🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 26 Sep 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Chelsfield CC · HomeformWWLWW

We won the toss on Sunday and I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself as the day wore on. Batting first against Chelsfield, we posted a tidy 165 for 8 from our 42 overs, the innings built around a really well-crafted fifty from Richard Piper, who made 66 and continues to bat like a man on a mission this summer. Twenty-five extras crept in too, which I like to think of as Chelsfield's small but generous contribution to the cause.

Out in the field, the lads set about defending the total with real purpose. Chelsfield were restricted to 141 for 9 from their 41, with I. Walker unbeaten on 58 the chief obstacle, well supported by M. Pearcy's 20 — though X Robinson and X Ingram went the way of all flesh without so much as a run to their names. The bowling honours belonged to Dan Barkaway, whose miserly 4 for 36, including five maidens, did the real damage, with Sam Boyns (3-10) and Jon Harris (1-28) chipping in handsomely around him.

In the end neither side could quite force it home, and honours were shared. Richard Piper now leads our 2010 Sunday 1st XI run charts with 521 for the season, and Sam Boyns sits third in the wickets with 17 — both quietly building rather memorable summers. A draw, then, but a thoroughly honourable one, and no shame at all in sharing the spoils with a side that made us work for every run.

Sat 25 Sep 2010 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLWWWL

Saturday 25th September saw the visitors at Linton Park, and yours truly won the toss and had us out in the field first — always a decision that looks either shrewd or daft by close of play. Early on it looked shrewd: a wicket down for nought had the openers grinning into their tea. But cricket has a way of humbling a captain, and the visitors steadied to post 142 for 9 from their thirty overs, largely thanks to a fine half-century from Tom Davey (69) that did the real damage. Credit to the lads, though — we hauled things back sharply, tumbling them from 107-5 to 109-8 in a blur, with both Ron McCormick and Will Bramley-Harker trudging off for ducks. Kevin Presneill was magnificent, 3 for 15, with Sam Boyns (2-6, three miserly maidens) and Harry Bee (1-5) offering splendid support.

With 143 needed, Richard Piper (36) and Iain Rawson (34) laid the platform, Harry Bee chipping in a handy 22 with the bat too, and we reached 143 for 6 in 21.3 overs — poor Nat Presneill enduring the walk of shame for a golden duck along the way.

Elsewhere, the season charts continue to flatter Richard Knowler, third among the 1st XI's run-scorers with 278 and second in the wickets column with 20 — the man's quietly having a summer.

Not our day in the end, going down by four wickets. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sun 19 Sep 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · HomeformDWWLW

We knew coming in that Tenterden would test us, and after winning the toss I fancied a bat first on what looked a decent pitch — one of the better decisions I've made this season, if I say so myself. David Castle played the innings of the day, 51 not out of pure application, with Richard Piper's 34 giving the total real backbone as we posted 160/7 from our fifty. Not every duck ledger entry can be a triumph, mind — poor Iain Rawson made the long walk back for nought, though he'd more than make amends later.

With the ball, we set about defending 160 with real purpose. Richard Pearman (43 not out) and Robert Featherstone (36) gave Tenterden something to build on, and for a while it looked close, but we sent Chris Hobbs and James Allen packing without so much as a run to their names. And then Rawson turned from duck to destroyer — spinning through the order for a magnificent 5-29, the sort of spell that has team-mates quietly reassessing their net bowling. Martin Harris and Harry Bee chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Sam Boyns bowled two tidy maidens to squeeze the life out of the chase. Tenterden were all out for 126 in 29.3 overs.

A 34-run win, two points banked, and Rawson's redemption arc complete within a single afternoon. With Piper still topping the Sunday run charts and Boyns lurking fourth among the wicket-takers, the season ticks along nicely. All told: a fine team performance, and — dare I say it — thoroughly professional stuff from the Duck Club.

Sat 18 Sep 2010 🧢 1st XIv SC Sidcup CC · HomeformLLWWW

Beaten by 5 wickets we may have been, but I stand by that toss decision — 151 all out from our 42 overs isn't a total to be ashamed of on a September afternoon, and Richard Piper's 33 was the innings holding it all together, with Michael Beeney's 30 and Tim Wright's 26 not far behind. Will Thirkell and Dan Barkaway both had quieter afternoons than they'd have liked, back in the hutch without troubling the scorers — and as for my own contribution, nought, we shall draw a veil over it and move swiftly on.

Sidcup made a proper fist of the chase, getting home at 152/5 with two overs to spare. Thushara Gedara's unbeaten 43 was the innings that did for us, well supported by Henry Walker's 39 and Seetharam Krishnamurthy's 35, and their fourth-wicket stand of 61 was really where the match slipped away from us. Credit where it's due, though — Michael Beeney kept plugging away for 2-26, Darren Styles and Richard Knowler chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Richard Knowler's four maidens showed there was no such thing as an easy run out there. Paul Jenkins, at least, departed for a duck of his own, which offered some small consolation.

So, five wickets the wrong way. Richard Knowler continues his fine season regardless, sitting second in the wicket charts and fourth with the bat — a rare bright spot to cling to. We'll regroup, we'll be better for it next week, and frankly the tea urn has seen worse days than this.

Wed 15 Sep 2010 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformDLLLD

Wednesday 15th September, away to Penshurst Park, and for once the coin actually did what I asked of it. I called correctly and stuck us in the field, which felt like the sort of decision that would either look very clever or very silly by teatime. Penshurst's P Green had other ideas about that, ghosting to 138 while we toiled, and Roy Axtell chipped in an unbeaten 61 to help them post a hefty 237/4 from their forty overs. Credit where due: Jon Harris fought hard for 2-35, with Stuart Cheesman and Tim Thirkell mopping up a wicket apiece, but 237 always looked a proper total on that pitch.

Chasing it, though, we made a real fist of things. Craig Sands played the innings of the season, an unbeaten 105, and Ryan Boyns kept him company with a rollicking 88 not out — the pair of them dragging us to 235/3 with the whole ground willing every run home. In the end we fell agonisingly short, beaten by two runs, the sort of margin that has you replaying every dot ball on the drive home.

Elsewhere in the season, Trevor Back continues to top the run charts with 168, and Jon Harris sits second among the wicket-takers with 8 — small consolations on a day when the bowling attack needed reinforcements. As for the verdict: gutted, genuinely, but you don't lose by two runs chasing 238 without knowing you're doing something right. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 12 Sep 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Snodland Community CC · HomeformWDWWL

Sunday 12 September saw Snodland Community CC roll into Linton Park, and duly won the toss and stuck us in — never a cheering sight, but the lads set about proving it a mistake. We crawled and cracked our way to 162/7 from our 42 overs, Ron McCormick top-scoring with a watchful 38, Harry Bee chipping in 26 and Richard Piper 23. Not everyone's afternoon in the sun, mind — Will Thirkell and Sam Boyns both departed for ducks, though I'm assured the walk back to the pavilion builds character.

With the ball, though, we were a different animal entirely. Snodland's reply never got out of second gear, bowled out for 118 in 40.4 overs despite a spirited 39 from C. Knope and 21 from G. Thursting. Sam Boyns was the chief tormentor, figures of 2-1 and five maidens that suggested the batsmen simply gave up asking questions, with Will Bramley-Harker (2-16) and Jon Harris (2-22) both doing their bit. Poor Will Thirkell had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes leaking through, but nobody was counting by the close.

A red-letter day off the field too, with Ryan Boyns reaching 50 career wickets — a landmark toasted, I'm told, in the traditional manner.

Two points, and a 44-run win thoroughly earned. Snodland were beaten, and beaten well.

Sat 11 Sep 2010 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton & Eastwell CC · HomeformWLLWW

As we mark the wickets and had first sight of the coin, I knew it wasn't our day to call it — Boughton & Eastwell won the toss and sent us in. No matter; the lads set about their business with the bat, and it was Craig Sands who once again led from the front, a fine 51 the backbone of our innings. He found willing company in Ryan Boyns (49) and Richard Piper (31), while the openers gave us the platform every captain dreams of — 90 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came. Not everyone's day, mind: Adam Jackson, Laurie Probert and Richard Knowler each contributed nothing but a golden duck 🦆 to the cause, though I shan't hold it against them given what followed. We closed on a healthy 166 for 8 from our 45 overs.

Defending that total, the bowlers turned executioner. Mark Christmas was quite magnificent, snaring 3 for 10, with Adam Jackson (3-15) and Will Thirkell (3-20) not far behind — proof, if any were needed, that a duck with the bat is no barrier to glory with the ball. Richard Knowler bowled with real discipline, three maidens and barely a run given away, and I confess a quiet pride in claiming three wickets myself. Boughton & Eastwell were bowled out for a modest 90 in 33.5 overs, and we walked off 76 runs to the good.

A thoroughly earned two points, then, and a day that reminds you why village cricket is the finest game there is — even the ducks can't spoil it.

Sun 05 Sep 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Brasted Invicta CC · AwayformLLLLL

Beaten by 89 runs, but I called the toss right — I still maintain that.

We put Brasted Invicta in, and for a while it looked the sort of decision that gets you a pat on the back rather than a P45. Stuart Young had other ideas, though, ghosting past his fifty to 93 with Justin Wilson (46) keeping him honest at the other end, and 200/8 from their forty overs was rather more than we'd bargained for. Tim Thirkell was the pick of us by a distance, 3-15 of genuinely hostile intent, with Jon Harris (2-56) chipping in and Martin Harris (1-29, three maidens) refusing to give anything away even when the boundary rope was taking a hammering elsewhere.

Chasing 200, we never quite got the legs under us, closing on 111/6. Alan Boyns held things together nicely with an unbeaten 44, Ron McCormick supported with 25, and I confess to a personal 44 of my own — modesty be damned, they were the only runs I had. Ten byes told the story of Ron's afternoon behind the stumps rather better than I'd care to. And spare a thought, as ever, for poor Desmond High, whose duck goes straight into the club ledger alongside the others — the walk of shame continues.

All told, 89 runs the wrong side of the ledger. A fair beating from a side with the better of the big innings, but there's enough there — Thirkell's spell, Boyns' composure — to suggest we'll be no pushovers next Sunday.

Sun 05 Sep 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WK Westgate-On-Sea CC, Kent · AwayformDWDWW

Sunday took us down to Westgate-On-Sea, and lost the toss we duly did, which meant leather before lunch rather than a gentle bat. Kent hospitality was generous only in the runs department, as Sid Patel eased to 72, well supported by I- McKenzie's 28 and Freddie Day-Shields' 27, taking the hosts to a stiff 214/7 from their forty. Credit where due — Sam Boyns was miserly and magnificent in equal measure, 4-20 with three maidens thrown in as if he'd taken a personal dislike to scoring shots, while Harry Bee chipped away for 3-47.

Chasing 215 was always going to want application, and David Castle gave us just that, compiling a fine 59 despite having spent the morning behind the stumps conceding ten byes — busy hands, evidently, in both disciplines. Support was thinner on the ground than we'd have liked; poor Glen Rawson departed for a golden duck, and I did my modest bit with 17, more nudge than swagger.

