🧢 Captain's Log

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

Sunday 22 September, and off we trotted to Tenterden CC under skies that couldn't make up their mind — warm when the sun showed, decidedly damp when it didn't. Winning the toss and putting ourselves in the field, we watched Martin Duffield play the innings of the afternoon, a magnificent 102, with James Allen keeping him fine company on 77. They'd lost an early wicket for just 2 — a nervy start for them, though you wouldn't have known it once that second-wicket pair got stuck in and added 172 without so much as a backward glance. Poor Guy Day departed without troubling the scorers, a proper duck to remember. Luke Welsman led our attack manfully (1-24), with Anthony Karassellos miserly through his overs (1-32, two maidens) and James Piper chipping in (1-35). They closed on 252/4 from their 47 — a stiff ask.

We replied in kind, losing an early wicket for 0 of our own before Alex Keeler set about repairing things with a fine 75, well supported by James Piper's 53 and Archie Fairfax-Ross's 27; I rather enjoyed leading from the front with 53 myself. Mark Christmas endured a day best forgotten, both with a golden duck and 17 leg-byes conceded behind the stumps, though I shan't dwell on it. We closed on 250/8 from 41 — agonisingly, honours even.

A draw, then — neither side quite able to land the killer blow. Frankly, after batting like that, I'll happily settle for honours shared.

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

Warm, grey skies at Linton Park, but nothing dampened the mood after I won the toss and chose to bat — a decision I'm rather pleased to take credit for. Aaron Hughes played the innings of the day, motoring to 94 and dragging us to a healthy 212/5 from 45.2 overs, with Richard Piper (28) and Jordan Austin (26) chipping in nicely. The fifth-wicket pair's 66 together was the platform that made the total look respectable rather than merely adequate.

Defending it, we gave a good account of ourselves without quite landing the killer blow. Darrell Houghton-Judge was superb, 3-51, backed up by James West and Jordan Austin with a wicket apiece, while Mardey Castle bowled two tidy maidens to choke things at the right moments. But Linden Park had answers of their own — Almas Dalwatzai's 67 and a composed unbeaten fifty from Henry Roberts, with Jayaprakash Seluthiyan weighing in too, saw their third-wicket pair add a hefty 81. We claimed it back, only for their last pair to add a thoroughly unnecessary 35 that we could have done entirely without, closing on 216/6 and getting home by four wickets.

Small crumb of comfort: Aaron Hughes' 94 keeps him third in the 1st XI run charts for the season with 382 to his name — the lad's in the form of his life, even if the rest of us are merely along for the ride.

All told, a fine effort undone by a stubborn last wicket and a touch too much generosity in the field. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 18 Sep 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWWLWW

Beaten by 38, but honestly, I'll take the batting all day. Winning the toss and having a bat was, I felt, the obvious call, and 241/4 off our 35 vindicated it nicely. Richard Piper set the tone with a really classy 76, and Aaron Hughes played the perfect foil, 64 not out and never looking remotely troubled — the pair of them putting on 117 for the third wicket while the rest of us admired from the boundary. Archie Fairfax-Ross chipped in a brisk 36, and even our extras column got in on the act with 40 — practically an opener in its own right.

Defending it should have been straightforward. It wasn't. Their openers put on 108 before we made the first breakthrough, and from there A Norwood-Hill (60) and A Cornwallis (57) kept chiselling away, with A Mills adding 39 more. To our credit we kept plugging: Archie Fairfax-Ross was superb with the ball, 2 for just 1, backed up nicely by Martin Harris (2-23) and Luke Welsman (2-24), and we did at least send Sir John Dunnington-Jefferson and E Shires back for ducks. Poor Benjamin Austin had a torrid time behind the stumps, 12 byes going begging, and in the end 203 all out from 33.5 overs was 38 more than we could match.

A batting performance to be proud of undone by a fielding day to forget. Aaron Hughes and Martin Harris continue to lead the way in the season's charts, and we head into next week determined to tighten up where it mattered most.

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

Sunday 15 September dawned warm and overcast — the sort of afternoon that suggests a bowler's pitch, which is precisely why I won the toss and, with all the wisdom of hindsight now available to me, decided to bat first.

It didn't go entirely to plan. We were bowled out for 174 in 24.5 overs, which on another day might have felt brisk but on this one felt merely adequate. Daniel Thirkell led from the front with a fine 43, and got good company from Mardey Castle (22) and David T Lowen (21). I managed to potter along to 21 myself, more through stubbornness than style. Less happily, both John Karassellos and Ryan Silk departed for ducks, the sort of scores that draw sympathetic nods in the pavilion and precisely nothing else. 🦆🦆

174 always felt a touch light, and so it proved — we fell short by 8 runs, the narrowest of margins and the most infuriating kind of defeat, the sort that has you replaying every dropped run and misjudged single on the drive home.

Still, credit where it's due: James Piper continues his imperious form with the bat, now sitting atop our 2019 first-team run charts with 454 runs — a genuine bright spot in an otherwise chastening afternoon.

Not our day, then. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets — there's work to do before next week.

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 · HomeformLWWLW

With the coin falling our way and me choosing to field first — vindicated within the hour, if I say so myself — Penshurst Park were shepherded to 120/7 off their 39.5 overs. Adam Snaith gave us a fright with a well-made 46, and Keith Stone's 29 kept the scoreboard ticking, the pair putting on a stubborn 75 for the fourth wicket. But Archie Fairfax-Ross, bowling like a man with a train to catch, ripped through with 3-9, while Tim Thirkell's miserly 1-9 (three maidens — not a run given away lightly) and John Karassellos's 1-14 squeezed the life out of the innings.

Chasing 121, we made unnecessarily hard work of it, stumbling to 121/9 from 31.5 overs. Thomas Beeney's 34 and Aaron Hughes's 21 did the heavy lifting; your correspondent, meanwhile, contributed a duck of such quality the less said the better. Nerves jangled to the very last, but we scrambled home by one wicket — the kind of win that ages a captain by several years in the space of an afternoon.

Amid the chaos, a lovely moment: Benjamin Austin brought up 2,000 career runs for the club — a landmark worth toasting properly. Aaron Hughes continues to top the Midweek XI run charts on 309, with Martin Harris leading the wickets on 14.

Ugly, nerve-shredding, utterly memorable — a win's a win, and we'll take it gladly. Onwards.

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

Sunday 8th September, and a grey but perfectly agreeable afternoon greeted us as we hosted Leeds & Broomfield. I lost the toss - not for the first time this season - and we were put into the field, which at least spared me from having to invent excuses for our top order early doors.

Leeds & Broomfield made hay to the tune of 141 all out, built chiefly around Max Aitken's fine 60 and Edward Scrivens' 32, the pair putting on 81 for the fifth wicket while we watched on rather helplessly. Credit where due, though: Harry Bone, Clarry McCague and Marcus Prime were all sent packing without scoring, and Martin Harris was superb, taking 3-31 to lead the attack, well backed by Archie Fairfax-Ross (2-10), Alex Keeler (2-29) and two tidy maidens from Joshua Knowler. A total that felt gettable.

Gettable, but not got. We stumbled to 1-1 almost before the tea urn had boiled, and though James Piper (32) and Alex Keeler (31) gave us something to build on, a horror stretch saw 53-4 become 63-7 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a pint. Jordan Austin and Toby Hughes both walked the plank for ducks, and I contributed 32 of my own before the tail folded, all out for 125.

Beaten by 16 runs, then - closer than the collapse suggested, and no disgrace against a side who made us work for every wicket. We'll dust ourselves off and come back stronger next week.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 7th September, Outwood CC at home under skies that couldn't quite make their minds up, much like the toss, which we duly lost. Sent in to bat, we huffed and puffed our way to 98 all out in 39.1 overs, a total that flattered to deceive. Glen Rawson top-scored with a gutsy 36, well backed by Trevor Back's 25, but the middle order rather let itself down, with Henry Bourdillon, Darrell Houghton-Judge and John Karassellos all departing for ducks — three quacks for the price of one, and not the kind of hat-trick any of us were after.

With the ball, we scrapped hard but were up against a man in irresistible form. Paul Howard eased to an unbeaten 51, calmly supported by James Malley's 23 and Michael Cleaver's 22 not out, and Outwood cantered home on 102/1 in just 23.1 overs. Credit where due — Darrell Houghton-Judge kept things tight with 1-15, and Henry Bourdillon, having atoned somewhat for his golden duck, bowled two miserly maidens.

Elsewhere in the season, Richard Piper continues to lead the 2nd XI run charts on 396, and Darrell Houghton-Judge sits a creditable fifth in the wicket charts with 8. Beaten by nine wickets in the end, then — a chastening afternoon, but no disgrace against a side who simply had the better of every session. We'll regroup, dust off the pads, and be better for it next week.

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 HC Holborough Anchorians CC · AwayformDWWWD

From the captain's chair, then — Sunday saw us make the trip to Holborough Anchorians, under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to spoil the picnic. I lost the toss, they had a bat, and off we went into the field on a pleasant, overcast afternoon that gave nothing away.

Dave Tucker set about us properly, 96 to his name, with Sayad Jabarkhall's well-made 77 and Bilal Maroof's 41 piling on the misery. John Karassellos worked hardest for us with 2-63, Charles Curteis and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipping in a wicket apiece, but 322/8 from their forty overs was a stiff ask on any Sunday.

We had a go, in fairness. Thomas Roxburgh's 60 anchored things nicely, Mark Christmas passed his fifty too, and Richard Piper's 48 kept the board ticking after a jittery start — three down with only 3 runs up — rescued by a fine 84 for the third wicket. William Roxburgh and John Karassellos went without troubling the scorers, and I contributed precisely nothing myself; we'll say no more about that. 230/8 was a brave effort but not nearly enough.

There was, though, real cause for cheer amid the wreckage: Richard Piper brought up 16,000 career runs for the club and climbed to sixth on the all-time run-scorers list, past Paul Gibson — a landmark worth toasting in the bar regardless of the scoreline. Beaten by 92 in the end. We'll be better for it next week.

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

Down by five wickets away at Meopham, and I won't pretend the toss loss did us any favours — asked to bat first, we duly obliged with a card that read rather better in theory than in practice.

Ninety-three all out in 35.4 overs is not a total that lets a captain sleep easy, and truth be told it flattered us. Alex Keeler stood firm for 31 not out, a lone lighthouse in a fog of collapse, while Mark Christmas, Craig Sands and Martin Harris all trooped back for ducks. As for your correspondent — I too contributed a blob to the day's ornithology. We shan't dwell on it.

