🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 25 Sep 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Crusaders CC · HomeformLWWWW

Sunday 25 September saw Crusaders CC roll into Linton Park on a pleasant, grey afternoon, and I duly lost the toss — leaving us to field first and, we hoped, keep things respectable. That hope survived about as long as Sanam Pannu's innings, which is to say not very long at all. His unbeaten 78 anchored a Crusaders total of 269/4 from their 40 overs, with Jin Singh (53) and Chand Channa (42) piling on further misery. To our credit, the bowling wasn't without its bright spots — Junaid Mufti was the pick of the attack with 1-19, and Nolan Wilde (1-30) and Sam Boyns (1-39) chipped in gamely, though against that kind of scoring rate it rather felt like bringing a teaspoon to bail out a rowing boat. Poor Aaron Hughes, meanwhile, had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 13 byes for his troubles.

Chasing 270 was always going to want something special from the bat, and instead we mustered 120 all out in 32.5 overs, with Theo Clements and John Karassellos both departing for golden ducks to set the tone. It was, in short, not our day — beaten by 149 runs, comprehensively and without much argument.

Still, the season ticks on: Jordan Austin continues to lead our run charts with 421 for the year, and Sam Boyns sits fourth in the wickets list with 11. As for last Sunday — heads up, lessons noted, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 24 Sep 2022 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformWLLLL

A pleasant, damp Saturday saw The Mote CC roll into Linton Park, and true to form the coin gave us nothing to cheer about — they won the toss and sent us in, no doubt eyeing those grey skies with quiet satisfaction.

We made a fair fist of it early on. Laurie Probert top-scored with a fine 47, and Alex Wade chipped in gamely with 20, the pair doing the sensible thing while the rest of us, it must be said, did not. From a respectable 56 for 3 we contrived to slide to 62 for 6 in the time it takes to put the kettle on — Nolan Wilde, Theo Clements and Sam King all making that lonely walk back for ducks, three abreast in the Duck Club ledger. Mercifully the extras column kept faith with us, 25 of the runs arriving without anyone having to face a ball, and we were bowled out for 132 from 39.3 overs.

Defending it, we barely got going before the heavens, or the umpires, or both, called time — The Mote reaching just 4 for 0 from 0.4 overs before stumps were drawn on the whole affair. I chipped in with 47 of my own along the way, for what little that was worth in the end.

A draw, then — honours shared, nerves spared, and the tea urn undefeated as ever.

Sun 18 Sep 2022 🧢 Twenty20v Bexleyheath CC · HomeformWWLWW

Sunday 18 September, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled — Bexleyheath won the toss and, with the sort of confidence that comes from not having to bat first, sent us in.

We made rather a decent fist of it. Toby Hughes played the innings of the day, a crisp 62 that dragged us to a total worth defending, with William Roxburgh (23) and Tobey Castle (21) chipping in to make sure the middle overs didn't go begging. 155/7 from our 20 felt like a total we could bowl at.

And bowl at it we did, for a good while. George Taylor was superb, ripping through with 3-25, and Toby Hughes — evidently not content with a half-century — came back for 2-22, with Anthony Karassellos chipping in a wicket of his own. But Billy Hally (30 not out) and Salman Khan (29) had other ideas, and Bexleyheath crept over the line with 156/7 in 19.5 overs, three wickets and precisely half a ball to spare. Cruel margins, cricket.

Small consolation in the season's bigger picture — Toby Hughes now sits proudly atop the 2022 Twenty20 run charts with 154, and Fred Taylor lurks second in the wicket charts on 6. The engine room is clearly in order; it's just the finishing that let us down.

A defeat, then, but not a disgrace — beaten by three wickets by a side that had to work hard for every one of them. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 18 Sep 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · AwayformLLWWW

As Linton Park's skipper it fell to me first, having lost the toss on a pleasant grey Sunday afternoon at Tenterden. Batting first, we mustered 181 all out from 53.1 overs — a total that owed almost everything to Aaron Hughes, whose unbeaten 64 was the innings' backbone, with Sam King and Martin Harris chipping in 24 apiece. Not every man's name will be etched in glory this week, mind: Toby Joseph, Theo Clements and Thomas Beeney all contributed the traditional golden duck, and it says something about the state of our order that 32 extras was our fourth-highest score.

Defending 181 always felt like it might be a stretch, but the lads had other ideas. Tenterden lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board and looked shaky, before Nick Waterhouse (55) and Angus Hay (38) put on 75 for the fourth wicket to drag them back into it. Then the floodgates opened — 133 for 4 became 139 for 7 in the blink of an eye, with Sargent, Potter and Lloyd all falling for ducks of their own. Sam Boyns was the chief architect, a superb 3 for 7 with four maidens to boot, backed up by Thomas Beeney's 3 for 26 and Ian Hollingworth's 2 for 35. My own 19 byes conceded behind the stumps were rather less superb, though I did manage 24 with the bat to salve my conscience.

A 29-run win, then, and a thoroughly deserved one. Aaron Hughes now sits third in the Sunday run charts, Martin Harris tops the wicket pile — and we march onwards.

Sat 17 Sep 2022 🧢 1st XIv Linden Park CC · HomeformLWLLL

Beaten to the toss, I decided to bowl — never one to shirk a decision, especially with the sky nicely overcast for it. Linden Park made a proper meal of the invitation, racing to 101 for the first wicket before we'd so much as loosened up, and Paul Seldon (85) and Tom Corner (50) put together a stand of 123 that had several of us wondering whether we'd left our fielding boots at home. Jayaprakash Seluthiyan chipped in with 48 for good measure, and by the close of their forty overs they'd amassed a formidable 246 for 5. Small mercies: Anand Veerapandian went for a golden duck, and Martin Harris led the fightback superbly with 2-45, well backed by Sam King (2-52) and Alex Keeler (1-31) — without them it could have been considerably worse.

Chasing 247 was always going to ask serious questions of our top order, and we didn't answer them terribly convincingly, bundled out for 117 in 31.2 overs. Anthony Karassellos's 22 was as good as it got, John Karassellos departed for a duck, and it rather says something when our top score with the bat is beaten by the 33 we conceded in extras. Poor Theo Clements had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, too, with nine byes going begging.

There was, at least, cause for quiet pride: Martin Harris's two wickets nudged him past Terry Whittaker into 13th on the club's all-time list, while Alex Keeler and Harris continue to sit handsomely in this season's run and wicket charts respectively. Beaten by 129 runs, no question — but the bones of a good side are there, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 11 Sep 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Teston CC · HomeformLLLWW

Sunday the 11th of September saw us play host to Teston CC beneath a warm if determinedly grey sky, and when the coin fell against us and they invited us to bat, none of us imagined quite how thoroughly we'd make them regret it. Jordan Austin and Thomas Roxburgh set about proceedings with the calm menace of men who had somewhere better to be, putting on 175 for the first wicket before either was parted from the crease. Jordan carried on to a chanceless hundred, unbeaten at the close, while Thomas fell just shy of what would have been a fine century himself for 90. Anthony Karassellos chipped in a brisk 25, and we closed on a formidable 296 for 9 from our 40 — poor Alex Wade the lone sacrifice to the Duck Club, back in the hutch without troubling the scorers.

Defending a total of that size ought to be the easy part, and so it proved. Nolan Wilde was magnificent with the ball, 3 for 15, while Tim Thirkell bowled with the miserly discipline of a man counting every last penny — three maidens and figures of 1 for 4 — and Thomas Beeney chipped in with 1 for 14. Teston mustered a respectable 126 for 7, Graham Smart top-scoring with 40, but it was never enough. Phil Edmonds joined Alex in Duck Club infamy.

Milestones abounded too — Jordan reaching 6,000 career runs and Thomas 1,000 — capping a thoroughly memorable afternoon. A 170-run victory and a red-letter day for the club.

Sat 10 Sep 2022 🧢 1st XIv West Farleigh CC · HomeformLLWLL

Lost the toss again on Saturday – I'm beginning to think the club coin has a grudge against me – and West Farleigh duly stuck us in under a warm, drizzly Kent sky. We batted our way to a handsome 209/8 from the 40, built around Toby Hughes's wonderful 99, one agonising run short of the century he deserved. Nolan Wilde chipped in an unbeaten 39 and Richard Piper 27, the pair sharing a sturdy 64 for the fourth wicket that gave the innings its spine. Toby Joseph, meanwhile, made the long walk back for nought – the ducks are quacking loudly in the clubhouse this week.

Defending 209 should have been comfortable enough, but West Farleigh had other ideas, grinding to 210/9 from 39.5 overs to sneak home by the narrowest of margins – one wicket. Matthew Davis's 60 was the innings that hurt us most, well supported by Alex Beechey (41) and Marius Van Der Schyff (33). Toby Hughes, not content with his batting heroics, then took 3-24 with the ball, backed up by Luke Welsman (2-6), Tim Thirkell (2-43) and the ever-miserly Martin Harris. Poor Theo Clements had a torrid time behind the stumps, 9 byes testament to a lively surface.

One shaft of sunshine: Richard Piper's 27 nudges him past Daniel Thirkell into fourth on the all-time run charts. But on the day, it simply wasn't to be – heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sun 04 Sep 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Bredgar CC · AwayformWLLLL

Sunday, 4th September, and off we trotted to Bredgar CC, where I promptly lost the toss and was invited to field first — never the news you want to hear, but such is life in the Second XI.

Bredgar made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 268/5 from their forty overs. Lewis White got them going with a well-made 73, and Edward Louden wasn't far behind with a fine 72 of his own — the two of them put on 123 for the second wicket, which is the sort of stand that has a fielding captain quietly reassessing his life choices. Jonathan Knight finished unbeaten on 41 to round things off nicely for them. We weren't entirely without answer: Sam King led the attack manfully with 2-52, while Tim Thirkell and Nolan Wilde chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Chasing 269 was always going to ask serious questions, and though we gave it a good go, we fell short on 210/7. Nolan Wilde batted beautifully for an unbeaten 48, well supported by Neill Pennefather's 36 and Sam King's 35, and I was pleased enough to contribute 48 myself. Spare a thought, though, for poor Theo Clements behind the stumps, who endured a torrid afternoon with the gloves — 18 byes is not a number one puts on the mantelpiece.

Elsewhere, Richard Piper continues to lead our Sunday run charts with 276, and Tim Thirkell tops the wickets with 17 — both flying the flag while the rest of us regroup.

In the end, a defeat by 58 runs. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 04 Sep 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Stowting CC · HomeformWLLLW

We took the field on a warm, overcast Sunday afternoon at Linton Park to welcome Stowting CC, and I won't pretend I didn't feel rather pleased with myself for calling correctly at the toss and electing to bat. It proved the right call, too, as our openers set about the job with real intent, putting on 127 before the first wicket finally fell — the sort of platform that makes a captain's life easy. Aaron Hughes was simply magnificent, cashing in with a superb 147, and along the way brought up 4,000 career runs for the club — a mantelpiece moment if ever there was one. William Roxburgh chipped in handsomely with 56, and Thomas Roxburgh finished unbeaten on 32 as we declared ourselves happy with 277/3 from our 40 overs.

Defending that total was never going to be a stroll, and so it proved. Stowting's Bobby Rumley played a captain's nightmare of an innings, an unbeaten 131, well supported by Kane Wheeler and Steve Jackson with 30 apiece, the pair adding 62 for the second wicket to keep the chase alive. But our bowlers held their nerve when it mattered — Martin Harris the pick with 2-67, with Anthony Karassellos and Tobey Castle chipping in a wicket apiece — and Stowting fell short on 263/7.

A fine win by 14 runs, then, earned the hard way. Onwards.

Sat 03 Sep 2022 🧢 2nd XIv LC Locksbottom CC · HomeformWWWWW

From the captain's chair, Saturday 3rd September, and a warm, drizzly afternoon at home to Locksbottom CC. I lost the toss again — my coin-flipping form remains as reliable as an English summer — and they had no hesitation in batting first, leaving us to trudge into the field with sandwiches barely digested.

Locksbottom compiled 155 all out in 39.3 overs, built around a well-made fifty from Minesh Patel (55) and useful support from Jack Thompson (23). Joe Seymour and Joshua Lott both departed for ducks at our hands, which was some consolation. The real story with the ball was Luke Welsman, who simply ran riot, tearing through them with 5-6 — bowling of that quality doesn't come along often on a soggy Saturday. Anthony Karassellos chipped in nicely too, 3-27 with three tidy maidens, and Nick Tromp took 2-33.

With the bat, we never quite got going, bowled out for 102 in 29.3 overs. Laurie Probert stood firm and unbeaten on 39, a genuinely lone hand, while Matthew Carter and Tim Thirkell both fell without scoring. Fourteen byes crept through as well — a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Anthony Karassellos, bless him.

Elsewhere, Richard Piper continues to lead the 2nd XI run charts with 351 for the season, and Anthony Karassellos sits third in the wicket-takers on 14 — small crumbs of comfort on a day we finished 53 runs short. Not our day, lads. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 27 Aug 2022 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sennocke CC · AwayformLWWWW

Sennocke had us fielding first on a warm, showery afternoon down at their place, which is never quite the tonic a captain hopes for, but the lads knuckled down and 196/8 from our 40 overs turned out to be a very serviceable platform. We lost an early wicket with just 6 on the board and I confess I was already composing excuses for the tea interval, but Junaid Mufti (55) and a stand-out 75-run second-wicket partnership steadied the ship handsomely, with Will Thew (38) and Laurie Probert (31) both playing their part. Ian Hollingworth's golden duck was the one blot on an otherwise cheerful copybook — these things happen to the best of us.

Defending it, Sennocke threatened to make a proper fist of it, Robert Ede especially, unbeaten on 67 and looking thoroughly at home, with a 65-run fifth-wicket stand keeping the required rate within reach. But Junaid Mufti, having already done his bit with the bat, turned the screw with the ball for 3-16, well backed up by Anthony Karassellos (2-43, two tidy maidens) and Tim Thirkell (1-21). William Sackville West and Alex Bromley both departed without troubling the scorers, which rather summed up their side's afternoon. I chipped in with 38 of my own, more out of duty than glory.

Over the line by 46 runs, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the kind of result that makes the drive home feel considerably shorter than the drive there.

Sat 27 Aug 2022 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · HomeformWLLWL

Saturday 27th August found us hosting Bidborough CC under skies that couldn't decide between sunshine and drizzle — much like my own state of mind at the toss, which I won and promptly elected to field. The right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook says.

Bidborough posted 166/7 from their 40 overs, built around a watchful 53-run stand for the fourth wicket between Daniel Page (47) and Archie Wells (37). We squeezed hard in the middle overs, but 139-4 became 147-7 in a blur before they steadied. Richard Knowler was magnificent with 4-38, ably backed by Martin Harris (2-41) and Toby Hughes (1-34), and we even had Howard Nankivell back in the hutch without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 167, William Roxburgh played the innings of the day — a classy 53 — with Aaron Hughes (35) alongside him in a fifth-wicket stand of 77 that had us dreaming. I contributed a workmanlike 17, extras chipped in a generous 26, but then the collapse came: 149-7 became 150 all out in a rush, with Alex Keeler, Toby Hughes and Thomas Beeney all making the sorrowful walk for nought.

