🧢 Captain's Log

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

I confess I entered Saturday's fixture against Chelsfield with quiet optimism, which the toss promptly dented — lost it, and we were sent out to bowl first on 27th September. Chelsfield made themselves thoroughly at home, racing to 227/5 from their 39 overs. C Martin played the innings of the day with a fine 85, well supported by U Hassan's equally fine 53, while X Stuary finished unbeaten on 49 to round things off nicely for the visitors. Credit where due: Sam Boyns led the attack superbly with 2-32, Chris Newman and Michael Beeney chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Richard Knowler bowled two maidens that gave nothing whatsoever away.

Chasing 227 was always going to ask questions of us, and in truth we never quite found the answers, closing on 147/8 from our 39. Tim Thirkell top-scored with a battling 38, ably backed up by Richard Piper's 27. As for my own contribution — I'm afraid I must report a golden duck, the sort of dismissal best filed under "least said, soonest mended," and I shall leave it there.

Elsewhere, the season charts continue to make pleasant reading regardless of my own failings: Richard Piper sits 5th in the 1st XI run charts with 181 for the year, and Michael Beeney 4th in the wicket charts with 13.

In the end, honours were shared — a draw, and on this occasion probably a fair reflection of an afternoon where neither side could quite land the killer blow.

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

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 – Anchorians CC (away)

Not a great toss to lose, and once Anchorians CC's captain called correctly and elected to bat, we knew we were in for a long afternoon of leather-chasing. So it proved. D Thompson set about us with a fine 57, Stiller stuck around unbeaten on 44, and J Thompson chipped in with 38 as they racked up 238 for 9 from their forty overs — the sort of total that has you checking your watch and wondering about tea. Credit where it's due: Will Thirkell bowled his heart out for 4-57, with Daniel Jackson (3-38) and Iain Rawson (1-36) mopping up round him. Small mercy — Underwood and N Wellard both departed without so much as troubling the scorers.

Chasing 239 was always going to ask serious questions of our top order, and frankly we didn't answer many of them. I managed to get in and make a fist of it with 22, and Ray Dixon matched me stroke for stroke with 22 of his own, but wickets tumbled at the other end with grim regularity — Joe Martin and Iain Rawson both walked back for ducks, and the innings folded for 105 in 32.5 overs.

A chastening 133-run defeat, then, and not much to dress it up as anything else. On the plus side, Tom Murphy continues to sit handsomely 3rd in the Sunday run charts and Iain Rawson still tops the wickets table, so all is not lost for the season. For this Sunday, though: heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Saturday the 13th of September brought National Winners to Linton Park, and if the omens matter to you, know that I lost the toss and dutifully led us out to field — the visitors elected to bat, as visitors invariably do when the coin falls their way.

They made a watchful 197 for 8 off their forty, Jim Hall top-scoring with 31, David Castle and Jon Harris chipping in with 30 and 28 apiece to keep the total respectable rather than daunting. Credit to the attack for keeping it that way: David Castle bowled beautifully for 2-9, Jon Harris took 2-30, Nigel Thirkell 1-6, and somewhere in the field two maidens were squeezed out that nobody now seems able to put a name to — the mark of a tight morning's toil.

Chasing 198, we replied with 174 for 9, David Castle again the mainstay with a fine 51, Trevor Back adding 26 and Brian Piper 24 to give the innings some backbone. Poor Andrew Moss will not thank me for recording his golden duck for posterity, but there it is. I managed a wicket myself, which — rather pleasingly — eased me past Alan Wilkes and into fifth on the club's all-time list of wicket-takers, a small personal footnote worth filing away. Season-long, Paul Gibson continues to purr along nicely, sitting second in the 1st XI run charts with 348 to his name.

In the end neither side could force it, and honours were shared. A draw, then, but an honest one — earned in the field, not surrendered in it.

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

Toss won, no hesitation — I put us in to bat, and 197/8 from our forty overs felt about right on a day when the middle order did the heavy lifting. Richard Piper led the way with a tidy 31, Mike Caddick chipped in 30 and Tom Murphy 28, and between them they gave us something to bowl at rather than just something to bowl with.

Defending it was never going to be straightforward against National Winners, and James Piper made sure of that with a well-crafted fifty that threatened to bat us out of it, well supported by Rob Doick's 26 and Richard Knowler's 24. But we kept chipping away — Matthew Carter had the sort of afternoon bowlers dream about, 3-37 and a duck to his name at our hands for good measure, while Kevin Presneill matched him wicket for wicket with 3-37 of his own. I managed to get among the wickets too, 2-22 my contribution to the effort, and Unsure did the unglamorous but priceless work of choking the runs with four maidens. The visitors were held to 174/9.

Twenty-three runs the margin in the end, which sounds comfortable on paper and felt anything but in the field. Craig Sands continues to top the run charts this season with 546, and I'll admit to a quiet satisfaction at sitting second in the wicket-takers with 20 for the year. All told, a proper team performance and a very good day for the club.

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

Not to lose the toss on a fine September Wednesday is one thing; not to lose the match afterwards is quite another, and so it proved when we welcomed Tunbridge Wells Wednesday to Linton Park. I won the call and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, chose to bat — a decision that looked rather clever once Christopher Thirkell had settled in for a splendid 88, the innings' backbone from start to finish. Mike Elworthy chipped in handsomely with 53, James Piper added a brisk 25, and between them we rattled along to 205 for 4 from our 38.1 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

In the field, the bowling did its job without ever quite finishing the story. Matthew Carter was the pick of the attack, snaring 2 for 11 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, while Michael Beeney (2-36) and Ian Brattle (1-16) kept the pressure honest. I managed to get among the wickets myself, which was a pleasant enough afternoon's work. Ballard and Simon Skinner both departed without so much as a run to their names, but M. Whitmill's unbeaten 46, backed by Wright's 36 and Thompson's 27, steered the visitors home to 157 for 7 and safety. Eleven byes gave poor Mike Elworthy behind the stumps a testing time of it, and there was warm applause, too, for Trevor Back's 600th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark not every club can boast.

In the end, honours were shared, a draw when neither side could force it. On a day like this, I'll happily settle for that.

Wed 03 Sep 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDDDLD

Wednesday found us on the road to Gravesend, and the day began as so many do out there — with the coin conspiring against us. Losing the toss, we were sent into the field, which at least gave the ball an early say in proceedings. Gravesend made fine use of their innings, posting 206 for 6 from 41.3 overs, built chiefly around Scott McKechnie's well-made 92, ably supported by X Rivers's 57 and Ben Bowles's 36. Clarence Harding wasn't so fortunate, back in the pavilion for a duck. I had a happy afternoon of my own with the ball, finishing with 3 for 24, while Matthew Carter chipped in with 3 for 45.

Chasing 207, we replied with 190 for 5 from our 36 overs — short in the end, but far from disgraced. Craig Sands was imperious, compiling a superb unbeaten 118 that carried the innings almost single-handedly, ably supported by Michael Beeney's unbeaten 27 as the overs ticked away.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. On a day when Sands batted like a man reminding us why he tops our 2008 run charts with 416, and I found myself sitting atop the wicket-takers with 9 for the season, it felt a fair reflection of two evenly matched sides. A good watch, if not quite a decisive one.

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

Batting first? No — sensible captain, correct call, straight to the report.

Sunday 31 August, and Cowdrey CC rolled up as our visitors — win the toss, stick them in, was the only decision I was ever going to make, and for once it looked like genius rather than habit. It didn't quite go to plan. Glen Warner had other ideas, farming the strike and the boundary rope alike on his way to a chanceless 124 not out, with Richard Marsh chipping in a handy 35 and a third-wicket stand of 93 doing most of the damage. We did at least strike early, and Iain Rawson bowled beautifully for 4-22 to keep us in the hunt, with Jon Harris and I (2-27, since you ask, and I shan't mention it again) tidying up around him. Cowdrey closed on 192/7 — competitive, but not, we felt, insurmountable.

