Delta Rail Old Boys (nee AEAT) - 2nd August 2007 - Regents Park

For our final match of the year, the Carib Boys went face to face with one of their oldest foes, the Old Boys of the Delta Rail Company, comprising some ex employees of the AEAT Company, a previous place of employment for a number of the Carib boys and possibly one of the most competitive places on earth, if the level of on field sledging between the former work colleagues was anything to go by. The AEAT Old Boys line up comprised a number of recognizable faces from previous encounters, including Mr Rob Moss and Mr Martin Fuller, a previous recipient of the honour of being invited to join the illustrious ranks of the Carib Beer XI, but now apparently declined. Within our own ranks, we were without Vice Captain and Occasionally Reasonable bowler Barry Willis and recently married and somewhat injury prone Rich Harris, otherwise, we were able to field an almost full strength Carib Team.

(Click these links for two of Richard's apparently Injury Free wedding pictures - Wedding Pic 1 - Wedding Pic 2).

With the evenings now drawing in, Club Secretary and Flame Haired Middle Order Bludgeoner Carib Cordey had instructed the team and opposition to be ready to take the field at 6pm sharp. However, by 6.10 and with the massed ranks of the Caribs present and ready, the AEAT Old Boys had only managed to muster around 4 people. This allowed our Captain, Best Batsman and Leader Martin Haigh to adopt a new method of winning the toss, given his miserable form with the coin version, namely negotiation, and on the basis that we were able to take the field immediately, the temporary opposition captain agreed to, or was pressed into, allowing the Caribs to bowl first.

As the two hastily promoted opening AEAT batsmen took the field, a keen contest was brewing between the opening bowling combination of Veteran Medium Fast Bowler and Disappointing Batsman Carib Peter and Wayward Bouncer Bowling Ringer Jarod Worthy, usurper and pretender to the crown of Best Carib Bowler. Carib Rogerson began accurately against the opening pair, obviously unaccustomed to the position they found themselves in, and gave little away. From the other end Half Pitched Bumper Bowling Ringer Jarod Worthy bowled his usual mix of half trackers and occasionally random accurate balls, snaring the opener with his third ball. Spurred on by the young pretender, Carib Rogerson bowled the other opener, and with Short Pitched Bowler Worthy snaring the number 3 LBW, the AEAT Old Boys found themselves 14-3 after four overs.

On the boundary, the ranks of the AEAT team were slowly being swelled as one player after another finally bothered to show up, some, because of the early loss of both openers, being thrown pads as they approached the pitch. AEAT Rob Moss was even heard to begin sledging Carib Cordey, his "arch nemesis" from about 200 yards away.

On the field, after the opening spells were complete, Tour Manager and Promising Batsman, along with Line and Length bowler Rob White began their spell against the numbers four and five in the AEAT line up. Unfortunately for the hapless Carib bowlers, we were now into the Engine Room of the AEAT batting line up, namely Mr Luciani and Mr Patel. Carib White, who had been bludgeoned for 24 in two overs in the previous game again came in for some heavy punishment and from 14 after 4 overs, the AEAT quickly moved on to 47 after 8, and both first change bowlers found themselves removed from the attack. New Member and Somewhat Useful Batsman Steve Turner was brought on to bowl by our Captain Martin Haigh and in his first over, bowled AEAT Patel for a very useful 24. As AEAT Luciani approached his retirement score of 25 and left the field, our Captain, Leader and Best Batsman Martin Haigh was heard to shout "Right, I'll have a bowl now", as the second string lower order batsmen took their marks and prepared to face him.

From the other end, Ringer Butler took the wicket of Martin Fuller and Carib Cordey's Arch Nemesis, Completely Useless Bowler and AEAT Chief Sledger Rob Moss strode out to bat to a chorus of jeers and sledging from at least 6 of the Carib Team. Believing he was able to give as good as he got, he approached his mark firing off sharp barbs aimed squarely at our very own Burnett Topped Battler Carib Cordey's bowling abilities, comparing them, unbelievably, to "dolly mixtures". Unable to resist the bait, Captain and Leader Martin Haigh threw the ball to Carib Cordey and the assembled ranks braced themselves for what was to come.

Mr Cordey began his usual strategy of giving the ball such air that the batsmen felt tempted to dance down the track and dispatch the ball into the nearest animal enclosure. The plan being that the AEAT batsmen, after arriving half way down the pitch and ready to play the shot, would discover that the ball had still yet to arrive, throwing them into such paroxisms of confusion that a half hearted and uncontrolled slog would usually be the result. It was a tactic eminently suited to the battle between Mr Cordey and AEAT Rob Moss, the latter apparently believing it to be a matter of personal pride that every Cordey delivery be dispatched for at least six, with the lull between each attempt punctuated by various repetitive insults involving "Dolly Mixtures" being hurled between the two highly competitive protagonists. However, although Mr Cordey was able to snare two AEAT victims during his three overs of village green twirlers, AEAT Rob Moss remained defiantly and vocally at the crease.

Captain and Team Manager Martin Haigh deciding that enough was enough brought on our newest and most improved bowler Heavy Set Middle Orderer Plunderer and Emerging Bowling Talent Glen "Mr Gooch" Rayner for an over of his pedestrian paced twirlers. Obviously, news of the emergence of this mercurial talent has filtered through the various London cricketing circles, as although Mr Gooch was not on this occasion able to snare another victim, the reluctance of the batsmen to attempt anything more than a couple of pushed singles betrayed a healthy respect for his relentess line and length accuracy. Unfortunately, the healthy respect shown for his bowling appears to have shut off his main avenue of wicket-taking, namely a belief that his deceptively innocuous looking delivery stride would result in a ball asking to be smashed over the ropes, occasionally resulting in a catch on the boundary line. Although this would at first glance appear to be detrimental to Mr Gooch's further ambitions in the wicket taking department, we all feel sure that this resourceful cricketer will continue to add new weapons to his already substantial arsenal of wides, long hops and three bounce half trackers in readiness for a resurgence of wickets next season.

