Carib Beer XI vs Northern Trust,

Greenwich Park, Wednesday 2nd July 2025

The sun was shining brightly for the Caribs return match against Northern Trust following our defeat a few weeks earlier. However conditions were ideal with the end of the heat wave and no signs of hoards of midges. We were also a full complement of 11 thanks to three ringers stepping in at late notice including a Carib debut for Ringer Gus. Unfortunately the absentees included all of the NT contingent within the Caribs excels for Carib stalwart Carib Glen who was no doubt keen to continue his push for Personality of the Year votes and also catch up with his colleagues.

With the perfect sunny weather it was surely a bat first pitch, however Carib captain and chairman Haigh decided he would like a chase, perhaps thinking the Caribs could take inspiration from Bazball.

It was also at this point we realised that we were not a full eleven as there was no sign of Carib Goochie. We assumed he must have been held up in the heat and so took to the field with ten. The Caribs started of relatively poorly in the field with the fast outfield and variable bounce leading to a number of avoidable boundaries. After 3 overs NT had raced to 39/0, perhaps we were missing the big booted Carib Glen blocking some balls with his feet, surely he would be along shortly. Ringers Neethu and Gus did manage to stem the flow of runs a little but still no sign of wickets n the ideal batting conditions.

Ringer Kunal and Carib Phil Northern Pie Magnate Cordey were also to the liking of the NT batters and they were 94/0 at the half way point of the innings. Still no sign of Carib Glen, at this point it dawned on us that he wasn’t going to turn up, no doubt severely harming his vote share in the Personality of the Year award.

Carib Swanand returned for his second spell but still had no luck and posted unusually expensive figures. The ball was then thrown to Carib Moss, surely things couldn’t be any worse, but some filthy full tosses ensued including one that bowled the NT batter but was called a no ball due to being over waist height, surely a feat only Carib Moss could achieve. So after 15 overs NT were 141/0 with all of their top 4 batters retired not out.

NT number 5 Praveen was also on the verge of retiring when from nowhere a wicket was taken. Having bravely saved himself hoping for some weaker NT batters Carib skipper Haigh was the man of the moment with the clean bowled of NT Praveen. Incredibly this became two wickets in two balls and Martin was on a hat trick. This was the end of the over and Carib tradition at this point dictated the bowler should be taken off. To the shock of all the Caribs, skipper Haigh returned for another over and sadly was denied a hat trick. However the very next ball was another wicket and Martin had 3 wickets in 4 balls. The drama in the over was far from done as a tough caught and bowled chance was dropped followed by a drop from Carib Bowen running to his left to attempt catching a skyer. So Carib Martin’s figures of 3/22 could have been even better.

The flurry of wickets continued with 2 for Ringer Neethu and a run out thanks to good work from Carib Moss and Ringer Kunal. Another run out from the final ball left NT on 181/7 which bizarrely felt like we had restricted them after the early carnage.

Regular opener Carib Holmes and Ringer Gus were entrusted with trying to chase down the huge total. Tidy NT bowling restricted the scoring and Carib Holmes sadly could not carry on his good form and was out early. Ringer Gus looked like a new contender for the hotly contested Carib title of Dot Ball King and was yet to score from his first ten deliveries. However this turned out to be due to rustiness from a long gap between any form of cricket for Ringer Gus who then dramatically increased his scoring rate to retire for 30 not out from 25 balls including a fine six off his final ball.

Carib Master Statistician Berry was ticking along nicely at the other end and the Caribs reached 63/1 at the half way point which often would be a tidy score. However the flurry of wickets that had slowed the NT innings then repeated itself with Carib Bowen, Haigh and Berry all dismissed in quick succession.

The dying embers of the Carib innings was then entrusted to Carib Moss and Ringer Kunal. Carib Moss was somewhat in the wars taking two blows to the chest and one to the wrist in the space of four balls, somehow managing to play a perfect off drive in amongst them. Ringer Moss was also dismissed allowing Ringer Neethu a short trip to the crease.

The Caribs had lost by 70 runs, but another game played in good spirits against NT. We look forward to playing them again next year when hopefully Carib Glen might remember when the match is.

para 2 ....

Carib Beer XI Lose by 70 Runs

Scorecard