All-rounder Noel Gibbons has enjoyed a productive 22 years in cricket, but nothing matched up to the moment last Friday when he strode out to bat for a Rest of the World XI in front of 53,000 Indians in New Delhi.

After watching from the sidelines in the first two matches between India and a Rest of the World team in Calcutta before 23,000 and 29,000 fans, Gibbons' memorable moment came in New Delhi when he came in to bat at number seven and finished with 21 of the team's 198 runs.

The innings included two fours, one an on-drive off the great Kapil Dev, and though Gibbons did not bowl as India replied with 200-2 to complete a clean sweep of of the three match series, the Bermudian was thrilled by the experience.

"Looking back on my career and what I did as a Bermudian this has to go down as number one,'' said Gibbons last night from England.

"Sitting in the dressing room just before I went out to bat, I said to myself that if I never walk out on a cricket field again in my life I would have done it all.

"It was an experience for all Bermudians to see. The population of all Bermuda was there and they were noisy.'' Like Clarence Parfitt, who played at Lords past the age of 40, Gibbons, 38, has also defied age to record another major accomplishment in his illustrious career.

"It was great that I got the opportunity before I retired,'' said Gibbons, who plays professionally in England for Birmingham-based team Halesowen. The chance for him to go to India came through former West Indies batsman Alvin Kallacharan who is still playing at the age of 44.

Besides Kallacharan and Gibbons, the Rest of the World team included captain Dean Jones, David Boon and Greg Matthews of Australia, Allan Donald, Richard Snell and David Richardson of South Africa, Imran Khan, Abdul Qadir and Basit Ali of Pakistan, Kallacharan, Collis King, Carlyle Best and Antiguan fast bowler Vincent Walsh of the West Indies.

"I found most of the guys really nice,'' said Gibbons. "Of the whole crew, David Boon was really comical. All week he was asking about the Bermuda Triangle. I fell right in because the guys who had been to Bermuda were all asking about Bermuda.'' Gibbons saw for himself just how fanatical the crowds are in India.

"Calcutta was really nice but when you got to New Delhi it was like coming to England and going to Lords,'' he said. "Delhi is the home of cricket in India.'' Leading the Rest of the World batting in the final match was Basit Ali with 55, while Kallacharan scored 39, Collis King 31 and Matthews 28. Spinner Kumble claimed six for 33, including the wicket of Gibbons, caught in the slips.

For India, Navjot Sidhu scored an unbeaten 118 from their 200-2 while Sachin Tendulkar scored 52 not out.

In the opening match India won by 55 runs, scoring 258-7 off their 50 overs and dismissing the World XI for 203.

In the second match, the closest, the Rest batted first and scored 283-4 with Boon hitting 101, Best 63 and 51 and India replied with 284-9 to win off the last ball. Tendulkar led the way with 120.

All matches were day/night and used to help raise funds for a children's hospital.

Gibbons returned to England on Sunday morning after an eight-and-a-half hour flight from India and was at Edgbaston on Monday to see Brian Lara score the last 370 runs of his record 501.

"English people have seen a lot of great cricketers over the years but the way they are talking is like they have never seen anybody as good as Lara,'' said Gibbons. "People in Birmingham are talking like he's not real.'' Gibbons enjoyed a fine knock himself last evening when he scored Halesowen's fastest ever 50 -- off 17 balls -- in a 20-overs match with Victoria in the Birmingham League.

Gibbons finished with 77 from 12 fours and a six as Halesowen scored 148-2, but Victoria won the match when they replied with 150-1 in 18 overs.