In the end 177/9 wasn't enough, and we fell 37 runs short. Small consolations amid the defeat: Richard Piper remains 2nd in the Sunday 1st XI run charts with 398 for the season, and Sam Boyns sits 5th among the wicket-takers with 11. All told, a losing afternoon by the Kent coast, but one with enough in the performance to suggest we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 29 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Cowdrey CC · HomeformWDWDW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 29 August 2010. Cowdrey CC the visitors, and having called correctly for once in my life, there was never any real debate: on a pitch that looked fit for runs, I stuck us in and hoped the lads would make me look clever.

For a while, they didn't. Gayashan Munasinghe played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 113 that we simply had no answer to, with Robert Hood's 21 lending useful support as Cowdrey rattled to 181/6 from their 37 overs. Credit where it's due to Sam Boyns, who bowled beautifully for 2-24, while Richard Knowler (1-7) and Michael Beeney (1-16, two maidens and not a run to spare) kept things admirably tight when the game threatened to run away from us.

Chasing 182 might have been a different story on another day, but Craig Sands had other ideas, easing to 90 not out in an innings of real substance. He and Laurie Probert put on a startling 95 for the first wicket before a ball had really misbehaved, and when Probert fell for 26, Joe Martin (26 not out) simply carried on the good work. Thirty-three extras from a generous Cowdrey attack didn't hurt either, and we cantered home by 8 wickets with 34.3 overs gone.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine advert for both Boyns's control with the ball and Sands's touch with the bat. If this is village cricket, I'll have another helping.

Wed 25 Aug 2010 🧢 Tour XIv ? · AwayformLLLLT

Wednesday 25 August 2010, and off we trundled once more, hopes modest, tea urn presumably lukewarm on arrival. Winning the toss and electing to bat was, I'll say it myself, the right call — and for once nobody in the pavilion disagreed with me, which is a first.

Twenty overs brought us 131/7, a total that flattered to deceive after we shed a wicket with just 4 on the board — the kind of start that has you reaching for the scorebook and a stiff cup of tea simultaneously. Mark Christmas held things together nicely with 29, well supported by Laurie Probert's 20, while at the other end of the ledger poor Will Thirkell made his way back for a nought — the walk of shame duly logged, quacks and all.

Defending 131 was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved. Their innings closed on 132/6 from 17, built chiefly around a stubborn 63-run stand for the fourth wicket between H Thomas (34) and J Elford (34), with X Madanyake unbeaten on 20 to see them home. Martin Harris was our shining light with a fine 3-21, Mark Christmas chipping in with 1-22, and I contributed a workmanlike 19 with the bat for what it was worth.

Down by four wickets, then — not our day. Heads up, back to the nets, and onward to the next fixture with the usual unshakeable optimism.

Tue 24 Aug 2010 🧢 Tour XIv AC Abberton & District CC · AwayformWLLLL

Tuesday 24 August 2010 found us on the road at Abberton & District, and the coin did us no favours — they had first use of a good-looking track and sent us in. I can't say I minded too much by the close of play, mind. We posted 218/9 from our forty overs, and I'll confess to a quiet satisfaction in leading from the front with 65 — though credit where it's due, Richard Knowler's 42 alongside me built the innings' backbone, our sixth-wicket stand worth a handsome 75. The extras column, ever the unsung hero of village cricket, chipped in 37 of its own.

Out in the field, Abberton gave as good as they got. Daniel Guy played the innings of the day, 79 well-made runs, with Keith Brewster (35) and Dan White (33) lending sturdy support and a fourth-wicket stand of 66 that threatened to run away from us. Only poor Paul Welton will remember this one for the wrong reasons, back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. But Mark Christmas kept his head and his line, 3-33 with two miserly maidens, backed handsomely by Knowler's 2-25 and Sam Boyns' 1-47, to peg them back to 218/8.

Two sides, one day, not a run between them — a tie, and honestly, no better verdict could have been written for a match this evenly fought.

Sun 22 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC · HomeformDLLLL

It was Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC who paid us the visit on a bright Sunday, 22nd August, and it was their captain who called correctly and stuck us in the field — a decision I can't say I'd have argued against, though hindsight is a wonderful thing. Forty overs later they'd racked up 181/5, Mark Vernon batting like a man who'd read the fixture list and fancied his afternoon, unbeaten on 74, with Michael Coney chipping in a tidy 27. Credit where due — Sam Boyns bowled beautifully for 3-41, Jordan Austin and Stan Sutton picked up a wicket apiece, and Iain Rawson somehow found three maidens in there, proof that not every ball need be treated as an invitation to boundary. Jack Jarrett and Mike Stevens both fell for ducks, which I'm sure they'll want no further mention of.

Chasing 182, we made a fair fist of it without quite getting there, closing on 154/9. Will Thew played the innings of the day, a classy 63, ably backed up by Glen Rawson's 27, while Matthew Carter's contribution began and ended at nought. I stuck around for 27 myself, more grit than grace. Eight byes and a wasteful 39 in wides and no-balls handed them far too many gifts they hadn't earned.

Glen Rawson still tops our Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 600, and Sam Boyns sits second among the wicket-takers with 11 — small consolations on a day we finished 27 runs short. Not our afternoon, lads — back to the nets, heads up.

Sun 22 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformDWDWD

Skipping tools — this is a straightforward writing task.

We won the toss at Bidborough and I stuck us in the field, fancying a bit of early moisture off the square. As selectorial masterstrokes go, it aged about as well as a cheese sandwich left in the pavilion sun: Pat Rossiter and Eli Clarkson simply helped themselves, adding a ruinous 208 for the second wicket on their way to a superb 148 and a fine 78 respectively, and Bidborough rattled up 259/5 from their 35 overs. Justin Clarkson at least departed for a golden duck, and honest toil from Harry Bee (4-34) and Michael Beeney (1-27) kept us in touching distance rather than in the wilderness.

Chasing 260 is no picnic, but our lads set about it with the calm assurance of men who'd read the script upside down. Ryan Boyns (78) and Richard Piper (77) put on 147 for the second wicket, Mark Christmas finished unbeaten on 40, I contributed a tidy 40 of my own, and the extras column pitched in a generous 30 — someone's radar clearly needed recalibrating. We got there in 30.2 overs for the loss of four wickets, with the rather lovely footnote that Richard Piper brought up 9,000 career runs for the club along the way. Ryan continues to lead our Sunday run charts and Michael Beeney the wickets, and both looked every inch the men in form.

A tricky toss call redeemed by six wickets and a milestone to toast in the bar — I'll take that, and not for the last time this season.

Sat 21 Aug 2010 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLWLLW

Fixtures like this are exactly why we play the game before we watch the forecast. Saturday saw us on the road to West Farleigh, and won toss, no hesitation, put them in — sorry, put us in to bat, and off we went. An early wobble to 8-1 threatened one of those afternoons, but the middle order steadied the ship in fine style: Richard Knowler eased to 53, Mark Christmas chipped in with 41, and Laurie Probert added 35, the pair at one stage putting on 81 for the fifth wicket to give the innings its real backbone. We closed on a healthy 235/9 from our 45 overs — though the Duck Club secretary will insist on minuting Adam Jackson's golden duck for posterity, poor lad.

With the ball, it was rather more one-way traffic. West Farleigh never looked like chasing it down, and were bowled out for 132 inside 38 overs, William Norman's 27 the only real resistance. Sam Boyns was outstanding, 3-20, with Thomas Beeney (2-14) and Mark Christmas (2-23) doing plenty of damage either side of him, while Matthew Carter simply refused to be scored off, four maidens to his name. Mark Christmas had a trickier time of it behind the stumps, 13 byes going astray, though nobody begrudged him after his all-round efforts — and I'll confess to a quietly satisfying 41 with the bat myself, having already put the opposition's Alex Beechey back in the pavilion without scoring.

A 103-run win, two points banked, and Mark Christmas continuing his fine season — third in the run charts, top of the wicket pile. Thoroughly earned, thoroughly enjoyed, and thoroughly the sort of Saturday that makes the whole enterprise worthwhile.

Wed 18 Aug 2010 🧢 Midweek XIv TC Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformDDLLL

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 18 August 2010, and we welcomed Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC to Linton Park. Lost the toss, as is tradition round these parts, and were duly asked to field first — sorry, bat first, they had the good sense to put us in.

We made rather a fist of it in the end: 205/5 off 41.1 overs, built on a fine 77-run stand for the fifth wicket. Trevor Back led the way with a handsome 62, Will Thirkell chipped in a tidy 49, and David Castle finished unbeaten on 46 to give us something to bowl at. Poor Joe Martin, meanwhile, made his contribution in the form of a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, Joe, chin up.

With the ball we were in no mood to let go of a good thing. Tunbridge Wells could only manage 133/9 from their 49 overs, David Loader's battling 28 not out the best of a resistance otherwise limited to Wright's 25 and Smith's 22 — with S Wright and D Thompson both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Martin Harris was the chief destroyer with a splendid 4-17, Darren Styles and Jon Harris chipped in either side, and Matthew Carter bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment. David Castle had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes escaping his gloves, though he'll take the consolation of topping our season's run charts. A word too for Darren Styles, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth raising a glass to.

In the end honours were shared, and quite right too: a hard-fought, thoroughly good-natured draw.

Sun 15 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Chelsfield Park CC · HomeformLDWDW

We won the toss and were... no wait — we lost the toss, and Chelsfield Park had us out in the field under a Sunday sky that, frankly, felt like it belonged to the batting side. It didn't matter a jot. Glen Rawson set about proving that, striding to 83, while Mark Christmas kept impeccable company with an unbeaten 78 — a half-century of real substance — and Laurie Probert chipped in a handy 42. Their 74-run stand for the third wicket was the spine of the innings, and by the time we'd finished our 34 overs we'd racked up 260 for 4. I even managed to lead from the front myself with 78, which I mention purely in the interests of accuracy and not at all for the pleasure of writing it down.

Then came the small matter of defending it. Guy Glennie (36) and Stuart Pinchin (28) put on 59 for the second wicket and threatened to make a proper contest of it, with Greg Snape's 21 keeping them ticking. But once the middle order arrived, the wheels came off spectacularly — 95 for 2 became 103 for 5 in the blink of an eye, and poor Peter Burton departed without troubling the scorers at all. Michael Beeney was the chief architect of the collapse, running riot with 6 for 39, ably assisted by Thomas Beeney's tidy 1 for 19 (three maidens, no less) and Iain Rawson's 1 for 22. Chelsfield Park closed on 135 for 9.

By any reasonable measure we ought to have won this one — but cricket, being cricket, decided honours would be shared. A draw it is, and no complaints from this captain.

Sun 15 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformWDLLL

Sunday 15 August 2010, away at Benenden CC, and I lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season — they had no hesitation in batting first, and who could blame them.

Set loose with the ball, we made a decent fist of it. Patrick Coyne gave us the full tour of the Benenden outfield on his way to 62, with Mike Daley (49) and Samuel Martin (31) chipping in dutifully, and they closed on 202/8 from their forty overs — a total that felt very much earned rather than gifted. Small mercies: Lee Bezuidenhout departed for nought at our hands, one small victory amid the carnage. Dan Barkaway was superb with the new ball and old, finishing with 3-28, backed up nicely by Tim Wright (2-25) and Sam Boyns (2-33) — without that trio it could have been a great deal uglier.

Chasing 203, we never quite got the wheels turning. Tim Wright top-scored with an unbeaten 32 that deserved better company, and I managed a personal 32 of my own, though goodness knows it wasn't enough. Elsewhere the Duck Club held its usual well-attended meeting, with Ron McCormick, Paul Ratcliffe and Andy Bell all completing the walk of shame for nought — the extras column, with 25, very nearly outscored the top order, which tells its own story. All out for 122 in 35.5 overs, beaten by 80 runs.

