🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 24 Sep 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · AwayformWWDWD

Up at Tenterden on a grey but pleasant Sunday, I lost the toss and we were put in — never my favourite start to proceedings, though the tea urn assured me it would be fine.

Batting first, we posted a healthy 191/8 from our 41 overs, built almost entirely around a wonderful unbeaten 86 from Tobey Castle, who these days seems constitutionally incapable of getting out. Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in with a well-made 33, and the pair put on 58 for the fourth wicket to give the innings its spine. Elsewhere Luke Welsman made a golden duck, which is one way of getting your name in the paper. I managed a couple of overs with the ball later that proved tidier than expected, finishing with 2-18 and four maidens — the sort of figures that make you feel briefly like you know what you're doing.

Tenterden replied with 184/8 from their 44, Guy Day the chief architect with a fine 61, well supported by Joe Betteridge's 40 and Mark Kokkinos's 20, their sixth-wicket stand of 55 threatening to take the game away from us before Tobey Castle, not content with his runs, turned the screw with 4-30. James Piper weighed in with one, and Matt Goldsmith departed for a duck at our hands. Nine byes will have given John Karassellos some uncomfortable reading behind the stumps.

A word too for Darrell, whose 33 came in his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a proper milestone, marked, fittingly, in a losing draw of a battle rather than a rout either way.

In the end honours were shared, neither side quite able to force it home. A fair result, and on this evidence, with Tobey Castle in this sort of form, we shan't be complaining too loudly.

Sat 23 Sep 2017 🧢 1st XIv SC Selling CC · AwayformWLWWW

Beaten by 88 runs, but I'll say this for us — we didn't go quietly. Selling won the toss, took first knock, and made us regret it, racking up 262/7 from their forty overs. Sohail Asilzada gave a proper batting masterclass, a superb 103, with Nick Myers chipping in a well-made 60 and Richard Ingram a tidy 25. We did at least have our moments with the ball: Abishek Pushpavinothan was pick of the attack with 2-36, Henry Bourdillon and Kevin Presneill a wicket apiece, and there was some small satisfaction in seeing Fahid Qurashi trudge off for a duck.

Chasing 263 was always going to want something special, and losing an early wicket with just 8 on the board — a nervy, teeth-gritting start if ever there was one — didn't help matters. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, a well-made 56, ably backed up by Luke Welsman and Nat Presneill with 27 apiece. Poor Anton Bourdillon will want to forget his own duck in a hurry. All out for 174 in the end, some way short.

One bright note amid the gloom: Tim Thirkell's solitary wicket was enough to see him leapfrog John Thirkell into 18th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — history made, even in defeat. I chipped in with a wicket or two myself this season, and sit 4th in the 2017 first-team bowling charts with 17, while Kevin Presneill continues to bat beautifully, 4th in the run charts with 271. A tough afternoon at Selling, no question — but there's plenty of cricket left, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 17 Sep 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Sidcup CC · HomeformWWWDW

Sunday 17 September, and Sidcup CC rolled into Linton Park on a damp, faintly menacing afternoon — the kind where the covers grumble but the game goes on regardless. I lost the toss, as is customary these days, and Sidcup elected to bat, leaving us to make first use of a ball that, for once, actually did some talking.

And talk it did. Sidcup were bowled out for 101 in 30.2 overs, never quite finding their rhythm after losing an early wicket with just the solitary run on the board. Daniel Seaman (26) and Lalit Mangalarapu (25) did their best to steady things, but the damage was already being inflicted at the other end — Darrell Houghton-Judge simply ran through them with a superb 4-21, backed up handsomely by Luke Welsman (3-21) and the ever-parsimonious Tobey Castle, who took 2-7 including three maidens that must have felt like penance to face.

Chasing 102, we made a start of sorts — 18/1 from five overs — before the heavens, or the umpires, or perhaps just good sense intervened, and honours were shared. David Rolls and Andrew Copp will want their names back off the pavilion honours board of ducks, but no matter.

A draw, then, and on another day we surely finish the job. Still, with bowling like that on show, I'll take it as a very useful afternoon's work.

Sat 16 Sep 2017 🧢 1st XIv Stowting CC · HomeformWWLWW

A pleasant, damp Saturday saw Stowting CC roll into Linton Park on 16 September, and for once the toss actually went my way — I had no hesitation in taking first strike on a soggy but true-enough surface.

What followed was as handsome an opening stand as I can recall. Kevin Presneill was in imperious touch, cashing in for 86, while I was happy to play the supporting role for a fifty of my own, 66, before Tobey Castle finished things off in style with an unbeaten 39. The pair of us put on 161 before anyone so much as troubled the scorers with a wicket — a statistic that rather flattered the rest of the order, not least poor Trevor Back, whose golden duck will be logged for posterity in the club's ledger of shame. Still, 220 for 3 from our forty overs was a total to be proud of, and a platform from which to defend.

Stowting never quite got away from us. An early wobble at 6 for 1 promised much, and though Mick Jackson (61) and Nick Graham (42) briefly threatened to make a match of it with 82 for the fourth wicket, the innings subsided from 180 for 6 to 183 for 9 under sustained pressure. Anton Bourdillon was superb with 3 for 34, ably backed by the miserly Abishek Pushpavinothan (2 for 16, three maidens) and Tim Thirkell, whose two wickets nudged him past Alan Boyns into 19th on the club's all-time list.

A 37-run win, and thoroughly deserved. Tea was, as ever, the real highlight.

Wed 13 Sep 2017 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLLDWW

Wednesday 13 September, and off we trundled to Penshurst Park CC under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain on us properly or just sulk about it. Damp, blustery, the sort of afternoon that makes a captain's toss-call feel terribly important. I called correctly and, with the ball doing whatever it fancied in that wind, put them in.

Credit where it's due: Martin Semmens made an absolute nuisance of himself, 94 that we simply couldn't shift, with Barney Scott (23) and Graham Nicholls (23 not out) chipping in to see them home to 190/7 off their 39. Tim Thirkell was superb up front, 3-38, and Benjamin Austin backed him up nicely with 2-11. Martin Harris chipped in with 1-23, and Darren Styles bowled two maidens without so much as a thank-you from the scoreboard.

139/8 in reply wasn't going to get it done, though it started so promisingly — 74 for the first wicket before the roof fell in, 74-1 tumbling to 77-4 in the blink of an eye. Richard Piper's 35 and Sam Boyns' unbeaten 30 were the backbone, with Aaron Hughes' 24 useful support, but Trevor Back and John Karassellos both walked back for ducks, and by then the game had slipped away.

One thing to raise a glass to: Sam Boyns brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a proper landmark on an otherwise chastening day. Benjamin Austin still leads our Midweek run charts with 155, Martin Harris sits second among the wicket-takers on five. As for us — beaten by 51 runs, heads bowed, back to the nets.

Sun 10 Sep 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · HomeformDWWWD

Sunday 10 September saw Cobham CC roll into Linton on a blustery, drizzle-flecked afternoon – the kind of day that tests a captain's nerve as much as his cricketing sense. I won the toss and, with the sky looking unhelpful, sent the visitors in. It looked a decent shout early on when we had them 8-1, and better still when it became 22-4, but Nick Kraus (46) and David Andrews (27) steadied things and dragged Cobham up to a respectable 122/8 from their 40. Tobey Castle was superb with the ball, 2-10, well supported by Will Thew (2-19) and Martin Harris (1-9), while I did my bit with three tidy maidens to keep the scoreboard honest.

Chasing 123, we somehow contrived to lose our first wicket without troubling the scorers, 0-1, and Benjamin Austin's duck did little to settle the nerves in the pavilion. But Sam Boyns played the innings of the day, 35 in what was – rather wonderfully – his 100th appearance in Linton colours, with Will Thew (26) and Tobey Castle (25) chipping in handsomely. We eventually got over the line at 124/6 from 37.2 overs, four wickets to spare.

A proper club cricket afternoon, then – early wobbles from both sides, a milestone innings, and a result that owed as much to nerve as to talent. Two points, thoroughly earned, and Sam's century of appearances made it a day to remember regardless of the scorebook.

Sat 09 Sep 2017 🧢 1st XIv Offham CC · HomeformWWWLW

Saturday 09 September saw Offham CC visit us on a pleasant, showery afternoon, and I called correctly at the toss — no hesitation about it, we were batting. Luke Welsman played the innings of the day, sailing past his fifty to finish on 70, with Darrell Houghton-Judge (29 not out) and Richard Piper (24) lending sturdy support; a 62-run stand for the fifth wicket was the spine of the innings, and a defiant last-wicket flurry of 38 gave the total a respectability it perhaps didn't deserve. Not everyone had their day — Nat Presneill and Charles Curteis both took the walk of shame for ducks — but 217/8 from our 40 overs was a total to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did. Offham never got going, losing an early wicket with just 2 on the board and never quite recovering, eventually mustering 92/9 from their 27 — Anthony Smith (27) and James Duncan (26 not out) the only real resistance. Tim Thirkell was magnificent, 3-15, with Will Thew (2-0) and the miserly Martin Harris (1-6, three maidens) squeezing the life out of it. Adam Kent and Oliver Longley departed without troubling the scorers. Nine byes did rather give away Nat Presneill's afternoon behind the stumps, though I'll say no more on that.

Personal milestones abounded: my 300th appearance in Linton colours, Darrell's 1,000th career run, and Tim leapfrogging Tony Gauna into 20th on the all-time wicket list. I chipped in with 20 myself. A fine win by 125 runs — onwards indeed.

Sun 03 Sep 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sherwood CC, Kent · AwayformWWWLW

Down by 9 wickets to Sherwood on 3rd September, but heads up, we live to fight another Sunday.

Winning the toss on a bright Sunday down at Sherwood CC felt like the easy part of the day, and looking back, it rather was. I fancied batting first, and for a while it looked the right call — Jordan Austin played every bit the senior partner with a classy 51, and Tobey Castle chipped in nicely with 23. But 122 all out in 35.1 overs tells its own story of a middle order that rather lost the plot, with Benjamin Austin and John Karassellos both departing for ducks. Respectable enough on the day, but never going to be enough against a side with any application.

So it proved. Anthony-Lee Peat set about us with an unbeaten 54, Simon Preston kept him company with 37, and David Jones saw them home with 24 not out — the visitors cruising to 124/1 in just 27.2 overs. Martin Harris was our lone shining light with the ball, prising out the solitary wicket for 17, but one breakthrough was never going to trouble a chase that comfortable.

Amid the gloom, one thing worth raising a glass to: Jordan Austin brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, a landmark achieved in defeat but no less deserved for it. Richard Piper, meanwhile, continues to lead our 2017 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 289, a rare source of cheer on an otherwise chastening afternoon.

Not our day, gentlemen. Nine wickets down, pride dented, but the tea was decent and the nets await.

Sat 02 Sep 2017 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLWWLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 2nd September 2017, and the road took us to Meopham CC on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon that felt, in hindsight, rather too pleasant for what followed.

We put 153 on the board from 39.2 overs, and it was very much a top-order affair: Thomas Beeney led the way with a fine 42, Darrell Houghton-Judge weighed in with 40, and Charles Curteis chipped in a tidy 26. Poor Luke Welsman, meanwhile, contributed nothing but a golden duck to the cause — these things happen to the best of us, and I dare say he'll get his own back before the season's out.

Defending 153 was always going to be a stern examination, and so it proved. Tobey Castle was outstanding with the ball, leading the attack with 3-20, while I chipped in with 2-29 myself, and Riley Butler bowled a miserly spell for 1-23, including four maidens — not a run given away lightly, that man. We did send Darren Deeks back for a duck, which felt like a small triumph at the time, but Tony Pearce (47) and Dan Plumb (32) steadied things for Meopham and saw them home to 154/8 from 38.5 overs.

Elsewhere, the season rolls pleasingly on for two of ours — Richard Piper sits second in the 2nd XI run charts with 320, and Tobey Castle second in the wicket charts with 13 — small consolations on an afternoon that otherwise offered little. A defeat to learn from, and learn from it we shall.

Sat 02 Sep 2017 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformLWWWL

It was one of those Saturdays that reminds you why you bother with the whole business — bright, warm, and Meopham CC arriving to find us in generous mood with the bat. We posted 200/5 from our forty overs, built on a fine platform from James Piper, who cruised past his fifty and onward to 65, well supported by Lewis Burnham's 47 and Daniel Thirkell's 31. Extras chipped in a handy 25, which I shall claim as tactical batting by the outfield. Special mention, as tradition demands, for Kevin Presneill, whose duck earns him this week's walk of shame.

Then it was our turn in the field, and what a collective effort it proved. Meopham fought hard through Mark Lewis-Ranwell's well-made 53 and Alex Bryant's 32, but they never quite got away from us, bowled out for 162 in 38.4 overs. Richard Knowler was magnificent, tearing through with 4-41, with Joshua Knowler (2-25, and three miserly maidens) and Daniel Thirkell (2-29) squeezing the life out of the rest. David Pollard and Ryan Lewis-Ranwell both departed without troubling the scorers.

