🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 24 Sep 2016 🧢 1st XIv Stowting CC · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday saw Stowting CC roll into Linton Park under warm, cloudy skies, and winning the toss I did what any self-respecting captain does on a decent-looking pitch — I stuck us in to bat, and for once looked faintly clever for it.

Tobey Castle set about proving me right in some style, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 116, while James Piper chipped in a handsome 58 and Jordan Austin added 33 for good measure. The openers gave us the perfect platform with 65 before the first wicket fell, and a magnificent 115-run stand for the fourth wicket did most of the heavy lifting thereafter. Not everything gleamed, mind — Luke Welsman and Martin Harris both departed for ducks, proof that even in a total of 244/6 there's always room for the odd howler.

Defending that lot, we kept Stowting to 209/7, though David Jackson's well-crafted 62 and support from Mike Christie (37) and Troy Harding (35) made them work for their runs, with a stubborn 72-run fourth-wicket stand the main obstacle. James Piper was again the star turn, snaring 2-7, while I managed to sneak among the wickets myself with 1-3, and Jacob Ryan bowled two tidy maidens on his way to 1-10. Fifteen byes, though, made for an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps for poor Nat Presneill.

With Piper now top of the season's run charts on 768 and me sitting third in the wickets list with 18, this was a thoroughly deserved 35-run win — two points banked, and a very pleasant train home.

Sun 18 Sep 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · HomeformLWLWL

It rained runs at Linton Park on Sunday, and for once the man doing the raining wasn't the sky.

Winning the toss on a warm, cloudy afternoon, I did what any captain with half an eye on the tea urn does and stuck us in. It didn't start promisingly — gone for a duck before the board had troubled the scorers — but what followed was the sort of stand you dream about over the winter nets. Will Thew and Richard Piper put on 168 for the second wicket, Thew compiling a magnificent 92 and Piper right behind him with 84, before Luke Welsman came in to finish things off with an unbeaten 31. Jordan Austin's contribution was, in the strictest statistical sense, nothing at all — golden nothing, as they say — but 232 for 3 from our forty overs was a total to make Tenterden's openers sweat before they'd even padded up.

And sweat they did, eventually. Reuben Collingwood (46), Fred Pearman (41) and Tom Richards (37) gave it a fair go, and their opening pair put on 73 before Welsman got among them — four wickets for 30 in a spell of real teeth, ably backed up by Martin Harris (2-35, and a milestone knock past Terry Donovan into 24th on the all-time list) and a tidy Thew (1-9). Poor Nat Presneill will want to forget the eight byes, mind.

198 for 9 wasn't enough. Thirty-four runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved both.

Sat 17 Sep 2016 🧢 2nd XIv MC Margate CC · HomeformLLWLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 17 September 2016. Margate CC the visitors, and the sort of pleasant, damp, blustery afternoon that makes winning the toss feel important — which is just as well, because we lost it and were duly sent out to field.

We restricted them to 231/8 from their 40 overs, though I say "restricted" loosely, since I was rather more concerned with what came next. Richard Piper (50) and Luke Welsman (38) laid down proper foundations, with the third-wicket pair adding a crucial 71, while poor Martin Harris walked back for a golden duck — the sort of thing that happens to the best of us, usually at the worst moment. I came in and simply kept going, finishing 71 not out; a personal contribution I'm rather pleased with, though I'll leave the trumpet-blowing there.

With the ball, Tim Wright led the way with 2-16, well supported by Darrell Houghton-Judge's matching 2-16 and Martin Harris's 1-38 — a fine way for Martin to shake off his earlier duck. Jake Canham went for nothing at the other end, and Luke Welsman had a busy day behind the stumps, conceding 14 byes for his troubles. Margate got to 198/5, Kashif Anwer unbeaten on 46 the closest they came to bothering us.

We got over the line by 33 runs. A good day for the club, and Richard's fifty nudging him past Tim Thirkell on the all-time run list only sweetens it further.

Wed 14 Sep 2016 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLLLDD

A warm, bright Wednesday found us out at Penshurst Park, and for once the coin obliged — I called correctly and, with sunshine on my back and precious little else to go on, sent us in to bat. It proved a shrewd toss to win, if not entirely to call right, as Daniel Thirkell set about the bowling with real purpose for a fine 76, ably supported by Peter Whyte's 46 and Mark Christmas's 43. We did lose our first wicket for the princely sum of 3, which had me reaching for the scorebook in mild alarm, but the third-wicket pair steadied things beautifully with 74 together, and we closed on a handsome 221 for 8 from our 40 overs. Special mention, as tradition demands, to Tim Wright, whose golden duck earns him a place in the club's rogues' gallery.

Defending it, we huffed and puffed but ultimately couldn't quite blow the house down. Alexander McDonald played the innings of the day, an unbeaten hundred that we simply had no answer for, with Richard Maltz's 56 and Graham Nicholls's 24 lending capable support. Tim Wright, redeeming himself handsomely with the ball, took 2 for 30 and had the satisfaction of removing Jonesy Jonesy for nought, while Thirkell and Christmas chipped in with a wicket apiece. They got there with four overs to spare, winning by six wickets.

A battling total undone by one magnificent innings — no shame in that. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 11 Sep 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · HomeformWLWLW

A pleasant Sunday afternoon at the ground, sun out, and Cobham CC, Kent rolling in for what turned into a proper old-fashioned arm-wrestle of a game. I won the toss and had few qualms about bowling first, and for a good while it looked the right call — until Nick Kraus decided he fancied a fifty and duly compiled a very well-made 54, with Simon Murray (26) and Sam Perez Ugarte (25) lending sturdy support. We did have our moments, mind: Martin Corden departed for a golden duck, and I found some rhythm to finish with 3-31, backed up nicely by James Piper's 2-34 and Darrell Houghton-Judge's 2-40. Even so, 192 all out from 37.2 overs was a stiffer target than the scorebook perhaps suggests on a good, sunny day.

Our reply, sadly, never got out of second gear. We were bowled out for 100 in 30 overs, a chase that felt like watching a village fete tug-of-war team pulling the wrong way — plenty of effort, not enough purchase. I did at least manage 3 wickets with the ball to go with my earlier haul, small consolation on a day when the bat let us down rather more than the ball.

So, a defeat, and a fairly comprehensive one at that. James Piper continues to lead our Sunday run charts with 544 for the season, and Martin Harris the wickets with 23 — proof there's plenty of quality in this side even when the collective effort doesn't add up. A defeat to learn from, as they say, and learn from it we shall.

Sat 10 Sep 2016 🧢 1st XIv TC Telston & Mereworth CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sat down to write this one with the sun finally out and the tea urn still warm — Telston & Mereworth were our visitors on a warm, damp afternoon, and losing the toss put us straight into the field. Wilkinson made hay early with a brisk 76, and once he and Yeats-Brown (58) had put on 125 for the second wicket the scoreboard looked distinctly unfriendly, Kumar chipping in with 35 more. Credit where it's due: Houghton-Judge kept his head to finish with 2-26, and Welsman and Boyns tidied up either end, Welsman's two maidens the very picture of parsimony. 230/5 from their 40 overs felt like a proper afternoon's work chasing.

And chase we did — though not without the customary early flutter, an opening wicket down with just 7 on the board sending a ripple of resigned muttering round the boundary. But this is where the report writes itself: Boyns, having bowled his overs, simply refused to get out, ending unbeaten on a magnificent 102, with Presneill (44 not out) and Jackson (35) building the platform either side of a fourth-wicket stand of 58 that took the game away from them. Nat Presneill had a torrid time behind the stumps, 15 byes a reminder that even a winning day has its indignities, but nobody was counting those once we passed the target.

Two points, five wickets in hand, and Welsman's fifty career wickets to toast in the bar afterwards — a proper team win, built on someone else's ill-discipline with the extras and one man's refusal to walk off. I'll take that every Saturday going.

Sun 04 Sep 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LC Little Chart CC · AwayformWLLWW

I awoke on Sunday to warm, overcast skies at Little Chart CC, the sort of day that promises runs but rarely delivers them to the right people. Deliver them it did not — we limped to 94/9 from our forty overs, saved from real embarrassment only by Richard Piper's watchful 26. I can report, with the weary honesty a captain owes his readers, that both Nat Presneill and I contributed golden ducks to the cause; leading by example is meant to inspire the troops, and on this occasion it inspired nothing but sympathetic winces from the boundary.

Ninety-four looked light in the field, and so it proved. Little Chart chased it down for the loss of six, Matt Eccles unbeaten on 41 and well supported by Christopher Eccles's 24 seeing them home in 28.2 overs. We did not go quietly, mind — Nicholas Powell and B Lillicrap both departed for ducks of their own, some small consolation, and I found rather better fortune with the ball than I had with the bat, taking 4-19. Tim Wright and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Tobey Castle bowled three tidy maidens that gave nothing away for free.

So: a golden blob and four wickets from the skipper — proof, if any were needed, that this game delights in evening its scores at your expense. Richard Piper still leads our run charts for the season and Darrell Houghton-Judge our wickets, which is more than can be said for my own batting average. Beaten this time. We go again.

Sun 04 Sep 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tyler Hill CC · HomeformLWLWL

Another warm Sunday, another glorious mess of milestones and misery for the visitors — we hosted Tyler Hill CC and, for once, everything I asked of the lads actually happened.

Batting first under cloudy skies, we posted a handsome 268/6 from our forty overs, built on three separate fifties. Lewis Burnham led the charge with 61, Benjamin Austin chipped in a classy 55, and Jordan Austin wasn't far behind with 53 — the sort of top-order onslaught that leaves a captain with very little to do except admire the scoreboard and top up his tea. Special mention, too, for Benjamin, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark achieved with the minimum of fuss and, I suspect, the maximum of quiet pride.

Defending 268 should never be taken for granted, but Tyler Hill never really got there, subsiding to 151/9 in 31.2 overs. Richard Keir made a fine 62 and Karl Sutcliffe added 46, but around them our attack simply ran amok. Jacob Ryan was the chief destroyer with a magnificent 5-18, Martin Harris chipped in with 2-36, and I was pleased to get among the wickets myself with 1-8. Riley Butler bowled two miserly maidens, and we sent Brett Marshall and Ben King back for ducks along the way.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon all round — big runs, five-for heroics, and a landmark for Benjamin. Onwards indeed.

Sat 03 Sep 2016 🧢 2nd XIv FC Fordcombe CC · HomeformWLLWL

This is a lovely one to write — pure club-cricket colour on top of a clean set of facts.

Fordcombe arrived on a Saturday that couldn't decide whether it was proper cricket weather or not — a fine drizzle settling over the ground as we lost the toss and were promptly asked to bat, which on a day like that felt less like a decision and more like a small act of mischief from the opposition captain.

We made a fair fist of it. Richard Piper batted with real substance for his fifty, and found good company in Will Thew (32) and David Castle (29), the three of them stitching together the bulk of a total that read rather better than the scoreboard alone might suggest: 178 for 7 from our forty overs. Not a score to frighten anyone outright, but enough, we felt, to make Fordcombe work for their tea.

And work they did. Stuart Campbell was in irresistible form with the ball, three wickets for a miserly 19 runs and three maidens besides — the sort of spell that has batsmen playing for the drizzle rather than the bowling. Tim Wright chipped in with two, I managed one for 11 myself, and there was the small, undignified pleasure of seeing Adam Worcester walk for a duck. Max O'Collins battled hardest for the visitors with 27, but it wasn't enough to stem the tide, and Fordcombe folded on 135 for 9.

Forty-three runs to the good, two points banked, and — with Piper still leading our run charts and Wright our wickets for the season — a thoroughly deserved afternoon's work, drizzle and all.

Sat 03 Sep 2016 🧢 1st XIv SC Speldhurst CC · AwayformLWWWW

Saturday last, we made the trip out to Speldhurst on a damp but perfectly pleasant afternoon for cricket, and having called correctly for once in my life, I had no hesitation in sending us in first.

