🧢 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 CX Chairman's XI · HomeformLWWWL

David Castle's Linton Park match report:

There's a particular pleasure in winning ugly, or at least winning after a start that gave nobody in the pavilion much reason for confidence. Chairman's XI won the toss, batted, and looked to be settling in nicely until we squeezed them from 107-5 to 109-8 in the blink of an eye — the kind of spell that makes a captain look far cleverer than he actually is. Tom Davey's 69 had given them the makings of a proper total, but Kevin Presneill was magnificent with 3-15, backed up superbly by Sam Boyns, whose figures of 2-6 included three maidens that simply strangled the middle overs, and Harry Bee chipping in with 1-5. Ron McCormick and Will Bramley-Harker both departed without troubling the scorers, which never hurts. All out for 142 from their 30 overs felt, by the end, like a bowling performance rather than a batting collapse.

Chasing it down was never quite straightforward, because this is Linton Park cricket and nothing ever is, but Richard Piper's 36 and Iain Rawson's 34 did the heavy lifting, with Harry Bee's 22 keeping things ticking along nicely. I contributed my own small share along the way, for what it's worth. Poor Nat Presneill made his way back to the pavilion for a duck, joining the club's less illustrious ledger, but nobody remembers that when you've got the runs on the board. We got there in 21.3 overs for the loss of six wickets.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a four-wicket win to show for it. I'll take that every Saturday of the season.

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

Sunday brought Tenterden CC to Linton Park, and for once the weather gods and the batting order were both in a co-operative mood. Put in first, we ground our way to 160 for 7 from the full fifty, David Castle the anchor of the innings with a composed, unbeaten 51, well supported by Richard Piper's brisk 34. Iain Rawson, it must be said, contributed rather less with the bat — a golden duck that he would spend the rest of the afternoon making amends for.

And amends he made. Tenterden's reply never quite got away from us, despite gutsy resistance from Richard Pearman, unbeaten on 43, and Robert Featherstone's 36. Rawson tore through the middle and lower order with a startling 5 for 29, while Chris Hobbs and James Allen both departed without troubling the scorers. Martin Harris and Harry Bee chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Sam Boyns bowled two tidy maidens to keep the screws turned. All out for 126 in the twenty-ninth over — a comfortable margin in the end.

A day for the record books too: Tim Thirkell brought up 13,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to. Piper continues to lead the Sunday run charts this season, and Boyns sits proudly fourth among the wicket-takers. A fine win, and one to build on. Onwards.

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

Here's the report:

Saturday 18 September saw Sidcup CC roll into Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might later suggest. We laboured to 151 all out from our 42 overs, a total that owed everything to Richard Piper's watchful 33, with Michael Beeney (30) and Tim Wright (26) chipping in handsomely. Elsewhere the top order rather let the side down, with both Will Thirkell and Dan Barkaway back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — the sort of collapse best filed under "character building."

With ball in hand we fought hard but couldn't quite land the killer blow. Sidcup crept to 152 for 5 from 35.2 overs, anchored by Thushara Gedara's unbeaten 43 and firm support from Henry Walker (39) and Seetharam Krishnamurthy (35) — their fourth-wicket stand of 61 was the difference between the sides. Michael Beeney was excellent with the ball, 2 for 26, Richard Knowler bowled beautifully for 1 for 11 with four maidens, and I managed to chip in myself with 1 for 1. My afternoon with the bat, by contrast, is best passed over in respectful silence — nought, and not a pretty one.

In the end Sidcup got home by five wickets. Credit to them for holding their nerve; we'll regroup, dust ourselves down, and come back sharper next week.

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

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 15 September 2010, away at Penshurst Park CC.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in sticking us in the field — the pitch had that look about it, and I still maintain it was the right call, even if the scoreboard later did its best to make a fool of me. Penshurst had other ideas, mind, racing to 237/4 off their forty overs on the back of a proper captain's innings from P Green, who cashed in for a chanceless 138. Roy Axtell chipped in with a breezy fifty of his own, unbeaten on 61, and between the two of them our bowling figures took a bit of a battering. I managed to have some say in proceedings with 2-35, and Stuart Cheesman and Tim Thirkell kept things honest with a wicket apiece, but 237 always looked a good par score on that ground.

Chasing 238 to win takes some doing on a Wednesday evening, and for a long while it looked like we might actually pull it off. Craig Sands played an absolute blinder, 105 not out and worth every run, with Ryan Boyns right there alongside him unbeaten on 88. Between them they hauled us to 235/3 — agonisingly, gut-wrenchingly, two runs short at the death.

Beaten by the narrowest of margins, and it stings all the more for how close we came. Trevor Back continues to lead our run charts this season, and I'm quietly pleased to find myself second in the wickets — small consolation on a night like this. We'll be better for it next week; we usually are.

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

Skipper's Log — Sunday 12 September 2010

Snodland Community CC rolled up, called correctly, and stuck us in — as is traditional on these occasions, offering absolutely no assurances about the pitch and every assurance about their bowling attack. We ground our way to 162/7 from the full 42, with Ron McCormick the pick of the willow-wielders on 38, well backed up by Harry Bee's 26 and Richard Piper's 23. Will Thirkell and Sam Boyns both departed for ducks, proving once again that cricket is a game of humbling symmetry — one man's half-century is another man's long, silent walk back to the pavilion.

Snodland's reply never quite found its rhythm. C. Knope battled to 39 and G. Thursting chipped in with 21, but our attack strangled the rest, bowling them out for 118 in 40.4 overs — a comfortable 44-run margin in the end. Sam Boyns was the star turn, 2 for 1 off his figures and five maidens to boot — the sort of miserly spell that makes batsmen question their life choices — with Will Bramley-Harker (2-16) and myself (2-22) mopping up either end. Ron McCormick had a torrid time behind the stumps, gifting 9 byes, but no matter.

A word too for Ryan Boyns, who brought up 50 career wickets — a landmark worth raising a glass to, even if the man himself wasn't among the wickets on the day.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine afternoon's work all round.

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

Lost the toss again on Saturday — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has a grudge against me — and Boughton & Eastwell had no hesitation sending us in. We ground out a respectable 166 for 8 from our 45, built on a fine opening stand of 90 before the first wicket fell. Craig Sands played the anchor beautifully for a classy 51, with Ryan Boyns weighing in with 49 and Richard Piper a tidy 31 to give the total some real substance. Less said the better about the middle order's contribution — Adam Jackson, Laurie Probert and Richard Knowler all departed for ducks, three golden eggs laid in succession, though thankfully the earlier partnership meant the innings could absorb the blow.

Defending 166 always feels like a coin-toss of its own, but the bowlers made light work of it. I had one of those days where everything comes out of the hand right, finishing with 3 for 10, and I wasn't alone in enjoying myself — Adam Jackson claimed 3 for 15 and Will Thirkell 3 for 20, while Richard Knowler strangled the scoring with three maidens. The visitors were bowled out for a paltry 90 in 33.5 overs, never remotely troubling our total.

A thoroughly professional performance from start to finish, and 76 runs to the good at the close. Two points banked, and not a jammy one among them — this was earned the honest way, with bat, ball and a bit of good old-fashioned Linton Park grit.

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

Alan Boyns here, filing from a soggy corner of Kent after our trip to Brasted Invicta.

Winning the toss on Sunday, I had no hesitation putting them in — the pitch had "bowl first" written all over it, and for a good while it looked the masterstroke it deserved to be. Stuart Young had other ideas, ghosting to 93 with Justin Wilson (46) offering cheerful support, and between them they dragged Brasted to a stiffer-than-hoped 200/8 from their forty. Credit where due: Tim Thirkell was superb, 3-15 of pure discipline, while the Harris brothers chipped in — Jon with 2-56 and Martin, miserly as ever, 1-29 off three maidens. Ten byes crept into the total too, which tells you all you need to know about the sort of afternoon Ron McCormick was having behind the stumps.

