🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 22 Sep 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · AwayformLTLWL

I toed the line hoping for a decent tea and a livelier finish than we got, but Tenterden had other ideas — and to be fair, they earned the draw. Martin Duffield gave us a proper battering with a superb 102, and James Allen chipped in a classy 77 to push them on to 252/4 from their 47 overs. To our credit the attack never gave up the ghost: Luke Welsman led the way with 1-24, Anthony Karassellos bowled beautifully tight for 1-32 with two maidens to his name, and I managed to prise one out myself for 1-35. We did at least send Guy Day back without troubling the scorers, which was some consolation on an afternoon when the showers seemed determined to have their say.

Chasing 253 was always going to be a stretch, but Alex Keeler set about it in style with a fine 75, and I was pleased to contribute 53 of my own alongside him. Archie Fairfax-Ross weighed in with a useful 27, and the extras column did its bit too with 35 — not something to shout about from the pavilion steps, but I'll take the runs however they come. Mark Christmas will want to forget his duck in a hurry, poor lad.

In the end we closed on 250/8 from our 41, five short of the target with the light and the overs against us. Honours shared, then, and on reflection a fair result — two sides giving as good as they got, and nobody quite able to land the killer blow.

Sat 21 Sep 2019 🧢 1st XIv Linden Park CC · HomeformWLLLW

I set fair, warm weather this Saturday against Linden Park, and once again the cricketing gods gave with one hand and took with the other. Aaron Hughes was in imperious form, 94 the standout of our innings, and he can consider himself unlucky not to have gone three figures better; Richard Piper chipped in a tidy 28 and Jordan Austin 26 as we closed on a very respectable 212/5 from our 45.2 overs. Runs, as they say, in the bank — or so we thought.

Because Linden Park had other ideas. Almas Dalwatzai played a fine hand of 67, and Henry Roberts, unbeaten on 53, seemed entirely unwilling to give us a sniff, with Jayaprakash Seluthiyan's 31 filling out an innings that gradually eroded our confidence over by over. To our credit we did not simply stand and watch it happen — Darrell Houghton-Judge bowled beautifully for 3-51, I managed to squeeze out a wicket for 56 of my own among the runs going the other way, James West chipped in with one, and Mardey Castle sent down two maidens that at least slowed the tide, if not enough to turn it. Linden Park closed on 216/6 from 44.1 overs, and the four runs proved just beyond our reach.

A word too for Aaron, who now sits third in the club's 1st XI run charts this season with 382 — reward for a summer of proper application.

So: beaten, not disgraced, and with plenty to admire in defeat. We dust ourselves down and go again next week.

Wed 18 Sep 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformWWLWW

Wednesday 18th September, the sun out and Lord Cornwallis XI in town — I won the toss and had no hesitation putting us in first. Turned out to be the right call, and no false modesty there. Richard Piper played a glorious innings for 76, and Aaron Hughes matched him for elegance with an unbeaten 64, the pair of them stitching together a 117-run stand for the third wicket that took the game away from the visitors before it had properly begun. Archie Fairfax-Ross chipped in a brisk 36, the extras column threw in a generous 40 of its own, and we declared our efforts at a handsome 241/4 from our 35 overs.

Defending that kind of total ought to be the easy part, though cricket rarely obliges. Norwood-Hill and Cornwallis put on a watchful 108 for the first wicket and for a while I confess I was pacing the boundary rather more than sitting comfortably in my chair. But we kept plugging away — I picked up 2-23 myself, with Luke Welsman matching me on 2-24, while Archie was simply magnificent again, snaring 2 for the princely cost of 1 run. Sir John Dunnington-Jefferson and E Shires both departed without troubling the scorers, which always raises a cheer from the field. Benjamin Austin had a torrid time behind the stumps, 12 byes going begging, but no matter — they folded for 203, and we walked off 38 runs to the good.

A fine win, and a proper afternoon's cricket. Onwards.

Sun 15 Sep 2019 🧢 1st XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformWWLLL

Sunday the fifteenth of September found us at home under a sky that couldn't quite decide whether it fancied sunshine or sulking, and having called correctly at the toss for once in my captaincy career, I didn't hesitate for a second: we were batting.

It proved a wise call, if not entirely a serene one. Daniel Thirkell set about the bowling with real purpose for 43, and found good company in Mardey Castle, whose 22 kept the scoreboard ticking along nicely, while David T Lowen chipped in a tidy 21. I managed to contribute 21 of my own, more by application than artistry, before the innings rather ran out of steam and we were bowled out for 174 in 24.5 overs. Less happily, both John Karassellos and Ryan Silk departed for ducks, the kind of twin blob that has a captain suddenly finding great interest in his shoelaces.

Still, 174 was defendable, and defend it we did, seeing the afternoon home by eight runs and pocketing both points in the process. It rounds off a decent personal season too, as I find myself, somewhat improbably, sitting atop the 2019 first-team run charts with 454 to my name, though I'll happily trade the statistic for a few more overcast Sundays like this one.

A scratchy batting effort, an untidy middle order, and a win. In club cricket, I'll take that arrangement every single time.

Sat 14 Sep 2019 🧢 Friendly XIv Cudham Wyse CC · HomeformDWLW

Beaten by 30 runs at home to Cudham Wyse, this one - and I'll admit the toss set the tone before a ball was bowled. No luck at all there; they had first use of a warm, grey afternoon and made us pay, posting 183/8 from their 40 overs. Mansur Hafeez played the innings of the day with a well-made 74, and James Robins chipped in handsomely with 49 as the pair put on a crucial 129 for the fifth wicket. Credit to the lads for pulling things back, though - we ran through their middle order in a hurry, 17-1 to 29-4, with Dave Robins, Abdul Mohammad and Keith Stone all back in the shed without troubling the scorers. Henry Bourdillon led from the front with 2-22 and two tidy maidens, backed up nicely by Mardey Castle (2-31) and James Watkins (2-35).

With the bat, though, we made a rod for our own backs. Wickets went tumbling early - 10-1 to 15-4 in a blur - and Aaron Hughes, Archie Fairfax-Ross and Henry Bourdillon all fell without scoring. Thank heavens, then, for James Watkins, who carried the innings with a fine 60, and Anthony Karassellos, unbeaten on 25, the pair adding 83 for the eighth wicket to give the total some respectability. Even the extras chipped in 34, bless them. All out for 153 in 36.2 overs, we fell 30 runs short in the end.

A game of two contrasting middles, really - theirs held firm, ours didn't quite. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 11 Sep 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformWWWLW

Wednesday 11 September saw Penshurst Park CC roll up at Linton Park, and I won the toss and stuck them in — the right call, I still maintain, whatever anyone says after the fact.

The lads made early inroads and Penshurst were held to 120/7 from their 39.5 overs, Adam Snaith top-scoring with a watchful 46 and Keith Stone chipping in 29, the pair adding a stubborn 75 for the fourth wicket that threatened to get away from us. Credit where it's due: Archie Fairfax-Ross was magnificent, 3-9 off his allocation, while Tim Thirkell (1-9, three maidens, not a run given away lightly) and John Karassellos (1-14) squeezed the life out of the rest.

Chasing 121 should have been a formality. It was not. Thomas Beeney's 34 and Aaron Hughes's 21 kept us afloat as wickets tumbled around them, and we stumbled, staggered and finally crawled home 121/9 after 31.5 nerve-shredding overs. I contributed a duck to proceedings — the sort of innings best filed under "least said" — but happily nobody remembers the captain's failures on a winning day. Special mention to Benjamin Austin, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club along the way, a landmark worth toasting in the bar.

A win by one wicket, ugly as sin and all the sweeter for it. Onwards.

Sun 08 Sep 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · HomeformWLTLW

I hosted Leeds & Broomfield on a pleasant grey Sunday, lost the toss, and watched them settle in with the look of men who fancied batting all afternoon. To be fair, they very nearly did — Max Aitken compiled a classy 60, with Edward Scrivens chipping in 32, and the pair put on 81 for the fifth wicket that threatened to bat us out of it entirely. We hauled them back to 141 all out in 39.2 overs, with Martin Harris the pick of the attack (3-31), well backed by Archie Fairfax-Ross (2-10), Alex Keeler (2-29), and two tidy maidens from Joshua Knowler. Three ducks for their top order — Bone, McCague and Prime all walked back without troubling the scorers — kept us in the hunt.

Chasing 142, we made hard work of a total that was there for the taking. An early wicket at 1-1 set the tone, and what followed was the sort of collapse that makes you stare into your tea rather than the scorebook — 53-4 crumbling to 63-7 in a matter of overs, with Jordan Austin and Toby Hughes both bagging ducks of their own. I managed 32 at the top of the order, with Alex Keeler adding a battling 31, but it wasn't quite enough as we folded for 125 in 36.2 overs.

Beaten by 16 runs, then, and no arguing with the result — they held their nerve better than we held our wickets. Character-building stuff, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 07 Sep 2019 🧢 2nd XIv OC Outwood CC · HomeformLWLWW

Right then, let's put pen to paper.

It was Outwood CC at home on a pleasant, overcast Saturday afternoon, and having lost the toss I watched us consigned to bat first — never quite the plan, but there we are. We limped to 98 all out from 39.1 overs, a total that flattered to deceive even with Glen Rawson's watchful 36 and Trevor Back's useful 25 giving the innings some backbone. Elsewhere the card made for grim reading, with Henry Bourdillon, Darrell Houghton-Judge and John Karassellos all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — three ducks in one innings is the sort of thing that has you double-checking the fixture list for a hidden joke.

With the ball we at least made a fist of it early on, Henry Bourdillon bowling two miserly maidens and Darrell Houghton-Judge picking up 1-15 to keep the shine on. But 98 was never going to be enough against opposition with any application, and so it proved: Paul Howard compiled an unbeaten, well-organised 51, ably supported by James Malley's 23 and Michael Cleaver's unbeaten 22, and Outwood cantered home at 102/1 in just 23.1 overs. Nine wickets the margin, and frankly it felt like more.

Small mercies amid the wreckage — I'm still leading the 2nd XI run charts for the season with 396, and Darrell sits a creditable fifth in the wickets column with eight. But mercies is all they were. We were second best in every department this week, and the only honest verdict is that we'll need rather more resolve with the bat if next Saturday isn't to read the same way.

Sat 07 Sep 2019 🧢 1st XIv OC Outwood CC · AwayformWWWLL

Right, gaffe first — coin toss, then the innings. Here's the report.

We lost the toss at Outwood on a pleasant, grey Saturday, and they wasted no time putting us in the field. It didn't go brilliantly. Their openers strolled to 74 before we so much as troubled them, and from there the innings just kept growing — a booming 88-run third-wicket stand doing most of the damage. Mark Lane's 87 was the standout, with Will Blease (64 not out) and Henry van der Walt (54) both bringing up tidy fifties of their own. We did at least have our moments: Louis Russell-Watts and Harry Mawer both fell for ducks at our hands, small mercies in a total of 259/5. Alex Keeler led the attack with 2-60, Richard Knowler and Abishek Pushpavinothan chipped in either side, and Martin Harris bowled two miserly maidens amid the carnage.

Chasing 260, we made a fair fist of it without ever threatening the target. James Piper's 32 was the innings' backbone, well supported by Archie Fairfax-Ross (27) and Aaron Hughes (25), with a battling 68-run fifth-wicket stand the highlight. I contributed a workmanlike 24, as did young Daniel Thirkell, whose runs nudged him past John Thirkell into 4th on the club's all-time run charts — a nice bit of history amid the gloom. Poor Craig Sands had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, nine byes going begging, and we finished on 162/7.

Beaten by 97 in the end, no arguing with that scoreline. But with Piper still topping the season's run charts and Keeler among the wickets, there's plenty to build on — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 01 Sep 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Holborough Anchorians CC · AwayformDWWWD

Sunday last took us to Holborough Anchorians CC on a pleasantly overcast afternoon, the kind that promises drama without inflicting sunburn. The toss went against us and we were sent into the field, where we watched the Anchorians settle in and help themselves to 322 for 8 from their forty overs. Dave Tucker made a commanding 96, well supported by Sayad Jabarkhall's fifty of 77 and Bilal Maroof's 41, while Saif Mukhtar and Zabi Armani departed without troubling the scorers. John Karassellos worked hardest for us with 2-63, Charles Curteis and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipping in a wicket apiece.

Chasing 323 was always going to ask searching questions of the lads, and though we never quite found the answers, there was plenty to admire. Thomas Roxburgh's well-made 60 anchored the innings, Mark Christmas cruised past his own fifty, and Richard Piper weighed in with 48 — after an early wobble at just 3 for 1, the third-wicket pair steadied the ship with a crucial stand of 84. William Roxburgh and John Karassellos both went for ducks, extras chipped in a generous 28, and I, for the record, contributed precisely nothing with the bat — the least said about that the better.

