🧢 Captain's Log

Sun 21 Sep 2025 🧢 Friendly XIv Sherwood CC, Kent · HomeformWWLLW

Sunday brought Sherwood CC, Kent to Linton Park under grey but obliging skies, and having lost the toss I was informed, in no uncertain terms, that we would be fielding first. No matter — a captain adapts, and adapt we did.

Sherwood battled to 140 all out in 32.2 overs, Saad Sohail top-scoring with a well-crafted 62 that for a good while looked like carrying the game beyond us. But the lads chipped away superbly: Martin Harris was outstanding with the ball, snaring 3-20 and generally making life miserable for the Sherwood middle order, while I chipped in with 2-3 (I shall allow myself one mention of that, and no more) and Will Thew picked up a tidy 1-9. Lance Coventry and Patrick Minhard both departed without troubling the scorers — ducks, alas, being the great leveller of village cricket — but 140 was a total we felt we could chase.

And chase we did. Anthony Karassellos led the reply with a fine 35, well supported by Theo Clements's 26, and though the required rate nibbled at our nerves more than once, we crossed the line with four wickets in hand from our 25 overs. Elsewhere in the season's ledger, Luke Welsman continues to sit handsomely second in our Friendly XI run charts, and Will Thew now tops the wicket pile.

A tight, tense, thoroughly enjoyable afternoon — and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 20 Sep 2025 🧢 Friendly XIv Cudham Wyse CC · HomeformWWWLL

Losing the toss on a warm, showery, blustery Saturday afternoon is rarely the omen you want, and so it proved when Cudham Wyse elected to bat and made themselves thoroughly at home. Moazzam Sultan set about us with real intent, motoring to 63, while Adil Ijaz stayed unbeaten on 34 and Pavan Singasany chipped in with 21 as their total crept to a distinctly stodgy 185 for 6 off their forty overs. Credit where it's due: Luke Welsman was miserliness personified, four maidens and 2 for 4, while I did what I could with 2 for 46 — enough, as it happens, to ease me past 50 career wickets for the club, which felt a rather nice way to mark the occasion. Toby Hughes weighed in with 1 for 4.

Chasing 186 was never going to be a stroll, and so it proved, though not for want of trying. Daniel Baker played the innings of the day, a composed 51, ably backed by Welsman's 35 and Christian Eloff's 23. The Beardwells, Stuart and Euan, both contributed golden ducks to the cause — the sort of symmetry that only cricket can arrange with such cruel elegance — and we stumbled, staggered and finally scrambled home at 186 for 9 off 39.4 overs.

A one-wicket win, then — the kind that ages a captain by several years but tastes all the sweeter for it. Daniel now sits third in the season's run charts, and I find myself, somewhat improbably, top of the wicket-takers. Nerve-shredding stuff, but a fine win all the same. Onwards.

Sat 20 Sep 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv SC Sidcup CC · AwayformWWWWW

Off we went to Sidcup CC on Saturday, under skies that couldn't quite decide between drizzle and sunshine, with the wind doing its level best to interfere with everybody's plans. I won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat — one of those calls that looks a great deal more astute in hindsight than it felt in the moment, but there we are, I'll take the credit.

And what a foundation the top order laid. Laura Thorogood anchored things beautifully with 32 not out, while Laura Boorman (30 not out) and Hannah Odling (30 not out) kept the scoreboard humming along without so much as troubling the scorers for a fallen wicket. 129 without loss from our 16 overs was a proper platform, and gave the bowlers licence to attack from ball one.

Attack they did. Sidcup lost an early wicket with just 2 on the board, and it rather set the tone — Katie Marnott and Arya Sofi both departed without scoring off our bowling. Laura Boorman was superb with the ball too, 2 for 11, backed up nicely by Carly Copping (1-3) and Claire Rootes (1-6), while Bhavika Sevani's unbeaten 23 and Isobel Regan's 21 were about the only real resistance. Sidcup closed on 86 for 8.

A 43-run win, then, built on a proper team performance with bat and ball alike. Onwards indeed.

Sat 20 Sep 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv Chestfield CC · HomeformWWWWW

It was warm and damp and blustery when we won the toss against Chestfield CC, and I have no hesitation in saying that electing to bat was the right call — even if I say so myself.

The girls set about it with real purpose. Sixteen overs brought us 140 for the loss of just one wicket, which by any measure is proper batting. Laura Boorman anchored things beautifully with 31 not out, and she had excellent company: Fiona Beardwell weighed in with 31 not out of her own, while Hannah Odling chipped in an unbeaten 30. Between the three of them there was barely a false stroke to be seen, and I confess I rather enjoyed watching from the boundary with a cup of tea.

In the field, Chestfield replied with 122 for 5 from their sixteen overs — Isla Sidders top-scoring with 31 not out, well supported by Mabel Camp's unbeaten 30. Our bowling did its job when it mattered: Laura Thorogood led the way with 1-10, backed up nicely by Laura Holdstock (1-13) and Michaela Karassellos (1-15). I'll admit our discipline wandered somewhat — nine wides and twenty no-balls is not a tally I'll be framing for the clubhouse wall — but we got away with it.

We got over the line by 18 runs, and with Laura Boorman still topping the season's run charts and Laura Holdstock leading the wickets, it was, all told, a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 20 Sep 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformDDDDD

Down to Town Malling on a Saturday that couldn't make its mind up — warm, damp, and blustery all at once, the sort of afternoon that ruins a good hairstyle and a good line and length in equal measure. I lost the toss, as is tradition, and they sent us in. We limped to 107/8 from our 35, Nolan Wilde the one man keeping the innings afloat with a watchful 25, while William Gray and Trevor Back both trudged off for ducks, adding their names to a growing club register I'd rather not keep.

Defending that total was always going to want something special, and for a while the bowlers gave it a go. Nolan Wilde, having done his bit with the bat, did rather more with the ball — 2 for 9 — and William Gray chipped in with 1 for 11, plus a consolation duck at our hands for one of Henry Varley or Daniel Clark. But Town Malling's openers had already done the damage, putting on 93 before we prised the first one out, and Sam Eyre saw them home with a composed 51 not out, ushered along by Adam Nix's unbeaten 28. They reached 108/3 in just 23.3 overs, making light work of what we'd left them.

Elsewhere, I note a Karassellos sits fifth in the 2nd XI run charts with 177 — clearly the family name carries more weight than my captaincy this week. Beaten by seven wickets, then, but we'll be better for it next week.

Sun 07 Sep 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Teston CC · HomeformLWWLL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 7th September 2025, and Teston CC came calling at Linton Park. Lost the toss, asked to bowl first, which these days feels less like tactics and more like a formality around here.

Teston posted 176/5 from their forty overs, built chiefly around Mike Beacher's fine 65, with Kieran Savage unbeaten on 43 and Jacob Driver chipping in 24. To our credit, we didn't let it run away entirely — Tim Thirkell was the pick of the attack with 2-25, the Karassellos brothers shared a wicket apiece (John 1-12, Anthony 1-13), and Alexander Nunn bowled two tidy maidens to keep the scoreboard honest.

Chasing 177, we made a proper fist of it. Nick Pennefather played the innings of the day with a classy 71, and the extras column did its bit too with 29 — though quite how they got that many byes past me at the non-striker's end is a question for another day. Sadly poor John Karassellos, so miserly with the ball, had nothing to show with the bat, out for a duck. All out 168 in the 39th over, eight runs shy.

Small consolation: Tim Thirkell's two wickets nudged him past Martin Harris into 6th on the club's all-time wicket-takers list, and he still leads the 2nd XI wicket charts with 23, with Anthony Karassellos top of the run-scorers on 414.

Not our day, then — beaten by a whisker rather than outclassed. Heads up, chins forward, back to the nets.

Sun 07 Sep 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Leeds & Broomfield CC · HomeformWWWWW

Sunday last brought Leeds & Broomfield to Linton Park under warm, cloudy skies, and I'll confess to a small flutter of nerves as I called correctly and sent them in — the kind of decision that either looks shrewd by teatime or gets quietly forgotten. As it turned out, shrewd won the day. Tobey Castle set about them with real purpose, finishing with 2-16, while Will Hughes chipped in 2-25 and Toby Hughes bowled with a miser's discipline, 1-6 and three maidens that must have felt like watching paint dry if you were facing them. All told, Leeds & Broomfield were bowled out for a modest 93 in 27.3 overs — a fine team effort with the ball.

Chasing 94, we contrived to make it more interesting than strictly necessary, losing an early wicket with the scoreboard still reading nought — the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the antacids. Mardey Castle's duck did little to settle matters. But William Roxburgh played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 32 that anchored things beautifully, with Jordan Austin lending fine support on 20. I got among the runs myself along the way, and we brought it home at 94/4 in just 14.4 overs.

A word for the season so far: Jordan Austin continues to lead our run charts with 508, and Thomas Beeney sits proudly atop the wickets with 20 — both quietly building rather special campaigns.

A fine win by 6 wickets, then, wrapped up with time to spare for tea. Onwards.

Sat 06 Sep 2025 🧢 3rd XIv MC Minster (Sheppey) CC · AwayformDDDDD

Beaten by 127 runs at Minster (Sheppey) on a warm, cloudy Saturday, but I'll stand by the toss — fielding first was the right call, even if the scoreboard didn't quite agree with me by teatime.

Minster batted with more patience than we managed to muster in reply, running up 217 all out in 36.2 overs. Stewart Cruickshank's unbeaten 32 was the spine of it, with Raees Alam (29) and Jacob Carter (27) filling in nicely around him. Credit where it's due to our attack, mind — Nolan Wilde bowled his heart out for 3-33, and Tim Thirkell (3-38) and Spencer Gray (2-37) kept chipping away when it mattered.

Ninety all out in 31.3 overs was never going to get us there. Nolan Wilde, having already done his bit with the ball, then top-scored with 46 and carried what little fight we had left. The rest of us, less said the better — myself very much included, having contributed a golden duck to proceedings. Richard Piper, Josh Gurney and William Gray joined me on that particular walk of shame; quite the gathering for the Duck Club this week.

Small mercies: Nolan Wilde now sits fourth in the 3rd XI's season run charts on 175, and Tim Thirkell tops the wicket pile with 23. Individually, then, we're not doing badly. Collectively, we were second best from ball one. A chastening afternoon, but there's always next Saturday to put it right.

Sat 06 Sep 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Upchurch CC · HomeformDDDDD

A warm, cloudy Saturday at Linton Park, Upchurch CC the visitors, and when the coin fell my way I had no hesitation — we were batting first. Whether that qualifies as boldness or bloody-mindedness rather depends on how the day unfolds, and unfold it did, in fits and starts. We were shot out for 105 in 31.1 overs, a total that flattered to deceive after losing our first wicket for just one run. I dug in for 43, well supported by Brandon Eloff's 22, before the middle order took collective leave of its senses — 82 for 5 collapsing to 95 for 8 in the blink of an eye. Spare a thought for Altus Diener, Will Hughes and Ian Bruce, each inducted into the Duck Club with a golden duck apiece.

Defending 105 felt like asking the lads to guard a sandcastle against the tide, but cricket has a habit of rewarding stubbornness. Ethan Pike's 24 was the only real resistance Upchurch could muster, while Rakesh Sasubilli and William Cotta both walked back for ducks of their own. Anthony Karassellos was magnificent, ripping through with 4 for 14, Henry Campbell matched him with 4 for 15 and two tidy maidens, and Eloff chipped in with 1 for 8. The eleventh over, with two wickets in it, was where the match truly turned, and Upchurch never recovered, folding for 92.

Thirteen runs the margin, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 06 Sep 2025 🧢 1st XIv Upchurch CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday took us down to Upchurch CC under grey but warm skies, and my coin-flip fortune remained resolutely rotten — I lost the toss again and duly found myself leading the side out into the field. Michael Hales Jnr had other ideas about our afternoon plans, ambling to a chanceless century, while Junaid Allie chipped in a fine 60 and Darren Delport added 20 more, the pair helping steer Upchurch to 237/9 from their 45 overs. I got among the wickets with 3-42, Toby Hughes bowled beautifully for 2-30 including two tidy maidens, and Thomas Beeney chipped in with 1-29 — but with Sunny Reddy, Ollie Whittingham and Josh Rose all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, it always felt a target and a half.

In reply, Benjamin Austin played the innings of the day, a classy 59 that anchored things, and a 67-run stand for the second wicket gave us real hope before I added an unbeaten 25 down the order. Forty extras did their bit too, though Austin's 9 byes behind the stumps suggested our glovework needs a tidy-up. In the end 213/8 wasn't quite enough, and we fell 24 runs short.

Elsewhere in the club, Nick Catt continues to lead the season's run charts with 680, and Thomas Beeney tops the wicket-takers with 30 — proof, if it were needed, that talent abounds even when the results don't fall our way.

Not our day, then. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets we go — Upchurch have the points, but they haven't heard the last of us.

Sun 31 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Harvel CC · HomeformLLWWL

Sunday the 31st of August found us hosting Harvel CC under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain or merely sulk — drizzly, as village cricket so often insists on being. I called correctly at the toss, which these days counts as a personal highlight, and had no hesitation in putting them in. First use of the ball on a soft afternoon felt like the shrewd move; whether it actually was is a matter for the history books.

Harvel made themselves at home to the tune of 186/6 from their forty overs, built around a well-crafted fifty from Ankit Mudgil, with Philip Darby (35) and Henry MacDonald (25) chipping in to keep the total respectable. Anthony Karassellos did the real damage with 2-18, backed up nicely by Alexander Daniels (2-26), while James Gray bowled two miserly maidens to keep the scoreboard honest. I chipped in with 1-28, which felt like a fair contribution to a team effort rather than a match-winning spell.

Chasing 187, we never quite found the fluency required, closing on 145/9. Daniel Baker batted with real composure for his unbeaten 49, but wickets fell around him and the required rate got away from us. Forty-one runs short in the end.

Not our day, then. Heads up, chins forward, and back to the nets — Anthony Karassellos continues to lead our Sunday 2nd XI run charts, and Zach Wilde sits third among the wicket-takers, so there's plenty still to play for this season.

Sat 30 Aug 2025 🧢 4th XIv Sherwood CC, Kent · AwayformWDDDD

Rarely have I walked out for a toss quite so pleased to lose it. Sherwood put us in, and I confess I did wonder whether we'd live to regret it — but Rahul Parakh had other ideas, cracking a glorious 85 and clubbing the shot of the day, a six thumped square on the off side. Harvey Lowe chipped in with a classy 58, the two of them adding 122 for the second wicket, Reuben Mundell chirped in with 23, and even our extras column had a career-best 34. Euan Beardwell, alas, made the long walk for nought — the ducks are mounting up on the shed wall this season.

239/6 felt like a proper total, and so it proved. Ian Lowe was quite magnificent with the ball, 4-28 including four maidens, tying Sherwood in knots, while Josh Gurney (2-16) and Rahul Parakh, not content with his runs, added 1-12 for good measure. Sherwood's lower order threw up defiant resistance with a last-wicket stand of 53, and Mark Gingles battled to 36 not out, but by then the game was long gone — 1-1 becoming 9-4 and the rot well and truly in. Patrick Hemingway departed without troubling the scorers, keeping Euan company on the duck bench.

Daniel Baker had a torrid time behind the stumps, nine byes going begging, and there were runs leaking square all afternoon as both sides fed shots off the back foot. No matter — we ran out winners by 86 runs, Rahul Parakh now top of the club's run charts and Ian Lowe top of the wickets. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 30 Aug 2025 🧢 3rd XIv OC Old Williamsonians CC · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 30 August 2025, and Old Williamsonians CC came to Linton Park for what turned out to be one of those honours-even affairs that leaves you scratching your head all the way to the tea urn. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in sending the visitors in — and for a good while it looked the masterstroke it deserved to be.

Richard Dalton played the innings of the day for them, 71 well-made runs the spine of their 155 all out from 37.1 overs, but the story with ball in hand was ours. Praveen Tunga was magnificent, tearing through with 4-31, ably supported by Tim Thirkell's 4-33 and a wicket for Farhan Malik. Richard Knowler, meanwhile, bowled two maidens of the sort that make batsmen mutter into their gloves. James Hyder departed without so much as a nudge off the mark — harsh way to spend an afternoon.

With 155 to chase and the platform laid, we somehow contrived to make heavy weather of it, closing on a distinctly modest 37/3 from just 10.4 overs. Theo Clements will not thank me for mentioning his duck, but the Duck Club ledger waits for no man.

A draw, then — honours shared, bowlers toasted, batsmen quietly reflective. On the balance of the day's work, I'd call it two points stolen rather than two points shared.

Sat 30 Aug 2025 🧢 2nd XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · AwayformDDDDD

Skipper's Log, Saturday 30 August 2025 — away at Cobham CC, Kent, under a sky that couldn't quite make its mind up between sunshine and drizzle.

Won the toss, had a look at the skies, and stuck us in. Right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook now says. Cobham built steadily to 176 all out in 39.3 overs, Tom Simcock the chief architect with a tidy fifty, well backed up by Jonathan Niranjan (35) and Jacob Ward, unbeaten on 32. Brandon Eloff was magnificent with the ball, 4-13 of pure discipline, while Michael Ludick (3-25, two maidens) bowled like a man with a grudge against the scoreboard and Anthony Karassellos chipped in with 1-19. Henry Fothergill and Clive Marshall both departed for ducks, which felt like scant reward for our efforts at the time — little did we know.

Chasing 177, we simply never got going. Altus Diener's 31 and Michael Ludick's 28 were the only real substance on a card otherwise littered with alarm, Anthony Karassellos, Martin Harris and Christian Eloff all falling without troubling the scorers. Johan Eloff had an afternoon to forget behind the stumps, nine byes leaking away like the drizzle overhead, and your skipper's own 16 will not be troubling the highlights reel. All out for 109 in 16.3 overs — a chase that never found its legs.

Sixty-seven runs the wrong side of the ledger, then, and a long drive home to reflect on it. Altus Diener still tops our season's run charts and Anthony Karassellos the wickets, so the talent is plainly there — we simply need to remember where we left it. Back to the nets, heads up, better next week.

Sat 30 Aug 2025 🧢 1st XIv Kings Hill CC · HomeformDDDDD

I put us in to bat on winning the toss, and a pleasant, drizzly, blustery Saturday it was too for hosting Kings Hill CC. We ambled to 206/9 from our 45 overs, which felt about right for the conditions — Alex Keeler was the class act with an unbeaten 55, Thomas Roxburgh chipped in a tidy 25, and I managed 23 of my own, which, I'm reliably informed, nudges me past Kevin Presneill into 22nd on the club's all-time run charts. Small mercies for a captain who spends most matches worrying about the field settings. The ninth-wicket stand of 60 was the making of the innings — proof, if any were needed, that Linton Park saves its best for last. Toby Hughes's contribution with the bat was, in the finest traditions of the club, precisely nothing.

With the ball, we asked the questions and Kings Hill mostly had answers, racking up 190 all out in 42.2 overs thanks to Ben Taylor's 43 and useful support from Robert Whitfield and Nathan Faulkes. But Tom Campbell's 3-38 and Thomas Roxburgh's 3-48 kept chipping away, and Toby Hughes bowled two maidens as tight as his own duck with the bat, taking 2-25 for good measure.

We got home by 16 runs. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one for the scorebook rather than the highlight reel — which, in village cricket, is usually the best kind.

Mon 25 Aug 2025 🧢 South African XIv Linton Park CC · HomeformW

Monday the twenty-fifth of August found us out at Linton Park, the sky doing its best impression of a wet flannel, warm but resolutely overcast. I won the toss, which these days feels like the highlight of my captaincy, and had precisely no hesitation in sticking us in to bat.

What followed was 174 all out from 26.1 overs, which is either a brisk score or a nervous one depending on how charitable you're feeling, and I choose brisk. Inus Joubert was the class act, striking 44 to lead the innings, with Nick Tromp playing the perfect lieutenant on 38. Between them they did the heavy lifting while the rest of us, myself very much included in spirit if not in figures, filled in around the edges. Special mention, as tradition demands, to Ian Bruce, who contributed a duck to the ledger and can expect the requisite ribbing in the clubhouse for weeks to come.

The season's run charts continue to make interesting reading: Thomas Beeney still tops the Chairman's XI pile with 40, while Joubert's innings today keeps him out in front of the South African XI standings on 44.

In the end 174 proved more than enough, the lads bowling and fielding with real purpose to seal victory by 54 runs and two well-earned points. A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work, and one the tea urn will be talking about for some time yet.

Sun 24 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformWWWWW

I elected to bat when we won the toss at Bearsted on a warm, grey Sunday afternoon, and for once I felt rather pleased with myself for it. The lads made handsome use of the decision, racing to 110 before the first breakthrough thanks to a crucial second-wicket stand, then never letting up. Thomas Roxburgh (53 not out) and Jordan Austin (52 not out) both brought up fine half-centuries, Tom Campbell wasn't far behind with an unbeaten fifty of his own, and even the tail wagged for a final 90 that must have had the Bearsted fielders wondering when it would ever end. A generous 26 extras rounded out a total of 332/7 from 35.4 overs that felt, even before a ball was bowled in reply, faintly unfair.