A day for the record books too — James Piper brought up 10,000 career runs for the club, Richard Knowler's four wickets took him past Terry Donovan into 25th on the all-time list, and my own modest 5 runs nudged me past Stan Wratten into 20th among the club's run-scorers. A comfortable, thoroughly satisfying win — the sort you drive home from with the windows down.

Sun 27 Aug 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Chiddingstone CC · HomeformWDWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 27 August 2017, Chiddingstone CC at home

Warm, overcast, and the sort of afternoon that promises rain but delivers only mild suspense — we lost the toss, were duly asked to field first, and had to make our peace with batting second on a ground that felt, by four o'clock, entirely too pleasant for hard feelings.

With the bat we set about repairing that early setback in some style. Benjamin Austin and Tobey Castle put on 73 for the first wicket before anyone troubled the scorers with a wicket falling, and from there Austin simply refused to get out, ending unbeaten on a majestic 102 — three figures, no less, and precious few of them lucky. Trevor Back's unbeaten 47 and Castle's 33 gave the innings real backbone, and 234 for 5 off 36.4 overs felt like a total with some bite to it.

Defending it, though, is where cricket reminds you it owes you nothing. Tony Cooper played the innings of the day, 73 not out and utterly immovable, with Brian Leppard (33 not out) and Alex Hanwell (21) doing just enough alongside him — their fourth-wicket stand of 66 the one that really hurt us. James Piper bowled beautifully for 2-19, well supported by Harrison Fermor and Darrell Houghton-Judge, and I did what I could with bat and ball, though it wasn't quite enough to prise out the last of them. Chiddingstone closed on 189 for 5 off their 39, and honours were shared.

A draw, then — which in village cricket is really just a truce dressed up as a result. Nobody lost, nobody quite won, and everybody went home for tea satisfied enough. I'll take it.

Sat 26 Aug 2017 🧢 2nd XIv LC Limpsfield Chart CC · HomeformLLWWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 26 August 2017, and Limpsfield Chart CC came to call on a warm, grey sort of afternoon, the kind that promises rain all day and never quite delivers it. I lost the toss, as is traditional, and we were put into the field, as is also traditional.

Limpsfield made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 222/9 from their forty overs. Syed Hasan set about us for 42, and got fine support from Ashraful Talukdar's 29 and an unbeaten 29 from Mark McCaffery, the pair conjuring a stubborn 68 for the eighth wicket just when we thought we'd got them shackled. Credit where due: Tobey Castle bowled beautifully for 3-41, with Darren Styles (2-15) and Tim Thirkell (2-56) chipping away either side of him.

Chasing 223, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite threatening the target, closing on 165/8. I found some form and ground out a half-century, 65 in the end, and was well supported by Darrell Houghton-Judge's 33, the two of us putting on 56 for the fifth wicket. Poor Tobey Castle, hero of the morning, returned a golden duck with the bat — cricket's little joke.

Elsewhere in the club, Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan continues to bestride the 2nd XI run charts with 334, and Tim Thirkell leads the wickets with 14.

A defeat by 57 runs, then — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 26 Aug 2017 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformLLWWW

From the captain's chair, and rarely has a chair felt so far from the action as it did on a warm, overcast Saturday at Shipbourne. I lost the toss — no great surprise, my coin-calling remains as reliable as the Kent weather forecast — and we were asked to bowl first, which at least spared us the ignominy of batting into that leaden sky straight away.

Shipbourne set about accumulating with quiet menace. George Willis was the chief architect, ambling to 86 not out, with Sam Spink providing sturdy company on 66 and Neil Lee-Amies chipping in 21, the whole enterprise adding up to a formidable 230 for 7 from their forty overs. Joshua Knowler was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 48 of pure toil, backed superbly by Alex Keeler, whose 2 for 42 included two maidens squeezed from an unforgiving pitch, and Matthew Carter's honest 1 for 35.

Chasing 231 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered rather too many of them incorrectly. Angus Willis and James McCulley both departed without troubling the scorers, and from there it was a rearguard rather than a run chase. I managed 37 to try and anchor things, Craig Sands added a battling 29, and even our extras column mustered 26 — proof, if nothing else, that Shipbourne's bowlers were as generous as their batsmen were ruthless. All out for 153 in 34.3 overs, beaten by 77 runs.

A chastening afternoon, then, but the sandwiches were good and the scorebook will forgive us eventually. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 23 Aug 2017 🧢 Midweek XIv Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformLLLDW

Wednesday 23 August 2017 saw Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC roll up to Linton Park, and no sooner had the coin left my thumb than I knew we'd be bowling first. Not that anyone was complaining once the lads got stuck in. The visitors built steadily through Rob Yardy's fine 57 and S- Suleman's 34, their openers putting on 78 before the roof started to leak: 139 for 4 became 151 for 7 as the pressure told, and they were eventually mopped up for 172 in 47.2 overs. Abishek Pushpavinothan was superb with the ball, 3 for 28, well supported by Adrian Samson (3-30) and a typically frugal Harrison Fermor, whose 2 for 7 with three maidens suggested the batsmen were bowling at a brick wall with a sense of humour.

Chasing 173, we barely broke sweat. Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 81, with Luke Welsman keeping him company on a classy 65 not out and Benjamin Austin chipping in with 21. We cantered home on 173 for 1 in just 25 overs. Poor Peter Whyte had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping nine byes, and poor Peter Howard makes the walk back with a duck against his name — these things happen to the best of us.

A comprehensive nine-wicket win, then, and one that keeps Welsman top of the run charts and Beeney top of the wickets. Onwards indeed.

Sun 20 Aug 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BK Blue House CC, Kent · AwayformLWWWL

Tim Thirkell here, filing from a damp corner of Kent, where the good folk at Blue House won the toss and — showing more sense than mercy — sent us into the field on a distinctly showery Sunday afternoon.

We stuck to our task well. Blue House ground out 174 all out from their 38.2 overs, built mainly around Mark Davies' 33, with Paul Dall'Occo (31) and Andy Tarling (27) chipping in handsomely. For a while it looked like it might run and run, but we squeezed hard at the death, tumbling them from 154-6 to 174-9 in the blink of an eye. Jacob Ryan was the pick of the attack with 3-30, Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in with 3-60, and I was rather pleased with my own 2-21 — two maidens included, which for me counts as high art.

Chasing 175, Benjamin Austin played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 67 that anchored everything, with good support from Russell Dack (37 not out) and Richard Piper (31). The openers gave us a platform of 66 for the first wicket before the innings ever looked troubled, and we cruised home at 175-2 from 35 overs — helped along, it must be said, by a generous 29 extras from our hosts.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved: an eight-wicket win, and a very pleasant drive home.

Sun 20 Aug 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · AwayformLWDWW

Sunday 20 August 2017, and off we trundled to Mersham Le Hatch under skies that couldn't decide whether they were watching cricket or watering the garden. I called correctly at the toss — always a nice way to start a Sunday — and, with the drizzle threatening but never quite committing, I fancied runs on the board first. A wise choice, or so I told myself at tea.

We made 159 all out from our forty overs, a total built rather than blazed. Will Thirkell led from the front with a fine 40, James Piper chipped in a tidy 29, and I managed to nurdle my way to 24 before getting out in the manner all captains secretly dread — memorably, if not gloriously. Joshua Knowler and Harrison Fermor both walked back for ducks, proof that Sunday cricket shows no mercy to reputations.

With the ball, we were rampant. Mersham were bowled out for 136 from thirty-eight overs, Alex Markwick's 28 and Kevin Baker's 20 the only real resistance. Martin Harris was magnificent, ripping through with 3-26, Harrison Fermor backed him up with 2-23, and Sam Boyns snaffled one for good measure. Angus Knowler bowled two maidens without so much as a run leaking through, while Rob Benn and Bruce McTaggart both departed for ducks at our hands — the sort of afternoon where the opposition simply couldn't get a foothold, sliding from 105-6 to 124-9 before the tail gave up the ghost.

A twenty-three run win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — bat, ball and brolly all doing their bit.

Sat 19 Aug 2017 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · AwayformLLLWW

Saturday 19 August 2017, and the road took us to Betsham CC on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon — the sort of day that promises much and, as it turned out, delivered rather less for our lot.

Winning the toss, I elected to bat, and I still maintain it was the right call. Sadly the pitch and the opposition's bowling had other ideas, and we were bowled out for a modest 94 in 31.5 overs. Matthew Gladwell top-scored with a gritty 27, well supported by Jack Gwynn's 26, but beyond that the innings rather fell away. Spare a sympathetic thought for Darrell Houghton-Judge and Toby Fermor, who both contributed golden ducks to proceedings — these things happen to the best of us, gentlemen, chin up.

Defending 94 was always going to be a stiff ask, and so it proved. Kieran Wells and Bradley Millbank simply helped themselves, cantering to 96 without loss in just 11.4 overs — Wells unbeaten on 47, Millbank an equally untroubled 35 not out. We barely laid a glove on them.

On the bright side, Luke Welsman continues his fine season, sitting second in the 2nd XI run charts with 315 to his name — a rare crumb of comfort on an otherwise chastening afternoon.

Ten wickets is about as comprehensive a defeat as this game offers, and there's no dressing it up. Heads up, lads — back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sat 19 Aug 2017 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLLLWW

I put us in to bat when the coin fell kindly, and on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon at Linton Park we set about building something substantial against Bearsted. Adam Jackson was the architect of the innings, farming the strike beautifully for an unbeaten fifty, while James Piper chipped in with 40 and I managed 39 of my own — the sixth-wicket stand between Adam and myself adding a priceless 80 as we motored to 208/7 from our forty overs. Not a bad afternoon's work with the willow, even if I say so myself.

If the batting was solid, the bowling that followed was something rather special. Bearsted never got close, subsiding to 129 all out in 35.1 overs despite a battling 33 from Noel Johnston and useful support from Abhishek Poddar. We simply ran through the middle and lower order — 119-6 became 128-9 in the blink of an eye, and poor Steven Benjamin and Will Terry were both sent back without troubling the scorers, which is never a pleasant walk back to the pavilion. Richard Knowler was the chief tormentor with a superb 4-12, Martin Harris weighed in with 3-22, Alex Keeler picked up one, and Joshua Knowler was miserly in the extreme with three maidens.

A 79-run victory, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one — batting, bowling and fielding all pulling their weight on the same afternoon, which doesn't happen nearly often enough in this game. Onwards.

Fri 18 Aug 2017 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformWLLLD

Friday the 18th of August found us at home to The Dragons CC, under skies that could only be described as pleasantly rain-soaked — the sort of afternoon that makes an Englishman feel thoroughly at one with his surroundings. I lost the toss, which these days I take almost as read, and we were asked to chase. Small mercies: we had first use of the ball, and I fancied our chances of containing them before our lot had to do the hard yards with the bat.

Those fancies took something of a battering. James Churchman played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 117, and found a willing ally in Jack Killen, whose 67 kept the scoreboard humming nicely — the pair adding a rather chastening 161 for the second wicket. We did at least have our moments: Greg Mihill departed for a duck at our hands, and Joe Peck was pick of the attack with 1-24, well supported by Harrison Fermor, whose 1-36 came with two miserly maidens to his name. Even so, 217/3 from their forty overs left us a proper mountain to climb.

Climb it we did. Luke Welsman's fifty-one was the innings' backbone, Joe Peck chipped in an unbeaten 40 with the bat as well as the ball, and Kevin Presneill's 32 anchored a vital 56-run third-wicket stand. We crossed the line with five wickets in hand — a thoroughly good day for the club, and one Benjamin Austin will be glad saw him climb to second in the season's run charts.

Thu 17 Aug 2017 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Band of Brothers CC · HomeformDWLLL

Captain's Log — Thursday 17 August 2017. We hosted Band of Brothers CC.

Lost the toss, asked to bowl first — never the outcome you want on a August afternoon when the tea urn's warm and the outfield's fast, but there we are. Band of Brothers made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 292/3 from their 40.5 overs, with M Churchill compiling a proper hundred (114) and A Newport matching him for cheek with an unbeaten 109 - two centuries in one innings is the sort of thing that makes a captain reconsider his field settings, his life choices, and possibly his hairline. Tom Davey chipped in with 41, and the pair of them put on 157 for the second wicket while we toiled away in the sun. Credit where due: Will Thew kept things honest with 1-22, and Tobey Castle and Martin Harris both chipped in a wicket apiece, at no small cost to the figures.

Chasing 293 was always going to be a tall order, and 188/8 from our 58 overs tells its own story, though not without pride - Jordan Austin's unbeaten 58 was a genuinely well-made fifty, backed up nicely by Richard Piper's 43 and Will Thew's 23. The openers gave us the perfect platform with 65 for the first wicket before the rot set in, and by the time Luke Welsman and Harrison Fermor had both departed without scoring, I'd added my own contribution to proceedings - a duck, about which the less said the better.

Honours shared in the end, a draw when neither side could force it - and on a day when two centurions walked off with the bulk of the plaudits, I'll happily take that as a result earned rather than one merely survived.

Sun 13 Aug 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv SC Sturry CC · AwayformLLWWW

Sunday 13 August, away at Sturry, and the toss went the way tosses so often go for us this year — straight into their pocket. They chose to bat under warm, cloudy skies, and set about making us pay for it.