And so it proved. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, a fine 64, with Tom Murphy's 36 and a crucial second-wicket stand of 68 laying the foundations before I saw us home with an unbeaten 34. We got over the line with six wickets and four overs to spare, and a word must go to Tom Murphy, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way — the sort of milestone that makes a Sunday afternoon feel like it matters.

All told: a proper day out, a stiff target chased down with something to spare, and the tea urn thoroughly earned. Verdict — professional, composed, and worth every ache in the legs. We'll take that all season long.

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

I nudged the wobbly toss coin toward Headcorn's captain, hoping for insertion, and got exactly what I dreaded: sent out to field on a track that gave nothing away all afternoon. Robert Sparks made merry to the tune of 55, cruising past his fifty with the minimum of fuss, while Lance Grist chipped in a brisk 40 and Pete Sparks anchored things with an unbeaten 31 to see them to a commanding 200/3 from their 45 overs. Only Gareth Davies gave us real cheer with the ball — 1-31 and three maidens of proper miserliness — with Tim Wright chipping in a wicket of his own for 47.

Chasing 201, we set off with intent. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, a classy 62, well supported by Laurie Probert's 46 and Tim Wright's 29 — the latter clearly saving his best work for both disciplines. Poor Chris Newman, however, will want to forget his golden duck in a hurry. Fourteen byes went begging past Clive Newman behind the stumps, which on another day might have been the difference; as it was, we fell agonisingly short at 188/7, twelve runs shy of the target.

There was, at least, cause for celebration amid the gloom: Simon Thirkell brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to. Elsewhere, Trevor Back continues to sit handsomely second in this year's run charts with 233, and Tim Wright leads the wicket-takers with 16. As for the match itself — not our day, heads up, and back to the nets we go.

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

Won the toss on a bright Saturday against Headcorn CC and, with the sky doing that particularly English thing of promising nothing, I had no hesitation in sticking them in. Wickets tumbled at the other end almost embarrassingly easily — Barker, Richardson and Tyler all shipped out without troubling the scorer — but Westrop (42), Marks (35) and Donnelly (32) dug in to drag the visitors to 173 all out from their 45. Michael Beeney was magnificent with the ball, 3 for 15 and four maidens of the sort that make batsmen question their life choices, with Rob Doick (3-52) and Iain Rawson (2-24) chipping in to keep the pressure on.

With 174 to chase, Craig Sands played the innings of the day, a classy 73 that gave us every hope, well supported by James Piper's 21. I can't claim the same distinction myself, walking back for a duck alongside Kevin Presneill — the least said about my own contribution the better, and I shall move swiftly on. We stumbled to 161 for 9 from our 45, twelve runs short at the death.

Not our day, then, but no disgrace in it either. Craig continues to lead the 1st XI run charts with 512 for the summer, and Richard Knowler tops the wicket-takers with 22 — the engine room keeps turning even when the rest of us falter. Heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Wed 20 Aug 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv 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 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

Skipper's Log, Cobham CC, 16 August 2008. We lost the toss, were put in the field, and I can't say the umbrage lasted long once Cobham posted a respectable 171/7 from their 45 overs. Simon Waters (41) did most of the damage, with useful support from Regis Chenu (24) and Duncan Fitness (23), but our bowlers kept a firm lid on things throughout. Jon Harris was superb, 3-36, Darren Styles chipped in with 2-33 and three tidy maidens besides, and Ben Wright picked up 1-7. Not a total to be sniffed at, but not out of reach either.

Chasing 172, we made a horror start — 1 for the first wicket gone, the kind of opening that has a captain reaching for the pavilion tea urn early. But Andy Bee and Tim Wright steadied the ship magnificently, adding 123 for the fourth wicket, Bee going on to a fine 78 and Wright weighing in with 46. Then, as club cricket so loves to do, the whole thing threatened to come apart at the seams — 161-5 became 161-8 in the blink of an eye, with Darren Styles, Harry Bee and yours truly all failing to trouble the scorers. My own contribution was a golden blob — a captain ought to lead by example, though evidently not with the bat this particular Saturday. Thankfully 31 extras and nerves of steel saw us home by two wickets.

A scrappy, heart-in-mouth affair, but a win is a win, and we'll take it gladly.

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 · AwayformWDLDD

Lost the toss again on Tuesday – I'm beginning to think the coin has it in for me – and The Mote wasted no time invited us into the field on a track that, by close of play, had given rather a lot away. They ground their way to 217 for 5 from their 45 overs, built chiefly around Matthew White's fine 90 and Dan Taylor's equally handsome 60, the pair putting bat to ball with the sort of unhurried authority that makes a fielding captain's afternoon feel very long indeed. Thomas Beeney was the pick of the attack with 2 for 42, and I chipped in with 2 for 53 of my own, ably backed up by Iain Rawson's 1 for 60, while Lee Tidey's two maidens were proof that not every over need be treated as an ATM.

In reply we made a fair fist of the chase, reaching 195 for 4 from our 44 – Craig Sands the star of the show with a classy 95, well supported by Hal Pearson's unbeaten 48 and Glen Rawson's 30. Poor Kevin Presneill will want to forget the day entirely: a duck with the bat, and twelve byes slipping past him behind the stumps suggesting his gloves had the afternoon off.

So honours shared, and on reflection a draw feels the fair result – nobody quite deserved to lose, and nobody quite summoned the final push to win. Sands continues to lead our run charts for the season with 290, and I'll happily take the nod atop the wicket-takers with 6. A good watch, if not quite a decisive one.

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

From the captain's chair — Sunday 10 August 2008. East Sutton CC visited, and with the coin falling kindly I had no hesitation putting us in.

We made 152/7 from our 44 overs, and it wasn't the tidiest of starts, an early wicket down at 0-1 setting a nervy tone. But Laurie Probert steadied things beautifully with a fine 57, and found good company in Tom Murphy's 36 and Glen Rawson's 31, the pair adding a crucial 77 for the fifth wicket to give the innings its shape. Not every name on the card has a happy story to tell, mind, and Ray Dixon joined me in the duck club, though we'll say no more about that.

With ball in hand we gave it everything, and Michael Beeney was magnificent, 4 for 28 to lead the attack, with Chris Newman weighing in usefully alongside him, 3 for 40, and Joe Martin refusing to be taken lightly, two maidens bowled with real discipline. We had Ian Bailey back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, which was some consolation. But Ali Carter played the anchor role to perfection, 44 not out, well supported by Nigel Edmed's 43, and East Sutton got home by three wickets with three overs unused.

Eleven byes gave Glen Rawson an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, and as for the skipper, a golden duck is not the example one hopes to set. Still, plenty to build on, and we'll be better for it next week.

Thu 07 Aug 2008 🧢 Tour XIv L Louth · AwayformLWLWL

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 · AwayformLLWLW

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, Monday 04 August 2008. Away at Norden, and for once the coin behaved itself. I called it right, and with the sun out and the outfield running true, there was only one decision to make — we'd bat, and worry about the consequences later, as is tradition.

Worry we needn't have. James Piper set about the Norden bowling with real purpose for 40, and I was glad to lend a hand with 31 of my own before Ron McCormick chipped in with a tidy 22. Forty overs later we'd posted 198 for 8 — not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but enough, as it turned out, to make Norden work rather harder than they'd have liked.

And work they did. J. Symes battled to 35 not out and D. Cryer to 30 not out, with Z. Arthur adding 31 in between, but the middle order simply couldn't find enough support to match them. James Piper, riding the crest of his morning form, took the new ball to the tail with 2 for 19, while Mike Elworthy and Tom Murphy chipped in a wicket apiece, and H. Martin strangled the scoring with two miserly maidens. Norden folded for 167 in 34.2 overs.

Thirty-one runs the right way, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — with Piper now topping both our run and wicket charts for the summer, he'll be insufferable in the clubhouse for weeks. A very good day for the club.