Chasing 201 was always going to ask questions of a top order still finding its feet, and 111/6 was the sobering answer. I dug in for 44 not out, Ron McCormick made handy amends with the bat for 25, and somewhere in the middle of it all poor Desmond High walked for a golden duck — the sort of dismissal that earns you a permanent line in the Duck Club ledger and a pint bought in shame.

Beaten by 89 runs, then, and no arguing with the margin. Young's innings won it long before we ever picked up a bat. We'll dust ourselves down and come back sharper next week — that's club cricket for you.

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 IC Ipswich Greyhounds CC · AwayformLWLLT

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 25 August 2010

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once nobody questioned my judgement — though after a wicket fell with just 4 on the board, I did wonder whether I'd been hasty. We steadied well enough, Mark Christmas leading the way with a tidy 29 and Laurie Probert chipping in with 20, while I added a workmanlike 19 of my own to nudge us along. Less fortunate was young Will Thirkell, who contrived a golden duck and can now consider himself a fully paid-up member of the Duck Club — the walk of shame performed with all due solemnity. We closed on 131/7 from our twenty overs, a total that felt defendable rather than daunting.

And so it proved, almost. H Thomas and J Elford both made hay with 34 apiece, stitching together a 63-run stand for the fourth wicket that did most of the damage, with X Madanyake unbeaten on 20 to see them home. Martin Harris was superb with the ball, 3-21 the pick of the bowling, and Mark Christmas backed up his runs with 1-22 for good measure. But the middle overs slipped from our grasp and they closed on 132/6 with an over in hand, winning by four wickets.

Not our day, then — heads up, and back to the nets. Paul Gibson continues to lead our run charts this season with 79, and Mark Christmas tops the wickets with four, so there's plenty to build on even in defeat.

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

Here's the match report for the gazette:

There are days when winning the toss feels like half the battle, and Tuesday down at Abberton was not one of them. They had a look at the pitch, fancied their chances in the field, and put us in without so much as a by-your-leave. As is traditional in these circumstances, we simply had to get on with it.

Get on with it we did. I found some early rhythm and went on to make 65, though I'll happily admit the innings owed just as much to Richard Knowler's classy 42 alongside me — the two of us put on 75 for the sixth wicket, which was the platform the whole innings was built on. The extras column did its bit too, chipping in 37 wides, no-balls and leg-byes that Abberton's bowlers would rather forget. All told, 218/9 from our forty overs felt like a defendable total, if not quite an unassailable one.

And so it proved. Abberton chased hard, with Daniel Guy playing the innings of the day for 79, well backed by Keith Brewster (35) and Dan White (33), and a fourth-wicket stand of 66 that threatened to run away from us. Credit to Mark Christmas, who bowled beautifully for 3-33 with two maidens to keep a lid on things, ably supported by Richard Knowler's 2-25 and Sam Boyns's 1-47 — though spare a thought for poor Paul Welton, sent back for a duck.

When the dust settled, both sides stood at 218 — not a run between us after a whole day's cricket. You couldn't write it. A tie, then, and thoroughly deserved by both sides — cricket at its most maddening and its most marvellous, all in one afternoon.

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

Sunday 22 August, and Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill arrived to a losing toss on my part — they had first use of a pitch that, in hindsight, batted rather better than it bowled. Mark Vernon made merry with 74 not out, well supported by Michael Coney's 27, and by the time they declared their innings closed at 181/5 from the full forty, I confess my optimism was being rationed. Credit where due — Sam Boyns bowled with real purpose for 3-41, Jordan Austin and Stan Sutton chipped in with a wicket apiece, and my namesake Iain Rawson was positively miserly, three maidens and not a run given away lightly. Jack Jarrett and Mike Stevens both departed for ducks, which was some consolation on an otherwise expensive afternoon.

Chasing 182, Will Thew played the innings of the day, 63 in fine style at the top of the order, and I was glad to lend a hand with 27 of my own further down. Matthew Carter's golden duck was one of the few blemishes in an innings that, on paper, should have got closer than it did — 154/9 from our forty overs told a story of application undone by generosity elsewhere. Eight byes and a startling 39 in wides and no-balls handed them runs we simply couldn't afford to gift.

Twenty-seven runs the wrong side of the ledger, then — not our day, though I'll take some quiet pride in still leading the Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 600 for the summer, and in Sam Boyns sitting second among the wicket-takers. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets we go.

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

Sunday saw us head over to Bidborough CC, and the coin, for once, actually did what I asked of it. I stuck them in, feeling rather pleased with myself, a feeling that lasted roughly as long as it took Pat Rossiter to reach three figures. He and Eli Clarkson simply refused to leave, adding a chastening 208 for the second wicket on their way to 148 and 78 respectively, and by the time they'd finished Bidborough sat pretty on 259/5 from their 35 overs. Justin Clarkson, at least, kindly obliged us with a golden duck. Just when I was reaching for the calculator to work out our required rate, Harry Bee remembered why he's worth his place, ripping through with 4-34, with Michael Beeney chipping in a tidy 1-27 to drag things back into some kind of respectability.

Chasing 260, we made surprisingly serene work of it. Ryan Boyns and Richard Piper put on a magnificent 147 for the second wicket, Boyns cruising to 78 and Piper to a well-crafted 77 — the latter also bringing up 9,000 career runs for the club, which called for a rather longer round of applause than usual. I came in and saw us home with an unbeaten 40, the extras column doing its bit too with a generous 30. We got there in 30.2 overs for the loss of four, a six-wicket win.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a proper reminder of why we play this daft game — even when the opposition's top order seems allergic to getting out.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 21 August 2010, away to West Farleigh CC

Won the toss, and against every instinct of a captain who's watched too many sides bat second and coast to victory, I stuck us in. It looked a poor decision at 8-1, the lads shuffling back to the pavilion looking rather sheepish, but cricket has a habit of rewarding patience, and Richard Knowler set about repairing the innings with real intent, cruising past his fifty to finish on 53. Laurie Probert chipped in nicely with 35, and I found some form of my own with 41, the pair of us part of a fifth-wicket stand worth 81 that dragged us from wobble to respectability. We closed on a handsome 235/9 from our 45 overs. Spare a thought for poor Adam Jackson, though, who made his way back to the hutch without troubling the scorers — a proper walk of shame.

With the ball, we were relentless. West Farleigh never got close, bowled out for 132 in the 38th over, William Norman's 27 the only real resistance. Sam Boyns was the pick of the attack with 3-20, well backed by Thomas Beeney's 2-14 and a couple more for me at 2-23, while Matthew Carter strangled the life out of it with four maidens. Adam Jackson had a wretched afternoon behind the stumps, 13 byes leaking through, but with the runs already banked it mattered little.

Won by 103 runs, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work — the sort of result that makes the long drive home fly by.

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

I write to my dad Wednesday evening — some things you'd rather forget, but 205 for 5 wasn't one of them.

Not much I could do about the coin — Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC had it their way and stuck us in, which on another day might have been the end of us. Not this one. Trevor Back played the innings of the afternoon, 62 of them, and found a willing ally in Will Thirkell, whose 49 kept the scoreboard honest. David Castle, not for the last time that day, was in the thick of it too, 46 not out and unbeaten at the close of our innings — the pair of them putting on 77 for the fifth wicket, which was as good as the day got with the bat. Poor Joe Martin will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but a report of record must record it. 205/5 from 41.1 overs felt like a total to defend, and so it proved.

With the ball, Martin Harris was the story — 4 for 17 that had their middle order in all sorts of bother, with Darren Styles and I chipping in for a wicket apiece, and Matthew Carter bowling four miserly maidens that never let them settle. David Loader's unbeaten 28 held them together, but 133 for 9 from their 49 overs was never going to chase us down, and honours were shared. Spare a thought for David Castle, seventeen byes and all with the gloves on — though nobody begrudges him after that innings. A word too for Darren Styles, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — some players get there quietly, and that's exactly how he did it. A draw, then, but one that felt, on reflection, rather more like ours than theirs.