Elsewhere, Mark Christmas continues his quiet excellence, now 4th in the club's run charts with 275, while Toby Hughes sits 2nd among the wicket-takers with 24. But today belonged to Bidborough — beaten by 16 runs, heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 21 Aug 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Borstal CC · HomeformLWLLL

It was Borstal CC who came calling on Sunday, under warm, cloudy skies, and having called correctly I did what any captain with a settled top order does — stuck us in.

Will Thew made it look thoroughly unfair with a magnificent 128, and I was delighted to play my own small part alongside him with 88, as we posted 253/4 from our 40 overs. Runs enough, you'd think, to have the kettle on and the tea urn warming by five o'clock.

Alas, Borstal had other ideas, chiefly in the shape of one Sanath Dandeniya, who ground out a superb 142 and simply refused to give it back. We did have them 4 for 1 at one stage — a lovely, nervy little wobble that promised much — before he and Dylan Solano Nathan put on 194 for the second wicket and calmly took the game away from us. Poor Saqib Saeed will not remember his innings fondly, back in the pavilion without so much as a run to his name. Tim Thirkell battled away nobly for 2-57, with Harvey Lowe and Ian Lowe chipping in a wicket apiece, but 256/5 came with 2.4 overs to spare and we were beaten by five wickets.

Will leads our Sunday run charts on 255 and Tim tops the wickets on a dozen, so the engine room is purring even if the scoreboard didn't favour us. A fine game, generously played, and honestly lost — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 21 Aug 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · AwayformLWLLL

We travelled to Mersham Le Hatch on a warm, overcast Sunday afternoon, the 21st of August, with the coin toss going about as well as it usually does for us — they had first say and chose to field, leaving us to bat first on what I'd hoped might be a good toss to lose.

And bat we did rather well. 236 all out from 37.5 overs was a proper effort, built around a well-made fifty from Jordan Austin (64), with Luke Welsman (33) and Benjamin Austin (32) chipping in handsomely. Spare a thought, though, for Martin Harris, whose duck earns him this week's entry in the ledger 🦆 — the walk of shame is never a lonely one in this club.

Defending it, we found ourselves up against a genuine innings for the ages: Taha Tippu made an unbeaten 129, three figures no less, well supported by Jeremy Godden's 42, as their reply closed on 218/5 from 40 overs. David Shersby and David Hatton both departed for ducks at our hands 🦆, while Sam Boyns did the heavy lifting with 3-41 and two miserly maidens, backed up by Anthony Karassellos's 2-43.

As for your correspondent, I too contributed a duck to proceedings — the less said, the better. Benjamin Austin continues to lead the Sunday run charts with 338, and Karassellos sits fourth in the wickets with 7.

A fine win by 18 runs. Onwards 🏏.

Sat 20 Aug 2022 🧢 2nd XIv GC Groombridge CC · HomeformWLWWW

It was Groombridge who called correctly and stuck us in on a warm, cloudy Saturday, and for a while it looked like the sort of afternoon that ends in polite applause and quiet inquests. They lost an early wicket with just 7 on the board, which briefly had us thinking this would be a short stroll — but Harry Balcombe (53) and Andy Walker (52) put paid to that notion with a stand of 93 for the fourth wicket, Gokul Nair chipping in with 24 to see them to 165/6 from their 40 overs. Credit where due: Junaid Mufti bowled beautifully for 2-10 with three maidens, Nick Tromp took 2-27 and Richard Knowler 2-51 — the latter enough to nudge him past John Thirkell into 21st on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, which I'm told counts as a red-letter day in some households.

Chasing 166, we had our own wobble. Laurie Probert led the way with a well-crafted 44, Srikrishna Challa added 30 and Martin Rivers 24, and a 60-run third-wicket stand had us cruising — until, with the alarming suddenness club cricket specialises in, we slid from 139-4 to 144-7. Rajeev Raju departed without troubling the scorers, and I did my modest bit with 23, mostly by refusing to get out.

In the end we scrambled home 168/8 with two wickets and precious little composure to spare. A proper nerve-jangler, the kind that ages a captain by several Christmases — but a win is a win, and we'll take it gladly. Onwards.

Sat 20 Aug 2022 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWLLW

Saturday 20 August found us on the road at Bearsted, and when I called correctly at the toss I fancied my judgement no end — bowl first, I said, and for a good while it looked the shrewdest decision I'd made all season. Bearsted ground out 196 all out in 39.3 overs, built chiefly on Lewis Bedwell's fifty-plus 53 and useful contributions from Mark Hodges (43) and James West (39). Credit where it's due: Joshua Knowler was magnificent, prising out five for 45, with Toby Hughes chipping in three for 56 and Alex Keeler holding one end in a vice with four maidens on the way to 1-14. We even had Alex Lush and Steven Benjamin back in the hutch without troubling the scorers — small mercies, gratefully received.

So 196 wasn't a disaster, and for an hour or two I still believed. Then we batted. Thomas Roxburgh fought the good fight for 42, but around him the innings folded like a deckchair in a gale, and we were all out for 113 in 28.2 overs — undone, frankly, by our own top order rather than anything especially sinister from theirs.

Eighty-three runs the wrong side of the ledger, then, and no dressing it up. Alex Keeler continues to lead our run charts with 376 for the season and Joshua Knowler tops the wickets with 28 — small consolations on a grim afternoon. Not our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Wed 17 Aug 2022 🧢 Midweek XIv TC Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformLLLTL

I'll host Tunbridge Wells Wednesday for the midweek fixture, and rarely has a toss felt so satisfying to win — I called correctly, elected to bat, and for once didn't spend the rest of the innings wondering if I'd made a dreadful mistake.

Jordan Austin set about the Tunbridge Wells attack with the calm assurance of a man who's clearly enjoying his summer, cruising to a well-made 63 and, in doing so, extending his hold on top spot in the 2022 Midweek XI run charts to a rather imperious 299 for the season. He found the perfect foil in Aaron Hughes, unbeaten on 40, and between them they simply refused to let the bowlers into the game. By the time we'd finished, 121 for the loss of a single wicket had gone up from just 14.3 overs — the sort of scoring rate that has opposition captains quietly recalculating their evening plans.

With that platform, and precious little time left to defend it, honours were shared — a draw that satisfied nobody and offended nobody, cricket's great English compromise. Tunbridge Wells will point out we never really tested them; I'd counter that with Austin and Hughes batting like that, why would we want to bowl at all.

A fine watch, a fair result, and one for the top of the runs table to remember. We'll settle for that, and reach for the tea urn with a clear conscience.

Sun 14 Aug 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv KC Kent Royals (Hollingbourne) CC · HomeformWLWLL

Beaten by two wickets it may have been, but if that's a bad day then sign me up for another. Sunday the 14th brought Kent Royals (Hollingbourne) to Linton Park under a scorching, cloudy sky — the kind of English contradiction only cricket seems to produce — and I called it right at the toss, sending us in to bat.

We made a fist of it too: 217 for 7 from our forty overs, built around a lovely half-century from Jordan Austin (63), with Richard Piper (43) and Aaron Hughes (34) doing the honest yeoman's work around him. But the real substance came from that seventh-wicket stand, 93 priceless runs when the innings could easily have drifted.

Two eighteen looked defendable, and for a while it was. A H Russel and Daniyal Azmat both departed without troubling the scorers, and young Nolan Wilde was the chief tormentor with a superb 3 for 9, backed up nicely by Sam Boyns (2 for 34, with three maidens thrown in for good measure) and Alex Wade (1 for 31). I even helped myself to three wickets, which is always a nice line to write in one's own report. But Habahd Ali had other ideas, cashing in with 70, and Moshi Chowdhury's unbeaten 64 saw Kent Royals home at 218 for 8 in the 39th over.

So, honours to them, by the narrowest of margins. Richard Piper still tops our Sunday second-XI run charts and Nolan Wilde sits second among the wicket-takers, so the engine room is purring even if the result didn't fall our way. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 14 Aug 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv OC Over the Moonrakers CC · HomeformWLWLL

It was Over the Moonrakers CC at Linton Park on Sunday, a scorching if overcast afternoon, and having called correctly for once, I did what any captain drunk on early success does and stuck us in. Wisdom, as it turned out, was in short supply that day, but runs weren't entirely: Archie Fairfax-Ross played the innings of the day with 44, Tobey Castle chipped in handsomely with 43, and I contributed my own workmanlike 43 as if to prove the middle order had at least read the same book. Poor Luke Welsman, meanwhile, was given the full village-green treatment — a duck so golden you could have mounted it on the clubhouse wall. All out for 174 off 33.3 overs felt like something to bowl at, if not quite enough.

And bowl at it we did, gamely, with Archie Fairfax-Ross again to the fore, picking up 2-47 for his troubles. But Oliver Whiteley had other ideas, compiling a serene unbeaten 54, ushered along by Josh Norgrove's unbeaten 45 and Hugo Pike's 38, the pair sharing a stand of 57 for the second wicket that quietly strangled any hope we had. We did manage to prise out two wickets in a wretched 19th over, a brief flicker of chaos we couldn't sustain, and they cantered home on 175/2 with overs to spare.

Down by eight wickets, then — no divine intervention, no last twist. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets. There's always next Sunday.

Sat 13 Aug 2022 🧢 2nd XIv SC St Lawrence CC · HomeformWWLWW

Saturday the 13th of August found Linton Park hosting St Lawrence CC under a sky that couldn't decide whether it was August or November — scorching one minute, grey and glowering the next. I called it right at the toss and didn't linger over the decision: with a pitch like that, you bat, and you ask questions of your top order rather than the weather.

Richard Piper answered emphatically, striding to 81 that formed the spine of our innings, with Laurie Probert's 34 and an unbeaten 26 from Matthew Carter filling out a total of 249/7 from our forty overs — a score that had a bit of everything and, crucially, enough runs to make St Lawrence sweat.

Sweat they did. Paul Martin battled hard for his 55, but around him the innings simply fell away — three of their number departed without troubling the scorers, ducks all, while Nolan Wilde span a web few could escape, finishing with a magnificent 5-36. Junaid Mufti (2-23) and Matthew Carter (1-4) tidied up the rest, and St Lawrence were done for 121 in 36 overs. I contributed a workmanlike 19 with the bat for good measure.

A nod, too, to Matthew Carter, whose solitary wicket eased him past John Ames into 9th on the club's all-time list — history quietly made between overs. Add it to Richard Piper's season-leading 337 runs and Nolan Wilde's 15 wickets, and the individual form matches the collective mood nicely.

A win by 128 runs, then — comfortable, cheerful, and thoroughly deserved. Onwards.

Sat 13 Aug 2022 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · AwayformLWWLL

Saturday 13 August, away at Meopham, and I called correctly at the toss — fielding first felt right, and for once I wasn't proved a fool.

Meopham built steadily to 170/8 from their forty overs, Glyn Fortt top-scoring with 46 and Nick Brown unbeaten on 33, the pair adding a stubborn 58 for the first wicket. Poor Mick Clark departed without so much as troubling the scorers — the first quack of the day. But Thomas Roxburgh was in fine, probing form, snaring 3-33, with Luke Welsman and Tobey Castle chipping in a wicket apiece to keep the total honest.

With the bat, our openers set the tone handsomely, 86 without loss before the breakthrough came, and Tobey Castle went on to bring up a really fine half-century — 65 in all — well supported by William Roxburgh's 46. We reached 174/6 from 27 overs, home with four wickets in hand. Daniel Thirkell's name, alas, goes into the Duck Club ledger with a nought beside it, and I must confess I kept him company at the other end of that particular column — my own contribution best described as brief and forgettable. We shall, as agreed, draw a veil over it.

Elsewhere in the season's accounts, Tobey Castle continues his fine form and sits fifth in the run charts, while Joshua Knowler leads the wickets table in some style.

All told: two ducks, one fine fifty, and four wickets to spare. A good day for the club, and I'll take that every time.

Fri 12 Aug 2022 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformDLLLT

Skipper's Log, 12 August 2022. A scorcher of an afternoon greeted The Dragons at Linton Park, and winning the toss I had no hesitation in taking first strike — the pitch looked too good to leave sitting under a August sun for their bowlers to enjoy first.

The lads didn't let me down. Aaron Hughes played the fine, watchful innings of a man who knows exactly where he sits in the run charts (49, and second in the Midweek XI standings with 217 for the season now), with Will Thew's 29 and Toby Joseph's unbeaten 27 rounding out a healthy 160/4 from our 32 overs. Special mention, as tradition demands, for Jordan Austin's golden duck — the least glamorous entry in any scorebook, but borne with good humour as always.

161 looked defendable in the heat, and for a while it was competitive cricket. Nick Tromp bowled beautifully for his 2-19, with Thomas Beeney and Nolan Wilde chipping in a wicket apiece, and I even had a dart with the bat later, scratching together 29. But Josh Mihill had other ideas, farming the strike to an unbeaten 73 with T Pitts (38 not out) for steady company, and The Dragons closed it out at 161/4 with four overs unused.

Six wickets the wrong way, then, and a long, sunburnt drive home to reflect on it. Heads up, chins up, back to the nets — this one's filed under lessons learned rather than days lost.

Sun 07 Aug 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformLWLWL

Sunday 07 August 2022, and the team bus rolled us into Town Malling CC full of quiet optimism, which in hindsight is always a bad sign. I won the toss and, in a decision I stand by purely out of stubbornness, put us in.

It did not go well. Ninety-six all out in 21.4 overs is not a total you write home about, though Nolan Wilde's 24 at least gave the scorebook something to look at. Elsewhere it was grim: Nick Pennefather, Frank Harbord and Anton Bourdillon all contributed that most democratic of cricketing gifts, the golden duck — three for three, a rare and unwanted hat-trick of failure spread across an innings.

With the ball we at least made a fist of it. Anton, redeeming himself splendidly, struck early with 1-5, and I chipped in with 24 of my own to make a game of it briefly. But Town Malling's James Worrall (39 not out) and John Burbidge (27) saw them home at a canter, finishing 99/1 off just 12 overs.

Amid the wreckage, one shaft of genuine sunshine: Martin Rivers brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded even by teammates nursing golden ducks. Richard Piper continues to lead our Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 186, and Anton now sits fifth in the wicket standings with four.

Verdict: a nine-wicket defeat and a batting collapse best forgotten quickly. Back to the nets, lads.

Sun 07 Aug 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Egerton CC, Kent · HomeformWWLWL

Sunday 07 August 2022 found us hosting Egerton CC of Kent, under skies that couldn't decide between scorching and grey, rather like my mood once I lost the toss and watched them elect to bat. We had first use of the ball, for all the good it did us at first: their openers put on a rollicking 101 before the first wicket fell, and from there Rob Sparks (70) and Steve Wellard (58) set about carting us to all corners, with Noah Middleton (45) chipping in for good measure. They closed on a hefty 293/7 from their forty overs. Credit where due — Martin Harris toiled magnificently for 3-56, with Jordan Austin and Thomas Beeney chipping in a wicket apiece, and we did at least send Nick Waterhouse back for a golden duck.

Chasing 294 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved, though not without a proper go. Henry Bourdillon batted beautifully for 90, and with Thomas Beeney (35) and Luke Welsman (28) added a stand of 66 for the fifth wicket to give us hope. Poor Benjamin Austin will want to forget his golden duck, and fifteen byes told of a trying afternoon behind the stumps for Aaron Hughes. I managed a workmanlike 18 with the bat and, rather pleasingly, three wickets to go with it.