Sun 03 Aug 2008 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv 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

I called the toss correctly and, with the sun out and the pitch offering just enough for the seamers, elected to field first without a second thought. It looked the right call when Michael Beeney found his rhythm, sending Edward Gelling back for a golden duck and finishing with a wonderful 3-14 from five miserly maidens, backed up nicely by Iain Rawson's 2-53 and Richard Knowler's solitary strike. But Mark Fenton had other ideas, ghosting past fifty to 63, with James McCulley (38) and Neil Lee-Amies (29) chipping in to push Shipbourne to a stiffer-than-hoped 163/8 from their 45 overs.

Chasing it down, we never quite got the momentum going. James Piper batted beautifully for an unbeaten 62, and Craig Sands (27) and Nigel Thirkell (20) offered support, but too many of us went cheaply around them. Paul Gibson, Rob Doick and, yes, I must own it myself, all fell without troubling the scorers, and 144 all out from 42.4 overs left us nineteen runs shy at the death. As for my own duck, the less said the better, though I'm told the walk back to the pavilion builds character.

So it's back to the nets with heads up rather than hanging. Craig Sands continues to lead our run charts for the season and Richard Knowler our wickets, which is some consolation. Not our day, but a losing margin narrow enough to sting rather than sink us, and there's plenty to build on before the next fixture.

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

Wednesday nights aside, there's nothing quite like being asked to bat second at Marden, and so it proved when I lost the toss and we trooped out into the field. It looked, for a while, like being one of those afternoons — Christopher Watts settled in for 34, with Nigel Bardsley (29) and Gareth Ward (21) chipping away either side of him, and a stubborn 53-run third-wicket stand threatened to bury us. But we kept plugging: Chris Newman was the pick of the attack with 4-23, Thomas Beeney chimed in with 2-35, and I managed 2-13 with six maidens thrown in for good measure — mean if I say so myself. Marden were bowled out for 160 from 44 overs, which felt, at tea, like a job reasonably well done.

Chasing 161, we contrived to make it interesting. Glen Rawson played the innings of the day, 78 full of proper strokes, and put on 123 for the first wicket with Richard Piper before either of them had so much as broken sweat. Then, as club cricket demands, we found a way to wobble — 123 without loss became 138-4 before you could get your pads off, with poor Ben Tomkinson and John Murray both back in the pavilion without scoring. Mike Elworthy had a torrid time behind the stumps too, 16 byes going begging. Piper's 34 in support of Rawson steadied things enough, and we got home by four wickets with 163-6 on the board.

Two points, thoroughly scruffy, thoroughly earned. We'll take it.

Wed 30 Jul 2008 🧢 Midweek XIv IX Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI · HomeformWWDLD

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 27th July found us on the road to Colemans Hatch, and true to form the coin let me down again — they won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. We took first use of the ball and, all things considered, did rather well to keep them to 228 for 4 off their 43 overs, though Steve Singer's fine 76 and Tim Singer's equally fine 71 saw to it that the runs kept flowing at the other end, with Steve Pollard chipping in 32 for good measure. I managed to have a decent afternoon with the ball myself, picking up 2 for 42, and was grateful for the support of Joe Martin (1-26) and Alan Boyns (1-28) in keeping things honest.

Chasing 229 is no small ask, but the lads set about it with real purpose. Kevin Presneill led the way with a well-made 66, Chris Knope followed him handsomely with 58, and Joe Martin finished the job unbeaten on 55 — three fifties in a single innings is not something that happens every Sunday at Linton Park. A generous 27 extras from our hosts did no harm either, and we cantered home in just 28.5 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Presneill did have a slightly less serene time of it behind the stumps, shipping 14 byes, but nobody was counting when the result was this comfortable. With Knope now sitting second in the season's run charts and my own wicket tally leading the way, spirits in the changing room were high. A fine win by 8 wickets — onwards indeed.

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

The road to Mersham Sports CC on a Saturday in late July is one I'd happily travel every week, and having won the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook eventually had to say about it. James Piper played the innings of the day, a handsome 56, while I chipped in with 32 and Nigel Thirkell weighed in with a tidy 31 to help us to 164/7 from our 45 overs. Poor Stewart Morrison, however, will not be dining out on this one — a duck to nurse home, and a pint or two owed as compensation, I shouldn't wonder.

In the field we scrapped hard for it. Richard Knowler was magnificent with the ball, 3-35 including four maidens that choked the life out of their middle order, backed up nobly by Rob Doick's 2-43 and Ian Hollingworth's 1-44. But James Fearne dug in for an unbeaten 46, ushered home by John Southern's unbeaten 35 and Rob Wilson's 26, and Mersham squeezed past us at 166/7 with just five balls of their 43rd over to spare.

Three wickets the wrong side of glory, then — cricket's way of reminding us not to get above ourselves. Elsewhere in the season, Craig Sands continues to pile up the runs and Richard Knowler the wickets, which is some comfort. We'll dust ourselves down and be the better for it next week.

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

Lost the toss on a warm Saturday, and Rumwood CC elected to bung us in — no change there, then. We ground out 171 for 9 from our 45 overs, built on a solid opening stand of 56 that gave the innings something to lean on. Richard Piper led the way with 27, well supported by Glen Rawson and Iain Cardew, both with 25 apiece. But cricket being cricket, we then contrived to turn a position of strength into mild panic, sliding from 118 for 4 to 128 for 7 in the time it takes to make a cup of tea. Special mention, as ever, to poor Tom Murphy, whose walk back for a duck earns him this week's spot on the Duck Club ledger.

Defending 171 always felt like a tall order against a Rumwood side with runs in the locker, and A Luscombe's 48 — anchoring a chunky 72-run second-wicket stand with Rod Bailey's 39 — threatened to bat us out of it. But we kept chipping away, and once they slipped from 109 for 3 to 109 for 6 the game was very much alive. Gareth Davies was the pick of the attack with 4 for 48, Darren Styles was miserly with 1 for 10 and three maidens, and I chipped in with 3 for 21, which felt rather satisfying from the middle of the pitch. Ten byes suggested Mike Elworthy was having a testing afternoon behind the stumps, but no matter.

In the end we held our nerve where they didn't, and got home by 15 runs. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a very happy drive home.

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

Won the toss at Bearsted and, with barely a cloud to hide behind, I had no hesitation sticking them in — a decision that for once looked sensible rather than merely stubborn. Bearsted lost their first wicket for the princely sum of one, and for a while it seemed we might make short work of them, but John Haggart settled in for a fine 77 and found willing company in Abhishek Poddar's 44, the pair adding a chastening 111 for the fourth wicket. Credit to the lads, though — we dragged them back from 150-5 to 161-8, with David Bracey and Jason Preston-Reeves both back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. I chipped in with 2-21, well supported by Iain Rawson (2-24) and Josh Smitherman (2-30), while Daniel Jackson bowled three miserly maidens to keep the squeeze on. They were all out for 174 in 45.1 overs — a target that felt gettable, if not exactly a formality.

So it proved. Mark Christmas played the innings of the day, a classy 89 that did the heavy lifting, with Iain Rawson unbeaten on 26 and a sturdy 65-run third-wicket stand giving the chase its spine. We coasted home on 175-3, again in 45.1 overs, for the loss of just three wickets. Eleven byes did rather suggest poor Ron McCormick had one of those afternoons behind the stumps, but nobody was complaining by close of play. A thoroughly good day for the club — comfortable, cheerful, and exactly the sort of Sunday cricket ought to be.

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

Sunday 20 July, Blue Star CC visiting Linton Park, and for once the coin obliged — heads it was, and with a good drying pitch under a decent sky, there was really only one decision to make: we'd bat.

It proved the right call. Our openers set about laying a platform in the manner of men who'd read the script, putting on 82 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came. From there the innings kept its shape nicely, Daniel Thirkell (35) and Christopher Thirkell (33) both playing their part, while I was fortunate enough to find some form and get to a half-century before falling for 77 — a personal contribution I was rather pleased with, even if poor Joe Martin's golden duck rather undercut the mood at the other end. A generous 29 extras from the visitors rounded us out to a healthy 198 for 8 from 38.1 overs.