There was proper cause for celebration amid the defeat: Richard Piper brought up 16,000 career runs for the club, and his 48 nudged him past Paul Gibson into 6th on our all-time run-scorers list. He now leads our 2019 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 334, while I find myself, somewhat improbably, topping the wicket charts with 12. Beaten by 92 runs in the end — chastening stuff, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 31 Aug 2019 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLWWWL

Not our day, but plenty to be proud of before the wickets fell.

We were away at Meopham on a warm, drizzly Saturday, and losing the toss to a side who fancied a bowl first should perhaps have told us something. Batting first on a sticky afternoon is never straightforward, and so it proved: we were bowled out for 93 in 35.4 overs, a card rather too generously decorated with ducks — myself, Craig Sands and Martin Harris all departed without troubling the scorers. Only Alex Keeler showed the application the conditions demanded, ending unbeaten on 31 and doing his level best to drag us to something respectable.

Defending 93 was always going to be a big ask, and so we discovered. Meopham eased to 96 for 5 in 28.2 overs, Miles Tucker unbeaten on 33 and Alex Bryant's 26 doing the bulk of the damage. Credit where it's due, though: Martin Harris bowled beautifully for 2-16, well backed by Tobey Castle and Joshua Knowler with a wicket apiece, while Richard Knowler kept things admirably tight with two maidens. I contributed a duck of my own to the batting effort — the less said about that, the better.

Amid the gloom, two proper club moments: James Piper reached 12,000 career runs, and Luke Welsman turned out for his 200th time in Linton colours. Both thoroughly deserve their place on the mantelpiece.

Verdict: beaten by five wickets, and no arguing with it — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 25 Aug 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Egerton CC, Kent · AwayformLWLTL

Sunday last saw us make the trip down to Egerton, and won the toss and, with a pitch that looked fit for runs, I had no hesitation at all in sticking us in first. Shehryar Gul set about proving me right with a fine 79, and once Thomas Roxburgh had found his own fifty alongside him — the pair putting on a crucial 75 for the second wicket — the platform was very much laid. William Roxburgh chipped in a tidy 35, I managed 20 of my own down the order, and even our extras column got in on the act with a generous 48 to help us close on a formidable 302/9 from our forty overs. A total, I confess, that had me rather looking forward to tea.

With that many runs in the bank, the afternoon in the field had a pleasingly relaxed air about it. Gabriel Gad played a lovely, defiant half-century of 63 for the home side, but he was fighting a losing battle against Martin Harris, who bowled beautifully for 4-32 and, rather wonderfully, brought up his 500th career wicket along the way — a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded by all. Will Thew (2-17) and Alastair Allsworth (1-9) mopped up efficiently either end, and Egerton were all out for 174 in the 40th over. Poor Aaron Hughes had a torrid time of it behind the stumps, 16 byes going begging, but he'll take the two points over the tidy figures any day.

A 128-run victory, then, and thoroughly earned — the sort of afternoon that makes the drive to Kent, and indeed the whole season, entirely worthwhile.

Sun 25 Aug 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Battle CC · HomeformLDWWW

What a way to spend a Sunday off — Battle CC came calling on the finest, sun-baked afternoon of the summer, and honours ended shared after both sides gave as good as they got.

Winning the toss and batting looked a good idea by lunchtime and a great one by the time Glen Rawson had cracked on past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 78 — a proper captain's innings, if I'm allowed to say so about someone else's knock. Luke Welsman chipped in a tidy 39, Tobey Castle stayed unbeaten on 30, and the extras column had a fine match too, weighing in with 29. Not everyone enjoyed the sunshine quite so much — Darrell Houghton-Judge's golden duck being the exception that proves the rule — but 180/3 from our 35 overs was a total to bowl at, and bowl at it we did.

Battle set off in pursuit with intent, Colin Gorridge striking a genuinely classy half-century and finding good company in Stuart Reeves (24) and Ben Newman (23). But Mark Christmas had other ideas, snaring 3-12 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, and found willing support from Tobey Castle (2-8) and Henry Bourdillon (2-21) — with Harvey Faulkner sent back for nought along the way. I managed to get among the runs myself too, which I shan't dwell on further. Battle subsided to 143/9 from their 34, and there the game stayed, honours even.

A draw, then — but an honest one, earned in the sunshine by both sides, and no bad way to spend an August afternoon.

Sat 24 Aug 2019 🧢 2nd XIv SC St Lawrence CC · AwayformLLWLW

Captain's Log — Saturday 24 August 2019, away at St Lawrence CC

Winning the toss on a scorching, cloudy afternoon at St Lawrence is the sort of gift a captain doesn't get twice in a season, and I wasn't about to look it in the mouth — straight into the field we went. Toby Allsworth made the decision look like genius, tearing through their order with 4-5 to leave St Lawrence in all sorts of bother, ably supported by Tim Thirkell (2-16) and Henry Bourdillon (2-24), while Mardey Castle strangled the life out of the middle overs with four maidens. Only Paul Martin, with a battling 41, offered any real resistance, and when Ian Enslin and Allan Churchman both departed for ducks, the Duck Club ledger was already looking lively before we'd even picked up a bat. All out for 70 in 28.4 overs — a score that flattered them, frankly.

Chasing such a modest total should have been a formality, and in the end it was, though we insisted on making a meal of it, stumbling to 74/5 in 20.2 overs with Alastair Allsworth adding his name to the duck roll of shame and a generous 28 extras doing more for the cause than several of us managed with the bat. I contributed my own small piece to the run chase, and with 391 runs to my name this season I'm not complaining, while Thirkell's 19 wickets continue to make the rest of the attack look faintly decorative.

Five wickets and a chuntering sort of victory — untidy, occasionally comic, but a win is a win, and we'll take it gladly.

Sat 24 Aug 2019 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWLWWW

Here's the match report:

Skipper's log, then, for our home fixture against Bidborough. I called it right at the toss on a scorching, overcast sort of afternoon — the kind that can't decide what it's doing, rather like our top order — and had no hesitation whatsoever in choosing to bat.

It didn't start well. We were 2-1 before some of the lads had finished their tea, and poor Craig Sands departed for a duck to compound the early jitters. But the middle order steadied the ship, and I was fortunate enough to find some form, top-scoring with 62 as we ground our way to 137/8 from our 40 overs. A satisfying personal contribution, if I say so myself, though the total always felt a touch light on that morning's node.

So it proved. Bidborough replied and, despite losing their own opener cheaply at 4-1 and seeing Charlie Harding walk back for a duck, James Baldock's 32 anchored things nicely, with Rob Ackermann unbeaten on 26 and Peter Davis chipping in 20. Martin Harris bowled beautifully for 3-19, well backed by Joshua Knowler's 2-33 and Alex Keeler's 2-36 — the latter tight enough to squeeze out two maidens. But their last pair, showing the sort of defiance that makes club cricket both maddening and marvellous, added an unwanted 37 to see them home by two wickets.

Not our day, then. Heads up, and back to the nets — there's a half-century's worth of consolation in the runs column, but precious little in the result.

Wed 21 Aug 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformLWWWL

Not out for 83, Aaron Hughes played the sort of innings that makes captaincy look easy — and on Wednesday 21 August, against Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC, it very nearly was. Winning the toss on a warm, overcast afternoon, I had no hesitation in batting first, and it paid off handsomely: 222/4 from our 35 overs, built on Hughes's fine 83, ably backed up by Tobey Castle's 75 and a brisk unbeaten 29 from Luke Welsman. Only poor Benjamin Austin had a day to forget with the bat, back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

With the ball, the lads were relentless. Tunbridge Wells were bowled out for a paltry 71 in 41 overs, undone by Mardey Castle's superb 4-15 and further squeezed by Luke Welsman's 3-12 and Tim Thirkell's 1-4, the latter sending down six miserly maidens that must have felt like a war of attrition for anyone watching. J. Knott and Iain Barker both departed for ducks at our hands, though I'll confess Austin's afternoon behind the stumps was rather less tidy than his bowlers deserved, with nine byes leaking through.

Two lovely footnotes to the day: Tobey Castle brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and I was quietly pleased to nudge past Allan Cooper into 15th on the all-time wicket-takers list with my solitary scalp. A 151-run win, then — comfortable doesn't quite cover it. A very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 18 Aug 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Stowting CC · AwayformWLWLT

James Piper, our skipper, on Sunday's trip to Stowting.

There's a particular flavour of English optimism that leads a captain to look at a grey, drizzly sky and think "yes, that'll do for bowling first" — and so it proved, or so I told myself, when I won the toss and stuck them in. Stowting made hay while we made do, Matt Jay compiling a classy 54 with handy support from Stuart Graham (26) and Mike James (25), their second-wicket pair putting on a stand of 67 that did the real damage. Credit where it's due, though — Joshua Knowler bowled beautifully for 3-20, backed up nicely by Martin Harris (2-25) and Alex Keeler (2-40), and we did at least send both Josh Ward and Henry Bridges back for ducks. Stowting closed on 159/9 from their forty overs, which felt about twenty too many.

Chasing it, we never quite got going. I managed 26 and Aaron Hughes chipped in with 24, and for a while 84-4 looked almost respectable — until it very much wasn't, collapsing to 90-7 with the sort of speed that makes a captain suddenly find the outfield fascinating. Poor Tobey Castle's golden duck rather summed up the afternoon. All out for 116 in 35.1 overs, beaten by 43 runs.

Not our day, then, and no use pretending otherwise. Heads up, chins up, back to the nets — Stowting bowled and batted the better side, and we'll have to be sharper next time out.

Sun 18 Aug 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Boughton-under-Blean CC · HomeformWLDWW

Under overcast skies with the odd shower threatening to interrupt proceedings, Boughton-under-Blean CC rolled up to Linton Park with the coin gods firmly on their side — I lost the toss, they chose to bat, and there was nothing for it but to trudge into the field and get on with it. Andrew Clayson (46 not out) and Frederick Entwistle (44) set about accumulating in that infuriatingly unhurried way visiting batsmen do, with David Shelley's unbeaten 36 adding further insult, and 183 for 5 off their forty overs felt like a total that would keep us honest. I did what I could with the ball, taking 1 for 20, while Thomas Roxburgh and James Watkins chipped in with a wicket apiece to at least keep the scoreboard from running away completely.

Chasing 184, we could hardly have asked for a better platform: Will Thew and Mark Christmas put on 83 for the first wicket before a ball seemed to trouble either of them, and from there the innings simply purred along. Thew's 52 was the innings' backbone, Christmas finished unbeaten on 42, and — with a generous 30 extras thrown in for good measure, presumably Boughton's way of saying thank you for our hospitality — we cantered home to 185 for 5 with more than an over and a half to spare.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, five wickets in hand and the showers kind enough to hold off until we were safely in the clubhouse. Onwards indeed.

Sat 17 Aug 2019 🧢 2nd XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformLLLWL

It was a warm, if faintly drizzly, afternoon at Linton Park when I lost the toss and duly discovered we'd be spending the first half of the day in the field — Penshurst Park's captain grinning the particular grin of a man who thinks he's stolen a march. As it turned out, batting second suited us rather better than it suited him.

Glen Rawson set about proving as much with a fine 66, and I was delighted to chip in with 54 of my own, the pair of us putting bat to ball while drizzle threatened without ever quite committing. Paul Bourdillon's brisk 38 rounded things off nicely, and 188 for 3 from our forty overs felt like a total with a bit of steel in it.

Steel it proved to be. Penshurst replied with 183 for 9, Muhammed Farooqui's 44 the backbone of the chase, well supported by Jake Cheesman and Simon Leegood with 31 apiece, and a second-wicket stand of 68 that had us checking our watches nervously. But cricket has a way of rewarding patience, and their innings subsided from 122 for 3 to 129 for 6 as the pressure told — Jules Bass Gualbert and Trev Bayley both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Mardey Castle was magnificent, 4 for 39 with two tidy maidens, ably backed by Henry Bourdillon's 3 for 49 and Tim Thirkell's solitary but crucial wicket.

We were, admittedly, generous hosts — 22 wides and 5 no-balls is not a disciplinary record to frame — but we held our nerve to win by 5 runs. A proper club cricket thriller, and onwards we go.

Sat 17 Aug 2019 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · AwayformWWLWW

Fielding first on a warm, sticky afternoon at Shipbourne, I fancied there'd be something in it for the bowlers - and, for once, my hunch didn't make me look a fool at the toss. Shipbourne ground their way to 130/8 off their forty, Angus Willis top-scoring with a stubborn 44 and Sam Spink chipping in 20, the pair putting on 51 for the fourth wicket that threatened to become a proper headache before we found our rhythm. Alex Keeler was the pick of the attack, tidy and miserly with 2-18 and a couple of maidens for good measure, backed up nicely by Joshua Knowler's 2-40 and Martin Harris's 1-16. We tightened the screws superbly at the death, turning 120-5 into 130-8 in the blink of an eye, and poor Tom Pounds departed for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers - these things happen to the best of us, and no doubt he'll dine out on the story more than the analysts will.