All out for 247 in 35.4 overs, we fell 46 runs short. Jordan Austin continues to sit second in our Sunday run charts, Martin Harris tops the wickets — small consolations on a day that wasn't ours. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 06 Aug 2022 🧢 2nd XIv PC Pembury CC · AwayformLWWLW

Onwards to Pembury for a Saturday jaunt on 6 August, the skies doing that classic English trick of promising rain without ever quite delivering it. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, and for once the decision looked as good three hours later as it had at the coin. Matthew Carter set the tone with a fine 45, Richard Piper (27) and Nick Pennefather (26) filled in the middle overs nicely, and the extras column — a generous 46 — did more heavy lifting than some of our specialist batsmen. Not every name will want this report framed and hung in the pavilion: Nick Tromp and Steve Puxty both trudged back for ducks. Still, 195 all out from our forty overs was a total with enough about it to defend.

And defend it we did. Pembury's Rohit Ippakayal batted beautifully for his 61, but around him the innings crumbled, with Madhav Suraj and Tom Mobbs both back in the pavilion without scoring. Nick Tromp, doubtless keen to make amends for his batting, ran through them with a superb 4-29, backed up handsomely by Richard Knowler (3-28) and Matthew Carter, who followed his runs with 2-17. All out for 134 in 30.1 overs — the job done with overs to spare.

A win by 61 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Richard Piper continues to top our 2nd XI run charts for the season, with Richard Knowler now second among the wicket-takers — evidence, if any were needed, that Linton Park's engine room is running rather sweetly. Onwards indeed.

Sat 06 Aug 2022 🧢 1st XIv Cudham Wyse CC · HomeformWLWWL

Beaten by 8 wickets at home to Cudham Wyse on a warm, overcast Saturday, and I'll admit the toss looked a lot cleverer at 1pm than it did by teatime. I put us in, hoping for early season runs, and 130 all out from 25.3 overs was, shall we say, a modest offering. Luke Welsman's 29 was the innings' backbone, with Tobey Castle and Anthony Karassellos both chipping in 23 apiece to give the total some respectability. Less respectable were the three ducks — Jordan Austin, Toby Hughes and Aaron Hughes all back in the hutch without troubling the scorers, a trio of blobs that rather summed up our afternoon with the willow.

Defending 130 was always going to want early wickets and a slice of luck, and Cudham Wyse simply declined to oblige. Junaid Mohammad's 45 set the tone, Najaf Abbas stayed unbeaten on 37, and Ahsan Zeb's 27 rounded out a chase built on a rock-solid 54-run opening stand that we never seriously threatened. Anthony Karassellos was our pick of the bowlers with 1-21, and Joshua Knowler chipped in with 1-42, but two wickets in 20.1 overs was never troubling this lot. Up at the top of the table, Alex Keeler and Joshua Knowler continue to fly the flag with the season's runs and wickets, which is rather more than the rest of us can claim this week.

A tough day, truthfully — outbatted, then outbatted again while bowling. We'll regroup, have a stern word with ourselves about running between the wickets, and come back stronger next Saturday.

Thu 04 Aug 2022 🧢 Tour XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformLWWTW

We were unbeaten on a soggy Thursday, hosting Linton Park under skies that couldn't decide whether they were raining or merely sulking. I won the toss and, with the sort of confidence I'd later have to justify to the tea ladies, stuck us in the field first.

Runs came steadily rather than spectacularly — 125 for 6 off our twenty, built on a watchful 37 not out from Tobey Castle and a handy 21 from Mardey Castle, the sort of total that leaves you thinking "defendable, if we bowl sensibly" rather than "case closed, gentlemen." As it turned out, we did not bowl sensibly enough. Connor Campbell, cool as you like, compiled an unbeaten fifty, with Ollie Marston chipping in a well-made 38, and between them they simply outpaced us. There was a flicker of hope when they slipped to 5 for 1 early doors, but an 85-run stand for the third wicket put paid to any notions of a Linton Park collapse. Mardey Castle bowled tidily for 2 for 18, Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in with 1 for 11, and I contributed 21 with the bat earlier — modest, but I'll take it.

Special mention, if that's the word, to Luke Murray, sent back without troubling the scorers — these things happen to the best of us, Luke, chin up.

A seven-wicket defeat, then, fair and square. We were beaten by the better side on the day — onwards to the next one.

Wed 03 Aug 2022 🧢 Tour XIv WC Waresley CC · AwayformDLWWT

The lads gathered at Waresley CC on Wednesday 03 August 2022, and for once the coin behaved itself — down it came in our favour, and I had no hesitation in sending us in. It looked a shrewd call once Tobey Castle got going, an assured 77 the backbone of the innings, with Laurie Probert stroking a fine 52 alongside him and Benjamin Austin chipping in with 30. An 84-run stand for the fifth wicket was really the making of our total, and we closed on a handsome 262/7 from our forty overs — the sort of score that has you rubbing your hands together over the tea urn.

Defending it, though, proved rather more nerve-shredding than the arithmetic suggested it should. Waresley found their own gluey partnership, Jamie Fensome unbeaten on a classy 61, well backed by Joseph Barrett's 45 and Martin Harris's 37, the pair adding 124 for the fifth wicket and threatening to make a mockery of our afternoon's work. It took some tight, disciplined bowling to haul it back — Nolan Wilde led from the front with 1-23, and Martin Harris and Benjamin Austin lent stout support with 1-25 and 1-28 respectively — as the visitors were held to 254/5.

Eight runs. That's all that separated the sides at the close, which is either the width of a mistimed slog or the width of a good afternoon's cricket, depending on your nerves. On this occasion I'll take it as the latter — two points, thoroughly earned, and a report I was rather relieved to be writing in the win column.

Tue 02 Aug 2022 🧢 Tour XIv EC Eaton Socon CC · AwayformLDLWW

From the captain's chair — Tuesday 2 August 2022. We rolled up at Eaton Socon CC, I called correctly at the toss, and never doubted for a moment that batting first was the plan.

208/9 from our forty overs, and honestly not a bad effort in the circumstances. Joshua Knowler top-scored with 32, Martin Rivers chipped in 28 and Darrell Houghton-Judge 26, with the second-wicket pair putting on a handsome 63 to give us something to build on. Then, as is so often the way at this club, the innings rather lost the plot — 76-2 collapsed to 96-5 before you could say "tea's ready", and poor Tobey Castle made the long walk back for nought, adding his name to the Duck Club ledger. Credit where it's due, though: extras chipped in a very useful 34, which I suspect did more for us than several of the specialists.

The opposition matched us stroke for stroke, reaching 208 all out themselves off their forty, Jj Hewitt leading the way with 43. An early wicket for us at 2-1 promised much, but a stubborn eighth-wicket stand of 70 dragged them level. Sam Boyns was superb with 4-22, backed up by Alex Keeler's 3-23 and a wicket for Knowler too. Benjamin Austin had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes going astray, and I contributed my own duck to proceedings — the less said, the better.

A tie. A whole day's cricket and not a run between us. You couldn't write it.

Mon 01 Aug 2022 🧢 Tour XIv RC Reed CC · AwayformTLDLW

As it stands, we're marking these down as fine wins by 33 runs — but let me get you the report itself.

From the captain's chair — Monday 1st August 2022, away at Reed CC, on a warm, damp afternoon that felt like it couldn't decide what season it wanted to be.

Won the toss, elected to bat, and for once I'll take credit for a decision that actually worked. We lost an early wicket cheaply at 3-1, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the flask before the tenth over, but the middle order steadied the ship in style. A stand of 116 for the sixth wicket did the heavy lifting, built on Luke Welsman's fine 69 and Alex Keeler's unbeaten 46, with the extras column throwing in a generous 29 for good measure. 198/7 from our forty overs felt like a total with some teeth in it.

So it proved. Reed made a fight of it early through Om Dave (38), Scott Nash (29) and Jacob Vincent (23), with a 54-run fourth-wicket stand the closest thing to resistance, but the innings came apart at the seams thereafter — 148-6 to 158-9 in the blink of an eye, Michael Robertson and Will Archer both back in the hutch without scoring. Joshua Knowler was the chief architect, running riot with 5-20 and two miserly maidens, backed up nicely by Tobey Castle and Luke Welsman. I even chipped in with 46 myself, more by accident than design.

A fine win by 33 runs. Onwards.

Sun 31 Jul 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · HomeformLLWLW

From the captain's chair — Sunday 31 July 2022. We hosted New Ifield CC on a warm, damp afternoon, and I lost the toss for what felt like the hundredth time running. They elected to bat, and we settled in for a long one with the ball first.

Long it duly was. Gregg Dassrath and Darren McGrath both went well past their fifties — 72 and 71 respectively — putting bat to ball with the sort of ruthless efficiency that makes a captain wish he'd taken up bowling himself, while George Cranham chipped in with 37 to help New Ifield close on a hefty 240/4 from their forty overs. Credit where it's due: Nick Pennefather kept things respectable with 2-23, and Zach Wilde and Alex Holt lent solid support either side of him with a wicket apiece.

Chasing 241 was always going to be a stiff ask, and so it proved, though not for want of trying. Will Thew played a lovely fifty, top-scoring with 65, and found good company in Trevor Back (33 not out) and Nick Pennefather, who followed his bowling with 30 not out — proving the old adage about all-rounders being worth their weight in tea and biscuits. A generous 26 extras rounded out our 182/3.

In the end we fell 58 runs short, well beaten but not disgraced. Worth noting, too, that Richard Piper continues to build a fine season with the bat, sitting second in the 2022 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 182 runs — some consolation on an afternoon short on silver linings. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 31 Jul 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Harbledown CC · AwayformWWWLW

After a warm, damp Sunday down at Harbledown, I won the toss and stuck us in — the right call, I felt, and for once I'll take the credit before the rest of this report snatches it back.

Harbledown made themselves thoroughly at home, racking up 226/8 from their forty overs. Sudesh Thakur (39) and Henry Roberts (39) did the early damage, with Theo Bawtree (38) joining in for a fourth-wicket stand of 59 that rather took the shine off our afternoon. Sam King toiled manfully for 2-26, with Tobey Castle (2-48) and Thomas Beeney (2-55) chipping away either side of him. A defendable-looking total, on paper.

On paper. In practice, we contrived to lose our first wicket with just 7 on the board, and never quite recovered our composure. Tobey Castle, showing admirable form with bat as well as ball, top-scored with 46, and Sam Boyns supported nicely with 25. I added a workmanlike 17 myself, more application than artistry. But from 138-7 the innings simply evaporated — three wickets for three runs, all out for 141 in 35.1 overs. Mark Christmas, Sam King and Martin Harris all made the lonely walk for nought, and the Duck Club ledger groans under the weight of new entries. 🦆

Down by 85 runs, then, and no way of dressing that up as anything other than a hiding. Heads up, though — back to the nets, and back again next Sunday, wiser if not much wealthier in runs.

Sat 30 Jul 2022 🧢 2nd XIv FC Flimwell CC · HomeformLLWWL

As we won the toss, I had a decision to make, and elected to field first — the right call, if I do say so myself, and for once I'll take the credit before the lads take the mickey.

Flimwell settled to 142/6 from their 40 overs, Martin Rigby the chief nuisance with 41, well supported by Alistair Newson's 37 and Syeed Ansari's unbeaten 22. Edhan Gemmell, less fortunate, departed for a golden duck 🦆. Richard Knowler was the pick of our attack with 2-21, Tim Thirkell chipped in with 2-33, and Junaid Mufti bowled two miserly maidens on his way to 1-17 — the sort of spell that makes batsmen question their life choices.

A target of 143 held no fears. Richard Piper and Will Thew simply strolled to it, unbroken, Piper compiling a classy 72 not out and Thew following with a fine fifty of his own, 59 not out. I managed a modest 59 myself, which I'm assured counts as leading from the front, even if the lads suspect I was merely along for the ride.

A word for Tim Thirkell, whose two wickets nudged him past Terry Whittaker into 12th on the club's all-time list — quietly, relentlessly climbing the way only a miserly seamer can. Will Thew, meanwhile, continues to top the 2nd XI run charts this summer, with Thirkell doing likewise with the ball.

Ten wickets, two points, and barely a bead of sweat wasted — a proper afternoon's work.

Sat 30 Jul 2022 🧢 1st XIv OC Outwood CC · AwayformWWLWW

Down at Outwood on a warm, grey Saturday, we lost the toss and were sent out to field first – never the news you want to hear when the sandwiches aren't even cut yet. Batting first ourselves was clearly the plan we'd have preferred, but Outwood had other ideas, and so it was pads on and out we trooped.

Our reply with the bat never quite got going. 113 all out in 35.5 overs told its own story, with only Luke Welsman offering any real resistance for his 33. Special mention, in the way one gives special mentions to things one would rather forget, to Joshua Knowler for his golden duck – 🦆 – though he'd more than make amends before the day was out.

Defending 113 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. We did threaten briefly, removing the opener for just 6, but a stand of 53 for the second wicket steadied Outwood's ship, and Mark Lane's unbeaten 64 saw them home. Joshua Knowler was magnificent with the ball, 3 for 47 with two miserly maidens thrown in – the one bright thread running through our afternoon. I chipped in with 15 of my own, for what little comfort that provided.

Elsewhere in the season, Alex Keeler continues to lead our run charts with 358, and Joshua Knowler tops the wickets column with 21 – proof, if any were needed, that not all was lost even on a day like this. Beaten by seven wickets, then, and no arguing with it. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.

Thu 28 Jul 2022 🧢 Twenty20v High Halstow CC · AwayformWWWLW

As it stands from the captain's chair, Thursday 28 July saw us make the trip to High Halstow on a warm, cloudy afternoon that felt made for cricket, if not necessarily for us — I lost the toss again, and they had no hesitation in batting first.

Twenty overs later they'd posted 145/6, built largely around Adam Whatman's fine 51, with Joe Murray chipping in a handy 31. We did at least strike back where it mattered: Chris Whatman departed without off ing the mark, a small mercy amid the runs. Luke Welsman was the pick of the attack with 2-32, and both Tobey Castle and Joshua Knowler picked up a wicket apiece to keep the total within reach.

Chasing 146, we somehow contrived to make it interesting right to the wire, crawling and scrambling to 148/9 from 19.2 overs. Nick Tromp's 41 was the innings' backbone, with Benjamin Austin's 34 lending fine support — Austin now tops our 2022 Twenty20 run charts with 93, and deservedly so. Henry Bourdillon and Sam King both fell for ducks, proof that nerves were fraying somewhere in that middle order, while Martin Harris continues his quiet season, third in the wicket charts with three.

In the end it came down to the very last pairing, and we squeaked home by one wicket. Not pretty, not calm, but two points is two points — a heart-in-mouth win, and I'll take every one of those going.

Wed 27 Jul 2022 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLDLLL

Skipper's Log — Wednesday 27 July 2022. Away at The Mote, and I won the toss for once — didn't waste time thinking about it either, straight into the field we went.

They posted 199/7 from their forty, built largely on a rather chunky 132-run stand for the sixth wicket between Matthew White (75 not out) and Jason White (53), with Matt Sadler chipping in 27. Credit where due — the bowling clawed it back into something respectable. Tobey Castle was superb with 4-18, John Karassellos took 2-31, Nick Tromp 1-26, and Alex Keeler bowled like a man allergic to boundaries, two maidens and barely a run leaked. Daniel Mason and Tobin Thomas both departed without scoring — the kind of ducks nobody puts in the club Christmas card.

