🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 16 Sep 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Cowdrey CC · HomeformLWWLW

Sunday the 16th of September saw Cowdrey CC roll into Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss for once in my captaincy career, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat. Glen Rawson set about proving why with a thoroughly well-made 82, finding a willing ally in Daniel Thirkell (39) and Tim Wright (37), the pair of them putting on 83 for the fourth wicket while the rest of us looked on approvingly from the boundary. Not everything gleamed, mind — Stuart Cheesman and Trevor Back both departed for ducks, contributing rather less to the scorebook than the extras column, which chipped in a generous 27. Even so, 202/6 from our forty overs felt a healthy total to defend.

Defend it we did. Cowdrey's top order wobbled early, 2-1 down inside a few overs, and though Glen Warner played a fine lone hand of 55, a 52-run fifth-wicket stand was as good as it got for the visitors before Will Thirkell ran through them with 3-16, Richard Knowler chipping in with 2-1 off three miserly maidens, and Martin Harris mopping up with 2-36. David Challis, Robert Fenwick and Will Needham all went for nought, and Cowdrey folded for 153 in 39.1 overs. Poor Daniel Thirkell had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 15 byes conceded, but nobody remembers that with a 49-run win in the book — and a hearty round of applause for Richard Knowler, who brought up 200 career wickets in some style. A fine result, and long may it continue.

Sat 15 Sep 2012 🧢 1st XIv SC Sidcup CC · HomeformWWDWW

Sitting in the skipper's deckchair after Saturday 15 September 2012, I can report we did it the hard way — losing the toss, being sent out to field, and still somehow making it look like the plan all along.

Sidcup CC put together 139 all out in 39.2 overs, with Tim Dawes the chief architect of our discomfort via a well-made 57, backed up by Christian Stent's 25 and Andy Stent's 23. Fortunately the bowling attack had other ideas. Sam Boyns was the pick of them with 3-25, Michael Beeney and Martin Harris chipped in with 2-23 and 2-27 respectively, and Will Thirkell was positively miserly with two maidens. David G Rolls and Tom Mothersole both went for ducks at our hands, which is always a small mercy for the fielding side.

Chasing 140, we lost the first wicket for just 1 run and I confess a few grey hairs appeared under the sun hat. But a sturdy 51-run third-wicket stand steadied things, and Daniel Thirkell — quietly assembling one of the great seasons — carried us home unbeaten on 75, sailing past his fifty with minimal fuss. Harry Bee and Kevin Presneill both fell for ducks, but no matter; we closed on 142/5 from 31.4 overs.

Five wickets, two points, and a scoreline that flatters our composure rather more than our nerves deserved. A fine team effort — verdict: job done, tea earned.

Sun 09 Sep 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWWWWL

We drew Meopham CC at home on a September Sunday, and a score of 149 for 9 always feels less like a total and more like a polite request. Matthew Gladwell held things together with an unbeaten 32, and got good support from Glen Rawson (30) and Kevin Presneill (26) — though quite how we mustered 149 with only three men reaching the mid-twenties says everything about the rest of the order's contribution, which is to say, not much beyond enthusiasm.

Defending it should have been nerve-shredding, and for a while it was. Andrew Powney threatened to bat us out of the game with 39, and Alex Bryant (26 not out) and Stephen Innes (23) kept the required rate honest, but Michael Beeney was magnificent, tearing through with 4 for 25 and leaving Mark Ford and Andrew Dixon to trudge off for ducks. Martin Harris chipped in with 2 for 14 and Sam Boyns with 1 for 34, while I did my bit with the bat earlier, adding 26 to the cause — not that I'll be reminding anyone of it too often.

In the end Meopham fell 9 runs short on 140 for 8, and we breathed out. With Glen Rawson now sitting proudly atop the Sunday 2nd XI run charts and Martin Harris leading the wickets, the season has real shape to it. A tight, twitchy, thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 09 Sep 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · AwayformDLWWL

Sunday 9th September, and off we trundled to Hollingbourne CC in that particular state of nervous optimism that only club cricket can induce. We won the toss, batted, and were carried to 203/8 from our 40 overs largely on the broad shoulders of Matthew Carter, whose 88 was the innings of the day, well supported by Thomas Beeney's unbeaten 32. Extras chipped in a handsome 38 — practically an opening partnership in its own right — while the Duck Club welcomed three new members in Harry Bee, Ray Dixon and Simon Thirkell, each completing that saddest of walks back to the pavilion for nought.

With 203 on the board, it was over to the bowlers, and what a job they made of it. Hollingbourne were bowled out for 154 in the 37th over, Chris Case (33) and John Cook (30) doing most of the resisting before the innings folded. Jack Cook departed without so much as troubling the scorers, joining our own ducks in spirit if not in ledger. I'll confess a quiet pride in my own figures of 2-8, but the day belonged to the whole attack — Thomas Beeney (2-9) and Will Thirkell (2-23, with three tidy maidens) squeezing the life out of the chase.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved, sealed by 49 runs. With Jordan Austin still topping the season's run charts and Thomas Beeney leading the wickets, this feels less like a good day and more like a good summer. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and one the tea urn thoroughly earned its keep for.

Sat 08 Sep 2012 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWWDW

Saturday the 8th of September saw us make the journey out to Shipbourne, and I won the toss with what I like to think was my usual quiet authority, electing to bat without so much as a glance at the sky. It proved the right call. Harry Bee played an innings of real substance, an imperious 118 that anchored everything around it, while Daniel Thirkell chipped in handsomely with 46 to help us to a formidable 234 for 7 from our forty overs. I contributed a workmanlike 15 of my own, which I mention only because nobody else will.

Defending that sort of total ought to be the easy part, and so it largely proved. Shipbourne fought hard through George Pollard, whose 38 held their innings together, with Ben Pennells and Neil Lee-Amies both weighing in with 29 apiece. But the bowling had the last word: Harry Bee, not content with his century, tore through with 3 for 21, Martin Harris backed him up with 3 for 34, and Thomas Beeney picked up a wicket for 21 of his own, with poor George Sturdy dismissed without troubling the scorers. Sam Boyns, meanwhile, bowled with a miser's discipline, sending down three maidens for good measure. They fell to 169 for 9.

A 65-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. Harry Bee's hundred-and-wickets double will live long in the memory, Daniel Thirkell continues to top our run charts for the season with 487, and Will Thirkell sits proudly third among the wicket-takers with 23. All told, a report that writes itself.

Sun 02 Sep 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv KC Knockers CC · AwayformLDLWW

Sunday 2nd September saw us on the road at Knockers CC, and I'll confess I fancied our chances the moment I won the toss and stuck us in to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might suggest by the end of the day. Matthew Carter played the innings of the day with a fine 40, and Thomas Beeney chipped in handsomely with 24, but around them the innings had a habit of folding, and 129 all out from 41.1 overs was a fair way short of what the pitch owed us. Ray Dixon and Will Bramley-Harker both departed for golden ducks, the sort of dismissals that draw a sympathetic pat on the back and a stiff tea afterwards.

With the ball we scrapped hard. Thomas Beeney was the pick of the attack, tight as you like with 1-19 and two maidens, while Matthew Carter and Will Bramley-Harker both picked up a wicket apiece. But T Watts stood firm on 29 not out, well supported by M Watts (22) and Lynden Spencer Allen (22 not out), and Knockers eased home at 133/3 with overs to spare. Eight byes told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Mark Christmas, though I'll take some personal cheer from my own 40 with the bat.

Elsewhere in the season, Will Thirkell continues to sit second in the Sunday averages with 148 runs, and Thomas Beeney leads the wicket charts with 13 — small consolations on a day that ultimately got away from us. Beaten by six wickets, heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 02 Sep 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday the 2nd of September saw Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC pay us a visit, and the coin toss did us no favours – asked to bat, but not one to sulk over a toss, is it? What followed was rather special. Glen Rawson and the openers put on 154 before the first wicket fell, an opening stand that set the whole tone, and Glen simply carried on from there to a majestic 103 not out. Will Thew chipped in an unbeaten 44 and Benjamin Austin a tidy 37, and with 26 extras thrown in for good measure we closed on a handsome 226/3 from our 40 overs. Declarations of "that should do it" were, I confess, uttered in the tea interval.

Cricket, being cricket, had other ideas. Jack Jarrett strolled to a superb hundred, unbeaten on 100, with Tim Haywood keeping him company for a fine 67, and their second-wicket stand of 101 did the real damage. Luke Welsman was our pick with the ball (1-15), with Michael Beeney (1-38) and Iain Rawson (1-39) chipping in, but 8 byes rather gave the game away – a testing day behind the stumps if ever there was one. They got home with three overs to spare, 227/3, and seven wickets in hand.

Small consolations: Glen now tops our 2012 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 379, and Michael sits third in the wickets. But the honest verdict is this – not our day, outbatted by a better team on the day, and it's heads up, backs straight, and off to the nets we go.

Sat 01 Sep 2012 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformWWWWD

Saturday 1 September 2012, and Sheldwich CC rolled up looking, I thought, rather too pleased with themselves. Winning the toss and electing to bat felt like the right call, and so it proved — 202/6 from our 45 overs, built on a fine 107-run stand for the second wicket. Daniel Thirkell was in imperious form for his 64, Craig Sands chipped in a handsome 43, and Mark Christmas saw us home unbeaten on 27. I even managed a modest 27 myself, which I shall claim credit for at the bar.

Then the small matter of defending it. Sheldwich wobbled to 54-2 before folding to 57-5, and from there they never really recovered, eventually mustering 123/9 — James Creed, Matt Smyth and Maxine Blythin the only ones to trouble the scorers meaningfully. Three of theirs departed without troubling the scorers at all — ducks for Martin Mills, Sam Evans and Alex Roe, the sort of cricket that has grown men wincing into their tea. Richard Knowler was in unplayable mood, spinning his way to 5-20, with Sam Boyns (2-34) and Thomas Beeney (1-5) mopping up, while Mark Christmas simply refused to be scored off — six maidens, not a run given away lightly.

A special mention for Craig Sands, who brought up 12,000 career runs for the club — a proper landmark, and richly deserved. We ran out winners by 79 runs. A thoroughly good day for Linton Park, and one to savour on the drive home.

Mon 27 Aug 2012 🧢 1st XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformWWWWW

Then it was our turn with the ball. They reached 140/9 from 46 overs — Jordan Austin, 101 not out, three figures no less, ably supported by Will Thew's fine unbeaten 78, with the extras column pitching in a handy 39 to help us to 225/2 from 39.4 overs.

