🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 25 Sep 2011 🧢 1st XIv ? · HomeformLLWDL

We hosted the visitors on a fine Sunday, 25 September, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in setting us in — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or daft depending entirely on what follows, though for once I'll claim the credit.

The lads gave the bowlers a proper afternoon of it. Daniel Thirkell led from the front with a fine 83, well supported by Will Thirkell's 60 and Ryan Boyns' 50, the two of them putting on a crucial 79 for the third wicket while I fretted happily from the boundary. Poor Thomas Beeney was the one blot on an otherwise handsome copybook, done for a duck, but with 26 useful extras thrown in we posted a formidable 290/8 from our forty overs.

Defending it, we made early inroads and never quite let go, bowling the visitors out for 239 in the 39th over — Tom Davey's 71 the chief obstacle, with Adrian Samson and Adrian Moll chipping in, while Paul Davey and Ray Dixon both departed for ducks at our hands. Daniel Thirkell was superb with the ball too, 3-14, Martin Harris toiled manfully for 3-46 with two tidy maidens, and Stuart Cheesman took 1-5 as well as cracking 37 runs to move past Jim Hall into 21st on the club's all-time run-scorers list — no small feat. Ryan Boyns had a trickier time behind the stumps, 10 byes going astray.

And yet, for all that, we finished up on the wrong end of it, beaten by 51 runs. Not our day. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sat 24 Sep 2011 🧢 1st XIv OC Offham CC · HomeformWLLWD

Saturday 24 September 2011 saw us welcome Offham CC, and having won the toss I took one look at the pitch and fancied our chances with the willow. That confidence, in hindsight, was misplaced. We laboured to 98 all out in 31.4 overs, with Matthew Carter's watchful 20 the innings' backbone, but a horrid collapse from 27-1 to 33-4 rather took the stuffing out of us. Spare a thought for Will Thirkell, Jack Gwynn and Martin Harris, who between them conjured a matching set of golden ducks — not the sort of hat-trick anyone puts in the trophy cabinet. I chipped in with 20 of my own, for what little comfort that offered.

With the ball we scrapped hard. Darren Styles was pick of the attack with 1-10, well backed up by Matthew Carter's 1-20 and two miserly maidens, and we did at least see off Jamie Powell without cost. But Ben Gittings, unbeaten on 42, and Adam Kent's 30 saw Offham stroll home to 99-3 in 24.4 overs. Not helped, it must be said, by ten byes going begging behind the stumps — a tricky afternoon with the gloves, and no mistake.

Elsewhere in the ledger, Richard Piper continues his fine season, fourth in the 1st XI run charts on 294, while Matthew Carter leads the wickets with 28 — some consolation on an otherwise chastening day. Beaten by seven wickets, heads understandably down. Back to the nets, lads.

Wed 14 Sep 2011 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformDDDLW

As we always joked at Linton Park, winning the toss is half the battle — and losing it is the other half. Consigned to the field on a fine Wednesday down at Penshurst Park, I can't say the lads looked too downhearted; there's a certain masochistic pleasure in bowling first and seeing what the pitch has to say. Penshurst dug in for 198 all out off 39.2 overs, Andy Eames the chief architect with a tidy 52, John Boyden (39) and Graham Nicholls (34) filling in the mortar, and a stubborn 61-run stand for the eighth wicket that threatened to run away from us before Jon Harris (3-37) came steaming in to tidy things up. Darren Styles bowled beautifully tight for 2-15 with five maidens to his name — the sort of spell that makes the tea urn boil quicker out of respect — and Tim Thirkell chipped in with 2-29. Mark Lower, for what it's worth, went for a golden duck at our hands.

Chasing 199, we wobbled early — Michael Beeney also fell for nought — but Stuart Cheesman (54) and a battling Craig Sands (43 not out), aided by Ryan Boyns (38) and a steadying 55-run third-wicket stand, hauled us home at 201-7 in 37.1 overs, three wickets to spare. I even found some rhythm with the ball myself, picking up three. A special mention for Ryan, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark worth more than any Wednesday scoreline.

A nervy finish, a scruffy start, but a win's a win: chalk this one up as a very good day for the club.

Sun 11 Sep 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Harbledown CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday 11 September saw Harbledown CC roll into Linton Park under skies that promised more than they delivered, and having lost the toss we were dispatched into the field first — never our preferred way to spend a Sunday, but there we are. Harbledown ground their way to 170/8 from their 42 overs, James Curtiss the chief architect with a watchful 50 not out, well supported by Samuel Fruin's 36 and Neil Harrison's 28. Credit to the attack, though: Sam Boyns was superb, ripping through with 3-20, Will Thirkell and Ryan Boyns chipped in a wicket apiece to keep the pressure on, and Matthew Carter bowled two overs that yielded precisely nothing — the sort of miserly spell that makes batsmen question their life choices.

Chasing 171, our reply was a study in honest toil rather than fireworks. Daniel Thirkell led the way with a spirited 34, Craig Sands weighed in with 30, and between them they dragged us to 142/9 from 38 overs. Extras, ever the reliable top-order stalwart, chipped in 32 — arguably our best partnership of the day. Spare a thought for poor Martin Harris, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings and will no doubt dine out on the story for weeks, though not in the way he'd like.

In the end honours were shared, a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody — which, in club cricket, is very nearly a triumph in itself.

Sat 10 Sep 2011 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformLLLDW

Saturday 10 September saw us make the pilgrimage to Headcorn, and the coin landed against us before a ball was bowled — we were sent out to field, which as any village cricketer will tell you is either a blessing or a curse depending entirely on how the sandwiches settle.

Batting first, we compiled a respectable 146/6 from our 45 overs. Kevin Presneill was the mainstay with a fine 45, ably assisted by Tim Wright's 38, while the extras column — ever the most reliable batsman in the club — chipped in 27 of its own. Spare a thought, though, for poor Trevor Back, who made the long walk back for nought and duly joins the Duck Club roll of honour.

In the field we set about defending our total, and Headcorn could only manage 51/3 from their 26.1 overs before the innings petered out into stalemate. Richard Munro and Seb Holmes departed the crease without so much as troubling the scorers, but it was Ian Hollingworth who did the real damage — a miserly 3-23 including six maidens, bowling with the kind of accuracy that makes batsmen question their life choices. I even had a small say myself, contributing 45 with the bat.

So honours were shared, a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow — not a thriller, perhaps, but on days like this, a point saved from the jaws of nothing is a point well banked.

Sat 10 Sep 2011 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWLLW

Saturday 10 September saw Headcorn CC visit us with the sun out and the outfield fast, and when their captain called correctly and stuck us in, I confess my heart sank just a fraction. I needn't have worried. Daniel Thirkell played the innings of the season, 93 not out and one boundary shy of the century he thoroughly deserved, while Richard Knowler kept him admirable company with an unbeaten 47 and Richard Piper chipped in a tidy 24. We closed on 201 for 4 from our 45 overs, which felt like batting insurance against most things Headcorn could throw at us.

And so it proved, though not for want of trying on their part. Kevin Richardson threatened to make a real fist of the chase with 40, well backed by Paul Putland's 21, but our attack simply wouldn't be denied. Matthew Carter was magnificent, 3 for 32 and full value for his season-leading 27 wickets, with Thomas Beeney and Sam Boyns lending superb support — Boyns miserly as ever with three maidens to go with his 1 for 9, and Andre Hatton somehow contriving a duck against us. I even managed to rediscover some rhythm of my own, picking up three wickets, which at my age counts as a minor miracle. Headcorn subsided to 79 for 5 from 26.3 overs before the umpires, sensibly, called it a day.

Honours shared, then, and no complaints from this captain — a draw wrung from a position of some comfort, with Thirkell's bat and Carter's arm once again the twin engines of our season.

Sun 04 Sep 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC · HomeformWLLWL

It was Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC at home, and losing the toss to be sent into the field on a fine Sunday is not the news any captain wants over his breakfast tea. Still, the lads dug in and produced a proper effort with the bat, 196/6 from our 38 overs, built on a fine platform from David Castle (41) and Trevor Back (41), with Thomas Beeney (40) not far behind — a sturdy 63-run fourth-wicket stand that gave us something to bowl at. Even the tail had its say, adding a mischievous 36 at the death to leave the fielders thoroughly out of sorts.

Defending it, we set about our work with real purpose. An early wicket at 8 had them rattled from the off, and what followed was carnage of the sort every bowling attack dreams about but rarely gets: 53-6 became 59-9 in the blink of an eye, with Tom Roberts, Jamie Stevens and Barry Lineker all departing for ducks. Will Bramley-Harker was the chief tormentor with 3-12, well supported by Jordan Austin (2-15) and Jon Harris (2-24), while Matthew Carter strangled the life out of proceedings with three maidens. Only Simon Tombs, unbeaten on 32, showed any real fight as they were bowled out for 74 in 25.2 overs.

A 122-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the sort of Sunday that makes the teas taste sweeter and the drive home a good deal shorter.

Sat 03 Sep 2011 🧢 2nd XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformDLLLD

As I always tell the lads, winning the toss on a September morning is half the battle — and putting Selsdon in to chase gave us licence to bat with a bit of freedom. We rattled along to 192 for 6 off our 42, with Kevin Presneill the model of composure on 49 not out, well supported by Daniel Thirkell's 34 and Will Thew's 24. The fourth-wicket pair chipped in a handy 52, and just when things looked to be tailing off, a stubborn last-wicket stand of 71 gave the total real substance — proof, if ever it were needed, that in club cricket the tail can wag with the best of them. Poor Laurie Probert, alas, will not want reminding of his duck.

With the ball, we were relentless. Selsdon were bowled out for 111 in 29 overs, Jack Coles' 28 and Eric Clemming's 24 the only real resistance. Thomas Beeney was superb, ripping through with 3 for 22, backed up nicely by Richard Knowler (2-26) and Matthew Carter (2-45), while Matthew Winter and Mike Parry both departed without troubling the scorers. I managed 49 myself, which I shall modestly mention once and move swiftly on from.

The real story of the day, though, belonged to Richard Piper, who brought up 10,000 career runs for the club — a magnificent, mantelpiece-worthy landmark. Kevin continues to lead our 2011 run charts with 489, and Thomas sits third in the wickets with 13.

Won by 81 runs, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved.

Wed 31 Aug 2011 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLDDDL

Here's the report:

From the captain's chair, Wednesday 31 August 2011: the road took us to The Mote CC, and what a fine advertisement for midweek cricket it turned out to be. Winning the toss and sending them in, we watched them battle to 120 all out in 45.3 overs, Matthew White the chief obstacle with a watchful 35 not out, well supported by Robert O'Brien's 27 and Gus Fordham's 25. Michael Beeney was in irresistible form, tying batsmen down with five maidens on his way to 4-11, while Matthew Carter (2-15) and Jon Harris (2-17) tidied up the rest. Jason White, Richard Usher and T Matthewson departed without so much as a run to show for it — the sort of scorebook cruelty that keeps a captain smiling all the way home.

Chasing 121, we made rather harder work of it than the target deserved, but got there in the end on 121/5 from 37.4 overs. Will Thirkell led the reply with a composed 31, ably assisted by Laurie Probert's 25 and Craig Sands' 23. Poor Iain Rawson will want this one struck from the record — out for a duck — but the top order had done enough to see us home with four wickets in hand.

Thirkell continues to lead the Midweek XI's run charts with 173 for the season, and Carter tops the wicket pile with 7 — the engine room of this side, quietly getting on with it. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a very satisfactory afternoon's work.

Sun 28 Aug 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Cowdrey CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday 28 August 2011, Cowdrey CC at home, and the toss went against us — so it was pads on and out into the field we trooped, wondering what the pitch had in store.

As it turned out, plenty. Ryan Boyns played the innings of the day, 78 that sailed well past his fifty, and Laurie Probert gave him fine company with a tidy 62. Matthew Carter chipped in a useful 22, and we closed on a handsome 223 for 9 from our 42 overs. Poor Michael Beeney was the exception to the good cheer, back in the pavilion for a duck before he'd had time to get comfortable — these things happen to the best of us.

Defending that sort of total is the kind of problem a captain rather enjoys. Martin Harris was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 23 doing the heavy lifting, backed up superbly by Matthew Carter's miserly 2 for 0 and Mark Christmas's 1 for 1. Dirk Brink, Richard Marsh and Chris Jesson all fell for ducks at our hands, and only Tom Foster (37) and Gayashan Munasinghe (33) offered any real resistance before Cowdrey folded for 93. I even found time to potter to 22 myself.