With 131 to chase, James Piper played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 49 that made the target look rather smaller than it was, and I was delighted to get among the runs myself with 47 not out, seeing us home in some style alongside a brisk 20 from Craig Sands. We knocked it off in 29.1 overs for the loss of a single wicket - and I'll confess a quiet private pleasure in nudging past John Thirkell into 4th on the club's all-time run list, though I shan't let it go to my head for long.

A thumping nine-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round. Onwards we go.

Fri 16 Aug 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformWLWWW

Friday the 16th brought Dragons CC to Linton Park under one of those pleasant, drizzly skies that only English cricket manages to make charming rather than miserable. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains as reliable as the forecast — and we were put into the field.

The Dragons made themselves at home for 181/8 off their thirty, though we did strike early with just a single run on the board. Josh Mihill top-scored with a polished 58, James Churchman wasn't far behind on 53, and Aaron Burrage chipped in 28, the pair at three putting on a stand of 97 that did the real damage. Credit where due: Sam Boyns bowled beautifully for 2-17 with two maidens, John Karassellos backed him up with 2-40, and Jordan Austin took 1-25. Ross Davies and Tim Mihill both fell without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 182, we made a fair fist of it — 161/9 from our thirty. Alex Keeler led the way with 38, Aaron Hughes added 24, and I contributed 20 of my own down the order. Ninety-four for three looked promising until it became ninety-six for six in the blink of an eye, cricket's cruellest trick, and Jordan Austin's golden duck rather summed up our luck with the bat.

Beaten by 20 runs in the end — honest defeat, no complaints. Aaron Hughes continues to lead our run charts this season, and I'm rather pleased to still top the wickets column. We'll regroup and come back stronger next week.

Thu 15 Aug 2019 🧢 Under 17v Linton Park CC · Homeform—

A warm, damp Thursday it was, the fifteenth of August, and we welcomed Linton Park CC to our ground with the covers only recently rolled away. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in electing to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scoreboard eventually had to say about it.

We posted 132 for 6 from our twenty overs, a total built on some pleasing application from the top order. Tobey Castle led the way with a composed 27 not out, well supported by Toby Hughes with 25, and I was glad to chip in with 22 not out myself, nudging things along in the closing overs. It wasn't all sunshine, mind — Saranyan, John Karassellos and Will Hughes each contributed what the scorebook cruelly records as a golden duck, the sort of collective misfortune that only club cricket seems capable of arranging on a single afternoon.

Elsewhere in the season's ledger, young Tobey Castle now sits proudly atop the 2019 Colts run charts with those same 27 runs, while Paul Bourdillon continues to head the Under 17 standings on 22 — some consolation amid the numbers.

In the end, 132 wasn't quite enough, and we came up short by 14 runs. Not our day, by any means, but heads up and straight back to the nets — there are worse ways to spend a damp August evening than in good company, chasing a total just out of reach.

Sun 11 Aug 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Borstal CC · HomeformWWLWL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 11 August 2019

Borstal CC arrived on a pleasant, grey afternoon, and having won the toss I put us into the field first — never a decision one regrets when the ball's swinging under cloud cover, or so I keep telling myself. They batted solidly through their forty overs to close on 171/5, David Round the chief architect of that total with a fine 61, well supported by James Whitnell's 46 and an unbeaten 29 from Mark Stevens. Thomas Beeney was the pick of our attack, prising out three for 38, with James Watkins chipping in for one and Martin Harris bowling with real discipline, three maidens to his name. Andy Routledge, for what it's worth, will not want reminding of his contribution — back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 172 to win, we made a proper fist of it without ever quite getting there, closing on 171/9 — one solitary run the difference between glory and mere honour. Jordan Austin was magnificent, cantering past his fifty to finish on 60, and I was pleased enough to get among the runs myself, though the real story was how close the whole match hung together to the very last ball.

A word on the milestones: Beeney's three wickets carried him past Daniel Thirkell into 18th on the club's all-time list, while Tobey Castle still leads our Sunday run charts and Beeney the wickets.

A tie, then — dead level after a full day's honest cricket. You cannot manufacture drama like that; it simply arrives.

Sun 11 Aug 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Hythe CC · AwayformWWLDW

As I remember it, the coin fell kindly for once and I had few qualms about batting first on a damp Hythe afternoon. What followed was the sort of innings you dream about over your winter nets: Mark Christmas simply took the game away from Hythe with a magnificent unbeaten century, while Darrell Houghton-Judge and Trevor Back played the perfect supporting cast, both finishing not out as we racked up 229 for 3 from our forty overs. I'd have taken half that at the toss.

Defending a total like that ought to be the easy part, and for once it very nearly was straightforward. Timothy Pichowski gave Hythe hope with a fine 85, well supported by Roger Mapstone's 44, the pair adding 84 for the second wicket in what was, in truth, the only period of the afternoon when we looked remotely troubled. George Foord and Steven Bean, mercifully, never got that far — back in the pavilion without so much as troubling the scorers. I managed to find some rhythm with the ball myself, picking up three wickets to lead the attack, with Darrell chipping in again (2-21) and Anthony Karassellos taking one. Hythe were bowled out for 168.

A 61-run win, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one at that. Richard Piper continues to top our run charts this season, and I'll happily own up to leading the wicket-takers — though on this form, Mark Christmas may soon be leading everything else. Onwards indeed.

Sat 10 Aug 2019 🧢 2nd XIv LC Locksbottom CC · AwayformWLLLW

Saturday 10 August took us to Locksbottom CC, a pleasant enough setting ruined only by a stiff, blustery wind and the sort of damp that gets into your bones and your grip. I lost the toss - a coin that hasn't loved me all season - and we were asked to field first, which in hindsight was probably the least painful part of our day.

Batting proved a trial. We limped to 102 for 9 off our forty overs, rescued from utter embarrassment by Darrell Houghton-Judge's gutsy 20, top score and no mean feat in those conditions. Less gutsy were the three ducks that littered our card - Glen Rawson, Fred Taylor, and yours truly all trooping back for nought, a hat-trick of golden eggs that did nothing for club morale, though I like to think mine was the most elegantly constructed.

Defending such a modest total was always going to ask a lot, and though we nabbed an early wicket - Locksbottom slipping to 2 for 1 - and later accounted for Keith Sawyer without troubling the scorers, Chris Trevatt had other ideas, compiling a classy unbeaten 51 with Barry Kirkwood's 25 alongside him in a stand worth 68. Anthony Karassellos toiled admirably for 2 for 23, two maidens included, with Tim Thirkell chipping in at 1 for 23, but 103 for 3 arrived in just 24.1 overs and the game was up.

Beaten by seven wickets, then - no disgrace given the tools we gave ourselves to work with. Houghton-Judge continues his fine season, second in the 2nd XI run charts with 206, while Thirkell leads the wicket-takers with 16. We'll regroup, rediscover our bats, and go again next week.

Sat 10 Aug 2019 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLWWLW

As I stood at the toss on a blustery Saturday afternoon at Linton Park, with Bearsted CC in for a visit, I had no hesitation in choosing to field first — the showery, gusty conditions looked made for it.

The lads made me look rather clever early on, reducing the visitors to 2-1 before Bearsted steadied through Abhishek Poddar (28) and Noel Johnston (25), who added a crucial second-wicket stand of 52. Toby Hughes was the pick of the attack with 2-16, Mark Christmas chipped in with 2-18, and Richard Knowler took 1-14, while Alex Keeler bowled tight enough to send down three maidens. Miles Henslow and Lewis Bedwell both departed for ducks at our hands, and Bearsted were held to 150/9 from their forty overs — a total that felt eminently gettable on a good day, and rather less so on a blustery one.

Chasing 151, Aaron Hughes led from the front with a fine 40, and I was glad to lend a hand with 27 of my own, with Mark Christmas adding a further 21 to keep things ticking. It was never entirely comfortable — few run chases at Linton Park ever are — but we got over the line at 153/7 with just over three overs to spare, for a fine win by 3 wickets.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, then: disciplined in the field, resilient with the bat, and a result to be proud of. Onwards to the next one.

Fri 09 Aug 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv KC Kenley CC · HomeformWWLWW

I lost the toss again — some captains have a knack for calling it right; I apparently do not — and Kenley elected to bat first on a Friday evening that promised more than it delivered for the visitors. They ground their way to 154 all out from 46 overs, built on a watchful opening stand worth fifty, with David Shivmangal (31), Harry Shivmangal (28) and Chris Churchley (27) doing the heavy lifting. I can't say I minded too much, as I found some rhythm with the ball and finished with 4-25, while John Karassellos (2-9) and the impressively parsimonious Anthony Karassellos (1-8, two maidens) squeezed the middle order dry.

Chasing 155, we lost Edward Shivmangel and Mitch Kanhai without either troubling the scorers — the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the biscuit tin — but Luke Welsman steadied the ship magnificently with a fine 53, well supported by Aaron Hughes (38) and Jordan Austin (21). Between them they saw us home to 158/6 in 33.1 overs, four wickets in hand and rather more comfort than that early wobble suggested.

Aaron continues to lead our Midweek XI run charts this season with 181, and I'm rather chuffed to say the wickets column now reads 11 in my favour. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a victory built on both ends of the game — bowled well, wobbled briefly, batted better. I'll take that every Friday going.

Tue 06 Aug 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv BC Bexley CC · HomeformWWWLW

I'll get straight into character.

There's a particular pleasure in a home game that goes exactly to plan, and Tuesday's visit from Bexley CC was one of those rare, well-behaved afternoons where the script was followed almost to the letter. Warm, cloudy, and perfect for cricket — we won the toss, or lost it, or possibly just fancied a bowl, and stuck Bexley in. They ground their way to 197/8 from 40.4 overs, with Michael Ladbrook's 46 the backbone of the innings and Alexander Hill (30 not out) and James Burford (26 not out) polishing things off at the end. Our attack did its job all the same: Harrison Fermor was the pick, 3-36 with a couple of tidy maidens thrown in, and I chipped in with 2-25 — happily taking my tally for the season to seven wickets in the Midweek XI charts — while Abishek Pushpavinothan picked up one for good measure.

Chasing 198 is never a formality, and true to club tradition we made sure of that, stumbling to 198/9 in 44.5 overs with hearts in mouths rather more than the scoreline might suggest. Aaron Hughes was magnificent, 67 to lead all comers and stretch his own season's run tally to 143, well supported by Abishek Pushpavinothan (30) and Mardey Castle (24). Poor Jordan Austin will want this one struck from the record — a golden duck to add to the club ledger — though thirty-four extras suggests Bexley's bowlers were doing some of our work for us.

A nervy finish, but a win to savour, and I'll take that every week of the season.

Sun 04 Aug 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Harbledown CC · AwayformWWWLW

Off it went to Harbledown on a warm, cloudy Sunday afternoon, and I must confess I lost the toss and duly volunteered us into the field — not that anyone consulted me on the "volunteering" part. What followed was a fairly chastening lesson in the art of the century, courtesy of Greg Shields, who ground out a magnificent 127 not out and simply refused to be parted from the crease. He had willing company too, with Jago Pearson chipping in a handsome 74 and Jake Guinan an unbeaten 51, and by the time their innings closed at 271/2 from the full forty overs, the lads were rather glad of the tea interval. Credit where it's due — Joshua Knowler bowled beautifully for his 1-39, three maidens included, and Tobey Castle chipped away for 1-48, but 271 was always going to take some chasing.

And chase we did, gamely if not quite gloriously. Mark Christmas set about it with a fine half-century, 64 well-crafted runs, and Tobey Castle continued his splendid season with 54 not out — enough to keep our hopes flickering, if never quite roaring. We closed on 192/7 from our forty, twenty-nine runs light of anything resembling a contest, and 79 runs shy of the win. Castle's knock does at least keep him top of our 2019 Sunday run charts with 212 for the summer, which is some consolation on the drive home.

Not our day, then — beaten fair and square by a side, and a batsman, in irresistible form. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 04 Aug 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Borstal CC · HomeformLWWLD

Tim Thirkell's Captain's Log — Sunday 4 August 2019, Borstal CC at home

Warm and grey overhead, the kind of afternoon that promises rain and then thinks better of it, and I called correctly at the toss for once — a rare enough event to note in itself. No hesitation in choosing to bat, and the lads repaid the faith handsomely. The openers gave us the platform we wanted, 74 for the first wicket, before Thomas Roxburgh went past his fifty with a fine 53, well supported by Will Thew's 41 and William Roxburgh's 26. A stand of 75 for the fifth wicket kept the innings honest, and we closed on a healthy 212 for 7 from our forty overs. Poor Fred Taylor will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but a report without a little gallows humour isn't worth the ink.