Chasing 200, we replied with exactly 199 all out — close enough to taste it, not quite enough to swallow it. Henry Bourdillon top-scored gloriously with 77, Tobey Castle backed up his bowling with 33, and Jordan Austin added 32, the 53-run third-wicket stand the spine of the innings.

Milestones softened the disappointment: Henry brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, and Alex Keeler turned out for his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a proper club man if ever there was one. Jordan still leads our Midweek run charts, Tobey the wickets.

A tie. A whole day's cricket and not a run between us — cricket's way of telling both sides to shake hands and go home unsatisfied together.

Mon 25 Jul 2022 🧢 Twenty20v Headcorn CC · AwayformLWWWL

A drizzly Monday out at Headcorn, and after losing the toss argument (or winning it, depending who you ask) we were sent to bowl first — which, on a sluggish, damp afternoon, may have suited us more than we let on. Headcorn set about building a total with Jordan Vine the chief architect, an unbeaten fifty that had the look of a man who'd read the pitch better than the rest of us, ushered along by handy contributions from Matthew Daniels (24) and Charlie Tresnan (22). We did at least manage to send Simon Phipps back for a diamond duck, which felt like a small victory amid the carnage. Luke Welsman was the pick of our attack with 1-13, tidy enough to suggest the rest of us could learn something, while Anthony Karassellos and Tobey Castle chipped in with 1-16 apiece. 141/6 left in 20 overs — gettable, if we didn't do anything daft.

We didn't, for once. Jordan Austin played the anchor role to perfection, 38 not out and barely troubled, with Aaron Hughes (30 not out) keeping him company and Luke Welsman adding a brisk 20 for good measure. I contributed my customary 20 — steady, unspectacular, the sort of innings nobody remembers by Wednesday. We eased home by six wickets with three overs unused, drizzle and all.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and proof that a soggy outfield needn't dampen the spirits. Two points, a warm changing room, and Headcorn sent home to dry out. Can't ask for much more than that.

Sun 24 Jul 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv TC Tenterden CC · AwayformWWWWL

Off at Tenterden on a warm, damp Sunday, I did the honourable thing at the toss and lost it comprehensively, leaving us to field first under skies that couldn't decide what they wanted to do. Tenterden built steadily to 205/5 from their 54 overs, with Edward Avann's well-made 51 the innings' backbone, ably supported by Liam Fletcher's 41 and Carlin Smith's 39 — that second-wicket pair adding a stubborn 71 that threatened to get away from us. Credit to the bowlers for hauling things back: Sam King led the line with 2-37, Nick Tromp and Tobey Castle chipped in with 1-4 and 1-15 respectively, and Luke Welsman was miserly in the extreme, sending down three maidens that no doubt tested a few batsmen's patience as much as our own.

Chasing 206, we set about it in good order. The openers gave us a platform of 65 before the first wicket fell, and Benjamin Austin then played the innings of the day — a fine 61 — well backed up by Jordan Austin's 32 and an unbeaten 31 from Luke Welsman, proving there's life in a Welsman bat as well as his arm. A defiant last-wicket stand of 40 saw us home to 208/6 in 32.2 overs with something to spare, and no little relief in the dressing room.

Benjamin Austin now leads our Sunday run charts for the season with 287, and Tobey Castle sits second in the wickets column with ten — both men doing rather more than their fair share of the heavy lifting. A fine win by four wickets, then, and one we'll happily take home with us. Onwards.

Sun 24 Jul 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformLLLWL

Sunday 24 July 2022, and Sissinghurst CC came calling on a warm, damp afternoon that felt more like standing in a greenhouse than out on the square. I called correctly at the toss for once — a rare enough event that I nearly forgot what to do with it — and had no hesitation in batting first.

What followed was, frankly, a treat. We racked up 255 for 4 from our 40 overs, built on the sort of innings you dream about from Aaron Hughes, who compiled a magnificent unbeaten hundred — 105 not out, thank you very much. Laurie Probert (44) and Martin Rivers (38) played their parts with real substance, and by the time we came off I sensed the lads already had a spring in their step.

Defending it, Sissinghurst fought but never quite threatened, bowled out for 175 in 32.3 overs. Mike Burgess (39) and Jon Agar (38) did the bulk of the damage to our figures, while Ben Agar and Joshua Brunning both departed without troubling the scorer. Ryan Boyns was outstanding with the ball, 4 for 43, well supported by Mark Christmas's miserly 2 for 2 and Nolan Wilde's 1 for 31 — though Christmas will want a quiet word with himself about the 20 byes that slipped past the gloves.

Eighty runs the margin, two points banked, and thoroughly earned. A proper afternoon of village cricket — long may Hughes's golden season continue.

Sat 23 Jul 2022 🧢 2nd XIv FC Fordcombe CC · AwayformLLLWW

As Fordcombe put us in on a warm, cloudy afternoon, I can't say I was thrilled, but the lads knuckled down well enough to post 157/9 from our 40 overs. Nick Pennefather batted beautifully for his unbeaten 40, with Matthew Carter (33) and Richard Piper (30) chipping in handsomely around him. Poor Ian Hollingworth, meanwhile, was made to feel thoroughly unwelcome at the crease, departing for a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, Ian, chin up.

With the ball, we scrapped hard. Hollingworth, clearly with a point to prove after his batting misadventure, led the attack superbly with 2-33, and got fine support from Carter (1-13) and Thirkell (1-21), the latter positively miserly with three maidens to his name. But Max O'Collins had other ideas, guiding Fordcombe home with a composed unbeaten 54, backed up by Zach Webb (25) and Richard Shackleton (21), as they reached 159/4 with seven balls to spare. Spare a thought too for Glen Rawson behind the stumps, who had a torrid time of it and shipped 8 byes for his troubles.

Elsewhere in the season, Martin Rivers continues to lead our 2nd XI run-scorers with 173, while Tim Thirkell tops the wicket charts with 24 — small consolations on an otherwise chastening afternoon.

All told, a six-wicket defeat and not our finest hour. Heads up, though — back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sat 23 Jul 2022 🧢 1st XIv EC Eynsford CC · HomeformWWWLW

Saturday 23rd July, and Eynsford CC rolled up to Linton Park on a warm, cloudy afternoon that promised runs for somebody. The coin, as is tradition, betrayed me entirely, and the visitors elected to bat. What followed was a lesson in graceful acceptance of one's lot, as Matthew Williamson compiled a really rather elegant 98 not out, with Benjamin Donovan (41) and Johann Pienaar (25 not out) chipping in to see them to 196/4 from their forty overs. Credit where due, though: Alex Keeler was in miserly, metronomic form, returning 3-16 with three maidens, while Tobey Castle chipped away for 1-48.

Chasing 197, we could easily have wobbled, but Toby Hughes played the innings of the day — 53 sound, sensible runs — well supported by Aaron Hughes (40 not out) and Tobey Castle (28), the pair putting on 53 for the first wicket to give us something to build on. Twenty-eight extras arrived like an unexpected round at the bar, gratefully received. I contributed a workmanlike 16, more useful for the scoreboard than the highlights reel, and we squeaked home 197/7 with three wickets in hand.

A fine win, then, and a timely reminder that cricket is rarely won by the toss alone. Alex Keeler continues his quietly excellent season — second in the run charts, third with the ball — and the rest of us can only applaud from a respectful distance. Onwards.

Thu 21 Jul 2022 🧢 Twenty20v RC Rainham (Kent) CC · AwayformLLWWW

From the captain's chair — Thursday 21 July 2022, and off we trundled to Rainham (Kent) CC, where the coin let us down before a ball was bowled and we were sent straight out to field. Not the worst fate on a warm evening, but it did mean padding up in the field of dreams that is our top order's confidence.

Batting first, we limped to 96/8 from our 20 overs — a total that flattered to deceive. Aaron Hughes was the rock, 26 not out and doing rather more than his fair share, while George Taylor, Luke Welsman and Pieto Swart all took that lonely walk back for nought, three ducks waddling in unhappy formation. A modest total, and we knew it.

In the field we gave it everything. Abishek Pushpavinothan was superb, ripping through with 3-8, ably supported by Fred Taylor's 3-26 and Joshua Knowler's solitary but useful 1-19 — Sai Kasyap departed for a duck of his own to remind Rainham it wasn't all one-way traffic. But Bimal Jose had other ideas, farming the strike to 34 not out, and Rainham eased home on 98/7 with three wickets to spare.

Elsewhere, Toby Hughes continues to lead our 2022 Twenty20 run charts on 92, and Abishek tops the wickets column with 6 — small consolations on a night that got away from us. Not our day, then: heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Wed 20 Jul 2022 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformLLDLL

From the captain's chair — Wednesday 20 July 2022

We took the field on a warm, overcast afternoon against the visitors, and I'll confess I fancied our chances when we won the toss and stuck them in. That confidence took a battering as their openers put on 74 before we so much as glimpsed a wicket, and Thomas Beeney proceeded to bat through the afternoon like he owned the ground, racking up 61, then 56, then 31 across an innings that closed at a hefty 246 all out from 39 overs. Credit where due — Alex Keeler dragged us back into it with 3-42, Stuart Cheesman chipped in 3-43 and Tim Thirkell 2-41, but 246 is 246, and we knew we had work to do.

We made a fair fist of the chase. Keeler, having done the damage with the ball, came out and did it again with the bat, carrying his innings to an unbeaten 50, well supported by Jordan Austin's 39 and Ian Cardew's 36. The openers gave us a proper platform, 62 for the first wicket, before the middle order rather lost the plot and we slid from 62-1 to 78-4 in what felt like the blink of an eye. The tail did its best to rescue pride with a defiant last 41, and I did my modest bit with 22, but 211-9 from our 40 overs left us 35 runs shy. Poor Will Thew had an afternoon of it behind the stumps, 21 byes his cross to bear.

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

Sun 17 Jul 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC Norton Sports CC · AwayformLLLLW

Sunday 17 July saw us make the journey to Norton Sports CC under skies that couldn't decide whether to bake us or drown us in cloud — scorching all the same, and by close it felt rather like the weather had picked a side against us.

Put into the field, we watched Daniel Marshall help himself to a magnificent 113, the kind of innings that makes fielders check their watches and their life choices. Paul Kennard's well-made 53 and Ben Hogan's 26 added further gloss, and Norton pressed on to a hefty 256/5 from their forty overs. Credit where due, though: Zach Wilde was miserly and menacing in equal measure for 1-18, with Alex Wade (1-19) and Nick Tromp (1-24, four maidens no less) keeping things honest when the total threatened to run away entirely.

Chasing 257, Henry Bourdillon's 44 and Will Thew's 43 gave us something to build on, Richard Piper weighing in with a tidy 40, and I contributed a modest 27 of my own. Toby Joseph and Zach Wilde, alas, collected ducks for their troubles — cricket's way of reminding us it owes nobody anything. We closed on 221/9, thirty-five runs shy of the target.

Elsewhere, Richard Piper continues to top the season's run charts and Tim Thirkell the wickets, which at least gives us something to toast at the bar. As for the result — beaten fair and square, but not disgraced. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 17 Jul 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · HomeformLWWWW

Sunday, 17th July, and Leeds & Broomfield rolled up to a Linton Park scorched under a strange, cloudy sun — the sort of afternoon that makes a captain's decisions feel weightier than they probably are. I won the toss and chose to bat, and for once I shall permit myself a little chest-puffing: it was the right call.

We were bowled out for 157 off 28.3 overs, which on such a pitch felt about par. Aaron Hughes led the way with a fine 46, well backed up by Jordan Austin's 32, the pair adding 57 for the third wicket to give the innings its spine. Elsewhere the card wore a few blushes, with three ducks among Benjamin Austin, Luke Welsman and Thomas Beeney — the sort of thing best laughed off in the tea interval rather than dwelt upon.

Defending it, we asked plenty of questions but couldn't quite land the final blow. Monte McCague made a chanceless 96 and Clarry McCague chipped in with 32, and after a brisk opening stand of 64 and a second-wicket stand of 68, the game seemed to be drifting away from us. Credit to the lads for hauling it back to 155-3 into a wobble at 157-6 — Martin Harris the pick of the bowlers with 3-28, Thomas Roxburgh useful with 2-24, and Beeney chipping in too, while Welsman bowled two tidy maidens. I even managed three wickets myself, which I shall be mentioning at the bar for weeks.

In the end, beaten by two wickets — heartbreak of the narrowest, most English variety. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 16 Jul 2022 🧢 2nd XIv Penshurst Park CC · HomeformWLLLW

Saturday 16 July 2022, and a warm, grey afternoon greeted us for the visit of Penshurst Park CC — the kind of day that promises rain and delivers only humidity, much like my hairline these days. I lost the toss, they chose to bat, and off we went into the field with hope rather than expectation.

They ground their way to 139/9 from their 40 overs, Krishna Pitalla top-scoring with 28, well supported by Peter Lyddon's 26 and Tom Scott's 23. Shivaan De Silva and Scott Conway both fell for ducks, poor souls. But the day belonged to Tim Thirkell, whose 2-11 off four miserly maidens strangled the innings at both ends, with Inus Joubert (2-31) and Luke Welsman (1-19) chipping away at the other. A very disciplined shift in the field, and I'll take full credit for setting the fields, whatever the bowlers might say.

Then Glen Rawson and Richard Piper simply refused to give the visitors a sniff, knocking off 141 in 23.4 overs without so much as a hint of alarm — Rawson unbeaten on 64, Piper unbeaten on 55, both cruising to well-deserved half-centuries. Rawson now sits fourth in our 2nd XI run charts this season, while Thirkell tops the wicket pile with 23 — form that shows no sign of deserting either man.

Ten wickets to the good, and home in time for tea. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 16 Jul 2022 🧢 1st XIv SC Speldhurst CC · AwayformLWWWL

Speldhurst, 16 July — a proper away day, and one that reminded us why we bother lugging the kit bags across the county.

Winning the toss, I never hesitated: bat first, and let the bowlers sweat in the afternoon sun. It was a shrewd call, if I say so myself, though I'd contribute precisely nothing to the cause myself — more on that shortly. Mark Christmas led from the front with a lovely 63, Toby Hughes matched him almost run for run with 62, and Thomas Roxburgh chipped in 44 as the middle order built a substantial 92-run stand for the fifth wicket. A defiant last-wicket stand added a spirited 46, extras threw in 32 for good measure, and we closed on a formidable 291/6. Daniel Thirkell's golden duck, and my own golden blob, were the only blemishes on an otherwise handsome scorecard — a captain, after all, must lead by example, though not always the example he'd choose.

With the total posted, Thomas Roxburgh turned matchwinner with the ball, ripping through Speldhurst for a magnificent 4-7, well supported by Alex Keeler (2-39) and Richard Knowler (2-66) — the latter climbing to 22nd on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, past Alan Boyns, a fine personal landmark. Ollie Crees (55, including a booming six over mid-on) and Ben Brandt (45) threatened briefly, but the innings subsided from 178-5 to 184-8 and folded for 189. Too many half-volleys let through the odd rush of blood, but the 32nd over swung it decisively our way with two wickets.

Verdict: 102 runs to the good, two points banked, and a job thoroughly well done — despite, not because of, its captain.