And so it proved. Christian Roberts fought hard for his 80 and a 79-run third-wicket stand gave Bearsted something to build on after an early wicket for none, but the middle order simply had no answer — Angus Kenny, Alex Heine and Aby Abraham all departed without scoring. Rahul Parakh (2-4) set the tone, Luke Welsman (2-14) and Jordan Austin (2-23, with two tidy maidens) kept the squeeze on, and the game turned decisively in the 24th over with two wickets in it. Bearsted were bowled out for 131/9.

Special mention for W Roxburgh's shot of the day, a length ball launched aerially wide of mid-off for six, and a hearty round of applause for Luke Welsman on his 400th appearance in Linton colours — a proper club stalwart. We ran out winners by 201 runs. A very good day indeed.

Sun 24 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Egerton CC, Kent · AwayformWLLWW

A grey Sunday, a lost toss, and Egerton CC electing to bat first, which given how the afternoon unfolded was a decision they'd have every right to be pleased with. Jack Wellard gave us a proper lesson in occupation of the crease, an unbeaten 106 that carried their innings to 208/5, well supported by Anthony Davis (36) and Julius Magno (23), the pair adding 74 for the fifth wicket while we toiled without reward. Credit where due, Alexander Nunn dragged us back into it with 2-24, including sending Seb Harrison packing for a golden duck, and Tim Thirkell chipped in with 2-35. I managed a wicket myself for 34, though truth be told our lengths were the problem all afternoon — a fraction short, and they cut and pulled us square of the wicket with real relish.

Our reply began full of promise. Theo Clements and the top order put on 93 for the first wicket, and Clements went on to a well-made fifty, with Srikrishna Challa (43) and Tim Thirkell (31 not out) offering support. But cricket has a cruel sense of timing, and the 21st over undid us, two wickets in the space of a few deliveries from which we never recovered. From 121-2 to 122-5 in a blur, and ducks for Johan Eloff, Alexander Daniels and John Karassellos completed a wretched middle order, all out for 176.

Beaten by 32 runs, then, and no arguing with the better side on the day. Anthony Karassellos and Tim Thirkell continue to lead the league charts for runs and wickets respectively, which at least gives us something to cheer from the pavilion. We'll dust ourselves down, sharpen those lengths, and come back stronger next week.

Sat 23 Aug 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Sheppey CC · AwayformDDDDD

The coin toss went my way, and with the sky doing its best impression of a dishcloth over at Sheppey, I had no hesitation putting us into the field. It proved a shrewd call, if I do say so myself. Farhan Malik was simply magnificent, ripping through their order with 4-22, while Richard Knowler (2-12) and Tim Thirkell (2-14, four maidens to boot — the man barely let the ball off the square) squeezed the life out of the innings from the other end. Frankie Honeysett departed for a golden duck, and Sheppey were bowled out for a distinctly modest 86 despite Kevin Barnes's battling 23. All told, a bowling performance the lads will dine out on for weeks.

Chasing 87 was never going to be straightforward on a pitch that clearly had a say in proceedings, and so it proved — we stumbled to 87/5, five down with barely a run to spare. Blair Mundell top-scored with a composed 31, and Daniel Baker saw us home with an unbeaten 20, though not before young Reuben Mundell contributed his own duck to the family effort, much to his father's amusement no doubt. I chipped in myself where I could, and it was nice to see the wickets column still ticking along nicely for the season.

A scratchy chase, then, but scratchy wins count exactly the same as handsome ones in the book. Five wickets to the good and two points banked away from home — I'll take that every day of the week.

Sat 23 Aug 2025 🧢 2nd XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 23 August 2025, and a showery afternoon at Linton Park saw The Mote CC come visiting. I lost the toss – no great surprise this season – and duly found myself in the field, which at least meant I could keep half an eye on the sky between overs.

The Mote never really got going. We had three of their top order back in the hutch without a run to their name, and while Parminder Singh dug in for a battling 62 not out to drag them to 115 all out from 37.2 overs, it always felt like a below-par total on a used pitch. Alex Wade was the pick of the attack with 2-10, Brandon Eloff bowled beautifully tight for 1-0 with three maidens, and I chipped in with 1-1, which I shall modestly describe as my contribution to a thoroughly tidy bowling display.

Chasing 116, Mardey Castle (46 not out) and Will Hughes (45 not out) simply took the game away from the visitors, putting on an unbroken stand that made the chase look a good deal easier than these things usually are. We did lose Anthony Karassellos and Josh Gurney for ducks along the way – a reminder that nobody, however many wickets they've taken this season, is immune to a first-baller – and Johan Eloff had his work cut out behind the stumps with 13 byes leaking away. Still, we cantered home at 116/3 in 20.3 overs, comfortable seven-wicket winners.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and a fine afternoon's work despite the drizzle. If only every Saturday were this straightforward.

Sat 23 Aug 2025 🧢 1st XIv Borstal CC · AwayformDDDDD

Beaten by Borstal, but never once bowled over in spirit — 23 August found us on the road on a damp, murky afternoon, losing the toss and being invited to bowl first, which on reflection was probably the least damp part of our day.

Borstal ground their way to 170 all out, David Child anchoring things nicely with 59, with Thomas Tingley (27) and Ashley Cockerton (23) chipping in around a stubborn 53-run second-wicket stand. Just when it looked like settling into a long afternoon, they wobbled from 161-5 to 165-8 under real pressure, largely thanks to Toby Hughes, who simply ran riot with 5-20 — the sort of spell that makes the rest of us look faintly decorative in the field. Thomas Roxburgh (2-23) and Mark Christmas (2-32) tidied up nicely in support.

With 171 to chase, we mustered 150 all out in 33.5 overs, Nick Catt doing the bulk of the graft with a fine 43, well backed by Benjamin Austin's 25 — and a generous 33 extras, which I suspect were our most reliable partnership of the day. Alas, the Duck Club welcomed three new members: Toby Hughes, Luke Welsman, and — taking my one mention, since I never like to hog the limelight, least of all when it's this unflattering — I confess I too made a duck. We kept dropping short and let them score square, cut and pulled at will, though a double strike in the 40th over briefly threatened a fightback.

Beaten by 20 runs in the end. Nick Catt still leads our run charts and Toby Hughes sits second among the wickets, so the engine room is purring even if the rest of the carriage rattled. We'll be better for it next week.

Wed 20 Aug 2025 🧢 Midweek XIv Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC · HomeformWDWWL

I put us in after winning the toss, and for once the decision looked positively inspired. Nolan Wilde and Aaron Hughes both cruised past their fifties, unbeaten on 52 and 51 respectively, with a second-wicket stand of 96 doing most of the damage, while Luke Welsman chipped in a handy 47 to help us to a formidable 226 for 3 off our 33 overs. Tea was taken in good spirits, which in hindsight was rather a giveaway of how the afternoon would unfold.

Tunbridge Wells Wednesday CC never really got going in reply. Their opener departed for next to nothing to leave them 0 for 1, and it was downhill from there for the visitors, with R Harcourt, D Thompson and N-Kennell-Kemmy all trudging back without troubling the scorers. Only M Dawson showed any real fight, with a battling 48, but he was fighting a lone battle. Nolan Wilde, having already done his bit with the bat, ran thoroughly amok with the ball to finish with 5 for 11, while Thomas Beeney bowled with real discipline for 3 for 11 including three maidens, and Jordan Austin picked up 2 for 13 - and, rather splendidly, brought up his hundredth career wicket in the process. Poor Johan Eloff had a torrid time behind the stumps, shipping 19 byes, though nobody seemed to mind much given the scoreline. I even managed to get through my own overs without further embarrassing the figures.

All out for 108 in 37 overs, and a win by 118 runs. Two points banked, and about as thoroughly earned as they come.

Sun 17 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Kings Hill CC · AwayformLWLLW

Right, off it went to Kings Hill CC on a bright Sunday for what turned into a proper afternoon's cricket. I lost the toss, they had a look at the pitch and decided to bat, and for once I didn't mind — our attack has been in good order and it showed. Kings Hill limped to 95 all out in 29.3 overs, Cranmer's 30 and Parker's 24 the only real resistance, while poor Adam Smith trudged off for a golden duck. We simply strangled them in the middle overs, 72-3 becoming 80-6 before anyone could reach for the tea urn. Alexander Nunn was magnificent, 4-10 with four maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that makes captaincy look easy, which it rarely is. Zach Wilde chipped in with 3-10, and I managed 2-3 myself, mostly by trying to look busier than I felt.

Chasing 96, we made hard work of nothing in particular before Theo Clements settled things with a composed 46 not out, and we cantered home on 96/4 in just 14.5 overs. The 25th over of their innings, with two wickets tumbling in it, was really where the match was won and lost — after that Kings Hill never had an answer.

A fine win by 6 wickets, then, and a thoroughly pleasant way to spend a Sunday. Anthony Karassellos continues to purr along at the top of the run charts with 389 for the season, and Zach Wilde's 12 wickets keep him handily placed too. Onwards we go, in good heart and better form.

Sun 17 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Town Malling CC · HomeformLWWWW

Called correctly at the toss, I had no hesitation putting Town Malling in on a warm, bright Sunday. It looked the right call as the overs ticked by, though Adam Nix had other ideas, ticking to a well-made 85 that dragged their total up to 168/8 from the full forty. Their fourth-wicket pair put on a stubborn 63 to give the innings some backbone, but our bowling attack chipped away throughout. Toby Hughes was the pick of us by some distance, 3-37 with two tidy maidens thrown in, while Will Hughes (2-23) and Ian Hollingworth (1-29) kept things honest at the other end. Not a total to be sniffed at, but not out of reach either.

And so it proved. William Roxburgh played the innings of the day, 76 not out and still there at the finish, with Jordan Austin right alongside him making a classy 63. The pair simply took the game away from Town Malling, putting on 132 for the first wicket before anyone so much as looked like taking a wicket — I can't recall a start quite so flying. Tobey Castle's duck was the only blemish on an otherwise faultless card, and frankly nobody noticed amid the carnage. I chipped in with a little something myself along the way, for what it's worth. We cantered home by eight wickets with overs to spare, Jordan Austin now sitting proudly atop the season's run charts and Ian Hollingworth third among the wicket-takers. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one the tea urn will be talking about for weeks.

Sat 16 Aug 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Orpington Ocelots CC · HomeformDDDDD

Lost the toss, asked to field, and I confess my heart sank slightly on a ground that's never been shy of runs. Still, 166 all out from 36.3 overs was a respectable riposte from the lads, built almost entirely around Theo Clements, who middled his way to a fine 66 and continues to look like a man who's read the fixture list and decided he rather likes it. Nick Tromp chipped in gamely with 20, though the scorebook carries its usual quota of club-cricket cruelty — ducks for both Nolan Wilde and Srikrishna Challa, the sort of thing that's terribly funny to everyone except the batsman concerned.

In reply, Orpington Ocelots made a horribly serene start, cruising to 116 for the first wicket before we so much as troubled them, Divya Kumar Vijay (67) and Srinivasa Mahendrakar (32) looking entirely too comfortable. But cricket, mercifully, has a habit of turning — and turn it did in the 20th over, two wickets falling in the space of six balls to give us a sniff. Richard Knowler was outstanding with 3-31, and Tim Thirkell, miserly as ever with three maidens on his way to 2-20, kept the squeeze on. They got home at 167/5, five wickets to the good.

Not our day, then — heads up, and back to the nets. Small consolations: Theo now sits 4th in the 3rd XI's run charts, Tim 3rd among the wicket-takers, and the tea, as ever, was blameless.

Sat 16 Aug 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Snodland Community CC · HomeformDDDDD

Under a grey Kentish drizzle we won the toss against Snodland Community CC on Saturday, and I had no hesitation in sticking us in — a call I spent the next forty overs quietly congratulating myself for. We stumbled to 3-1 early doors, the sort of start that has a captain reaching for the antacids, but Michael Ludick and Luke Welsman calmly stitched together a magnificent 143 for the third wicket to put the innings back on its feet. Ludick went on to an unbeaten 129, an innings of real class, while Welsman cashed in with 68. Brandon Eloff chipped in an unbeaten 31 to see us to a handsome 268/4. Jordan Austin's contribution, sadly, was a golden duck — these things happen to the best of us, Jordan, chin up.

Defending 268 is the sort of task that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather more than usual, and the bowlers made sure of it. Brandon Eloff, having already done his bit with the bat, ripped through with 2-0, while Anthony Karassellos (2-18, three tidy maidens) and Matthew Carter (2-26) kept the squeeze on throughout. Adam Flynn's 22 and Lee Hewitt's 20 were the only real resistance as Snodland were bowled out for 132 in 33.3 overs, Brad Seager departing for a duck along the way.

A 136-run win, then, and a proper day out for the club. Welsman continues to top our run charts and Karassellos our wickets — form which, on this evidence, shows no sign of drying up. A very good day indeed.

Fri 15 Aug 2025 🧢 Midweek XIv The Dragons CC · HomeformWWDWW

It was a scorcher of an afternoon, the kind that makes you forget the club roof still leaks, and I won the toss without a moment's hesitation for the bat — some decisions make themselves. We laboured a touch, if I'm honest, but 132/7 from our 35 overs was respectable enough given the conditions, and it was Thomas Beeney who held the innings together with a composed 39 not out, unbeaten at the close. The seventh-wicket stand of 52 was the difference between a total we could defend and one we'd have been embarrassed by, so credit where it's due.

Out in the field, we started brightly. Sam Boyns was the pick of the attack with 2-17, genuinely miserly stuff, and I chipped in with 2-24 myself alongside James Gray's single wicket, and we did for Harry Green without so much as a run to his name. But The Dragons had other ideas — Simon Arnold played a proper captain's innings of his own, 59 to lead them home, well supported by Ben Griggs's 36, and between them they chased down 133/5 with overs to spare, wrapping it up in 24.3.

So, down by five wickets, and no dressing it up as anything other than a defeat. Jordan Austin continues to lead our run charts this season with 214, and I'll take some quiet satisfaction in sitting second in the wicket standings on 7 — but that's cold comfort today. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Tue 12 Aug 2025 🧢 Midweek XIv The Mote CC · AwayformLWWDW

I trudged out for the toss on a grey, sticky afternoon at The Mote and duly lost it — they had first use of a pitch that never quite decided whether it wanted to behave, and chose to bat. Credit to them, Craig Avery's 20 was the innings' backbone, but our attack kept chipping away all afternoon: Toby Hughes was the pick with 2-19, I chipped in with 2-21, Thomas Beeney matched me with 2-24, and Thomas Roxburgh strangled the middle overs with a couple of miserly maidens. The Mote were shepherded, cajoled and occasionally bamboozled out for 127/9 from their 37.1 overs — a total that felt distinctly gettable on the walk back to the pavilion.

And gettable it proved. Jordan Austin decided the chase needed finishing quickly rather than politely, and simply took the game away from them, racing to 93 and carrying our reply almost single-handedly. We cantered home at 131/1 in just 19.4 overs, barely troubling the scorers on our own account for wickets lost. Austin's innings continues an outrageous season — he now leads the Midweek XI run charts with 205 — while Beeney's afternoon nudges him to the top of our wicket pile with 7.

A thoroughly satisfying nine-wicket win, then, earned with tidy bowling in the heat and finished off in some style by Austin. Long may the sun-scorched afternoons and comfortable chases continue. Onwards.

Sun 10 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Knockers CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday 10th August, and Knockers CC came to Linton Park under the sort of warm sun club cricket dreams of. I won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that, for once, looked good all afternoon. Benjamin Austin anchored the innings beautifully with a fine 66, built on a 77-run stand for the second wicket alongside Thomas Beeney (48) and Jordan Austin (29). The tail wagged to see us to 243 for 7 from 40 overs - though Praveen Tunga and Ian Hollingworth will want no reminder of their ducks.

With the ball, Knockers gave us a fright as T Andrew struck a magnificent 111, well supported by Ali Basham's 40 in another 77-run second-wicket stand that had us wondering if 243 would hold. But an early stumble at 0 for 1 set the tone, and once L Andrew, Y Patel and Ed Marsh had all gone without scoring, the game turned our way. I had the pleasure of finishing with 3 for 24, with Ian Hollingworth (2-38) and Tobey Castle (2-40) chipping in as we bowled them out for 215 in 36.5 overs.

Season honours continue to be shared fairly: Benjamin Austin leads our run charts with 422, while I find myself proud to sit second in the wicket-takers' list with 18. As for Sunday, we got over the line by 28 runs - a thoroughly good day for the club, and one where, for once, the captain's decisions all came off.

Sun 10 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformLLWLL

As the club's over the line by 16 runs at Marden, the whole match delivers exactly what was needed and no more — a swift, direct match report.

Sunday saw us make the trip down to Marden CC, and for once the weather gods were kind enough to keep the rain away, leaving us a warm, overcast afternoon for cricket. I won the toss and, fancying a good surface to bat first on, had no hesitation in putting us in.

We were nicely served by the top order, Nick Pennefather playing the innings of the day with a fine 53, and Daniel Baker chipping in handily with 40 to help us to 166 for 9 from our 35 overs. Not everything went to plan — both Theo Clements and Zach Wilde will want to forget their contributions, each departing without troubling the scorers. Still, 166 looked a defendable total on a used pitch, and so it proved.

With the ball, it was Anthony Karassellos who did the real damage, a superb 4 for 20 that put Marden on the back foot from the start, well backed up by Tim Thirkell's 2 for 28 and John Karassellos's solitary but important wicket. Henry Mantle threatened to spoil the party with a fighting 52, ably assisted by Alistair Johnson's 36, but Joseph Whitby and Jack Yallop both fell for ducks at crucial moments, and Marden's 150 for 9 left them 16 runs short. I added a watchful 15 with the bat for good measure.

A thoroughly good day for the club — professional, hard-fought, and one to enjoy on the drive home.

Sat 09 Aug 2025 🧢 4th XIv Orpington Ocelots CC · HomeformLWDDD

Saturday 09 August 2025, and we welcomed Orpington Ocelots CC to Linton Park with the sun out and the tea urn primed. I lost the toss — no surprises there this season — and we were asked to bowl first, which at least spared my knees an early dash between the wickets.

The Ocelots settled in nicely, posting 187/9 from their forty overs, built around a fine 92 from Divya Kumar Vijay and useful support from Kavya Vijay's 23, the pair adding 51 for the second wicket before we hauled things back. Credit to the bowlers for keeping us in it: Tim Thirkell led from the front with 3-35, Andrew Joseph chipped in with 3-50, Euan Beardwell picked up 1-19, and Farhan Malik strangled the scoring with two tidy maidens. Guruprasad Rajamanickam and Abhishek Sapra both departed for ducks, small mercies in an otherwise attritional afternoon.

Chasing 188, we never quite found our rhythm, losing an early wicket with just 5 on the board and never fully shaking off the jitters. Daniel Baker's 29 was the backbone, with Henry Campbell (25 not out) and Tim Thirkell (20 not out) steering a spirited late rally worth 64 that at least made the Ocelots sweat. Andrew Joseph's duck was the low note. Poor Theo Clements had a torrid time behind the stumps, 11 byes slipping through, and a horror 31st over cost us two wickets and any lingering hope. We bowled a fraction short all day and paid for it square of the wicket — they cut and pulled us mercilessly, and we returned the compliment when our turn came, for all the good it did.

Rahul Parakh remains 2nd in the 4th XI run charts with 201, and Andrew Joseph 3rd among the wickets with 11 — bright spots in the season's ledger. But this one's filed under lessons learned: beaten by 46 runs, heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 09 Aug 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC · AwayformDDDDD

From the captain's chair, Saturday 09 August, and a warm, grey afternoon found us away at Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC — the kind of light under which even a club cricketer can pretend he's playing a Test match. I won the toss and, in a fit of confidence I hoped I could justify, stuck us in to bat.

Justified it was. We posted 204/6 from our 40 overs, the innings anchored by a really rather fine unbeaten 66 from Mardey Castle, with Johan Eloff (30) and Brandon Eloff (29) both chipping in handsomely. A stand of 78 for the sixth wicket was the platform on which the whole total was built, and I even found time to potter to 21 myself, mostly by accident.

With the ball, things began nervously — the first wicket fell for just 5 — but Holcombe steadied through a 50-run seventh-wicket stand and Ashiq Asha Baburajan's battling 29 before subsiding to 160 all out in 34.2 overs. Kevin Shipton departed for a duck at our hands 🦆, and Anthony Karassellos was magnificent, 4 for 22 with four miserly maidens, well supported by Martin Harris (2-32) and Brandon Eloff (1-1). Eleven byes, mind you, suggest our wicketkeeper had rather a testing afternoon behind the stumps.

A fine win by 44 runs, then, and one that keeps Anthony's 20 wickets and Altus Diener's 305 runs looking rather smart atop the 2nd XI charts. Onwards, as ever, to the next one.