With the ball, Borstal made us work for it. Mark Stevens (57) and Adam Mahomed (47) threatened to bat us out of it after that early setback at 7 for 1, but the bowling held its nerve. I was pleased enough with my own contribution — 2 for 12 with four maidens thrown in — though it was Mardey Castle who took the eye with a superb 4 for 36, backed up nicely by Darrell Houghton-Judge's 2 for 39. Eight byes did rather give poor George Taylor a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, but Borstal were all out for 193.

Nineteen runs the right side of the ledger, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 03 Aug 2019 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horsmonden CC · HomeformLWLLL

Saturday the 3rd of August found us hosting Horsmonden CC under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain or simply sulk — warm enough for shirtsleeves, drizzly enough for mutterings about the covers. I won the toss and elected to bat, a decision I'm rather pleased to say vindicated itself before the tea urn had even boiled.

We lost George Taylor for a duck at 1-1, which set the lads' nerves jangling early — poor George trudging back to a chorus of quacks he won't forget in a hurry. But we steadied, and I was fortunate enough to find some form, going on to make a hundred, well supported by a stand of 98 for the third wicket alongside Trevor Back (36) and later Max Butler (29). Forty overs later we'd posted 235 for 7, helped along by a generous 41 extras from our visitors.

Defending that total, Horsmonden gave it a proper go, Henry Martin's 38 anchoring a brisk opening stand of 52, with James Golding (31) and James Morgan (27) chipping in. But Darrell Houghton-Judge was outstanding with 3-25, backed up nicely by Max Butler (2-19) and the ever-frugal Tim Thirkell (1-23, two maidens), and they closed on 193 for 7.

A 42-run win, then, and a landmark day personally — that century nudged me past Craig Sands into 7th on the club's all-time run charts. A thoroughly good day for Linton Park.

Sat 03 Aug 2019 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLLWWL

Saturday 03 August 2019 saw us head to Sissinghurst for what turned out to be a proper old-fashioned grind of a match. Grey skies, warm air, and a toss I was rather pleased to win — no dithering from me, we batted. Runs came steadily rather than spectacularly, and I was glad to chip in with 40 to help us to a defendable-looking 157/9 from our forty overs.

Defendable, as it happens, is exactly the word for it. Sissinghurst set about the chase with Brough Cooper looking ominously fluent for his 51, well supported by Greg Bird's 32, and for a good while it felt like we were watching our afternoon slip gently away. But this is where the lads earned their tea. Mark Christmas was magnificent, tearing through the middle and lower order for 4-29, while Martin Harris (2-21) and Joshua Knowler (1-20) kept the pressure on at the other end so nobody could settle. Somehow, against the run of chat at least, we squeezed them out for 150/9 — seven runs short.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved, even if my nerves would attest it didn't feel that way in overs thirty-five to forty. James Piper continues to purr along at the top of our run charts this season with 341, and Martin Harris now has 17 wickets to his name and shows no sign of slowing. A tight, tense, proper win — the sort that makes the drive home taste considerably better than the drive there.

Sun 28 Jul 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Chelsfield Park CC · HomeformLLWWL

Skipper's log, Sunday 28th July. Chelsfield Park CC visited on a warm, drizzly sort of afternoon — the kind where you can't quite decide whether to bowl in a jumper or bat in shorts. I won the toss and didn't dither for a moment: with the outfield quick and the sky uncertain, batting first was the only sensible call.

And how the lads repaid that confidence. Richard Piper and Alex Keeler put on 187 for the first wicket, Piper compiling a lovely 92 and Keeler right alongside him with 87, the pair simply refusing to give Chelsfield a sniff. By the time the opening stand finally broke, the platform was set, and we closed on a formidable 198/3 from our 37 overs.

Defending that kind of total should have been a formality, and in truth we strangled the life out of the reply. Darrell Houghton-Judge was magnificent with the ball, 2-9 including three maidens that told its own story, well supported by Luke Welsman (1-5) and Harrison Fermor (1-6). Chelsfield never found the freedom to chase, limping to 101/7 from their 40, Arnab Sen's unbeaten 43 the lone note of resistance. Down the order, Nick French and Lenin both departed without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us, and I speak with some feeling, currently leading our Sunday 2nd XI wicket charts with five for the summer.

With Chelsfield well short but overs run out, honours were shared. A draw, then — but one that felt, in truth, very much like ours.

Sun 21 Jul 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Sheldwich CC · HomeformLWWWL

A warm, drizzly Sunday, a lost toss, and the not-entirely-unwelcome news that we'd be bowling first against Sheldwich — there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than putting your feet up in the field while somebody else does the sweating. Sheldwich set about building a total, Matt Hammond top-scoring with a fluent 49, James Creed chipping in with 34 and Josh Gallagher unbeaten on 21, and for a good while 187 looked like a par-plus score on a sluggish outfield. But Thomas Beeney had other ideas, tearing through the middle and lower order for a magnificent 5-39 — the sort of spell that has the rest of us quietly reassessing our own bowling averages — with Toby Allsworth and Martin Harris chipping in a wicket apiece, and Alex Keeler proving positively miserly with two maidens. 187/8 from 40 overs felt, by the time we came off, like a target rather than a mountain.

And so it proved. Chasing 188 is never entirely straightforward, but our openers set about it with real purpose, putting on 116 for the first wicket before either was parted from the crease. I was fortunate enough to find some form and made 70, with Shehryar Gul unbeaten on 49 and Aaron Hughes contributing a brisk 39 to see us home in 37.1 overs. Aaron's innings nudges him to fourth in this season's Sunday run charts, while Toby continues to lead the wicket-takers — the engine room of the side is clearly in good order.

Eight wickets to the good, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Sat 20 Jul 2019 🧢 2nd XIv FC Four Elms CC · HomeformWLWLL

I ran into a stroke of good fortune before the toss even happened – rain held off, sun came out, and Four Elms CC turned up ready to bat. Put in first, we chipped away nicely, and no one chipped harder than Anthony Karassellos, whose 5-23 – three of those overs maidens, if you please – was the sort of spell that makes a captain's job embarrassingly easy. Henry Bourdillon (2-21) and Alec Martin (1-22) tidied up round him, and there was a particularly satisfying moment when Justin Lariviere and Damian Conlin both departed for ducks. All told, Eric Clemming's 43, with Ben Allatt (36) and Alan Crowhurst (33) chipping in, dragged the visitors to 148/9 off their 39.4 overs – a target that felt gettable, perhaps a shade too gettable, which is usually when trouble starts.

And so it proved. Alec Martin again top-scored with a fine 31, Trevor Back weighed in with 24 and Paul Bourdillon with 22, but the middle order rather lost the thread and we subsided to 127/7 from our 40 overs, five runs short of where we needed to be. I managed a contribution of my own with the ball earlier in the season's run that now has me leading the 2nd XI wicket charts with 14, which is small consolation on a day when the bat let us down.

A defeat, then, and a fair one – Four Elms bowled the smarter overs when it mattered, and we simply ran out of partnerships. Plenty to work on, but Karassellos's five-for is one to bottle for the winter.

Sat 20 Jul 2019 🧢 1st XIv SC Speldhurst CC · AwayformWLLWW

A damp Saturday down at Speldhurst and, truth be told, it was one of those days better suited to ducks than cricketers — and we obliged by providing three of our own.

Put into the field first on a warm, sticky afternoon, we watched Speldhurst build steadily to 169/6 off their forty, James Waters the chief architect with a fine 54, well supported by James Roche's unbeaten 39 and Ben Brandt's 37. Credit where it's due though: Alex Keeler was a menace with the ball, 2-15 and three maidens to show for his afternoon's graft, while Richard Knowler and Riley Butler chipped in with 2-35 and 2-46 respectively. James Hughes departed for a duck, which felt about right given what was to follow.

Because if 169 looked chaseable over tea, it did not survive contact with our top order, or indeed our middle and lower orders. I managed 44 to top-score, and can at least say I gave the scorebook something to write home about, but around me the innings simply came apart — Glen Rawson, Craig Sands and Joshua Knowler all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, and the whole side bowled out for 77 in 23.1 overs. Modest reading, however you dress it up.

A defeat to learn from, and no mistake — though with the bat I remain top of the 2019 run charts on 323, and Alex Keeler's efforts with the ball keep him third in the wicket table, so not everything about the season is quite as damp as Saturday's weather.

Sun 14 Jul 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Saltwood CC · AwayformWLWWW

From the captain's chair, then, and what a sodden, sociable afternoon it was down at Saltwood. I won the toss on a pleasant, drizzly Sunday and, in a fit of what I shall generously call tactical boldness, stuck us in to bat. We laboured to 151 for 9 off our forty overs, a total that owed everything to Mark Christmas's fine 36 and Aaron Hughes's watchful 30, with your humble captain chipping in with 24 further down the order. Less gloriously, Alastair Allsworth, Alex Keeler and Thomas Beeney all contributed what the scorebook charitably records as a golden duck apiece — three ducks in one innings being, I'm told, some sort of unwanted club record for enthusiasm.

Defending 151 was always going to require either divine intervention or some very generous batting from the opposition, and Saltwood declined to offer either. Jarrod Casey and Will Spain simply batted us out of the ground, unbeaten on 73 and 62 respectively, and the match was done and dusted in 25.1 overs. Toby Allsworth at least gave the attack some shape with 1 for 29, a lone flag planted on an otherwise barren hillside.

There was one shaft of sunshine amid the drizzle: Mark Christmas brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours, a milestone that rather puts my own 24 in perspective. But the cricketing verdict is unambiguous — beaten by nine wickets, heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 13 Jul 2019 🧢 2nd XIv FC Farningham CC · AwayformLWLWL

Skipper's Log — Saturday 13 July 2019. Farningham CC, and a warm, drizzly afternoon that never quite made up its mind whether to rain properly or just sulk. Lost the toss, put in to field, and I confess my heart sank a little at the prospect of standing about in the drizzle watching someone else bat first.

Farningham posted 179 all out in 37 overs, built on a fine 45 from Chris Scott, an unbeaten 45 from John Rose, and 42 from Richard Pleydell, with a crucial 57 for the third wicket doing the real damage to our afternoon. Credit to the lads, though — we dragged them from 143-5 to 152-8 before the tail wagged us back to 179. Anthony Karassellos was magnificent, 4-37, with Abishek Pushpavinothan (2-54) and the ever-frugal Henry Bourdillon (1-15, two maidens) squeezing hard at the other end.

Chasing 180 was always going to want some application, and application was in short supply. Daniel Barker, Richard Gurney and Colin Hucker all trooped back without so much as a squeak, and John Karassellos and Ryan Silk kept them company with ducks of their own. I dug in for 29, the top score, but a top score of 29 in a total of 60 tells its own sorry story — all out in 25.2 overs.

Down by 119 runs, then, and no dressing it up. Not our day. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sat 13 Jul 2019 🧢 1st XIv FC Four Elms CC · HomeformWWLLW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 13 July 2019. We hosted Four Elms CC on a warm, showery afternoon, and having won the toss I elected to bat, a decision I'll happily take credit for given how things turned out.

We stumbled early, slipping to 8 for 1, and for a while it looked like being one of those days — not helped by golden ducks for both Glen Rawson and Stuart Cheesman. But a stand of 83 for the fourth wicket dragged us back into the contest, with Aaron Hughes (40) and Joshua Knowler (21) both playing their part. I managed 49 myself before falling, and we were eventually all out for 153 in 37.5 overs — a touch below par, but with enough runs on the board to have a go.

Defending it, we needed a nervy start from the visitors and duly got one, Four Elms losing an early wicket at 4. Stuart Cheesman was superb with the ball, 3 for 28 including two maidens, well backed up by Alex Keeler (3-40) and Martin Harris (2-24) — and a word for Alex, who reached 50 career wickets in the process, a landmark worth raising a glass to. Rob Smith's well-made fifty threatened to spoil the party, and Paul Gammage and James Cole departed without troubling the scorers, but Four Elms were bowled out for 138 in 37.2 overs, 15 runs short.

A scratchy batting effort rescued by a fine partnership, and a bowling performance with real teeth — I'll take that every week. A good day for the club.