It proved the right call. James Piper played the innings of the day, a really fine 59 that anchored everything, and found a willing ally in Adam Jackson (34) as the pair put on 76 for the second wicket to give us something to bowl at. I chipped in with 22 down the order, and 177/9 from our forty overs felt like a competitive total, if not quite a match-winning one on paper.

With the ball, though, we were magnificent. Alex Keeler was simply unplayable, tearing through with 4-8, while the Knowler brothers did their level best to bowl the opposition out twice over — Joshua with 4-17 and a couple of tidy maidens, Richard chipping in with 2-28. Only Mike Jeffreys (41) and Nick Foulds (24) offered any real resistance; everyone else came and went, Ed Wesson, James Waters and Patrick Green all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. We did our best to hand it back with 17 wides and 6 no-balls of pure generosity, but Speldhurst still folded for 115.

A word too for James Piper, who brought up 9,000 runs for the club — a landmark to be properly proud of, and a timely reminder of why he now leads our 2016 run charts. All told, a 62-run win, wayward radar and all. I'll take it.

Wed 31 Aug 2016 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWLLLD

Wednesday 31 August saw The Mote CC roll up to Linton Park, the toss lost, and me resigning myself to an afternoon in the field — never my favourite way to spend a Wednesday, but there we are. William Thirkell set about reminding everyone why he shares a surname with me, cracking a fine 68, with James Marriott (47 not out) and Daniel Mason (36) adding the sort of support that turns a good total into a daunting one. They closed on 232/4 from their 37 overs. Credit where due: Benjamin Austin bowled beautifully for 1-21, with Tim Thirkell (1-21) and Tobey Castle (1-47) chipping in, though poor Kevin Presneill had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes escaping his gloves like the ball had somewhere better to be.

Chasing 233 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. I'll allow myself one boast for the report and no more: I got in and made 56, easily the innings that mattered, and was grateful for Tobey Castle's watchful 31 alongside me as we put on 52 for the fifth wicket to give the innings some backbone. We closed on 174/7 from our 38 — short of the target, but not for want of application.

A draw, then — honours shared, neither side quite able to land the killer blow. Frustrating in the moment, but with my own runs and Castle's wickets both keeping us handsomely placed at the top of the season's charts, I'll take a hard-fought stalemate over a soft defeat any day of the week.

Sun 28 Aug 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Knockers CC · HomeformWLWLW

Sunday 28 August, and Knockers CC rolled into Linton Park on a warm, drizzly afternoon with the kind of soft outfield that promises soggy trouser cuffs and slippery slip catches. The toss went against us — no great surprise this season — and we were asked to bat.

To our credit, the lads knuckled down. Benjamin Austin led the way with a composed 39, Tobey Castle chipped in with 37 and Luke Welsman weighed in with 36, the three of them stitching together the innings' backbone. The best of it came in a lively 58-run stand for the seventh wicket, proof that runs are often made lowest down the order when nobody's watching the scorebook too closely. Less gloriously, Chris Newman and Anton Bourdillon both departed for ducks — the sort of scores best mentioned briefly and moved past swiftly. We closed on a respectable 192/8 from our forty.

With the ball, we simply couldn't stem the tide. T Woodthorpe played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 57, ably assisted by Ward (42) and Calver (40), and between them they chased us down with four overs to spare. Tobey Castle was our pick of the attack with 2-55, backed up nicely by Tim Wright (1-5) and Jordan Austin (1-16), while poor Sam Boyns endured a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, gifting ten byes into the drizzle.

Not our day, beaten by four wickets. Heads up, back to the nets — there are runs and wickets enough in this side to come again.

Sat 27 Aug 2016 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLWLLW

Saturday 27 August took us down to Meopham CC for a soggy, warm afternoon that promised more than it delivered. I lost the toss – no great surprise there this season – and we were put into the field, which on a rain-freshened pitch felt like a mixed blessing at best.

Meopham made themselves at home, racking up 230/5 from their 40 overs. Mick Clark was the chief architect at 94, well supported by George Tompkins's 66 and a brisk 26 from Tony Pearce. We toiled manfully: Ian Hollingworth led the attack with 1-37, while Luke Welsman (1-40) and young Tobey Castle (1-43) chipped in to keep us in the hunt, even if the scoreboard kept ticking along at a pace we couldn't quite arrest.

Chasing 231, we made a fair fist of it, closing on 212/6. I was pleased to get among the runs myself with 53, and it was a genuinely satisfying knock, but I certainly wasn't alone – Richard Piper's 44 and Glen Rawson's 26 kept the required rate honest, and a generous 38 extras did no harm either, though Glen's ten byes behind the stumps suggested the gloves were having a livelier afternoon than the bat.

In the end, 18 runs short. Not our day, but no disgrace in it – heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 27 Aug 2016 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWLWWW

Here's the report.

A warm, rain-soaked Saturday, Meopham CC in town, and for once the toss actually mattered — I called it right, elected to bat, and settled in for what proved a rather splendid afternoon of cricket. Daniel Thirkell set about the Meopham bowling with real intent, cruising to 87, while Lewis Burnham chipped in a handsome 56 and Adam Jackson a tidy 31. Their second-wicket stand of 109 was the platform for everything that followed, and 238/5 from our forty overs felt like a total with some teeth in it — as it proved.

Chasing it down, Meopham gave us a proper fright. Andrew Powney batted with real class for an unbeaten 91, and with Kevin Smith (45) and David Pollard (27) putting on 111 for the second wicket, the game was very much alive deep into the innings. Credit to the bowlers for dragging us over the line — Richard Knowler the pick with 2-61, backed up nicely by Joshua Knowler and Stuart Cheesman, one wicket apiece, and a golden duck for Jon Pollard that the scorebook will remember fondly even if he won't.

A word too for Lewis Burnham, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club today — a proper landmark, and typical of him to mark it with a half-century in the same innings.

Seven runs the margin, nerves shredded accordingly, but a win is a win. Onwards.

Sun 21 Aug 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Harbledown CC · AwayformLWLLW

As it stands, I confess I lost the toss and dutifully accepted my fate in the field — a warm, drizzly Sunday at Harbledown, the kind of afternoon that makes you question why you ever took up this game. Harbledown ground out a workmanlike 153/7 from their 40 overs, with David Turner unbeaten on 42 and Neil Turner chipping in with 38. Credit to the attack, mind: Angus Knowler bowled a miserly spell of 2-17 with four maidens to his name — proper "block and be damned" stuff — while Tim Wright took 2-35 and I managed 1-14 myself, more through luck than skill, I'll admit.

Chasing 154, we made light work of it. Mark Christmas played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 70 that carried us home in some style, with Richard Piper's 48 and Trevor Back's watchful 22 not out doing the heavy lifting either side of him. Less said the better about Will Thew and Luke Welsman, both of whom contributed a golden duck apiece to the scorebook — these things happen, gentlemen, these things happen.

We cantered to 157/3 in 32.1 overs for a comfortable seven-wicket win. Elsewhere, a nod to Thomas Beeney, who slipped past Daniel Thirkell into 18th on the all-time wicket-takers list with his solitary scalp — the ledgers of Linton Park cricket quietly rewritten one over at a time.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a rare afternoon where the drizzle didn't dampen the mood one bit.

Sun 21 Aug 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv DC Dymchurch CC · HomeformWWLWL

Sunday 21 August found us hosting Dymchurch CC under warm, showery skies, and having won the toss I rather fancied batting first — a decision the lads repaid handsomely. James Piper and Adam Jackson gave us the platform, 85 for the first wicket before the openers were parted, then simply refused to stop, adding a crucial 134 for the second. Piper fell one shy of a hundred on 98, Jackson agonisingly close behind on 96, and Kevin Presneill finished unbeaten on 50 as we declared ourselves at a mighty 323 for 4 off our 40 overs.

Chasing that lot, Dymchurch made a fair fist of it early on, losing their first wicket for just 6 before Matthew Ford and Bradley Harper strung together 120 for the second, Ford making 59, Harper 53, and Ben White chipping in an unbeaten 23. Poor Jake Deem trudged off without troubling the scorers. With ball in hand I had one of those days where everything clicks, taking 3 for 20, with Oliver Holdstock and Ray Dixon chipping in a wicket apiece. We did leak a generous 22 wides in the field — sloppy, and not for the first time this season — but it mattered little as Dymchurch folded for 191.

Piper now sits proudly atop the season's run charts, and I'm rather chuffed to find myself third among the wicket-takers. A 132-run win and two well-earned points — a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sat 20 Aug 2016 🧢 2nd XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformWLWLL

Skipper's Log — 20 August 2016

There's a particular flavour of English optimism required to win the toss on a pleasant, drizzly, blustery afternoon and elect to bat, but that's exactly what I did when the coin obliged, and for once the decision didn't come back to haunt me. We posted a very respectable 185 for 6 from our forty overs, with yours truly contributing 40 before getting ideas above his station, well supported by Will Thew's 31 and Glen Rawson's 29. Even the extras column pitched in with a generous 28 — Penshurst Park were evidently feeling charitable with the width of their bowling as well as the width of the boundary.

Defending it was another matter. Muhammed Farooqui set about compiling a thoroughly well-made fifty, 54 in the end, and for a while it looked like our afternoon's work might be undone. But Stuart Campbell was in irresistible form, mixing seam and menace for figures of 4 for 34, backed superbly by Tobey Castle's 3 for 34 and Ian Hollingworth's tidy 1 for 22, two maidens and all. Poor Glen Rawson had a torrid time behind the stumps, 9 byes escaping his gloves like they had trains to catch, but no matter — Penshurst were held to 149 for 9.

A fine win by 36 runs, then, achieved despite the weather, the byes, and my own modest attempt at heroics with the bat. Onwards to the next one.

Wed 17 Aug 2016 🧢 Midweek XIv Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformLWLLL

It was one of those glorious August afternoons that makes you remember why you bother with the whites at all, and Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC arrived to find us in fairly determined mood. Luke Welsman set about the bowling with real purpose, carrying his innings to an unbeaten 63, while Benjamin Austin chipped in a tidy 35 and I managed 27 of my own before getting out of the way to let the total climb. We closed on 183/4 from our 37 overs, which felt, over the tea urn at least, like a total with some substance to it.

Defending it proved rather more of a slog. N. Badman played the innings of the day for the visitors, an unbeaten 66 that our attack simply couldn't shift, with J. Richardson (30) and G. Cooper (21) offering steady company. Credit where it's due, though — Tobey Castle was superb, snaring 3-21 and doing real damage in the middle order, backed up nicely by Sam Boyns (2-25) and Tim Wright (1-19), and between them they saw off F. Sellings and P. Wright without troubling the scorers. Wednesday Wells crept to 161/6 from their 35 but couldn't quite get there.

So honours shared, and a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody in equal measure — thoroughly fitting for a warm Wednesday of good cricket. With the season ticking along, I find myself atop the run charts on 98, and Tobey Castle leads the wickets with 6 — long may both columns keep growing.

Sun 14 Aug 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv High Halstow CC · HomeformLLWLL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 14 August 2016. High Halstow CC at home, warm and overcast, the sort of afternoon that asks nothing of you but promises rain by tea and rarely delivers it. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat, a decision I shall now claim full credit for since it happened to work.

Laurie Probert set about the High Halstow bowling with real purpose, cruising to 74 not out and doing the bulk of the damage, while Benjamin Austin chipped in a handy 42 and Joshua Knowler finished unbeaten on 20 to help us to a healthy 193 for 5 off our forty. Runs enough, I felt, to make the opposition sweat a little over their tea.

And sweat they did. High Halstow fought hard through Chris Whatman's gritty 43 not out and James Marrable's 29, the pair adding 52 for the eighth wicket in a stand that threatened, briefly, to make a nonsense of my declaration of victory before it had even happened. But I had the ball on a string that day, finishing with 4 for 20 including three maidens, and enjoyed the sight of Martin Harris (2 for 26) and Tobey Castle (1 for 32) squeezing the life out of the chase from the other end. High Halstow were held to 165 for 9.

Twenty-eight runs the margin, two points the reward, and a rare afternoon where the plan, the runs and the wickets all turned up on cue. We'll take that.