In the field, though, there was pride to be salvaged. Martin Harris, having atoned handsomely with the ball, picked up 2-16, backed by tidy support from Tobey Castle and Joshua Knowler with a wicket apiece, and two maidens from Richard Knowler that gave away nothing lightly. We had Meopham checked at various points — Mark Lewis-Ranwell and Brad Millbank both sent back without scoring — but Miles Tucker's unbeaten 33, well supported by Alex Bryant's 26, saw them home at 96/5.

Amid the gloom, real cause for cheer: James Piper raised 12,000 career runs for the club, and Luke Welsman turned out for the 200th time in Linton colours — milestones that outlast any single scorecard. Piper leads our run charts this summer with 401, Harris tops the wickets with 24.

Verdict: not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

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

We travelled to Egerton CC on Sunday 25 August, and having called correctly at the toss there was never much debate in my mind — on a good-looking Kent afternoon, we were batting. Shehryar Gul played the innings of the day with a fine 79, and he found a willing ally in Thomas Roxburgh (51), the pair adding a crucial 75 for the second wicket that really set the tone. William Roxburgh chipped in with 35, I managed 20 myself, and with the extras column swelling by a generous 48, we posted a formidable 302/9 from our forty overs — the sort of total that makes the tea taste sweeter.

With the ball, it was Martin Harris who did the early and lasting damage, a superb 4-32 that had their top order in all sorts of trouble, well backed up by Will Thew (2-17) and Alastair Allsworth (1-9). Gabriel Gad played a lone hand of real quality — 63 that at least made the scorebook look respectable — but Egerton were bowled out for 174 in the 40th over, never truly threatening the target. Spare a thought for Aaron Hughes behind the stumps, who endured a torrid afternoon with the gloves, 16 byes going begging on a pitch that clearly had ideas of its own.

Elsewhere in the season, Jordan Austin continues to top our Sunday run charts with 233, and Martin Harris's four-for lifts him to second in the wicket standings on 11. As for Sunday's efforts: a comfortable and thoroughly deserved win by 128 runs. Onwards.

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

Battle CC arrived on a scorching, grey sort of afternoon — the kind that can't decide whether it's fielding weather or barbecue weather — and I won the toss with what I like to think was quiet authority, opting to bat without a flicker of doubt.

We wobbled early, losing a wicket with just 5 on the board, the sort of nervy start that has you reaching for the tea urn a little too soon. But Glen Rawson and Luke Welsman steadied things beautifully, their second-wicket stand of 84 the innings' backbone, before Rawson sailed serenely to 78 not out and Tobey Castle finished unbeaten on 30. Darrell Houghton-Judge's contribution was, statistically speaking, nothing at all — a golden duck to treasure, or at least to mention at the bar. A generous 29 extras rounded us up to a handsome 180/3 from our 35.

In the field, Mark Christmas was the story of the afternoon — 3-12 with three maidens, miserly to the point of parsimony — well backed by Tobey Castle's 2-8 and Henry Bourdillon's 2-21. Harvey Faulkner departed for a duck of his own, but Colin Gorridge's fine 52, with Stuart Reeves and Ben Newman chipping in, dragged Battle to 143/9 from their 34 and just out of our reach.

Honours shared, then — a draw when neither side could quite land the killer blow. On another day we go home happy; on this one we go home for tea, unbeaten and unbowed.

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

Saturday 24th August found us on the road at St Lawrence CC, and after calling correctly at the toss I didn't need long to weigh up my options — a green-tinged look to the pitch, or possibly just my own optimism, and we were fielding.

It proved a shrewd call, or at least a lucky one. St Lawrence were bowled out for 70 in 28.4 overs, with only Paul Martin (41) offering any real resistance. Toby Allsworth was quite magnificent, ripping through the middle order for 4-5, with Tim Thirkell (2-16) and Henry Bourdillon (2-24) tidying up either end, while Mardey Castle strangled the runs with four maidens. Ian Enslin and Allan Churchman both departed for ducks, joining the club's least wanted list, and the whole innings had the air of a side that had left its bats in the changing room.

Chasing 71, we made harder work of it than the arithmetic suggested was necessary, stumbling to 74/5 from 20.2 overs — Alastair Allsworth's golden duck the low point of an otherwise cheerful pursuit, and a generous 28 extras doing more for the cause than several of us managed with the bat. Still, we got there, five wickets to spare.

With Richard Piper (391 runs) and Tim Thirkell (19 wickets) continuing to lead the 2nd XI charts, the season ticks along nicely. A scruffy chase, but a fine bowling display and, ultimately, a good day for the club.

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

Skipper's Log, Saturday 24 August 2019: Bidborough CC at home, under skies that couldn't decide whether to scorch us or shade us — much like my own captaincy, some days. Won the toss, didn't think twice about batting, and for a while that looked like the right call and then rather quickly like a questionable one, with an early wobble to 2-1 threatening to set the tone for the whole innings. Thankfully Daniel Thirkell had other ideas, playing a fine, composed 62 to drag us up to a defendable-looking 137/8 from our 40. Not every name will want to relive the day — Craig Sands's duck is there in black and white for posterity.

Defending it, we had them nervy early at 4-1, and for a spell it looked like our afternoon. Martin Harris was magnificent, 3-19 and — rather wonderfully — passing 500 career wickets in the process, a landmark worth raising a glass to regardless of the result. Joshua Knowler and Alex Keeler chipped in handsomely too, Keeler's two maidens proof that not everything was leaking runs. Charlie Harding fell to us for nought, small mercies. But Baldock's 32, Ackermann's unbeaten 26 and Davis's 20 kept them in touch, and an infuriating last-wicket stand of 37 did for us in the end — beaten by two wickets with three overs unused.

Daniel sits second in the season's run charts, Martin top of the wickets — silver linings on a losing afternoon. Not our day. Heads up, chins up, back to the nets.

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

Wednesday 21 August 2019, and Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC came calling on a warm, overcast afternoon that felt made for cricket, if not necessarily for the visitors. I called correctly at the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, chose to bat without a flicker of hesitation.

What followed was a proper knock. Aaron Hughes played the innings of the day, a fine 83, while Tobey Castle wasn't far behind with 75, the pair putting the bowlers to the sword between them. Luke Welsman chipped in with an unbeaten 29 to round things off nicely at 222/4 from our 35 overs. Only Benjamin Austin will want to forget the afternoon, undone for a duck — these things happen to the best of us, Ben.

With 223 to chase, the visitors never got going. Mardey Castle was magnificent with the ball, ripping through them for 4-15, with Luke Welsman (3-12) and Tim Thirkell (1-4, and six miserly maidens to boot) squeezing the life out of any resistance. J- Knott and Iain Barker both departed without troubling the scorers, and Tunbridge Wells were bowled out for a paltry 71 in 41 overs — though Tobey Castle, valiant with the bat, did leak 9 byes behind the stumps.

Milestones all round: Tobey brought up 3,000 career runs for the club, and Martin Harris's solitary wicket eased him past Allan Cooper into 15th on our all-time list. A 151-run win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

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

We were away at Stowting on a Sunday afternoon that couldn't quite decide whether it was drizzling or sulking, and I won the toss and stuck us in the field — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook eventually said about that.

Matt Jay gave us a proper going-over with a fine 54, well supported by Stuart Graham (26) and Mike James (25), their second-wicket pair putting on a stubborn 67 before we could get a grip. Credit where due, though — Joshua Knowler bowled beautifully for 3-20, with Martin Harris (2-25) and Alex Keeler (2-40) chipping away either end, and we did at least see off Josh Ward and Henry Bridges without either troubling the scorer. 159/9 from their 40 overs felt gettable, on paper.

Paper, as ever, proved unreliable. James Piper (26) and Aaron Hughes (24) built something respectable, and I added 26 of my own, but 84/4 became 90/7 with the alarming speed of a kettle boiling over, and poor Tobey Castle's golden duck rather summed up our afternoon. All out for 116 in 35.1 overs — beaten by 43 runs, and fairly so.

Not our day, then, heads up and back to the nets — though with Jordan Austin sitting second in the run charts and Thomas Beeney leading the way with the ball, there's rather more to smile about in the bigger picture than there was in this particular scorebook.

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

From the captain's chair — Sunday 18 August 2019. Boughton-under-Blean CC were our visitors on a showery sort of afternoon, the kind where you eye the covers as much as the scoreboard. I lost the toss, as is now practically tradition, and we were put into the field.

They made hay while the sun tried its best, posting 183 for 5 off their forty overs. Andrew Clayson was the chief architect with an unbeaten 46, well supported by Frederick Entwistle's 44 and David Shelley's equally unbeaten 36. To our credit, the bowling never lost its shape — Tim Thirkell led from the front with 1 for 20, with Thomas Roxburgh (1-24) and James Watkins (1-27) chipping in to keep the total honest rather than alarming.

Chasing 184, we could hardly have asked for a better start: 83 runs on the board before the first wicket fell, a stand that more or less won us the match there and then. Will Thew played the innings of the day, a polished 52, while Mark Christmas kept his end tidy with an unbeaten 42 — and thirty extras arrived, gratefully received, like a tea interval that never disappoints. We got home on 185 for 5 with three overs unused.

A five-wicket win, then, achieved with more comfort than the scoreline perhaps suggests. Richard Piper and Tim Thirkell continue to top the Sunday charts with bat and ball respectively, and the rest of us potter along in their considerable wake. Onwards.

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

It was Penshurst Park CC at home on Saturday, warm and drizzly, and I duly called wrong at the toss — sent in to field, which is never quite the afternoon one plans for. Still, the lads made light of it. Glen Rawson played the innings of the day with 66, Richard Piper wasn't far behind with a classy 54, and Paul Bourdillon's 38 rounded out a total of 188/3 from our forty overs that felt, by tea, like a proper platform.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Muhammed Farooqui's 44 kept Penshurst in the hunt, with Jake Cheesman and Simon Leegood both chipping in 31 apiece and a second-wicket stand of 68 threatening to run away from us. But cricket has a habit of turning, and turn it did — 122/3 became 129/6, with Jules Bass Gualbert and Trev Bayley both back in the hutch without scoring. Mardey Castle was the chief tormentor, 4-39 with two miserly maidens, well backed by Henry Bourdillon's 3-49 and Tim Thirkell's solitary but useful strike. I'll confess our discipline left something to be desired — 22 wides and 5 no-balls is not the tightest bowling display Linton Park has ever produced — but Penshurst finished on 183/9, five runs short.