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

Sunday saw Chelsfield Park CC roll up for what promised to be a full day's cricket, and so it proved. Put in first, we made merry with the bat, racing to 260 for 4 off just 34 overs. Glen Rawson set the tone with a superb 83, and I was fortunate enough to find some form of my own, finishing unbeaten on 78 — a personal contribution that felt thoroughly satisfying after a long walk out to the middle. Laurie Probert chipped in handsomely with 42, and between us we gave the bowlers precious little rest.

With such a total to defend, the lads set about their work with real purpose. Chelsfield fought hard, Guy Glennie top-scoring with 36 and getting good support from Stuart Pinchin's 28 and Greg Snape's 21, but they never quite got away from us, closing on 135 for 9 from their 42 overs. Peter Burton, less fortunately for him, departed for a golden duck. The star turn was undoubtedly Michael Beeney, who ran thoroughly riot with figures of 6 for 39, while Thomas Beeney bowled with real discipline for 1 for 19 including three maidens, and Iain Rawson picked up 1 for 22.

In the end neither side could force matters home, and honours were shared. With Ryan Boyns still leading our run charts on 337 and Michael Beeney topping the wickets on 18, the season continues to purr along nicely. A draw, then — but a thoroughly entertaining one, and no complaints from this captain.

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

As I stroll to the crease at Benenden – losing the toss and being asked to field – there's a certain inevitability to a Sunday afternoon that only village cricket can serve up.

Put in to bowl, we made a fair fist of it. Dan Barkaway was the pick of the attack, snaring 3-28 with real hostility, and I chipped in with 2-25 while Sam Boyns weighed in with 2-33 for good measure. There was even a touch of home comfort as Lee Bezuidenhout departed for a duck at our hands – small mercies. But Patrick Coyne had other ideas, cruising to 62, well supported by Mike Daley's 49 and Samuel Martin's 31, and Benenden pushed on to a stiff 202/8 from their forty overs.

Chasing it down was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved. I found some form with the bat, holding things together for 32 not out, but wickets tumbled at the other end with alarming regularity – Ron McCormick, Paul Ratcliffe and Andy Bell all making the sorry walk back for ducks, and even our extras column, generous as it was with 25, couldn't paper over the cracks. All out for 122 in 35.5 overs, beaten by 80 runs.

Not our finest hour, but there were flickers worth bottling – the bowling effort with the new ball, and my own runs down the order among them. We'll dust ourselves off, lick our wounds over a pint, and be better for it next week.

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

A tricky one to write up, this. Wednesday the 11th of August saw us make the trip to The Mote, and I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough pleasure that I couldn't resist batting first. It didn't look a wise decision when we lost our first wicket with the total still reading nought, and matters weren't helped by three of the lads — Laurie Probert, Joshua Knowler and Matthew Carter — all departing for ducks. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and a defiant last-wicket stand added a precious 35 to drag us up to a respectable-looking 105 all out. I finished unbeaten on 32, well supported by Richard Piper's 23.

Defending 105 was always going to ask a great deal of the bowling, and to their credit the lads made a real fist of it. Matthew Carter was superb, 2 for 18 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and also brought up 300 career wickets along the way — no small landmark. Joshua Knowler chipped in with 2 for 19 and Tim Wright with 1 for 15, but L English's fifty-plus knock of 60 proved the difference, and The Mote got home at 106 for 5. I can't pretend my afternoon behind the stumps helped matters either — 11 byes is not a number I'll be framing for the clubhouse wall.

Four wickets the wrong way, then, and a long drive home with plenty to mull over. Heads up, though — back to the nets, and on to the next one.

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

Sunday 8 August, and off we trundled to Newington in reasonably good spirits, if not entirely convinced our bowling attack had the legs for a 40-over slog. First use of the ball, and Kevin Collis promptly reminded us why he opens the batting for a living, cruising to 83 while Jason Perry (40) and Alex Clark (34) tucked in around him. Newington finished on 207/7, a total that felt fully par and then some. To our credit, we kept chipping away — Gareth Davies the pick of the attack with 2-41, Michael Beeney following with 2-47, and Iain Rawson doing the miserly, metronomic thing he does best, 1-11 with two maidens to show for his afternoon's parsimony.

208 to win, then, and we set about it as though someone had told us the boundary rope was shrinking. Andy Bee and I put on 60 for the first wicket before either of us so much as looked troubled, and from there I simply kept my head down — 65 not out felt like one of those innings where everything comes out of the middle, and I shan't pretend it wasn't thoroughly satisfying to see us home. Andy's 48 and Glen Rawson's unbeaten 24 did the rest, though poor Glen also contributed eight byes behind the stumps, the sort of day wicketkeepers try to forget with a stiff pint afterwards.

A six-wicket win, then, and a tidy one at that. My 305 runs keep me atop the Sunday averages, with Thomas Beeney lurking second in the wickets column — the season, happily, continues to take shape nicely. Onwards indeed.

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

Lost the toss again — I'm beginning to think that coin has it in for me — and Meopham elected to bat on a Saturday that promised more sunshine than swing. They ground their way to 121 all out in 43.4 overs, built patiently around Andrew Powney's 25, with Gavin Tovey (23) and Mark Burton (20) chipping in the sort of runs that add up before you notice. Poor James Fotheringham departed for nought, which I mention only because someone has to. Sam Boyns was magnificent, ripping through with 4-27, while Richard Knowler bowled with the patience of a saint — 2-23 including four maidens, not a run given away lightly — and Matthew Carter chipped in with 2-41. A tidy, disciplined effort in the field, and I'll happily admit that leading the wicket charts this season with 22 owes plenty to team performances like this one.

Chasing 122, we made hard work of easy arithmetic. Thomas Beeney anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 36, but around him the innings wobbled alarmingly — 53 for 4 became 67 for 7 in the sort of collapse that has spectators reaching for their flasks in despair. Somehow, gloriously, the tail wagged, grinding out the remaining runs to get us home in 33.3 overs.

A scrappy, nerve-shredding, thoroughly typical club cricket win by 3 wickets. We'll take it, we'll not analyse it too closely, and we'll be back next week hoping for rather less drama.

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

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 2010, and Nuxley CC rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and, rather annoyingly, the coin landing their way — we were put in the field. Martin Jones set about making 81 look easy, John Hahn chipped in with a tidy 38 and Adam Hudson stayed unbeaten on 20 as Nuxley posted a stiff 177/7 from their forty. Small mercy: Michael Heaney departed without so much as troubling the scorers. With ball in hand we scrapped well — Iain Rawson the pick of us with 2-18, and I was pleased enough with my own 2-32, while Jordan Austin picked up one for 24.

Chasing 178 is never a stroll on our outfield, and so it proved. Mark Austin's 32 was the innings' backbone, with Alan Boyns unbeaten on 28 and Iain Rawson's 25 keeping the required rate honest for a while. Extras did their patriotic duty with 36. Less gloriously, the Duck Club welcomed three new members — Jordan Austin, Ollie Howarth and Martin Harris all walked the walk of shame for nought — and behind the stumps Alan Boyns had a torrid afternoon, shipping eight byes for his trouble. We closed on 155/8, twenty-two runs light.

Not our day, then, and no amount of English understatement will dress it up as anything else. But there's fight in this side, Rawson and Austin proved that, and the nets beckon before we put it right.

Sun 01 Aug 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv 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

Nigel Thirkell writes...

We won the toss on Saturday and I had few qualms about batting first against Sheldwich CC — the right call, I still maintain, whatever anyone tells you in the bar afterwards. Things didn't exactly begin serenely, mind, with an early wobble taking us to 4-1 before we'd so much as found our bearings. But Laurie Probert steadied the ship in fine style, cruising past his fifty, and found an able ally in Adam Jackson (45), the pair putting on 71 for the fourth wicket to drag us to a respectable 175/9 from our 45 overs. Elsewhere the card wasn't entirely rosy — poor Will endured a duck, the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint — but we felt we'd posted something defendable.

Defending it proved rather harder than expected. Sheldwich's openers gave them the perfect platform, 82 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and from there Daniel Ray (54) and James Creed (53) both brought up fine half-centuries to keep them cantering along, with Mark Hammond unbeaten on 30 seeing them home at 176/4 in 35.2 overs. I did what I could with the ball, finishing with 3-50, and there was a personal landmark amid the gloom — fifty career wickets, which I'll allow myself a quiet smile about.