Sat 09 Aug 2025 🧢 1st XIv Sibton Park CC · HomeformDDDDD

Won the toss on a warm, grey Saturday against Sibton Park CC and elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and for once I wasn't proven a fool by tea. We lost an opener at 0-1, which had the pavilion muttering, before a stand worth 163 for the second wicket put the innings back on an even keel. I found some rare form of my own, carrying it to a hundred and finishing unbeaten-in-spirit on 115, with Nick Catt playing the perfect foil for a fine 66 and Toby Hughes chipping in a brisk 20. Then, as is tradition round here, the wheels wobbled — 225 for 4 became 236 for 7 in the blink of an eye, with Benjamin Austin and Alex Keeler both back in the shed without troubling the scorer. A useful 31 in extras topped us up to 258 all out from 42.5 overs, a total I'd happily take twice over.

Defending it, Sibton's openers gave us an anxious start, putting on 63 before the breakthrough finally came. Satyajeet Jadhav's 39 and Jack Woodward's 22 threatened to drag them into contention, but Toby Hughes turned magician with the ball, ripping through with 4 for 15, backed superbly by Thomas Beeney's 2 for 44 and Mark Christmas's 1 for 18. Ben Allon and Harry Rowe both departed for ducks as their innings folded to 149 all out.

With Nick Catt now the season's leading run-scorer and Thomas Beeney topping the wicket charts, this felt like the club firing on all cylinders. A 109-run win, and a thoroughly good day for us.

Sun 03 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv PC Pembury CC · AwayformLLLWL

Sunday took us down to Pembury, under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain properly or just sulk. I lost the toss – no great surprise there, my coin-calling remains a weak suit – and we were asked to bat on a warm, drizzly afternoon that suited nobody's strokeplay. We ground our way to a respectable 175/8 from 36, built on the back of Nick Catt's well-made fifty, 56 in the book, with Theo Clements chipping in 28 and myself contributing 33 with the bat, a small personal highlight in an otherwise squally day. Spare a thought, as ever, for the Duck Club ledger, into which Frank Harbord marched with a first-ball nought and the long walk of shame that follows it.

Defending 175 was always going to ask a lot of us, and Pembury simply had the better of the two half-centuries on show. Benjamin Parsons made a classy 57, Harry Dawes matched him with 53, and Stuart McCloy saw them home unbeaten on 37 as they cruised to 177/4 in 33.4 overs. Alexander Nunn was our pick of the attack with 1-22, while Tim Thirkell bowled with real discipline, two maidens and 1-28, to go with a wicket of my own for 27.

Six wickets the wrong way, then, and heads understandably down on the coach home. Still, Theo Clements sitting second in the season's run charts and Tim Thirkell top of the wicket pile are proof there's plenty to build on. Back to the nets it is.

Sun 03 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 3rd XIv Faversham CC · AwayformWWW

An away trip to Faversham brought us a warm, cloudy afternoon and a toss I was only too pleased to win — batting first felt right, and so it proved. The lads set about building a proper total, and I can't speak too highly of Brandon Eloff's 53 not out, a fine, unhurried half-century that gave the innings its backbone. Johan Eloff chipped in nicely with 37 and Blair Mundell added 22, and between them they steered us to a healthy 186/8 from our forty overs. Not everything gleamed, mind — Alex Wade and Sam King both departed for ducks, the sort of thing that happens to the best of us and, on this occasion, happened to two of ours.

Defending 186 is never a formality, but the bowlers made light work of it. Reuben Mundell was magnificent, ripping through with 3-15, and found excellent support from Alex Wade, whose 1-5 came with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure, and Daniel Baker's tidy 1-7. We did have Alfie Marsh to thank Faversham for — his 39 and Thomas Bullock's unbeaten 26 were the only real resistance — but we winkled out Connor Forber for a duck along the way, and Faversham could only crawl to 135/9.

Eight byes did rather tell their own tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps for Anthony Karassellos, though I'll not dwell on that. I contributed my own small hand along the way, but this was very much a team effort, capped off by a 51-run victory. A thoroughly good day for the club, and one to enjoy on the coach home.

Sun 03 Aug 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv Cowdrey CC · HomeformLWWWW

Sunday brought us warm skies and the occasional shower for the visit of Cowdrey CC, and losing the toss meant we'd be batting first — no complaints from me, mind, given how the day unfolded.

Twenty overs brought us a healthy 158/3, built on a lovely unbeaten stand of not-outs: Laura Thorogood led the way with 33, while Hannah Odling and Rachel Rawson both chipped in with composed 30s to finish the innings untroubled. Twenty-seven extras did their bit too, which I shall count as a team contribution and say no more about.

Defending 158 in twelve overs was always going to be a tall order for Cowdrey, and so it proved — bowled out for a paltry 48. Michaela Karassellos was superb, taking 3-16, with Abi Thirkell (2-7) and Laura Holdstock (2-11) mopping up either end. I did my bit by trudging back to the pavilion for a golden duck, which I shall wear as a badge of honour and nothing more. Special mention too for the season charts — Hannah sitting second among the runs this year, and Laura Holdstock leading the wickets table with fourteen scalps, both fully deserved.

A win by 110 runs, then, and a thoroughly good day for the club — bar my own brief and forgettable contribution with the bat. The girls batted with maturity, bowled with real teeth, and reminded Cowdrey why away trips to Linton Park are rarely comfortable ones.

Sun 03 Aug 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv HC Harbledown CC · AwayformLWLWW

Well now, brace yourselves — a proper thumping delivered on the road at Harbledown, and I'll admit I rather enjoyed my afternoon in the field for once.

Winning the toss on Sunday, I did the fashionable thing and stuck them in. It came up trumps rather beautifully. Thomas Roxburgh was in imperious form, scything through the top order for 4-20 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure — the sort of spell that makes a captain look far cleverer than he is — while Will Hughes (3-44) and Thomas Beeney (2-13) mopped up round him. Jack Dunning and Gavin Dixon departed for ducks, and only Sudesh Thakur, with a defiant 30, gave Harbledown's total any shape at all. All out for 82 in 20.2 overs — a score that never looked like troubling us.

Chasing it down should have been a formality, and mostly was, save for the small matter of losing our first wicket for nought — Toby Joseph making the long walk back without so much as a single to his name, poor lad. From there Luke Welsman played the anchor beautifully, 39 not out and unbeaten at the close, with Mardey Castle (24 not out) and William Roxburgh (21) offering fine support. We cantered home on 85/3 in 20.3 overs.

A seven-wicket win, bowlers to the fore and the top order doing just enough — you can't ask for much fairer than that. Onwards indeed.

Sat 02 Aug 2025 🧢 4th XIv Egerton CC, Kent · AwayformDLWDD

Saturday last took us down to Egerton CC in Kent, under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain on our parade — overcast, but pleasant enough for cricket. I called correctly at the toss, which these days feels like an achievement in itself, and had no hesitation in batting first.

What followed was rather more fun than usual. I found something close to form and carried my bat to 118 not out — three figures I'll happily admit I didn't see coming when I got out of bed. Daniel Baker chipped in handsomely with 59, and between us we hauled the total to a healthy 222/4 from our forty overs.

Defending it was another matter entirely. Egerton's openers put on 117 for the first wicket and looked ominously settled, John Harrison eventually top-scoring with a fine 69, well supported by Neil Harper (46) and Ben Humphries (43). A wretched 31st over cost us three wickets in one go and very nearly the match, while poor Daniel had a torrid time behind the stumps, leaking 14 byes. But Andrew Joseph was magnificent with 4-31, Brandon Eloff chipped away with 3-36, and Rahul Parakh took one, as three Egerton batsmen — Anthony Davis, Christopher Terry and Sarah Woods — departed without troubling the scorers.

We held on by 8 runs. A proper win, honestly earned, and one to savour on the drive home.

Sat 02 Aug 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Bredgar CC · HomeformDDDDD

Called correctly, chose to field, and on a pleasant overcast afternoon that felt like the right call all the way through the morning cuppa. Bredgar CC made us toil for it, though — Jonathan Knight compiled a fine 67, well supported by Alex Knight's 39 and an unbeaten 29 from Archie Burden, as they racked up 221/7 from their forty overs. The consolation was that our attack had its moments too: I managed to find some rhythm and finished with 3-23, Henry Campbell chipped in with 1-23, Praveen Tunga took 1-31, and Sam King bowled two tidy maidens to keep things honest. Isaac Pellatt and Oliver Knight both departed without troubling the scorers, which was some small satisfaction on an otherwise expensive afternoon in the field.

Chasing 222 was always going to ask questions of us, and Bredgar's bowlers had most of the answers. Praveen Tunga batted beautifully for an unbeaten 53, the one real bright spot in the innings, while thirty-four extras did more for the cause than several of us managed with the bat. Richard Piper's contribution, sadly, was a golden duck. We were bowled out for 147 in 35.2 overs, well short of the target.

A defeat by 74 runs, then, and no dressing it up as anything else. There were individual positives to cling to — not least Nolan Wilde's steady climb up the season's run charts and my own wickets tally now sitting proudly at the top of the 3rd XI standings — but as a team performance this was well below our best. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.

Sat 02 Aug 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Dartford CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday last took us down to Dartford, and losing the toss meant we were straight out into the field-first lottery – except it was them fielding, and us finding out the hard way what 39.3 overs of application looks like. Altus Diener played the innings of the day, 59 crafted with real application, while Will Hughes (28 not out) and Anthony Karassellos (26) chipped in handsomely. We rattled along nicely until the last knockings, 188 for 7 becoming 201 all out in a flurry that suggested the tail had rather better things to do that afternoon. Special mention to Ian Hollingworth, who contributed his now-traditional golden duck – ever reliable in his unreliability with the bat.

Two hundred and one looked a defendable total, and so it proved. Dartford's reply was, frankly, a procession the wrong way for them: 8 on the board and already a wicket down, then 49 for 4 collapsing to 55 for 7 as the innings simply came apart at the seams. Amol Kulthe, Ben Humm and Daksh Mishra all departed without scoring – only Lee Gray, with 22, showed any real resistance – and Dartford were bowled out for 59 in 17.1 overs. Ian Hollingworth was magnificent with the ball, 4 for 2, with Will Hughes (3 for 3) and the ever-miserly Anthony Karassellos (3 for 28, two maidens) squeezing the life out of any hope of a recovery.

A 142-run win, and with Diener and Karassellos still leading the 2nd XI's runs and wickets charts respectively, this was every bit the good day the scoreboard suggests.

Sat 02 Aug 2025 🧢 1st XIv Bapchild CC · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday the 2nd of August found us hosting Bapchild CC under a kindly, cloudy sky — the sort of afternoon that asks nothing more of a man than a jumper and a decent covering point. I lost the toss, which is fast becoming a quiet tradition of mine, and we were asked to field first.

Credit to the lads with the ball: Bapchild were shepherded out for 156 in 44 overs. Matthew Carter was pick of the attack with a fine 4-29, well backed up by Toby Hughes (3-25) and Thomas Roxburgh (3-26), while Alex Keeler's three maidens strangled the scoring at the other end. James Weller's 31 was the innings' backbone, with Ricky Dale (24) and Tom Carey (23) chipping in, but the total never looked like troubling us — though our ground fielding did its level best to help them along, gifting 21 wides and a no-ball we could ill afford.

In reply, we made ourselves quite at home on 195 for 7 from our 45 overs. An early wobble — 6 for 1 — threatened a familiar collapse, but the middle order steadied things nicely, with Toby Hughes (34) and Thomas Roxburgh, unbeaten on 33, putting together the stand of the innings, 51 for the third wicket. I managed 46 myself, which felt like a rare instance of the captain pulling his weight.

Elsewhere in the season's reckoning, Nick Catt continues to lead the run charts with 555, and Toby Hughes now sits fourth among the wicket-takers with 15. As for Saturday — two points, won by 39 runs, and thoroughly deserved, our generosity with the wides notwithstanding.

Sun 27 Jul 2025 🧢 Sunday 3rd XIv Kings Hill CC · AwayformWW

Here's the match report:

Well, when I called correctly and stuck us in the field on a warm, showery Sunday at Kings Hill, I'll admit there was a flicker of second-guessing as the covers threatened — but it proved the right call, and I'm rather pleased to say so in print.

The Tromp brothers set the tone with the ball, Divan leading the way with a superb 3-16 while Nick chipped in with 2-11, and Farhan Malik kept the pressure on with 2-27. Kings Hill battled to 157 all out from 38.2 overs, Adam Lowing top-scoring with 38, well supported by Graham Hutchins (29) and Matthew Blewett (25) — though Charlie Barnard and Connor Smith departed for a pair of ducks between them, which the scorebook will not let me forget.

Chasing 158, we made a mockery of it. Anthony Karassellos played an innings of real class, an unbeaten 102 that steadied and then swept us home, ably backed up by Aaron Hughes's calm 29 not out. I contributed my own small share along the way, though the day belonged firmly to that century. We cantered to 159/1 in just 20.2 overs, wrapping up victory by 9 wickets with the sun very much on our side by the close.

Anthony now sits proudly atop the 2025 Sunday 3rd XI run charts, with Farhan leading the wickets — a fine platform for the rest of the season. All told, a thoroughly good day for the club: ruthless with the ball, imperious with the bat, and home in time for tea.

Sun 27 Jul 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformLLWLW

Captain's Log — Sunday 27 July 2025

Bearsted CC rolled up on a warm, showery afternoon, we lost the toss, and were duly asked to bowl first — never quite the plan, but there we are. The visitors ground their way to 169/9 from their 40 overs, built on a solid 89-run opening stand before things rather unravelled: 89-1 became 98-4 in short order, with Christian Roberts, Zachary Ludwin and Freddie Salter all departing without troubling the scorers. Alex Lush (55 not out) and John Haggart (47) did the heavy lifting for them, with Angus Kenny chipping in 35. Credit to Nick Catt, whose 4-8 was a masterclass in economy, well backed by Thomas Beeney (3-25), Joel Attwood (1-26) and Will Hughes, who bowled two miserly maidens to keep the screws turned.

Chasing 170, we made hard work of what should have been gettable, subsiding at times before Nick Catt — clearly not content with his bowling heroics — carried his bat for a superb 57 not out. Will Thew's 33 and a defiant last-wicket stand worth 54 gave the innings its shape, while I was happy to do my bit with 26 not out in a crucial sixth-wicket stand of 61. Benjamin Austin's golden duck was the one sour note in an otherwise gutsy chase.

We got there with four wickets in hand, and while it was scrappier than the scoreboard perhaps suggests, two points is two points. A win manufactured out of some early jitters — the mark, dare I say, of a side growing rather fond of the tight finish.

Sun 27 Jul 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Capel CC, Kent · AwayformWLLLW

Sunday 27 July, and off we trundled down to Capel CC on a warm, overcast afternoon that felt made for cricket, if not necessarily for winning. I won the toss and put them in — the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook might later suggest.

Capel made hay to the tune of 191 for 7 from their 35 overs, with Robert Taylor the chief architect on 56 not out, well supported by Aaron Irvine's 38 and Thomas Stronell's 25. Poor Daniel Stronell departed without so much as troubling the scorers 🦆. In the field we had our moments — Tim Thirkell was superb, 2 for 14 with three miserly maidens thrown in, while Alexander Daniels (2-36) and James Gray (1-19) chipped in gamely. Not quite enough to stem the tide, but honest toil throughout.

Chasing 192, we mustered 143 for 9, never quite finding the rhythm the target demanded. Theo Clements led the resistance with a fine 32 — and in doing so, brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth raising a glass to regardless of the result. Alexander Daniels endured a golden duck 🦆, extras were our second-top scorer with 32, and your captain contributed a modest 17. Theo now sits second in the 2nd XI run charts, with Tim top of the wicket-takers on 16.

Beaten by 48 runs in the end. Character-building stuff — we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 26 Jul 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Bapchild CC · AwayformDDDDD

Here is the match report.

Saturday's trip to Bapchild began with the coin doing me a favour — I called correctly and, with the sky drizzling half-heartedly overhead, sent the opposition in. It proved a shrewd toss to win, if I say so myself, and I found some rhythm to finish with 4-40, backed up nicely by Abi Thirkell's 2-40 and Nolan Wilde's tidy 1-13. Bapchild ground their way to 161/7 from their forty overs, Kevin Miles the chief architect with a battling 48, Lincoln Bryden chipping in 33 and Craig Hunt seeing them home unbeaten on 24. Not everyone enjoyed themselves out there — Henry Louden and Ella Hadler both departed without troubling the scorers, which even by the generous standards of village cricket felt a touch harsh.

With the target set, Richard Piper and Glen Rawson simply strolled off with the game. Piper cruised to a magnificent 78 not out, sailing well past his fifty, while Rawson made a fine 57 of his own — between them they saw us home at 163/1 with over four overs unused, for the loss of a single wicket. Poor Laura Thorogood had a wretched afternoon standing up, eight byes escaping her gloves like they had a train to catch, but nobody was counting too closely by the end.

A quiet word of pride, too: Piper brought up 20,000 career runs for the club along the way — a landmark that rather puts the rest of us in perspective.

Nine wickets, two points, and a thoroughly deserved afternoon's work. Bapchild never really got going, and nor, mercifully, did the drizzle.

Sat 26 Jul 2025 🧢 1st XIv Addington Village CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday 26th July found us on the road at Addington Village CC, and after losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, I confess my heart sank rather further than the coin did.

With the bat, 7 for 1 was not the platform I'd dreamed of on the drive over, but Nick Catt and Toby Hughes steadied the ship with a fine second-wicket stand of 67, Catt going on to a well-crafted 74 and Hughes chipping in with 48 of his own. As is traditional in these parts, the middle and lower order then conspired to turn a healthy total into a nervy one, tumbling from 172-5 to 182-8 in a positive hurry, and poor Tom Campbell will be pleased to see his golden duck reduced to a footnote rather than the headline. All out for 183 in 44.2 overs — respectable, if achieved by the scenic route.

Defending it, the game turned on the 5th over, two wickets falling in a blink from which Addington never truly recovered. Thomas Beeney was magnificent with 4-27, backed superbly by Mark Christmas (2-16) and Toby Hughes, whose miserly 2-29 included five maidens — not a run given away lightly. Jack Sopp's unbeaten 28, including a magnificent slog for six backward of square, gave their innings some late respectability, but 140 all out left us 43 runs to the good.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and my own contribution of 17 with the bat I shall claim was crucial rather than incidental. A fine team effort, and one for the scrapbook.

Sat 19 Jul 2025 🧢 4th XIv Lordswood CC · AwayformDDLWD

We travelled to Lordswood CC on a warm, showery afternoon, and winning the toss I elected to bat — the right call, I felt, and one I was rather pleased to be proved right about. Glen Rawson led the way with a fine 42, well supported by Daniel Baker's 29 and Rahul Parakh's 26, the pair putting on 71 for the second wicket and giving our innings its backbone. The extras column did its bit too, chipping in 31, and we closed on a healthy 155 for 4 from our 30 overs — the kind of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather more than usual.

Defending it, we turned to the ball with intent. Finn Read's 27 and Ryan Denham's 20 threatened to make a match of it, but Neill Pennefather was in destructive form, taking 3 for 8 with two tidy maidens thrown in, while Mohamed Safeer Ibra Lebbe (2-18) and Rahul Parakh (2-23) mopped up either end. The opposition were bowled out for 138 in 28.4 overs. I'll admit our ground fielding left something to be desired — 20 wides and 4 no-balls is generosity we can ill afford against sides with genuine ambitions — but the bowling papered over the cracks handsomely. I weighed in with 15 of my own, and it was pleasing to see Rahul Parakh's consistency continuing, now sitting fourth in the 2025 Fourth XI run charts with 133 runs.

A fine win by 17 runs, then — sloppy round the edges, but the lads found the substance when it mattered. Onwards.

Wed 16 Jul 2025 🧢 Midweek XIv LX Lord Cornwallis XI · HomeformLLWWD

Here's the match report.

Skipper's log, and what a scrap it turned out to be. We won the toss on a warm, cloudy afternoon at Linton Park and had a look at things with the ball first, and Lord Cornwallis XI made us work for every wicket before folding for 139 in the 32nd over. Thomas Beeney gave their innings its shape with 35, well backed by Benjamin Austin's 27 and a second Beeney contribution of 26, but it was Beeney again who did us the damage with the ball, snaring 2-4 in a spell that had our lot grinning from the boundary. Will Hughes and John Karassellos chipped in with 2-19 and 2-44 respectively to see the innings out.

Chasing 140, we made distinctly harder work of it than the scoreboard perhaps suggests, limping and lurching to 143/7 from 34.5 overs. Poor Henry Campbell will want this one struck from the record, ducking out without troubling the scorers, and for a spell it looked as though we might contrive to make a horlicks of a straightforward chase. I dug in for an unbeaten 59, and while I'll allow myself one line of quiet satisfaction about that, the real heroics came from a defiant last-wicket stand that somehow conjured 37 priceless runs from nowhere and dragged us over the line with nerves shredded but intact.

A win by three wickets, then, ugly in places but a win all the same, and in club cricket you never hand those back for style points. Onwards.

Sun 13 Jul 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv Capel CC, Kent · HomeformWLWWW

Skipper's Log — Sunday 13 July 2025

We hosted Capel CC on a scorching, overcast afternoon that felt like batting inside a greenhouse. I lost the toss, Capel elected to field, and off we went into what turned into a proper cracker of a match. Our innings raced to 63/2 from 8 overs — the kind of scoring rate that makes a captain look far cleverer than she actually is. I chipped in with the bat myself, glad to add to what has been a fine season with the willow, though the real story of the day was still to come.