I was glad to get among the runs myself with 54, and with Piper and Thirkell continuing to top the season's charts, the engine room is clearly firing. A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly deserved win. Onwards indeed.

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

As a match, we won by 9 wickets, chasing 130/8 after bowling first at Shipbourne.

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Won the toss on Saturday and, with the sky doing that noncommittal Kentish thing it does, I fancied a bowl. History will record this as one of my better decisions, and I intend to remind everyone of that fact at length in the clubhouse.

Shipbourne huffed and puffed their way to 130/8 from their forty overs, a total that owed almost everything to Angus Willis's watchful 44 and a useful supporting knock of 20 from Sam Spink, the pair putting on 51 for the fourth wicket to give their innings some spine. But once that stand broke, the floodgates opened in the manner floodgates traditionally do, 120/5 becoming 130/8 in a hurry, Tom Pounds departing for a duck at our hands along the way. Alex Keeler was the chief architect of the collapse, superb figures of 2-18 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed up by Joshua Knowler (2-40) and Martin Harris (1-16).

Chasing 131, we barely broke sweat. James Piper, unbeaten on 49, and Daniel Thirkell, unbeaten on 47, simply battened down and batted the opposition into submission, while Craig Sands chipped in a brisk 20. I even had a small say in matters myself with 47, though I suspect nobody will remember that by teatime.

A comfortable nine-wicket win, then, and one that keeps Piper (390 runs) and Harris (19 wickets) proudly atop the 1st XI charts. Onwards indeed — the tea urn awaits.

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

Skipper's Log, Friday 16th August 2019: the Dragons CC came calling, and true to the spirit of English club cricket, the heavens couldn't quite make up their minds either, leaving us to take the field on a pleasantly drizzly afternoon. I lost the toss — some things never change — and we were put into the field. The visitors ground their way to 181/8 from their thirty overs, though we did strike early with just 1 on the board. That nervy start promised much, but Josh Mihill (58) and James Churchman (53) shared a crucial third-wicket stand of 97 to steady the ship, with Aaron Burrage chipping in with 28. Credit where due: Sam Boyns was miserly and menacing in equal measure, 2-17 with two maidens, while John Karassellos (2-40) and Jordan Austin (1-25) kept the pressure on. Ross Davies and Tim Mihill both departed cheaply, the latter for a duck.

Chasing 182, Alex Keeler's 38 anchored things nicely, well supported by Aaron Hughes (24) and Martin Harris (20), the pair adding 59 for the third wicket. Then, as is tradition, the wheels came off spectacularly — 94-3 became 96-6 before we knew what had hit us. Jordan Austin joined the Duck Club, and I did my bit with a watchful 20, but we stumbled to 161/9.

Beaten by 20 runs, then — honest toil, undone by a middle-order wobble. Hughes and Harris continue to lead our charts with bat and ball respectively. Chins up, lads — we'll be better for it next week.

Thu 15 Aug 2019 🧢 Coltsv Linton Park CC · Homeform—

Thursday 15 August 2019, and a warm, damp afternoon greeted Linton Park CC on their visit to us. Won the toss, elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and I'll stand by that even now.

The lads got us to 132/6 from our twenty, Tobey Castle the pick of the bunch with a composed 27 not out, Toby Hughes chipping in handsomely with 25, and Abishek Pushpavinothan unbeaten on 22. I managed 22 myself, which I shall claim as a captain's innings and leave it there. Less said the better about Saranyan, John Karassellos and Will Hughes, who between them conjured three golden ducks — a hat-trick of nothings that even the tea urn seemed to wince at.

Up the season table there's cheer amid the gloom: Tobey Castle now leads the 2019 Colts run charts with those 27, and Paul Bourdillon tops the Under 17s with 22 — young talent doing its bit while the old guard fret over the scorebook.

In the end, 132 wasn't quite enough, and we fell 14 runs short. Not our day, all told — a touch damp in the field, a touch flat with the bat when it mattered. Heads up though, chins up, and back to the nets we go. There's a season yet to be won, and worse defeats than this to build character from.

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

Sunday 11 August 2019, and Borstal CC rolled up on a pleasant, damp afternoon to find your captain having lost the toss and been sent out to field — the traditional fate of the honorary reporter, it seems, is always to bat last and write first. We toiled honestly enough as they built to 171/5 from their forty overs, David Round the chief architect with a well-made 61, James Whitnell chipping in a handsome 46 and Mark Stevens seeing them home unbeaten on 29. Andy Routledge, mercifully for the rest of us, was sent back for a golden duck. Thomas Beeney was magnificent with the ball, 3-38 and relentless, with James Watkins chiming in for one and Martin Harris bowling three overs so miserly he'd have given a Yorkshireman pause.

Chasing 172 to win, we crawled and clattered our way to exactly 171/9 from our own forty — Jordan Austin the standout with a fine, fluent 60 at the top of the order, the rest of us doing rather less to trouble the scoreboard attendant. One run short, nine wickets down, forty overs gone: cricket does not often deal in such perfect symmetry, and a tie was the only fair verdict a whole day's toil could produce.

A word for the record books: Thomas Beeney's three wickets nudged him past Daniel Thirkell into 18th on the club's all-time list, and he continues to lead our 2019 wicket charts with a dozen scalps, while Tobey Castle keeps ploughing on at the top of the run charts with 231. Honours even, then — and not a soul left disappointed.

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

Sunday saw us make the trip to Hythe, and winning the toss I took one look at the pitch and did what any self-respecting captain does when he can't be bothered to pad up first — I stuck us in. It proved a shrewd, or at least a lucky, call. Mark Christmas played the innings of the summer, an unbeaten 103 that had me doing sums about declaring long before he'd even reached fifty, while Darrell Houghton-Judge (35 not out) and Trevor Back (27 not out) tucked in around him as we rattled up 229 for 3 from our forty overs. Tea was a cheerful affair.

Defending it should have been the nervy part, but Hythe never quite got there. Timothy Pichowski batted beautifully for his 85, and with Roger Mapstone (44) put on 84 for the second wicket to threaten a scare — the only real alarm of the afternoon. George Foord and Steven Bean, alas, departed for ducks, which tells its own sorry tale. Tim Thirkell was superb with 3 for 38, Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in with 2 for 21 and Anthony Karassellos with 1 for 21, and I must confess to rather enjoying my own three wickets — a skipper is entitled to the odd bit of glory. Richard Piper and Tim Thirkell continue to top the season's run and wicket charts respectively, and rightly so.

We ran out winners by 61 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and Mark Christmas's ton the innings we'll be talking about at the bar for weeks.

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

Saturday 10 August 2019, away to Locksbottom, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they inserted us, and you could sense the afternoon's temperature from there.

Runs were hard to come by on a pitch that clearly favoured the man with the ball in hand. Darrell Houghton-Judge battled to 20 and top-scored, a small mercy amid the wreckage, while Richard Piper, Glen Rawson and Fred Taylor all trooped back for ducks — a trio of blobs that rather set the mood in the pavilion. Your correspondent, for the record, fared no better: bowled/caught/run out for nought, and I shan't dwell on it further. All out — sorry, 102/9 — from our 40 overs, a total that always looked light.

Defending it required something special, and for a while Anthony Karassellos threatened to conjure it, two wickets and two miserly maidens for his 23, with Tim Thirkell chipping in for one, and Keith Sawyer back in the hutch for a golden duck of his own. But Chris Trevatt had other ideas, compiling a composed unbeaten 51, well supported by Barry Kirkwood's 25, and their third-wicket stand of 68 simply ran away from us after that early wobble at 2 for 1. They cantered home in 24.1 overs.

Beaten by seven wickets, then, and no arguing with it. A hundred was never enough — we'll regroup, bat with a bit more backbone, and come again next week.

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

We won by three wickets on a blustery, showery Saturday against Bearsted CC — the kind of afternoon where you're never quite sure whether to reach for a jumper or a bat.

Winning the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in the field, and for once the decision looked shrewd rather than rash. Toby Hughes set the tone with the new ball, tightening the screws for figures of 2-16, while Mark Christmas (2-18) and Richard Knowler (1-14) kept up the pressure at the other end. Alex Keeler bowled with admirable restraint, sending down three maidens for good measure. There was an early wobble at 2-1 that had us purring, but Abhishek Poddar (28) and Noel Johnston (25) steadied things with a second-wicket stand of 52, and Bearsted eventually crawled to 150/9 from their forty overs — a target that felt, on that pitch, distinctly gettable.

So it proved, though not without the customary palpitations. Aaron Hughes played the anchor role beautifully for 40, with Daniel Thirkell (27) and Mark Christmas (21) chipping in handsomely around him, and I managed to contribute a watchful 27 of my own before handing the nerves back to the lower order. We scrambled home at 153/7 with three wickets and a few overs to spare — enough time for one last lbw appeal to be triumphantly, and correctly, turned down.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work: disciplined in the field, composed with the bat, and a result that keeps the season ticking along nicely. Onwards.

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

It rained sixes, if not rain, on a fine Friday at Linton Park, and I can report we've bagged another two points thanks to a proper team effort against Kenley CC. Lost the toss — no change there — and were put into the field, which suited us just fine as it turned out. Kenley battled to 154 all out from 46 overs, built around a fifty partnership for the first wicket and useful contributions from David Shivmangal (31), Harry Shivmangal (28) and Chris Churchley (27), but our attack never let them cut loose. Martin Harris was magnificent, ripping through with 4-25, while the Karassellos brothers did their bit too — John with 2-9 and Anthony a typically parsimonious 1-8 including two maidens. Spare a thought for Edward Shivmangel and Mitch Kanhai, both back in the pavilion without so much as a run to show for it.

Chasing 155, we made hardly elegant but thoroughly effective work of it, getting home at 158/6 in 33.1 overs. Luke Welsman played the innings of the day, a classy 53, well backed up by Aaron Hughes (38) and Jordan Austin (21) — and I'll allow myself a quiet pat on the back too, having picked up four wickets earlier in the day for good measure. Aaron continues to top our Midweek XI run charts this season with 181, and Martin now leads the wickets column with 11 — form both men will want to keep.