Sun 14 Aug 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv LC Leybourne CC · AwayformWWWLW

Sunday 14 August, and off we trundled to Leybourne on one of those warm, cloudy afternoons that seem tailor-made for village cricket. I won the toss, elected to bat, and for once nobody in the pavilion questioned my judgement — a novelty in itself.

What followed was a proper treat. James Piper played an innings of real class, cruising to a superb 121, while Glen Rawson gave him fine support with 52 not out. Between them they steered us to 214/2 from our 40 overs, and I allowed myself a rare moment of captaincy smugness as we walked off.

Defending it, though, proved a different matter entirely. Tim Cotton and Matthew Pearce simply refused to be parted, compiling unbeaten half-centuries of 80 and 61 respectively, with Chris Slater chipping in 34 for good measure. I did what I could with the ball — 2 for 35, including three maidens, so at least I wasn't handing it out for nothing — and Anton Bourdillon picked up a wicket too, but Leybourne cantered home on 215/3 with overs to spare, winning by seven wickets.

A funny old game: we posted a total that would have won us most weeks, and still came away second best. James Piper's ton keeps him top of the season's run charts, which is some consolation. As for the rest of us — back to the nets, chins up, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 13 Aug 2016 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sennocke CC · AwayformWWLWL

Richard Piper here, filing the report so you don't have to imagine how it went.

We won the toss at Sennocke, and I had no hesitation in electing to bat — a call I still stand by, whatever the scorebook might suggest otherwise. Trevor Back set about the innings with 28, David Castle chipping in with a tidy 22, but wickets fell at the sort of rate that has become distressingly familiar, and we were all out for 112 in 38.4 overs. A par score for a Sunday pub team, perhaps, but not quite enough against opposition with any ambition.

And ambition Sennocke had. Dom Makepeace, in particular, decided the afternoon belonged to him, cruising past fifty to an unbeaten 56, with Dan Callingham (25) and Mark Conway (22) offering support acts nobody asked for. Stuart Campbell toiled manfully and picked up 2-49, the closest thing to resistance we could muster, and I did my bit with the ball too, though the damage was already rather beyond repair. They cantered home at 117/2 with overs to spare, the sort of chase that barely raises a sweat.

Down by 8 wickets, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. Still, I lead the 2nd XI run charts this season with 300, and Stuart sits handily in the wicket columns, so all is not entirely lost. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets — Sennocke will keep till next year.

Sat 13 Aug 2016 🧢 1st XIv WC Withyham CC · HomeformWWLWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 13 August 2016. A warm, cloudy afternoon greeted us as we welcomed Withyham CC to Linton Park, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't so much as pause for thought before opting to bat. As decisions go, it was one of my better ones.

James Piper played an innings of real substance, 108 not out and utterly serene about it, while Daniel Thirkell chipped in with a brisk 68 and Kevin Presneill added an unbeaten 21 to see us home to 228/3 from our 40 overs. The 158-run stand for the second wicket was the platform on which the whole innings was built — I merely had to sit back, pad up occasionally, and admire the view.

Defending it, Withyham gave themselves a chance. George Smith's 52 and Henry Smith's 50 built a handy 107-run third-wicket stand after we'd struck early to have them 5-1, and Paddy Lloyd's unbeaten 28 kept them interested to the last. But Richard Knowler had other ideas, spinning his way to 5-34 and, in doing so, sailing past 300 career wickets — a landmark worth raising a glass to. Joshua Knowler's 4-54 mopped up the rest, with poor Michael Whitehead collecting a golden duck for good measure.

We closed it out at 192/9, a win by 36 runs. Piper leads our run charts for the summer, Knowler the wickets — and on this evidence, long may both continue. Onwards.

Fri 12 Aug 2016 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformWLWLL

Sam Boyns writing here, and I'll admit the coin got us before Dragons CC did. No luck with the toss on a warm, bright Friday afternoon, and with the visitors electing to bat first, it fell to us to grind away in the field. Grind we did, though not to great effect — Ross Davies helped himself to a magnificent 137, ably supported by Josh Mihill's fine 58 and William Downes's 25, as the total climbed to a formidable 257/3 from 40 overs. I did what I could with the ball, finishing with 2-46, but it was one of those days where the opposition batsman simply has your measure.

Chasing 258 was always going to ask serious questions of the top order, and while Tim Wright's 38 and Matt Tavare's 37 gave us something to build on, we never quite found the platform. I chipped in with 26 myself, but wickets fell around me and we were bowled out for 157 in 39.3 overs — Luke Welsman and Tobey Castle both departing for golden ducks, which never helps the cause. Behind the stumps, Benjamin Austin had a torrid time of it, 9 byes escaping his gloves on an afternoon when little went our way.

A comfortable 100-run defeat, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. Still, character-building stuff — heads up, back to the nets, and we live to fight another Friday.

Thu 11 Aug 2016 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Band of Brothers CC · HomeformLWLWL

Thursday the 11th of August found us hosting Band of Brothers CC, and having called correctly at the toss, I didn't dither for a moment before opting to bat — a decision I stand by, whatever followed.

We built a proper total: 225 for 8 off our 47.2 overs, anchored by Daniel Thirkell's fine 61 and Joshua Knowler's unbeaten 52, with Benjamin Austin chipping in a tidy 27. The tail, bless them, wagged merrily for a final 44 that had the fielding side muttering into their tea, while our extras column — a healthy 38 — did more heavy lifting than it probably should admit to.

Chasing 226, Band of Brothers made hard work of nothing in particular. An early wicket at just 4 had us dreaming, but A Newport's excellent 63 and a stubborn 92-run second-wicket stand, ably assisted by Alexander Cornwallis's unbeaten 47 and J Quensell's 39, dragged them back into it. M Deveson departed without troubling the scorers, some small consolation, though their last pair's unwanted 40 rather took the shine off things. Martin Harris was superb with the ball, 3 for 37, backed up nicely by Will Thirkell's miserly 2 for 50 — two maidens, no less — and Tim Wright's 1 for 37.

In the end they got there by 3 wickets, taking 47.4 overs to our 47.2 — as close a squeak as club cricket serves up. Agonising, but no shame in it. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 07 Aug 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Kings Hill CC · HomeformLLLWL

Sunday the 7th of August found us hosting Kings Hill CC under grey, damp skies — the sort of afternoon that promises rain and delivers runs instead, mostly theirs. I lost the toss, they chose to bat, and by the time the dust settled they'd racked up a handsome 258 for 5 from their forty overs. David Tibbles led the charge with a fine 59, well supported by Gary Jackson's 56 and Graham Hutchins' 51 — three half-centuries is not a bowling figure any captain enjoys reading back. Kevin Presneill did what he could with 2-53, Anton Bourdillon chipped in 1-38 and Darrell Houghton-Judge 1-50, but the writing was on the pavilion wall.

Chasing 259, we mustered a battling 175 for 9. Presneill, having bowled his heart out, then top-scored with 80, and Anton Bourdillon held firm for an unbeaten 28, the pair's 61-run stand for the eighth wicket the one passage of real defiance. Elsewhere it was grim viewing: Trevor Back, Nat Presneill and Charles Curteis all walked for nought, and your captain contributed a golden blob of his own — leading from the front is meant to mean something, and on this occasion it meant leading the retreat. Extras did rather better than most of us with 27.

One bright note: Presneill's 80 nudges him past Stuart Cheesman to 22nd on the club's all-time run list. Small mercies. Beaten by 83 runs — not our day. Back to the nets.

Sun 07 Aug 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Worth CC · AwayformLWWWL

As captain of Linton Park, sun-avoidance was very much the theme on 07 August as we headed to Worth CC under skies that couldn't decide between drizzle and downpour. I lost the toss — no change there — and Worth sent us in, which suited us rather nicely once Jordan Austin and Will Thew got their eye in and put on 105 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a dismissal. Austin went on to a superb 92, Lewis Burnham chipped in a fine 53, and Thew's 42 rounded out an innings that, with a generous 38 extras thrown in for good measure, left us a commanding 286/8 off our 40 overs. Tea, such as it was under grey skies, tasted rather sweet.

Worth's reply never quite got going, though Harry Spence gave it a proper go with 74, backed up by Bob Spence's 22 in a stand of 58 for the third wicket. Poor Chris Crofts departed for a duck, which felt almost unsporting of us. Martin Harris was the story of the innings, spinning his way to a magnificent 5-40, with Angus Knowler tidy and miserly alongside him for 2-41 including two maidens. I managed to get in on the act myself with 1-16 and a useful 22 with the bat for good measure — one of those rare days where the captain's contribution didn't need apologising for afterwards.

Worth were bowled out for 182, and we strolled home by 104 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, drizzle and all.

Sat 06 Aug 2016 🧢 2nd XIv LC Limpsfield Chart CC · HomeformLWWLW

Beaten but unbowed, and I'll take my share of the blame for that.

We lost the toss on a warm, cloudy afternoon at Linton Park, Limpsfield Chart electing to bat, and I confess my heart sank a little watching them settle in for the long haul. An early wicket for just 1 on the board gave us hope of a quick rout, but Abdullah Rehman had other ideas, playing a fine, watchful innings of 93 to anchor things, with Ashraful Talukdar's unbeaten fifty (53) and Pete O'Rourke's 23 filling in the gaps around him. A stubborn 66-run stand for the eighth wicket was the real sting in the tail, and by the time they declared themselves finished at 260/9 from their forty overs, we knew we had a job on our hands. Tim Wright was superb throughout, 3-51 with two miserly maidens thrown in, well backed up by Tobey Castle (2-32) and Riley Butler (2-60) — and there was some quiet satisfaction in seeing Martin Phillips back off for nought against us.

Chasing 261 was always going to ask serious questions of our top order, and losing an early wicket at 3-1 set an uneasy tone. Glen Rawson played beautifully for his 59, and with Tobey Castle's 24 the two of them put together a stand of 65 for the fourth wicket that, for a while, had us daring to dream. I can offer no such excuse for my own contribution — out for a duck, and the least said about that the better.

We finished on 153/6, beaten by 107 runs in the end. A fine effort with the ball undone by too shaky a chase — we'll regroup and come back stronger next week.

Sat 06 Aug 2016 🧢 1st XIv LC Locksbottom CC · AwayformWWWLW

As Mark Christmas, saddling up for match day, in it goes.

Away at Locksbottom on a warm, overcast Saturday, I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — a decision I'll happily claim credit for, since it's much easier being a bold captain when the sun isn't quite splitting the stones and the outfield's holding a bit of pace. We settled in nicely and racked up a handsome 228 for 4 from our forty overs, built around a superb unbeaten 96 from James Piper that had the boundary boards rattling more than once. I chipped in with 33 of my own down the order, Daniel Thirkell weighed in with a tidy 27, and — in the fine tradition of Linton Park batting collapses of the extras column rather than the wicket column — we picked up a generous 39 in sundries, which I choose to interpret as evidence of Locksbottom's generosity rather than our running between the wickets.

Defending 228 is always a nervous business from the boundary rope, but the bowlers made light work of the worrying. Matthew Carter was superb, tearing through with 4 for 52, backed up beautifully by Tim Thirkell's 3 for 41 (two maidens included — not a run given away lightly) and a useful wicket from Martin Harris. Tom Seagrim's 38 and useful contributions from Mark Trevatt and Tom Payne threatened briefly to make a match of it, but Locksbottom were all out for 164, some way short.

A thumping 64-run win, two points banked, and a rare afternoon where the captain's toss call actually looked clever. I'll take it.

Sun 31 Jul 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Boughton-under-Blean CC · AwayformWLLLW

Sunday 31 July took us up the road to Boughton-under-Blean, a warm, drizzly afternoon in prospect. I lost the toss and we were asked to take the field, but it was with the bat that we made our mark, posting 210 all out in 39.3 overs. Richard Piper led from the front with a fine 64, Kevin Presneill ran him close with 62, and Darrell Houghton-Judge weighed in with 27; a generous 30 in extras rounded things out nicely. My own effort, for the club ledger, was rather less to shout about — a golden duck, gone without troubling the scorers, proof if any were needed that a captain doesn't always lead by example with the bat.