With the AEAT innings now drawing to a close, and the AEAT lower order looking to push on to a healthy total, Captain and Team Manager Martin Haigh brought back the opening bowling pairing of Military Medium Bouncer Bowling Ringer Jarod and Actually Bowls The Ball In A Staight Line Instead Of Half Way Down The Pitch opening bowler Carib Rogerson to deliver the final few overs. Unfortunately, the unrepentant Mid Pitch bowler Ringer Jarod went for 11 in his first over, including a huge six, but things improved in his second, when a mis-directed bouncer landed near AEAT batsmen Segal and brushed his thigh pad, to be caught by New Member and Keen Wicket-Keeper Andy Bowen. Fortunately for the Caribs, our usually relentlessly correct Official Umpire Michael Lee failed to detect the true nature of the deflection and the batsman was given out. From the other end, Carib Rogerson the Carib's contentiously best bowler managed to get one through the defenses of Chief Sledger, Cordey Nemesis and Dreadful Bowler AEAT Rob Moss and cleaned him up, effectively bringing the AEAT innings to a close for a not unrespectable 112 or 115 (depending on which way you looked at the scorebook).

Although not in posession of a bowling attack likely to trouble even the most average of batting line ups, the Caribs were more than aware that our form this season has been woeful in that deparment and that with Network Rail already having put the runs on the board, a victory was certainly not a forgone conclusion. To this end, our Captain, Best Batsman and All Round Leader Martin Haigh again decided to lead from the front. He chose on this occasion one of our Newest Members and Promising Batsman Steve Turner as his opening partnership and the Carib chase began in earnest. Although from one end AEAT Patel proved dificult to get away, AEAT Martin Fuller opened from the other, whose slow left arm non-spinning twirlers were smashed for 12 in two overs, getting the Carib boys off to a useful start. The first wicket to fall was that of New Member Steve Turner for an uncharacteristically slow 6, which brought another New Member and Keen Wicketkeeper Andy Bowen to the crease. Unfortunately, his stay at the crease was characteristically brief, departing as he did for a two ball 1.

Next man in, Tour Manager and Nuggetty Batsman Carib Andy Weaver, again proved something of a revelation. Although he began slowly, he was soon climbing into the AEAT part time bowlers and, along with Captain Martin Haigh from the other end, the Carib score began to accelerate towards the target with some gusto. As both the premier Carib Batsmen began to reach their retirement scores of 25, it began to look like the run chase would be something of a breeze, however, as usual, the middle and lower orders again failed to live up to the standards of their Captain and Best Batsman Martin Haigh.

Ringer Guy lasted three balls for his three runs, and Northern Bakery Magnate Phil Cordey a 7 ball 2. Expecting much from next man in, Middle Order Regular Glen Rayner, we were to be somewhat disappointed this week, as although his defensive play remained as stubborn and impenetrable as ever, his attempts at run scoring were disappointing and he was forced to depart for a mere single after missing a straight one. By now, the Carib innings had began to seriously stumble, and it was left to Carib Berry to rescue our run chase with some quite determined batting as the lower order again completely failed to contribute and wickets tumbled around him. Rob White lasted 4 balls, Bouncer Bowling Jarod 1 ball and Veteran Opening Bowler Rogerson for 2, as the end of the Carib Batting card was reached with us still a dozen runs away from the target.

However, with our Newest Most Promising Batsman Carib Berry still scything the ball to all parts of the square, our Captain and Opening Batsman resumed his Not Out innings and the Caribs closed in on Victory. With only three balls left and still three runs required for victory, our Master Batsman Martin Haigh blasted one through the infield and the AEAT score was breached, sealing an emphatic victory against the old enemy and bringing our victory count this season to two.

As usual, the game against the AEAT Old Boys had proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable affair, even though on occasion the on-field sledging could have rivalled "JellyBeanGate" for its intensity and cruelty. However, nothing personal appears to have been taken from the on field histrionics, other than some battered pride, and we all retired to the pub for the usual post match bragging and drinking. This being the final match of the season, an attempt was made to enforce the now traditional ceremony whereby our Captain and Blue Blooded leader Martin Haigh attempts to swig some beer from a can of Stella. Unfortunately, Martin couldn't be made to participate on this occasion, siting the "Test Match" being played on 25th August as the real end of season match and more likely place in which to continue this wonderful tradition, so be sure to check back soon after for the photographic evidence of Martin's obvious discomfort at having to attempt such a task. Just as long as he doesn't think we'll forget !

Rob bowling to Mr Luciani	Mr Jateen being bowled out by New Member Carib Turner	Martin hitting out during his Captain's match winning innings	Tour Manager Andy Weaver retiring after his very useful 25+	Martin facing during his match winning innings	Steve Turner facing during his short innings
Martin Fuller bowling to Captain Martin Haigh	Martin Fuller bowling to Steve Turner	Gordon, Peter, Ringer Guy and Mr Gooch	The Carib Pavilion watch as the team closes in on victory	Final Team Photo, after the Carib Victory

*Balls faced in brackets