🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 20 Sep 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · HomeformWLLWW

Sunday 20 September, and Tenterden CC made the trip to Linton Park under grey but agreeable skies. The coin obliged, and I had no hesitation setting us in to bat, a decision I like to think of as tactical rather than merely traditional.

The openers gave us exactly the sort of start captains dream about and rarely receive, ninety-odd runs of calm before the first wicket finally fell. James Piper was the architect of it all, an excellent 90 that anchored the whole innings, with Trevor Back (35 not out) and Kevin Presneill (30) building sensibly around him. Poor Nat Presneill will want this one struck from the record, a duck to forget, but 27 extras and a total of 236 for 5 from our forty overs left us in rude health regardless.

With the ball, Tenterden never quite got away from us. Tom Richards batted beautifully for his 71, well supported by Fred Pearman's unbeaten 20, but 132 for 7 told its own story. Tim Thirkell was the chief tormentor with 2 for 13, while I had the pleasure of chipping in with 1 for 9 and four maidens alongside Trevor Back's 1 for 3. Kevin Presneill's afternoon behind the stumps was rather more testing, judging by nine byes, though I shan't hold it against him.

A splendid win by 104 runs, and notable milestones too, with both Piper and Thirkell climbing the club's all-time lists. Onwards, indeed.

Sat 19 Sep 2015 🧢 1st XIv Stowting CC · HomeformLWLWL

A grey old Saturday for it, but there's rarely a bad one when Stowting CC are in town. I called correctly and, with the pitch looking a touch two-paced, had no hesitation in sending us in — a decision I stood by rather more comfortably than Richard Piper stood at the crease, departing for a golden duck that I shall be reminding him of well into the winter nets.

Thomas Beeney was the rock of the innings, ushering us to 159/8 from our forty overs with a composed 40 not out, and I chipped in with 36 of my own alongside Joshua Knowler's brisk 23. It wasn't a total to frighten anyone, truth be told, but on a slow afternoon like this one, runs on the board are runs on the board.

Defending it required nerve rather than fireworks. Darrell Houghton-Judge was superb with the ball, prising out 3-38, with Knowler tight as a drum (two maidens, 1-12) and I managed to squeeze out 1-15 for good measure. George Sheen went first ball for us, poor lad, and Clifford Ball's obstinate 48 was the only real thorn, but Stowting fell six runs short at 153/9, with Benjamin Austin's gloves having rather a torrid time of it behind the stumps — twelve byes is not a number he'll want engraved anywhere.

A nervy finish, a deserved win, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 13 Sep 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · HomeformWWLLW

As a match, the innings and final result, added colour only where the facts allow.

From the captain's chair, Sunday 13 September. A pleasant, damp sort of afternoon at home to Cobham CC, Kent — the kind of day that makes you wonder whether the covers were worth removing at all, but cricket waits for no drizzle. I won the toss and, with that particular blend of confidence and blind hope that captaincy demands, decided we'd bat.

It didn't start well. Six runs on the board and we'd already lost a wicket, the sort of nervy opening that has you reaching for the flask rather than the scorebook. But James Piper and Glen Rawson had other ideas, putting on a magnificent 163 for the third wicket to drag us back into something resembling control. Piper made a superb 115 — three figures, no less — while Rawson finished unbeaten on a well-crafted 65. We closed on 213/4 from our 40, a total with a bit of steel in it.

Cobham fought back gamely with the bat — Bowles top-scoring with 36, Martin and Marshall chipping in either side of thirty, and poor Callen Fahey departing without troubling the scorers. With the ball I had the satisfaction of picking up 2-25 myself, with Martin Harris and Benjamin Austin both weighing in with two apiece, though Rawson's 16 byes behind the stumps suggested his afternoon with the gloves was rather less serene than his one with the bat. Cobham fell short on 182/9.

A 31-run win, and — quietly pleasing for me — those two wickets nudged me up to 11th on the club's all-time list. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 12 Sep 2015 🧢 1st XIv Offham CC · HomeformWLWLW

I'm afraid a beautiful afternoon lost by the odd four runs deserves better than this—so here it is.

Saturday brought Offham CC to Linton Park under a clear sky, the kind of day that makes you glad you didn't stay in bed. We put them in, and they made themselves thoroughly at home: Tom Gittings cracked a fine 70, with Tom Evans right behind him on 51 and Nigel Stoodley chipping in a brisk 35, the trio dragging them to 219/5 from their forty overs. To our credit, we didn't let it become a procession — Darrell Houghton-Judge was magnificent with the ball, tearing through with 4-38, and Thisal Perera lent a hand with 1-26 to keep the innings honest.

Chasing 220 is never a stroll, but we set off with intent. Kevin Presneill played the innings of the day, a well-crafted 81, and James Piper matched him for class with 65, the pair doing the heavy lifting before Luke Welsman saw us home to 29 not out at the close. In among the middle overs I managed to get a few runs of my own on the board, which I shall claim entirely for the good of the team's morale. In the end we fell short at 215/5 — four runs the difference between a famous win and a rueful handshake.

A word of real cheer amid the disappointment: James Piper's 65 eased him past Stan Wratten into 19th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now sits 2nd in this year's 1st XI charts on 655 runs — a season to be proud of, whatever Saturday's scoreline says. Beaten, but not remotely disgraced. We dust ourselves off and go again.

Sun 06 Sep 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv SC Stockbury CC · AwayformWWLWW

Sunday 6 September at Stockbury, and losing the toss meant an afternoon in the field beckoning us in the customary grey drizzle of an English September, though not before we'd had a bat forced upon us the other way round — we were asked to field first, and duly slogged our way to 117 all out. Glen Rawson played the innings of a captain's dreams, 52 crafted with real class, and Will Thew chipped in handsomely with 42. Beyond that, the middle order rather fell out of a tree — Jack Gwynn, Christopher Thirkell and Ray Dixon all contributing that most democratic of cricketing gifts, the golden duck.

117 looked light on that outfield, and I confess I spent the tea interval doing sums that didn't add up favourably. But cricket, like the Great British summer, delights in confounding forecasts. Jack Gwynn steamed in to record a magnificent 3-11, I managed a tidy 1-6 myself, and Tim Wright weighed in with 2-11, as Stockbury's innings folded like a cheap deckchair for 49-9 from 25.2 overs. Jonathan Brignall's 29 was the only real resistance; James Newell, Aston Monk and Luke Collins all departed for ducks of their own, which at least made me feel less lonely about mine.

Yes, your correspondent contributed a duck to proceedings — the sort of innings best described briefly and forgotten quickly. No matter: a 68-run victory and two well-earned points sent us home cheerful, if still soggy. A fine team performance, and proof that in this game the bowlers can always bail out the batsmen.

Sun 06 Sep 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Addington Village CC · HomeformWWWLL

Off the pitch and a hundred to the good — an unbeaten fifty from James Piper and a stack of tidy wickets from Mark Christmas. There's my match report.

Skipper's Log — Linton Park CC v Addington Village CC, Sunday 6th September 2015

I lost the toss again — I'm beginning to wonder if the coin has it in for me — and Addington duly chose to bat on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon that felt made for bowling. They ground their way to 129 for 7 off their forty overs, with Alex Rolfe unbeaten on 31 and Steve Merralls chipping in with 28 to give the total some respectability. Mark Christmas was the pick of our attack by some distance, extracting 3 for 36 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, while Jordan Austin (2-26) and Daniel Thirkell (1-10) mopped up around him. Harry Grinstead departed for a golden duck, which I'm sure he'll have forgotten about by the time he reads this.

A target of 130 was never going to trouble us if we kept our heads, and James Piper made sure we did, striking an imperious unbeaten 71 that anchored the whole innings. He and I put on 69 for the first wicket before I fell for 28, happy enough to have played my part before handing the stage over to him entirely. We cantered home by seven wickets with overs to spare, never remotely troubled.

All told, a thoroughly good day for the club — clinical in the field, ruthless with the bat, and home in time for tea.

Sat 05 Sep 2015 🧢 2nd XIv LC Locksbottom CC · HomeformLLWLL

It was a proper afternoon for it — overcast, mild, just the sort of Saturday that persuades you cricket was invented in Kent for a reason. Locksbottom arrived at Linton Park to find us in determined mood, and we posted a healthy 178 for 4 from our forty overs. Glen Rawson set the tone with a top score of 47, and once he'd departed David Castle carried on serenely to 43 not out, ushered along by Martin Harris's unbeaten 30. I weighed in with 29 of my own, more by good fortune than technique, and the total had a solid, respectable look about it as we came off for tea.

Then it was our turn to make the opposition's afternoon difficult, and difficult we duly made it. Locksbottom were bowled out for 120 in 36.4 overs, Will Whitton their only real resistance with 30, while poor Ravindra Wadhwani trudged off for a duck without troubling the scorers. Ian Hollingworth was magnificent, tearing through with 3 for 9 and three maidens besides — the sort of spell that has batsmen playing for the honour of the thing rather than the runs. Martin Harris chipped in again, this time with the ball for 3 for 36, and Tobey Castle mopped up with 2 for 9.

Glen keeps building a fine season, now second in the 2nd XI run charts with 344, and Ian sits second in the wicket charts with sixteen — form that owes nothing to luck. We got over the line comfortably in the end, and a thoroughly good day for the club it was too.

Wed 02 Sep 2015 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDLLLW

Between overs at Linton Park on the 2nd of September, drizzle drifting in off the boundary, I lost the toss and duly found myself fielding — which at least meant I could put the kettle on later with a clear conscience. The Mote CC made themselves at home, closing on 155 for 7 from their forty overs, Louis Cameron top-scoring with a watchful 37, well backed by William Thirkell's 26 and Rajeevan Raveendran's 25. Josh Sheriston, mercifully for us, departed without troubling the scorers. With the ball, Martin Harris was the pick of the attack with 2 for 18, Nat Presneill chipped in with 1 for 8, Darrell Houghton-Judge bowled two tidy maidens, and I managed to squeeze in a wicket of my own for just 7 runs — enough, I'm reliably informed, to nudge me past Stuart Cheesman into 23rd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, a statistic I shall be insufferable about for at least a fortnight.

Chasing 156, we never quite got the ship steady. Peter Whyte battled to 23 and Jacques Whyte added a useful 22, but wickets fell around them at the wrong moments, Tim Wright's golden duck chief among the blots on an otherwise honest scorecard. We were bowled out well short, going down by 62 runs in the end.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Sam Boyns continues to purr along in third in the Midweek XI run charts on 124, while Darrell Houghton-Judge leads the wicket-takers with 7. As for us — not our day, heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 30 Aug 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Knockers CC · HomeformLWWWL

Beaten and bowled off our feet, we still managed to smile through the drizzle-threatening clouds on Sunday. Winning the toss and batting first felt like a good idea at the time; 100 all out from 30 overs told a rather different story. I got us going with 24, and Luke Welsman chipped in gamely with 22, but the middle order rather fell away, and both Jack Gwynn and Trevor Back departed for golden ducks — the kind of contribution best forgotten before the tea urn's even boiled.

With the ball, though, we scrapped hard. Thisal Perera was the pick of the attack, prising out one for 21, and Martin Harris chimed in with a wicket of his own for 26. We even had the satisfaction of sending Scott Landers back for nought, which felt like a small victory amid the chase. But Knockers CC's Paul Seldon had other ideas, batting through unbeaten for a commanding 47, well supported by C Spencer Allen's unbeaten 32, and they cantered home to 101 for 2 in just 21.1 overs — making our total look rather smaller with every passing over.

Elsewhere in the club, Richard Piper continues his steady season, sitting fifth in the Sunday 1st XI run charts with 153 to his name — proof that not everything is doom and gloom at Linton Park.

As for the rest of us: outbatted, outlasted, and out of ideas by the finish. Beaten this time. We go again.