Credit where due: Tim Wright now sits second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 149, and Sam Boyns third among the wicket-takers with 8 — proof there's genuine substance in this side. As for the rest of us, we'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Wed 11 Aug 2010 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLDDLL

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 11 August 2010, away to The Mote CC.

Won the toss, chose to bat, and for a while wondered if I'd made a terrible mistake. Nought on the board and already a wicket down is not the tonic any captain wants before elevenses, and matters weren't helped by Laurie Probert, Joshua Knowler and Matthew Carter all contriving to bag golden ducks between them. 🦆 Thankfully David Castle played the innings of a grown-up, finishing unbeaten on 32, with Richard Piper's 23 lending proper support, and I managed a workmanlike 32 of my own. It was left to the last pair, of all people, to add a defiant 35 and drag us to a respectable-ish 105 all out from 53.2 overs.

In the field, Matthew Carter was magnificent — 2-18 with two maidens thrown in for good measure — well backed by Joshua Knowler (2-19) and Tim Wright (1-15). Not a total to be careless with, yet L English had other ideas, cracking a fine 60 to see The Mote home at 106-5 from 23 overs. Poor Ollie Howarth had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes going begging, which about summed up our luck.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: Matthew Carter brought up 300 career wickets, a landmark worth toasting even in defeat, and he now leads our 2010 wicket charts with 8, David Castle tops the run charts with 111. But four wickets down is four wickets down. Not our day — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 08 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv SC Speldhurst CC · AwayformLWDLL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 08 August 2010, away to Speldhurst CC.

Won the toss, elected to bat, and I still maintain it was the right call, whatever the lads mutter into their teas. We posted 146/7 from our 40 overs, a total built rather than blazed. Ron McCormick led the way with a diligent 35, with Will Thew (32 not out) and Andy Bell (22 not out) steering us home at the death. Poor Ray Dixon, though, will not be dining out on this one — a golden duck to open proceedings. The extras column, meanwhile, batted rather better than most of us, contributing a generous 25.

In the field, we gave it everything, and for a good while it looked like it might just be enough. Speldhurst crept to 149/6 from 37.5 overs, with Tom Danby (58 not out) and James Waters (51) both bringing up fifties and gradually easing the game away from us. Charlie Simpson, at least, departed without troubling the scorers, caught up in our own private duck club. Jordan Austin led the attack manfully with 2-53, well supported by Jon Harris (1-12) and Ray Dixon (1-13), while Tim Wright bowled with real discipline for his three maidens. Andy Bell had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping his grasp like eels.

Beaten by four wickets, in the end, and no disgrace in it. Jordan sits proudly second in the season's run charts, Jon top of the wickets — plenty to be cheerful about. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 08 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv NC Newington CC · AwayformWLDWD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 08 August 2010. We were away at Newington CC, and having won the toss and had first use of the ball, I felt quietly optimistic, though optimism in this game is rarely worth much beyond the second over.

Newington set about building a proper total, reaching 207/7 from their 40 overs, with Kevin Collis the chief architect of our discomfort — 83 well-crafted runs, backed up by Jason Perry's 40 and Alex Clark's 34. To our credit, the lads kept plugging away: Gareth Davies led the attack manfully with 2-41, Michael Beeney chipped in with 2-47, and Iain Rawson bowled with real discipline, 1-11 and two maidens to show a mean streak I wish I possessed at the crease.

Chasing 208, we made the sort of start captains dream about and rarely get — 60 on the board before the first wicket fell, Andy Bee striking a fine 48 in that opening stand. From there it was a personal pleasure to see us home, 65 not out felt satisfying in the way only a match-winning knock can, with Glen Rawson unbeaten on 24 seeing us to 208/4 with overs to spare. Poor Laurie Probert, mind you, will have nightmares about those 8 byes.

Richard Piper now leads our 2010 Sunday run charts with 305, and Thomas Beeney sits second in the wickets column with 15 — a side with runs and wickets to spare, it seems. A fine win by 6 wickets. Onwards.

Sat 07 Aug 2010 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWLWLL

We finally had middle order runs stick and Sam Boyns's spell to thank for it — 3 wickets, comfortably home.

Skipper's Log, 7th August. Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to wonder if that coin has a grudge against me — and Meopham had no hesitation in batting first on what looked a decent surface at Linton Park.

They ground their way to 121 all out in 43.4 overs, Powney (25), Tovey (23) and Burton (20) doing the bulk of the damage without ever really cutting loose, which in the end was rather to our credit. Fotheringham departed without so much as a squeak of the bat, and it was Sam Boyns who did the real damage — 4 for 27 of skilful, probing stuff — well supported by Richard Knowler, whose four maidens in a 2 for 23 spell suggested the Meopham batsmen simply couldn't get him away, and Matthew Carter chipping in with 2 for 41. A proper team effort with the ball, and 121 felt like a target well within our compass.

Compass or not, we did our level best to make hard work of it. Thomas Beeney anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 36, but around him the innings wobbled alarmingly — 53 for 4 became 67 for 7 in what felt like the time it takes to put the kettle on. Cue muttered oaths from the boundary. But the tail, bless them, wagged magnificently, dragging us the last 55 runs needed and over the line at 122 for 7 in 33.3 overs.

A win's a win, and this one had a few more grey hairs in it than strictly necessary — but 3 wickets is 3 wickets. Onwards.

Tue 03 Aug 2010 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDLDDL

Bexley CC arrived on a fine Tuesday in August, I called wrong at the toss, and duly spent the afternoon watching from mid-off as they set about accumulating. Ben Moore's 41 was the backbone of their innings, P Coyne chipping in an unbeaten 32, and between them they nudged Bexley to 159/8 from their 46 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, and credit to the attack for keeping it that honest. Darren Styles was the pick of us with 2-23, Thomas Beeney chimed in with 2-24 and three tidy maidens besides, and Tim Wright picked up 1-2 in what I can only describe as a very economical cameo.

So, 160 to win, and for a while it looked eminently gettable. Laurie Probert played the innings of the day, a fine 59, with Trevor Back giving him good company for 22. Then, as so often happens in these things, the innings simply fell over — 144-7 became 152 all out from 44.4 overs before anyone could quite work out what had happened. Thomas Beeney and Darren Styles both walked the walk of shame with ducks, a cruel twist for two men who'd bowled so well earlier in the day. Poor Clive Newman, meanwhile, had a torrid time behind the stumps, twelve byes leaking away like water through a colander.

Seven runs. That's all it was in the end — seven runs between triumph and the long drive home in silence. Trevor Back still tops our Midweek run charts, Matthew Carter still leads the wickets, and small mercies, we'll take them. Chins up, lads — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 01 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC Nuxley CC · HomeformLLWDL

Sunday 1 August, and Nuxley CC rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and, as ever, the toss going against us. Asked to bowl first, I can't say I was disappointed — there's something honest about defending a total rather than chasing shadows. Martin Jones had other ideas, though, compiling a fine 81 that did most of the damage, with John Hahn's 38 and Adam Hudson's unbeaten 20 filling in the rest as Nuxley posted 177/7 from their forty. Credit where due: Iain Rawson bowled beautifully for 2-18, Jon Harris chipped away with 2-32, and Jordan Austin got in on the act with one. Michael Heaney at least gave us a duck for the ledger, if precious little else.

A target of 178 always felt a stretch, and so it proved. Mark Austin's 32 was the innings' backbone, Alan Boyns unbeaten on 28 and Iain Rawson's 25 kept hope flickering, but three ducks — Jordan Austin, Ollie Howarth and Martin Harris all walking back for nought — undid the good work, extras (36!) doing more for us than half the top order. Ollie also had a torrid time behind the stumps, leaking eight byes for good measure. We fell 22 runs short in the end.

Not our day, lads — heads up, boots off, and back to the nets.

Sun 01 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv RC Rodmersham CC · AwayformWWLDW

I called correctly at the toss on a bright Sunday down at Rodmersham, and there was never any real debate in my mind — we were batting. Ryan Boyns then produced something rather special, a magnificent 117 that carried us most of the way, with Joshua Knowler chipping in a tidy 39 and Gareth Davies unbeaten on 24 to round things off nicely. It wasn't all serene, mind you — we lost a wicket with the score still reading just 1, the sort of start that has you reaching for the flask before you've even settled into your deckchair. A sturdy 67-run stand for the fifth wicket steadied matters, before the middle order took fright and we slid from 1 for 1 to 7 for 4 in the time it takes to pour a tea. Tim Wright and Andy Bee both departed for golden ducks, bless them. We closed on 237/9 from our 41 overs — a total with a bit of everything in it.

In the field, Thomas Beeney was the story, running through Rodmersham's order for a superb 5-68, including three miserly maidens, well supported by Gareth Davies (2-19) and Joshua Knowler (1-25). But Matthew Kemp's well-crafted 54, Chris Ansley's 50, and Liam Ansley's 35 kept the chase alive, and the visitors edged to 234/9 from their 46. Ryan Boyns had a wretched afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes going begging, while I did my modest bit with 19.

A draw, then, honours even — which, given the wobbles either side of Ryan's magnificent hundred, felt about right.

Sat 31 Jul 2010 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWWLWL

Sheldwich CC came to Linton Park on Saturday 31 July, and having won the toss I did what any captain does when he fancies his side's chances and the sun's out — I stuck us in. For a while it looked the right call, even if a wobble to 4-1 had me reaching for the antacids early doors. Laurie Probert steadied things with a fine 50, well backed up by Adam Jackson's 45, and the pair's stand of 71 for the fourth wicket was the innings in miniature. Poor Will Thirkell, though, will want to forget his afternoon with the bat entirely — out for a golden duck. We closed on 175/9 from our 45, a total I felt had just enough about it.

It didn't prove enough. Sheldwich's openers set about us with real intent, putting on 82 for the first wicket before we found a breakthrough, and from there Daniel Ray (54) and James Creed (53) both brought up fine half-centuries to keep the chase on the rails, with Mark Hammond unbeaten on 30 to see them home at 176/4 in 35.2 overs. Will Thirkell was our one shining light with the ball, 3-50 and — rather wonderfully — his 50th career wicket, a lovely personal landmark on an otherwise chastening day.

So it's back to the nets with heads up rather than hung. Glen Rawson continues to lead our run charts with 382 for the season, and Thirkell's milestone sits nicely alongside his 14 wickets, third in the club standings. Not our day, beaten by six wickets — but there's plenty to build on.

Wed 28 Jul 2010 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformDDLDD

Wednesday 28 July 2010, and the visitors rolled into Linton Park with the sun doing its best village-green impression. Put into the field, we watched them compile 167/8 from their 48 overs, Rick Jones the chief architect with 48, well backed by Paul Mobbs (31) and Gareth Thomas (28). Small mercies: Ed Thorogood departed for a golden duck, and Thomas Beeney bowled three overs so mean not a run left the middle. Michael Beeney was the pick with 2-24, Darren Styles chipped in 2-43, and Matthew Carter took 1-5 with admirable economy — between them they kept the total to something gettable.

Gettable, but not got. We replied with 168/8 from 38.5 overs, Laurie Probert and Thomas Beeney both contributing tidy 20s, and the extras column doing more heavy lifting than any of us would care to admit with 30 byes and wides thrown in. Poor Joe Martin had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 9 byes conceded telling their own story. In the end we fell two wickets short — heads up, back to the nets, as they say.

