🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 27 Sep 2014 🧢 1st XIv KK Kennington CC, Kent · HomeformDDDDW

Saturday 27 September saw Kennington CC visit us on a warm afternoon that couldn't decide whether it wanted to be sunny or soggy, and I won the toss and elected to field — a decision I'm rather pleased to take credit for, since it's not every week the skipper gets to look clever. Kennington laboured to 153/9 from their forty overs, propped up by Chris Drakeley's fine unbeaten 58 and David Finch's 25, while at the other end John Cunningham and Oliver Matthews departed for ducks, poor souls. Martin Harris was the pick of the attack with 2-17, well backed by Joshua Knowler's 2-18, and I chipped in with 1-15 and a couple of miserly maidens of my own — enough to feel I'd earned my tea.

With 154 to chase, James Piper simply took the game away from Kennington, striking an unbeaten 73 that made light of the target, ably supported by Richard Piper's 28 and Will Thirkell's unbeaten 27, with a generous 26 extras thrown in for good measure. We cantered home by nine wickets in just 26.4 overs. There was a lovely moment of history too, as James brought up 6,000 career runs for the club — a milestone that deserved rather more than the polite ripple of applause it got from a rain-flecked boundary.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. Onwards.

Sun 21 Sep 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · AwayformLWWWW

As we won the toss and put Tenterden in to bat, I'd best get straight to it.

Sunday 21st September, and off we trundled to Tenterden on a pleasant, grey afternoon perfectly suited to village cricket. The coin obliged and I had no hesitation in putting the opposition in — a decision that, with hindsight, we'd have done well to reconsider. Glen Rawson anchored the innings superbly with an unbeaten 56, well supported by Daniel Thirkell (28) and myself, also 28. Extras chipped in a hearty 29, which tells its own story about the discipline on show, while poor Richard Piper's golden duck was the one blemish on an otherwise respectable 181/7 from our 45.2 overs.

Defending it proved a bridge too far. James Allen played the innings of the day with a chanceless 58 not out, ushered along by Tim Russell's polished fifty and Mark Kokkinos's 42, and Tenterden strolled home on 182/3. We did have our moments — Darrell Houghton-Judge picked up 2-26, Martin Harris chipped in with 1-34, Will Thirkell bowled five miserly maidens, and Guy Day departed for a duck at our hands — but 20 byes past Glen Rawson's gloves rather summed up an afternoon where nothing quite clicked.

There was a crumb of comfort: my 28 nudged me past Jim Hall into 25th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and I remain top of our 2014 Sunday first-team run charts, with Martin Harris third among the wicket-takers. Small mercies. Beaten by seven wickets in the end — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 20 Sep 2014 🧢 1st XIv NC Northfleet CC · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday saw Northfleet CC pay us a visit under skies that couldn't decide whether they fancied a cricket match or a swim, warm and rain-soaked in equal measure. Winning the toss, I elected to bat without a flicker of doubt — the right call, I felt, and I'm sticking to that story. The openers laid a fine platform, 65 for the first wicket, before Christopher Thirkell took over and played the innings of the day, a superb 94, well supported by Will Thirkell's 43 and Joshua Knowler's unbeaten 35. We closed on a handsome 240 for 5 from our 36 overs.

Defending that total, the lads were ruthless. Northfleet slid from 73 for 5 to 86 for 8 in no time at all, John Sebastian, M Sayed and Geoff Boddington all departing without troubling the scorers 🦆. P Painter's 27, with Geoff Goodwin and D Bailey chipping in 20 apiece, was the only real resistance. Darrell Houghton-Judge was magnificent, a thoroughly deserved 5-23, while Tim Wright strangled the innings with three maidens and I was delighted to get among the wickets myself with 3 for 9. Nat Presneill mopped up with one more as Northfleet folded for 90 in 35.3 overs.

A word too for Richard Piper, who marked his 600th appearance in Linton colours 🧢 — a milestone the rest of us can only doff our caps to. Two points, won by 150 runs: a proper afternoon's work, soggy socks and all.

Wed 17 Sep 2014 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWWLLL

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 17 September, and the road took us out to Penshurst Park on a warm, overcast afternoon that promised much and, for once, delivered. I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough event to merit its own line in the scorebook — and had no hesitation in batting first.

What followed was as handsome a batting effort as we've mustered all season. I found some form of my own with 62, and while a personal half-century is always satisfying, the real backbone came from Joshua Knowler's unbeaten 48 and a tidy 21 from Tim Wright. Even the extras got in on the act with a generous 36, prompting the usual grumbling from the Penshurst attack about their own line and length. All told, 202/6 from our forty overs felt like a total with a bit of steel in it.

Defending it, we were made to work. Graham Nicholls threatened to bat us out of the game with a fine 55, ably assisted by Albert Ray's 34, but Stuart Cheesman had other ideas, cutting through with a superb 4-27, backed up by Sam Boyns's 2-23 and a tidy 1-4 of my own. Penshurst folded for 172 in 37.4 overs.

A nod, too, to Trevor Back, who brought up his 700th appearance in Linton colours — a milestone the rest of us can only doff our caps to.

Two points, thoroughly earned: a 30-run win, and a very satisfactory Wednesday's work.

Sun 14 Sep 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · HomeformWLWWW

I took first use of the ball on a pleasant, grey Sunday afternoon, and Cobham CC, Kent set about building a total against us. Adam Kidd led the way with a well-made fifty, 52, well supported by Stewart Kidd's 33 and Elliot Marshall's unbeaten 30, and by the close of their 40 overs they'd posted 188/6 — competitive, but never quite out of sight. Martin Harris was the pick of our attack by some distance, tearing through with 3-25, while Joshua Knowler chipped in with 2-42 and Will Thirkell with 1-25; Daniel Thirkell, meanwhile, went about his business with two miserly maidens that kept the scoring in check when it mattered.

Chasing 189, we made rather light work of it in the end. Glen Rawson played the innings of the day, a fine half-century of 67 that set the tone, and I was fortunate enough to find some form alongside him with 63 of my own — a personal contribution I won't pretend not to be pleased with. Will Thirkell finished the job in style with an unbeaten 26, and we crossed the line at 192/4 with two and a bit overs to spare.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round, and rather a nice one for the record books too — I find myself topping the Sunday 1st XI run charts with 231 for the season, and Martin Harris sits third in the wickets with 13. A win to savour, no argument from me.

Sat 13 Sep 2014 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformDDDDL

Beaten by 73 runs at Meopham on the 13th, but not without a decent tussle before the wheels came off.

I called it right at the toss and, with the sun out and the pitch looking full of runs, fancied our chances in the field. Meopham had other ideas, rattling along to 207/8 from their 45 overs. Jack Dickety led the charge with a well-crafted 65, backed up by Alex Bryant (34) and Mick Clark (24), while our bowling attack at least kept us in the contest — Tim Thirkell superb with 3-28, and Tim Wright (2-32) and Martin Harris (2-37) chipping in nicely alongside him.

Chasing 208 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved as we folded for 134 in 42 overs. Martin Harris top-scored with a battling 25, well supported by Tim Thirkell's 24, but the middle order rather went missing — spare a thought for Darrell Houghton-Judge and Tobey Castle, both undertaking that lonely walk back for a duck. Extras did their bit with 32, which tells its own story about the state of our stroke play, and 15 byes conceded behind the stumps did nobody's blood pressure any favours. I managed a workmanlike 18 myself.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: Tim Thirkell brought up 300 career wickets, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded by all. David Castle continues to sit second in the 2nd XI run charts with 393, and Martin Harris leads the wicket-takers with 16 — the season's silver linings doing sterling work.

Verdict: outbowled in patches, outbatted in full — we'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 07 Sep 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Herne CC · HomeformWLWWW

Skipper's Log, Sunday 7th September 2014. Herne CC visited us on a pleasant, drizzly afternoon — the kind of weather that makes a captain's toss decision feel weightier than it has any right to. I called it right and elected to bat, and for a while it looked positively cunning: Tim Wright and Jack Gwynn put on 61 for the first wicket before the breakthrough came, Wright going on to a fine 45 with Gwynn's 22 in support. From there the innings rather subsided, and we were all out for 144 in the 39th over — a total that felt light even as we walked off, drizzle or no drizzle.

With the ball, we made a promising fist of it. Kashif Anwer and Mark Richardson had been going along nicely when we struck twice with the score on just 4, and I'll confess a moment of quiet pride at getting among the wickets myself with 2 for 25 — Dave Todd and Tim Wright chipped in too, with 1 for 11 and 1 for 24 respectively, the latter also bowling two tidy maidens. But Anwer had other ideas, ploughing on past his fifty to 76 in fine company with Richardson's 32, the pair adding a match-turning 105 for the second wicket. Poor Mark Gibson trudged off without troubling the scorers, but by then the damage was done, and Herne cantered home with five wickets and a few overs to spare.

Not our day, then. Wright's runs and wickets keep the season ticking along nicely on his personal ledger, but the rest of us must simply dust ourselves down, head back to the nets, and hope for drier conditions and firmer resolve next time out.

Sun 07 Sep 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv NC Norton Sports CC · AwayformWWLWW

Sunday the seventh of September found us on the road to Norton Sports CC, under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain or simply sulk. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling has never troubled the statisticians — and we were asked to field first, which on a drizzly afternoon felt rather like being asked to fetch the milk in your pyjamas.

With the bat, though, we found our feet nicely, posting 163 for 5 from our forty overs. Will Thirkell played the anchor role to perfection with a fine 56, and I was glad to potter along in support, eventually finishing unbeaten on 50 — a personal contribution that felt thoroughly satisfying, drizzle and all.

Norton's reply never got out of first gear. They were bowled out for a paltry 50 in just 21.5 overs, with only Sam Arnold's 20 offering any real resistance. Bert Thomas, Andrew Neaves and Stewart Wright all departed without troubling the scorers. Thomas Beeney was the chief destroyer with 3 for 15, ably backed by Darrell Houghton-Judge's miserly 2 for 2 and Martin Harris's 2 for 10, while Will Thirkell tightened the screws with two maidens.

A 113-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the sort of afternoon that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter than the drive out.

Sat 06 Sep 2014 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformDDDDD

Off strike we go — a warm, drizzly Saturday, Sheldwich the visitors, and me winning the toss with the sort of decisiveness that usually deserts me at the bar. I elected to bat, and for once the gamble repaid itself handsomely. Daniel Thirkell simply refused to get out, carrying his bat to an imperious 170 not out, while James Piper chipped in with a classy 61 to give us a second-wicket stand of 138 that did most of the damage. Poor Ryan Boyns will want the scorebook burned — a golden duck amid all that plenty — but 276 for 4 from our 45 overs was a total to make the tea urn tremble.

Defending it should have been the easy part, and so it proved, if not without alarm. Bertie O'Brien counter-attacked handsomely for 64 and Martin Mills added a stout 26, but once Alex Roe and David Shelley departed without scoring, the innings had the look of a house of cards in a breeze. Thomas Beeney was superb, 3 for 26, with Matthew Carter and Edward Bridle both among the wickets and Tim Thirkell fielding maidens like a man collecting stamps. Sheldwich were all out for 168.

A red-letter day off the field too — Daniel Thirkell reaching 14,000 career runs, and Beeney climbing past Terry Donovan into 21st on the all-time wicket list. Victory by 108 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and, dare I say it, for the captain's judgement.

Sat 06 Sep 2014 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · AwayformDDDDD

We rolled up at Betsham CC last Saturday to warm skies that couldn't quite decide whether they wanted to be summer or not, and neither, it turned out, could the toss — it went against us, and we were asked to field last, sent in to bat first ourselves.