Not our day, in truth — beaten by six wickets, heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Wed 28 Jul 2010 🧢 Midweek XIv IX Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI · HomeformDDLDD

Wednesday brought Ipswich Greyhounds CC - Kent Tour XI down to Linton Park, and with the toss won I sent the visitors in, more in hope than expectation that a green pitch might do us some favours. It didn't do us many. Rick Jones set about us for 48, with Paul Mobbs (31) and Gareth Thomas (28) offering sturdy support, and 167/8 from their 48 overs felt a defendable total on a slow outfield. At least poor Ed Thorogood won't remember much of his innings, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. With the ball, Michael Beeney was the pick of a tidy attack with 2-24, well backed by Darren Styles (2-43) and Matthew Carter (1-5), while Thomas Beeney bowled three maidens that kept the scoreboard honest when it mattered.

Chasing 168, we made a proper meal of it, stumbling and scrapping to 168/8 from 38.5 overs, with Laurie Probert and Thomas Beeney both contributing tidy 20s and the extras column doing its patriotic duty with 30. Joe Martin had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping nine byes, and will no doubt hear about it in the bar.

Two proper milestones lit up the day amid the nervous cricket: Craig Sands brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, and Darren Styles his 200th, both thoroughly deserving of the warm applause they received. Thomas Beeney continues his fine season, third in the Midweek run charts, with Matthew Carter leading the wickets column.

A scratchy, nerve-jangling win by two wickets, but two points are two points, and we'll take it gladly.

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

From the captain's chair, Sunday 25 July 2010, and it was back on the road to Gravesend CC. I lost the toss - no change there - and duly found myself standing in the field rather than padded up, which given how the day unfolded was rather the wrong end of the stick.

Gravesend made hay, posting 202 for 3 from their forty overs. Charley Nash was in irresistible touch, unbeaten on 90, with capable company from Jamie Maguire's well-made fifty and Ashley Church's brisk 29. Ben Hughes departed for a duck without troubling the scorers. I did what I could with the ball, taking 2 for 45, and Sam Boyns chipped in with 1 for 41, but 202 always looked a stretch on a good pitch.

We gave it a real go in reply. Jordan Austin played the innings of the day, 68 of good, sensible batting, with Ron McCormick lending sturdy support on 21. Iain Rawson, alas, joins the Duck Club ledger with a nought to forget. We closed on 146 for 6, some way short of parity.

Beaten by 56 runs in the end - no arguing with the scoreboard. Elsewhere, Glen Rawson continues to lead our Sunday run charts with 573, and I'm rather pleased to say I still top the wicket-takers with 11 for the season. Small consolations on a tough afternoon. We'll regroup and come back sharper next week.

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

Sunday 25 July saw Bells Yew Green CC roll up to Linton Park, and I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the sort of decision that looks either inspired or idiotic by teatime, and today, thankfully, the former. Ryan Boyns and Richard Piper put on a brisk 64 for the first wicket before anyone had troubled the scorers with a wicket, and from there the innings just kept purring along. Boyns went on to a fine fifty, Thirkell chipped in with 46 and Piper 42, and we closed on a formidable 241/8 from our 36 overs. Spare a thought, as ever, for poor Stewart Morrison, whose golden duck earns him this week's walk of shame down the Duck Club gallery.

With that total in the bank, the bowling more or less took care of itself. Neil Cleave held things together with 24, but the rest of the innings fell away alarmingly — 88 for 7 became 103 all out inside 34.1 overs, Tim Farrell among those departing without troubling the scorers. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4 for 10, well supported by Thirkell's 2 for 23, Probert's canny 1 for 0, and Knowler bowling four miserly maidens throughout.

A win by 138 runs, then, and two points thoroughly banked. Quietly pleasing personally to nudge past Dick Langridge into 24th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list — though I'll leave the history books to the statisticians and simply say: a proper team performance, top to bottom.

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

Saturday 24 July saw us make the trip to Shipbourne, and I lost the toss for my sins — they put us in, and I can't say I blamed them once the shine came off the ball. We limped to 126 all out in 39.2 overs, a total that flattered to deceive on a card with more gaps than we'd like. I top-scored with 44, ably supported by Richard Knowler's 31, and between us we papered over a fair few cracks — not least poor Ryan Boyns, who departed for a duck and will be buying the teas for some time yet.

Defending 126 was always going to require something special, and while the lads huffed and puffed, Shipbourne simply strolled to 129 for 2 in 21 overs. Sam Spink made merry with an unbeaten 59, well backed by James McCulley's 44, and the pair rather took the sting out of our afternoon. Credit where it's due — Thomas Beeney was the pick of our attack with 1-18, tidy and probing throughout, while Matthew Carter chipped in for 1-44, still doing his bit for a season in which he sits third in the 1st XI wicket charts with 11 scalps. Glen Rawson, meanwhile, continues to lead the run charts on 379 for the year, though he'll have watched this one from a respectful distance.

An 8-wicket defeat, then, and no dressing it up. We were undercooked with the bat and overrun in the field. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there are sunnier Saturdays ahead.

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

Here is the match report.

There are moments in a captain's chair when calling correctly at the toss feels like the biggest decision of the day — and against Blue Star, deciding to bat felt like the right one from the first ball. What followed was a genuine treat: Ryan Boyns played an innings for the ages, 130 not out, an absolute masterclass that dragged us to 234 for 5 from our 41 overs. I chipped in with 37 not out, James Piper added a tidy 24, though the scorebook wasn't all sunshine — Ollie Howarth and Ray Dixon both departed without troubling the umpires, ducks that no doubt cost them a pint each in the bar afterwards.

Defending it, Blue Star made us work for every run. Christopher Holman gave us a lesson in stroke-play with a superb century, well supported by Mike Peters' fine fifty, and the pair put on 120 for the fourth wicket that looked, for a good while, like it might see them home. Credit to the lads for not folding — Mark Chenery went for nought, and I had a happy afternoon with the ball, finishing with three for 45. Michael Beeney bowled beautifully too, two wickets and four maidens of pure miserliness, with Joshua Knowler chipping in for one.

In the end, 232 for 7 just wasn't quite enough for either side to force it home. A draw, then — honours shared, and frankly, after Boyns' century and Holman's reply, a fair result for a Sunday that had everything except a winner.

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

Skipper's log, and a fine old trek out to Boughton & Eastwell greeted us on a Sunday that promised runs, if little else, once we were asked to bat first. Losing the toss and being put in is never the tonic a captain hopes for, and when we slipped to 6-1 early doors it looked like being one of those afternoons spent staring gloomily at the tea urn. But Glen Rawson and Jamie Ratcliffe had other ideas, their third-wicket stand of 182 doing all the heavy lifting. Rawson's 121 was a proper, watchable hundred, and Ratcliffe's 59 gave it fine company. Poor Will Thew will not remember the day so fondly, undone for a duck. We closed a healthy 233/4 from our 43 overs.

With the ball, it was a different sort of afternoon altogether - patient, probing, and eventually irresistible. Mark Christmas was the story of the day, ripping through with 5-17, three of his victims - Andrew Possee, Laurence Hughes and Anthony Campbell - back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. I chipped in with 1-18, Martin Harris took 1-13, and Iain Rawson kept the screws tight with a couple of maidens. Craig Mannering's 34, with useful support from Simon Richardson and Alistair Vant, hauled the hosts to 145/9 from their 42, but no further.

A draw, then - honours shared, and rightly so, for neither side could quite land the killer blow. With Rawson leading our run charts for the season and my own nine wickets topping the bowling, it feels a summer building nicely. Verdict: a fair result, earned by good batting and better bowling, and a drive home made all the lighter for it.