Wed 13 Jul 2022 🧢 Midweek XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformLLLDL

Wednesday 13 July 2022, away at Penshurst Park, and I did the sensible thing for once and put us in on winning the toss. Scorching, damp, faintly tropical conditions — the sort where the outfield races and your shirt doesn't dry between overs. We made hay: 310 for 3 off our 40, built almost entirely on a magnificent third-wicket stand of 213 between William Roxburgh, who batted right through for an imperious 161 not out, and Aaron Hughes, whose well-crafted 81 gave the innings its spine. Thomas Roxburgh finished unbeaten on 34 to see us home in style. Not everyone got among the runs — Toby Joseph contributed his customary golden duck, delivered, as ever, with good grace and the emoji to match. 🦆

Three hundred and ten looked like plenty. It wasn't. Penshurst's openers simply refused to leave, putting on 291 before we so much as troubled the scorers, James Beeny compiling a majestic 177 and Adam Ranson a chanceless 111 in support. By the time Anthony Karassellos prised out two for 43 and Nolan Wilde chipped in with one for 40, the damage was done, and they cantered past us to 314 for 4.

So, down by five wickets — a day where our batting deserved better than our bowling could defend. Jordan Austin continues to lead the run charts and Anthony Karassellos sits handily in the wickets, small consolations on a chastening evening. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — Penshurst simply batted better than we bowled.

Sun 10 Jul 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · AwayformLLLLL

As New Ifield's grass turns brown in the July sun, so did my confidence — and for once it was justified.

Winning the toss on a scorching, cloudy afternoon, I had no hesitation putting us in to bat, and the lads rewarded that faith with 152/7 from our forty overs. Laurie Probert was the rock, an unbeaten fifty that anchored the whole innings, with Richard Piper chipping in handsomely alongside him with 42. Not every name will make the highlights reel, mind — Wes Fernandez and Nolan Wilde both departed for ducks, proof that even a good day has its blushes.

In the field, New Ifield gave chase and made us work for it, reaching 144/6 off their forty. Gregg Dassrath played the innings of the day for them with 63, but he had precious little support — Harry Benning went without troubling the scorers, and the bowling around him was relentless. Anthony Karassellos was magnificent, 3-20 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, backed up nicely by Srikrishna Challa and Ian Hollingworth with a wicket apiece. Poor Glen Rawson had a torrid time behind the stumps, 17 byes leaking away, and as for your correspondent — a duck, and we'll leave it there.

Eight runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved. Piper still tops our Sunday run charts and Karassellos climbs the wicket pile — a fine team performance, even if the skipper's bat had rather less to say about it than his tactics did.

Sun 10 Jul 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv OC Orpington CC · AwayformDLWWW

Sunday 10 July, and off we trundled to Orpington in that peculiar English blend of scorching sun and brooding cloud that only club cricket seems to conjure up. I lost the toss again — my coin-flipping record remains a source of great personal shame — and Orpington duly chose to bat.

Early doors it looked promising, a wicket down with just 4 on the board, but Anirudh Gaikwad had other ideas, compiling a fine 72 and, with Rahul Patel's 20 stiffening things up, dragging them to a 56-run stand for the sixth wicket. All out for 145 in 37.4 overs in the end, and credit where it's due: Tobey Castle was simply magnificent, ripping through them with 4-1, well backed by Thomas Beeney's 3-13 and Thomas Roxburgh's solitary but tidy 1-8. James Robinson, Arnav Shukla and Joel Joji, alas, all trooped back without so much as a run to their names — ducks all round, and no doubt some ribbing to follow in the clubhouse.

Chasing 146, we made an absolute mockery of it. Benjamin Austin (53 not out) and Toby Joseph (53 not out) simply refused to be parted, with Luke Welsman's brisk 23 not out sealing it in a canter — 149 without loss in just 17.5 overs. A special word for Tobey Castle too, who brought up 200 career wickets in the same afternoon — milestones and ten-wicket wins don't come along together very often.

Two points, thoroughly deserved, and a thumping victory to boot. On this evidence, long may the sun (and the cloud) keep shining on us.

Sat 09 Jul 2022 🧢 2nd XIv Shoreham & Otford CC · AwayformWWLLL

We rolled up at Shoreham & Otford under a warm, grey sky on Saturday 9th July, lost the toss, and were duly invited to have a bowl first — which, in the great tradition of these things, we accepted with the enthusiasm of men who had no other option.

Shoreham dug in gamely, closing on 156 all out after 38.5 overs, Simon Wells the chief architect with 46 and Will Bax chipping in a tidy 21. But the story of the innings belonged to Richard Knowler, who span a web through their middle and lower order for a magnificent 5-16, three of those overs maidens for good measure — the sort of spell that has batsmen muttering to themselves on the walk back. Samuel Thomas and Chris Pollard both departed for ducks, while Nolan Wilde (3-43) and Tim Thirkell (2-33) tidied up the rest between them.

Chasing 157, we made steady if unspectacular work of it, reaching 159/3 in 29.1 overs. Martin Rivers led the way with 38, Laurie Probert (32 not out) and Nick Tromp (29 not out) saw us home, and I contributed a workmanlike 32 of my own. Poor Anthony Karassellos had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, 13 byes going astray — the gloves clearly conspiring against him.

Worth noting: Richard's five-for nudged him past Tony Gauna into 23rd on the club's all-time wicket list. A comfortable seven-wicket win, and a thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work all round.

Sat 09 Jul 2022 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · HomeformLLWWW

Saturday 09 July saw Sissinghurst CC roll into Linton Park for a warm, overcast afternoon of cricket, and having called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation in sticking us in to bat — a decision I spent the rest of the day quietly reappraising.

We were bowled out for 188 from 39 overs, a total that owed almost everything to William Roxburgh's well-crafted fifty (53), with Mark Christmas (30) and Thomas Roxburgh (26) chipping in handsomely. Less handsomely, Tobey Castle and Luke Welsman both contributed golden ducks to proceedings, the sort of thing one laughs about afterwards but not particularly at the time.

In the field we gave it everything. Toby Hughes was the pick of the attack with 2-36, Alex Keeler bowled with real discipline for 1-14 and four maidens, and Joshua Knowler picked up 1-28, with James Rix falling for a duck at our hands. But Quentin Ferreira had other ideas, cruising to 77, ably supported by Brough Cooper's unbeaten 48, and their stand of 96 for the fourth wicket simply strangled the life out of our chase for wickets. They closed on 189/5 from 36 overs, and Sissinghurst went home five wickets to the good. I managed 30 with the bat, which was scant consolation.

Not our day, in truth — heads up, and back to the nets we go. There's plenty to admire in this side, but Saturday was a reminder that admiration doesn't win cricket matches.

Thu 07 Jul 2022 🧢 Midweek XIv ? · HomeformWLLLD

Down by 1 run at Linton Park last Thursday, with a warm, cloudy sky watching over proceedings that will live long in the memory for how nearly they went our way.

Winning the toss, I opted to have first use of the ball — and for eighteen overs it looked a shrewd call. The visitors laboured to 103/7 from their twenty, with Tobey Castle the chief architect of their innings on 43, well supported by Darrell Houghton-Judge's 20. With ball in hand, Tobey Castle turned assassin, ripping through with 2 for 1, while Luke Welsman (2-5) and Davy Matthews (1-8) chipped in nicely — the latter pair also finding themselves back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers when their turn came to bat, ducks apiece, poor lambs.

Chasing 104, we made a fair fist of it: Aaron Hughes anchored proceedings with an unbeaten 22, Darrell Houghton-Judge and Toby Joseph both weighing in with unbeaten 20s, and your captain rattling along to 19. Martin Rivers, alas, departed for nought. We finished on 102/2 — one solitary run shy of glory, the kind of margin that makes you replay every dot ball on the walk to the car park.

Aaron Hughes continues his fine season, now second in the Midweek XI run charts with 82, and John Karassellos sits third among the wicket-takers with 3. As for us — heads up, chins up, and back to the nets. Not our day, but not far off it either.

Wed 06 Jul 2022 🧢 Midweek XIv Warlingham CC · HomeformWWLLL

Here from the captain's chair, dripping slightly, after a warm and showery Wednesday saw Warlingham CC pitch up on our patch. The coin did its usual thing of landing exactly how I'd hoped, and with visions of tea and a healthy total dancing before me, I had no hesitation in sending us in.

What followed was about as good as it gets. Ian Cardew and Aaron Hughes put on 91 for the first wicket before anyone so much as troubled the scorebook, and from there the innings simply kept purring along. Cardew went on to 76, Hughes to a well-crafted 60, and Jordan Austin finished unbeaten on 53 to see us safely home to 260/6 from our 35 overs — the sort of total that makes the tea urn taste that bit sweeter.

Defending it, we made early inroads with just 7 on the board, and when 85/5 became 93/8 in a hurry, poor Roland Oliver and Howard Owens were sent back without so much as a sniff. John Karassellos, celebrating fifty career wickets in some style, led the way with 2/16, backed up nobly by Thomas Beeney (2/23, four maidens of pure miserliness) and Tim Thirkell (1/12). Only Waseem Sherwani's unbeaten 33, with support from Slade and Andrews, dragged Warlingham up to 151/9 — though poor Laurie Probert had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes going begging.

In the end, honours shared. A draw, then — but with Karassellos's milestone and a total like that to our name, I'll happily settle for honours even.

Mon 04 Jul 2022 🧢 Twenty20v RC Rainham (Kent) CC · HomeformLLLWW

Right, the lads are all out at the crease...

Well now — Monday the 4th of July, warm and cloudy over the ground, and Rainham (Kent) rolled up looking rather pleased with themselves. I called it right at the toss, elected to bat, and for once nobody in the pavilion questioned the decision out loud, which for this lot counts as a ringing endorsement.

Abishek Pushpavinothan set about proceedings with a brisk 36, and had good company for the journey — Tobey Castle chipping in 31 and Thomas Roxburgh 30 — as we motored to 164/7 from our twenty overs. Not a total to frighten anyone into early retirement, but a defendable one, and defend it we duly did.

Rainham had their moments, mind. Stuart Chipperfield played the innings of the day with 45, Paul Swaine kept him honest with 36, and George Mottram saw them home to 140/7 unbeaten on 22 — though "home" is doing rather a lot of work in that sentence, since it wasn't nearly enough. Poor Jon Newton departed for a duck, which I mention only because he will never let us forget it if we don't. Fred Taylor was the chief tormentor with 2-14, Martin Harris weighed in with 2-18, and Toby Hughes picked up 1-25 to go with his season-leading run tally of 86.

Twenty-four runs the margin, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Onwards, as ever.

Sun 03 Jul 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv BC Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow CC · HomeformWLLLL

Down by 180 in a shower-swept afternoon at Linton Park — off to write the report.

Sunday 3 July, and the coin let us down before a ball was bowled. Bobbing Court and Lower Halstow won the toss, chose to bat, and thanked us for the invitation by helping themselves to 308 for 5 from their forty overs. Trevor Earl set about us with a magnificent 138, and once Lewis Ball had cashed in his own fifty (82, since you ask) the game was rather beyond us — 200 without loss inside the first wicket tells its own tale. Credit to Nolan Wilde for at least making them work for it, 3 for 41 in a losing cause, with Tim Thirkell and Alex Holt chipping away either side of him.

Chasing 309, we made a spirited fist of 128, Richard Piper batting with real application for his 46 before Wes Fernandez threw the bat about for an unbeaten 26. The top of the order went early and often, and it was one of those afternoons where the Duck Club did rather well out of us — Nolan Wilde and Alex Holt both walking back without troubling the scorer, and your correspondent completing the set with a duck of his own, on which I shall draw a merciful veil. Theo Clements had a torrid time behind the stumps too, fourteen byes finding their way past him in the drizzle.

A hiding, in truth — 180 runs the wrong side of the ledger. Nets beckon, and not before time.

Sat 02 Jul 2022 🧢 2nd XIv LC Locksbottom CC · AwayformWWWLL

Beaten but not bowed, we set off to Locksbottom on a fine July Saturday, and I won the toss — electing to bat, a decision I still maintain was the right one, whatever the scoreboard might later suggest. Laurie Probert led the way with a fine 44, well supported by Junaid Mufti's 38, and I chipped in with 16 of my own. Elsewhere the innings had its usual quota of gallows humour, with Martin Rivers and John Karassellos both completing the walk of shame for ducks. All told, 149/9 from our forty overs felt a touch light, but defendable enough to fancy our chances.

Locksbottom, however, had other ideas. Their openers put on 68 without loss to set the tone, and though Srikrishna Challa (2-38) and Will Thew (1-7) did their best to drag us back into it, Charlie Buck's unbeaten 47, ably backed by Minesh Patel's 36 and Chris Trevatt's 32, saw them home in some comfort — 150/3 in just 27.3 overs. Poor John Karassellos had a torrid time behind the stumps too, shipping ten byes for good measure, as if the duck earlier in the day hadn't been punishment enough.

Seven wickets the margin in the end, and no arguments from me — they were the better side on the day, plain and simple. Still, Will Thew continues to head the season's run charts and Challa lurks handily in the wickets table, so there's method amid the muddle. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word with the extras column, and fancy our chances of putting this one right next week.

Wed 29 Jun 2022 🧢 Midweek XIv SC Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC · HomeformLWWLL

From the captain's chair, Wednesday 29 June 2022. Sevenoaks & District Wednesday CC were our visitors on a pleasant, showery afternoon, the sort where you keep one eye on the covers and the other on the bar. Winning the toss, I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once nobody in the changing room disagreed with me.

The lads made handsome use of it, posting 205/7 from 37.3 overs. Jordan Austin was magnificent, carrying his bat to an unbeaten century, and found a fine ally in Tim Wright, who cruised past fifty of his own — the pair adding a crucial 109 for the third wicket and doing most of the heavy lifting. Elsewhere the Duck Club welcomed two new members, Tobey Castle and Thomas Beeney both enduring the walk of shame for nought. 🦆

Defending it, we gave the visitors a proper fright before Oliver Barnes played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 113 shepherding them home with support from Ashwani Arora (24*) and Keith Stone (22). Martin Harris was our pick of the bowlers with 2-25 and three tidy maidens, well backed by Tim Thirkell (2-25) and Alex Keeler (1-52), while poor John Karassellos had a torrid time behind the stumps, 16 byes going begging.

A word of real cheer amid the defeat: Tim Wright brought up 5,000 career runs for the club. Beaten by five wickets in the end — we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 26 Jun 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv WC Wye CC · AwayformLWLLL

Skipper's Log, Sunday 26 June 2022 — the road took us to Wye CC, and won the toss I duly elected to bat, as any self-respecting captain must pretend to agonise over before doing exactly what he'd planned all along.

Runs came steadily rather than spectacularly. Toby Joseph anchored things nicely with a well-made fifty, and while the rest of us contributed in more modest instalments, our extras column had clearly had its Weetabix, chipping in a handy 29 of its own. We closed on 157/8 from our 40 overs — a total that felt defendable, in the eternally optimistic way all totals feel defendable before the other lot bat.

