🧢 Captain's Log

Sat 22 Sep 2018 🧢 2nd XIv Cudham Wyse CC · HomeformLWLLL

22 September 2018, and the visitors were Cudham Wyse CC — a cool, damp afternoon that felt like it might swallow the runs whole. I won the toss and, rather against the grey skies' advice, chose to bat. It was, if I say so myself, the right call.

Luke Welsman set the tone with an unbeaten, well-crafted 53, and he wasn't short of company — Jordan Austin chipped in with 30 and Charles Curteis added an unbeaten 30 of his own, the openers putting on a crucial 52 for the first wicket before either of them had so much as loosened their shoulders. We closed on 155 for 3 from our 22 overs, a total that felt substantial enough to defend even before a ball had been bowled in reply.

And defend it we did. Abishek Pushpavinothan was quite simply magnificent, ripping through their order for 4 for 18, with John Karassellos (1-17) and Tobey Castle (1-20) chipping away either side of him. Cudham Wyse slid from 23 for 1 to 37 for 4 in the blink of an eye, and though they steadied themselves to close on 91 for 6 from their 20 overs, the damage was long done.

In the end neither side could force it home, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but one where we did rather more of the winning than the drawing.

Sun 16 Sep 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv BC Benenden CC · HomeformWLLLW

A grey Sunday it may have been, but there was nothing dull about the cricket. Winning the toss and batting, we set about building something substantial, and substantial it duly became: 298 for 6 from our forty overs, built on a platform of two fine half-centuries. Archie Fairfax-Ross anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 65, with Tobey Castle right alongside him on 63, and Aaron Hughes chipping in a brisk 36 for good measure. Even the extras column got in on the act with 37 — Benenden's bowlers finding line and length elusive on more than one occasion.

Defending a total like that ought to be the pleasant part of the afternoon, and for long spells it was, though Benenden refused to go quietly. Andrew Morrison played beautifully for 67, well supported by Rob Willetts's unbeaten 34, the highlight of which was a booming six launched over mid-on that had the tea urn rattling. We had our moments in the field too — Abishek Pushpavinothan leading the attack superbly with 2 for 26, Darrell Houghton-Judge backing him up with 2 for 33, and Toby Allsworth tying things down with a couple of miserly maidens. I'll confess my own contribution with the ball was tidy rather than spectacular, but every over counted. A wobble in the 24th, two wickets in the same over aside, Benenden fell short on 179 for 4.

A good day for the club, then, and a reminder — as if we needed one — that runs on the board win matches. We got over the line comfortably, and I'll happily take that every week of the season.

Wed 12 Sep 2018 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLWDLW

Wednesday the 12th of September found us on the road to Penshurst Park CC, under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to cry on us or not. I lost the toss — no great surprise there — and Penshurst chose to bat, leaving us first use of the ball on a pleasant, damp afternoon.

It turned out to suit us nicely. Penshurst slid from 12-1 to 14-4 as Mark Alexander, Jake Cheesman and Steven Alexander all trooped back for ducks, and they never really recovered, folding for 39-7 from 16.5 overs. Sam Boyns was the chief tormentor with 2-10 and two miserly maidens, while Ryan Boyns and Luke Welsman chipped in a wicket apiece.

Chasing a modest 40, we somehow contrived to make hard work of it. Wickets clattered from 17-1 to 24-4 in a rush, a wretched fifth over cost us two in one go, and I can report from painful personal experience that my own contribution was a golden blob — out first ball, which is not quite the example a captain likes to set. Martin Harris kept me company in the Duck Club that afternoon. Mercifully, A McDonald's six through mid-wicket settled the nerves, and we scrambled home by four wickets.

Elsewhere in the season's charts, Aaron Hughes sits fourth among the run-scorers with 97, and Archie Fairfax-Ross second among the wicket-takers with four. A scruffy, nervy sort of victory — but a victory nonetheless. Onwards.

Sun 09 Sep 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · HomeformLWLLL

Cobham CC came to Linton Park on a warm, cloudy Sunday, and winning the toss I stuck the boys in the field — the right call, if I say so myself. It rather looked like inspired captaincy when Cobham crumbled to 159 all out from their forty overs, Luke Welsman steaming in for 2-11 with Tobey Castle (2-13) and Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-20) chipping away either end. Paul Nice's 40 and David Andrews' 37, with Nathan Smith's 26, were the only real resistance — poor Simon Murray marched back for a duck without so much as a wave to the scorers.

Chasing 160, we made rather harder work of it than the bowlers deserved. Tobey Castle's 33 and Toby Hughes' unbeaten 31 gave us the platform, Luke Welsman weighed in with 22, and a generous 31 extras did no harm whatsoever — though Trevor Back's golden duck reminded us cricket has a cruel sense of humour. When it mattered, it was the last pair who stole the show, conjuring 50 priceless runs from nowhere to drag us over the line at 161/7 in 36.1 overs.

Tobey Castle continues his fine season, now third in the run charts and fifth among the wickets — a proper all-round contribution when we needed one most. Three wickets, two points, and a match that tested the nerves rather more than the toss suggested it should. A scrappy, splendid win, and I'll take it.

Sat 08 Sep 2018 🧢 1st XIv LC Limpsfield Chart CC · HomeformWWWLW

Saturday the 8th of September brought Limpsfield Chart CC to Linton Park under a pleasant, cloudy sky - the sort of afternoon cricket seems made for. I lost the toss, as is now practically tradition, and we were put into the field.

Limpsfield made themselves at home, racing to 208 for 6 from their forty overs. Richard Hilson anchored the innings with a fine 55, well supported by Nick Peters (38) and Asif Ali (36), their second-wicket pair putting on a damaging 77. James Holman departed for a duck, our one moment of cheer. Luke Welsman led the attack superbly with 2 for 35, Martin Harris chipped in with 2 for 41, and Archie Fairfax-Ross took 1 for 36; I bowled two tidy maidens of my own.

Chasing 209, we were bowled out for 193 in 39.3 overs - a proper rollercoaster. The first wicket fell for just 4, but Luke Welsman batted beautifully for 51, well supported by Jordan Austin and Shehryar Gul with 39 apiece, their third-wicket stand of 72 the backbone of the reply. I chipped in with 33. Less happily, Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan, Charles Curteis and John Karassellos all fell without scoring, and John had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 13 byes.

One silver lining: Martin Harris's two wickets moved him past Tim Thirkell to 16th on the club's all-time wicket-taking list, while Luke sits third in this year's run charts on 318 and Martin now leads the wicket charts with 32. Small consolation for a defeat by 15 runs. Heads up, lads - back to the nets.

Sun 02 Sep 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Chestfield CC · HomeformWWWWL

Cricket at Linton Park on a warm, sunny Sunday, and I can't lie – winning the toss and having a bat felt like the only sensible decision all afternoon. The lads made it look a good one too. Aaron Hughes batted right through for a magnificent 84 not out, with Sam Boyns (28) and Charles Curteis (27) lending sturdy support, and the pair of them put on 83 for the fifth wicket to really set the platform. Poor John Karassellos will want the scorebook redacted after his duck, but with a generous 55 in extras from Chestfield's bowlers, we closed on a handsome 223/7 from our 40.

Chasing that lot, Chestfield never quite got comfortable. An early wicket with the score on 6 had them rattled, and though Beckham Hulks played a lovely, defiant 57 – helped by Oliver Gallantree (32) and Josh Risby (22) and a stubborn 58-run stand for the sixth wicket – the writing was on the wall. Ben Burgess and Jacob Couzens both departed without scoring, and our attack squeezed the life out of the innings: Toby Hughes was superb with 2-6, Sam Boyns and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in with 2-15 and 2-30 respectively, while Toby Allsworth's two maidens kept the shackles firmly on. All out for 157.

A win by 66 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Aaron Hughes continues to top the run charts and Darrell Houghton-Judge the wickets – long may that continue. Onwards.

Sun 02 Sep 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Egerton CC, Kent · AwayformLLWLL

I chipped in with 26, though the headlines belonged to others: Benjamin Austin's watchful 33 and Tobey Castle's breezy 30 gave our 161 all out from 36.3 overs a bit more shape than the top of the order alone would suggest. It was the kind of score that leaves a captain muttering "defendable" without much conviction, and so it proved.

Egerton set about the chase with the minimum of fuss, Steve Wellard compiling a thoroughly good half-century — 72 in the end — while Luke Alexander's 30 kept him company through a second-wicket stand of 84 that did most of the damage. We did have our say: Sam Jones departed for a duck, Mardey Castle picked up 2-12 to lead the attack, and Max Butler (2-24) and Harrison Fermor (1-16) chipped away either side. Two wickets in the 34th over even had us dreaming for a moment, but the arithmetic never quite bent our way, Egerton getting home at 162/5 from 38.3 overs.

If there's a lesson in the scorebook, it's a shared one — both sides dropped short and both sides duly helped themselves square of the wicket, though R Butler's six over mid-on was rather better than anything we managed in reply. Elsewhere, Jordan Austin continues to build a fine season, now second in the Sunday 1st XI run charts with 285.

Not our day, beaten by 5 wickets. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 01 Sep 2018 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · AwayformLLWLL

Saturday took us out to West Farleigh on a warm, cloudy afternoon that felt made for batting, and won the toss, elected to bat, and – for once – nobody could argue with the decision. We laboured to 135/6 from our forty overs, rescued from anything worse by Abishek Pushpavinothan, serene and unbeaten on 59, with James Watkins chipping in a tidy 29 as the pair put on 69 for the fifth wicket and dragged us to something resembling respectability. Elsewhere the card wasn't so kind: poor Brian Piper walked back for a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that gets you a pint bought in sympathy and a nickname you can't shake.

With the ball, we simply couldn't find a way through. West Farleigh strolled to 139/4 in just 23.4 overs, Jack Prideaux compiling an unhurried, chanceless 59 not out, well supported by Raveendran Rajeevan (33) and Jemsith Kirath (22). Harrison Fermor was our shining light, 2-16 and always threatening, with Watkins (1-29) and Pushpavinothan (1-46) offering scraps of encouragement that never quite turned the tide.

Beaten by six wickets in the end, and fairly so. Small consolation that I still lead the 2018 2nd XI run charts with 332 for the season, and Abishek sits third in the wicket-takers with ten — proof there's substance behind the smiles. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word about our over-rate with the bat, and go again next week.

Sat 01 Sep 2018 🧢 1st XIv SC Speldhurst CC · HomeformWWWWL

We lost the toss on a warm, grey afternoon against a visiting Speldhurst side, and pads were on before we knew it. Craig Sands set about making it look easy, cruising to a well-made 66, with Warren Jackson chipping in a tidy 23 alongside him – the pair put on a hundred for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came, and for a while it felt like a proper platform. Then, as club cricket so often insists, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion: from 100 for 1 to 105 for 4 in the blink of an eye, and I contributed my own small chapter to the collapse with a golden blob – out first ball, the walk of shame conducted at a brisk pace. We limped home to 170 for 8 from our 40 overs.

With the ball, though, we were rather more disciplined. Richard Knowler bowled beautifully for 4 for 35, well supported by Martin Harris's 4 for 38 and Stuart Cheesman's 2 for 27, while Joshua Knowler squeezed out two maidens for good measure. James Waters top-scored with 33, Ed Wesson made 29 and Mike Jeffreys 20, but James Roche departed for a duck of his own, and Speldhurst were all out for 147.

A 23-run win, two points banked, and a season in which Luke Welsman sits third in our run charts and Martin Harris tops the wickets. My duck aside, thoroughly earned.

Sat 25 Aug 2018 🧢 2nd XIv PC Pembury CC · HomeformLLLWL

Saturday last, and Pembury CC came calling on a pleasant, damp sort of afternoon — the kind where you can smell the tea urn before you've won the toss. Win it I did, and with the outfield holding a bit of juice I fancied our bowlers, so in we went to field.

Toby Forward and Joshua Knight had other ideas, both cashing in for 79 apiece as Pembury cantered to 245 for 6 from their forty overs, James Moysey ushering them home unbeaten on 26. Credit where due, though: Alex Keeler bowled beautifully for his 2-26, with Tim Thirkell (2-54, and now up to 12 for the season — second in the club's 2nd XI wicket charts, no less) and James Watkins (1-23) chipping away as best they could against a well-set pair.