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

Captain's Log, Staplehurst, 17 July 2010. I called correctly at the toss and didn't so much as pause before sticking Staplehurst in — a decision that, for once, looked shrewd rather than reckless. They ground their way to 168 all out from 42.2 overs, Tim Watts top-scoring with 43 and a stubborn sixth-wicket stand of 68 threatening to make a long afternoon of it. Poor R Clarke and Mark Jeffery departed without so much as a single to their names, ducks both, while Richard Knowler was quite magnificent, scything through with 5-21 — a five-for thoroughly earned. I chipped in with 3-40 and a couple of maidens for good measure, with Matthew Carter's 2-42 rounding out a proper team effort with the ball.

Chasing 169, we were rarely troubled. Glen Rawson played an innings of real class, 101 not out, anchoring things beautifully alongside Adam Jackson's brisk 33 in a fourth-wicket stand worth 63, and we cantered home at 169/4 from 38.2 overs. Rawson's afternoon behind the stumps was rather less serene — 16 byes went begging — but with a century like that to his name, nobody in the changing room was counting.

I now lead the 2010 1st XI wicket charts with 21, while Rawson sits proudly atop the run charts with 367. A fine win by six wickets, and a thoroughly satisfying day all round. Onwards.

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

Jon Harris here, reporting from the middle on what turned into another honest Midweek toil against Lord Cornwallis XI.

Lost the toss again — I'm starting to wonder if that coin has it in for me — and duly found myself leading the lads into the field on a Wednesday that promised more effort than glory. Cornwallis batted with real application: their skipper's namesake, a- Cornwallis, ground out 46, while E- Hoy (34) and T- Coleman (32) chipped in to push the total along to a stubborn 192 for 9 off their 44 overs. It could have been worse but for Thomas Beeney, who bowled beautifully for 3-46 and kept us in the contest, with Tim Wright (2-19) tidy alongside him. I managed to prise out a couple myself, finishing with 2-21, which I'll take without complaint given how well their middle order was playing.

Chasing 193, we made altogether calmer work of it. David Castle was the class of the innings, unbeaten on a fine 79, marshalling things sensibly while Ollie Howarth (36) and James Piper (35) played their part in the supporting cast. We closed on 182 for 3 from 43 overs — short of the target, but never remotely troubled.

So honours shared, and on reflection a fair result: a pitch that gave little away, and two sides content to leave with pride intact rather than risk it all for a result neither could quite force. A draw, then — the great English compromise, and no bad way to spend a Wednesday.

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

Here's the match report.

It's not often I get to write one of these with a smile still on my face, but Sunday's win over Brasted Invicta gave us plenty to be cheerful about. Winning the toss and putting them in, we watched them labour to 128/8 from their 40 overs, with only Justin Wilson (23) and John Johnstone (21) really getting going. The real story was our attack: Joshua Knowler bowled with real discipline for figures of 3-16, including two maidens that strangled the middle overs, while Michael Beeney (2-20) and Iain Rawson (1-8) tidied up nicely around him.

Chasing 129, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite making it look easy. James Piper top-scored with a fine 39, well supported by Glen Rawson (26 not out) and Jamie Ratcliffe (20), and we got home in 31.4 overs for the loss of four wickets. I chipped in with the ball earlier in the season and was quietly pleased to see my name atop the 2nd XI wicket charts with 8 for the year, though Glen Rawson's night behind the stumps was rather less serene — ten byes is the sort of statistic that makes a wicketkeeper wince, whatever the runs he later put on with the bat.

Special mention must go to James Piper, who brought up 4,000 career runs for the club — a proper landmark, and thoroughly deserved. All in all, two points banked, a few lessons for Glen behind the stumps, and a result that flatters nobody more than it should: won by six wickets, and thoroughly earned.

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

Saturday 10th July saw us welcome Headcorn CC, and having won the toss I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I still stand by, whatever the lads may say about my judgement on other matters.

Batting first, we posted a solid 213/6 from our 45 overs. I was fortunate enough to find some early rhythm and carried that through to a half-century, and I was grateful for the company: Glen Rawson chipped in a fine 46 and Craig Sands added a brisk 33, while our extras column — ever the reliable middle-order presence — weighed in with 25. A total to be proud of, even if not quite enough to declare the job done.

And so it proved. Headcorn strolled to 214/2 in 42.2 overs, with Robert Sparks unbeaten on a chanceless 89 and James Barker following him to a well-made fifty of his own. We did what we could with the ball — Richard Knowler was tidy as ever with 1-16, and Matthew Carter worked hard for his 1-47, three maidens a testament to a spell that deserved rather better luck than it got. But two batsmen in that sort of touch were always going to be a tall order to prise apart.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguing with the scoreboard. Credit to Headcorn, who batted us out of it in style — we'll dust ourselves down, take the positives from a healthy total, and come back stronger 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 lost the toss down at The Mote and were invited to have a bowl first — the sort of instruction one accepts with a smile and a faint sense of dread on a warm July Sunday. That dread proved well-founded. After James Higgins nicked off for a golden duck, Mark Christmas dragged us right back into it with a lovely spell of 2-15, and I managed to chip in with 1-24, ably matched by Joshua Knowler's identical figures, while Harry Bee bowled two maidens of admirable meanness. But Laurence Waters had other ideas, compiling a superb unbeaten 113, with Danny Rowe's fine 72 and Howard Waters's 22 building a stand of 134 for the fourth wicket that took the game away from us. 234/4 felt like a proper mountain.

Undaunted — or perhaps just too stubborn to know better — we set about the chase. Laurie Probert played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 88, with Daniel Thirkell's well-made 72 and Lewis Burnham's 31 laying the foundations through a second-wicket stand worth 122. We cantered home to 235/3 in 38.2 overs.

A seven-wicket win, two points banked, and thoroughly earned. With Craig Sands still topping the run charts and yours truly leading the wicket column for the summer, this felt like Linton Park cricket at its most satisfying — comfortable in the end, but earned the hard way first.

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

From the captain's chair — Saturday 03 July 2010. Away at Boughton & Eastwell, and the coin let us down as usual, so we were straight into the field.

They batted first and ground out 196/9 from their 45 overs, David Gray the chief architect with 33, well supported by Simon Chandler (26) and Daniel Pritchard (24), the pair of them stitching together a stubborn 50-run stand for the fifth wicket that threatened to get away from us. Richard Knowler was the pick of the attack with 2-16, Will Thirkell and Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-42 and 1-25 respectively, and I did my bit for the cause with three tidy maidens — not a run given away lightly, even if the figures book won't remember me for it.

Chasing 197, Craig Sands played the innings of the day, sailing past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 89 and dragging us home almost single-handedly. The tail did its best impression of wagging, adding a frustrating 79 between them, extras weighed in with a handy 28, and I contributed 16 down the order. Spare a thought for poor James Piper, who walked the walk of shame with a duck against his name — we've all been there, James.

Four wickets and two points in the bag: a proper away win, hard-fought in the field and comfortably closed out with the bat. I'll take that all day.

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

Not our day at New Beckenham — down by six wickets, and a long drive home to reflect on it.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first, and for a good while it looked the right call. Glen Rawson played the innings of the day, a wonderfully well-made 93, and found excellent support from Richard Piper's fine half-century of 50. Between them they did the heavy lifting that got us to 179/8 from our forty overs — though the lower order rather let the side down on the "Duck Club" front, with Mark Christmas and Gareth Davies both enduring that particular walk of shame back to the pavilion for nought. I chipped in myself, keen to see the total nudged as high as it would go.

Defending it, we scrapped hard without ever quite landing the decisive blow. Martin Harris led the attack manfully with 2-26, and got useful support from Gareth Davies (1-22) and Ryan Boyns (1-41), but New Beckenham's top order simply had the better of us — Harry Freeman's 45, Jordan Heard's 37 and an unbeaten 36 from Andrew Faulkner seeing them home at 180/4 with half a dozen wickets and a handful of overs to spare.

Small consolation in the season-long picture: Glen Rawson continues to top the 2nd XI run charts with 338 for the summer, and Martin Harris now sits third in the wicket standings on five. But consolation is all it was. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's work to do before next weekend.

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

Sunday 27 June saw Clarion CC roll into Linton Park, and it turned into one of those afternoons club cricket exists for.