A resounding 130-run victory, then, and with Mark Christmas topping our season's run charts and Matthew Carter leading the wickets, the omens for 2011 look thoroughly rosy. A very good day for the club indeed.

Thu 25 Aug 2011 🧢 Tour XIv EC East Bergholt CC · AwayformLTLDL

Skipper's Log — Thursday 25 August 2011, away to East Bergholt CC

Won the toss and, in a fit of tactical daring that owed rather more to hope than science, stuck us in the field. For a while it looked a masterstroke and then, as ever in this game, simply looked like a decision. East Bergholt battled to 151 all out in 45.3 overs, J Elford unbeaten on 33 and getting handy support from Jonathan Tingey and Nathan Philpot, both 23. But Thomas Beeney was in no mood for sentiment, scything through with 3-26, backed superbly by Martin Harris (2-20) and Jon Harris (2-34), while Will Thirkell strangled the life out of two overs entirely — not a run given away lightly indeed.

Chasing 152, we made steadier if less spectacular work of it, reaching 153/5 in 36.4 overs. Nigel Thirkell played the innings of the day, a handsome 62, with Rick Jones (37) and Will Thirkell (24 not out) keeping the scoreboard honest and the opening pair putting on a priceless 59 to set the tone. I even managed to remember which end I was bowling from long enough to pick up 3 wickets myself — form, apparently, is temporary; confusion is permanent.

Nigel continues to lead our Tour run charts with 110 for the season, and Martin Harris tops the wickets with 6 — both men rather making the rest of us look ornamental.

Five wickets to the good and a job done. A good day for the club, and, dare I say, for the skipper's coin-tossing reputation.

Wed 24 Aug 2011 🧢 Tour XIv NX N.Jackson XI · AwayformLLTLD

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 24 August 2011. We travelled to Dummy Site with the sun out and expectations modest, which is generally the safest setting for both.

The toss went against us, as it so often does when I'm the one flipping the coin, and we were sent into the field. Not that we minded much — early wickets are the great restorer of captaincy confidence, and Sam Boyns duly obliged, ripping through with 2-5 as though he had somewhere better to be. Will Thirkell (2-8) and Martin Harris (2-10) joined the party, D Coates was sent packing without troubling the scorers, and the innings folded from a wobbly 39-2 to a distinctly shaky 48-5. Only Bouviere, with a defiant 25, kept the total respectable.

With the bat we set about the chase in good heart. Martin Harris played the anchor role to perfection, 26 not out, with Will Thirkell (25 not out) content to let him do the steering while quietly padding his own season's tally. Nat Presneill's contribution, sadly, amounted to a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he has my sympathy along with a small round of applause for brevity. We closed on 105/4 from 17.3 overs.

Alas, it wasn't enough, and we fell by six wickets. Will Thirkell continues to top the Tour XI run charts, and Richard Knowler the wickets — small consolations on a day that got away from us. We'll be better for it next week; we usually are, eventually.

Mon 22 Aug 2011 🧢 Tour XIv WC Woolpit CC · AwayformLLLTL

Woolpit CC, Monday 22nd August, and the toss went against us — so it was pads off, boots on, and out into the field we trooped.

They made themselves at home early, mind, before a wobble at 4-1 had us thinking this might be our day. But James Deeley (74) and Adrian Starling (53) had other ideas, stitching together 109 for the third wicket while we toiled in the Suffolk sun, Hamish Fiddes chipping in a further 27 to see them to 217/8 off their 42. Richard Knowler did the heavy lifting with the ball, 4-55 of honest toil, with Sam Boyns and Martin Harris (2 apiece) tidying up round him, and young Joshua Knowler bowling two maidens that suggested a miser's soul lurks beneath the whites.

Chasing 218, we too stumbled early — 6-1 has become worryingly familiar — before Kevin Presneill (49), Nigel Thirkell (48) and Will Thirkell (40) rebuilt around a stand of 93 for the third wicket. I contributed 48 myself, which I shall modestly mention once and move swiftly on from. Less happily, Adam Wright, Richard Knowler and Joshua Knowler all departed for ducks — a hat-trick of blobs nobody puts on the mantelpiece — and we stalled on 192/7 from our 39, the extras column doing sterling work with 35.

A draw, then — honours shared, nobody beaten, everybody for the bar. Kevin Presneill and Richard Knowler lead our early-season charts, and on this evidence there's plenty more cricket to be had. A fair result, honestly earned, and no complaints from this captain.

Sun 21 Aug 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv GC Great Chart CC · AwayformWWLLW

We were beaten 91 runs, no need for tools here — this is a straightforward writing task.

We were beaten by 91 runs at Great Chart on Sunday, and if I'm honest, it started the moment I lost the toss. They batted, we watched — and watched, and watched, as their openers put on 130 before we so much as glimpsed a wicket. By the time Great Chart declared their innings closed at 256/3, three of their number had helped themselves to fifties: Ivor Duffy with 72, Ivan Baker unbeaten on 70, and Dave Daniels with a tidy 53. Iain Rawson toiled hardest for us with 1-37, Joshua Knowler chipping in with 1-43, but with the ball disappearing to all corners and 24 wides gifted into the bargain, it was less an attack and more a benevolent donation scheme.

Chasing 257 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered rather too many of them incorrectly. Iain Rawson top-scored with a battling 47, well supported by Joshua Knowler's 39 and Will Thew's 28, and there was real credit in a 7th-wicket stand of 77 that at least gave the scorebook some dignity. Poor Martin Harris, meanwhile, was given his marching orders for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, usually in front of the biggest crowd.

In the end 165/9 was well shy of the target, and 91 runs is 91 runs. Still, with Will Thew and Joshua Knowler both sitting third in the season's charts, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week — we rather have to be.

Sun 21 Aug 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWWWWW

We won the toss, and for once the coin justified my confidence in it — I stuck us in, and by tea I was rather pleased with myself. Bidborough set about building a total with the sort of quiet efficiency that makes a fielding captain nervous, Serjeant (33 not out) and Thorne (29) doing the bulk of the damage, with Hodgknins chipping in 25 more. But we had answers: Michael Beeney was superb, ripping through with 3-19, well backed up by his brother Thomas (2-28) and Jack Gwynn (2-35), while Matthew Carter strangled the scoring with two tidy maidens. Daniel Page walked back for a duck, which nobody in the tearoom will let him forget. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps — 11 byes is not a number one puts on the scorecard with pride — but we held them to 178/8 from their 42, a total that felt gettable.

And gettable it proved. Mark Christmas simply took the game away from Bidborough, striding to a majestic 106 not out, and with Richard Piper's brisk 31 alongside him the pair put on a hundred for the first wicket before either of them so much as broke sweat. We cantered home at 179/2 in just 30.1 overs, eight wickets in hand and the tea urn barely cold. Christmas now leads our Sunday run charts for the season with 401, and Beeney sits second among the wicket-takers with 16 — form both men will be keen to keep.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a result that flattered nobody but ourselves — a fine Sunday's work all round.

Sat 20 Aug 2011 🧢 1st XIv OC Otterden CC · AwayformWLWLL

Not the day it looked to be on paper — a fine trot for the club, though. Off away at Otterden, I called correctly at the toss and never seriously entertained fielding first on what looked a decent surface. The lads duly obliged: 190/7 from our 38 overs, with Craig Sands the anchor and architect in one, his 54 the innings' backbone. Laurie Probert (24) and Richard Knowler (21) played their supporting parts nicely, and the fourth-wicket stand of 79 was really the making of the total — enough runs, we hoped, to give the ball plenty to work with.

And work with it we did. Otterden's reply never got out of second gear, subsiding to 97 all out in 31.2 overs. J White (29) and R Sabin (25) did what scrapping they could, but three of their number — Geoff Mills, G Young and Bailey Snr — trooped off for ducks, and the middle order simply had no answer to Martin Harris, whose 3-11 was as tidy as it was ruthless. Matthew Carter (2-12, with three maidens thrown in for good measure) and Sam Boyns (2-29) mopped up the rest, and there wasn't a boundary given away out of carelessness all afternoon.

A landmark day too — Martin Harris reaching 50 career wickets, which earned its round of applause in the changing room. Craig Sands continues to churn out runs (third in the 1st XI charts) and Matthew Carter's wickets column keeps swelling (he leads it outright). Verdict: a 93-run victory, thoroughly deserved, and a very good day indeed for Linton Park.

Wed 17 Aug 2011 🧢 Midweek XIv TC Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformLLDDD

Wednesday 17 August 2011, and Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC rolled up to Linton Park with the sun out and, rather unsportingly, the good sense to win the toss and stick us in.

We laboured to 153 all out in 40.2 overs, which on reflection was about 30 short of comfortable. Stuart Cheesman was the shining light, cracking a fine 65, well backed up by Craig Sands with 22. Elsewhere the top order rather fancied a rest — Tim Wright and Martin Harris both contributed the traditional golden duck 🦆, the sort of innings best forgotten over a pint in the bar afterwards.

In the field we scrapped hard but couldn't quite land the killer blow. Michael Beeney was superb, 3 for 27 with two miserly maidens thrown in, and got fine support from Tim Wright (1-10) and Darren Styles (1-18). Alas, Dave Sloane had other ideas, compiling an unbeaten 66 to see the visitors home, with Derek Smith's 23 easing the chase along. Poor David Castle had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 18 byes leaking away like the match itself.

They finished 154 for 6 off 42 overs, beating us by four wickets. Elsewhere in the table, Will Thirkell still tops our run charts with 142 and Iain Rawson sits second among the wicket-takers with four — small consolations on a day that got away from us.

A defeat, then, but not a disgrace. We'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Sun 14 Aug 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CC Chelsfield Park CC · HomeformLWWLL

Sunday 14 August 2011, and Chelsfield Park CC arrived at Linton Park for what turned out to be a proper afternoon's cricket. The coin let me down again — I really must practise my call — and they had no hesitation putting us into the field. Not that we minded: 192/6 from their 45 overs felt eminently gettable, even with Stuart Pinchin giving us a fright, cruising to 84 while Roydon Sharr (32) and Aaron Carrett (24) chipped in around a stubborn 52-run third-wicket stand. Credit to the bowlers for keeping it honest — Joe Millen led the way with 2-34, Jon Harris and Benjamin Austin did their bit too, and Martin Harris's two maidens were the sort of overs that make a captain sleep easier.

Chasing 193, we could have made life harder for ourselves but didn't. Jordan Austin played an innings for the ages — 101 not out, and I don't say that lightly — while Joe Millen (28) and Matthew Ward (21) built the platform, their fourth-wicket stand of 62 the difference between a nervy finish and a canter. We got home in 42.1 overs with four wickets to spare, and I don't mind admitting I enjoyed watching more than captaining.

Elsewhere, Will Thew continues his quiet accumulation up to third in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts, and Jon Harris sits proudly atop the wicket-takers with 17. A fine win, then, built on Austin's brilliance and a bowling attack that refused to be bullied. Onwards indeed.

Sun 14 Aug 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformWWWWW

Sunday 14 August, away at Benenden CC, and I called correctly at the toss — a small miracle in itself, and one I put to immediate use by sticking us in the field, much to the mild bemusement of the tea ladies.

Benenden made a fair fist of things, racking up 176 all out in 39.5 overs on the back of James Eady's fluent 72, with Neal Metcalf (25) and Patrick Coyne (21) chipping in gamely. But the day belonged to Matthew Carter, who turned it square and spun through the middle order for a magnificent 5-22 — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen muttering darkly into their tea. Michael Beeney (2-34) and the ever-miserly Iain Rawson (1-28, two maidens) tidied up the rest, while Charlie Sorensen and Samuel Martin departed without troubling the scorers at all.

Chasing 177, we wobbled about as is traditional, before Will Thirkell played the innings of the day with a classy 75, Mark Christmas (28) and Tim Wright (20) lending sturdy support, and a vital 58-run fourth-wicket stand steadying the ship. I even found some rhythm with the ball earlier and chipped in with five wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at every opportunity for weeks to come.

We got over the line by four wickets — a proper away win, built on Carter's magic and Thirkell's class. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sat 13 Aug 2011 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformLWLWL

Down by five wickets at Milstead, and there's not much for it but the truth: we simply didn't have quite enough in the tank.