The scorebook tells a story of building without ever quite building enough. Tim Wright topped the pile with a tidy 27, Jack Gwynn chipped in 24 and Martin Harris 20, but golden ducks for Chris Newman and Ray Dixon meant too much of the graft fell to too few, and we were grateful for 25 extras propping up the total. 155/9 from our 45 overs felt like a par score on a good day, and a slightly light one on a slow, showery afternoon like this.

With the ball we scrapped hard enough — Tim Wright led the attack with 1-18, Jack Gwynn found 1-32, and I chipped in with 1-29 to go with a watchful 15 of my own with the bat. But Sam Willis had other ideas, batting through for a fine unbeaten 72, ably supported by Ian Stickels (27 not out) and Jerome Adams (22), their third-wicket stand of 61 doing the real damage as they cruised home in 35.3 overs.

For what it's worth, I sit atop the 2nd XI wicket charts this season with 14, and David Castle is second in the run charts on 378 — small consolations on a day we were beaten by six wickets. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 03 Sep 2014 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWWWLL

Wednesday 3 September brought The Mote CC to Linton Park under warm, showery skies, and when I lost the toss I found us out on duty rather earlier than I'd have chosen. Still, cricket rarely asks permission, and by the close of our innings we had ground out 185 for 8 from 52 overs — no mean effort given a wobbly start that saw the first wicket fall with just 5 on the board. Tim Wright played the loyal lieutenant with 45, and I was glad to cash in myself, 83 feeling a fair reward for staying put while others came and went; our second-wicket stand of 92 was very much the innings' backbone before the middle order wobbled alarmingly from 141 for 4 to 147 for 7. Spare a thought for Thomas Beeney and Darrell Houghton-Judge, both inducted into the Duck Club without troubling the scorers — the walk of shame indeed.

In reply, William Thirkell simply took the game away from us with a superb, near-untouchable 101, well supported by R. O'Brian's 37 and an unbeaten 36 from Rajeevan Raveendran, as Mote cantered home on 186 for 3 in 40.5 overs. Thomas Beeney was our pick of the attack with 1 for 28, Matthew Carter and Sam Boyns chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Boyns' two maidens showed there was still discipline to be found amid the carnage.

As the season stands, I lead our 2014 Midweek XI run charts on 163, with Boyns topping the wickets on 9 — small consolations as we went down by 6 wickets. A decent effort with the bat, undone by one man playing the innings of his life. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 31 Aug 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Knockers CC · AwayformWWWLW

Sunday saw us make the trip to Knockers CC, and for once I can't blame the weather for what happened at the toss — we lost it, and were asked to bowl first. No complaints from me; a green pitch and a bit of cloud cover are about as close to home advantage as travelling cricket gets.

Knockers batted steadily rather than spectacularly, closing on 131 all out from 31 overs. C Slater was the chief architect with a well-made 49, though H Elliot barely had time to take guard before we had him back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers 🦆. Martin Harris was the pick of the attack, tidying things up with 3-33, while Will Thew (2-12) and Jack Gwynn (2-16) chipped away nicely either side of him.

With 132 to chase, Jordan Austin set about the target in fine style, top-scoring with 48 and doing most of the heavy lifting. I was glad to lend a hand with 21 of my own, and Richard Piper matched that with an unbeaten 21 to see us home. A word too for Glen Rawson, whose modest 8 runs were enough to nudge him past Stan Wratten into 18th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — immortality arrives in the strangest ways.

We got over the line by 6 wickets. A thoroughly good day for the club, and, dare I say it, a rather tidy one for the captain.

Sat 30 Aug 2014 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformWDDDD

Saturday 30 August 2014, and off we trundled to Headcorn under skies of that reliably English shade of grey — not a day for sunhats, but a fine one for cricket.

We batted first and, I'm pleased to report, batted rather well. David Castle set the tone with a fluent 69, and I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, carrying through to 72 not out as we posted a healthy 206 for 3 off our 45 overs. Chris Newman chipped in with a breezy 31 not out to round things off nicely. The one blemish on an otherwise handsome scorecard belonged to poor Will Thew, who departed for a duck without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us, Will, and no doubt there'll be a pint waiting with your name on it as consolation.

With the ball, the lads were magnificent. Chris Newman, clearly not content with his runs, turned his arm over to devastating effect with 2 for 8, while Darren Styles and Tim Thirkell chipped in with two apiece. Tim Wright bowled with the discipline of a man auditioning for a metronome, sending down four maidens and strangling the life out of Headcorn's innings. Stephen Smith's unbeaten 33 was the lone bright spark for the home side as they subsided to 133 for 9.

A 73-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. If every Saturday could go like this one, I'd never complain about the weather again.

Sat 30 Aug 2014 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDDDDD

I elected to bat when I won the toss on a pleasant, cloudy Saturday against Headcorn, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than reckless. An early wobble at 3 for 1 threatened to unravel things before they'd begun, but Ryan Boyns played the innings of the day, a fine 62, with Stuart Cheesman weighing in with 38 and a stand of 91 for the fifth wicket steadying the ship beautifully. I contributed 21 down the order, which I shall mention here once and move swiftly on before anyone asks for the finer details. Kevin Presneill, Craig Sands and Martin Harris were less fortunate, all departing for ducks, but 189 all out from 44.5 overs was a total with something about it.

So it proved. Headcorn never got comfortable chasing it, undone early at 0 for 1 and never quite recovering their poise. We tightened the screw from 83 for 4 to 100 for 7 in a spell that must have felt, from the boundary boards, rather like watching dominoes. Thomas Beeney was the chief architect with 3 for 28, Matthew Carter chipped in 2 for 20 with three miserly maidens, and Richard Knowler took 1 for 9. Mike Donnelly and Richard Lockie both went for ducks, completing Headcorn's misery. They finished 118 for 8, James Barker's spirited 69 the lone bright spot in a losing cause.

A word too for Thomas Beeney, whose three wickets nudged him past Rob Doick into 22nd on the club's all-time list — a fine personal footnote to a fine team performance. Seventy-one runs the margin, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Sun 24 Aug 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Holborough Anchorians CC · HomeformLWLWW

Sunday brought Holborough Anchorians to Linton Park under a sky the colour of an old flannel shirt, and having won the toss I did what any captain with a decent top order and a nagging fear of showers does — stuck us in. It proved a shrewd call, or at least I've told everyone it was. Glen Rawson and Matthew Gladwell put on 177 for the second wicket, both making handsome fifties (88 and 86 respectively), while Joe Martin chipped in with 34 — and, in doing so, brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth more raised eyebrows in the bar than the runs themselves. Poor Christopher Thirkell managed only a golden duck for his troubles, though even the extras out-scored him, 35 of the blighters. We declared, in effect, at 283/6 from our forty overs.

In reply the Anchorians never quite got away from us, despite Daniel Gilbert's unbeaten century and a watchful 52 from Dave Tucker, their second-wicket pair adding 110. Richard Banfield and Ray Petitt both departed without troubling the scorers, and I found some rhythm with the ball, finishing with 3-29, well supported by Tim Wright (3-44) and Chris Newman (2-42) as they folded for 207. Poor Roly Edwards had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, ten byes testament to some lively deliveries rather than any lapse in glovework.

A fine win by 76 runs, then — and Glen and Wrighty keep motoring up the season charts. Onwards.

Sun 24 Aug 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv GC Great Chart CC · AwayformLWWWL

Sunday last took us down the road to Great Chart, under skies of that particular English grey that promises rain and delivers only humidity. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-flipping remains as reliable as ever — and we were asked to bowl first, which suited us rather nicely as things turned out.

Great Chart's innings lasted barely twenty overs and yielded just 48, a collapse so complete it bordered on the theatrical. We went from 17-1 to 31-4 before anyone had really settled into their deckchair, with Dave Daniels and Keith Hillyard both trudging back without troubling the scorers. Joshua Knowler was quite simply unplayable, his 5-17 including three maidens — the sort of spell that has opposition batsmen checking the fixture list for return matches. I chipped in with 2-2, which I mention only once and shall not mention again, and Thomas Beeney picked up a wicket for nought to round things off.

Chasing 49 was never going to trouble us, though we contrived to make it look harder than necessary, losing an early wicket at 5-1. Will Thirkell endured a wretched afternoon all told — a golden duck with the bat to match eleven byes conceded behind the stumps, poor lad. Still, we cruised home by 7 wickets. With Richard Piper 5th in the season's run charts and Thomas Beeney topping the wickets table, the engine room is purring nicely. A fine win, and one to savour on the journey home.

Sat 23 Aug 2014 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformDWDDD

Saturday saw Marden CC roll into Linton Park under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain on our parade, and after losing the toss we were duly invited to have a bowl first — a decision Marden may still be regretting.

We batted like a side with somewhere better to be, posting a handsome 267/5 from our 45 overs. David Castle led the charge with a splendid 89, striking the ball with the kind of authority that leaves mid-wicket conversations feeling superfluous, while Will Thew's well-crafted 76 and Joe Martin's brisk 39 gave the total real substance. It was, in short, more runs than a village side has any right to expect on a showery Saturday.

Marden's reply never got out of second gear. Gareth Ward's 36 and useful contributions from Rupert Humphrey (28) and Martin Hoare (20) were the only real resistance, and poor Harry Karim will want to forget the whole afternoon after departing for a golden duck. Darrell Houghton-Judge was magnificent with the ball, ripping through them for 4-20, backed up superbly by Tim Wright's miserly 1-14 (six maidens — the man barely broke sweat) and Luke Welsman's 1-15. Joe Martin's gloves had a busier time of it behind the stumps, leaking 14 byes, and I contributed a workmanlike 15 with the bat.

A statement win, then — 137 runs to the good and two points thoroughly banked. Marden simply had no answer.

Sat 23 Aug 2014 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformDDDDD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 23 August 2014. We travelled to Marden CC, Kent, under skies that couldn't quite make their minds up, and lost the toss, which these days feels like the natural order of things. Asked to bowl first, we can't say we minded.

And what a shift it was. Marden were bundled out for a modest 93 in 33.2 overs, with only Charlie Newport (40) and Matthew Blythin (20) putting up any real resistance. Joshua Knowler was the chief tormentor, returning 4-18 with four maidens — miserly barely covers it — ably backed up by Daniel Thirkell (2-6) and Richard Knowler (2-15). Between them they left the home side's innings looking rather threadbare.

Chasing 94, David Thomas and Sam Courtley went cheaply without so much as a nudge to the scorers, but James Piper (42) and an unbeaten Kevin Presneill (40) simply strolled us home, wrapping things up at 96/1 in just 21.1 overs. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, conceding eight byes, but nobody was counting too closely on a day like this.

A word, too, for Daniel Thirkell, who brought up 400 career wickets — a proper landmark, and thoroughly deserved. With Piper now on 470 runs and Richard Knowler up to 21 wickets for the season, the runs and wickets charts are shaping up nicely.

Nine wickets, and home in time for tea. A very good day for the club indeed.

Wed 20 Aug 2014 🧢 Midweek XIv Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformLWWWL

Beaten by 4 wickets, but by heavens we made them work for it. Winning the toss on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon at home to Tunbridge Wells Wednesday, I had no hesitation in taking first knock — and for once the decision looked positively shrewd as we ground out 186 for 6 from our forty overs. Joshua Knowler was the architect, cruising to 80 with the sort of assurance that makes a captain's job easy, well supported by Jordan Austin's 30, while our extras column weighed in with a generous 26 — not quite a specialist batsman, but reliable as ever.

Defending 186 always promised to be a tense afternoon's work, and so it proved. Knowler, having done his bit with the bat, then turned his arm over beautifully to return 3 for 39, with Tim Thirkell chipping in a tidy 1 for 7, and G- Cooper sent packing without troubling the scorers. But Tunbridge Wells had other ideas: R- Collingwood's 49 and an unbeaten 49 from J- Matthews, backed up by Thomas Beeney's 21, steadily reeled in our total, and they got home at 189 for 6 with four overs unused and four wickets in hand.

