Div 2 Round 13: Aliens Vs Minhaj
When: 20 AUG 2016
Where: Rommen
Aliens Cricket Club 144/2 (25.3 ov)
Minhaj Cricket Club 143/8 (30.0 ov)
Aliens Cricket Club - Won by 8 wickets
Aliens CC vs Minhaj CC
20-8-2016
The game against Minhaj CC was the first of the double header that was slotted for the weekend and the Aliens were pumped for the same. There was still some rain the day before and the players were just worried about the water holding up on the ground – patch of few puddles around the boundary line. The umpires had a look and deemed it safe to play, much to the relief and joy of all the 22 players. We just wanted to have a game on a day that was tailor made for cricket – bright and sunny, conditions perfect for the gentleman’s game.
The Alien’s skipper Dennis Peters called it right at the toss and elected to field. Rømmen of all the places, was a ground where you could chase easily. At the team huddle, just before the first ball was bowled, there was a buzz amongst the 11 - a buzz to WIN, aided by the pep talk given by the skipper asking the players to focus, to be ’on’ the game and that we needed to win the next 7 games to have any chances of getting promoted up the division. This got all the players pumped up. Alien’s and Norway’s premier strike bowler Damon Crawford was given the new nut and he delivered a perfect start, clean bowling the clueless opener of Minhaj CC, Zahir Nawaz off the first ball of the match. Damon was well supported by skipper Dennis Peters at the other end, knitting up some silent overs but without any luck. It was the first change bowler Tariq Omar who broke the brief resistance offered by Zuhaib Naseem, by having him caught by David Kuhlwilm off a well directed bouncer, which the hapless batsman just top edged.
Aliens were quite content at the display of Minhaj’s no. 2 batsman Khuram Shehzad’s batting, who was as slow as he can be in scoring and his timing looked pretty awful for an opener. It was later understood – albeit an interview by Gavin Adair – where he confessed that he actually is a no. 11 batsman and that the skipper was just trying something new and innovative. That indeed was innovative, something that the Alien’s tink-tank should/could consider doing in the future ;). The skipper tossed the ball to the veteran player, Marcus Lyon who struck straight away having Minhaj’s no. 4 plumb in front. Taufiq Omar relieved off the hopeless, hapless and clueless Khuram from his misery by having him bowled, which many Aliens thought that he shouldn’t have done ;) The other Omar struck soon again, rattling the timber guarded poorly by Mudassar.
The overs 20 – 25 were quiet crucial for both the teams, where one wanted to force the issue while the other wanted to have a tight leash over the scoring and to chip away regularly. The latter won this battle helped on by some tidy bowling from the medium pacers Benan John and Daniel Hollick, who gave nothing away, bowling wicket to wicket lines. The relentless pressure induced false strokes from Waqas Tariq first and then from Amarinder Singh nicely caught by Tariq and Gavin respectively. Minhaj CC could just drag themselves to an under par 143 which the Aliens were confident of chasing. The fielding effort was the best that was on display and probably the best in last three seasons. Special mention to Daniel’s splendid catch diving backwards off Dennis Peters bowling capped up the special fielding effort. Daniel’s effort has to be up there for the nomination for the catch of the season.
Aliens began their chase pretty confidently with David and Taufiq starting off the proceedings. Both looked confident untill David was caught off Ali for 15. Skipper walked in and stroked his way to 12, when he was enticed by a short and wide ball which he edged to the keeper, trying to upper-cut it. Taufiq meanwhile was showing impeccable discipline and character. He was was joined by Damon at the fall of Dennis’ wicket. Taufiq seemed too comfortable against the spinners, flicking, pulling and cutting them at ease. He soon reached his first half century for Aliens. Damon too joined in the scoring and both of them made sure that Aliens suffered no more casualities. Aliens CC romped home comfortably in the 26th over defeating Minhaj CC by 8 wickets. It was a perfect team effort, an effort which included all three aspects in the right proportions – the bowling aided by the fielding capped by the batting.
Highlights of the game :
1. Minhaj CC sending in their number 11 to open the batting. :P
2. Brilliant fielding effort by the Aliens, capped by Daniel’s stunner.
3. Tight bowling by the Alien CC bowlers.
4. Eye pleasing 77 by Taufiq Omar.
5. Gavin’s swollen lips, being stung by mating wasps from his drink can, when he tried to disturb their bang.