Sat 29 Aug 2015 🧢 1st XIv WC Withyham CC · HomeformWWLWL

A warm, damp Saturday it was for our meeting with Withyham CC, and I'll admit I did the one thing a captain can be certain of getting right or wrong in equal measure: I called correctly at the toss. No hesitation from me — we batted.

And bat we did. Two hundred and twenty-six for five off our forty overs, built on the sort of innings that makes a skipper look cleverer than he is. James Piper, unbeaten on 89, was the class of the afternoon, with Adam Jackson's 48 and Craig Sands' 25 lending sturdy support. The 109-run fourth-wicket stand was the platform for everything, and even our extras chipped in a handy 32, though Adam later paid for his generosity behind the stumps with 11 byes to his name.

Defending that total, the lads were magnificent. Withyham folded for 142, Jan Ball's 37 and George Smith's 28 the only real resistance, while Michael Hodges, Liam Cook and Richard Morris departed without scoring. The day belonged to Richard Knowler, whose 5-20 was a five-for of the highest quality, well backed by Joshua Knowler (2-26, two miserly maidens) and Thomas Beeney (2-29). A word too for Joshua, who passed 200 career wickets — a landmark thoroughly earned, and one that keeps him top of our 2015 wicket charts with 29, as Craig Sands leads with the bat on 879.

Eighty-four runs the winning margin. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 23 Aug 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv PC Pett CC · HomeformLWWLW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 23 August 2015. Pett CC at home, and a warm, damp afternoon that felt like it might do something clever with the ball, though as usual it waited until we'd lost the toss to prove it. Asked to field, we watched Pett post 156/8 from their forty overs, Chris Mills unbeaten on 46 and Timothy Hambridge chipping in a handy 37. Tim Wright was the pick of us with a superb 3-28 including two miserly maidens, and I managed to nick a wicket for 9 myself, John Karassellos doing likewise — honest toil in support of the main event.

A chase of 157 never looked comfortable on paper, but Jack Gwynn (58 not out) and Glen Rawson (55) played the sort of innings that make a captain's job easy, both reaching fifties as though the target were an afterthought, with Nat Presneill's 22 adding further ballast. I contributed rather less usefully — a duck, the walk of shame in full view of the ledger, and the less said about it the better. Elsewhere, Darrell Houghton-Judge reached the landmark of 50 career wickets, a fine achievement on any Sunday, let alone one where his captain couldn't trouble the scorers.

We eventually got over the line by three wickets, ducks, damp outfield and all. A scratchy day for me personally, but a thoroughly good one for the club — and really, that's the only column that counts.

Sun 23 Aug 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Selling CC · AwayformLLWWW

Sunday 23 August found us at Selling on a warm, damp afternoon, and Sod's Law being what it is, we lost the toss and were straight out into the field. Still, we've built a habit of making these things work for us, and so it proved with the bat: Warren Jackson played a proper captain's innings of 73, James Piper chipped in handsomely with 40, and the pair put on 90 for the first wicket before anyone at Selling so much as looked at the scoreboard. It wasn't all plain sailing — Thomas Beeney and Chris Newman both departed for ducks, the sort of thing that happens to the best of us and, on this occasion, happened twice — but 156/7 from our 35 overs felt like a total with enough about it to defend.

Defend it we very nearly did. Solomon Strickland made sure Selling never had to sweat, an unbeaten 67 shepherding them home with Andrew Kinch (26) and Ollie Lane (24) for company. I'll confess a little pride in picking up 1-27 with three maidens thrown in — not a run given away lightly, even if the rest of the afternoon rather ran away from us — and Thomas Beeney backed it up nicely with 1-35. Poor Luke Welsman had a torrid time behind the stumps, 25 byes rather summing up the pitch's mood. They got there in 30.4 overs, eight wickets in hand.

Beaten, then, but not disgraced. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sat 22 Aug 2015 🧢 2nd XIv LC Limpsfield Chart CC · HomeformWLLWL

We took the field on Saturday under a sky so scorching you could have fried an egg on the covers, and Limpsfield Chart CC duly arrived looking rather too pleased with themselves. Having lost the toss and been asked to bowl, we watched Asif Ali help himself to a monumental 225, the sort of innings that makes a captain reach for the sunscreen and the smelling salts in equal measure. David Waters chipped in with 29 and Abid Suleman with 21 as they closed on a mighty 329 for 4 from their forty overs. To our credit, we kept plugging away: Luke Welsman took 1-48, Tim Thirkell 1-49 and Darrell Houghton-Judge 1-57, honest toil against a total that had long since left the realms of the gettable. Small mercies: Thirkell's solitary wicket nudged him past Rob Doick into 24th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which is the sort of thing that keeps a bowler warm on a chilly changing-room evening, if not on a day like this one.

Chasing 330 was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved, though not without pride. Ryan Boyns played a lovely hand of 50, Ian Hollingworth finished unbeaten on 27, and Glen Rawson made a spirited 25, with extras adding a generous 32 to leave us on 225 for 9. I'll note, with as much modesty as I can muster, that I currently sit second in the season's run charts with 267, while Tim Wright leads our wicket-takers with 18 — proof there's life in this side yet. Beaten this time, no question. But we go again.

Sat 22 Aug 2015 🧢 1st XIv Cudham Wyse CC · AwayformWWWLW

What a scorcher to play cricket in, and what a way to spend it — chasing leather round Cudham Wyse's outfield in the August heat while our total of 172/6 slowly got swallowed whole.

Batting first, we made a decent enough fist of it. James Piper anchored the innings beautifully, farming the strike and finishing unbeaten on a fine 69, while Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 28 and I added 23 of my own in support. Special mention, as tradition demands, to Kevin Presneill, who marched out, had a look around, and marched straight back in again for nought — the Duck Club ledger duly updated, much to everyone's amusement but his own.

174 to defend from 40 overs looked gettable for a side with our bowling, and for a while it was. Joshua Knowler was superb, miserly and probing in equal measure, finishing with 1-28 and three maidens that choked the life out of the middle overs, with Martin Harris and Thomas Beeney both weighing in with a wicket apiece. But Waseem Abbas had other ideas, playing the innings of the day for an unbeaten 71, ushered along by useful contributions of 20 apiece from Andy Wood and Asif Nazir, and Cudham Wyse eased home with 4 wickets and more than two overs to spare.

James Piper continues his fine season, sitting second in the 1st XI run charts on 501, and Joshua Knowler remains top of the wicket pile with 27 — small consolations on a long, hot drive home. A defeat to learn from, and nothing more romantic than that.

Wed 19 Aug 2015 🧢 Midweek XIv Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformWDLLL

It was Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC who came calling on a pleasant, showery Wednesday, and having won the toss I stuck us in the field — the right call, if I'm allowed to say so myself. Our bowlers duly obliged: Tim Wright was the pick of the attack with 2-15, Darrell Houghton-Judge and Tobey Castle chipped in with 2-26 and 2-33 respectively, and Tim Thirkell bowled three maidens of such miserly precision he'd have made a bank manager weep with joy. Poor N- Badman departed without troubling the scorers, though G Balland (44), P- Wright (33) and Rob Yardy (23) between them dragged the visitors to 162 all out from 41.4 overs — a total that felt, at the time, rather more than a shower-interrupted afternoon deserved to yield.

With the target set, Luke Welsman played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 52 of real substance, and found a willing ally in Trevor Back, who made a handsome 49 of his own. Between them they eased us home to 165/4 in 39.3 overs, never looking especially troubled once they'd got their eye in.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Sam Boyns continues to build a fine case for himself, sitting third in the Midweek XI run charts on 122, while Darrell Houghton-Judge leads the wicket-takers with six. Two points, a six-wicket win, and — showers notwithstanding — a thoroughly satisfactory Wednesday's work.

Sun 16 Aug 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Holborough Anchorians CC · AwayformLLWWL

Sunday 16 August found us on the road at Holborough Anchorians, under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to spoil the party — a drizzly sort of afternoon, the kind that makes you glad of a decent kit bag and an optimistic disposition. I called correctly at the toss, which these days feels like an achievement in itself, and had no hesitation in batting first.

What followed was as handsome an innings as we've produced all season. Glen Rawson simply refused to get out, compiling a magnificent 122 not out, while Richard Piper played the perfect foil with a well-made 59. Between them they steered us to 216/1 from our forty overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

Defending it was a different sort of afternoon. Dave Light gave the Anchorians hope with a fighting 61, and a 64-run stand for the second wicket with Jawad Ali (32) kept them in the hunt as they reached 198/7. Darrell Houghton-Judge was superb, taking 4-34, and I chipped in with 1-24 and a couple of tidy maidens for good measure, with Tim Wright also among the wickets. We were far too generous through the air, mind — 26 wides and 3 no-balls is not a habit worth cultivating.

Still, we got home by 18 runs, Rawson and Houghton-Judge continuing to top the season's charts. A good day for the club, even if the discipline needs a stern word before next Sunday.

Sun 16 Aug 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · HomeformWLLWW

Skipper's Log, Sunday 16 August 2015: Mersham Le Hatch CC visited us on a pleasant, damp afternoon, and losing the toss meant we were straight into the field — never my favourite way to start a Sunday, but there we were.

To their credit, Mersham Le Hatch huffed and puffed their way to 86 all out from 29.4 overs, David Hatton's 22 the only real resistance before they subsided from 81 for 7 to all out with almost indecent haste. I can't claim I saw much of that collapse coming, but I'll happily take credit for hurrying it along — 5 for 22 was as good a day as I've had with the ball, and I'm not going to pretend otherwise. Sam Boyns chipped in with 2 for 19, Chris Newman took one, and Mark Christmas bowled three maidens without so much as a run to show for it, which is the sort of miserly effort that wins matches quietly.

Chasing 87 was never going to trouble us, and so it proved. Lewis Burnham played the innings of the day, 57 not out and utterly serene, with James Piper's 23 keeping him company as we strolled home by 9 wickets in just 17.5 overs — Pranav Saran and Rob Benn barely had time to pad up before it was all over.

A good day for the club, and with James Piper still leading our run charts and Sam Boyns topping the wickets column, the season continues to take a very pleasant shape indeed.

Sat 15 Aug 2015 🧢 2nd XIv Kemsing CC · HomeformWWLLW

From the captain's chair — a warm, cloudy Saturday, and Kemsing CC the visitors to Linton Park.

Batting first, we set about accumulating rather than dazzling, and 157/8 from our forty overs told the story fairly: solid rather than spectacular. David Castle was the exception, easing to a composed unbeaten 55 that carried the innings, and I found some form of my own alongside him with 25 before falling. Not everything went to plan — Luke Welsman's duck was the one blemish on an otherwise respectable card — but a total of substance was there to defend, even if it never quite felt like enough in the pavilion.

And so it proved. Kemsing chased with real purpose, James Walkling the chief architect with a fine unbeaten 69, well supported by Roger Shaddock's unbeaten 20, and they got home on 161/7 with two overs to spare. It wasn't for want of trying with the ball — we did have our moments, sending back Ian Martin and Colin Scarsi without troubling the scorers, Ian Hollingworth toiling manfully for 3-44, with Tim Wright (1-14, three miserly maidens) and Tim Thirkell (1-34) chipping in too. Just not quite enough on the day.

A word of real pride amid the defeat: Martin Harris brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth far more than any scoreline.

Beaten this time. We go again.

Sat 15 Aug 2015 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWWWWL

Another pleasant Saturday, another trip into Kent, and I'm pleased to say Marden CC found us in generous mood with neither bat nor ball. Winning the toss and opting to bowl first is always a bit of a gamble on a cloudy afternoon like this, but the lads repaid my faith handsomely, restricting the hosts to 138/6 from their forty overs. Sam Tomkinson gave us a few uncomfortable moments with a well-made 46, but Joshua Knowler was in miserly form, finishing with 2-16 including two maidens that must have tested the patience of anyone watching. I chipped in with 2-25 myself, and Thomas Beeney weighed in with a wicket too, so it was very much a team effort with the ball — nobody let the shackles off for long.

