Match Report - Aliens vs Friends 11 may 2003

Well it's that time of year again people - the season is ahead of us with over 15 games to be played.

On the 11 May, the ACC were pumped up with new sponsored whites and some fancy hats making increasing our levels of confidence to even greater heights. The game at hand was against Friends, a team that overall is undefeated against the Aliens, yet failed to perform last year against the rest of the teams.

The game started with Geoffos Brooker tossing off, which Friends won, putting the ACC into bat.

Looking fired up, Geoff Brooker (C) and Willam Dennett went into bat. It was not long before we saw Geoff again, starting the season with a golden duck off a poor delivery outside the off stump. The captain's knock we anticipated did not come to avail.

Jamie Cameron then hit the crease and moments later the Aliens were 2-0. Not the start that we expected to achieve. A partnership started to develop with Jamie Clowes and Will Dennett over the next few overs until William was bowled on unlucky 13 - a partnership of 29.

Johannes Scholtz entered the middle with a quick fire 15 off 20 balls - a great knock. Jamie Clowes continued on his merry way with singles and doubles constantly increasing the scoreboard. Johannes was eventually caught on the boundary by a well taken catch. (ACC 4-63)

Travis Weston then entered the crease with some nervous anxiety. However once a few balls were blocked, the relaxed confidence kicked in, scoring a boundary and with Jamie Clowes, some excellent running between the wickets, taking the ACC to 5-100. "Howzat" was the appeal for LBW, and given it was, after Travis insisted that he had hit the ball, whilst grabbing his box, where the ball had hit. He was gone for 19 of 26 balls.

The Aliens with the help of Simon Herbert (2), Mitch Debuers (0), Guy Harris (0), Nigel Hornby (1) and Anthony Boxall (0) and the ever lasting rock known as Jamie Clowes (51 not out), managed a total innings score of 117 all out off 30 overs. Well in actaul fact most of those guys did not really help at all.

Not the start the ACC were after, but yes defendable - or was it.

After two quick fire wickets by Johannes Scholtz (1-21) and Mitch DeBeurs(2-32) Friends were 2-5. Mitch shortly after claimed another scalp and they were reeling at 3-23. Then the slogger of the century came in, otherwise known as Zedrik and scored 68 unbeaten runs with some good support by Aniz (17 not out).

The ACC had the game in hand with some awfully close balls missing the stumps by the smallest of margins, Mitch DeBeurs being the unlucky bowler on too many occassions. Two very difficult chances were missed in the slips, and a dolly missed by Lars in the closing stages of the match.

All in all, this was not the start to the season the Aliens wanted. However a lot of positives were taken out of the game, such as game intensity, Geoffs captaincy, Clowesy magnificent 51 unbeaten runs and some nice bowling by several of the team members.

Our next game will be against Holmlia, a team that is certainly playing to their ability and will be a serious test to the Aliens. The ACC must improve dramatically to secure two points at Stovner on the 24th May 2003.

With the inclusions of Drew Eakin (the house buyer) and Chris Maile (the trampalinist), we should have a strong team to execute Holmlia, literally.

Travis Weston