We turned to defend the total, and for a while it looked promising. Jon Harris was pick of the attack with 2-12, I chipped in with 2-28 and a couple of maidens for good measure, and Glen Rawson took 1-26 — his 7 runs earlier also eased him past James Piper into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is something. But Dave Carter had other ideas, cracking a superb 79, well supported by Charlie Entwhistle (36) and Tom Hulks (33), as Boughton chased down 216/6 in 36.1 overs.

A four-wicket defeat, then, on a day when the ball did rather more for me than the bat. Richard Piper still leads our Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 207 this season, and I'll cling to third in the wicket charts with 6 — small mercies. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 31 Jul 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Smarden CC · HomeformWLWWW

A warm, cloudy Sunday saw us host Smarden CC, and I'll confess the afternoon didn't quite go our way. Put into the field first, we watched their openers settle in nicely, with William Berry compiling a well-made 77 and Richard Turney chipping in a fine 58, ably backed up by Julian Bashford's 21 as they racked up 215/6 from their forty overs. We weren't entirely without joy, mind — I managed to have Adrian Denny back in the pavilion for a golden duck, finished with 1-27 and a couple of maidens to show I wasn't just there for decoration, while Joshua Knowler and James Piper chipped in with a wicket apiece. Not a total that leaves you cheering, but not one to abandon hope over either.

Chasing 216, we never quite found the fluency the target demanded, closing on 158/8. James Piper was the shining light of our reply, striking a fine 86 that was the innings' backbone almost single-handedly — and worth noting for the scrapbook, that knock nudges him past Glen Rawson into 14th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which is no small thing on an otherwise quiet afternoon.

So, beaten this time, and fair enough — Smarden had the better of both innings. Benjamin Austin continues to lead our 2016 run charts with 328, and Jordan Austin sits second among the wicket-takers with 13, so the season's still got plenty to play for. We dust ourselves down and go again next week.

Sat 30 Jul 2016 🧢 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformLLWWL

A soggy Saturday, Sissinghurst the visitors, and I lost the toss for my trouble — they had us in, and out we went into a warm, drizzly afternoon that felt more suited to a flask of tea under the pavilion awning than serious cricket. We ground out 158 for 8 from our forty, propped up handsomely by Jordan Austin, who cracked a fine 92 that did the bulk of the damage, with Tobey Castle chipping in a tidy 38 alongside him. The middle order rather let the side down after that — Chris Newman and Luke Welsman joined me in the increasingly crowded duck enclosure, and yes, reader, I was one of them. Least said, soonest mended.

Defending 158 always felt like a tall order, but the lads set about it with real purpose. Ian Hollingworth was superb, prising out three for 37, with Stuart Campbell and Tim Wright each grabbing a couple to keep the squeeze on, and Tobey Castle — clearly not content with his runs alone — sent down two maidens for good measure. Tony Reader battled hard for an unbeaten 36, well supported by Karl Bryant's 22 and Colin Jenkins's 20, but Sissinghurst's openers, the Knowler brothers, both fell without scoring, and the innings folded for 149 in 38.5 overs.

Nine runs the margin, and not a comfortable one to watch from the boundary rope. A proper team win, ducks and all — onwards we go.

Sat 30 Jul 2016 🧢 1st XIv LK Leigh CC, Kent · AwayformWWWWL

Saturday last saw us pack the coach for Leigh CC, Kent, under one of those skies that can't decide between sunshine and sabotage. I won the toss and, with the sort of confidence that usually precedes disaster, chose to bat. For once, the cricketing gods smiled.

James Piper played the innings of the summer — a commanding 102 that had me quietly relieved I'd made the right call at the toss. Adam Jackson gave him fine company with a well-crafted 51, and Lewis Burnham chipped in a useful 20. Elsewhere in the order it was rather more sparse: Kevin Presneill, Mark Christmas and Alex Keeler all made twin failures look like a team bonding exercise, but 207 for 7 from our 40 overs was a total to be proud of, ducks and all.

Then came the small matter of defending it. Leigh threatened briefly through Marcus Parfett's 31 and Darren Flint's 20, but Richard Knowler had other ideas, spinning his way to a magnificent 5 for 29 and turning the middle overs into something close to torment for the batters. I did my own small bit with the ball, taking 2 for 40, while Alex Keeler picked up 2 for 24 and Joshua Knowler kept things miserly with two maidens. Leigh were bowled out for 137 in 31.3 overs.

A fine win by 70 runs, then, and a timely reminder that occasionally the captain's hunches do pay off. Onwards we go.

Sun 24 Jul 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Chelsfield Park CC · AwayformLWLLL

Sunday last took us out to Chelsfield Park, the sky doing its best overcast impression of enthusiasm, and for once the coin actually loved me back — I called correctly and didn't think twice about batting. Will Thew set about proving why he's worth his place with a fine 64, the sort of innings that reminds you cricket can occasionally look easy, while Nat Presneill (33) and Trevor Back, unbeaten on 33, kept the scoreboard ticking nicely. Poor Oliver Holdstock will want that particular duck stuffed and forgotten rather than mounted, but a generous 47 extras from our hosts helped paper over such cracks, and 222/8 from our forty overs felt like a total with some bite to it.

Chelsfield made a fight of it — Seb Stanbridge's 37 the backbone, with useful support from Damien Wheatley and Aaron Carrett — but they never quite got away from us. Sam Boyns was rampant with 4-10, Jordan Austin chipped in 3-26, and Darrell Houghton-Judge picked up 2-35; I did my bit for the cause with four tidy maidens, while Ruwan Rathnayaka and Hilary Breeze both departed without scoring. Nat's ten byes behind the stumps were about the only dent in an otherwise disciplined display, as the opposition folded for 172.

Splendid milestones too — Will Thew's 3,000 club runs and Jordan Austin's 50th wicket, both thoroughly deserved. A fifty-run win, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.

Sat 23 Jul 2016 🧢 2nd XIv Kemsing CC · AwayformLLLWW

I called correctly at the toss on a warm, damp Saturday down at Kemsing, and – perhaps against my better judgement – stuck them in. For a long spell it looked a shocking decision. Grahame Wood set about us with a superb, chanceless 120, and Jake Wood kept him company with 66, the pair putting on 186 for the first wicket before either of them so much as thought about getting out. James Walkling chipped in with a breezy 32 as Kemsing rattled to 264/3 from their forty overs. Ian Hollingworth toiled away manfully for 1-32 including two tidy maidens, with Stuart Campbell (1-48) and Tobey Castle (1-68) doing what they could to stem a tide that, frankly, refused to be stemmed.

Chasing 265 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. I got us going with 43 before falling, and David Castle's 25 and an unbeaten 22 from Tobey Castle offered some late resistance, but between 82-2 and 91-5 the innings simply came apart at the seams, and we subsided to 123/7. Special mention, of the unwanted variety, to Dan Corpe, whose golden duck earns him this week's entry in the Duck Club ledger 🦆.

Beaten by 141 runs, then, and no amount of spin on the scorecard will disguise that. But the sun shone, the tea was taken, and there's always next Saturday – we'll be better for it.

Sat 23 Jul 2016 🧢 1st XIv Cudham Wyse CC · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday brought Cudham Wyse CC to Linton Park under skies that couldn't decide between warm and wet, which felt about right for how the afternoon eventually panned out. I called correctly and had no hesitation putting us in, and for a good while it looked a fine decision as Lewis Burnham set about compiling a superb 98, well shy of the century he deserved but the backbone of everything we did. Matthew Carter's 33 and Thomas Beeney's unbeaten 25 gave him company, and their 116-run fourth-wicket stand was the innings in a nutshell. Richard Knowler's contribution was rather more modest — a golden duck to open his account — but with extras chipping in 30, we closed on a healthy 209/5 from our forty overs.

Two hundred and nine looked defendable, and for long stretches it was. Cudham Wyse stumbled early to 4-1 and we had them rocking, but Furqaan Sohail's 44, backed by Tameem Shaik's 42 and Asif Nazir's 37, steadied the ship, with a third-wicket stand of 67 doing the damage. Matthew Carter did his bit with bat and ball alike, taking 3-37, while Richard Knowler made amends for his duck with 2-48, and Thomas Beeney chipped in with 1-33. Jd Hussain at least fell for nought to remind us we could still take wickets when it mattered.

In the end they got there by two wickets, and there's no dressing that up. Credit to Thomas Beeney and Richard Knowler for flying the flag near the top of the season's charts, but for the rest of us it's heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sun 17 Jul 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC · HomeformLLWLL

Beaten by 11 runs on Sunday, but not for want of trying — 17 July, and Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow arrived to a warm, showery afternoon that felt like an invitation to bat. We lost the toss, were sent out to field, and duly watched Jamie Ward compile a very fine 53, well supported by Colin Benham's 33 and Barry Roles's 30, as the visitors racked up 202/6. Small mercies: Gary Ryan departed for a duck without so much as a nervous glance at the scoreboard, and I managed 2-17 with the ball to keep things honest, with Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-46) and the metronomic Tim Wright (1-39, three maidens) chipping in nicely.

Chasing 203 is never a stroll, and so it proved, though not for lack of effort. Trevor Back's 43 anchored the innings handsomely, Nat Presneill's 37 and Richard Piper's 25 kept the required rate in sight, and the third-wicket pair's crucial stand of 67 briefly had us dreaming. I contributed 18 down the order, the extras column pitched in a generous 33, and poor Darrell Houghton-Judge, having bowled his heart out, was undone by a golden duck with the bat. We fell agonisingly short on 191/6.

There was proper cause for celebration amid the disappointment: Richard Piper brought up 13,000 career runs for the club, a landmark that puts our eleven runs short into rather modest perspective. He and Tim Wright continue to lead the season's charts. Eleven runs is nothing — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 16 Jul 2016 🧢 2nd XIv FC Flimwell CC · HomeformLLLLW

Sitting down at Linton Park on a warm, grey Saturday, I won the toss against Flimwell and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, as it turned out. We batted with real purpose, closing on a healthy 194/8 from our 40 overs. I'll allow myself one mention here: 82 not out felt like a proper day at the office, and I couldn't have asked for better support, with Ray Dixon's 28 and Darrell Houghton-Judge's 20 filling out the innings nicely. Not every man's afternoon went to plan, mind — poor Tobey Castle endured the walk of shame for a duck, though he'd more than make amends later.

Defending 194 is always a pleasant problem to have, and the lads set about it with real discipline. Flimwell never got close, folding for 106/8 in 31.1 overs, with only Martin Rigby's 20 offering any real resistance — John Bates departed for a duck at our hands. Tim Wright was magnificent with the ball, snaring 4-38, well backed up by Ian Hollingworth (2-15) and Harrison Fermor (1-13), while Tobey Castle redeemed his morning entirely with two miserly maidens.

An 88-run win, and a thoroughly satisfying one at that. With the season table now showing me atop the 2nd XI run charts and Tim Wright leading the wickets, spirits in the Linton Park camp are high. Onwards we go.

Sat 16 Jul 2016 🧢 1st XIv UC Underriver CC · AwayformWWWWW

Underriver CC, Saturday 16 July 2016, and a warm grey sky greeting us as I won the toss and sent the opposition in — a decision that, for once, didn't come back to bite me. They battled to 145 all out in 39.5 overs, with Will Dobbs top-scoring on 44, but our attack kept a firm hand on things throughout. Tim Thirkell was the pick of the bowlers with a fine 3-18, Richard Knowler backed him up superbly with 3-38, Matthew Carter chipped in with 1-29, and Alex Keeler bowled two tidy maidens for good measure. Paul Southall and Chris Close both departed for ducks at our hands, which I shan't pretend troubled anyone in our dressing room.

Chasing 146, we made harder work of it than the target perhaps deserved, reaching 147/6 from 29.3 overs. Kevin Presneill led the way with a composed 41, I weighed in with 29, and Richard Knowler saw us home unbeaten on 22. Alex Keeler's golden duck with the bat rather cancelled out his good work with the ball, and it was left to the extras column — a generous 33 — to remind us that Underriver were doing their bit to help us over the line too.