Batting first, we crawled and clattered our way to 166/8 from our 40 overs — not a total to frighten anyone, though I can't complain personally, as 90 came off my own bat, ably shepherded along by Thomas Beeney's tidy 22. Less gloriously, both Craig Sands and Matthew Carter made the long, ignominious walk back for ducks, which I'm sure the Ledger will not let either of them forget any time soon.

Defending 166 always feels like asking the lads to hold water in a sieve, and Clarion made a proper fist of it. Richard Hilson's 35, Andy Driver's 34 and an unbeaten 25 from J Elks kept them in the hunt right through to 158 all out — R Augustine, at least, was sent back without so much as a run to his name. But the bowlers dug in when it mattered: Michael Beeney was superb with 3-21, and sterling support came from Thomas Beeney (3-38) and Matthew Carter (2-29), who atoned handsomely for his morning's blob.

In the end we scrambled home by the barest of margins — one wicket — the sort of finish that ages a captain by several years in the space of an afternoon. Laurie Probert continues to sit proudly third in the season's run charts, with Matthew Carter still top of the bowling pile on 9 wickets. A nervy, scruffy, thoroughly satisfying win. Onwards.

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

Saturday 26 June 2010, and Marden CC came to Linton Park with the sun out and, for once, no obvious excuse when the coin fell against us. They won the toss, chose to bat, and I settled the lads into the field wondering whether it would be one of those long afternoons.

It wasn't. Marden never quite got going — 1 for 1 early doors set the tone, and though M Taplin dug in for 38 with James Humphrey chipping in 21, and the pair put on 50 for the sixth wicket, wickets fell steadily around them. All out for 107 in 30.1 overs was a fair reflection of a bowling performance with real bite. I found some rhythm and picked up 4-17 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, Will Thirkell was superb with 3-5, and Richard Knowler chipped in with 1-18. Not a run given away lightly indeed.

With 108 to chase, Richard Piper played the innings of the day — 46 full of good sense — ably supported by Glen Rawson's unbeaten 40, and we cantered home 9-1 in 20.5 overs. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, 16 byes going begging, but nobody was counting too closely by the end.

A fine win by 9 wickets, then, and a rather pleasant personal footnote — those four wickets nudged me past Rob Doick into 20th on the club's all-time list. Onwards we go.

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

We travelled to New Ifield on a fine Sunday, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the sort of decision that looks either inspired or daft by close of play, and I'm glad to say it was the former. Craig Sands set about the New Ifield attack with real purpose, motoring to 59 not out, while Laurie Probert matched him stride for stride with an unbeaten 52. Michael Beeney chipped in with a tidy 28, and between them they hauled us to a formidable 200 for 4 off our forty overs. Rarely have I felt so relaxed at tea.

Defending that total, the lads set about their work with a spring in their step. New Ifield lost an early wicket for just 6, and though a stubborn 72-run stand threatened to undo us, the innings then collapsed in spectacular fashion — 103 for 4 became 112 for 7 in the blink of an eye, with poor Robert McSweeney, Owen Southward and David Homewood all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Mark Christmas was the chief tormentor with 3 for 12, Daniel Thirkell chimed in with 2 for 2, and I managed 2 for 7 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure. Reju Joy's well-made 61, backed by Nick Windust's 32, was the only real resistance, but New Ifield were all out for 116.

A grand day all round, too — Laurie brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Craig reached the extraordinary landmark of 10,000. A handsome 84-run victory, and thoroughly deserved.

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

Righto, once more unto the breach against Selsted CC.

I won the toss and elected to field, which felt like the right call at the time and I'm sticking to that story. Selsted rattled us early, reducing themselves to 6-1 before Neil Bristow (61) and K Jenopan (44) put on 78 for the fourth wicket and steadied things rather more than I'd have liked. Peter Arter chipped in with 42, and by the time they declared themselves finished at 256/8 from their 45 overs, it was clear we'd let a good start slip through our fingers. I did my bit with the ball, 3-56, with Adam Jackson (2-57) and the ever-parsimonious Richard Knowler (1-37, three maidens and barely a run to his name) offering fine support. Poor Andrew Arter, meanwhile, made his way back to the pavilion without so much as a nibble.

Chasing 257 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered rather too many of them wrongly, bowled out for 192 in the 40th over. Adam Jackson batted well for his 36, Richard Knowler was unbeaten on 32, Glen Rawson made a handsome 30, and I contributed a steady if unspectacular 21 of my own. There was a genuine bright spot amid the gloom, though: Glen Rawson brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to regardless of the result. He now tops our 2010 run charts with 172, while I lead the wickets column with 13.

Beaten by 64 runs in the end — no disgrace in the scoreline, but plenty to work on. We'll be better for it 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

Sunday 13 June, and with the sun on our side there was only ever going to be one call at the toss — bat first and see what the pitch had to offer. It offered plenty. Ryan Boyns played the innings of the summer, a chanceless hundred that anchored us to 205 for 3 off 34.1 overs, with Jordan Austin's 35 and David Castle's unbeaten 33 filling in nicely round the great man. Quietly, and without much fuss from anyone including the man himself, Boyns also brought up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way — the sort of landmark that deserves rather more than a line in the scorebook, but there it is.

Buckhurst's reply never quite got out of second gear. An early wicket set the tone, and though Roy Axtell battled to a stubborn fifty, wickets kept tumbling around him — Thomas Beeney bowling beautifully for 3 for 17 with four maidens to strangle the scoring, Iain Rawson chipping in with 2 for 11, and I was happy enough to get among the wickets myself with 1 for 18. Poor Nigel Riley departed without so much as a run to his name, and Glen Rawson had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, coughing up eight byes he'd rather forget — though he can console himself with 234 runs to lead our Sunday 2nd XI charts this summer, while I'll modestly note my seven wickets currently top the bowling table.

In the end an obstinate last-wicket stand of 45 dragged Buckhurst to 122 for 6 off their forty and denied us the win our morning's work deserved. A draw, then — honours shared, and honestly, after Boyns' effort, a touch tame. But you can't have everything on a Sunday in June.

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

Sunday 13 June saw us take the road down to Hadlow, and with the coin falling my way I had no hesitation in sticking them in. For a good while it looked the shrewd sort of call captains dine out on, until Alex Wilson and company reminded us why fifties are called that. Hadlow raced to 67 before we so much as smelled a wicket, then Wilson (51) and Sarel Venter (35 not out) put on 75 for the fifth to drag them to a healthy 188/5. I can't grumble about my own afternoon, though — 4-49 kept me busy, with Michael Beeney chipping in a wicket and Mark Christmas bowling three tidy maidens to keep the boundaries honest.

Chasing 189, we never quite found the fluency the total demanded. Craig Sands played beautifully for an unbeaten 51, well supported by Richard Piper's 21, but the middle order came and went and poor Kevin Presneill's afternoon lasted precisely no balls at all. We were grateful for 44 extras propping up the innings, and rather less grateful for the 17 byes that went the other way off Sands's gloves — a fair trade, perhaps, for a man carrying the innings with the bat as well.

In the end we fell 24 runs short, a defeat that flatters neither the bowling nor the glovework of the day, though there's honest pride to be had in a four-wicket haul and a defiant fifty. Sands now leads our Sunday run charts for the season on 159, and I'm pleased to say the wickets column reads rather kindly too. Not our day, all told — heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Captain's Log, Saturday 12 June 2010 — the road took us to Otterden, and for once the coin actually landed my way. No hesitation: we batted.

It proved the right call, even if 162/6 from our forty overs was more a foundation than a fortress. Glen Rawson was in imperious touch, cruising to 76 not out and doing the heavy lifting almost single-handed, with Trevor Back and Joe Martin chipping in 30 apiece to give the innings some backbone. Less happily, Will Thirkell's afternoon began and ended without troubling the scorers — a duck to file under "these things happen," and mercifully not one he'll be short of company for.