Chasing 139, we made light work of it, cruising home on 141/3 with a full fourteen overs unused. Daniel Thirkell led the way with a classy 43, James Piper gave him fine support with 41 — no surprise given he currently sits second in our 1st XI run charts this season — and Kevin Presneill saw us home unbeaten on 30. It all added up to a thoroughly comfortable afternoon's work, the kind where you can enjoy the tea without any of the usual nail-biting.

A fine win, then, built on disciplined bowling and calm, unhurried batting. Onwards indeed.

Fri 14 Aug 2015 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformWWDLL

Skipper's Log — Friday 14th August 2015. Warm, damp, and the Dragons rolling up for what would turn into one of those afternoons club cricket is built on.

I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains as reliable as an English summer — and we were asked to field. Chris Arnold made us pay in full, a majestic hundred that anchored their innings, with James Churchman's 68 and Simon Arnold's 37 filling in nicely either side of him. The openers put on 89 before we prised one out, and a stand of 147 for the second wicket did the real damage. Thomas Beeney led the attack manfully for 1-34, and Tim Wright bowled two overs you simply couldn't score off, but 240/2 from their 40 was a stiff ask.

We set off after it in style, James Piper and Kevin Presneill putting on 181 for the first wicket — Piper motoring to 93, Presneill a classy 80 — and for a while it looked like a formality. Then, as club cricket insists on doing, it all went wobbly: 228/4 became 234/7 in the blink of an eye, Darrell Houghton-Judge and I both contributing what the scorebook politely calls a duck. As captain, I like to lead by example; today's example was how not to occupy the crease. Presneill's afternoon behind the stumps was no picnic either, 21 byes testament to a pitch with ideas of its own.

There was real cheer amid the wreckage — Piper's 7,000 club runs, and Presneill's 80 easing him past William Buck on the all-time list. But for the side, two runs short is two runs short. Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 09 Aug 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Kings Hill CC · HomeformWLLWW

Beaten again, but by heaven, we made them work for it. Winning the toss and putting Kings Hill in on a warm, sunny afternoon looked like the right call for about twenty overs, until Shaun McMurray decided he fancied a hundred and duly helped himself to 105 not out, with Graham Hutchins ghosting past his own fifty to finish unbeaten on 87. The pair simply refused to be parted, and 232/2 from their forty overs was the rather chastening result. Credit where it's due to Tim Wright, who kept plugging away for 2-24 and gave our attack the only real cheer of the afternoon.

Chasing 233 was always going to want something special, and while we didn't quite conjure it, there was no shortage of application. Will Thew top-scored with a tidy 37, Richard Piper chipped in with 30, and Christopher Thirkell continued his fine season with 28 — enough to keep him second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 147 for the year. I managed to get a bit of bat on ball myself further down the order, though not enough to trouble the required rate. Poor Martin Harris, meanwhile, will want to forget the whole business — out for a duck and straight into the club's ledger of shame.

165/6 in reply told its own story. Outplayed by two batsmen in irresistible form, no more, no less. We dust ourselves down and go again next week.

Sat 08 Aug 2015 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWWWLL

Here's the match report:

Saturday the 8th of August found us on the road to Marden, under skies that couldn't quite decide whether they were being English on purpose or by accident — grey, warm, and entirely fitting for the cricket that followed. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat, a decision I'm rather pleased to say I'll be taking full credit for at the bar.

And what a total we posted. Will Thew batted with real class for his unbeaten 88, while Chris Newman kept him company in a wonderfully composed 82 — the two of them stitching together 170 for the fourth wicket and, in doing so, doing most of my captaincy for me. Elsewhere the card wasn't quite so kind: poor Christopher Thirkell will not be dining out on his contribution, departing for a duck that even the extras column (31, and grateful for them) rather outshone. I chipped in with the bat too, though I'll leave it at that rather than bore the gazette twice over. 243 for 4 from our forty overs felt like a score with some steel in it.

Marden gave it a proper go in reply, Nick Burdge leading their fightback with 48, well backed by Joseph Young's 38 and Elliot Aiken's unbeaten 38, the pair adding a stubborn 56 for the fifth wicket. But Darren Styles was in no mood for sentiment, snaring 2 for 21, with Richard Knowler (2-27) and Tobey Castle (1-32) tightening the screws until they fell 46 runs short on 197 for 9.

A fine team performance, and two points thoroughly banked.

Sat 08 Aug 2015 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 08 August 2015. Horsmonden CC at home, warm and cloudy, and true to form I lost the toss and watched them trot out to bat first. Not the start we wanted, but the lads dug in with the ball. Horsmonden's openers put on a punishing 203 before Joshua Knowler finally prised one out, finishing with 2-65, well backed up by Matthew Carter's 2-79 and Thomas Beeney's solitary strike. I did what I could with a couple of maidens, though truthfully it felt like bailing out a rowing boat with a teacup. Khaalid Moothosamy made merciless use of the flat pitch for a chanceless 141, with Sam Stibbs chipping in an elegant 88, and 300/5 from their forty overs left us with a proper mountain to climb.

We set off in fine style, Craig Sands and the top order laying a platform of 110 for the first wicket, and for a while you could almost believe. Daniel Thirkell's 78 was the innings' backbone, with Sands (64) and James Piper (56) both making handsome fifties around him — though poor Lewis Burnham's duck was a reminder that not every script has a happy ending, and eleven byes suggested my afternoon behind the stumps left something to be desired.

In the end 245/8 wasn't quite enough, and we fell 55 runs short. Not our day, but plenty of runs and wickets banked for the season — heads up, and back to the nets.

Tue 04 Aug 2015 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformLWWDL

I chipped in with 24 as we sent Bexley CC in on a pleasant, grey Tuesday afternoon, and I'll admit our attack looked rather better than our batting turned out to be. Bexley posted a hefty 223 all out from 39.5 overs, built around Jas Bassan's fine half-century of 55 and Matthew Stiddard's 52, with Samuel Barton chipping in 20. Credit where it's due, though — Darrell Houghton-Judge was superb with the ball, taking 4-34, I managed 2-27, and Sam Boyns was tidiness personified, 1-17 with two maidens to boot. We did at least have the satisfaction of sending Anish Patel back for a golden duck.

Chasing 223 was always going to ask questions of us, and we didn't have the answers. We subsided to 148 all out in 38 overs, a chase that never really got out of second gear. I made 24, ably supported by young Tim Thirkell's unbeaten 21, and between us we couldn't quite drag the innings to where it needed to be. Poor Martin Harris will want this one struck from the record — a duck to file straight into the club ledger — while our extras column, generous to the tune of 27, rather summed up an afternoon of small mercies and missed opportunities.

A defeat, then, and a fairly comprehensive one at that — but with Bexley's top order in that sort of mood, I'm not sure many sides in the league would have fared much better. Plenty to work on with the bat before our next outing.

Sun 02 Aug 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Herne CC · AwayformLWLLW

A warm, cloudy afternoon greeted us at Herne, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in asking the lads to bat first — the sort of decision that looks either shrewd or reckless by close of play, and I'm delighted to report it was the former. We were bowled out for a healthy 177 in 34.1 overs, built around a lovely half-century from Christopher Thirkell, well supported by Martin Harris (40) and Kevin Presneill (39). Russell Dack and Nat Presneill both fell without troubling the scorers, but the total had real substance to it.

With the ball, we set about Herne with purpose. Neil Robinson's 29 was the best of a brittle resistance, and they were dismissed for 101 in 25.1 overs, Kashif Anwer and Mark Gibson both departing for ducks. Darrell Houghton-Judge was quite magnificent, ripping through with 3-3, while I chipped in with 2-9 and a couple of maidens, and Ian Hollingworth backed it up with 2-22. Kevin Presneill had a trickier time behind the stumps, 9 byes going astray, and as for my own batting — a golden blob, proof that a captain must lead by example, though not always in the manner intended.

There was a personal landmark too: my 900th appearance in Linton colours, which softened the blow of the duck considerably. A fine win by 76 runs, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sun 02 Aug 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLWLLW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 2nd August 2015. We hosted Bearsted CC on a warm, overcast afternoon, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in sending us in to bat. It looked the right call too, once James Piper and his opening partner had put on 72 for the first wicket and the platform seemed set for something substantial. Piper went on to a fine 73, and I chipped in with 23 alongside Sam Boyns's unbeaten 24 — but from 104 for 2 we somehow contrived to lose three wickets for seven runs, with Mark Christmas, Chris Newman and Thisal Perera all departing for golden ducks. All out for 162 from 38.5 overs felt like a score we'd left runs out on the field for.

With the ball, though, it was a different story entirely. Bearsted never got going — 3 for 1 early doors, Robert Haggart back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and I found some rare rhythm through the air, spinning my way to 5 for 13 with three maidens thrown in for good measure. Richard Knowler (1-7) and Mark Christmas (1-19) mopped up the rest as the visitors were bowled out for 140 in 37.3 overs, 22 runs short of our total.

A day with a little extra sentiment attached, too — my 200th appearance in Linton colours, and what better way to mark it than a five-wicket haul on a ground where the ducks outnumbered the sunny spells. Piper continues to lead our Sunday run charts, Boyns our wickets, and the side, for all our middle-order wobbles, walked off worthy winners. A good day for the club, and not a bad one for the skipper either.

Sat 01 Aug 2015 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLWWWL

Saturday last, 1st August, saw us pack the kit bags off to Bearsted, where their skipper called it right and stuck us in – which, on reflection, may have been the last thing that went their way.

David Castle and Joe Martin proceeded to bat as though the coin toss owed them a personal apology, putting on 144 for the third wicket between them – Castle's 71 and Martin's 69 both fine half-centuries, each seemingly trying to outdo the other in elegance if not quite in arithmetic. Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in a brisk 21 not out, extras weighed in with a generous 45, and we closed on a hearty 252/8 from our forty overs. A total, I felt, with a bit of menace about it.

Alas, cricket has a way of humbling the optimist. Bearsted's openers laid down a platform of 78 before the first wicket fell, and from there Sam Prideaux (95 not out) and Tim Croom (62) simply declined to be parted from the crease, chasing down 255/4 with overs to spare. Martin Harris toiled manfully for his 3-57, Tim Wright picked up one, but the platform proved unshakeable.

Still, no complaints from this corner about the form of Joe Martin, now top of the 2nd XI run charts on 401, or Tim Wright leading the wickets column with 15. As for Saturday – beaten by six wickets, heads held high(ish), and back to the nets we go.

Sat 25 Jul 2015 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · HomeformLLWWW

Skipper's Log, Saturday 25th July 2015. We welcomed Betsham CC on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon, and having won the toss I sent them in — a decision that looked reasonable enough for about three overs before Sam Willis decided he rather liked the look of our bowling. He finished unbeaten on a magnificent 94, with Jerome Adams (67) offering sturdy company and Gaurav Bijlani chipping in 25. Tim Wright was our pick of the attack with 2-33, Darren Styles adding 1-58, but 230/3 from 40 overs was a hefty total to chase, and we trudged off the field doing the mental arithmetic that captains dread.

The reply never quite got the momentum required. Joe Martin played the innings of the day, a fine 58, with Glen Rawson (37) lending real substance in support. I managed 30 myself, which felt like a reasonable contribution without ever threatening to turn the tide. Sadly Chris Newman and Darrell Houghton-Judge both fell for ducks — the sort of blot on the card that no captain enjoys writing up — and we closed on 220/9 from our 40 overs, ten runs shy of the target.

Joe Martin continues to lead our 2015 run charts with 332 for the season, and Darren Styles tops the wicket pile with 14 — small consolations on an afternoon that got away from us. A closely fought match, a defeat, and, as ever in this game, plenty to learn from before we're back out there next weekend.