A word before the close: Thomas Beeney made his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a milestone that puts the rest of us rather in the shade.

A fine win by four wickets, then — scratchy in places, but a win is a win, and we'll take it gladly.

Wed 13 Jul 2016 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformLLWLW

Wednesday the thirteenth of July found us hosting on a pleasant, showery afternoon — the kind where you check the sky as often as the scoreboard. I won the toss and elected to bat, and for a while I felt rather pleased with myself for it. Sam Boyns led the way with 41, well supported by Jordan Austin's 31, but between them the middle order rather lost the plot: 47-2 became 47-5 before we'd caught breath, and ducks for Trevor Back and Will Thew didn't help the cause. We limped to 128/9 from our 51 overs, a total that felt light before we'd even taken the field.

And so it proved. They replied with 129/4 in a brisk 24.1 overs, though we did have them at 8-1 and allowed ourselves a flicker of hope. That flicker was extinguished by a stand of 93 for the second wicket, built around a- Newport's fine 62 and steadied by J- Quensell's unbeaten 41 and a- Hill's 23. Full credit to Tim Wright, who fought hardest with 2-37, with Jordan Austin (1-10) and Tobey Castle (1-22) chipping in — the pair of ducks we prised from a- Mills and L- Cross were scant consolation.

One shaft of light: Jordan Austin brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, and leads our 2016 Midweek XI run charts to boot, with Tobey Castle second among the wickets. But the day itself belonged to them — beaten by six wickets. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 10 Jul 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · AwayformLLLWL

Beaten but not bowed, we returned from New Ifield on the 10th under skies more grey than golden, having chosen not the toss but the field regardless — always a mixed blessing on a Sunday when the tea urn hasn't even boiled yet.

Batting first, we mustered 131 all out in 34.1 overs, a total that owed almost everything to Will Thew, whose 56 was the innings' backbone, and Tim Wright, whose 32 gave it some much-needed muscle round the middle. Beyond that, truth be told, it rather petered out — the sort of collapse that has you studying your boots with unusual interest.

With the ball we huffed and puffed gamely enough — John Karassellos led the attack with a tidy 1-17 — but New Ifield simply had too much petrol in the tank. Joe Lawrence's unbeaten 66 was a class apart, and Tony Reely's well-constructed 53 made sure there was no way back; 133 for 1 in just 13.5 overs told its own story, and a brutal one at that.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, there was at least the consolation of Richard Piper sitting proudly second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 109 to his name — proof that somewhere in this ramshackle outfit, runs are still being scored with distinction.

Beaten by nine wickets, then, and no arguing with it. We'll dust ourselves off, put the kettle on, and be better for it next week.

Sun 10 Jul 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformLWLWW

Sunday 10 July, and Meopham CC came calling on a grey but agreeable afternoon — the kind that promises nothing and delivers a cracker. I won the toss and took first knock, a decision I'll happily take credit for. Benjamin Austin played the innings of the day, a classy 51, while James Piper (44) and Nat Presneill (35) built nicely around him. The openers gave us a flying start, 74 before the first wicket fell, and a stand of 83 for the fourth wicket did the heavy lifting. Then, as is our club's charming custom, it all went a bit wobbly — 192 for 7 became 198 all out in the blink of an eye, with extras (26) doing sterling work in the shadows. As for my own contribution with the willow, the least said the better: a golden duck, out first ball, the walk of shame performed with what I hope was some dignity. Tobey Castle and Joshua Knowler kept me company in that particular club.

With the ball, redemption of sorts. Meopham fought hard — Alex Bryant carried his bat for a superb 77 not out, ably backed by David Pollard (40) and Patrick Emmitt (24) — but Jordan Austin was magnificent, ripping through with 3 for 13, and I chipped in with 2 for 31 alongside Martin Harris's 1 for 17. George Tompkins departed for nought at our hands, which felt only fair.

They fell two runs short. A captain who fails with the bat and still leads his side over the line by the barest of margins will take that all day long — two points, thoroughly earned, and a story worth telling in the bar.

Sat 09 Jul 2016 🧢 2nd XIv CC Chevening Amblers CC · AwayformLLLLL

Saturday 9th July, and off we trundled to Chevening Amblers under grey skies that threatened rather more than they delivered. Losing the toss meant we were straight into the field with no time to finish our tea, but no complaints — that's village cricket for you.

Batting first, we posted a respectable 135/6 from our forty overs, built on a fine unbeaten 38 from Chris Newman, well supported by Will Thew's 24. Special mention, in the interests of full disclosure, must go to poor Luke Welsman, whose duck will not be troubling the highlights reel. Fortunately our extras column did rather more scoring than some of the top order, contributing a generous 27 — we'll take runs however they come.

In the field, Chevening fought hard but never quite got away from us, bowled out for 115 in 37.3 overs. Paul Kent (23) and Mark Burkitt (22) did the honest legwork for them, but Ian Hollingworth was the real story, ripping through with 3-15, backed superbly by Tim Wright, equally miserly with 3-15 and four maidens to boot, and Chris Newman chipping in with 1-28 for good measure.

Newman, incidentally, now leads our 2nd XI run charts for the season with 182, while Wright tops the wicket-takers with 8 — form both men carried handsomely into this one.

Twenty runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved both. A proper team effort, duck notwithstanding.

Sat 09 Jul 2016 🧢 1st XIv HC Hadlow CC · HomeformWWWWW

We took the field at Linton Park on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon last Saturday, and did the only sensible thing a captain can do when he loses the toss: put a brave face on it. Asked to have first use of the ball, we set about Hadlow CC with a will scarcely to be treasured — Will Kennett stood firm for a well-made 55, but for a heady spell we had them in a proper tangle, 115-5 becoming 124-8 almost before the tea urn had cooled, and poor Mike Mernagh trudged off without troubling the scorers. Tim Thirkell led the attack beautifully with 2-20, Richard Knowler was miserliness personified with 2-21 and two maidens, and Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-35. All out for 131 in 34.5 overs — a total we fancied our chances against.

Chasing, we lost an early wicket with just 8 on the board, the sort of nervy start that has grown men reaching for the flask, but James Piper and Adam Jackson steadied things beautifully, their second-wicket stand of 70 setting up the chase. I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, my 53 proving the runs that mattered — and, with 367 for the season, I find myself atop the run charts, while Richard Knowler leads the wickets with 16, form he showed again today.

An eight-wicket win, then, and a happy coach home. Onwards.

Thu 07 Jul 2016 🧢 Midweek XIv CP Camellia PLC · HomeformLLLWL

There's a particular pleasure in winning the toss on a pleasant, cloudy Thursday and knowing exactly what to do with it — bat first, ask questions of the visitors from Camellia Plc later. And what a question we asked. One hundred and fifty-six for just the one wicket in our twenty overs is the sort of total that makes the tea urn taste sweeter than usual, built on a trio of unbroken, unhurried innings: Lewis Burnham 22 not out, Martin Harris 22 not out and Jordan Austin 21 not out, each content to let the total do the talking rather than chase personal glory.

Defending it was never going to be a stroll, and Camellia made us work for every run, reaching 134 for 6 with O Iqbal (23 not out) and Joe Panter (22 not out) putting on a stubborn 73 for the fourth wicket that had a few of us checking our watches rather more than our scorebooks. Credit where it's due, though — Tim Thirkell was magnificent, ripping through with 3 for 15, backed up handsomely by Tobey Castle's 2 for 20 and a tidy 1 for 6 from Martin Harris, who thus contrived to top-score and take a wicket in the same afternoon, the show-off.

Twenty-two runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved. Burnham now tops our 2016 run charts, Thirkell the wickets — and if this is early-season form, the rest of the club had better watch out.

Sun 03 Jul 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Herne CC · AwayformLLLLW

Sunday 3rd July, and off we trundled to Herne CC on a damp, muggy afternoon that felt like it might do a bit for the bowlers if only the toss had gone our way. It didn't. Herne won the call, chose to bat, and made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 227 for 4 from their forty overs. Carl Perez played the anchor role beautifully for 61, with Neil Robinson unbeaten on 44 and Chris French chipping in 36 to leave us with a proper mountain to climb. Darrell Houghton-Judge did the honest toil up front for 2-48, and I managed to prise out one for 28 myself, with Luke Welsman also among the wickets.

Chasing 228 was always going to be a big ask, and so it proved. Russell Dack fought hard for an unbeaten 30, Darrell Houghton-Judge backed up his bowling with 30 more, and Nat Presneill added 20, but wickets fell around them and we subsided to 143 for 9. Luke Welsman and Charles Curteis both endured the walk back for nought, and eighteen wides and seven no-balls handed Herne runs we simply couldn't afford to gift.

Elsewhere there's a crumb of comfort: Richard Piper sits second in the Sunday 2nd XI run charts and Darrell Houghton-Judge second in the wickets, so not everything's doom and gloom. But out on the field at Herne, this was not our day — beaten by 84 runs, heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 03 Jul 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Woodchurch CC · HomeformLLWLW

Sunday 3 July, and Woodchurch rolled up to a damp Linton Park with the outfield looking more like a paddy field than a cricket pitch. I lost the toss — no shock there, my coin-calling remains as reliable as an English summer — and we were put into the field, which at least spared my top order the indignity of batting in a monsoon.

We batted first regardless, it turns out, and made a very respectable 188 for 7 off our 40. James Piper played the innings of the day, a well-crafted 52, while Lewis Burnham (43) and Laurie Probert (31) chipped in nicely either side of a handy 51-run stand for the second wicket that gave the innings its spine.

Defending it, Woodchurch flew out of the blocks — 60 on the board before we so much as sniffed a breakthrough, courtesy of an opening stand worth exactly that. Matthew Barton, mercifully, went for a golden duck, which felt like the turning point. Gary Sargent's 32 was the innings of note for them, backed by Mark Paine (25) and Tom Richardson (21), but Jordan Austin bowled beautifully for 3 for 32, with Martin Harris (2-24) and Riley Butler (2-30) squeezing hard. I did my bit too, holding down an end with three maidens. Poor Oliver Holdstock had a torrid time behind the stumps, 16 byes escaping his grasp like eels.

Woodchurch finished 167 for 9. We got over the line by 21 runs — scrappy, damp, and thoroughly satisfying. A good day for the club.

Sun 26 Jun 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC · HomeformWLLWL

It was a drizzly old Sunday at home to Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill, and for once the coin cooperated — I called it right and, with the outfield looking lively under grey skies, had no hesitation in sticking us in. Joshua Knowler and the openers set about proving me right in style, the pair putting on 84 before the first wicket finally went down, and from there Knowler carried the innings beautifully to a fine 65. Jordan Austin chipped in handsomely with 53 and Lewis Burnham a useful 26 to see us to a healthy 195/7 from our 40 overs. Poor Lee Bennett was the one blot on an otherwise cheerful scorecard, back in the hutch without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us, and I dare say he'll get one next week.

With 195 to defend, the bowlers took the game by the scruff of the neck. Kevin Shipton battled to 35 and got support from Stephen Negus (24) and David Hayward (23), but Holcombe never really got away from us, sliding from 101/3 to 113/6 in a spell that had me grinning from mid-off. Tobey Castle was the pick of the attack — miserly, metronomic, and thoroughly deserving of his 3-12 with two maidens thrown in for good measure — while Jordan Austin (2-2) and Joshua Knowler (2-6) mopped up either end. Rob Baldwin and Jamie Woodhouse both departed without scoring, and the visitors were bowled out for 136.

A 59-run win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the sort of afternoon that makes the drizzle entirely worth it.

Sun 19 Jun 2016 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Sibton Park CC · HomeformLWLWW

Beaten by Sibton Park, but not without a fight — and not without a smile.

We won the toss on a pleasant, cloudy Sunday and put the visitors in, which in hindsight was rather like inviting a wasp to the picnic. Steve Hickmott decided he fancied batting all afternoon and duly compiled a magnificent unbeaten 119, ably assisted by Terry Dunham's 25, as Sibton Park racked up 186 for 9 from their forty overs. Credit where it's due, though — our attack didn't just stand there admiring the fireworks. Joshua Knowler was superb, ripping through with 4 for 31, while Will Thirkell bowled tidily for 2 for 50 including two maidens, and Richard Knowler chipped in with 1 for 40. Between them they sent Matthew Goldbacher and Adam Lamberton back for ducks, small mercies in among the carnage.