Defending 63 in 8 overs is never a formality, and Capel made us work for it, reaching 45/6. Rachel Rawson was magnificent, ripping through with 3-3, while Laura Holdstock — who continues to lead our wicket charts this summer — chipped in with 3-4 of her own. Between them they did most of the damage, which was just as well, because our fielding left a good deal to be desired. Eighteen wides and four no-balls is not the sort of generosity the tea urn requires, and I shall be having quiet words about line and length before our next fixture.

Still, 38 runs is 38 runs, however untidily we arrived at it. A scrappy, sweaty, thoroughly entertaining afternoon's cricket, and — wides notwithstanding — a very good day for the club.

Sun 13 Jul 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Rolvenden CC · HomeformLLLWL

Sunday saw Rolvenden CC visit us on a warm, cloudy afternoon, and my luck at the coin didn't hold — we lost the toss and were put into the field. No matter; there's a particular pleasure in bowling first that no amount of losing tosses can spoil, and the lads set about it with real purpose.

Rolvenden crawled and occasionally galloped their way to 207 all out in 38.2 overs, built chiefly on half-centuries from Omar Ahmed (65) and Omar Zaman (57), with Faisal Zaman unbeaten on 32 to add some late gloss. But it was Alexander Daniels who stole the afternoon with a magnificent 5-39 — the kind of spell you write home about, and thoroughly deserved. I chipped in with 1-17, Nick Catt weighed in with 1-18, and between us we sent Carlin Smith, Asad Khan and Yusuf Zaman back for ducks, which always raises a cheer from the boundary rope.

Chasing 208, we made light work of it, cantering to 210/2 in just 25.2 overs. Benjamin Austin was magnificent, striking an unbeaten century, and Will Thew provided the perfect foil with fifty of his own, the pair adding 102 for the second wicket to see the job done in style.

Two points, thoroughly earned, and an eight-wicket victory to show for a fine team effort with bat and ball alike. If Rolvenden left wondering what hit them, I'm afraid I couldn't possibly comment.

Sun 13 Jul 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv East Sutton CC · AwayformWWLLL

From the captain's chair — Sunday 13 July 2025, and the road took us to East Sutton CC on an afternoon that couldn't decide whether it was scorching or overcast and settled on both. I lost the toss, as is tradition, and we were put into the field, which at least spared me the indignity of losing the toss twice.

East Sutton ground out 160 for 9 from their forty overs, Darren Thompson top-scoring with a watchful 49, well supported by Ben Tragett's 32 and Rob Yardy's 26. Not everyone found the runs so easy to come by — Rod Harcourt and Jonah Harcourt both departed without so much as a squeak off the bat, poor lads. Spencer Gray was the chief tormentor with 2 for 13, Euan Beardwell chipped in with 2 for 18, and I managed to squeeze out 1 for 10 for my afternoon's trouble. Tim Thirkell, meanwhile, was miserly to the point of cruelty with three maidens — and in doing so passed 700 career wickets, a milestone that deserves rather more fanfare than a line in a match report, but there we are.

Chasing 161, we got there in 32 overs for the loss of 8, Johan Eloff leading the way with 33, Euan Beardwell following his bowling with 30 runs, and Anthony Karassellos adding 25 — no surprise from the man currently topping our 2025 Sunday 2nd XI run charts on 352. A scrappy, nervy, thoroughly satisfying win by 2 wickets. Onwards.

Sat 12 Jul 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Dartford CC · AwayformDDDDD

Skipper's log, Dartford CC, 12 July. A warm, overcast afternoon greeted us on the road to Dartford — the sort of day that makes you glad you packed a jumper and left the sun cream at home. I lost the toss, they chose to bat, and off we trudged into the field.

Dartford lost an early wicket for nought, which had us purring, but Shaun Parker (62 not out) and Chris Pathmarajah (36) stitched together a stubborn 74 for the seventh wicket and dragged them to 169/7 from their 40. Henry Campbell was the pick of the attack — 2-21 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, tight as you like — with Srikrishna Challa (2-33) and Euan Beardwell (1-11) chipping in. Poor Ruthvik Kajuluri copped the golden duck.

With the bat, Aaron Hughes (35), Srikrishna Challa (34) and Theo Clements (26) did the heavy lifting as we ground our way to 170/7 in 39.2 overs. Their bowlers dropped it short all afternoon and we happily rocked back to cut and pull square of the wicket — C Liebenberg's clout over mid-on for six was the shot of the day. As for my own contribution, a golden duck at the top — the least said, the soonest mended.

A three-wicket win, then, snatched rather than strolled to, and Henry Campbell now sits proudly atop the 3rd XI's wicket charts with 14. Onwards.

Sat 12 Jul 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Holborough Anchorians CC · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 12th July, and a fine warm one it was — overcast enough to keep the sunburn off the back of my neck, which is about as much as I ask of English weather. Holborough Anchorians were the visitors, I won the toss, and elected to bat. I'd like to say this was born of deep tactical insight; really I just fancied not standing in the field first. Either way, the right call, I felt.

We posted 199/9 from our 40 overs, a total built rather than blazed — Nick Tromp's 43 the backbone, Brandon Eloff's 37 and Will Hughes's 25 adding the necessary meat. Nothing spectacular, but enough runs on the board to make the Anchorians think.

And think they had to, because when we came out to defend it, Altus Diener decided the day belonged to him — 5-20, a five-for as tidy as you'll see on a club pitch, and richly deserved. Brandon Eloff, evidently not content with his runs, chipped in 2-22, Michael Ludick took one, and somewhere in the middle of it all poor Sajid Masood was gone without troubling the scorers. Mahmood Khanwaziri fought the good fight with a fine 61, but it was a lone hand, and the Anchorians folded for 165 in 37.3 overs.

Thirty-four runs the margin, two points the reward, and thoroughly earned all round. A proper team effort, and a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday.

Sat 12 Jul 2025 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday 12 July saw us make the trip to Mersham Sports CC, and with a rare correct call at the toss under warm, grey skies, I had no hesitation in batting first.

It was Nick Catt who set the tone with a fine, well-made 81, backed up nicely by Thomas Roxburgh's 28 and Alex Keeler's 24. We lost the first wicket cheaply at 5-1, which is never the ideal advertisement for a Saturday side, but a stand of 63 for the seventh wicket dragged us back to something respectable. I can't claim much credit for that recovery myself — I fell for a duck, as did Thomas Beeney, and the least said about that pair of ducks the better. All out for 167 from 39.5 overs felt like a par-ish score on a used-looking pitch, if not one to frighten anyone.

Frighten anyone it did not. David Harman played beautifully for an unbeaten 89, ushered along by Kyle McAlister's equally polished 60 not out, and between them they simply took the game away from us. A miserable 40th over cost us two wickets and whatever momentum we still had left, by which point Mersham were coasting. My own contribution with the ball amounted to nought, and we shall draw a veil over it.

Beaten by ten wickets, then — a chastening afternoon, though Nick Catt continues to lead our 2025 run charts with 452 for the season, which is some consolation. We'll be better for it next week.

Fri 11 Jul 2025 🧢 Twenty20v Castle Hill CC, Kent · HomeformWWWLW

There are days when a captain earns his tea, and Friday's visit from Castle Hill CC was one of them. Losing the toss on a properly scorching afternoon and being asked to chase is never the news you want, but there are worse things than bowling first when the sun's out and the beer's in the fridge.

Castle Hill set about building a total, and Rory Donald's 49 was the innings that gave them something to bowl at, with Ben Mondy's 28 keeping the scoreboard ticking nicely alongside him. They closed on 142 for 7 from their twenty overs, a target that looked entirely gettable and entirely nerve-shredding in equal measure. Credit where it's due up front: Tom Campbell was the pick of the attack with 2 for 10, and I was pleased enough to chip in with 2 for 19 myself, while Nick Tromp took 1 for 10 to round out a proper team effort with the ball.

Chasing 143, it was Tromp again who did the heavy lifting, this time with the bat, cracking a superb 79 not out to drag us home, well supported by Johan Eloff's unbeaten 31. We got there on 146 for 5 with an over to spare. Eloff will want a quiet word with himself about those 8 byes, mind you — a testing day behind the stumps if ever there was one.

Five wickets, plenty of sunburn, and Tromp now sitting proudly atop both the run charts and everyone's Christmas card list. A good day for the club, and a very good day for the tea urn.

Sun 06 Jul 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Borstal CC · AwayformLLLLW

Skipper's Log, Sunday 06 July 2025 — a warm, sticky afternoon on the road at Borstal CC, and true to form the coin let us down before a ball had been bowled. They chose to bat, and we trudged into the field wondering what the pitch, and the weather, had in store.

Borstal made hay, posting a stiff 214/7 from their forty overs. Haroon Khan was the chief architect with a well-made 60, given fine support by Dylan Solano Nathan (38) and Charlie-George Eldridge (32). To our credit, the bowling never gave up the fight — Mark Christmas was superb with 3-31, backed up admirably by Thomas Beeney (1-33) and Ian Lowe (1-34).

Chasing 215, we never quite got out of the blocks, closing on 58/5 from our 24 overs. Tobey Castle top-scored with a plucky 20, though the less said about Jordan Austin's golden duck the better — these things happen to the best of us, and no doubt he'll dine out on the story eventually, if not today.

There was a silver lining amid the gloom: Ian Lowe brought up his 50th career wicket, a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly applauded by all. Elsewhere in the season's charts, Luke Welsman continues to purr along in third with 153 runs, and Thomas Beeney sits second among the wicket-takers with 13.

Beaten by 69 runs in the end, no arguing with that scoreline. We'll dust ourselves down, have a word about our batting resolve, and come back stronger next week.

Sat 05 Jul 2025 🧢 4th XIv New Ash Green CC · AwayformDDDLW

Beaten but not bowed at New Ash Green on a warm, damp Saturday — I called it right at the toss and stuck us in, which felt like inspiration at the time. It looked shrewder still when Robin Wills and Edward Quantrill went early without troubling the scorers, but Ryan Harley had other ideas, ground us down and eventually cantered to 78 before New Ash Green were finally shifted out for 157 off 35.1 overs. Josh Gurney was the pick of the attack all afternoon — 2-12 with three tight maidens thrown in for good measure — well supported by James Gray (2-26) and Thomas Mundell (1-11), so credit where it's due: we bowled and fielded like a side that meant business.

Chasing 158, we never quite found our rhythm. Srikrishna Challa's 34 was the one substantial contribution, and honestly our extras column of 25 gave him a fair run for his money — 17 of those were byes, which tells you all you need to know about Daniel Baker's afternoon behind the stumps. We were bowled out for 122 in 36.2 overs, 35 runs short in the end.

Blair Mundell continues to lead our 4th XI run charts with 201 for the season, and Srikrishna Challa tops the wicket pile with 12 — proof there's genuine quality in this dressing room, even when the scoreboard doesn't cooperate. All told, a match where the ball did us proud and the bat let us down. We'll regroup, dry out, and be better for it next week.

Sat 05 Jul 2025 🧢 3rd XIv MC Minster (Sheppey) CC · HomeformDDDDD

Beaten by four wickets we may have been, but the scoreboard tells only half the tale. On a warm, drizzly, blustery afternoon that felt more suited to ducks of the feathered variety than the batting kind, we lost the toss and were asked to field first — always a sign the day intends to have its fun with you.

With bat in hand, 126 all out from 36.3 overs was a case of runs coming from a precious few. Aaron Hughes led the way with a fine 33, and Glen Rawson chipped in with 21 to lend the innings some backbone. Will Hughes, Henry Campbell and Praveen Tunga, meanwhile, contributed nothing at all for their trouble — the sort of collective blank that makes a captain reach for the tea urn a little earlier than planned.

Defending 126 always asks for something special, and for once the ball did what the bat couldn't. I found some rhythm and finished with 4-23, with Will Hughes (1-17) and Henry Campbell (1-24) chipping away at the other end — Sam Manser and Tyler Vollans both departed without scoring. Minster (Sheppey) were given a proper fright, but Ryan Bruce's fine 62, backed up by Ross Nixon's 22, saw them home at 127/6 with four wickets to spare.

A defeat, yes, but not a chastening one — and with Henry Campbell now up to 12 wickets on the season, there's plenty to build on. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 05 Jul 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Upchurch CC · AwayformDDDDD

We rocked up to Upchurch on a warm, drizzly Saturday, the sort of afternoon that can't decide whether it's cricket weather or not, and I duly lost the toss, which meant a stint in the field to open proceedings. Upchurch ground their way to 164/8 from their forty overs, built largely on the back of Lewis Ball's fifty-plus knock of 64, nicely supported by Kieran Tyler's 35. But we had our say too, with a flurry that turned 124-5 into 137-8 in a hurry, and James Howard sent packing without troubling the scorers. Alex Wade led the charge with a fine 3-31, backed up by Brandon Eloff's 2-30 and Altus Diener's 2-33, and the turning point came in the 33rd over, two wickets in quick succession that tilted the whole afternoon our way.

Chasing 165, we wobbled early to 8-1 before Altus Diener, fresh from his bowling exertions, played the innings of the day with a well-crafted 61, and a stand of 74 for the second wicket steadied the ship. Luke Welsman finished the job unbeaten on 33, and I was glad to weigh in with 19 of my own along the way, even as Johan Eloff's golden duck reminded us cricket rarely lets anyone off easily. We got there in 27.3 overs, five wickets in hand. A thoroughly satisfying away win, and with Welsman and Wade both flying at the top of the season's charts, there's plenty still to play for.

Sat 05 Jul 2025 🧢 1st XIv Upchurch CC · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 5th July, and we welcomed Upchurch CC to Linton Park under skies that couldn't decide between sunshine and sulk — warm, damp and blustery all at once, which about summed up our afternoon. Lost the toss, too, so no complaints when they chose to bat first; we simply had to make the best of it.

Make the best of it we very nearly did. A wicket at 1-1 got us dreaming of an early rout, but Upchurch steadied and pushed on to 202 all out from their 42 overs, Daniel Mason (40), Daniel Parker (33) and Max Colley (29) doing the damage. Credit where it's due: Thomas Beeney bowled beautifully for 3-31, with Alex Keeler and Toby Hughes chipping in two apiece, and Tom Campbell tying things down with two maidens. A fair effort in the field, all told.

With the bat, though, we never quite got going. Mark Christmas battled to 34 not out and Benjamin Austin added a fighting 33, but wickets tumbled around them and we folded for 152 in 36.3 overs — extras top-scoring almost, with 25 generously donated. Poor Alex Keeler had the misery of a golden duck to add insult to injury.

Nick Catt continues to lead our run charts this season with 371, and Tom Campbell tops the wickets with 22 — small consolations on a chastening day. Beaten by 50 runs in the end. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets we go.

Wed 02 Jul 2025 🧢 Midweek XIv Warlingham CC · HomeformLLLWW

A warm, showery Wednesday saw us welcome Warlingham CC, and losing the toss meant we were straight out into the field before anyone had properly finished their tea. Still, that's club cricket for you — you can't choose the script, only how you play it.

With the bat we ground out a solid 192/8 from our 38.1 overs, the innings built around a lovely 71 from Toby Joseph, who cruised past his fifty in style. John Karassellos chipped in nicely with 45 and Will Thew added 21, but it was the 87-run stand for the fifth wicket that really gave the innings its shape. Spare a thought, as ever, for Jordan Austin, whose nought earns him a place in the Duck Club ledger — the walk of shame never gets any shorter.

In the field we kept things tight without quite running through them. Will Thew led the attack beautifully with 2-15, Thomas Beeney backed him up with 2-17 and three tidy maidens, and I managed 1-14 myself, which I was rather pleased with. We had Imran Bashir back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers, but Akil Gohar's unbeaten 28, with useful support from Nigel Field (26) and John Morris (21), steered Warlingham to 142/6 from their 44 overs. Fifteen byes, mind you, made for uncomfortable reading behind the stumps — a testing afternoon for Aaron Hughes.

In the end, honours were shared. A draw, when neither side could quite force the door open — and on a soggy afternoon like this, I'll happily take that as a fair result for all concerned.

Sun 29 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Marden CC, Kent · AwayformWWWLL

Sunday 29 June saw us on the road to Marden CC, under skies that couldn't decide between scorching and overcast — much like our top order later couldn't decide between defence and abandon. Losing the toss, we were put in, and it was Anthony Karassellos who did the early damage — 53 in fine style, the innings' backbone, well supported by Theo Clements (35) and Glen Rawson (29), the pair sharing a stout 73 for the second wicket. But cricket has a way of humbling the comfortable, and from 158-6 we tumbled to 164 all out in a rush that would have had the tea urn boiling over. As for me, a golden blob — a captain must lead by example, and on this occasion I led rather too enthusiastically back to the pavilion, in the company of Alexander Nunn and Ian Lowe, all three of us contributing nothing but ducks.

Defending 164 looked a stretch as William Bacon (51) and Freddie Mundell (33) put on 51 for the first wicket, but Anthony Karassellos, having done his bit with the bat, turned the screw with the ball — 3-27 including a double strike in the 19th that broke their innings' back. I chipped in with 1-14, Harvey Lowe with 1-16, and James Scade departed without troubling the scorers, but Marden held their nerve through the wobble at 133-6 to get home by three wickets.

The pitch punished anything short all afternoon — theirs more than ours, in the end. Not our day, but Anthony's golden season continues apace. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 29 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Chestfield CC · HomeformWLLLL

Here's the match report for the gazette:

Skipper's Log — Sunday 29 June 2025 v Chestfield CC

There are worse ways to spend a scorching, grey Sunday than losing the toss, and lose it I duly did — Chestfield elected to bat, and off we trotted into the field with the sun doing its level best to cook us through the cloud cover. Fin Wratten got them going with a tidy 37, and there was solid support from Pearson Hulks (33) and Callum Drake (26), but nothing was ever quite comfortable out there. I managed to find some early rhythm with the ball, picking up 2-11, while Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-20 and Toby Hughes bowled beautifully for 1-18, four of his overs going entirely unpunished. Chestfield were held to 152/6 from their forty — a total that felt gettable, if not exactly a formality.

And gettable it proved. Jordan Austin and Benjamin Austin simply strolled out and put the game to bed, cracking 104 for the first wicket before either so much as looked troubled. Jordan went on to an unbeaten 60, Benjamin fell just short of his own hundred-partner's efforts with a well-made 50, and the rest of us were mostly spectators as we cantered home at 156/3 with sixteen overs unused.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon's work — bowled with discipline, chased with ease, and home in time for tea. Seven wickets to spare and not a bead of sweat wasted on worry. Chalk it up as one for the scrapbook.

Sat 28 Jun 2025 🧢 4th XIv HC Hunton Wanderers CC · HomeformDDDDL

Saturday the 28th of June brought Hunton Wanderers to Linton Park on a warm, drizzly sort of afternoon — the kind that tests a captain's resolve to trust the covers and the forecast in equal measure. I lost the toss, which these days I treat as more formality than setback, and before long we found ourselves out in the middle with bat in hand.

It was a nervy start — just six on the board and an early wicket gone — but Euan Beardwell steadied things beautifully, going on to a magnificent 103 not out, and found the perfect foil in Srikrishna Challa, whose well-made 53 helped build a sixth-wicket stand worth 119 that, in truth, won us the match there and then. Hunton's bowlers dropped consistently short and we were only too happy to rock back and cut and pull away square all afternoon; a useful 35 in extras rounded out a formidable 230 for 6 from our forty overs.

With ball in hand we squeezed steadily. Ashley Maguire's well-made 56 and Peter Kenward's 27 gave Hunton something to build on, but Josh Niblett departed without troubling the scorers, and the innings subsided from 125 for 4 to 142 for 7 under real pressure. Joel Attwood led the way with 2 for 4, Blair Mundell chipped in with 2 for 17, and I was glad to add 2 for 17 of my own as we bowled them out for 155 in 35.3 overs, the game swinging decisively our way with two wickets in the 36th.

A fine win by 75 runs, then — and with Blair Mundell topping our 4th XI run charts on 199 and Ian Lowe second in the wicket-takers on 10, a season that's shaping up rather nicely. Onwards.

Sat 28 Jun 2025 🧢 2nd XIv CK Cobham CC, Kent · HomeformDDDDD

Saturday 28 June saw Cobham CC, Kent visit us on an afternoon that could only be described as scorching and damp in equal measure — Kent weather doing what Kent weather does. I called correctly at the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, chose to bat.

It proved the right call. We posted 237/6 from our forty overs, a total built on some proper application throughout the order. I was fortunate enough to lead from the front with a well-made 71, and had excellent support from Luke Welsman (41) and Anthony Karassellos (39) — the sort of middle-order graft that turns a decent score into a match-winning one.

With the ball, Anthony Karassellos continued his fine afternoon with 3-14, backed up nicely by Sam King (2-25) and the ever-miserly Michael Ludick, whose 1-18 came with three maidens attached — the sort of spell that squeezes the life out of a chase. Itihaas Adama (40), Charlie Dennis (29) and Dominic Hart (26) gave Cobham something to build on, but it was never quite enough, and poor Zeeshan Chaudhry departed without troubling the scorers. Eight byes did rather give the game away on what was a testing day behind the stumps for Johan Eloff. Cobham were bowled out for 157 in 39.1 overs.