Defending it, we never quite let Blue Star get away from us, though Andy Kidby's well-made 51, backed by Mike Peters (35) and a stubborn 53-run stand for the fifth wicket, kept them in the hunt. It was Joe Martin who did the real damage with 3 for 39 and four miserly maidens — full redemption for his morning — with Daniel Thirkell (2-19) and Michael Beeney (2-23) chipping in either side of him. They closed on 172 for 9 from their 46, honours even.

A draw, then — honest cricket, nobody quite deserving to lose, and a fair reflection of an afternoon where both sides gave as good as they got.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 19 July 2008. Staplehurst CC at home.

Lost the toss, put in to bat, and 106 all out from 34.2 overs is the sort of total that makes you study your boots rather too closely while walking off. A wicket down with just 6 on the board set the tone early, and honestly the less said about my own contribution the better — a duck, and I wasn't alone in the walk of shame, with Michael Beeney and Ian Hollingworth keeping me company for the Duck Club ledger. Paul Gibson's 26 was about the only innings that had any right to call itself an innings.

With the ball, though, we gave ourselves a fighting chance. Staplehurst slipped to 2-1 early, and when they wobbled from 44-3 to 52-6 you could almost taste it — Aaron Davey sent back without troubling the scorers, and Iain Rawson doing the damage with 3-36. Ian Hollingworth chipped in with 2-39, and Richard Knowler bowled beautifully tight, 1-9 with four maidens to his name. But John Swannick, unbeaten on 36, and Tim Watts's 31 built a stubborn 54-run stand for the seventh wicket that saw them home at 110/7.

Craig Sands continues to lead our run charts for the season with 394, and Richard Knowler sits second in the wickets with 16 — small consolations on an afternoon that got away from us.

Down by three wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Heads up, 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 · HomeformDWWDL

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 16 July 2008. Home to Lord Cornwallis XI, and a fixture that gave absolutely nothing away in either direction.

Put in first, we watched the visitors settle in rather too comfortably, J-D- Jefferson easing past his fifty to 73 and C Gibbons following suit with a well-struck 53, while M Erskine finished unbeaten on 41 to see them to 234/7 from their 44 overs. It could have been worse without Chris Newman, who bowled beautifully for 3-24 and dragged things back when they threatened to run away from us. I chipped in with 1-30 for what it was worth, Ian Brattle picked up a wicket too (1-41), and Michael Beeney bowled two maidens that the batsmen will not remember fondly.

Chasing 235, we never quite got out of second gear but nor did we throw it away — 177/7 from our 41 overs, anchored by Craig Sands' composed fifty and good support from Thomas Beeney (40) and an unbeaten 25 from Michael Beeney. Sands had a rather more chastening afternoon behind the stumps, mind you, presiding over 11 byes that will have done nothing for his blood pressure.

So honours shared, and on the balance of the afternoon a fair one — the sort of draw where both sides can walk off feeling they didn't lose rather than feeling they didn't win. Sands leads our run charts this season and Newman tops the wickets, and on this evidence neither is going anywhere soon. A good toss to lose, and an even better one to draw.

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 2008, and Mersham Sports CC arrived at Linton Park with the sun out and, as it turned out, rather more in the tank than us. I won the toss and put them in — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook says. William Colthup played the sort of innings that makes captains grind their teeth, 61 well-constructed runs, with Ollie Austen (42) and an unbeaten Stephen Darlington (20) filling in the gaps either side of a sixth-wicket stand of 76 that did the real damage. Credit where due: Tim Wright was superb, 3-30 and — milestone alert — his 50th career wicket for the club, while Matthew Carter chipped away at 2-38 with two tidy maidens and Darren Styles picked up one. They closed on 173/7, a target that felt distinctly gettable and distinctly not.

Chasing 174, we lost an early wicket with just 5 up, which is never the tonic you want, before Trevor Back (60) and Iain Cardew (43) put together a wonderful third-wicket stand of 87 to drag us back into contention. I contributed along the way too, doing my bit without troubling the milestone-writers. Then, as club cricket so loves to do, the wheels came off spectacularly — 155-6 became 157-9 in what felt like the time it takes to put the kettle on, with Richard Piper and Simon Thirkell both walking back for ducks. Mike Elworthy had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes testament to a tricky pitch as much as anything, and even a generous 25 extras couldn't paper over the cracks.

We finished 166/9, seven runs short. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

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 Staplehurst CC · HomeformWWWLW

Called it right at the toss on Saturday and, with the pitch looking full of promise for the bowlers, stuck Staplehurst in without a second thought. It looked the sound decision for much of the afternoon, even if the visitors made a fair fist of 179/8 from their 45 overs. D Watkins was the chief architect with a well-constructed 56, given good support by G Hubbard's 36, but I can't complain too loudly — I had a rare purple patch with the ball, finishing with 4-16, while Tim Wright chipped in with 2-39 and Ian Brattle bowled tidily for 1-39, two of his overs going for nothing at all.

With 180 to chase, we set about it steadily rather than spectacularly. Tom Murphy led the way with 44, Iain Cardew supporting nicely with 40, and a generous 25 extras from the Staplehurst attack did their bit too. Spare a thought, though, for poor Chris Newman, who suffered the ignominy of a golden duck — the walk of shame, indeed. We stumbled to 168/9 from our 45, eleven agonising runs short.

So, defeat by 11 runs — the kind of result that stings on the drive home but reads perfectly respectably in the scorebook. Small consolation that I now lead the 2008 2nd XI wicket charts with 11 for the season, and Tom Murphy the run charts with 148. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

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

Wednesday the 2nd of July, and Portsmouth and Southsea rolled up to Linton Park with the sun out and, rather less helpfully for us, the toss going their way. They chose to bat, and though I'd have fancied a bowl on a morning like that myself, it did rather feel like losing before we'd started.

Two hundred and thirteen for six from their forty overs told its own tale. Mark Smith made a fine 52, with Mike Elworthy (38) and Thomas Beeney (29) chipping in handsomely round him, while Matthew Carter went back to the hutch without troubling the scorers. I led the attack with 2-26, Matthew Carter chipped in with 2-27, and Dave Todd tidied up with 1-10.

In reply, Craig Sands played the innings of the day with a glorious 66, well supported by Mike Elworthy (35) and Trevor Back (34), though Joe Martin and Chris Newman both fell for golden ducks — and I fared no better myself, out for a golden blob, the skipper leading from the front in all the wrong ways. We closed on 192 for 8, twenty-one runs shy.

There was still cause to raise a teacup, mind: Craig brought up 8,000 career runs for the club, a landmark reached amid the wreckage of a losing chase. Elworthy continues to lead our season's run charts and Todd the wickets, so the midweek engine is ticking over nicely even if the skipper isn't. Not our day, in truth — heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Lost the toss again — I really must invest in a lucky coin — so out we went to bowl first... except Clarion, quite reasonably, sent us in instead. No complaints; on a good pitch that's queen's ransom for pitch. Paul Gibson made hay in the middle, farming the bowling to a magnificent 116, while I potched along to 34 not out and Chris Knope chipped in with a tidy 29 — our stand of 96 for the fourth wicket the platform for the whole innings. Two hundred and thirty-five for five off our forty overs felt like a proper score, the kind you post and then quietly worry about over the tea urn.

Worry we did, briefly. S Cox and Richard Hilson both raised well-made fifties — 91 and 53 respectively — with Steve Harris weighing in with 24, and their third-wicket pair put on a hefty 114 to have us checking the equation rather more than we'd have liked. But cricket, like the English weather, turns quickly: from 186 for 3 they subsided to 202 for 6 in no time at all, Thomas Beeney the chief architect with a lovely 3 for 39, well supported by Matthew Carter's 2 for 56 and Michael Beeney's two miserly maidens. Nine byes did rather give the game away about Craig Sands's afternoon behind the stumps, but he'll take the ribbing with good grace — especially as he still leads our season's run charts with 192, with Beeney now top of the bowling pile on 8.