A touch chastening, if I'm honest — the sort of afternoon where you bowl and field with real heart and still finish on the wrong side of the result. Knowler continues to lead our run charts this season and sits second among the wicket-takers, which is some consolation amid the gloom. We'll dust ourselves down, have a stiff half in the bar, and be better for it next week.

Sun 17 Aug 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Chelsfield Park CC · AwayformWLWLW

Here's the match report:

Sunday last saw us take the road to Chelsfield Park, and with a damp but perfectly agreeable afternoon on offer I called correctly at the toss and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first. It proved the right instinct, more or less — 144/8 from our 35 overs was a solid if unspectacular return, built almost entirely around Glen Rawson's fine unbeaten 59, well supported by Jack Gwynn's 36. Less gloriously, both Tim Wright and Dave Todd made the lonely walk back for ducks, and I shall say no more about that except that the Duck Club ledger grows ever fatter.

Defending 144 always promises a nervous afternoon, and so it proved. Chelsfield fought hard through Guy Glennie's 30, M Mohan's 28 and an unbeaten 25 from Dan Mehigan, but never quite got away from us, finishing on 139/8. Andrew Lofthouse and Jake Phillips departed without scoring, evening the ducking up nicely. Thomas Beeney was superb with the ball, 2-13, with Jack Gwynn and Tim Wright both chipping in with two apiece, and I was pleased enough to keep things tight myself with four maidens.

Five runs. That was the margin, and on an afternoon like that it felt like fifty. A proper team win, hard-earned and thoroughly deserved — onwards we go.

Sun 17 Aug 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · HomeformWLWWW

Beaten by five wickets in the end, but let no one say we didn't give Benenden a proper afternoon out. A pleasant, drizzly Sunday at Linton Park, and after losing our first wicket for just the one run I feared the worst — but Daniel Thirkell and I steadied the ship in some style, adding 56 for the fifth wicket as if the earlier wobble had never happened. I finished unbeaten on 55, Daniel chipped in handsomely with 45, and we limped our tail out to 149 for 9 from the full 38 overs. Will Thirkell, Joshua Knowler and Jacob Ryan all made ducks, which I shall charitably describe as "sacrificing themselves for the cause."

With the ball, I'll admit I rather fancied our chances, and taking 2 for 21 to lead the attack gave me no small satisfaction — though it wasn't enough on the day. Joshua Knowler bowled beautifully for 1 for 6 with two maidens, tight as you like, and Will Thirkell picked up 1 for 19. We even sent poor Copter Brunt packing without so much as a run to his name. But Matt Simpson's fine 59 and Peter Newman's watchful 47 saw Benenden home at 150 for 5 with more than nine overs unused.

A personal 55 was pleasing, and it's gratifying to be topping the Sunday run charts this season with 171 and sitting third in the wickets. But the truth is Benenden simply had the better of us. We'll regroup, we'll be better for it next week, and the tea urn, at least, performed faultlessly.

Sat 16 Aug 2014 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformDDWDD

The coin did us a favour on a pleasant, grey Saturday afternoon at Linton Park, and with West Farleigh CC in town I fancied a bowl first — a decision I stood by for rather longer than the scorebook suggests I should have. Chris Mckellow made merry with an unbeaten 77, well supported by Jack Prideaux's 47 and Matt Brooke's 31, and by the time their innings closed at 244/4 from 45 overs it was clear we'd bowled a touch too generously — 28 wides and no-balls is the sort of hospitality that ought to be reserved for the tea interval, not the middle overs. Alex Wade was pick of the attack with 2-54, with Darren Styles (1-28) and Tobey Castle (1-42) chipping away gamely.

Chasing 245, we made a proper fist of it. Glen Rawson played the innings of the day, a commanding hundred that had the boundary boards rattling, while I was fortunate enough to find some form of my own, contributing 66 to the cause — leading from the front, as I like to tell myself, rather than simply getting out at a convenient moment. Between us we hauled the side to 224/5 from our 45 overs, but it wasn't quite enough, and we fell short by 20 runs.

Not our day, then, but not a disgrace either. Rawson continues to lead the 2nd XI run charts with 468 for the season, and Styles sits fourth among the wicket-takers with 10. Heads up, lads — back to the nets.

Sat 16 Aug 2014 🧢 1st XIv Boughton & Eastwell CC · AwayformDDDDD

Boughton & Eastwell CC, away, 16 August 2014 — a cloudy afternoon that suited nobody's excuses but our own. I won the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, put us in to bat, which for once looked like sound captaincy rather than blind optimism. Daniel Thirkell led the charge with a fine 57, James Piper wasn't far behind on 54, and the pair of them stitched together a 103-run second-wicket stand that did most of the heavy lifting. Craig Sands finished unbeaten on 46 to round things off nicely, and we closed on a healthy 237/5 from our 45 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

Defending that lot, the home side never got close to settling. Daniel Pritchard's 26 was about the only resistance on offer as we bowled them out for 95 in 28.2 overs, collapsing from 91-7 to all out in the time it takes to refill the urn — poor Ed Miller departed without so much as a run to his name. Richard Knowler was outstanding, taking 4 for 2, with Joshua Knowler (3-12, four maides of pure stinginess) right behind him. I found some rhythm myself and picked up 3 for 16, which nudges me past Gordon Fenner into 12th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — not that I'm counting, though clearly somebody is.

A win by 142 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards we go.

Sat 09 Aug 2014 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformDDDWD

From the captain's chair, and I'll say straight away it felt like a day where honours shared was the fairest result. Warm, grey skies at Linton Park, Rumwood CC the visitors, and we won the toss to bat first — which on a sluggish afternoon like that always feels like the sensible option, even if it does mean an early start to the sandwiches.

David Castle was the story of our innings, unbeaten on 67 and playing the sort of controlled, patient knock that captains dream of and rarely get. Chris Newman weighed in with 32 — and rather more significantly, brought up 2,000 career runs for the club along the way, a landmark that deserved better than the polite ripple of applause it got from a sparse crowd. Will Thew chipped in 26, the extras column did its usual honest shift with 50, and 222/4 from our 45 overs felt like a total with enough substance to defend.

And defend it we very nearly did. Martin Harris was magnificent with the ball — 3-20 including two maidens, relentless and mean with it — backed up superbly by Darren Styles (2-21) and Tobey Castle (1-16). We had Rumwood in all sorts of bother, sending three of their batsmen back without troubling the scorers. Only Joe Millen, with a well-made 74, and Rod Bailey's 26 kept them in it, and 150 all out from 44.5 overs left them short of our total but, agonisingly, not short enough for the win column. I'll take the runs I contributed to the cause and not dwell on the number. A draw, then — honours even, and honestly, about right.

Sat 09 Aug 2014 🧢 1st XIv Stowting CC · AwayformDDDDD

A pleasant, cloudy afternoon at Stowting greeted us, and for once the toss and the weather both behaved themselves. Batting first, we set about building a total with more application than fireworks, and 242/8 from our forty-five overs was a thoroughly respectable return. James Piper led the way with a well-crafted fifty, 55 in the book, while Lewis Burnham's 46 and Daniel Thirkell's 43 gave the innings real backbone. It had the shape of a score that ought to be defendable on most surfaces and in most weathers, and so it proved.

Stowting's reply never quite got going. Clifford Ball battled hardest for 27 and Craig Harding chipped in with 20, but around them wickets tumbled at regular intervals, Will Cornwell and Phil Blake both departing without troubling the scorers. I managed to find some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4-13, which I'm rather pleased to report without feeling the need to mention it again. Richard Knowler weighed in with 3-11 and Thomas Beeney with 3-20, the latter also proving miserly enough to bowl three maidens. All out for 93 in 28.2 overs told its own story.

By any sensible reckoning that should have been a healthy win, but cricket has its own sense of humour and honours finished shared — a draw when neither side could force the issue. Piper now sits proudly atop the run charts with 374 for the season, and I'll happily take 18 wickets and a laugh about the one that got away.

Tue 05 Aug 2014 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformDLWWW

Sunny? No—drizzly, as it turned out, and by the close I wished the weather had been the only thing raining on our parade. Bexley won the toss, chose to bat, and made themselves thoroughly at home: James Burford eased to an unbeaten 54, George Wells chipped in with 37 and Harry Furze with 35, the pair putting on 55 for the third wicket while we toiled gamely in the drizzle. Credit where it's due — Will Thirkell was superb, tight as a drum with three maidens on his way to 2-22, well backed by Martin Harris (2-32) and Tim Wright (1-25). Even so, 185/6 from their 44 overs was a stiff ask.

And so it proved. Joshua Knowler batted with real composure for an unbeaten 38, James Piper supported nicely with 25, and the pair added a priceless 51 for the ninth wicket — though quite how we needed a ninth-wicket rescue act after cruising, if you can call it that, from 56-5 to 64-8 is a question best left for the clubhouse. Tim Wright, Martin Harris and I all contributed ducks to the cause, and as captain I felt duty-bound to set the very worst example, departing for a golden blob. Leading from the front, clearly, isn't always about the bat.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: James Piper brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark entirely deserved and one of which the whole club can be proud. As for the rest of us, beaten by 70 runs, we trudge off drizzled upon and duly humbled — but there's always next week, and I intend to find some form before then.

Sun 03 Aug 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Speldhurst CC · AwayformWWLWW

We travelled to Speldhurst on a Sunday that felt promising from the toss onwards, and when I called it right and elected to field, I confess I allowed myself a small, entirely justified moment of self-satisfaction. Speldhurst battled to 183 for 9 off their 44, Ben Durling's well-made fifty (52) the backbone of it, with James Hughes (42) and Mike Jones, unbeaten on 30, chipping in. Thomas Beeney was magnificent with the new ball, 3 for 25 and duly climbing to 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — one for the mantelpiece indeed. Nat Presneill (2-30) and Will Thirkell (2-35) tidied up either end, Sam Boyns bowled two maidens without so much as a scowl from the batsmen, and poor Mark Flemington and Pierre Roche were sent back for ducks, bless them.

Chasing 184, we set about it with real intent. The openers put on 62 before the first wicket fell, and a stout second-wicket stand of 68 kept the innings honest. Richard Piper was serene throughout, finishing unbeaten on a superb 91 — good enough to lift him to 5th in this year's Sunday 1st XI run charts — with James Piper (36) and Stuart Cheesman, not out on 27, offering fine support. We reached 187 for 3 in the 38th over.

Twelve byes were conceded along the way — Mark Christmas will not thank me for mentioning it, but honesty is the reporter's burden. A fine win by seven wickets, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sun 03 Aug 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv SC Selling CC · AwayformWWLWL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 3rd August 2014. Away at Selling CC, under grey, warm skies that felt about right for the cricket that followed.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and it proved the correct call. We were shaky at 3-1, but from there Joe Martin played a lovely innings of 76, well past his fifty, and found sturdy company from Jordan Austin and Benjamin Austin, both 27, with a 95-run stand for the fifth wicket doing the heavy lifting. The tail then did its usual impression of a house of cards — 182-6 collapsing to 189-9 in short order — and the Duck Club welcomed two new members, Joel Attwood and Jon Harris both departing for ducks. Thirty-two extras rounded us up to 189 all out, which felt like a defendable total, if not a commanding one.

With the ball, Selling made a similarly nervy start at 6-1, and I'm rather pleased to say I had a hand in things myself, finishing with 4-22 as the innings never quite got away from us. Martin Harris and Joel Attwood chipped in admirably with two apiece, and Tim Wright bowled two tidy maidens to choke the scoring. Nick Myers led their reply with 27, but 14 byes told the tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for poor Glen Rawson, who can at least console himself with second place in the club's Sunday run charts.