Monday 27 August found Maidstone Dissidents CC at Linton Park, and I won the toss and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody in the pavilion argued with me. What followed was rather more than we'd bargained for. Jordan Austin brought up a magnificent century, unbeaten on 101, while Will Thew kept him steady company with a classy 78 not out, and even our extras column turned in a performance worthy of a place in the middle order. 225/2 from 39.4 overs is the sort of total that makes tea taste sweeter.

With the ball we set about defending it, and while we never quite prised out that last wicket, we gave the Dissidents precious little peace. Sam Boyns was magnificent, 3-11 with four maidens — not a run given away lightly, and Mike Duggan sent back for a golden duck along the way. Thomas Beeney chipped in with 3-30, and en route passed 200 career wickets, a landmark that deserves rather more than a line in the gazette. Matthew Carter's 2-33 kept him ticking over nicely too, and now sits him fourth in our 2012 first-team wicket charts. David Castle's 31 and A Wyatt's unbeaten 21 saw the visitors home to 140/9 from their 46, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — honest toil rewarded with nothing more than a handshake, but a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket all the same.

Sun 26 Aug 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv SC Stockbury CC · AwayformWWWWW

It's Sunday, 26th August, and Stockbury CC hosted us in the kind of fixture that reminds you why you bother pulling your boots on. I won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody argued with me over tea afterwards.

We posted 151/8 from our 40 overs, built around a lovely 43 from Will Thirkell, with Kevin Presneill (29) and an unbeaten 27 from Jamie Ratcliffe filling out the innings nicely. Not every name on the card gleamed — Trevor Back and Nigel Thirkell both fell for ducks, proof that even a good day has its sacrificial lambs — but a generous 25 in extras suggested Stockbury's bowlers weren't entirely sure where the strip was. I chipped in with 29 myself, which I'm choosing to remember fondly.

In the field, it was a different story entirely. Sam Martin batted beautifully for his 53, but around him Stockbury simply crumbled — Norcott, Clare and Brignall all back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. Sam Boyns was the chief executioner with 3-6, well backed by Will Thirkell (2-2) and Martin Harris (2-30), while Joshua Knowler bowled three maidens of pure parsimony. All out for 87 in 30.4 overs.

A special word for Will Thirkell, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club today — a landmark worth raising a glass to.

Sixty-four runs the margin, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 26 Aug 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Wadhurst CC · HomeformLLDLW

Grand Alliance versus Wadhurst, and for once the sun and the scoreboard were both smiling on Linton Park. Winning the toss on 26 August, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself in full. Jordan Austin set the tone with a classy 53, and we raced to 77 before Wadhurst so much as looked like taking a wicket. Mark Christmas followed with a well-crafted 52 of his own, the pair putting on 86 for the third wicket to give the innings its backbone, before Craig Sands finished unbeaten on 49 to steer us to a handsome 201/3 off our 41 overs.

Defending that sort of total is the kind of problem captains dream about, and Luke Welsman made it look positively easy, tearing through Wadhurst with a superb 4-11. Nat Presneill (2-25) and Matthew Carter (1-2) chipped in dutifully, while Benjamin Austin bowled two miserly maidens to strangle any hope of a recovery. Alan Notley's 25 and Marcus Deguigand's 22 were the only real resistance, though poor Michael McKernan and Joe Everdell will want to forget their ducks in a hurry. All out for 95 in 28 overs told the whole story.

A special mention, too, for Mark Christmas, who brought up 5,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth raising a glass to. A comfortable, thoroughly deserved 106-run win, and with Jordan Austin and Matthew Carter both climbing the season's charts, this Linton Park side is very much on song.

Sat 25 Aug 2012 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLWWWW

We were away at Meopham on Saturday 25 August, and for once the coin actually landed the way I called it. With good grass under the covers and a bit of early promise in the air, there was never much doubt what I'd do with it — we bowled first.

Meopham dug in and made us work, closing on 175/6 from their 35 overs, with James Fotheringham's 52 the backbone of the innings, well supported by Adam Roxburgh (39) and Andrew Powney (35) — their fifth-wicket pair putting on a stand of 77 that threatened to bat us out of it. Richard Knowler was the pick of our attack with 2-27, Sam Boyns and Mark Christmas chipped in with 2-36 and 2-44 respectively, and Matthew Carter bowled two miserly maidens that gave nothing away.

Chasing 176, we got there with four wickets and five balls to spare, finishing on 176/6. Craig Sands led the way with a classy 55, backed up nicely by Will Thirkell's unbeaten 39 and Daniel Thirkell's 29, their second-wicket stand of 63 setting the platform. I contributed a workmanlike 17 of my own — no fireworks, but it kept the scoreboard ticking. Eight byes did rather tell their own story about Sam Boyns' day behind the stumps, but nobody was complaining come the close.

Daniel Thirkell continues to lead our run charts for the season with 377, and Mark Christmas tops the bowling with 28 wickets — both men doing rather more than their fair share of the heavy lifting. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a job well done by the lads.

Sun 19 Aug 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CC Chelsfield Park CC · AwayformLWWWW

Sunday 19 August found us on the road at Chelsfield Park, and the coin did us no favours whatsoever — they won the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, sent us out to field. Fifty-one patient overs later they'd totted up 139 for 8, built chiefly around Andrew Lofthouse's unbeaten 59, a proper half-century of the sort that wins matches, with Jake Phillips chipping in a useful 22. Damien Wheatley, mercifully for us, departed without so much as troubling the scorers. With ball in hand we were rather pleased with ourselves: Martin Harris led from the front with 2 for 25, Michael Beeney weighed in with 2 for 43, Tim Wright picked up one, and Chris Newman was positively miserly, sending down four maidens and giving nothing away lightly.

Chasing 140, we made rather harder work of it than the target deserved, but got there in 37 overs for the loss of 5, Mark Christmas top-scoring with a composed 38 and Tim Wright supporting nicely with 36. Poor Simon Thirkell will want to forget his duck, but the rest of the lads made sure it didn't matter.

Two points banked, and thoroughly earned. Mark Christmas now sits third in our Sunday 2nd XI run charts for the season with 151, while Martin Harris continues to lead the wicket-takers with 19 — the engine room of a very tidy team performance. A five-wicket win, no fuss, no drama: exactly how club cricket ought to be.

Sun 19 Aug 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · HomeformLLLDL

Sunday 19 August 2012, and Benenden CC arrived to find us in a rare mood of decisiveness — I called correctly at the toss and didn't need asking twice about what to do with it. Bowl first, obviously; you don't turn down free overs in the field when the sun's out and the tea urn's already on.

Benenden made 129 all out in 28.4 overs, propped up by Owen Dearn's unbeaten 28, Neal Metcalf's 27 and William Huish's 21, but nothing that ever felt out of reach. Will Thirkell was magnificent with the ball, 3-21, with Jordan Austin (2-24) and Joe Millen (2-29) chipping away either end, and Matthew Carter bowled three maidens' worth of pure stubbornness. A tidy, disciplined shift in the field all round.

Chasing 130, Will Thirkell then decided one good performance deserved another and top-scored again — a proper half-century, 75 no less — with Jordan Austin lending sturdy support on 26. I contributed a watchful, wholly unspectacular 15, while poor Benjamin Austin and Thomas Beeney were both back in the pavilion for ducks, sharing a nod of solidarity between them. We got there on 135/7 in 27.5 overs, three wickets to spare, hearts only moderately tested.

A landmark day too, with Matthew Carter passing 400 career wickets — the sort of number that deserves rather more than a polite ripple of applause in the bar. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sat 18 Aug 2012 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWLWWW

Saturday 18 August 2012 - a fine one for the Linton Park scrapbook, this. Marden CC came calling, I won the toss, and against every instinct my grandfather ever drummed into me about bowling first on a green-ish morning, I stuck us in to bat. For once, captain's intuition didn't let the side down.

David Castle set about proving why he's the man for the big occasion, batting through to 82 not out — a proper, well-constructed innings that anchored everything around him. Mark Christmas chipped in with 30, Laurie Probert with 25, and even I managed a tidy 30 of my own, not that anyone will remember that bit. Throw in 26 generous extras from the visitors and we declared ourselves rather satisfied with 207/4 from our 45 overs.

Defending it, Will Thirkell was magnificent, tearing through with 4-28, while the Knowler brothers did their bit either side of him — Richard with 3-16, Joshua with 1-12 — and Matthew Carter strangled the scoring with three maidens. Sam Tomkinson (35) and Nick Burdge (20) threatened to make a match of it, and their last pair's defiant 45 gave us all a few unwelcome palpitations. Dai Thomas and C Baxter, sadly, will remember little of it beyond the walk back to the pavilion.

Marden all out for 140. A 67-run win, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Fri 17 Aug 2012 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformDLWWL

Chairman's chase, Friday 17 August 2012, The Dragons CC visiting.

Lost the toss, put in to field — never the news you want to hear on a Friday, but there we are. The Dragons settled in nicely and Chris Churchman gave us a proper lesson, a superb unbeaten-in-spirit hundred that had us chasing leather most of the afternoon, with James Churchman (29) and Joe Williams (25) chipping in to help them to 215/7 from their 48. Small mercies: Ross Davies went for a duck at our hands, and Thomas Beeney was outstanding, 4-40 to keep us in the contest, with Craig Sands and Matthew Carter tidying up a wicket apiece — Carter miserly as ever with two maidens.

Chasing 216, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite getting there, closing on 175/8 from our 42. Craig Sands was magnificent, 51 not out of real substance, and Will Thew supported nobly with 43 — between the two of them they did most of the heavy lifting, while Joe Martin, Will Thirkell and Will Hodges each contributed the traditional golden duck, and the extras column, ever reliable, chipped in 25 of its own. I'll confess a quiet satisfaction in my own 51 — not every week the captain's bat does the talking.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side could force it home — Sands now tops our Midweek run charts and Beeney sits second among the wicket-takers, which is form worth building on. A fair result, even if the beer afterwards tasted a touch of what-might-have-been.

Sun 12 Aug 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Herne CC · HomeformLLWWW

Sunday 12th August, and Herne CC arrived at Linton Park to find me winning the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, opting to bat. Whatever inspired that call, the lads repaid it handsomely. Glen Rawson set about the Herne attack with real purpose, finishing unbeaten on a magnificent 88, while Tim Wright's 56 gave the innings a proper backbone. Matthew Gladwell chipped in an unbeaten 23, the extras column did its usual honest shift with 27, and we closed on a hefty 226/4 from our forty overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather more than usual.