They finished on 208 for 7; we got home by 27 runs. A proper club cricket afternoon, and a very good day indeed.

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

Saturday 28th June saw Hollingbourne CC come to Linton Park, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat — a call I shall be quietly smug about for at least a week. Losing an early wicket with just 7 on the board threatened to unravel proceedings, and there were one or two anxious murmurs from the boundary, but Craig Sands settled things in the only way he knows how, compiling a magnificent 109 not out. James Piper chipped in nicely with 47 not out and Kevin Presneill weighed in with 27, steering us to a formidable 236/3 from our 45 overs. Sands's century, incidentally, sees him leapfrog Piers McDonald into 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — no small feat, and he now sits proudly atop our 2008 run charts with 327 to his name.

Defending that total, Hollingbourne threatened briefly through Neil Taylor's well-crafted 66, with Mike Donald (29) and Paul Kelf (27) offering support, but once the floodgates opened — 166/6 becoming 170/9 with alarming haste — there was no way back for them. I had the great pleasure of picking up 2-13 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, though the real damage was done by Richard Knowler with an excellent 3-40, ably assisted by Matthew Carter's 3-42. S Harrison and Ray Osborne departed without troubling the scorers.

Hollingbourne were skittled for 179, and we ran out winners by 57 runs. All in all, a thoroughly good day for the club.

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

Saturday 28 June 2008, and the road took us to Brasted & Sundridge. Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody in the pavilion argued with me. Forty overs later we'd posted a handsome 226/7, built around a magnificent unbeaten century from Tom Murphy, who simply refused to get out. Jamie Ratcliffe chipped in with 25, Chris Newman with 23, and even our extras column got in on the act with a generous 35 — Brasted's bowlers doing their bit for the cause whether they meant to or not.

Defending it was another matter. Alan Manderson played a fine, controlled fifty for 75, well supported by Sam Plumb's own well-made half-century of 54 and Vince Reynolds's 38, and for a good while it looked as though our declaration of victory might be premature. But Thomas Beeney kept chipping away for 2-17, I managed 2-28 to play my part, and Trevor Back weighed in with 2-37, while Tim Wright bowled with real discipline, three maidens and not a run given away lightly. Poor Tom Murphy, having batted us to glory, then spent the afternoon chasing byes behind the stumps — 18 of them, which rather took the shine off his century, though not by much.

They fell agonisingly short, all out — sorry, 214/8 — twelve runs shy. A tense finish, a fine team performance with bat, ball and (mostly) gloves, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Tue 24 Jun 2008 🧢 Twenty20v Bearsted CC · HomeformDLWWL

Tuesday 24th June, and Bearsted CC rolled into Linton Park for the kind of contest that reminds you why this daft, wonderful game keeps pulling you back. Batting first, we posted a respectable 125 for 6 off our twenty overs, the innings built almost entirely around Craig Sands, whose well-made fifty — 53 in the end — was the difference between a score and a properly defendable one. James Piper chipped in with a tidy 20 to give things some backbone further down.

Defending it, though, was another matter. Bearsted matched us almost stroke for stroke, reaching exactly 125 for 6 themselves, G Cook leading their reply with 29 and Jason Preston-Reeves seeing them to parity with an unbeaten 22. Carl Davis was excellent with the ball, 2 for 21, with Ian Brattle and Chris Newman each chipping in a wicket to keep it alive to the very last over. Sands, having done his bit with the bat, then spent the innings standing up to some lively bowling behind the stumps, though ten byes suggests the ball had other ideas once or twice.

There was real cause for celebration amid the tension: Carl Davis brought up his 50th career wicket for the club, and Sands's fifty eased him past Basil Sears into 13th on our all-time run-scorers' list — he now leads our 2008 Twenty20 run charts too, with Davis sitting third among the season's wicket-takers.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but on this evidence, an honestly earned one all round.

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

Saturday 21 June 2008 saw us travel to Headcorn full of quiet optimism, and for once quiet optimism was justified. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — the right call, I felt, and I'm rather pleased to have been proved correct. Craig Sands set about the Headcorn bowling with real intent for a well-made fifty, 56 in the end, while James Piper chipped in a handy 33 and Nigel Thirkell finished unbeaten on 32. The heart of the innings was a third-wicket stand worth 76, and 170/4 from our 45 overs felt like a total with a bit of substance to it.

Defending it, though, proved a rather more nerve-shredding affair. We struck early, removing their opener for a duck without so much as a run on the board, and for a while it looked promising. But Kevin Richardson had other ideas, compiling a fine unbeaten 73, supported ably by Neil Levett's unbeaten 44, and a stubborn fourth-wicket stand of 51 gradually took the game away from us. Matthew Carter did the damage with 2-28, Richard Knowler and Carl Davis chipped in a wicket apiece, and I was pleased enough with my own two maidens, even if my 24 with the bat and 16 wickets for the season so far counted for little in the end.

Beaten by five wickets, then, and no disgrace in it — Headcorn simply held their nerve better than we did. We'll 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 · HomeformDDDWW

As I elected to bat first, my instinct paid off in style.

We racked up 220 for 1 off our 36 overs, a total built on the sort of batting that makes captaincy easy. Mike Elworthy was simply magnificent, striding to an unbeaten hundred, and he found the perfect foil in Glen Rawson, whose well-crafted 85 kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. With batting like that, I barely had to lift a finger from the boundary rope.

Defending 220 always looks tidier on paper than it feels in the field, and so it proved. Jack Redden gave us a proper working-over with a fine fifty, well supported by M Smyth and P Day, and between them they steadied Sevenoaks & District Wednesday and edged them towards our total without ever quite threatening to get past it. Carl Davis was the pick of our attack by some distance, snaring three for 23, while I chipped in with a wicket of my own for not many runs — enough, I like to think, to justify my continued presence in the side. Joe Martin picked up a wicket too, and Chris Newman bowled with real discipline, three maidens a testament to a tight, patient spell.

In the end neither side could force the door open, and honours were shared. A draw is nobody's idea of glory, but with a total like ours and bowling that disciplined, I'll happily settle for honours even and live to fight another Wednesday.

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 as our visitors, with the toss falling our way and me electing to have a bowl first — a decision I like to think of as tactical rather than merely keen to keep my whites clean for later.

Buckhurst set about building something respectable, and for a while it looked ominous: Joe Drown compiled a composed unbeaten 63, with Ken Sayers weighing in alongside him for a fine 54, the pair putting on 107 for the sixth wicket while the rest of us stood about rearranging the field and hoping for inspiration. Nigel Riley chipped in with 23, but at the other end it was a different story entirely — Julius Marshall, S Riley and Kenny Perry all trooped off for ducks, victims of some heartening work with the ball. Rory High led that charge with 2-32, Lee Tidey backed him up with 2-36, and James Mercer was tighter than a Sunday roast tin, going for just 11 and sending down three maidens along the way. Buckhurst closed on 158/6 from their 45.4 overs — competitive, but not quite enough rope to hang us.

Chasing it down, I'll confess to rather enjoying myself, batting through for an unbeaten 81 and finding the middle of the bat more often than usual. Laurie Probert kept me good company with 30 not out, and Ron McCormick's 20 got us motoring nicely. We cantered home at 161/2 with overs to spare, winning by eight wickets.

A thoroughly good day for the club, and with 137 runs to my name this season I'm rather enjoying life at the top of the run charts — long may the form last, and long may the teas remain as good as they were today.

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

Saturday found us on the road to Meopham, and having lost the toss I found myself leading with the ball rather than the bat — no complaints, chasing has never been my favourite way to spend an afternoon. Meopham lost an early wicket for nought but steadied through a fine 69-run stand for the second wicket. Simon Burton compiled a classy 53, with Miles Richardson (49) and Gavin Tovey (28) chipping in handsomely, before they wobbled from 167-7 to all out for 182 in 44.2 overs — Andrew Powney among the wreckage for a duck. I had the pleasure of leading the attack with 3-32, well supported by Carl Davis (3-51) and Michael Beeney (2-51).