All out for 160, and victory by 29 runs. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a rare day where both bat and ball behaved themselves.

Sat 02 Aug 2014 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformDDDDW

A warm, showery Saturday saw us on the road to Meopham, and I won't pretend I wasn't quietly relieved to have first use of the ball on a pitch that looked made for it. Meopham dug in well though, and Mick Kirby in particular gave us a torrid afternoon on his way to a fine 68, with George Tompkins chipping in 34 and Nick Brown unbeaten on 21 as they closed on a stubborn 197/9 from their 45 overs. Credit where it's due to the attack — Tim Wright was superb, leading the line with 4-49, Tobey Castle and Alex Wade both chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Darren Styles bowled two maidens of the sort that make batsmen mutter to themselves.

Chasing 198 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and frankly we didn't answer many of them, folding for 112 in 39.4 overs. Glen Rawson was the one shining light with a battling 28, and I managed a modest 15 to add to the pile, though "modest" is doing some heavy lifting there. Spare a thought for poor Nat Presneill, whose duck earns him a place of dubious honour in the club ledger.

So honours shared in the end — a draw, with neither side quite able to force the issue. Glen continues to lead our run charts for the season and Tim Wright the wickets, which tells you where the real work was done. As for the rest of us, we'll chalk this one up to the conditions and live to bat another day.

Sat 02 Aug 2014 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformDDDDD

I found some rhythm at last — a warm, showery Saturday, Meopham CC in town, and me having to remind the lads that a golden duck is character-building, apparently. We won the toss, batted, and settled in for what became a proper afternoon's work: 179 all out from 41.2 overs, the innings built almost entirely around Ryan Boyns, who cruised past his fifty to 75 in a knock that did the heavy lifting, with Kevin Presneill weighing in nicely alongside on 36. As for the captain, I shan't dwell on it — a nought, out for the walk of shame before I'd troubled the scorers, though in fairness someone has to donate to the Duck Club ledger.

With the bat behind us, it fell to the ball to make the total count, and here the lads were magnificent. Meopham were dismissed for 127 in 46.3 overs, Andrew Powney's 39 the only real resistance, supported by David Pollard's 21, while Ben Pearce, Adam Orridge and Hugh Bryant all trooped back without scoring — three ducks to our credit. Stuart Cheesman was the chief tormentor, a superb 3-10 stuffed with four maidens, and I managed to find some rhythm myself for 3-17, with Richard Knowler chipping in 2-15. Two milestones worth raising a glass to: Kevin's 6,000 career runs, and Stuart's wickets easing him past John Taylor into 23rd on the all-time list.

For all that fine bowling, 52 runs proved beyond reach on a tricky afternoon, and honours were shared. A draw, then — not the win our bowling deserved, but with Kevin's runs and Stuart's milestone, a thoroughly good day for the club all the same.

Sun 27 Jul 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWWWLW

Sunday last found us on the road to Horton Kirby, the sky doing that peculiarly English trick of being warm and drizzly all at once — the kind of afternoon where you can't decide whether to bat in a jumper or just accept your fate. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in putting us in, and for a while it looked the right call: Richard Piper batted beautifully for a chanceless 80, and with Kevin Presneill chipping in a tidy 21 and a generous 27 extras from our hosts, we posted a very respectable 183/6 off our forty. A partnership of 58 for the first wicket set the platform, and I went in thinking we'd given ourselves something to bowl at.

How wrong I was. Jack Boxall and Paul Geear simply took the game away from us, adding 122 for the second wicket after the early fillip of a wicket for one — a stumble that, in hindsight, was the only comfort we got all afternoon. Boxall finished unbeaten on 88, Geear made a classy 53, and Duncan Summers saw them home with an unbeaten 22. Tim Wright toiled manfully for 1-25 and I managed to prise out one for 31 myself, but with the ball refusing to do much on a flat one, we were always playing catch-up. They cantered to 184/2 with two overs unused.

An 8-wicket defeat, then, and no arguing with it — batted well, bowled worse, fielded like men wading through the drizzle. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 27 Jul 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Bilsington CC · HomeformWWWLW

Sunday 27th July, and Bilsington rolled up to Linton Park under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain on us or not — much like our chances, some might say, after losing the toss and being sent out to bowl. Not that anyone was complaining. Give a captain a lively pitch and a warm, showery afternoon, and he'll take first use of the ball every time.

What followed was as ruthless a morning as I can remember. Bilsington were bowled out for a paltry 54 in 21.5 overs, with Graham Bingham and Danny Samson sent back without so much as a run to their names. Thomas Beeney was simply magnificent — 3 for 6 off his overs, three of them maidens, the kind of miserly spell that makes batsmen wish they'd stayed in the clubhouse. Mark Christmas chipped in with 3 for 12, and I managed to get among the wickets myself with 2 for 8, which I shall mention here once and then modestly move on from.

Chasing 55 was never going to trouble us unduly, though club cricket has a way of making the simple things dramatic — we stumbled to 55/4 from 13.1 overs, James Piper top-scoring with a tidy 27, while poor Jordan Austin trudged back for a duck to add to the ledger.

A word for the history books: Beeney's three wickets nudged him past Stuart Cheesman into 24th on the club's all-time list — quietly, and typically, without fuss.

Two points, thoroughly earned, won by six wickets. A good day to be a Linton Park bowler.

Sat 19 Jul 2014 🧢 1st XIv LC Lenham CC · AwayformDDDDD

A scorching, cloudy afternoon at Lenham CC, and I won't pretend I wasn't rather pleased to see the toss go our way — bowl first, get the shine on, that sort of thing. Didn't we just. Lenham were skittled for a wretched 22 all out in 19.3 overs, and Matthew Carter was simply not for turning, tearing through them with 6 for 8 off three maidens — the sort of spell that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy. The Knowler boys chipped in nicely too, Joshua with 3 for 7 and Richard with 1 for 7, and between the lot of them Tom Curtis, Steve Horton and Nicholas Rutledge all trooped off for ducks. I can't recall a Lenham total that looked quite so forlorn on the scoreboard.

Chasing 23 was never going to trouble us, though we did contrive to make it look faintly eventful — Daniel Thirkell fell for a duck of his own, and I chipped in with the bat as we wobbled ever so briefly to 23 for 2 off just 3.3 overs before getting the job done. Honours, in the end, were shared — a draw, for neither side could force the extra half-run needed, though quite how a target of 22 becomes a stalemate is a mystery I shall leave to wiser cricketing minds than mine.

A fine send-off for the bowlers, a giggle for the scorebook, and proof once again that in this game the shortest matches are often the ones you remember longest.

Sat 19 Jul 2014 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformDDDDD

Chairman's ceiling has looked calmer, but scorching-and-damp was the order of the day when Horsmonden CC came to call, and by close of play we'd given the lads plenty to raise a glass to.

Winning the toss and batting first proved the shrewder half of my captaincy for the season, as we posted a handsome 203/3 from our 35 overs. Chris Newman set the tone with a rattling 67, well past his fifty, before Glen Rawson (63 not out) and Joe Martin (57 not out) saw us home in style — two unbeaten half-centuries that left the Horsmonden bowlers wondering what they'd done to deserve it and left me, watching from the boundary with a lukewarm tea, feeling positively redundant.

Two hundred and three is always a score with a bit of menace about it, and so it proved. Martin Harris ran through the innings with a superb 4-33, while Tim Wright bowled with the sort of miserly discipline (2-11, three maidens) that makes a captain look far more tactically astute than he actually is, and Jon Harris chipped in with 2-14. John Ward (23) and Mark Davies (21) offered the only real resistance before Horsmonden folded for 97 in 38.1 overs.

A comfortable 106-run victory, then, and a timely reminder of the strength in this side — Glen Rawson leading our 2nd XI run charts and Martin Harris up among the wickets. All in all, a very good day for the club.

Wed 16 Jul 2014 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformLDLWW

I called it right and had no hesitation about batting first on a warm, grey afternoon at Linton Park — the sort of day that promises little and occasionally delivers. What followed from our top order was a spirited if uneven effort: 102 all out in 34.5 overs, James Piper leading the way with a fine 37, while poor Thomas Beeney and Sam Boyns both trudged back for ducks. Not our most fluent hundred-plus, but on a day like this, runs on the board are runs on the board.

Defending a modest total always concentrates the mind, and I'm delighted to say the lads responded magnificently. Lord Cornwallis XI's reply never got going — Ben Tompkinson, E. Payne and O. Lockhart all departed without scoring, and only a- Cornwallis with 31 offered any real resistance. I chipped in myself, but it was Sam Boyns who tore through the innings, a remarkable 5-21 including four maidens, backed superbly by Matthew Carter's 3-19 and a wicket for Thomas Beeney. The visitors were bowled out for a paltry 47 in under fifteen overs.

A 55-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Piper continues to build a fine season with the bat, while Boyns now leads our wicket charts by some distance — the sort of form that wins matches and, occasionally, redeems a shaky top order. Onwards indeed.

Sun 13 Jul 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BK Blue House CC, Kent · AwayformLWWWL

Sunday 13th July, and the road took us to Blue House CC in Kent — never a bad way to spend a Sunday, even with the toss going against us and a decision to field forced upon our hosts' opponents' good fortune. We were put in, and duly set about making merry with the bat: 225 for 6 off our forty overs, built on a magnificent, unanswerable century from Jordan Austin — 111 of the finest, no less — with Benjamin Austin (45) and Ray Dixon (23) offering fine support. Spare a thought, as ever, for poor Will Thirkell, whose walk back for a golden duck earns him this week's spot in the Duck Club ledger.

With runs enough in the bank, it fell to the ball to finish the job, and finish it emphatically we did. Blue House were bowled out for a paltry 85 in 29.4 overs, Paul Dall'Occo (29) and Jamie Collins (26 not out) the only real resistance, while Matt Tremain, Nav Athwal and Michael Driscoll all trudged off for ducks of their own. Luke Welsman was the pick of the attack with 2 for 10, well backed by Sam Boyns (2-14) and Thomas Beeney, whose three miserly maidens and 2 for 17 told their own story. I chipped in with a few overs myself, glad to keep chairs empty in the field rather than the scorebook.

Milestones aplenty too — Mark Christmas edging past William Buck into 22nd on the all-time run charts, and Beeney leapfrogging Ron Hickman into 25th among the club's wicket-takers. A comprehensive 140-run win, and a jolly fine afternoon's cricket. Onwards.

Sat 12 Jul 2014 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 12 July 2014, and we welcomed Meopham CC to Linton Park on an afternoon that couldn't decide whether it was warm or simply damp — much like the pitch. I lost the toss, we were put in, and off we went.

Batting first is never a hardship if the bat behaves, and David Castle's unbeaten 53 was the innings' backbone, calm and correct while wickets clattered around him. Glen Rawson chipped in nicely with 24, but three ducks on the card — Tim Wright, Tobey Castle and Nat Presneill all departing without troubling the scorer — meant 137/9 from our 45 overs felt a touch light rather than defendable.

And so it proved. Darren Deeks and Mick Clark simply strolled to unbeaten fifties of 64 and 58 respectively, and Meopham cantered home for the loss of a single wicket in 26.1 overs. Ian Hollingworth was our one shining light with the ball — 1-14 including two maidens, tighter than a Sunday roast tin — while I contributed a modest 15 with the bat and rather less with the field, if I'm honest.

Beaten by nine wickets, then, and no dressing that up. Still, Glen Rawson sits proudly atop our 2014 run charts with 275, and Ian Hollingworth leads the wickets with 11 — proof there's substance beneath the scoreboard's grim reading. We'll lick our wounds, put the kettle on, and be better for it next week.