Chasing 246 was always going to want application, and we found precisely none of it, folding for 57 in 24 overs like a deckchair in a stiff breeze. Shehryar Gul battled to 23 — though his afternoon behind the stumps proved rather more eventful, twelve byes going begging — while Trevor Back, Harrison Fermor and James Watkins all made the long walk back for ducks. I contributed my own quiet consistency to the season's run charts, now sitting on 319, though quiet consistency counted for little here.

Beaten by 188 runs, then, and no dressing it up. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sat 25 Aug 2018 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformWWWWW

It's a resounding 125-run defeat at Bidborough — no professional trigger here, just the report itself.

Captain's Log, Bidborough away, 25 August 2018. No luck with the coin — Bidborough won the toss, chose to bat, and on a pleasant, drizzly afternoon we duly trudged into the field to watch Daniel Page help himself to 65, including a shot of the day launched so far wide of mid-off that mid-off may still be looking for it. Rob Ackermann (27) and Anthony Bouffe (27 not out) chipped in as their fifth wicket added a crucial 78, and their innings closed on a stern 184/8 from 40 overs. Credit where due, though: Matthew Carter was superb, 4-24 with three maidens, and in doing so climbed past Mark Christmas into 11th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list. Joshua Knowler (2-25) and Richard Knowler (1-43) tidied up the rest, though our 23 wides and no-balls handed Bidborough rather too many freebies for comfort.

Chasing 185 was always going to want a fair wind, and instead we got an early stumble at 0-1 and never quite found our feet. I managed 28 to top-score, but from a steady-ish 50-4 the wheels came off spectacularly to 54-7, with two wickets tumbling in the 18th over alone for good measure. Warren Jackson, Stuart Cheesman and Martin Harris all made the walk of shame for the Duck Club ledger, and we subsided to 59 all out in 18 overs — too much played square, cut and pulled straight to fielders who didn't need asking twice.

Beaten by 125 runs, no dressing it up. Matthew Carter's milestone and my own 28 were the only real bright spots on an afternoon Bidborough will remember fondly and we'd rather forget. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 22 Aug 2018 🧢 Midweek XIv Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformWLWDL

Won the toss on a warm, cloudy Wednesday, 22 August, with Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC our visitors — and with visions of the ball doing something clever under grey skies, I stuck us in the field. A decision that felt bold at the time, and only slightly less bold in hindsight.

Bodman made himself thoroughly at home with 75, ably supported by Yardy's 33 and Smith's 23, their third-wicket stand worth 61 doing most of the damage. But we chipped away when it mattered — Kennell-Kemmy and Karassellos both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, ducks the pair of them. I picked up 2-22, John Karassellos weighed in with 2-23, Welsman claimed one, and Thirkell bowled two maidens as tight as anyone's trousers after tea. 182/8 from their 45 overs felt gettable.

And gettable it proved. Castle set about the chase in fine style, 85 of good, clean hitting, with Curteis and Welsman both contributing 28 apiece. The openers laid a platform of 70 before the first wicket fell, and from there it was largely a matter of arithmetic. We cruised home on 184/4 with overs to spare.

A fine win by six wickets, then. Castle now sits second in the season's run charts, and — modesty briefly suspended — sixteen wickets have me leading the bowling table. The summer continues to smile on us. Onwards.

Sun 19 Aug 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv WC Withyham CC · AwayformLWWWW

It was a warm, damp, blustery sort of afternoon that greeted us at Withyham on the 19th of August, the kind where the covers get more exercise than the outfielders. The coin, as is tradition, did not favour us, and we were put into the field — no great hardship for a captain who quite enjoys watching others do the running about while I stand at slip looking thoughtful.

Withyham batted us into a corner with real purpose. Matthew Taylor's 68 and Michael Hodges' 63 put on 98 for the third wicket, the sort of stand that makes a captain reach for the sunscreen and the calculator in equal measure, and Steven Peerless finished unbeaten on 34 to steer them to 233/6 from their forty. We did have our moments — George Smith departed without troubling the scorers, and I managed to prise out a couple myself for 21, with Toby Allsworth and Archie Fairfax-Ross chipping in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 234 was always going to ask questions of us, and Archie Fairfax-Ross answered plenty with a fine 58, well supported by Darrell Houghton-Judge's 41 and Shehryar Gul's 27. Poor Mardey Castle contributed nothing but good humour, out for a duck, and we subsided to 192/8, forty runs light of the target.

Beaten by 41 in the end — no disgrace against a side batting like that, but not our finest hour either. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 19 Aug 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Stowting CC · HomeformWLLWL

It was Stowting CC at home on a warm, drizzly Sunday, and having called correctly for once in my captaincy career, I had no hesitation in taking first knock. What followed was rather pleasing: 190 for 4 off our forty overs, built around a personal hundred I'm still quietly chuffed about, with Kevin Presneill unbeaten on 39 in fine support and our fourth-wicket pair putting on a crucial 83. If I'm allowed one moment of self-indulgence, it came when I took to the attack and heaved one clean over mid-on for six — the sort of shot that makes the drizzle worthwhile.

Defending it proved trickier. Stowting's Matt Jay played a well-made fifty, with Jon Hill and Ken Gainsford chipping in useful runs either side of him, and their last pair had the cheek to add 36 we could really have done without. Luke Welsman led the attack manfully with 2 for 33, Martin Harris chimed in with 2 for 35, and Tobey Castle picked up one for 16 — though Matt Day at least departed for a golden duck, which offered some small consolation. Their bowlers dropped short and let us score freely square, but ultimately we couldn't defend it, going down by four wickets.

A good toss, a good hundred, and a soft finish. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 18 Aug 2018 🧢 2nd XIv FC Fordcombe CC · AwayformWLLLW

Saturday 18 August 2018, and off we trundled to Fordcombe on an afternoon that couldn't decide between sunshine and drizzle — rather like our form this season. I lost the toss, which by now feels less like bad luck and more like a personal vendetta from whichever coin the opposition keep bringing along, and we were asked to field first no, sorry, to bat — and duly did, for 156 all out in 40 overs.

Benjamin Austin led the charge with a fine 46, well backed by Darrell Houghton-Judge's 38 and Shehryar Gul's 26. Elsewhere the scorebook was less flattering: Will Thew, James Watkins and John Karassellos all fell for ducks, a hat-trick of nothing that even the tearoom sponge couldn't sweeten.

With the ball, we fought hard without ever quite landing the knockout blow. Houghton-Judge was the pick with 1-31, well supported by Watkins (1-31) and Engarshal Sinnaraja (1-34), while Harrison Fermor bowled two miserly maidens that deserved a better ending. But Ashley Worcester (46 not out) and Richard Larkin (46) put on a chanceless 58 for the third wicket, and Fordcombe cruised home on 157/3. I contributed 15 with the bat and precious little else of note.

So, down by seven wickets, and not our day by any measure. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets — the season isn't done with us yet, even if the scoreboard occasionally suggests otherwise.

Fri 17 Aug 2018 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformLWLWD

Beaten by 43 runs, but here's how it read from the pavilion.

We lost the toss on a warm, grey afternoon at Linton Park and were sent into the field — never the outcome you want, but no matter, we got on with it. The Dragons batted with real purpose, closing on 207/6 from their forty overs, with Josh Mihill unbeaten on a fine 89 and sturdy support from Gareth Davies (44) and Harrison Pack (35), their fourth-wicket stand of 103 doing most of the damage. Small mercies: we did at least send Tim Mihill back without troubling the scorers. With the ball I had one of those afternoons where everything clicked, finishing with 3-28, and Harrison Fermor chipped in nicely alongside with 3-42.

Chasing 208 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. We were tottering at 0-1 before we'd barely got our pads on, and though Riley Butler played a lovely, well-constructed 59 and Tobey Castle added a useful 24, wickets fell around them and we were bowled out for 164 in the 38th over. I managed a modest 15 with the bat to go with my earlier bowling. Spare a thought for Benjamin Austin, who endured nine byes through the gloves and a golden duck with the bat — cruel timing, given it was his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark surely deserving of better luck.

Beaten by 43 runs, then, but with my thirty-fifth wicket of the summer banked and a proud centurion in our ranks, there's plenty to build on before we're back out next week.

Sun 12 Aug 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv SC Sturry CC · HomeformWLWWW

Toby Hughes' knock deserved a better stage than a soggy Sunday, but from the captain's chair it was a rare afternoon where everything I called went right. Sunday 12 August 2018, Sturry CC visited us under warm, showery skies, and I won the toss and didn't think twice about batting first — some decisions make themselves. We slipped to 4-1 early, the kind of start that has a captain reaching for the tea urn a little too soon, but Toby Hughes and Aaron Hughes put paid to any nerves with a stand of 138 for the second wicket that changed the whole complexion of the day. Toby went on to a fine 90, Aaron chipped in with 47 and Mardey Castle added a brisk 38, taking us to a handsome 256/7 from our 40 overs.

Defending that sort of total is meant to be the easy part, and so it proved. Sturry never got going, reduced to 106 all out in 27.4 overs, with poor Thomas Wood sent back without troubling the scorers. Harrison Fermor was superb with 2-20, backed up nicely by John Karassellos and Alastair Allsworth with a wicket apiece. Mark Reynolds' 49 and David Hards' 38 were the only real resistance, but it was never enough.

A win by 150 runs, then — the sort of margin that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter. Onwards.

Sun 12 Aug 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformLWLLW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 12 August 2018, away at Leeds & Broomfield. A warm, showery sort of afternoon, the kind where you can never decide whether to bowl in a jumper or bat in sunglasses, and to complete the theme I lost the toss and we were put into the field.

It did not begin well — the first wicket went down for nought — but Leeds & Broomfield settled nicely, built a 89-run stand for the fifth wicket, and simply carried on carrying on. Monte McCague made 98, Martin McCague a tidy 64, Fred Roberts 46, and the shot of the day belonged to M McCague, who picked the length and went aerial over mid-on for six — the sort of stroke that makes you reconsider your field placings and possibly your life choices. They finished on 276/8. I'll confess a quiet pride in 4-49 with the ball, with Martin Harris chipping in 3-41 — enough to nudge him past Daniel Thirkell to 17th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — and Tobey Castle taking 1-51. Twelve byes, mind, told their own story about Benjamin Austin's afternoon behind the stumps.

With the bat, Jordan Austin's 56 and Kevin Presneill's 25 gave us something to build on, and I added an unbeaten 23, but a horror 18th over undid us and poor Nat Presneill walked off for a duck. We were bowled at short and simply couldn't resist the cut and pull — rather like watching yourself eat the second slice of cake. All out for 179, beaten by 97 runs.

Not our day. Heads up, back to the nets, and better square-of-the-wicket discipline next week.

Sat 11 Aug 2018 🧢 2nd XIv Cudham Wyse CC · AwayformLWLLL

Sitting down to write, I remember thinking Cudham Wyse's outfield was slower than the sky, which was doing its best impression of a wrung-out flannel. We lost the toss, were put in, and I'll confess my heart sank a touch — damp afternoons and batting first don't always mix. But Will Thew had other ideas, striding to 63 in the sort of innings that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy, and finding an admirable ally in Harrison Fermor's unbeaten 20. A brisk 79 for the first wicket set the tone before we lost our way a little; I chipped in with 25 to keep the total honest, and we limped home to 161/8. Special mention to Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan and Abishek Pushpavinothan, who both walked back for ducks — the sort of shared misfortune that at least gives a captain something to laugh about over tea.

With ball in hand, Harrison Fermor was the star of the show again, a superb 3-20 including two maidens that must have felt like torture for the batsmen, well backed up by Engarshal Sinnaraja (2-23) and Abishek Pushpavinothan (2-33), who made amends for his earlier duck in style. Paul Fensom's 35 and Chris Barnes's 26 threatened to spoil the party, but we held our nerve to bowl them out 153/9 and sneak home by 8 runs.

A day of milestones besides: I brought up 15,000 career runs for the club, and Tobey Castle marked his 100th appearance in Linton colours. Two well-earned points, a captain quietly chuffed, and a round of drinks that tasted all the sweeter for it.

Sat 11 Aug 2018 🧢 1st XIv WC Withyham CC · HomeformWWWWW

Saturday 11 August, and Withyham CC came to Linton Park under warm, grey skies — the kind of afternoon that gives nothing away until the coin does. It fell kindly, and I had no hesitation in putting them in.

