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Written by Benan John Mathai

The reverse fixture of 2018 season started off with Aliens playing the old rivals Inter-Lions. Dennis, our skipper, called the wrong side of the coin and Inter Lions chose to bat. The spirit in the Aliens camp was pretty high, as they were on back of a good win against Alna. Pure coincidence that none of Aliens three keepers were playing this game and a nervy Benan had to don the keeping gloves. Now if your premier fast bowler is gonna hit the stumps every time he bowls, there is little any stand-in keeper has to worry about and that’s what exactly Damon did as he bowled the heart and heart-beat of Inter-Lions – Mr. Saqib Qayyum – peach of a delivery first up, swung back in after pitching just outside off to castle his middle stump. Perfect start. Saqib was left to ponder if only had he played it close to his body. Out comes number 3 batsman, A. Kazmi. Ball no. 2 – outside off, left alone and Benan collects okishly but far less nervy now. Ball no. 3 – pitched on middle and raps the batsman flush in front of middle, up goes the umpire’s finger and the second wicket falls. It was orgasmic, the moment. Scoreboard read Inter-Lions 0/2. I.Javed and S Mahmud Khan tried to build a partnership of sorts only to be castled by the ‘on-fire’ Damon again. Well he’s been on fire all season. Purple patch one would say – ‘touchwood’. Dennis was neat and tidy at the other end, whole through his first spell.

Hansa was class during his stay of 18 and provided good support to less-classy S.Mahmud Khan, but the introduction of the medium pacers, Daniel and Viven, tightened the grip on scoring. Both were impeccable with their line and lengths and got the batsmen to nick-off to the keeper, who did wobble one of the catches but held on. The Inter Lions innings lacked late impetus and they dragged themselves to 165, thanks to 38 extras. The spinners did not have any joy but the medium pacers shared the 7 wickets to fall, with Damon bagging 4, Dennis, Daniel and Viven with 1 each.

Aliens were slow off the blocks but steady in their reply of 165. Shantha and Marcus build a good partnership in the middle worth 98, with the latter scoring his first half century for Aliens. Shantha continued his fine run with the bat, his average now touching ‘VM Merchant’ levels. He scored 60 off 52 and Damon 17 off 12 to finish things off in fine fashion. Such was the clinicality of the chase that the Norwegian policewomen agreed to click few snaps with the Aliens boys, though they were overheard saying ‘What an effing waste of time’.