182 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. Craig Sands battled to 41, James Piper finished unbeaten on 25, and Nigel Thirkell chipped in with 24, their 56-run fourth-wicket stand the spine of the innings. But a horror collapse from 111-5 to 114-8 did for us, and I must confess to contributing precisely nothing with the bat, joining Chris Newman and Ian Brattle in the duck column — three blobs for the price of one. All out for 136 in 37.4 overs.

There was a crumb of comfort amid the gloom: those wickets nudged me past Tony Snell into 25th on the club's all-time list, and I still lead the 2008 wicket charts with 15, Craig topping the run charts with 162. Beaten by 46 runs in the end — chastening stuff, but we'll be better for it next week.

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

Saturday the 14th of June, and Eynsford CC rolled up for what turned into rather a satisfying afternoon. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, and I'll say so myself. Kevin Presneill played a lovely innings for his 85, the kind of half-century that top-scores and quietly wins matches on its own, with Mike Elworthy chipping in a tidy 23 in support. I can't pretend the rest of the order covered itself in glory — I went for nought, a duck I shall draw a discreet veil over, and Lee Tidey kept me company in the pavilion with one of his own. Still, 187/8 from our 45 overs felt like a total with something to defend.

And defend it we did. Eynsford battled to 145/4, with Paul Smyth compiling a composed 57 not out and useful support from Stephen Ball and Colin Simmons, but they never quite got ahead of the required rate. Desmond High was superb with the ball — 2-22 including three tight maidens — while Lee Tidey and Dave Todd chipped in with a wicket apiece. Roly Edwards had a torrid time behind the stumps, eight byes leaking through, but no matter.

A pleasing footnote: Mike Elworthy's 23 nudges him past Clive Newman into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. A fine win by 42 runs — onwards we go.

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 the 8th of June, and High Halstow arrived at our ground with the coin gods firmly on their side — they won the toss and sent us in, which by close of play felt like rather shrewd captaincy on their part. We laboured to 99 all out in 33.4 overs, a total that flattered nobody, though I managed to graft my way to 41 before running out of partners. Spare a sympathetic pat on the back for James Piper and Nigel Thirkell, both undone for ducks — the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint.

Defending 99 is not for the faint-hearted, but the lads set about it with more heart than the scoreboard suggested we had any right to. I picked up 2-20 with the ball, Carl Davis chipped in with 2-21 and Rob Doick took 1-25, and between us we made High Halstow work for every run. Luke Donnelly's 23 proved the difference, and they eventually got home at 100-5 in 38.2 overs — five wickets the margin, tighter than 99 all out had any business producing.

One moment lifted the day above the ordinary: Matthew Carter brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that puts my own modest efforts firmly in the shade. Beaten, then, but not disgraced — we'll take the lessons, dust ourselves down, and come back stronger next week.

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

We travelled to Knockers CC on Sunday and, winning the toss, opted to field first — a decision I stood by even as Stuart Seldon settled in and cruised serenely past his fifty. He was well supported by Lynden Spencer Allen, unbeaten on 31, and Gutherie Miller's brisk 26, and between them they hauled the home side to 181 for 9 off their 43 overs. It wasn't all one-way traffic, mind — I had the great pleasure of sending Ken Cowan back for a duck, and finished with figures of 4 for 32, with Rory High (2-22) and Daniel Jackson (2-42) chipping in nicely to keep the total within reach.

Chasing 182, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite threatening to canter home. Glen Rawson led the way with a tidy 31, ably backed by Joe Martin and Chris Newman, both good for 20 apiece, while poor Ray Dixon's golden duck was the one blemish on an otherwise respectable effort. We closed on 130 for 7 from our 41 overs, short of the target but never in danger of collapse.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Rawson's knock keeps him 4th in the 2nd XI run charts, and Jackson's two wickets nudge him further up to 2nd in the bowling standings — form worth watching as the summer rolls on.

So honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody — the fairest sort of afternoon's cricket there is.

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

Eynsford arrived on the 7th of June, I lost the toss, and — in the fine old tradition of Linton Park getting exactly the luck we deserve — we were asked to bowl. Not the worst start, mind, and for a while it looked like inspired captaincy rather than a coin's whim. Eynsford stumbled early to 4 for the loss of a wicket, and although Howard Collins (49) and Jamie Wise (32) knitted together a stubborn effort, and a third-wicket stand added 51, we hauled them back in a hurry, tumbling them from 131-7 to all out for 138 in 41.2 overs — poor Callum Hamill departing without so much as a single to his name. I'll allow myself one boast: I sent down five maidens and picked up 1-19, tidy support to Richard Knowler's excellent 4-33 and Rob Doick's 2-42, the latter wickets nudging Rob past John Taylor to 20th on the club's all-time list — a nice footnote on an otherwise chastening afternoon.

Chasing 139, we simply couldn't get going. Paul Gibson battled to 30 and Craig Sands chipped in with 22, a fifth-wicket stand of 50 briefly suggesting sanity, but from 91-5 we subsided to 95-8 as three of our number — Kevin Presneill, Richard Knowler and Thomas Beeney — all fell for ducks. I contributed 18 in the middle of the mess, but 107 all out in 40.1 overs was never going to be enough.

Down by 31, then, and heads rightly hung on the walk back to the pavilion. Nets beckon — there's plenty to work on before the runs and wickets on the season charts start telling a happier story.

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

Lost the toss on a bright Saturday down at Meopham, and watched Peter's coin come up wrong yet again — they had first use of the ball, and in they came. It didn't start well: we'd barely got the scorebook open before the first wicket fell with nothing on the board, and for a few overs it felt like one of those afternoons. But Tim Wright and Mike Elworthy set about repairing things with a stand of 72 for the second wicket that settled every nerve on the boundary, before the middle order rather generously handed back the initiative — 72 for 2 became 85 for 5 in the time it takes to pour a tea. Wright battled to 45 not out, Elworthy chipped in with 43 and Iain Cardew 26, and we were grateful to reach 175 all out. As for my own contribution — a golden duck, first ball, the full walk of shame alongside Clive Newman and Ian Brattle. A captain should lead by example; on this occasion I led rather too literally.

With the ball, we made amends. Ian Brattle was superb, 3 for 20, backed up by Gareth Davies (3 for 38, and passing the small matter of 100 career wickets along the way) and Tim Wright (2 for 43), with Iain Rawson miserly enough to bowl three maidens. Meopham's Andrew Bryant and Richard Saunders threatened to spoil the script, but 152 all out was as far as they got.

A twenty-three run win, then, and not before time — proof that even a golden blob can't sink a side with this much fight in it. Onwards.

Tue 03 Jun 2008 🧢 Twenty20v East Sutton CC · AwayformLLDLW

Tuesday 3 June, away at East Sutton, and I won the toss and never seriously considered fielding first — on a day like that, you bat.

We made 142/6 off our twenty, thanks in no small part to Craig Sands, who cracked a fine 48, with Joe Martin (33) and Rob Doick, unbeaten on 21, filling in nicely around him. My own contribution to proceedings was a golden duck, which I shall not dwell on further than to say the walk back to the pavilion felt considerably longer than the walk out.

Defending 142 always promises a nervy watch from the boundary, and so it proved. Chris Back gave us a fright with a chanceless 63, well supported by Nick Worsfold's 20, but the bowlers kept enough control to strangle the chase to 134/9. Darren Thompson departed without so much as troubling the scorers, which felt like some small justice after my own effort with the bat. Michael Beeney was superb, finishing with 3-18, backed up by tidy support from Carl Davis (2-26) and, in the interests of full disclosure since I shan't mention it again, myself with 1-17.

So we scrape home by 8 runs — a proper squeaky-bums finish, the sort English club cricket does best. Craig Sands now tops our 2008 run charts and I find myself, somewhat improbably given my batting, leading the wicket charts. A fine win, ducks and all. Onwards.