It proved a shrewd toss to win, if I say so myself. Withyham crawled to 150/7 from their forty overs, with only Josh Brunsdon's unbeaten 43 and Matthew Taylor's 21 offering any real resistance. Matthew Carter was magnificent with the ball, tearing through with 4-27, while Richard Knowler (2-39) and Stuart Cheesman (1-16) chipped away at the other end, and Joshua Knowler bowled two tidy maidens to keep the screws tight throughout.

Chasing 151, the pitch offered exactly the same width it had all day, and this time it was our bats doing the punishing — short balls dispatched square with cuts and pulls that would have made W.G. Grace nod approvingly. James Piper played the innings of the day, a classy 55, with Warren Jackson (25) and I lending support — I finished unbeaten on 32, which I mention only the once and shall now leave well alone. The third-wicket stand of 50 was the platform on which the whole chase was built, and it duly came together in the 37th over when two wickets swung the match decisively our way, sealing victory by five wickets with 36.2 overs on the clock.

A quiet word, too, for Richard Knowler, whose two wickets today nudged him past Stuart Cheesman to 24th on the club's all-time list — history made while the tea urn was still warm. All told: a good toss, a good bowl, a good chase, and a very good day for the club.

Tue 07 Aug 2018 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformWLWLW

Well, another Tuesday, another meteorological joke played on us by the English summer — scorching and drizzling in equal measure, which about sums up my captaincy some days. Winning the toss and bowling first felt bold at the time; watching Bexley cruise to 194/8 off their 44 overs felt rather less so. David Hathrill anchored their innings with a composed unbeaten fifty, well supported by Lalit Mangalarapu's 36 and Ben Bleksley's 26, and for a spell it looked like we were chasing the game before we'd even batted.

Credit where it's due, though — our attack dragged things back nicely. Clarence Baird was outstanding, ripping through with 2-7, and found good company in Harrison Fermor (1-14, including two maidens that must have tested Bexley's patience as much as ours) and Tobey Castle (1-16). We even sent Dan Bygrave and Callum Deppe packing without troubling the scorers, which always brings a little extra spring to the fielders' step.

Chasing 195, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite getting there, closing on 155/8 from our 31. Luke Welsman played the innings of the day with 48, George Taylor chipped in handsomely with 36, and I was pleased enough with my own 20 alongside some wickets earlier in the summer's ledger — Clarence, meanwhile, continues to lead our run charts, and I'm rather chuffed to be topping the wickets column myself.

A draw, then — honours shared, pride intact, and the tea urn, as ever, the real winner of the day.

Sun 05 Aug 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv PC Pett CC · AwayformTWLWW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 5 August 2018, and the road took us to Pett CC in fine spirits, if not fine form at the toss, which we duly lost. Put into the field, we watched Pett rack up 178/7 from their forty overs, Alex Jackson unbeaten on 42 the chief architect, well supported by Isaac Perrin's 28 and Paul Barnett's 25. Some small mercy came our way when Alex Clayton departed for a golden duck — the Duck Club welcomes another member 🦆 — while John Karassellos did the tidying with 2-28, Toby Hughes and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipping in a wicket apiece, and James Watkins bowled two overs so mean not a run could squeeze past, 2 maidens to his name.

Chasing 179, we got there with more than three overs to spare, at 179/5. Aaron Hughes was magnificent, 59 not out of pure, unhurried craftsmanship, with Shehryar Gul (24) and Charles Curteis (23) lending sturdy support. James Watkins, having bowled like a dream, rather spoiled the ledger with a duck of his own with the bat — the walk of shame twice in one afternoon is a rare and unwanted double 🦆 — though the extras column, generous as ever, weighed in with 31.

Aaron continues to top the Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 354 for the season, while Darrell Houghton-Judge leads the wickets with 27 — form both men carried nicely into this one. A fine win by 5 wickets, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Onwards. 🏏

Sun 05 Aug 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Stone-in-Oxney CC · HomeformWLWLL

It was Stone-in-Oxney at home on a scorching Sunday, and after losing the toss for what felt like the hundredth time this season, we were put into the field. Angus Knowler ran through their order in fine style, 3-49, backed up nicely by Martin Harris (2-40) and Tobey Castle (1-29), while I did my bit to keep things tidy with a couple of maidens of my own. George Jones (51) and Nick Maitland (46) threatened to run away with it, with a stubborn 61-run stand for the fifth wicket the closest thing to a wobble in our afternoon, but 189/6 from their 40 overs always felt a target within reach on a good batting strip.

And reach it we did, in some style. Jordan Austin's early duck and a nervy 0-1 start suggested the chase might unravel before it began, but James Piper (90 not out) and Tobey Castle (82 not out) simply refused to be troubled by anything Stone-in-Oxney offered, seeing us home with three wickets and a full head of steam to spare. A wretched fifth over cost us two wickets in a hurry, but by then the platform was already laid and the pair batted on regardless, untroubled by the heat or the scoreboard pressure.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a result that flattered no one — we were simply the better side on the day. Piper continues to top our Sunday run charts and Harris the wickets, and on this evidence neither shows any sign of slowing down.

Sat 04 Aug 2018 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sennocke CC · HomeformLLWLL

A scorching, overcast Saturday saw us host Sennocke CC, and, coin obligingly cooperating, I took one look at the sky and decided we'd have a bat first — the sort of decision that either marks you out as a shrewd tactician or a fool, depending entirely on what follows.

What followed was a innings of two distinct moods. Shehryar Gul set about proceedings in fine style for 47, the foundation of an opening stand worth 58, while Darrell Houghton-Judge finished unbeaten on 21 to shepherd us home. I contributed a workmanlike 20 of my own, more crease-occupation than fireworks, and we closed on 137/6 from our forty overs — respectable, if not quite the total that lets a captain sleep easy.

It wasn't nearly enough. Arthur Sackville West took a look at our total and simply decided it wasn't worth the bother of subtlety, cracking an unbeaten 82 that had the boundary boards rattling, ably assisted by Dan Callingham's 39. Between them they saw Sennocke home in a brisk 23 overs. Tim Thirkell alone gave us something to cheer, prising out a wicket for 21, but 140/1 tells its own brutal story, and we were beaten by nine wickets.

Small consolations remain: I still lead the 2nd XI run charts for the season with 275, and Thirkell sits second among the wicket-takers with nine. But consolations butter no scones. A chastening afternoon, honestly earned, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 04 Aug 2018 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLWWWW

Off at Sissinghurst on a scorching, grey afternoon, and for once winning the toss felt like the easy part of my job — I had no hesitation sticking us in. James Piper played the innings of the day, motoring past his fifty to 82, while I chipped in with 37 as part of an 89-run stand that gave the innings its spine after a flying start of 66 without loss. Typical of us, though, we couldn't just cruise home — 182 for 5 became 192 for 8 in the time it takes to put the kettle on, and poor Mark Christmas made the long walk back for nought. The extras column, ever reliable, weighed in with 30. All told, 194 for 8 felt like a total with enough about it to defend.

And defend it we did. Sissinghurst threatened when Brough Cooper (39), Nick Chambers (29) and George Meddings (28) laid a platform of 63 for the first wicket, but they'd bowled short into a ground that seemed built for cutting and pulling, and once Richard Knowler (4-27) got amongst them, supported by Stuart Cheesman (4-37) and two tidy maidens from Martin Harris (2-38), the innings unravelled to 165 all out. Duncan Bristow went for a duck, and a ruinous 35th over cost them two wickets and any lingering hope.

A word for Martin Harris, whose brace nudged him past Thomas Beeney into 18th on the club's all-time wicket list — the mantelpiece grows a little more crowded. A 29-run win, two points thoroughly banked, and a rather agreeable drive home.

Sat 28 Jul 2018 🧢 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLLLWL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 28 July 2018. We travelled to Sissinghurst CC on a warm, sunny, blustery afternoon, and won the toss with the ball in mind.

The opposition made hay early doors, racking up 217/5 from their forty overs. Neal Metcalf was the chief architect with a well-made 81, and he had willing company in Andrew Knowler (39) and Lee Bezuidenhout, unbeaten on 37. We did have our moments, mind — Oscar Roberts departed for a duck to our attack, small mercies and all that. Abishek Pushpavinothan was pick of the bowlers with 3-35, while Harrison Fermor and Tobey Castle chipped in with a wicket apiece, 1-32 and 1-41 respectively.

Chasing 218, we made a fair fist of it without quite getting there, closing on 206/7 from our forty overs. I was fortunate enough to find some form with 55 — a personal contribution I was rather pleased with, if I'm allowed to say so once and move swiftly on. Aaron Hughes played beautifully for his unbeaten 52, and Tobey Castle added a brisk 33. Spare a sympathetic thought for poor Darrell Houghton-Judge, whose golden duck will have hurt more than most.

Eleven runs short in the end — the sort of margin that makes the walk back to the pavilion feel longer than it should. A defeat to learn from, but with runs and wickets enough on show to suggest the season still has plenty to offer us.

Sat 28 Jul 2018 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWLWWW

Warm, sunny and blustery it may have been on the 28th, but Shipbourne CC left Linton Park feeling rather more thoroughly blown about than we did.

Batting first, we set about building a total with some purpose. Warren Jackson was the class of the innings, farming the strike beautifully for an unbeaten 82, while James Piper chipped in with a well-crafted 45 and Mark Christmas added a tidy 22. Along the way Piper brought up 11,000 career runs for the club — no small landmark — and Christmas's runs saw him leapfrog Basil Sears into 17th on the all-time list. We closed on 191/4 from our forty overs, a total that felt like it had enough about it to trouble the visitors.

So it proved. Shipbourne never really got the platform they needed, with Sam Spink's 44 the highlight of a chase that always seemed to be playing catch-up, Matthew Watts (29) and Joe Sheppard (20) offering support without ever threatening to take the game away from us. Three of their batsmen departed without troubling the scorers at all. Richard Knowler was superb with the new ball, taking 3-25 and in doing so moving past Stuart Cheesman into 24th on the club's wicket-taking charts, while Joshua Knowler and Martin Harris chipped in with two apiece — Harris's four maidens a study in patience. They served up too much back-of-a-length and we helped ourselves square of the wicket; fittingly, the same could be said of their bowling to our batting.

Shipbourne closed on 134/8. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and a win to savour.

Sun 22 Jul 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv WC Woodcoombe CC · HomeformLTWLW

I elected to bat when we won the toss on Sunday 22 July, and against Woodcoombe CC on a scorching, grey sort of afternoon — the kind England seems to specialise in — I still say it was the right call. We posted 165/8 from our forty overs, with Richard Piper the pick of the willow-wielders on 48, Charles Curteis unbeaten on a tidy 35, and Shehryar Gul chipping in with 28. Not a total to frighten anyone on paper, but paper doesn't take wickets.

And take wickets we did. Darrell Houghton-Judge was quite simply unplayable, spinning a web through the Woodcoombe order for figures of 6-19 that will take some beating in any club's history book. Toby Allsworth did his bit too, miserly as a Yorkshireman with two maidens and 2-3, and I managed to get in on the act myself with 2-8, which I shall modestly describe as a fair contribution to a rout. Richard Phillips, Joe Taylor and Robert Edge trooped back without so much as a run to their name, and only Paddy Collins, with a battling 21, threatened to make a match of it. Woodcoombe were bowled out for a paltry 45 in 20.1 overs.

A win by 120 runs, then — the kind of margin that makes the tea taste sweeter and the drive home shorter. Onwards we go, buoyed and, for once, entirely deserving of the scoreline.

Sun 22 Jul 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Wingham CC · AwayformWWLWL

A scorching, drizzly Sunday saw us head to Wingham, and I'm still not sure what the weather was trying to tell us. Batting first, we never quite found our rhythm, folding for 80 all out in 23.2 overs. James Piper battled hard for his 21, but three of our number — Archie Fairfax-Ross, Benjamin Austin and Martin Harris — trooped back without troubling the scorers, which is the sort of collective batting collapse that makes a captain stare very hard at the tea urn.

With the ball, though, we found our teeth. Ian Hollingworth ran through Wingham's top order with a superb 2-5, Archie Fairfax-Ross backed him up nicely with 2-20 and two miserly maidens, and Martin Harris chipped in with 1-29 — proof, if any were needed, that a man can drop a duck with the bat and still turn up with the ball. Harry Wells departed for nought to our attack, a small consolation amid the wreckage. I managed 17 with the bat myself. But Daniel Pilbeam's unbeaten 23, well supported by Chris Goulden's 21, steered Wingham home to 81/5 in 19.5 overs, and there was precious little we could do about it.