Still, there was much to raise a teacup to: Craig Sands brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, and Darren Styles his 200th — milestones that rather put a single afternoon's arithmetic in perspective. A losing day, then, but one dressed in club history, and we'll take that home along with the defeat.

Sun 25 Jul 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformDLLWD

Sunday 25 July found us on the road at Gravesend, and the coin did us no favours whatsoever — down we went, and they chose to bat, leaving us to toil away with the ball on what turned into rather a featherbed of a pitch. Charley Nash made merry to the tune of 90 not out, with Jamie Maguire chipping in a well-made fifty of his own and Ashley Church good for 29, as they racked up 202 for 3 from their forty overs. Jon Harris led our attack manfully for 2-45, with Sam Boyns offering fine support on 1-41, though poor Ben Hughes will want to forget the day entirely, sent back without so much as troubling the scorers.

Chasing 203, we made a fair fist of it. Jordan Austin batted with real purpose for 68, ably backed up by Ron McCormick's 21, and for a while there was hope in the camp. Iain Rawson, alas, joins the Duck Club ledger this week — a walk of shame if ever there was one — and we closed on 146 for 6, beaten by 56 runs in the end.

Elsewhere in the season, Glen Rawson continues to top the Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 573, and Jon Harris the wicket charts with 11 — proof, if nothing else, that talent remains in generous supply even when the results don't follow. A losing day, honestly reported, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 25 Jul 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Bells Yew Green CC · HomeformWWWLD

Sunday 25 July 2010, and Bells Yew Green rolled up to Linton Park with no idea what was coming. Winning the toss, I elected to bat — and for once my judgement didn't let me down. Ryan Boyns and Richard Piper put on 64 for the first wicket before anyone so much as troubled the umpire, and from there it was all good, clean fun: Boyns cruised to 50, Piper chipped in with 42, and Will Thirkell timed his 46 rather better than I time most things. We closed on a handsome 241/8 from our 36 overs. Spare a thought, though, for poor Stewart Morrison, who contributed nought to proceedings and took the long walk back to the pavilion under a small, invisible cloud of feathers.

With that total in the bank, our attack fancied its chances, and so it proved. Matthew Carter was the chief destroyer with a superb 4-10, ushering Bells Yew Green from a respectable 88-7 to a rather less respectable 103 all out in 34.1 overs — Neil Cleave's defiant 24 the only real resistance, and Tim Farrell departing for a duck of his own to keep Stewart company. Will Thirkell (2-23) and Laurie Probert (1-0) lent fine support, Joshua Knowler bowled four miserly maidens, and even your captain found some rhythm with four wickets.

A word for the ledger: Matthew Carter's haul edges him past Dick Langridge into 24th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, while Laurie Probert and Carter continue to lead this season's run and wicket charts respectively. A 138-run victory, two points banked, and thoroughly, gloriously earned.

Sat 24 Jul 2010 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformLWWLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 24 July 2010, away at Shipbourne CC.

We lost the toss, they put us in, and for a while it looked like the sensible decision. There was a mildly comic wobble early on when Ryan Boyns departed for a duck — sorry, Ryan, the gazette never forgets — but Mark Christmas dug in nicely for 44 and Richard Knowler chipped in with 31 to give the innings some spine. All told we crawled to 126 all out from 39.2 overs, which even the most optimistic among us knew wasn't going to have Shipbourne quaking in their boots.

And so it proved. Sam Spink played the innings of the day, cruising to 59 not out, well supported by James McCulley's 44, and between them they took the sting out of our attack rather briskly — 21 overs was all they needed to get within sight of home. Credit where due: Thomas Beeney was our pick of the bowlers with 1-18, tidy and probing throughout, and Matthew Carter kept plugging away for 1-44. I had a bowl myself and managed 44 in the context of the match, for what little consolation that offers.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Glen Rawson continues to lead our 1st XI run charts with 379, and Matthew Carter sits third in the wicket-takers on 11 — bright spots to cling to on the minibus home.

In the end, beaten by eight wickets, and fairly so. Not our finest hour, but heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 18 Jul 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Blue Star CC · HomeformLWWWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 18 July 2010, and a fine one for it as we welcomed Blue Star CC to Linton Park.

Won the toss, and there was never much debate in my head — on a pitch like that, you bat. And bat we did. Ryan Boyns played an absolute blinder, 130 not out and unbeaten at the close, the innings built squarely on his shoulders. Matthew Carter chipped in nicely with 37 not out and James Piper's 24 kept things ticking, while I managed a workmanlike 37 of my own. Not everything gleamed, mind — Ollie Howarth and Ray Dixon both walked back without troubling the scorers, ducks that I'm sure they'd rather forget. All told, 234/5 from our 41 overs felt like a total with some substance to it.

Blue Star didn't read the script, though. Christopher Holman played the innings of the day right back at us, a magnificent 102, with Mike Peters' well-crafted 61 alongside him — the pair adding 120 for the fourth wicket and threatening to bat us out of it entirely. Credit to the lads for hauling it back: Matthew Carter was superb with the ball, 3-45, Michael Beeney chipped in with 2-63 and four miserly maidens, and Joshua Knowler took 1-42. I even managed three wickets myself, which made for a happy afternoon all round. Mark Chenery went for a duck at the other end.

In the end, honours shared — a draw, with neither side quite able to land the killer blow. Frustrating, perhaps, but with Ryan's century and Christopher Holman's reply, this was cricket worth the Sunday.

Sun 18 Jul 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Boughton & Eastwell CC · AwayformDDLLW

Sunday 18 July 2010 saw us make the pilgrimage to Boughton & Eastwell, where I duly lost the toss and was invited to have a bowl first — the sort of hospitality one learns to view with suspicion. As it turned out, the joke was on them once we got our own innings under way, posting a handsome 233/4 from 43 overs. We lost the first wicket for a sorry 6, and poor Will Thew was gone without troubling the scorers, but from there Glen Rawson and Jamie Ratcliffe put the disaster firmly behind us. Glen's superb 121 was the innings of the day, while Jamie's 59 gave it splendid company, the pair adding a priceless 182 for the third wicket that turned a wobble into a total worth defending.

With the ball, we set about them with real purpose. Andrew Possee, Laurence Hughes and Anthony Campbell were all sent back without scoring, and Mark Christmas was quite magnificent, claiming 5-17 to run through the middle order — a spell that thoroughly deserved its rewards. Martin Harris and Jon Harris chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Iain Rawson kept things admirably tight with two maidens. Craig Mannering's 34, backed up by Simon Richardson's 29 and Alistair Vant's 26, kept the home side afloat, and their last pair saw out the overs to close on 145/9.

Honours shared, then, a draw that neither side could quite force — but with Glen Rawson topping our season's run charts and Jon Harris leading the wickets, there's plenty for this old skipper to smile about on the drive home.

Sat 17 Jul 2010 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformDLWWL

Saturday 17 July 2010, and off we trundled to Staplehurst with the sun (allegedly) on our backs. I called correctly at the toss — small mercies — and stuck the opposition in, a decision that looked positively inspired by close of play.

Staplehurst huffed and puffed their way to 168 all out in 42.2 overs, Tim Watts top-scoring with 43 and a sixth-wicket stand of 68 threatening to make a match of it. But Richard Knowler had other ideas, ripping through with a magnificent 5-21 — a five-for thoroughly deserved and the undoubted spell of the day. Mark Christmas (3-40, tight as you like with two maidens) and Matthew Carter (2-42) tidied up the rest, while poor R Clarke and Mark Jeffery trudged off without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 169, we were carried home by an innings from Glen Rawson that bordered on the indecent — 101 not out, a chanceless century, ably assisted by Adam Jackson's 33 in a fourth-wicket stand of 63. I chipped in with three wickets earlier and rather enjoyed myself; less enjoyable was watching 16 byes disappear past Ryan Boyns, though we'll put that down to a lively pitch and say no more about it. We got there for the loss of four wickets.

Rawson continues to bat like a man born in the wrong era, now top of the 1st XI run charts with 367, while Christmas leads the wickets with 21. A fine win by six wickets — the sort of afternoon that makes the teas taste sweeter. Onwards.

Wed 14 Jul 2010 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformDDDLD

Wednesday 14 July saw Dummy Site pitch up at Linton Park, and true to form the coin let me down again — they called correctly, elected to bat, and left us chasing leather in the sunshine. To be fair, we made them work for their 192/9 off 44 overs. Cornwallis was the chief architect with a fine 46, well supported by Hoy (34) and Coleman (32), but the bowlers kept dragging us back into the contest: Thomas Beeney bowled beautifully for 3-46, with Tim Wright (2-19) and Jon Harris (2-21) chipping away to keep the total honest.

With 193 needed, we set about the chase in the sort of unhurried fashion that gives club chairmen grey hairs, and it was David Castle who took charge, compiling a composed, unbeaten 79 that anchored the innings from start to finish. Ollie Howarth (36) and James Piper (35) played their parts handsomely either side of him, and between the three of them the required rate never quite looked like troubling us — until, in the way of these midweek games, the overs simply ran out first. We closed on 182/3 from our 43, five shy of the mark with wickets very much in hand.

A draw it was, then — honours shared, and probably a fair reflection of an afternoon in which both sides had their say but neither could land the knockout blow. Frustrating not to get over the line with Castle still there and set, but as verdicts go, this one felt entirely appropriate: two sides, evenly matched, and not a result between them.

Sun 11 Jul 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Brasted Invicta CC · HomeformDDDLL

Sunday 11th July found us hosting Brasted Invicta CC, and having won the toss we put them in with the sort of confidence that usually precedes a collapse — ours, not theirs. To our credit it didn't quite come off: Justin Wilson (23) and John Johnstone (21) steadied things for the visitors, but they never truly cut loose, closing on a very gettable 128/8 from their 40 overs. Joshua Knowler was the chief architect of that restraint, bowling with real discipline for 3-16 including two maidens, backed up nicely by Michael Beeney (2-20) and Iain Rawson (1-8).

Chasing 129, we made harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, but got there in the end for the loss of four wickets and with over eight overs unused. James Piper led the way with a fine 39, and in doing so brought up 4,000 career runs for the club — a landmark that rather puts the rest of us to shame and one very much for the mantelpiece. Glen Rawson (26 not out) and Jamie Ratcliffe (20) chipped in handsomely, though Glen's day behind the stumps was rather less serene, ten byes going begging in a story that tells itself.

Glen continues to lead the 2010 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 435, and Jon Harris the wickets with 8 — form the pair of them will want to keep going. A six-wicket win, two points banked, and thoroughly earned: we'll take that every Sunday of the summer.

Sun 11 Jul 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Beckenham CC · AwayformDLWWW

Sunday 11th July took us down to Beckenham CC, and having called correctly for once, I saw no reason to overthink it — we'd bat. A steady if unspectacular knock left us on 186/8 from our 44.5 overs, Laurie Probert the pick with a fine 44, Ollie Howarth (33) and Richard Piper (32) chipping in nicely around him. Less nicely, poor Chris Newman contributed a duck to the ledger — the walk of shame, immortalised in club folklore and, alas, in this very report.