Wye, alas, did not share that view. Harry Linin batted with real class for his unbeaten 53, and found willing company in Jago Mitford's 47 and Neil Williams's unbeaten 22, the three of them chasing our total down inside 33 overs with the minimum of fuss. Tim Thirkell was our shining light with the ball, 2-20 with two tidy maidens to show for his efforts, and Anton Bourdillon chipped in a wicket for his 36. Elsewhere, Nolan Wilde continues to top our Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 81, and Thirkell now leads the wicket-takers with seven.

Not our day, then — beaten by seven wickets, and no arguing with it. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Sun 26 Jun 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Borstal CC · HomeformLDLWW

Sunday 26th June saw Borstal CC pay us a visit under skies that couldn't quite decide whether they wanted to spoil the fun, and having lost the toss I was despatched into the field with my bowlers still buttering their toast. Borstal's openers had clearly had a hearty breakfast, putting on 104 before we so much as glimpsed a wicket, with David Round (54) and Thomas Tingley (46) doing the early damage before Lewis Allan (43) joined the party. It could have got away from us entirely had Mark Christmas not rolled up his sleeves for a splendid 2-7, with Tobey Castle and Thomas Beeney chipping in a wicket apiece, and Amjad Hussain kind enough to depart for a golden duck. 207/6 from their 40 overs felt about par, perhaps a touch over.

Chasing it down, we again began in style — 64 for the first wicket before the openers finally called it a day — and Tobey Castle proceeded to play the innings of the afternoon, an imperious 85, well supported by Jordan Austin's 41 and Mark Christmas's unbeaten 33. I contributed 33 of my own, while poor Srikrishna Challa's duck was the only blemish on an otherwise merry chase. We got home with 5 wickets and, mercifully, a few overs to spare at 209/5.

A word too for Mark Christmas, whose brace nudged him past Terry Whittaker into 11th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — the sort of statistical footnote that means everything down the pub afterwards. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine advert for turning up on a Sunday with an overcast sky and a spring in one's step.

Sat 25 Jun 2022 🧢 2nd XIv SC Sennocke CC · HomeformLWWWL

Sennocke arrived at Linton Park on a Saturday afternoon so damp and drizzly you could have wrung out the outfield, and rather against instinct I looked at the sky, won the toss, and elected to bat. For once, foresight rather than blind optimism was rewarded, and we posted a respectable if unspectacular 150/9 from our 40 overs. Srikrishna Challa led the way with a fine 33, with Martin Rivers (26) and Nolan Wilde (26 not out) chipping in handsomely — the sort of collective effort that has kept Rivers in second spot on our 2022 Second XI run charts with 134 for the season.

Defending 150 was always going to require early inroads and relentless pressure, and for a while Alex Wade gave us hope, prising out a wicket for 22 to keep his name ticking over nicely in third on the wickets list. But this was to be Sennocke's afternoon and no mistake. Arthur Sackville West and Dan Callingham simply took the game away from us, both compiling well-made fifties — 77 not out and 65 respectively — with an ease that made our total look rather smaller by the over. They cantered home in just 18.3 overs for the loss of a single wicket, 153/1, leaving precious little for the rest of us to do; I contributed a token 26 with the bat earlier but nothing with the ball to trouble the scorers.

Nine wickets is nine wickets, and there's no dressing it up. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets — we'll have our day again before the summer's out.

Sat 25 Jun 2022 🧢 1st XIv BC Bidborough CC · AwayformWLLWW

Saturday 25 June 2022, away at Bidborough, and for once the coin toss actually went my way — I put us in to bat, and I'll say it now, it was the right call.

We rattled along to 156/7 from our forty overs, built on a fine 32 from Tobey Castle and steadied nicely by Joshua Knowler's unbeaten 26 and Aaron Hughes's 21. Extras chipped in a handy 30, which tells you the bowling wasn't always straight, and spare a thought for poor Toby Joseph, who contributed a golden duck to proceedings — these things happen to the best of us, Toby.

With the ball in hand we were altogether more ruthless. Bidborough were bundled out for 117 in 29.5 overs, Edward Gray's 37 and James Baldock's 23 the only real resistance, while Dan Slade, Anthony Bouffe and George Van Der Westhuizen all trooped off for ducks. Toby Hughes was magnificent, running through the order for 5-40, with Richard Knowler (2-20) and the miserly Alex Keeler (2-34, two maidens) mopping up the rest. A nod, too, to Joshua Knowler, whose solitary wicket quietly nudged him past John Thirkell into 20th on the club's all-time wicket list — history made in the smallest of increments.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved ones, sealed by a 39-run margin. A day where the toss, the top order and the bowlers all did their bit — you can't ask for much more than that from an away trip.

Wed 22 Jun 2022 🧢 Twenty20v High Halstow CC · HomeformWLLLW

Toby Hughes hit an unbeaten 60 as we brushed aside High Halstow CC by 9 wickets, chasing 119 in just 11.1 overs. Alex Keeler took 2-18.

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Wednesday 22 June, and a warm, clear afternoon greeted us for the visit of High Halstow CC — the sort of day that makes you glad the tea urn's already on. I lost the toss, as is tradition, and duly found myself sent out to field, which at least spared my top order the indignity of watching me bat first.

Not that we minded. High Halstow limped to 118/6 off their twenty, never quite getting away from us. Jamie Maguire's 43 was the innings' backbone, with Clarke Dockwray unbeaten on 23 and Adam Whatman chipping in 20, but our attack kept a lid on things throughout. Alex Keeler was the pick of the bunch with 2-18, well backed up by Abishek Pushpavinothan's 2-21 and Anthony Karassellos's 1-18 — a proper team effort with the ball, and nothing for the batters to really sink their teeth into.

Then came the formality. Toby Hughes strolled to an unbeaten 60 — a genuinely fine half-century — with Benjamin Austin lending capable support with 41, and between them they knocked off 119 in a positively indecent 11.1 overs, losing just the one wicket along the way. Hughes now sits proudly atop the season's run charts, with Keeler leading the wickets column, and on this evidence neither looks likely to be dislodged soon.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a stroll of a nine-wicket win. If only every Wednesday were this straightforward.

Sun 19 Jun 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Tonbridge CC · AwayformWLDLW

Sunday 19 June, and the road took us to Tonbridge with the sun out and, for once, my toss-calling instincts intact — I called it right and had no hesitation in batting first. Forty overs brought us 181 all out, a total that owed everything to Richard Piper's composed unbeaten 56 and a handy 28 from Luke Welsman. Less said the better about Jordan Austin and Sam King, both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, though I'm assured the ducks were purely coincidental.

Defending it, we bowled Tonbridge out for 141 in 36.1 overs despite a spirited 50 from Liam Wolters, who for a while looked like he might spoil the afternoon entirely. Tobey Castle was magnificent with 3-14, backed up nicely by Ian Hollingworth's 2-26 and a tidy 1-13, two maidens included, from Jordan Austin, redeeming himself with the ball after his morning at the crease. Vijayaraghavan Parthasarathy fell for a duck at our hands. Poor Aaron Hughes had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes leaking through, while I contributed a workmanlike 18 with the bat and found some rhythm with the ball for 3 wickets myself.

Special mentions all round: Tobey Castle raising 5,000 career runs for the club, and Ian Hollingworth turning out for his 100th appearance in Linton colours — milestones worth raising a glass to. A fine all-round effort, and two points thoroughly earned — victory by 40 runs.

Sat 18 Jun 2022 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWWLLW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 18th June 2022. Bearsted CC came to Linton Park under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain on our parade or merely dampen it, and having called correctly for once, I sent them in — a decision I'd like to claim was tactical genius, though it may just have been superstition.

The lads repaid the faith handsomely. Martin Harris was a model of miserly precision, four maidens among his figures of 4-15, ably backed up by Tobey Castle's tidy 1-1 and Alex Keeler's 1-25, and Bearsted were shepherded out for 132 in 35.5 overs, Ben Johnston's 47 the only real resistance. All out from 35.5 overs — modest work for an afternoon so wet you could've wrung out the outfield.

Chasing 133, I confess I rather enjoyed myself, ending unbeaten on 76 in fine company with Alex Keeler's watchful 46 not out, while poor Dave Charlton and Will Terry made their way back without so much as a run to their names — these things happen to the best of us. We cantered home at 133/0 in 22 overs, ten wickets intact, without ever looking remotely troubled.

A thoroughly good day for the club, then: bowled tightly, batted serenely, and home in time for tea before the heavens truly opened.

Sun 12 Jun 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv HC Harrietsham CC · HomeformWLWLL

Not our finest hour, but here's the tale from the middle.

We won the toss for once — oh, wait, no we didn't. Called upon to chase, we at least had first use of the Kookaburra, and how we made it count. Harrietsham huffed and puffed their way to 134 all out, Raymond Burt (31) and Haider Ali (25 not out) doing the heavy lifting, but Tim Thirkell had other ideas — a superb 3-11 with five overs so miserly the batsmen must have wondered if the boundary rope had been moved back twenty yards. Inus Joubert (3-39) and Junaid Mufti (2-36) chipped in nicely, and between us we sent Fred King, Nathan Jones and Joby George packing without so much as a single run to their names. A proper collector's set of ducks.

Chasing 135, we rather fancied our chances, and David Castle's 29 promised much. But promises, like our lower order, were soon broken — Trevor Back's own duck didn't help matters, and we folded for 96 in 27.3 overs. My afternoon behind the stumps deserves a mention too, though not a flattering one: ten byes conceded is the sort of gift Harrietsham don't need asking twice to accept.

Small consolations: Nolan Wilde continues to sit proudly second in this season's run charts, and Tim Thirkell now tops the wickets column — bowling form the one bright thread in an otherwise grey afternoon. Beaten by 38 runs, then. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's work to do before we're troubling anyone at the top of the table.

Sun 12 Jun 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Stone-in-Oxney CC · AwayformLWLDL

Sunday 12 June found us on the road to Stone-in-Oxney, the sky doing its best village-green grey and the toss doing its worst - lost, and us into the field. Not that any of us minded much once the covers came off; there's a particular pleasure in bowling first that only a Sunday side truly understands, and Martin Harris made the most of it, snaring 2-18 to lead the attack. Ian Hollingworth and Anthony Karassellos weren't far behind with 2-19 and 2-26 respectively, Karassellos adding a couple of miserly maidens for good measure. Stone-in-Oxney compiled a workmanlike 141/9 off their forty, Henry Pelling Smith top-scoring with 28 and Patrick Watsham chipping in with 24, while poor Owen Piper trudged off for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers.

A target of 142 looked eminently gettable, and so it proved. Benjamin Austin played the innings of the afternoon, sailing serenely to 65 not out, with Henry Bourdillon offering fine support on 45, and between them they saw us home in a brisk 27.1 overs for the loss of a single wicket. Luke Welsman had rather a busy time of it behind the stumps, shipping fifteen byes - we shall put that down to a lively pitch and say no more about it.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved ones at that: an eight-wicket win, built on tidy bowling and finished off in style with the bat. Austin now tops our Sunday run charts for the season, Harris the wickets - and if this is the standard, long may it continue.

Sat 11 Jun 2022 🧢 2nd XIv SC St Lawrence CC · AwayformLLWWW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 11th June saw us make the trip to St Lawrence CC, and after winning the toss I opted to field, a decision I'm still rather pleased with. Their innings ran to 228/9 off forty overs, built chiefly around James Porter's fine 68, with Chris Pedder (39) and Andrew Bujtor (26) adding useful weight. Nolan Wilde did the heavy lifting with 4-59, while Tim Thirkell (2-26) and Davy Matthews (2-42) kept the pressure on throughout. I'll confess to a quiet moment of pride myself, picking up four wickets — not a bad afternoon's toil with the ball.

Chasing 229 was always going to ask questions of us, and we found precious few answers, bundled out for 116 in 31.3 overs. Nick Tromp battled well for his 21, but with Martin Rivers and John Karassellos both departing for ducks, the Duck Club ledger did brisk business. Twenty-one byes told their own tale of a testing day behind the stumps for Anthony Karassellos — indeed the extras column's 41 rather flattered the scorebook.

There was, at least, one moment to raise a glass to: Glen Rawson brought up 10,000 career runs for the club, a landmark achieved amid the rubble that deserves proper applause. Nick Tromp continues to sit second in the 2nd XI run charts, and Tim Thirkell tops the wicket pile.

Verdict: beaten by 112 runs, heads well and truly down — back to the nets, lads.

Sat 11 Jun 2022 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWWWLL

It was overcast, we were put in the field, and by the close it felt like Meopham had been invited round simply to make up the numbers.

Losing the toss and being asked to bowl first is never the news a captain wants on a Saturday, but the lads set about it with real purpose. An early wobble at 5-1 could have been the start of something ugly, and George Bruce and Jon Pollard both trooped back for ducks, but the bowling attack simply refused to let Meopham settle. Richard Knowler was the pick of them with a superb 2-2, backed up handsomely by Joshua Knowler (2-19) and Junaid Mufti (2-28), while Alex Keeler bowled two maidens so mean you'd think he was trying to save on the tea bill. Hugh Bryant (23) and Ross Tucker (22) did what they could to drag the innings towards respectability, but 110 all out in 32.5 overs was never going to trouble us unduly.

And so it proved. Alex Keeler, in the sort of form that's seen him climb to second in the season's run charts, batted through unbeaten for a classy 38, with Toby Hughes (28 not out) and Tobey Castle (25) lending sturdy support — the pair's 62-run second-wicket stand doing the real damage. We cantered home on 111/2 with overs to spare.

An eight-wicket win, then, achieved with minimum fuss and maximum tea consumed. Onwards we go.

Sun 05 Jun 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Hythe CC · AwayformWLWLD

Sunday 5th June found us on the road to Hythe CC, and the coin — as it so often does — let us down. They chose to bat, and we trooped into the field with the sun on our backs and hope in our hearts. Steven Eggleston (96) and Timothy Pichowski (76) put together a stand that had us chasing leather for most of the afternoon, and Hythe closed on a formidable 228/6 from their forty overs. Credit where due: Martin Harris bowled beautifully for 2-28, with Sam Boyns (1-8, two tidy maidens) and Srikrishna Challa (1-26) keeping things respectably mean. Luke Welsman had a torrid time behind the stumps, ten byes testifying to a pitch with ideas of its own.

Chasing 229, Jordan Austin played the innings of the day, 96 of pure class, with Benjamin Austin (26) alongside him as the openers put on a superb 90 for the first wicket. It looked, briefly, like a heist in the making — until 167-5 became 173-8 in the blink of an eye, and we were bowled out for 178 in the 38th over. Sam Boyns and Thomas Beeney both took the walk of shame for ducks, and the Duck Club ledger grows heavier still.

There were bright spots amid the wreckage: Martin Harris's two wickets nudged him past Trevor Back into 14th on the club's all-time list, and Benjamin Austin continues to top our Sunday run charts. Beaten by 50 runs in the end — honourably, if not comfortably. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 05 Jun 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CC Chelsfield Park CC · HomeformWWLWL

Sunday the 5th of June found us at home to Chelsfield Park, under skies that couldn't quite make up their mind whether to rain on us properly or just sulk about it. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat, a decision I'm still rather pleased with. Aaron Hughes and our opening pair put on a splendid 59 for the first wicket, and Aaron went on to anchor the innings beautifully, finishing unbeaten on 43. Trevor Back chipped in a useful 33 and David Castle 28, though the card wasn't without its blemishes — both Davy Matthews and Saad Ansari fell for ducks, the kind of scoreline that makes a captain wince into his tea. Twenty-five extras rounded us up to a defendable 170/8 from our forty overs.