David Hards was the chief architect of our afternoon's toil, a fine, unhurried century (115) that we simply couldn't dislodge, with Jack Fagg (24) offering support. To our credit, we scrapped hard — Jordan Austin bowled beautifully for 3-31 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, Tim Wright chipping in with 3-41, and Mark Reynolds was sent back without so much as a sniff. Sturry closed on 208/6 from their 40 overs — a stiff ask.

With the bat, Jordan Austin, having already done his bit with the ball, produced a splendid 56, and alongside Darrell Houghton-Judge (40) built a magnificent 88-run stand for the seventh wicket that had us daring to dream. Then, as so often happens in this maddening game, the innings imploded — from 154-7 to 157-10 in the blink of an eye, Richard Piper and Luke Welsman both walking back for ducks, and your correspondent joining them in that ignominious club. Extras did their honest bit with 27. All out for 158 in 35.5 overs, we fell 50 runs short.

Not our day, then, but there were green shoots amid the wreckage — Will Thew and Tim Wright both quietly climbing the season's charts. Heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sun 13 Aug 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Selsted CC · HomeformLLWDW

Called it right at the toss on a grey, warm afternoon and never seriously considered doing anything but batting first against Selsted. It proved the correct call, if I say so myself. Tobey Castle set about the visitors with real intent, cruising to a magnificent 109, and once Will Thirkell had settled in for a fifty-plus knock of his own, the pair put on 145 for the fourth wicket and rather took the game away from our guests before tea was even a thought. I came in later and nudged my way to 42 not out, more architect of a tidy finish than a demolition man, and we closed on a handsome 289 for 5 from our forty overs.

Defending that sort of total rather takes the stress out of an afternoon, and so it proved. Jack Conlon and David Jones threatened briefly with 32 and 31 respectively, but Harrison Fermor set the tone with 2 for 20, and the Knowler family contribution continued in the field as Angus chipped in with 2 for 27, two of them maidens, tight enough to squeeze the breath out of any innings. Martin Harris weighed in with 2 for 29 of his own, and poor Michael Appleton departed without so much as a single to his name. Fifteen byes did give Craig Sands behind the stumps a torrid time of it, but Selsted were bowled out for 149.

A thoroughly deserved 140-run victory, two points banked, and Tobey Castle's season just gets better and better.

Sat 12 Aug 2017 🧢 2nd XIv Linden Park CC · HomeformLLLLW

Right, saddle up.

A warm, overcast Saturday it may have been, but there was nothing lukewarm about our efforts against Linden Park CC. Winning the toss and batting, we set about building something substantial, and Glen Rawson led the way with a well-made fifty — 59 of the finest, no less — while George Taylor (35) and Will Thew (32) chipped in handsomely. All out for 214 from 39.1 overs was a total to be proud of, even if poor Tobey Castle's contribution amounted to the walk of shame and a blank on the scoresheet.

With the ball, we set about dismantling the visitors' reply with real purpose. Darrell Houghton-Judge was quite magnificent, tearing through their order with 4 for 9 and a couple of maidens for good measure, while Will Thew (2-11) and Mardey Castle (2-24) mopped up the rest between them. I managed to get among the wickets myself too, which was a satisfying afternoon's work. Harry Brannan's unbeaten 25 and Jayaprakash Seluthiyan's 24 were the only real resistance, with David Kifford and Ollie White both departing for ducks of their own, and Linden Park were bowled out for 95 in 25.2 overs.

A comfortable and thoroughly deserved win, then, built on Rawson's continued good form — he's now second in the run charts this season — and Houghton-Judge's relentless accuracy with the ball, second among our wicket-takers too. Tea was, as ever, the true highlight, but the cricket ran it close. Onwards we go.

Sat 12 Aug 2017 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformWLLLW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 12 August 2017. The road took us to Horsmonden CC, under a warm, cloudy sky that promised more than it delivered in the way of Kent sunshine.

Winning the toss and batting, we settled in for a proper knock, closing on 201/8 from our forty overs — a total that owed everything to the middle order rolling up its sleeves. Daniel Thirkell led from the front with a well-made 68, Craig Sands followed with a fine half-century of his own, 54, and Adam Jackson chipped in a useful 25. Not every name will want reading back, mind — James Piper and Lewis Burnham both took the long, lonely walk for ducks, and I dare say the Duck Club ledger got a couple of new entries for its trouble.

With the ball, we set about dismantling the home side's reply, and dismantle it we did — Horsmonden bowled out for 178 in 37.4 overs. Baz Bignell gave them something to cheer with 43, Will Mahoney made 29 and T Mash 26, but wickets fell steadily around them, including Thomas Cobb and Andrew Steadman both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Joshua Knowler was the pick of our attack, tidy and mean with 2-26 and a couple of maidens besides, while Martin Harris took 2-38 and I was pleased to get among the wickets myself with 2-40.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and a fine win to bank. Onwards.

Tue 08 Aug 2017 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformLDWLL

Beaten by 8 wickets we may have been, but rain-soaked Tuesdays like this are what club cricket's for. Won the toss, took one look at the sky and the square, and had no hesitation in batting first — a decision I stand by, whatever the scorebook says about the second innings. We rattled along nicely to 166/6 off our forty, with Michael Ladbrook the anchor of the piece, an unbeaten 54 that never looked in doubt, ably backed up by Benjamin Austin's 37 and Paul Bourdillon's 23 — their second-wicket stand of 57 was the innings' spine. Poor Luke Welsman, meanwhile, will be looking to forget his golden duck rather quicker than the rest of us will let him.

Defending it, we simply ran into a force of nature. Harry Furze made an imperious hundred, the sort of innings that has you applauding him back to the pavilion while quietly cursing your bowling figures, and he had willing company in Sebastian Naylor (29 not out) and Sandeep Bains (24) as their second-wicket pair put on 120 and effectively settled matters there and then. Riley Butler was our pick of the attack with 1-34, Anton Bourdillon chipping in with 1-42, but 170 came up in under thirty overs and there wasn't much more to be done about it.

So, eight wickets the wrong way, and a lesson in what a truly top-class innings looks like from the other end. We'll dust ourselves down, take the positives from a competitive total, and be better for it next week.

Sun 06 Aug 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv KK Kennington CC, Kent · AwayformLLLWW

We travelled down to Kennington CC on a pleasantly cloudy Sunday, and true to form the coin did nothing for us — they won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first, leaving us to graze the outfield.

They made a fair fist of it too, racing to 99 for the first wicket before we finally prised a breakthrough, and their innings rolled on to 214 all out in 39.4 overs. James Iles played the anchor role beautifully for 76, with Liam Tegg (61) and Mark Leahy (22) filling in nicely around him. Charles Curteis was the pick of our attack by some distance, a fine 4-15, with Darrell Houghton-Judge (3-47) and Jordan Austin (1-50) chipping away either side of him. Poor Matt Dale, meanwhile, was sent back for nought without so much as a sighter — the duck club gains another member.

Chasing 215, Jordan Austin batted with real authority for an unbeaten 86, ably supported by Glen Rawson's 37, and I was happy to potter along to 31 not out and see us home. Stuart Campbell wasn't so fortunate, joining Matt Dale on the walk of shame with a golden duck, while Will Thew had a torrid time behind the stumps, letting through eight byes. Up in the season charts, I'm still leading the run-scoring for the 2nd XI with 255, and Darrell keeps pulling away at the top of the wicket column with 16.

We got there by four wickets — scratchy in places, but a good day for the club all the same.

Sun 06 Aug 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Borstal CC · HomeformWLLWD

Sunday saw us welcome Borstal CC to Linton Park on a pleasant, grey afternoon, and the coin, as it so often does to me, offered no comfort at all — they had first use and chose to bat. We took the field in good heart, and it was Martin Harris who set the tone, snaring 2-24 to lead the attack, with Sam Boyns (2-31) and Tobey Castle (1-26) chipping in gamely. Borstal built steadily through James Whitnell's 31, Nassar Raja's 30 and Luke Butcher's 29, their third-wicket pair adding a stubborn 54, and poor David Round departed without so much as a glimpse of the scoreboard. They closed on a competitive 193/9 from their forty overs — enough to make us work for it, not enough to worry us unduly.

And work for it we did, though in some style. Mark Christmas set about the total with real purpose, striding to 63, while I was fortunate enough to find some rhythm of my own alongside him, adding 53 as we put on 109 for the first wicket before either of us fell — the platform from which the whole chase was built. Craig Sands saw us home in composed fashion with an unbeaten 24, and we reached 194/5 with overs and nerves both intact.

A fine win by five wickets, then, earned with bat and ball alike, and with Tobey Castle still setting the pace atop both our run and wicket charts this season, the old firm looks in rude health. Onwards indeed.

Sat 05 Aug 2017 🧢 2nd XIv CC Chevening Amblers CC · AwayformWLLLL

As the away side, we lost the toss and were put in to field first – no complaints, that's the way the coin bounces at Chevening.

Chevening Amblers set the tone with a spell of showers doing their best to spoil the afternoon, but our batting line-up refused to be dampened. Glen Rawson (84 not out) and Tobey Castle (78) put on a magnificent 167 for the fourth wicket, the pair simply refusing to let the Amblers back into it, and we closed on a handsome 205/4 from our 40 overs. Poor Luke Welsman was the exception to the good cheer, back in the pavilion for a golden duck before he'd had time to take guard – these things happen to the best of us.

With the ball, it was Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan who set about the Amblers' order, his 3-11 the pick of the bowling, backed up handsomely by Tim Thirkell (2-27, with two miserly maidens) and Harrison Fermor (2-35). Mark Challis (79 not out) and Jonathan Recaldin (24) threatened a rearguard with 73 for the fifth wicket, but it wasn't quite enough, and the Amblers subsided to 166/9. We were, it must be said, generous hosts with the extras – 10 byes had poor John Karassellos chasing leather all day, and 22 wides and no-balls off our bowling won't have pleased the skipper one bit.

The individual highlight, though, belonged to Tim Thirkell, who brought up 400 career wickets – a landmark worth raising a glass to. We got over the line by 39 runs. All in all, a fine day's work, extras notwithstanding.

Sat 05 Aug 2017 🧢 1st XIv PC Plaxtol CC · HomeformLWLLL

Saturday 5 August 2017 dawned pleasant and showery, the sort of afternoon that makes an England cricket ground the most contrary place on earth, and we welcomed Plaxtol CC to Linton Park. I lost the toss, they put us in, and for once I've never been happier to be wrong about anything, because what followed was a proper carnival.

The openers gave us the platform we ask for and rarely get, 60 for the first wicket, before Craig Sands strode out and simply took the day by the scruff of the neck. A magnificent 154 — three figures and then some — anchored by a third-wicket stand of 113, with Daniel Thirkell (39) and James Piper (30) offering fine support. We closed on 265/4 from our 40, a total that had the tea urn trembling.

Defending it, the lads were relentless. Plaxtol rallied briefly through Tom Isaac (41), Hugh Betts (35) and Dan Beynon (25), with a second-wicket stand of 54 the only real resistance, but they were bowled out for 159 in 35.5 overs. Richard Knowler was magnificent, 3-9, with Martin Harris (2-30) and Daniel Thirkell (2-33) chipping in gleefully, and poor Philip Perry departed for a duck without so much as troubling the scorers.

Craig now leads the club's run charts with 410, Richard the wickets with 19 — form which, on this evidence, shows no sign of loosening its grip. A 106-run victory, two points banked, and a genuinely proud captain's log entry.

Sun 30 Jul 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Chelsfield Park CC · HomeformLLLLW

Right then, weather held off for once, and we made a proper go of it against Chelsfield Park CC.

Batting first on a pleasant, overcast afternoon, we were bowled out for 171 in 33.2 overs — not our tidiest effort, though Richard Piper's 35 gave the innings some backbone, with Trevor Back (26) and Benjamin Austin (22) chipping in nicely. Jordan Austin and Martin Harris both went quietly for ducks, which is never a fun walk back to the pavilion, but a generous 44 extras from the visitors did us no harm at all — I won't pretend we're too proud to bank those.

With the ball, the lads dug in properly. Chelsfield Park's Mark Dowsing played a lovely knock of 58, well supported by Jeremy Carrett (37 not out) and Peter Black (23), but we kept chipping away — Seb Stanbridge, Dan Mehigan and Abhi all back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. Will Thew was the pick of the attack with 3-23, Darrell Houghton-Judge chimed in with 2-10, and I managed 2-11 myself, with Benjamin Austin bowling two tidy maidens to squeeze things further. They folded for 151 in 47.3 overs, and we'd got the job done.

A lovely footnote to the day: Trevor Back brought up 14,000 career runs for the club — a genuinely staggering milestone, and one that puts my own contribution firmly in perspective. All told, a scratchy batting effort redeemed by a disciplined bowling display. We got over the line, and a win's a win — I'll take it.

Sun 23 Jul 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Gravesend CC · AwayformWWLLW

Skipper's Log, Sunday 23 July 2017 — away at Gravesend CC.