Sun 07 Jul 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv NC New Ifield CC · HomeformLWLWW

James Piper's men's 1st XI welcomed New Ifield CC to Linton Park on a pleasant, damp Sunday, and true to form the coin gave us nothing to work with — they won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first. What followed was a lesson in the value of one big innings, as Joe Lawrence compiled a magnificent 104, helped along by Darren McGrath's 35, to steer New Ifield to 175/4 from their 40 overs. We did have our moments — an early breakthrough at 5-1 raised hopes before that troublesome second-wicket stand of 77 took the game away from us again. Toby Allsworth was the pick of a tidy attack, 1-8 with two maidens, and I chipped in with 1-16 alongside Will Thew's 1-33.

Chasing 176, we made light work of it. Richard Piper played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 102 carrying us home, well supported by Alastair Allsworth's 32 not out and Aaron Hughes's 29 — this despite an early wobble at 7-1 that threatened to make life difficult. Once that second-wicket pair added a crucial 74, though, the writing was on the wall. Their bowlers strayed short and we cashed in square of the wicket, cutting and pulling with real relish; the shot of the day was undoubtedly R Piper picking his length and clearing mid-wicket for six. Twelve byes suggested Aaron Hughes had a testing afternoon behind the stumps, but nobody was complaining.

Eight wickets and two points, thoroughly earned — a proper team effort, with one very special century at its heart.

Sat 06 Jul 2019 🧢 2nd XIv OC Outwood CC · AwayformLLWLW

A warm, cloudy afternoon at Outwood CC, then, and a toss I'd sooner not think too hard about, because we were put straight into the field. What followed was a fairly comprehensive tutorial in the art of batting: Dru Tunstall helped himself to a chanceless 112, with Harry Mawer (85 not out) and Robert Rigby (58) offering the kind of support that suggested the Outwood dressing room had ordered a job lot of runs that morning. By the time they declared themselves satisfied at 311/8 from their forty overs, our bowling figures were the only thing keeping our heads above water — Anthony Karassellos toiled manfully for 3-42, with Nigel Thirkell (2-25, and three maidens to show for his parsimony) and John Karassellos (2-61) chipping in nicely.

Chasing 312 was always going to require something heroic, and while the effort was there, the runs, sadly, were not. Darrell Houghton-Judge led our reply with a tidy 37, well matched by Nigel Thirkell's own 37, and I'll admit a quiet satisfaction in my own contribution to the total, but 136/8 from our forty overs was never troubling the scoreboard operators at the other end — though credit to our extras column, which weighed in with a hearty 33, presumably out of sympathy.

Still top of the 2nd XI run charts on 198 for the season, I can take some personal comfort home, even if the team result offers rather less. Beaten this time, undeniably — but we go again.

Sat 06 Jul 2019 🧢 1st XIv OC Outwood CC · HomeformWWWLL

A warm, cloudy Saturday saw Outwood CC roll into Linton Park, and I'm pleased to report the lads gave them a proper afternoon's cricket. Batting first, we posted a handsome 213/5 from our forty overs, built around a lovely, unhurried fifty from Aaron Hughes — not out at the close and thoroughly deserved. I chipped in with 48 of my own, Craig Sands added a tidy 25, and the extras column, ever the unsung hero of village cricket, weighed in with 45. A total we were more than happy to defend.

And defend it we did, though not without a scare or two. Louis Russell-Watts played the innings of the day for the visitors, cantering to 88, with Neil Hookway lending sturdy support on 52. For a while it looked as though Outwood might swim clear of us, but our attack kept chipping away — Matthew Carter the pick of the bunch with 2-13, Mark Christmas and I both weighing in with a wicket apiece, and Adam Kendall and Matthew Talbot both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. They fell agonisingly short on 204/9.

A special mention, too, for Aaron Hughes, who brought up 1,000 career runs for the club — a landmark thoroughly earned and warmly applauded by all.

All told, a match that had everything: runs, wickets, milestones, and nerves held just enough. A win to savour, and rightly so.

Thu 04 Jul 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv CP Camellia PLC · HomeformLWWWL

As I've settled back into the pavilion chair with a well-earned tea, I'll admit I had a few grey hairs before this one came good. Camellia Plc put us into the field on a warm, overcast Thursday and set about building something respectable, with Hattingh's 34 the backbone and Reddon and Ahmed chipping in either side of a stubborn 52-run stand for the fifth wicket. For a while it looked like they might cruise past us, but a collapse from 49-1 to 57-4 gave us a foothold, and poor P Saunders trudged off for a duck. Karassellos led the charge with figures of 1-6, and I was rather pleased to get among the wickets myself, snaring one for 7, with Hollingworth also chipping in. They closed on 116/6 from their twenty, which felt gettable if we kept our heads.

Kept our heads we largely did, though not without the usual comedy. Luke Welsman's duck will earn him a proud entry in the club's ledger of shame, but with extras generously donating 32 to the cause, rather more than some of us managed with the bat, we crawled and nudged our way to 117/6 and home by four wickets.

A good day for the club, and a timely one for me personally, having crept up to second in the season's wicket charts, with Jordan Austin doing likewise with the bat. Camellia gave us a fright, but we got there. That, in the end, is all that ever really matters.

Wed 03 Jul 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformDLWWW

It was a good toss to win but a curious one to lose, because we chose to bowl first and then made rather harder work of both disciplines than the scoreboard needed to demand.

Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC made their way to 204 all out from 38 overs, built chiefly around Callum Brown's fine 68, with Oliver Barnes (40) and Ashwani Arora (39) filling in the gaps rather too comfortably for our liking. Joshua Knowler was the pick of the attack with 3-49, and I was glad of the support from Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan (2-5, a spell of real discipline) and Alex Keeler, who bowled two miserly maidens on his way to 2-35. There was even a small mercy sent our way when Bob Fraser departed for a golden duck, proof that not everything went the visitors' way.

Chasing 205, we never quite found the rhythm to make a match of it, folding for 133 in 37 overs. Aaron Hughes top-scored with a battling 43, Trevor Back chipped in with 24, and I can report my own small contribution among the also-rans, though the innings never gathered the momentum it needed. I fell for a duck myself, which I shall put down to solidarity with the bowlers rather than any failing of technique. The one unqualified highlight of the afternoon came with the bat in a different sense entirely, as Jordan Austin brought up 4,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded all round.

Beaten by 71 runs, then, on a day when our bowlers did the harder job rather better than our batsmen did the easier one. We go again.

Mon 01 Jul 2019 🧢 Twenty20v Staplehurst CC · AwayformWWLLL

As it stands, 01 July at Staplehurst, the toss went against us and we found ourselves in the field first — which, on a warm Monday evening, at least meant somebody else had to do the running before we did. Staplehurst rattled along to 140/6, with Oli Henson looking thoroughly at home for his 70 and George Perry chipping in a handy 25. Seamus McCool and Luke Clayton had rather quieter afternoons, both departing without so much as a nudge off the square. Credit where it's due, though: James Piper was superb with the ball, 2-9 and hardly missing his length all night, backed up nicely by Charles Curteis (2-12) and Darrell Houghton-Judge (1-34), who between them kept the innings from ever quite getting away from us.

Chasing 141, we made harder work of it than the scoreboard might suggest, but Jordan Austin batted with real class for an unbeaten 67, and Luke Welsman supported him beautifully with 42 not out, seeing us home in 16.2 overs. Poor Tobey Castle will want to forget his contribution entirely. Special mention, mind, for Jordan Austin, who brought up 4,000 career runs for the club along the way — no small feat, and thoroughly deserved given he now sits top of the 2019 Twenty20 run charts.

Six wickets to the good, and home in time for last orders. A good day for the club, and for Jordan Austin, rather a memorable one.

Sun 30 Jun 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformWLWLW

Sunday the 30th of June saw us march off to Sissinghurst under warm, brooding skies, and for once the coin did as it was told when I called it — up she went, and down came the decision to bat. It proved rather a shrewd one. Tobey Castle set about the Sissinghurst bowling with real purpose, cruising past his fifty to 77, while Alex Keeler ground out a composed 66 not out at the other end. Joshua Knowler chipped in a handy 22, and even our extras column got in on the act with a generous 43, carrying us to a formidable 209/2 from our thirty overs — the sort of total that makes tea taste sweeter.

With the ball, things began less gloriously for me personally: I trudged back for a golden duck, keeping Neal Metcalf company in the pavilion rather earlier than either of us fancied. But cricket has a habit of evening things out, and my figures came good with the ball instead — 5 for 32, easily the pick of the day, with Joshua Knowler (1-8) and Emil Swart (1-13) tidying up nicely in support. Andrew Knowler's 35, plus useful knocks from Philip Buckingham and Trevor Wright, wasn't nearly enough, and Sissinghurst fell 75 runs short on 134/8.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, then, and one that nudges both Tobey and myself up the season's charts. Onwards.

Sun 30 Jun 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv WC Woodcoombe CC · AwayformWLLWW

Sunday 30 June brought us to Woodcoombe CC on a warm, overcast afternoon — the kind of day that promises rain and delivers none, much like our top order promises runs. Losing the toss, we were put in, and 124/9 from our 40 overs told the story of a side clinging on by its fingernails. Joel Attwood was the rock, unbeaten on 36, with Shehryar Gul chipping in a handy 29 alongside him. Elsewhere the story was less flattering: Will Thew, Charles Curteis and John Karassellos all made the long, lonely walk back for ducks, and the Duck Club ledger grew heavier still. 🦆

Defending 124 was always going to ask a lot of us, and Woodcoombe simply had too much class in the middle order. Joe Taylor's 43 set them on their way, with Chris Ward (38 not out) and James Elkin (33 not out) seeing them home in a canter — 129/3 in just 30.2 overs. Jordan Austin toiled honestly for 1-24, with Joel Attwood and Shehryar Gul both chipping in a wicket apiece, but it was never quite enough to trouble the scoreboard pressure.

Elsewhere, Richard Piper continues to lead our 2019 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 135 to his name, and Jordan Austin sits second in the wickets table on 4 — small consolations on an otherwise chastening afternoon. Beaten by six wickets, and fairly so. Not our day, lads — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 29 Jun 2019 🧢 2nd XIv OC Otford CC · AwayformWLLWL

We lost the toss on a scorching, grey sort of afternoon — the kind English weather specialises in, unable to decide whether to bake us or drown us — and were sent out to bat first. What followed was one of those days you dream about through the long winter nets sessions. I got in and stayed in, eventually reaching 108, while Darrell Houghton-Judge played the perfect supporting hand with a composed 76 not out. Two hundred and twenty-eight for three off our forty overs was a total that felt, even as we were compiling it, rather beyond Otford's reach.

So it proved. Anton Bourdillon steamed in for a magnificent 3-9, backed superbly by Darrell — who, not content with his fifty, now has 200 career wickets to his name, a landmark that rather puts my century in the shade — and John Karassellos chipping in with 1-8. Henry Bourdillon bowled three maidens without so much as a run to show his generosity had limits. Otford subsided to 92 all out, with three of their batsmen back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers at all.

A 136-run victory, then, and a very good day for the club. I'm now top of the 2nd XI run charts for the season, with Abishek Pushpavinothan third among the wicket-takers — proof, if any were needed, that this is very much a team effort, even on a day when one man rather ran away with the headlines.

Sat 29 Jun 2019 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformLWWWL

From the captain's chair, then, and what a scorching, grey sort of afternoon it was for a scrap with the good folk of Meopham. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains a work in progress — and we were put into the field, which at least spared the lads the indignity of batting first in that heat. Meopham compiled a stern 175/7, built chiefly around a stand of 121 for the third wicket between Mark Lewis-Ranwell (68) and Brad Millbank (56), both of whom made merry at our expense. Credit where due, though: Matthew Carter was magnificent, plundering 4-25 with two miserly maidens thrown in, ably backed by Richard Knowler's solitary but useful strike. Gary Howorth and Andrew Powney, alas, departed without so much as troubling the scorers.

Chasing 176, we made a fair fist of it early on, Glen Rawson top-scoring with a gritty 54 and James Piper chipping in with 35, the pair adding 63 for the third wicket. But then, as so often happens on these grounds, the wheels came off spectacularly — 120-3 collapsed to 129-6 in the blink of an eye, Aaron Hughes among those contributing rather less than he'd have liked. All out for 143, we fell 32 runs short.

There was, at least, cause for genuine celebration: Matthew Carter passed 600 career wickets, a milestone worth raising a glass to regardless of the result. Beaten, bruised, but not bowed — we'll be better for it next week.

Thu 27 Jun 2019 🧢 Twenty20v Bearsted CC · HomeformLWWLL

Beaten by 8 wickets in the end, and Bearsted deserved their day. As skipper, though, I'll take Thursday's effort with a wry smile rather than a scowl.

Batting first at home to Bearsted, we posted a fighting-if-unspectacular 119/9 from our twenty overs. Jordan Austin led the way with a fine 38, and Tobey Castle chipped in handsomely with 32 — the pair doing most of the heavy lifting while the rest of us rather let the side down. Spare a thought, and perhaps a pint, for Will Thew, Luke Welsman and Aaron Hughes, all of whom joined the Duck Club with ducks of their own. Three in one innings is going some — the walk of shame performed in triplicate.