A four-wicket win, thoroughly earned, and a very happy skipper writing this one up. More of the same, please, lads.

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

We were sent in to field on a warm, showery Tuesday against Bexley CC, and I'd love to say the toss loss didn't sting, but it did — mostly because it handed Michael Ladbrook (46) the licence to get comfortable. Alexander Hill (30 not out) and James Burford (26 not out) chipped in nicely too, and just as we thought we had them boxed up, their last pair had the audacity to add 61 we really didn't need. Harrison Fermor was the pick of the attack with 3-36 and a couple of tidy maidens, Martin Harris backed him up with 2-25, and Abishek Pushpavinothan chimed in with 1-27. 197/8 felt like a par-plus score on a sluggish afternoon.

Chasing 198, we lost an early wicket with just 5 on the board — the sort of start that has you reaching for a second cup of tea — and Jordan Austin's golden duck didn't ease the nerves. But Aaron Hughes played the innings of the day, a composed 67, well supported by Abishek Pushpavinothan (30) and Mardey Castle (24), with extras chipping in a generous 34. It went right to the wire — 198/9 from 44.5 overs — but we scraped home by the barest of margins: one wicket.

A win by a single wicket is the cricketing equivalent of finding a fiver in an old coat — thoroughly undeserved-feeling but gratefully pocketed. Hughes continues to top the run charts and Harris the wickets, and the lads can hold their heads high. Onwards.

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

It was Borstal CC at home on a warm, grey Sunday, and having called correctly at the toss there was never any doubt in my mind — we'd bat. The lads set about it nicely, our openers laying a platform of 74 before the first wicket fell, and from there Thomas Roxburgh played the innings of the day, 53 to his name, with Will Thew (41) and William Roxburgh (26) lending sturdy support. A robust 75-run stand for the fifth wicket kept the innings on track, and we closed on a healthy 212/7 from our forty overs. Special mention, as tradition demands, to Fred Taylor for his golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin.

With the ball, it was Mardey Castle who did the early damage and kept coming back for more, finishing with a superb 4-36, while Tim Thirkell was a picture of parsimony — 2-12 with four maidens — and Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in with 2-39. Borstal fought hard, Mark Stevens (57) and Adam Mahomed (47) doing the bulk of the rebuilding after an early wicket at just 7, but they were all out for 193 in 38.5 overs. Eight byes did rather give the game away about George Taylor's afternoon behind the stumps — a testing day for him, if nothing else.

A word, too, for Richard Piper, whose 25 runs today eased him past Craig Sands into 7th on the club's all-time run-scorers list, and who continues to lead our 2019 Sunday 2nd XI charts with 252 runs, with Tim Thirkell topping the wickets column on 7.

A fine win by 19 runs, then — and not a bad way to spend a grey Sunday. Onwards.

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

Saturday 3rd August 2019, and Horsmonden CC rolled up to find us in fine fettle despite the drizzle doing its level best to dampen spirits. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting first — call it captain's instinct, call it luck, but it proved the right call. We wobbled alarmingly at 1-1, the sort of start that has a skipper reaching for the hip flask, before Richard Piper and Trevor Back steadied the ship with a stand of 98 for the third wicket. Piper went on to a magnificent, chanceless century, supported nobly by Back's 36 and Max Butler's 29, while the extras column weighed in with a generous 41. Poor George Taylor, meanwhile, made his way back to the pavilion for a duck — the walk of shame indeed. We closed on a handsome 235/7.

In the field, Darrell Houghton-Judge was the pick of the attack with 3-25, well backed up by Max Butler's 2-19 and the metronomic Tim Thirkell, whose 1-23 and two maidens kept the visitors honest throughout. Henry Martin's 38 and a watchful 52-run opening stand gave Horsmonden hope, but they never quite closed the gap, finishing on 193/7.

A personal century is always satisfying, though the real pleasure was watching the whole side contribute to a 42-run victory. A good day for the club, and a timely reminder — drizzle and all — of why we love this maddening game.

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

Saturday 3rd August found us on the road to Sissinghurst, and for once the coin actually did as it was told, allowing me the rare pleasure of putting the opposition in — sorry, us in — to bat first. We laboured somewhat to 157/9 from our forty overs, rescued from anything more embarrassing by Daniel Thirkell's watchful 40, with your captain contributing a further 40 of his own, though I'd rather you didn't ask how many of those runs came off the edge.

A total under 160 is never one you defend with much swagger, and when Brough Cooper began timing the ball with the ease of a man who'd read the scorebook in advance, racing to a fine 51 with Greg Bird's 32 for company, I confess I was mentally composing my apologies for the tea interval. But Mark Christmas had other ideas, ripping through their order for a magnificent 4-29, with Martin Harris (2-21) and Joshua Knowler (1-20) squeezing the life out of the other end. Sissinghurst fell agonisingly short on 150/9.

Seven runs. Not much to hang a season on, but enough to hang a smile on, and in club cricket that's really all the margin anyone needs. James Piper continues to purr along at the top of our run charts with 341, and Martin Harris now boasts 17 wickets for the summer — the lad's practically renting space in the opposition's top order.

A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly typical win. We'll take it, and we'll take the bus home singing.

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

Sunday 28 July 2019 saw Chelsfield Park CC visit us on a warm, drizzly afternoon, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation whatsoever in sticking us in to bat — some decisions make themselves. Richard Piper and Alex Keeler duly obliged, putting on 187 for the first wicket before either of them so much as thought about getting out, Piper eventually falling for a magnificent 92 and Keeler close behind on 87. Between them they did rather all the work, and we declared our efforts, such as they were, at 198/3 from 37 overs — a total that had the tea urn working overtime.

With the ball, we set about defending it in the drizzle. Arnab Sen batted sensibly for his unbeaten 43, but wickets fell steadily around him as Chelsfield limped to 101/7 from their 40 overs. Darrell Houghton-Judge was superb, 2-9 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by Luke Welsman and Harrison Fermor with a wicket apiece. Poor Nick French, in at Lenin, departed without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us.

In the end the rain and Chelsfield's obduracy denied us the win our batting deserved, and honours were shared. A draw, then — but with Piper now top of our Sunday 2nd XI run charts, there's plenty to be cheerful about even when the scorebook reads level.

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

We faced Sheldwich CC on Sunday 21 July, under skies that could not quite decide whether to sulk or clear, settling instead for a warm drizzle that had us checking the covers more than the scoreboard. Losing the toss and being put in the field is never how one dreams of spending a Sunday, but we set about our work with the ball and, in Thomas Beeney, found a man possessed — 5 for 39 of relentless, wicket-taking mischief. Toby Allsworth and Martin Harris chipped in a wicket apiece, Alex Keeler bowled two maidens as tight as his top button, and between them they restricted Sheldwich to 187 for 8, Matt Hammond's 49 the main obstacle, with James Creed and Josh Gallagher offering support.

Chasing 188 is rarely a formality, but James Piper and Aaron Hughes opened up with a stand of 116 that took the sting clean out of the total before the first wicket fell. Piper went on to a thoroughly well-made 70 — and I confess, as the man who made those runs, it was a rather satisfying way to spend an afternoon — while Shehryar Gul saw us home unbeaten on 49. We reached 188 for 2 with overs to spare, winning by eight wickets.

A word for the season: Aaron Hughes now sits fourth in our Sunday run charts, and Toby Allsworth leads the wicket-takers — form worth watching as the summer rolls on. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club: professional in the field, ruthless with the bat, and home in time for tea.

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

Saturday 20 July 2019, and we welcomed Four Elms CC through a warm, wet afternoon that felt more suited to ducks than cricket — of which more shortly. The coin obliged, I called correctly, and, fancying something in the damp surface for the bowlers, I sent Four Elms in.

For a while they made themselves quite at home, Eric Clemming compiling a fine 43 with Ben Allatt (36) and Alan Crowhurst (33) chipping in handsomely, and 148 looked like being a stiffer total than it turned out to be. But cricket, like the Kent weather, can turn on a sixpence, and we ran through the middle and lower order — 134-5 became 143-8 almost before the tea urn had cooled. Anthony Karassellos was in irresistible mood, spinning his way to 5-23 with three miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, and picked up both Justin Lariviere and Damian Conlin without either troubling the scorer. Henry Bourdillon (2-21) and Alec Martin (1-22) tidied up admirably in support. All out for 148 in 39.4 overs — honours, at that stage, very much ours.

Chasing it should have been the straightforward part. Alec Martin led the way with 31, Trevor Back (24) and Paul Bourdillon (22) offering good support, but a horribly familiar collapse — 96-3 to 109-6 — did for us, and we closed on 127-7, twenty-one runs shy.

Not our day, then. Heads up, and back to the nets — though with Anthony's spell like that, and Tim Thirkell still topping the 2nd XI wickets column, there's plenty to build on.

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

From the captain's chair — Saturday 20 July 2019. Away at Speldhurst, I won the toss and, in a fit of confidence I would later come to regret, stuck us in the field.

For a good while it looked the shrewdest of calls. James Waters played the innings of the day, a polished 54, while James Roche (39 not out) and Ben Brandt (37) chipped in nicely, their fourth-wicket stand of 59 doing most of the damage. Alex Keeler was the pick of the attack, tight as a drum with three maidens on his way to 2-15, and Richard Knowler and Riley Butler both weighed in with 2-46 and 2-35 apiece. Only James Hughes departed for nought. All told, 169/6 from their 40 overs felt gettable, if not exactly a doddle.

It was not to be. James Piper batted beautifully for 44 — I managed to scrap together 44 of my own alongside him — but around them the innings fell apart in the most spectacular English club-cricket fashion, 30-4 collapsing into 35-7 before most of us had finished our tea. Glen Rawson, Craig Sands and Joshua Knowler all made ducks, and we were bowled out for 77 in 23.1 overs.

A 92-run defeat, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — there are worse things in life than a hiding at Speldhurst on a Saturday in July.

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

Down by nine wickets at Saltwood, and there's no dressing it up as anything other than a chastening Sunday.

Winning the toss on 14 July and choosing to bat felt like the right call at the time — and I'll die on that hill, even if the scoreboard rather disagreed with me. We laboured to 151/9 from our 40 overs, with Mark Christmas the mainstay for 36, well supported by Aaron Hughes (30) and James Piper (24). Beyond that trio, though, the middle order rather fell on its sword — Alastair Allsworth, Alex Keeler and Thomas Beeney all contributing that most traditional of club cricket offerings, the golden duck. A word of real warmth amid it all: Mark brought up his 400th appearance in Linton colours, a magnificent landmark and one earned the hard way, over many a Sunday like this one.