In the field, Shankar Swaminathan had other ideas, cruising to a fifty and beyond while Vijay Ganesh's unbeaten 43 and Rahul Sarkar's 31 kept the chase ticking along nicely for the visitors. Tim Thirkell was our pick of the bowlers with 1-21, and Davy Matthews and Tobey Castle both weighed in with a wicket apiece, but 173/5 came with just over a over and a half to spare.

Beaten by five wickets, then, and there's no dressing that up — but Aaron Hughes continues to top our 2nd XI run charts for the season with 81, and Ian Hollingworth sits third among the wicket-takers. We'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Sat 04 Jun 2022 🧢 2nd XIv PC Pembury CC · HomeformLLLWW

Here's the report:

From the captain's chair — Saturday saw Pembury CC roll into Linton Park under grey but forgiving skies, and having lost the toss and been put in to field first, we did what any self-respecting side does with a damp coin and a soggy outfield: we made them regret it.

Batting first, we posted a handsome 263/4 from our forty overs, built on the sort of innings that make a captain's job look easy. Will Thew set the tone with a well-made 72, Nick Tromp followed with a fine 69, and Henry Bourdillon rounded things off unbeaten on 52 — three half-centuries and hardly a false stroke between them. Extras chipped in a useful 29, while poor Nolan Wilde will be nursing a golden duck for a while yet. I'll confess to a certain quiet satisfaction in contributing 72 of my own from the front — leading by example, or so I'll tell the committee.

Pembury's reply never threatened to trouble the scoreboard. Anthony Karassellos was magnificent, tearing through with 4-25 and two miserly maidens, ably backed by Junaid Mufti's 3-5 and Anton Bourdillon's 1-9. Tom Mobbs (29), Amit Kumar Singh (25) and Benjamin Parsons (22 not out) offered the only real resistance, while Harry Mobbs, Daniel Niblett and Freddie Mobbs all departed without troubling the scorer. All out for 114.

A 149-run victory, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — the sun, when it briefly showed, seemed to agree.

Sat 04 Jun 2022 🧢 1st XIv Cudham Wyse CC · AwayformLWWWL

Saturday saw us pack our bags for Cudham Wyse, blessed with that most English of forecasts: pleasant, yet steadily wet. Losing the toss and being asked to field first felt like the afternoon's cruellest joke, but somehow the cricket gods had it back to front, because it was our batting that did the talking. Aaron Hughes anchored things with a fine 51, Mark Christmas chipped in a classy 45 and Toby Hughes made a handsome 41 — his innings taking him past 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising more than one teacup to. A rollicking 59-run stand for the seventh wicket gave the innings its backbone before we lost our last three in a flurry, tumbling from 210 to 219 all out. Martin Harris and Richard Knowler both took the long, lonely walk back for ducks — the ledger does not forget.

Two hundred and nineteen looked defendable, and for a while it was, but Cudham Wyse had other ideas. Najaf Abbas played the innings of the day with 77, Ahsan Zeb (56) and Arslan Sheikh (51) both went past fifty in support, and an 85-run second-wicket stand did the real damage. Richard Knowler was our pick of the bowlers with 2-26, Martin Harris and Joshua Knowler chipping in a wicket apiece, and at least we sent Fahad Karim home without troubling the scorers. I added a watchful 18 with the bat, for what little that was worth.

A six-wicket defeat, then, and not our day. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets.

Sun 29 May 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Gravesend CC · HomeformWWWLW

Sunday 29 May 2022, and Gravesend CC came to visit us on a cool, drizzly afternoon that made winning the toss feel like the first real decision of the day. I called it right — or so I thought at the time — and stuck us in the field.

Gravesend made themselves very much at home, racking up 244/7 from their 35 overs. Suraj Sanger set the tone with a classy 54, and V Bhoombla matched him with an unbeaten fifty of his own, while Bhargav Khanna finished 41 not out to put the total well out of reach. Ramanjit Bajwa at least fell for a duck, small mercies. Edward Seymour did the honest toil of the day, leading the attack with 2-32, with Tim Thirkell (1-39) and Sam King (1-46) chipping away as best they could.

Chasing 245 was always going to be a stretch, and so it proved. Nolan Wilde played beautifully for 68, well supported by Seymour, unbeaten on 31 after his earlier bowling shift, and Theo Clements with a tidy 28. Alex Holt, alas, contributed nothing but a golden duck. I'll confess a quiet pride in my own 68 — small consolation in a losing cause. We finished 156/8, well short, beaten by 88 runs.

Not our day, then. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — Gravesend deserved their win, and we'll be better for the lesson.

Sat 28 May 2022 🧢 2nd XIv FC Flimwell CC · AwayformWLLLW

Saturday 28 May 2022 saw us take the road to Flimwell CC, under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain or shine — a proper English compromise of an afternoon. We lost the toss, were sent in to bowl, and for once that felt less like a punishment and more like an invitation.

And how the lads took it. Flimwell were bowled out for a modest 89 from 36 overs, James Knight's 34 the only real resistance, while three of their number trudged off without troubling the scorer at all. Tim Thirkell was magnificent, tearing through with 4-19 and, in doing so, quietly nudged past Trevor Back into 13th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — a fine bit of history made on a showery Saturday. Srikrishna Challa (3-1) and the ever-parsimonious Richard Knowler (1-7, three maidens) squeezed the life out of the innings from the other end.

Chasing 90, we cantered home at 93/1 in just 16.1 overs, Martin Rivers leading the way with 32 before Nolan Wilde (32 not out) and Nick Tromp (23 not out) saw us over the line with barely a bead of sweat between them. Poor John Karassellos had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes leaking away, but nobody was counting once the winning runs were struck.

Nine wickets, two points, and thoroughly deserved. A day when everything simply clicked — we'll take that kind of cricket every time.

Sat 28 May 2022 🧢 1st XIv OC Outwood CC · HomeformLLWWW

Beaten again by ten runs, but by heavens we made Outwood work for it.

Saturday's drizzle set the tone rather nicely — the sort of afternoon that makes you wonder whether an umbrella might have been more use than a bat. I lost the toss, as has become something of a specialist subject of mine, and we were put into the field. Outwood ground their way to 196/4, with Mark Lane playing a genuinely magnificent century — 106 of pure village-green torment — cheerfully supported by Louis Russell-Watts (40 not out) and Ashley Middleton (22), the pair of them stitching together a 103-run stand for the third wicket that rather took the game away from us. Small mercies: Matthew Norman departed for a duck at our hands, and Toby Hughes bowled beautifully for 2-41, backed up nicely by Alex Keeler (1-22) and Tobey Castle (1-42).

Chasing 197, we were always going to need something special, and for a while we threatened it. Daniel Thirkell top-scored with 48, I chipped in with 48 of my own, and Toby Hughes (43) and Alex Keeler (34) kept the innings breathing — but 186 all out in 39.1 overs was the sorry conclusion, with Tobey Castle, Luke Welsman and Anthony Karassellos all taking the long walk back for nought. Both sides leaked runs square, and we were consistently too short and duly punished off the back foot.

Ten runs. Ten wretched runs. Credit to Outwood, but we'll sharpen the length and come back stronger next week.

Sun 22 May 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv WC Wadhurst CC · AwayformLWWWL

Sunday 22 May 2022, and the road took us to Wadhurst CC — a fixture that always promises a good tea and, if we're lucky, a decent game to go with it. We lost the toss, were duly invited to field first, and had to make do with pads on the wrong end for once.

With bat in hand we set about building something substantial. The openers gave us exactly the sort of platform captains dream of and rarely get, putting on 75 for the first wicket before the breakthrough came. Jordan Austin anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 51, Darrell Houghton-Judge chipped in a fine 41 and Aaron Hughes added 38 — though poor Anton Bourdillon will want this report kept well away from him, departing for a golden duck. Still, 214/5 from our 32 overs was a total to bowl at.

And bowl at it we did. Wadhurst never recovered from an early stumble at 5-1, and though Josh Kemp fought hard for his 57, wickets fell steadily around him — Fred Milsom and Jamie Crawford both back in the hutch without scoring. Anthony Karassellos was the pick of the attack with 3-10, Aaron Hughes backed up his batting with 2-16, Srikrishna Challa took 1-11, and Nick Tromp squeezed the life out of things with two maidens. Wadhurst were bowled out for 115 in 39.4 overs.

Ninety-nine runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly deserved both.

Sat 21 May 2022 🧢 2nd XIv FC Fordcombe CC · HomeformWWLLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 21 May 2022. Fordcombe CC visited us on a pleasant, overcast afternoon, the sort of grey sky that promises rain and then thinks better of it. The toss went against us and they had us in the field first, which is never quite how you plan the day.

With the bat we posted 174/9 from our forty overs, a total that felt about right rather than commanding. Will Thew top-scored with a fine 48, and there was good support from Richard Piper (28) and Richard Knowler (27), the pair putting on 50 for the first wicket to give the innings some early shape. I chipped in with 48 myself, which I mention only because it would be poor form for the captain to write his own report and leave himself out.

Fordcombe replied with 173/8, Richard Shackleton compiling a classy 72 that did most of the damage, well supported by Rory Marples (32) and Owen Horsford (29) in a stand of 70 for the third wicket that threatened to run away from us. Ashley Worcester departed for a golden duck, which I'm sure will heal in time. Tim Thirkell was magnificent, 4-33, ably backed by Pieto Swart and Alex Wade, and those wickets nudged Tim past Martin Harris into 13th on the club's all-time list — a fine personal landmark on a fine team afternoon.

A win by a single run. The lads will sleep well tonight, and so shall I. Onwards.

Sat 21 May 2022 🧢 1st XIv EC Eynsford CC · AwayformWLLWW

We were away at Eynsford on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon, and after losing the toss and being asked to field we settled instead for a good, honest bat. Daniel Thirkell led the way with 41, and I'll admit to a certain glow of paternal pride watching Toby Hughes (37) and Alex Keeler (36) build around him, the openers laying a fine platform of 75 before the first wicket fell. I chipped in with 41 myself, more by luck than design, and 189/7 from our 40 overs felt like a total with a bit of substance to it.

Eynsford's reply never quite got going, an early wicket at 1 setting the tone and poor Ishtiaq Mehmood departing for a duck 🦆 at our hands. Johann Pienaar (47 not out) and Alfie Wheeler (35) fought a lone rearguard, but Joshua Knowler was in irresistible form, spinning his way to 5-25, with Anthony Karassellos (4-25) mopping up at the other end and Martin Harris tying things down with two miserly maidens. All out for 135 from 35.4 overs told its own story.

A word too for Knowler, whose five-for nudges him past Alan Boyns to 21st on the club's all-time wicket-takers list — quietly historic stuff for a Saturday afternoon in Kent. With Thirkell (214) and Knowler (10) still leading our season charts, this was a thoroughly deserved win by 54 runs, and two points banked without a flicker of luck required.

Sun 15 May 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv OC Offham CC · AwayformWLWWW

Sunday 15 May 2022 took us to Offham CC, and having called correctly at the toss I had no hesitation in choosing to bat first — with hindsight, perhaps the only correct decision I made all afternoon.

We posted 134/7 from our 40 overs, a total that always felt somewhere between par and prayer. Trevor Back top-scored with a tidy 33, well supported by Neill Pennefather's 28 and Richard Piper's 22, but the middle order rather let the side down, with both Davy Matthews and Theo Clements departing for ducks. A few more of those and we'd have needed a search party rather than a scorebook.

Defending 134 was always going to require discipline, luck, and probably divine intervention — we got none of the three. Offham strolled to 135/0 in just 12 overs, John Olufawo unbeaten on a chanceless 73 and David Sibley keeping him company with an equally polished 52 not out. Both fifties arrived with the ruthless efficiency of men who knew exactly what they were doing, which is more than can be said for our bowling changes.

On the bright side, Trevor Back's 33 nudges him up to 4th in the 2022 Sunday 2nd XI run charts — a lone candle in an otherwise dim afternoon.

Ten wickets down, heads bowed, we trudge back to the nets. Not our day, lads — but there'll be another Sunday.

Sun 15 May 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv EC Exiles at Ash CC · HomeformWWLWL

Sunday 15 May 2022, and Exiles at Ash CC rolled up to find Linton Park under a sky doing its finest impression of a car wash. Undeterred, I called correctly and stuck them in — a decision that looked either shrewd or barmy depending on which hour of the innings you caught. They finished on 178 for 8 from their 40 overs, built around a fine 44 from Ben Rutherford and 39 from James Millignan, with Nathan Ruegg unbeaten on 27 and a second-wicket stand of 60 that threatened to run away from us. Credit to the lads, though — the floodgates that opened at 117 for 3 were more or less bolted shut by 133 for 6, Martin Harris leading the charge with 2 for 22, Anthony Karassellos chipping in 2 for 24 (with two maidens for good measure, not a run given away lightly), and Toby Hughes weighing in with 2 for 36.

Luke Welsman had a torrid afternoon behind the stumps, conceding 14 byes to the elements — in his defence, the ball was arriving more by way of submarine than seam bowler.

With the bat, 17 for 1 from 5.2 overs told its own story: the rain had the final say, and we never got the chance to chase it down.

So, honours shared, and perhaps rightly so given the conditions did as much bowling as either attack. Martin Harris continues his quiet climb up the wicket charts, now second with three for the season. A soggy, scrappy, thoroughly English draw — no losers today, bar the outfield.

Sat 14 May 2022 🧢 2nd XIv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWWWLL

From the captain's chair — Saturday 14 May 2022, and the road took us to Penshurst Park CC under pleasant, cloudy skies. The coin fell our way for once, and with a rare glint of tactical genius I put us in to bat. We rattled along nicely to 195/7 from our 40 overs, the innings built on a fine half-century from Junaid Mufti (58), well supported by Srikrishna Challa (44) and Alex Wade, unbeaten on 26. Not every man could say the same, mind — Laurie Probert took the walk of shame with a nought for the Duck Club ledger, and I regret to report the skipper himself contributed a golden blob. Leading by example is all very well when you're posting fifties; less so when you're back in the pavilion before you've troubled the scorers.

In the field, Tim Thirkell led the attack manfully with 1-27, Nolan Wilde chipping in with 1-37 and, more importantly, reaching the milestone of 50 career wickets — a fine achievement amid the general carnage. Carnage it duly was, as Adnan Qureshi played the innings of the day, 94 not out, ably assisted by Hugh Freese's 40, and the opposition cruised home on 198/2 with two overs to spare. We did our best to help them along, gifting 25 extras in wides and no-balls — generosity that would earn plaudits at a vicarage tea party but precious little on a cricket field.

Eight wickets the margin, and no arguing with it. Junaid keeps us respectable in the run charts, Thirkell leads the wicket-takers, but for the rest of us — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 14 May 2022 🧢 1st XIv SC Speldhurst CC · HomeformLWLLW

Saturday 14th May, and Speldhurst rolled up to Linton Park under grey but agreeable skies. I lost the toss again — my record with a coin these days would embarrass a superstitious sailor — and duly we were put into the field.