There was extra cause for celebration too: Altus Diener brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, while Matthew Carter's solitary wicket edged him past Ian Brattle into 9th on our all-time wicket-takers list. An 80-run win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 28 Jun 2025 🧢 1st XIv Kings Hill CC · AwayformDDDDD

Skipper's Log — Saturday 28 June 2025. We travelled to Kings Hill CC under skies that couldn't decide whether to bake us or drown us, which felt about right for the way the day was to unfold. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in batting, and the lads repaid the faith handsomely: 281/7 from our 45 overs, built on a brisk 61-run opening stand and cemented by a marvellous 119 for the fourth wicket. Toby Hughes led from the front with a fine 68, Jordan Austin chimed in with a well-made 52, and Benjamin Austin's 28 kept the scoreboard humming. Kings Hill's bowlers even chipped in 45 extras, bless them. I, meanwhile, contributed a golden duck — the one blemish on an otherwise gleaming innings, and one I shall not dwell on further.

Defending 281, we set about our task with purpose. Kings Hill fought hard behind a watchful 66-run opening stand and Ashley Ulph's gritty 38, with Neil Taylor (28) and Ryan Ambanpola (27) offering support, but they were bowled out for 192 in the 39th over. Thomas Beeney was magnificent, 4-41 and, in the process, easing past John Ames into 13th on the club's all-time wicket-takers' list — while Martin Harris, chipping in with 2-35, sailed past 700 career wickets, a landmark worth savouring. He had support from Toby Hughes with 2-36. We were generous to a fault in the field, 21 wides and a no-ball testament to arms perhaps still limbering up in the drizzle.

A fine win by 89 runs, then, and one built on runs, wickets and milestones aplenty — even if the skipper's own contribution amounted to a walk back to the pavilion. Onwards indeed.

Sun 22 Jun 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv Capel CC, Kent · HomeformWWLWW

Sunday last, we welcomed Capel CC down to Linton Park under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to shine or sulk on us — warm one minute, spitting rain the next, with a wind that had its own opinions about where the ball should go. I called correctly at the toss, which felt like the easy part of the day, and had no hesitation whatsoever in choosing to bat first on a day like that.

Twenty overs brought us 129 for 4, and I'll admit it was carried rather handsomely by Hannah Odling's unbeaten 31, with Laura Thorogood a fine foil on 30 not out at the other end. Quite what our extras column was doing chipping in 29 of its own I couldn't say, but I'm not one to look a gift run in the mouth.

With the ball, Capel were held to 82 for 6 from their twenty. I managed 2 for 8 myself, which I'll mention once and move swiftly on from before anyone accuses me of getting above my station, while Laura Holdstock (1-6) and Laura Boorman (1-7) kept things tight alongside me. Less creditably, we were horribly generous in the field, gifting 34 wides and a no-ball — the sort of charity that would make a vicar blush.

Still, a 47-run win is a 47-run win, wides and all. Ragged at times, occasionally comic, but a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 22 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv LC Leybourne CC · HomeformLWWWL

I called it right at the toss and, with the sky the colour of an old flannel and the outfield still a touch tacky, fancied runs on the board before the rain had any ideas. We were duly humbled for 92 in 33.1 overs, a total that flattered nobody. Laurie Probert top-scored with a battling 33, Frank Harbord chipped in with 23, and everyone else more or less queued up to give it away — the Duck Club secretary had a busy afternoon logging Richard Piper, Zach Wilde and Ian Lowe for golden ducks apiece. Not our finest hour with the willow.

With the ball, though, we scrapped. Tim Thirkell was superb, 2 for 14 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, and had the further satisfaction of sending Rahul Parakh back without troubling the scorers. James Gray chipped in with 1 for 6, and I managed to get among the wickets myself with 1 for 7 — happily contributing something after a quiet day in the field otherwise. But Leybourne's Tom Palmer had other ideas, an unbeaten 34 steering them home, well supported by Rupert Davenport's 20, and they cruised to 93 for 4 in 25.2 overs.

Down by six wickets, then, and a defeat that had its roots firmly in that first innings collapse. Still second in the run charts for the season is some small consolation, and Tim leading the wicket charts is thoroughly deserved. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets — we'll have this lot next time.

Sun 22 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Wingham CC · AwayformWWLLL

Sunday took us down to Wingham CC, the sky doing its best impression of a wrung-out flannel, and I won the toss and had absolutely no qualms about asking them to bat first — a decision that looked shrewd for about an hour and considerably less so thereafter. Henry Goss played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 73, with Andrew West and Simon Chittim both chipping in with 28 apiece as Wingham posted a stiff 204 for 8. We did have our moments with the ball, mind — Jason Cork back in the hutch for a duck, and I managed to find some rhythm to finish with 4 for 38, well supported by Ian Hollingworth and Thomas Roxburgh, the latter bowling two tidy maidens for good measure.

Chasing 205 was always going to ask questions of us, and for a while we answered them rather well. Jordan Austin's 65 and Toby Hughes's 64 anchored an 86-run stand for the third wicket that had me daring to dream, with Luke Welsman's 30 keeping the scoreboard honest. Then, as is our club's occasional speciality, the wheels came off spectacularly — 174 for 6 became 184 for 9 in what felt like the time it takes to pour a tea, and we were bowled out for 184.

There was cause for a raised glass regardless — Toby Hughes brought up 3,000 runs for the club, and I quietly nudged past Darren Styles into sixth on the all-time wicket list. Small mercies. But 20 runs short is 20 runs short. Not our day. Back to the nets.

Sat 21 Jun 2025 🧢 4th XIv East Sutton CC · AwayformDDDDD

Saturday took us to East Sutton CC under a sky that couldn't decide whether to bake us or drown us — scorching one minute, overcast the next, exactly the sort of afternoon village cricket seems to reserve for away trips. I lost the toss, which these days feels less like misfortune and more like a personal vendetta from the coin, and we were asked to bowl first and chase whatever total came our way.

To their credit, East Sutton batted with real purpose. Jonah Harcourt anchored the innings with an unbeaten fifty, well supported by Rob Yardy (38) and Will Brunt (35), the pair putting on 56 for the first wicket to lay the platform. They closed on 219/4 from their forty overs. William Gray was pick of our bowlers with 2-23, and I chipped in with 1-38 — enough, at least, to keep me second in the 4th XI wicket charts with nine for the season — while Andrew Joseph took 1-53 and Sam King bowled tidily for three maidens.

Chasing 220, we never quite found the gears. Glen Rawson top-scored with 39, ably supported by Rahul Parakh's 37, but we stalled on 163/8 from our forty overs. Nine byes told their own tale, and it was a testing day out there for Glen too. Srikrishna Challa, for what it's worth, sits fourth in the season's run charts on 76.

Beaten by 56 runs, then — not our day. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 21 Jun 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Sheppey CC · HomeformWDDDD

It was Sheppey CC at home on Saturday, and I called correctly at the toss — which, given my recent form on that particular coin, felt like the biggest decision I'd get right all afternoon. No hesitation in batting first, and the lads repaid the faith handsomely: 215/7 from our forty overs, built on a lovely half-century from Nolan Wilde (63) and fine support from Will Hughes (52) and Johan Eloff (35). Kenny Liebenberg and Ian Bruce both trudged back for ducks, as cricket occasionally insists on reminding even good sides that it owes nobody anything. A generous 33 extras rounded out a total that had a distinctly useful look about it.

Sheppey's reply never got going. Henry Campbell was magnificent, ripping through with 3-4 and, in the process, reaching fifty career wickets — a landmark thoroughly deserved and warmly toasted in the pavilion afterwards. Tim Thirkell (3-19) and Ian Bruce (2-5) piled on the misery, and with Daniel Whiting, Archie Buckland and Dale Marsh all failing to trouble the scorers, Sheppey folded for 113 in just 21.3 overs. Adam Woodford's 25 was the only real resistance.

I'll confess our fielding had its wobbles — 8 byes and 23 extra runs gifted through wides and no-balls is not a line I'll be framing for the clubhouse wall, and poor Johan had a torrid time of it behind the stumps. But a 102-run win is a 102-run win, Nolan and Henry are both climbing the season charts, and frankly, we'll take it. Onwards.

Sat 21 Jun 2025 🧢 2nd XIv The Mote CC · AwayformDDDDD

The toss went against us at The Mote, and given the weather couldn't decide whether it wanted us cooked or drowned, perhaps it was just as well we had to graft for this one in the field.

Hussain Azmat and Jonathan Crowhurst put together fifties either side of fifty to drag The Mote to 164 all out, but it wasn't all one-way traffic — William Bacon, John Tucker and Sisira Attharagama will have quieter train journeys home after all departing for nought. Anthony Karassellos was the chief tormentor with 3-29, Michael Ludick chipped in with 2-18 and four maidens of pure stinginess, and Alex Wade took 2-39 to keep his season tally ticking handsomely along. My own solitary wicket won't trouble the highlights reel, but it did quietly nudge me past Alan Wilkes into 10th on the club's all-time list, which is the sort of thing a captain is allowed one small private smile about.

With 165 needed, Thomas Roxburgh played the innings of the day, a composed 65 not out, with Altus Diener not far behind on 59 and Luke Welsman weighing in with 28 to see us home in just 24 overs. Seventeen byes did rather suggest Aaron Hughes spent the afternoon standing rather too near a sprinkler, but nobody was complaining by the close.

A seven-wicket win, achieved in testing conditions against a side who gave us a proper contest with the bat. We'll take that all day.

Sat 21 Jun 2025 🧢 1st XIv Borstal CC · HomeformDDDDD

Behind on runs but not on spirit, if I'm honest — I lost the toss, we were sent out to field on a scorcher, and Borstal CC set about building a total with the sort of patience that makes a captain's shirt stick to his back. David Child's 49 was the backbone, with David Round and Ashley Cockerton both chipping in 38 apiece and a stand of 60 for the fourth wicket doing most of the damage. Small mercies: Daniel Difford went for a duck, and Tom Campbell was outstanding, mixing it up for 4-50, well backed by Thomas Beeney's 3-43 and a typically tight spell from Alex Keeler (1-25, two maidens, not a run given away cheaply). All out 188 off 43.2 overs — gettable, but no gimme.

And gettable it proved. Toby Hughes and Nick Catt simply took the game away from Borstal, the openers putting on 92 before the first wicket fell — the sort of start that has the tea urn boiling early out of nerves rather than necessity. Hughes finished unbeaten on a classy 61, Catt made a fine 54, and Benjamin Austin added a brisk 35. I contributed 27 down the order, which I'm reliably informed nudged me past Stan Wratten into 23rd on the club's all-time run-scorers list — not that I was counting, but someone clearly was. Jordan Austin's duck was the only blemish on an otherwise chanceless chase, wrapped up at 189/3 in 36 overs.

Seven wickets, two points, and a genuinely fine day's work from the lads. If we bat like that all season, Nick Catt and Tom Campbell can keep piling up their run and wicket charts as they please — we'll take the results underneath them.

Sun 15 Jun 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv Penshurst Park CC · AwayformWWLW

Sunday saw us venture to Penshurst Park, dodging the showers, and losing the toss too — Penshurst won it and, without hesitation, chose to bat. We had first use of the ball, and what a start we made of it: 5 for 1 inside the first few overs set the tone nicely, and the Duck Club ledger swelled early as Elaine Ducklin, Georgie Stober and Elizabeth Woolman all trooped back without troubling the scorers. Michaela Karassellos was quite magnificent, plundering 4 for 7, with Laura Boorman (2 for 6) and Carly Copping (1 for 8) offering splendid support. Penshurst limped to 68 for 8 from their sixteen overs — a target that, on paper at least, looked eminently gettable.

And gettable it proved. We cantered to 69 for 1 in just 10.2 overs, Hannah Odling playing the innings of the day with a composed 34 not out to see us home in style. Spare a thought, though, for poor Rachel Rawson, who contributed a duck to proceedings and took the walk of shame — the ledger giveth and the ledger taketh away.

There's context to all this, too: Hannah now sits fifth in this season's Women's Softball run charts with 62 to her name, while Michaela leads the wicket charts outright with 11 — proof, if any were needed, that this was no fluke.

Eight wickets to the good, home in time for tea and thoroughly pleased with ourselves. A good day for the club, and one Penshurst won't be in a hurry to remember.

Sun 15 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Beckenham CC · HomeformLWWLL

Sunday 15 June, and Beckenham CC rolled up under skies that couldn't decide between drizzle and downright wet, while I lost the toss and duly discovered we'd be chasing. Small mercy: we had first use of the ball, and I like to think we made the most of it, even if Beckenham's openers had other ideas, putting on a brisk 114 before the first wicket finally fell. Chris Barnett made a fine 80, Bobby Harris nudged past his fifty with 61, and Amer Saeed chipped in with 49, steering the visitors to 230 for 5 from their 40 overs. I found some rhythm of my own with the ball, finishing 3 for 39, with Thomas Beeney (1-29) and Andrew Joseph (1-46) chipping away at the other end.

Chasing 231 was always going to ask questions of us, and we answered most of them rather well before running out of partners. Jordan Austin's 39 was the innings' backbone, well supported by Thomas Beeney's 38 and Benjamin Austin's 34, with a lively stand of 78 for the seventh wicket giving us genuine hope. Twenty-five extras did their honest bit too. Sadly Harvey Lowe and Toby Joseph both suffered the walk of shame, ducks to their names, and we were bowled out for 215 in 40.4 overs.

Up the season table Benjamin Austin continues to lead our run charts with 202, and Thomas Beeney sits second among the wicket-takers with ten. As for us, beaten by 15 runs on a damp Sunday afternoon — honourable, spirited, and agonisingly close. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 15 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv SC Southborough CC · AwayformLLWWW

Sunday saw us venture out to Southborough CC under skies that couldn't decide whether to rain on our parade or simply threaten to, and matters didn't improve when I lost the toss and watched them elect to field. Nothing like batting first to sort the men from the boys, or in our case, the fifties from the ducks.

To our credit, I found some form at last, carrying my bat to 55 not out, with Anthony Karassellos playing a fine supporting hand of 46. Between us we had 141 looking almost respectable — until the middle order decided the whole thing needed livening up, and we slumped from 83-4 to 90-7 quicker than you can say "tea's ready." James Gray, Tim Thirkell and Alexander Nunn all took that most English of walks back to the pavilion for nought, three names now proudly inscribed in the Duck Club ledger.

Defending 141 was always going to be a stretch, and Southborough's Ali Zaidi made sure of it with a classy 61, well supported by Glenn Morante's unbeaten 27. Frank Harbord did his level best to drag us back into it with 3-10, backed up nicely by Zach Wilde (2-31) and Tim Thirkell (2-32), while James Gray bowled two miserly maidens for good measure. In the end it wasn't quite enough, and they got home by a single wicket.

Small consolation came in bringing up 2,000 career runs for the club along the way — but the bigger picture is plain: not our day, heads up, back to the nets.

Sat 14 Jun 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Orpington Ocelots CC · AwayformLWDDD

I bowled us to Orpington on a warm, bright Saturday, lost the toss, and was put in the field first — the traditional gentle insult before a bat.

We made the most of it anyway. Michael Ludick played the innings of the day, 89 in a knock that carried real menace, while Brandon Eloff's classy fifty (60) and Altus Diener's 41 gave it proper substance. The pair put on 79 for the first wicket before Orpington so much as sniffed a breakthrough, and 261/5 from our forty overs was the kind of total that changes the mood of an afternoon before a ball's been bowled in defence.

And defend it we did. Orpington never got going, subsiding to 117 all out in 32.2 overs, Vaibhav Vinod's unbeaten 40 the only real resistance. We tore through the middle order — 31-1 became 42-4 almost before anyone had finished their tea — and sent both Firoz Khan Pathan and Vinod Ranganathan back without troubling the scorers. Praveen Tunga was magnificent, 4-17 with three maidens, the sort of spell that makes captaincy easy, and I chipped in with 2-40 while Euan Beardwell picked up one. Johan Eloff had a fiddly afternoon behind the stumps — ten byes went astray — but nothing that dented the day.

A win by 144 runs, then, and a thoroughly satisfying one. Onwards.

Sat 14 Jun 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Snodland Community CC · AwayformDDDDD

I toed the line at Snodland Community CC last Saturday, lost the toss on a warm, cloudy afternoon, and watched them elect to bat — never the news you want, but there we were. Adam Flynn made us pay in full, a magnificent century (101) that set the tone, with Sam Tucker (79) his willing accomplice in a stand of 179 for the second wicket that did most of the damage on its own. Lee Hewitt chipped in 23 as they racked up 254 for 4 from their forty overs. To our credit, Alex Wade fought hard with 3-40 and Matthew Carter chimed in with 1-40, but 254 was always going to take some chasing.

Chase it we did, or tried to. Ethan Joubert (36) and Inus Joubert (31) gave us something to build on, and I was pleased enough with my own 20, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end — Martin Rivers and James Gray both departed for ducks — and we were bowled out for 164 in the 38th over. Down by 90 runs, and no amount of gazette prose will dress that up as anything other than a beating.

One shaft of sunshine amid the gloom: Aaron Hughes brought up 6,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth toasting whatever the scorebook says elsewhere. Alex Wade, meanwhile, continues to lead the 2nd XI wicket charts and sits third in the run charts — one man doing rather more than his share.

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

Sat 14 Jun 2025 🧢 1st XIv Tonbridge CC · HomeformDDDDD

I called it right at the toss and, with the sky doing its best overcast impression, fielding felt the obvious shout on a warm June afternoon. Tonbridge CC made us pay for the privilege, racking up 222/9 from their 45, built almost entirely around Ollie Peake's magnificent 104, well supported by Ben Peters' 30. They wobbled early at 8-1 and we thought we had them, but a stubborn 63-run stand for the sixth wicket dragged them back into contention. Credit where due to the attack: Tom Campbell was superb with 3-35, Thomas Beeney chipped in with 2-27, and I managed 2-37 myself, while Alex Keeler bowled three maidens without giving an inch. We did at least send Mike Jessop back for a duck, small mercies and all that.

Chasing 223 was always going to ask questions of us, and we very nearly answered them. Benjamin Austin played beautifully for 62, well past his fifty, with Jordan Austin (41) and Alex Keeler (32) doing their bit, and a 2nd-wicket stand of 89 giving us real hope. I added 16 down the order, but for all our efforts we finished on 213/9 from our 45 — nine runs shy.

So, not our day. Tonbridge held their nerve better than we held ours, and we were left to trudge off in the gathering evening rueing those nine elusive runs. Nick Catt continues to lead our run charts this season with 288, and Tom Campbell our wickets with 17 — proof there's plenty to build on. Heads up, chins out, back to the nets.

Thu 12 Jun 2025 🧢 Twenty20v Bearsted CC · HomeformLWWWL

Thursday 12 June, and a warm grey afternoon greeted Bearsted CC to Linton Park — the sort of day that promises nothing and occasionally delivers. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in taking first knock, a decision I shall now smugly claim credit for. The lads posted a handy 151/7 from our twenty, built chiefly on Jordan Austin's excellent unbeaten 55 and Benjamin Austin's tidy 27 alongside him — though I'll draw a discreet veil over Brandon Eloff's golden duck, which I'm sure troubled nobody quite so much as Brandon.

Defending 151 is never a formality, and Bearsted made us work for every run, racing to 146/4 off their twenty. Joe Waylett looked in fine touch for 41 not out, with useful support from Toby Hughes (23) and Angus Kenny (20), and for a few overs there I confess my tea went cold in my hand. But Brandon — redemption arriving swiftly and sweetly — tore through with 2-6, backed up nicely by Manha Safeer (1-19) and Euan Beardwell (1-28), and we held our nerve to the very last.

Five runs the margin, and never has a win felt more thoroughly earned or narrowly escaped. Jordan Austin now sits proudly atop our season's run charts, with Brandon leading the wickets — quite the turnaround from duck to hero inside a single afternoon. A fine win, and onwards we go.

Sun 08 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC · AwayformWLLWW

Down at Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill on a suitably grey Sunday, I lost the toss and we were sent out to field — which, in this game, usually means someone upstairs has a sense of humour. The home side ground their way to 148 all out in 39 overs, built mainly around half-centuries-that-weren't from Jesuit Simon (44) and Bobby Mathew (44), with Rakesh Thayiri chipping in 25. Terry Daniel departed for a golden duck at our hands, one of the few moments of pure theatre in an otherwise patient innings. Alexander Nunn was superb with the ball, 4-21 including two maidens, well backed up by Tim Thirkell's 3-26 and a tidy 1-18 from Zach Wilde. Not much was given away cheaply.

Chasing 149, I found some form with the bat, seeing us through with an unbeaten 59, ably supported by Blair Mundell's 30 — a stand that had us cruising before the game, as it does, decided to remember it was cricket. From 59-2 we stumbled to 65-5 in the blink of an eye, with Alex Holt and Josh Gurney both departing for ducks. But the tail wagged gamely, dragging home a nerve-jangling final 72 to get us over the line at 150-7.