Chasing 187 was always going to ask questions of us, and on this occasion we didn't have enough of the right answers. We were bowled out for 119 in 32.2 overs, with Matthew Carter unfortunately following the away side's openers into the duck column. I did what I could at the crease, top-scoring with 39, but one man holding up an end is no substitute for a full team performance, and the required rate simply ran away from us.

So, beaten this time — soundly, by a century-maker in fine touch. There's no shame in losing to an innings like Hickmott's, only lessons in how to bowl to one. We go again next week, heads up and spirits, if not the scoreboard, unbroken.

Sun 19 Jun 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Rolvenden CC · HomeformWLLLL

As captain, I'll confess Sunday's overcast skies did little to dampen the mood, because they never do when the sun shines on our scorecard instead. Rolvenden CC came to Linton Park and we set about them with bat first, posting a handsome 207 for 5 off our 40 overs. Richard Piper was the architect of it all, striding to 67 with the sort of unhurried authority that makes the tea urn boil that bit slower in appreciation, while Tobey Castle chipped in a brisk 45 alongside him. Even our extras column got in on the act with 44 — not quite a declaration of intent, more a gentle nod that Rolvenden's line was occasionally elsewhere.

Defending it looked a formality on paper, and so it largely proved, though Rolvenden did not go quietly. Steve Stickels played a fine hand of 51, with Nick Stickels (31) and an unbeaten 26 from Hector Raw offering support, but our attack simply had too many answers. Martin Harris was magnificent, tearing through with 4 for 41, Tim Wright was tidy and miserly with 2 for 25 and two maidens, and Benjamin Austin picked up 2 for 51. Dave Barrett, Rory Goodger and Chris Wood all departed for ducks, and I was pleased to get among the wickets myself as Rolvenden folded for 192 in 38.4 overs.

A comfortable, well-earned win — the sort that makes the drive home feel considerably shorter than the drive there.

Sat 18 Jun 2016 🧢 2nd XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformDLLLL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 18 June 2016

Penshurst Park on a damp, muggy afternoon — the sort of day where the sightscreens sweat more than the fielders. I called correctly at the toss and, with the covers only recently off, fancied our seamers in the murk, so I stuck them in without a second thought.

For a while it looked the shrewdest of calls. Tim Wright was a menace all afternoon, hooping it around at 3-22 with three maidens thrown in for good measure, and Matthew Gladwell chipped in nicely with 2-24, Anton Bourdillon picking up one for 35. Hinesh Pandya departed without so much as troubling the scorers — a duck to treasure, or possibly forget. But David Smith (38), Muhammed Farooqui (33) and Mike Smith (28) dragged Penshurst up to 164 all out from 38.1 overs, a total that felt about forty more than it should have been.

Chasing it, we never quite found our rhythm on a pitch offering just enough for their bowlers to feel smug about. Trevor Back battled to 27, David Castle made a tidy 24 and Matthew Gladwell 21, but wickets tumbled around them — I'll own my share of the collapse, having contributed rather less than I'd have liked with the bat — and poor Tobey Castle marched off for a golden duck. We subsided to 99/6 from our 40 overs.

Down by 65 runs, then, and no dressing it up: not our day. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 18 Jun 2016 🧢 1st XIv IC Ightham CC · HomeformWWWWW

I called correctly at the toss on a pleasant, showery afternoon against Ightham CC, and there was never much doubt about my decision — with cloud about and the ball likely to nibble, we fielded first without a second thought.

It proved a shrewd call. Ightham never quite got going, subsiding from a promising-ish 75-4 to a distinctly wobbly 89-7 as the middle order came and went, Matthew Bentall and Will Canniford both departing for ducks at our hands. Andrew Moodie (40) and Ben Hemmings (25) did what they could to give the total some respectability, but 123/9 from their 37 overs was always going to take some defending. The bowling honours were shared handsomely: Richard Knowler was miserly in the extreme, five maidens accompanying figures of 2-5, while Joshua Knowler (2-22) and Ian Hollingworth (2-34) mopped up either end. Not a run given away lightly, as they say.

With the ball having done its work, the chase was a formality dressed up as entertainment. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, motoring past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 70, and I was happy enough to potter along in support, unbeaten myself on 23 as we cantered home to 124/1 from 29 overs.

A fine win by nine wickets, then, and a timely reminder that fielding first isn't always the leap of faith it can feel like at the toss. Onwards we go.

Sun 12 Jun 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bilsington CC · HomeformWWLLL

Sunday the twelfth of June brought Bilsington CC to Linton Park on an afternoon that can only be described as pleasantly damp — the sort of day that makes you wonder if the covers are more decorative than functional. I lost the toss, as is now customary, and duly found myself signing autographs on the boundary while they trotted off to bowl.

Batting first, we ground out a respectable 162 for 5 from our forty overs, built almost entirely on the back of Tobey Castle's magnificent 80 — a proper captain's innings, if I'm allowed to borrow the term for someone else's effort. He found willing company in a third-wicket stand of 90, with Adam Jackson chipping in 26 and myself contributing the same, before the innings settled into the usual scramble for boundaries.

In the field, Stuart Campbell led the line beautifully with 2 for 16, backed up by Tim Wright's 2 for 33 and a tidy strike from Adam Whitehead. Danny Samson, though, had other ideas, compiling an unbeaten 62 and sharing an infuriating fifth-wicket stand of 85 with Adam Martin's well-made fifty, dragging Bilsington home with six wickets down and one over to spare. Poor John Karassellos will want a quiet word with himself about those nine byes, and Paul Webb and Andy Robinson will want quieter words still after both were sent back without troubling the scorers.

Beaten by four wickets, then — no disgrace, but no cigar either. We'll regroup, dry the whites, and come back stronger next week.

Sun 12 Jun 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Wye CC · AwayformWWLLW

Sunday 12 June, and off we trundled to Wye CC beneath skies that couldn't quite make their mind up about the rain — much like our fielding, if I'm honest. I lost the toss, they had first use of a pitch that clearly agreed with them, and 246/4 from their 40 overs told its own story. Max Campbell and Neil Williams both brought up well-made fifties, 82 and an unbeaten 76 respectively, with Matt Barnes chipping in 29 to round out the damage. I managed a couple myself with the ball, 2-28, and Martin Harris and Ryan Boyns toiled away for a wicket apiece, but 246 was always going to be a tall order on a ground that offers precious little sympathy.

And so it proved. We subsided to 110 all out in 27.5 overs, a chase that never remotely threatened. Matthew Gladwell's 25 was the innings' one bright spark, while Nat Presneill and Joshua Knowler both departed for ducks, adding insult to the nine byes that slipped through on what was evidently a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Nat. I contributed 19 of my own before joining the queue back to the pavilion.

Beaten by 136 runs, then, and no arguing with the margin. Benjamin Austin continues to lead our Sunday run charts with 229, and Martin Harris the wickets with 12, so the season's bright spots remain intact even if this particular Sunday was not one of them. We'll dust ourselves off, have a word with the scorebook, and be better for it next week.

Sun 05 Jun 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv GC Great Chart CC · AwayformWWWLL

Beaten fair and square at Great Chart, and I'll be honest, 169/6 always felt a touch shy of par on a good pitch on a pleasant, clear afternoon. Tim Wright battled hard for 35 and Trevor Back chipped in a useful 30, while I managed 47 to top the innings — though credit where it's due, our extras column matched me almost run for run with 35, which tells its own story about the line we were bowling once the boot was on the other foot.

Defending 170 was always going to want early wickets and a bit of luck, and we got neither in the quantities required. James Ainsley played a lovely, well-paced fifty for the home side and Tim Barton finished unbeaten on 45 to see them home with more than six overs in hand, Ivan Baker's 34 in between doing plenty of the damage too. Adam Whitehead was the pick of our attack with 1-22, Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in with 1-30 to keep his name ticking over nicely in the wicket charts, and Tim Wright, for all the runs he'd made earlier, somehow found the energy to bowl two tidy maidens as well.

Small mercies aside, this was a day where the opposition simply played the better cricket. I'll keep my spot atop the run charts for now, but a captain's 47 doesn't win matches on its own. Beaten this time — we go again.

Sun 05 Jun 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · HomeformWWWLL

Sunday 5th June was one of those afternoons that make the whole soggy season worthwhile — warm sun on our backs, and Mersham Le Hatch CC in for a proper hiding. We put first use of a good pitch to excellent use, racking up 262/7 from our 40 overs. Jordan Austin was magnificent, cruising past his fifty to 96, while I chipped in with 69 of my own to keep the scoreboard ticking. Chris Newman finished unbeaten on 22, and even our extras column got in on the act with a healthy 30. Not everyone had a day to remember, mind — Luke Welsman's walk of shame for a duck earns him a permanent line in the club's ledger of shame.

Defending 262 should have been the hard part, but our bowlers had other ideas. Mersham never got close, bowled out for a paltry 96 in 36.1 overs, with only Alex Markwick (39) and David Hatton (20) offering any real resistance. Jeremy Godden, David Khan and Khayal Maroof all trooped back without troubling the scorers. Thomas Beeney was the star turn, scything through them for 6-0 with five miserly maidens thrown in, and passing 400 career wickets in the process — a landmark worth raising a glass to. I managed 3-9 with the ball, and Martin Harris chipped in with 1-26.

All told, a day when bat and ball both sang from the same hymn sheet. A win to savour, and one I'll be dining out on for weeks.

Sat 04 Jun 2016 🧢 2nd XIv LC Limpsfield Chart CC · AwayformWDLLL

Saturday 04 June 2016, and the road took us to Limpsfield Chart CC on a warm, overcast afternoon that promised more than it delivered. Lost the toss, as seems increasingly traditional, and were put into the field. What followed was a lesson in the art of the big innings: Shekh Tanvir Ahmed strode to a majestic 129, and with Pete O'Rourke chipping in a fine 53 and Abid Suleman 24, their third-wicket stand of 124 did for us before tea was even a thought. Ian Hollingworth kept his end up nobly with 2-24, well supported by Tobey Castle (2-60) and Chris Newman (1-49), but 259/5 from 40 overs was always going to be a mountain.

And so it proved. Our reply limped to 95 all out in 24.5 overs, undone at 2-1 before we'd properly found our boots. Chris Newman's 44 was a lone flag planted on the summit, while David Castle, Darrell Houghton-Judge and Tim Wright all contributed that most traditional of club cricket offerings — the golden duck. Nine byes conceded behind the stumps rather summed up an afternoon where nothing quite stuck.

Beaten by 164 runs, no dressing it up. Still, Chris Newman leads our 2nd XI run charts for the season with 143, and Tobey Castle sits third in the wickets with four — so the ledger isn't entirely bare. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 04 Jun 2016 🧢 1st XIv LC Locksbottom CC · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday brought a soft grey sky over Linton Park, and Locksbottom CC came to visit. Truth be told, I lost the toss again — my coin-calling remains as reliable as an English summer — so they had first use of the pitch and stuck us in.

Batting first, we made a decent fist of our forty overs. Kevin Presneill (28) and James Piper (23) both chipped in nicely, and a sturdy 78-run stand for the fourth wicket gave the innings its backbone. For my own part, ninety runs felt rather satisfying, and with thirty-three generous extras thrown in for good measure, we closed on 226 for 6 — a total with a bit of meat on it.

Defending it meant a busy shift in the field. Sam Heron gave us a fright with a fine half-century, well supported by David Killpack (31) and Jack Thompson (27), but Richard Knowler was in inspired nick, plucking out 3 for 11, with Joshua Knowler miserly alongside him at 2 for 27 and three maidens. Locksbottom folded on 183 for 9.

We got home by 43 runs — a good day's work, and one to savour further: somewhere in that innings I brought up 15,000 career runs for the club, and I now lead the 2016 run charts with 291, with Richard Knowler topping the wickets on 12. Bat, ball and a job well done — a proper afternoon of village cricket, and one for the scrapbook.