Won the toss, and there was never much debate in my mind: on went the pads. It proved the right call, as Tobey Castle and James Piper set about the Gravesend attack with the kind of purpose that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy. Castle fell agonisingly short of a century on 96, Piper matched him almost run for run with a classy 95, and between them they hauled us to a handsome 228/4 from our forty overs. I did very little except admire the scoreboard ticking over from the boundary rope.

Defending it, we made early inroads but couldn't quite finish the job. Gravesend, anchored by an unbeaten 46 from Pujhla S, calmly reeled us in to 84/2 from 20.5 overs before the covers, or common sense, called a halt. Castle, not content with runs, chipped in with the ball too — 1-19 the pick of the bowling figures on a day when we simply couldn't find the breakthroughs to match our batting. Spare a thought for Nat Presneill behind the stumps, whose afternoon is rather given away by eight byes on the sheet — these things happen to the best of us.

So honours shared, a draw when neither side had quite enough about them to force it home. Castle continues to lead the way in both our run and wicket charts this season, and on this evidence, long may it continue. A fair result, all told — though I suspect we left a win out there on the field somewhere.

Sun 23 Jul 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LC Loose CC · HomeformLLLLL

Sunday 23 July brought a damp but pleasant afternoon and the visit of Loose CC, who won the toss and — perhaps eyeing those grey skies — sent us in. Whatever they saw in the surface, young Will Thirkell certainly didn't, striding to a magnificent 119 that anchored the innings from start to finish. He found the perfect foil in Richard Piper, whose 65 helped fashion a stand of 168 for the second wicket that rather took the game away from our visitors before tea had even been considered. Benjamin Austin chipped in with a brisk 39 not out as we declared our overs used up at a commanding 259/5.

Defending a total like that ought to be the easy part, and so it largely proved, though Chris Cooper's fighting 60 and a second-wicket stand of 79 with Peter Kenward (40) kept us honest for a while. James Malloy weighed in with 21, and Andrew Harris departed for a golden duck at our hands, which I'm sure he'll want expunged from the record. It was Darrell Houghton-Judge who did the real damage, tearing through them with 5-23 including three miserly maidens — bowling of real discipline. I managed to nibble in with 2-20 myself, and Stuart Campbell picked up one for the cause. Poor Benjamin Austin had a torrid time behind the stumps, 8 byes escaping his grasp, but no matter — they posted 180/9 from their forty, and we ran out winners by 79 runs. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards indeed.

Sat 22 Jul 2017 🧢 2nd XIv LC Locksbottom CC · HomeformWWLLL

Saturday the 22nd brought Locksbottom CC to Linton Park on one of those pleasant, damp afternoons that promise more than the scorebook usually allows, and true to form the coin let us down again — they won the toss and, with the smell of damp grass evidently to their liking, stuck us in.

We batted with more application than flair, ambling to 170 for 5 off our forty overs. Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan was in imperious touch, a chanceless 79 that did most of the heavy lifting, while I contributed a steadier 28 alongside him — the sort of innings that looks tidier in the book than it felt out in the middle.

With 171 needed, Locksbottom simply strolled to it. Ed King and Keith Sawyer put on 83 for the first wicket before we so much as troubled the umpire, King making 48 and Sawyer 42, with Dave Mason seeing them home unbeaten on 40. Jordan Austin toiled manfully for his 1 for 30, three maidens a testament to graft rewarded meanly, and Jack Gwynn chipped in with 1 for 44. But 171 for 2 in 34.5 overs told its own story — eight wickets in hand and hardly a bead of sweat.

Not our day, then, comfortably beaten. Small consolations: Pushpavinothan now leads our 2nd XI run charts for the season with 314, and Gwynn sits fifth among the wicket-takers. Heads up, chins likewise — back to the nets.

Sun 16 Jul 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · AwayformWLLLL

Sunday 16 July, and the road took us south to Cobham CC in Kent, where the heavens couldn't quite decide whether to open properly or just sulk — a warm, drizzly sort of afternoon that clung to your shirt. I lost the toss, which by now feels less like bad luck and more like a settled arrangement between myself and the coin, and Cobham duly chose to bat.

They made a fist of it too, racking up 245/9 from their forty overs, with Stewart Kidd's fifty (65) the backbone of the innings, well supported by Simon Murray's 49 and Joe Bowles's unbeaten 33. I can't complain about my own afternoon with the ball, though — 4 for 33 kept things respectable, with Jacob Ryan (2-50) and Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-59) chipping in nicely around me.

Chasing 246 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and we simply didn't have enough answers, folding for 142 in 38 overs. Luke Welsman's 40 was the one substantial contribution, with Trevor Back (23) and Ray Dixon (21) offering support that never quite turned into momentum. Poor Darrell went second-ball-duck in the field of contributions, bagging a golden nought to match his bowling toil, while Nat Presneill had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping nine byes on a pitch that clearly enjoyed misbehaving.

There was a crumb of personal comfort in my 4 wickets nudging me past Dave Todd into 21st on the club's all-time list — small beer against a 103-run defeat, but I'll take what's going. Not our day, lads. Back to the nets.

Sun 16 Jul 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tyler Hill CC · HomeformWWWLL

Sunday 16 July saw Tyler Hill CC visit us on a warm, damp afternoon, and having won the toss I elected to bat — a decision I shall allow myself a small pat on the back for. We were soon 6 for 1, which had me shifting rather uncomfortably in my chair, but Tobey Castle and Stuart Cheesman restored order and then some, adding a crucial 136 for the third wicket. Castle went on to a magnificent unbeaten hundred, Cheesman chipping in a fine seventy, and with the extras column contributing a generous 39, we posted a formidable 277 for 7 from our forty overs. My own contribution, for the record, was a golden duck — I shall move swiftly on.

Defending 277 is the sort of task that lets a captain relax slightly in the field, and so it proved. Tyler Hill never remotely threatened, subsiding to 86 all out in 23.1 overs. Ryan Boyns was quite unplayable, spinning his way to 5 for 10 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, well backed up by Mardey Castle's 3 for 6, while I managed to sneak in for 1 for 22. Richard Keir's 28 and Adam Arnold's 24 were the only real resistance; three others departed without troubling the scorers.

As for my afternoon with the bat — a duck, and the less said the better, though I'll happily let my bowling figures do the talking instead. Two points banked, and won by 191 runs: a proper thumping, and thoroughly deserved.

Sat 15 Jul 2017 🧢 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWWWLL

Beaten by 5 wickets at Sissinghurst, on a pleasant, drizzly afternoon of the sort that makes you wonder why we bother with the covers at all. I called it right at the toss and fancied batting first, and for a good while it looked the shrewdest decision I'd made all season. Our openers put on 116 for the first wicket, a platform most captains would sell the tea urn for, before things settled into a more sedate rhythm. Glen Rawson made a well-crafted 57, I chipped in with 53 of my own — which, I'll admit, felt rather satisfying — and Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan added a brisk 34. Poor Matthew Gladwell contributed nothing but a duck, though he'll get no sympathy from me; we've all been there.190 for 6 from our forty overs felt like a total to defend.

And defend it we very nearly did. Tim Thirkell bowled beautifully, five maidens and 1 for 15 that spoke of real discipline, with Darrell Houghton-Judge picking up 2 for 43 and Engarshal Sinnaraja chipping in too. But Sissinghurst had other ideas, Joel Bygraves leading the chase with 42, well supported by Andrew Knowler's unbeaten 37 and Colin Jenkins's 31, and they eventually got home with five wickets and a handful of overs to spare.

Small consolation amid the disappointment: I brought up 14,000 career runs for the club, which is the sort of milestone that makes the losses sting a little less. We'll dust ourselves down and come back stronger next week.

Sat 15 Jul 2017 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWLWLL

Lost the toss on a warm, damp afternoon at Linton Park, and there's a particular flavour of dread in being asked to bowl first against a side who fancy their chances — a dread that proved entirely justified. Bidborough's openers set about us with real purpose, cantering to 78 before we so much as troubled the scorers, and by the time Charlie Harding had ground out a fine 83, with James Baldock (38) and Jonny Shepherdson (35) offering stout support, 236/6 from their 40 overs felt like rather a lot to chase. Credit where due, though: Richard Knowler was superb, 3-30 of genuine hostility, backed up nobly by Martin Harris with 3-57, and there was some small comfort in seeing Daniel Page depart for a golden duck at our hands — every cloud, and all that.

With the bat we never quite got going, subsiding to 155/8 from our 40, Craig Sands the honourable exception with a battling 42 that at least gave the scoreboard some dignity. Poor Adam Jackson had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, 16 byes conceded telling its own damp, slippery tale.

Elsewhere there's cheer to be had — Lewis Burnham sits 2nd in the season's run charts with 292, and Richard Knowler 3rd among the wicket-takers with 16 — so the individual furniture is in good order even if the team result wasn't. Beaten by 81 runs in the end, no arguing with that margin. A afternoon to file, learn from, and forget by Tuesday nets — we'll be better for it next week.

Wed 12 Jul 2017 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Corwallis X1 · HomeformDLDWL

Wednesday 12 July, a warm, damp sort of afternoon, and Lord Corwallis X1 rolling up as our visitors. I won the toss, we batted, and I'll admit I rather liked our chances once Tobey Castle got going — 77 of the finest, sailing past his fifty as though the outfield owed him a favour. Richard Piper chipped in handsomely with 37, and poor Benjamin Austin's afternoon with the willow began and ended with a duck, bless him. We closed on 169/7, a total that felt, at tea, like enough.

It wasn't quite. Their reply was built around J Van Rensburg, who made hay to the tune of 76, well supported by A Mills's 24. Credit where due to our attack, mind: Thomas Beeney was superb, 4-31, backed up nicely by Will Thew (2-11) and Riley Butler (2-14), while Benjamin Austin made amends with ball in hand, sending down two miserly maidens. We had D Lock and N Pearce back in the pavilion for ducks, and for a while it looked like we'd nick it — but they crawled home at 170/9.

A footnote of real cheer amid the gloom: Richard Piper's 37 eased him past Trevor Back into 8th on the club's all-time run-scorers' list. Tobey Castle still leads our Midweek XI run charts, Thomas Beeney the wickets. Beaten this time, narrowly, honourably. We go again.

Sun 09 Jul 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC · HomeformLWLLL

A warm, clear Sunday brought Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC to Linton Park, and with first use of the ball I fancied our chances of keeping things tight. It wasn't quite to be — Paul Dennington played a fine hand of 63, with Trevor Earl (60) and Simon May (47) chipping in either side of him, and the visitors posted a healthy 266/5 from their 40 overs. Stuart Campbell was the pick of our attack with 2-52, William Bourdillon chipped in with 1-33, and I did my bit too, taking 1-34 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure — not that it felt like enough against batting of that quality.

Chasing 267 was always going to ask questions of the top order, and Luke Welsman answered them best with a well-made 64, ably supported by Richard Piper's fine 57 and Darrell Houghton-Judge's unbeaten 44. Twenty-nine extras did their bit too, but for all the good work we could only muster 207/4 from our 40 overs — a spirited effort that fell short. Spare a thought for Stuart Campbell, who had the misfortune of adding a golden duck to his day's work after such fine bowling figures — the Duck Club ledger shows no mercy.

Luke Welsman continues to lead our Sunday 2nd XI run charts this season with 189, and I'm quietly pleased to sit atop the wicket-takers with 7. As for Sunday's match, though — beaten fair and square. We dust ourselves down and go again.

Sun 09 Jul 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Harvel CC · AwayformWWWWL

Sunday saw us venture out to Harvel on a warm, overcast afternoon — the sort of day that promises rain and never quite delivers, rather like our fielding at times. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat, a decision I still maintain was the right one, whatever the scoreboard might later suggest. We were bowled out for 170 in 33.4 overs, a total built chiefly on Tobey Castle's fine 36, with Jordan Austin weighing in with 20 and myself contributing a tidy 24 to the cause.

With the ball, we simply couldn't find a way through. Dominic Saunders played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 84 that put paid to any hopes we harboured, ably supported by Al Saunders with a composed 59 not out and Jack MacDonald's 26. Martin Harris did what he could, finishing with 1-37, but it was one of those afternoons where the pitch seemed to belong entirely to the batsmen. The 24th over rather summed things up — twenty runs off it, and with that the game, and any lingering resistance, evaporated. They cantered home on 174/1 in just 22.1 overs.

Beaten by nine wickets, then — no dressing that one up. But with Jordan Austin still leading our season's run charts and Martin Harris well placed among the wickets, there's plenty to build on. We'll regroup, have a stiff cup of tea, and come back better next week.

Sat 08 Jul 2017 🧢 2nd XIv FC Four Elms CC · HomeformWWWWL

I'll won't reveal the deferred tool listing further — writing the match report now.

Well, there's no dressing it up: we lost the toss, got put in to field on a warm, overcast afternoon at Linton Park, and Four Elms made us pay for it. Ben Allatt was in imperious form, carving out a superb 119, and he had willing company from Alan Crowhurst, who middled a tidy 76. Between them they hauled the visitors to 271/8 from their forty overs, though it wasn't entirely one-way traffic — Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan bowled beautifully for 3-40, Tim Wright chipped away for 3-52, and Darren Styles picked up a well-earned 1-16. We did at least see the back of W Levett for a duck, small mercies and all that.