Herne's reply never got out of the blocks. Paul Bartlett and Sam Taylor made twin, silent contributions at the top of our bowling figures — ducks both, sorry, wickets both — and from there it was largely one man's afternoon. Martin Harris was quite magnificent, scything through the order for 5-12, with Michael Beeney (2-22, four maidens and not a run given cheaply) and Chris Newman (1-10) tidying up what little resistance remained. All out for 78 in 29.5 overs — game, set and match well before the tea urn had cooled.

Milestones tumbled alongside the runs: Martin past a hundred career wickets, Michael past eight hundred, and Glen's 88 easing him to 24th on the club's all-time run charts, past Keith Hatcher. A win by 148 runs, then — comfortable barely covers it. Onwards, gentlemen.

Sat 11 Aug 2012 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton & Eastwell CC · AwayformLWLWW

Called correctly at Boughton & Eastwell on Saturday and never seriously considered fielding first - a good pitch deserved runs on the board. David Castle obliged in spectacular fashion, farming the strike to 101 not out, while Mark Christmas chipped in with a tidy 51 and Laurie Probert saw us home unbeaten on 30; their fourth-wicket stand of 98 was the innings' spine. We closed on a healthy 220 for 4 from our 45 overs.

Defending it was a different proposition. Craig Mannering (66) and Chris Brett (54) put together a stubborn fifth-wicket alliance of 62 that had us chewing our fingernails, but Mark Christmas found his rhythm with the ball, prising out four for 35 including three tidy maidens, with Matthew Carter and Richard Knowler mopping up one apiece. Mark Hammond departed for a duck. Eight byes past poor Will Thew told their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps. They folded for 198 in 44.4 overs.

I shall confess, with the customary blush, that the 51 and the four wickets were mine - one of those rare days when the skipper leads by more than just example. It also nudged me past John Thirkell into 14th on the club's all-time wicket list, which I shall try not to mention again for at least a fortnight. Glen Rawson sits 3rd in this season's run charts with 234 runs, and I find myself atop the wickets column with 25.

A hard-fought 22-run victory, and two points thoroughly banked. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

Tue 07 Aug 2012 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDDLWW

Hosts Bexley CC, lose the toss, get put in — a decent enough total of 113/9, before restricting Bexley's chase to a final-over finish they narrowly won.

From the captain's chair, Tuesday 07 August 2012, hosting Bexley CC.

Lost the toss, no say in the matter, and Bexley sent us in — the sort of decision that tells you exactly what they thought of our pitch reading. Eight for one had the tea urn rattling early, but Craig Sands settled things with a fine 41, and I chipped in with 41 of my own to drag us to a defendable-looking 113/9 off our forty. Extras chipped in a generous 26 — practically an opening partnership in themselves. Special mention, as ever, for the Duck Club ledger: young Lewis Burnham walked back for nought, joining the club nobody wants to captain.

In the field we scrapped hard. Tim Thirkell was superb, 3-18 and full of hostile intent, while Michael Beeney bowled with the miserliness of a man checking his own tab at the bar — 2-13 with three maidens. We even had Bexley's Jack Laing back in the hutch for a duck of his own, which felt like fair revenge. But Robert Foot's 28 and an unbeaten 27 from Adrian Wiltshire, built on a stubborn 51-run opening stand, gave them just enough, and they crept over the line with five wickets down in the 40th.

Not our day, then, but honest cricket from all. Craig Sands now sits second in the Midweek XI run charts and Tim Thirkell tops the wicket-takers — plenty to be proud of even in defeat. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sun 05 Aug 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv FC Farningham CC · AwayformLLLWW

Farningham CC, away, Sunday 5th August 2012. Won the toss and, with the grass looking a touch tired underfoot and the Farningham batting card an unknown quantity, I fancied our bowlers more than our chase — no hesitation in sending them in.

It was a decision that paid off handsomely. Restricted to 97/7 from their 35, Farningham never quite got away from us, Greg Smith's unbeaten 38 and Gareth Tongue's 29 the only real substance on an otherwise modest scorecard. Chris Newman was superb, 2-7 with two maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen playing for their place rather than their shots — well supported by Tim Wright (2-7) and Martin Harris (2-16). Poor Paul Fletcher will want to forget his afternoon entirely, back in the hutch without so much as a run to his name.

Chasing 98 should have been a formality, and while we made rather harder work of it than the scoreline suggests — 98/4 from 32.3 overs is not exactly Bradmanesque — Glen Rawson's calm, unbeaten 35 shepherded us home with minimum fuss and maximum tea-break relief. Adam Wright's golden duck was the only real blemish on an otherwise tidy chase.

Two points banked, six wickets to spare, and Trevor Back and Martin Harris continuing to top the season's charts. A thoroughly professional day's work — even if we did make Farningham sweat rather longer than 98 runs ought to require.

Sun 05 Aug 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Bells Yew Green CC · HomeformWLLLD

We were unbeaten losers of the toss — hang on, no, we won it, and I put Bells Yew Green in. Bold, I thought, and vindicated: from 51.5 overs they limped to 139/7, Carlin Tapp's obdurate 60 the backbone, Chris Farrell's 37 the mortar. Matthew Carter was magnificent, 3-26 with four maidens that squeezed the innings dry, Benjamin Austin and Thomas Beeney chipping in with a wicket apiece. A modest total, we thought. Chaseable.

We were wrong. Zero on the board and already one down — the kind of start that has you reaching for the flask before the tea urn's even on. Jordan Austin (47) and Mark Christmas (45) then stitched together a stand of 103 that had us purring, only for the innings to fold like a deckchair in a gale — 119/3 to 126/6 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a squash. Richard Piper, Ray Dixon and Matthew Carter all walked back for ducks, and your correspondent completed his own quiet contribution to the cause with a golden one of his own. The less said, the better. I did at least manage 3 wickets with the ball, for what small comfort that provided.

All out for 135, four runs short. Matthew Carter's three wickets nudged him past Dave Todd into 18th on the club's all-time list — a nice footnote on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Jordan Austin still tops the season's run charts, Thomas Beeney the wickets, so the engine room remains sound even as the rest of us rattle.

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

Sat 04 Aug 2012 🧢 1st XIv BC Betsham CC · AwayformWLWLW

Saturday 4th August 2012, away at Betsham CC, and for once the coin fell kindly — I called correctly and had few doubts about batting first on it.

What followed was as good a day with the bat as I can remember. Daniel Thirkell simply refused to get out, ghosting to an unbeaten 147, and he wasn't short of company: Craig Sands cracked a well-made 57 and the pair put on 86 for the second wicket to set the tone, while Mark Christmas finished the innings off in style with an unbeaten 65. My own 65 felt a satisfying contribution to a total that read a rather imposing 329 for 5 off our 45 overs — the sort of score that makes the tea urn feel a lot less pressing.

Defending it should have been the formality it turned out to be, though it started nervily enough for Betsham, an early wicket falling with the board still reading nought. From there it rather unravelled for them — 88 for 4 became 104 for 7 in the blink of an eye, with poor Lewis Skidmore and Ian Stickels both back in the pavilion without so much as a sniff. Will Thirkell was the chief tormentor with 3 for 27 off three miserly maidens, backed up handsomely by Richard Knowler (2 for 7) and Mark Christmas (2 for 13), Mark Lapham's defiant 41 the only real resistance in a total of 117 all out.

A 212-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying one at that. Daniel now sits proudly atop the season's run charts, Mark leading the wickets — the boot is on our foot. Onwards indeed.

Sat 04 Aug 2012 🧢 2nd XIv DC Dulwich CC · HomeformDLLWW

I called correctly at the toss on Saturday and, with the sun out and the square looking true, there was never much debate in my mind — we were batting.

What followed was as good a morning of club cricket as I can remember. David Castle played an innings of real substance, 104 not looking remotely lucky, and Tim Wright gave him fine company with a crisp 54. The pair put on 153 for the first wicket, which rather set the tone for the whole day, and Will Thew rounded things off nicely with an unbeaten 37. We closed on 245/3 from our 39 overs, a total that had Dulwich's bowlers looking weary well before the end. Only poor Lewis Burnham had a day to forget, back in the pavilion for a duck 🦆 — these things happen to the best of us, Lewis, chin up.

Defending it, we never quite prised the game away from Dulwich, who battled hard through David Standley's composed 65 not out and Richard Blench's 40. Iain Rawson led the attack beautifully with 2-15, well supported by Martin Harris and Kevin Presneill, both 2 wickets apiece, while Michael Beeney strangled the runs with four maidens. They finished on 158/6 from their 45 — short of us, but enough overs survived to deny us the win.

A word too for Tim Wright, who brought up 3,000 career runs for the club 🎉 — a landmark thoroughly earned. In the end, honours shared felt about right: a draw, no losers, tea as good as ever.

Sun 29 Jul 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Clarion CC · HomeformDWLLL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 29 July 2012

Won the toss and, in a fit of tactical genius that owed as much to the forecast as any grand plan, stuck Clarion CC in. For a while it looked the sort of decision that gets you a pint bought for you rather than one poured over you — and so it proved, up to a point.

Jordan Austin set the tone with the new ball, snaring 2-10, and made sure of his afternoon's work at the crease too, marking his own duck for good measure — cricket's way of keeping a man humble even on his best days. Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-15 and Benjamin Austin with 2-44, while Tim Wright bowled with the meanness of a man who begrudges every run, four maidens to his name. Richard Hilson also departed without troubling the scorers. For all that discipline, Clarion's G Mannering (39) and the Driver brothers, Andy and S, both with 27, dragged the visitors to 153 all out in 45.1 overs — more than our bowling figures deserved to concede, if I'm honest.

Then the heavens, or something very like them, intervened, and we managed only 18/1 from four overs before the match was declared drawn. Honours shared, then, neither side able to force the issue — which in village cricket terms counts as a result nobody can complain about too loudly. A fine team bowling performance undone by the weather; we'll take the draw and the free afternoon that came with it.

Sat 28 Jul 2012 🧢 1st XIv Stowting CC · AwayformWWLWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 28 July 2012. We travelled to Stowting CC on a day when the coin, for once, did what I asked of it, and I had no hesitation in putting us in.

We laboured to 156/9 from our 44 overs, which felt about right for the pitch. Laurie Probert played the innings of the day, a fine 57, and found willing company in Richard Knowler's 48 — the pair adding 72 for the fourth wicket in what was easily the meat of our innings. Naturally, being Linton Park, we couldn't leave well alone: 137/5 became 154/8 before you could say "steady the ship," and only some late resilience got us past 150.