Losing the toss and being asked to field first is never the news you want, but the lads knuckled down and posted a respectable 227/5 from our 45. Losing the first wicket for just a run was the sort of start that has captains reaching for the flask before the tenth over, but David Castle steadied every nerve in the ground with a superb 92, and a third-wicket stand of 66 gave us something to build from. Will Thirkell's unbeaten 32 and Harry Bee's 31 rounded out a total we felt we could defend. Less said the better about Craig Sands' golden duck — the walk of shame is now his, and the Duck Club ledger grows heavier by the week.

Defending 227 should have been enough on most Saturdays, but Milstead had other ideas, chasing it down for 229/5 with five overs to spare. S Puttu's unbeaten 79 did the real damage, well supported by Richard Cusworth's 50 and S Arnold's 40 — a partnership we simply couldn't prise apart. Matthew Carter toiled manfully for 2-38 with two tidy maidens, Mark Christmas chipped in with 2-39, and Harry Bee took 1-35, at least removing Ben Ryder for a duck of our own by way of consolation.

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

Sat 13 Aug 2011 🧢 2nd XIv GC Great Chart CC · HomeformWDLLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 13 August 2011, and we welcomed Great Chart CC to Linton Park under skies that, for once, behaved themselves. I lost the toss, as seems to be my lot in life this season, and we were asked to bat.

We made a proper fist of it. Kevin Presneill played the innings of the day, 66 not out, calm as you like while wickets came and went around him, and found willing company in Jack Gwynn (34) and Will Thew (32) — the pair of them stitching together a fifth-wicket stand worth 71 that turned a fragile total into a defendable one. 197 for 7 from our 42 overs felt like a score with substance.

Defending it, we started brightly enough — Kevin backed up his batting with the new ball, 1 for 16, Thomas Beeney chipped in with 1 for 21, and Ian Hollingworth strangled the middle overs with two maidens — but Ben Moyle simply refused to be shifted, farming 89 not out while his opening partner helped him lay down a 97-run stand that set the tone for the innings. My afternoon behind the stumps was a chastening one too, with 20 byes escaping my gloves like they had a train to catch.

In the end honours were shared, and perhaps that was fair. Rather more important than any of it, Iain Rawson brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark that puts a score draw firmly in the shade. A good watch, a fine milestone, and honour satisfied all round.

Sun 07 Aug 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · HomeformLLWWL

Beaten but not bowed, dear reader. Sunday 7 August found New Ifield CC in our midst, and I confess to feeling rather pleased with myself when I called correctly at the toss and stuck us in the field — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook now suggests.

We had them wobbling early at 6 for 1, and for a fleeting, glorious moment I allowed myself to dream. Alas, the second-wicket pair had other ideas, stitching together 101 while we stood about looking politely thwarted. Lyle Wheeler brought up a chanceless-looking century — three figures, no less — with Nick Bodle chipping in 28, and New Ifield closed on a stiff 182 for 4. Our bowling had its moments: Joshua Knowler picked up 2 for 32, and Tim Wright, miserly as ever with three maidens to his name, took 2 for 37 and, more importantly, brought up his 100th career wicket — a landmark worth more than any of us managed with the bat that day.

Chasing 183, we never quite got up a head of steam. Lewis Burnham fought hard for 45, with a third-wicket stand of 50 the highlight of an otherwise scratchy innings, and I added a modest 17. Poor Paul Ratcliffe's duck didn't help matters, nor did Will Thew's nine byes behind the stumps, and we subsided to 138 for 9 off our forty.

Forty-four runs the margin, then — comfortable for them, chastening for us. But with Burnham second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts and Knowler third among the wicket-takers, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 07 Aug 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWWWW

Sunday 07 August 2011 saw us travel to The Mote CC with the toss lost and the unwelcome instruction to bowl first — never our favourite way to start a Sunday, but the lads set about it with good cheer nonetheless.

The home side ground their way to 175/8 from 48 overs, Laurence Waters (43) the chief architect with Chris Feltham (25) offering sturdy support. Matthew Carter was magnificent with the ball, tearing through with 4-33, while Michael Beeney (3-43) and Will Thirkell (1-19) chipped in handsomely, and Sam Boyns kept things admirably tight with three maidens. I even found some rhythm myself, picking up four wickets — the sort of day where everything seems to click. Poor Mark Bristow, alas, departed without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 176, we could scarcely have asked for a better platform: Jordan Austin and Mark Christmas put on 74 for the first wicket before the breakthrough came, and from there Austin simply kept going, compiling a magnificent unbeaten century — his hundred the day's standout innings by some distance. Christmas (27) and Richard Piper (20) played their parts as we cantered home to 176/2 in just 31.2 overs, winning by eight wickets with plenty to spare.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon all round, and with Piper still topping our season's run charts and Carter leading the wickets column, the engine room looks in fine order. A good day for the club, and no mistake.

Sat 06 Aug 2011 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWLWLW

Beaten by two wickets on Saturday, but by heaven we made Meopham work for it.

Put in to field on winning the toss for them, we restricted ourselves to admiring their bowling figures from a distance before finally getting to have a swing ourselves — and what a stand it was. Will Thirkell played the innings of the day, a classy 60 that dragged us to a respectable 161/9 from our 45 overs, with Richard Knowler chipping in a very handy 43 alongside him. Special mention, as ever, to the Duck Club: young Daniel Thirkell walked back for nought, though he'd more than make amends with the ball later — funny old game.

In reply, Meopham's Adam Roxburgh played the innings that won it, an unbeaten 86 that we simply couldn't dislodge, well supported by Mark Burton's 47. To our credit we didn't let them coast — Mark Christmas bowled beautifully for 4-30 including four maidens, miserly stuff, with Daniel Thirkell (3-25) making good on his duck and Sam Boyns chipping in too. Your skipper even managed four wickets himself, which doesn't happen every Saturday. David Pollard, Adam Orridge and Richard Boot all trooped back without scoring, so the Duck Club ledger swelled nicely.

Amid the defeat, a genuine highlight: Will Thirkell brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved. Two wickets short in the end, but plenty to build on — we'll be better for it next week.

Tue 02 Aug 2011 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDLLDD

Lost the toss on a warm Tuesday and duly sent out to field first against Bexley — never my favourite instruction, but there it is. Michael Ladbrook made an absolute mockery of our bowling figures, carving out a magnificent unbeaten 105, and found a willing partner in Murtaza Abbas, who eased past his own fifty to finish 75 not out. Richie Barclay chipped in with 22, and between them Bexley cantered to 228/3 from their 34 overs. Small mercies: Jason Benn departed for a duck, and Matthew Carter bowled beautifully for 2-21 with two maidens to show for his discipline, well supported by Iain Rawson's 1-50 — a spell that, almost incidentally, took Rawson's career wickets past the 200 mark. One for the mantelpiece indeed.

Chasing 229 is no stroll, but Tim Wright and Will Thirkell gave us the platform of dreams, putting on 98 for the first wicket before either fell — the kind of start that makes a captain feel briefly, gloriously in control. Wright made a well-crafted 58, Thirkell 56, and Will Thew's 39 kept the innings ticking, but 214/7 from our 44 overs left us agonisingly short of the finish line.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride largely intact. Thirkell leads our Midweek run charts on 137 for the season, Carter tops the wickets with five, and Bexley go home knowing they had the better of a match we refused, stubbornly, to lose.

Sun 31 Jul 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformDWWWW

Sunday 31 July 2011, and Mersham Sports CC rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and, frustratingly, the toss in their pocket. They put us in, which after our innings looked less like tactics and more like a very kind gift. Richard Piper batted with real class for an unbeaten 70, Will Thirkell chipped in a tidy 37 and Matthew Carter finished 24 not out to see us to 213/7 from our forty overs — extras got in on the act too, a generous 42 of them. Poor Glen Rawson will want to forget his golden duck, though I'm sure the tea urn was sympathetic.

With 213 on the board, the pressure was on the ball to do the talking, and Thomas Beeney obliged with a superb 4-21, two of them maidens, backed up nicely by Matthew Carter's 2-3 and Ray Dixon's 2-43. Jonathan Fearne departed for a duck of his own, which felt only fair given events earlier in the day. Mersham fought hard through Craig Calvert's 40, Balaj Bareckzi's 38 and Mark Gill's 25, but they were bowled out for 170 in 37.4 overs — I even managed to get among the runs myself with 24, more by accident than design.

A 43-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. With Richard Piper now leading our Sunday run charts on 271 and Mark Christmas topping the wicket pile on 12, the season has a pleasingly familiar shape to it. Tea, as ever, was the real man of the match.

Sun 31 Jul 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv High Halstow CC · AwayformLLLWW

Sunday 31 July 2011, and off we trundled to High Halstow, where I called correctly at the toss and had precisely no hesitation in sticking us in the field — a decision that felt shrewd for about the length of time it takes to say "flying start," which is exactly what the hosts had, racing to 74 before we prised out the first breakthrough. Chris Lally made merry to the tune of 88, with Ashley Trigg (54) and Adam Colegate (42) lending sturdy support, and a third-wicket stand of 75 did the real damage. Credit where due, though — we did claw them back from 250-7 to all out 259, with Joshua Knowler bowling beautifully for 3-59, Sam Boyns chipping in 2-32, and Jon Harris 2-50. Aaron Robertson bagged a golden duck at our hands, which was some small consolation.

Chasing 260, we made a decent fist of it without ever quite threatening. Trevor Back's 37 anchored things nicely, well supported by Chris Newman (35) and Will Thew (27), and a second-wicket stand of 62 gave us hope — before wickets tumbled from 108-2 to 122-5 in a hurry we'd rather forget. We limped to 207-9 from our forty, helped along by a generous 46 extras, poor Lewis Burnham enduring a torrid afternoon behind the stumps (12 byes) after also topping our season's run charts with 174. As for your correspondent, I contributed a duck of my own — the less said, the better.

Fifty-two runs the wrong side of the ledger, then. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 30 Jul 2011 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWWLWL

Saturday 30 July 2011, Sheldwich CC at home, and having won the toss I did what any captain fancying a long lunch does and stuck us in. It proved a shrewd call, or at least a lucky one. Daniel Thirkell batted beautifully for an unbeaten 84, with Craig Sands right alongside him on 78 — the pair adding a crucial 137 for the third wicket after Richard Piper's 35 had helped the openers lay the platform at 66 without loss. We closed on a formidable 255 for 3, and a word must go to Craig, who in the process brought up 11,000 career runs for the club — not a bad afternoon's work by anyone's reckoning.

With the ball, Sheldwich never quite got away from us, despite James Creed's fine 64 and useful contributions from Nick Collins (29) and Matt Hammond (23), the pair adding 97 for the second wicket after an early stumble at 3 for 1. But wickets fell steadily around them — Martin Mills departed for a duck, Sam Boyns did the real damage with 2 for 37, and Richard Knowler, Joshua Knowler and the ever-miserly Mark Christmas, three maidens to his name, squeezed the runs out of them. They closed on 169 for 6.

An 86-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — batted with real substance, bowled with patience, and celebrated a landmark to boot. Onwards indeed.

Sat 30 Jul 2011 🧢 2nd XIv LC Luddesdowne CC · AwayformWWDLL

Down by Ludd, this one — but not for want of trying.

We travelled down to Luddesdowne on Saturday last, and having called correctly at the toss for once in my captaincy career, there was never any doubt in my mind: on a green and pleasant Saturday, you bat. And bat we did. Will Thew produced an innings that will be talked about in the clubhouse for weeks to come — a chanceless, composed hundred, not out at the close, the kind of knock that makes a captain's job look easy. Tim Wright played the perfect foil, striking a fluent 70, and between them they steered us to a handsome 224 for 5 from our forty overs. I confess I allowed myself a little optimism on the drive to the tea interval.

Optimism, alas, is a fragile commodity in this game. Luddesdowne set about the chase with real intent, and Doug Lewis played the innings of the day for them, unbeaten on 87, with Sean Eastwood and Bob Stiddard chipping in handsomely either side of him. Thomas Beeney toiled manfully with the new ball, three maidens and 2 for 32 to show for his honest labours, and Chris Newman and Michael Beeney picked up a wicket apiece, while Roger Millgate and David Mayne departed for ducks. But 225 for 6 came with half an over to spare, and the visitors ran out winners by four wickets.

Credit to Luddesdowne, hard luck to us. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets — there's cricket yet to be won this season.

Wed 27 Jul 2011 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLDLLD

We won the toss on a grey Wednesday and I opted to field — a decision that, for once, I shall claim full credit for.