Chasing 272 was always going to ask questions of us, and 123/9 from our forty overs was, frankly, an answer nobody wanted to hear. Abishek Pushpavinothan battled well for an unbeaten 25, with Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan (22) and Trevor Back (22) offering support, but the middle and lower order simply couldn't get anything going — Tim Wright, Fred Taylor and I all contributed nothing but ducks, and I'll spare you the details of mine beyond admitting it was every bit as ugly as it sounds.

A 148-run defeat, then, and not much to sugar-coat about it. Credit to Allatt and Crowhurst for a proper batting exhibition, and to our bowlers for at least making them work for it. As for the batting — well, it's back to the nets, heads up, and onwards to the next one.

Sat 08 Jul 2017 🧢 1st XIv FC Four Elms CC · AwayformLWLWL

Saturday 8 July 2017 saw us take the road to Four Elms CC under a warm, grey sky that promised more than it delivered — much like our luck at the toss, which we duly lost, with the home side electing to field.

Batting first, we posted a healthy 183/4 from our forty overs, built on a fine opening stand of 57. Glen Rawson was the innings' backbone, ticking past his fifty to finish 58 not out, with Kevin Presneill (32) and Lewis Burnham (28) chipping in handsomely either side of him. It felt, at tea, like a total we could defend.

It was not to be. Paul Gammage and Benjamin Crowhurst simply refused to be parted, each raising a fine half-century — 87 not out and 66 not out respectively — and seeing their side home unbeaten in just 32.5 overs. Our bowlers, it must be said, did them no favours: 25 wides and no-balls is the sort of generosity you simply cannot extend to batsmen in that kind of form, and Four Elms cashed in without mercy, wrapping things up by ten wickets.

Amid the gloom, one moment shone through: Luke Welsman brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worthy of far better circumstances, while Lewis Burnham's 28 keeps him handily placed second in our 2017 first-team run charts on 273. As for the result — a chastening afternoon, but the lads will be better for it next week.

Fri 07 Jul 2017 🧢 Midweek XIv RS Randwick Petersham (Sydney) · HomeformDDLDW

A scorching, overcast afternoon greeted us on Friday the 7th of July, the kind of day that can't decide whether it's village fete or monsoon season, and after we had first use of the ball I confess my heart sank rather early. The visitors lost a wicket with just 5 on the board and for a fleeting moment we dared to dream — then Tom Holland and Kel Mullins put paid to that, both reaching three figures not out and adding a frankly rude 261 for the third wicket, before Damian Sidney finished unbeaten on 20 to leave them a mighty 318 for 4 from their 45 overs. Ryan Boyns kept his dignity intact with 2 for 37, the one bowling figure any of us could look at without wincing.

Chasing 319 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved: 168 all out in 32 overs. Benjamin Austin and Craig Sands both made handsome 32s, Darrell Houghton-Judge added a tidy 25, and the third-wicket pair's 68 gave the scorebook a bit of respectability, but the writing was on the pavilion wall. Jordan Austin's golden duck earned him fresh notoriety in the Duck Club ledger, and Craig Sands, having done his bit with the bat, then shipped 20 byes behind the stumps for good measure.

One moment of genuine pride amid the wreckage: Richard Piper made his 700th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that puts all our efforts rather in the shade. Benjamin Austin still leads the midweek run charts, Ryan Boyns sits third among the wicket-takers — small mercies. Beaten by 150 runs, then. Heads up, chins up, back to the nets.

Thu 06 Jul 2017 🧢 Midweek XIv CP Camellia PLC · HomeformLDDLD

A scorching, drizzly afternoon at Linton Park is about as English as cricket gets, and so it proved when we welcomed Camellia Plc for a Thursday fixture that had everything but consistent weather.

Put simply, the lads batted with real composure. Twenty overs brought us 152/4, a total built on the sort of calm, unbeaten stands you dream about at the top of the order: Adam Jackson farmed 22 not out, with Riley Butler (21 not out) and Darrell Houghton-Judge (20 not out) both still there at the close, leaving Camellia with a proper total to chase down.

Defending it, our bowling did the business. Martin Harris was the pick of the attack with 2-9, ably backed by Luke Welsman (2-9) and Riley Butler chipping in with a wicket for just 3. Between us we sent V Shah, Joe Panter and Ryan Boyns back without troubling the scorers, and though Sathasm X held firm with 22, Camellia could only muster 113/8 from their twenty. I'll confess to enjoying my own small hand in proceedings rather more than I let on at the time.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Tobey Castle continues to sit proudly second in the Midweek XI run charts on 28, while Martin Harris now tops the wicket-takers with three — form he brought very much to bear here.

A good day for the club, then, and a result that got us over the line with the drizzle barely noticed. More of the same, please.

Wed 05 Jul 2017 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformLLDDL

It was a Wednesday of grey skies and greyer prospects when Sevenoaks & District came calling, and losing the toss meant we'd be chasing – never my favourite way to spend an afternoon, but there we are. With ball in hand first, we watched Oliver Barnes and Graham Nicholls both cruise past fifty (59 and 54 respectively) with the sort of ease that makes a captain's shoulders sag a little, while Dominic Ramjag's unbeaten 41 rubbed salt in. John Karassellos was the pick of a willing attack with 1-21, I chipped in with 1-33, Tim Wright took 1-44, and Jordan Austin's two maidens were about the only thing resembling parsimony on show. They closed on 220/4 from their 46 overs – a total that left plenty to do.

And do it we did not, in truth. Four down for four was a horror-show start from which we never quite recovered, and a middle-order collapse from 59-4 to 70-7 in a rush of self-inflicted panic all but settled matters. Oliver Holdstock's golden duck summed up our afternoon rather neatly. Only Thomas Beeney, ending unbeaten on a chanceless 39, and a defiant last-wicket flourish of 46 gave the scorebook any dignity, dragging us to 116/7. Thirteen byes were conceded along the way – a testing day behind the stumps for Will Thew, and no mistake.

So: a draw, honours shared, and on another day we're chasing leather all afternoon for our trouble. We'll take it, and quietly hope for a kinder toss next time.

Sat 01 Jul 2017 🧢 2nd XIv Meopham CC · HomeformLWWWW

Meopham CC came calling on a warm, showery July afternoon, and true to form I lost the toss – they had first use of what turned out to be a rather obliging pitch. Mick Clark set about us with a fine unbeaten 56, Gavin Tovey chipped in with 41 and George Williams added 21, though we did at least see off Tony Pearce for a golden duck. Tim Wright led our attack manfully with 2-32, well supported by Anton Bourdillon and Riley Butler, but 187/6 from their 40 overs always felt like a defendable total, especially once you factor in the 25 wides and no-balls we gifted them – the sort of generosity that wins you no friends and precious few matches.

Chasing 188, Tobey Castle played the innings of the day, a classy 52 that also brought up 1,000 career runs for the club – a landmark worth raising a glass to, whatever the scoreline. I contributed a modest 15, extras chipped in a useful 28, but poor Tim Wright, so miserly with the ball, suffered the ignominy of a duck with the bat. All out for 148 in 37.2 overs told its own story.

Beaten by 39 runs, then, and no arguing with that. Credit to Meopham, and credit to Tobey for a landmark innings amid the rubble. We'll dust ourselves down, sort out the extras count, and go again next week – there's a season still to be had.

Sat 01 Jul 2017 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLLWLW

Warm, grey skies at Meopham and I'll confess I half-fancied a low-scoring shootout — we duly obliged with the low-scoring bit, less so the winning. Joshua Knowler carried his bat superbly for 41 not out, Kevin Presneill chipping in a handy 40, but too many of us didn't trouble the scorers meaningfully and we limped to 155/9 from our forty overs. Craig Sands and Will Thew both walked back for ducks, which earns them a permanent, unwanted line in the club's Duck Ledger — gentlemen, the badge of shame awaits at the bar.

With the ball we scrapped hard. Richard Knowler was outstanding, prising out three for 33, and got fine support from Martin Harris (1-18) and Matthew Carter (1-26); we even had David Pollard back in the pavilion for nought. But Andrew Powney simply had too many gears for us, a class half-century of 67 the backbone of their innings, well supported by Gary Howorth's 36, and Meopham eased home to 156/5 with well over three overs unused.

There was, at least, a moment of real warmth amid the gloom — Martin Harris brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and one I was proud to see from the non-striker's end, having added a few myself along the way. Joshua Knowler continues to sit fourth in the 1st XI run charts and Matthew Carter still leads the wicket-takers, so the season's furniture remains in good order even if today's result didn't.

In short: a defeat, fair and square, and one to learn from rather than dwell on.

Sun 25 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday NVKCv HC Horndon On The Hill CC · AwayformWLWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 25 June 2017, away at Horndon On The Hill CC, and not for the first time this season I called it wrong in the middle. Warm and showery, the sort of afternoon that makes you wish you'd stayed in the pavilion with the tea urn, and Horndon took first use of a pitch that clearly had ideas of its own. We were bowled out for 127 in 35.4 overs, Lewis Burnham the mainstay with a fine 41, well backed by Will Thirkell's 25 — but between 81 for 3 and 86 for 6 the innings simply fell through a trapdoor, with Adam Jackson, Benjamin Austin and Joshua Knowler all shouldering arms to the dreaded duck. Three in a heap like that is the kind of thing that gets discussed at length over a pint afterwards.

With the ball we scrapped hard without quite landing the knockout blow. Jeff West made an unbeaten 46 and Daniel Stone an unbeaten 30 to see Horndon home at 133 for 4 in 34.1 overs, James Stitson at least departing without troubling the scorers. Sam Boyns was the pick of the attack, tidy and probing for 2 for 16 with three maidens, Will Thirkell chipped in with 1 for 21, and I picked up 1 for 29 with the ball to go with 15 with the bat, though the damage was really done in the 25th over when two wickets went down together and the game slipped from our grasp.

Six wickets the margin, and a fair reflection of an afternoon where we never quite got out of second gear. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sun 25 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv PC Pett CC · HomeformLLWLL

Sunday 25 June came in showery and unpredictable, rather like our top order of late, and Pett CC arrived to find themselves put in to bat after we lost the toss. Forty overs later they'd racked up a hefty 276/4, with Abdul Aziz easing to an unbeaten 53 and Deluar Ahmed following with a classy 51, the pair putting on 73 for the third wicket while Ollie Janman finished unbeaten on 48. Our bowling had its moments of discipline amid the profligacy — Mardey Castle the pick with 1-18, Sam Smith and Michael Wilson-Pestell chipping in either side, and Ian Hollingworth quietly stifling things with two maidens. But 276 is 276, and we knew we'd need something special.

For a while, we very nearly produced it. I found some form I'd been keeping in reserve for a rainy day — which, fittingly, this rather was — and made 95, while Stuart Campbell played a lovely innings of 82 alongside me, the two of us adding 172 for the third wicket after a nervy duck-at-nought start. Then, as is our club's great tradition, we contrived a collapse for the ages: 234/3 became 243/6 before anyone had finished their tea, with Ian Hollingworth, Toby Fermor and Mardey Castle all departing for golden ducks. Fifteen byes and 46 extras in total said everything about Oliver Holdstock's afternoon behind the stumps.

We closed on 262/8 — brave, nearly glorious, but 14 runs short. Not our day, but heads up and back to the nets we go.

Sun 25 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Smarden CC · AwayformWWWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 25 June 2017. The road took us to Smarden CC, and a pleasant if showery afternoon awaited, the sort where you check the sky more than the scoreboard.

We batted first and, truth be told, 109 all out from 27.2 overs was never going to have Smarden quaking. Martin Harris top-scored with a stout 36 and deserves the medal for making the runs that mattered, while poor Russell Dack was undone for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin. I chipped in with a few of my own along the way, though the scorebook tells that story better than I will here.

Defending under 110 always feels like asking the lads to hold back the tide with a teacup, but we made a fair fist of it. Julian Bashford's 47 and Andrew Macfarlane's unbeaten 32 did the real damage for Smarden, though Toby Raphael went for a duck at our hands. Tim Wright was superb — 2 for 12 with two maidens, tight as a drum — and Nuradha Amarakoon weighed in with 2 for 26. Between them they made Smarden work for every one of those 110/4 from 26.4 overs.

Beaten by six wickets in the end, then, but no shame in it — a low total was always going to ask questions our bowlers couldn't quite answer alone. We'll dust ourselves off, put the kettle on, and be better for it next week.

Sat 24 Jun 2017 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformLLLWL

Saturday the 24th, and Shipbourne rolled up to find us in typically English conditions – warm, but with that fine drizzle that makes you wonder whether to bowl in a jumper. We lost the toss, they sent us in, and thankfully the lads had other ideas about how the afternoon should go. James Piper played beautifully for 73, Craig Sands wasn't far behind with a well-crafted 66, and Lewis Burnham chipped in with 30. The openers set the tone with 72 together, and a crucial third-wicket stand of 76 kept the innings ticking along nicely to 207 for 8 off our forty.

I can't claim similar glory with the bat – I departed for nought, as did Ryan Boyns, two ducks that we shall discuss no further than absolutely necessary.