With the ball, however, the lads were magnificent. Stowting were bowled out for 133 in 32.5 overs, despite a defiant unbeaten 50 from Craig Harding and useful support from Dan Bland's 26. We struck early, the first wicket falling at 1-1, and Matthew Carter was the pick of the attack with a tidy 2-8 — a spell that also nudged him past Daniel Thirkell into 19th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which called for a pint or two. Sam Boyns chipped in with 2-25 and two miserly maidens, Richard Knowler with 1-13.

Modesty forbids much comment on my own 57, so I shall simply note it and move swiftly on.

A thoroughly earned 23-run victory, two points banked, and Stowting sent home wondering where their afternoon went. Can't ask for much more than that.

Sat 28 Jul 2012 🧢 2nd XIv OC OD CUACO · HomeformWDLLW

As the season stood a fine one, David Castle led the charge with his classy fifty — Saturday, 28 July 2012 saw us welcome OD CUACO, and win the toss the coin fell kindly and I had no hesitation in sending us in.

We batted first and set about it in good order. David Castle's 65 was the innings' backbone, a proper captain's-delight of a fifty, and he found willing company in Lewis Burnham (30) and Will Thew (21), the second-wicket pair putting on 64 to give the innings its shape. Not everything gleamed, mind — Chris Newman and Martin Harris both trudged back for ducks, the sort of low comedy no dressing room is ever short of — but the extras column pitched in 34 handy runs, and 200/8 from our forty overs felt like a total with enough about it to defend.

And defend it we did. OD CUACO fought hard, Andy Rouse (38), Rowan Clapp (38 not out) and Stephen Smith (28) all threatening to bat us out of it, but our bowlers kept chipping away — Martin Harris the pick with 2-28, well backed by Michael Beeney's 2-32 (with two tidy maidens thrown in) and Matt Bramley-Harker's 1-31. Laurence Sanders and Jonathan Edwards both departed without troubling the scorers, and 176/8 left them 24 runs shy at the close.

A cracking team performance, and two well-earned points to show for it. Kevin Presneill and Michael Beeney continue to lead our run and wicket charts respectively this season, and on this evidence there's plenty more to come from both. All in all, a proper afternoon of village cricket — and I'll happily take the bragging rights at the bar.

Sun 22 Jul 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Addington Village CC · HomeformWLLLW

Here's the match report:

Sunday, 22 July, and the sun found its way over Linton Park just in time for Addington Village CC to make the trip. I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough occurrence that I wasted no time in electing to bat, much to the relief of anyone who's watched me field.

The lads set about building a proper total. Glen Rawson was in fine touch for his 71, the innings around him given real backbone by Will Thew's 29 and Craig Sands' 27, as we closed on a healthy 191/6 from our forty overs. Special mention, too, for Will, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark that deserved rather more than the polite ripple of applause it got from a scoreboard preoccupied with the matter in hand.

With the ball, Martin Harris was quite magnificent, scything through the Addington order for 4-16 and looking, at times, entirely unplayable. Michael Beeney (3-34) and Chris Newman (1-17) tidied up what was left, Tim Thirkell bowled two miserly maidens, and poor Jack Bray departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers. Andrew Rimmer's fighting 65, well supported by Patrick Davis's 26, was the only real resistance, but Addington were always behind the required rate, finishing on 135/9. My own contribution of 27 with the bat felt almost incidental by comparison.

A 56-run victory, two points banked, and Will's milestone to toast in the bar afterwards — as satisfying an afternoon as Linton Park has enjoyed all season.

Sun 22 Jul 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv High Halstow CC · AwayformWDWLL

Sunday 22 July found us on the road to High Halstow, where I lost the toss and duly discovered we'd be chasing — never my favourite way to spend an afternoon, but there we are. In the field we watched Adam Colegate compile an untroubled 89 not out, well supported by Bhakta Das (46) and Ciaran Fredericks (28), as High Halstow racked up 218/7 from their forty overs. Jordan Austin toiled admirably for his 2-42, with Matthew Ward (1-13) and the ever-tidy Sam Boyns (1-25, including two maidens) chipping away. Robert Taylor, for what it's worth, departed for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers — a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone, least of all before tea.

Chasing 219 was always going to ask questions of us, and while I'm delighted to report my own 85 not out felt rather satisfying in the moment, satisfaction alone doesn't win cricket matches. Jordan Austin weighed in with a fine 37, but around us the innings had rather too many false starts — Jack Gwynn, Nat Presneill and Matthew Ward all walked back for ducks, and we subsided to 160/8 from our forty, 58 runs shy of the target.

A defeat, then, but not a disgraceful one. Jordan Austin continues to lead our Sunday run charts with 118, and Thomas Beeney the wickets with 9 — reassurance that there's genuine quality in this side, even when the collective effort doesn't quite click. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sat 21 Jul 2012 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · HomeformWWWLW

Not our day at Linton Park, but full marks for effort in the field.

On winning the toss on a Saturday that promised more than it delivered, I had no hesitation putting Milstead in — and for a good while it looked the right call. Milstead were shot out for 130 in 44.5 overs, with only Gareth Chick (40) and Alex Tooke (29) really troubling the scorers, Paul Nicholls stranding himself unbeaten on 23. We had them ducking and diving throughout — Conor Annand, Mike Sellar and Michael Yates all back in the hutch without scoring — as Matthew Carter (3-29) and Richard Knowler (3-29, with four miserly maidens thrown in for good measure) shared the spoils, Daniel Thirkell chipping in with 1-9.

130 looked eminently gettable on a placid pitch, and I'll confess I fancied our chances walking off at the change of ends. Alas, cricket has a way of humbling the confident captain. We subsided to 120 all out in 43.3 overs, Craig Sands top-scoring with a battling 20, while Daniel Thirkell and Thomas Beeney endured that particular walk of shame reserved for the duck-maker. I did at least have the consolation of three wickets with the ball to soften the blow of ten runs short with the bat.

Season-long, there's cheer amid the gloom: Craig Sands leads our 2012 run charts with 215, and Richard Knowler sits second in the wickets with 18. But today belonged to Milstead. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets — Linton Park lives to fight another Saturday.

Sun 15 Jul 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · AwayformDWLLL

Sunday 15 July found us on the road at New Ifield, and having called correctly at the toss for once in my captaincy career, I had no earthly doubt about batting first on it. The lads duly obliged with 158/5 from our forty, Laurie Probert playing the innings of the day with a handsome 55, Trevor Back ticking along nicely for 29 and Will Thew chipping in with 23. I contributed a workmanlike 16 of my own, which I shall claim credit for at the bar regardless.

New Ifield's reply was never quite comfortable, though Lyle Wheeler gave us a scare with a fine 53 and Joe Lawrence supported him with 33. Stephen Bage and Malcom Lockyer both departed without troubling the scorers — quacking all the way back to the pavilion. But the day belonged to Mark Christmas, whose 5-34 was as complete a spell as you'll see on a Sunday, with Joshua Knowler (1-30) mopping up and Michael Beeney miserly as ever with three maidens. Happily, I found some form with the ball myself, taking five wickets to match my opposite number.

There was extra cause for cheer too: Mark's five wickets carried him past Alan Boyns and into 15th on the club's all-time list, while Trevor continues to lead our 2012 run charts and Mark now sits third among the wicket-takers.

We got home by 25 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and not a bad one for the skipper either.

Sun 15 Jul 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv FC Faversham CC · HomeformWWDWL

Sunday 15 July 2012, and the sun was out for Faversham's visit, though not much else went our way. Lost the toss, put in to field – always a curious feeling watching the openers pad up while you're still deciding what to do with your afternoon. Faversham ground their way to 143 all out in 42.5 overs, Phil Rowcroft the chief architect with 41, Andrew Machin chipping in a handy 27. But it was Thomas Beeney who turned the afternoon into his own personal theatre, tearing through the order with 5 for 30 – properly hostile stuff – backed up nicely by Fraser Ritchie's 2 for 25 and Will Thirkell, all metronome and menace, going for just 17 off his allotment with four maidens to show for his parsimony.

143 looked eminently gettable. It wasn't. Richard Piper battled hard for 45 and did all he could to drag us over the line, but wickets tumbled around him – Billy Egleton and Dave Sadler Snr both back in the pavilion without scoring, Fraser Ritchie completing a rather chastening pair with a golden duck – and we folded for 131 in 35.1 overs, twelve runs shy of the target.

There was a proud moment amid the gloom: Will Thirkell brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark earned through exactly the kind of steady, unglamorous excellence he showed with the ball today. Richard Piper continues to sit second in the season's run charts, Thomas Beeney top of the wicket pile.

Verdict: not our day, but no disgrace in defeat. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sat 07 Jul 2012 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWWWWL

Saturday 7 July found us on the road to Headcorn, and for once the coin actually smiled on me — I called it right and, with the sun out and no earthly excuse not to, sent us in to bat. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, 63 well beyond his fifty, while Will Thirkell chipped in a fine 42; between them the third-wicket pair put on 101 and dragged us to a very handsome 203/6 off our 45. Even the extras column fancied itself, chipping in 29 — not that I'll be putting that in the man-of-the-match reckoning.

Two hundred and three looked a good score walking off, and so it proved. Andre Hattingh's 21 was the only real resistance Headcorn could muster before it all rather fell apart — 68/6 became 83/9 in a hurry, with Kevin Richardson and Barry Curtis both back in the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorers. Sam Boyns led the carnage with 2/12, Thomas Beeney weighed in with 2/16, Will Thirkell picked up one for nothing, and Matthew Carter throttled the life out of the middle overs with three maidens. All out for 83 off 39 — comfortably done and dusted.

A win by 120 runs, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. Craig Sands continues to purr along nicely, now second in the 1st XI run charts on 195 for the season, while Mark Christmas sits proudly atop the wicket pile on 19. Cricket, like tea, is always better when there's plenty left in the pot — and today there was plenty to go round.

Sun 01 Jul 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv OC Offham CC · HomeformTDWLL

Sunday 1 July 2012, Offham CC the visitors, and I did the traditionally foolish thing of winning the toss and sticking us in the field. Whether that was cunning or cowardice depends on who you ask by close of play.