Sun 29 May 2016 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · HomeformWLWLW

Sunday 29 May found us hosting High Halstow CC on a pleasant, drizzly afternoon of the sort only English cricket could call ideal. I lost the toss and we were asked to take the field — quite how that ended with us batting first is a mystery I still can't explain, but nobody complained once the runs got flowing. An early wobble, 6 for the first wicket, had me pacing the boundary rather more than I'd like, before things settled beautifully.

I found some form of my own with 88, and alongside Adam Jackson we put together a third-wicket stand worth 98 that really set the platform. Jackson's 48 was a fine knock in its own right, and rather more significantly brought up 2,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth savouring. James Piper's brisk 30 rounded us off nicely as we closed on 258/7 from our forty.

With runs on the board, our attack took charge. Thomas Beeney was outstanding, his 3-16 not only doing the damage but easing him past Dave Todd into 20th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Sam Boyns and Matthew Carter chipped in a wicket apiece, and only Tim Munday's watchful 28 offered High Halstow any comfort as they folded for 131/6.

A win by 127 runs, then — milestones tumbling, the season charts looking healthy with 211 runs and three wickets to our names at the top, and the drizzle, for once, entirely forgiven.

Sun 29 May 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv DC Detling CC · HomeformWWWWL

Sunday 29 May 2016, and Detling arrived to find Linton Park pitch soggy but spirits high — a pleasant, showery afternoon, the kind that promises rain at exactly the wrong moment for whoever's bowling. Detling won the toss and sent us in, which after 167/4 from our forty overs looked, in hindsight, rather a generous gift on their part. Benjamin Austin was magnificent, farming the strike to 68 not out and giving the innings its spine, with Luke Welsman chipping in 34 of good, honest support. Even the extras got in on the act with 41 — not quite a specialist knock, but we'll take the runs however they're offered.

Defending it should have been the easy half of the day. It wasn't. Darren McGrath played the innings of the match for Detling, 43 well-constructed runs, backed up by Simon Norcott's 32 and Joshua Town's 28, and between them they dragged their side agonisingly over the line at 168/7 with two balls in hand. Tobey Castle bowled beautifully for his 3-22, Benjamin Austin somehow found the energy to back up his batting with 3-23 with the ball, and Tim Wright was miserly throughout — 1-11 with four maidens, not a run given away lightly. Poor Dave Garety departed without troubling the scorers, as these things happen to the best of us.

Beaten by three wickets in the end, then — a match that had us by the collar and let us slip at the very last. Character-building stuff, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 28 May 2016 🧢 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLWDLL

Overcast skies at Sissinghurst, and I'm afraid the pattern held true to the forecast: a bit grey, a bit gloomy, and ultimately a bit deflating for the lads. We shuffled to the crease and shuffled off again for 132 all out in 36.4 overs — a total that flattered to deceive from the moment the scoreboard stopped ticking over. I managed to hold one end up for 49, with Tobey Castle chipping in a fine 35, but beyond that it was rather a procession, capped off by a hat-trick of ducks from Tim Wright, Stuart Campbell and Darrell Houghton-Judge. Three walks of shame in one innings is the sort of thing that gets you a mention in the Duck Club ledger and precisely nothing else.

Defending 132 was always going to require something special from the ball, and for a while we gave it a proper go. Darrell Houghton-Judge, redeeming himself nicely with the bat behind him, led the attack with 1-22, and Stuart Campbell likewise made amends with 1-23. But Philip Buckingham had other ideas, compiling a composed 45, and Mark Simmons saw them home unbeaten on 40 as Sissinghurst cantered to 135/2 in 29.4 overs without ever looking especially troubled.

So, beaten this time — comfortably, if we're honest with ourselves. A total of 132 was never quite enough dough to bake with, and no amount of early wickets was going to paper over that. Still, there's a season table to climb, Luke Welsman keeps the runs ticking over up top, and we go again next week undeterred.

Sat 28 May 2016 🧢 1st XIv LK Leigh CC, Kent · HomeformDWWWW

A grey old afternoon down at Linton Park, but the sort of day that turns into a good one if you bat first and bat well, and that's precisely what we did. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, a magnificent 103, and he had fine company as Adam Jackson chipped in with an unbeaten 54 and James Piper made a tidy 38. Add in 35 extras — Leigh's bowlers were generous when it mattered — and our total of 236/4 from 40 overs had the look of a match-winning score before a ball had been bowled in reply.

And so it proved, though Leigh CC didn't come quietly. Tim Piper played nicely for his 51, Darren Flint supported him with 48, and Tom Scott was there unbeaten at the end with 21, but the required rate crept up on them all the while. I was fortunate enough to strike early and often with the ball, finishing with 4-17, and Richard Knowler (2-45) and Thomas Beeney (2-46) kept the pressure on from the other end. Leigh closed on 205/9 from their 40 overs, well short of the mark.

Craig now sits proudly atop the 1st XI run charts for the season with 267, and Thomas leads the wicket-takers with 10 — form worth toasting in the bar. A good day for the club, and a thoroughly satisfying one for this captain.

Sun 22 May 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLWWWL

A pleasant, drizzly Sunday saw us head to Sissinghurst, and drizzle proved the least of our problems by close of play. Put into the field, we watched Sissinghurst pile up 217/7 from their forty overs, with Andrew Knowler compiling a composed 86 not out and Peter Smith unbeaten on a fine 79 in fine support. It wasn't all one-way traffic, mind — Tim Wright bowled beautifully for 3-43, three of those overs maidens, and had both Neal Metcalf and Arthur Aitken back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Jon Harris (2-30) and Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-43) chipped in nicely, so the attack could hold its head reasonably high even as the total crept beyond us.

Chasing 218 was always going to ask questions of our batting, and 97/9 from 28.4 overs suggests we answered rather too many of them wrongly. James Piper stood firm for 28 not out, a lone beacon in a rather bleak run chase, while the rest of us contributed to what I can only describe as a vintage collection for the Duck Club ledger — Luke Welsman, Trevor Back and, in the interests of full disclosure, myself all walked back for nought. I did at least manage some use with the ball earlier, for whatever comfort that offers.

Beaten well and truly this time, no dressing it up. Piper's application deserves a mention on the season charts, and Wright's bowling continues to lead our wicket column, but the rest of us must simply dust ourselves down. We go again.

Sat 21 May 2016 🧢 2nd XIv Kemsing CC · HomeformLLWDL

I confess I approached last Saturday's fixture against Kemsing CC in a spirit of quiet optimism that the overcast skies rather punctured by the close.

Winning the toss and electing to bowl, we watched Grahame Wood play an innings of real substance — a magnificent unbeaten 112 that simply took the game away from us, well supported by Martin Green's fine 60. To our credit, we didn't just stand and admire it: Tim Wright bowled with real purpose for his 1-33, and Joe Martin was miserliness personified, sending down two maidens when boundaries seemed to be flowing everywhere else. Even so, 217/3 from their forty overs left us with a proper mountain to climb.

And climb it we tried. Luke Welsman produced a chanceless, magnificent century of his own — 106 not out, carrying the innings almost single-handedly — with Chris Newman chipping in a useful 27 around him. Beyond that, though, the cupboard was rather bare. Tobey Castle and Anton Bourdillon departed for nothing, and I must hold my hand up too: I contributed a golden duck myself, the sort of dismissal one hopes the scorebook will discreetly forget. We closed on 186/9, well short of the target.

A defeat, then, and no dressing it up. But with Welsman now topping our 2nd XI run charts for the season and Wright climbing the wicket-takers' table, there's more here to build on than the result alone suggests. Onwards.

Sat 21 May 2016 🧢 1st XIv Cudham Wyse CC · AwayformLDWWW

Cudham Wyse, 21 May 2016 – and, not for the first time this season, I lost the toss. They fancied a bowl, which on a drizzly, muggy afternoon must have looked the shrewd move. It didn't quite work out that way.

Our first wicket went for a solitary run, and for a horrible moment it looked like being one of those days. Then Craig Sands and I settled in, and things got rather more comfortable — 152 came in a second-wicket stand that did most of the damage, and I was fortunate enough to carry mine all the way to 127. Craig chipped in handsomely with 78, Laurie Probert finished unbeaten on 21, and even the extras column got in on the act with 30. Poor James Piper will want the scorebook doctored — a duck is a duck, however you dress it up — but 264 for 5 from our 40 overs was a total to be proud of.

Defending it, the bowlers did the rest. Cudham Wyse never looked like chasing it down, subsiding from 118 for 6 to 136 for 9 in the sort of collapse we usually suffer ourselves. Richard Knowler was magnificent, 4 for 27, with Joshua Knowler (3 for 39) and Thomas Beeney (1 for 14) tidying up, while Matthew Carter's two maidens choked the life out of the innings. All out for 139.

A hundred and twenty-five runs the right way, and a rather satisfying afternoon's work all round. Onwards indeed.

Sun 15 May 2016 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformLWLWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 15 May 2016. We travelled down to Bidborough on a pleasant, drizzly afternoon, the sort where you can't decide whether to bowl or bat, but I won the toss and had no such hesitation: we'd bat. The right call, I felt, and not for the last time this season I was rather pleased with myself for saying so.

The openers set the tone with 66 for the first wicket, and the innings never really lost its shape after that — a second-wicket stand of 95 doing most of the damage. I had one of those days where everything comes off the middle, and 123 felt as good as it sounds, with James Piper (42) and Jordan Austin (39) providing fine support as we posted 260/6 from our forty overs.

With the ball, Sam Boyns led the line beautifully with 2-33, and both Knowlers chipped in — Joshua with 2-41, Richard with 1-16 — as we squeezed Bidborough hard for most of their innings. Howard Nankivell's unbeaten 38, backed by Stuart Pinchin (37) and Dale Hillhouse (36), kept them interested, and a stubborn last-wicket stand of 60 rather spoiled our afternoon tea, but by then the maths was already beyond them. They finished 206/7.

A fine win by 54 runs, then, and a red-letter day besides — James Piper reaching 8,000 career runs for the club, and Stuart Cheesman's wicket easing him past Terry Donovan into 23rd on the all-time list. Onwards.

Sun 15 May 2016 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv EC Eastchurch CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 15 May 2016, and a pleasant, damp afternoon greeted Eastchurch CC for their visit to Linton Park — the sort of weather that makes a captain sniff the air, nod sagely, and pretend he knows what he's doing. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat, and for once the decision looked entirely justified. Stuart Campbell led the way with a fine 62, well supported by Laurie Probert's 44, as we posted a very defendable 167 all out from our 40 overs. Not everything glittered — John Karassellos and Anton Bourdillon both departed for ducks, proving that even a good day has its blemishes — but 167 gave us something to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did, though ultimately not quite well enough. Eastchurch replied with 168 for 4 in 28.3 overs, Stewart Cruickshank compiling a classy half-century of 53, with Callum Hughes (41) and an unbeaten Oliver Dewey (39) keeping the chase on the rails. Anton Bourdillon was pick of our attack with 2 for 23, and I was pleased enough with my own contribution of 1 for 30, with Joel Attwood chipping in 1 for 41. Nine byes, though, told their own tale of a tricky afternoon behind the stumps for John Karassellos.

There was a happier footnote: Ryan Boyns brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth toasting regardless of the result. But toast aside, this was not our day — beaten by five wickets. Heads up, chaps; back to the nets.

Sun 15 May 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Selling CC · AwayformWWWWW

Under a sky that couldn't quite decide whether it wanted to rain on us or just threaten to, we made the trip to Selling CC and, in truth, never quite got to grips with the game.

Asked to field first, we watched Ollie Lane play a genuinely superb innings of 106, with Josh Staunton (69) and Nick Myers (26) offering sturdy support either side of a stand of 101 for the second wicket that did most of the damage. By the time they declared themselves satisfied at 274/6 from their forty overs, the equation looked a stretch. Credit where due: Ian Hollingworth toiled away for 3-47 and, en route, brought up 200 career wickets — a landmark worth raising a cup of tea to — while Darrell Houghton-Judge and Tim Wright chipped in a wicket apiece.