Sat 25 Jul 2015 🧢 1st XIv SC Shoreham (Kent) CC · AwayformWWWWW

A drizzly Saturday down at Shoreham (Kent), and if I'm honest I'd have taken 149/7 with both hands before a ball was bowled in that damp. James Piper played the innings of the day, a fine 69, and found sound support from Adam Jackson with 23 — the rest of us shuffled about in support, myself included, contributing what I could to nudge us to a total that felt distinctly gettable rather than imposing. Less gloriously, Daniel Thirkell's name goes into the Duck Club ledger for a nought, a walk of shame he'll not thank me for immortalising in print, but rules are rules.

Then came the bit where the afternoon turned thoroughly in our favour. Shoreham's reply lasted all of 17.1 overs before folding for 42, and it's hard to know where to start with the bowling. Matthew Carter was quite simply unplayable, ripping through them for 6-10, with Thomas Beeney (2-9) and Joshua Knowler (2-16) mopping up anything left standing. Gary Hukins, Simon Wells and George Rivett all departed for ducks of their own, which rather evens the karmic scales after Thirkell's effort with the bat. Piper's innings keeps him second in the 1st XI run charts for the season with 335, while Knowler's afternoon nudges him to second in the wicket standings with 22.

We got over the line with plenty to spare. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the drive home to be enjoyed rather than endured.

Sun 19 Jul 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv TC Telston & Mereworth CC · HomeformWLWLL

Right, another Sunday in the book. Warm and cloudy over Linton Park as we welcomed Telston & Mereworth CC, and I won't pretend the pre-match nerves weren't there — they rarely aren't. We batted first and set about building something substantial, with Christopher Thirkell the pick of the order on 40, well backed up by Daniel Thirkell's 37 and Nigel Thirkell's tidy 30. Between them they steered us to a healthy 210 for 7 from our 40 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain sleep easy at tea, or as easy as one ever does.

Defending it was always going to be the examination, and the lads passed with something to spare. Telston & Mereworth fought hard through Chris Keeler's 24 and useful contributions from Chris Medhurst (22 not out) and Mark McCulley (21), but they never quite got away from us, closing on 139 for 8. Darrell Houghton-Judge led the charge with a superb 3 for 32, I chipped in with 2 for 26, and Martin Harris weighed in with 2 for 37 — Jeremy Heap departing for a duck along the way. Thisal Perera, meanwhile, bowled with a miser's discipline, four maidens and not a run given away lightly.

As for my own batting — nought, and the less said the better; we shall draw that veil as promised. But with the ball doing its job and Houghton-Judge now top of our wicket charts, this was a thoroughly deserved win, and one to savour on the drive home.

Sun 19 Jul 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Stowting CC · AwayformWLWLL

A grey Sunday at Stowting brought us out for the toss, and I opted to bowl first — conditions felt like they owed us a nibble, and for once the pitch agreed with my thinking. Stowting nudged their way to 128/9 from their forty overs, with Troy Harding unbeaten on 30 and Andy Parmenter chipping in 28, though it was never quite fluent enough to worry us. I managed 2-12 myself, Thomas Beeney chimed in with 2-22, Tim Wright picked up a handy 1-7, and Joshua Knowler strangled the middle overs with two maidens that the batsmen simply couldn't get away — Mark Graves in particular will want to forget his duck. All told, a total we always felt was a touch light.

So it proved. We knocked off 129/2 in just 14.5 overs, barely breaking sweat on a fine batting surface. I found my range early and finished on 87, which I'll modestly call the innings of the day, while James Piper played the perfect supporting hand with 26 not out to see us home in a canter.

Add in the pleasing footnote that Chris Newman brought up 200 career wickets, and the season's charts ticking along nicely with Piper top of the run pile and Beeney second among the wicket-takers, and you have as satisfying an afternoon as club cricket offers. A fine win, and one we'll happily bank. Onwards indeed.

Sat 18 Jul 2015 🧢 2nd XIv OC Outwood CC · AwayformWLLWW

Saturday 18 July 2015, and off we trotted to Outwood CC under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain or merely sulk. I lost the toss — again — and duly found ourselves out in the drizzle. Outwood ground their way to 161/9 from their forty overs, John Hall's unbeaten 63 the innings' backbone, with Nat Hiscocks chipping in 25. Credit where due, though: Joe Martin was a menace with the ball, 4-18 and three maidens of pure discipline, while Tobey Castle (2-22) and Ian Hollingworth (2-34) tidied up the rest. Poor David Castle had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, eight byes squeezing through fingers that, I'm told, were doing their honest best in the wet.

A target of 162 looked eminently gettable, and so it proved. Joe Martin, clearly not content with his bowling heroics, strode out and blazed 73 not out — the man was simply everywhere. I found some form myself too, easing to 60 not out, which I'll confess was rather satisfying after a season of more modest returns, and Will Thew's 21 kept things ticking nicely. We cantered home on 162/2 in just 25.2 overs.

Eight wickets, and Joe Martin now sits proudly atop the run charts with 274 and third in the wickets column with ten — a one-man highlights reel. A thoroughly fine win. Onwards.

Sat 18 Jul 2015 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · HomeformLWWWW

From the captain's chair, and what a chair it was to sit in this particular Saturday. Southborough came to Linton Park on a warm, grey afternoon and made themselves thoroughly at home for a while, posting a stiff 175/7 from their forty overs — Kevin Matthews the chief architect with a fine 53, well backed by Steve Smith's 27 and Andrew Dennis's 26. There were moments, though, when the tide turned our way, not least when we had Danny Coombs back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. With the ball I can't complain either — chipped in with 2-44 and a couple of maidens for good measure, while Joshua Knowler was pick of the attack with 2-38 and Matthew Carter matched him wicket for wicket.

Chasing 176 to win, we simply never looked troubled. Craig Sands and James Piper strolled to an unbroken opening stand, Sands finishing unbeaten on a magnificent 88 and Piper not far behind on 73, and we cantered home at 179 without loss in 25.4 overs — the sort of chase that makes the tea afterwards taste that bit sweeter. A nice footnote to the day: Piper's innings shuffled him past me and into 20th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is either a tribute to his form or a gentle hint that I should be scoring more runs myself.

All in all, a thoroughly good day for the club — professional with the ball, ruthless with the bat, and we got over the line without so much as a bead of sweat on the committee's brow.

Wed 15 Jul 2015 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformLLWWD

I was pleased to lead from the front with 57, and if I'm honest, that's about the only thing that went right on a warm, drizzly Wednesday against a determined Lord Cornwallis XI.

Losing the toss on a day like that always feels ominous, and so it proved. Put into the field, we watched W Montgomery help himself to a chanceless 116 — three figures, no less — while D Lock (34) and A Newport (29) tidied up around him as the visitors racked up 261/5 from their 43 overs. To our credit, we kept plugging away: brother Tim was the pick of the attack with 2-41, Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-63, and I managed 1-42 for my troubles, though poor Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping nine byes in the muggy conditions.

Chasing 262 was always a tall order, and so it proved, though not without some pride restored. I found some form to top-score with 57, Sam Boyns played nicely for 32, and Luke Welsman added a breezy 23, but we subsided to 171/9 from 41.3 overs — with poor Jordan Austin enduring the walk of shame for a duck along the way.

There was cause for private celebration amid the public disappointment: I brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, and Tim's brace saw him leapfrog John Taylor into 25th on our all-time wicket-taking list. Small mercies on a 90-run defeat — heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 12 Jul 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Rolvenden CC · AwayformLWLWL

From the captain's chair, Sunday 12 July 2015: away to Rolvenden CC on an afternoon best described as pleasantly drizzly, the sort of day that makes you wonder whether the covers or the kettle will be needed first. I called correctly at the toss and, with rain in the offing and stubbornness in my heart, had no hesitation in choosing to bat. History, as it so often does with me, promptly disagreed.

We were bowled out for 99 in 25.5 overs, a total that flattered to deceive. Will Thew was the shining exception, batting with real substance for 44 while wickets fell around him like dominoes. Tim Wright, Martin Harris and Luke Welsman each contributed what the scorebook charitably calls a golden duck — three ducks in one innings takes a certain dedication, and I salute them for it.

With the ball, we at least made a fist of things. Martin Harris, clearly keen to atone, led the attack superbly with 1-8, while Ian Hollingworth and Thisal Perera chipped in with 1-9 apiece, Hollingworth's two maidens a picture of miserly restraint. Sadly Steve Stickels had other ideas, crashing a fine 52 to see Rolvenden home at 101/3 from 20.4 overs.

Beaten by seven wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Will Thew's 44 keeps him 5th in our Sunday runs charts, and Thisal Perera's lone wicket holds 5th in the bowling. We'll be better for it next week — we usually are, eventually.

Sun 12 Jul 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Wye CC · HomeformWWLWL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 12 July 2015

There's a particular flavour of English optimism required to invite yourself into the field on a pleasant, drizzly afternoon, and that's precisely what fate handed us when we lost the toss to Wye CC and were asked to bowl first. We gave it everything: Sam Boyns turned in a match-defining spell of 5-45, spinning the visitors into knots, with Mark Christmas (2-34) and Thomas Beeney (2-36) mopping up either end. Max Campbell's 82 was the innings that hurt most, well supported by Jack Kellam (40) and Robert Banks (27), and Wye eventually folded for 191 in 35.2 overs — though not before Matt Barnes, Neil Williams and Joe Elgar had all trudged back for ducks of their own.

With 192 to chase, James Piper (62) and Lewis Burnham (46) built us a proper platform — 112 for the first wicket, no less — before the innings did its best impression of a collapsing deckchair, tumbling to 113-4 in the blink of an eye. Sam Boyns' unbeaten 28 kept us honest, but three of us — Jordan Austin, Chris Newman and I — all joined the Duck Club that day, and I'll confess mine was a golden blob; a captain ought to lead by example, and on this occasion I led by the very worst one. Twenty-four wides and no-balls gifted away didn't help our cause either.

We fell 12 runs short in the end. A afternoon of fine individual battling undone by soft moments — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 11 Jul 2015 🧢 2nd XIv SK Sandhurst CC, Kent · HomeformWWLLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 11 July 2015. A warm, overcast afternoon greeted Sandhurst CC, Kent, as we welcomed them to the ground, and by close of play I dare say we sent them home with more respect for Linton Park than they arrived with.

Batting first, we posted a serviceable 176/8 from our forty overs. Glen Rawson led the charge with a fine 48, well supported by Tobey Castle and Martin Harris, both making 31 apiece — and a magnificent 34 in extras, which I'm reliably informed counts on the scorecard even if it doesn't count for much in the pub afterwards. The Duck Club, alas, welcomed three new members in David Castle, Luke Welsman and Joe Martin, while your captain contributed his now-customary nought — a performance over which the club, and indeed I, shall draw a discreet veil.

In the field, Sandhurst fought hard, reaching 158/6, with Sam Barrett's 58 and Nigel Collison's unbeaten 57 threatening to spoil our afternoon. But Joe Martin, atoning handsomely for his duck, ripped through with 2-13, ably backed by Darren Styles (1-21, two miserly maidens) and Tim Wright (1-27). David Castle endured a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes testament to a tricky pitch rather than a lack of trying.

We held our nerve to win by 18 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, ducks and all.

Sat 11 Jul 2015 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence CC · AwayformWLWWW

I'll assist with the match report using the given facts.

Right then — Saturday 11 July, off to St Lawrence CC under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to be summer or not, and a squad determined to make the trip worthwhile.

Put in first, we set about the home side with the ball and had them back in the hutch for 147 off 26 overs. Matt Young gave us the most bother with a fluent 67, well backed up by Harry Hobbs's 24, but the bowlers had the last word. Thomas Beeney was magnificent, hoovering up four for 28, with Joshua Knowler chipping in nicely at 3-43. I managed to get among the wickets myself with a modest 1-24, which I shall claim as a captain's contribution and leave it there.