A personal fifty was a satisfying way to spend an afternoon, though I'll happily share the credit — Tim Thirkell now leads our Sunday 2nd XI wicket charts with 8, and I'm sitting a modest fifth in the run charts on 84. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a three-wicket win to prove that Linton Park cricket is never, ever straightforward.

Sun 08 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Willesborough CC · HomeformWLWWL

Under a grey but agreeable sky, the coin obliged me and I sent Willesborough in to bat first, fancying there might be something in it for the seamers. As it turned out, there was rather less than I'd hoped. Shazil Malik played the anchor role beautifully for 48, with Shaheer Malik's 29 and Berlin Paul's 21 filling in the gaps either side, and between them they carried the visitors to 193 all out in 37 overs. Credit where due, though: Toby Hughes was a nuisance all afternoon, prising out two for just 19 with a couple of maidens thrown in for good measure, Anthony Karassellos chipped in with 2-21, and I managed to squeeze two wickets of my own for 46, albeit at rather less economical rates than my teammates. Sanjay Sharma and Mohammed Hasan will not remember the day fondly, both departing without troubling the scorers.

Chasing 194 was always going to ask questions of our top order, and sadly we didn't have many of the right answers. Theo Clements top-scored with a gritty 30, well supported by Toby Hughes, who followed his bowling exertions with 30 more of the same, but wickets tumbled at the other end and we folded for 112 in 23.5 overs, Toby Joseph and Ethan Joubert both departing for ducks of their own.

Elsewhere in the season, Benjamin Austin continues to lead our run charts and Thomas Beeney sits handsomely second among the wicket-takers, which is more than can be said for our form on the day. Beaten by 81 runs, fair and square. We'll be better for it next week.

Sat 07 Jun 2025 🧢 4th XIv Orpington Ocelots CC · AwayformLDDDD

A damp Saturday saw us motor down to Orpington Ocelots CC, where the rain held off just enough to let the cricket happen, if not the sunshine. I won the toss and, with the wicket looking lively under grey skies, sent the Ocelots in — a decision I stood by rather more comfortably than I stood at the crease later on. Rohit Sabikhi and Shekhar Rajan went early and cheaply for the home side, but Guruprasad Rajamanickam settled in for a fine 51 and dragged them to 112 for 9 off their thirty overs. Ian Lowe was the pick of the attack, tidy and probing for 3 for 32 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, well supported by Richard Knowler (2-17) and Srikrishna Challa (2-25).

Chasing 113 should have been a stroll, and for a while it wasn't. We stumbled from 36 for 2 to 43 for 5 in a rush that had me reaching for the scorebook rather than the tea urn, with Johan Eloff, Srikrishna Challa and myself all back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers — I'll draw a veil over my own nought and move swiftly on. Thankfully Mardey Castle held firm for a priceless 40, and in doing so brought up 1,000 career runs for the club, a landmark worth toasting. The Ocelots kept feeding width and back-of-a-length, and once we found the boundary in the seventeenth over the tempo finally lifted.

We scrambled home 113 for 9, winning by a single wicket — nerve-shredding, unconvincing, and absolutely worth every one of the two points.

Sat 07 Jun 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC · HomeformWDDDD

Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill CC, Saturday 7 June, the sky doing its damp Kentish best over Linton Park. I won the toss and, with the outfield a shade greasy but the ball coming on nicely, didn't think twice about batting first — a decision I'm rather pleased to have made, for once.

What followed was as handsome a knock as we've assembled all season. Richard Piper set about things with real purpose for 87, Michael Ludick weighed in with a classy 78, and Altus Diener chipped in a fine fifty of his own with 56 — three half-centuries stitched together into a total that had the tea urn practically boiling with anticipation. Even the extras got in on the act with a generous 30. Forty overs later we'd posted 287/3, a total that felt, for a brief and glorious afternoon, entirely beyond reproach.

In the field we were tidy without ever quite landing the knockout blow. Alex Wade was pick of the attack, prising one out for 20 runs, but Stephen Negus batted with sense and application for 21 as Holcombe & Blue Bell Hill settled for containment, closing on 57/1 from their 16 overs before the weather, or perhaps simple English pragmatism, called a halt.

So, honours shared, and no shame in it. With Piper now third in the 2nd XI's run charts and Wade second among the wicket-takers, there's plenty for this side to be quietly proud of — a draw that felt, on the day, rather more like ours than theirs.

Sun 01 Jun 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv Town Malling CC · AwayformWWL

The road to Town Malling CC on a bright first of June, and I won the toss with what I like to think was the swagger of a captain who actually knew what she was doing — elected to field, and for once my hunch didn't let me down.

Town Malling were shovelled out for 64 in 14 overs, with Cham Fernando and Charlie Rowland both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Laura Thorogood was magnificent, ripping through with 3-8, while Michaela Karassellos (3-13) and Nicola Coomansingh (2-11) tidied up what was left. It would have been tidier still had we not gifted them 31 extras in wides and no-balls — generosity is a lovely quality in a person, less so in a bowling attack, and I shall be having quiet words at nets.

Chasing 64 was never going to trouble us, and so it proved: 68 for 1 off just 9 overs, Nicola Coomansingh unbeaten on 26 and Claire Daniels calmly seeing us home with 24 not out. Nicola continues her extraordinary season, sitting second in the run charts with 88 and top of the wicket-takers with 9 — one suspects she is quietly running the entire club single-handedly while the rest of us watch on admiringly.

Six wickets, two points, home in time for tea. A thoroughly earned victory, extras notwithstanding.

Sun 01 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv NC New Ifield CC · HomeformLWLLW

I lost the toss again — New Ifield clearly know something about my coin-calling I don't — and were duly asked to have first use of the willow while we tried our arm with the ball. Hrishi Ranganathan and Jazz Saini then set about batting as though the pitch owed them money, cruising to unbeaten fifties of 65 and 63 respectively, and 202/3 from their forty overs felt like a proper mountain to be handed on a grey Sunday afternoon. Tim Thirkell did his level best to put a dent in proceedings with 2-34, well backed by James Gray's 1-56, but the pair of them batted on with the serenity of men who'd already checked the tea urn was on.

Chasing 203 is never a stroll, but Anthony Karassellos decided the occasion called for something special and produced a glorious 86, the kind of innings that makes the rest of us look faintly ridiculous by comparison. Will Thew then strolled in and stroked an unbeaten 75 as if he'd been sent out simply to finish the job off with minimum fuss, and between them they saw us home on 204/4 with three overs unused — six wickets and, more importantly, all our dignity intact.

Karassellos continues to plunder the Sunday 2nd XI run charts, now on 228 for the season, while Thirkell leads the wickets column with five — form that suggests the pair of them ought to be doing the tea rota out of sheer decency. A fine chase, a good win, and for once I can say the toss didn't matter a jot.

Sun 01 Jun 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Stone-in-Oxney CC · AwayformWWLWW

Sunday last, and we made the trek to Stone-in-Oxney under skies of that particular English grey that promises nothing and delivers rain to no one — a mercy, as it turned out. I won the toss and had no hesitation in bowling first, a decision I shall be dining out on for at least a fortnight regardless of what follows. Stone-in-Oxney posted 214/9 from their forty overs, built around a well-made fifty from Scott Freeman (56) and steady support from Ryan Knight, unbeaten on 48, with Owen Piper chipping in 25. Nick Maitland and Patrick Watsham departed for spinner's ducks, and it was Ian Hollingworth who did the real damage, turning the ball square for a magnificent 5-28. Alex Wade (2-33) and Thomas Beeney (1-37) tidied up round the edges.

Chasing 215, we never quite found our rhythm, bowled out for 153 in 34.3 overs. Luke Welsman batted beautifully for an unbeaten fifty, well supported by Benjamin Austin's 35, but wickets fell steadily at the other end, and Ian Hollingworth's golden duck rather summed up our afternoon with the bat.

There was, at least, cause for real celebration: Mardey Castle brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark few of us will ever reach and one thoroughly deserved.

A defeat by 61 runs, then — heads up, chins up, and back to the nets. Hollingworth's twelfth wicket of the summer is scant consolation for the skipper, but the season marches on.

Sat 31 May 2025 🧢 4th XIv Egerton CC, Kent · HomeformLLDDD

Saturday last saw Egerton CC, Kent, roll into Linton Park, and I confess winning the toss and sticking us into the field felt like the sort of decision I'd either be dining out on or quietly living down by teatime. Happily, it was the former.

Egerton huffed and puffed their way to 86 all out in 32.5 overs, John Harrison's unbeaten 41 the only real resistance amid a collapse that saw 38-2 crumble to 48-5 with almost indecent haste. Dave Shrubb, Roger Burgess and Sarah Woods all trooped back without so much as troubling the scorer — a trio of ducks I shall tactfully not dwell on further. Srikrishna Challa was magnificent with the ball, 3-22 and now sitting proudly atop our 4th XI wicket charts with 9 for the season, while Ian Bruce (2-6) and Ian Lowe (2-22, with two miserly maidens thrown in for good measure) made sure nothing came easily.

Chasing 87, we were rarely troubled, cruising home at 87-3 from 25.3 overs. Nolan Wilde top-scored with a composed 35, keeping his name handsomely placed second in the season's run charts on 105.

A seven-wicket win, achieved with minimum fuss and maximum tea consumption. Toss decisions don't come right very often in this club — I intend to remind everyone of this one for weeks.

Sat 31 May 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Bredgar CC · AwayformWLWDD

Saturday 31 May found us on the road to Bredgar, under skies of that particular English grey that promises rain and delivers only humidity. I lost the toss — a coin that has developed a distinct dislike of me this season — and we were asked to field, which on a warm, heavy afternoon felt rather like being volunteered for extra homework.

To our credit, we stuck at it. Bredgar were eventually shepherded out for 154 in 37.1 overs, Stephen Goodhew (40) and Patrick Hogben (27) doing most of the damage before Michael Ludick got among them in spectacular fashion, returning 4-41. Alexander Nunn (2-11) and Sam King (2-15) chipped in nicely, while Praveen Tunga bowled two tidy maidens and generally made life miserable for anyone trying to get after him. All told, 154 felt like a target within reach.

It was not. Our reply lasted a brisk, brutal 14 overs before we were all out for 49 — a collapse so complete it barely qualifies as a batting innings. The Duck Club did a roaring trade, with Nick Tromp, Brandon Eloff and Johan Eloff all taking the walk of shame for nought. I managed 17, which felt heroic only by comparison. Elsewhere in the season, Michael Ludick continues to lead our 3rd XI run charts with 319, and Henry Campbell tops the wicket pile with 7.

Beaten by 105 runs, then — a chastening afternoon, but not a fatal one. We'll dust ourselves off and be better for it next week.

Sat 31 May 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Dartford CC · HomeformWWDDD

As captain, I elected to bat first on a warm, grey afternoon at Linton Park, and for a while I'd have quite happily taken credit for the decision. We slipped to 121 all out in 35.4 overs, Theo Clements doing the honest graft of the innings with a well-made 21, while I contributed rather less usefully — a golden duck, first ball, walk of shame and all. If leading by example is part of the job description, I clearly took the wrong page out of the manual.

With the ball, though, we gave a decent account of ourselves without quite doing enough. Dartford eased to 124/4 in 27.4 overs, Joe Murphy unbeaten on 32 the difference-maker, well supported by Abhilash Pawar's 28 and James Fitzgerald's unbeaten 27. Martin Harris was excellent, picking up 2-25, with Tim Thirkell (1-16) and Alex Wade (1-26) chipping in dutifully alongside him.

There was a proper moment of club history in among the disappointment: Tim Thirkell brought up 14,000 career runs for Linton Park, a landmark that puts my golden blob rather firmly in its place. Elsewhere in the season's reckoning, Luke Welsman continues to lead the 2nd XI run charts with 192, and Alex Wade sits fifth in the wicket-takers with four.

All told, a six-wicket defeat, and not our day. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there'll be sunnier Saturdays.

Sat 31 May 2025 🧢 1st XIv Bapchild CC · AwayformWDDDD

Saturday 31 May found us on the road at Bapchild CC, under a warm, overcast sky that promised rain and delivered none — typical. I lost the toss, they had a bat, and so we trudged into the field with nothing but hope and a new ball for company.

Bapchild made themselves at home, posting 208/9 from their 45 overs. Tom Carey was the chief architect of our afternoon's toil, a classy 82, with James Weller chipping in a handy 28. We did have our moments — Chris Knope back in the hutch without troubling the scorers, quack and all — and Tom Campbell was superb, 3-49 to lead the attack, well supported by Toby Hughes (2-14) and Fred Taylor (2-31).

Chasing 209, we gave it a proper go. Nick Catt played the innings of the day, a composed 54, with Jordan Austin lending fine support on 43. Sadly the middle and lower order couldn't quite build on it, and poor Fred Taylor endured a day of two halves — two wickets with the ball, then a golden duck with the bat, joining the Duck Club ledger for his trouble. We were all out for 176 in 43.3 overs.

Nick Catt continues to top the season's run charts with 249, and Tom Campbell now leads the wicket-takers with 12 — both real bright spots in an otherwise grey afternoon. Down by 32 runs in the end. Not our day, lads — heads up, and back to the nets.

Mon 26 May 2025 🧢 Midweek XIv MC Maidstone Dissidents CC · HomeformWLLLW

As a lifelong Linton Park man, our winning of the toss is out of my hands but I'll dive straight into the report.

We lost the toss on a pleasant, drizzly Monday and were asked to field first against Maidstone Dissidents, which suited nobody's plans for a quiet evening. Batting first ourselves, we posted a very respectable 194 for 7 from our 40 overs, built almost entirely around a magnificent, unbeaten century from Jordan Austin — genuinely one to tell the grandchildren about. Daniel Baker played the perfect foil with a tidy 24, and the pair put on 81 for the second wicket to give the innings its backbone. Elsewhere things were less romantic: John Karassellos and Farhan Malik both departed for ducks, proof that not every day can be a highlights reel.

In the field, the Dissidents made us work for it. An early wobble at 8 for 1 promised much, but Tobey Castle (92 not out) and Toby Hughes (21) added 53 for the seventh wicket to drag them back into contention before we shut the door at 170 for 9. Will Hughes was superb with the ball, 2 for 16, and I was pleased to chip in with 2 for 25 alongside Farhan Malik's 2 for 29, while Thomas Beeney bowled two miserly maidens to squeeze the scoring. Poor Aaron Hughes had a torrid time behind the stumps, 15 byes going begging, and Benjamin Austin, Jacob West and I all trooped back without troubling the scorers — though Benjamin can console himself with 6,000 career runs for the club, a landmark thoroughly deserved.

A 24-run win, two points banked, and a thoroughly earned evening's work.

Sun 25 May 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Grenfell CC · HomeformWWWLW

Sunday 25 May brought Grenfell CC to Linton Park under grey skies with the odd shower threatening, though nothing that dampened what turned into a rather splendid afternoon. I called correctly at the toss and, with a decent surface underfoot, there was never any doubt we'd bat first.

What followed was as good as it gets in club cricket. Benjamin Austin and Jordan Austin set about the new ball with real intent, the openers putting on 98 before the first wicket finally fell, and from there the runs simply kept flowing. Benjamin went on to 52 not out, Jordan matched him with 50 not out, and Thomas Roxburgh chipped in a fine unbeaten fifty of his own, while the tail added a breezy 54 to leave Grenfell chasing a mountain — 299 for 3 from our 40 overs.

If anything, the bowling was even more one-sided. Grenfell lost an early wicket with just 6 on the board and never recovered, the innings unravelling from 98 for 6 to 106 for 9 in the blink of an eye — Simon Stevens and Daniel Furminger both back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Thomas Beeney was quite magnificent, snaring 3 for 3 and in the process easing past Terry Whittaker into 14th on the club's all-time wicket list, with Darrell Houghton-Judge (2-15) and Ian Hollingworth (2-46) offering fine support. I did my bit with a couple of tidy maidens, and even 16 byes conceded by Benjamin behind the stumps and Sarabhjit Singh's defiant 49 couldn't stop Grenfell folding for 111.

A 188-run victory, then, and a very good day for the club indeed.

Sun 25 May 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Capel CC, Kent · HomeformLLWLL

I called it right at the toss on a pleasant, damp Sunday and fancied runs on the board, so in we went. Anthony Karassellos set the tone with a fine 47, Theo Clements chipping in a handsome 40 and Josh Gurney 22, while the openers gave us the platform every captain dreams of — 92 for the first wicket before the breakthrough finally came. We closed on 186 for 7 from our 35 overs, and I'll confess Karassellos's shot of the day, clubbed straight back over the bowler's head for six, drew the sort of gasp usually reserved for the tea urn running dry.

With the ball, Capel never got going. Euan Beardwell was the chief tormentor with 2 for 8, Ian Lowe weighed in with 2 for 12, and I did my bit too, finishing with 2 for 8 and four maidens for good measure — not a run given away lightly, and Phil Lander back in the hutch without troubling the scorers. They subsided to 76 all out in 27.2 overs, their bowlers dropping short as we'd done the same and paying for it handsomely.

A special word for Anthony Karassellos, who brought up 2,000 career runs for the club and now leads our Sunday 2nd XI run charts for the season — while I'll modestly note the wickets column has been kind to me too. A 110-run win, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 24 May 2025 🧢 4th XIv Upchurch CC · AwayformLLLDD

Saturday 24 May, and off we trundled to Upchurch under a grey old sky, promptly losing the toss and being invited to field — never a captain's favourite start, but there are worse fates than a warm afternoon with a ball in hand.

Upchurch batted first and got themselves to 120 all out in 34.5 overs, Ollie Whittingham the chief obstacle with a watchful 44 not out. Everyone else, frankly, struggled — Thilakshan Makenthiran, Awais Khaliq and Thomas Taylor all walked back for ducks, undone by an attack that hunted in a pack. Ethan Joubert was the pick of us with 3-24, Inus Joubert and Srikrishna Challa chipped in with 2-19 apiece, and Joel Attwood strangled the scoring with three maidens for good measure. I managed to get among the wickets myself, which is always a satisfying way to spend an afternoon.

A target of 121 looked gettable, and so it proved, though not without the odd hiccup along the way — we got there on 121/5 from 25 overs, Nolan Wilde the standout with a fine 70. Eleven byes crept through behind the stumps, a number that will have poor Johan Eloff wincing when he next reviews the scorebook. The 23rd over did for Upchurch's hopes of a comeback, two wickets falling in the space of six balls from which their innings never recovered — sound familiar, given the state of their top order.

Two points, five wickets to spare, and a thoroughly deserved away win. We'll take that all day.

Sat 24 May 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Bapchild CC · HomeformDWLWD

Saturday 24 May at Linton Park, and we welcomed Bapchild CC on a pleasant, damp afternoon that suggested the covers had earned their keep overnight. I lost the toss — Bapchild had a look at the sky and sent us in, which in hindsight will have felt like the last good decision they made all day.

What followed was batting of real substance. Brandon Eloff produced an outstanding, unbeaten century, Nick Tromp cruised past fifty with 65 to his name, and Michael Ludick chipped in a tidy half-century of his own as we piled up 347 for 5 from our forty overs. A word too for Brandon's landmark along the way — a thousand career runs for the club, a proper one for the mantelpiece and thoroughly deserved.

Three hundred and forty-eight to win is a tall order on any afternoon, and Bapchild never remotely looked like scaling it. Lincoln Bryden played a lone hand of real quality with a fine 64, but around him the innings crumbled — Brian Carey, Richard Godfrey and William Roe all shipped out without troubling the scorers. I managed to get among the wickets myself with figures of 2 for 0, with Sam King (2-18) and Tim Thirkell (2-23) chipping away at the other end, and Bapchild were bowled out for 86 with 4.5 overs unused.

Two points, and about as thoroughly earned as they come — a 261-run win to send everyone home smiling, damp afternoon and all.

Sat 24 May 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Bapchild CC · AwayformWWWDD

Toss lost, so we bowled first at Bapchild under a warm, grey sky that felt like it was saving its energy for later drama. They ground out 179/4 from their forty overs, Christopher Hogg unbeaten on 40 the anchor of it, with Alan Hampton (36) and William Surridge (25) chipping in around him. Matthew Carter was magnificent with the ball, four maidens and 2-20 that kept the scoreboard honest even when wickets weren't falling, while Anthony Karassellos and Alex Wade picked up a wicket apiece for their trouble.

Chasing 180, I felt we always had the game in our grasp, and Jordan Austin made sure of it with a well-crafted 71, well supported by Will Hughes's 25. I contributed a hand in the middle order myself, but too many of us came and went without troubling the scorers meaningfully, and when both Richard Piper and Aaron Hughes departed for ducks, the required rate crept up on us like an unwelcome wasp at a tea interval. We were bowled out for 168 with half an over unused, eleven runs shy of a total that, on another day, with a touch more application, we'd have chased down in our sleep.

Eleven runs. That's a dropped catch, a misjudged single, a maiden over we could have milked. Credit to Bapchild, but this one will sting on the drive home. We'll dust ourselves off, and we'll be better for it next week.