Sat 12 Jul 2014 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformDDDDD

Beaten by three wickets and a cricket ball or two of regret, but let's start with the good news. A warm, drizzly Saturday saw us make the trip to Meopham, where I lost the toss and duly discovered that "having a bowl first" was not, in fact, my idea of a treat. Still, needs must, and off we trooped into the field with damp collars and dampened expectations.

With the bat, 162/6 from our 45 overs was a respectable if unspectacular effort, James Piper (39) and Craig Sands (29) doing the honest graft before I was fortunate enough to bat right through for an unbeaten 50 — the sort of innings that owes rather more to good luck and generous fielding than genuine class, but I'll take it.

Then came the sting in the tail. Meopham replied with 166/7 from 39.5 overs, David Pollard (39) and Gavin Tovey (37) building a handy second-wicket stand of 55, and — just to rub salt in — their last pair added a thoroughly unnecessary 38 that we really could have done without. I did manage to strike back with 3-21 and three tidy maidens, well supported by Martin Harris (2-51) and Richard Knowler (1-36), but Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, coughing up 9 byes, and it wasn't quite enough.

One shaft of sunshine through the drizzle: Craig's 400th appearance in Linton colours — a magnificent, mud-splattered milestone worthy of far better luck than a three-wicket defeat. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sun 06 Jul 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Beckenham CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 6th July, and Beckenham were the visitors on a damp, muggy afternoon that felt made for bowling — so winning the toss and having no hesitation putting them in felt like the easy part of my day. It rather went downhill from there. McCulloch and company got themselves in and stayed in, 89 without loss for the first wicket before we made any real inroads, and by the time their innings closed at 215/5 off their 47 they'd batted us into the damp Kent turf. McCulloch's 60, with good support from Barnett's 38 and Piller's 28, did the bulk of the damage, though Will Thirkell's 3-39 at least gave the scorebook something for us to be proud of, with Mark Christmas and Thomas Beeney chipping in for one apiece.

Chasing 216 was always going to be a stretch, but 65 all out in 24.3 overs was not the stretch I had in mind. Warren Jackson's 22 and Craig Sands' 20 were the only real resistance before the middle and lower order fell over itself — 63-6 becoming 65-9 almost before I'd finished my tea, with Darrell Houghton-Judge and Thomas Beeney both departing for golden ducks.

There was one shaft of sunshine amid the wreckage: Craig Sands brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours, a proper landmark on a day when little else went right, while Thomas Beeney's solitary wicket nudged him past Ron Hickman into 25th on the club's all-time list. Beaten by 150 runs, then — not our day by any stretch. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 06 Jul 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv WC West Peckham CC · AwayformWWWWL

The toss went against us at West Peckham on Sunday, and with the coin landing their way we were asked to bat first on a pitch that, frankly, gave nothing away easily. We were bowled out for 153 in 35.3 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Tim Wright's watchful 42, well supported by Ray Dixon's 30 and Benjamin Austin's 24. Down at the other end of the ledger, Will Thew and Matthew Gladwell both endured the walk of shame for ducks, the sort of afternoon best forgotten over a pint in the bar afterwards.

Defending 153 always asks a question or two, but the lads answered it in style. West Peckham were shot out for 120 in 34.2 overs, E Pearce's 32 and J Pearce's 25 the only real resistance offered. I had the rare pleasure of leading the attack myself, finishing with 3-17, while Tim Wright chipped in with 2-24 and Joel Attwood picked up 1-7. Jordan Austin bowled with real discipline throughout, three maidens that strangled any hope of momentum before it could build.

Up the season table Glen Rawson continues to lead the run charts with 161, and Tim Wright now heads the wicket charts with 10, the same Wright who top-scored and took two more today, quietly making a habit of turning up everywhere.

A thoroughly satisfying 33-run win, and a long drive home made all the sweeter for it. Onwards.

Sat 05 Jul 2014 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · AwayformDDDDD

I chipped in with 22 in a shared partnership, so let me not bury the lede: this was a good, honest draw at Milstead, earned the hard way.

We won the toss and had first use of the ball on a warm, overcast afternoon at Milstead, and I can't say the openers looked overly troubled by the conditions. Paul Nicholls and Jaz Hanspall both brought up well-made fifties, 60 and 55 respectively, and between them dragged Milstead to 183 all out from 44.3 overs — a total that felt like it belonged to two men rather than eleven. Still, credit where it's due to the rest of our attack for the mopping up: Michael Annand, Haydin Newman and L. Whitehouse were all sent back for ducks, and Ian Hollingworth was the pick of the bowlers with a superb 4-31, three of them maidens, miserly enough to make the batsmen visibly wince. Joe Martin chipped in handsomely with 4-38 and Martin Harris took 1-26 for good measure.

With 184 to chase, David Castle played the innings of the day, 75 not out, calm and unhurried while wickets came and went around him, well supported by Will Thew's 59. I added 22 down the order, more useful than eye-catching, and we closed on 187/3 from 40.4 overs — matching their total, if not quite finishing the job in the time allowed.

So honours shared, and a draw when neither side could quite force the door open. Frustrating in the moment, perhaps, but with Glen Rawson piling up runs and Ian Hollingworth's wickets column filling nicely, the season's shaping up rather nicely. We'll take it, and the tea, and go again next week.

Sat 05 Jul 2014 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 05 July 2014, and Milstead CC came calling on a warm, damp afternoon that suited nobody's whites but somehow suited our batting just fine. I won the toss and, with the sort of confidence that usually precedes disaster, stuck us in. For once the gamble paid handsomely: 268 for 5 off our 45 overs, built on a marvellous second-wicket stand of 125 between Daniel Thirkell, who cruised past his fifty to 67, and Craig Sands, unbeaten on a composed 64. James Piper chipped in with a fine 56 of his own, the extras column threw in 29 for good measure, and suddenly we had a total that felt like a small mountain.

Milstead's reply never got close to base camp. They subsided to 129 all out in 42.5 overs, Alex Tooke's battling 39 the only real resistance, with Gareth Chick (29) and Mike Sellar (22) offering support that petered out as the middle and lower order collapsed in a hurry — 120 for 6 became 131 for 9 before you could refill your tea. Paul Mills and Culum Annand departed without troubling the scorers, poor souls. I was fortunate enough to pick up 2 for 16 for best figures, with Richard Knowler (2-20) and the wonderfully miserly Thomas Beeney (2-25, five maidens) squeezing the life out of any partnership. I'll admit to a quiet word of pride, too — those wickets took me past 500 for my career, which is either a fine milestone or a sign I've been playing this game far too long.

A comfortable, thoroughly deserved 139-run victory, and two more points banked.

Wed 02 Jul 2014 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformWLDLW

Jon Harris here, reporting on a warm, grey Wednesday at Linton Park as Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC came calling on 2 July 2014. I lost the toss – no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains a work in progress – and we were sent into the field, which as it turned out suited us rather nicely.

Sevenoaks ground their way to 136/9 from 41.3 overs, with Dominic Ramjag playing the innings of the day, a fine 56. Mark Sumpter, less fortunately, departed for a golden duck. The real story with the ball was Sam Boyns, relentlessly tight with two maidens on his way to 3-27, while Will Thirkell and I chipped in with a wicket apiece, mine costing just 4 runs off my spell. Craig Sands had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, shipping 11 byes, though I dare say the bowlers' varying lines shared some of the blame.

With 137 to chase, Will Thirkell simply took the game away from Sevenoaks, striking a superb 90 not out, well supported by Will Thew's unbeaten 33, and we cantered home at 139/1 in just 17.2 overs. Thirkell now tops our 2014 Midweek XI run charts, with Boyns leading the wickets column.

A thoroughly satisfying nine-wicket win, and one that flattered our net run rate as much as our egos. Onwards to the next fixture, tea and all.

Sun 29 Jun 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv FC Frindsbury CC · AwayformLWWWW

The road to Frindsbury on a showery Sunday promised little, and delivered accordingly. I lost the toss — no great shock, my coin-calling has been abysmal all season — and we were put into the field, where we stayed for the best part of the afternoon watching Adam Ling compile a fluent 48, with Alex Carr (43) and an unbeaten Raymond Burt (42) keeping the scoreboard ticking merrily along to 240/6 from their forty overs. Martin Harris toiled manfully for 2-46, with Jon Harris (1-9) and Joshua Knowler (1-19) chipping in, while poor Glen Rawson had a torrid time behind the stumps, 13 byes finding their way past him.

Chasing 241 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. We subsided to 115 all out in 31.3 overs, only Richard Piper batting with any conviction for his 27. I contributed nought to that total myself — the least said about my dismissal, the better. Jack Gwynn kept me company on the walk of shame.

There were bright spots amid the wreckage: Tim Wright brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a landmark achieved with barely a murmur, and Richard Piper's 27 eased him past Brian Piper into 10th on the all-time run-scorers' list. Glen Rawson continues to lead our 2014 Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 155, with Martin Harris second among the wicket-takers on five.

A chastening 125-run defeat, then. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sun 29 Jun 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Higham & Mockbeggar CC · HomeformLWLWW

Sunday 29th June, and Higham & Mockbeggar rolled up on a drizzly afternoon for what I like to think of as one of those days that reminds you why you bother with this whole captaincy business. I won the toss and elected to bat, which even I will admit felt like the right call before a ball had been sent down — though a wicket down for nought had me briefly reconsidering my own judgement.

We recovered in some style. Daniel Thirkell played a lovely innings of 92, and Craig Sands, milestone man of the day, made a very fine 72 as the pair put on 129 for the fourth wicket and dragged us to 213 for 5 from our 40 overs — extras chipping in a generous 29 along the way, which I choose to see as team spirit rather than sloppiness. Jordan Austin's duck was the one blot on an otherwise handsome scorecard, and Craig's innings also brought up 13,000 career runs for the club, which called for rather more tea than usual at the interval.

With the ball, we simply didn't let them settle. Mark Murray, David Hughes and Dominic Hart all went without troubling the scorers, and I managed to find some rhythm to take 4 for 11, with Thomas Beeney bowling beautifully for 3 for 6 including four maidens, and Jordan Austin chipping in with 1 for 1. They were bowled out for 45.

A win by 168 runs, then — the kind of Sunday that makes the drizzle entirely forgivable. Onwards.

Sat 28 Jun 2014 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformDDDDD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 28 June 2014. We travelled to West Farleigh CC on a pleasant, damp afternoon, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in sticking us in to bat. Wisdom of Solomon, clearly, because what followed was a proper thumping: 258/3 from our 45 overs, built on a magnificent unbeaten century from Ryan Boyns (107 not out) and gallant support from Glen Rawson, who cruised past his own fifty to finish on 89 not out. Extras chipped in a generous 47, rather more useful than my own contribution, and Will Thew and I both trudged off for ducks — the walk of shame performed, on this occasion, in stereo.

Defending 258 is the sort of task that makes captaincy easy, and West Farleigh never really troubled us, bowled out for 136 in 33 overs. Wyn Barnardo's well-made fifty (53) was the only real resistance, with Darrell Houghton-Judge (25) and Chris Mckellow (24) offering support, but three of their batsmen departed without scoring. Darren Styles was magnificent, ripping through them for 4-14, well backed by Tim Wright (2-1) and Chris Newman (2-14).

A word for the history books: Styles's four-for nudges him past Ian Brattle into 6th on the club's all-time wicket list — a fine effort on a day when I, alas, contributed only a golden blob. A captain should lead by example; today I led, instead, by cautionary tale. No matter — a comfortable win by 122 runs, and the run and wicket charts continue to be topped by Rawson and Newman respectively. Onwards.

