Carib Beer XI vs Dodgers Vets, Regents Park,

Tuesday 20th June 2023

The Caribs returned for their first game this season at their favourite ground of Regents Park (favourite ground of those who live closest to it - Ed). There was a very serious distraction of the conclusion of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, so well done to all the Caribs for dragging themselves away from that to make it along to our encounter with the Dodgers. Also, any mistakes in the scoring can be entirely put down to Scorer Moss (still nursing a knee injury) trying to follow 2 games at the same time including giving score updates of both games to the players.

The game started with some fine top order hitting. Carib Tom playing in his final game for the Caribs for the next two years due to his sabbatical (jolly-up) in the US. Our Keeper-of-the-Carib-constitution was unfortunately run out sacrificing his wicket in a run out trying to push the score along Bazball style. There was also some Bazball hitting at the other end with Carib Yusuf continuing his relentless quest for all the end of season Carib awards with another 25no display. This was backed up by retirements as well for debutant Ringer Hamed and Carib Weaver continuing his good early batting form this season.

This very strong start from our top four had put the Caribs in a great position. However, some improved bowling from the Dodgers slowed down our progress. Carib Bowen then committed the cardinal sin of running out his skipper. We would expect poor Mr B to not feature high up in the batting order the rest of the season, however our unfortunate wicket-keeper will likely be reprieved by the fact that skipper Haigh has decided to show a shocking example to the rest of the team and take a three-week holiday in the heart of the Carib season. The Dodgers team had generously lent us a player in ringer Jose (excuse the spelling) who was again badly mistreated by the soon to be absent skipper and sent in well down the order for a 0 not out off 0 balls.

However, despite these late mishaps the Caribs reached a strong total of 136-4 which felt defendable on a very slow outfield after the heavy overnight rain which had also meant we were playing on the artificial wicket. This also meant we were playing 18 overs a side to ensure an 8.30pm finish so 137 seemed a challenging target.

The Dodgers sensibly followed the Caribs in stacking their top order with some of their better batters to allow them to keep up with the Carib run rate with them being 80-2 after 10 overs with the only wickets to fall being to Carib Yusuf (again). For the second consecutive week compulsive holiday maker skipper Haigh had dropped a catch as well. However the game turned at this point as the Dodgers batting seemed to stall thanks to some tight bowling from new Ringer Hamed with a debut wicket and Ringer Vishal who recovered after being smashed in his earlier overs to take a further couple of wickets. Carib Yusuf also returned to take another wicket, but with 37 now needed from the final 3 overs the Caribs best bowlers were bowled out. Skipper Haigh was forced to return to his own bowling and was promptly and ominously dispatched for six off his first ball of the new spell. The flurry of wickets had also meant the early retiree Dodger Bilal returned to the crease which led to another flurry of boundaries. With 21 needed off the final over Dodger Bilal nearly hit Carib Kant for this but they were in the end just short, with a narrow 3 run victory for the Caribs. For the first time in living memory there was not a single wide in the Carib bowling figures which must have also contributed to the success. The Caribs retired to the usual pub near the tube to mourn the Ashes first test defeat but to also celebrate only our second ever victory over the Dodgers and wish Carib Tom good travels.

Carib Beer XI Win by 3 Runs

Scorecard