So, beaten this time, by the narrowest of margins with wickets in hand. Piper continues to lead our season's run charts and Harris tops the wickets, which offers some comfort. We go again.

Sat 21 Jul 2018 🧢 2nd XIv SC St Lawrence CC · HomeformLLLLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 21 July 2018, and a scorcher of an overcast afternoon to host St Lawrence CC, though the toss deserted me as reliably as ever and we were sent in to field.

Early wickets are supposed to settle the nerves, not ours — 3-1 had the look of a collapse in the making, but St Lawrence steadied and built through Nick Edwards' 35, with Clint Olivier (34) and Corrie Thompson (24) chipping in nicely, and a sixth-wicket stand of 67 that did rather more damage than a stand of that number has any right to. Small mercies arrived in the shape of Allan Churchman, back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. With the ball, Darrell Houghton-Judge was superb, 3-18 and full of menace, well backed by Engarshal Sinnaraja's 3-34 and the miserly Tim Thirkell, whose 1-22 and two maidens said everything about the control on show. All out 161 in 38.3 overs felt about right for the effort put in.

Chasing it down was never going to be straightforward, and so it proved. We slipped from 29-1 to 42-4 in the sort of rush that makes a captain reach for the tea urn early, and ducks for Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan, Thomas Beeney and Abishek Pushpavinothan didn't help the cause. I did what I could with the bat, but 128-9 from our forty overs left us 33 runs short.

Not our day, then — heads up, chins high, and back to the nets. On the bright side, the season charts still make pleasant reading, with yours truly leading the 2nd XI run-scoring and Sinnaraja out in front with the ball. There's always next Saturday.

Sat 21 Jul 2018 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWWLWW

Down at Penshurst Park, and a fine toss to win on a warm, cloudy afternoon — I had no hesitation putting them in, or rather, putting us in first, fancying 40 overs of runs on the board before the tea urn cooled.

And runs there were. James Piper was in irresistible form, cruising to 82 not out and carrying the innings almost single-handedly, with Luke Welsman chipping in a tidy 30 and I added a workmanlike 25 of my own. We closed on a healthy 175/5 — though poor Warren Jackson will be pleased to see his golden duck reduced to a single line in the scorebook rather than dwelt upon further.

Defending it, our attack showed real teeth. James Beeny threatened to spoil the party with a well-crafted 83, and for a while it looked ominous, but Joshua Knowler led from the front with 3-30, well supported by Martin Harris and Matthew Carter, both with 3-46 and 3-36 apiece — between the three of them they barely left Penshurst a wicket to call their own. Alex Keeler kept things admirably tight with two maidens, and Ben Watkins departed without troubling the scorers, a small mercy for us. Their innings folded for 156 in the 39th over.

Nineteen runs the margin, and thoroughly deserved — a proper team performance with the bat setting it up and the ball, five bowlers strong, finishing the job. James Piper continues his magnificent season atop the run charts, and Joshua Knowler's wicket haul grows ever more menacing. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and the tea, I'm told, was rather good too.

Sun 15 Jul 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LC Loose CC · AwayformLLTWL

Lost the toss at Loose on Sunday, and for once I wasn't too disappointed to hear "we'll field" — it meant we got first use of what turned out to be a very kind pitch indeed. Mark Christmas set about the bowling like a man late for his tea, cruising to a magnificent 116, while Aaron Hughes matched him stroke for stroke with a fine century of his own, 105. Together they put on 229 for the third wicket, which is the sort of number that makes the scorebook blush. Poor Richard Piper was the one blot on an otherwise gleaming card, done for a duck, but nobody was counting that against him with 271/4 on the board from our 40 overs.

Defending a total like that is usually the easy part, and so it proved. I found some rhythm with the ball for once, finishing with 5-9 including three maidens, and enjoyed watching Mark Christmas back up his century with 2-9 and Darrell Houghton-Judge chip in with 2-31 as Loose folded for 107 in 22.3 overs. A tidy day for the history books too — Christmas's century eased him past Stewart Morrison into 18th on the club's all-time run charts, while my five-for nudged me above Daniel Thirkell into 16th among the wicket-takers. Hughes still leads our Sunday 2nd XI run-scoring this summer with 282, and Houghton-Judge tops the bowling with 20.

A thumping 164-run win, and a very pleasant drive home. Onwards indeed.

Sun 15 Jul 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv AC Ash CC · HomeformLWWLW

Sunday the fifteenth of July arrived under a sun that had clearly not read the English cricketing rulebook, and we welcomed Ash CC to Linton Park for what turned into a proper old-fashioned arm-wrestle. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — you don't turn down runs on a belter like that. James Piper and Luke Welsman set the tone with an opening stand of 80, both falling agonisingly short of their fifties on 49 apiece, which will have hurt more than any bowler did. I chipped in with an unbeaten 25 at the death to help us to a healthy 205/6 from our forty, Welsman's highlight a magnificent six launched over mid-on that had the tea urn rattling.

Chasing it down, Ash gave us the full tour of the run charts through Jon Stevens (55) and Ed Laslett (47 not out), with Alex Spokes weighing in too, but our bowlers refused to be bullied. Martin Harris was miserly and menacing in equal measure for 2-27, Angus Knowler and Ian Hollingworth both took 2 apiece, and Hollingworth's two maidens showed nobody was giving runs away for nothing. Richard Ewart departed for a golden duck, which was some consolation.

In the end it came down to the very last wicket, and it fell agonisingly the wrong way — beaten by a single wicket after 209/9. Not our day, but no shame in it either. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sat 14 Jul 2018 🧢 2nd XIv KC Kilndown & Lamberhurst CC · AwayformLLLLL

Saturday 14 July 2018 saw us make the trip out to Kilndown & Lamberhurst, and I lost the toss on a warm, damp afternoon that felt made for bowling first — which, happily, is exactly what the coin gave us.

Our hosts made themselves at home, posting 183 all out in 39.5 overs, the bulk of it courtesy of James Johnston, who cantered to 74. Graham Bateup (40) and Andy Place (21) chipped in dutifully, while Nathan Hammond and Sam Place both trudged off for ducks at our hands — small mercies. With the ball, Abishek Pushpavinothan was the pick of us with 2-21, well backed up by Tim Thirkell (2-22) and Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-25), the three of them doing the unglamorous work of chipping away at what could have been a much larger total.

Chasing 184, we barely broke sweat, cantering home at 184/1 in just 20.1 overs. Shehryar Gul was the story of the day — 103 not out, a proper hundred, made to look almost easy — with Dave Charlton unbeaten on 41 in fine support. Only Luke Welsman failed to trouble the scorers, departing for a duck of his own.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved ones at that — an eight-wicket win, built on disciplined bowling and one magnificent innings. If Shehryar keeps batting like this, I may retire from opening altogether.

Sat 14 Jul 2018 🧢 1st XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformWWWLW

As I sit down to pen this, I still can't quite believe James Piper's innings — but let's start at the beginning. Saturday 14 July brought Horsmonden CC to Linton Park under warm, showery skies, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in electing to bat, which for once looked like genuine captaincy rather than a lucky guess.

We wobbled early, losing a wicket with just 4 on the board — the kind of start that has you reaching for the tea urn a little too keenly — but a fine 77-run stand for the second wicket steadied things beautifully. And then James simply took over, compiling a magnificent 131 not out to carry us to 276/5 from our 40 overs, with Mark Christmas (34) and Adam Jackson (28) offering fine support, and even the extras column chipping in a handy 29. I added a modest 25 myself, happy enough to play a supporting role in someone else's masterpiece.

In reply, Horsmonden fought hard, reaching 199/6, with Dave Rayment (38), Ben Brandreth (37 not out) and Tom Beaumont (32 not out) all contributing — their last pair adding an irritating, unbeaten 72 that made the finish rather more tense than it needed to be. Matthew Carter led the attack superbly with 2-44, backed up by Martin Harris (2-50) and Joshua Knowler (1-50).

A day of milestones too, with James moving up to 12th on the club's all-time run-scorers list and Martin climbing to 19th among the wicket-takers. A 77-run victory, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket.

Wed 11 Jul 2018 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformWWLWL

Wednesday 11 July found us hosting Lord Cornwallis XI under a sky that couldn't decide whether it was July or November, and by the close neither, frankly, could our nerves.

Batting first, we ambled and occasionally sparkled our way to 163/9 from 30 overs, built on tidy contributions rather than fireworks. Clarence Baird's 30 was the backbone, with Archie Fairfax-Ross (28) and Simon Phipps (27) chipping in handsomely. Poor Tobey Castle, ever the entertainer, contributed a golden duck to proceedings, though our extras column, a generous 32, did rather more heavy lifting than any of us cared to admit.

Defending it looked a stretch when Lord Cornwallis's openers put on 93 for the first wicket, with M Shales unbeaten on 77 and A Newport's 48 threatening to bat us clean out of the gazette. But cricket, like an English summer, turns quickly, and we ran through the middle order from 109-2 to 119-5 in a blur, P Ogilvy-Wedburn departing without troubling the scorers. Archie Fairfax-Ross was magnificent with 3-25, I chipped in with 2-11, and Tobey Castle, duck notwithstanding, brought up his 100th career wicket, a lovely piece of symmetry for a man who'd started the day with nought.

Clarence Baird now leads our 2018 run charts with 110, and Archie sits second among the wicket-takers with three, both thoroughly deserved. We held on by 8 runs. A tense, showery, thoroughly English afternoon, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 08 Jul 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv FC Frittenden CC · HomeformWLLTW

Sunday 8th July, and the sun decided to grace Linton Park with a scorching, if cloud-flecked, afternoon — the sort of day that promises much and, as it turned out, delivered a fair few lessons. Frittenden CC came to visit, won the toss, and stuck us in without a second thought.

We stumbled early, 4-1 feeling like a rude awakening, but the lads dug in gamely. Shehryar Gul batted with real composure for 36, backed up nicely by Darrell Houghton-Judge's 31 and Aaron Hughes's 26, and a sturdy 56-run stand for the third wicket gave the innings some spine. Not everyone's day, mind — Glen Rawson and John Karassellos both trudged off for ducks — and we folded for 158 off 37.5 overs, a total that felt more like a starting point than a total.

So it proved. Frittenden's openers set about us with 72 for the first wicket before Glen Rawson prised one out for figures of 1-9, the pick of our attack, with John Karassellos and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipping in with one apiece. But Craig Smith's 48, well supported by Don Smith's 37 and an unbeaten 33 from Niclas Rodreigo, saw them home at 159-3.

As for your correspondent — a duck. We'll leave it there. Shehryar Gul continues to top the season's run charts and Darrell Houghton-Judge the wickets, small consolations on a day beaten by six wickets. Onwards, and no doubt upwards, next Sunday.

Sun 08 Jul 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Selling CC · AwayformLLWWL

Sunday 8 July found us at Selling CC under a scorching sky with cloud cover playing gooseberry, and having won the toss I had no hesitation electing to bat — one of my better decisions this season, as it turned out. James Piper and Jordan Austin gave us a proper platform, 74 for the first wicket before the breakthrough came, and Piper went on to 43, including a wonderfully violent six through extra cover that was the shot of the day by some distance. Austin's 36 and Luke Welsman's 32 kept the total ticking, though the tail rather let the side down — Thew, Benjamin Austin and Joshua Knowler all contributing that most humiliating of cricketing gifts, the golden duck. Still, 160 all out felt like a defendable total on a used pitch.

And so it proved. Their batsmen never got going against tight bowling — Ian Hollingworth was magnificent, 4 for 25 with three maidens, the sort of spell that makes captaincy look easy. Knowler chipped in with three, and I managed a couple of my own with the ball, which I'm reliably informed nudged me past Alan Boyns into 20th on the club's all-time wicket list — not bad for a Sunday afternoon. Their innings folded for 87, Romesh De Zoysa's 23 the only real resistance.

A 73-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. The lads batted with application, bowled with discipline, and reminded me why I love this daft game. Onwards.

Sat 07 Jul 2018 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · HomeformLLLLL

Betsham CC came to Linton Park on a Saturday that couldn't decide whether it fancied being a scorcher or a soaking, and frankly neither could our batting. Winning the toss, I elected to bat — still convinced it was the right call, though our top order's response was to treat the crease like a hot stove. All out for 135 in 37.3 overs was a modest return, rescued from outright embarrassment by Abishek Pushpavinothan's unbeaten 32 and my own 31 alongside him. Elsewhere the Duck Club did brisk business, with Shehryar Gul and Tobey Castle both walking back for nought.