Sat 28 Jun 2014 🧢 1st XIv Boughton & Eastwell CC · HomeformDDDDD

Won the toss on a pleasant, drizzly Saturday against Boughton & Eastwell, and with no hesitation at all I stuck us in to bat. It proved the right call, if not entirely serene to watch: 164/9 from our 45 overs, built around Adam Jackson's fine 42, with Lewis Burnham weighing in with 25 and I chipped in with 25 of my own as we put on 53 for the sixth wicket to give the total some backbone. Kevin Presneill and Thomas Beeney will not want reminding of their contributions — a golden duck apiece — but such is cricket, and 164 felt like something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we duly did. The visitors never got close, bundled out for 87 in 33.1 overs, the innings unravelling from a respectable-ish 42-2 to a rather forlorn 49-5 in the blink of an eye. Chris Brett departed without so much as troubling the scorers. Richard Knowler was pick of the attack with 3-17, well supported by Joshua Knowler's 3-22 — three maidens in there too, not a run given away lightly — and Stuart Cheesman tidied up with 1-5.

A comfortable win by 77 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work in the drizzle. James Piper continues to lead our run charts with 213 for the season, and Stuart Cheesman tops the wickets with 8. Onwards we go.

Wed 25 Jun 2014 🧢 Twenty20v Meopham CC · HomeformWLWWW

Beaten this time. We go again — but not before a word on Wednesday's business against Meopham CC.

We took the field first on a grey, mild sort of afternoon, the kind that promises little and occasionally delivers less. Meopham made hay to the tune of 149/6 from their twenty, Ben Stanley unbeaten on 35 and Miles Richardson right alongside him on 31, with Adam Roxburgh chipping in 29 for good measure. It could have been worse. It should have been worse, frankly, had Mark Christmas not turned in a tidy 2-26, with Sam Boyns and Thomas Beeney chiselling out a wicket apiece and Mark Burton and James Innes both shown the door without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 150, we never quite found our rhythm. Will Thirkell top-scored handsomely with 48, and Mark Christmas backed up his bowling with an unbeaten 34, but the rest of the card told a sorrier tale, with Adam Jackson, Joshua Knowler and Martin Harris all falling for ducks. I added a modest 15 to the pile, which felt rather like turning up to help move house and carrying in one cushion. All out for 128 in the nineteenth over, and the gap proved too wide to bridge.

Small mercies: I sit atop the season's run charts with 110, and Sam Boyns leads the wickets with 8, so the campaign has its bright patches even when the Wednesday scoreline does not. Beaten this time. We go again.

Sun 22 Jun 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · AwayformLLWWW

Sunday 22 June, away at New Ifield, under a warm grey sky that gave nothing away. I lost the toss — no shock there — and it was down to our batting to set the tone.

Set it we did. Glen Rawson eased to an unbeaten 57, Ryan Boyns matched him with 57 not out of his own, and Richard Piper made a handsome 53, the openers laying a platform with 57 for the first wicket. Three half-centuries and 229/3 from our forty overs looked a total worth defending.

Defend it we did, though not without alarm. New Ifield's openers put on 123 before we found a breakthrough, and Darren Delport's fine 76, with Lyle Wheeler's 48 in support, threatened to spoil our afternoon. But Will Thirkell ripped through with 3-11, Tim Wright took 3-40, and I chipped in with 2-10 — enough, apparently, to move me past Allan Cooper into 13th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Thomas Beeney, miserly as ever with two maidens, reached his 300th career wicket along the way, rather stealing my thunder. Paul Harfield's duck was the other footnote.

New Ifield finished 33 runs short on 196/9. Two points, thoroughly earned, and Rawson (145 runs) and Wright (8 wickets) still setting the pace atop this season's charts.

Sat 21 Jun 2014 🧢 2nd XIv RC Rumwood CC · AwayformDDDDD

Here's the match report:

Saturday 21 June brought us to Rumwood, and for once fortune found me before the ball did — the coin came down my way, and I had no hesitation in sending us in. It's a decision I'd have looked rather foolish making had Glen Rawson not batted with such purpose, cruising past his fifty to finish on 65 and give the innings its backbone. Chris Newman matched him stroke for stroke with a fine 50, I contributed a tidy 23, and even our extras column got in on the act with 32 — generosity from the home side we were only too happy to accept. All told, 199/5 from our 45 overs felt like a total with enough about it to make Rumwood work for their tea.

And work they did, though not quite hard enough. Patrick Hill's well-made 52 and Joe Millen's fifty kept us honest, with Alex McCloy chipping in 20, but the rest of the order rather wilted — Jordan Austin and Lee Marsh both departed for ducks without so much as troubling the scorers. The real story, though, was Chris Newman, who followed his batting heroics with the ball to devastating effect: 4-33 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, miserly to the last. Ian Hollingworth (3-40) and Tim Thirkell (1-16) tidied up what remained, and Rumwood folded for 190 in the 44th over.

Nine runs the margin, but it felt like more. A thoroughly good day for the club, and Newman's double act with bat and ball deserves the last word.

Sat 21 Jun 2014 🧢 1st XIv Stowting CC · HomeformDDDDD

Given a knock in the field, a fine bowling display, and a chase — 7-wicket win by Linton Park.

Warm, drizzly, and Stowting won the toss and stuck us in the field — not that it did them much good in the end. We nibbled away nicely, reducing them from 9-1 to a distinctly wobbly 15-4, with Steve Jackson, Mick Jackson and Colin Keeler all sent back without a run to their names — a hat-trick of ducks that will not feature in anyone's highlights reel. Craig Harding played the innings of the day, a well-made 62, with Troy Harding chipping in 32, but the middle and lower order simply couldn't build on it. I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4-11, with useful support from Stuart Cheesman (3-32) and the ever-miserly Joshua Knowler, whose 2-22 included four maidens that must have felt like a personal insult to the Stowting batsmen. All out for 134 in 32.1 overs — a fair morning's work.

Chasing it down should have been straightforward, and after losing an early wicket with just 2 on the board it briefly looked like it might not be, but Adam Jackson settled things with a fine 55, and a stand of 69 for the second wicket did the heavy lifting. Lewis Burnham's 35 and Daniel Thirkell's unbeaten 32 saw us home in style, 137/3 from 19.5 overs.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket, and a seven-wicket win to show for it. Onwards.

Wed 18 Jun 2014 🧢 Twenty20v Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWWLWW

I took the field on a suitably drizzly Wednesday down at Sissinghurst, the kind of afternoon that makes an Englishman feel thoroughly at home with bat and ball. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat — and for once my captaincy instincts proved sound. The lads set about building a total with real purpose: Will Thirkell finished unbeaten on 31, Craig Sands kept him fine company with 30 not out, and Adam Jackson chipped in handsomely with 27. I added a modest 26 of my own to the cause, and we closed on a healthy 160 for 5 from our twenty overs.

Defending that total was never going to be a stroll, and so it proved. Sissinghurst came hard at us, with Theo Allport unbeaten on 32 the chief architect of their fightback, well supported by Scott Davidson (31 not out) and Gregory Keddy (30 not out). But our bowlers held their nerve when it mattered — Martin Harris the pick with 1 for 13, with Joshua Knowler (1-17) and Tim Wright (1-18) doing their bit to keep the required rate honest. The opposition fell agonisingly short on 155 for 4.

A win by 5 runs, then — the sort that leaves your fingernails shorter than your innings. I'm rather chuffed to be topping the season's run charts with 95, though I'll happily hand the bragging rights to Sam Boyns, whose 7 wickets lead the way with ball in hand. A tidy afternoon's work all round. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 15 Jun 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Charing CC · AwayformWLWLW

Sunday 15th June, and the caravan rolled into Charing CC under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to sulk. I won the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, sent them in — a decision I was rather pleased with as our openers promptly conceded a wicket before a run had troubled the board. From there Harry Lukens, Ben Cook and Paul Titchmarsh set about repairing the damage in fine style, dragging Charing to 160 all out from 26 overs. But three of theirs went back without so much as a squeak of the bat, and I found some rhythm with the ball, finishing with 3-15 and a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure — Thomas Beeney and Sam Boyns chipping in handsomely alongside me with 2-35 and 2-36.

Chasing 161, it was Mark Christmas who did the heavy lifting, striking a glorious unbeaten 84 to see us home in some comfort, while I contributed a workmanlike 19 further down the card. Benjamin Austin had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps — eleven byes is not a number he'll want engraved anywhere — but no matter; we cruised over the line by six wickets.

A thoroughly good day out, then: bowled tightly, chased calmly, and home in time for tea. Charing were gracious in defeat, we were gracious in victory, and the gazette gets another win to report. Onwards.

Sun 15 Jun 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv East Sutton CC · AwayformWLLWW

Sunday 15 June saw us make the trip to East Sutton, and with the coin obliging I did what any captain with a decent forecast and a nagging suspicion about our top order does — stuck them in. It looked a shrewd move for about an hour, until Robert Bray settled in for an unbeaten 54, with Bradley Cox (41) and Mark Whitmill (34) offering sturdy support and a 71-run opening stand doing the early damage. Two of ours went for ducks without so much as a whimper, which is never fun to watch from the boundary. But Michael Beeney kept us honest with 2-24, and useful nibbles from Jon Harris and Jack Gwynn dragged them back to a gettable 215/7 from their forty.

Chasing it down, we made light work of a total that had looked rather more menacing at tea. Martin Harris played the anchor role to perfection with a composed unbeaten 75, while Will Thirkell's fine 58 and Jack Gwynn's unbeaten 52 kept the required rate firmly under control — I chipped in with a small contribution of my own along the way, for what it's worth. We cruised home on 219/2 with well over four overs unused.

If there's a blot on the afternoon, it's the 22 byes conceded — our man behind the stumps will be buying the teas for a fortnight after that one. Still, eight wickets and two points is a result nobody in the changing room is going to argue with. A fine day's work, and I'll happily take the credit for the toss call.

Sat 14 Jun 2014 🧢 1st XIv Milstead CC · AwayformLDDDD

Saturday 14 June, and the road took us to Milstead CC under a sky that couldn't decide whether it fancied being wet or merely damp. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in sticking us into the field — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might suggest by close of play.

Milstead made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 236/7 from their 45 overs. Steve Day played the innings of the day with a fine 83, well supported by Paul Nicholls (59) and Richard Cusworth (27), while poor Paul Mills trudged back without so much as a single to his name. Tim Wright was our pick of the attack with 3-22, and I did my bit too, taking 1-31 and bowling four maidens to at least keep the scoring honest on my patch.

Chasing 237, we never quite found the fluency required, closing on 194/9. An early wobble at 1-1 threatened to set the tone, and though Kevin Presneill's excellent 63 — enough to nudge him past Jim Hall and into 24th on the club's all-time run charts — and a handy stand of 76 for the third wicket gave us hope, too many others perished cheaply, with three ducks blotting the card. I chipped in with 38, and Lewis Burnham matched me, but it wasn't enough.

Beaten by 42 runs in the end, then, and fair play to Milstead — but there was enough application out there to suggest we'll be better for the outing next week.

Tue 10 Jun 2014 🧢 Twenty20v RC Rumwood CC · AwayformWWWLW

Tuesday afternoon found us on the road at Rumwood, sunshine on our backs and, for once, a scorebook that made for cheerful reading. Batting first, we posted 116/5 from our 20 overs, a total built patiently rather than spectacularly. I was fortunate enough to find some form and finished unbeaten on 31, with Chris Newman keeping me honest at the other end with a composed 25 not out. The one smudge on an otherwise tidy card was poor Richard Piper, undone for a duck — these things happen to the best families, and I should know.