A target of 148 should never trouble a side with our top order, and so it proved. Craig Sands set the tone with a superb 67, and James Piper's 41 kept things ticking, while an opening stand of 83 gave us the platform to relax into the chase — though not everyone found the party: poor Kevin Presneill made his way back for a duck, and Sands, doing double duty behind the stumps, leaked 8 byes for his trouble. I was happy to see us home with an unbeaten 48.

There were milestones to toast too — Stuart Cheesman climbing both the run-scoring and wicket-taking lists in the same afternoon is no mean feat.

Three wickets to spare, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying day's work. We'll take that.

Sat 04 Jul 2015 🧢 2nd XIv LC Locksbottom CC · AwayformLWWLL

I chuckled all the way to Locksbottom that we'd get first use of the ball on such a warm, bright afternoon, and for a good while it looked the right call. Their innings ran to 189 all out from 38 overs, with Will Whitton's well-made fifty of 54 the backbone of it, Felix Habgood chipping in handsomely with 46. We did have our moments, though — Jamie Wells departed for a golden duck, and the day belonged, rightly and richly, to Darren Styles, whose 5-35 was as fine a spell as you'll see on a village green. Ian Hollingworth (2-21, two maidens and not a run given away cheaply) and Tobey Castle (2-34) did the honest supporting work that never makes the headlines but wins matches all the same.

Chasing 190, we set about it in good heart. Joe Martin was magnificent, unbeaten on 64, and found willing partners in David Castle (31) and Richard Piper (29). Tim Wright's duck was the one blemish on an otherwise handsome scorecard, and I was happy enough to potter to 21 myself while the real work went on around me. We got home at 191/6 with three overs unused — comfortable enough, in the end, that the tea urn had barely cooled.

A word, too, for Chris Newman, who brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark that says rather more about loyalty than any scoreline can. With Joe Martin and Darren Styles both leading the club's run and wicket charts this season, the future looks bright. A fine win, thoroughly deserved. Onwards.

Sat 04 Jul 2015 🧢 1st XIv LK Leigh CC, Kent · HomeformWWLWW

A warm one for the Saturday men, and warmer still for the scorebook: Leigh CC, Kent, visited on a bright July afternoon and left having watched Craig Sands cash in his fourteen-thousandth career run for the club. That in itself would have made the day, but there was cricket to be played first, and thankfully we obliged.

Batting first, we posted a handsome 230/7 from our forty overs, built chiefly around Sands' 76 and a fine 55 from James Piper — the pair doing the sort of damage that makes a captain's job at tea rather easy. Adam Jackson's unbeaten 27 added late gloss, and even the extras column chipped in a generous 26, which I shall take without complaint or inquiry.

Defending that total, we set about Leigh CC, Kent with real purpose. Thomas Beeney was superb, prising out three for a miserly 22, with Stuart Cheesman (3-32) and Joshua Knowler (2-25) doing plenty of the heavy lifting either side of him. I bowled a couple of maidens myself and managed 21 with the bat for good measure, though the story of the innings was two ducks for their openers and a collapse to 111 all out, despite Tim Piper's battling 40 and Kieran Bence's 24.

A day when the sun shone, the runs flowed, and history was made in the same afternoon — we got over the line comfortably, and thoroughly deserved it too.

Fri 03 Jul 2015 🧢 Twenty20v Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWWWLW

It's a warm, overcast Friday at home to Sissinghurst, and having called correctly I sent them in, more in hope than science. They crawled to 111/9 off their twenty, never quite escaping our grip, with Gregory Keddy top-scoring on 31 and Ben Methven chipping in 30 alongside him. Ryan Boyns was the pick of a disciplined attack, mixing things up nicely for 3-16, while I found some rhythm of my own with the ball, taking 2-5, and Darrell Houghton-Judge weighed in with 1-10 for good measure. A tidy, patient bowling display all round — the sort where nobody quite lets go of the rope.

A target of 112 always looked gettable on a good surface, and so it proved, if not entirely without the odd nervous single. We got there in 16.5 overs for the loss of three, the innings anchored from start to nearly finish by Richard Piper, unbeaten on 37 and looking barely troubled throughout. The rest of us shuffled about supportively in his shadow, which, frankly, is not the worst policy against a total like that.

It's worth noting Richard now tops the club's Twenty20 run charts for the season with 52, and I find myself, rather improbably, leading the wicket-takers with 3. Long may that continue — or at least until someone points out how few games that actually represents.

All told, a comfortable and thoroughly pleasant afternoon's work: tight in the field, calm with the bat, home before the tea went cold. A good day for the club.

Wed 01 Jul 2015 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformLLLWW

On a scorching afternoon we welcomed Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC, and I can report that both bat and ball did rather more talking than the toss did.

Batting first, we made ourselves thoroughly at home. Will Thirkell led the charge with a crisp 58, well past his fifty, and found a willing partner in Sam Boyns, whose own half-century of 56 kept the scoreboard humming along nicely. Peter Whyte then rounded things off in style with an unbeaten 43, and by the time we declared the innings closed we'd racked up a handsome 212 for 3 from our 32 overs — the sort of total that has the tea urn practically boiling itself in anticipation.

Defending it in the heat was a different kind of test, and I'm rather pleased with how the lads stuck to their task. Sevenoaks fought back gamely through Dominic Ramjag's 46 and a solid 40 from R Frazer, with O- Mayes unbeaten on 29 at the close, but our bowling never let the game drift entirely out of reach. Thomas Beeney was the pick of the attack, miserly with three maidens and finishing with 2 for 29, while I chipped in with 2 for 31 myself to keep the pressure on. They closed on 171 for 5 from their 40 overs, just short of what they needed.

So honours shared, and a draw that felt more like two sides refusing to blink than a damp squib. On a day this hot, nobody deserved to lose.

Sun 28 Jun 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC · AwayformWWWLW

Beaten by 3 wickets at Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill on a drizzly Sunday afternoon, and I'll admit the toss going against us set the tone before a ball was bowled. Batting first, we huffed and puffed our way to 171 all out in 39.3 overs — Glen Rawson led the way with 40, I chipped in with 35, and Benjamin Austin's 21 kept things ticking, though the sight of Jordan Austin, Martin Harris and Nat Presneill all departing without troubling the scorers suggested our batting order had rather too many soft centres. Twenty-nine extras from a grateful home side did nothing for our collective pride, though it was quietly the difference between respectable and embarrassing.

With the ball, we scrapped hard. Tim Wright was superb, ripping through with 3-14, and got fine support from Martin Harris (2-21) and Thisal Perera (2-27) — Tom Day even fell to us for a duck. But Rob Baldwin's unbeaten 48, ably supported by Ian Hayward's 34 and Lucas Perry's 25, nudged the hosts home to 175/7 with an over to spare.

There was, at least, one moment for the scrapbook amid the gloom: Glen Rawson brought up 8,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that deserves rather more fanfare than a rain-soaked defeat allows. Rawson now sits second in this season's run charts, Wright fifth among the wicket-takers — proof the engine is sound even when the result isn't. A losing afternoon, honestly assessed, but the bones of a decent side are there. Onwards to next week.

Sun 28 Jun 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · HomeformWLWLW

Sunday 28th June, and we welcomed New Ifield CC on a warm, damp afternoon that felt about right for the occasion — the sort of weather that makes you wonder whether you've come out to play cricket or wade through a swamp. I lost the toss, we were put into the field, and eventually made our way to the crease.

Batting first turned out rather well for us. We posted 207 all out from 39 overs, built around a fine 102-run stand for the third wicket. I was fortunate enough to find some form and lead from the front with 84, with Mark Christmas chipping in a well-made fifty of his own on 53, and Riley Butler adding a brisk 39. It wasn't all plain sailing — three ducks on the card (Alex Wade, Luke Welsman and Gregory Ralph all fell without scoring) reminded us this remains a game of glorious uncertainty.

Sadly, 207 wasn't enough. New Ifield chased it down for the loss of just two wickets, Lyle Wheeler compiling an unbeaten 87 and Joe Lawrence a composed 55 to see them home in 36.3 overs. I did what I could with the ball, picking up 1-19 with two maidens, and Riley Butler chipped in with 1-38, but eleven byes behind the stumps on a tricky afternoon for the gloves didn't help our cause.

Beaten by eight wickets in the end — no disgrace against a fine knock, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 27 Jun 2015 🧢 2nd XIv SC Speldhurst CC · HomeformWLWWL

We lost the toss on a warm, overcast Saturday and watched Speldhurst CC elect to field, which at least spared me the indignity of a bad decision at the coin for once. In they trooped, out we went, and 240/7 from our forty overs felt like a tidy afternoon's work — Glen Rawson top-scoring with a fine 47, Ian Hollingworth unbeaten on 25, and yours truly contributing 42 in what I like to think of as a captain's innings, though the extras column's 34 probably did more heavy lifting than I did.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Speldhurst set about our total with real purpose, and Chris Pannell's 85 was the sort of innings that makes you quietly reconsider your field placings every over. David Harris (57 not out) and Peter K Eames (49) kept the scoreboard humming along nicely behind him, and by the close they'd eased to 243/5. Credit where it's due — Ian Hollingworth was superb, 2-17 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and Luke Welsman and Tim Thirkell chipped in a wicket apiece, but it wasn't quite enough on the day.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: I brought up 12,000 career runs for the club, which felt rather nice even in defeat. Glen Rawson sits second in the Second XI run charts, Ian Hollingworth fourth in the wickets — proper form there. As for the result, five wickets down to Speldhurst is no disgrace, but it's back to the nets all the same.

Sat 27 Jun 2015 🧢 1st XIv WC Withyham CC · AwayformWWWLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 27 June 2015. Withyham CC, away.

A warm, cloudy afternoon greeted us at Withyham, though the day's first blow was losing the toss — a coin that has developed a worrying habit of siding against me this season. Put in the field, we watched George Smith and Michael Hodges settle in rather too comfortably, both bringing up fine half-centuries (65 not out and 56 respectively) while Harry Norton chipped in with 20, and Withyham closed on a stiff-looking 178/6 from their forty overs. I can't pretend I wasn't relieved to find some rhythm with the ball myself, taking 3-24 with four maidens to go with it — the sort of afternoon a captain quietly hopes for when the runs are flowing the wrong way. Joshua Knowler backed that up nicely with 3-28, and between us we kept a lid on things when it mattered.

Chasing 178, we were, frankly, ruthless. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, 80 not out, ably supported by Daniel Thirkell's fine unbeaten 69, and the pair simply took the game away from Withyham, wrapping it up at 179/1 with a full twelve overs unused. Poor Liam Cook and Michael Whitehead barely got their pads on, sent back without troubling the scorers, though nobody was complaining from the boundary. Sands did have a wobble behind the stumps, shipping eight byes, but with the bat in hand he was faultless.

Nine wickets, two points, and a thoroughly deserved one — the sort of result that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter.

Sun 21 Jun 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · AwayformWWLWL

On a showery Sunday afternoon we made the trip to Horton Kirby CC, and while the forecast was uninspiring, the cricket rather made up for it. Asked to field first, we watched Richard Pleydell play a fine hand of 78, well supported by Liam Kirby's 46 and Gordon Watts's 36, as the openers put on a crucial 110 before the innings gained any momentum for us. Nick Toomey did at least fall for a duck, courtesy of William Samuels, as the hosts reached 239 for 8 from their forty overs. Darrell Houghton-Judge was the pick of our attack with 3 for 40, Jack Gwynn chipped in with 2 for 49, Nat Presneill picked up 1 for 3, and I did my bit with a couple of maidens of my own — nothing flashy, but not a run given away lightly either.