With the ball, we simply couldn't lay a glove on them. Saltwood cantered to 152/1 in just 25.1 overs, Jarrod Casey unbeaten on 73 and Will Spain likewise undefeated on a well-made 62 — the pair batting as though our bowling were mere garnish. Toby Allsworth held the fort as best anyone could, picking up 1-29, and I chipped in with 24 myself, for what little comfort that offers.

The verdict, then, is a simple one: not our day, heads well and truly down, and it's back to the nets to work out how to trouble a set batsman before he's had the chance to get in.

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

Skipper's Log, 13 July 2019 – a warm, drizzly afternoon at Farningham, and precious little else went our way.

Lost the toss, put in to field, and watched Farningham build a proper score of 179 all out from their 37 overs. Chris Scott (45) and John Rose (45 not out) did most of the damage, with Richard Pleydell (42) chipping in and that third-wicket stand of 57 doing us no favours at all. Credit where it's due, though — we clawed them back from 143-5 to 152-8, and Anthony Karassellos was magnificent, 4-37 and thoroughly deserved, with Abishek Pushpavinothan (2-54) and a typically tidy Henry Bourdillon (1-15, two maidens) keeping things honest.

Chasing 180 in the drizzle, we simply never got going. Richard Piper battled hard for his 29, I managed to match him with 29 of my own, but around us wickets tumbled — Daniel Barker, Richard Gurney and Colin Hucker all back without scoring, and John Karassellos and Ryan Silk joining the duck club too. All out for 60 in 25.2 overs was a chastening return, and there's no dressing it up.

On the bright side, Richard Piper continues to top the 2nd XI run charts for the season with 227, and Henry Bourdillon sits second in the wickets column with nine — small mercies to cling to on the drive home.

Verdict: a hiding by 119 runs, heads bowed, and firmly back to the nets this week.

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

As it stands, we've had duller Saturdays than this one against Four Elms. Won the toss, took first knock — the right call, I still maintain — and 153 all out from 37.5 overs was a scrap more than it should have been after we slipped to 8 for 1 inside the first few overs. James Piper's 49 was the innings' backbone, Aaron Hughes chipped in a fine 40 and Joshua Knowler 21, with the pair adding 83 for the fourth wicket to drag us out of the mire. Glen Rawson and Stuart Cheesman both went quietly for nought, which is one way of keeping the scorebook tidy.

Defending 153 always felt like it would need discipline rather than miracles, and the bowlers delivered handsomely. Stuart Cheesman was superb — 3 for 28 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure — backed up by Alex Keeler's 3 for 40 and Martin Harris's 2 for 24. Paul Gammage and James Cole departed without troubling the scorers, and though Rob Smith's well-struck 52 threatened to spoil the party, we never quite let the game slip away. I even managed a tidy 49 of my own, which I shall mention only once, modestly.

A word too for Alex Keeler, who brought up 50 career wickets in the process — a landmark worth raising a glass to. Piper leads our run charts for the season and Harris the wickets, and on this evidence both totals will keep climbing.

Home by 15 runs, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

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

It was another crushing loss at the toss but somehow a rather glorious afternoon of cricket followed. New Ifield called correctly on a damp but pleasant Sunday and had few qualms about batting first, and after Lee Addy and Jake Bennett went early I'll admit a certain sinking feeling in the deep. Fortunately Joe Lawrence had other ideas, compiling a magnificent 104 while Darren McGrath chipped in with 35, and 175/4 looked a total to be respected. Toby Allsworth was the pick of our attack — 1-8 with two miserly maidens — well supported by James Piper and Will Thew, each claiming one apiece.

Chasing 176, we lost an early wicket at 7-1 and I confess I muttered something uncharitable under my breath. I needn't have worried. Richard Piper played an innings of real class, 102 not out, ably assisted by Alastair Allsworth's unbeaten 32 and Aaron Hughes' 29, the pair adding a priceless 74 for the second wicket. Their bowlers dropped short and we duly helped ourselves square of the wicket — cut, pulled, and once launched clean over mid-wicket by Piper for the shot of the day. Twelve byes made for an uncomfortable afternoon behind the stumps for Shehryar Gul, but no matter.

Eight wickets, two points, and Richard Piper's name climbing the season's run charts alongside Toby Allsworth atop the wickets — a thoroughly deserved victory, and one the tea urn will be talking about for weeks.

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

Down by 175 runs at Outwood on 6 July 2019, but the toss went our way and I stuck the opposition in — bold, and for once I'll stand by it.

From the captain's chair, this was one of those warm, showery afternoons where the sun came out just often enough to lull you into thinking the fielding was under control. It wasn't. Outwood batted first and simply carried on batting: Dru Tunstall made a magnificent 112, Harry Mawer chipped in with an unbeaten 85, and Robert Rigby cruised past his fifty with 58, the pair adding a ruinous 118 for the fourth wicket while the rest of us stood about admiring the scenery. They closed on 311/8 from their forty overs. To our credit, we didn't down tools entirely — Anthony Karassellos was excellent with the ball, 3-42, and Nigel Thirkell backed him up nicely with 2-25 and three tidy maidens, John Karassellos weighing in with 2-61. But 311 is 311, however you dress it up.

Chasing that lot was always a tall order, and so it proved. Darrell Houghton-Judge top-scored with a battling 37, Nigel Thirkell matched him with another 37 — busy man, that — and extras chipped in a generous 33, but we subsided to 136/8 and the game was up long before the last over.

So, not our day. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's plenty to work on, but the lads know it. Elsewhere, Richard Piper continues to lead our 2nd XI run charts with 198, and Anthony Karassellos's spell keeps him fourth in the wicket standings on 5. Onwards.

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

Skipper's Log, Saturday 6th July 2019 — Outwood CC in town, the skies doing that very English thing of threatening rain without ever quite committing to it. I lost the toss again, a run of luck that must surely be statistically remarkable by now, and Outwood sent us in.

We batted well. Aaron Hughes played the innings of the day, 50 not out and utterly unmoved by the occasion, while Daniel Thirkell's 48 and Craig Sands' 25 gave the innings a proper spine — their fifth-wicket stand of 70 was the making of it. Even our extras got in on the act with 45, which either speaks to Outwood's generosity or our batsmen's gift for leaving well alone. 213/5 from our 40 felt like a defendable total, and so it proved, though not without a scare.

Outwood came hard at it through Louis Russell-Watts, 88 of real quality, and Neil Hookway's 52 in support, their own fifth-wicket pair adding 118 and threatening to bat us out of the game entirely. But Matthew Carter was magnificent with the ball, 2-13 and full of nagging accuracy, backed up by Mark Christmas and Thirkell again with a wicket apiece, and two ducks for Kendall and Talbot helped tip it our way. My own 48 felt a small contribution against that backdrop.

A word, too, for Aaron Hughes, who brought up 1,000 runs for the club — a landmark entirely fitting for a man in such form.

Nine runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly, nervously earned.

Thu 04 Jul 2019 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLWWWL

Beaten by 4 wickets on a warm, overcast Thursday, but I'd defy any Linton Park skipper to feel too glum about this one — there was plenty in it to enjoy, even in defeat.

We had them in first, and a decent showing in the field kept things interesting throughout. J Hattingh led their charge with 34, well supported by A Reddon (25) and N Ahmed (24), and a stubborn 52-run stand for the fifth wicket did the real damage to our hopes. But we had our moments — a lovely spell saw them slip from 49-1 to 57-4, P Saunders trudging off for a golden duck at our hands. John Karassellos was the pick of the bowlers with 1-6, and honourable mentions to Martin Harris (1-7) and Ian Hollingworth (1-8) for keeping things tight. Their innings closed on 116/6 from twenty overs — competitive, but not out of reach.

With the bat, we never quite found the fluency to chase it down, closing on 117/6. Luke Welsman will want the record books to skip a page this week, departing for nought and taking his rightful place in the Duck Club ledger, while our extras column did sterling work with 32 — arguably our most consistent contributor of the afternoon. Elsewhere in the season's ledgers, Jordan Austin continues to purr along nicely, sitting second in the run charts on 76, with Martin Harris second among the wicket-takers on five.

Four wickets the margin in the end. Character-building stuff, and we'll be sharper for it next week.

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

We hosted Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC on a pleasant, overcast Wednesday afternoon, and after losing the toss found ourselves invited to field first — never quite the ideal start to a Wednesday, but there we are. The visitors made themselves at home to the tune of 204 all out from 38 overs, Callum Brown compiling a fine 68 with Oliver Barnes (40) and Ashwani Arora (39) offering sturdy support. Bob Fraser was despatched without so much as a sniff of a run — harsh, even by our standards. Joshua Knowler bowled with real purpose to claim 3-49, backed superbly by Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan's miserly 2-5 and Alex Keeler's 2-35, the latter also delivering two maidens that gave nothing away lightly.

Chasing 205, we mustered 133 all out from 37 overs, and it must be said we made rather harder work of the pursuit than the arithmetic demanded. Aaron Hughes battled manfully for 43, well supported by Trevor Back's 24, but a startling collapse from 106-4 to 114-7 unravelled matters in the blink of an eye. Poor Jon Harris walked back for a duck, joining Bob Fraser in this week's rogues' gallery.

Beaten by 71 runs, then — no dressing it up. Aaron Hughes now leads our 2019 run charts with 76, and Alex Keeler tops the wickets with 6, so there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Mon 01 Jul 2019 🧢 Twenty20v SC 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

Sissinghurst away, Sunday 30th, and for once the toss actually mattered — I called it right and had no hesitation sticking us in to bat first. Tobey Castle set about the bowling with real intent for a classy 77, and Alex Keeler kept him honest with an unbeaten 66, while Joshua Knowler chipped in a handy 22. Even the extras column pulled its weight with 43. Thirty overs, 209/2 — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew his fingernails.

Defending it, I'll confess I rather fancied our chances, and so it proved. James Piper was a man possessed with the ball, tearing through Sissinghurst's order for 5-32 and leaving Neal Metcalf and James Piper's own victims shaking their heads for ducks along the way. Andrew Knowler top-scored gamely with 35, and Philip Buckingham (28) and Trevor Wright (25) offered some resistance, but Joshua Knowler and Emil Swart mopped up further wickets, and I even found a bit of rhythm myself with five of my own — not bad for a captain who mainly specialises in optimistic field placements. They finished 134/8.