Sat 24 May 2025 🧢 1st XIv Addington Village CC · HomeformLWDDD

I called correctly and had no hesitation putting Addington Village CC in to bat, which on a damp Linton afternoon felt like the kind of decision that either looks shrewd or catastrophic by teatime. For a while it looked shrewd. Chris Slater's 37 was the innings' backbone, with James Conway (27) and Jack Webb (20) offering support, but from 107-6 they folded to 110-9 and were all out for 128 from 35.2 overs. Reese Thwaites, Jack Sopp and Harri Cobley all walked back without troubling the scorers, and Alex Keeler was magnificent, 3-32 with two maidens thrown in for good measure, backed up nicely by Mark Christmas (2-15) and Tom Campbell (2-34). A proper team effort with the ball.

Which made what followed all the more painful. We mustered a threadbare 83 all out in 27.1 overs, the innings unravelling from a wobbly 59-6 to a grim 70-9 before we could blink. Fred Taylor's golden duck rather summed up the afternoon. I chipped in with the bat myself, though not nearly enough to arrest the slide.

A 45-run defeat, and no amount of soft-focus prose will dress that up as anything other than a chastening one. Nick Catt continues to lead our run charts this season with 195, and Alex Keeler tops the wickets column with 11, so the season's broader shape still has plenty to admire. Not our day, though. Heads up, back to the nets, and on to the next one.

Sun 18 May 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv FC Frindsbury CC · AwayformWLLWL

Sunday 18 May took us to Frindsbury CC under a pleasant grey sky. The toss went against us, so we had first use of the ball.

Frindsbury made the most of batting first, posting 277 for 6 from their forty overs. Fahim Ahmed's magnificent 131 led the way, ably supported by Jordan White's well-made 64, the pair adding 179 for the fifth wicket — the stand of the innings. Simon Coomber's unbeaten 28 added further gloss. Brandon Eloff did the damage with 3 for 27, including three maidens of real discipline, while Euan Beardwell (1 for 45) and Ian Lowe (1 for 50) chipped in with a wicket apiece.

We could only muster 184 for 6 in reply, our first wicket down for just 3 runs before Daniel Baker's unbeaten 59 became the innings that mattered, well supported by Will Thew's 44 and Ian Lowe's unbeaten 25, plus a defiant last-wicket stand of 77 that lent the total some respectability, with 28 handy extras besides. As for the skipper, I contributed a golden blob to the Duck Club ledger alongside Theo Clements — leading from the front, just not with the bat.

One shaft of light: Will Thew passed 7,000 career runs for the club and climbed to 25th on the all-time list, past Stuart Cheesman. Up the season table, Richard Piper leads our 2025 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 97, and I sit 2nd in the wicket charts with 3. Beaten by 93 runs in the end — not our day, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 18 May 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Newenden CC · HomeformLWWWL

We hosted Newenden CC under grey skies on Sunday, and winning the toss I fancied a bowl first, more hope than science on my part. Mike Bellhouse had other ideas about how the day should go, ghosting past his fifty to finish unbeaten on 68 and anchoring the innings while Finnian Piper (40) and Chirag Patel (25) built around him — the pair adding 103 for the fifth wicket to give Newenden's total real substance. For a while 219 looked a modest underestimate of what was coming, but the floodgates duly opened and they subsided from 205-6 to 219 all out from their 40 overs. Toby Hughes was the chief architect of the collapse with a tidy 2-12, well supported by Thomas Beeney (2-35) and Jordan Austin (1-19).

Chasing 220, we set about it with rather more composure than I can usually claim credit for. James Yeabsley and Tom Brocklehurst departed cheaply enough to keep my nerves jangling, but Jordan Austin played the innings of the day, an excellent 72 built on a stand of 74 for the second wicket, with Toby Hughes (35) and an unbeaten 31 from George Taylor seeing us home in the 39th over on 220-7.

Three wickets, two points, and a thoroughly deserved win — a proper club cricket afternoon, snatched from the jaws of a Newenden total that had every right to worry us.

Sat 17 May 2025 🧢 4th XIv Lordswood CC · HomeformLLLLD

I called correctly at the toss and, with the sky doing its best overcast village-green impression, had no hesitation in sticking Lordswood CC in. It looked a decent shout for a while as our attack found rhythm, but Jon Hills had other ideas, compiling a fine 64 to give their innings some backbone. Credit where it's due, though — Srikrishna Challa was outstanding with the ball, taking 3-26, with Richard Knowler (2-22, including two tidy maidens) and Ian Lowe (2-36) chipping away at the other end. Lordswood were eventually shepherded out for 150 in 39.3 overs, which felt about right for a pitch that offered a little for everyone.

With the target set, Blair Mundell played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 56 that did the heavy lifting and steadied any early nerves. I was glad to potter along at the other end for an unbeaten 26 myself, and between us we shared the bulk of the scoring. Extras were in generous mood too, contributing a handy 31 to the cause — practically an opening partnership in their own right. Spare a thought for Toby Joseph, who fell for a golden duck and will no doubt be reminded of it at length in the clubhouse.

We got home on 151/5 with 34.3 overs used, a five-wicket win that never felt in serious doubt once Blair and I got going. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Sat 17 May 2025 🧢 2nd XIv FC Frindsbury CC · HomeformDWWWD

Not much luck at the toss again on Saturday, but sometimes a cloudy sky and a bit of stubbornness is all you need. Frindsbury CC put us in, and 174/9 off our forty overs felt like a decent scrap of a total rather than a declaration of intent. Martin Rivers was the class act with 38, I chipped in with 22, and Will Hughes weighed in with a tidy 20 — though truth be told, the extras column very nearly opened the batting for us, contributing a generous 28 to proceedings. Not pretty, but runs are runs.

Out in the field, Frindsbury set about the chase with real purpose, and Bailey Driver's 52 was the innings of the day — a proper half-century that dragged them into contention, well supported by Simon Coomber's 39 and Jack Mottram's 23, their third-wicket pair putting on 65 to make us sweat rather more than we'd have liked. But cricket has a way of turning on an afternoon, and turn it did — we went from watching them cruise at 143-6 to mopping up at 159-9 in the blink of an eye. Anthony Karassellos was the chief architect with 3-24 and two miserly maidens, backed up nicely by Alex Wade's 2-34 and Tim Thirkell's 1-24.

A fine win by 14 runs, and one that owed as much to nerve as to skill. Onwards we go.

Sat 17 May 2025 🧢 1st XIv Offham CC · AwayformWLWDD

Tobey Castle's Match Report — Saturday 17th May 2025, away to Offham CC

A pleasant, drizzly afternoon greeted us at Offham, and having won the toss I did what any captain raised on soggy outfields and stronger nerve than sense would do — stuck us in to bat. It proved rather a good call. Nick Catt played the innings of the day, a magnificent hundred, and I was fortunate enough to find some form alongside him with 91, the two of us stitching together 157 for the third wicket while the rain held off just long enough. With a generous 29 in extras thrown in for good measure, we closed on a handsome 266/6 from our 45 overs — the sort of total that lets a captain sleep easy at tea, or would have, had there been time for tea.

Defending it proved rather more nerve-shredding than I'd bargained for. Neil Scott and Tom Evans threatened to bat us out of the game entirely, adding 145 for their third wicket and dragging Offham to within sight of the finish line, with Ben Gittings chipping in too. It was Mark Christmas who kept us in the fight with 3-50, backed up nicely by Alex Keeler's tidy 2-29 — three maidens and all — and Tom Campbell's 1-34. Offham finished agonisingly short on 263/7.

Three runs. That was the margin, and my heart rate has yet to fully recover. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sun 11 May 2025 🧢 Sunday NVKCv Leeds & Broomfield CC · AwayformLWWLL

Called correctly at the toss on a warm, damp Sunday at Leeds & Broomfield, and I fancied runs on the board before the sky did anything silly. It didn't quite work out that way. We were bowled out for a distinctly modest 83 in 20.4 overs, Toby Hughes top-scoring with a battling 20, but the middle order rather lost the plot as we slid from 54-5 to 64-8 in the blink of an eye. Benjamin Austin and George Taylor both departed for ducks, and there's no dressing that up — a proper blot on the scorecard.

Eighty-three was never going to frighten anyone, but cricket has a habit of surprising you, and for a while it did. Henry Ware went first ball without troubling the scorers, and I managed to chip in with 2-21, with Sam Boyns (2-25) and Joshua Knowler (1-31) keeping the pressure on. The sixth over was our moment — two wickets in it swung the momentum our way and had us daring to dream. But Max Aitken had other ideas, playing the innings of the day with 38, well supported by Monte McCague's 20, and Leeds & Broomfield eased home at 85/5 in just 12 overs.

Not our day, then — beaten by five wickets, with the bat letting down a spirited bowling effort. Toby Hughes and Sam Boyns fly the flag atop the season's run and wicket charts respectively, so all is not lost. Heads up, back to the nets.

Sun 11 May 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Gills Green CC · HomeformLWLLW

I couldn't try again after Gills Green declared war on a drizzly Sunday, but here's the report.

A cheerless toss to lose on a warm, drizzly Sunday, and Gills Green wasted no time reminding us why the coin matters — sent in to bat, they piled up 230/5 from just four overs, with Grant Stephens (77) making merry and Darren Velvick (41) and Tim Moore (23 not out) offering cheerful support. Abi Thirkell did her level best to stem the tide with 2-24, and I chipped in with 2-26 alongside Darrell Houghton-Judge's 1-30, but truth be told we were bailing out a rather leaky boat.

Chasing 231, we set about it with more application than fortune. Anthony Karassellos batted beautifully for 95, agonisingly shy of the ton, and found a willing ally in Richard Piper, whose 62 was a proper half-century played with real backbone. Between them they hauled us to 207/6 from our forty overs — a good chase, but not quite good enough. Spare a thought for Magnus Boxer and Will Hughes, both undone for nought and duly inducted into the Duck Club; the walk of shame was taken with as much dignity as one can muster. Poor John Karassellos, meanwhile, spent the afternoon chasing byes almost as often as the ball, sixteen of them slipping past him in the drizzle.

So, twenty-three runs short and another lesson learned. Anthony's 95 keeps him top of our Sunday run charts, and Darrell's efforts have him third among the wicket-takers — small consolations on a day that got away from us. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets we go.

Sun 11 May 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Mersham Le Hatch CC · AwayformWLWWW

Sunday 11 May found us on the road to Mersham Le Hatch, the skies drizzly and the coin, for once, cooperating with my plans — down it went, and heads it was, so into the field we went.

And what a shift it turned into. Mersham batted us into the ground, racking up 242/4 from their forty overs, with Ben Edge (91) and Jeremy Godden (62) both compiling well-made fifties while we toiled away, and Thomas Bailey adding an unbeaten 26 for good measure. Credit where it's due — Mardey Castle did the damage with 2-46, Farhan Malik and Ian Hollingworth chipped in a wicket apiece, and Alex Wade bowled two miserly maidens to at least keep the arithmetic honest.

Chasing 243 was always going to want something special, and special it was not. We subsided to 120 all out in 25.4 overs, Toby Joseph's watchful 25 the highlight, ably supported by Ian Bruce's 20, while Aaron Hughes and Ian Lowe both departed for golden ducks. Poor Aaron then had the ignominy of a chastening afternoon behind the stumps too, ten byes leaking through for good measure — not his day either.

Small mercies: Toby now sits third in our 2025 Sunday run charts, and Mardey leads the wickets column. But mercies were thin on the ground otherwise. Beaten by 122 runs, comprehensively out-batted and out-thought. Heads up, chins up, and back to the nets — there's plenty to work on before next week.

Sat 10 May 2025 🧢 4th XIv Chelsfield CC · AwayformWLLLL

Saturday 10th of May found us at Chelsfield CC on a pleasant, bright afternoon — the sort of day that promises much and, on this occasion, delivered rather more to our hosts than to us. The toss went against us, we were put in the field, and by the close of their forty overs Chelsfield had racked up a formidable 233 for 5. Bala Mohan led the charge with 52 not out, including a straight six back down the ground that had us all admiring the shot even as we dreaded its consequences, well supported by Karthick Balasubramanian (48) and Bharath Chandrasekaran (44 not out) after their openers had put on a chastening 107 for the first wicket. Credit where due — Joel Attwood bowled tidily for 2-33, with Ian Bruce and Srikrishna Challa chipping in a wicket apiece — but too many of our 20 wides and 2 no-balls kept the scoreboard ticking when it needn't have.

Chasing 234, we never quite got going, bowled out for 148 in 37.5 overs. Ian Bruce top-scored with a plucky 23, Blair Mundell weighed in with 21, and the extras column — a generous 41 — very nearly outscored our top order, which tells its own story. Rahul Parakh, Nolan Wilde and Joel Attwood all took the long walk back for ducks, and the Duck Club ledger swells once more.

Down by 85 runs, then, and no dressing it up — not our day. Heads up, chins high, and back to the nets.

Sat 10 May 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Dartford CC · HomeformDDWLW

From the captain's chair — Saturday 10th May, and a proper afternoon of sunshine cricket at home to Dartford CC. The coin obliged, I called correctly, and with barely a moment's deliberation I put us in. It's the sort of decision that can make a captain look either a genius or a fool by teatime, and I'm relieved to report it was very much the former.

What followed was as handsome a batting display as this scorer has had the pleasure of recording. Altus Diener made merry with a magnificent 122, and not to be outdone, Michael Ludick matched him stroke for stroke with an unbeaten 122 of his own — two centuries in the same innings is the sort of thing that usually only happens in other people's fixtures. Martin Rivers chipped in with a brisk 47, and by the time we'd finished our forty overs we'd posted a mighty 357/4. Frankly, I began wondering whether we ought to declare the tea urn redundant and just hand Dartford the scorebook.

Defending that sort of total ought to be the easy part, and so it largely proved, though we did our level best to make life difficult for ourselves. Ruthvik Kajuluri (40), Jack Parker (36) and Bhaskar Kajuluri (34) gave Dartford's innings some respectability, but Michael Ludick — evidently not content with his century — took 2-30 with the ball too, well backed by Tim Thirkell (2-40) and Henry Campbell (2-45), and they were bowled out for 231. We were, it must be said, generous to a fault in the field, gifting 19 wides and 6 no-balls that no captain enjoys explaining afterwards.

Margin: 126 runs. Two points, thoroughly earned, and a rare day when everything — bar our discipline with the ball — went entirely to plan.

Sat 10 May 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Holborough Anchorians CC · AwayformDDWWW

Lost the toss on a warm, bright afternoon at Holborough Anchorians – you'd think by now I'd have worked out a system for calling heads, but no. Put in to bowl, we did rather well of it: they crawled to 156 all out in 39.1 overs, with Nassar Raja and Ibrahim Khan both making watchful 32s and Rob Howard chipping in 30, while Suhail Akram, Nabeel Hussain and Mohammad Khan all trooped off for ducks at our hands. Inus Joubert was superb, ripping through with 4-15, and I found some rhythm of my own for 3-19, with Martin Harris chipping in 2-30. All told, a bowling performance worth bottling.

Sadly what the ball giveth, the bat taketh away. We subsided to 91 all out in 25.5 overs, undone almost entirely by our own hand – Richard Piper, Alex Wade and Anthony Karassellos all contributed golden ducks, and eight byes past poor Aaron Hughes told their own sorry tale of a testing afternoon behind the stumps. Only Luke Welsman emerged with credit, batting through for a composed 57 not out while wickets fell around him like dominoes.

So, down by 65 runs, and back to the nets we go. On the bright side, Welsman now leads our 2nd XI run charts for the season with 167, and I find myself sitting second in the wicket standings on 5. Small mercies. Not our day, but the bones of a decent side are there – we just need bat to catch up with ball.

Sat 10 May 2025 🧢 1st XIv Mersham Sports CC · HomeformDWLWD

A pleasant, clear afternoon at Linton Park, the kind that makes you forget cricket can also be cruel. I lost the toss, Mersham Sports CC chose to bat, and off we trooped into the field with hope rather than expectation.

They made a battling 206 all out, built on a solid opening stand of 73 before the breakthrough finally came. Kyle McAlister anchored things with a fine fifty, well supported by Ashley Cook (44) and David Harman (39), and for a while it looked ominous. But credit to the lads: we clawed them back from 199-7 to bowl them out for 206 in the 42nd over, Anand Nagabhushana departing without troubling the scorers. Alex Keeler was magnificent, ripping through with 4-9, while Thomas Beeney (2-29) and Tom Campbell (2-45) chipped in handsomely.

With 207 to chase, we lost an early wicket at 3 and never quite settled. Toby Hughes led the reply with a gritty 33, Nick Catt made 29 and Keeler, not content with his bowling exploits, added 26 more with the bat. I contributed a duck to proceedings — the walk of shame duly logged in the club ledger — and we were bowled out for 185, twenty-one runs short.

A word, though, for Thomas Roxburgh, who brought up his 100th appearance in Linton colours — a landmark worth more than any scoreline. Keeler now tops our run charts and Beeney the wickets for the season. Not our day, but heads held high, and back to the nets we go.

Mon 05 May 2025 🧢 Friendly XIv RC Rumwood CC · HomeformWWWWL

Rain threatened but Rumwood didn't, and having lost the toss on Bank Holiday Monday we were duly sent out to field first — never the tonic for a man still nursing his second cup of tea. Brandon Eloff set about repairing team morale with a crisp 64, and Ian Bruce played the perfect straight man alongside him with an unbeaten 51, the pair doing the heavy lifting while Nolan Wilde chipped in a useful 24. Poor Nick Tromp, though, will want this scorecard burned before anyone frames it — a golden duck to remember, or rather forget. Still, 218/7 from our 34 overs felt like a total with a bit of bite to it.

Alas, bite it did not. Nick Catt simply decided the bowling attack wasn't his concern and ground out a magnificent unbeaten 134, ably assisted by Jordan Austin (35) and Ben Austin (22), as Rumwood cantered to 221/2 with overs to spare. Mark Christmas toiled manfully for 1-19 and Nick Tromp, redeeming himself with the ball if not the bat, took 1-23. Twelve byes stand as a silent, damning verdict on Martin Rivers's afternoon behind the stumps — these things happen to the best of us, Martin, chin up.

So it's an early-season loss, by seven wickets, and a reminder that cricket has a cruel sense of humour. Eloff tops our run charts and Tromp our wicket-takers — for now. Heads up, lads: back to the nets, and let's leave the byes there too.

Sun 04 May 2025 🧢 Twenty20v Bexleyheath CC · HomeformWLWWW

Sunday afternoon, cool and overcast, and Bexleyheath CC arriving at Linton Park in good heart. I called correctly at the toss and, with the cloud cover looking distinctly bowler-friendly, had no hesitation in sticking them in. As it turned out, the pitch didn't quite read the script — George Gann played a lovely hand for 45, with Sam Mclaren-George (31) and an unbeaten 29 from Ciaran Smyth helping them to a brisk 173/4 off their twenty. We did have them 6-1 at one stage and I'll admit a little optimism crept in, but a stand of 66 for the fourth wicket rather put paid to that. I led the attack and picked up 1-15, with Fred Taylor (1-27) and George Taylor (1-39) chipping in to keep things honest, if not quite tight enough.

Chasing 174 was always going to want a big effort, and for a while Tobey Castle looked capable of delivering one, cracking a fine 39 before Thomas Roxburgh's 27 kept the innings ticking. But cricket has a cruel habit of bunching its misfortunes, and ours arrived in the second over, where we shed two wickets in a hurry, and again at the death, where we slid from 124-7 to all out for 130 in the blink of an eye. Joshua Knowler will not thank me for mentioning his golden duck, but the Duck Club ledger waits for no man.

A defeat by 43 runs, then, and a day that never quite got away from the shadow of that early setback. Not our afternoon — heads up, and back to the nets.

Sun 04 May 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv Addington Village CC · HomeformWLWLL

A cool, cloudy Sunday, and no luck at the toss either — Addington Village CC won the call and stuck us in, which felt like a poor omen for a captain who'd rather have had a bat first.

As it turned out, the bowlers had other ideas. We worked through their innings nicely, bundling them out for 129 in 39.2 overs despite a watchful 49 from Ryan Lucas and useful contributions from Rob Goss (22) and Liam Burnop (20). Farhan Malik was the pick of the attack with a fine 3-25, backed up superbly by Alex Wade and Martin Harris, who each chipped in with 2-16 apiece. Special mention, too, for sending Peter Cavender back for a duck — always a moment of quiet satisfaction for the fielding side.

Chasing 130 was never going to be straightforward on a sluggish afternoon, but Theo Clements played beautifully for 59, well past his fifty and clearly in the form of his life, ably supported by Thomas Beeney (29) and Johan Eloff (23). I managed to add my own small contribution along the way as we eased home. Not everyone had a day to remember, mind — John Karassellos will want to forget his golden duck in a hurry, poor lad.

We got there by five wickets in 24.4 overs, comfortable enough in the end. A thoroughly good day for the club, and with Theo Clements now leading the run charts and Farhan Malik second among the wicket-takers, the season is shaping up nicely. More of the same, please, lads.