With the ball, though, it was a different story. Shipbourne fought hard, George Willis in particular playing a fine knock of 80, with Hamza Parvez (38) and James McCulley (21) offering support, while Sam Spink and Neil Lee-Amies both departed without scoring. But I had the day of my life, finishing with 5 for 18, backed superbly by Matthew Carter (2-34), Richard Knowler (2-38) and two tidy maidens from Joshua Knowler, as they folded for 183 in 38.3 overs.

A 24-run win, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club. Piper continues to lead our run charts, Joshua Knowler our wickets – and for once, I shall let my figures do the talking instead of my bat.

Sun 18 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv FC Frittenden CC · AwayformLLLWL

Sunday 18 June 2017, and the road took us to Frittenden — a fixture that always promises tea, tradition, and the faint whiff of humiliation for whoever loses the toss. That, naturally, was us. Put in to field, we could only watch as the innings unfolded elsewhere; when our turn came with the bat, 150 all out in 34.2 overs felt like a score assembled with more hope than conviction. Will Thew top-scored with a fine 39, Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in a handy 30, and somewhere in the middle order a pair of ducks reminded us that cricket, like life, is occasionally cruel without explanation.

With the ball, we scrapped hard. Darrell struck twice for 30, Tim Wright picked up a couple more, and I managed to snaffle one for 23 myself — happy enough with that, though I'd have taken more. Peter Davies bowled with the meanness of a man guarding the family silver, three maidens and barely a run given away. But Matt Young had other ideas, ushering Frittenden home with an unbeaten 51, well supported by Phil Crafter and Craig Smith, while poor Will Thew's day behind the stumps cost us eight byes on top of everything else.

In the end, two wickets separated us — agonisingly close, but close only counts in horseshoes. Still, Will Thew leads our run charts and I've got the wickets column, so all is not lost. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sun 18 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv DC Detling CC · HomeformWWWWW

It was Detling CC at home on a scorching, grey sort of Sunday afternoon — the kind where you can't decide whether to reach for the sun cream or the umbrella. I won the toss and had few qualms about batting first; call it captain's instinct, or possibly just stubbornness.

With the bat we posted 173 all out in 37.2 overs, Ryan Boyns leading the way with 34, well supported by Will Thirkell's 25 and Jordan Austin's 24. I weighed in with 22 of my own, which I shall claim credit for at length in the clubhouse later. Spare a thought for poor Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan, back in the hutch for nought, while the extras column — a generous 33 — did its usual sterling unpaid work.

Defending 173, we bowled and fielded with real purpose. Detling battled to 146/9 from their forty overs, Barry Town top-scoring with 36 and Dan Cook chipping in 20, but the middle order rather fell away, with Jake Davis and Dan Davis both dismissed without scoring. Sam Boyns was the pick of the attack with 2-9, Tobey Castle and Will Thirkell both took 2 apiece, and Angus Knowler bowled two tidy maidens. Twenty-two byes did rather give the game away for Nat Presneill behind the stumps — a conversation for another day.

We got over the line by 27 runs. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon, and with Jordan Austin now topping the run charts and Tobey Castle leading the wickets, the season is shaping up rather nicely.

Sat 17 Jun 2017 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · HomeformLLWWW

Saturday 17th June, and Betsham CC arrived under a scorching, cloudy sky that couldn't quite make up its mind. The coin fell kindly and I had no hesitation sticking us in — a decision that looked shaky when we lost the first wicket with just a single run on the board, all nerves and no timing. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and Kevin Presneill settled in for a superb 98, finding willing company first in a 97-run stand for the third wicket and later from Matthew Gladwell (35) and Will Thew (32). We closed on a handsome 208/5 from our 40 overs. My own contribution was rather less handsome — a golden duck, first ball, the sort of dismissal a captain quietly hopes nobody writes down.

With the ball, we set about our task with real purpose. Betsham's Jerome Adams battled to a fine fifty and found support from William Mcarthur (31) and Kieran Wells (23), but once we got among them — 173/6 swiftly became 188 all out in 38.4 overs, Regan Whitfield departing without troubling the scorers. Tobey Castle was outstanding, 2-26 with two miserly maidens, ably backed by Tim Thirkell (2-30) and Martin Harris (2-42).

Two points, and thoroughly deserved — a 20-run win built on Presneill's class and a collective refusal to bowl a loose over when it mattered. My duck aside, a proper team effort.

Sat 17 Jun 2017 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformLLLLW

The captain's log, Saturday 17 June — a scorching, cloudy sort of afternoon that couldn't quite decide what it wanted to be, rather like our cricket. I lost the toss again (some things never change) and Bearsted, unsurprisingly, fancied batting first.

They made hay, reaching 243 all out from their forty overs. Stephen Pearce's 72 was the real damage, with Abhishek Poddar's 63 and Mark Sandhu's 36 doing plenty besides — their fourth-wicket pair adding a crucial 79 while we stood about admiring the scenery. Credit where due, though: we found some steel at the death, ripping through the tail from 232 for 7 to all out in no time. Matthew Carter led the attack with 2 for 54, I weighed in with 2 for 55, and Joshua Knowler bowled with real discipline, two maidens among his figures of 1 for 27.

Chasing 243 always felt a stretch, and so it proved — 210 all out in 37.3 overs, undone early by a wicket at 4 for 1 before James Piper's 43 and Joshua Knowler's 42 built a steadying 54-run stand, with Luke Welsman's 23 adding further backbone. Poor Craig Sands bagged a golden duck, and we leaned rather too heavily on 29 useful extras. In the field, meanwhile, we were charitable to a fault — 26 wides and a no-ball is not the stuff of champions.

There was cheer amid the gloom: Joshua Knowler reached 2,000 career runs for the club, and Thomas Beeney's wicket edged him past Alan Boyns into 18th on the all-time list. Beaten by 33 in the end — but we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 11 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Sibton Park CC · HomeformWWLWW

Sunday 11th June, and Sibton Park rolled up to Linton Park under a warm, grey sort of sky that never quite decided what it wanted to be — a bit like our top order some weeks. I lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a personality trait, and we were put into the field.

They made a decent fist of it, 128 all out in 33.2 overs, with Stewart Murrell top-scoring on 29 and Harry Divers chipping in a tidy 25. We had them 6 for 1 early doors and thought we were away, but a 52-run stand for the seventh wicket dragged things back our way before Steve Hickmott and Gareth Meers both departed without troubling the scorers. I managed to find some rhythm with the ball, finishing with 3 for 13, with excellent support from Joshua Knowler (2-23) and Matthew Carter (2-26), while Sam Boyns strangled the runs with two maidens for good measure.

With 129 to chase, Craig Sands played the innings of the day, 62 not out and well past his fifty, ably assisted by James Piper's brisk 44, and we cantered home at 130 for 1 off just 21 overs — nine wickets in hand and barely a bead of sweat between us.

A footnote for the statisticians: those three wickets nudged me past John Thirkell into 16th on the club's all-time list, which I choose to take as hereditary talent rather than coincidence. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 11 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Rainham (Kent) CC · AwayformLLLLW

Down by 141 at Rainham, but I called it right at the toss even if the result didn't follow.

I won the toss on a warm, overcast afternoon at Rainham and had no hesitation putting them in — with hindsight, perhaps I should have hesitated a little longer. Andrew Mortimore had other ideas, batting through for a magnificent 113 not out, ushered along by Jon Newton's unbeaten 47 and Michael Tyrer's unbeaten 39, as Rainham cruised to 254/1 from their forty overs. Charles Curteis was the pick of a weary attack with 1-18, and honourable mention must go to Glen Rawson, who conceded 17 byes behind the stumps — a genuinely testing afternoon's work, and one that told its own tale before we'd even picked up the bat.

Chasing 255 was always going to want something special, and while I chipped in with 27 and Nuradha Amarakoon offered gutsy support with 24 not out, the rest of the order rather queued up to get back in the changing room. Engarshal Sinnaraja and Michael Wilson-Pestell both made the walk of shame for ducks, and we folded for 113 in 33.2 overs.

So, down by 141 runs, and no amount of village-green optimism can dress that up as anything other than a good old-fashioned hiding. Still, Glen Rawson sits second in the 2nd XI run charts with 100 for the season, which is more than can be said for the rest of us. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there are worse things in life than a Sunday battering at Rainham.

Sun 11 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CC Challock CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday 11 June, and it fell to me to lose the toss — a habit I'm cultivating this season with real dedication. Challock CC had us in, on a warm grey afternoon that felt like it might do something with the ball and, mercifully, mostly didn't. We stuttered early, seven on the board and a wicket gone, the sort of start that has you rechecking the teapot's still on. But Tobey Castle settled in beautifully for an unbeaten 40 and dragged us to a defendable-if-not-thrilling 113/8 from our forty. Special mention, as tradition demands, to Martin Harris, who contributed a duck to the Duck Club ledger and walked back with the dignity of a man who knows the club minutes will remember it forever.

Out with the ball, though, we were a different animal. Kazi Munir's 37 and Sam West's 20 threatened to steady Challock, but 94-6 became 103-9 as the pressure told, and three more of theirs joined Martin in the Duck Club. Tobey backed up his batting with 3-19, Martin atoned nicely with 2-13, Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in 2-18 to extend his league-leading haul to 7 for the season, and Tim Wright bowled two tidy maidens — fitting, on the day of his 300th appearance in Linton colours, cap firmly earned. Nat Presneill will want a quiet word with himself over those 9 byes.

A ten-run win, scrappy in places, splendid in others. We'll take it, and raise a glass to Tim's three hundred.

Sat 10 Jun 2017 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformLLLLL

Right then — Horsmonden CC away in the field, us at home. Warm sun, good pitch, everything a captain could ask for on a June afternoon.

Winning the toss and putting them in felt like the right call, and by the close it looked positively clever. Horsmonden battled to 158 all out in 39.5 overs, with Sam Carpenter the chief nuisance on 46 not out and Glen Christian chipping in with 31 — but for the most part they simply couldn't lay a bat on Joshua Knowler, who span his way to a magnificent 7-34, two of those overs going for nothing at all. Sidney Cornish had the misfortune of a golden duck for his trouble. Martin Harris (1-29) and Richard Knowler (1-33) tidied up the rest, and that solitary wicket for Martin nudged him past Stuart Cheesman and up to 23rd on the club's all-time list — a quiet little landmark amid the carnage.

Chasing 159, we made light work of it, cruising home to 163 for 3 in 30.2 overs. James Piper was the class act, unbeaten on a well-crafted 61, with Lewis Burnham (35) and Craig Sands (32) doing the supporting work either side of him. I managed to get among the runs myself, which always makes the drive home more pleasant.

A comfortable, thoroughly enjoyable win, and a reminder that when Joshua Knowler gets it right, the rest of us are largely along for the ride. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 04 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Horton Kirby CC · HomeformWLLLL

Here's the match report:

There's an old cricketing truth that the toss doesn't matter half as much as they say, and Horton Kirby's decision to field on a damp Sunday afternoon proved a generous one, because we duly made ourselves at home. Two-hundred-and-thirty-three for three from our forty overs was the kind of total that makes a captain's job look easy — Glen Rawson batted through unbeaten on 93, one boundary short of the century he thoroughly deserved, with Tobey Castle purring along to 62 in support. Their third-wicket stand of 124 was the innings' spine, and even our extras column got in on the act with a generous 29.

Chasing that lot, Horton Kirby never really got going. Jim Martin's 26 and Gordon Watts' 25 were the only real resistance before they folded for 110 in just over 34 overs. Tobey Castle, so useful with the bat, was even more useful with the ball, taking 3 for 6, while Tim Wright bowled with real discipline for 3 for 12 including two maidens. I chipped in with 2 for 5 myself, which I shall modestly mention only the once. Spare a thought for Caiden Lomas, Rod Wickens and Rees Clow, who all made twin acquaintance with the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

A comfortable 123-run victory, then, and two points thoroughly banked — the kind of afternoon that reminds you why you bother turning up in the damp at all.

Sun 04 Jun 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Stowting CC · AwayformLWWWW

A drizzly Sunday saw us trundle down to Stowting, where I lost the toss and we were asked to bowl first — no bad thing, as it turned out, since damp outfields and my top order have never been on speaking terms. Stuart Graham anchored things with a fine 58, finding willing company in Jon Hill and Nick Graham, both good for 31 apiece, and a stand of 73 for the second wicket threatened to bat us out of the day entirely. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and once we prised that partnership apart the innings rather fell over itself — 87 for 2 became 96 for 5 in the blink of an eye, with poor Clifford Ball and Ryan Godden collecting golden ducks for their trouble. Sam Boyns was outstanding with the ball, 3 for 25, well backed by Martin Harris (3 for 29) and Mark Christmas (2 for 20), while I did my modest bit tying an end down for a couple of maidens. All out 158 in 39.3 overs — gettable, if we could bat with sense.

We very nearly didn't need to think that hard. Lewis Burnham made a classy 54, Ryan Boyns chipped in with 40, and the openers set the tone with 63 together before the middle order, in time-honoured club tradition, contrived to lose four wickets between 121 and 124. Jordan Austin and Will Thirkell went without scoring, but the tail wagged just enough, and we scrambled over the line by three wickets with 161 for 7 from 29.2 overs. A proper old-fashioned nail-biter, and thoroughly good for the collective blood pressure — a very good day for the club.