With the ball we made a real fight of it. Beckenham reached 187/8 in 38.3 overs, Ross Piller playing the innings of the day with 87, well supported by Ken Hoad's 35 and a stand of 69 for the second wicket that threatened to bat us out of it altogether. But credit to the lads — we clawed back hard, ripping through the middle order from 164-4 to 177-7 in the blink of an eye. The day belonged to Mark Christmas, whose 5-24 was a five-for of the highest order, with Chris Newman (1-17, two miserly maidens, redemption after that duck) and Will Thirkell (1-36) chipping in too.

We fell two wickets short in the end — cruel arithmetic on a day of fine individual efforts. Fittingly, it was Mark Christmas's 200th appearance in Linton colours, and his five wickets nudged him past Terry Donovan to 19th on the all-time list. Not our day, but heads up — back to the nets.

Sat 10 Jul 2010 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLDLWW

Here's my match report:

Saturday 10 July saw Headcorn CC roll up to Linton Park, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I shall be smugly reminding the lads of for weeks to come. We batted with real purpose, posting a handsome 213/6 from our 45 overs. Mark Christmas was the architect, cruising well past his fifty, with Glen Rawson (46) and Craig Sands (33) lending sturdy support, while our extras column contributed a generous 25 — practically an all-rounder in its own right.

Alas, 213 proved no fortress. Headcorn's reply was built on a magnificent 89 not out from Robert Sparks, who batted with the calm assurance of a man who knew exactly where the gaps were, ably assisted by James Barker's fifty (70). They cantered home on 214/2 from 42.2 overs, leaving our bowlers to graze on scraps. Richard Knowler was the pick of them with 1-16, and Matthew Carter toiled manfully for 1-47 with three tidy maidens to show for his patience, if not his luck.

For what it's worth, I did manage to lead from the front with a fifty of my own — small consolation on a day when the opposition simply had the better of us. Craig Sands continues to top our 2010 run charts with 291, and Richard Knowler sits third among the wicket-takers with 10.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no dressing it up. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 04 Jul 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv RC Reculver CC · AwayformLDDDL

Sunday 4th July, and off we trundled to Reculver, where I called it right at the toss and stuck us in the field — I'm still taking the credit for that one, whatever came after.

Reculver posted a stern 208/5 from their forty, built on a fine 111-run stand for the fifth wicket between Ryan Attenborough (67 not out) and Tim Collins (65), with Mark Roberts chipping in 24. They'd wobbled early, five on the board and a wicket down, but steadied themselves rather too effectively for our liking. Credit where due, though — Will Thew was excellent with the ball, 2-27, backed up nicely by Joe Martin (2-29) and Chris Newman (1-34), and we did at least send Arron Bennett packing without so much as a squeak from his bat.

Chasing 209, we made a game of it without ever quite getting there, bowled out for 177 in the 38th. Two on the board and a wicket gone had the old familiar nervous look about it, but Glen Rawson batted beautifully for 71, and with Iain Rawson (30) and Joe Martin (25) alongside him, and 80 crucial runs added for the fourth wicket, we were in with a shout. James Piper, Chris Newman and Will Thew all fell for ducks, and as for your captain — a golden blob, proof that leading from the front doesn't always mean leading with the bat.

Beaten by 31 runs, then, honourably enough. Glen continues to churn out runs for fun — 409 for the season now — and we'll dust ourselves down and come again next week.

Sun 04 Jul 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWDLWW

We drew the short straw at the toss and were put in to field — never the tonic one wants on a Sunday, but The Mote had other ideas, and Laurence Waters made them count in style, batting through to an unbeaten 113. He found willing company in Danny Rowe (72) and the pair put on 134 for the fourth wicket after we'd rocked ourselves at 4-1 early doors — the sort of start that has a captain studying his shoelaces. Howard Waters chipped in with 22 as they closed on a hefty 234/4. Credit where due, though: Mark Christmas was excellent with the ball, 2-15, backed up by tidy support from Matthew Carter and Joshua Knowler (1-24 apiece) and Harry Bee, miserly as ever with two maidens. James Higgins, less happily, departed for a duck.

Chasing 235 is no picnic, but Laurie Probert made it look positively pastoral, cruising to 88 not out and steering us home in the manner of a man who'd read the script in advance. Daniel Thirkell played his part handsomely with a well-made 72, the two of them adding 122 for the second wicket, while Lewis Burnham's 31 kept the scoreboard humming along nicely. We got there at 235/3 with overs to spare.

A seven-wicket win, two points banked, and Craig Sands and Matthew Carter continuing to top the season's run and wicket charts respectively — the engine room is purring. All told, a proper away-day fightback: rattled early, rescued by Probert and Thirkell, and thoroughly, deservedly ours.

Sat 03 Jul 2010 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton & Eastwell CC · AwayformLLDLW

Saturday 3rd July 2010, and off we trooped to Boughton & Eastwell, where the coin let me down yet again — I'm beginning to think it's rigged against me personally. They chose to bat, and 196/9 from their 45 overs looked a tidy total, built around David Gray's 33 and useful contributions from Simon Chandler (26) and Daniel Pritchard (24), with a stubborn 50-run stand for the fifth wicket doing the damage. Credit to Richard Knowler, miserly and menacing with 2-16, well backed by Will Thirkell (2-42) and Thomas Beeney (1-25), while Mark Christmas bowled three maidens as if runs were rationed by law.

Chasing 197, we got there in 38.4 overs for the loss of six, thanks in no small part to Craig Sands, serene and untroubled on 89 not out. The tail, rather than curling up and dying as tradition demands, wagged merrily to the tune of 79 runs and no small relief on the boundary boards. Spare a thought for poor James Piper, who collected a golden duck for his troubles — the walk of shame performed with admirable dignity. I contributed a workmanlike 16, and the extras column, ever reliable, chipped in 28.

Sands now leads our season's run charts with 258, and Christmas tops the wickets with 18 — both men quietly building rather good summers. As for the match: four wickets to the good, two points banked, and a thoroughly deserved victory, coin be damned.

Sun 27 Jun 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Beckenham CC · AwayformDLDDD

The lads and I made the trip out to New Beckenham on Sunday 27 June, and for once I won a toss that actually mattered — I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and I still maintain it was the right call.

Glen Rawson set about the New Beckenham bowling with real intent, cruising to 93, while Richard Piper played beautifully alongside him for a well-crafted fifty. Between them they dragged us to 179/8 from our 40 overs — a total with a bit of substance to it. Less gloriously, the Duck Club welcomed two new members: Mark Christmas and Gareth Davies both endured that long, lonely walk back to the pavilion for nought. We shan't let them forget it.

Defending 179 is never a comfortable afternoon, and so it proved. Harry Freeman (45) and Jordan Heard (37) chipped away steadily, and Andrew Faulkner saw them home unbeaten on 36, New Beckenham reaching 180/4 with three balls of the 40th over to spare. Martin Harris toiled manfully for 2-26, with useful support from Gareth Davies (1-22, redeeming himself somewhat with the ball) and Ryan Boyns (1-41), but it wasn't quite enough. Rawson's ton of near-misses keeps him top of our Sunday run charts on 338, and Harris now sits third in the wickets column — small crumbs of comfort.

Not our day, then — beaten by six wickets, heads a little bowed. Back to the nets, and back again next week.

Sun 27 Jun 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · HomeformWWDLW

Sunday, 27 June, and Clarion CC rolled up for what would prove a proper thriller. Put in to bat, we ground our way to 166 for 8 from the full forty, the innings built almost entirely around David Castle, whose composed 90 was the platform for everything that followed. Thomas Beeney chipped in nicely with 22, though the less said about the rest the better — Craig Sands and Matthew Carter both endured that particular walk back to the pavilion with a blob against their name, the sort of duck that has you volunteering to make the tea rather than face your teammates.

Defending 166 always feels a touch light, and so it proved tense. Clarion's Richard Hilson (35) and Andy Driver (34) threatened to bat us out of it, with J Elks unbeaten on 25 dragging them agonisingly close, but our attack held its nerve. Michael Beeney was superb, ripping through with 3 for 21, well backed by Thomas Beeney's 3 for 38 and Matthew Carter's 2 for 29 — R Augustine, for what it's worth, joined the ducks' club without troubling the scorers. Clarion were all out for 158 from their forty.

We scrambled home by a single wicket, the kind of finish that ages a captain a year in an afternoon and leaves the tea urn shaking almost as much as I was. My own 90 was a satisfying day's work, and with Laurie Probert third in the season's run charts and Matthew Carter topping the wickets, the summer's shaping up nicely. A good day for the club — nerves shredded, honour intact.

Sat 26 Jun 2010 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWLLDL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 26 June 2010, and a fine one to write up. We hosted Marden CC of Kent, lost the toss (no change there) and were put into the field, which for once worked rather in our favour.

Marden made a battling 107 all out in 30.1 overs, M Taplin top-scoring with 38 and James Humphrey chipping in 21, though an early stumble at 1-1 set the tone for a rocky innings, steadied only by a 50-run stand for the sixth wicket. Tom Brandreth, Ben Tomkinson and Rupert Humphrey went back without troubling the scorers — three ducks the lads won't let them forget. Mark Christmas was the chief tormentor with 4-17 and three miserly maidens, well supported by Will Thirkell's 3-5 and Richard Knowler's 1-18. I even found a bit of rhythm myself, picking up 4 wickets — the old arm still has something in it yet.

Chasing 108, Richard Piper played beautifully for 46 and Glen Rawson finished unbeaten on 40, and we cantered home in 20.5 overs for the loss of just one wicket. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 16 byes going begging, but no one seemed to mind.

A nice personal milestone too — Christmas's four wickets edge him past Rob Doick into 20th on the club's all-time list, and he now leads our 2010 wicket charts with 17, with Rawson topping the run charts on 212. A fine win by 9 wickets. Onwards.

Sun 20 Jun 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Brasted & Sundridge CC · HomeformDDLDD

Wound the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the wicketkeeper mutters. We shuffled to 124/8 from our 41, a total that owed rather more to the extras column (26, and not a jot of shame in that) than we'd have liked. Will Thew's 28 was the innings' backbone, with Tim Wright's 26 a fine second act, but the middle order rather fell out of a tree — Jordan Austin and Iain Rawson both departed for ducks, proving once again that cricket is a cruel and unusual game.

Out in the field, though, we were a different side entirely. Brasted & Sundridge were held to 110/7 from their 38, Colin Foreman battling to 27 not out almost single-handedly against a tide of Linton Park discipline. Jordan Austin, having made amends for his golden duck with the bat, ran through them for 2-16, well supported by Patrick Hill (2-21) and Will Bramley-Harker (2-30), while Tim Wright bowled with the meanness of a man refusing to buy his round, four maidens and barely a run conceded. Vince Reynolds and Tom Rutter were sent back without troubling the scorers, which felt only fair after our own morning's habits.

So honours shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody — the most English of results. Glen Rawson continues to lead our season's run charts on 245, and Jordan Austin now sits third in the wickets with five, evidence enough that not everything about our afternoon was hard luck. A fair result, then, even if the tea was the best thing either side produced all day.

Sun 20 Jun 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv NC New Ifield CC · AwayformWWWDL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 20 June 2010. We travelled to New Ifield CC on a day that, in hindsight, went rather better than I had any right to expect.