With 116 to defend, the lads turned their attention to Rumwood's reply, and what a team effort it was. Joshua Knowler set the tone with a superb 2-9, while Sam Boyns and Mark Christmas both chipped in with 2-11 and 2-14 respectively, squeezing the life out of the chase. John Burbridge departed for a duck of his own amid the carnage, and Rumwood limped to 65/9 from their 19 overs, well short of the target.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, then, and one that leaves the season looking rosy — I find myself atop the run charts with 69 for the summer, while Sam Boyns leads the wicket-takers with 6. All told, a win to savour, and a rare occasion when the Piper name appears on both the credit and debit side of the ledger in the same match.

Sun 08 Jun 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · AwayformWWLLW

We rolled up at New Ifield CC on a warm, cloudy Sunday with the kind of afternoon that promises runs, and for once the promise was kept. Kevin Presneill led the way with a really fine 59, Trevor Back gave him excellent company with 57, and Glen Rawson chipped in a busy 47 as we posted a handsome 219/8 from our 40 overs. Not every name goes in lights, mind — poor Joshua Knowler trudged off for a duck, and the Duck Club ledger duly logged another entry.

With the ball we were in no mood to be generous. New Ifield's Nick Bodle top-scored with 36, Saman Jayashantha made a tidy 35 and Tom Crowther 20, but the rest of their order simply couldn't get going, with Stuart Shulver and Andy Heselden both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Tim Wright was the star of the show, tearing through them with figures of 4-4, well backed by Jon Harris (1-0) and, redemption of sorts, Joshua Knowler (1-1). All out for 129 in 36.2 overs — job done.

As for your correspondent, I contributed a duck of my own with the bat, and the less said about that the better. Small consolation that Trevor's innings nudged him past me into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list — I'll take being overtaken by form like that.

Glen Rawson now leads our 2014 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 88, and Tim Wright tops the wickets with 5. We got over the line comfortably in the end — a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 08 Jun 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformWWLWL

Sunday 8 June, and Mersham Sports CC rolled up to find us losing the toss and put into the field — no complaints from me, since our attack had clearly had its porridge. Stuart Cheesman was in destructive mood, ripping through the top order for 3-11, while Thomas Beeney (2-1) and Sam Boyns (2-4, with three maidens for good measure) barely allowed the scoreboard to breathe. I chipped in with three of my own to help bowl Mersham out for a threadbare 38 in 18.3 overs — Abhishek Panda, Mark Gill and Edward Wright all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Chasing such a modest total ought to be a formality, and so it proved, though not without the traditional nervous glance at the Duck Club ledger — Will Thirkell endured the walk of shame for nought. No matter: Daniel Thirkell batted serenely to an unbeaten 21, and we knocked off the runs in a brisk 5.1 overs for the loss of two, wrapping up 41/2.

A day of individual milestones too — Cheesman's three wickets nudged him past Ron Hickman and up to 24th on the club's all-time list, while in the season's charts Daniel sits a creditable 5th among the run-scorers and I find myself, rather to my surprise, at the top of the wicket-takers' table.

Two points, comfortably banked, an eight-wicket win, and the tea urn well earned. A thoroughly satisfactory afternoon's work.

Sat 07 Jun 2014 🧢 2nd XIv Milstead CC · HomeformDDDDD

A warm, drizzly Saturday brought Milstead CC to Linton Park, and I'm glad to say the covers stayed off long enough for a proper contest. Batting first, we set about our task with real purpose, none more so than Glen Rawson, whose 90 was the innings' backbone, ably supported by Matthew Gladwell's unbeaten 64. I chipped in with 27 down the order, more spectator than architect to the 226/3 we posted from our 45 overs, but I'll take it. It was the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than pace the boundary chewing his nails.

With the ball, the lads set about Milstead with the same appetite. Jaz Hanspall's 30 and useful contributions from Michael Annand and Conor Annand kept them ticking, but Dominic Annand's golden duck rather set the tone for a difficult afternoon against our attack. Martin Harris was the pick of the bowlers, snaring three for 36, with Darren Styles (2-22) and Michael Beeney (1-0) chipping in, while Chris Newman bowled with a miser's discipline — four maidens that must have felt like a lifetime to face. Milstead were bowled out for 147 in 44.5 overs, well short of our total.

By rights that should have been a home win, but cricket, and the scorebook, decided otherwise — honours shared, a draw when neither side could quite force the issue. Rawson leads our run charts this season and Newman our wickets, and on this evidence both are only warming up. A afternoon of good cricket, fair play, and rather too much drizzle for my liking.

Tue 03 Jun 2014 🧢 Twenty20v Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWWWWL

As captain, and with the coin falling kindly, I had few qualms about batting first on a grey but perfectly pleasant afternoon at home to Sissinghurst. That said, we didn't half make hard work of it early on, losing a wicket with just 2 on the board and setting nerves jangling in the pavilion. Stewart Morrison's duck won't trouble the club's highlight reel, but the innings found its feet thereafter — I was fortunate enough to have a good day with the bat, finishing unbeaten on 38, with Matthew Carter chipping in a tidy 20. A generous 26 in extras rounded out a total of 116 all out from our 20 overs — not one for the ages, but enough, as it turned out, to be going on with.

With the ball, this was where the afternoon truly turned in our favour. Sam Boyns was simply magnificent, tearing through Sissinghurst's order for figures of 4 for 6 including two maidens, and finding support from Matthew Carter (2-9) and Will Thirkell (2-19). Three of their batsmen — James Faulkner, Fred Smith and Greg Bird — departed without troubling the scorers, and Scott Davidson's battling 29 was never quite enough to drag them past our total, the innings folding on 88 for 9.

Two lovely personal milestones to toast in the bar afterwards — my own 5,000 career runs for the club, and Sam's 200th career wicket. A fine win by 28 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying way to start the season's run and wicket charts. Onwards, indeed.

Sun 01 Jun 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformLWWLL

Sunday the 1st of June, Town Malling CC visiting under skies too grey to trust and too dry to complain about. I called it right at the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, chose to bat — a decision I felt rather smug about by close of play.

We batted with real purpose, racing to 220 for 4 from our forty overs. Stuart Cheesman was the class act, motoring past his fifty to 52, well backed up by Craig Sands's unbeaten 45 and Glen Rawson's 41; even our extras column pitched in a generous 40, which I choose to credit to disciplined running between the wickets rather than wayward Town Malling bowling.

In the field we set about defending it with real zip. Town Malling never quite found their rhythm, losing an early wicket with just 5 on the board, and though a stand of 54 for the fifth wicket threatened to drag them back into contention, Sam Vale's 35 and support from Austin and Miles Caldwell were never enough. Jon Goff and Matthew Webb both departed without scoring. Joshua Knowler was superb, 2 for 5 with three miserly maidens, well supported by Nat Presneill's 2 for 12 and my own 2 for 28 — enough, happily, to nudge me to the top of our season's wicket charts. Town Malling folded for 133 in 38.1 overs.

An 87-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Cheesman's fifty even eased him past Paul Brattle into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Onwards, in good heart.

Sun 01 Jun 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Borstal CC · AwayformLWWLW

The road to Borstal on the first of June brought us grey skies and a coin toss that, as ever, refused to fall my way — they inserted us without a second thought, and who could blame them. We limped to 0 for 1 before we'd barely settled into our deckchairs, and from there the innings had the flavour of a rather patchy Sunday roast: some fine cuts of meat, rather too much filler. Will Thirkell played the supporting role with a tidy 25, I managed 30 to nudge us along, but James Piper, Jordan Austin and Mark Christmas all trooped back for ducks, and it was left to the extras column — a generous 31 — to prop up our total of 120 all out from 34 overs. Not our finest batting hour, though we've had worse.

With ball in hand we scrapped hard. Mark Christmas struck the meaningful blows with 1 for 16, Will Thirkell and Thomas Beeney chipped in with a wicket apiece, and I was content to bowl tight, three maidens keeping the scoreboard honest. But Andrew Boye had other ideas, ghosting to an unbeaten 58, ably assisted by Frani O'Neill's unbeaten 35, and Borstal eased home on 124 for 4 with more than enough overs to spare.

Beaten by six wickets, then — no disgrace, but no cigar either. Will Thirkell continues to lead our Sunday run charts and sits fourth among the wicket-takers, proof there's method behind our madness. We'll dust ourselves down and come back sharper next week.

Sat 31 May 2014 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · HomeformDDDDD

Off we go — I'll draft this straight, in Richard Piper's voice.

Saturday 31 May saw us welcome Betsham CC under grey but pleasant skies, and having lost the toss we found ourselves in the field first – never my favourite way to start a weekend, but there we are. Tom Reardon gave us a proper lesson in application with a well-made fifty, and had willing company from Karl Harris (40) and Mark De Souza (21) as Betsham eased their way to 182/6 from their 45 overs. Credit where it's due: Ian Hollingworth bowled beautifully for 3-41, three of those overs maidens, tight enough to make you wonder if he'd nailed the top down himself. Jack Gwynn and Chris Newman chipped in with a wicket apiece to keep things honest.

Chasing 183 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and frankly we answered rather badly. I got in and made 30, which felt at the time like the platform for something bigger, but wickets tumbled around me with grim regularity. Poor Jack Gwynn will want to forget his golden duck in a hurry – these things happen to the best of us, and I've no doubt he'll be first back in the nets. All told we were bowled out for 97 in 37.3 overs, a chase that never got out of first gear.

So, down by 85 runs, and no dressing it up as anything other than a thumping. Reardon's fifty did for us as much as our own batting did. Heads up, though – back to the nets we go, and I dare say we'll be sharper for it next time out.

Sat 31 May 2014 🧢 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformDLDDD

I called correctly at the toss on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon at Sheldwich, and with the outfield looking benign I had no hesitation in batting first. It proved a shrewd call, or at least James Piper made it look that way, cracking a magnificent century — a proper three-figure knock that dragged us to 207/6 from our 45 overs. Daniel Thirkell (21) and Kevin Presneill (20) chipped in either side of a fine second-wicket stand worth 60, while the extras column weighed in with a handy 27 of its own. I should mention, briefly and through gritted teeth, that I contributed a golden duck to proceedings — the less said the better.

With 207 on the board, Sheldwich never quite got going. Thomas Beeney was magnificent with the new ball, ripping through them for 3-18, with Stuart Cheesman (3-27) and the metronomic Matthew Carter (2-11, five maidens — barely a run offered in anger) squeezing the life out of the innings either side of him. Nick Bennett's 22, with support from Alex Roe (21 not out) and Ian Turton (20), was as good as it got for the home side as they subsided to 115 all out in 40.5 overs, with three of their number departing without troubling the scorers. Kevin Presneill had a busy old time behind the stumps, 15 byes rather spoiling an otherwise tidy afternoon.

A 92-run victory, two points banked, and James Piper and Thomas Beeney both stretching their leads at the top of the season's charts. All in all, a thoroughly satisfying day out — even for a captain nursing a pair of noughts to forget.

Sun 25 May 2014 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Upchurch CC · AwayformWWWLW

Sunday 25 May 2014 saw us make the trip to Upchurch, under a cloudy sky that at least had the decency not to rain on us. Winning the toss, I opted to field first — the right call, I felt at the time, and nothing that followed talked me out of that opinion, even if the result rather muddies the point.

Upchurch batted with real purpose, racking up 170/6 from their forty overs. Aaron Walker was the chief architect with a handsome 62, well supported by Michael Hales Jnr (38) and Phillip Apps (32), the pair adding a stubborn 51 for the third wicket that gave their innings its spine. Credit to the bowlers for keeping us in it: Stuart Cheesman was excellent with 2-25, while Matthew Carter and Will Thirkell chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Chasing 171, we made a fair fist of it. Daniel Thirkell (27) and Glen Rawson (25) put on 55 for the second wicket to lay a platform, and I was pleased enough with my own unbeaten 36 to be modest about it just the once. But cricket has a cruel sense of comedy, and 87 for 2 unravelled into 97 for 5 before we'd caught breath — poor Craig Sands enduring the walk of shame with a golden duck along the way. We limped to 162/8, eight runs shy at the death.