Chasing 240 is never a formality, and an early stumble to 1 for 1 had me reaching for the antacids. But Glen Rawson settled every nerve with a magnificent 110, the innings of the day, ably assisted by Tim Wright's 33 and Christopher Thirkell's 29 in a third-wicket stand worth 75. Poor Will Thew endured the walk of shame for a duck, but nobody remembers that on a winning day. We closed on 240 for 6 from 39 overs.

Glen's century also carries him past Piers McDonald to 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers' list, and lifts him to 2nd in this season's Sunday 2nd XI run charts, with Darrell now 3rd among the wicket-takers. A scrappy, occasionally hair-raising, thoroughly deserved win by three wickets. Onwards.

Sun 21 Jun 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Staplehurst CC · HomeformWWWWL

I'll be brief and shift into the captain's voice.

Sunday 21 June brought Staplehurst CC to Linton Park, and my luck was out before a ball was bowled — I lost the toss and duly found myself in the field, or rather, watching from the outside as we were put in to bat.

We stuttered along to 158/9 from our 40 overs, rescued largely by Sam Boyns's unbeaten 35, with useful support from Adam Jackson (23) and James Piper (21). I'll draw a discreet veil over my own contribution, save to say that both Luke Welsman and I departed for ducks — misery loves company, and at least I had it. Not the platform we'd hoped for, but a total, of sorts.

In the field, Staplehurst threatened to make a mockery of it. Oli Henson's fine 59 and George Watts's 35 put on 94 for the fourth wicket and had us reaching for the excuses drawer. But cricket, like the English weather, delights in a reversal: Benjamin Austin ripped through with 4-17, Sam Boyns backed up his batting with 3-26 (and three tidy maidens besides), and Joshua Knowler chipped in with 2-35, while Graham Ward and Tom Jessel joined the duck club without troubling the scorers. Staplehurst folded for 156 in 34.3 overs.

Two runs. That's all that separated us — enough to make an old heart flutter, not enough to spare the skipper's golden blob from the record book. A captain should lead by example; on this evidence, I led everyone straight to the tea urn instead. Still, a win's a win, and a good day for the club.

Fri 19 Jun 2015 🧢 Twenty20v Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLWWWL

Sissinghurst won the toss and, showing more optimism than local knowledge, stuck us in the field. On a Friday evening that felt more like a formality than an ordeal, we restricted them to 149/9 — a total that flattered them for about the first fifteen overs and then betrayed them entirely. Benjamin Austin was the chief architect of the collapse, 2-12 of genuine hostility, well supported by Joshua Knowler (2-13) and Martin Harris (2-14), while Aidan Child departed for a duck at our hands, which he will not thank me for mentioning. Colin Jenkins, to his credit, stood firm for an unbeaten 55 and dragged them to something resembling respectability.

Chasing 150 in twenty overs is never quite the stroll it looks on paper, and so it proved, but Will Thirkell set about it with real purpose, top-scoring with 47 and currently sitting proudly atop our 2015 Twenty20 run charts for his trouble. Jordan Austin chipped in nicely with 25, and the pair put on a crucial 54 for the third wicket that took the game away from Sissinghurst's grasp. Twenty-five extras did their bit too — not the stuff of legend, but runs are runs, and we were grateful for every one of them.

In the end we scrambled home by three wickets with the equivalent of five balls to spare, which is precisely the margin a captain likes best: comfortable enough to enjoy the tea, tight enough to make the walk off the field feel like an achievement. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 14 Jun 2015 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Sibton Park CC · HomeformWLWLW

Here's the match report:

It was a bright June morning when Sibton Park CC rolled into Linton Park, and I won the toss — electing to field first, which I still maintain was the right call, whatever the scoreboard might later suggest.

Their innings ran to the full forty overs and 208 for 7, built almost entirely around Andy Allon, who made a chanceless, unanswerable 101 not out. Martyn Wren (25) and Tim Bishop (22) offered support, while at the other end I managed to have a say myself, finishing with 3 for 48 — the pick of an attack that also saw Joshua Knowler (1-45) and Sam Boyns (1-52) chip in, and Josh Woodward depart for a golden duck.

Chasing 209 was always going to ask serious questions of our top order, and 114 all out in 32.3 overs was, frankly, an answer we'd rather not have given. Stuart Cheesman battled to 34 and Craig Sands to 33, but the middle and lower order rather crumbled around them, with Jordan Austin and Matthew Carter both walking back for ducks.

There were, at least, crumbs of comfort amid the wreckage. James Piper's useful 8 nudged him past Paul Brattle into 22nd on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and he now sits second in this season's Sunday run charts on 40, with Joshua Knowler leading the wicket-takers on 5.

A defeat by 94 runs, then — no dressing it up. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 14 Jun 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv High Halstow CC · AwayformWWWLW

Beaten? Yes. Bowed? Never. We rolled up at High Halstow on a grey Sunday afternoon, won the toss, and sent them in — which, in hindsight, was rather like inviting the fox for a stroll round the henhouse. Adam Whatman helped himself to a magnificent unbeaten 115, with Ashley Trigg (69) and Tyler Dockwray (61) offering more than able support as they racked up 329 for 4 from their forty overs. I did manage to prise one out for 17 runs, Jacob Ryan chipped in with a wicket too, but it was Tim Wright who toiled hardest for figures of 2-82 — a captain's innings with the ball if ever I saw one, on an afternoon when the scoreboard simply refused to stop ticking over.

Chasing 330 was always going to require something heroic, and instead we got 86 all out in 24.1 overs — heroic mainly in its brevity. Ray Dixon top-scored with a battling 20, standing rather alone as the innings collapsed around him, while Leo Hodges, Jacob Ryan and Michael Beeney each contributed the purest of ducks, three noughts lined up like a row of sorry full stops. It was, in short, an afternoon to forget with the bat.

Still, credit where it's due: Ray sits third in our 2015 Sunday 2nd XI run charts, and Tim Wright now leads the wicket-takers with three. Small mercies, gratefully received. Beaten this time, no question — but we dust ourselves down, put the kettle on, and go again next week.

Sun 14 Jun 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv PC Pluckley CC · AwayformWWWWW

As the captain of Linton Park, at least three of my nine years of collecting these away fixtures at Pluckley have ended just like this one — agonisingly, and in the drizzle.

We won the toss, decided to bat, and made 185 for 4 from our 40 overs on a pleasant if distinctly damp afternoon. An early wicket with just 8 on the board threatened one of those days, but the second-wicket pair steadied things nicely with a crucial 95. From there Lewis Burnham simply took over, compiling a magnificent unbeaten 104 — the kind of innings that makes the tea urn taste sweeter — while I chipped in with 47 to keep him company at the other end.

185 felt defendable, but Pluckley had other ideas. John Brasier and Derrick Haynes shared 71 for the second wicket after we'd nipped out the openers cheaply (1 for 1), and Brasier went on to an unbeaten 86 that, frankly, did for us in the end. Alex Wade was superb with the ball, 4 for 29, well supported by Jack Gwynn and Lewis Burnham — the latter proving there's no justice in cricket by taking a wicket on top of his century. Cj Riley and Greg Rivers departed without troubling the scorers, small mercies in a chase that got away from us.

Sadly, 28 wides and 3 no-balls off our own bowling did more damage than Brasier ever needed to — we more or less posted the extra runs ourselves. Beaten by 3 wickets, then, with plenty to work on at training. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 13 Jun 2015 🧢 2nd XIv Kemsing CC · AwayformLWLWW

Beaten by 59 runs, but I'll not have the lads hanging their heads too long — 250 chased in the field on a grey Kemsing afternoon was always going to want something special from us with the bat, and we came agonisingly short of it.

Losing the toss set the tone; Kemsing took first knock and made hay, Alan Parry compiling a fine 79 while Jake Wood (35) and Sam Marshall (24) chipped in, and that fourth-wicket stand of 68 was the platform we never quite managed to dismantle. Full credit to Tim Wright, mind, who bowled beautifully for 4-51 and, in doing so, sailed past 200 career wickets — a landmark worth raising a glass to, whatever the final margin. Darren Styles was miserly alongside him, four maidens and 2-12, with Darrell Houghton-Judge chipping in a wicket too. Ben Hafford and Brian Baldwin both went for ducks, so the Duck Club ledger swelled at both ends of the day.

Chasing 250, we never quite found our rhythm. Tim Wright led the reply with 36, backed up by Jamie Ratcliffe (27) and Glen Rawson (26), and a second-wicket stand of 64 promised much — but 93-3 unravelled to 99-6 before we'd caught breath, and when Chris Newman and Martin Harris both walked back for nought, the game was as good as up. Even our extras outscored several batsmen, 49 of them, with eight byes off Glen Rawson's day behind the stumps and a wasteful 26 wides doing little for our cause.

All out for 191, beaten by 59. Tim Wright's landmark, and his place atop both run and wicket charts this season, are the shafts of sunlight in an otherwise soggy afternoon. We'll regroup, tighten up in the field, and come back better next week.

Sat 13 Jun 2015 🧢 1st XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformWWWWL

A pleasant, overcast Saturday it was when we welcomed Marden CC, Kent, and I'm delighted to report the lads gave the visitors a proper going-over. Batting first, we piled up a handsome 277 for 4 off our forty overs, the innings built around a magnificent century from Craig Sands — 143 of the finest, if you don't mind me saying so — with excellent support from Daniel Thirkell, whose well-made 96 fell agonisingly short of three figures himself. One rogue note amid the run-fest: poor James Piper, in and out for a duck before he'd had time to get comfortable. These things happen to the best of us, James.

Defending 277 always feels like a healthy cushion, and so it proved. Marden's reply never got out of second gear, bowled out for just 102 in 28.2 overs. Alex Newport was the mainstay of their innings with 48, but around him our attack simply ran riot — Mike Jeram, Jay Quensell and George Poland all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Joshua Knowler was the pick of the bunch with a superb 4 for 28, well backed by Thomas Beeney's 3 for 17 and a wicket for Richard Knowler. I chipped in with three tidy maidens myself, for what it's worth.

A comfortable, thoroughly satisfying win, and one that keeps both bat and ball ticking along nicely this season. Onwards we go.

Sun 07 Jun 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Bredgar CC · AwayformLWWWW

The toss went against us at Bredgar, and with the skies doing their best impression of typical English indecision — pleasant, but overcast enough to keep the openers honest — I can't say I minded being asked to bowl first. It rarely feels like our decision to make, but it worked a treat.

Bredgar were bowled out for 97 in 29.2 overs, Jonathan Knight's 29 the only real resistance on offer. Joshua Knowler was magnificent, tearing through with 4-21, while Mark Christmas chipped in with 2-13. I managed 2-13 of my own, four maidens included — not a run given away lightly, which is about as close as I'll come to praising my own bowling in these pages.

Chasing 98, we got there with something to spare: 98/3 from 15.3 overs, Jordan Austin the architect of it all with a superbly made 61 not out that had the target looking rather smaller than it really was. Less gloriously, Benjamin Austin's name goes into the duck ledger for nought — the walk of shame, though I've no doubt he'll be laughing about it by teatime.

Seven wickets the winning margin, and a thoroughly good day out. Jordan's innings lifts him to third in our Sunday run charts, while Josh now sits proudly atop the wicket pile with eight for the season. If Bredgar keep serving up afternoons like this, I'll happily lose the toss there every single year.

Sat 06 Jun 2015 🧢 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · HomeformLLWLW

Saturday 06 June, and Marden CC came down the road to Linton Park under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to bother with sunshine. I won the toss - correctly called, thank you very much, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise - and batted without a flicker of doubt. Not that I'd have relished chasing on a slow outfield.

Tim Wright led from the front with a fine 49, Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in a tidy 29 and Trevor Back's 21 kept things ticking, while the extras column, ever the reliable middle-order batsman, added a generous 32. All told, 195/8 from our forty overs felt like a total we could defend, if not one to write home about.