Winning the toss, I elected to bat, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than merely lucky. Craig Sands played the anchor role to perfection, motoring to 59 not out, while Laurie Probert kept him company with a fine unbeaten 52. Michael Beeney chipped in with a brisk 28, and between them the lads steered us to a handsome 200 for 4 from our forty overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

Defending it, we made the breakthrough early, having New Ifield 6 for 1, before Reju Joy (61) and Nick Windust (32) threatened to rebuild with a stubborn 72-run stand. But the floodgates duly opened — 103 for 4 became 112 for 7 in a hurry — and three of their number, Robert McSweeney, Owen Southward and David Homewood, trudged off without troubling the scorers. Mark Christmas was the chief tormentor with 3 for 12, well backed by Daniel Thirkell (2-2) and a typically miserly Thomas Beeney (2-7, with two maidens for good measure). New Ifield folded for 116.

Two milestones to toast in the bar afterwards: Laurie Probert brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Craig Sands reached the extraordinary landmark of 10,000. Sands now also leads our 2010 Sunday charts with 218 runs, with Matthew Carter topping the bowling with 7 wickets.

An 84-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sat 19 Jun 2010 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsted CC · AwayformDWLLD

We were beaten by 64 runs, we came all the way from Selsted, and I said out loud in the middle that fielding first was "the right call" — someone remind me never to let me speak before the match again.

Selsted set about us with real intent. From 6-1 you'd have backed us to prise the game open, but Neil Bristow (61) and company simply weren't having it, with K Jenopan (44) and Peter Arter (42) filling in nicely and a fourth-wicket stand of 78 doing the real damage on the way to 256-8. Mark Christmas toiled hardest for 3-56, Adam Jackson chipped in with 2-57, and Richard Knowler was tidiness personified — 1-37 with three maidens to show for his patience. Andrew Arter, meanwhile, was sent back for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers, which felt about right for the way our afternoon was going.

Chasing 257 was always a stretch, and 192 all out in the 40th over tells its own story, though there were pockets of real fight. Adam Jackson led the way with 36, Richard Knowler was unbeaten on 32, Glen Rawson made 30, and I managed a watchful 21 before finding a spot of form with the ball too — three wickets my own small consolation prize.

There was proper cause for celebration amid the gloom, mind: Glen Rawson brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worthy of considerably more than the tea-hut applause it got, and he now leads our 2010 run charts with 172, with Mark Christmas topping the wickets on 13.

Beaten by 64 in the end — no disgrace against a total like that, but we'll be sharper next week.

Wed 16 Jun 2010 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformLDDDL

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 16 June 2010, and Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC rolled up as our visitors on what I'm pleased to report was a proper day's cricket. I won the toss, and if there's one decision all season I haven't lost sleep over, it's that one — up we went to bat.

The lads settled nicely, posting 158/4 from our 42 overs. Iain Rawson played the innings of the day with 43, calm as you like, while Trevor Back stood firm for an unbeaten 28 and Craig Sands chipped in 27 of his own. Even our extras got in on the act with a generous 28 — Sevenoaks' bowlers were nothing if not obliging.

Defending the total, we set about our work with intent. Tim Thirkell was the pick of the attack, tearing through with 3-24, while Sam Boyns bowled a spell of real discipline — 2-16 with two maidens, not a run given away lightly. Between us we accounted for Minto and A Gibson without either troubling the scorers, though Taylor batted through gamely for an unbeaten 25 to see Sevenoaks home to 153/7 from their 39.

In the end neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared. Trevor Back continues to lead our Midweek XI run charts with 50 for the season, and Sam Boyns tops the wicket-takers with three. A draw, then — not the stuff of legend, but an afternoon of good, honest cricket, and I'll take that every time.

Sun 13 Jun 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Buckhurst CC · HomeformLDDLD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 13 June 2010. We hosted Buckhurst CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat, a decision that for once required no soul-searching at all.

What followed was as handsome an afternoon with the willow as this diary has recorded in some time. Ryan Boyns simply refused to get out, compiling a magnificent 100 not out and, in the process, ticking over 1,000 career runs for the club — no mean feat, and one raised many a glass to afterwards. Jordan Austin chipped in with a brisk 35 and David Castle stayed unbeaten on 33 as we posted a formidable 205/3 from our 34.1 overs.

With the ball, Thomas Beeney was in inspired form, prising out 3-17 with four maidens to boot, well supported by Iain Rawson's 2-11 and Jon Harris's 1-18. Roy Axtell threatened to spoil the script with a fighting 52, and there was mild embarrassment behind the stumps as 8 byes went astray on what was, admittedly, a tricky afternoon with the gloves. Nigel Riley departed without troubling the scorers, but an obstinate last-wicket stand of 45 dragged Buckhurst up to 122/6 and denied us the victory our batting deserved.

A draw, then — honours shared, and rather more generous to our visitors than the scorecard suggests. Still, with Boyns in such irrepressible touch, one senses better days are close at hand.

Sun 13 Jun 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Hadlow CC · AwayformDWWWD

Sunday 13 June 2010 saw us make the pilgrimage to Hadlow CC, and I lost no time at the toss doing something I rarely regret: putting them in. For a while it looked positively cunning, with Hadlow reduced to careful accumulation before Alex Wilson (51) and Sarel Venter (35 not out), aided by Greg Pickering's 33, stitched together a 75-run stand for the fifth wicket that took the wind clean out of our sails. They closed on a healthy 188/5 from their forty. Matthew Carter did the heavy lifting with the ball, 4-49, backed up nicely by Michael Beeney (1-32) and three tidy maidens from Mark Christmas, whose gloves had rather less luck later on — seventeen byes is not a stat one puts on the mantelpiece.

In reply, Craig Sands played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 51 that carried our chase almost single-handed, with Richard Piper (21) offering the only real support. Poor Kevin Presneill's duck was the low point of an otherwise gritty 164/9, propped up by a generous 44 extras — Hadlow's bowlers were kinder to us than we were to ourselves. I did at least manage four wickets myself to keep some pride intact.

Twenty-four runs short in the end, and no arguing with the maths. Sands now tops our Sunday run charts with 159, Carter our wickets with six — small consolations on a long drive home. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 12 Jun 2010 🧢 1st XIv OC Otterden CC · AwayformWDWLL

Saturday 12th June, and the road took us to Otterden – always a fixture I enjoy, if only for the tea afterwards. I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, chose to bat without a moment's hesitation. It very nearly looked like inspired captaincy too, as we posted a healthy 162/6 from our 40 overs. Glen Rawson was the star of the show, cruising to 76 not out, with Trevor Back and Joe Martin both chipping in useful thirties. Only poor Will Thirkell let the side down on the batting card, departing for a duck – he'll be hoping nobody mentions it at the bar.

Defending 162 is never a formality, and Otterden made us work for it, reaching 127/6 from their 36 overs on the back of a fine fifty from L Alexander, who made 61 and gave our bowlers no end of trouble. Credit where it's due, though – Joshua Knowler was superb with 3-17, backed up nicely by Tim Thirkell (1-14) and Iain Rawson, whose three maidens on the way to 1-22 choked the run rate when we needed it most. Mick Beeney, at least, fell to us for a duck of his own – honours even there.

In the end neither side could force it, and a draw was a fair reflection of a tight, well-fought contest. Not victory, but no disgrace either – we'll take it and go again next week.

Sun 06 Jun 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · AwayformLLDDL

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to suspect the Cobham captain keeps a two-headed coin in his blazer pocket — and duly found ourselves standing in the field on a Sunday when a nice sit-down with the tea urn would have suited me rather better. Benjamin Bowles made us pay for it in style, farming the strike for a superb hundred, 101 no less, with Lucas Marshall keeping him company in a stand of 132 for the second wicket that had our fielders chasing shadows round the Kent countryside. They eventually declared themselves satisfied at 228/8 off 36.1 overs. Credit where it's due, though: Jordan Austin was superb with the ball, 3-14 and miserly with it, backed up nobly by Jon Harris (3-58) and Martin Harris (1-18), who between them dragged things back from the brink of embarrassment.

Chasing 229, George Pearce departed for a golden duck before he'd so much as adjusted his box, which set the tone for a nervy reply. Glen Rawson, in the form of his life, top-scored with a well-crafted 69, and Jordan Austin chipped in gamely with 22, but 156/8 off 43.1 overs left us well short when the overs ran out.

Honours shared, then, and on reflection a draw felt like a fair, if slightly flattering, outcome for us. Rawson continues to top our Sunday run charts with 212 for the season, and Harris the wickets with six — the two men, frankly, carrying the rest of us home.

Sun 06 Jun 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv KC Knockers CC · HomeformLDWWW

Sunday the 6th of June dawned fair over Linton Park, and rarely can a coin have fallen so obligingly — down it went in our favour, and I had no hesitation in sending Knockers CC out to field first. It seemed the sporting thing to do, though as ever I reserved the right to regret it by tea.

We were not to be embarrassed. Craig Sands played the anchor role to perfection, ending unbeaten on 25, with Richard Piper chipping in a handy 23 alongside him. It wasn't all smooth sailing — the first wicket departed for a paltry single run, and poor Iain Cardew will be relieved this report is only read locally, having contributed his golden duck to proceedings 🦆. Even so, 92 for 4 off our twenty-one overs felt a fair platform, built more on graft than glamour.

Then, remarkably, the tables turned entirely our way with ball in hand — Knockers CC subsided for nought, not a run troubling the scorebook. One hardly likes to gloat over an opposition's misfortune, but there it is, recorded for posterity.

And yet, in the peculiar arithmetic that only village cricket can produce, honours were shared and the match finished a draw — neither side, it seems, able to force matters home.

Elsewhere, Craig Sands continues to lead our 2010 Sunday 1st XI run charts with 108 for the season, and long may he carry on doing the batting so the rest of us needn't trouble ourselves. A curious afternoon, then — but a thoroughly enjoyable one, and honours shared suits us all rather well.

Sat 05 Jun 2010 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · HomeformWWDWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 5th June 2010. We hosted Milstead CC, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat; the right call, I felt, and one I'll happily take credit for while the going was good.

Batting first we posted 181/9 from our 45 overs, a total built almost entirely by Craig Sands, whose 69 was the innings' backbone, well supported by Nigel Thirkell's tidy fifty and Richard Knowler's 20. The pair put on a crucial 79 for the third wicket, the sort of stand that makes a captain look wise rather than lucky. Elsewhere the card wasn't quite so flattering — poor Ryan Boyns departed for a duck, and one suspects he'll not thank me for putting that in print, but honesty is the reporter's burden.

With the ball, alas, the story turned. Milstead cantered to 184/3 in 37.2 overs, with Gareth Chick unbeaten on 60 and Richard Cusworth's 47 doing most of the damage, Mike Sellar chipping in with 23. Mark Christmas toiled honestly for 1-22, with Thomas Beeney and Matthew Carter each picking up a wicket apiece, but it wasn't enough to trouble a set of batsmen clearly enjoying their Saturday more than we were.

Craig Sands continues to lead our run charts this season with 152, and Mark Christmas tops the wickets with 10 — small consolations on a day that ultimately went to Milstead by seven wickets. Not our day, then. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 30 May 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformDLDWW

Off a good win for the club, we made a good win, we defended 200 and took the extras...

Let me write the report properly.

Skipper's Log, Sunday 30 May 2010, Gravesend CC at home. Won the toss, and with the sun out and a good pitch beneath us, there was really only one decision to make — we'd bat.