Defending 135 always felt like asking a deckchair to stop a freight train, but for a while the lads made a fair fist of it. An early wicket with just 4 on the board had us dreaming, and when Ian Stickels departed for a duck there was real hope in the field. But Karl Harris, ominously serene, compiled 55 not out and shared a stand of a hundred for the fifth wicket with Peter Reardon's 38 that quietly strangled the contest.

Stuart Campbell was the pick of our bowlers with 3-38, and Engarshal Sinnaraja and Tobey Castle chipped in with a wicket apiece — Castle also bowling four maidens of real discipline for little reward. Betsham eventually got there at 136/5 in 38.4 overs, beating us by 5 wickets.

Verdict: a batting collapse we bowled our way almost out of trouble on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 07 Jul 2018 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformWWWWL

Away at Meopham CC, and for once the forecast couldn't decide whether to bake us or drown us — a scorching, grey afternoon, if such a thing exists, and only cricket could produce it. Put in first, we made ourselves quite at home with the bat, posting a healthy 217/7 from our forty overs. James Piper was the class act with 48, well supported by Mark Christmas's 43 and my own contribution of 38. Adam Jackson and Jordan Austin will be quietly hoping the Duck Club ledger has a few blank pages left after their golden ducks, though a generous 34 extras from Meopham's bowlers did their bit for the cause too.

Defending 217 is always a nervy watch from the boundary rope, and David Pollard threatened to spoil the afternoon entirely with a fine 73, ushered along by Adam Orridge's 33. But our bowling had the last word. Richard Knowler was magnificent, ripping through with 4-24, while Matthew Carter (3-33, two maidens and barely a run to his name) and Joshua Knowler (2-17) squeezed the life out of the innings around him. Andrew Powney, Kevin Smith and Max Luckett all trudged off for ducks of their own, and Meopham were bowled out for 164 with five overs unused.

A thoroughly satisfying day out, and with Piper still leading our run charts and Joshua Knowler top of the wicket pile, the side is purring nicely. Onwards.

Thu 05 Jul 2018 🧢 Midweek XIv CP Camellia PLC · HomeformDWWLW

Beaten by a single run — there can't be a crueller margin in the game, and I've had all week to stare at the scorebook wondering where that run went missing. Winning the toss on a warm, damp Thursday, I fancied our bowlers over the bat first, and for eighteen overs it looked the shrewdest call I'd made all season.

They limped to 117/6, with only Darpan (31 not out) and Haider (28) offering real resistance; Faruk, G McLean and Jack Franks all trudged off for ducks. Matthew Carter was magnificent, ripping through with 3-7, backed superbly by Martin Harris (2-15) and Tobey Castle (1-5) — a bowling effort that deserved better than what followed.

Chasing 118, we simply couldn't quite get there, finishing 116/5. Harrison Fermor's unbeaten 21 held things together, with Tobey Castle and Martin Harris both contributing steady, unbeaten 20s. Benjamin Austin's golden duck was the only real blemish on an otherwise gutsy chase that fell agonisingly short.

There was still plenty to raise a glass to: Tobey Castle and Luke Welsman both brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, while Carter's three wickets nudged him past Trevor Back into 12th on the all-time list. Pushpavinothan sits fourth in the Midweek run charts, and Martin Harris still leads the wickets column with ten.

A heartbreaker, no question — but with milestones falling like that, I'll take the omens over the outcome. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 04 Jul 2018 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformLDWWL

Wednesday 4th July saw us welcome Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC on a warm, damp afternoon that promised runs for somebody. Winning the toss, I fancied our chances first up and stuck them in the field, a decision that repaid us handsomely as we posted a commanding 234 for 5 off 33.2 overs. Clarence Baird was in imperious form, cracking a fine 80, while Aaron Hughes chipped in with a well-judged 49 and Trevor Back finished unbeaten on 35. The real damage, though, was done by that fifth-wicket stand of 110 — the sort of partnership that turns a competitive total into a match-winning one, and rather sets the tone for a good afternoon's tea.

Sevenoaks made us work for it in reply, Oliver Barnes playing a genuinely lovely 87 and getting good support from Clive Croft (35) and Dominic Ramjag (23), but we kept chipping away. I can't claim too much credit myself, though I did have a hand among the wickets with 1 for 63 — no, the day belonged entirely to Martin Harris, whose relentless 8 for 62 dismantled the middle and lower order and sent Bob Fraser, Chris Evans and Miles Walker back for ducks. Joshua Knowler chimed in with 1 for 36. Their innings folded for 222 off 38 overs.

Twelve runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved. A proper old-fashioned tussle, settled by bat first and Harris's golden arm — I'll happily take that every Wednesday of the summer.

Sun 01 Jul 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWWLLT

A scorching, overcast Sunday at Sissinghurst, and no luck with the coin, as is now traditional — they batted first. An early wicket for just 4 on the board had us rubbing our hands, before a watchful 94-run stand for the second wicket rather spoiled the mood. Andrew Knowler's 49 was the innings' backbone, with Mick Winner (31) and David Lewis (27) offering sturdy support. I had the ball doing enough to finish with 2-12, Max Butler chipped in with 2-29, Harrison Fermor 1-14, and Martin Harris was positively miserly with two maidens. Philip Buckingham and Ben Larkin both trudged back without troubling the scorers, and they closed on a competitive 159/7 from their 35.

Chasing 160, we made rather harder work of it than the target deserved. Kevin Presneill's 44 did the bulk of the graft, ably backed by Darrell Houghton-Judge (38) and Angus Knowler, unbeaten on 23. Tobey Castle, Nat Presneill and Max Butler all fell for ducks — a distinctly forgettable afternoon with the bat for that trio — and eleven byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Nat Presneill. I added a steady 15 further down, and when we struck twice in the 35th over, their chase flickered briefly before we saw it home.

A tight, twitchy, thoroughly satisfying win by 2 wickets. Onwards.

Sat 30 Jun 2018 🧢 2nd XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLLLLL

I gambled early on giving West Farleigh first use of the ball rather than the bat, and by tea I was regretting it. Jack Prideaux made us pay in full with a superb unbeaten hundred, 122 not out, and had willing company throughout: Alex Beechey compiled a classy fifty on his way to 74, and Raveendran Rajeevan chimed in with a fine 65. Between them they carried the visitors to a hefty 301/3 from their forty overs, and there was precious little our attack could do about it, though nobody threw in the towel. Jacob West was the pick of a weary bunch with 1-24, Ian Hollingworth toiled away for 1-30 with two tidy maidens to show for his discipline, and Engarshal Sinnaraja picked up 1-67 for his troubles.

Chasing 302 was always a tall order on a warm, bright afternoon that rather flattered the scoreboard more than our bowling figures. I found some form with 41, and Trevor Back gave the innings real backbone with 40 of his own, while Jordan Austin's 23 kept things ticking for a spell. But wickets tumbled at the other end — John Karassellos, Jacob West and Ian Hollingworth all walked back for ducks, swelling the club's ledger nicely if not our total — and we were bowled out for 129 in 37.4 overs.

Comfortably beaten, then, no dressing it up. Small consolation that I sit top of the 2nd XI run charts with 156 for the season, and Sinnaraja leads the wickets with six. We dust ourselves down and go again next week.

Sat 30 Jun 2018 🧢 1st XIv SC Speldhurst CC · AwayformLWWWW

Well, another Saturday, another exercise in optimism dented by reality. We travelled to Speldhurst on a warm, clear afternoon full of hope, and posted a respectable 162/6 from our forty overs. Glen Rawson was the man of substance, carving out a composed unbeaten fifty (57 not out) that gave the innings its spine, with James Piper's 39 lending fine support and my own 20 chipping in somewhere in the middle order of usefulness. Less gloriously, Stuart Cheesman and Luke Welsman both took the long, lonely walk back for ducks — the sort of afternoon the Duck Club exists to commemorate, and commemorate it we shall.

Defending 162 always felt a stretch, and so it proved. James Roche played the innings of the day for the home side, an unbeaten 64 that we simply had no answer to, ably assisted by James Hughes's unbeaten 45 and Ben Spokes's brisk 25. Martin Harris was our pick of the bowlers with 1-25, and Matthew Carter did his miserly best with two maidens, but Speldhurst cantered home at 165/1 with over five overs to spare — the kind of chase that makes a captain wince rather than applaud.

So, a defeat, and a fairly comprehensive one at that. Credit to Speldhurst, who simply played the better cricket on the day. We'll take the positives — Rawson's fifty, Harris's control, the shape of a batting effort that at least gave us something to bowl at — and leave the rest in the nets for next week.

Sun 24 Jun 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Harbledown CC · HomeformWLLWW

As the season's chosen scribe of Linton Park's fortunes, allow me to recount a Sunday that promised much on the toss and delivered, in the end, a footnote in the wrong column.

Winning the toss, I fancied our chances on a warm, grey afternoon and had no hesitation in batting first — the right call, I still maintain, even if the scorebook rather undermines the argument. An early wicket with just 8 on the board set nerves jangling, and what followed was the sort of collapse that makes a captain wish the pavilion had a trapdoor: 8-1 became 13-4 before anyone had finished their tea. Richard Piper, Kevin Presneill and I all contributed golden ducks to the cause — I like to think we were at least stylish about it. Only Jordan Austin stood firm, compiling a fine fifty to drag us to 111 all out.

Defending such a total was always going to require heroics, and heroics were in short supply. Ed Solly played beautifully for his unbeaten 72, well supported by Will Halliday's 37 not out, and Harbledown cantered home at 115 for none in under twenty overs — a wretched third over, costing us two wickets and all momentum, the only blot on their canter.

As for the skipper, a golden blob rather undercut any claims to leading by example. Happier news: Jon Harris brought up his 700th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth far more than the result. Beaten by ten wickets — humbling, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 23 Jun 2018 🧢 2nd XIv PC Pembury CC · AwayformLLLLL

Beaten by 5 wickets at Pembury on a warm, grey Saturday — the kind of afternoon that flatters no one and forgives even less. I won the toss, elected to bat, and stand by that call still, though 103 all out from our 32 overs rather undersold the effort. I chipped in with 24 myself, well supported by Steve Puxty's own 24, but around us the innings had all the structural integrity of a garden shed in a gale — Shehryar Gul and Charles Curteis both departed for golden ducks, and 103 always looked light on a Pembury pitch.

With the ball we scrapped hard and, for a good while, had them worried. Darren Styles was superb, 2-9 and miserly with it, with Charles Curteis and Kian Lloyd chipping in for one apiece. We had Charlie Johns, James Moysey and Harrison Coe back in the hutch without troubling the scorers — three ducks of our own to set against theirs. But Stuart McCloy simply refused to read the script, compiling an unbeaten 65 with Richard Webster's 27 alongside him, and Pembury eased home at 105/5 with half an over in hand.

A defeat, then, but not a disgrace — more a reminder that one truly good innings can outweigh a whole side's honest toil. We'll dust ourselves down, have a stern word with the top order, and be better for it next week.

Sat 23 Jun 2018 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformLLWWW

Bidborough came to Linton Park on a warm, overcast Saturday, we lost the toss, and were duly sent out to field first — never my favourite way to spend an afternoon, but there we are. The visitors ground their way to 179/9 from their forty overs, James Baldock the chief architect with a fine 66, well supported by Anthony Bouffe's 40, the pair putting on 74 for the seventh wicket just as we thought we had them pegged back. Stuart Cheesman was the pick of our attack with 2-37, Martin Harris and Alex Keeler chipped in with two apiece, and Joshua Knowler bowled two tidy maidens to keep the scoring honest. Dom Trett, at least, departed for a duck at our hands, which was some small consolation.

Chasing 180, we made a proper match of it, eventually getting there at 180/7 with just one ball to spare in the 40th over. I was pleased to anchor things with 36, with good support from Joshua Knowler's 30 and Adam Jackson's 22, while our extras column weighed in with a generous 27 of its own. A wretched 14th over cost us two wickets in a hurry and very nearly the game with it, but the lads held their nerve. A word too for Martin Harris, who brought up 400 career wickets — one for the mantelpiece indeed.