Defend it we did, though not without giving the opposition every encouragement. Joseph Young made an excellent 53 for Marden, well supported by Richard Thomas (37) and Adrian Young (28), and they finished on 187/6. Tim Wright, clearly not content with his runs, took 3-32 with the ball, Jack Gwynn snapped up 2-42 and Darren Styles 1-14. Less admirable was our generosity in the field - 26 wides is not a figure I'll be framing for the pavilion wall.

Still, we held our nerve and got home by 8 runs. Scrappy, occasionally chaotic, but a win's a win - and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 06 Jun 2015 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformWWWWW

Losing the toss at Horsmonden felt like the first bad omen of the day, and asking them to have a bat in the field seemed the sensible option once they'd made the decision for us. Under grey skies that threatened more than they delivered, we toiled through forty overs as Glen Christian and Josh Waters both compiled watchful 38s, with Mike Jessop chipping in 30 and a pesky seventh-wicket stand of 58 doing the real damage to our afternoon. I can't complain about my own afternoon's work, mind — 2 for 35 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure — and Joshua Knowler (2-53) and Matthew Carter (1-26) chipped away too, but 222 for 8 always felt a par score too many on that surface.

Chasing it, Daniel Thirkell's 29 was the innings' backbone, and for a while 88 for 5 looked like the sort of scoreline you could build a rearguard from. Instead it became 103 for 8 before we'd had time to reach for the flask, the middle and lower order departing with the enthusiasm of men late for tea. Even 31 extras couldn't paper over the cracks, and we folded for 147 in the 32nd over.

So it's back to the nets with heads up rather than hanging, seventy-five runs the wrong side of the ledger. Small mercies: Craig Sands still leads our run charts with 336, and I'll gladly take the wickets column, seventeen and counting. Character-building stuff, as they say.

Sun 31 May 2015 🧢 Sunday NVKCv WC Wickham & Stodmarsh CC · HomeformWWLWL

Sunday 31 May 2015, and we welcomed Wickham & Stodmarsh to Linton Park under skies best described as damp and blustery — the sort of afternoon that makes winning the toss feel like a proper achievement. Win it I did, and with barely a moment's hesitation stuck them in, fancying there might be something in it for the bowlers.

For a while it looked a shrewd call. Wickham lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board and never quite settled, though a stand of 58 for the fourth wicket threatened to drag the game away from us before K Cahill fell for a golden duck at our hands. Joshua Knowler was the pick of the attack by some distance — 4 for 22, three of those overs maidens, proof that miserly and hostile can happily coexist — with Will Thirkell (3-36) and Thomas Beeney (1-13) chipping in nicely. A Hajilou's unbeaten 43, supported by Simon Mount's 31 and Ollie Hayward's 28, dragged them to a defendable-looking 129 for 8 off their 40.

Defendable, it turned out, was generous. Jordan Austin simply took the game away from Wickham with a magnificent unbeaten 86, ushered along by James Piper's composed 32 not out, and we knocked the runs off for the loss of precisely no wickets in 18.3 overs.

Ten wickets, two points, and not a bead of sweat wasted. A thoroughly earned win, and a fine afternoon's work all round.

Sat 30 May 2015 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLLLWL

Saturday 30 May 2015 brought Bearsted CC to Linton Park under grey but perfectly agreeable skies, and having called correctly at the toss, I never seriously considered doing anything but batting first — a decision the club gazette will no doubt allow me one moment of quiet self-congratulation for, since it's about the only correct decision I made all afternoon.

We rattled along nicely to 201/4 from our forty overs, built on a fine, unhurried fifty from Jamie Ratcliffe (55 not out) and handsomely supported by Tim Wright (33 not out) and David Castle (30). The extras column, ever the unsung hero of village cricket, weighed in with a generous 42. As for the captain, I contributed precisely nothing to the scoreboard — bowled for a duck, the walk of shame performed with what I hope was a certain dignity, if not much else.

In the field we were altogether more convincing. Bearsted subsided to 123 all out in 36.2 overs, undone by some superb bowling — Darrell Houghton-Judge ran through them with 3-6, backed up admirably by Tim Wright (3-17) and Tobey Castle (2-22), while Stephen Pearce's defiant 63 was the only real resistance Bearsted could muster. Alex Dimmick and Paul Tinker both departed without troubling the scorers.

A comfortable 78-run win, then, and two points thoroughly banked — proof, if any were needed, that a captain can fail with the bat and still come away beaming, so long as the lads do the business with the ball.

Sat 30 May 2015 🧢 1st XIv FC Four Elms CC · AwayformWWWWW

Since I called correctly and put Four Elms in to bat first... no, wait — I put us in ourselves, and I'll stand by that decision to my dying day, grey skies and all. It wasn't the prettiest 163 all out, but James Piper's unbeaten 64 was the innings that mattered, and Kevin Presneill's 30 gave it a spine, the two of them putting on 53 for the second wicket while the rest of us rather let the side down — a brace of ducks for Adam Jackson and Joshua Knowler among them.

Still, 163 felt defendable on a slow afternoon, and so it proved. Four Elms crawled to 151/7 from their 40, Stuart Bradley's 28 the top score, well supported by Alan Crowhurst and Clive Grierson, and a 52-run opening stand that had us worried for a spell. But Carl Buffery and Clive Croft both fell for ducks at crucial moments, and I was fortunate enough to have one of those days with the ball, taking 4-39 with three maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of afternoon a captain doesn't get to enjoy nearly often enough. Thomas Beeney chipped in nobly with 2-25, and between us we squeezed the life out of their chase.

Craig Sands had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes leaking through like the drizzle overhead, though he can console himself with 321 runs and top spot in this year's charts. A word too for Glen Rawson, whose modest 3 runs quietly nudged him up to sixteenth on the all-time list — history is made in the smallest increments.

Twelve runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly earned.

Sun 24 May 2015 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Stowting CC · HomeformLWWWL

There's a particular kind of English afternoon — pleasant with a thread of drizzle running through it — that seems made for cricket, and Sunday 24 May obliged as Stowting CC rolled up as our visitors. I won the toss and had no hesitation electing to field; with hindsight, and I don't say that lightly, it was the right call.

Stowting made a decent fist of things, racing to 58 for their first wicket before settling into 188 for 5 from their 39.4 overs. Sam Pepper's unbeaten 31 anchored the innings, well supported by Mark Farthing (30) and Mark Jackson (28), while George Sheen departed for a duck at our hands. I had the pleasure of taking 3 for 23 with the ball, Jack Feehan chipped in with 1 for 27 — two tidy maidens among them — and Tim Wright picked up 1 for 46.

Chasing 189, we flew out of the blocks, 82 on the board before the first wicket fell, poor Riley Butler out for nought in the process. I got in among the runs myself, ambling my way to 129 and rather losing track of the overs, with Tobey Castle a fine ally for 24. We stumbled home on 189 for 6 from 36.5 overs, though not before some generosity crept into proceedings — 10 byes, 28 wides and 7 no-balls given away, the sort of profligacy that keeps a captain's hair thinning.

Still, four wickets is four wickets, two points banked, and a captain's century to boot. I'll take that any Sunday.

Sun 24 May 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · AwayformWLWWW

Sunday last took us to Benenden CC for a fixture blessed, or perhaps dampened, by intermittent showers and the sort of afternoon that keeps everyone guessing about the covers. Put into the field first, we chipped away steadily until the hosts were all out for 164 in 28.3 overs, Neal Metcalf's 31 the backbone of their innings, well supported by Mike Metcalfe's 30 and Andrew Morrison's unbeaten 25. Thomas Beeney was magnificent with the ball, taking 3-6 including two maidens that must have felt like torture for the batsmen facing them, while I was pleased to chip in with 2-2 and Nat Presneill added 2-25. T-Botson and James Glean both departed for ducks, so the discipline was there when it mattered.

Our reply was a touch more eventful. We limped, then rallied, then wobbled to 166/8 from 35.2 overs, with Thomas Beeney once again the mainstay, unbeaten on 32, ably assisted by Glen Rawson's 30 and Darrell Houghton-Judge's 20. Lucas Sheppard and Bradley Howard both fell without troubling the scorers, and a generous 30 extras did more heavy lifting than I'd like to admit. As for my own contribution with the bat, I made a duck, and the less said about that the better.

Elsewhere, Glen Rawson continues his fine season, second in the Sunday run charts with 116, while Thomas Beeney leads the wicket-takers with 8. All told, a fine win, and one we'll happily take showers, ducks and all.

Sat 23 May 2015 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · AwayformDLLLW

Beaten at Betsham CC, and I'll admit it stung under a grey, uneventful sort of afternoon — the kind where the weather couldn't decide whether to make things interesting either. We batted first and mustered a modest 143/9 from our forty overs, David Castle the mainstay with a fine 43, and I chipped in with 33 alongside him to give the total some shape. Poor Tim Wright, meanwhile, will not be troubling the scorers this week beyond a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin with the good grace this club is built on.

Defending that total was always going to ask a lot of our bowlers, and for a good while they delivered. Darren Styles was superb, leading the attack with 3-31 and two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, while Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-17) and Tobey Castle (1-10) chipped away at the other end. But Jerome Adams had other ideas, striking a commanding 81 and, ably supported by Tom Reardon's 20, dragging Betsham home to 144/7 with seven overs still in hand.

So the lads fall just short this time, undone more by one man's fine innings than any great failing of our own. Darrell Houghton-Judge continues to have a season to be proud of, sitting second in the 2nd XI run charts and top of the wicket-takers — small consolation on the coach home, but consolation nonetheless. Beaten, not disgraced. We go again.

Sat 23 May 2015 🧢 1st XIv SC Shoreham (Kent) CC · HomeformWWWWW

A grey Saturday it may have been, but there was nothing dull about the cricket at Linton Park as we welcomed Shoreham (Kent) CC to the ground.

Put simply, Craig Sands batted like a man who'd read the fixture list and decided this was the day. His 115 was the innings of the afternoon, and with Daniel Thirkell weighing in with a tidy 61 and James Piper chipping in 25, we posted a handsome 266/4 from our 40 overs — helped along by a generous 31 extras from a Shoreham attack that never quite found its rhythm. As for my own contribution with the bat, the less said the better; a duck is a duck, and I shall wear it with what dignity I can muster.

Defending a total like that ought to be the easy part, and so it largely proved. Tim Waymouth and James Trick threatened to make a match of it with 37 and 23 respectively, but our bowlers kept chipping away — Richard Knowler the pick with 2-20, while Thomas Beeney and Martin Harris both took 2-31 and 2-28, Harris keeping things admirably tight with a pair of maidens. Shoreham were held to 155/9, well short of the target.

A thoroughly good day for the club, then, and a reminder of the depth in this side — Sands now sitting proudly atop the season's run charts, Beeney climbing the wicket-takers' table. We got over the line comfortably, and if my own duck was the only blot on the afternoon, I'll happily take that trade every week of the summer.

Sun 17 May 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tyler Hill CC · AwayformWWLWW

We got over the line by 43 runs at Tyler Hill on a pleasant, cloudy Sunday, and if you'd told me at the toss that James Piper was about to play the innings of his life, I'd have put the kettle on early and enjoyed the show. Winning the coin and electing to bat, we watched Piper make an utterly superb 115, the kind of hundred that has you checking the scorebook twice, ably backed up by Laurie Probert's 32 and Mark Christmas's unbeaten 24. A stout 89-run stand for the fourth wicket did the heavy lifting, though the card wasn't without its blemishes — Glen Rawson, Tim Wright and Joshua Knowler all trooped back for ducks, proof that not every man can be a hero on the same afternoon. We closed on a handsome 219/7 from our forty.