The opposition ground their way to 206/7 from 49.5 overs, and it might have been a great deal worse for us had we not struck at 0-1 to set the early tone. J Rusby and D Cameron then had other ideas, putting on 99 for the third wicket and dragging the innings back into respectability with half-centuries apiece (80 and 60), S Connelly chipping in with 28. To our credit, the lads regrouped smartly at the death, turning 200-4 into 206-7 in the blink of an eye — L Rayner departing without so much as a sniff of the scoreboard. Martin Harris was superb with the ball, 3-34, backed up by Tim Wright (2-19) and the metronomic Iain Rawson, whose 1-5 with three maidens suggested the batsmen simply gave up asking.

Chasing 207, we replied with 191/5 from our 39 overs — a touch short in the end, but not for want of application. Will Thirkell was the class act, 81 well past his fifty, with Trevor Back unbeaten on 48 and Tim Wright a tidy 25 either side of a match-defining stand of 112 for the fifth wicket. Poor Craig Sands, meanwhile, will find his name in the Duck Club ledger rather than the scorebook.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the only clear winner of the day.

Sun 24 Jul 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Hawkinge CC · AwayformLLLLW

Called it right at the toss and stuck us in, fancying there might be something for the bowlers on a Sunday morning at Hawkinge. Early on it looked a shrewd call too, Hawkinge stumbling to 7 for 1, but cricket has a habit of humbling the confident captain, and a stubborn seventh-wicket stand of 51 dragged them back into contention. Shaid Rajput's 46 was the innings of note, with useful support from Andy Brooks and Rob Tibbles, both 23, taking them to 154 for 9 off their forty. Nathan Finnis and Jason Roberts both departed without scoring, which is never a pleasant walk back, but the day belonged to Sam Boyns, whose 5 for 13 was a thoroughly deserved five-for and the difference between a manageable target and a daunting one. Martin Harris and Chris Newman chipped in admirably alongside him.

Chasing 155, we never quite settled into serenity, but Lewis Burnham's 30 and Joshua Knowler's 21 gave us a platform, and a generous 35 in extras did no harm at all — not the most elegant way to close the gap, but we'll take it. Chris Newman and Adam Wright both fell for ducks, proof that no one is spared the indignity in this game.

We scrambled home by 2 wickets, hearts firmly in mouths. Lewis Burnham and Martin Harris continue to sit second in the season's run and wicket charts respectively — form that's carrying the side. A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly satisfying win.

Sun 24 Jul 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Bells Yew Green CC · AwayformDDWWW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 24 July 2011. We were away at Bells Yew Green, and having called correctly for once in my life, I stuck them in, fancying our chances under cloud cover and my own tactical genius. Whether that genius held up is, as ever, a matter for debate. They rattled up 237/6 from their 41 overs, built chiefly around a proper innings from Finn Hulbert — 119, and not a run of it stolen — with Jorge Ehren (33) and Julian Ehren (20 not out) chipping in either side of a watchful 98-run stand. Their last pair then had the cheek to bolt on 37 we could have done without, though Ben Dunkerley at least fell for nought at our hands. Thomas Beeney was excellent up front, 3-47, with Mark Christmas and Benjamin Austin chiselling out a wicket apiece.

Chasing 238, we made hard work of easy work, as is tradition. Zero for one inside the first over set pulses racing before Craig Sands (74) and Jordan Austin (71) — both well past their fifties — put together a commanding 91 for the fourth wicket to drag us back into it, Laurie Probert adding a tidy 38. Then, entirely on cue, the wheels came off spectacularly: 218-5 became 228-8 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, with Richard Piper, Benjamin Austin and Thomas Beeney all failing to trouble the scorers.

We stumbled, wobbled, and somehow scrambled home by two wickets. Not pretty, England — but a win's a win, and I'll take it gladly.

Sat 23 Jul 2011 🧢 2nd XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · HomeformLWWDL

Saturday 23rd July saw Cobham CC roll into Linton Park, and true to form the coin let me down before a ball had been bowled — Cobham won the toss and had first use of what looked a decent surface.

We toiled well in the field. Simon Waters gave us a proper working-over on his way to 59, but the lads kept plugging away, and there's some comfort in seeing Kieron Clifton walk back for a duck against our name. Michael Beeney was superb, 3 for 30 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that makes a captain's job easy — well supported by Joe Martin (2-16) and Iain Rawson (1-26). Cobham closed on 190 for 8 from their 45 overs, a total that always felt slightly out of reach.

And so it proved. Chris Newman's 25 and Tim Wright's 20 were the honest toil of the innings, but wickets tumbled around them and we were all out for 122 in 38.2 overs. Poor Iain Rawson added insult to injury with a nought of his own — the Duck Club ledger swelling nicely this season — while Joe Martin had a torrid time behind the stumps, 10 byes leaking away like water through a colander.

Beaten by 68 runs in the end, no arguing with that scoreline. Still, with Kevin Presneill and Iain Rawson both flying high in the season's charts, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 23 Jul 2011 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformWWWLW

Saturday 23 July 2011 saw us make the trek to Staplehurst CC, where I lost the toss and duly volunteered us into the field first — never the way you want to start a Saturday, but there we are.

With the bat we crawled to 159/9 off our 45, thanks in no small part to Mark Christmas, whose 49 was the innings' backbone, with Glen Rawson (39) and Richard Piper (23) lending sturdy support. The sixth-wicket stand of 66 was the heartbeat of the innings, and for a while it looked like we might really build something. Then, with the ruthless efficiency club cricket specialises in, we imploded from 149-6 to 155-9 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea. Daniel Thirkell, Craig Sands and Richard Knowler all made splendid ducks 🦆, presumably auditioning for the Staplehurst scorebook rather than ours.

Out in the field, Staplehurst strolled to 160/3 off 37.4 overs. Tom Davey's unbeaten 68 did the real damage, ushered along by Alexander Holmes (43 not out) and G Hubbard (22). Matthew Carter toiled manfully for 2-16, with Will Thirkell chipping in at 1-50. I contributed 49 myself, for what it was worth against that kind of chase.

Season-wise, Glen Rawson continues to lead the 1st XI run charts on 410, and Matthew Carter sits second in the wickets column with 19 — small consolations on a chastening afternoon.

Verdict: beaten by seven wickets, fair and square. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Wed 13 Jul 2011 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformLLDLL

We drew the toss on Wednesday 13 July and, in a fit of tactical boldness that felt sound at tea and questionable by close, I stuck Dummy Site in. They made themselves quite at home, racking up 215/7 from their 44 overs on the back of a chunky 99-run fourth-wicket stand between J Pope (62) and A Mills (61), with J Lavers chipping in 29 for good measure. Credit where due: Chris Newman was superb with the ball, 3-30, backed up nicely by Matthew Carter's 2-51, Nigel Thirkell's solitary but tidy wicket, and Iain Rawson tying the visitors down with a couple of maidens.

Chasing 216 was always going to ask questions of us, and losing an early wicket with just 7 on the board didn't calm any nerves. Nigel Thirkell, showing rather more with the bat than the ball this time, top-scored with 34, well supported by Ryan Boyns (30) and Thomas Beeney (22), but 169/9 from our 44 overs left us short of the target. Poor Trevor Back had an afternoon of it behind the stumps, 19 byes conceded, and as for the skipper — a golden blob. Captains are meant to lead by example; I led, alas, by cautionary tale.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride mostly intact. With Thomas Beeney 2nd in the season's run charts and Matthew Carter topping the wickets, the engine room is purring even if the captain's bat is currently ornamental. All told, a fair result for a scrappy day: nobody won, nobody lost, and everybody had a story for the bar afterwards.

Sun 10 Jul 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Stone-in-Oxney CC · AwayformWLLLL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 10 July 2011. We travelled to Stone-in-Oxney CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in choosing to bat. It could have gone badly wrong when we lost an early wicket with not a run on the board, a properly nervy start on a Sunday morning. But Glen Rawson decided enough was enough and set about compiling a magnificent 124, cashing in ably supported by Trevor Back's 29 as the pair rebuilt with a sturdy 79-run stand for the second wicket. Adam Wright and Will Thew both contributed a golden nothing 🦆, but with Rawson in that mood it scarcely mattered. We closed on a healthy 211/5 from our 40 overs.

Defending it, Stone-in-Oxney gave themselves a real chance, openers putting on 99 for the first wicket before we finally prised one out. Ben Price's well-made 59 and Gary Woollett's 58 kept the required rate ticking, with Tevis Knight Snr unbeaten on 35, but once the breakthrough came the innings unravelled spectacularly — 179/7 became 188 all out in the blink of an eye, Maurice Norton, Andrew Wilson and Andy Boorman all departing for ducks 🦆. Tim Wright led the charge with 2-20, backed up nicely by Chris Newman (2-32) and Martin Harris (1-22).

A fine win by 23 runs, then, built on one man's brilliance and finished off by the bowlers at just the right moment. Onwards 🏏.

Sun 10 Jul 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Beckenham CC · HomeformWDDWW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 10 July 2011, and Beckenham CC rolled into Linton Park under obliging skies. Winning what passes for a coin toss in these parts, I put us into the field, and for a while it looked the sort of decision one regrets over tea. Bobby Harris (44) and Clive Tyrrell (40) got themselves in and looked disappointingly comfortable about it, steering the visitors to 161/8 from their 48 overs. Thankfully Mark Christmas had other ideas, prising out three for a miserly 20 and bowling four maidens that must have felt like a personal insult to the Beckenham middle order. Will Thirkell and Sam Boyns chipped in with a wicket apiece to keep things honest.

Chasing 162, we made rather harder work of it than the target deserved, though Mark Christmas — clearly not content with his bowling heroics — carried his bat to 52 not out, and Daniel Thirkell's 45 and Richard Piper's 32 gave the innings some backbone. Young James Piper, alas, will not be troubling the scorers this week, departing for a duck that even he would admit was entirely golden.

Behind the stumps Ryan Boyns had a torrid afternoon of it, eight byes slipping through like the club's tea urn on a bad day. But no matter — we got home by five wickets, two points safely banked, and Mark Christmas's season continues to sparkle. A scrappy win, but a win all the same, and I'll take those every Sunday going.

Sat 09 Jul 2011 🧢 2nd XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWLWWD

Beaten again, but honestly, I think Shipbourne got the better of the weather too — the toss went against us, we were put in the field first, and never quite got the momentum back.

Batting first (or rather, batting second having been asked to field — funny how these things work out) we mustered 141 all out in 41.3 overs. Kevin Presneill led from the front with a fine 38, Will Thew chipped in with a tidy 20, and Ian Hollingworth contributed what the scorebook politely calls a golden duck — first ball, no complaints, straight back to the pavilion for a cup of tea and some quiet reflection.

With the ball, we made a real fist of it. Andrew Gillam's early wicket for 1 runs had us dreaming of a rout, but he was made to rue it, top-scoring with a superb unbeaten 81, well supported by Sam Webster's unbeaten 24. Ian Hollingworth, clearly with a score to settle after his golden duck, tore in for 3-34, Iain Rawson bowled with real discipline for 1-23 (four maidens — not a run given away lightly), and Joe Martin picked up 1-28. Nick Tyler went for a duck of his own, so at least the ducks were shared fairly. I managed 38 with the bat myself, for what little comfort that offers.

In the end their last pair added an infuriating 87 we simply didn't need to see, and we fell four wickets short. Character-building stuff — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 09 Jul 2011 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWWWWL

We hosted Shipbourne CC on Saturday 09 July 2011, and I won the toss without a flicker of doubt about what came next — into the field we went.

It looked, briefly, like inspired captaincy. Shipbourne slid to 2-1 and we had Mark Fenton and Chris Raveney back in the pavilion for nought apiece before some of us had finished our tea. But George Willis had other ideas, marshalling the tail with an unbeaten 42 to drag the visitors to 111/8 from their 45 overs. Richard Knowler was the chief tormentor with 4-23, well supported by Sam Boyns (1-12) and Mark Christmas (1-16), while Matthew Carter proved positively parsimonious with three maidens — not a run given away lightly, as they say.

A modest target, then, but club cricket has a way of making 112 feel like Everest. We stumbled to 114/6 from 36.5 overs, with Harry Bee contributing what the scorebook politely calls a golden duck. It was left to Daniel Thirkell to see us home with a watchful 37 not out, nursing us over the line with the minimum of fuss and the maximum of nerves from the boundary.