Defending 119 was always going to want something special, and Bearsted simply had too much class on the day, cantering home at 120/2 with fifteen-and-a-bit overs still on the clock. Mark Sandhu was immovable, an unbeaten 42, with Piers Cottee Jones (26 not out) and Noel Johnston (22) keeping him company. Harrison Fermor was the one shining light with the ball, snaring 2-24 and looking every inch the man in form.

Season honours remain intact at least — Tobey Castle still tops our 2019 Twenty20 run charts on 63, and Harrison Fermor sits third in the wicket-takers on two. As for Thursday: outbatted, outbowled, and thoroughly out-thought. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 26 Jun 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformWDLWW

Right lads, tea's poured — here's how it read.

The road took us to The Mote CC on a pleasant, grey Wednesday afternoon, the sort where you can't decide whether to bowl in a jumper or just complain about it instead. Batting first, we posted a tidy 158/7 from our 40, built on the sort of innings that makes a captain's job easy: Jordan Austin cruised to 58 not out, well past his fifty and unmoved by anything thrown at him, with Aaron Hughes chipping in 33 and Alex Keeler a brisk 22. It wasn't all sunshine — Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan and John Karassellos both departed for ducks, the kind of scores best filed under "least said."

Then it was our turn in the field, and here The Mote made us work before making us laugh. Theeshan Satkunaseelan played the innings of the day for them, a well-made 54, but the rest of the order rather fell away around him as they were bowled out for 133 in 37.2 overs — Luke Tucker and Martin Crossley both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Alex Keeler was the chief tormentor, tearing through with 4-16 and two miserly maidens for good measure, while I found some rhythm of my own with 3-34, and Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan chipped in with 1-9 to round things off.

A comfortable win in the end, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the sort of afternoon that makes the drive home feel a good deal shorter than the drive there.

Sun 23 Jun 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC · HomeformLWLLW

Sunday 23 June turned out warm and heavy-skied, the sort of afternoon that makes you glad the covers stayed off, as we welcomed Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow to Linton Park. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling record remains a stain on an otherwise blameless captaincy — and we were asked to field first.

Bobbing Court ground their way to 153 all out, Martin Lord the chief architect with a fine 46, well supported by Mark Ward's 26 and Geoff Allen's 23, their sixth-wicket pair adding a stubborn 67 to keep us honest. Credit to the bowling unit, though: Toby Allsworth was excellent up front with 3-30, Jordan Austin and Martin Harris chipped in with 2-20 and 2-24 respectively, and I was pleased enough to keep things tight with a couple of maidens of my own.

Chasing 154, we rather set out our stall early — the openers put on 67 before the first wicket fell, a platform any village side would toast with a second helping of tea. Jordan Austin led the response with 41, Will Thew added a handsome 38 and Richard Piper 20, and though Benjamin Taylor, Chris Roberts and Neil Epps all made unflattering acquaintance with the pavilion steps without scoring, we got home by three wickets with something to spare.

A thoroughly good day for the club — the sort of match that reminds you why Sunday afternoons were invented.

Sat 22 Jun 2019 🧢 2nd XIv SC St Lawrence CC · HomeformWWLLW

Saturday 22 June, and St Lawrence CC rolled up under a warm, overcast sky — the kind of afternoon that threatens rain but mostly just sits there. The toss went against us, so instead of padding up in comfort I found myself leading the lads out into the field.

St Lawrence made themselves very much at home, racking up 198/7 from their forty overs. Chris Pedder was the chief tormentor with a polished 62, well supported by Paul Cook (39) and Corrie Thompson (22). We did at least see off Clint Olivier for a duck, and Tim Thirkell was excellent with the ball, 3-24, backed up nicely by the Karassellos household — Anthony with 2-43 and John chipping in with 1-12.

Chasing 199 was always going to be a stretch. Craig Sands batted beautifully for an unbeaten 40, and I chipped in with 33 as we put on 61 for the first wicket — a flying start that promised much. Alas, the rest of the card had a more sobering tale to tell, John Karassellos falling for a duck among the collapse, and we finished on 130/6 from our forty, 68 runs adrift.

Not our day, in short — good bowling undone by batting that couldn't finish what it started. I'm pleased to sit second in the 2nd XI run charts this season, with Tim Thirkell leading the wickets table in fine style, so all is not lost. Heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sat 22 Jun 2019 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformDLWWW

I called it right at the toss on a warm, cloudy afternoon at Bidborough, and with the outfield looking lively I had no hesitation in sticking us in the field. It looked a decent shout when Bidborough were bowled out for 174 in 39.4 overs, though not before their openers had put on 62 for the first wicket to set things up. James Baldock made a chunky 64, well supported by Anthony Bouffe (22) and Rob Ackermann (21), but Richard Knowler tore through the middle order with a superb 4-40, and I chipped in with 3-27 for good measure — Joshua Knowler picking up one — while Andy Healy and Howard Nankivell both departed for ducks at our hands.

174 looked gettable, and Luke Welsman's well-crafted 56 had us purring along nicely. Then, as only Linton Park can, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion — 151 for 6 became 159 for 9 in the blink of an eye, poor Darrell Houghton-Judge among the fallen without troubling the scorers. Even with 37 handy extras in the bank, we were bowled out for 159 and beaten by 15 runs.

Still, there was much to raise a glass to: Glen Rawson brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, and I quietly notched up my 500th — not a bad way to mark it, even in defeat. Not our day on the scoreboard, but heads up, and back to the nets we go.

Mon 17 Jun 2019 🧢 Twenty20v Staplehurst CC · HomeformWLWWL

Monday 17th June, and Staplehurst rolled up to Linton Park under obliging cloud cover — good bowling weather, I told myself, and duly won the toss and stuck them in. It is fair to say the plan worked rather better in theory than in practice. George Perry helped himself to 64, Tom Davey made a classy 53, and Tom Henson finished unbeaten on 50, the pair of them stitching together a maddening 109 for the second wicket while I stood at mid-on wondering why I'd bowled first. To my credit, and I don't say that often, I picked up 2-36 to lead the attack, with Martin Harris chipping in a tidy 1-37. Even so, 204 for 3 from twenty overs was a proper score, and it left us with a mountain to climb.

We made a fist of it. Benjamin Austin batted beautifully for a well-made 51, and Aaron Hughes gave him good company with an unbeaten 38, the two of them adding 55 for the second wicket after we'd lost our opener cheaply at 2 for 1. But 147 for 5 was always going to fall short of that target, and so it proved — beaten by 57 runs, our top-scorer and our leading wicket-taker both doing their bit in a losing cause, which is a very Linton Park sort of afternoon.

Still, credit to Staplehurst, who batted and bowled us out of it fair and square. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word about bowling first on a flat one, and come back stronger next week.

Sun 16 Jun 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformLWLWL

Sunday 16 June found us at home to The Mote CC, under skies that couldn't decide between drizzle and gusts, which felt about right for the way the toss went — we lost it, and were invited to bat.

Not that we minded much, as it turned out. Jordan Austin produced the innings of the summer, a magnificent 114, and found willing company in Aaron Hughes (41) and Alex Keeler (23), the third-wicket pair alone worth 116 crucial runs. We closed on a handsome 243/8 from our forty overs. The one smudge on an otherwise gleaming scorecard was poor Benjamin Austin, gone for a duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it, I'm told, with good grace and a stiff tea.

With the ball, we simply never let The Mote settle. Theeshan Satkunaseelan (38) and Luke Tucker (22) offered the only real resistance before the innings folded from a respectable 97-5 to a rather undignified 105-8 in a hurry, Nick Bell and Martin Harris both back in the pavilion without scoring. Charles Curteis was the chief tormentor with 3-5 off three miserly maidens, well supported by Martin Harris (2-19) and Tobey Castle (2-24). All out for 108 in 28.4 overs — though nine byes suggest our man behind the stumps had a testing afternoon of his own.

A 135-run win, no less, and Jordan Austin's innings sees him climb to second in the season's run charts. A thoroughly satisfying day's work. Onwards.

Sat 15 Jun 2019 🧢 2nd XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformDWWLL

Behind the pavilion still lies the bat I gave to the damp Kentish air at Penshurst on the 15th of June — but let's start at the beginning, because I won the toss and, ever the optimist, sent us in.

It was a decision that flattered to deceive. We limped to 80 all out in 31 overs, with only Abishek Pushpavinothan showing any real intent for his 28, while Anton Bourdillon, Paul McAllister and I contributed nothing more than the long walk back — three ducks for the club ledger, and yours truly the proud owner of a golden blob. A captain, they say, must lead by example; on this occasion I led by cautionary tale.

Mercifully, cricket has a habit of turning on its head, and with ball in hand I found some rhythm I'd conspicuously mislaid with the bat, finishing with 4-11 from five miserly maidens. Henry Bourdillon bowled beautifully in support with 4-19, James West chipped in, and Penshurst's Faizan Khan and Colin Croucher never troubled the scorers either. Bowled out for 73 in 32.3 overs, the opposition fell seven runs short, and we escaped with the game in a heap of half-forgiven sins.

A day, then, that asked serious questions of my captaincy and my batting technique alike — questions I shall be quietly filing under "matters for the nets." But a win is a win, and on the balance of ducks, blobs and rather better bowling than batting, we'll take it.

Sat 15 Jun 2019 🧢 1st XIv SC Shipbourne CC · HomeformWDLWW

Saturday the fifteenth of June found us hosting Shipbourne CC under skies best described as reluctant, with the outfield doing its best impression of a paddy field. I called correctly at the toss and, with hardly a moment's thought, sent the visitors in — a decision that felt rather clever by close of play.

Shipbourne stumbled early, losing a wicket with just one run on the board, but steadied themselves with a stand of 57 for the third wicket before Angus Willis (42) and Ryan Redman (36) took the total to a defendable-looking 141 for 8 off their forty overs. Sam Spink and Matthew Watts both departed without troubling the scorers — always a pleasing sight from the boundary. Stuart Cheesman was the pick of the attack, a miserly 3 for 18 including two maidens, with Matthew Carter (2-43) and Richard Knowler (1-15) chipping in nicely.

With the target set, Glen Rawson's 30 and Aaron Hughes's 28 laid the platform, while Stuart Cheesman rounded off a fine all-round afternoon with an unbeaten 30 to see us home by six wickets with plenty of overs unused. A day of milestones too: Cheesman brought up 7,000 career runs for the club, and Knowler's solitary wicket edged him past Cheesman himself into 24th on the all-time list — sorry, Stuart. For what it's worth, I currently sit third in this season's run charts with 117, while Joshua Knowler lurks second among the wicket-takers on 9. All told, a thoroughly satisfying day at the office — professional with bat and ball alike, and precisely the sort of result that makes the tea taste that much sweeter.

Sun 09 Jun 2019 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Borstal CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 9th June, and Borstal came to Linton Park under skies that couldn't decide whether to commit fully to the shower or give us a break — much like our top order, as it turned out. Losing the toss and being asked to field first is never the news you want over the pre-match tea, but there was worse to come: a bit of a batting collapse either side of the good stuff, with both Lewis Burnham and Joshua Knowler back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Thankfully James Piper played the innings of the day, a fine 61, and found an able ally in Tobey Castle, unbeaten on 47, the pair putting on a crucial 59 for the third wicket to drag us to a defendable-looking 159 for 7 from our forty.

Defendable-looking being the operative words. Borstal's James Whitnell made a classy 59 of his own, well supported by David Round's 21, and the damage was done inside the first ten overs as their openers put on 81 before we so much as sniffed a breakthrough. Tobey Castle led the fightback with the ball as well as the bat, picking up 1 for 24, and I chipped in with 1 for 32 alongside Martin Harris's 1 for 29, while Matthew Carter kept things admirably tight with two maidens. It wasn't quite enough, and Borstal got home by four wickets with a few balls to spare.

Not our day, then — but Piper continues to top the Sunday run charts and Knowler the wickets, so the season's in good shape even if Sunday wasn't. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 09 Jun 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv SC Selling CC · HomeformWLWLW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 9th June 2019. Selling CC the visitors, a pleasant, drizzly afternoon the order of the day, and I promptly lost the toss, which set the tone rather neatly for what followed. Put in to bowl, we did rather well of it: Selling posted 183 all out in 39.5 overs, built around De Zoysa's 46 and useful contributions from Gunathilaka (36) and Lane (32), but Toby Allsworth turned the screw with a magnificent 5-28, well backed up by Thomas Beeney (2-27) and Anthony Karassellos (2-51). Kinsella, Bateson and King all departed for nought, so there were ducks flying about long before I added to the tally myself.