It didn't start well. One run on the board and we'd already lost a man, the sort of start that has you eyeing the tea urn nervously and wondering if you've made a dreadful mistake. But Richard Piper settled things down beautifully, compiling a fine 59, and found willing company first in Mark Christmas (32) and Joe Martin (28). The innings of the day, though, was a stand of 58 for the seventh wicket, which took us from respectable to genuinely competitive. Special mention, in the way one reserves for such things, to Lewis Burnham, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings — these things happen to the best of us, Lewis. Even the extras got in on the act with a generous 30. All told, 200/8 from our forty overs felt like a defendable total, if not an unassailable one.

And so it proved. Gravesend fought hard — Charley Nash was in irrepressible form, cracking 86 not out — but wickets fell steadily at the other end. Sam Boyns was superb with the ball, 3-17, backed up handsomely by Chris Newman (3-19) and Joe Martin, who capped a fine all-round day with 2-19. Martin Hughes and Salman Niazi both departed for ducks. I chipped in with 32 with the bat earlier, which I mention purely for the record.

All out for 165. A 35-run win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 30 May 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LR Lord Raglan · AwayformWLLDD

Sunday 30 May 2010 saw us off to Dummy Site with sunshine on our backs and, alas, the coin against us — they won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. Forty overs later they'd racked up 254/4, with L Hancox (93) and R Hancox (93 not out) putting on a monumental 155 for the third wicket while A Roberts chipped in an unbeaten 24. Ryan Boyns did his best to stem the tide with 2-34, Tim Wright picked up one, and Gareth Davies bowled two miserly maidens — but truth be told, the Hancox brothers had rather made themselves at home.

Chasing 255, we replied with real intent. Glen Rawson played a superb, chanceless 123, and Tim Wright supported beautifully with 87, the pair sharing 196 for the second wicket and having us dreaming of an unlikely win. But cricket, cruel game that it is, had other ideas — wickets tumbled from 223-2 to 228-5 in a dizzying collapse, with Trevor Back and Jamie Ratcliffe both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. We closed on 248/6, six agonising runs short.

There was, at least, one moment to savour amid the gloom: Glen Rawson brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, and did so in style, sitting proudly atop our 2010 Sunday 2nd XI run charts. Ryan Boyns, meanwhile, holds third in the wicket-takers' table.

Not our day, then — beaten by the narrowest of margins after threatening the impossible. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sun 23 May 2010 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformDDWLW

Sunday 23 May 2010, and Bidborough CC rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and, for once, my coin toss cooperating. I called it right and had no hesitation sticking them in — a decision that looked briefly inspired when the first wicket went for just 1, before Charlie Harding decided enough was enough and set about compiling a magnificent 147 not out, ably assisted by R Larkin's 44. A stand of 122 for the third wicket did the real damage, and by the close they'd racked up 234/6 from their forty overs. Small mercies: James Baldock and Andy Eames both departed for ducks at our hands, and Matthew Carter (2-45) and Michael Beeney (2-50) at least made them work for it.

Chasing 235 was always going to be a stiff ask, and so it proved. Ryan Boyns top-scored with a gutsy 37, with Thomas Beeney (27) and Richard Piper (26) chipping in, and a battling 50-run stand for the eighth wicket gave us something to cling to. Even the extras got in on the act with 31 — nearly our fourth-highest scorer, which tells its own story. We closed on 186/9, forty-eight runs shy.

Ryan Boyns still leads our Sunday run charts this season with 96, and Matthew Carter tops the wickets with 6, so the ingredients for better days are clearly there. Not our afternoon, though — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 23 May 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWWLLD

Sunday, 23 May 2010, and off we trotted to Sissinghurst with the sun out and the covers, mercifully, staying in the shed. Winning the toss, I didn't so much deliberate as blurt out "we'll field" before anyone could talk me out of it — and for a while it looked rather clever, with the opener back in the pavilion for a solitary run. Trevor Wright, however, had other ideas, compiling a chanceless century that anchored everything, with Stephen Brown's 62 and James Faulkner's 24 filling in the gaps either side of that stubborn 107-run sixth-wicket stand that undid all our early good work. Mick Winner, Sam Helesfay and Colin Jenkins all fell without troubling the scorers, small mercies in an innings of 221/8. Sam Boyns was superb with the ball — 4-44 and two maidens of genuine miserliness — well backed by Jon Harris's 2-24 and Martin Harris chipping in with one.

Chasing 222 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and 122/7 tells its own story of a reply that never quite got out of second gear. Gareth Davies played the lone hand of real substance with 44, Will Thew offering support with 27, though ducks for Ron McCormick and Joshua Knowler didn't help the cause.

In the end honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the other's hand — and on the evidence of that scorecard, we'll happily take a draw and the motorway home in one piece.

Sat 22 May 2010 🧢 1st XIv BC Betsham CC · HomeformWWWDW

It was Betsham CC at home, and the coin did us a favour for once — I called it right and had few qualms about batting first on a fine Saturday. Nigel Thirkell led the way with a composed 47, well supported by Craig Sands's 28, but it was a jittery watch throughout: we shipped a wicket before troubling the scoreboard, and Richard Piper, Adam Jackson and Iain Rawson all trooped back for ducks. Still, 150/9 from our 45 overs felt like something to bowl at, and there was a rather lovely footnote in there too — Nigel brought up 41,000 career runs for the club, which rather puts my own contributions into perspective.

With ball in hand we fancied our chances, and for a long while it looked like justice might be done. Mark Christmas was magnificent, 4-24 and figures that lift him to 2nd in this year's run charts and, more strikingly, past John --'s Taylor into 21st on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Will Thirkell (2-35), Richard Knowler (1-44) and three tidy maidens from Matthew Carter kept the squeeze on, and I even chipped in with four wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity this week. But Ramanjit Bajwa's fifty (60) and Simon Rasho's 32 proved too stubborn for us, and Betsham crept home by three wickets with 153/7.

A cricketing lesson rather than a beating, then. We'll sharpen up and come back stronger next week.

Sun 16 May 2010 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC Nuxley CC · AwayformLWWLL

We travelled to Nuxley on a fine Sunday, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy career, I did what any self-respecting skipper does with a good pitch underfoot — stuck us in and hoped for the best.

It was, in truth, a game of two halves with the bat. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, a composed 59 that carried us to something respectable, with Alan Boyns (25) and Glen Rawson (20) chipping in nicely around him. Elsewhere the scorebook makes for less cheerful reading — three ducks in the column, courtesy of Andy Bell, John Williams and Sam Boyns, the sort of collective batting hiccup that has committee members reaching for the biscuit tin in despair. All out for 144 in 39.4 overs was, on reflection, a par score rather than a match-winning one.

In the field we scrapped hard to make it count. Sam Boyns turned his duck into redemption with the ball, leading the attack superbly for 1-11, while Jon Harris and Martin Harris both weighed in with 1-19 and 1-20 respectively. I even managed to contribute a tidy 25 of my own with the bat earlier, though I shan't dwell on that. Nuxley, led by Martin Jones (22) and John Hahn (21), got themselves to 96-3 before running out of overs at 26.4, unable to force home the advantage.

So, honours shared and a draw to show for our afternoon's work. Not the stuff of legend, but with Piper topping our season's run charts and Boyns leading the wickets, there's plenty to be cheerful about — even if the ducks did their level best to spoil the tea.

Sun 16 May 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Southfleet CC · HomeformDDLDW

Sunday 16 May 2010, and Southfleet CC rolled up as our guests with the sun (allegedly) shining. I won the toss and chose to field first — one of those decisions that looks either very clever or very foolish by teatime, and I'm pleased to report it was the former.

The lads were in fine voice from the off. Southfleet never got going, subsiding to 60 all out in 26.4 overs, with only Mark Lapham (23) showing any real appetite for the crease. Mark Wood and M Edmonds departed without so much as a nibble at the scorebook — ducks apiece, poor souls. Michael Beeney was the chief tormentor with a lovely 3-11, Harry Bee chipped in with 2-18, and Mark Christmas took 1-6. Special mention too for Thomas Beeney, who bowled with the miserliness of a man checking his round at the bar — three maidens and barely a run to be had.

Chasing 61, we strolled home at 62/1 in just 15.3 overs. Craig Sands played the anchor role to perfection with an unbeaten 30, and Laurie Probert kept him fine company with 23. Barely time to finish your tea before it was all over.

A comfortable nine-wicket win, then, and Michael Beeney's bowling nudges him into third on the season's wicket charts, with Tom Murphy still setting the pace with the bat. All told, a thoroughly satisfying Sunday — onwards we go.

Sat 15 May 2010 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformLLWWW

Sheldwich came calling on a fine May Saturday, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in batting first — a decision I shall claim full credit for, whatever happened next. What followed was a proper rollercoaster: 4-1 had the tea urn wobbling with nerves, but Trevor Back settled in for the long haul, finishing unbeaten on a magnificent 97, with Desmond High's 42 and Michael Beeney's unbeaten 21 lending sturdy support. A 105-run stand for the fifth wicket did the heavy lifting, and a defiant last-wicket stand of 49 added a splash of respectability we scarcely deserved. 198/6 from our 45 overs felt like a total worth defending, if not quite worth boasting about over the sandwiches.

And defend it we did. Sheldwich fought hard — Maxine Blythin's fifty and contributions from Dave Williams (39) and Jon Taylor (27 not out) kept us honest — but they never quite got away from us, bowled out for 163. Tim Thirkell was magnificent, ripping through the order with 5-32, while Joshua Knowler and Lee Tidey chipped in either side of him, Tidey's three maidens the very picture of miserliness. Poor Glen Rawson had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 14 byes testament to a tricky day at the office.

A word too for Trevor Back, who brought up 12,000 career runs for the club — a landmark deserving of rather more than the warm bitter we gave him. A fine win by 35 runs, then, and a captain's decision vindicated. Onwards.

Sat 15 May 2010 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformWWWWD

Saturday last took us down to Sheldwich, and for once the coin obliged — I called correctly and, with visions of a flat pitch and a fast outfield, stuck us in. We got off to the sort of start that tests a captain's nerve, wobbling to 8 for 1, before Ryan Boyns and company set about repairing the damage. Boyns made a fine 57, and I'm rather pleased to report my own 52 played its part too, alongside Adam Jackson's 53 — the pair of us adding a proper 93 for the fifth wicket to give the innings some backbone. Poor Craig Sands departed for a golden duck, though even he could take comfort in the 37 runs Sheldwich's bowlers kindly gifted us in extras. We closed on a handsome 251 for 7.

In the field, Will Thirkell was quite magnificent, ripping through with 3 for 8, well backed up by Richard Knowler (2-17) and Matthew Carter (2-26), while I did my bit with the ball too, two maidens and all. Mark Hammond's 30 was the best Sheldwich could muster in reply, and they subsided to 134 for 9.

A word of pride beyond the scoreboard: Adam Jackson brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Matthew Carter's wickets nudged him past Stuart Cheesman into 25th on the all-time list. A fine win by 117 runs — onwards we go.

Wed 12 May 2010 🧢 Midweek XIv TC Tenterden CC · AwayformLLDDD

Beaten but not bowed, I'll admit I fancied our chances when I won the toss out at Tenterden and stuck us in — the pitch looked ripe for it, and for a fleeting moment when Fred Pearman departed without troubling the scorers at 0 on the board, I allowed myself a quiet smile. That smile did not last. Robert Featherstone and Rob Sparks put on a crucial 180 for the third wicket, Featherstone motoring to 68 and Sparks to a fine 58, before Timir Chanda finished unbeaten on 60 to steer them to 226/6. Matthew Carter toiled manfully for 3-44, with Stuart Cheesman and Sam Boyns chipping in a wicket apiece, but 226 was always going to take some chasing.

