Bank of England v Carib Beer XI - 27th July 2006 - Regents Park.

Having narrowly lost to a Bank of England Select XI during our inaugural season last year, the Carib Boys were keen to secure a victory this season to even the balance. Hampered by the loss of our Captain and Team Manager, Martin Haigh, and further hampered by having Carib Willis (again) as the stand in captain (he was also stand in captain during last year's loss), we took to the field with some trepidation, anxious not to repeat the ignomony of last year. The threat of some inclement weather, some light drizzle, thunder, and some very poor light restricted the game to a 15 overs a side clash, and, having won the toss, we elected to field first. The game had been categorised as 'Category II' meaning that some on field consumption of acohol was allowed, mainly on account of the fact that no-one from the Bank would turn up if it wasn't.

Carib Rogerson and Carib Willis opened the bowling on the somewhat green wicket, and initially, the Bank's openers struggled. Peter's 2-6 and Captain Bazza's 2-2 meant that the Bank were already in serious trouble after only 4 overs. Opener Hall played and missed to a ball that rolled along the floor, and BOE Bowen looked like he may have been brushed on the arm by a rising delivery that carried through to the keeper, only for Mr Bowen to enquire of the umpire after the rather hopeful appeal whether being struck on the thumb constituted being out or not, easing the job of the umpire somewhat. BOE Moss also managed to survive his first ball, and stuck around for a full two balls before being bowled. Obviously the practice he is acquiring as an occassional Carib Ringer is beginning to pay off. BOE Lee, obviously still traumatised by a heavy thrashing during a game of garden cricket with his 7 year old son lasted a full 7 balls for his single, before being snared by a fine catch in the gully by our stand in captain, Barry Willis.

Number five in, however, was Nick Moore, who also scored the bulk of the BOE's runs last year, and a quick dismissal was vital if we were to push home our advantage. But Nick again played a composed and watchful inninges, aided, it must be said by some spilled chances in the field, all completely unrelated to the 'Category II' status of the match, to retire with a respectable 28 to go with his 26 not out from last year. Clearly, for next year's encounter, we will need to develop a plan to control this profligate run scoring machine. Nick was ably assisted by BOE Dave "I haven't picked up a cricket bat for 25 years" Jones who posted a useful 16, and a promising innings by BOE Dowson was brought to an end by a fine caught and bowled by Carib Harris, who had steadfastly refused to catch anything else all game.

Chris Williams, the BOE captain, and occassional Carib Ringer, had scored a few last year. This year, however, he was to cause the scorers rather less trouble, when, after scampering a quick single from an almost textook late cut, he was informed that he had in fact just knocked over his own stumps in the process. Clearly, this was attributable to the 'Category II' status of the game, demonstrating that this policy can occassionally work in our favour. The departure of Mr Williams (to open another can, probably) brought our stand in Captain's wife Louise to the crease to bat out the last couple of overs. Our very own Mrs Ringer, Hannah, was unable to dislodge her, and the BOE innings was brought to a close, on a not unrespectable 77 from 15 overs.

Worth a mention is a fine over from Man of the Match candidate Carib Glen, who completed his over in only nine deliveries, approximately two less than it had taken Carib Cordey, who had appeared to be trying to bowl all his overs in one go, ensuring in the process that the wides tally for the innings comfortably out-scored all but one of the Bank's batsmen. Given our near failure to chase down a score of 51 last week, the Bank's 77 could have proven a tricky ask, given as were without our Captain, Team Manager and most consistent Batsman, Martin Haigh. Nevertheless, we began our innings fully expecting to be able to chase down the target.

Carib Cordey and Ringer Turner opened the batting for the Carib Beer XI, and almost immediatly, Carib Cordey had smacked BOE Moss for four, getting the innings off to a flyer. However, on his second delivery, Cordey made the mistake of playing back to an arguably straightish delivery, and was struck somewhere between his feet and head. BOE Moss appealed and our very own Carib Berry, after considering his decision in a manner that Steve Bucknor would have been proud, raised his finger to give him out. There seems to be approximately 14 different opinions on exactly which direction the ball was headed, and where it struck Mr Cordey, (Mr Cordey himself seems to have profered 8 of them), but he was on his way after a typically mercurial innings, with his strike rate of 200 safe for the time being.

This brought Ringer Curtiss to the crease and although what followed wasn't exciting, it was certainly effective. Between the two ringers, they were able to build a healthy stand of 42, that took us to within 30 of the victory target. The partnership ended when Ringer Curtiss was removed by BOE top scorer Moore and he was replaced at the crease by Carib Glen, with an average that has hovered somewhere around the zero mark for most of the season. However, we were to witness on this occasion one of the innings of the season as the Man of the Match candidate bludgeoned his way to 10 runs in 17 balls, including a faultless and sweetly timed cross batted swipe that raced to the cover point boundary for four.

His partner by this time was stand in captain Barry Willis, Ringer Turner having retired, and in an effort to stem the runflow, the BOE introduced their own partnership breaker in the form of the very lovely Mrs Willis, our captain's wife. Barry managed to survive the first few balls of the over, and even managed a nervous and desparately scrambled single in an effort to get off strike. Unfortunately, Carib Rayner wasn't so lucky and was forced to watch in agony as the next delivery clattered into his stumps, bringing to an end a fine knock, and comfortably beating his previous best score of nought in the process.

However, by this time, only a few runs were needed and Captain Barry and Ringer Hannah (who incidently appears not to be satisfied with snogging James Anderson, apparently now has her eyes on young Gary Pratt) were able to knock off the final couple of runs, securing a very comprehensive 7 wicket victory for Martin Haigh and the Carib Boys. The victory was the largest victory margin in our history, and surely puts to rest any remaining ghosts arising from last year's humiliating defeat. Next year's encounter should be a fiercely contested one.

Today also saw the inaurguration of several new trophies;

1. Man of the match award - Glen Rayner was nominated by himself on no fewer than 32 occasions. No-one else came close in terms of number of nominations, so it would appear that the first recipient of the award goes to Glen.

2. The Carib Beer XI 'Peter Shilton' fielding award, special mention to Mr Glen Rayner who attempted to catch a relatively straight forward chance off his own bowling using his right calf muscle. Amazingly, it wasn't until we were in the pub after the game that it dawne on him that it would have been much less painful if he had engaged his hands in the task instead, thus securing his first wicket of the season in the process.

3. The first ever 'Being bowled out by a girl playing her first ever game of cricket' award. Unfortunately, Glen again snatches this trophy, bringing his tally for the match to three, itself a record.

4. The Carib 'Being able to throw a cricket ball as far as Ringer Hannah' award. At this time, there appears to be no obvious candidates within the team for this one.

5. 'Carib Beer XI Monty Panesar fielding award'. As already mentioned, Martin was away on holiday this week, so more news on this particular award will most likely be forthcoming on his return.