Forty overs later, 160/8 looked a fair total rather than a daunting one, and the bowling attack deserves the credit. Anthony Karassellos was in wonderful nick, snaring 2-12 with two maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of tidy, unglamorous graft that wins matches. Joshua Knowler and Toby Hughes chipped in with two apiece, and even Harry Dunmall's duck couldn't spoil our afternoon in the field. Ben Brandt's unbeaten 28 and James Hughes's 24 were the only real resistance.

Chasing 161, we made light work of it — 164/3 in just 28.1 overs. Daniel Thirkell was magnificent, farming the strike to 77 not out, and I'll confess a certain quiet pride in contributing that score myself. Craig Sands's 38 and Mark Christmas's unbeaten 33 gave the innings its spine, with the second-wicket stand of 61 doing the real damage — though poor Toby Hughes, so miserly with the ball, endured a golden duck with the bat, cricket's little joke on balance.

Daniel now leads our run charts and Toby our wicket charts for the season — fitting, given the day. A fine win by seven wickets, and a very pleasant one to report. Onwards indeed.

Sun 08 May 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Wingham CC · AwayformLWWLW

Sunday 8 May took us out to Wingham, and it must be said, the day did not start promisingly — we lost the toss, they had a bat, and by tea-time we had learned rather more about the Wingham top order than any of us cared to. Andrew West gave us a proper lesson, an unbeaten 112, while Michael Pilbeam (51 not out) and Noah McLennan (46) piled in behind him. They rattled along to 275 for 3 off their forty, built on a solid opening stand of 61 before the first wicket fell. Sam Boyns toiled honestly for his 1-40 and Martin Harris chipped in with 1-61, though in truth the bowling figures tell you all you need to know about our afternoon in the field.

Chasing 276 was always going to be a stretch, and stretched is exactly what we were — bowled out for 72 in 22.5 overs, the innings unravelling from a wobbly 49 for 5 to a genuinely alarming 67 for 8 in the time it takes to put the kettle on.

Still, two bright notes amid the wreckage. Aaron Hughes brought up 3,000 career runs for the club — a landmark achieved, somewhat incongruously, on a day of collective batting failure — and Martin Harris's solitary wicket nudged him past Tim Thirkell into 14th on the all-time list. Darrell Houghton-Judge continues to lead our Sunday run charts with 91.

Beaten by 203 runs, then, and no dressing that up. But cricket, like the English weather, has a way of turning — we'll regroup, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 07 May 2022 🧢 2nd XIv Shoreham & Otford CC · HomeformWWWWL

It was a Saturday of drizzle and decision-making — I won the toss, elected to field, and for once felt rather pleased with myself before a ball had even been bowled. Shoreham & Otford duly made themselves at home, posting a stout 156 all out in 38.2 overs, David Jarratt compiling a handsome 61 and Jonathan Pennington Legh chipping in with 46, while Ben Pollard and Mark Winsper trooped off without so much as a nibble. Tim Thirkell was the pick of our attack with 3-45, ably backed by Anthony Karassellos (2-14, four maidens — not a run given away lightly) and Ian Hollingworth (2-24). All told, a respectable shift in the field.

Our reply never quite found its rhythm. We were bowled out for 135 in 37.2 overs, Martin Rivers leading the way with 40 and Laurie Probert supporting nicely with 30 — I contributed 30 myself, for what little comfort that offers. Matthew Carter and Tim Thirkell both endured the walk of shame for ducks, and eight byes off Craig Sands's gloves told their own damp tale. There was a bright spot amid the gloom, mind: Alex Wade brought up 50 career wickets, a landmark worth raising a teacup to.

So, 21 runs short in the end. Not our day, the lads will admit it themselves, but heads up and back to the nets — Shoreham & Otford had the better of the arithmetic, we'll have the better of the next one.

Sat 07 May 2022 🧢 1st XIv Sissinghurst CC · AwayformLLWLL

Saturday last took us down to Sissinghurst, and for once the coin obliged — I called it right and had no hesitation shoving them in to bat first, the kind of decision that looks either shrewd or daft depending entirely on what follows. What followed was largely in our favour. Quentin Ferreira gave us a proper working-over with a superb 105, well supported by James Rix's 27, but the damage down the order told its own story: Andrew Knowler and Jon Agar both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Joshua Knowler was the chief tormentor, 3-18 and four miserly maidens, with Junaid Mufti (2-30) and Martin Harris (2-49) chipping in gamely. 184/9 from their 40 overs felt, on our ground, distinctly gettable.

And gettable it proved. Daniel Thirkell — modesty be damned, that's me — carried the innings with an unbeaten 91, while Alex Keeler matched him stride for stride with a fine 81 not out, and between us we knocked it off in 36.1 overs without so much as losing a bail. 188/0. Ten wickets, and not a nervous moment in sight.

Special mention for Joshua Knowler, whose three wickets nudged him past Tony Gauna into 22nd on the club's all-time list — a quiet sort of immortality, but immortality nonetheless. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a Saturday that reminded us why we bother with this daft, wonderful game.

Sun 01 May 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv OC Offham CC · HomeformWLWWL

Won the toss, opted to field – on a pleasant, damp Sunday, that's not a decision, it's a duty. Offham CC duly obliged our bowlers with 135/6 off their forty, though not before Ryan Ward decided he fancied an unbeaten 72 and Sam Tucker chipped in a tidy 21. Somewhere in there Marcus Rodrigues walked back to the pavilion for a golden duck, which is never a pleasant walk to watch. Will Thew did the early damage with 2-0, while Luke Welsman (1-7) and Thomas Beeney (1-8, four maidens and mean as you like) squeezed the runs out of the rest of the order. All told, 135 felt gettable, and gettable is a lovely word to hear at tea.

What followed was less a run chase than a demolition. Benjamin Austin and Aaron Hughes simply strolled to the middle and helped themselves — 82 not out and 41 not out respectively — as Offham's bowlers served up short stuff that we cut and pulled with the enthusiasm of men who'd been promised cake. We got there in 24.1 overs for the loss of precisely nobody.

Two points, and thoroughly deserved. A ten-wicket win is the sort of scoreline that makes the drive home feel shorter and the pub afterwards feel earned. Offham will have learnt what we already know: bowl short at Benjamin Austin at your peril.

Sat 30 Apr 2022 🧢 2nd XIv TC Tunbridge Wells CC · AwayformTWWWW

Saturday 30 April 2022, and off we trundled to Tunbridge Wells with the toss lost and the bowling boots on first — never the plan, but there we were. Their openers had other ideas, putting on 144 before we so much as sniffed a wicket, and by the time Tim Eaden had ground out an unbeaten hundred, ably supported by Tim Luckhurst's 53 and Pieter Booyse's 42, we were staring down 257/3. Nolan Wilde toiled manfully for 2-25 and Will Thew chipped in with 1-23, but 40 overs of that is a long, thirsty afternoon in the field.

Chasing 258 was always going to want something special, and for a while Craig Sands looked like he might conjure it, top-scoring with a fine 39 and putting on 69 with Will Thew (33) for the second wicket. But cricket, as ever, had its cruel little joke ready: from 82-2 we collapsed to 87-5 quicker than you could pour the tea, and the Duck Club ledger swelled nicely with ducks for Nick Pennefather, John Karassellos and Nolan Wilde — three walks of shame in one innings takes some doing. I did what I could with 33 of my own, but we were bowled out for 120 in the 30th over.

Beaten by 137 runs, then, and no amount of spin will dress that up as anything other than a proper hiding. Credit to Tunbridge Wells, who batted us out of the game before lunch was barely digested. For us: heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — there are worse things in life than a bad Saturday, though not many worse than this one.

Sat 30 Apr 2022 🧢 1st XIv Meopham CC · HomeformWLLWL

Here's the match report:

We took the field on a pleasant, cloudy afternoon against Meopham CC, and after winning the toss I opted to field first — the right call, I felt, though our attack made me look wiser than I probably am. Meopham piled on 213/3 from their forty overs, with David Pollard (74 not out) and Kevin Smith (71 not out) putting together the kind of unbroken stand that has captains reaching for the scorebook and sighing. Glyn Fortt chipped in with 35, while Hugh Bryant departed for a duck at our hands — small mercies. Tobey Castle led the way admirably with 1-19, Alex Keeler and Darrell Houghton-Judge weighed in with a wicket apiece, and Anthony Karassellos was positively miserly with three maidens.

Chasing 214, we made a fair fist of it without ever threatening to get there, bowled out for 164 in 32.5 overs. Benjamin Austin's 34 was the innings' backbone, well supported by Alex Keeler's 32 and Anthony Karassellos's 22, but a middle-order collapse — 14-1 crumbling to 21-4 almost before anyone had sat back down — did for us. Luke Welsman's golden duck summed up the mood rather neatly, and my own 16 will not trouble the highlights reel.

Beaten by 49 runs in the end — a fair result on the day, and one that flatters neither our batting nor my sense of tactical genius. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 24 Apr 2022 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv CC Chelsfield Park CC · HomeformLWLWW

Sunday 24 April 2022 saw Chelsfield Park CC roll into Linton Park under kind, cloudy skies, and having called correctly for once at the toss, I had no hesitation in sticking us in to bat. Luke Welsman set about proceedings with a fine 47, John Karassellos chipped in with 34 and Alex Wade finished unbeaten on 34, the pair sharing a hearty 76-run stand for the sixth wicket that really put the total out of sight. A generous 28 extras from our visitors didn't hurt either, and we closed on a handsome 247/8. Spare a thought, though, for poor Nolan Wilde, whose golden duck earns him this week's spot in the Duck Club ledger.

Defending 247 is always a pleasant problem to have, and the lads set about it with real purpose. Senthil Pandian departed for nought first ball to keep our own duck-collectors company, and though Lenin Jeyaraj (42), Shankar Swaminathan (40) and Sudipto Das (33) all threatened to make a match of it, they never quite found the support to match ours. Alex Wade was the chief destroyer, a superb 3-17 with two miserly maidens thrown in, backed up by Nolan Wilde (1-15) and Ian Hollingworth (1-21), as Chelsfield fell away to 164/7.

As for your correspondent, I contributed the square root of nothing with the bat — a duck best passed over in respectful silence. No matter: a comprehensive 83-run victory and two points banked. A thoroughly satisfying Sunday's work, and one the lads can be rightly proud of.

Sun 24 Apr 2022 🧢 1st XIv SC Sibton Park CC · AwayformWWLLW

Lost the toss on a bright Sunday at Sibton Park, and with it any say in the matter — they had us in the field before the tea urn had even warmed up. Sibton ground their way to 165/8 from their forty overs, Harry Wren (42) and Ben Allon (41) doing most of the damage, with Steven Rowe (30) chipping in and a stubborn 58-run stand for the sixth wicket threatening to bat us out of the game entirely. Credit to the lads for hauling it back: Toby Hughes was superb with 4-14, Martin Harris chipped away with 2-37, and Alex Keeler bowled with the kind of miserly discipline that had three overs go for nothing at all. Three Sibton batsmen — Phil Coombs, Joshua White and Graham Bingham — departed for ducks at our hands, which was some consolation.

Our reply, alas, never got out of first gear. Tobey Castle's 21 was as good as it got, and once we slid from 37-2 to 50-5 in a rush, the innings had the unmistakable whiff of collapse about it. All out for 94 in 29.2 overs, with Joshua Knowler and Mardey Castle joining the Duck Club for the walk of shame.

There was a silver lining amid the wreckage: Martin Harris's brace nudged him past Tim Thirkell into 14th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, while Aaron Hughes sits second in this season's run charts and Toby Hughes tops the wickets column.

Beaten by 71 runs, then — no dressing it up. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 23 Apr 2022 🧢 1st XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformWWWLL

Onwards, then. Saturday 23 April brought the sort of afternoon only English cricket could love — damp underfoot, a stiff breeze doing its best to unsettle the bails, and Headcorn CC arriving to spoil our fun. I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first; call it captain's instinct, call it luck, but it proved the right shout.

The lads set about building a proper total. Luke Welsman was in imperious touch, ending unbeaten on 78 and thoroughly deserving his half-century, with Aaron Hughes (26) and Richard Piper (24) lending sturdy support. The innings turned on a fifth-wicket stand of 64 that gave us real substance. Not every man had his day — Laurie Probert's duck being the one blemish on an otherwise handsome scorecard — but 178/6 from our 40 overs was a total with teeth.

Defending it, Headcorn threatened to make a match of it, Bhanuka Senasinghe compiling a classy 51 and Charlie Tresnan chipping in with 43 in a second-wicket stand worth 93. But we kept plugging away: Anthony Karassellos led the attack beautifully with 2-16, backed superbly by Junaid Mufti (2-26) and Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-31), and Danny Demarzo's duck was a small but satisfying scalp. I even managed 20 of my own down the order, for what it's worth.

In the end Headcorn fell short on 153/6, and we came away 25 runs to the good. A thoroughly deserved win, and precisely the sort of afternoon that makes the damp and the wind worth enduring. Onwards.

Sun 17 Apr 2022 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · HomeformLWLWW

Sunday 17 April 2022, cloudy skies, and Mersham Le Hatch rolling up the drive to face us. I won the toss and had no hesitation in taking first knock — the right call, if I do say so myself, and for once nobody argued with the skipper.

We posted a handsome 219/6 from our forty overs, built around a wonderfully composed 82 not out from Darrell Houghton-Judge, who simply refused to get out. Srikrishna Challa chipped in with 26 and Thomas Beeney kept his end tidy with an unbeaten 26 of his own. Spare a thought for poor Luke Welsman, who contributed nothing but a golden duck to proceedings — these things happen to the best of us, Luke, and there's always next week.

Defending 219 is never a formality, and so it proved. Mersham Le Hatch chased it down with something to spare, finishing 220/4 off 39.3 overs, Jordan Godden making merry with an unbeaten 95 and Alex Markwick weighing in with a fine fifty of his own (53 not out), Jeremy Godden adding 27. Thomas Beeney was our chief threat with the ball, 2-23, well supported by Srikrishna Challa's 1-33, while Anthony Karassellos bowled two miserly maidens and gave nothing away cheaply. Tom McKellow, alas, joined Luke in the duck club.

Beaten by six wickets in the end — a good total undone by an even better chase. We'll dust ourselves down and be better for it next week.

Sun 06 Feb 2022 🧢 Friendly XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformWWLWW

Bearsted came calling on a cool, damp Sunday, and Linton Park won the toss and, in what may have been our only unambiguous piece of good judgement all afternoon, put them in. The plan very nearly worked to perfection: Anthony Karassellos steamed in for 2-14, with Sam Boyns (2-22) and Martin Harris (1-28) chipping away, and only Christian Roberts, with a defiant 33, kept the visitors afloat. All out for 85 in 8.4 overs — poor Simon Barker back in the pavilion without so much as a single to his name.

So far, so promising. Then we batted. Anthony Karassellos, clearly determined to do everything himself, top-scored with 20, but the rest of us rather lost the plot, folding for 61 in nine overs — Sam Boyns, hero of the field an hour earlier, departing for a duck of his own. Honesty compels me to note that extras, on 25, were our second-highest scorer, which tells its own sorry tale.

That tale is confirmed by the small print: 20 wides and 6 no-balls gifted away, generosity we simply cannot afford against sides who know what to do with it. Beaten by 24 runs, then — a match we bowled ourselves into a winning position for, then batted ourselves out of. Karassellos leads both the runs and, alongside Boyns, the wickets this Friendly XI season, so all is not lost. We'll be better for it next week — we rather have to be.