Defending that lot, Tyler Hill made a decent fist of it through Adam Arnold's well-made fifty, with Dan Savage (32) and Gary Rowlands (30) chipping in, but an early wobble at 7-1 — including Karl Sutcliffe departing without troubling the scorers — set the tone we needed. Tim Thirkell was the pick of the attack with a fine 4-28, and I was rather chuffed to chip in with 4-38 myself, Mark Christmas taking one for 24 in support. They were all out for 176.

A good day all round: Piper's ton nudges him up to 23rd on the club's all-time run charts, and I'll happily settle for third in the season's wicket pile. Ducks and all, this was Linton Park at our best.

Sat 16 May 2015 🧢 2nd XIv OC Outwood CC · HomeformDDLLL

We got over the line, and if I'm honest, the lads did most of the work while I stood at mid-off making encouraging noises. Winning the toss on a pleasant, overcast Saturday, we chose to bat, and it turned into one of those afternoons where you look up at the scoreboard and can barely believe it's your own club's name against it. Joe Martin played the innings of the season — 108 not out, an absolute masterclass — with Darrell Houghton-Judge chipping in a fine 35 in support. Jamie Ratcliffe, Nat Presneill and Russell Dack all contributed the same number to the cause: nought. Still, 222/9 from our forty overs, helped along by a generous 37 extras from Outwood, was a total that had us feeling rather pleased with ourselves at tea.

Then came the small matter of defending it. Paul Jackson and Al Knight both made a battling 33 apiece and for a while threatened to make a proper contest of it, but Joe Martin, not content with his hundred, turned his arm over to devastating effect — 3-22 — with Russell Dack (2-24) and Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-33) mopping up either end. Neil Greenhalgh's duck at our hands was, I confess, rather satisfying to witness.

Outwood were bowled out for 156 in the thirty-ninth over, and we ran out winners by 66 runs. Joe Martin now leads our run charts and Darrell our wickets — and on this evidence, long may both continue. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 16 May 2015 🧢 1st XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformWWWWW

Saturday last took us down to Southborough under skies of the classic English grey — not a soul complaining, mind, since it stayed dry enough to play. I called correctly at the toss, which happens about as often as a decent slip catch from me, and had no hesitation in sticking us in to bat.

We were in early trouble at 3-1, but Craig Sands and Adam Jackson settled things beautifully, adding a priceless 117 for the fourth wicket — Sands compiling a fine sixty, Jackson just one shy of his own fifty. I chipped in with 38 down the order, feeling rather pleased with myself until the tail went into freefall, 185-6 becoming 195-9 in the time it takes to pour a tea, poor Luke Welsman bagging a duck along the way. Still, 195 off our forty overs felt a defendable total on a used-looking pitch.

And defend it we did. Southborough never quite got going after losing their first wicket for nought, and though Paul Spencer's 42 threatened to drag them back into it, we ran through the tail again — three ducks in the mix — to bowl them out for 148. I was fortunate enough to pick up three for 25, with Richard Knowler matching the figures and Matthew Carter and Joshua Knowler squeezing the runs dry throughout.

A 47-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Sun 10 May 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Beckenham CC · HomeformWWWLW

Sunday 10 May brought Beckenham to Linton Park under a kindly overcast sky, and I'll confess I rather enjoyed the batting exhibition that followed. Craig Sands set the tone with a fine 67, and once he and Glen Rawson got themselves stuck together the runs simply refused to stop coming — 104 for the fourth wicket, thank you very much. Rawson finished unbeaten on 53, James Piper chipped in a handy 32, and even the extras column had a day out with 34. Not everyone found their range — Richard Piper and Jordan Austin both departed for golden ducks, proof that even in a total of 213/6 there's room for humility.

Defending it, we didn't so much strangle Beckenham as gently deflate them. Duncan Tyler played the only substantial innings of note with 41, well supported by James Jones and C Gunning, but Thomas Beeney was in inspired form — 3/18 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, the sort of spell that has the tea urn talking. Nat Presneill and Darrell Houghton-Judge tidied up either end, and Matt Mckeogh joined the golden duck club for good measure. Poor Glen Rawson had a busier afternoon behind the stumps than in front of them, shipping 8 byes — though nobody begrudged him after that half-century, which nudges him past John Ames into 17th on the club's all-time run list.

I contributed a workmanlike 19 and mostly stayed out of the way. A 64-run win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 09 May 2015 🧢 1st XIv SC St Lawrence CC · HomeformDWWWW

It was overcast and blustery at the ground on Saturday, the kind of afternoon that makes winning the toss feel like half the battle, and I duly called it right and elected to bat.

We made a fine fist of it, posting 205 for 6 from our forty overs. I found some form of my own and finished unbeaten on 70, though the innings owed just as much to Glen Rawson's brisk 46 and Richard Knowler's tidy 22 — the pair of us in the middle order putting on 82 for the sixth wicket when it mattered most. A generous 26 in extras from St Lawrence rounded out a total that felt competitive without being unassailable.

Defending it, we let them threaten briefly through Roger Sayer's polished half-century and Thomas Cobb's 36, the two of them adding 65 for the second wicket. But once that stand broke we ran through the rest of the order in a blur — 166 for 7 became 167 all out in no time, with poor Nick Cobb and Gregory Shea both back in the shed without troubling the scorers. Matthew Carter was superb, taking 4 for 29 and, in doing so, passing 500 career wickets — a landmark worth raising a glass to. I chipped in with 2 for 21 to go with the runs, Martin Harris took 2 for 31, and Joshua Knowler starved them of anything loose with three maidens.

We got home by 38 runs, and my 70 nudges me up to 21st on the club's all-time run charts. A thoroughly good day for Linton Park.

Mon 04 May 2015 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformWLLLW

I lost the toss of the coin for excuses, so I'll just have to tell it straight: a fine afternoon at home to Selsdon CC, and a win worth savouring.

Batting first under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to behave, we posted a healthy 189/7 from our 33.2 overs. James Piper played the innings of the day, a really fine 80 that had the tea urn practically applauding itself, and I chipped in with 40 alongside him to keep things ticking. Ray Dixon, bless him, contributed rather less — a golden duck that I'm sure he'll want expunged from the record books, though sadly for him this report exists.

With the ball, we were rampant. Selsdon never got going, bundled out for 71/9 in just 19.2 overs, with only Jack Dinning offering any real resistance for 39. Martin Bruce, Grant Francis and I Flatman all departed without troubling the scorers — three ducks in one innings is the sort of hat-trick no batsman wants. Luke Welsman was superb with the new ball, taking 4-11, while Matthew Carter matched him wicket for wicket with 4-16, including two miserly maidens that must have felt like torture to face.

Notable milestones too: Piper's 80 eased him past Kevin Presneill into 24th on the club's all-time run-scoring list, and Carter's four-for lifted him past Allan Cooper into 14th among our wicket-takers — both leading their respective 2015 Midweek XI charts as things stand.

A comfortable, thoroughly enjoyable win. More of the same, please, lads.

Sat 02 May 2015 🧢 2nd XIv Offham CC · HomeformDDDLL

Saturday last brought Offham CC down to us under skies that threatened more than they ever delivered, and having lost the toss I found myself condemned to field first — never my favourite way to spend an afternoon, but there we are. Offham made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 237 for 5 from their forty overs. Luke Harcourt was the chief architect, unfurling a chanceless century — 103 not out, no less — while Graham Razey chipped in a stylish 57, the pair adding a painful 92 for the third wicket that rather took the sting out of our afternoon. I did manage to prise one out for 25 runs, with Martin Harris and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipping in a wicket apiece, but 237 was always going to be a tall order to chase.

And so it proved. Glen Rawson batted with real sense for his unbeaten 40, well supported by Richard Knowler's 33, the pair adding 57 for the second wicket after we'd lost an early one with just 6 on the board. But wickets tumbled around them and we subsided to 105 for 7 — my own afternoon with the bat summed up by a duck I'd rather forget, one of three we notched for the Duck Club ledger. Glen also had a trying time behind the stumps, with 9 byes slipping through.

Small consolations: Glen leads our 2015 second-team run charts, and I, somehow, lead the wickets. Down by 132 runs, though — not our finest hour. Heads up, lads, and back to the nets.

Sat 02 May 2015 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformDDWWW

Bidborough, 2 May 2015 — a cool, overcast afternoon, the sort where you can never quite decide whether to bowl in a jumper. I lost the toss, they inserted us, and off we went to work out whether the surface would do more talking than the sky.

We rallied to 170 for 7 from our forty, though not without early drama — gone for nought before the board had troubled the scorers, we needed calm heads, and Kevin Presneill supplied exactly that with a composed 51, aided by Craig Sands (36) and Tim Wright (28) in a stand of 93 for the second wicket that looked for a while like it might carry us to something rather grander. Then, as club cricket so loves to do, it all went briefly haywire — 93 for 2 became 98 for 5 before we'd caught breath, and poor James Piper made the long walk back for nought.

With ball in hand we found our range. They were bowled out for 133 in 35 overs despite a spirited 40 from Myles Lindley and 31 from James Baldock. Dale Hillhouse departed without scoring, and I managed to find some rhythm, taking 3 for 19 with two maidens, well supported by Tim Thirkell (3-33) and Thomas Beeney (2-27).

A 37-run win, two points banked, and Craig Sands climbing the all-time run charts besides. Thoroughly, deservedly earned.

Sun 26 Apr 2015 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Brasted & Sundridge CC · HomeformWWWWL

I chose to open with the ball rather than the bat, but by the end of Sunday it hardly mattered which end of the innings you looked at — this was a proper afternoon for Linton Park. Cool, overcast skies greeted Brasted & Sundridge CC, and after winning what passed for the toss of good fortune, we set about building a total. James Piper played the innings of the summer, ticking serenely through to a magnificent 103, and I don't say that lightly — three figures don't grow on trees at this level. I chipped in with 34 alongside Glen Rawson's 33, and between us we dragged the total to a formidable 223/6 from our forty overs. Spare a thought, as ever, for Ray Dixon, whose name goes back on the Duck Club ledger after a golden duck — the walk of shame performed, I'm told, with his usual dignity.

Defending that total should have been the formality it turned out to be, though the lads made light work of it regardless. Nat Presneill was outstanding with the ball, snaring 3-26, while Thomas Beeney bowled with real discipline — four maidens and 2-0 to show for it — and Ray Dixon picked up a wicket of his own. Only Fraser McGregor, with a battling 23, threatened to make a match of it; everyone else fell away, Paul Clifton and Alan Manderson both back in the pavilion for nought, and the visitors were bowled out for a paltry 50 from 22.3 overs.

A thumping win, then, and a red-letter day for James Piper besides, whose century now sees him climb to 24th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Tea was, I imagine, thoroughly deserved.

Sat 25 Apr 2015 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · AwayformDDDWW

I turned up at Headcorn CC on a grey but not unpleasant afternoon, and left rather pleased with how the lads conducted themselves.

Batting first, we ground our way to a very respectable 183/5 from our forty overs. Craig Sands was the architect, one short of a hundred on 99, and he found a willing partner in Glen Rawson, whose 28 kept the scoreboard honest at the other end. Not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but enough to give our bowlers something to work with — and worth noting, quietly, that Craig's 99 nudges him past Tim Thirkell and up to 8th on the club's all-time run-scorers list. Not bad for an afternoon's work.

Then it was our turn to make life difficult. Headcorn fought hard through Simon Phipps (36), James Barker (30) and Richard Lockie (25), but wickets kept tumbling at the other end — Alan Abbott and Richard Hamill both departed without troubling the scorers. I had one of those days with the ball that you dream about on the drive home, finishing with 3-29, while Matthew Carter (2-17) and Thomas Beeney (2-19) chipped in handsomely and Joshua Knowler strangled the runs with two tidy maidens. Headcorn were held to 148/9.

We got over the line, and comfortably so in the end. A fine team performance all round — runs when we needed them, wickets when it mattered, and two lads climbing the club's charts in the same afternoon. You don't get many days as satisfying as this one.