Offham made themselves nicely at home, racking up 142/4 from their 34 overs on the back of a watchful 59-run stand for the second wicket. Tom Gittings was the chief architect with a handsome 69, and got good support from Daniel Blakeburn (26 not out) and Mark Collier (22). Chris Newman toiled away with real discipline — 1-31 including two maidens — while Joshua Knowler (1-32) and Martin Harris (1-37) chipped in to at least keep the scoreboard honest.

Chasing 143, we somehow contrived to make it look considerably harder than it needed to be, folding for 83 in 23.2 overs. Matthew Ward's contribution was a golden duck, which about summed up our afternoon with the bat — plenty of walking back to the pavilion, not much walking back to the crease with anything to show for it.

Beaten by 59 runs, then, and no arguing with the margin. Elsewhere in the season, Trevor Back continues to lead our 2012 Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 154, and Chris Newman sits second in the wickets table with 7 — small consolations on an otherwise chastening Sunday. We'll dust ourselves down and, as ever, we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 01 Jul 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWWWDW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 01 July 2012, away at The Mote CC.

Lost the toss, put in to bat, and you could see the sinking feeling ripple round the changing room before a ball was bowled. Still, we knuckled down and posted a respectable 133/8 from our 34 overs, built chiefly around Matthew Carter's fine 46, with Jordan Austin chipping in a tidy 23 alongside him. Not a total to frighten anyone, perhaps, but enough to feel we'd given ourselves something to bowl at.

Alas, bowl at it we did, and precious little else happened. The Mote strolled to 134/0 in just 21.5 overs, Jonathan Crowhurst unbeaten on 71 and Matthew White unbeaten on a classy 61, the pair of them treating our attack with the sort of gentle disdain normally reserved for a testimonial match. I did my bit with 46 with the bat, for what it was worth by the close.

Amid the wreckage, one moment worth bottling: Laurie Probert brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a magnificent effort by any measure, and a reminder of what this club is really about. Jordan Austin, meanwhile, continues to lead our 2012 Sunday 1st XI run charts with 81 to his name.

Ten wickets is a proper hiding, no dressing it up. But the sun was out, the tea was decent, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 30 Jun 2012 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWWDLL

Saturday 30 June, and off we trundled down to Marden CC with the sun out and, for once, my toss-calling instincts intact. Bat first, I said, and for once nobody in the changing room rolled their eyes. Kevin Presneill set about the Marden bowling with a fine 54, Nigel Thirkell matched him stroke for stroke with an unbeaten 52, and Iain Rawson chipped in a brisk 24. Add a generous 30 in extras from our hosts and we'd posted a handsome 196/4 off our 45 — the kind of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

Defending it, Marden made a fist of things through Lindsay Hancox (41) and Richard Thomas (34), with Jon Lugg's 20 keeping the scoreboard honest, but it was never quite enough. Tim Thirkell was magnificent, scything through with 4-17, Darren Styles chipped away for 3-35, and Iain Rawson picked up a helpful 2-23 — while Michael Beeney simply refused to be scored off, sending down four maidens. Dan Ashton and Owen Bailey both departed for ducks 🦆, which I'm sure they'll laugh about eventually. All out for 144 in 41.1 overs.

I'll confess a certain quiet satisfaction leading from the front with that 54 — and with Kevin now top of the 2nd XI run charts on 322 and Darren second in the wickets on nine, this side is clearly doing something right. A 52-run win, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved.

Sat 30 Jun 2012 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWWWWW

Down by 18 runs on Saturday 30 June 2012, with Meopham CC the visitors — I won the toss, elected to field, and for a good long while it looked the right call.

Meopham posted 217/8 from their 45 overs, the innings built around a fine, well-made fifty from Andrew Powney (95), with Carl Oliver (39) and C Beard (21 not out) chipping in to keep the total moving along nicely. Credit where it's due: Thomas Beeney was the pick of the attack with 2-19, Richard Knowler chimed in with 2-36, Sam Boyns took 1-27, and Matthew Carter bowled two tidy maidens without giving so much as an inch away. Poor David Pollard, meanwhile, joined the club nobody wants to be in, back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

In reply we made a fair fist of it — 199/9 in the end — with Will Thirkell the standout, cruising past his fifty to 75, well supported by Richard Knowler (31) and Richard Piper (26). Less happily, Will Thew took the walk of shame for a duck, joining the ranks of the season's ornithologically afflicted.

So, eighteen runs shy and a match that got away from us rather than one we lost outright. Glen Rawson continues to purr along nicely, second in the 1st XI run charts on 168, and Richard Knowler sits second among the wicket-takers with 14 — small consolations on a day when the lads simply came up just short. Heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Tue 26 Jun 2012 🧢 Twenty20v Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWWWLL

Sissinghurst rolled up on Tuesday and I won the toss and stuck us in — never one to overthink these things, though I like to pretend otherwise as I toss the coin. The lads made it look a reasonable decision: Sissinghurst huffed and puffed their way to 85 for 7 off their twenty, Trevor Wright the only one to really get in, unbeaten on 30. Neal Metcalf and Callum Fursmann both trudged off without troubling the scorers, which is always a small, guilty pleasure for a fielding side. The real story with the ball was Tim Thirkell, whose 3 for 9 was the kind of spell that makes you look a shrewd captain even when you've done nothing cleverer than throw him the ball, with Mark Christmas chipping in tidily at 1 for 12.

Chasing 86 was never going to trouble us unduly, and so it proved — home in 18.2 overs for the loss of just two wickets. Will Thirkell led from the front with an unbeaten 30, Laurie Probert playing the sensible foil with 21 not out, and I even managed to get among the runs myself with 30, more by luck than method.

Probert now sits proudly atop the season's run charts with 48, and young Thirkell tops the wicket-takers with 3 — early days, but promising ones. Two points banked, an eight-wicket win, and a thoroughly pleasant evening's cricket. Can't say fairer than that.

Sun 24 Jun 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LR Lord Raglan · HomeformLTDWL

Sunday 24th June, and Dummy Site came calling on a fine afternoon for cricket. Winning the toss and electing to field, I confess I did wonder if I'd made a rod for our own backs as Aitken and Turner put on 53 for the first wicket, Aitken going on to 46 and Turner chipping in 35, with Hancox adding a further 25 to leave us chasing shadows. But cricket, like the weather here, can turn on a sixpence — we clawed our way from 117-5 to 123-8 with a flurry that had the tea urn rattling, poor Hutchinson departing without troubling the scorers. Martin Harris was the architect of the collapse, a magnificent 5-35 that any bowler in the land would be proud to frame, with Matthew Ward (4-20) and Tim Thirkell (1-35) mopping up the rest. All out 127 from their thirty overs — a target that felt gettable, if not exactly a gift.

With the bat we set about our task steadily rather than spectacularly, closing on 128-3. Mark Christmas played the innings of the day, a composed 54, and found a fine ally in Laurie Probert, unbeaten on 43, the pair adding 71 for the second wicket to do the heavy lifting. Christmas now sits second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 97 for the season, while Matthew Ward tops the wicket-takers with eight — form the club can be quietly proud of.

And yet, for all that promise, we contrived to lose by seven wickets — proof, if any were needed, that cricket delights in humbling the overconfident captain. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 23 Jun 2012 🧢 1st XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformLWWWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 23 June 2012, and Staplehurst rolled into Linton Park with the sun out and, rather cruelly, the toss lost. Asked to bat, we posted 198 for 5 off our 45, which I'll happily take any day. Daniel Thirkell led the charge with a well-crafted 60, Glen Rawson chipped in a fine 48, and Craig Sands finished unbeaten on 44 to give the innings some late polish — the pair's 64-run second-wicket stand the platform on which the whole score was built. Not every Thirkell had a day to remember, mind: poor Will fell for a duck, though he'd more than make amends with the ball later.

Defending 198 always feels like a tidy number, and so it proved. Staplehurst never got comfortable, losing a wicket with just 1 on the board and never quite shaking off the jitters, despite Tim Watts' battling 33 and a spirited 59-run stand for the fourth wicket. From 79 for 4 they slid to 86 for 7, and from there it was a formality — Paul Motum back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and the innings folding for 106 in 38.1 overs. Richard Knowler was magnificent, a five-for and 5-17 that will have him buying the teas for a fortnight, well supported by Matthew Carter's 3-38, Mark Christmas's 1-3, and four tidy maidens from Will Thirkell — redemption after that duck.

A 92-run win, two points banked, and Daniel Thirkell now sits proudly atop the season's run charts. A thoroughly deserved victory, and not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

Sat 23 Jun 2012 🧢 2nd XIv DC Dymchurch CC · AwayformWWWDL

Saturday 23 June 2012, and the road took us to Dymchurch, where the coin fell the wrong way and we were put into the field first — which, given how the day panned out, was probably the best forty overs we bowled all summer.

Dymchurch crawled to 131/5, and it was Bradley Harper's 34 doing the damage, with Sam Lancaster (29) and an unbeaten 24 from Nigel Erlynne keeping the scoreboard ticking over politely rather than alarmingly. Chris Newman was the pick of the attack with a tidy 2-11, Jack Gwynn chipped in with 2-18, and Martin Harris took one for 33. Special mention to Iain Rawson, who bowled four maidens and gave away precisely nothing — the sort of spell that makes tea taste better.

Which left us needing 132, and this is where the wheels came off in spectacular, if brief, fashion. Iain Cardew fought the good fight for his 31, and I managed a workmanlike 15, but around us the innings simply evaporated — Jack Gwynn and Luke Welsman both departed for golden ducks, and all out for 94 doesn't leave much more to say. Whatever we did with the ball, we contrived to undo twice over with the bat.

Down by 37 runs, then, and a long drive home for reflection. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets — Dymchurch have our measure for now, but they haven't heard the last of us.

Sun 17 Jun 2012 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SC Sibton Park CC · AwayformLWLWW

Beaten again by the coin, and beaten again at the toss — Sibton Park won the call, sent us into the field, and after a jittery start losing an early wicket with just six on the board, they settled in for the long haul. Steve Hickmott batted with real composure for his unbeaten 65, and with Jamie Keeler (24) and A Allon (20) chipping in around him, 165/6 from their 40 overs felt like a fair total — though that last-wicket stand of 68 was a good deal more than we'd bargained for. Credit where it's due: Sam Boyns bowled with real purpose for 2-33, Mark Christmas and Stuart Cheesman backed him up nicely, and Christmas's three maidens meant nothing came easily out there.

Chasing 166, we never quite got the innings moving. Another early stumble — three on the board and gone — set the tone, and though Stuart Cheesman battled to 34 and Daniel Thirkell supported with 26, and I managed a workmanlike 17, wickets kept tumbling around us. Poor Lewis Burnham's day yielded only a golden duck for his troubles.