A win by 75 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work. Tobey Castle now sits second in the season's run charts, and James Piper second among the wicket-takers — form the whole club can be proud of. Onwards to the next one.

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

Otford's pitch offered nothing but sunshine-starved cloud cover, but we still managed to make it feel like ours. Batting first after losing the toss — never our preferred script — we set about repairing the mood with the bat, and Richard Piper had other ideas about a quiet afternoon, striding to a magnificent 108. He found a willing partner in Darrell Houghton-Judge, whose composed 76 not out gave the innings real backbone, and between them we posted a hearty 228/3 from our 40 overs. Not a bad way to answer being put in.

Then came the fun part. Otford's reply never got out of first gear — 92 all out in 33.4 overs, with only Marc Padgett (31) and Laurence Cooper (20) offering any real resistance while Grant Scandling, Neil Gallagher and Thomas Scandling all departed without troubling the scorers. Anton Bourdillon was the chief destroyer with 3-9, well supported by Houghton-Judge (2-5) and John Karassellos (1-8), while Henry Bourdillon strangled the life out of the innings with three maidens.

A personal 108 was, I'll admit, rather satisfying — though the day belonged just as much to Darrell, who quietly brought up 200 career wickets amid the carnage. Add in Richard's continued reign atop the 2nd XI run charts and Abishek's steady climb up the wicket table, and this was about as complete a team performance as Linton Park could hope for. A 136-run victory, and a very good day for the club indeed.

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 · AwayformLDLWW

Wednesday 26 June saw us pack the kit bags and head off to The Mote, and for once the coin gods smiled on me — I called correctly and had no hesitation in sticking us in, on the basis that runs on the board never hurt anyone.

We rattled along to 158 for 7 from our 40 overs, the innings built on a fine effort from Jordan Austin, unbeaten on 58, well supported by Aaron Hughes (33) and Alex Keeler (22); their 52-run stand for the fifth wicket was the spine of the whole innings. Elsewhere it was a less happy story for Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan and John Karassellos, both undone for nought and duly inducted into the club's duck ledger — the walk of shame performed, I'm told, with admirable dignity.

With the ball, we set about defending it in style. The Mote were bowled out for 133 in 37.2 overs, Theeshan Satkunaseelan's gutsy 54 the only real resistance. Alex Keeler was magnificent, snaring 4 for 16 with two tidy maidens thrown in for good measure, ably backed by Martin Harris (3 for 34) and Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan (1 for 9) — the latter making amends handsomely for his morning duck. I even found a spot of rhythm myself, picking up three wickets, while Luke Tucker and Martin Harris departed the opposition's innings without troubling the scorers.

We came home 25 runs to the good. A thoroughly good day for the club, and proof, if proof were needed, that ducks and all, this side knows how to win a cricket match.

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

Sunday 23 June 2019, and Linton Park welcomed Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC on an afternoon that was warm enough for optimism and overcast enough to keep everyone's jumper within reach. The toss went against us — it usually does — and we were put into the field, which at least spared me the walk out to bat on a full stomach.

They ground their way to 153 all out in 35.5 overs, Martin Lord top-scoring with a stubborn 46, well supported by Mark Ward's 26 and Geoff Allen's 23, the pair adding a hefty 67 for the sixth wicket just when we thought we had them shut in. Toby Allsworth was the pick of the attack with 3-30, Jordan Austin and Martin Harris chipping in with two apiece, and Tim Thirkell bowled two maidens with the sort of miserliness the taxman would envy.

Chasing 154, we made rather a habit of good starts, our openers putting on 67 before the first wicket fell — a platform Jordan Austin (41) and Will Thew (38) built on nicely, with Richard Piper's 20 rounding things off. It wasn't tidy — 155/7 from 36.3 overs tells you we made the lads work for it, sending three back without troubling the scorers along the way — but we got home by three wickets.

A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly satisfying afternoon's cricket. We'll take it.

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

Down by 68 to St Lawrence, but Craig Sands' fighting knock kept it respectable — here's the report.

Saturday 22nd June, and a warm, overcast afternoon greeted St Lawrence CC as they arrived at Linton Park. I lost the toss — a habit I really must break — and duly found myself leading the lads into the field, which on reflection was rather how the whole afternoon went: watching good work go unrewarded.

St Lawrence made themselves at home, racking up 198/7 from their forty overs. Chris Pedder was the chief architect with a polished 62, well supported by Paul Cook's 39 and Corrie Thompson's 22. Credit where due, though: Tim Thirkell was outstanding with the ball, returning 3-24, with Anthony Karassellos (2-43) and John Karassellos (1-12) chipping in usefully, and there was some small satisfaction in seeing Clint Olivier depart for a duck.

Chasing 199, we made a promising start — 61 on the board before the first wicket fell, a stand that briefly had me dreaming. But wickets tumbled thereafter, John Karassellos among them for a duck of his own, and though Craig Sands battled to an unbeaten 40 and Richard Piper added a solid 33 (I chipped in with 33 myself), we stalled on 130/6.

Sixty-eight runs the wrong side of the ledger, then — not our day. Richard sits second in the 2nd XI run charts and Tim tops the wicket-takers, so the season's not without its bright spots. Heads up, and back to the nets.

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

Saturday 22 June found us on the road at Bidborough, and winning the toss for once I did the sensible thing and stuck them in.

It looked a fair shout early doors, but James Baldock had other ideas, ambling to a well-made 64 while Anthony Bouffe (22) and Rob Ackermann (21) chipped in around him. The openers set the tone with 62 for the first wicket before we finally prised one out, and from there it was a bit of a grind - though Richard Knowler eventually took the game by the scruff of the neck with 4-40, well backed up by Daniel Thirkell's 3-27 and Joshua Knowler's solitary strike. All out 174 from 39.4 overs felt about right, and even I found a bit of rhythm, picking up three for the cause.

Chasing 175, Luke Welsman played the innings of the day, a fine 56, but as ever we couldn't resist the urge to make things interesting - 151-6 became 159-9 in the blink of an eye, and poor Darrell Houghton-Judge's golden duck rather summed up the chaos. Thirty-seven extras did their best to paper over the cracks, but 159 all out left us 15 runs short.

A special mention, though, for Daniel Thirkell, who brought up his 500th appearance in Linton colours - a magnificent effort whatever the scoreboard said.

Not our day, then, and back to the nets we go - but with Thirkell's milestone and Baldock's ton of grit at the other end, there was plenty to be proud of even in defeat.

Mon 17 Jun 2019 🧢 Twenty20v SC Staplehurst CC · HomeformWLWWL

From the captain's chair — Monday 17 June 2019. Staplehurst CC visited us on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon, and having called correctly, I did what any captain with a full head of confidence and precious little foresight does: stuck them in.

It rather backfired. George Perry made merry with a fine 64, ushered along by Tom Davey's 53 and Tom Henson's unbeaten 50, the pair adding 109 for the second wicket while our attack huffed and puffed in the field. Credit where due — Alex Keeler kept plugging away for 2-36, with Martin Harris chipping in at 1-37 — but 204/3 from twenty overs is a mountain by any club standard, and we knew it as we trudged off for tea.

Chasing it, we lost an early wicket cheaply at 2-1, which is never the tonic you want, before Benjamin Austin set about repairing things with a well-made 51, finding a willing ally in Aaron Hughes's unbeaten 38. The pair put on 55 for the second wicket, the best stand of our innings, but 147/5 was always going to leave us short of Staplehurst's total.

Beaten by 57 runs in the end — no disgrace against a total like that, but a lesson in bowling discipline nonetheless. Austin now leads our season's run charts and Keeler our wicket-takers, so the engine room is purring even if the scoreboard didn't agree with us today. We'll be better for it 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

Bill Pankhurst's Down at Penshurst

We arrived at Penshurst Park on a pleasant, damp Saturday, and I called correctly at the toss — a rare enough event that I decided we should bat, damp outfield be damned. It didn't entirely repay the confidence. Eighty all out from 31 overs is not a total to frighten anyone, and the Duck Club did brisk business, with Anton Bourdillon, Tim Thirkell and Paul McAllister all completing that miserable waddle back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Abishek Pushpavinothan, ever reliable, top-scored with 28 and kept the innings from complete embarrassment.

Eighty, frankly, looked light. But cricket has a habit of humbling the confident, and so it proved. Tim Thirkell bowled like a man possessed — 4 for 11 with five maidens, not a run given away lightly — while Henry Bourdillon chipped in superbly with 4 for 19 and James West picked up a wicket for nothing at all. Faizan Khan and Colin Croucher joined the Duck Club themselves, and the innings folded for 73 in 32.3 overs.

As for the skipper, I contributed a golden blob with the bat — leading from the front is all very well until it's leading the way to the pavilion first ball — though I did at least find some rhythm with the ball for four wickets, which I shall claim as partial redemption.

We got over the line by seven runs. Ugly, nervy, thoroughly unconvincing — but a win is a win, and a good day for the club.

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

Skipper's Log — Saturday 15 June 2019. Shipbourne CC the visitors, and a pleasant, damp sort of afternoon for it. I called correctly at the toss, which is always a novelty, and had no hesitation in sticking us in the field — mostly on instinct, partly because it meant putting off my own batting for as long as possible.

Shipbourne lost an early wicket with just 1 on the board, which had us dreaming of bowling them out for buttons, but a stubborn 57-run third-wicket stand dragged them back into the contest. Angus Willis (42) and Ryan Redman (36) did the damage before Stuart Cheesman got among them — 3-18 with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure. Matthew Carter (2-43) and Richard Knowler (1-15) tidied up nicely, and Matthew Watts departed without troubling the scorers 🦆. Shipbourne closed on 141/8 from their 40 — a total that felt gettable, if we didn't do anything silly.

We didn't. Glen Rawson (30) and Aaron Hughes (28) laid the groundwork, and Stuart Cheesman — evidently not content with his bowling heroics — finished unbeaten on 30 to see us home, 143/4 with a few overs and considerably fewer fingernails to spare.

Rather fittingly, it was a landmark day all round: Glen Rawson's 300th appearance in Linton colours 🧢, and Stuart Cheesman reaching 7,000 career runs for the club 🎉 — you don't script afternoons like that. Six wickets, a stack of milestones, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 09 Jun 2019 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Borstal CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 9th June, and Borstal came to Linton Park under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain on us or not — a fittingly indecisive backdrop for what followed. We lost the toss, were put in the field first... only to find ourselves batting anyway, which tells you something about how the day was going to go.