And add to it I did — walking back for a golden duck of my own, for which the less said the truly better. It rather summed up our reply: 102 all out in 33.2 overs, Thomas Beeney the one shining light with a defiant 32 not out while the rest of us filed past rather meekly. John Karassellos had a torrid time behind the stumps (10 byes), and our fielding leaked runs like a colander — 20 wides and 2 no-balls we could scarcely afford against a total like that.

Some cheer amid the gloom: Thomas Beeney brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved on this evidence. Elsewhere, Luke Welsman sits second in the season's run charts with 77, and Toby Allsworth leads the wickets with 8.

Beaten by 81 runs in the end — a day where our bowling did the business and our batting rather let the side down. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 05 Jun 2019 🧢 Twenty20v Bearsted CC · AwayformWWLWW

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 05 June 2019, away at Bearsted CC

Lost the toss, asked to bowl, and honestly rather glad of it given the drizzle — nothing sharpens the mind like the prospect of a soggy fielding shirt. Bearsted rattled along to 122/8 from their twenty, Piers Cottee Jones the chief architect with a well-made 41, though the rest of their order found scoring rather harder going, none more so than Lewis Bedwell, gone for a golden duck. Tobey Castle was magnificent with the new ball, ripping through them for 4-13, and I'll allow myself one boast for the scorebook: I chipped in with 2-5, with Archie Fairfax-Ross mopping up nicely alongside on 2-24. A tidy, disciplined bowling display all round, and for a while it looked like we'd bowled ourselves into a handsome position.

Chasing 123 should have been eminently gettable on a used pitch against tiring bowlers, but cricket has a way of humbling the confident. Jordan Austin battled to top-score with 20, but wickets tumbled at the other end with the regularity of a village clock, and poor Charles Curteis endured the walk of shame for a nought. We limped to 105/9 from our twenty and fell 17 runs short.

A match of two good halves undone by one flat one — we bowled like champions and batted like it was our first go with the willow. Credit to Bearsted for holding their nerve; we'll regroup, dry out, and come back sharper next week.

Sun 02 Jun 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Chestfield CC · AwayformWLWLL

A win to savour, and not before time — Chestfield's ground gave us a warm, overcast afternoon and, as it turned out, exactly the right sort of pitch to bat first and put our feet up while somebody else did the chasing.

We rattled along nicely to 277/6 from our forty overs, built on the sort of foundation you dream of as captain: Will Thew playing the innings of the day with 80, Luke Welsman keeping him company with a fine 67, and Tobey Castle chipping in a brisk 44. Trevor Back's contribution was, statistically, nothing at all — a golden duck to file away and never mention to him again — though the extras column outdid him handsomely with 46 of its own, which tells you rather a lot about Chestfield's line and length that afternoon. I managed to get bat on ball myself for a small hand in the total, which I'll happily take without dwelling on the figures further.

Defending 277 is always a nicer problem to have than chasing it, and so it proved. Beckham Hulks gave their innings some backbone with 52, and Rishi Milward Bose (31 not out) and Mark Sayer (25) kept the required rate honest, but Thomas Harrison departed without troubling the scorers and the required rate never quite came down to meet them. Will Thew, not content with his runs, took the new ball's honours too with 2-29, backed up nicely by Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-38) and Thomas Beeney (1-12) to see them off at 216/9.

A thoroughly satisfying day out, and one we'll drive home from smiling.

Sat 01 Jun 2019 🧢 2nd XIv HC Horsmonden CC · AwayformLDWWL

Not our finest hour on the road, but Horsmonden certainly know how to make a Saturday interesting.

Losing the toss, we were put into the field first, and while 201/6 always felt a shade beyond us, there were bright spots. Abishek Pushpavinothan was the pick of the attack, miserly and menacing with 2-18 and two maidens, well backed by Mardey Castle's 2-23 and James Watkins' 1-38. But Glen Christian's unbeaten 91 and Tony Ford's 56 put together a stand of 128 for the sixth wicket that, frankly, did for us before we'd even picked up the bat.

In reply, we began like men possessed — Glen Rawson and his opening partner put on 65 for the first wicket, and for a while the chase looked a real proposition. Rawson went on to a fine 66, ably supported by George Taylor's 33, but 161/7 became 169 all out in what can only be described as a collapse of comic proportions. Darrell Houghton-Judge, Harrison Fermor and Fred Taylor all took the long walk without troubling the scorers, and your correspondent's own contribution was a duck best passed over in silence. Ten byes and 37 extras in total told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps.

Beaten by 32 runs, then — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 01 Jun 2019 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformLWDLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 1st June 2019. We hosted Sissinghurst CC on a warm, grey sort of afternoon, the kind that suggests the weather can't quite decide whose side it's on. I lost the toss, as is tradition, and Sissinghurst duly stuck us in.

We needn't have worried. Tobey Castle played a lovely hand, 54 of the finest, and I was glad to chip in alongside him with 44 as our third-wicket stand added a crucial 84 to set things up nicely. Aaron Hughes finished unbeaten on 20, the extras column pitched in a generous 28, and we closed on a healthy 205/6 from our forty overs — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than fret over it.

Then to the field, where Matthew Carter was in irresistible form, snaring 4-28 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed up by Joshua Knowler (2-8) and Martin Harris (2-19). Poor Neal Metcalf departed for a duck, and though Brough Cooper batted with real application for his fifty, it was merely delaying the inevitable — Sissinghurst were all out for 121.

Splendid personal milestones too: Mark Christmas brought up 8,000 runs for the club, while Matthew Carter's four-for eased him past Terry Whittaker into 10th on our all-time wicket-takers' list. A fine win by 84 runs, and a thoroughly satisfying way to spend a Saturday. Onwards.

Sun 26 May 2019 🧢 Sunday NVKCv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformLWLWW

A pleasant, damp Sunday saw us play host to Bidborough CC, and winning the toss I did what any captain raised on soggy outfields and long memories of chasing under lights would do — stuck them in. For a while it looked a canny call, and then Daniel Page reminded us why that plan carries risk, ambling to a chanceless 112 while Howard Nankivell (34) and Eli Clarkson (21) played gracious support acts, the pair adding a painful 111 for the fourth wicket. Bidborough looked set fair for something enormous.

Then, as so often in this funny old game, the innings folded like a deckchair in a breeze — 211 for 5 became 212 for 8 in the blink of an eye, Ed Shepherdson and Jack Ponsford both back in the hutch without scoring. Matthew Carter was the chief architect of the collapse, running through the tail for a magnificent 5-23, with Richard Knowler (2-26) and Joshua Knowler (2-41) tidying up either end. All out 214 from 39.1 overs — gettable, if someone batted like they meant it.

Someone did. James Piper played the innings of the summer, an unbeaten 113 that made the chase look almost leisurely, and I was glad to lend a hand with 74 not out myself, the pair of us seeing it home unbroken at 215 for 1. A satisfying afternoon's work all round, and a fine win by 9 wickets. Onwards.

Sun 26 May 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Hartley Country Club CC · AwayformWWLWL

Sunday 26 May, and off we trundled to Hartley Country Club under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to spoil the picnic. Lost the toss, got put in the field — the traditional Linton Park welcome — and watched Hartley help themselves to 273/4 from their 35 overs, which is the sort of total that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. I can't claim I did much to stem the tide myself beyond picking up 2-28, with Joel Attwood (1-49) and Alastair Allsworth (1-60) chipping in gamely against a batting line-up in no mood to be troubled.

Chasing 274 was always going to be a tall order on a damp afternoon, and so it proved, though not for want of trying. Richard Piper played an absolute gem — three figures, no less, 103 not out, an innings that had the rest of us purring from the boundary — ably supported by Trevor Back's unbeaten 43. Between them they dragged us to 183/2 from our 35, which sounds respectable until you remember the mountain we'd been set.

Beaten by 90 runs in the end, then, and no arguing with the maths. But Piper's century keeps him top of the Sunday 2nd XI run charts, and my own bowling keeps me in credit atop the wicket charts, so there's a sliver of consolation in among the scorebook wreckage. We'll be better for it next week — we usually are.

Sat 25 May 2019 🧢 2nd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLLDWW

Warm and showery it was, the kind of afternoon that makes you wonder whether to reach for the sunhat or the umbrella — in the end we needed neither, just a lot more runs than we managed. Batting first against Bearsted, we limped to 147/9 from our forty overs, with Fred Taylor top-scoring on 44 and Glen Rawson chipping in a tidy 21. Special mention, as ever, must go to the Duck Club, whose newest and least willing recruit is Anton Bourdillon, out for a nought and enduring that long, lonely walk back to the pavilion to the sound of his own boots.

Defending 147 was always going to require something special, and while Darrell Houghton-Judge did his bit with the ball — 1-30, and no little effort for it — the rest of us couldn't conjure the wickets to match. Tim Lush played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 60, ushered along by Tim Croom's 48 and Richard Luxton's unbeaten 30, and Bearsted cantered home at 149/1 with overs to spare.

Elsewhere in the run and wicket charts, Darrell continues to fly the flag almost single-handedly, topping the 2nd XI runs with 61 and sitting fourth in the wickets with 2 — proof that one man's excellence can't always drag a whole side over the line.

Not our day, then, beaten by nine wickets and a fair bit of pride. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sat 25 May 2019 🧢 1st XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWLWDL

Saturday 25 May 2019, away to Penshurst Park, and a fine drizzly afternoon it was too – the kind of weather that makes an Englishman feel truly at home behind the stumps. Winning the toss, I had few qualms about bowling first, and the lads repaid the faith handsomely. Penshurst limped to 110/9 from their forty overs, with only Martin Semmens (29) and Liam Porritt (23) offering any real resistance. Simon Williams departed for a golden duck, which I shan't dwell on out of professional courtesy. Alex Keeler was quite magnificent, ripping through the order for 4-15, while Martin Harris bowled with the miserly discipline of a man guarding his allotment, taking 2-19 with three maidens, and Tobey Castle chipped in with 1-16.

A target of 111 looked gettable, and so it proved, though not without the occasional flutter of nerves that seems compulsory in these parts. James Piper set the tone with a composed 41, and I was glad to play my part with 37 not out, while Aaron Hughes saw us home unbeaten on 21 as we cruised to 111/3 in 34.3 overs.

James Piper continues to lead the season's run charts with 183, and Martin Harris the wickets with 9 — both thoroughly deserved. A comfortable seven-wicket win, then, and a thoroughly pleasant way to spend a soggy Saturday. Onwards we go.

Sun 19 May 2019 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC Nurstead CC · AwayformWWWLW

Sunday 19 May, and off we trotted to Nurstead CC beneath skies that couldn't decide whether to rain or shine – a fitting metaphor, as it turned out, for a day that started so promisingly and ended in the usual scramble for excuses. Winning the toss, I fancied a bowl, and for a good while it looked the shrewdest call I'd made all season. It wasn't. Adam Whatman set about us for 75 and Ainsley Dummer purred to an unbeaten 62, with Oliver Wallace chipping in 29 as Nurstead cantered to 244/4. James Watkins was the pick of a willing attack with 1-15, Alastair Allsworth chipped in with 1-20, and I managed a wicket of my own for 29 runs, which felt like scant reward for an afternoon's honest toil.

Chasing 245 was always a tall order, and 71 without loss inside the first assault gave us genuine hope – until the top order departed and the middle order followed with almost indecent haste, 107 for 5 collapsing to 126 for 8 in the blink of an eye. Shehryar Gul's well-crafted 60 was the one shining light amid the wreckage. As for your correspondent, I contributed a duck of such quality it barely needs describing – the less said, frankly, the better – and I shared the walk of shame with Toby Allsworth and Michaela Karassellos.

All out for 129, beaten by 115 runs. Not our finest hour, but the tea was good and the company better. Back to the nets, chaps.

Sun 19 May 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Egerton CC, Kent · HomeformWWLWL

A wonderful Sunday it was, 19th May, and by heavens I'll take a few more of them. Egerton CC, Kent came calling under skies of the classic English overcast variety – not a drop fell, mind, just enough cloud cover to make a captain wonder whether to bowl first and then bottle it entirely, which I duly did not, choosing instead to bat.

And bat we did. David Rayment produced an innings that will be talked about over the tea urn for weeks to come – 140 not out, three figures and then some, an absolute masterclass while the rest of us admired from the boundary. Benjamin Austin chipped in handsomely with 45 not out, and I managed a tidy little 20 of my own before getting out of the way of the real business. 257 for 3 from our forty overs was, frankly, a score to make the opposition's tea taste a little bitter.

Then to the field, where Mardey Castle set about Egerton's top order like a man possessed, finishing with 2 for 12 and two maidens to boot – miserly barely covers it. Alex Keeler (2-22) and Martin Harris (2-24) lent splendid support, and between us we sent them packing for 129 all out in 36.2 overs, Nick Waterhouse's 36 the only real resistance.