Sat 03 Jun 2017 🧢 2nd XIv CC Chevening Amblers CC · HomeformWLLWW

From the captain's chair, and a rare pleasure it is to report a win. Saturday brought Chevening Amblers to Linton Park under pleasant, cloudy skies, and having won the toss we took first use of the ball — always my preferred order of business, whatever the pundits say about batting first. The Amblers ground their way to 148/9 from their forty overs, Simon Smithers top-scoring with 24 and Paul Kent unbeaten on 20, while poor Paul Blake trudged back for a duck without troubling the scorers. Our attack did the real work: Tim Thirkell was superb, prising out three for 30, with Jack Gwynn and Tobey Castle chipping in two apiece, and Ian Hollingworth tying things down with a couple of maidens that must have felt like a stretch in a padded cell to the batsmen facing him.

Chasing 149, we made it look rather more comfortable than these things usually are, cruising home on 149/2 with a healthy 28.2 overs still owing us nothing. Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan played beautifully for 46 and Glen Rawson finished unbeaten on 26, while I was fortunate enough to hold my end up for 49 not out — the sort of innings that owes as much to good fortune as good footwork, though I shan't be correcting anyone who calls it the latter.

Elsewhere in the season, Luke Welsman continues to lead our run charts with 276, and Thirkell now tops the wickets column with five. As for Saturday: a comfortable, thoroughly enjoyable win, and precisely the sort of afternoon that reminds you why you bother with the whites in the first place.

Sat 03 Jun 2017 🧢 1st XIv PC Plaxtol CC · AwayformLLLLL

A grey Saturday it was when we rolled up to Plaxtol, and if anyone tells you overcast skies mean a quiet afternoon, don't believe them - this one had the lot.

Put in first, we toiled through 39.1 overs as Plaxtol racked up 256, with Dan Beynon's classy 62 the backbone and Tom Isaac's well-crafted 56 doing plenty of the heavy lifting too, Paul Clifton chipping in with 27. Richard Knowler was superb with the ball, 3-51 and two maidens' worth of miserly control besides, well backed by Matthew Carter's 3-59. I managed 2-43 myself, and we did at least have the satisfaction of sending Luke Sanders back for a duck - small mercies on a day the total got away from us.

Chasing 257, we gave it a proper go. Lewis Burnham played beautifully for his 81, well past his fifty and comfortably the innings' centrepiece, with Alex Keeler unbeaten on a tidy 40 and James Piper adding 27. I contributed 25 down the order, glad to have played my part, though it wasn't to be - Kevin Presneill and Matthew Carter both fell without troubling the scorers, and we were bowled out for 226 with four overs unused.

So, beaten by 30 on the day - no disgrace against a total like that, but a reminder there's work still to do with the ball at the death. Lewis Burnham continues to lead our run charts for the season, Matthew Carter our wickets, and the engine room looks in good order even in defeat. We dust ourselves down and go again next week.

Sun 28 May 2017 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformLWWLW

The toss went against us — of course it did — and Bidborough took first knock on a warm, damp afternoon that felt more like a car wash than a cricket ground. James Baldock's 49 gave them the platform, with Pat Rossiter (32) and Howard Nankivell (23) chipping in, and a stubborn sixth-wicket stand added a inconvenient 50. But once we got among them we fairly ran through the tail, tumbling from 129-6 to 134-9 in a blur, with Stuart Pinchin, Jonny Shepherdson and Daniel Page all bagging ducks. Daniel Thirkell was the chief destroyer with 3-10, I chipped in with 2-24, and Sam Boyns was miserliness personified — 2-25 with four maidens — to leave them all out for 137.

Chasing 138, we made hard work of easy work, as is tradition. I top-scored with 24, James Piper gave fine support with 22, and then, right on cue, the middle order fell over itself — 60-2 became 70-5 before you could say "steady the ship," with Will Thirkell and Adam Jackson both departing for nought. Somehow, with the usual mix of luck and stubbornness, we scrambled home 141-7 for a three-wicket win.

Real cause for celebration, though: Craig Sands brought up 15,000 career runs for the club, and Thomas Beeney's solitary wicket nudged him into 18th on our all-time list. A scratchy, damp, thoroughly English victory — and we'll take every one of them.

Sun 28 May 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Borstal CC · HomeformWWLLL

Captain's Log — Sunday 28 May 2017. Borstal CC at home, and about as English an afternoon as you could order: warm, damp, and full of promise we singularly failed to deliver on.

Lost the toss, put in to bat, and for a while it looked rather splendid. Will Thew and Richard Piper set us up nicely, an opening stand of 60 that had me quietly rehearsing my captain's speech, Thew going on to 30 and Piper 29. Then, as is our club's peculiar tradition, the innings imploded with the enthusiasm of a soufflé meeting a slammed oven door — 93 for 5 became 97 for 8 before anyone had finished their tea, and the Duck Club welcomed Tobey Castle, Tim Wright and Thisal Perera to its ever-lengthening membership. All out 129 in 38.2 overs felt, at best, a par score written on sand.

In the field we scrapped gamely. Tobey Castle bowled beautifully for 2 for 29, Jordan Austin chipped in with one, and I did my bit tying an end down with two maidens. But Andy Routledge simply had other ideas, cruising to 64 not out with Frani O'Neill's unbeaten 30 alongside him, and Borstal strolled home by seven wickets with overs to spare.

Not our day, then — heads up, back to the nets, and back to plotting our revenge.

Sat 27 May 2017 🧢 2nd XIv FC Fordcombe CC · HomeformWWLLW

Saturday 27 May 2017, Fordcombe CC visited under a warm, overcast Kentish sky, and for once my coin sense held true — I called it right and never doubted my instinct to bat first.

The lads repaid the faith handsomely. Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan led the charge with a fine 74, matched stroke for stroke by Luke Welsman's own 74, while Matthew Gladwell chipped in a tidy 37 to push us on to a formidable 250/7 from our forty overs. Poor Glen Rawson, alas, will find no mention in the scorebook beyond a duck — these things happen to the best of us, and I dare say he'll get his revenge next time out.

Defending 250 is never a stroll, and Keith Exton made sure of that with a magnificent unbeaten 117 — the sort of innings that has you checking the scoreboard and wondering if the game's slipping away. Max O'Collins (33) and Nick Byrne (30 not out) offered stubborn support, and for a while Fordcombe looked ominously well set. But the bowlers kept their nerve: Pushpavinothan led from the front with 1-25, backed superbly by Anton Bourdillon (1-29) and Ian Hollingworth (1-35), while Scott Wade departed without so much as a scratch on the scorers' pencil. They finished on 233/5.

Seventeen runs the right side of the ledger — enough to have us breathing rather more easily than comfortably. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one Welsman and Hollingworth can add proudly to their season charts.

Sat 27 May 2017 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLLLLL

A warm, grey afternoon at Penshurst Park greeted us, one of those skies that can't decide whether it fancies cricket at all. Batting first, we never quite got going: 112 all out from 36 overs, propped up chiefly by James Piper's watchful 26 and, rather more improbably, 27 extras. Lewis Burnham and Adam Jackson both departed for golden ducks, which is not how either will remember the day, for reasons that follow.

Defending 112 was always going to ask a lot, and so it proved. I weighed in with 17 earlier with the bat, and backed it up with 1 for 21, two of those overs maidens, while Joshua Knowler was superb, 3 for 23 and full value for every one of them, with Richard Knowler adding 1 for 27. We had Graham Nicholls back in the pavilion for nought, but Martin Semmens's unbeaten 51, ably supported by Simon Williams's unbeaten 29, saw Penshurst home at 114 for 5 in 28.2 overs.

The one moment worth savouring regardless of the scorebook was Lewis Burnham bringing up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark deserving rather better company than a duck. James Piper still leads our run charts this summer with 130, and Joshua Knowler sits second among the wicket-takers with 6, so the engine room hums even when results don't. Beaten this time. We go again.

Sun 21 May 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLWWLL

A grey Sunday at Sissinghurst, and I'll admit the omens weren't kind before a ball was bowled. We put them in, and Thirag Patel made us pay in full — an unbeaten hundred of real class, 102 not out, with Joel Bygraves chipping in a handsome 83 and Angus Knowler 35 for good measure. 271/3 from their 35 overs was a proper hiding to chase. Jon Harris was the pick of our attack with 1-10, tidy as you like, and I did manage to prise one out myself, finishing with 1-45 — though by then the horse had well and truly bolted down the road to Sissinghurst and back.

Set an enormous target, we made a fair fist of it without ever threatening the miracle. Will Thew was magnificent, 98 that deserved a hundred of his own, and Luke Welsman gave him fine company with a well-made 59 — and, rather wonderfully, brought up 1,000 career runs for the club along the way, which is the sort of milestone that ought to have come with better timing and cake. Dave Richardson and Engarshal Sinnaraja both trudged off for ducks, additions to the club's least sought-after ledger. We closed on 218/9 from our 35, well short.

A hiding, no other word for it, but not without its silver linings — Will leads our Sunday run charts and I find myself, somewhat sheepishly, top of the wicket pile. A defeat to learn from, and we shall.

Sun 21 May 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Worth CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 21 May 2017 saw Worth CC visit on a pleasant, damp afternoon, and having lost the toss I found myself doing what captains do best on such days — trudging out to field with a shrug and a hopeful glance at the sky. The lads, however, made light of it once the tables turned. Mark Christmas played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 81 of real class, while Benjamin Austin's 38 and my own 34 gave him the support he needed. That fourth-wicket stand of 92 was really the making of the innings, and 204/4 from our forty overs felt like a total with some bite to it.

Worth never quite got to grips with the chase. Noor Muhammad's 27 was the best of their resistance, with Amjad Awan (21) and Jinal Patel (20) chipping in, but wickets fell steadily around them — poor Arnold Duraisingham won't want reminding of his duck. Sam Boyns was the pick of our attack with 3-36, Jordan Austin bowled beautifully tight for 2-13 with three maidens to his name, and I managed 2-20 to round things off nicely. All out for 134 in the 40th over told its own story.

A word, too, for Martin Harris, whose solitary wicket today quietly nudged him up to 24th on the club's all-time list — these things matter more than we let on. A fine win by 70 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards.

Sat 20 May 2017 🧢 2nd XIv LC Locksbottom CC · AwayformLWWLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 20 May 2017. We travelled down to Locksbottom, and having won the toss I elected to field, which for once earned me a nod of approval from the boundary rather than the usual weary sigh.

Locksbottom set about building a total, and Patrick High led the way with a well-crafted 73, finding a willing partner in Stuart Greenwood (25) as the pair put on 68 for the fifth wicket to give their innings a bit of backbone. But Engarshal Sinnaraja had other ideas, tearing through the order with a magnificent 5-35, while Tim Thirkell (2-30) and Jack Gwynn (1-12) chipped in to peg them back to 194/9 from their 40 overs — a target we felt was well within our compass.

And so it proved, though not without the customary palpitations. Luke Welsman played the innings of a lifetime, an unbeaten 112 that anchored everything, with Jack Gwynn (38) offering fine support in a match-defining stand of 119 for the fourth wicket. Darrell Houghton-Judge and Charles Curteis both contributed golden ducks, bless them, but it mattered not a jot. We got home on 195/7 with three overs to spare.

A fine win by three wickets, then, built on Sinnaraja's five-for and crowned by a Welsman special. Onwards.

Sat 20 May 2017 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWLLLL

I put us in to field on a showery Saturday, and for once the coin toss actually paid off. Sissinghurst posted a competitive 188/9 from their 40 overs, built around a fine 66 from Brough Cooper, with Reuben Collingwood (35) and Jon Agar (23) chipping in to keep the scoreboard ticking. Matthew Carter was the pick of our attack, snaring 3-33 with a couple of tidy maidens thrown in for good measure, while I managed 3-48 myself and Richard Knowler picked up 1-38. Not our worst afternoon in the field, all things considered — though 188 always felt a par score too many on a used pitch.

Chasing it, we never quite got going. From 103 all out in 35 overs, the middle order simply evaporated — 59-3 became 72-6 in the time it takes to pour a tea, and Richard Knowler and Thomas Beeney both departed for golden ducks 🦆. I top-scored with 25, ably supported by Kevin Presneill's 24, but propping up an innings from the top of the order is a lonely business when wickets are falling around you like September conkers.

In the end, 85 runs was too wide a margin to paper over with sentiment. Up the season table I'm sitting fourth in the run charts with 97, and Matthew Carter leads the way with 9 wickets — small consolations on a day that got away from us. Beaten, bruised, but not remotely bowed: we'll regroup, put the kettle on, and be better for it next week.

Sun 14 May 2017 🧢 Sunday NVKCv NC New Ifield CC · AwayformWLWWL

I set off for New Ifield with the sun doing its best impression of commitment, and by the close I'd have taken it every week.

Batting first, we made a proper fist of it: 312 for 6 from our forty overs. Craig Sands was in irresistible form, carving out an unbeaten 150 that had the New Ifield lads checking whether he'd brought his own gate, while Will Thirkell chipped in a fine 90 alongside him. James Piper's 36 rounded out an innings that left us feeling rather smug over the tea urn.

