Carib Beer XI vs G-Research,

Greenwich Park, Tuesday 26th June 2018

On a glorious summer’s evening the Caribs made their way to Greenwich Park for our match against G Research. For some, train problems were causing delays (the extraordinarily hot weather presumably having melted tracks all across London, or else resulted in the majority of train staff knocking off early for a pint in a beer garden); while Carib Holmes was going to be delayed while digging Mark “the Guvnor” Carney out of an unspecified hole. Apparently as a result of this Carib Captain Haigh triumphantly returned from the toss having “negotiated” losing it and batting second - a role in David Davis’ Brexit team surely awaits!

With a couple of G Research gents kindly assisting in the field until Caribs arrived, we commenced with our new opening bowling combo of Caribs Tanveer and Kant. Regular wickie Carib Bowen had returned to mitigate the extras total, however with a lightning quick outfield most times bat hit ball it was resulting in runs. G Research laid a solid foundation with both openers reaching 20 before a breakthrough arrived with Carib Captain Haigh knocking back the stumps of one opener, then their number 3 and a ballooning catch taken behind by Carib Bowen.

The G Research innings continued to accumulate however, with boundaries aplenty and sharp running between the wickets. Some control was found when with some retirements bringing new batsmen to the crease, Carib Moss tempted one to charge down the wicket and Carib Bowen removed the bails as it beat the edge. Then Northern bakery magnate Carib Cordey invited a hoik high in the air to mid off, where the opposition fielder must have had enough time to ponder the potential implications of catching his team mate and work colleague - fortunately our wicket tally won out over intra-company loyalties.

A wicket apiece for Caribs Tanveer and Kant in their closing overs left G Research with a very respectable 161 for 7. A big total to chase but in seemingly good conditions on a fast outfield - as Boycs always says “you don’t know if it’s a good score until you’ve seen the other team bat”. Sadly we set about showing that it had been a pretty handy score.

Carib Horn’s tally opening the innings was bolstered by a rare (unique for the Caribs?) bonus of 5 runs as the ball hit the helmet positioned on the ground behind the keeper before being bowled. A ludicrous call for a single by Carib Weaver resulted in Carib Holmes being run out, and further wickets tumbling as Caribs Weaver, Cordey and Rayner departed and the team in a perilous position on 26 for 5. Fortunately our

Captain and Best Batsman Carib Haigh and “new boy” Carib Tanveer were now at the crease and consolidated well. Both played a series of fine shots, finding the boundary and running the singles until both were able to retire. It was however too much of an ask for an Argentina-like comeback to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat (note to Martin - there was also apparently some football happening while we were playing). Carib Moss was furious at himself for squandering a good start by being stumped for 11, Carib Kant celebrated like he’d won the World Cup when reaching double figures and the returning Carib Holmes (very wisely given a second go after the first was cruelly curtailed) seeing out the innings.

The Caribs came up 40-odd short, thus extending Martin’s 100% losing record as captain this season (Caribs Weaver and Rayner jostling for position for a potential future coup!). The post-match debrief in The Railway revealed that (a) no-one can quite recall the details of how we ended up playing against first the Newman House Cardinals and then G Research, (b) both sides enjoy the fixture so we look forward to next year’s game.

Carib Beer XI Lose by 43 Runs

Scorecard