amount of tidy bowling papers over a batting collapse. Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets — there's work to do before next week.

Sat 03 May 2008 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWWWLW

Linton Park's captain won the toss and, with that unmistakable glint in his eye that usually precedes a shocker of a decision, elected to field. For once the crystal ball didn't let me down. West Farleigh laboured to 142 for 7 from their 45 overs, Tom McKellow's watchful fifty (52) the backbone of the innings, with Colin Fry (42) keeping him company. Martin Hoare, mercifully for us, departed without troubling the scorers. Darren Styles was miserly and menacing in equal measure to finish with 1 for 17, while Tim Wright bowled with the patience of a saint — four maidens! — for 1 for 20, and Iain Rawson chipped in with 1 for 23. Poor Clive Newman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 13 byes going begging, though I'll say no more about that over the teas.

Chasing 143, we ambled home in 44.5 overs for the loss of four wickets, Glen Rawson leading the way with a tidy 33, Trevor Back unbeaten on 31, and Ray Dixon adding a brisk 21. The extras column, ever the unsung hero, weighed in with 26 of its own — practically an opening partnership these days.

A six-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — the sort where the tea urn tastes sweeter and the drive home feels shorter. Early doors in the season, but Glen Rawson and Darren Styles already lead the charts, and if this is a taste of things to come, long may it continue. Onwards.

Sun 27 Apr 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformDWDLD

Sunday 27 April 2008 brought Selsdon CC to Linton Park, and won the toss I did what any captain fancying a long lie-in the field should never do lightly — I put us in. As it turned out, the pitch was a belter and the lads made me look rather clever. James Piper played the innings of the day, and then some, carrying his bat to an unbeaten hundred, while Glen Rawson kept him honest company with a fine 89. Between them they hauled us to 211 for 1 off our 39 overs, a total that had the tea urn practically boiling over with excitement.

Defending it should have been the formality it looked on paper, and for a while it very much was. Selsdon stumbled to 0 for 1 and then simply kept stumbling, 8 for 4 arriving before some of their batsmen had troubled the sightscreen, let alone the scorers — Marcus Robertson, Peter Armfield and Steve Garth all back in the pavilion without scoring. Rory High ran through them with 3 for 22, Iain Rawson chipped in with 2 for 4 and a very tidy landmark of 50 career wickets, and Tim Wright bowled as if the ball were on a string, 2 for 6 with four maidens to match.

And yet somehow Selsdon clung on at 64 for 8 off their 34, denying us the win our morning's work thoroughly deserved. A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact, and Piper's bat the toast of the clubhouse.

Sat 26 Apr 2008 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · AwayformLWLWL

Saturday the 26th of April saw us venture out to Mersham Sports CC, and winning the toss I did what any captain fond of batting first and worrying about it later would do — I stuck us in. Forty overs brought 143 for 8, a total that owed everything to Paul Gibson's classy 51, made all the more sweet for bringing up 14,000 career runs for the club along the way — not a bad afternoon's work for one man. It wasn't all plain sailing: we lost our first wicket at 4, and poor Rob Doick had the sort of day best forgotten, back in the hutch without troubling the scorers.

With the ball, Mersham gave us a fright. Alan Stevens (35) and Rob Wilson (35) built things nicely, with Darren Pugh (26) chipping in, and despite an early wobble at 5 for 1 they looked well set to chase us down. But we squeezed, and squeezed hard, turning 136 for 5 into 141 for 8 in the blink of an eye — John Southern among the fallen without scoring. Ian Hollingworth was the chief tormentor, 3 for 5 with five miserly maidens, backed up by Mark Christmas and Richard Knowler with a wicket apiece. Poor Kevin Presneill had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes testament to a tricky pitch rather than any lack of effort.

A two-run win, then — the kind that ages a captain prematurely but tastes all the better for it. Onwards.