A nervy finish, but two points thoroughly earned: a three-wicket win to send Bidborough home with plenty to think about on the drive back.

Sun 17 Jun 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv KK Kennington CC, Kent · HomeformDWWLL

Sunday 17 June brought us Kennington CC and a damp, muggy sort of afternoon — the kind where you win the toss and pretend you've made a great tactical call rather than just fancying batting first. I did exactly that, and for once the decision looked as good as I felt about it.

Shehryar Gul played the innings of the day, a magnificent 105, and found the ideal foil in Dave Charlton, whose 59 kept the scoreboard humming along nicely — the pair put on 121 for the second wicket and did most of the heavy lifting. Trevor Back chipped in with 36, the extras column got in on the act with 36 of its own, and we finished a very respectable 274/7 from our forty overs. Runs enough to feel comfortable over the tea urn, or so we thought.

Kennington, however, had other ideas. Jonah Diedrick's 86 and half-centuries from both Neil Tegg (79 not out) and Liam Tegg (57) kept them level throughout, built on a solid 89-run opening stand and 111 for the second wicket. I did what I could with the ball, taking 2-28, with Dave Charlton weighing in again with 2-36, and we did at least see off poor Toby Milloy without troubling the scorers. But it wasn't quite enough to prise the game away from them.

274 apiece, and not a run between us at the close. A tie feels almost too neat a word for an afternoon that gave everything and settled nothing — honours even, and frankly, both sides probably deserved it.

Sun 17 Jun 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv EC Elham Valley CC · AwayformLWLLW

A drizzly afternoon at Elham Valley, and for once the coin actually liked me — down it came my way, and with the outfield holding a bit of damp I sent us out to field first. Adam English gave us a proper working over, 62 of the best, with Jan Willem Gray chipping in a tidy 24; the second wicket stand of 70 did most of the damage. Credit where it's due though — young Louis Gray was sent back for a duck, and Sam Boyns bowled beautifully for 3-22, backed up nicely by the Castle brothers, Mardey with 3-24 and Tobey with 1-31. All out for 152 off 38.4 overs felt like a score we could chase.

And chase it we did, though not without the customary Linton Park palpitations. James Piper played the innings of the day, 58 full of proper strokes, with Kevin Presneill's 26 and Richard Piper's unbeaten 21 keeping the engine room ticking over. Then, as is tradition, we did our level best to give it away — reduced to needing the last pair to see us home, who obliged with a splendidly defiant 42 to drag us over the line by four wickets.

James Piper continues to lead the season's run charts with 192, and Martin Harris the wickets with 11 — the old firm doing the heavy lifting again. A scratchy, rain-flecked, nerve-jangling win, but a win all the same, and on a soggy Sunday in Kent we'll take it gladly.

Sat 16 Jun 2018 🧢 2nd XIv FC Fordcombe CC · HomeformLLLLL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 16 June 2018, home to Fordcombe CC.

A pleasant, showery afternoon greeted us, the kind of day where you can't decide whether to reach for the sun cream or the extra jumper. Winning the toss, I fancied a bat, and for a while it looked a reasonable shout — Will Thew played beautifully for his 49, with good support from Jordan Austin's 29. Sadly not everyone got the memo, and Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan and Ian Hollingworth both departed for ducks, the sort of contribution best described as ornamental. All out for 151 in 39.2 overs, we had runs on the board but not, in hindsight, quite enough of them.

With ball in hand we set about defending the total with more hope than menace. Keith Exton and Richard Shackleton had other ideas entirely, batting us out of the game with unbeaten fifties of 69 and 59 respectively, and Fordcombe strolled home on 155 without loss in 30.2 overs — barely a false shot between them. I did chip in with the bat earlier on, part of a season in which I currently lead our 2nd XI run charts with 91, though on this occasion my runs were rather overshadowed by the opposition's.

Beaten by nine wickets, then, and no arguing with the margin. Character-building stuff, and we'll be considerably better for it next week.

Sat 16 Jun 2018 🧢 1st XIv FC Four Elms CC · AwayformWLLWW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 16 June 2018. Four Elms away, under a fine drizzle that seemed to say "yes, cricket is definitely the sensible plan for today." I lost the toss, which these days I take as read, and we were put into the field.

Four Elms crawled to an early wobble at 7 for 1 before Rob Smith and Benjamin Crowhurst stitched together a stand of 88 for the third wicket that threatened to take the game clean away from us. Smith's 62 was the class act, Crowhurst's 41 the willing lieutenant, and for a good while it looked ominous. But the lads kept plugging away, and from 133 for 4 the innings folded rather satisfyingly to 147 for 7 — Robert Richards departing without troubling the scorers, poor chap. Stuart Cheesman was the chief architect of the collapse with a superb 4 for 28, well backed up by Joshua Knowler's 4 for 32 and Alex Keeler's 1 for 17. All out 169 in 39.5 overs — gettable, we felt, if we kept our heads.

James Piper made sure of it in style, striking an unbeaten hundred that had the tea urn practically applauding itself, while I chipped in with 21 down the order. The openers had already laid the platform with 75 for the first wicket, so it really was just a matter of not being silly, and Cheesman's golden duck aside, we weren't. Home in the 33rd over for the loss of four, a comfortable six-wicket win, and two points thoroughly banked. Splendid stuff.

Sun 10 Jun 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Knockers CC · HomeformDLWLL

Sunday 10 June, and we welcomed Knockers CC in cloudy, cricket-friendly conditions. I lost the toss – as seems to be tradition these days – and we were sent out to field. No complaints from me, though: John Karassellos was in inspired form, running through them with 4-26, with Martin Harris (2-10) and Clarence Baird (1-17) chipping in, and Riley Butler bowling two miserly maidens for good measure. Only Pullock, with 22, threatened to make a real fist of it. All out for 134 in 33.5 overs felt like a fair reflection of the pressure we applied.

Chasing 135 should have been the easy part. It wasn't. Kevin Presneill led the way with a fine 52, well supported by Clarence Baird's unbeaten 50, but the rest of us did our best to make a straightforward chase interesting. I can report, with as much dignity as I can muster, that I contributed a duck to proceedings – joined in the walk of shame by Ryan Silk and Riley Butler, three ducks in one innings being rather more solidarity than any captain wants to see. We scrambled home at 135/8 in 22.4 overs, two wickets to spare and hearts in mouths throughout.

Plenty to celebrate beyond the result, mind: Kevin's 300th appearance in Linton colours is a landmark few will match, and Martin's two wickets nudged him past Dave Todd to 22nd on the club's all-time list. Ugly at times, but two points are two points – and we'll take a win by any margin over a defeat played with style.

Sun 10 Jun 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · AwayformLDWWL

Beaten at Cobham, and if I'm honest, our top order has left the printers with less ink to spill of late. On a warm, overcast afternoon down in Kent, we were bowled out for a modest 104 from 31 overs, Jordan Austin the pick of the willow-wielders with a battling 24. Toby Hughes and Alastair Allsworth both fell without troubling the scorers, which is the sort of double duck that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces.

With the ball, though, we gave a proper account of ourselves. Cobham crept to 105 for 5 from their 28 overs, Dominic Hart the chief architect with 41, well supported by Sam Edwards's 25, but our attack never let them cut loose. I was pleased enough with my own contribution, 2 for 11 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in handsomely with 2 for 19. Jordan Austin took one, and we sent Simon Murray back for a golden duck of his own, so honours were shared on that front at least.

There was a quiet personal footnote to the afternoon too, as those two wickets nudged me past Thomas Beeney into 17th on the club's all-time list, which I shall try not to mention again for at least a fortnight.

In the end, though, a total of 104 was never quite enough to defend, and Cobham always looked the more likely side to get home. Beaten, fair and square, on a pitch that gave the bowlers rather more joy than the batsmen. We dust ourselves down and go again.

Sat 09 Jun 2018 🧢 2nd XIv Cudham Wyse CC · HomeformLLLLL

As I put us in, the pitch looked friendly enough under a heavy grey sky — and so it proved, up to a point. Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan gave us the platform with a fine 37, Tobey Castle chipped in a handy 27 and Thomas Beeney stood firm at the death for an unbeaten 24, while a defiant last-wicket stand added a precious 37 to drag us to 150/7 off our forty. Nothing extravagant, but respectable enough to defend on a slow outfield — or so we told ourselves over the tea urn.

With the ball, Tim Thirkell was superb, tight as a drum with two maidens and figures of 2-17, and I'll happily admit I made 24 with the bat earlier and enjoyed watching someone else do the damage for once. Tobey Castle picked up a wicket too, and we even had Chris Vaughan back in the hutch without troubling the scorers — small mercies. But Sam Merron simply refused to be shifted, cruising to 82 not out, ably assisted by Dilshan DeSilva's unbeaten 43, and Cudham Wyse strolled home at 151/3 with well over four overs unused.

Beaten by seven wickets, then, and no arguments from this corner — they had the better of us with bat and, ultimately, with patience. Still, plucky resistance with the tail, a wonderful spell from Thirkell, and a decent afternoon's cricket even in defeat. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 09 Jun 2018 🧢 1st XIv WC Withyham CC · AwayformLWLLW

Withyham CC hosted us on a fine Saturday, and for once the coin didn't fall our way — they put us in, which by mid-afternoon looked like a decision they rather regretted.

We posted 165/7 from our forty overs, built on a wonderful opening stand of 98 that set the tone before the first wicket fell. James Piper led the way with a fine 67, well backed up by Warren Jackson's 41 and Stuart Cheesman's 34 — though the scorebook wasn't universally kind, with both Adam Jackson and Mark Christmas departing for ducks. Still, 165 looked a defendable total on a good pitch, and so it proved.

With ball in hand we simply ran through them. Martin Harris was the chief destroyer with 3-18, and there was fine support from Joshua and Richard Knowler (3-26 and 2-28 respectively, the latter also sending down three miserly maidens for good measure). Withyham's innings folded for 107 in 34.4 overs, the middle order collapsing from 66-5 to 86-8 in the time it takes to pour a tea.

A pleasing personal footnote: those three wickets for Martin Harris nudged him past Dave Todd and up to 22nd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — one for the mantelpiece, if not quite the Long Room honours board.

A 58-run victory, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. If every Saturday went like this one, I'd never complain about losing a toss again.

Sun 03 Jun 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC Nurstead CC · HomeformWLDWW

A warm, showery Sunday saw Nurstead CC roll into Linton Park, and I'll confess I won the toss with rather more confidence than I felt about the clouds overhead — but field first we did, and field first we would again given the chance. Nurstead made a fine fist of it, the openers putting on a crucial 82 before we prised the first wicket loose, and from there Tom Dummer (49) and Joe Chapelhow (42) kept things ticking nicely, with Anuraj Nandal chipping in 30, to leave them a competitive 202/6 from their forty. Darrell Houghton-Judge did the heavy lifting with the ball, 3-69 for his troubles, well backed by Toby Allsworth (2-41) and Charles Curteis (1-29).

Chasing 203, we never quite got the platform we wanted, but Shehryar Gul batted beautifully for a fine 73, and a 74-run stand for the third wicket — Glen Rawson (28) and Aaron Hughes (22) doing the supporting work — kept hope alive longer than our over-rate deserved. Twenty-nine extras did their honest bit too. Spare a thought, as ever, for poor Richard Piper, who made his way back for a duck and takes his place in the club's ledger of shame.

We fell 22 runs short in the end. Aaron Hughes still tops the Sunday 2nd XI run charts and Darrell Houghton-Judge the wickets, so the season's in good hands even if Sunday wasn't quite ours — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 03 Jun 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · AwayformDDLWL

Skipper's Log — Sunday 3rd June 2018, away to Sheldwich CC

The toss went against us, they had first knock, and 248 all out from forty overs was rather more than we'd bargained for. Credit where it's due — James Creed's 86 and Kit Sims's 57 shared a stand of 122 that did the real damage, with Thomas Copestake chipping in 26 for good measure. Martin Harris kept plugging away for 4-72, well backed by Tobey Castle (2-53, two maidens and not a run given away lightly) and Ian Hollingworth (2-56), and to our credit we hauled them back from 236-7 to all out for 248. Small mercies.

Our reply never quite got out of the blocks — 4-1 early on told its own story — but James Piper played an innings that will live long in the memory: 100 not out, chanceless, immaculate, the sort of knock you dine out on for a season. Benjamin Austin's 20 and a gutsy 65-run eighth-wicket stand kept hope alive, and I managed to scratch together 19 of my own. Alas, two wickets in the fortieth over did for us, and we finished 163-8, beaten by 85 runs. Tobey Castle and Harrison Fermor both walked for ducks — the Linton ledger duly updated.

