NL rnd 8: Aliens vs Friends

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Following the first win in their two-and-a-half year existence the previous week against Grorudalen, Aliens set about the first game of second half of the season with something approaching confidence. They finished it dreaming of promotion, having ripped apart the same Friends bowling attack that had dismissed Aliens for just 117 in the first game of the season. If only Aliens had realised earlier in the season that they could bat, perhaps they would be challenging for a top-two place instead of mid-table respectability.

Another lost toss meant the Aliens fielded first and they opened the bowling with what has become the regular opening pair of Abid Hussein and Simon Herbert. Simon struck in the first over of what was a hostile spell. Both the openers are capable of bowling quickly and, when the ball moves around in the air and off the pitch like it did on this occasion, they have most batsmen in difficulty. Abid was plain unlucky not to take any wickets.

Friends scored slowly and lost wickets regularly. Indeed, it was not until Zedrik (aka Cedric, take your pick) came in when the fourth wicket fell, that Friends looked like posting a respectable target. Zedric is Friends’ best batsmen (why he bats so low in the order is a mystery) and he set about the Aliens attack with some gusto although he was lucky early on to survive a catch off Geoff Brooker’s bowling when Abid caught the ball inches over the boundary line. Well done to Abid for admitting this; it made the eventual result taste even sweeter.

Zedric was also lucky to survive a few balls later when he skied the ball (again off Geoff’s bowling) to silly point. So high did the ball go that any one of ten Aliens players would have had time to get in position and take the catch (the deep midwicket with the sprained ankle might have struggled to make the ground). Instead, despite (or possibly because of) having his call made for him by the captain, Nigel Hornby froze, with what is now known as the ‘horn-plosion’ and watched as the ball came down and plugged itself 5 foot into the ground. An excavator was called in to dig it out.

Zedric made another 30 runs before being caught in the covers for 43; one of James Clowes’ 5 wickets which restricted Friends to the 147 they finished on. Drew Eakin produced another excellent spell, giving away only 20 runs in a tight 6 over spell when Friends were trying to accelerate their scoring and Anthony Boxall took a wicket with his first ball thanks to a redeemed Nigel Hornby, who took a excellent catch standing up from an edge off a fiercely spinning leg-break. Nigel also took a fine catch to get rid of a dangerous-looking Yasmir.

Aliens will not lose many more matches this season if they continue the habit of scoring 150/1 from 24 overs, as they have done in each of the past two games. Indeed, over the past 2 games, Aliens have scored 299/2 in a just under 49 overs with both openers averaging in the region of 100. They lost their only wicket on 53 (Travis Weston leg before after another impressive knock of 24 that showed the value of good shot selection and good timing) and never really looked back, taking advantage of the plentiful supply of bad balls to flail the Friends? bowling all over the ground.

Geoff Brooker obviously relishes batting at number 3 when he can come in with 50 on the board from the opening 10 overs and William Dennett has at last started to rediscover the form of his youth after a 13 year break from the game. His 74 no was the highest by an Aliens’ batsmen for 2 years and this, together with a rapid 34 no by Geoff, ensured that Aliens won the game with 5 overs to spare. On this form, there will not be many teams in the division relishing the prospect of meeting a team that was, until a couple of weeks ago, known more for its record of losing than its cricketing ability.

ALIENS vs FRIENDS

30 over Match Played At Stovner, 29th June, National League 2003

Aliens wins by 9 wickets

Round 8
Toss won by Friends
Umpires Jinnah
Aliens Man of the Match: William Dennett

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Friends 1st Innings All out 147 from 28.2 overs

Batsman	How out	Bowler	Runs	Bls	4s	6s
Isamath	Ct J. Clowes	S. Herbert	0
Brian	Run out		2
Yazmir	Ct N.Hornby	G. Brooker	19		2
Talib	ct	G. Brooker	8		1
Anas	ct	J. Clowes	11
Zedrik	ct	J. Clowes	43		3	4
Aniz	Ct M. De Beurs	J. Clowes	14		2	1
Khan	Ct N. Hornby	A. Boxall	2
Shihan	bowled	J. Clowes	15			2
Irfan	ct	J. Clowes	3
Azmy	Not out		2
extras		(b4 lb4 w18 nb2)	28
TOTAL		10 wickets for	147

FOW	FOW	FOW
1-1	2-35	3-42
4-99	5-99	6-109
7-	8-	9-
10-147

Bowler	O	M	R	W	wd	nb
S. Herbert	4	0	12	1	10
A. Hussein	6	1	26	0	1
D. Eakin	6	1	20	0	2
G. Brooker	6	0	37	2	3
J. Clowes	4,2	0	36	5	3
A. boxall	2	0	16	1	0

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Aliens 1st Innings 1 for 148 from 24.5 overs

Batsman	How Out	Bowler	Runs	Bls	4s	6s
W. Dennett	Not out		74	71	9	0
T. Weston	L.B.W.	Talib	25	27	2	2
G. Brooker	Not out		34	43	3	0
				0	0	0
				0	0	0
				0	0	0
				0	0	0
				0	0	0
				0	0	0
extras		(b2 lb1 w11 nb1)	15
TOTAL		1 wicket for	148	141	14	2

FOW	FOW	FOW
1-53	2-	3-
4-	5-	6-
7-	8-	9-
10-

Bowler	O	M	R	W	wd	nb
Shihan	4	1	17	0
Yazmir	3	0	17	0
Talib	5	0	29	1
Isamath	4	0	26	0
Anas	3	0	21	0
Irfan	1	0	13	0
Azmy	4,5	0	21	0