Sat 03 May 2025 🧢 2nd XIv OC Old Colfeians CC · HomeformDDDWW

Old Colfeians arrived on a bright May afternoon, I called correctly and, in a fit of confidence, stuck us in the field. For a while it looked a reasonable punt: their innings crawled to 166/9 off the full forty, Chitrang Jindal doing the honest graft with an unbeaten 32 and Faruk Patel chipping in with 20. Ethan Joubert was magnificent with the ball, ripping through the middle order for 3-19, with Matthew Carter (2-13) and Anthony Karassellos (1-20) tidying up either end, and Sam King bowling two maidens as if runs were a personal insult.

Chasing 167, we made light work of it — 167/3 in just 23.1 overs, which for a side that usually manufactures its own drama was almost suspiciously calm. Luke Welsman batted like a man with a train to catch, unbeaten on 72, while Jordan Austin played the perfect foil with a classy 52. I contributed 16, which I shall generously describe as "supporting the platform" rather than "watching from the other end."

Welsman now sits proudly atop the 2nd XI run charts with 110 for the season, and Ian Hollingworth's four wickets keep him handily placed in the bowling table — both men earning their tea rather more than I earned mine.

A fine win by seven wickets, then, and proof that occasionally the toss, the bowlers and the top order all conspire to make the captain look cleverer than he is. Onwards.

Sat 03 May 2025 🧢 4th XIv YC Yalding CC · AwayformWLLL

The road led us out to Yalding on a pleasantly showery Saturday, the kind of afternoon that keeps you guessing whether to reach for the sunhat or the sweater. I called correctly at the toss and, with barely a flicker of hesitation, sent them in — a decision I stand by, whatever the scorebook eventually said.

Yalding made hay to the tune of 173 for 5 from their 35 overs, built on unbroken fifties from Daniel Ralph and Alex Mead, with Jack Nyren chipping in an unbeaten 34. Lynne Balderstone and Edward Mead departed for ducks, small consolation as the total crept up. Tim Thirkell was the pick of our attack with 3 for 26, well supported by Reuben Mundell and Josh Gurney with a wicket apiece, while Ian Lowe strangled the runs with three tidy maidens.

Chasing 174, we replied with 170 for 7. Blair Mundell anchored things beautifully with an unbeaten 59, and I was glad to play my part with 30 not out, while Srikrishna Challa's 28 kept the required rate honest. Daniel Baker, Josh Gurney and Thomas Mundell all had quieter afternoons with the bat, and it was left to a generous 25 extras to keep us in the hunt.

In the end, three runs was the margin — the cruellest sort of arithmetic, close enough to torment but not to console. Blair Mundell and Tim Thirkell continue to lead our season's charts with bat and ball respectively, and rightly so. We'll be better for this next week.

Sat 03 May 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Bearsted CC · HomeformDDDWL

Saturday brought Bearsted CC to Linton Park under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to rain on us properly or just sulk, and won the toss I duly stuck them in the field first — a decision that, for once, looked rather clever by close of play.

Altus Diener set about proving it, cracking a magnificent unbeaten hundred, while Michael Ludick gave him fine company with 92 of real substance. Laura Boorman chipped in an unbeaten 49 to see us home to 317 for 4 from our forty overs — the sort of total that makes the tea interval taste that bit sweeter.

Defending it, we made early inroads when James Tank departed without so much as a nudge off the mark, and Henry Campbell was a menace throughout, three maidens and 1 for 18 speaking to a spell of proper discipline. Abi Thirkell chipped in with 1 for 25, and I managed to prise one out myself for 36 runs, more through persistence than genius. Tim Lush and Nigel Baker both found their fifties to keep Bearsted respectable at 186 for 3, though respectable was never going to be enough. Laura Thorogood had her work cut out behind the stumps, nine byes the only real blemish on an otherwise tidy afternoon.

The bigger news, frankly, was Nick Tromp reaching 1,000 career runs for the club — a milestone worth more than any scoreline, and toasted accordingly. With Ludick now topping our 3rd XI run charts and Campbell leading the wickets, the season's shaping up nicely. A 131-run victory, and a thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 03 May 2025 🧢 1st XIv Tonbridge CC · AwayformDDWLW

I put us in to bat at Tonbridge on a pleasant, damp afternoon, and the coin duly obliged. What followed was less a total than a cautionary tale — 137 all out in 37.3 overs, saved from real embarrassment only by 25 wides and no-balls that Tonbridge kindly gifted us. I top-scored with 28, doing my bit to keep the innings afloat, but the less said about Joshua Knowler and Thomas Beeney's twin ducks the better — the Duck Club ledger groans under the weight of them.

In the field we scrapped hard. Fred Taylor was superb, 2 for 15 with three maidens, tying the Tonbridge middle order in knots, while George Taylor and Thomas Beeney chipped in with a wicket apiece. But Chirag Patel's 30, backed by Mike Jessop's unbeaten 24 and Mark Stokes's 22 — anchored by a stubborn 50-run sixth-wicket stand — proved just enough, and they got home on 138 for 6 with four wickets and a few overs in hand.

A word of real cheer amid the gloom: Thomas Beeney brought up his 300th appearance in Linton colours, a landmark that puts our defeat rather in perspective. Alex Keeler continues to lead the run charts with 142, and Beeney tops the bowling with 5 wickets — small consolations on a long drive home.

Verdict: outplayed, not disgraced — a below-par total made competitive by grit alone. Back to the nets, heads up, and onward.

Sun 27 Apr 2025 🧢 Sunday 2nd XIv WC Wickham Park CC · HomeformLWLWL

Sunday 27 April dawned pleasant and grey, about as English as cricket gets, and Wickham Park CC arrived at Linton Park for what would prove a chastening afternoon. I won the toss and had no hesitation electing to field, the right call, I still maintain, whatever the scorebook eventually said.

We opened well enough with the ball. Wickham's innings turned on a commanding 53 from Thirkell, well supported by Daprin N with 32 and Deepan Thangavel with 20, though amid all that good work there was, rather charmingly, a Thirkell duck tucked into proceedings too, the sort of detail only cricket could produce. Our attack fought hard for what we got. Our own Tim Thirkell led the way with three for 38, Nick Catt chipped in with two for 18 and Zach Wilde weighed in with two for 32.

With the bat, though, we never found our rhythm, and William Gray's walk back for a duck rather summed up our afternoon. In the end we came up 110 runs short, a proper hiding, no dressing it up.

There are, at least, green shoots for the season. Richard Piper sits atop our 2025 Sunday 2nd XI run charts with 14, and Thirkell leads the wicket charts with three. Beaten well and truly, but we will regroup, dust ourselves down, and be better for it next week.

Sun 27 Apr 2025 🧢 Sunday 1st XIv Cowdrey CC · HomeformLWLWW

Sunday 27 April brought Cowdrey CC to Linton Park under grey but agreeable skies, and I lost the toss — no great surprise given my record with the coin this year. They chose to bat, and for a while it looked a sound decision, with Luke Lawrence compiling a fine 70 and Nico Van Der Colff chipping in with 31 as the pair put on 68 for the third wicket. But a cricket side that collapses from 150 for 6 to 161 for 9 is a side asking for trouble, and Heashan Perera, Kulbir Minhas and Edward Lawson all departed without so much as a nudge off the mark. I was fortunate enough to find some rhythm with the ball, taking 3 for 5 including three maidens, while Thomas Beeney (2-32) and Ian Hollingworth (2-42) did the honest, unglamorous work of chipping away at the other end. Cowdrey were bowled out for 165.

Chasing that down, Will Thew played the innings of the day with a classy 63, well supported by Benjamin Austin's 58, the pair adding 87 for the second wicket and making it all look rather too easy. Naturally we then did our best to make things interesting, subsiding from 157 for 3 to 163 for 6 in the blink of an eye, with poor Anthony Karassellos collecting a golden duck for his troubles. Happily I managed a second contribution with the ball to go with my batting-order nerves from the boundary, and we got over the line at 166 for 6. A word too for Jordan Austin, whose four runs today nudged him past Piers McDonald and into 17th on the club's all-time run charts — quiet history in the making.

A win by four wickets, then, earned the hard way after making it harder than it needed to be. We'll take it, and we'll take the half-day's peace that comes with it. Onwards.

Sat 26 Apr 2025 🧢 4th XIv Town Malling CC · AwayformWLL

Fixed the toss again — or rather, lost it, which these days feels traditional. Town Malling chose to bat, and by the time the dust settled they'd rattled up 189/3 from their thirty overs, built on a first-wicket stand of 80 that had us chasing shadows before we'd found our line. Harry Kemsley made us pay for every misfield with a chanceless-looking century, well supported by Sam Eyre's 36. Credit where due, though: Reuben Mundell (1-20), William Gray (1-24) and Thomas Mundell (1-33) all found the breakthroughs that stopped a good score becoming a ruinous one.

Chasing 190, we made a fair fist of it without ever quite threatening. Joel Attwood batted with real composure for his unbeaten 39, and Reuben Mundell chipped in nicely with 28, the two combining in a sixth-wicket stand of 72 that was, frankly, the only period of the innings where we looked like a batting side rather than a collection of men waiting for their turn to get out. We closed on 135/7 — some way shy, and 54 runs the wrong side of the result. Thomas Mundell, for his sins, contributed a golden duck to proceedings, which the Duck Club minutes will record with the solemnity it deserves.

So, an honest defeat rather than a chastening one. Kemsley's ton was always going to be hard to chase down on that ground, and the lads didn't disgrace themselves in trying. Attwood leads our run charts, Mundell our wickets — early season bragging rights, at least. Back to the nets, heads up, and onwards.

Sat 26 Apr 2025 🧢 3rd XIv Faversham CC · AwayformLDDDW

Rarely have I seen the toss lost with such consequence. Faversham asked us to field first on a pleasant, overcast afternoon at their place, and duly piled up 208 all out in 37.2 overs, with Charles Osborn stroking a fine 72 and getting stout support from Samuel Fruin (31) and Tom Harris (31). We did have our moments — Rahul Parakh bowled beautifully for 2-17, with Noah Stevens (2-19) and Nolan Wilde (2-42) chipping in, and Chris Baldock was despatched for a golden duck without so much as troubling the scorers. But 23 wides and no-balls off our own bowling rather undid the good work; too many freebies dished up on a plate.

Chasing 209, we never quite got going, subsiding to 135/9 from our 40 overs. Rahul Parakh, having done the damage with ball in hand, top-scored again with 39, and Laura Thorogood chipped in a battling 25. Jonathan Sisley's golden duck completed a personal pair for the family of ducks on display, and it was left to the extras column (27) to be our second-highest scorer — never a healthy sign.

Amid the gloom, one shaft of sunlight: Tim Thirkell brought up 14,000 career runs for the club, a magnificent landmark and thoroughly deserved. Martin Rivers continues to sit second in the 3rd XI run charts, and Nolan Wilde leads the wicket-takers.

The verdict: beaten by 73 runs, undone by our own generosity with the ball as much as anything Faversham did. Heads up, chins out, and back to the nets.

Sat 26 Apr 2025 🧢 1st XIv Rodmersham CC · HomeformDDDWL

Saturday last, we welcomed Rodmersham CC to Linton Park under a sky that couldn't decide whether it was English cricket weather or just English weather. Winning the toss, I had no hesitation in bowling myself into the deep chair and sending us in to bat — and for once the captain's coin call looked positively inspired.

Alex Keeler set about the Rodmersham attack with real purpose, cruising to 78, while George Taylor kept him honest company with a handsome 72, and Nick Catt weighed in with 40 of his own. Between Keeler and Taylor the fifth-wicket stand ballooned to 144 — the kind of partnership that has the tea urn boiling with excitement in the pavilion — and we declared our innings closed, so to speak, at a formidable 277/6 from our 45 overs.

Defending that sort of total should be the easy part, and so it proved, even if we did our level best to make it interesting. Rodmersham never threatened, with only Amir Iqbal's 29 offering any real resistance, and we bowled them out for 131, sliding from 95-6 to 107-9 in the blink of an eye. Thomas Beeney was the pick of the attack with 3-38, well supported by Joshua Knowler's tidy 2-17 (two maidens, no less) and Tom Campbell's 2-20. We were, admittedly, generous to a fault in the field — 19 wides and 3 no-balls is not the mark of a disciplined outfit — and my own contribution with the bat, 16, will not trouble the record books.

Still, a 146-run victory papers over most cracks. A thoroughly good day for the club.

Sat 26 Apr 2025 🧢 2nd XIv Headcorn CC · HomeformDDDDW

Skipper's Log — Saturday 26th April 2025, Headcorn CC at home, under skies that couldn't quite decide whether to behave.

We lost the toss, which these days feels less like bad luck and more like a season-long arrangement, and were sent out to bowl on a pleasant if uncertain afternoon. Headcorn made themselves at home early, that second-wicket stand of 117 doing rather more than we'd have liked, with Barker compiling an unbeaten 51 and Pleasance and Vine chipping in with 37 and 24 not out respectively as 159 for 3 threatened to become something alarming. Mercifully the floodgates that opened let out more than they let in, Millen departing for a golden duck, and Houghton-Judge produced the spell of the season so far — 5 for 13, a thoroughly deserved five-for — with Castle (1-11, two tidy maidens) and Tunga (1-26) offering fine support to bowl them out for 167.

Chasing wasn't straightforward — 171 for 8 from 35 overs tells its own story of nerves and near-misses — but Houghton-Judge, not content with his morning's work, carried his bat to an unbeaten 62, and I was glad to lend a hand with 28 alongside him as we edged, rather than strode, to the target.

A two-wicket win, then, earned the hard way and all the sweeter for it. Onwards.

Sat 19 Apr 2025 🧢 1st XIv Bearsted CC · AwayformDDDDW

The road took us to Bearsted CC on a cool, cloudy afternoon, and having won the toss I fancied a bat without a second thought. It didn't start well — a wicket down before the scoreboard had troubled the operator, at 0-1 — but Benjamin Austin steadied the ship in fine style, sailing past fifty to 67, with Alex Keeler's well-made 51 and Thomas Roxburgh's 32 giving the innings some proper backbone. A 65-run third-wicket stand papered over the early cracks nicely. Then, as is our custom, the wheels came off spectacularly: 146-4 became 159-7 before anyone could reach for the tea urn, and the Duck Club welcomed three new members in George Taylor, Mark Christmas and yours truly. We limped to 190/9 from our forty.

With ball in hand we gave a good account, restricting the damage where we could. Mark Christmas was the pick of the attack with 1-12, Alex Keeler chipped in with 1-20, and Mardey Castle bowled beautifully for 1-28 with two maidens to show for his miserliness. But Lewis Bedwell's 38, well supported by Mark Hodges' 36 and an unbeaten 32 from Stephen Pearce, carried Bearsted home on 193/5. We simply dropped too short all afternoon, and they cut and pulled us square of the wicket with glee, before a wretched 40th over sealed it.

There were bright spots amid the gloom — my 300th appearance in Linton colours, and Alex Keeler passing 200 career wickets. But five wickets down, it wasn't our day. Heads up, and back to the nets.

Sat 19 Apr 2025 🧢 3rd XIv BC Brasted Chart and Toys Hill CC · AwayformDLDDD

I lost the toss again — no surprise there — and Brasted Chart and Toys Hill put us in on a grey but pleasant Saturday. No complaints from me; we've made worse of good starts. What followed with the bat was as good as it gets from this side all season: Michael Ludick and the top order set about it in style, an opening stand of 60 laying the platform before Ludick went on to a fine half-century, well supported by Martin Rivers (41) and Ian Bruce (32). We were eventually bowled out for 215 in 34.4 overs — brisk, positive cricket, though the Duck Club secretary will want a word with Daniel Baker and Praveen Tunga, both back in the hutch without troubling the scorers.

Defending it was a different sort of afternoon — nervy, attritional, the kind that ages a captain. Russell Thomas played beautifully for his 55, and with Jon Garrard (31) and Paul Garrett (26) building a third-wicket stand of 69, they dragged themselves into contention. I'll allow myself one mention of my own part in it — I chipped in with the ball as things tightened. Altus Diener led from the front with 2-10, Euan Beardwell and Daniel Baker chipped in too, and Praveen Tunga's two maidens were worth their weight in gold. Thirteen byes past poor Martin Rivers gave us all a fright, but they fell short at 203/7.

Twelve runs the margin, several grey hairs the cost. A very good day for the club.

Sat 19 Apr 2025 🧢 2nd XIv MC Minster (Sheppey) CC · AwayformDDDDD

Kicked off the season the way you dream about after winning the toss on a cool, cloudy afternoon at Minster (Sheppey): bat first, and let the willow do the talking. Alex Wade did just that, striking a fine 72 to lead us to 197 all out in 39.4 overs, with Luke Welsman's 37 and Theo Clements' 20 giving the innings real backbone. It wasn't quite carnage, but it was the sort of total that lets a captain enjoy his tea rather than chew through it.

Defending it turned into something closer to a procession. Sam King was in irresistible form, ripping through the top and middle order for figures of 3-8, while Ian Hollingworth matched him wicket for wicket with 3-9 of his own. I chipped in with a bit of tidy support work with the ball, and Ian Lowe was miserly in the extreme — two maidens and 2-0, the sort of spell that makes batsmen wonder why they bothered turning up. Tyler Castle, Sam Manser and Jenson Beever all departed without troubling the scorers, and Minster were bowled out for a meagre 32 in just 15.3 overs.

A 165-run victory is not so much "over the line" as an armchair stroll across it. Alex Wade now tops our 2nd XI run charts and Sam King the wickets, and on this evidence both totals are only going one way. A thoroughly good day for the club — the kind of afternoon that makes the drive to Sheppey feel entirely worthwhile.

Sun 09 Feb 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv SC Sidcup CC · AwayformWW

Beaten by 72, but let's not bury the good bits along the way. Winning the toss and sticking Sidcup in felt like the right call at the time — and for eleven overs it looked like genius, before Isobel "Izzy" Regan decided otherwise, making the runs that mattered on her way to 25, with Bhavika Sevani ticking along unbeaten on 24 to help post 291/3 from their twelve overs. That is, in the parlance of our sport, rather a lot.

Laura Holdstock, leading the wicket charts as she is with some justification, did what damage could be done with 2-20, and Abi Thirkell chipped in gamely with 1-19 — between them keeping the total from becoming entirely embarrassing rather than merely very challenging indeed.

Chasing 292 in twelve overs was always going to want something special, and the girls gave it a proper go, racing to 239/7 in reply — no shortage of intent, just not quite enough of it. Seventy-two runs short in the end, which on this surface, in this format, is the difference between a canter and a sprint that started a fraction too late.

So: beaten, not disgraced. Sidcup were the better side on the day, but there's plenty in this Linton Park side — with Laura Boorman still purring along at the top of the run charts and Holdstock among the wickets — to suggest we'll have our day again soon. We'll be better for it next week.

Sun 02 Feb 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv Dartford CC · AwayformW

I elected to field first at Dartford, and for once my hunch paid off in spades. Nicola Coomansingh was utterly unplayable, ripping through the Dartford order with figures of 5-11, while Laura Holdstock (3-14) and Michaela Karassellos (2-10) mopped up what little resistance remained. Dartford were bowled out for a modest 59 in their 12 overs, and I confess there was a fair bit of quiet smirking behind my sunglasses at mid-off.

With such a total to chase, the pressure was, in truth, entirely off — though someone forgot to tell me that, because I still found myself grafting hard at the crease. I made 45 not out, and was delighted to have Claire Rootes alongside me for a composed, unbeaten 20 as we cruised to 127/3 from our 12 overs. It was the kind of batting performance where everything just seemed to come off the middle of the bat, which happens perhaps once a season and I intend to enjoy the memory of it well into winter.

We ran out winners by a thumping 118 runs, a result that will do wonders for the tea urn gossip for weeks to come. With the season table showing me at the top of the run charts and Nicola leading the wickets, the signs are rather promising. A cracking away day, a proper team performance from top to bottom, and frankly, one of those afternoons that reminds you exactly why you bother lugging the kit bag up the M2 in the first place.

Sun 19 Jan 2025 🧢 Women's Softballv Shoreham & Otford CC · Homeform—

Sunday 19 January saw Shoreham & Otford CC visit us, and when the coin bounced my way I couldn't resist sending the visitors in — a decision that, for once, worked out rather beautifully.

The girls were superb in the field, restricting Shoreham & Otford to a modest 38/7 from their 12 overs. Laura Boorman was simply unplayable, ripping through the top order with figures of 4-9, while Laura Holdstock chipped in with 2-7 and Nicola Coomansingh picked up a well-earned 1-10. It was the kind of tight, disciplined bowling and fielding effort that leaves a captain grinning behind her sunglasses.

Chasing was never really the word for it — with just 38 to get, we set about our task with real intent. Claire Rootes played the innings of the day, an unbeaten 25 that anchored things nicely, with Laura Boorman continuing her fine afternoon by adding 22 not out with the bat as well as the ball. I managed to get in on the act myself with 20 not out, and a generous 48 extras from our opponents didn't hurt either. We finished on a thumping 141/3.

A win by 123 runs, then — the sort of margin that makes the tea afterwards taste that much sweeter. Claire and Laura Boorman currently top the season's run and wicket charts respectively, and on this evidence, long may that continue. Onwards indeed.