One moment above the scoreline, though: Kevin Presneill brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that rather puts our afternoon's toil in perspective.

Outplayed, but not outfought. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 02 Jun 2018 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sennocke CC · AwayformLLLLL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 2 June 2018. A warm, damp afternoon at Sennocke CC, and I won the toss and put them in — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook now suggests.

They made themselves thoroughly at home. Dan Callingham compiled a chanceless 143, well past three figures, with Julian Weekes chipping in a handsome 55 in support, and between them they hauled Sennocke to a formidable 247 for 4 off their forty overs. Engarshal Sinnaraja toiled manfully for figures of 3 for 61, with Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan chiming in at 1 for 14, but on a good pitch against a batsman in that sort of form, the lads were fighting an uphill battle from the first ball.

Chasing 248 was always going to ask serious questions of our top order, and we simply didn't have enough answers. I managed to hold things together briefly with 24 — the top score, for what little comfort that's worth — but wickets tumbled around me and we were all out for 111 in 39.5 overs. Spare a thought for poor Sinnaraja, who followed his three wickets with the ultimate insult of a golden duck.

Down by 136 runs, then, and no way of dressing that up as anything but a hiding. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — there's work to do before we're troubling scorers like that again.

Sat 02 Jun 2018 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformWLWLL

Sissinghurst came to Linton Park on a warm, showery Saturday, and true to form the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they had first use of the pitch and chose to bowl at us. What followed was a proper club effort with the bat: 177 for 8 from our forty overs, built around a really fine half-century from James Piper, whose 60 was the innings' backbone. I chipped in with 29, Luke Welsman added a tidy 21, and the extras column - ever the reliable middle-order man - weighed in with 39. Less gloriously, the Duck Club welcomed two new members, Will Thew and Alex Keeler both completing that long, lonely walk back for nought. Every club needs its comedy as well as its craft.

Defending 177 is never comfortable, and Sissinghurst made us work for it, closing on 163 for 8. Trevor Wright's 38 threatened to make a nuisance of himself, well supported by Jon Agar's 29 and Gary Sargent's 21, and their fifth-wicket pair put on a concerning 63 before we found a way back. Martin Harris was the chief tormentor with 2 for 21, Richard Knowler and Stuart Cheesman chipping in with two apiece, and Matthew Carter refused to give anything away, three maidens' worth of miserly bowling. A ragged 34th over cost us two wickets and a wobble of momentum, but the total held firm.

Fourteen runs the right side of the ledger come the close - two points banked, and thoroughly earned after a match that never let us relax for a moment.

Sun 27 May 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LC Littlebourne CC · HomeformLWLDW

Sunday 27 May, and Littlebourne CC arrived to find Linton Park under warm, slightly damp skies — the sort of afternoon that makes a captain's toss decision matter. I called correctly, felt unusually decisive, and stuck us in the field.

It paid off handsomely. Littlebourne never quite found their rhythm, losing an early wicket with just 4 on the board, and although Joe Coleman (38) and Sully Gould (31) threatened to rebuild around Freddie Harvey's 22, the innings folded from 103-5 to 108-8 in a hurry. Darrell Houghton-Judge was the chief architect of the collapse, ripping through with 5-22, while Dave Charlton and Leo Charlton chipped in with a wicket apiece — Leo particularly miserly, bowling two maidens and not gifting a run without a fight. Robbie Lawson, Lewis Todd and Ryan Townson all departed for ducks as the tail was mopped up, and 113/8 from their 30 overs always looked a modest ask on that surface.

So it proved. Aaron Hughes batted with real authority for his unbeaten 44, well supported by Shehryar Gul's 38 and Glen Rawson's composed 25 not out, and we cantered home for the loss of just one wicket, wrapping things up in 19.2 overs.

A thoroughly satisfying nine-wicket win, built on Houghton-Judge's continued wicket-taking form and Hughes's growing reputation with the bat — both now sitting proudly atop the season's charts. A good day for the club, and not a bad one for the captain's toss-calling arm either.

Sun 27 May 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv WC Wye CC · AwayformWDDLW

I lost the toss, or rather won it and put myself firmly on the back foot by choosing to bowl, and Wye CC made us pay in full. Max Campbell led the charge with a fine 81, Matt Barnes chipped in a well-made fifty of his own, and Tom Wroot's 38 kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely as they racked up 235 for 5 from their forty overs. Credit where it's due, we did claw back some pride with the ball — I managed 2 for 39, which I'll modestly call my one moment of the afternoon worth mentioning, while Angus Knowler took 2 for 75 and Luke Welsman 1 for 19. We did at least send Joshua White back for a duck, small mercies and all that.

Chasing 236 was always going to ask serious questions of our top order, and frankly we didn't have many good answers. Tobey Castle battled well for 38 at the top, but around him the innings rather fell apart, with both James Piper and Jordan Austin back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. The eighteenth over proved a particular horror show, two wickets in the space of a few balls, and by the time we were bowled out for 108 in the thirty-fifth over the game had long since slipped away.

There was, at least, one genuine cause for celebration amid the wreckage: Kevin Presneill's watchful 16 saw him climb past Stan Wratten into 21st on the club's all-time run-scoring list, a nice bit of history on an otherwise chastening day. Beaten well and truly this time, but we dust ourselves down and go again next week.

Sat 26 May 2018 🧢 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformLLLLL

Here's the match report:

Saturday 26 May, and Sissinghurst rolled up to Linton Park under a sky that couldn't decide whether it fancied rain or shine — much like my luck at the toss, which I duly lost. They took first strike, and their openers made themselves thoroughly at home, ambling to 74 before we prised the first breakthrough. From there it was Andrew Knowler doing the real damage, unbeaten on 56, with Philip Buckingham (47) and Colin Jenkins (34) chipping in to see them safely home at a well-stocked 199/4 from their forty overs. Credit where due: Tim Thirkell bowled beautifully for 1-28 with two maidens to show for his miserliness, and Stuart Campbell and Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan both chipped in with 1-39 apiece to keep things honest.

Chasing 200 was always going to ask questions of us, and poor Steven Reader was given his marching orders without so much as a glance at the scoreboard. I'll confess my own contribution was modest — a small hand in what became rather a wobbly middle order, as we slid from 52-3 to 62-6 with alarming haste. John Karassellos, sadly, joined the ranks of the ducks. Only a defiant last-wicket stand, and Trevor Back's unbeaten 39, gave the innings any respectability at all, our 121/8 falling 78 runs short.

A chastening afternoon, all told, but the sort English cricket is built on — bruised pride, better tea than batting, and the promise that we'll come back sharper next week.

Sat 26 May 2018 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformLWLWL

Down at Shipbourne on Saturday 26 May, we lost the toss, were put in, and set about the sort of innings that makes you grateful for the extras column. A gutsy 24 from Adam Jackson held things together, but 28 wides and no-balls doing more scoring than most of the top order told its own story, and 134/8 from our forty overs always felt a touch below par on a green Kent evening.

Still, cricket's a funny old game, and for a while it looked like we might defend it. Angus Willis went for a duck early doors and we had Shipbourne wobbling, before James McCulley decided enough was enough and played the innings of the day — a composed 58, well supported by Alistair Owen-Browne's 34, the pair adding 78 for the third wicket to bat us out of it. Martin Harris toiled away superbly for 3-30, with Stuart Cheesman and Richard Knowler chipping in a wicket apiece, Knowler tying an end down with three maidens. But that 17th over — twenty runs in one hit — was the moment the game slipped from our grasp, and Shipbourne closed out a four-wicket win with three overs unused.

Amid the defeat, plenty to raise a glass to: Joshua Knowler brought up 200 appearances in Linton colours, a magnificent innings in itself, while Stuart Cheesman's wicket edged him past Richard Knowler and up to 24th on the club's all-time list. Luke Welsman still leads our run charts, Martin Harris sits second among the wicket-takers. Not our day, then — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 20 May 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC · AwayformWLWLD

Lost the toss on a bright Sunday at Bobbing Court, and duly found myself leading the lads into the field against Lower Halstow — which, on reflection, may have been the best thing that happened to us all day. Dominic Reid and Philip Skillen put on 82 for the second wicket and looked set to bat us out of the game, Reid's 37 and Skillen's 34 doing the heavy lifting, but cricket has a wonderful habit of turning on its head. From 113-5 they stumbled to 120-8, Geoff Allen and Martin Lord both back in the pavilion without so much as a run to their name, and Darrell Houghton-Judge simply ran riot, taking 5-38 with the ball doing whatever he asked of it. Toby Allsworth chipped in with 2-18, and I managed a tidy 1-12 with four maidens, which I shall allow myself one mention of before modestly moving on. They closed on 142/9 from their 40 overs — competitive on paper, gettable in reality.

And gettable it proved. Richard Piper and Aaron Hughes put on a magnificent 112 for the first wicket before either fell, Piper going on to 64 and Hughes to a well-crafted 51, with Darrell Houghton-Judge unbeaten on 22 to finish things off in style. Alastair Allsworth's duck was the only blemish on an otherwise serene chase, completed in 39.3 overs for the loss of three wickets.

A seven-wicket win, two points banked, and a thoroughly pleasant drive home. Not a bad Sunday's work at all.

Sun 20 May 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv LC Littlebourne CC · HomeformDWDDL

Sunday brought us a pleasant, grey afternoon at home to Littlebourne, and having won the toss I elected to field first — the right call, I felt, and for once I wasn't proved a fool by teatime. Littlebourne posted a stiff 178 all out in 35.4 overs, built around a fine 68 from Ian Attenborough and 21 from Lewis Todd, with a sixth-wicket stand of 51 threatening to take the game away from us. I was fortunate enough to find some rhythm with the ball, finishing with 4-33, well supported by Angus Knowler's tidy 3-38 (three maidens to his name, the miser) and a wicket for Luke Welsman.

Chasing 179, we were given a platform by our openers, who put on 73 before the first fell, and Jordan Austin then played the innings of the day — a magnificent 101, three figures no less — ably backed up by James Piper's 34. Not every entry in the book was so glorious: young Benjamin Austin will be buying the teas after his golden duck. A shocking sixteenth over cost us two wickets in a heap and briefly threatened the nerves, but we steadied to get home by five wickets.

A word for the milestone column: I passed 300 career wickets today, which is either a fine achievement or simply proof I've been playing this game for far too long. A thoroughly satisfying win, and one to enjoy on the drive home.

Sat 19 May 2018 🧢 2nd XIv SC St Lawrence CC · AwayformLLLLL

Another sunny Saturday, another away trip that promised more than it delivered — St Lawrence CC the venue, and I'm afraid the runs simply refused to flow. Bowled out for 81 in 36 overs, we never quite got going, though I dug in for 29 not out and was grateful for the company at the other end more than once. Less happily, the Duck Club ledger did brisk business: Tim Thirkell and Engarshal Sinnaraja both departed for ducks, and I dare say there'll be no living with them in the clubhouse this week.

Eighty-one was always going to want some defending, and for a while our attack gave it a real go. Sinnaraja atoned handsomely for his golden duck with the ball, picking up 1-10 to lead the way, with Luke Welsman offering fine support at 1-26. But James Porter had other ideas, cruising to 59 not out and simply refusing to give us a sniff, and the opposition eased home at 82/2 in just 14 overs — a canter, if we're honest.

As for the wider picture, I'm pleased to say I sit second in the 2nd XI run charts this season with 32, and Welsman is fifth among the wicket-takers with one. Small crumbs, admittedly, but crumbs nonetheless.

All told, a defeat we'll take on the chin and learn from — the sun shone, the tea was no doubt lovely, and Porter simply batted better than we bowled. Back to the nets, lads.

Sat 19 May 2018 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformWLWLW

What a scorcher of a Saturday it turned out to be, and Penshurst Park duly made themselves at home in the sunshine. Put in to bowl first, we watched Stephen Lowe (62) and Martin Semmens (59) put on a proper stand and drag the visitors to 183/9 from their forty — the kind of total that looks perfectly gettable on the scorecard and rather less so once you're out there chasing it. Credit where it's due, though: our attack never stopped asking questions. Joshua Knowler was the pick of us with 3-52, Alex Keeler and Stuart Cheesman chipped in with two apiece, and Matthew Carter bowled two maidens that the batsmen simply couldn't get away. Best of all, we sent James Beeny, Alexander McDonald and Nicholas Scott back without troubling the scorers — three ducks is not a bad afternoon's work by anyone's reckoning.

