Shell XI v Carib Beer XI - 4th August 2005 - Regents Park.

If Nasser Hussain had been commentating on this game, the words 'came to the party' would definately have been used at least once, as this was the match that saw the Carib Beer XI step up their game to secure a stunning penultimate ball victory over a more than useful Shell XI that even included people who owned their own cricket whites.

The Shell XI batted first, and began by making good progress with both openers reaching double figures before too long. To make matters worse, the Shell provided umpires were remarkably strict, widing anything that passed either the wrong side of leg stump, or more than two feet wide of off, although to be fair, there were plenty that were much wider than this. However, the ignomony of watching them even calling our captain and manager Martin Haigh for a wide on one occasion, was too much for most of us.

However, the Carib bowlers relished the pressure and wickets began to fall with increasingly regularity and the pendulum of momentum began to swing back in our favour and we did well to restrict th em to only 96, of which only 65 of those were off the bat, testament to the severity of the umpiring which would have been out of place in a 20/20 final. Nevertheless, the Caribs failed to be daunted by the total, and we timed our reply to perfection. Martin Haigh played yet another masterful captain's innings, retiring after bludgeoning a fine 26 to bring the Caribs within striking distance of the target. Earlier, ringer Fuller had played a watchful innings, taking around 40 balls for his 18. Luckily, however, he was out before the final couple of overs, leaving our very own Aussie ringer, Mr Rowlands, to shepherd the tail and swiftly knock off the final runs with one ball to spare. However, it has to be said that given the drubbing just handed out to the Australians at Edgebaston over the weekend, having an Aussie on the side no longer carries the kudos it once did.

Unfortunately, Martin Haigh is firmly of the impression that the absence of on field drinking during the match may have contributed to our new level of professionalism, and that consequently, he is keen that this should be enforced for all our games. Whether this happens, yet remains to be seen, and surely needs further investigation.