With bat in hand we ground out 159/7 from our forty overs, the innings held together by a fine, well-made fifty from James Piper (61) and stout support from Tobey Castle, unbeaten on 47. Their third-wicket stand of 59 was the backbone of the innings, and rather more than can be said for Lewis Burnham and Joshua Knowler, both back in the pavilion for ducks before they'd troubled the scorers. Not our finest hour with the willow, but enough, we hoped, to defend.

It wasn't to be. Borstal raced to 81 without loss before we so much as looked at the wicket column, James Whitnell easing to a composed fifty of his own (59) with David Round (21) alongside him. Tobey Castle, busy man, led our attack with 1-24, Martin Harris and Daniel Thirkell chipped in with a wicket apiece, and Matthew Carter bowled two tidy maidens for his trouble — but the damage was done long before. They got home by four wickets.

Not our day, then. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's a season still to be won, and Piper and Knowler are both flying the flag at the top of the charts even if the rest of us have some catching up to do.

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

Sunday the 9th of June brought Selling CC to Linton Park under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain on us properly or just sulk. I lost the toss again — my coin-calling remains a genuine liability to this club — and we were put into the field, which at least meant I could blame the weather rather than my batting for the first two hours.

Selling ground their way to 183 all out in 39.5 overs, with Romesh De Zoysa's 46 the backbone, well supported by Dineth Gunathilaka's 36 and Ollie Lane's 32. But Toby Allsworth was in irresistible form, spinning a web for 5-28, with Thomas Beeney (2-27) and Anthony Karassellos (2-51) tidying up either end. Brendan Kinsella, Mark Bateson and Duncan King all departed without scoring — small mercies.

Chasing 183 should have been within us, but we subsided to 102 all out in 33.2 overs, Thomas Beeney's unbeaten 32 the one note of real defiance. Richard Piper made his own miserable contribution to the duck ledger, and I'm obliged to report that your correspondent joined him there — we shan't dwell on it. John Karassellos had a torrid time behind the stumps (10 byes), and 20 wides plus 2 no-balls suggest our discipline needs urgent attention.

One shaft of sunshine: Thomas Beeney brought up 2,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved. Beaten by 81 runs in the end — chastening, but instructive. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 05 Jun 2019 🧢 Twenty20v Bearsted CC · AwayformWWLWW

As it stands, they won the toss, put us in, and Bearsted trotted along to 122/8 from their twenty — not a total to send us running for cover, thanks in no small part to Tobey Castle, who bowled like a man possessed to return 4-13, backed up handsomely by Alex Keeler (2-5) and Archie Fairfax-Ross (2-24). Piers Cottee Jones top-scored for them with 41, and poor Lewis Bedwell departed for a duck at our hands, which felt, at the time, like the sort of small mercy that wins matches.

It did not win the match. Chasing 123 to win, we contrived to make hard work of a target that ought to have been well within our compass, subsiding to 105/9 with Jordan Austin doing the honours top of the order for 20, and Charles Curteis contributing what the scorebook charitably calls a golden duck. Seventeen runs short at the close — the kind of margin that leaves you replaying two or three overs in your head on the drive home, wondering where they went.

So: heads up, back to the nets, as I told the lads at the ground. There's a decent side in there — you don't bowl the opposition out for 122 without one — but batting is where matches like this go to die, and on Wednesday it died rather quietly. Credit to Castle, whose spell was the one bright thread through an otherwise grey afternoon. Onwards.

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

Chestfield CC, Sunday 2 June — warm, overcast, and about as decent an afternoon for cricket as the English calendar tends to allow. I won the toss and, with no great cunning, decided we'd have a bat.

277/6 from our forty overs was a proper effort, and I'll take that total to Chestfield or anywhere else. Will Thew was the mainstay with a lovely 80, Luke Welsman kept him company nicely with 67, and Tobey Castle chipped in a brisk 44. Poor Trevor Back will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck in these pages, but tradition is tradition. The extras column, meanwhile, had a fine match of its own with 46 — chief among our contributors without ever facing a ball.

Defending it, the lads did us proud. Beckham Hulks gave the innings some backbone with 52, and Rishi Milward Bose (31 not out) and Mark Sayer (25) kept Chestfield in the hunt longer than was comfortable to watch, but 216/9 was as far as they got. Will Thew backed up his batting with 2-29, Darrell Houghton-Judge chimed in with 2-38, and Thomas Beeney snaffled 1-12 — with Thomas Harrison undone for a duck along the way. We were rather too generous in the extras stakes ourselves, gifting 31 in wides and no-balls, which is a conversation for training rather than the gazette.

Two points, won by 61 runs, and thoroughly earned despite our best efforts to make it harder than it needed to be.

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. Sissinghurst CC visited us on a warm, grey afternoon, and true to form the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — they had first use of the pitch and, without hesitation, sent us in. If they'd hoped that would unsettle us, they'd not reckoned on Tobey Castle, who played a lovely innings for his 54, with Daniel Thirkell (44) and Aaron Hughes, unbeaten on 20, keeping him honest company — the pair adding a crucial 84 for the third wicket. Even our extras got in on the act with a generous 28. All told, 205/6 from 40 overs felt like a total with some bite to it.

And bite it did. Sissinghurst were undone for 121 in 33.3 overs, Brough Cooper's well-made fifty the lone bright spot in an otherwise chastening afternoon for the visitors — poor Neal Metcalf sent back without so much as troubling the scorers. Matthew Carter was magnificent, tearing through with 4-28 including two maidens, ably assisted by Joshua Knowler (2-8) and Martin Harris (2-19). I even had a bowl myself and picked up 44 — runs, I hasten to add, not wickets.

A red-letter day off the field too: Mark Christmas raised his bat, metaphorically, for 8,000 career runs for the club, while Matthew Carter's haul carried him past Terry Whittaker into 10th on our all-time wicket list. A win by 84 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Onwards.

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

From the captain's chair — Sunday 26 May 2019. We hosted Bidborough CC on a pleasant, damp afternoon, and having called correctly, I sent the visitors in to bat, a decision that took its time to look clever.

Bidborough made themselves thoroughly at home, closing on 214 all out from 39.1 overs. Daniel Page was the chief architect with a fine 112, and found willing company in Howard Nankivell (34) and Eli Clarkson (21), the pair adding a hefty 111 for the fourth wicket that threatened to bat us out of the game altogether. Mercifully, the floodgates opened — 211 for 5 becoming 212 for 8 in a hurry — with Ed Shepherdson and Jack Ponsford both back in the pavilion for ducks courtesy of our bowling. Matthew Carter was quite magnificent, running through the order for 5-23, with Richard Knowler (2-26) and Joshua Knowler (2-41) tidying up nicely behind him.

Chasing 215, we barely broke stride, cantering home on 215 for 1 from 35.3 overs. James Piper played an innings of real class, 113 not out, while I was able to chip in with 74 not out myself — a personal contribution I shan't pretend not to be pleased with.

A fine win by nine wickets, then, and one that leaves Piper and Carter sitting proudly atop the season's run and wicket charts respectively. Onwards.

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

Sunday 26 May 2019, and we rolled up to Hartley Country Club CC on a pleasant, damp sort of afternoon — the kind where the covers have only just come off and the tea urn is working overtime. I lost the toss, was invited to have a bowl first, and duly obliged, telling myself this was tactical rather than merely customary.

Hartley set about building a proper total, racing to 273 for 4 from their 35 overs while we chased leather round a slick outfield. Tim Thirkell was the pick of us by a distance, snaring 2 for 28 with the sort of control the rest of us could only admire from mid-off, while Joel Attwood (1-49) and Alastair Allsworth (1-60) chipped in gamely against opponents who seemed to have brought their bats in good working order.

Chasing 274 was always going to ask questions of us, and while we didn't get the answer, we got a performance to be proud of. Richard Piper played an innings of real substance — a chanceless, composed century, 103 not out, the kind of knock you write home about — with Trevor Back (43 not out) a fine and level-headed foil at the other end. We closed on 183 for 2 from our 35, beaten by 90 runs in the end.

No shame in it. Piper now leads our 2019 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 114, and Thirkell tops the wickets with 3 — early markers of a season taking shape. We were second best on the day, but we'll be better for it next week.

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

Right at Penshurst, drizzle in the air, and Alex Keeler taking 4-15 to skittle the opposition — 110/9 sounds about right. Here's the report.

A drizzly Saturday at Penshurst Park, the kind of afternoon that makes you wonder whether the tea urn is the most important piece of kit in the changing room, and yet somehow the lads produced a performance dry enough to make a mockery of the weather. Winning the toss and putting the opposition in, we watched Alex Keeler run through them with a superb 4-15, ably backed up by Martin Harris, whose 2-19 came with three maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of miserly spell that has opposition batsmen muttering into their gloves. Tobey Castle chipped in with a wicket too, and there was even a golden duck for Simon Williams at our hands, which I shan't dwell on out of professional courtesy. Penshurst limped to 110/9 from their forty, Martin Semmens (29) and Liam Porritt (23) the only real resistance.

Chasing 111, we made hard work of nothing at all, which is very much the club way. James Piper led from the front with a fine 41, Daniel Thirkell an unbeaten 37, and young Aaron Hughes a composed 21 not out. I contributed a modest 37 myself, more through stubbornness than style, and we cantered home with seven wickets and plenty of overs to spare.

James Piper now sits proudly atop the season's run charts with 183, and Martin Harris leads the wickets column with nine — both fully deserved. A fine win, then, achieved with minimum fuss and maximum drizzle. Onwards.

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

Skipper's Log — Sunday 19 May 2019, away to Nurstead CC, under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain on us or merely threaten to. I won the toss and stuck us in the field, which felt like the right call at the time — showery afternoons, moving ball, all that. What actually happened was Adam Whatman helping himself to 75, with Ainsley Dummer purring along to an unbeaten 62 and Oliver Wallace chipping in 29, as Nurstead sailed to 244/4 from their 35 overs. James Watkins was our pick of the bowlers with 1-15, well supported by Alastair Allsworth and Tim Thirkell, both 1 apiece, though truthfully we were mopping up rather than running through them.