A defeat, then, but not a disgrace — plenty to build on, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 25 May 2014 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLLWWL

I fielded first at Sissinghurst on a grey Sunday, and it must be said we did rather more chasing leather than we'd have liked. Scott Davidson gave us a torrid afternoon, cashing in for a majestic 112 not out, with Reuben Collingwood chipping in a fine 76 and Fred Smith adding 22 as the hosts racked up 243 for 5 from their forty overs. Credit where it's due: Tim Wright bowled beautifully for his 1-22, Martin Harris chipped away with 1-28, and Richard Knowler was positively miserly, sending down two maidens. As for the skipper, my figures of 1-57 will not trouble the record books, but a wicket's a wicket.

Chasing 244 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and Richard Piper answered most of them with a gutsy 47, well supported by Martin Harris's unbeaten 35 and Richard Knowler's 33. Extras chipped in a handy 28 — occasionally our most reliable partnership. Sadly the middle order rather fell apart, with Stewart Morrison, Joel Attwood and Michael Beeney all back in the pavilion for ducks, and we limped to 164 for 8.

And then there was me. A captain, tradition holds, should lead from the front — I led instead straight back to the pavilion for a golden blob, out first ball without troubling the scorers. Not my finest hour, though I'm assured the walk back was executed with great dignity.

A comfortable defeat, then, but an instructive one — and Richard Piper's runs and Tim Wright's wicket at least point us in the right direction for the season ahead.

Sat 24 May 2014 🧢 1st XIv LC Lenham CC · HomeformDDLDD

Saturday 24 May 2014 saw Lenham CC roll into Linton Park under a damp but agreeable sky, and having lost the toss, we were duly asked to field first — never my favourite start to an afternoon, but such is the lottery of the coin.

Truth be told, our attack rather ran riot: Lenham's innings folded for nought all out, a scoreline that still raises an eyebrow whenever I glance back at the book. Quite how they contrived it I shall leave to the statisticians and the tea-tent gossips, but credit to the lads for a spell of bowling that gave the visitors precisely nothing to work with.

With the bat, we were rather more sedate about things, easing to 20 for 1 off 7.2 overs — no fireworks, but tidy enough given the conditions underfoot. Daniel Thirkell, who continues his quietly excellent season and now sits third in our 1st XI run charts with 50 to his name, will no doubt have designs on climbing higher yet before the summer's out.

In the end, with neither side able to force the issue to a conclusion, honours were shared and we parted as we arrived — on level terms. A curious, slightly comic afternoon of cricket, but an honest draw, and on a damp Saturday in May, I'll happily take that.

Sun 18 May 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Offham CC · HomeformWLWWL

Sunday 18 May, and the sun was kind enough to grace Linton Park for the visit of Offham CC — about the only thing that was consistently kind to us all afternoon. Won the toss, and with blue skies overhead I fancied a bowl first, a decision I spent the next forty overs quietly second-guessing as Ben Gittings compiled a handsome 51 and Tom Gittings chipped in with 39 of his own. Between them they did rather too much of the scoring for my liking, and 165/7 felt a stiffer target than the conditions perhaps warranted. Credit where due, though: Joshua Knowler bowled beautifully for 2-31, Martin Harris backed him up with 2-33, and Will Thirkell chimed in with 1-22. I bowled a couple of maidens myself, which felt like small victories snatched from a generally expensive afternoon, and at least Luke Harcourt departed for a duck to keep the arithmetic honest.

Chasing 166, we made hard work of what should have been a straightforward pursuit, crawling home at 167/7 with just two balls of the 38th over to spare. Craig Sands was the man who kept his head, compiling an unbeaten 65 of real substance while wickets fell around him — Thomas Beeney's golden duck among the casualties. Rather tellingly, our thirty-one extras very nearly outscored our top order.

Still, three wickets is three wickets, and a win dressed untidily is a win nonetheless. A good day for the club, even if my captaincy instincts want a stiff word with themselves before next Sunday.

Sat 17 May 2014 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWDDDD

It was Headcorn CC at home on a warm, grey Saturday the 17th of May, and I won the toss and elected to field — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook now suggests. Mike Donnelly set about proving me wrong almost immediately, striding to 81 after a flying opening stand of 66, with John Thurston (21) and Trevor Scrivens (21) chipping in either side of him. Tim Wright was our pick of the attack, 2-34, with Michael Beeney (1-31) and Luke Welsman (1-43) doing their honest bit to peg back 206/5 from 45 overs — a total that always felt a shade beyond us.

And so it proved. Chris Newman led our reply with a tidy 36, well supported by Tim Wright (27) and Michael Beeney (21), the pair putting on 52 for the first wicket to give us something to build on. Build on it we did not, quite. Luke Welsman, for reasons best left to the Duck Club minutes, made a nought 🦆 — though in fairness he'd already had a testing afternoon behind the stumps, with 16 byes leaking through on his watch. I contributed a workmanlike 18, the extras chipped in a generous 26, and we closed on 184/9.

Down by 22 runs, then, and heads rightly hung on the pavilion steps. Chris Newman now tops our 2014 2nd XI run charts, Tim Wright the wickets — small consolations on a day that got away from us. Back to the nets, lads; there's work to do.

Sat 17 May 2014 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDDDLD

Called it right at the toss for once, and with the sky doing that heavy, overcast thing that promises rain and never quite delivers, there was only one option on the board: put Headcorn in and see what Kent air might do for the ball. It didn't do a great deal, if I'm honest, but Headcorn still contrived to limit themselves to 141/9 from their 45 overs, Kevin Richardson compiling a proper half-century and James Barker chipping in with 38 – the rest of their order rather more generous, with Trevor Twohig, Seb Holmes and Rob Mansell all back in the pavilion without so much as a single to their names. I had one of those afternoons where everything comes out right, finishing with 3-7, well supported by Richard Knowler and Stuart Cheesman with a wicket apiece, while Ian Hollingworth strangled the middle overs with two maidens.

Chasing 142 should have been a formality and, in the loosest possible sense, it was – 142/5 in 33.3 overs, though not without the customary comedy along the way. I got us going with 45, Thomas Beeney and James Piper lent good support with 39 and 32, and poor Stuart Cheesman, having bowled so tidily, trudged back for a golden duck – the Duck Club ledger duly updated. Nat Presneill had a torrid time behind the stumps, leaking nine byes, but no matter.

A five-wicket win, and, immodestly, three wickets that nudge me past Dave Todd into 19th on the club's all-time list. Onwards, indeed.

Sun 11 May 2014 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · AwayformLWWWL

As a cricket score down at Linton Park CC, at first light on Sunday 11th May we set off for High Halstow under skies that could not decide whether to rain on us or merely threaten to. The coin, as is traditional, betrayed me, and we were put into the field on a blustery, showery afternoon that felt more suited to a scarf than a sunhat.

Our hosts ground out 164 all out from their forty overs, propelled chiefly by Chris Lally's 47 and Ashley Trigg's 42, with Dave Coyle chipping in 21 and the pair adding a stubborn 61 for the fifth wicket. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and having wobbled from 155 for 6 to 161 for 9, they never quite escaped our grip. Matthew Carter was magnificent with 3 for 25, including three tidy maidens, well backed by Daniel Thirkell's 3 for 27; I chipped in with 2 for 24 for good measure. Poor Ben Gordon departed for a golden duck, which is never a pleasant welcome to the crease.

Chasing 165, James Piper played the innings of the day with a fine 58, sharing a breezy opening stand of 91 with Glen Rawson (27), while Will Thirkell saw us home unbeaten on 39. We cantered to 165 for 2 in 30 overs, winning by eight wickets with time and dignity to spare. A word too for Stuart Cheesman, who reached the landmark of 300 career wickets — a fine achievement by anyone's reckoning. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club, weather notwithstanding.

Mon 05 May 2014 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformDDDDL

As I called correctly at the toss on a pleasant, overcast Monday, choosing to bat felt like the easy part of the day. David Castle set the tone with a lovely 72, and James Piper matched him stroke for stroke with a fine 55 — the pair adding 121 for the third wicket and doing most of the heavy lifting. Craig Sands finished unbeaten on 25 to round out a solid 207/6 from our 39 overs, though poor Ray Dixon will be buying the teas after picking up a golden duck for the ledger.

With the ball, Selsdon never quite got away from us. Edward Shivmangel top-scored with 26 and David Ayling chipped in an unbeaten 21, but wickets fell steadily around them — Marcus Robertson gone for nought early doors, and the innings never settling after we struck with the very first ball, 1-1. Chris Newman was superb, ripping through with 3-12, well backed up by Martin Harris (2-14) and Tobey Castle (2-15), while Thomas Beeney strangled the scoring with four maidens. They limped to 110/9 from their 42.

Craig Sands had a busy afternoon behind the stumps, 11 byes the only blemish on an otherwise tidy display, and I was happy enough with my own 17 down the order. In the end neither side could quite force it home, and honours were shared. A draw feels the fair result — we did the hard work with bat and ball, but on this occasion the finishing touch eluded us both.

Sun 04 May 2014 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv PC Plaxtol CC · HomeformWWLWW

Not our finest hour, but there's fire in that grey Sunday chill yet.

Winning the toss on a cool, grey afternoon at home, we opted to bat and, truth be told, never quite got the total flowing. Glen Rawson led the way with a composed 34 — enough, handily, to nudge him past Paul Brattle into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is rather more than most of us will manage in a lifetime of Sundays. Will Thirkell chipped in a tidy 27, and the extras column, ever the reliable middle-order batsman, weighed in with 26. Poor Matthew Carter, meanwhile, was back in the pavilion for a golden duck, no doubt muttering about the state of the pitch, the light, and possibly the universe. All told we limped to 136/8 from our 40 overs — competitive-ish, on paper.

In the field we fought hard without ever quite landing the knockout blow. Martin Harris was excellent, prising out one for just 6, with Carter (redeeming himself somewhat, 1-10) and Michael Beeney (1-11) also among the wickets, and M- Shaw departing for a duck at our hands. But D- Beynon simply refused to be shifted, motoring to an unbeaten 63, well supported by T- Baldwin's 38, and their side eased home on 137/4 with a full thirteen overs unused.

Six wickets the wrong way, then. Heads up, chins up, back to the nets — there are runs and wickets enough in this side yet.

Sat 26 Apr 2014 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDDDDD

Another season, another dose of Kentish weather doing its level best to put us off, and off to The Mote CC we went under skies that couldn't make up their mind. I lost the toss — no great surprise, given my record on that front — and we were asked to field first, sorry, bat first, while the heavens hovered menacingly overhead.

We didn't make the brightest of starts, losing a wicket with the scoreboard still showing a solitary run, which is the sort of beginning that has a captain reaching for something stronger than squash at tea. But we steadied, and steadied rather well: I found some form with 42, Matthew Gladwell chipped in handsomely with 28, and the pair of us put on a stand of 52 for the fifth wicket that dragged us to a defendable-looking 145 all out from 45 overs. Spare a thought, though, for Richard Piper and Adam Jackson, who both made the long walk back for nought — the Duck Club ledger groans a little heavier this week.

In the field we scrapped hard. Thomas Beeney bowled beautifully for 2-30, and I managed to nip in with 1-7 of my own, but Nick Waite's 34, backed by Jason White's unbeaten 33 and Rajeevan Raveendran's 32, proved too much, and the home side eased to 149/3 in 40 overs.

Beaten by seven wickets, then, but with green shoots — runs for me at the top of this year's charts, wickets for Beeney at the top of his. We'll be better for it next week.