There were bright spots amid the gloom: Will Thirkell reached the landmark of 100 career wickets, and Mark Christmas's solitary scalp nudged him past Tony Gauna into 16th on the all-time list — history quietly being written even in defeat.

In the end, 16 runs shy. Character-building stuff, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 17 Jun 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv GC Great Chart CC · AwayformWLTDW

Sunday 17th June saw us make the trip to Great Chart, and winning the toss I had no hesitation putting them in — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or daft depending entirely on what follows, and I'll admit I spent the next forty overs unsure which.

Graham Prior settled that question for us, a fine 60 the backbone of their 176 for 5, with Darren McGoldrick unbeaten on 44 and Ben Moyle's 25 stitching together a 64-run third-wicket stand that did us no favours at all. Credit where due — Iain Rawson bowled beautifully for 1 for 10 with three maidens, tidy support coming from Matthew Ward and Michael Beeney, but 176 always felt a par score on a day when nothing much was given away lightly.

Chasing it, we never quite found our rhythm. Four on the board and already a wicket down set the tone, and while Glen Rawson battled to a splendid 49 — bringing up 5,000 career runs for the club along the way, a landmark worth raising a glass to even in defeat — and Tim Wright chipped in with 27, the rest of us rather let the side down. Will Thew and Nick Ward both contributed ducks, and nine byes down the leg side summed up an afternoon where little went right behind the stumps either. All out — sorry, nine down — for 124.

A 52-run defeat, then, and a fair reflection of the day's balance of power. Chins up, back to the nets, and let's save the fireworks for next week.

Sun 17 Jun 2012 🧢 Sunday 3rd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · Homeform—

As the lads take on Horton Kirby, they lose the toss but win the day.

We lost the toss and were sent in – no complaints from me, that's cricket. What followed, though, was rather more to my liking. Matthew Gladwell played the innings of the day, easing to 53 not out with the sort of unhurried authority that makes a captain's job a doddle, while Kevin Presneill (45) and Tim Thirkell (40 not out) kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely. Not every batsman's afternoon was so gilded – David Castle and Nimal De Silva both departed for ducks – but 170/4 from our 40 overs was a healthy total to defend, and I wasn't complaining about my own 40 either.

Out in the field, Horton Kirby made us work for it. Neil Drewer's 51 was a proper half-century, and with Rob Parkin (36) and Steve Jarvis (31) chipping in, 161/8 was no mean effort on their part. But this was where the day was won and lost: Tim Thirkell bowled beautifully for 4-31, backed up by Matt Bramley-Harker (2-23) and Kishan De Silva (2-33), and I had the rare pleasure of picking up four wickets myself. John Treweeke and Marc Atkinson went back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and the pressure never let up.

Two points, nine runs to spare, and Gladwell and Thirkell now sitting proudly atop the season's charts. A thoroughly earned win, and one the tea urn will be talking about for weeks.

Sat 16 Jun 2012 🧢 2nd XIv SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformDWWWD

Saturday 16 June saw Staplehurst CC roll into Linton Park, and the coin obliged me kindly enough — I had few doubts about putting them in, though our batting soon made me question the wisdom of it. All out for 73 in 35.2 overs is not the stuff of legend, and with Tim Wright, Will Thew and Iain Cardew all completing the walk of shame for ducks, the Duck Club committee will have had a busy afternoon. Iain Rawson's 25 stood alone as the innings of substance, propping up a total that, frankly, needed some divine intervention behind it.

Divine intervention did not arrive. Staplehurst strolled home to 74/2 in 23.1 overs, Sam McConnel unbeaten on 33 and Ryan Chandler chipping in with 27, the pair calmly dismantling anything we tried to throw at them. It wasn't for want of trying — Darren Styles bowled beautifully for 2-9, and Martin Harris was tighter than a Sunday collection plate with two maidens. I even had a dabble myself, top-scoring for the side with 19, which tells its own sorry tale about our top order.

Beaten by eight wickets, then, and no arguments from the home dressing room. Kevin Presneill continues to lead our 2nd XI run charts on 253, and Styles now sits third in the wickets with six — small crumbs of comfort on an otherwise chastening day. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word with the ducks, and be better for it next week.

Sat 16 Jun 2012 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWLWWW

Won the toss at Marden on Saturday, and with the pitch looking full of mischief I had no hesitation in sending Marden in. It proved the right call, and then some. Wickets clattered all through that morning session, three of their number departing without troubling the scorers — Richard Brewer, Ben Tomkinson and Sam Courtley all ducks 🦆 — while only Richard Fulford, with a battling 27, gave the innings any shape at all. Will Thirkell chipped in nicely with 2-9, but the day belonged, in truth, to yours truly: I found my rhythm early and never quite lost it, finishing with 7-15 and two maidens for good measure — a five-for I shan't pretend not to be pleased with. Marden were bowled out for 52 in just 22.1 overs, which even by the most modest standards of village cricket is a decidedly thin total.

Chasing it should have been a formality, and so it proved, though we did our best to make a drama of it. The first wicket fell cheaply at 2-1, a moment of unnecessary tension, before Daniel Thirkell settled things with a composed 23 to see us home at 55/3 from 17.3 overs.

A fine win by seven wickets, then, and one that keeps Daniel's bat (141 runs) and my own ball (17 wickets) ticking along nicely atop the 2012 charts. Onwards we go. 🏏

Sun 10 Jun 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC · HomeformLWLTD

Sunday 10th June, and Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow rolled up to find fortune already against us — lost the toss, put in to bat, and off we trudged with that familiar mix of dread and determination. Trevor Back set about repairing the mood with a fine 43, David Castle chipping in a handsome 36 alongside him, and between them they dragged us to a respectable 159/9 off our forty. Matthew Gladwell and Nimal De Silva, alas, will not be troubling the scorers this week — a brace of golden ducks to file under "these things happen."

Defending 159 is never a stroll, but the bowlers had other ideas. Tom Roberts led their reply with 42, well supported by Barry Roles (25) and Simon Tombs (24), and when they put on 56 for the second wicket the visitors' room began to look decidedly cosy. But we kept chipping away — an early wicket for just 1 run set the tone, poor Benjamin Taylor sent back without so much as a sniff at the total. Chris Newman was the chief architect of the comeback with a superb 3-23, Tim Wright backed him up nicely with 2-28, Tim Thirkell chimed in with 1-29, and Michael Beeney bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment, three maidens and all. I even found some rhythm myself, snaring three.

In the end we crossed the line by 23 runs — a proper team effort, and a timely one, with Trevor Back now topping our Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 129 and Chris Newman leading the wickets on five. A good day for the club, and, dare I say it, rather a good one for the captain's blood pressure too.

Sat 09 Jun 2012 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformLWLWW

Saturday 09 June 2012 — away at Sheldwich, and the coin let us down again, so it was pads off, boots on and out into the field first. No matter; if there's one thing a captain learns, it's that losing the toss is character-building, and we had rather a lot of character to build on.

We lost Will Thirkell for a first-ball duck with the score on 1 — the sort of start that has you double-checking the tea urn is at least working. But from there the innings blossomed handsomely. Daniel Thirkell played the anchor role to perfection with a well-crafted 68, Craig Sands weighed in with 41, and Mark Christmas finished unbeaten on 39, the pair adding a crucial 60 for the third wicket. I contributed a workmanlike 39 of my own. We closed on a formidable 227/5 from our 45 overs.

Defending that kind of total is the sort of problem every captain dreams of having, and the bowlers made light work of it. Will Thirkell was magnificent, ripping through with 4-2, with Mark Christmas (2-24) and Thomas Beeney (1-5) mopping up, while Sam Boyns kept things miserly with two maidens. David Shelley and Ron Brown were both sent back without scoring, and only James Creed, with 30, offered any real resistance as Sheldwich folded for 98.

A special mention, too, for Mark Christmas, who brought up 400 career wickets in the process — a landmark achieved with typical understatement.

Verdict: a 129-run victory, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work — Will's duck notwithstanding.

Sat 09 Jun 2012 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sidcup CC · HomeformWDWWW

Splendid Saturday for it, Sidcup rolling into Linton Park with the sun doing its level best to hold off the showers, and us winning the toss and electing to bat — a decision I stood by right up until we were bowled out for 132 in the 39th over, at which point I stood by it a little less firmly. Tim Wright's 26 was the innings' backbone, with Adam Wright and Kevin Presneill both chipping in 22 apiece to give the total a bit of respectability, while poor Ray Dixon and Matt Bramley-Harker made the long, familiar walk back for ducks — commiserations, gentlemen, the club tie awaits.

A modest total, then, and one that needed defending with a bit of cunning. Sidcup wobbled early at 7 for 1, and for a moment I allowed myself a quiet smile, but Jack Deadman (37) and Hugh Beresford-Webb (27) steadied things with a third-wicket stand of 66 that threatened to bat us clean out of it. Enter Michael Beeney, magnificent with 4 for 22, backed up by Martin Harris (2-34) and Joshua Knowler (1-21), while Darren Styles bowled four maidens of pure stubbornness. Ross Perkins departed for a duck of his own, some small justice restored. I chipped in with 26, for what that's worth.

Sidcup closed on 96 for 9 — honours shared, a draw when neither side could force the issue. Not a classic, perhaps, but a proper old-fashioned scrap, and nobody left Linton Park disappointed.

Wed 06 Jun 2012 🧢 Anniversary XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformLD

He lost the toss, chased anyway in spirit, and here's the tale of Wednesday's honours-shared thriller.

Won the toss? No. Asked to bowl, more like told to, and we duly trooped out with the ball first against Dummy Site at home. Their innings rumbled on to 171 all out, built almost entirely around a- Cornwallis, who ground out 92 not out with the sort of patience that makes tea taste sweeter, ushered along by Claire Taylor's tidy 21. We did our bit in reply though — G O Wedderburn, H Spain-Warner and E Shires all trudged off for ducks, undone by a Linton Park attack that had its tail up. And what a tail: Tim Wright was the story of the day, a magnificent 5-24 that any bowler would frame and hang in the clubhouse loo. Richard Knowler chipped away at 1-15 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, and Tim Thirkell weighed in with 1-25.

Chasing 172, David Castle set about it properly for 42, well supported by Will Thew's fluent 35, while I contributed a modest 18 from the captain's usual position of trying to look busier than I actually was. We fell short at 152/8, but not for want of trying.