Chasing it we duly failed to do. We lost our first wicket for just 6 and never quite recovered our composure, subsiding to 142 all out. Trevor Back's 22 and Matthew Carter's 21 were about the only things standing between us and outright embarrassment.

There was, at least, one small consolation amid the wreckage: Stuart Cheesman's solitary wicket nudged him past Matthew Carter and up to 25th on the club's all-time list — a landmark deserving of at least a pat on the back, if not quite a standing ovation. Back leads our Midweek run charts, Carter our wicket charts, small mercies both.

Beaten by 84 runs, then, and fairly so. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week — we usually are, eventually.

Sun 09 May 2010 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LC Limpsfield Chart CC · AwayformWDDWL

We came away from Limpsfield Chart with the sort of five-wicket win that makes the drive home feel considerably shorter than the drive there, despite losing the toss and being asked to bowl on a Sunday when most of us would happily have had a lie-in.

The hosts ground their way to 195/8 from the full forty, with Ricky Singh the chief architect of our discomfort — 72 well beyond his fifty, cashing in on a stand of 79 for the sixth wicket alongside Paul Hemple's unbeaten 31, with Mike Soper's 24 adding further weight. Credit where due to Matthew Carter, who bowled with real discipline for 4-37 including two maidens, well backed up by Mark Christmas (2-45) and Harry Bee (1-24). Without them we'd have been chasing a good deal more than 196.

Our reply began wobbling like a garden table on a windy day — 2-1 was hardly the launchpad we wanted — but Ryan Boyns (59) and Richard Piper (55) steadied the ship with a stand of 92 for the third wicket, proper foundation-laying stuff. Mark Christmas chipped in handsomely with 49, I managed 49 myself, and poor Glen Rawson's name will forever be etched in the book with a duck to his name — commiserations, old boy.

We got there with five wickets in hand. A good day for the club, and proof that a shaky start needn't spoil the tea.

Sat 08 May 2010 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformLWWWW

Then it was our turn to bowl, and here the record book grows almost implausibly kind to us: their innings closed at none all out — bowled out without troubling the scorers, a collapse so complete I half suspect our bowlers of some dark art, though modesty forbids me naming names.

Let me revise the full report and give the final version.

Saturday the 8th of May 2010 brought Shipbourne CC to Linton Park, and disaster struck before a ball was bowled — I lost the toss, and our visitors, fancying their bowlers, sent us in. Not that it troubled us unduly: we raced to 18 without loss in a mere three and a half overs, brisk enough that the tea urn was barely warm before we'd swapped bat for ball.

Then it was our turn with the leather, and here the scorebook turns almost implausibly kind to us — Shipbourne's innings closed at none all out. Bowled out without so much as a run to their name. I shan't pretend to explain it beyond a nod to our attack, who for once had the visitors in a proper tangle. And yet, for all that, the afternoon could conjure no winner, and honours were shared between the sides.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Craig Sands continues his quiet accumulation, sitting second in the 1st XI run charts with 55 to his name — proof that while some of us are building an innings, others are merely building character.

So: a draw, then. Not the stuff that gets carved into the honours board, but an afternoon of cricket played, tea taken, and Shipbourne sent home with plenty to ponder. We'll take it, and gladly.

Mon 03 May 2010 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformLLWWW

It was Selsdon CC who paid us a visit at the Park on Bank Holiday Monday, and having lost the toss I was informed, rather than consulted, that we'd be fielding first. No matter — the lads have never much minded a bit of leather on willow to start proceedings.

With the bat we found our feet nicely, the openers putting on 76 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came. Tom Murphy carried that platform brilliantly, cruising past his fifty to 66, with Glen Rawson (47) and Mark Christmas (20) chipping in handsomely either side of him. I contributed a modest 20 of my own, mostly by standing very still and hoping. We closed on 177/5 from our 41 overs — a total that felt, even as we walked off, like rather more than enough.

So it proved. Restricting Selsdon to defend 177 is one thing; watching it happen quite so emphatically is another. Jon Harris was superb with the ball, 3-26, while Harry Bee (2-14) and the ever-miserly Thomas Beeney (2-16, three maidens) strangled the life out of any partnership. Three Selsdon batsmen — William Dinning, Mitch Kanhai and Ian Kelly — departed without troubling the scorers, and only Jack Dinning's defiant 40 not out kept the margin respectable, if you can call 87 all out respectable. A word too for Beeney, who in the process brought up 100 career wickets — a fine landmark for a fine servant of the club.

Ninety runs the final margin, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards indeed.

Sat 01 May 2010 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWLLWW

Saturday 1 May 2010 saw Headcorn CC visit Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — a decision that produced the sort of innings that keeps a captain's blood pressure just about within acceptable limits. An early stumble to 6 for the loss of a wicket threatened to unravel things before they'd begun, but Glen Rawson and Kevin Presneill dug in for a splendid 103-run stand, Rawson compiling a fine 55 and Presneill following with 53, both thoroughly deserved half-centuries. Joshua Knowler's contribution, alas, was a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, Josh, and no doubt will again. We closed on 137/5 from our 35 overs, a total that felt competitive rather than commanding.

So it proved. Headcorn replied with 134/5 from their 35, Mike Donnelly the chief obstacle with a well-made 54, ably assisted by Ben Leale-Green's 25 and an unbeaten 25 from Neil Levett. But our bowling held its nerve when it mattered — Ian Hollingworth was magnificent, 3-38 including three miserly maidens, with Michael Beeney and Darren Styles chipping in a wicket apiece to squeeze the run rate at every turn.

I confess a personal 53 gave me no small satisfaction, and it was pleasing to see Rawson and Hollingworth already topping the season's run and wicket charts respectively. In the end we scraped home by 3 runs — the narrowest of margins, but a win is a win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 01 May 2010 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLLLWW

Saturday last took us down to Headcorn, where the coin did us no favours whatsoever and we were straight out into the field. Headcorn ground out 98 for 9 from their 45 overs, Paul Putland doing the heavy lifting with 42, but once the middle order arrived it rather came apart at the seams — 66 for 5 became 70 for 8 in the blink of an eye, with James Barker, Simon Phipps and Rocky Hills all walking back without troubling the scorers. Iain Rawson was magnificent, 3 for 12 off a miserly five maidens, ably backed up by Mark Christmas (3-29) and Thomas Beeney (1-7). Not a run given away lightly, and not much sympathy shown either.

Chasing 98, we made harder work of it than perhaps we should have — 1 for 1 inside the first over had the tea urn wobbling — before Nigel Thirkell (36) and Tom Murphy (22) steadied things with a third-wicket stand of 53 that did the real damage. Richard Piper made the long walk back for nought, joining the Duck Club with immediate effect, but we got home at 101 for 5 in 37.5 overs. I even found a bit of rhythm myself with three wickets, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks.

A word for Mark Christmas, whose three wickets shuffled him past Ron Hickman into 22nd on the club's all-time list — and who now leads our 2010 wicket charts, with Richard Knowler topping the run-scoring. A scratchy old win, but a win by 5 wickets all the same. Onwards.

Sun 25 Apr 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv EC East Sutton CC · HomeformDDDLD

Sunday 25 April, and East Sutton CC rolled up on a fine afternoon to find the coin unkind to us — they won the toss and sent us in, which in hindsight rather suited our purposes. We posted a handsome 210 for 6 off our 42, with Tom Murphy playing the innings of the day for a classy 57, Craig Sands chipping in a brisk 36 and Will Thirkell unbeaten on 34 — the two of them putting on 72 for the second wicket to give the innings its spine. Twenty-eight extras arrived too, which I shall claim as canny captaincy rather than wayward East Sutton bowling.

With 210 to defend, the lads set about it with real purpose. East Sutton found only Fred Kember in any nick — a fine 53 that was rather a lone hand — while at the other end Stephen Worth, Darren Thompson and Peter Howard all trooped back without so much as a single to their names. Iain Rawson was the chief tormentor with 2 for 20, Will Thirkell and Thomas Beeney both weighed in with 2 for 26 and 2 for 32 respectively, and Matthew Carter strangled the middle overs with three miserly maidens. East Sutton were done for 129 in 38.5, and the game was up.

Won by 81 runs, then, and thoroughly deserved — Murphy now tops our Sunday run charts and Rawson the wickets, and if this is a taste of the season ahead, I shall not be complaining from the captain's chair.

Sat 24 Apr 2010 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformWLLLW

Saturday 24th April, and Mersham Sports were the visitors — lovely spring afternoon for it, spoiled only slightly by losing the toss and being asked to have a bowl first. Not that any of us minded much; there's a certain masochistic pleasure in chasing.

Mersham ground their way to 157 all out in 44.4 overs, Rob Wilson leading the charge with 40, well backed by David Harman and Rudi Stassen with 23 apiece, and a seventh-wicket stand of 55 that threatened to take the game away from us. Ian Balfour, mercifully, departed for a duck at our hands — every cloud. Ian Hollingworth was the pick of the attack with a fine 3-20, Mark Christmas chipped in with 2-9, and Richard Knowler bowled a positively miserly spell of 1-10 including three maidens — not a run given away lightly, as they say.

Chasing 158, we made hard work of it in the way only a village side can, reaching 160/7 in 40.4 overs. Kevin Presneill's 44 was the innings that mattered, Richard Knowler unbeaten on 44 and Craig Sands' 36 keeping the engine running, with a second-wicket stand of 64 the platform for it all. Joshua Knowler and Matthew Carter both fell for ducks, blots on an otherwise tidy card.

A word too for Michael Beeney, whose solitary wicket nudged him past Alan Wilkes into fifth on the club's all-time list — history quietly being made while the rest of us fretted over the run rate.

Home by three wickets. Nervy, scruffy, thoroughly satisfying — a proper day for the club.

Sun 18 Apr 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Wilmington CC · HomeformWDDDL

Zaid Hussain 29, Satvinder Singh 24 and Tim Cotton 23 gave Wilmington's innings its backbone as they racked up 129 all out — though the honest truth is Tom Thwaites never got off the mark against us, gone for a golden duck. Tim Thirkell was in irresistible form with figures of 5-7, tearing through the middle order like a man late for his tea, while Iain Rawson chipped in handsomely with 4-22 and Matthew Carter picked up one for 25. Michael Beeney kept things admirably tight with two maidens, not a run given away lightly all afternoon.

Chasing 129 should, on paper, have been a formality, but cricket has a wonderful way of humbling a captain's optimism. Glen Rawson led the way with a watchful 22, well supported by Richard Piper's 20, but wickets tumbled at the other end — poor Ollie Howarth departed for a golden duck of his own, and we found ourselves stuttering to 113/7 off our 31 overs, the game slipping from our grasp rather than being seized.

So honours were shared, and if I'm honest, a draw felt like rough justice on Thirkell's bowling but fair reward for Wilmington's middle-order resolve. Early season stuff, of course — Glen Rawson and Tim Thirkell already sit atop our Sunday charts for runs and wickets respectively, and there's clearly enough here to build on. A watchful sort of afternoon, then: no defeat, no glory, but the kettle was on and nobody went home unhappy.