Chasing 245 was always going to want something special, and for a while we had it — Shehryar Gul and his opening partner put on 71 without loss and you could almost smell the tea being poured early. Then, as these things do, it all came apart at once: 107-5 became 126-8 in the sort of collapse that gives committee members grey hairs. Gul's fifty, 60 in the end, stood alone as we folded for 129 in 30 overs. Toby Allsworth and Michaela Karassellos joined the Duck Club ledger, and I'm obliged to confess your correspondent did too — a golden one, no less. The less said, the better.

Down by 115 runs, then, and fairly so. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

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

Sunday 19th May, and Egerton CC came to Linton Park under skies that couldn't quite make their mind up — the sort of gentle drizzle that dampens the shoulders but never the spirits. I lost the toss, they had a look at the outfield and sent us in, which in hindsight may not have been their finest piece of captaincy.

David Rayment simply took the day away from everyone. 140 not out, an innings of proper substance, and he barely seemed to break sweat doing it. Benjamin Austin chipped in handsomely with 45 not out and James Piper's 20 rounded out a total of 257/3 from our forty overs — the sort of score that has the opposition openers exchanging glances on the boundary edge.

In the field, Mardey Castle set about the Egerton innings with real menace, 2-12 including two maidens that must have felt like a slow puncture to face. Alex Keeler and Martin Harris both weighed in with 2-22 and 2-24 respectively, and even I managed to get among the runs earlier with 20. Nick Waterhouse's 36 was the best Egerton could muster in reply, but 129 all out from 36.2 overs was never going to trouble us.

Won by 128 runs, then, and two points banked without much argument. David Rayment now sits proudly atop the season's run charts with 188, and Luke Welsman leads the wickets — the sort of form that makes a captain's job dangerously easy. A splendid afternoon's work, drizzle and all.

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

Saturday 18 May 2019 saw us head down to Four Elms, under skies that couldn't quite make up their mind — a shower here, a burst of sunshine there, the sort of afternoon that keeps a captain checking the covers out of the corner of his eye. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first, and for once the decision looked a good one from the off.

We posted 169/7 from our 40 overs, a total built rather than blazed. Darrell Houghton-Judge led the way with a fine 42, James Watkins chipping in handsomely with 36, and the extras column did its bit too with a generous 25. Will Thew, alas, departed for a duck — these things happen to the best of us, and he took it on the chin.

In reply, Four Elms threatened to make a match of it, Dom Conlin (41) and Dominic Ramjag (36) putting on 61 for the first wicket before we finally prised them apart — Lee Shepherd and Jon Pike both fell without scoring for the opposition, for what little comfort that offered. From there, though, it was Tim Thirkell's afternoon and no mistake: 5-26, a thoroughly deserved five-for, with Henry Bourdillon (2-23) and Mardey Castle (1-22) doing the tidying up. Four Elms were bowled out for 146 in 39.1 overs.

Twenty-three runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned all round.

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

Fawkham Guzzlers came to Linton Park on a fine May Sunday, I lost the toss as tradition demands, and duly found ourselves in the field. It was, by our own modest standards, a rather good day's bowling: Matthew Carter steamed in for 3-29, Thomas Beeney weighed in with 3-46, and Martin Harris chipped in a wicket for 22, while poor Joel Thomas trudged off for a golden duck at our hands. James Cramp made a fist of it with 35, and the Billings pair — Jamie with 30, Tom with 22 — kept the total respectable, but 164 all out from 38.3 overs felt, frankly, gettable.

Getting it proved rather more fraught than the maths suggested. We were 7-1 before some of us had finished our tea, which set the tone for an innings that never quite settled into calm. Luke Welsman held it together beautifully, unbeaten on 26, with James Piper's 22 and Mark Christmas's 21 lending sturdy support, and I'll confess to a tidy 21 of my own. A generous 47 extras did no harm at all — though it stings rather more that 23 of them came from our own wides and no-balls with the ball, proof that generosity is a two-way street in this fixture.

We crossed the line at 167/6 in 38.4 overs for a four-wicket win — untidy in places, honest in others, but two points thoroughly earned. Jordan Austin and Matthew Carter continue to fly the flag atop the season's charts, and if we can just stop gifting the opposition freebies, this side might yet be dangerous.

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

Sunday 12th May found us on the road to Ash CC, and for once the coin actually smiled on me — I won the toss and, in a fit of optimism I'd later have cause to regret, stuck us in.

We were bowled out for 153 in the 38th over, which felt about right for a wicket that never quite let you play with a straight bat and a clear conscience. Darrell Houghton-Judge held the innings together with a fine 46, well backed up by Richard Piper (24) and Charles Curteis (22). Elsewhere in the ledger, Michaela Karassellos endured the walk of shame for a golden duck — chin up, we've all been there.

Defending 153 was always going to want something special from the bowlers, and for a while Toby Allsworth threatened to deliver it, mopping up 3-19 with excellent support from Anton Bourdillon (1-20) and Henry Bourdillon (1-56). But Ash had other ideas: Charles Curteis, having top-scored for us with the bat, then turned his coat entirely and put 63 past us with theirs, ably assisted by Charlie Laslett (40) and an unbeaten 32 from Alex Spokes. Alex Laslett went for another Duck Club duck. I chipped in a tidy 24 myself, for what little comfort that offers.

They cantered home by five wickets in the 20th over. Not our day — heads up, back to the nets. Though on a happier note, we tipped our caps to Ray Dixon on his 100th appearance in Linton colours, which is rather the point of the whole exercise really.

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

23 May 2019, cool and rain-damp underfoot — the sort of afternoon that makes a captain wish he'd worn a second jumper. Farningham won the toss, sent us in, and for once that seemed to suit us nicely, though I'll admit I wondered if it wouldn't come back to haunt us.

We ground our way to 171/6 from the full 40, built chiefly around Martin Harris, unbeaten on 44 and looking increasingly like the senior pro out there, with Richard Piper (30) and Shehryar Gul (21) lending proper support and the sixth-wicket pair chipping in a very handy 54. I did my bit with 30 down the order. Not everything went to plan — poor Thuraiappah Pushpavinothan walked off for a duck, and the less said the better — but the extras column, generous to the tune of 29, did us no harm at all.

Then out with the ball, and this is where the afternoon turned properly enjoyable. Farningham got a fright early, six on the board and a wicket down, steadied by a battling 70-run third-wicket stand led by James Mansfield (43) and Richard Pleydell (28) — but once that partnership broke, the floodgates opened in a hurry, 90-3 crumbling to 105-6 with three ducks along the way. Abishek Pushpavinothan was superb, 3-33, backed handsomely by Henry Bourdillon (2-20) and Tim Thirkell (1-2), while Martin Harris bowled two miserly maidens for good measure. All out for 116.

A 55-run win, two points banked, and thoroughly deserved — the sort of result that makes the drive home in the rain feel a good deal shorter.

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 04 May 2019, and off we trundled to Bidborough, where I won the toss and, in a rare fit of decisiveness, stuck us in. I still maintain it was the right call, even if the scoreboard occasionally suggested otherwise.

Bidborough set about accumulating with the quiet menace of a village fete raffle, racking up 234/8 from their forty overs. James Baldock was the chief architect of our discomfort with a fine 98, well supported by Rob Ackermann (23) and Dom Trett (20). We did at least have the small, petty satisfaction of sending Jack Ponsford back for a duck. With ball in hand, Luke Welsman was superb — 3-19 and the pick of the attack — with Abishek Pushpavinothan (3-49) and Matthew Carter (1-47) chipping in nicely alongside him.

Chasing 235, we never quite got out of second gear, closing on 94/4 from our twenty-five overs — sensible if unspectacular, and frankly the whole run chase felt like an academic exercise fairly early on. Glen Rawson anchored things nicely with 33 not out, ably supported by Joshua Knowler's unbeaten 20, while I contributed a workmanlike 20 myself. Poor Richard Piper endured the walk of shame for a duck, though thirty-six generous extras did their bit to keep us respectable.

So: honours shared, a draw when neither side had the legs or the inclination to force it. Not a classic, but an honest afternoon's cricket — and there are worse ways to spend a Saturday than watching Baldock make it look easy while the rest of us caught up.

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

Sunday 28 April brought us to West Farleigh, the sky the colour of a wet flannel and drizzle doing its best to dampen spirits if not, thankfully, the outfield. I lost the toss – some things never change – and we were put into the field, which on a morning like that felt less like a decision and more like a mild inconvenience for the away side.

West Farleigh crawled to 114 all out in 39.2 overs, and credit where due, Tom Osborne's 39 was the innings' backbone. But our attack had teeth: Alex Keeler was magnificent with 4-27, Toby Hughes and Daniel Thirkell chipped in with 2-11 apiece, and Martin Harris strangled the life out of things with three maidens. Greg Snape and Paul Baines will not be dwelling on their contributions with the bat, but that's a story for another day.

Chasing 115, Jordan Austin played the innings of the afternoon – a composed 63 – anchoring a fine 60-run second-wicket stand with Daniel Thirkell, unbeaten on 35. I added my own 35 to the cause, while Aaron Hughes and Mark Christmas were both undone without scoring.

We got home by 6 wickets, tea was taken with rather more relief than usual given the weather, and the lads can hold their heads high. A proper away win, drizzle and all. 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

Saturday 20th April brought Headcorn CC to Linton Park, and while I lost the toss again — I'm beginning to suspect the coin has a personal vendetta — we were put into bat under a sky far too kind for the bowling side.

Not that it mattered. Tobey Castle played the innings of the afternoon, 74 not out and unhurried throughout, while Will Thew chipped in a tidy 39 and Joshua Knowler saw us home with an unbeaten 30. The 75-run second-wicket stand between Castle and Thew was really the heart of the innings, and with extras chipping in a generous 36, we posted 204/3 from our 40 — the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than pace behind the boundary rope.

In the field, Darrell Houghton-Judge was the pick of the attack with 3-37, backed up nicely by Joshua Knowler's 2-7 and Martin Harris's 2-33, while Matthew Carter kept things miserly with two maidens. Peter Westrop battled to 43 for them, but Khum Raj departed for a duck at our hands, and I even managed to get among the runs myself with 30 with the bat. Headcorn's 135/8 was never going to trouble the target.

A word too for Will Thew, who brought up 4,000 career runs for the club — a proper landmark, and thoroughly deserved. Two points banked, 69 runs to spare: a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and one for the scorebook to remember.