Defending it, Otterden set about us with L Alexander playing the innings of the day, a well-crafted 61 that kept them in the hunt throughout. We had our moments, though — I managed to prise one out for 1-14, Iain Rawson bowled with real discipline for 1-22 including three maidens that choked the scoring nicely, and Joshua Knowler was pick of the attack with a fine 3-17. Mick Beeney fell for a golden duck at our hands, small consolation in the circumstances. They closed on 127/6 from their 36, honours even.

A draw, then — and on reflection, a fair one. Glen Rawson's form continues to sit him second in the season's run charts, and Will Thirkell's six wickets keep him second among the bowlers, so silver linings abound even where the individual afternoon didn't quite go to plan. Not victory, but not defeat either — and on a good pitch on a fine June day, there are worse ways to spend a Saturday.

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

We travelled down to Cobham CC, Kent on a Sunday that promised much and, in the end, delivered honours shared — which in club cricket terms usually means somebody batted just long enough to be annoying. Put into the field, we watched Benjamin Bowles help himself to a superb 101, with Lucas Marshall chipping in a handsome 64, and between them they dragged Cobham to 228/8 from their 36.1 overs. Credit where it's due to the pair, though I suspect our lads were quietly relieved when the innings finally closed.

With the ball, though, we had our moments. Jordan Austin was outstanding, ripping through with 3-14, and got fine support from Jon Harris (3-58) and Martin Harris (1-18), while George Pearce was sent packing without troubling the scorers at all. It was the kind of attack that reminds you why you keep turning up on a Sunday morning.

Chasing 229, we never quite got there, closing on 156/8 from 43.1 overs. Glen Rawson played the innings of the day, a fine 69 that carried us well past a mere respectability, with Jordan Austin lending useful support with 22. I contributed my own small share along the way, for whatever that's worth in the final reckoning.

So, a draw it was — neither side able to force the issue. Rawson now leads our 2010 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 212, and Jon Harris tops the wicket pile with 6. A fair result, all told, and one we'll happily take home.

Sun 06 Jun 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv 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

Saturday 5 June saw Milstead CC come to Linton Park, and having won the toss I had no hesitation putting us in to bat first — a decision that, for once, I'm happy to take credit for. Craig Sands led the charge with a superb 69, well past his fifty, while Nigel Thirkell weighed in with a classy half-century of his own, 50 to his name, and Richard Knowler chipped in a tidy 20. The third-wicket stand of 79 between them was the backbone of the innings, though poor Ryan Boyns will want to forget his golden duck in a hurry. We closed on a respectable 181/9 from our 45 overs — a total that felt like it might just be enough.

It wasn't. Milstead's Gareth Chick played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 60 that took the game away from us, ushered along by Richard Cusworth's 47 and Mike Sellar's 23. I did what I could with the ball, taking 1-22 to lead the attack, with Thomas Beeney (1-24) and Matthew Carter (1-36) offering support, but Milstead cantered home at 184/3 with overs to spare, winning by seven wickets.

Not our finest afternoon, and the scoreboard doesn't flatter us. Still, Craig continues to top our 2010 run charts and I'm pleased to say the wickets column is ticking along nicely too. Heads up, chins forward — back to the nets, and back at it next week.

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

Sunday 30 May, Gravesend CC came calling at Linton Park, and with the toss falling my way I decided, in a rare fit of confidence, to put us in to bat.

It was not the start we wanted — a wicket down with just a single run on the board is the sort of thing that has a captain reaching for the flask early. But Richard Piper settled the nerves with a well-made fifty, 59 in all, while I chipped in with 32 and Joe Martin added a tidy 28. The seventh-wicket stand was worth a crucial 58, and even our extras pitched in a generous 30. Not every man in the side will look back fondly — Lewis Burnham's golden duck being one for the "forget and move on" file — but 200/8 from our 40 overs felt like a total with some substance to it.

Defending it, Sam Boyns led from the front with a fine 3-17, well backed up by Chris Newman's 3-19 and Joe Martin, who followed his runs with 2-19 for good measure. Martin Hughes and Salman Niazi both fell without scoring, and though Charley Nash batted on gamely for an unbeaten 86, Gravesend's innings folded for 165 in 36 overs.

That spell nudges Sam Boyns up to third in this season's wicket charts, though Craig Sands still leads the run-scoring with 83 — plenty of summer left to chase him down. As for the day itself: a 35-run win, a scare at the start, a rescue in the middle, and a job well finished. I'll take that every time.

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 · HomeformWWWLW

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

Alan Boyns here, filing from a sunny trip out to Sissinghurst last Sunday, the 23rd of May. Won the toss and, with barely a flicker of doubt, stuck us in the field — a decision that looked shrewd for about thirty seconds before Trevor Wright decided he fancied batting all afternoon. He duly compiled a chanceless hundred, well supported by Stephen Brown's 62 and James Faulkner's brisk 24, the pair of them stitching together a 107-run stand for the sixth wicket after our early wicket in over one had promised so much. We did claw back some pride with the ball — my nephew Sam Boyns bowling beautifully for 4-44 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, Jon Harris chipping in with 2-24 and Martin Harris with one — and there were three ducks among their lower order to remind us we hadn't entirely lost our teeth. Still, 221/8 from 43 overs was a stiff ask.

In reply we never quite got out of first gear. Gareth Davies played the innings of the day with a tidy 44, Will Thew lending support with 27, but two ducks of our own and a stubbornly slow surface saw us stall on 122/7 from our 42 overs, chasing shadows rather than runs. I managed a small contribution with the bat myself, for what it was worth.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow — and on a day when Wright batted like a man with all the time in the world, I'll happily take the point and the safe passage home.

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

Saturday brought Betsham CC to Linton Park, and if you'd told me beforehand that we'd need 154 to win having posted only 150, I'd have fancied our chances rather more than events allowed. We laboured to 150/9 from our 45 overs, Nigel Thirkell the mainstay with a fine 47, nicely backed up by Craig Sands's 28. Less fine were three visits to the Duck Club ledger — Richard Piper, Adam Jackson and Iain Rawson all walked back for nought, and I dare say the tea urn heard some choice words.

In the field we gave a good account of ourselves without quite closing it out. I had one of those days with the ball that reminds you why you keep turning up, 4-24 including Sam Willis and Hilton Bayayi both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, while Will Thirkell chipped in with 2-35 and Richard Knowler 1-44. Matthew Carter bowled three tidy maidens, not a run given away lightly. But Ramanjit Bajwa's classy 60, well supported by Simon Rasho's 32, saw Betsham home at 153/7 with four overs unused.

There was cheer amid the defeat — Nigel notching up 41,000 career runs for the club is no small thing, and my four wickets nudged me up to 21st on the all-time list, past John Taylor, while I sit second in this season's run charts and top of the wicket charts. Beaten this time, no question. But we go again.

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

Sunday 16th May took us to Nuxley CC, and having called correctly for once, I duly stuck us in – a decision I stand by, whatever the scorebook might suggest by tea.

We were bowled out for 144 in 39.4 overs, which on paper looks a modest total, and in truth it rather was. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, a fluent 59 that dragged us to something respectable, with Glen Rawson chipping in with 20 and I managed a workmanlike 25 of my own. Elsewhere the card made grim reading – ducks for Andy Bell, John Williams and Sam Boyns meant three of our number returned to the pavilion having barely troubled the scorers, and one does wonder whether the Nuxley teas were on their minds rather than the bowling.

In the field we scrapped hard to make the total count for something. Sam Boyns led from the front with 1-11, and Jon Harris and Martin Harris both weighed in with a wicket apiece, keeping things tight enough that Nuxley never quite cut loose. Martin Jones and John Hahn built a steady platform for them with 22 and 21 respectively, and in the end they closed on 96/3 from their 26.4 overs, well short but with wickets in hand and the light against a result.

So honours shared, then – a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Not the stuff of legend, but a fair reflection of a scrappy day, and Piper's fifty will do nicely for the season's run charts.

Sun 16 May 2010 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv 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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 15 May 2010, away to Sheldwich CC.