Four wickets, two points, and a Saturday that asked more questions than it needed to. Glen Rawson continues to lead our run charts with 371, Richard Knowler our wickets with 19 — both men doing their bit while the rest of us made hard work of the easy things. A win's a win, and we'll take it, gratefully and a little sheepishly.

Sun 03 Jul 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LR Lord Raglan · HomeformWWLLL

Sunday 3rd July found us on home soil, put in to field after losing the toss to Dummy Site — never my favourite way to spend a summer's afternoon, but the lads took it in good spirit. And how it repaid us. Dan Barkaway was simply not to be denied, tearing through their order with figures of 6 for 6 from four maidens — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen reaching for the fixture list to check they haven't wandered into the wrong match. Matthew Carter and Tim Wright chipped in either side of him, and between 0-1 and 6-4 the visitors were, frankly, gone. Hutchinson's 22 and C Bonney's 20 were the only real resistance, and Dummy Site were bowled out for 92 in 34.5 overs. R Hancox, P Crafter and S Bonney trooped back to the pavilion without scoring, poor souls.

Chasing 93, we made harder work of it than the bowling deserved, subsiding to 97 for 4 in 23.5 overs. Adam Wright's 35 and Trevor Back's 30 did the heavy lifting, while Jamie Ratcliffe's walk of shame — a golden duck — will no doubt earn him a ribbing in the clubhouse for weeks to come. Somehow, remarkably, we contrived to lose by six wickets — a scoreline that will raise eyebrows from anyone glancing only at the bowling figures.

A funny old game, cricket. Barkaway will dine out on this one for a good while yet, but we'll need sharper heads with the bat next week if we're to turn such dominant bowling into the results it deserves.

Sun 03 Jul 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv KC Knockholt CC · AwayformLWDDW

Sunday 3 July 2011, away at Knockholt, and the coin let us down as ever — they had first use of it and sent us in, presumably fancying their bowlers on a morning that must have looked friendlier than it turned out to be.

We batted with real composure. Mark Christmas anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 67, and when Laurie Probert joined him the pair simply refused to be shifted, Probert finishing 46 not out. Ray Dixon chipped in with 20, the Knockholt attack was persuaded to part with 29 extras along the way, and by the time we declared our hand at 42 overs we'd posted a handsome 193/4. Whatever doubts the coin toss had sown, the scoreboard had firmly answered them.

Defending that sort of total is the pleasant end of captaincy, and the lads set about it with relish. Knockholt never got going — 84 all out in 30.2 overs told its own story, with only Mark Reay (33) and Rory Tanner (24) offering any real resistance while three of their batsmen trooped off without troubling the scorers. Michael Beeney was the chief destroyer with 2-0, Ray Dixon (2-1) and Iain Rawson (2-4, with two miserly maidens thrown in) doing the mopping up.

A fine win by 109 runs, then, and a timely reminder of the strength in this side — Glen Rawson still tops the run charts and Beeney the wickets. Onwards indeed.

Sat 02 Jul 2011 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWWWWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 2 July 2011. We travelled to Headcorn CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat. Batting first is always the captain's easiest decision and his hardest to defend by teatime.

It rather looked shaky early doors — 7-1 had the pavilion clearing its throat nervously — but Daniel Thirkell settled in for the long haul and simply refused to get out, carrying his bat to a superb unbeaten hundred. The tail wagged nicely too, a final 38 runs proving thoroughly irritating to a Headcorn attack who thought they'd seen the back of us, and we closed on a respectable 162/7 from our 45 overs. Less respectable was Richard Knowler's contribution to proceedings — a golden duck and, regrettably, another entry in the club's ledger of shame.

In the field, 162 never felt quite enough, and so it proved. Paul Putland played the anchor role to perfection, ending 84 not out, while Kevin Richardson (36 not out) and Andre Hatton (30) offered sturdy support around him. A brisk 61-run opening stand set the tone before we so much as got a sniff. Will Thirkell toiled manfully for his solitary wicket, and Matthew Carter chipped in with a wicket and two tidy maidens, but Headcorn cantered home on 166/2 with overs to spare.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Daniel Thirkell's hundred was reward enough for one afternoon — the rest of us will simply have to be better next week.

Sun 26 Jun 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformWWWLL

Sunday 26 June 2011, and Harrietsham CC rolled up hoping for a stroll, and by the end of the afternoon they'd got rather more than that. Lost the toss, put in to field, and off we trudged into the sunshine to see what was coming our way.

Truth be told, John Whiskin gave us a proper going-over on his way to a well-made 64, and once Bijoy Puthoor (37) had joined him for a stand of 55 for the second wicket, the day had a certain inevitability about it. Keith Hutchinson's unbeaten 33 put the polish on 177/6 from their forty overs. Credit where it's due, though — Sam Boyns kept plugging away for 2-33, with Jon Harris (2-35) and Tim Thirkell (1-32) doing their bit to stop it becoming a total embarrassment.

Chasing 178 was always going to want something special, and while Lewis Burnham had a good go with 30, the rest of us rather politely declined the invitation, and we subsided to 106/6 from our forty. Beaten by 71 runs — not our finest hour, but no disgrace against a side batting like that.

Elsewhere, the season ticks on regardless of our afternoon's discomfort: Will Thew sits second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 133, and Jon Harris tops the wickets pile with 11 — small crumbs of comfort to take home. We'll be better for it next week, as we always say, and for once I rather think we mean it.

Sun 26 Jun 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv KC Knockers CC · AwayformWLWDD

Sunday 26 June saw us make the trip out to Knockers CC, and for once the coin gods smiled on me — I called correctly and, with the sun out and the outfield looking quick, there was only ever going to be one decision. We put them in.

It proved a shrewd one, if I say so myself. Knockers were bowled out for 112 in 30.1 overs, Stuart Seldon's 23 the only real resistance as wickets tumbled around him — 50 for 2 became 57 for 5 in the blink of an eye, with Geoff Smith and D Marsh both back in the hutch without scoring. Mark Christmas was the chief tormentor with 2 for 4, well supported by the Beeney brothers, Michael (2-16) and Thomas (2-18), giving us a very tidy platform to work from.

Chasing 113, Warren Jackson (36) and Will Thirkell (33) set the tone with a splendid opening stand of 76 that took the sting out of the run chase before either fell, and we cruised home for the loss of four wickets with overs to spare. Thomas Beeney will want to forget his golden duck with the bat, though he'll have enjoyed his afternoon with the ball rather more.

A tidy day of bookkeeping too — Matthew Carter's brace of wickets edged him past Terry Donovan into 20th on the club's all-time list, and he now sits 2nd in this season's Sunday wicket charts, with Thirkell 3rd among the run-scorers. A win by 5 wickets, thoroughly deserved, and the tea urn has rarely tasted sweeter. Onwards.

Sat 25 Jun 2011 🧢 1st XIv EC East Sutton CC · HomeformWWWWW

Home side scrape past East Sutton in low-scoring tussle at Linton Park

A Saturday of modest totals but plenty of heart at Linton Park, as we welcomed East Sutton CC and, against the run of early jitters, came away with the points and no little pride.

Put into the field, we found early joy hard to come by against the bat of Nathan Harvey, whose 46 threatened to give the visitors something to defend. But patience — and rather more than that from Thomas Beeney, whose 4-4 will have East Sutton's top order wincing for weeks yet — saw them folded for 112 in 35.5 overs. Will Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 3-15, Richard Knowler took 1-9 to add to a season that already has him leading our 2011 wicket charts with 15, and honourable mention must go to whichever unseen hand kept the scorebook so tidy for East Sutton, since Mark Whitmill, Chris Skingley and Chris Burton were sent packing without so much as a nibble.

Chasing 113, David Castle and Daniel Thirkell set about the target with an opening stand of 53 that took the sting out of the afternoon, Thirkell (23) playing the perfect foil before Castle sailed serenely on to an unbeaten 70 — his half-century the platform for an eight-wicket win with overs to spare. Thirkell's efforts nudge him to third in our run charts with 185 for the summer. Castle's day behind the stumps was rather less serene, mind — eight byes escaping his gloves suggests his concentration was saving itself for the bat.

Two points, eight wickets, and a scorebook East Sutton will want to forget in a hurry. We'll take it.

Sun 19 Jun 2011 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWLWLW

Sunday, 19 June 2011, and it fell to me to make the big call at the toss: heads or tails, field or bat. I chose to field first against Bidborough CC, and for once I'll allow myself a small pat on the back — the right call, I felt, even if the scoreboard rather laughed in my face by the end of the day.

Bidborough made themselves nicely at home, closing on 187/7 from their forty overs, built chiefly around Matt Young's fine 69, with useful support from Sam Howes (27) and Charlie Harding (23) and a stubborn 63-run stand for the fourth wicket that we simply couldn't shift. Credit where due: Matthew Carter bowled beautifully for 2-34 with two maidens to show for his discipline, while Harry Bee (2-39) and Sam Boyns (2-55) kept chipping away. Nothing was given away cheaply.

Chasing 188, we made a fair fist of it early on — Stuart Cheesman top-scoring with 27, Matthew Carter chipping in with 24 and Glen Rawson with 22 — before the innings folded like a deckchair in a gust, 94-4 becoming 101-7 in the blink of an eye. All out for 127. Will Thirkell and Thomas Beeney will want their names kept out of the club minutes after both collected ducks.

One bright note: Cheesman's 27 nudged him past Russell Baldwin into 22nd on the all-time run charts — a small mantelpiece moment amid the wreckage.

Beaten by 60 runs, fair and square. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 19 Jun 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · AwayformLWWWL

Sunday 19th June, and off we trotted to New Ifield CC with hope in our hearts, as ever. Lost the toss, put in to field, and watched the openers settle in for what became 185/7 off their forty. Joe Lawrence was the chief architect at 64, with Reju Joy (42) and David Homewood (23) filling in the mortar around a stubborn 51-run third-wicket stand. Credit where due — Jon Harris bowled beautifully for 2-21, with Iain Rawson (2-29) and Martin Harris (2-36) chipping away either side of him. A defendable-looking total, we reckoned, if we batted with sense.

We did not entirely bat with sense. Lewis Burnham played the innings of the day, 50 well made, ably assisted by Will Thew's 23 and a promising 63-run second-wicket stand that had us dreaming. Then, as these things do, it all came apart at the seams — 146 for 7 became 151 all out in the blink of an eye, and 38.5 overs told the sorry tale. Spare a thought for the Duck Club's newest members, Martin Harris and Jon Harris, both back in the hutch for nought, and spare rather more than a thought for your captain, similarly dismissed without troubling the scorers. Least said, soonest mended.

Down by 34 in the end. On the bright side, Will Thew now sits second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 123, and Jon Harris leads the wicket-takers with 9 — proof there's method beneath the madness. Not our day, but the nets await, and so, undaunted, do we.

Sat 18 Jun 2011 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · HomeformWWLWW

Betsham CC came to Linton Park on Saturday 18 June, and true to form the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they had first use of the pitch and, perhaps sniffing something in the air, sent us in. Whatever they were hoping for, it didn't quite materialise: we posted 86 for 2 off just 16.1 overs, a brisk enough total built largely on the back of Iain Cardew's unbeaten 32, playing with the calm authority of a man who currently sits atop the 2nd XI's 2011 run charts with 356 to his name and clearly has no intention of relinquishing top spot any time soon.

With runs on the board, we turned our attention to defending them, and the bowling and fielding did exactly what was asked — Betsham simply couldn't get going, and the innings closed without troubling the scorers at all. Credit to the lads for keeping the pressure on throughout; there's something quietly satisfying about watching an opposition batting line-up unravel while you barely need to raise your voice from mid-off.

And yet, for all that promise, honours finished shared — a draw, neither side able to force home the advantage. Frustrating in the moment, perhaps, but there's no shame in it: 86 for 2 in 16 overs and a stubborn defence is a fair account of an afternoon's work. A draw it was, then — but very much a draw earned rather than one that simply happened to us.

Sat 18 Jun 2011 🧢 1st XIv BC Betsham CC · AwayformLWWWW

From the captain's chair, Saturday 18th June, and the road took us down to Betsham CC. No luck with the coin — never is, these days — and they had first use of the sunshine, opting to field. No matter: Glen Rawson and his opening partner had other ideas, putting on a priceless 79 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came. Glen went on to 46, Richard Piper chipped in a fine 40, and I found some form of my own with 29, as we posted a handsome 173/7 from our 35 overs, extras doing their bit with 25. Less happily, Stuart Cheesman's walk of shame continues — another duck for the ledger, though he keeps company there with the very best of us.

