AEAT/Shell v Carib Beer XI - 9th August 2005 - Regents Park.

Although our final match of the season was originally intended to be nothing more than a knockabout, after asking about for ringers to join in, we realised we had managed to get enough interest for a full 11 a side game. This shows in what high regard the Carib Boys are now held, with so many people wanting to either play with us, or test themselves against us, and bodes well for next season.

The game was reduced to 14 overs a side, due to the person with the kit being delayed in Wimbledon, but was a frenetic encounter none the less. The AEAT / Shell All Stars batted first, and quickly stumbled to 6 for 3, attempting to push the score along. However, this was followed by a determined stand of 37 between Shell's Ned & AEAT Draper. In fact, these were the only two real innings of note, but ringer Draper's 15 came from around 35 balls, and used up many valuable overs. The situation was rescued somewhat by Shell Ned's hard hitting 24 which came at better than a run a ball and included 5 fours, but the stand was eventually broken by our captain Mr Haigh and from that point, the last few batsmen were only able to chip in, as the AEAT / Shell team finished with 67 from their 14 overs.

In reply, the Caribs batted with much more authority, and the opening overs saw Carib Cordey hitting a 7 ball 13 to get the innings off to a flyer. Martin Haigh then contributed a further 11, while Carib Peter top scored with 14. (However, this should have been 16 as Team Manager and Captain Mr Haigh stopped to admire his perfectly executed straight drive back past the bowler, and believing it to have gone for four, decided to stop five yards from his crease, only for the ball to be stopped inches short of the boundary, denying Carib Peter, or the team, any benefit from the shot).

Nevertheless, with the Caribs closing in on victory, Ringer Moss and our very own Aussie, Ringer Greg, began the task of knocking off the final runs. Unfortunately, Ringer Moss, realising he may not have been the man for the last ditch run chase attempted to swing at everything in an effort to get himself out, only for the dreadful bowling to miss the stumps every time he aimed for cow corner and missed. Finally, a ball hit the stumps, which brought Ringer Tanner to the crease. However, with the subsequent late loss of Aussie Ringer Rowlands, the cause could have been lost, but for a fine cover drive for four by Ringer Tanner off AEAT Moss, which saw us finally overhaul the AEAT / Shell score with five balls to spare.

It should also be mentioned that the combined AEAT / Shell (& Ringers) bowling attack proved to be one of the more formidable attacks we had yet faced, with Shell Ned and Ringer Graham both proving themselves more than useful bowlers. In this context, this was another pleasing victory, and means we have now only lost only one game from our five official fixtures in season one, with one tie. The only loss being our first official game, and, as already mentioned, the amount of interest we are now generating amongst London's Ringers, next season, with around 10 official fixtures, should certainly be eagerly anticipated.