With the bat we gave it a proper go. Benjamin Austin played the innings of the day with a fine 74, well backed by Martin Harris (39) and, if I may say so just the once, 31 from your captain. Chris Newman's afternoon began and ended with a duck, and even 29 extras couldn't paper over the gap, as we folded for 217 in 36.2 overs.

Austin's knock lifts him to third in this season's run charts, and Harris continues to lead the wicket-takers — small consolations on a day we finished four wickets shy. Not our afternoon, lads. Back to the nets, heads up, and on to the next one.

Sat 14 May 2016 🧢 1st XIv UC Underriver CC · HomeformWLDWW

Here's the match report:

Saturday last, and we welcomed Underriver CC to Linton Park under skies that couldn't quite make up their mind whether to spoil the party. Cool, cloudy, the sort of afternoon that makes you glad of a jumper between overs — but no bad omen, as it turned out.

Batting first, we ground our way to a healthy 237/9 from the full forty. I was fortunate to find some form and get among the runs with 53, though I'll happily share the credit — Craig Sands chipped in a fine 36 and Thomas Beeney finished unbeaten on 32, the pair of them putting on 59 for the fifth wicket to give the innings some much-needed spine. Spare a thought for poor Adam Jackson, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings — these things happen to the best of us, and no doubt he'll have his revenge before the season's out. The extras column, meanwhile, quietly did its bit with 43 — Underriver's bowlers were nothing if not generous.

With the ball, it was a tighter affair. Underriver replied with 188/7, David Close batting beautifully for an unbeaten 68 and Paul Garner supporting with 39, and for a good while it looked like they might chase the lot down. But we kept plugging away — I was delighted to pick up 3-18, with Matthew Carter bowling a tidy spell for 2-23 including two maidens, and Alex Keeler weighing in with 1-32.

In the end we squeaked home by a single wicket — the kind of nerve-jangling finish that reminds you why we love this daft game. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a story for the clubhouse for weeks to come.

Sun 08 May 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Beckenham CC · HomeformLWWWW

Sunday 08 May, and Beckenham CC rolled into Linton Park under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to brighten or brood — overcast, warm, and just the sort of afternoon that makes a captain feel clever for winning the toss. Win it I did, and batting first felt like the right call, though I'll admit I said that with rather more confidence than I felt walking out to open.

As it turned out, the runs came rather nicely. I found some form I'd been quietly hoping for and battled through to 115 not out, which I'm still faintly disbelieving of as I write this. James Piper chipped in a handy 43, and Sam Boyns finished unbeaten on 33 to help us up to a healthy 239/4 from our forty overs — though poor Jordan Austin will want the club scorer to use kinder ink than the duck he was dealt. Twenty-five extras rounded out the total nicely, Beckenham's bowlers doing their bit for our cause whether they meant to or not.

In the field, Jordan made amends in some style, snaring 3-33 to lead the attack, with Sam and I following up with two wickets apiece. Jason Bilimoria gave us a proper fright with a fine 90, well supported by Ross Piller and Kamran Khan, and Beckenham pushed us all the way to 233/9 before their overs ran out.

Six runs. That was the margin, and every one of them earned — a proper club cricket nail-biter, and a thoroughly satisfying way to bank two points.

Sat 07 May 2016 🧢 2nd XIv CC Chevening Amblers CC · HomeformWLLWD

From the captain's chair — Saturday 07th May, and a warm, overcast afternoon greeted Chevening Amblers CC as our visitors. We lost the toss, were put into the field first, and had to make do with what the day gave us.

With the bat we posted a respectable 146/7 from our 40 overs, the innings carried by a well-made fifty from Tim Wright, with Darrell Houghton-Judge (35) and Trevor Back (28) lending sturdy support. Less happily, Russell Dack's afternoon began and ended in the same breath, undone for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and no doubt will again.

In the field we gave it a real go. Darrell Houghton-Judge led the attack superbly with 2-22, backed up by Stuart Campbell and Tim Thirkell, both 1-16, the latter squeezing out two miserly maidens for good measure. But Mark Burkitt had other ideas, striking a fine fifty of his own (55), well supported by Mark Challis (36) and David Franklin (24), and the Amblers eased home on 150/5 with half a dozen balls unused. Poor John Karassellos had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes leaking away that we could ill afford.

So, a five-wicket defeat, and not our day. Tim Wright keeps his nose in front atop the season's run charts, Tim Thirkell likewise among the wickets — small consolations. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sat 07 May 2016 🧢 1st XIv HC Hadlow CC · AwayformLWLDW

Saturday the 7th of May saw us venture to Hadlow CC beneath warm, cloudy skies, and when the coin span my way I had no hesitation in asking us to bat first — a decision that, for once, looked rather clever by close of play. James Piper made batting look embarrassingly simple, cracking a magnificent 110, while Adam Jackson chipped in a handsome fifty and Kevin Presneill finished unbeaten on 28. Even our extras got in on the act with a generous 27. We declared our efforts, such as they were, at 265/4 from the full forty overs — a total with a bit of menace to it.

Defending it proved a different sort of afternoon altogether. Tom Batchelor decided he fancied a century of his own and duly compiled a magnificent 128 not out, ably supported by Tanuj Banerjee (28) and Richard Mernagh (25), and for a while it looked like Hadlow might make a real match of it. Three of their number — Simon Morley, Will Kennett and William Machtus — departed without troubling the scorers, and it was Matthew Carter who did the real damage with 4-44, backed up nicely by Stuart Cheesman (3-57) and Richard Knowler (2-30). Poor Craig Sands endured a wretched time behind the stumps, eight byes slipping past him, while I contributed a modest 17 with the bat. Hadlow were bowled out for 220 from 33 overs, and we held on for a 45-run victory. Piper and Carter both climbed the club's all-time lists in the process — a fine day's work all round, and one for the scrapbook.

Mon 02 May 2016 🧢 1st XIv SC Selsdon CC · HomeformWLWLD

Off it goes on a cool, damp, blustery second of May, and if I'm honest I'll take credit for winning the toss and electing to bat — sometimes even a stopped clock is right twice a day. The lads got stuck in against Selsdon CC, Benjamin Austin leading the charge with a fine 40, Richard Piper chipping in with 22 and Nat Presneill unbeaten on 22 to help us to 174/9 off our 39. Poor Darrell Houghton-Judge won't want reminding of his duck, though as it turned out he'd have his say later with the ball in hand.

And what a say it was. Darrell tore through Selsdon with 4-8, Thomas Beeney backed him up superbly with 4-15 (four maidens besides — not a run given away lightly), and Thisal Perera picked up 1-22 for good measure. Arvind Gerald's 31 and Jack Coles' 25 were the only real resistance, while Edward Shivmangel and Charlie Dinning both departed without troubling the scorers. All out for 125 in 26.4 overs — I added a watchful 20 myself, more nurdle than dazzle.

A nod, too, to James Piper, whose 15 runs today eased him past Basil Sears into 16th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and who continues to lead our 2016 charts with 81 runs, with Thomas Beeney topping the wickets column on 6.

A 49-run win, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — even the weather couldn't dampen this one.

Sat 30 Apr 2016 🧢 2nd XIv Staplehurst CC · AwayformLWLLW

As the away side, we made 187 for 3 and then held Staplehurst to 49 for 2 in reply — a draw doesn't need extra colour beyond that, so here's the report:

We travelled down to Staplehurst under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain on us properly or just sulk about it, and lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a formality. They put us in, and for once the batting order didn't seem to mind.

Chris Newman played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 64 that had all the calm of a man who knew exactly what he was doing while the rest of us flapped about at the other end. Tobey Castle chipped in nicely with 47, and I managed 34 of my own, which I shall modestly describe as "useful" and leave it at that. Between us we posted 187 for 3 off our 40 overs, a total that felt like it ought to be defendable, showers or no showers.

And defend it we very nearly did. Staplehurst crawled to 49 for 2 from 17 overs before the weather and the clock conspired to rob us both of a result. Tim Thirkell was the pick of the attack, snaring 2 for 12 with the kind of control that makes a captain's life easy for once.

So, honours shared, and rightly so — neither side could quite land the killer blow. A frustrating afternoon in some ways, but with Newman and Thirkell both topping their respective charts this season already, there's plenty to be cheerful about as the summer rolls on.

Sat 30 Apr 2016 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformLWLWL

There are some Saturdays when the Almanack will remember Linton Park, and 30 April was, perhaps, not quite one of them—but a fine, honest draw against Bidborough CC all the same, played out under a sky that couldn't decide whether it wanted to rain on us or merely sulk about it.

Winning the toss, I took the bold and entirely predictable option of batting first, and 181 for 8 from our forty overs felt about right for the conditions. I found some form with a well-made 66, ably backed up by Joshua Knowler's tidy 25, though poor Darrell Houghton-Judge will want to forget his golden duck before the tea urn's even cold. Still, runs on the board, and a total worth defending.

Defend it we did, restricting Bidborough to 59 for 4 in just over fourteen overs—Thomas Beeney the pick of the attack with 2 for 4, Joshua Knowler chipping in with 2 for 39 to go with his runs, and Sam Boyns bowling two miserly maidens that shut up shop entirely. Rain, bad light, or simply good sense brought things to a premature close, and honours were shared.

A quiet personal footnote: my 66 nudges me up to 17th on the club's all-time run charts, past Stewart Morrison—not that anyone's counting, except the scorer, and me, rather a lot. A draw, then, but a thoroughly companionable one—no losers, plenty of tea, and Darrell already plotting his revenge.

Sun 24 Apr 2016 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Brasted & Sundridge CC · HomeformLLWWW

A cool, cloudy afternoon it was, and I'll confess I had half a mind to bat first just to stay off the field — but the coin didn't oblige, and Brasted & Sundridge CC were invited to have a go. They battled to 122 all out from 38.3 overs, L Wilmot-Wallis (23) and Alan Manderson (20) doing the heavy lifting, though our attack made sure nobody else got comfortable — Dave Bentley and M Howarth both departed for ducks, which is never a pleasant walk back to the pavilion. Martin Harris was quite magnificent, snaffling five for 31 and thoroughly deserving of the acclaim, with Tim Wright chipping in with three for 25 and Chris Newman refusing to leak a run through two tidy maidens.

Chasing 123, we made much lighter work of it, reaching the target for the loss of just two wickets in 24.4 overs. Craig Sands played the innings of the day, motoring past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 61, and I was glad to lend a hand with 40 of my own alongside him. The only smudge on an otherwise handsome scorecard was poor Luke Welsman, undone for a duck — these things happen to the best of us, and I dare say he'll make up for it next week.

All told, a fine win, comfortably and cheerfully achieved. Onwards to the next one.

Sat 23 Apr 2016 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWLWLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 23 April 2016. Headcorn CC away at Linton Park, and a cooler, damper afternoon you'd struggle to find. I won the toss and, with the ball swinging about under grey skies, didn't so much choose to field as fall over myself to do so.

For a while it looked the shrewdest call I'd made all season. Then Barker got hold of things. James Barker cruised to 64, well past his fifty, with Peter Westrop (40) and Edward Scrivens (23) providing the sort of support that turns a decent total into an awkward one, their second-wicket stand worth 68. Darrell Houghton-Judge was the pick of our attack with 2-19, Thisal Perera chipped in with 2-33, and my brother Richard Knowler took 1-51 for good measure — while Ian Hollingworth bowled two miserly maidens to keep things honest. Mike Donnelly did depart for a duck at our hands, which was some consolation. Headcorn closed on 178/5 from their 40 overs — competitive, if not quite daunting.

Chasing it down, we never quite found the fluency required. I top-scored with 30, ably supported by Thomas Beeney (29) and Richard Piper (22), but the middle and lower order couldn't sustain the momentum, and we subsided to 151/9 from our 40 — Ian Hollingworth's duck the low point of an otherwise honest effort.

Beaten by 27 runs, then, and no arguing with the scoreboard. Plenty to work on, but plenty to like too — we'll be better for it next week.