Then it was our turn to make merry with the ball, and merry we were. Betsham's innings folded for a mere 64 in 22.3 overs, only Simon Rasho showing any real resistance with 28. We turned the screw from 47-2 to 53-5 in the blink of an eye, sending Tom Whiting back for nought along the way. Harry Bee was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 6-5, with Sam Boyns (2-18) and Richard Knowler (1-2) mopping up, and Mark Christmas — sorry, myself — tying things down with two maidens.

A special word too for Richard Piper, who brought up his 500th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark deserving of rather more than a warm pint, though it was gratefully received. Two points, well and truly earned: a 109-run victory to savour on the journey home.

Wed 15 Jun 2011 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformLLLDL

Wednesday 15 June brought Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC to Linton Park, and I lost the toss for my trouble, which meant it was pads on and out into the field for the lads first. Not the afternoon I'd have chosen, but there are worse ways to spend a Wednesday.

Batting first, we posted a healthy 192/3 from our 38 overs, built on a fine 67-run second-wicket stand. Craig Sands anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 63, well supported by Trevor Back's 48 and Thomas Beeney's 36. It had the makings of a defendable total, and for a good while it looked exactly that.

Defending it, though, is where the story turned. Jon Harris made the new ball talk with figures of 1-3, and Matthew Carter did his miserly best with 2 maidens and 1-28, but nothing was going to stop R Oliver, who compiled a magnificent unbeaten century — 106 of them — with Hadleigh Luff chipping in a handsome 76. Their second-wicket pair put on 163 between them, which is the kind of number that rather takes the wind out of a captain's sails, and Sevenoaks cantered home on 194/2 with eight wickets and overs to spare.

Not our day, then, by any stretch — beaten by eight wickets and a batting masterclass we simply couldn't answer. Heads up, though: Sands and Carter now lead our 2011 Midweek run and wicket charts respectively, so there's plenty to build on. Back to the nets.

Sun 12 Jun 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv EC Elvington and Tilmanstone Colliery Welfare CC · AwayformWLWWW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 12 June 2011. We travelled to Elvington and Tilmanstone Colliery Welfare CC in good spirits, though those spirits took a bit of a battering before the day was out. The coin, as is tradition, did not favour us, and the home side elected to field, doubtless sniffing something in the air.

What followed was not our finest hour with the bat. We stumbled to 6-1 almost before the tea urn had boiled, and although Iain Rawson dug in for a battling 22 to top-score, the rest of the order rather lost the plot, and we were bowled out for 97 in 39.4 overs. Special mention, as ever, to Trevor Back, whose golden duck earns him this month's entry in the Duck Club ledger — commiserations, Trevor, the walk of shame awaits.

With the ball we fared little better in terms of the result, if not the effort. Andrew McNicholas played a lovely hand of 52 not out, well supported by M Palmer's unbeaten 39, as the visitors cruised to 98-1 in just 19.4 overs. Dan Barkaway was our pick of the bowlers with 1-30, and at least Ned Harper joins the ducks' club, departing without troubling the scorers. Elsewhere, Tim Wright continues his solid season, third in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts, with Barkaway third among the wicket-takers.

Not our day, beaten by nine wickets. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 11 Jun 2011 🧢 2nd XIv LC Lenham CC · AwayformWWWLW

Kevin Presneill's day to remember, and mine too, for once. We won the toss at Lenham on a Saturday that felt made for batting, and I had no hesitation putting us in — the right call, I felt, and one I'll happily take credit for. Kevin set about proving me right in style, compiling a magnificent 101, well supported by Chris Newman's 26 and Glen Rawson's 21, with the extras column doing its bit with 39. Not everyone had such a day out — poor Richard Knowler made his way back for nought, the walk of shame duly noted for the Duck Club ledger. We closed on 221/7 from our 45, a total with some substance to it.

Out in the field, Lenham gave it a proper go. Alan Barr's well-made 66 and Dave Bunch's 48 kept them in the hunt, but Richard Knowler, evidently keen to make amends with the ball, tore in for 4-47, with Tim Thirkell (2-31) and Iain Rawson (1-18) chipping in and Ian Hollingworth tying things down with three miserly maidens. Jack Ambrose went the same way as poor Richard had — a second duck of the day. They fell 47 runs short on 174/8.

A word for the history books: Kevin's century took him past 4,000 career runs for the club — a landmark to raise a glass to. All told, a thoroughly good day for Linton Park.

Sat 11 Jun 2011 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWLWWW

Saturday 11 June saw us on the road to Headcorn, where I duly lost the toss and we were sent in to field — which, in Linton Park tradition, generally means at least one deckchair-related mishap before lunch.

We stuck to our task nicely with the ball. Headcorn crawled to 117/8 off a marathon 52.1 overs, with Luke Mangold (38) and Paul Millen (29) the only ones threatening to make a proper fist of it. Daniel Thirkell was the pick of the attack, snaffling 2-2 in a spell that must have felt like bowling at a village fête coconut shy, while Ryan Boyns (1-5) and Will Thirkell (1-14) chipped in, and Mark Christmas bowled with the miserliness of a man checking his own round at the bar, three maidens to his name.

Chasing 118, we made light work of it. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 62 carrying us home, well supported by Daniel Thirkell's 32 — the pair putting on 81 for the first wicket before anyone so much as troubled the scorer's pencil. We reached 118/3 in 28.4 overs. Ryan Boyns, having bowled his heart out, returned the favour with the bat by contributing precisely nothing 🦆 — but no matter, the job was done.

A comfortable seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying day out. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 05 Jun 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Addington Village CC · HomeformLWLWW

Sunday 5 June saw Addington Village CC roll up to Linton Park, and when I called wrong at the toss they took one look at the covers and elected to bowl. Cheek, really, but we soon showed them the error of their ways. Glen Rawson batted with real class for his unbeaten 53, and with Will Thew chipping in a tidy 38 and Joshua Knowler unbeaten on 30, we posted a handsome 198 for 4 off our thirty overs — helped along, as ever, by a generous 27 extras from the visitors, for which we thank them kindly.

Defending it should have been the tricky part. Mike Clarke had other ideas, striking a fine 62 and putting on 97 with Alex Rolfe (26) for the first wicket, and for a while it looked ominous from the boundary rope. But Joshua Knowler, clearly not content with his morning's batting, turned the screw with 3 for 22, while Tim Thirkell (1-20, two miserly maidens) and Martin Harris (1-43) chipped away until the required rate became a distant memory. Poor Glen had a torrid time behind the stumps, conceding nine byes for his trouble — no doubt the price of a captain's innings taking its toll on the gloves.

A nod, too, to Jon Harris, who brought up 2,800 career wickets — a staggering number that puts the rest of us to shame. We came home by 45 runs, Rawson and Harris still setting the pace atop the season's charts. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 05 Jun 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tyler Hill CC · AwayformDWLWD

Sunday the 5th of June, and the fixture list sent us off to Tyler Hill CC in reasonable spirits and rather fine weather for it. I won the toss and, never one to overthink these things, stuck us in to bat.

It proved a shrewd call, or at least a lucky one. We raced to 79 without loss from our twelve overs, Richard Piper the architect of it all with a composed 49 not out, while Mark Christmas played the perfect foil with 24 not out at the other end. Between them they barely troubled the scorers for a false shot, and I spent much of the innings doing what any good captain does best — standing at the boundary offering unsolicited encouragement.

Then came our turn in the field, and here the tale takes a stranger turn: the opposition were bowled out for precisely nothing. Not a run to their name. I shan't pretend to know quite how one engineers a declaration of that magnitude, but the lads took it in their stride, treating it with the same quiet professionalism as everything else that day.

And yet, for all that, honours were shared — a draw, the game unable to be forced to a conclusion. Richard continues his fine season, now sitting second in the Sunday 1st XI run charts with 169 to his name. A curious afternoon, then: dominant with bat and ball alike, and still no more than a draw to show for it. Cricket, in its infinite wisdom, rarely does the tidy thing.

Sat 04 Jun 2011 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWWWWL

Here's the match report:

It was Marden CC, Kent, who joined us at home on Saturday 4th June, and it was they, not I, who got the better of the coin toss — a losing streak that continues to test my faith in cricketing justice. They elected to bat, and so it was into the field we trooped, hoping the pitch might do some early talking.

And talk it did. Marden were bowled out for a modest 99 in 35 overs, with Richard Thomas top-scoring on 25 and Christopher Watts chipping in with 20, but precious little support beyond that — Chris Bonney and A Backshan both departed without troubling the scorers. Dan Barkaway was the chief destroyer with a superb 3-8, while Iain Rawson (2-14, four maidens of pure miserliness) and Thomas Beeney (2-15) squeezed the life out of the rest of the order. A proper team effort with the ball.

Chasing 100, we strolled home in twenty overs for the loss of a single wicket. Iain Cardew led the way with an unbeaten 49, elegantly supported by Tim Wright's 30 not out — though spare a thought for poor Lewis Burnham, who made the long walk back for nought. Cardew continues to top the 2nd XI run charts this season with 324, and Rawson the wicket-takers with 11.

Nine wickets and no great alarms. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one I shall enjoy writing up rather more than most.

Sat 04 Jun 2011 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWWLWW

We drew Marden away and lost the toss, so out we trooped into the field with Marden's Alex Newport clearly intent on ruining our afternoon — 61 of their 122 all out came off his bat alone, and it took some proper discipline to peg them back to 34.4 overs. Richard Knowler was magnificent, 3-9 with a pair of maidens thrown in for good measure, and Mark Christmas (2-13) and Matthew Carter (2-31) tidied up the rest. A target of 123 looked eminently gettable, and so it proved, if not without the odd wobble — Tony Mortimer and Harry Karim went for ducks with the ball, and we then lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board to make things briefly nervy.

Enter Mark Christmas, who simply refused to be moved, compiling a glorious unbeaten 70 with Stuart Cheesman (37 not out) for steady company, and we cruised home by 6 wickets in 31.1 overs. Richard Piper and Harry Bee contributed golden ducks of their own with the bat — every side needs its martyrs — while poor Craig Sands endured 13 byes' worth of a testing day behind the stumps.

Beyond the result, there was real cause for celebration: Mark Christmas brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a landmark for the mantelpiece if ever there was one, and Matthew Carter's two wickets nudged him past Rob Doick into 21st on our all-time list. Glen Rawson (301 runs) and Carter himself (15 wickets) continue to lead this season's charts. A thoroughly satisfying win, and a personal 70 to boot — onwards we go.

Sun 29 May 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv SC Stockbury CC · HomeformLLWLW

As opening batsman fielding out, and calling correctly to boot, it felt like Sunday 29 May might be our day — and so it proved.

Batting first, we set about Stockbury with real intent. Rawson led the way with a fine 40, Thew (39) and Burnham (37) both chipping in handsomely, and a flying start of 69 for the first wicket gave the innings the platform it needed. We closed on a healthy 204/7 from our 40 overs, helped along by a generous 49 extras — Stockbury's bowlers were evidently as keen to donate as we were to accept. Spare a thought, though, for Joshua Knowler, who took the long, lonely walk for a duck; the ledger shows no mercy.

Defending 204 is always a pleasant problem to have, and the bowlers made light work of it. Martin Harris led from the front with 3-40, Jon Harris and Dan Barkaway chipped in with 2-8 and 2-18 respectively, and Knowler made amends for his batting with two tidy maidens. Stockbury's O Radcliffe fought hard for his 44 and their openers put on 53, but once the breakthroughs came the innings unravelled, Josh Cosgrove and M Collins both departing without troubling the scorers, and the visitors were bowled out for 120 in the 30th over.

An 84-run victory, two points banked, and Tim Wright and Jon Harris both quietly climbing the season's charts. All told, a proper club cricket afternoon — comprehensive, cheerful, and thoroughly earned.

Sun 29 May 2011 🧢 Sunday NVKCv LC Limpsfield Chart CC · AwayformDWLWL

Sunday 29 May 2011, away at Limpsfield Chart, and I won the toss with the sort of confidence I rarely muster before ten o'clock. No hesitation in choosing to bat, and for once the lads made me look wise. Glen Rawson and Richard Piper put on 93 for the first wicket to lay the platform, before Rawson pressed on to a well-made 78 and Piper to a well-made fifty of his own. Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 30, and though poor Mark Christmas will want this edition of the gazette used as kindling after his duck, we closed on a handsome 242/7 from our forty overs.