A win to savour indeed – and with Rayment now sitting proudly atop the season's run charts on 188, and Luke Welsman leading the wickets column with four, this Linton Park side is beginning to look rather pleased with itself. Long may it continue.

Sat 18 May 2019 🧢 2nd XIv FC Four Elms CC · AwayformLLLDW

Saturday 18th May 2019, and off we trundled to Four Elms with the covers optimistically left at home despite the forecast. Won the toss, had a look at the sky, and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I'm claiming credit before the weather has a chance to argue.

We posted a tidy 169 for 7 off our forty, built around a fine 42 from Darrell Houghton-Judge and useful support from James Watkins with 36. Extras chipped in a generous 25 — practically an opening partnership in their own right — while poor Will Thew was undone for a golden duck, the sort of dismissal that earns you a pint bought in sympathy rather than celebration. I managed 24 of my own along the way, no great work of art, but runs on the board all the same.

With the ball, Four Elms threatened to make a game of it, their openers putting on 61 before we found a breakthrough. But Tim Thirkell had other ideas, running through them for a magnificent 5 for 26, richly deserved and worth the walk back to the top of the mark alone. Henry Bourdillon (2-23) and Mardey Castle (1-22) mopped up nicely, Lee Shepherd and Jon Pike departed without troubling the scorers, and Four Elms subsided to 146 all out.

A 23-run win, two points banked, and showers be damned — a thoroughly earned afternoon's work.

Sun 12 May 2019 🧢 Sunday NVKCv FC Fawkham Guzzlers CC · HomeformWLWLW

There's a peculiar art to losing the toss and somehow still fancying your afternoon, and on Sunday 12 May, watching Fawkham Guzzlers CC saunter to the crease first, I was doing my best impression of a captain who'd planned it that way all along. They ground their way to 164 all out in 38.3 overs, James Cramp top-scoring with a brisk 35, well backed by Jamie Billings (30) and Tom Billings (22). Small mercies: Joel Thomas departed for a duck at our hands. Matthew Carter was the pick of the attack with a fine 3-29, Thomas Beeney chipped in with 3-46, and Martin Harris picked up 1-22 for good measure.

Chasing 165, we contrived to make it interesting, as is tradition — 7-1 inside the first few overs had the tea urn rattling nervously. But Luke Welsman played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 26 seeing us home, ably supported by James Piper's 22 and my own watchful 21. We also had the extras column to thank, a generous 47 runs — rather less generously returned, mind, as our bowlers leaked 23 in wides and no-balls, proof that no lead is ever entirely safe from our own generosity.

Still, 167/6 got there with overs to spare, and four wickets in hand is four wickets in hand. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a result that lets me sleep soundly — this week, at least.

Sun 12 May 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv AC Ash CC · AwayformLWWLW

Sunday dawned cool and clear at Ash CC, the kind of afternoon that flatters nobody's excuses, and having won the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might later suggest. We were bowled out for 153 in 37.4 overs, a total that promised more than it delivered. Darrell Houghton-Judge led the way with a fine 46, and I was glad to chip in with 24 alongside Charles Curteis's 22, though poor Michaela Karassellos will have to make do with a golden duck for her troubles — these things happen to the best of us.

Defending 153 was always going to ask questions of our attack, and Ash answered most of them, reaching 157 for 5 in just 19.2 overs. Charles Curteis's 63 did the real damage, well supported by Charlie Laslett's 40 and an unbeaten 32 from Alex Spokes, while Alex Laslett departed for nought at the other end. Toby Allsworth was easily our pick with 3 for 19, and Anton and Henry Bourdillon chipped in with a wicket apiece, though Henry's were rather more expensive than he'd have liked.

One moment of real pride amid the wreckage: Ray Dixon brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark worth far more than any scoreline. Darrell continues to sit second in the season's run charts, Toby fourth among the wicket-takers.

Not our day, beaten by five wickets — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 11 May 2019 🧢 2nd XIv FC Farningham CC · HomeformWLLLD

Saturday 11 May 2019, and Farningham CC came to Linton Park on an afternoon that couldn't decide whether it was spring or a car wash. We lost the toss, were duly invited to field first, and I spent the opening overs wondering whether my jumper or my judgement was the bigger liability.

With the bat, though, we found our feet nicely. Martin Harris played the innings of the day, 44 not out and unmoved by anything Farningham threw at him, while I chipped in with 30 and Shehryar Gul added a brisk 21 — the two of us putting on a vital 54 for the sixth wicket after things had looked distinctly ropier. Spare a thought for poor Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan, back in the pavilion for a golden duck before he'd had time to take guard properly. The extras column, meanwhile, continued its long tradition of quietly outperforming half the top order, chipping in 29. All told, 171 for 6 from our forty overs felt like a total with enough about it to trouble them.

And trouble them it did. James Mansfield's 43 and Richard Pleydell's 28 threatened a rearguard, but three ducks in a heap and some tidy bowling — Abishek Pushpavinothan's 3 for 33 the pick, well backed by Henry Bourdillon and Tim Thirkell — saw them bowled out for 116.

Fifty-five runs the margin, two points the reward, and for once even the weather behaved itself long enough to let us enjoy it.

Sat 11 May 2019 🧢 1st XIv FC Four Elms CC · AwayformLWLWD

Saturday 11th May took us out to Four Elms, under skies best described as unenthusiastic. Winning the toss, I stuck us in the field — and for once I shall permit myself a small, smug pat on the back for that decision, right up until Paul Gammage and Zak Willox reminded us why that plan doesn't always work. The pair put on 198 for the first wicket before anyone so much as troubled the scorers with a wicket, Gammage motoring to a magnificent 109 and Willox chipping in with 90 of his own. Joshua Knowler eventually broke the stand with 2-56, Alex Keeler weighing in with 1-56, but by then Four Elms were sat pretty on 238/4 from their forty overs.

Chasing 239 was always going to want something special, and while Toby Hughes battled manfully to 21 not out, the rest of us rather queued up to get out, the innings unravelling from 68-3 to 78-6 in the sort of collapse that makes a captain suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. Poor John Karassellos had the misfortune of a golden duck, and even thirty extras — generous of Four Elms, that — couldn't paper over the cracks. I contributed a workmanlike 15, and we closed on 146/9.

A defeat by 92 runs, then, and not for the faint of heart. Tobey Castle continues to lead our run charts this season with 84, and Joshua Knowler tops the wickets with 4 — small consolations on a long drive home. Not our day. Heads up, chins forward, back to the nets.

Sun 05 May 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Beckenham CC · HomeformLLWWL

Sunday 5 May, and Beckenham CC came calling under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain on us properly or just sulk. Cool, showery, the kind of afternoon that makes you check the covers twice — but the lads batted as if the sun were splitting the stones. Luke Welsman led the way with a well-made 52, David Rayment chipped in a handsome 48 and Mark Christmas weighed in with 37 of his own — the two of them putting on a crucial 70 for the fourth wicket to haul us to a healthy 188 for 5 from our 35 overs. Worth a mention: Christmas's 37 nudged him past Piers McDonald to 16th on the club's all-time run charts, which is the sort of thing that earns a nod at the bar even if nobody quite remembers who was 17th.

Defending it, Beckenham's Alex Shanks looked ominously well set for a while, cracking a fine 73 and putting on 77 for the first wicket before we found a breakthrough. But cricket, mercifully, is a game of turns — we ripped through the middle order from 141-3 to 156-6 in a blur, Luke Welsman doing the real damage with 3 for 28, ably backed by David Rayment (3-40) and Alex Keeler (1-28). Poor Mark Twaddell departed without so much as a single to his name. Beckenham finished 17 short at 171 for 8.

A fine win by 5 wickets, then — showers and all. Onwards.

Sat 04 May 2019 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformWLWLW

Saturday 4th May, and we trooped out to Bidborough under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain on us properly or just sulk. I won the toss and put them in — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scoreboard says by close of play.

James Baldock made us pay for it, motoring to 98 and threatening the sort of milestone that gives a fielding captain grey hairs, well supported by Rob Ackermann's 23 and Dom Trett's 20. At least Jack Ponsford departed for a duck at our hands, which felt like a small victory amid the carnage. They finished on 234/8 from their forty, a total that had "declaration bowling" written all over it. Luke Welsman was superb, his 3-19 the pick of a attack that also saw Abishek Pushpavinothan (3-49) and Matthew Carter (1-47) chip away gamely.

Chasing that lot in a mere 25 overs was never really the plan, and so it proved. Glen Rawson anchored things nicely with an unbeaten 33, and I was glad to lend a hand with 20 not out of my own. Poor Richard Piper's golden duck was the low point of an otherwise steady reply, though credit to our openers' bat-avoidance skills — 36 extras did a fair chunk of the scoring for us. We closed on 94/4.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. Given the conditions and Baldock's heroics, I'll happily take it.

Sun 28 Apr 2019 🧢 Sunday NVKCv West Farleigh CC · AwayformWWLWL

Sunday 28 April 2019, and off we trundled to West Farleigh under skies that couldn't quite decide whether they were doing us a favour or not. Cool, drizzly, the sort of afternoon that makes you glad of a jumper under the whites. I lost the toss — no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains a work in progress — and we were put into the field.

West Farleigh crawled to 114 all out in 39.2 overs, Tom Osborne the chief nuisance with 39, but our attack strangled the rest. Alex Keeler was magnificent, 4-27, backed up nicely by Toby Hughes and myself, both 2-11, while Martin Harris bowled with such miserly intent that three maidens went unrewarded by so much as a single run. A proper team effort with the ball, and 114 always looked a modest total on a slow pitch.

Chasing it down, Jordan Austin played the innings of the day — a fine 63, anchoring things beautifully — with a second-wicket stand of 60 doing much of the heavy lifting. I was glad to chip in with 35 not out and see us home, though Aaron Hughes and Mark Christmas will want to forget their ducks in a hurry. Greg Snape and Paul Baines had similarly quiet afternoons with the bat, but no matter.

115 for 4 in 18.1 overs — a comfortable six-wicket win, and a thoroughly satisfying way to start the season. Onwards.

Sun 21 Apr 2019 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Cowdrey CC · HomeformLLLWW

Sunday 21 April brought us Cowdrey CC and a sky so obligingly blue that I called correctly at the toss and never once considered fielding first. Batting looked a formality once Tobey Castle and Joshua Knowler got us moving, and Castle's 45, with Richard Piper chipping in 21, gave the innings its spine. Not that it was plain sailing — a fellow was back in the hutch with just five on the board, before the second-wicket pair steadied us with a fine stand of 93. Then, as club cricket so loves to do, the whole thing wobbled: 98 for 2 became 112 for 5 before we'd finished our tea, with Archie Fairfax-Ross and Charles Curteis both departing for ducks. A generous 39 extras from Cowdrey rounded us out to 176 all out in 33.5 overs — respectable, if a touch fortunate in its arithmetic.

Defending it, we toiled honestly. Darrell Houghton-Judge was superb, 3 for 27 with two maidens to show for his afternoon's work, and Toby Hughes backed him up nicely with 2 for 19, Fairfax-Ross chipping in a wicket too — and, in a small mercy, Ben Metcalf fell to us without troubling the scorers. But one man simply refused to be dislodged: Glen Warner ground out an unbeaten 118, anchoring a crucial third-wicket stand of 68 and seeing Cowdrey home at 180 for 6 in 35.5 overs.

Beaten by four wickets, then, and fair play to Warner — that's a captain's-log entry we'll be quoting back at ourselves all season. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 20 Apr 2019 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWWLWL

A warm, bright afternoon at Linton Park, and Headcorn duly won the toss and stuck us in — which, after a winter of longing for exactly this sort of day, felt almost rude. Still, we set about making the most of it. Tobey Castle played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 74 that did the heavy lifting, with Will Thew a fine foil for 39 in a second-wicket stand of 75 that gave the whole innings its spine. I chipped in with an unbeaten 30 down the order, and with a generous 36 in extras thrown in for good measure, we closed on a healthy 204 for 3 from our forty overs. Rarely has the scoreboard looked so kind to us for so little apparent effort.

In the field we were rather more purposeful. Darrell Houghton-Judge was the pick of the attack with 3 for 37, Martin Harris chipped in with 2 for 33, and I managed 2 for 7 of my own, including seeing off poor Khum Raj for a duck. Matthew Carter bowled two tidy maidens, and only Peter Westrop's 43 threatened to make a game of it as Headcorn subsided to 135 for 8.

A word too for Will Thew, who brought up 4,000 career runs for the club — a landmark achieved with typical understatement.

Sixty-nine runs the margin, two points banked, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work.