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

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

Saturday 31 May 2008, away to Shipbourne, and the toss went against us — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains the weakest part of my captaincy. Put in the field, we scrapped hard: Mark Fenton's unbeaten 34, with James McCulley (28) and Neil Lee-Amies (23) chipping in, dragged the hosts to 133/8 from their 45 overs, but it could have been far worse without some tidy bowling. Matt Kendle went for a duck, Richard Knowler picked up 2-22, Ian Hollingworth bowled three miserly maidens on his way to 1-32, and I found some rhythm to finish with 4-28 — the pick of the day, if I'm allowed to say so once.

With 134 to chase, you'd have backed us to have a go at it. Instead we contrived to implode spectacularly: two on the board and an early wicket gone, then a horror stretch from 19-4 to 35-7 that had me wincing from the boundary. Rob Doick and Thomas Beeney both departed for ducks, and we were bowled out for a limp 41 in just 25 overs. A soft, soft batting display all round.

There was a bright spot amid the wreckage: Richard Knowler brought up his 50th career wicket, a fine landmark and thoroughly deserved. Paul Gibson continues to sit second in the 1st XI run charts this season, and I find myself leading the wicket-takers with 11 — small consolation on a day like this.

Ninety-two runs is a hefty margin by any measure. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — this one goes down as a chastening afternoon in Shipbourne.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 31 May 2008. Leeds & Broomfield CC came to visit, and I promptly lost the toss, which meant a long walk out to the middle rather than a long sit with a cup of tea. Batting first is never how I'd choose it against a side we didn't know well, but the lads knuckled down. Simon Thirkell anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 28, Tim Wright matched him with 28 of his own, and Trevor Back chipped in a handy 20. I managed to get a few off the bat myself, and between us — and a generous 31 extras, for which I thank the Leeds & Broomfield attack rather than our own restraint — we posted 147/6 from our 45 overs. Not a total to frighten anyone, but enough to have a go at defending.

And defend it we did. Gareth Davies was the star of the show, tying batsmen in knots for 3-24 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by Matthew Carter's 3-34 and Ian Brattle's 2-20. Barry Roles top-scored for the visitors with 37 and Jason Tharp made a battling unbeaten 28, but wickets fell steadily around them — poor R Hancox departed without so much as troubling the scorers — and they were bowled out for 135 in the 37th over. Spare a thought for Clive Newman behind the stumps, who had a torrid afternoon of it with ten byes going astray, though he'll take some consolation from sitting second in the club's run charts this season.

We got over the line by 12 runs. A tight, nervy finish, but a thoroughly good day for the club.

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

We travelled down to Sissinghurst on a fine May Sunday, lost the toss, and were sent out into the field — never the outcome I'd have chosen, but the lads set about their work with real purpose. Trevor Wright and Mike Burgess both middled it nicely for their fifties, 69 and 53 respectively, and between them dragged Sissinghurst to 188 all out from their 36 overs. Yet the bowling was the story of the morning: Joe Martin was in irrepressible form, running through the order for 5-21, with Thomas Beeney (2-21) and Daniel Jackson (2-35) mopping up admirably in support. A total that looked handsome at the halfway stage came to feel rather more modest by the close of their innings.

Chasing 189, we lost Ian Wicks, Stephen Brown and Ben Larkin cheaply and Tom Murphy fell without scoring, so it was far from plain sailing. But I found some form when it mattered, batting through for an unbeaten 56 — a personal contribution I was thoroughly satisfied with — and Joe Martin chipped in nicely with 20 alongside a generous 31 extras from the Sissinghurst attack. We closed on 141/6 from our 40 overs, short of the target but well clear of anything resembling defeat.

So honours shared, and rightly so — a draw that neither side could quite force into a result. With Chris Knope leading our Sunday run charts and Joe Martin our leading wicket-taker this season, the signs for the 2nd XI remain thoroughly encouraging.

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

Mark Christmas writing here, and I'll spare you the coin-toss anecdote other than to say it went the way it usually does for me — badly. Mersham Sports called correctly, took first use of a decent-looking track, and set about making it count.

They made a real fist of it too. Darren Pugh and Ian Fagg put on 71 for the first wicket before we so much as sniffed a breakthrough, and from there the runs simply kept coming — Pugh to 80, Fagg to a well-made 59, and Simon Possee chipping in with 43 for good measure. Richard Knowler was our chief tormentor with the ball, hauling back 3-53 almost single-handed, Rob Doick chipped away for 1-29, and I managed to prise one out for my 53 runs' worth. Still, 240/6 from their 45 overs left us needing something special.

Special, alas, we were not. Craig Sands battled hard for an unbeaten 60, well supported by the two Pipers, James and Richard, 25 apiece, but wickets tumbled around them — Rob Doick and Carl Davis both departing without troubling the scorers — and we stalled on 163/8. Seventy-seven runs the wrong side of the ledger by the close.

One moment did lift the gloom: James Piper brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a fine landmark on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Sands now leads our run charts for the summer, and I'm rather chuffed to be topping the wicket column myself. As for the match, though — no dressing it up. Back to the nets, heads up, and on to the next one.

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

The road to Horton Kirby is a pretty one, which was more than could be said for the toss, which I duly lost, condemning us to a long afternoon in the field under what I recall as a distinctly unhelpful sky. Horton Kirby made hay, ambling to 125 all out from 44.2 overs on the back of a watchful 43 from Alastair Scott and useful support from James Scott's 25. Credit where due, though: our bowlers kept plugging away, with Geoff Rameaux and J Gower both sent back without troubling the scorers. Michael Beeney was the pick of us by a distance, 3-11 with seven miserly maidens, and I chipped in with 2-26 to go alongside Iain Rawson's tidy 2-19. Not a bad shift, all told.

Chasing 126, we never quite got going, folding for 93 in 35 overs. Glen Rawson battled hard for his 24, but Jack Jenner and Michael Beeney both departed for ducks, and poor Clive Newman had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 11 byes for his troubles. There was one shaft of light amid the gloom — Michael Beeney reaching 600 career wickets, a milestone worth raising a glass to even in defeat.

Down by 32 runs, then, and not our finest hour. Glen Rawson still tops the run charts and I lead the wicket-takers for the season, which is something. Heads up, chin out, back to the nets.

Tue 20 May 2008 🧢 Twenty20v HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformLLLDL

James Piper here, filing my dispatch from a balmy Tuesday afternoon at Hollingbourne, where we scraped home in a Twenty20 thriller that did absolutely nothing for anyone's blood pressure.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — the right call, if I do say so myself, though the manner of our 135/7 suggested I may have been alone in that conviction. Rob Doick led the way with a fine 26, and I chipped in with 23 to keep things ticking, but it was the extras column that really stole the show, a generous 26 that frankly deserves its own place in the batting order.

Defending 135 is never a comfortable business, and Hollingbourne made us sweat for every run. R Mokowen's unbeaten 30, backed up by Mike Palmer's 28 and Brett Mokowen's 23, threatened to make a mockery of our total. But cricket, like the English weather, has a habit of turning — from 77-3 they subsided to 92-6, and the pressure told. Mark Christmas was magnificent with 3-17, Thomas Beeney chipped in a hugely useful 3-30, and Dave Abrahart's 1-15 kept the screw turned throughout.

A word too for Craig Sands, whose 14 runs quietly nudged him past Stan Wratten into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — history made while the rest of us were busy having heart palpitations.

Two points, five runs, and several years shaved off my life expectancy. I'll take it.

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

From the captain's chair, then. Wednesday last took us down to Tenterden, and we found ourselves in the field first, which on a fine May afternoon is no great hardship. They batted with real purpose, building to 196 for 8 off 42.5 overs, R Vernon anchoring things with a fine half-century, well supported by P Braben's 30 and F Pearman's 28. Credit to the attack for hauling that back to something gettable — Dave Todd led from the front with 2 for 12, while Chris Newman and Darren Styles chipped in with 2 for 24 and 2 for 25 apiece.