So — honours shared, a draw, and frankly a fair result: their runs against our wickets, and not a soul left disappointed on the walk back to the pavilion. Wright's five-for is the pick of the season so far, and Castle's knock keeps him climbing the charts nicely. All told, a proper afternoon of village cricket — nobody won, but nobody really lost either.

Tue 05 Jun 2012 🧢 Anniversary XIv BC Band of Brothers CC · HomeformL

Tuesday, 5 June 2012, and Band of Brothers CC came calling. I lost the toss – no change there, then – and they had us in, keen to see what the wicket had for their bowlers.

What it had, in the end, was runs. Daniel Thirkell played the innings of the day, sailing past his fifty and finishing unbeaten on a magnificent 87, the sort of knock that makes captaincy look easy even when it isn't. Richard Piper chipped in a handy 40 and Stuart Cheesman 33, while I did my bit with 33 of my own down the order. Poor Will Thew, though, will want to forget this one in a hurry – out for a duck, and no amount of consoling in the tea room quite made up for it. All told we posted 230 for 7 from our 53.4 overs, a total that felt like it had a bit of everything: application, flair, and one unfortunate golden duck.

With Thirkell's 87 he now sits proudly atop our 2012 Anniversary XI run charts, and on this evidence nobody's catching him soon.

In the end, neither side could quite force matters home, and honours were shared. A draw is never the stuff of legend, but with a total like ours and Thirkell in this sort of form, we'll happily take honours even and live to fight another Tuesday.

Mon 04 Jun 2012 🧢 Anniversary XIv IS Invicta League Rep Side · Homeform—

James Creed's 42 had them purring along nicely, and by the time Simon Phipps and Jordan Austin had finished nudging things about, 155/4 from twenty-five overs looked a very healthy total indeed. I'll admit winning the toss and sticking Dummy Site in felt like the shrewd move at the time — and for a fleeting seven runs it looked inspired, before that 83-run second-wicket stand quietly reminded me that cricketing genius is mostly luck wearing a blazer. Credit where it's due: Thomas Beeney was superb, 2-19 and tighter than my trouser waistband after the tea interval, with Matthew Carter and Martin Harris chipping in a wicket apiece. Chris Curran, at least, departed for a duck at our hands — small mercies.

Chasing 156, we made a fair fist of it early doors. Mark Christmas batted beautifully for 33, and I contributed my own 33 alongside him, and for a while 90-6 looked almost respectable in a grim sort of way. Then, as is tradition at Linton, the innings folded like a deckchair in a stiff breeze — 90-6 to 104-9 before most of us had finished our tea — and we were all out for 104 in the 25th over.

Beaten by 51 runs, then, and no arguing with that scoreline. But the day wasn't without its moment of proper pride: Thomas Beeney brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark rather more durable than anything we managed with the bat. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 03 Jun 2012 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWLWLW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 03 June 2012. Bidborough CC away… I mean, Bidborough CC at home, and the toss went against us as usual; they had a look at the pitch, sniffed the air, and sent us in.

Not that we minded. Daniel Thirkell (45) and Stuart Cheesman (45) put bat to ball with the calm authority of men who had somewhere else to be, and Craig Sands (43 not out) finished things off in style, the pair adding a priceless 62 for the fourth wicket. Even the extras column pitched in with 48 — our openers must have been distracted by the tea urn. All told, 239/4 from 40 overs, a total with a bit of menace about it.

Defending it, the lads were magnificent. Will Thirkell ran through the top order like a man late for his Sunday roast, finishing with 3-16, with Matthew Carter (2-28) and Stuart Cheesman (2-40) mopping up either side of him. Pat Rossiter (37) and Charlie Harding (22) did what they could, but once it was 103-6 the floodgates were positively Victorian, and poor Dale Hillhouse departed for a golden duck. Bidborough were all out for 119 in 32.4 overs.

A personal note of pride: Daniel Thirkell brought up 12,000 career runs for the club — not bad for a Sunday afternoon's work. Craig Sands continues to top our 2012 run charts with 76, and Mark Christmas sits second in the wicket-takers with four.

A fine win by 120 runs. Onwards.

Sat 02 Jun 2012 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDWDWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 2nd June saw the road take us to West Farleigh CC, and a rather satisfying afternoon it turned out to be.

Winning the toss, I had little hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, I felt, and one the lads duly justified. We racked up a handsome 257/7 from our 45 overs, built on a fine platform from Kevin Presneill, who cracked a splendid 67, well supported by Tim Wright's 53. Iain Rawson anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten fifty, and even the extras got in on the act with a generous 32. Spare a thought, though, for poor Adam Wright, whose contribution amounted to the walk of shame — a duck to nil, bless him.

With 257 on the board, the pressure was rather on West Farleigh, and to their credit Surinder Karanan's unbeaten fifty and Paul Baines' 37 gave them something to work with, but 150/7 from their 45 overs was never going to be enough. Darren Styles was magnificent with the ball, snaring 2-20 with four miserly maidens, while Martin Harris (2-23) and I (1-23) chipped in among the wickets, with Matt Brooke and Adrian Lake both back in the hutch for ducks. Our keeper had a busy old time of it — nine byes tells its own tale — but no matter.

A personal 67 was pleasing, and with Kevin now topping our 2nd XI run charts and Martin leading the wickets, the season's shaping up nicely. Two points, and thoroughly deserved — a 107-run victory that had us purring on the drive home.

Sat 02 Jun 2012 🧢 1st XIv BC Boughton & Eastwell CC · HomeformLLWLW

Boughton & Eastwell rolled up on the second of June with the sun out and the outfield fast, and I did something rare for a Linton Park skipper: won the toss and actually made a decision I was pleased with. We fielded first, and for once the plan held together beautifully. Will Thirkell was in irresistible mood with the new ball, finishing with 3-16, while Matthew Carter bowled with the kind of miserly discipline that makes openers weep — 2-17 and three maidens to show for it — and Sam Boyns chipped in with 1-17. Joe Rogers battled to 43 for the visitors, but nobody else could get comfortable, and poor Simon Aylott trudged off for a golden duck without so much as a glimpse of the scoreboard. They closed on 127/9 from their 45 overs — a total that felt, from the boundary rope, thoroughly manageable.

So it proved. We knocked the runs off for the loss of three wickets, Daniel Thirkell playing the anchor role to perfection with an unbeaten 50, and Will Thirkell following his three wickets with 43 with the bat for good measure — the family clearly not fussed which discipline it excelled in on the day. Job done in 33.2 overs, 130/3 on the board.

A seven-wicket win, then, achieved with bat and ball in fine harmony, and precious little for the scorebook to hold against us. Onwards, as ever — though I shall be quietly hoping the toss keeps favouring me like this.

Thu 31 May 2012 🧢 Twenty20v Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWWWWL

Beaten at Marden, and if I'm honest we probably knew it in our bones the moment I called correctly at the toss on Thursday and decided to field. It seemed the sensible move at the time — runs on the board can be chased, we told ourselves — but Marden had other ideas, cantering to 158/3 off their twenty overs. Joshua Knowler did his level best to keep the champagne on ice, snaring 2-28 with the ball, but three unbroken partnerships (Sunnucks 33 not out, Courtley 32 not out, Tomkinson 31 not out) rather took the sting out of our afternoon.

Chasing 159, we made a decent fist of it without ever quite threatening. Laurie Probert battled to 27, Ryan Boyns chipped in with 20, but wickets fell at the other end with the regularity of a Kent level crossing, and we stumbled to 127/9 from our twenty. Spare a thought, too, for poor Joshua Knowler, who followed his sterling bowling with a golden duck — a cruel twist even by this club's standards, and one the ledger will not let him forget in a hurry.

So it's Probert who tops our 2012 Twenty20 run charts and Knowler our wicket charts, for what modest comfort that brings. We fell 31 runs short in the end, beaten fair and square by the better side on the day. Chins up, though — there's cricket yet to be played, and we'll be considerably better for this next week.

Sun 27 May 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWLWLT

Sunday 27 May 2012. Sissinghurst arrived, the coin landed against us, and they had few complaints about padding up first — 199/3 from their 41 overs suggested we'd bowled into a rather generous postcode. Mick Winner was the chief culprit for that scoreline, purring to an unbeaten 114 that had long since stopped being a contest and started being a procession, with Mike Burgess (32 not out) content to watch from the other end and applaud. Credit where due to Tim Thirkell, whose 1-27 was the tidiest figure of the day, while Matthew Ward and Gareth Davies chipped away for a wicket apiece and the rest of us mostly chipped in with the drinks.

Chasing 200, Trevor Back played the innings of a man determined to make amends for the rest of us, cruising past fifty to 67 and giving the reply a spine it badly needed. Matthew Ward followed his bowling with 27 not out, Nimal De Silva added a brisk 23, and between them we crawled to a respectable 187/7 from our 42. Chris Newman's golden duck was noted with the sympathy such things deserve, though he'll find no comfort in learning your correspondent matched him stroke for stroke — bowled first ball, out for nought, and mercifully spared further comment on the matter by this very column.

So: honours shared, a draw with neither side quite able to land the killer blow. Not a classic, but an honest afternoon's cricket — and with Trevor Back and Tim Thirkell both flying the flag atop the season's charts, there's rather more to celebrate than my own batting suggests.

Sun 27 May 2012 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWWD

Sunday 27 May 2012, away at Bearsted CC, and for once the coin actually liked me – I called correctly and had no hesitation in putting us in. Jordan Austin and Warren Jackson gave us exactly the start a captain dreams of and rarely gets, the openers piling on 99 before either fell, and both went on to well-made fifties, 58 and 51 respectively. Will Thew chipped in with 51 of his own, I managed a workmanlike 23, and we declared our innings closed at a handsome 241/4 from the full 40 overs.

Defending that sort of total ought to be the easy part, and so it proved. Bearsted stumbled early at 7-1 and never really found their feet, Piers Cottee Jones's battling 37 the only real resistance. Thomas Beeney was superb with the ball, 3-33, backed up admirably by Michael Beeney (3-41) and Mark Christmas (2-11), and the innings folded for 129 in 36.2 overs. I'll admit our 8 byes suggest the gloves had a testing afternoon behind the stumps – a word with the wicketkeeper may be required.

Off the field, Laurie Probert brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, and Mark Christmas's brace nudged him past Dave Todd into 17th on our all-time wicket-takers list. Handsome milestones on a handsome day. A fine win by 112 runs – onwards indeed.

