St Peters Dad vs Carib Beer XI,

Battersea Park, Thursday 22nd May 2025

The Caribs first match of the season was against our familiar foes St Peters Dad. A pre-season effort to mobilise our ringers had proved very successful leading to the Caribs being able to field a full 11 for about the first time in three seasons. However what hadn't changed was the tardiness in arrival of the vast majority of the team, thus leading to the toss being abandoned with the Caribs needing to bat first. Carib Royal Correspondent Holmes, fresh from his duties attending the VE Day 80 events, was unusually not one of the late arrivals and so was able to take up his customary position opening the batting, with Ringer Neethu asked to pad up alongside him. Unfortunately Ringer Neethu was out early for a run-a-ball 3. This led to Carib chair and captain Martin joining Carib Alex at the crease. For the next 4 overs the two Caribs struggled to score from the excellent Dads bowling with Carib Moss umpiring at square leg irritatingly reminding the two batters at the end of the over how slow the scoring rate was. Eventually this led to two run outs (both given out by Moss) with an admirable attempt to up the scoring rate just failing.

Caribs Yusuf and Weaver were now at the crease and Yusuf managed to hit the first boundary of the innings before falling to the continued excellent bowling of the Dads, Carib Weaver also being out shortly before thus led to the Caribs being in the perilous position of 29/5 in only the ninth over. With the quick wickets Carib Kant was unusually circumspect in just holding up an end whilst failing to score, however this allowed Ringer Manik, making his Carib debut to settle in at the crease and able to play the stand-out innings of the day for the Caribs. Caribs Kant, Cordey, Bowen and Moss all came and went with similar degrees of limited success with Ringer Manik keeping the scoring rate going at the other end. Carib Moss did at least hang around long enough to be part of a 28 run partnership (whilst only contributing 5 runs) to allow the Caribs to get up towards a semi-respectable score. Ringer Manik hit the very last ball of the innings for six allowing the Caribs to creep up to a round score of 100.

Our opening bowlers were the pace attack of Caribs Swanand and Yusuf, however the Dads batting not under pressure chasing the low target were able to score at a run a ball for the opening spell, so 24-0 after 4 overs. Ringer Manik having shown full commitment to the Carib cause, had twisted his ankle a little diving back into the crease to avoid being stumped was called on next to bowl. Carrying this injury meant Manik was restricted to just a two-step run up. This was probably quite fortunate for the Dads as Manik's first ball was a spearing Yorker that was past the batter before they had even had chance to play a shot and the Caribs had their first wicket. A similar delivery followed in Ringer Manik's next over, meaning the Dads were now 35/2 but still scoring at a healthy rate. The Dads as usual were playing the game in the good spirits we are accustomed too were allowing their umpires to take on liquid refreshments after their exertions in the fields. Carib Haigh, not surprisingly with his devout insistence on no alcohol being allowed at any time, ever, took exception to this and so under the guise of attempting a run out threw the ball at the can of beer thus emptying the contents.

Skipper Martin no doubt emboldened and pleased with himself at this success brought himself on to bowl and also took a wicket with his first ball with Carib Kant taking a good catch in the covers. So the Dads were now 54/3 with the wickets keeping the Caribs in the game. However at this point the wickets dried up and with not enough runs to play with the Dads were able to keep ticking along despite tidy bowling from Caribs Haigh and Cordey. It wasn't until the Carib Swanand was brought back into the attack in the 17th over that the Caribs took another wicket. The Dads eased to the target with 9 balls to spare. The only highlight of the last few overs (at least for Carib Cordey, if nobody else) was the fielding of Carib Moss, looking like a man about 20 years older than his age in attempts to stop a boundary.

So the first game of the season was a very good bowling and fielding effort but ultimately were probably 20-30 runs short in the batting department (maybe winter nets aren't such a bad idea). However the game was played in good spirts and we look forward to playing the St Peters Dad team again in the future.

Carib Beer XI Lose by 6 Wickets

Scorecard