Chasing 197 is never a stroll, but the lads made a fine fist of it, getting there with four wickets and a few overs in hand. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, a superb 79, finding fine company in Clive Newman, 35, and Carl Davis, 30, the pair adding 67 for the third wicket to set us on course. Spare a thought for Trevor Back, whose golden duck will not trouble the highlights reel, and for Clive Newman, whose ten byes made for as testing an afternoon behind the stumps as his runs were rewarding in front of them.

Craig Sands now leads our 2008 run charts and Darren Styles tops the wicket-takers, early bragging rights firmly claimed. Two points banked, four wickets to spare, and a drive home made considerably shorter by the taste of victory. A thoroughly earned win, and one the whole side can be proud of.

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

Sunday 11 May 2008 dawned fair enough for cricket, and having called correctly for once, I did what any captain raised on optimism and stubbornness does: stuck Wingham in the field. It proved no bad decision. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, 62 well-crafted runs anchoring things after a solid 59-run opening stand, while I found some rare rhythm of my own with an unbeaten 48, and Craig Sands chipped in a brisk 30. We closed on 194 for 5 from our 45 overs — not a mountain, but a respectable hillock for the lads to defend.

Defend it we very nearly did. Wingham set about the total through Michael Pilbeam, whose 76 had the look of a man enjoying his Sunday rather more than we'd have liked, well supported by Andrew West's unbeaten fifty, the pair adding 81 for the fifth wicket to turn the game our way and then quietly away again. Michael Beeney toiled hardest for 2 for 71, with Chris Newman and Iain Rawson each prising out a wicket for tidier figures, but Wingham crept home at 195 for 6 with overs and wickets to spare.

Down by four wickets, then — not our day, though hardly a disgrace given how close we ran them. Piper's knock nudges him to third in our season's run charts, and Rawson now tops the wicket pile, so there are green shoots amid the gloom. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

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

As I put us in to bat, little did I know quite what a satisfying afternoon lay ahead. Craig Sands set the tone with a fine 39, Nigel Thirkell (33) and Paul Gibson (25) kept things ticking nicely, and we posted a respectable 214/7 from our 45 overs — enough, I felt, to give Sheldwich something to think about.

And think about it they did, though never quite enough. Ian Turton led their reply with 40, well backed by Ian Hulks (30) and an unbeaten 28 from Jon Taylor, their seventh-wicket pair adding a stubborn 69 that had me shuffling the field more than once. Rob Doick was the pick of our attack with 3-25, Michael Beeney chipped in with 3-57, and I managed 2-42 myself for good measure, while Richard Knowler bowled tidily enough to squeeze out three maidens. Andrew Carr and Sam Reed departed without troubling the scorers, though their last pair had the cheek to add 40 we really didn't need to watch.

With the bat I could only muster 19, but no matter — a win's a win, and we ran out 38 runs to the good, 214 to 176. Nice to see Michael's afternoon haul nudge him past Terry Whittaker into 8th on the club's all-time wicket list too, a landmark not to be sniffed at.

All told: a proper team performance, a few individual milestones, and a Saturday well spent. Onwards indeed.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 10 May 2008, away to Shipbourne CC.

Won the toss, and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I felt, and I'll stand by it all season. Glen Rawson set the tone with a fine 39, Clive Newman kept things ticking with 36, and Jack Jenner chipped in a handy 31 to see us to 188/8 from our 45 overs. Poor Iain Cardew won't want reminding of his golden duck, but the extras column did its usual quiet service, adding 32 to the cause — practically an all-rounder in its own right.

Out in the field, it turned into one of those afternoons every captain dreams of and few ever gets. Shipbourne were bowled out for 81, Michael Fenton back in the pavilion without so much as a nudge to the scorers. Jack Jenner was the pick of the attack with a superb 4-33, backed up nicely by Tim Wright's 2-10, while I managed to grab a couple myself for the princely cost of a single run. Darren Styles bowled with real discipline, sending down five maidens to strangle any hope of a fightback — though poor Clive Newman had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 14 byes for his trouble, rather taking the shine off his batting efforts.

A word too for the record books: Clive's 36 runs eased him past Mike Elworthy into 10th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Glen Rawson leads our 2008 2nd XI run charts with 72, and Jack Jenner tops the wicket pile with 4.

A comprehensive win by 107 runs — the sort of afternoon that makes the drive to Shipbourne feel considerably shorter on the way home. Onwards.

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

Left arm over the top of Vic Marks Lane, close of play — 4th of May, 2008. Called correctly, took first knock, and never once looked back.

We posted 172 for 4 off our 43 overs, a total built on the sort of stand that gladdens a captain's heart: Chris Knope and the Piper boys putting bat to ball with real purpose. Knope's fifty was the innings' backbone, well-made and unfussy, while young James Piper stayed unbeaten on 36 and Richard Piper chipped in 35 alongside him — the pair adding 91 for the fourth wicket, which is the sort of partnership you build a tea round. Even our extras got in on the act with a cheeky 25, proof that Plaxtol's bowlers were finding legs and pads rather more often than the middle of the bat.

Defending it, we set about our task with a bit more discipline than I'd dared hope for. Plaxtol replied with 143 for 7 from their 35, Munton's 40 the innings of note, well supported by Waipura (38 not out) and Cox (26). Hal, sadly, departed for nought at our hands — these things happen to the best of us. I was rather pleased to lead from the front with the ball, picking up 2 for 10, while Thirkell (2-28) and Rawson (1-15) kept the pressure honest throughout.

In the end neither side could quite force it home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but a thoroughly good-natured one, and no bad way to spend a Sunday.

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

Saturday the 3rd of May took us down the road to Bearsted, where I lost the toss and we were asked to take the field. No complaints from me — that's cricket — though in truth it was with the bat that our day truly took shape.

We were bowled out for 112 in 43.3 overs, a total that flattered to deceive. David Castle top-scored with a tidy 31, well supported by Richard Piper's 29, and for a while 75 for 4 looked almost respectable. Then, in the time it takes to put the kettle on, we slid to 91 for 7 — Rob Doick and Ryan Boyns both making that lonely, bat-under-arm walk back for a duck.

With the ball, though, we gave a proper account of ourselves. Bearsted closed on 116 for 8 from 33.3 overs, Greg Laurenson playing a well-made fifty (52) and Christopher Filmer chipping in with 22 — their 67-run fourth-wicket stand proving the difference after an early wicket fell with just 6 on the board. Stephen Heap and P Mancktelow both departed without scoring. For my part I took 3 for 15, three maidens among them, with good support from Rob Doick (2-28) and Ian Hollingworth (1-34).

In the season standings, Paul Gibson still leads the run charts with 54 and Ian Hollingworth tops the bowling with 4 wickets. As for the result — beaten by two wickets at Bearsted. Heads up, and back to the nets.

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 26 April 2008 saw us head to Mersham Sports CC in fine spirits, and having called correctly I had no hesitation in sending us in — a decision that, for once, didn't come back to haunt me. We stuttered early, losing our first wicket for just 4, and poor Rob Doick will want to forget his afternoon entirely, back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. But Paul Gibson had other ideas, playing a proper captain's innings of his own with a classy 51 to steady the ship, and we limped rather than galloped to 143/8 from our 40 overs — no more than par, but something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did. Mersham threatened to chase us down with Alan Stevens (35) and Rob Wilson (35) doing the donkey work, well supported by Darren Pugh's 26, but an early wicket at 5-1 meant they were always playing catch-up. When it mattered most we found another gear, ripping through the middle order from 136-5 to 141-8 in a blur, with John Southern joining the club's illicit "duck club" for the day. Ian Hollingworth was magnificent, 3-5 with five miserly maidens, while I chipped in with 1-11 and Richard Knowler took 1-19. Poor Kevin Presneill had a torrid time behind the stumps, 10 byes leaking through, but it mattered not one jot.

A win by 2 runs — as tight as they come, and thoroughly deserved. Oh, and a word for Paul Gibson, who quietly brought up 14,000 career runs for the club along the way. Onwards indeed.