Sat 26 May 2012 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLDWDW

Saturday 26 May 2012 saw West Farleigh CC roll up the drive, the coin went against us, and we were put into the field – never the outcome I'm hoping for when I toss my lucky sixpence, but there we are.

It was a long old stint on the grass. William Norman ground us down superbly for 93 not out, with Andrew Salmon offering sturdy support on 50 not out, and their last pair had the temerity to add an unwanted 91 runs we'd have much preferred to have done without. They closed on 204/6 from their 45 overs. Honours to Michael Beeney, whose 3-27 did the real damage, with Martin Harris (2-38) and Chris Newman (1-50) chipping in, and Darren Styles bowling three miserly maidens that gave the batsmen nothing at all. At least Chris Mckellow and David Brown departed for ducks at our hands, which offered some small consolation.

With 207 needed, I'm delighted to report we made light work of it, getting home for the loss of just three wickets in 38.1 overs. I had the pleasure of leading from the front with 75, while David Castle (54) joined me in a second-wicket stand worth 126 – the innings of the day – and Richard Knowler saw us home unbeaten on 28, en route to bringing up 1,000 career runs for the club. A landmark worth raising a glass to.

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

Sat 26 May 2012 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformDLLWL

We put Milstead in first — and for once the hunch paid off.

Saturday 26th May found us away at Milstead, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in asking them to bat. A wobble at 0-1 suggested we might be in for a rout, but Milstead steadied through a 4th-wicket stand of 55, with Mike Sellar (26), Paul Nicholls (24) and S Puttu (20) doing the bulk of the building. No matter — the innings folded from 96-6 to 107-9 in the twinkling of an eye, with Cusworth, Yates and Ryder all failing to trouble the scorers against us, and Mark Christmas bowling like a man possessed for 5-24. Stuart Cheesman (3-23) and the ever-parsimonious Sam Boyns (1-6, seven maidens — seven!) tidied up the rest. All out 112/9 from their 45 overs.

Chasing 113 ought never to have felt tense, and to be fair it barely did. We lost an early wicket at 3-1, but Stuart Cheesman — clearly not content with his bowling exploits — set about a fine 57, aided by a chunky second-wicket stand of 82 with Richard Piper (20). Home by six wickets with overs to spare, though eleven byes will have given poor Glen Rawson some uncomfortable moments behind the stumps.

A word for the skipper, too, who rather enjoyed himself with five wickets on the day. With Rawson leading our run charts and Christmas topping the wickets column for the season, the engine room looks in good order. Verdict: professional, ruthless, and home in time for tea — precisely how village cricket should be played.

Sun 20 May 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Borstal CC · HomeformLWLWL

Sunday 20 May 2012, and Borstal CC came to Linton Park with the sun out and my coin-calling arm apparently cursed, because they won the toss and stuck us in. We limped to 2-1 with barely a ball settled, and things did not improve — 9-4 arrived in a heartbeat, and the club's duck ledger swelled with entries from Matthew Gladwell, Jamie Ratcliffe and Matthew Ward, three men who will not be dining out on this innings. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and David Castle, unmoved by the carnage around him, ground out a fine unbeaten 58 to anchor us, finding support first from Nick Ward (26) and Chris Newman (24), then in a stubborn 63-run eighth-wicket stand that dragged us to a defendable-looking 136/8 from our forty.

Defending it turned into a proper arm-wrestle. Frani O'Neill top-scored with 33, well backed by Miles Huppatz's 24, and it took everything we had to prise them out — Michael Beeney the pick of the bowlers with 2-20, Chris Newman chipping in with 2-37 (and a season's-best second on the 2nd XI wicket charts for his trouble), and Matthew Ward taking 1-19 to go with Richard Taylor's duck at our hands. Eight byes on the sheet suggested our man behind the stumps had rather a testing afternoon, and I did my modest bit with 24.

And after all that toil, all that drama, Borstal were bowled out for exactly 136. A tie. You simply cannot script village cricket like this — a full day's honest labour, and honours share it precisely down the middle.

Sun 20 May 2012 🧢 Sunday NVKCv SC Speldhurst CC · AwayformLWLWL

Lost the toss again on Sunday, and Speldhurst duly stuck us in — nothing new there, my coin-calling record remains a standing joke in the clubhouse. Still, the lads knuckled down nicely, posting 171 for 7 off our forty. Craig Sands played the anchor role beautifully for 33, Will Thirkell chipped in with 25, and — bless them — the extras column contributed a whopping 60, which either speaks to Speldhurst's generosity or our own scrambling ingenuity between the wickets. I'll take it either way.

Defending it, though, that's where the fun really started. Ben Durling looked ominous early on with 46, well supported by Paul W Eames's 24, and their sixth-wicket pair put on 56 that had me chewing my fingernails rather more than a captain should admit in print. But Sam Boyns was magnificent, ripping through with 4 for 14, backed superbly by Mark Christmas (3 for 36) and Stuart Cheesman (2 for 34), while Matthew Carter strangled the life out of the middle overs with four maidens. I even found a bit of rhythm myself for three wickets — don't get used to it. Poor Mike Jeffreys and Ben Harrison both walked back without troubling the scorers, but no matter: Speldhurst were bowled out for 138 in 38.2 overs, and a nice footnote — Mark Christmas's three wickets nudge him past Daniel Thirkell into 18th on the all-time list.

Two points, thoroughly earned. Won by 33 runs, and home in time for tea.

Sat 19 May 2012 🧢 2nd XIv SC Staplehurst CC · AwayformLLDWD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 19 May 2012. Staplehurst was the destination, and I'll admit I fancied our chances the moment I won the toss. Elected to field, which felt bold at the time and rather sensible in hindsight. Restricting the hosts to 148 all out from their 45 overs was a proper team effort — Martin Harris was magnificent with the new ball, 3-14 and barely a run to be had, while Joshua Knowler (3-19) and Darren Styles (2-17, three maidens, the mean so-and-so) squeezed the life out of them. Ryan Chandler's unbeaten 42 and Trevor Wratten's 32 were the only real resistance, though we did dispatch Trevor Cardon, Gez Saunders and Oli Henson for ducks — three golden ones, no less.

Chasing 149, we made rather light work of it, cruising to 150/3 in 43.1 overs. I don't like to blow my own trumpet, but leading from the front with an unbeaten 70 felt rather good, and I was grateful for the company — Nigel Thirkell's unbeaten 40 and Joshua Knowler's 24 kept things ticking along nicely.

Kevin Presneill now tops our 2nd XI run charts for the season with those 70, and Joshua Knowler leads the wickets with three — a fine all-round showing from the lad.

A seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying day out. Onwards we go.

Sat 19 May 2012 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWDLLW

Beaten again by the toss on Saturday, and Headcorn's decision to field left us with the whole day to make something of a good pitch. We managed 132/8 from our 45 overs, propped up handsomely by Glen Rawson, unbeaten on 55 and playing the innings of a captain's dreams, with Craig Sands chipping in a fine 37 alongside him — the pair adding 66 for the third wicket when it mattered most. Then, as is our custom, the middle order decided to make things interesting, and we slid from a comfortable 106-3 to a distinctly less comfortable 119-6, poor Will Thew departing without troubling the scorers at all.

With the ball we scrapped hard. Headcorn crept to 119-5 and we sensed blood, sending back Mangold, Munro and Mansell all without a run between them — three ducks for the price of one, a collector's set. Richard Knowler was superb, 3-21 with three tidy maidens, well supported by Sam Boyns (2-25) and Will Thirkell (1-18), though Thirkell had a trickier time of it behind the stumps, shipping eight byes for his troubles.

There was at least one thing to celebrate: Craig Sands's 37 nudged him past Brian Piper into ninth on the club's all-time run-scorers list, a fine bit of history-making on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Headcorn edged home by two wickets in the end. A game we should have won and didn't — but with Rawson in this sort of form and Knowler steaming in, we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 13 May 2012 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv XM XII Men · HomeformLLWLW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 13 May 2012. Dummy Site the visitors, sun out, kettle on, and a fine turnout of hope from the boys.

Put in to field first, we made a fair fist of it. R Cooper gave us a proper working-over on his way to 40, with Matthew Tombs (36) and H McDonald (23) chipping in to haul them to 173/7 off their 45. But it wasn't all one-way traffic — Tim Thirkell was in inspired form, snaring 2-15, while Joshua Knowler and Mark Christmas both weighed in with two apiece. Special mention for Knowler's four maidens — the sort of relentless, joyless accuracy that makes batsmen mutter into their gloves.

Chasing 174, we never quite got going. Mark Christmas played the innings of the day, 43 well-crafted runs, with Matthew Gladwell (38) offering fine support. After that, alas, the wheels came off rather spectacularly — Joshua Knowler, Matthew Ward and Tim Thirkell all contributed ducks, three golden nothings in a row that no amount of tea and sympathy could disguise. All out for 146 in the 41st.

So it's Christmas atop the run charts and Knowler leading the wickets as our season ledger stands — small consolations on a day that ultimately slipped away by 27 runs. Not our day, lads. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — Dummy Site have the bragging rights this time, but there's cricket yet to be played.

Sat 12 May 2012 🧢 1st XIv BC Betsham CC · HomeformLWDLL

Betsham CC rolled up on the 12th of May and, having lost the toss for the umpteenth time this season, I dispatched us into bat rather than field. We limped and lurched to 148/9 off our 45 — a total that flattered to deceive at times, particularly when 82/2 became 96/5 in the sort of collapse that makes a captain reach for the biscuit tin. Glen Rawson led the way with a fine 43, Stuart Cheesman chipped in 30, Kevin Presneill 28, and their 58-run second-wicket stand was the spine of the innings. Less gloriously, Richard Knowler and Thomas Beeney both walked back for ducks — the Duck Club ledger duly updated 🦆 — but a word of real pride: Stuart Cheesman brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, a mantelpiece moment if ever there was one 🎉.

With the ball, we were rather better than we had any right to be. Betsham subsided to 105 all out in 42.5 overs, Sam Willis's 21 the highlight of a chase that fell apart from 70/3 to 81/6 with almost indecent haste. Chris Heath, Ian Stickels and Steve Whitfield all departed without troubling the scorers, giving the Duck Club a second sitting 🦆. Richard Knowler was superb with 3-12, well supported by Thomas Beeney's 3-19 and Will Thirkell's 1-4, while Matthew Carter bowled four maidens of pure parsimony. Poor Mark Christmas had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 9 byes testament to some lively deliveries.

A scrappy batting effort redeemed by a ruthless bowling display — two points, 43 runs to the good, and thoroughly earned.