With that total in the bank, the bowling had licence to be aggressive, and how it obliged. Limpsfield Chart stumbled to 5-1 early and never found their footing, collapsing from 38-3 to 51-6 as the floodgates swung open. Charles House departed for a duck of his own — small consolation, but we'll take it. Sam Boyns was magnificent, taking 4-18 and, in the same afternoon, passing 100 career wickets, a landmark thoroughly deserved. Matthew Carter was miserly and menacing in equal measure with 4-24 and two maidens, and Harry Bee weighed in with 1-18. The opposition were bowled out for 86 in 24.2 overs.

As for my own contribution — nought, and let us draw the veil as promised. A fine win by 156 runs, and Rawson and Carter now lead our season charts. Onwards, indeed.

Sat 28 May 2011 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWWWWW

Beaten but by no means bowed at Meopham — I say, if you're going to lose, do it in style.

Won the toss on Saturday and, with the sun out and the square looking true, there was only ever one call to make: bat first, ask questions later. Iain Cardew answered the call for the rest of us, ploughing through to 78 in an innings of real substance, while the tail did its best impression of a tail, and we folded for 171 off 43.3. Special mention, as tradition demands, for Will Thew, who contributed a golden duck to the Duck Club ledger — the walk of shame, immortalised, as ever, in feathers.

Chasing 172 to win, Meopham made rather harder work of it than the eventual scoreline suggests, in no small part thanks to Iain Rawson, who ran through them with a marvellous 4-31, backed up by tidy support from Lewis Burnham and Dan Barkaway, the latter delivering three maidens of pure, unrewarded stubbornness. Darren Deeks fell for a duck of his own at our hands — honours even on that front, at least. But Andrew Bryant's 75 and Gary Howorth's 55 proved too stern a test, and they eased home on 174/6 with four wickets and a few overs to spare.

So, four wickets the margin, and pride rather dented, though Iain Cardew's continued domination of the run charts (275 for the season) and Rawson's growing wicket pile (9 now) offer some consolation. We'll be better for it next week — we usually are, eventually.

Sat 28 May 2011 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformLWWLW

Sitting down, 28 May 2011: Meopham CC visit Linton Park, and I lose the toss for what is becoming a habit — out we go to field first, wondering if the pitch reports were exaggerated.

They needn't have worried, as it turned out, because it was our lads doing the damage. Sam Boyns was magnificent with the new ball, 3 for just 13, while Matthew Carter bowled with the kind of miserly discipline that suggests he'd rather die than concede a boundary — 2 for 20 including four maidens — and Mark Christmas chipped in with 2 for 23. Poor Richard Boot never got off the mark, and Meopham were bowled out for 110 in 40.4 overs, James Fotheringham's 35 the only real resistance. Nine byes behind the stumps told their own tale of a testing day for the gloves, but no matter.

With the bat we'd already made the game safe. A jittery start — none on the board and a wicket gone — gave way to something rather special as Craig Sands and Glen Rawson put on 153 for the third wicket, Sands going serenely on to an unbeaten 111, Rawson content with 69. Harry Bee's 32 and my own watchful 20 rounded out 258 for 4. Poor Richard Piper made his contribution in the form of a duck.

A fine personal landmark too: Sands's century lifts him to tenth on the club's all-time run-scorers list, past Mike Elworthy. Won by 148 runs — two points banked, and not a bad afternoon's work at all.

Sun 22 May 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWDWLW

Bearsted came to Linton Park on the 22nd of May full of confidence, and my luck with the coin was as reliable as an English summer — they won the toss and sent us in. We ground out 182/9 from our 42.4 overs, with Matthew Carter the pick of the willow-wielders on 52, well backed up by Mark Christmas and Will Thirkell, both on 34. The eighth wicket stand of 65 papered over some cracks lower down, where Richard Piper, Laurie Probert and Will Bramley-Harker all trudged back for ducks — three in one innings is the sort of thing that makes a captain develop a nervous twitch.

With the ball, though, we were rather more disciplined. Bearsted laboured to 120/5 from their 42 overs, never quite finding the fluency to chase us down. Mark Christmas backed up his runs with the wickets, 1-3, with useful support from Sam Boyns and Michael Beeney, while Harry Bee bowled three maidens without so much as a stray full toss. Poor Ollie Howarth had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, conceding 13 byes — a figure I shall diplomatically not dwell on further.

As for the skipper, I managed to lead by example with a knock of 52, which I'm rather pleased to report kept me out of the ducks column. All told, honours shared and a draw that satisfied nobody entirely — but with Harry Bee climbing to third in the season's run charts and Sam Boyns still top of the wickets pile, there's plenty to be cheerful about as the summer rolls on.

Sun 22 May 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLLLWL

Here's the match report for the gazette:

Sunday 22 May 2011 saw us venture out to Sissinghurst CC on what turned into rather a splendid afternoon for the club. Winning the toss, I didn't need long to make up my mind — we were batting. That decision paid handsome dividends as we posted 198/9 from our 43.3 overs, the innings built almost single-handedly around a magnificent century from Glen Rawson, unbeaten on 103. Iain Rawson chipped in nicely with 23, and the pair of them shared an 84-run stand for the eighth wicket that turned a modest total into a competitive one. Poor Ron McCormick will want to forget his duck, but nobody remembers the ducks when there's a hundred at the other end.

Defending 198 is never quite as comfortable as it sounds, and Sissinghurst gave it a proper go. Freddie Wood's 51 and Mick Winner's 42 — the pair adding 75 for the third wicket — threatened to make a game of it, but our bowlers had other ideas. Jordan Austin led the charge with 3-20, Jon Harris backed him up superbly with 3-31, Iain Rawson chipped in with 2-16, and I even managed to find some rhythm myself with three wickets. Three Sissinghurst batsmen departed for ducks at our hands, and the innings folded for 148 in 37.2 overs.

A fine win by 50 runs, then, and Glen Rawson and Jon Harris now sit atop the season's charts. Onwards, indeed — this side is starting to look rather good.

Sat 21 May 2011 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWWWWW

West Farleigh CC, Saturday 21 May 2011, and we won the toss debate before it even began — they had first use of the ball, or so they thought, having asked us to bat when we lost the toss. Not that it troubled us for long. Joshua Knowler set about proceedings with a fine 84, Kevin Presneill matched him almost run for run with 81, and Iain Cardew chimed in with a tidy 58, while the extras column laid on a positively lavish 72 of its own — West Farleigh's bowlers clearly as generous as their tea urn. Forty-five overs later we'd posted 358/6, a total that had the sandwiches going quiet on the boundary.

If batting first was pleasant, defending it was pure theatre. Matt Bramley-Harker steamed in like a man with a train to catch, taking 3-12, while Michael Beeney was miserly to the point of parsimony — 2-0 with two maidens thrown in for good measure — and Iain Rawson chipped in with 2-2. Jason Burke, Jordan Higgins and Harry Colville all trooped off for ducks, and only Darron Day, with a battling 22, showed any real resistance. West Farleigh folded for 46 in 14.2 overs.

I'll confess a personal 81 felt rather satisfying from where I was standing — and with Iain Cardew now topping our 2nd XI run charts on 197 and Michael Beeney leading the wickets with 9, the season's shaping up nicely. Won by 312 runs, two points banked, and thoroughly, gloriously earned.

Sat 21 May 2011 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformWLWWL

Here's my match report:

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Saturday last brought West Farleigh CC down to Linton, and for once the little disc of metal did exactly as I asked of it, coming down in our favour. Bat first, I thought, no messing about — and how the lads repaid that faith. Glen Rawson batted like a man possessed, ferreting out a magnificent 107, while Mark Christmas played the perfect foil with a composed 62 not out. Craig Sands chipped in with 24, the pair at six added a priceless 65, and even the tail found something to say for itself with 53 runs of pure agricultural defiance — 37 more arrived as gifts in extras. We closed on 277/6, a total that felt like a small fortress.

Defending it, we were rarely troubled. Matt Brooke played a lone hand of quality for West Farleigh with 52, and a 51-run stand for the fourth wicket threatened to make a match of it, but poor Mahesh Ghule never got off the mark. Stuart Cheesman was magnificent with the ball, 3-11, well backed by Sam Boyns (2-14, though his gloves leaked 12 byes) and Will Thirkell (2-38), while Matthew Carter bowled with the miserliness of a Yorkshireman checking a bar tab, four maidens included. They folded to 157/9. I managed 62 myself leading from the front, which I mention only because nobody else will.

A special word for Stuart Cheesman, reaching his 400th appearance in Linton colours — a wonderful achievement. A win by 120 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sun 15 May 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CC Charing CC · AwayformLLLLW

Sunday 15 May 2011 saw us head down to Charing CC in fine spirits, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sending us in to bat. It looked a touch rash when we slipped to 4-1 with the shine barely off the ball, but Tim Wright settled the ship in style, cracking a fine 65, with a sturdy 69-run stand for the fourth wicket the platform on which everything else was built. Ollie Howarth chipped in an unbeaten 26 and Will Thew a tidy 23 as we limped, then bustled, to 181/9 from our forty overs — helped along by a generous 27 extras from our hosts. Special mention, as ever, to poor Martin Harris, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings and will no doubt be reminded of it for weeks to come.

Defending 181 always felt a stretch, and so it proved. Neal Watts and Tom Lee simply refused to be parted, compiling unbeaten half-centuries of 77 and 73 respectively and seeing Charing home in 39.1 overs for the loss of a single wicket. Iain Rawson toiled manfully for his 1-30, the lone bright spark with the ball, while Ollie Howarth endured a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping his grasp on a day when little went right.

A chastening nine-wicket defeat, then, and no dressing it up. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's work to be done before we're troubling anyone's top of the table again.

Sun 15 May 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Wickham & Stodmarsh CC · HomeformDWDWL

Wickham & Stodmarsh CC arrived on a fine Sunday, I called correctly, and being an optimist as much as a captain, stuck us in to bat. It proved the right call. Richard Piper played the innings of the day with a classy 74, while Glen Rawson and Daniel Thirkell both chipped in with 48 apiece, and the openers gave us the platform with 130 for the first wicket before the scoreboard so much as blinked. Even our extras column fancied itself, contributing a generous 30. We closed on 224 for 4 — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through his fingernails.

In the field, Will Thirkell was the chief tormentor with 3 for 29, backed up handsomely by Harry Bee (2-18) and Matthew Carter, whose 2 for 38 came with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure. R Smith fought a lone and rather stubborn rearguard with 58 not out, ably assisted by Iain Barwick's 34, and a 9th-wicket stand of 53 threatened briefly to spoil our afternoon — but Wickham & Stodmarsh were bowled out for 172, some 52 runs shy. Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, gifting 14 byes, and Ollie Hayward, T Dixey and K Hince all made twin ducks their contribution to proceedings.

Off the field there was history too — Daniel Thirkell climbed to 8th on the club's all-time run charts, and Matthew Carter edged into 22nd among the wicket-takers. A fine team performance, a fine win, and onwards we go.

Sat 14 May 2011 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformLWLWW

Away at Sheldwich on Saturday 14 May, I called wrong again — you'd think after all these years I'd learn to just let them call — and Sheldwich took first use of a decent-looking pitch. James Creed made us pay for it, ninety-nine judged and unhurried, with Martin Mills chipping in twenty-six as the pair added a chunky 101 for the second wicket after we'd had them 5 for 1 and dreaming of better things. Credit to the lads, though: we dragged them back from 138 for 4 to 157 for 7, with Matthew Carter miserly and lethal in equal measure — 4 for 20 off three maidens — and Richard Knowler weighing in with four of his own. All out 162 from 44.1 overs felt like a score we could chase.

We couldn't. Glen Rawson and Richard Piper put on a fine 59 for the first wicket, Rawson going on to 42 and Piper 35, and for a while 149 looked gettable. Then, as club cricket so loves to do, the innings fell apart in a blink — 128 for 5 became 137 for 8, Mark Christmas and David Prior and Matt Smyth all back in the pavilion without scoring, and your correspondent adding his own contribution of precisely nothing. All out 149.

One bright spot amid the wreckage: Glen Rawson brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to even in defeat. But thirteen runs short is thirteen runs short. Not our day. Back to the nets.

Sat 14 May 2011 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLWWWW

Saturday 14 May 2011, and the sun was kind enough to let us play. West Farleigh CC rolled up, I won the toss, and had absolutely no hesitation batting first on a day that felt made for runs.