With the ball, we set about making that total look even bigger than it already was. New Ifield could only manage 106 for 6 in reply, Tony Reely battling hard for his unbeaten 43 with Lyle Wheeler lending support on 33, but three of their batsmen — Lee Addy, Nick Bodle and Joshua Reely — trudged off for ducks against our attack. Joshua Knowler was magnificent, tearing through with 4 for 22 and bowling five miserly maidens for good measure, while Thomas Beeney chipped in with 1 for 30. I managed to get among the runs myself, which I shan't dwell on further than that.

A fine win, then, and a thoroughly pleasant afternoon's work. Craig now sits proudly atop the Sunday run charts and Joshua leads the wickets — long may both reigns continue. Onwards to the next one.

Sun 14 May 2017 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Cowdrey CC · AwayformLLWWL

We rolled up to Cowdrey CC under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain on us properly or just sulk, and when I lost the toss I wasn't surprised to be sent out to field first — that seems to be my lot this season.

Oscar Holmes made merry with a fine unbeaten 90, and Xavier Yeats-Brown chipped in with a well-made 60, the pair of them doing most of the damage as Cowdrey posted 191/8 from their forty overs. Their last-wicket pair then added a thoroughly unnecessary 45 — the kind of stand that has you muttering into your tea. We did have our moments: Birendra Singh and Aston Bennett both departed without troubling the scorers, but with the ball Luke Welsman was miserly and menacing in equal measure, taking 2-21 with two maidens, well supported by Russell Dack's 2-23 and my own 2-27.

Chasing 192, we never quite got going. Benjamin Austin batted beautifully for 86 and held the innings together almost single-handedly, and a spirited 72-run third-wicket stand promised much, but losing an early wicket with just 6 on the board set the tone, and the collapse from 110-4 to 114-7 undid all the good work. I fell for nought myself, and the less said about that the better. All out for 133, beaten by 58 runs — no disgrace against the scores posted, but plenty to work on before next week.

Sat 13 May 2017 🧢 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWLWWL

Saturday 13 May 2017, and Sissinghurst rolled up to Linton Park on a showery afternoon that could not decide whether it wanted to play ball. The coin did us a favour and I sent them in, which felt a shrewd move right up until it wasn't. They ground their way to 200/7 off their forty, with Fred Smith the chief architect of our afternoon's discomfort on 62, well backed up by Peter Smith's unbeaten 35. Jack Gwynn was the pick of our attack with 2-13, and Tim Wright and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in with 2-40 and 2-46 respectively, though poor Glen Rawson had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping nine byes in the general dampness.

Chasing 201, we made a spirited fist of it without ever quite convincing. Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan played beautifully for a fine 50, and the opening stand of 50 gave us something to build on — but build we did not. From 99-3 we subsided to 106-6 in the sort of collapse that makes a captain suddenly find the scorebook fascinating, three of us (Nat Presneill, Jack Gwynn and Darrell Houghton-Judge) departing without troubling the scorers at all. I did my bit with 21, but 125 all out was a long way short of the mark.

Seventy-five runs the wrong side of the ledger, then, and not our finest hour. Heads up, though — back to the nets, and better days ahead.

Sat 13 May 2017 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformWWLLL

Saturday 13 May 2017 saw the good ship Linton Park set sail for Bidborough, and having called correctly at the toss – a rare enough event to note in the log itself – I had no hesitation in sticking us in to bat. It proved a mixed blessing. We were bowled out for 113 in the 35th over, a total that owed everything to James Piper's watchful 30 and Adam Jackson's useful 28, and precious little to the rest of us. Special mention, as tradition demands, to Kevin Presneill, who contributed a duck to the collection and took the long, lonely walk back to the pavilion for his troubles.

With the bat having let us down gently, it fell to the ball to rescue matters, and for a while it looked as though it might. Joshua Knowler was the pick of the attack with 2-13, backed up nicely by Alex Keeler's 2-16 and the tireless Matthew Carter, whose 2-40 included two maidens of positively miserly intent. We even had the satisfaction of seeing Jonny Shepherdson depart for nought. But Bidborough's Dom Trett, unbeaten on 28, together with Howard Nankivell's 27 and Robin Underwood's 22, saw them home at 116/7.

So, a three-wicket defeat, and heads rightly hung on the coach home. Piper continues to impress in the run charts, Carter leads the wickets — small consolations on a day that, all told, simply wasn't ours. Back to the nets it is.

Sun 07 May 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Beckenham CC · HomeformLWLWW

Sunday 7th May found us hosting Beckenham CC under skies that had clearly been crying about something the night before — damp, but pleasant enough once we got going. I won the toss and, in a fit of what I like to call tactical boldness, stuck us in the field. Whether that was genius or just habit is a question I've chosen not to examine too closely, especially once Ross Piller got hold of us and made a magnificent 111, with Duncan Tyler purring along nicely to 83 not out in support. The pair put on 184 for the second wicket while we stood about admiring the scenery, and Beckenham closed on 231/2 from their 35 overs. Tobey Castle at least gave us something to cheer with 2-28, proof that all was not lost.

Chasing 232 is no small ask, and losing our first wicket at 5 runs did nothing for the nerves. But Jordan Austin played the innings of the day, 69 not out and calm as you like, with Richard Piper chipping in a fine 53 and yours truly happy to contribute 52 not out from the middle order. Extras chipped in a useful 45, though poor Will Thew will want this report burned before anyone finds out about his duck.

We got there with six wickets in hand — two points banked, and a thoroughly deserved afternoon's work, damp outfield and all.

Sat 06 May 2017 🧢 2nd XIv FC Four Elms CC · AwayformLWLWW

We batted second at Four Elms, chasing a mammoth 350/3, and Kevin Allman's magnificent 153 wearing us down almost single-handedly – Rod James adding an unbeaten 124 of his own and Alan Crowhurst 31 for good measure. The openers put on 76 before we made the first breakthrough, but it was the third-wicket stand of 239 that really finished the job as a contest. Credit where due: Kevin Presneill picked up the crucial wicket (1-31), with Darrell Houghton-Judge (1-57) and Anton Bourdillon (1-69) chipping in for reward that rather understated their toil.

Chasing 351 was always a tall order on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon, and 191 all out in the 40th over tells its own tale. Luke Welsman batted beautifully for his 57, well backed by Presneill's 38 and Glen Rawson's 28, while I managed a workmanlike 20 without troubling the scorers unduly. Spare a thought for Darrell Houghton-Judge and Fred Taylor, who both departed for golden ducks – cricket's way of reminding a man he is mortal.

If I'm honest, the fielding did us no favours – 22 wides and 3 no-balls is the sort of generosity you'd expect at a vicarage tea party, not on a cricket field, and against a side batting like that we simply couldn't afford the extras. Beaten by 159 runs in the end, no arguing with the margin. Allman and James simply played out of our reach, and we'll doff our caps, tighten up the loose ends, and come back better next week.

Sat 06 May 2017 🧢 1st XIv FC Four Elms CC · HomeformWWWLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 06 May 2017. A cool, cloudy afternoon greeted Four Elms CC as our visitors, and true to form the coin let me down at the toss; they had first say and sent us in, which these days feels less like misfortune and more like tradition.

Batting first, we compiled a respectable 187 all out from our 39 overs, built on Joshua Knowler's watchful 39, with James Piper (33) and Craig Sands (26) chipping in handsomely — Sands, incidentally, continues to lead our 2017 run charts with 107 for the season. Alas, 182 for 7 became 187 all out in the sort of blink-and-you'll-miss-it collapse that keeps club cricket humble, and the Duck Club welcomed two new members in Daniel Thirkell and Matthew Carter, both undertaking the walk of shame for nought. Thank heavens for 39 extras, without which we'd have been having a rather different conversation over tea.

Defending the total, we simply couldn't prise the door shut. Benjamin Crowhurst played a fine hand of 65, well supported by James Mulvey (45) and an unbeaten 43 from Rob Smith, their third-wicket pair putting on a match-defining 72 to see Four Elms home at 188 for 3 in 28.4 overs. Alex Keeler was our pick of the bowlers with 1-16, with Richard Knowler and Thomas Beeney also among the wickets.

Beaten by seven wickets, then — a day where the bat did more talking than the ball, and not always in our favour. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 01 May 2017 🧢 1st XIv Chestfield CC · AwayformWWWWL

James Piper here, still peeling the mud off my boots as I write this one up.

Chestfield won the toss on a cool, damp Monday afternoon and had no hesitation in batting first, which in hindsight told you everything about the surface. Dylan Hunter set about us with a fine 62, Taylor Chandler chipped in with 49 and Tom Barton 37, the pair of them building a stand of 69 for the third wicket that gave their innings its spine. I did what I could with the ball, taking 2-39, with Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-51) and Jordan Austin (1-22) also among the wickets, but their last pair had the cheek to add an unwanted 35 as we ran out of ideas at the death. They closed on 248/6 from their forty overs — a proper total to chase.

Our reply never quite got the legs under it. Losing the first wicket for just 1 run set entirely the wrong tone, and though Will Thew battled to 41 and Glen Rawson finished unbeaten on 35, with a stand of 51 for the fourth wicket the closest we came to momentum, we were always playing catch-up. I managed 32 myself, which felt like scant consolation by the close. Spare a thought for poor Richard Piper, undone for a duck — these things happen to the best families, evidently.

176/6 in reply was never going to be enough, and we went down by 72 runs. Not our day, and back to the nets we go with heads up and lessons, hopefully, learned.

Sun 30 Apr 2017 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Brasted & Sundridge CC · HomeformWLWLW

Sunday 30 April dawned pleasant if a touch damp, and having called correctly at the toss I didn't dither for a moment — we were batting. It proved the right call. James Piper played the innings of the day, 72 handsome runs, well supported by Craig Sands (34 not out) and Richard Piper (32), the pair adding a priceless 58 for the fifth wicket to haul us to 193/6 from our 38 overs. Poor Lewis Burnham will want to forget his duck, but with runs like that on the board, one blob was easily absorbed.

Defending 193 against Brasted & Sundridge, we never really let them settle. An early wicket with just 5 on the board set the tone, and though Alan Manderson threatened to make a fist of it with 33, the innings subsided alarmingly from 40-2 to 49-5. Clive Puttock and Richard Knowler both departed without scoring, and Darrell Houghton-Judge was simply unplayable, tearing through with 5-18 — a spell that also brought up his 100th career wicket, a landmark well worth raising a glass to. John Karassellos and Lewis Burnham chipped in with a wicket apiece, while Martin Harris strangled the boundary with two tidy maidens. All out for 80 in 26 overs told its own story.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon, then — two points banked and a 113-run victory that never looked remotely in doubt.

Sat 29 Apr 2017 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformWWWWW

As a scoreline this is straightforward — no tools needed, just the report.

Skipper's Log — Saturday 29 April 2017. We travelled to Bidborough CC on a cool, damp afternoon that promised little and, in the end, delivered rather less. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock, a decision I still stand by even now.

With the bat we posted a respectable 177 for 9 from our 40 overs, built on the back of a well-made fifty from yours truly — 55 that felt as good as any I've struck this season. Lewis Burnham (33) and Joshua Knowler (31) gave fine support, and a crucial seventh-wicket stand of 53 threatened to take the total somewhere very healthy indeed. Then, as is so often the way at this level, the wheels came off spectacularly — 13 for 1 became 18 for 4 before anyone had quite worked out what was happening, and poor Craig Sands departed for a golden duck, bless him.

Defending 177, we simply couldn't find a way through. Stuart Pinchin (75 not out) and Jonny Shepherdson (55 not out) batted us out of the game with ruthless efficiency, James Baldock chipping in with 27, and only Joshua Knowler troubled the scorers with the ball, 1 for 37. They cantered home at 178 for 1 in just 23.5 overs — a nine-wicket hammering that leaves little to say in mitigation.

There was one bright candle in the gloom: I brought up 7,000 career runs for the club, which is a landmark I'll happily take some quiet pride in even on a chastening afternoon. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 22 Apr 2017 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWWWWW

I strode out for the toss on a cool, cloudy Saturday knowing conditions might favour the seamers, and putting Headcorn in looked the shrewd call as they closed on 151/4 from their forty overs. Trevor Scrivens anchored things nicely with an unbeaten fifty of 51, well supported by Rob Mansell's composed 44 not out and a tidy 22 from James Barker, but our attack never let it get away from us. Matthew Carter was the pick of the bowlers with a superb 4-26, Thomas Beeney bowled with the discipline of a man auditioning for the Bank of England (seven maidens, not a run given away lightly), and between us we had Ben Donnelly back in the pavilion for a golden duck. All told, restricting them to 151 felt like a job well done.

Chasing it down, I'll confess I needn't have troubled the scorers myself — Craig Sands and Lewis Burnham simply helped themselves. Sands played a magnificent unbeaten 81, Burnham matched him for class with 64 not out, and between the pair of them they knocked off 154 without so much as losing a wicket, wrapping things up in just 24 overs. I chipped in with the bat as well, though the real story was watching two of our own bat the opposition into submission with time and wickets to spare.

A fine win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. Onwards.