There are days when the away trip feels like a chore and days when it feels like a treat, and this was very much the latter. Ryan Boyns set the tone with a fine 57, Adam Jackson followed him past his own fifty with 53, and I'll allow myself one mention here — I chipped in with 52 to make it three half-centuries in the one innings, which even by our standards is greedy. Poor Craig Sands will want the record to show only that a duck occurred, not who was holding the bat at the time, and 37 useful extras rounded us out to a handsome 251/7 from 45 overs.

Defending that kind of total ought to be the easy part, and so it largely proved. Mark Hammond battled to 30 for the opposition, with Nick Collins and Martin Mills chipping in either side of him, but Sheldwich never really threatened, subsiding to 134/9 from their 35.4 overs. Will Thirkell was the pick of the attack with 3-8, Richard Knowler and Matthew Carter weighed in with two apiece, and I was happy enough just keeping things tight with a couple of maidens.

A day of milestones besides the result — 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 thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and a comfortable win to bank.

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 · AwayformWWWWL

Lost the toss at Limpsfield Chart on the Sunday and were promptly asked to have first use of the ball — not the news I wanted as I flipped that wretched coin, but there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than in the field with sunshine overhead. Limpsfield ground their way to 195/8 from the forty, Ricky Singh doing the bulk of the damage with a fine 72, before Paul Hemple (31 not out) and Mike Soper (24) added late polish, the pair putting on 79 for the sixth wicket to take the total from manageable to mildly troubling. Matthew Carter was pick of our attack by some distance, 4-37 with two tidy maidens thrown in, and I chipped in with 2-45, Harry Bee lending good support with 1-24.

Chasing 196 is never a formality, and a wobble to 2-1 early on did little for the collective nerves. Happily a sturdy 92-run stand for the third wicket set things right, built on well-made fifties from Ryan Boyns (59) and Richard Piper (55), and I found some form of my own with 49. Glen Rawson's afternoon was rather briefer, undone for a duck, but cricket has a way of humbling us all in turn.

We got over the line by five wickets, with Boyns and Carter now topping the season's run and wicket charts respectively for good measure. A thoroughly good day for the club — and proof, if any were needed, that losing the toss is no bad omen when the lads bat and bowl like that.

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

Left the toss decision made for us but batted well; 177 for 5 declared the tone.

There are worse ways to start a Monday than losing the toss and being invited to have a bowl — sorry, a bat — in the sunshine at home to Selsdon. We were duly asked to pad up, and I can't say any of us were sulking about it. Tom Murphy set about proving why he's leading our run charts this season, ticking past fifty and on to a composed 66, while at the top of the order the openers gave us the sort of platform captains dream of and rarely get, 76 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came. Glen Rawson chipped in nicely with 47, and I managed to get bat on ball long enough for 20 of my own before shuffling off, happy enough with a total of 177 for 5 from our 41 overs.

Defending it, though, was where the real fun started. Our bowlers simply refused to let Selsdon settle — three separate batsmen walked back without troubling the scorers, and only Jack Dinning, unbeaten on 40, showed any real resistance. Jon Harris was superb with 3 for 26, Harry Bee chipped in with 2 for 14, and Thomas Beeney bowled beautifully for 2 for 16 with three maidens to boot — and in doing so brought up a rather lovely personal landmark, 100 career wickets, which is exactly the sort of thing that gets a warm round of applause and a pint bought at the bar. All out for 87 in 37 overs told its own story.

A hundred-and-ninety-run total defended for a 90-run win — frankly, we'll take that all season long. Onwards.

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

Kevin Presneill's Captain's Log — Saturday 1st May 2010, Headcorn CC at home

I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, decided we should bat first. It didn't start well — six on the board and already a wicket down, the kind of nervy opening that has you eyeing the tea urn for comfort rather than celebration. But Glen Rawson and I dug in for a proper 3rd-wicket stand of 103, Glen playing the senior partner beautifully on his way to a fine 55, while I was rather pleased to nudge my own way to 53. Elsewhere the card wasn't quite so kind — young Joshua Knowler's duck was about as golden as they come, though I shan't hold it against him. We closed on 137/5 from our 35 overs, a total that felt more useful than spectacular.

Defending it meant Ian Hollingworth had to lead from the front, and lead he did — three wickets, three maidens, not a run given away lightly, with Michael Beeney and Darren Styles chipping in either side of him. Headcorn's Mike Donnelly threatened to spoil the party with a classy 54, and with Ben Leale-Green and Neil Levett both getting to 25 it stayed nail-bitingly tight to the very end.

In the end we scraped home by 3 runs — the sort of margin that ages a captain by several years but tastes all the sweeter in the clubhouse afterwards. A proper win, and a very good day indeed.

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

Skipper's Log — Headcorn CC, Saturday 1st May 2010. Lost the toss, put in to field, and no complaints from me about that once the bowlers got going.

Headcorn crawled to 98 for 9 off their 45, Paul Putland doing the honest work with 42 while the rest of the order rather lost the plot around us — 66-5 became 70-8 before anyone had really settled back into their deckchair, with James Barker, Simon Phipps and Rocky Hills all walking back without troubling the scorers. Iain Rawson was magnificent, 3 for 12 with five overs given away for nothing, and I chipped in with 3 for 29 myself, Thomas Beeney mopping up with 1 for 7. Not a side that gave much away, and Headcorn's total never looked like enough to trouble a village side with its boots on properly.

Chasing 99, we lost our first wicket for the princely sum of one run and I confess my heart was briefly in my mouth, but Nigel Thirkell's 36 and a fine supporting knock of 22 from Tom Murphy — a stand of 53 for the third wicket — put the matter beyond doubt, 101 for 5 in 37.5 overs. Richard Piper's duck goes into the ledger alongside the away side's three, so honours even there.

A comfortable five-wicket win, then, and rather a nice personal note besides — those three wickets nudged me past Ron Hickman into 22nd on the club's all-time list. Onwards to the next one.

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

Sunday last, and East Sutton CC rolled up expecting sunshine cricket – they won the toss, chose to field, and for a while it looked a shrewd call. We batted first and put together 210 for 6 off our 42, built around Tom Murphy's really excellent 57, with Craig Sands weighing in at 36 and Will Thirkell unbeaten on 34. The second-wicket stand of 72 was the innings' backbone, and even the extras column pulled its weight with a generous 28. All told, a total that had a bit of everything and left us happy to bowl.

And bowl we did. East Sutton never quite got going, subsiding to 129 all out in 38.5 overs despite a defiant 53 from Fred Kember, who carried rather more of the innings than his teammates managed – Stephen Worth, Darren Thompson and Peter Howard all trooped back for ducks, which is never a pleasant walk. Iain Rawson led the attack beautifully with 2 for 20, well supported by Will Thirkell (2-26) and Thomas Beeney (2-32), while I quietly enjoyed myself sending down three maidens and keeping things tight from my end.

Tom Murphy now tops our Sunday run charts for the season with 76, and Iain Rawson leads the wickets with 6 – both fully deserved. As for the result: 81 runs is not a squeak, it's a statement. Two points banked, tea thoroughly earned, and the coin toss forgiven.

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

Saturday, 24 April 2010. Home to Mersham Sports CC, and I lost the toss, so it was straight to work with the ball while the tea urn warmed up. Mersham made their way to 157 all out in 44.4 overs, Rob Wilson leading the way with 40, well backed by David Harman and Rudi Stassen, 23 apiece, and a stubborn 55-run stand for the seventh wicket that threatened to run away from us before Ian Hollingworth came steaming in for 3-20 to peg them back. I chipped in with 2-9, Richard Knowler bowled with real discipline for 1-10 and three maidens, and poor Ian Balfour trudged off for a duck, which is never a pleasant walk.

Chasing 158, we made harder work of it than the scorecard perhaps suggests, stumbling to 160/7 in 40.4 overs with Joshua Knowler and Matthew Carter both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. But Kevin Presneill's 44 was the innings that mattered, given fine support by Richard Knowler's unbeaten 44 and Craig Sands' 36, with a 64-run second-wicket stand doing the heavy lifting.

A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly English three-wicket win, and I'll take it gladly. Onwards.

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.