And runs there were. David Castle was in imperious touch, compiling a chanceless 107 not out — three figures, no less, and not a hint of nerves about him. Will Thew chipped in a handsome 46 and Dan Barkaway 37, and between them we motored to 246/3 from our 40 overs. Frankly, I could have declared and gone for tea early, such was the cushion.

West Farleigh's reply never got out of second gear. Adrian Lake battled to 21, but wickets tumbled around him — Jason Burke and Mitchell Smith both back in the pavilion for ducks — and they were skittled for 116 in 39 overs. Michael Beeney was the chief destroyer with 3-14, Martin Harris (3-20) and Joshua Knowler (2-22) mopped up admirably, while Ian Hollingworth's two maidens kept the screws firmly tightened.

Off the field it was every bit as memorable: Tim Wright brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, and Joshua Knowler notched his 50th career wicket — the sort of milestones that make a captain rather misty-eyed over the post-match pint.

A thumping 130-run victory, two points banked, and honestly rather more comfortable than my blood pressure deserved. A proper team performance, and one for the scrapbook.

Sun 08 May 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Dartford CC · AwayformWDWDW

Sunday 08 May 2011, and off we trundled to Dartford CC with the coin failing us yet again — they won the toss and, with the confidence of men who'd checked the forecast, chose to bat. We took the field instead, and there were early signs of promise when they lost a wicket with just 4 on the board, the sort of start that has openers exchanging worried glances. But a third-wicket stand of 72 steadied the ship, and Jay Dassrath compiled a fine 79 to anchor their innings, with Sunny Birring (33) and Adam Clarke (22) chipping in as they closed on 193 for 6 from their forty overs. Will Thirkell was pick of our bowlers with 2-28, Mark Christmas bowled tidily for 1-36 including two maidens, and Sam Boyns chipped in with 1-34.

193 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. Will Thirkell, having bowled so well, then top-scored with the bat too — a battling 51 — well supported by Glen Rawson's 30. But around them the innings fell apart in the familiar manner, four wickets becoming seven between 74 and 81, and ducks for Laurie Probert, Matt Ellesmere and Iain Rawson completed a chastening afternoon. All out for 135 in 33.4 overs.

Small consolations: Glen Rawson still leads our Sunday run charts with 180 for the season, and Sam Boyns tops the wicket-takers with 8. But a 58-run defeat is a 58-run defeat, however you dress it up. Back to the nets, lads — and perhaps a stern word with whoever keeps losing us that coin.

Sun 08 May 2011 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Holmesdale CC · HomeformLLLLL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 8th May 2011, and I won the toss and stuck Holmesdale CC in, fancying a bit of early movement and, if I'm honest, a lie-in with the coffee before we had to bat. They rather spoiled the plan with a brisk 79 for the first wicket before Michael Beeney remembered what he was there for and snapped up 2-22, with Jon Harris and Martin Harris chipping away either side of him for one apiece. Leo Cammish, though, was having none of our bowling changes and cruised to 85, well backed by Guy Davison's 38 and Sam Noss's 28, leaving them a healthy-looking 192/4 from their forty overs.

Chasing 193 always has a way of feeling further than it sounds, and Paul Ratcliffe's early duck did nothing to settle the nerves in the changing room. But Richard Piper played the innings of the season, 82 not out and utterly unmoved by the occasion, with Dan Barkaway's 37 and Jamie Ratcliffe's 22 building the platform around him — the pair adding a priceless 63 for the fifth wicket. Thirty runs in extras rounded out a genuinely collective effort, and we got home with five wickets and half an over to spare.

A fine team performance all round, and two points thoroughly banked. If Piper keeps batting like that, I may never have to make a bowling change again.

Sat 07 May 2011 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformLLWLW

Skipper's Log, Saturday 7 May 2011: Staplehurst CC at home, and I called correctly at the toss for once — no hesitation putting them in.

It proved a shrewd bit of skippering, or at least a lucky one. Staplehurst's top order folded like a deckchair, 3-1 and never really recovering, and Paul Motum, A Henson and Tim Watts were all despatched back to the pavilion without so much as a squeak from the scorers. Matthew Carter was in imperious form, 3-10, with Richard Knowler (3-17) and Mark Christmas (3-23, four maidens and not a run given away lightly) all doing their bit. I even found some rhythm myself with three wickets — don't ask me how. All out for 64 from 34.4 overs was a fine morning's work with the ball.

Chasing such a modest target ought to be routine, and while we made it look only slightly less than routine, we got there in some style. Daniel Thirkell anchored things nicely with 23 not out, well supported by Stuart Cheesman's 20, the pair putting on 53 for the third wicket to see us home at 67/3 in just 14.2 overs.

A word for the history books too: Matthew Carter's three wickets today nudged him past Ron Hickman into 23rd on the club's all-time list — a fine achievement, and he now leads our 2011 wicket charts with six, while Craig Sands sits proudly atop the run charts on 124.

A comfortable seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket. Onwards.

Mon 02 May 2011 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformWLLWL

We lost the toss on Monday and were sent in to field, which on a fine May evening felt like the skipper's prerogative more than a punishment. Selsdon set about building a total, and while an early wicket at 5-1 gave us hope, an 81-run fourth-wicket stand rather took the wind out of our sails as Jack Dinning (51) and Charlie Robertson (41) got themselves in and stayed there. They finished on 174/7 from their 38, a target that looked stiffer on paper than it turned out to be. Matthew Carter was the pick of the attack by some distance, his 3-24 doing the real damage, with Sam Boyns (2-10, two tidy maidens) and Darren Styles (1-35) squeezing things at the other end. Tom Cain, for the record, made his contribution with the ball rather than the bat, accounting for a duck.

Chasing 175, we were rather more businesslike about it. Iain Rawson played the innings of the day, 54 well-crafted runs, and along the way brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — the sort of milestone that deserves a pause and a nod even mid-chase. Glen Rawson (37 not out) and Lewis Burnham (21) played their parts in a second-wicket stand of 57 that set the platform, and 34 extras from a generous Selsdon attack didn't hurt either. We got home on 178/4 with overs to spare.

A fine win by six wickets, then, and a landmark innings to boot. Onwards.

Sun 01 May 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Wingham CC · AwayformWWDWD

Sunday the 1st of May took us across to Wingham, and it wasn't the trip I'd have chosen — losing the toss and being sent into the field never quite sets the pulse racing. Still, the lads knuckled down. Wingham posted 141 all out from their 38 overs, Richard French (37) and Colin Rampling (31) doing the bulk of the building after they'd shipped an early wicket with just 1 on the board. But once we got among them — 93-3 to 99-6 in the blink of an eye, with Gary Watkins, Jamie Watkins and Jason Cork all back in the hutch without troubling the scorers 🦆 — the innings rather fell away. Michael Beeney was the chief architect with 3-19, well supported by Sam Boyns (3-28) and Jon Harris (2-34).

Chasing 142, we made no great fuss of it. The openers gave us the perfect platform, 75 for the first wicket before the stand was finally broken, and Glen Rawson went on to bring up a fine half-century (52), Richard Piper chipping in nicely with 26. I added my own modest 19 to the cause, and we eased home at 143-6 with two overs unused.

A thoroughly professional afternoon's work, this — bowled with discipline, batted with poise, and Wingham's early promise quietly strangled. Two points banked, four wickets to spare, and Glen Rawson's bat and Sam Boyns' new ball both looking in ominously good early-season form. Verdict: a win to be proud of, and not a whiff of the last-ball fumbling this old captain usually has to apologise for.

Sat 30 Apr 2011 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWLLW

Saturday 30 April 2011 saw us make the trip to Shipbourne, where losing the toss meant an afternoon in the field beckoned whether we fancied it or not.

We battled to 177/9 from our 45 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Harry Bee's watchful 54 and a fine supporting knock of 37 from Glen Rawson, the pair putting on 50 for the sixth wicket in what was very much the innings of the innings. Sadly, as is so often the way at this level, the middle order then contrived to turn a respectable 148-6 into a distinctly wobblier 156-9 in the time it takes to put the kettle on — a collapse of such speed that several of us were still padding up when it finished.

Defending 177 was always going to want a minor miracle, and Shipbourne rather declined to provide us with any drama, racing to 180/1 in just 26.3 overs. Sam Spink's unbeaten 79 did the bulk of the damage, ably assisted by James McCulley's 53 and George Willis's unbeaten 34, leaving our bowlers rather short of answers — Daniel Thirkell, gamely leading the attack for 1-29, was about the only one of us to lay a glove on them.

Nine wickets down and little argument about it. Not our day, lads — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 24 Apr 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv EC East Sutton CC · AwayformLWWDW

Sunday 24 April 2011, and off we trundled to East Sutton, losing the toss and duly being invited to field first — which of course meant we batted, cricket's oldest cruel joke. Not that anyone was complaining once Harry Bee and Glen Rawson got going: 117 on the board before East Sutton so much as glimpsed a wicket, the pair putting on a first-wicket stand that did all the hard work for us. Harry motored serenely to a chanceless hundred, Glen chipped in a handsome 79, and Will Thew came in to cream 58 not out, the innings closing at a thumping 325/5. Declarations were unnecessary; the runs simply kept coming.

Defending that lot should have been a formality, but East Sutton had other ideas, David Paine batting through for 96 not out and dragging them to 157/6 before their overs ran out. Credit to the bowlers for keeping the lid on regardless — Mark Christmas the pick with 2-18, well backed by Sam Boyns (2-23) and Tim Thirkell (1-20), while poor Dominic Uglow trudged off for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers.

A word too for Tim Wright, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — not a bad innings in itself, and one worth raising a glass to regardless of the result.

In the end honours were shared, the draw a fitting reward for a match that gave everything but a winner. On a day when 325 still wasn't quite enough to settle it, we'll happily take that as a job well done.

Sat 23 Apr 2011 🧢 1st XIv HC Hadlow CC · HomeformWWWLL

Craig Sands hit 120 to lead a fine win by 86 runs on Saturday against Hadlow CC.

Lost the toss, put in to field first, which after last week felt like déjà vu of the least flattering kind. No matter — when we finally got the bat in hand we made it count, racking up 270/5 from our 40 overs. Craig Sands was the story of the day, a magnificent 120 that did the heavy lifting, with Daniel Thirkell playing a classy supporting hand of 86 and Kevin Presneill chipping in 31. Extras weighed in with a handy 33 of their own — practically an opening partnership. Special mention, as ever, for Richard Piper, who took the walk of shame for a golden duck. The ledger remembers, Richard.

Defending 270 is no formality, and Hadlow gave it a proper go — Benjamin Crowhurst made a superb unbeaten 103, ably assisted by Andrew Velvick's 29 not out, and for a while it looked like we might be made to sweat. But Martin Harris led the attack beautifully with 2-36, Dan Barkaway and Thomas Beeney chipped in a wicket apiece, and Beeney's four maidens strangled the middle overs when it mattered most. I added a watchful 31 with the bat earlier and mostly stood about looking purposeful in the field.

A fine win by 86 runs, then, and Craig Sands now sits proudly atop the season's run charts. Onwards, indeed.

Sun 17 Apr 2011 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Wilmington CC · HomeformWLWWD

From the captain's chair — Sunday 17 April 2011, and Wilmington CC the visitors to Linton Park on what turned into a rather satisfying afternoon. I called correctly at the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, sent them in — one of those decisions that looks either shrewd or reckless depending entirely on how the day unfolds. Happily, it was the former.

Wilmington ground their way to 179/9 from their 42 overs, Cj Nicholson top-scoring with 29, well supported by Gurjant Dulay's unbeaten 29 and Satvinder Singh's 27. But it was Sam Boyns who stole the headlines with the ball — 2-14 and four maidens of positively parsimonious accuracy, backed up nicely by Joshua Knowler (2-20) and Mark Christmas (1-20). A total that felt gettable, and so it proved.

We cantered home to 180/3 in 31.3 overs, Kevin Presneill leading from the front with a classy 60, Craig Sands unbeaten on 45, and Richard Piper chipping in with 20 — extras even got in on the act with a handy 30. Seven wickets in hand at the end told its own story.

A word too for Craig Sands, whose 45 nudges him past Clive Newman into 11th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — the sort of quiet milestone club cricket is built on.

All told: a comfortable seven-wicket win, a fine team performance with bat and ball, and a thoroughly good day for the club.