When: 27 AUG 2016

Where: Rommen

Sandefjord Cricket Club 199/9 (30.0 ov)

Aliens Cricket Club 200/2 (27.5 ov)

Aliens Cricket Club - Won by 8 wickets

See the scorecard at CricHQ

Aliens Vs Sandefjord

Aliens won the toss and elected to bowl having had some success chasing scores this year. Including against league leaders in their first encounter this year where in a dramatic final couple overs Aliens chased 205 and won with 3 balls to spare.

This time the game was at Rommen and as such high scores are to be expected. The aim was to keep Sandefjord under 200.

Initially Aliens were unlucky with the new ball with one batsman leaving balls that would’ve struck the stumps had they been official size. The other batsmen took a much more aggressive approach and early on was let off by some missed catches and other balls just plopping over fielders heads.

Damon took the first wicket removing the less aggressive of the opening pair. This catch at first slip providing some evidence that there is a point in having a slip fielder.

Meanwhile the more aggressive of the 2 openers was hitting his straps and the Aliens bowlers with 5 big sixes giving some flashbacks to their nemesis from Fossum. It took a blinder of a catch from Dan Hollick diving at full stretch on the boundary to get rid of him for 49. Sandefjord 2-71 after 10overs.

The lead up to drinks Aliens were leaking runs and it looked like being a large chase. Post drinks Aliens pulled their socks up a bit and were much sharper in the field and with the ball.

David Kuhlwilm sending down 6 economical overs to stem the flow of runs and take some valuable wickets at the right times.. 3/29.

The middle and tail of Sandefjords side couldn’t withstand the pressure and finished on 9/199 from their 30 overs. Tariq finishing on 3/34 for Aliens dismissing Sandefjords highest scorer N.Butt for 64 in the last over.

So after some jitters in the middle overs Aliens were happy to be chasing 200 at a ground like Rommen.

After last weeks coaxing of Will Barton and Damien out of semi-retirement didn’t go quite to plan motivation was high for some redemption.

And redemption it was as these two put on 159 runs for the first wicket in a superb opening partnership. Will was eventually dismissed just after reaching his 50. Damien having played an aggressive innings was dispatching the bowlers with ease but succumbed after scoring a brilliant century (Aliens first in league play this year). There was still 30 runs to get in the last 7 overs so they key was not to loose wickets.

David Kuhlwilm steered the ship home nicely with a couple boundaries in the 28th over to finish things off nicely. He finished on 21* as Aliens cruised home to an 8 wicket victory with 13 balls to spare. Thus completing 2 wins against the top side in the division proving that its not talent but application that has us in the middle of the table.