Chasing 184, we never quite found the same rhythm. I managed 37 that at least kept us in the contest, with Craig Sands weighing in alongside for 24, but wickets fell around us and 153/8 was where we ran out of overs and ideas alike. There was, mind you, one moment worth savouring amid the gloom — bringing up 16,000 career runs for the club is not something that happens every weekend, and I'll take that consolation prize gladly.

So, beaten this time, and fairly so on the day's evidence. But the bowling had real teeth and the fight was there with the bat — we go again.

Sun 13 May 2018 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Offham CC · HomeformWWWLW

Beaten by rain? No — beaten fair and square, but not before a proper old-fashioned tussle out on a pleasant, overcast Sunday against the visitors from Offham. We batted first and, if I'm honest, 162/7 from our forty overs felt like a total built more on graft than glamour. Mark Christmas anchored things beautifully for an unbeaten 38, with James Piper's 32 and Luke Welsman's 26 giving the innings some much-needed backbone. Respectable, we thought. Defendable, we hoped.

Then Offham's Ben Regan decided he fancied a hundred, and duly helped himself to one — 107 not out of quite ruthless efficiency, ushered along by Ben Gittings' unbeaten 42. Between them they simply took the game away from us, racing to 166/1 in 36.2 overs while our attack huffed and puffed. Martin Harris was our pick of the bowlers with 1-32, chiselling out what breakthrough he could on an unforgiving day, and I did my bit with the ball for 22 in support.

There was a personal silver lining amid the gloom: my 22 nudged me past Paul Gibson and up to 5th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, which I shall enjoy for approximately as long as it takes someone to overtake me. Season-wise, Mark Christmas continues to lead our Sunday run charts with 46, and Martin Harris sits second in the wicket-takers with three.

Verdict: outplayed by a man in irresistible form, but not outfought. We dust ourselves down and go again.

Sun 13 May 2018 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LC Langton Green CC · AwayformWWLWL

I took the field at Langton Green CC last Sunday under grey skies that threatened much and delivered little, and duly won the toss to bowl first — a decision I stand by, even if the scorebook makes for grim reading. Martin Hartland helped himself to a magnificent century, ably supported by Ben Allatt's 68 and Haider Shah's 40, as their total climbed to a hefty 267/5 from 39 overs. Credit where it's due: Charles Curteis toiled hard for his 2-37, with Toby Allsworth and Archie Fairfax-Ross chipping in a wicket apiece, but the wider Langton Green blade was in no mood to be blunted.

Chasing 267 was always going to be a stiff examination, and so it proved, though not without pockets of resistance. Archie Fairfax-Ross top-scored with a well-made 36, with Darrell Houghton-Judge lending sturdy support on 35, while I contributed what I could with the bat along the way. Extras chipped in a handsome 42 — proof, if any were needed, that Langton Green's bowlers were as generous as their batsmen were ruthless. We closed on 166/8 from our 45, well short of the target but not without pride.

The day's real headline came with the ball down: David T Lowen brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth every bit of the applause it received, rain clouds and lost causes notwithstanding.

In the end, honours were shared — a draw when neither side could force the issue. On the balance of the afternoon's cricket, I'll happily take it.

Sat 12 May 2018 🧢 2nd XIv HC Hollingbourne CC · HomeformWLLLL

A cool, drizzly Saturday it may have been, but nothing dampens the spirits at Linton Park quite like watching Hollingbourne CC rack up 179/7 from their 25 overs while our attack toiled manfully in the murk. Dave Latter gave us a proper working-over with 82, and Richard Raye chipped in a stylish 53 to make sure the visitors' total had some real substance to it. Credit where it's due, though: Tim Thirkell was excellent with 2-24, Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped away for 2-42, and Stuart Campbell picked up 1-25 — and somewhere in there we did for Dan Pritchard for a golden duck, which was about the only thing that went entirely to plan all afternoon.

Chasing 180 was always going to want application, and what we got instead was 80/7 from our 25 overs — application in short supply, dismissals in generous ones. Stuart Campbell held the innings together as best anyone could with 27, but the Duck Club ledger swelled alarmingly, with Darrell Houghton-Judge and John Karassellos both walking back for nought. As for your captain, I can only report a golden blob of my own — the sort of innings that makes you very glad the scorebook doesn't include a column for dignity. I lead by example, they say; today's example was mercifully brief.

A defeat, then, and a chastening one — but Stuart Campbell's runs and Tim Thirkell's wickets keep our season charts ticking along nicely. We shall regroup, mutter about the conditions, and come again.

Mon 07 May 2018 🧢 1st XIv KC Kenley CC · HomeformWWLWL

Match won by 71 runs.

Captain's Log, Monday 7th May. Kenley CC visited us on a warm, bright afternoon — the sort of day that makes you glad you didn't take up bowls instead — and the coin did the decent thing and fell my way. Naturally I put us in, on the theory that runs on the board never hurt anyone.

And how the lads delivered. Luke Welsman batted with real authority for his unbeaten 68, finding an able partner in Jordan Austin, whose 51 not out was a thoroughly polished half-century, while Archie Fairfax-Ross chipped in a handsome 45 of his own. Extras got in on the act too, with 38 to their name — practically an all-rounder in its own right. Not everyone's name will be framed on the clubhouse wall this week, mind: Trevor Back and Harrison Fermor both took the walk of shame for ducks, and the Duck Club ledger grows ever fatter. All told, 268 for 7 from our forty overs was a total to be proud of.

Defending it, we asked plenty of Kenley, but Jack Dinning had other ideas, striking a magnificent unbeaten century, ably supported by David Shivmangal's own fifty. Tobey Castle was the pick of our attack with 1 for 12, tidy and miserly, with Mardey Castle also among the wickets. I contributed a modest 16 with the bat and rather less with the ball, but no matter — 197 for 2 wasn't enough, and we came home 71 runs to the good. A fine afternoon's work, and Welsman now sits proudly atop our season's run charts. Onwards.

Sun 06 May 2018 🧢 Sunday NVKCv High Halstow CC · HomeformLWWWL

Sunday 6th May, and High Halstow arrived to find us in generous mood, the sun out and the toss falling my way. I had no hesitation in batting — a decision that, with the benefit of hindsight and 30 extras on the board, may have flattered my judgement more than my captaincy deserved.

We were bowled out for 159 in 39.1 overs, a total that owed everything to Craig Sands, whose 42 was the innings' spine, with Ryan Boyns chipping in a tidy 20. Poor Luke Welsman will not want reminding of his duck, though he can console himself that the extras column outscored him by rather a distance.

With ball in hand we were a different proposition entirely. High Halstow were dismissed for 148 in 38.2 overs, Andrew Maurice (36) and Tyler Dockwray (34) threatening to bat us out of it alongside Oliver Wallace's 27, their sixth-wicket pair adding a stubborn 64. But we simply would not be shaken off — three ducks fell to us in short order as we tore through the middle order from 36-1 to 45-4. Joshua Knowler was magnificent with 4-28, Martin Harris (2-31) and Tobey Castle (1-11) offering fine support, while Richard Knowler bowled three miserly maidens and, in the process, one solitary wicket that quietly nudged him past Stuart Cheesman to 24th on the club's all-time list.

Eleven runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved both.

Sat 05 May 2018 🧢 2nd XIv BC Betsham CC · AwayformWWLLL

After a lovely sunny afternoon at Betsham, I have to admit the toss didn't do us any favours — they took one look at the sky and sent us in. What followed was, in the finest traditions of village cricket, a bit of a horror show: 38 all out in 26.5 overs, with Thomas Beeney and David T Lowen both taking that long, lonely walk back for ducks. Not our finest hour with the willow, and one suspects the tea urn was on before we'd even finished padding down.

Credit where it's due, though — the lads rallied splendidly with the ball. Ian Hollingworth was magnificent, snaring 1-2 off a spell that included three maidens, bowling with the kind of miserly discipline that makes batsmen question their life choices. Stuart Campbell chipped in nicely too with 1-5, and between them they dragged what should have been a canter into something resembling a contest, restricting Betsham to 39/2 from 19.4 overs.

Early season honours, for what they're worth, currently sit with the same pair — Campbell topping our 2nd XI run charts with 7, and Hollingworth leading the wickets with 1 — which tells you rather a lot about where we are in this campaign.

In the end we went down by 8 wickets, no great surprise given the total we set. Character-building stuff, and we'll take the bowling as a bright spot heading into next week.

Sat 05 May 2018 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWWWLW

I called correctly on a pleasant, sunny Saturday and, with sunshine on our backs, there was never much doubt I'd have a bat. What followed was a innings of two distinct halves — a nervy start saw us lose an early wicket with the board still reading nought, but we steadied through the middle order. I was fortunate enough to find some form myself, making 82 to lead from the front, and Stuart Cheesman chipped in nicely with 20; between us we built the innings' backbone, a 5th-wicket stand worth 84. Then, as is so often the way at Linton Park, the wheels came off spectacularly — from a respectable 132 for 7 we were bowled out for 137, with Craig Sands, Will Thew and Joshua Knowler all departing for ducks in the collapse. 35.3 overs of feast and famine.

In the field we asked questions without quite getting the answers, Kevin Smith's 68 proving the difference as Meopham eased to 138 for 5 from 38.4 overs. Joshua Knowler and Matthew Carter both took 2-21 apiece, with Stuart Cheesman weighing in at 1-24, but it wasn't quite enough to defend a modest total.

A word away from the scorecard: Will Thew brought up his 200th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that deserves rather more fanfare than a five-wicket defeat allows.

Beaten by 5 wickets, then — a day where individual efforts couldn't paper over the middle-order wobble. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 22 Apr 2018 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Cowdrey CC · HomeformWDWDD

From the captain's chair, and rarely has "warm and cloudy" done such a fine impression of "warm and merciless." Cowdrey CC arrived, batted first, and simply declined to get out — 218 all out from 39.2 overs is a proper afternoon's toil in the field, most of it courtesy of Ashley Borella, who cruised past his fifty to 62 while Jason Carver (39) and Robert Fenwick (30) kept the scoreboard humming along nicely beside him. There was at least one small mercy: Liam McGroarty departed for a golden duck, which is the sort of thing that keeps a captain sane on a long day. I'll allow myself one line of self-congratulation — 3-31 with the ball, well backed up by Luke Welsman's 2-41 and Martin Harris's 2-46, meant we at least dragged them out of the field eventually rather than letting them bat into next weekend.

Chasing 218 was always going to ask questions of us, and while Mark Christmas (46) and Tobey Castle (42) both played handsomely, with Welsman chipping in a second contribution of 25 with the bat, we could only muster 171/5 from our forty overs. Not for want of application — just a total that had already got away from us in the field.

So: a defeat, and an honest one. Christmas tops our run charts and I'm pleased to lead the wickets column, but neither will sweeten the drive home. A day to learn from, and we will.

Sat 21 Apr 2018 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformLWWWL

Saturday 21 April, and Headcorn were the visitors on a warm, overcast afternoon at Linton Park. Lost the toss, put in — never the news I want at the coin, but the lads shrugged it off and set about building something respectable. Luke Welsman played the innings of the day, unbeaten on 56, and found willing company from Stuart Cheesman with a tidy 33, while I chipped in with 32 of my own as part of a second-wicket stand worth 72 that gave the innings its spine. Not every soldier fell so gallantly, mind — Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan endured the long, lonely walk back for nought, the sort of dismissal that gets you a pint bought in sympathy and precisely zero in solidarity. All told, 198/6 from our 40 overs felt like a total with enough about it to trouble them.

And trouble them it did. Headcorn never quite recovered from losing their first wicket for just 7, and though James Barker fought hard for an unbeaten 55 with Andrew Fisher lending support with 40 in a fifth-wicket stand of 70, the required rate always felt a size too big for their boots. Kevin Richardson departed for a duck of his own — honours even on that front, at least — while Joshua Knowler was simply magnificent, tearing through with 5-19 including three miserly maidens, backed up nicely by Martin Harris and Abishek Pushpavinothan. Headcorn were held to 133/7.

Sixty-five runs the margin, two points banked, and a thoroughly deserved afternoon's work all round.