Game 6: Aliens vs Aker
With the temperature hitting 25° early in the morning at 8 in Oslo, aliens showed up to play cricket with sleepy faces. Tired bodies moved around in attempt to warm up with lieutenant crawford shouting orders - “Keep it as a team”. Meanwhile Denis won the toss and elected to bat giving everyone some time to wake up.
Like every other game most aliens were greeted with a white pasty ass hovering over their faces as Dave was trying to pad up. At one point Dan was breathing to it so close that some arse hair fluttered in the gentle breeze as Dave bent over. Shahabaz opened along with Dave for aliens and got going from ball one. He was at his prime early in the innings as he smashed anything wide off the stumps. Dave on the other hand was playing the anchor role scoring runs slow. Shahabaz was tormenting the bowlers on the other end and reached his 50 in no time. After playing a solid anchor role watching Shahabaz from the other end, Dave decided to try using his bat, resulting in a simple caught and bowled. Dave departed for 27. The skipper went in next only to last for a short while making 5 before handing a regular catch practice. Crawford was in next for the aliens and showed class. He quickly reached his 30s while Shahabaz had played all the shots in his book. He creeped slowly for his first aliens century. It would be the first aliens century in 3 years (Last being Damien). The dugout tried to remain calm and not jinx him in his 90s.
Shahabaz had other plans. When he was 6 runs short of a fantastic century, he tried to heave one over the covers, but the ball lobbed up high over the bowlers head. Dead silence. Followed by shouts of catch it. Camera pans out. Tense moment. Everything slows down. The bowler adjusts himself below the ball. Shahabaz´s head is up watching the ball with open mouth. Fielders dont move. Aliens in the dugout raising their hands over their heads. Marcus didnt give a rats ass and was smoking. Benan burying his head behind my shoulders.
Silence….. Heartbeats can he heard… Norwegian walkers stop their mid day walk to watch what happens.. Silence..
When everything was slow, one brain was thinking faster than the speed of light. Crawfords was working a plot. Calculating the number of steps he needs to take to get in between the bowler and the ball. Measuring his wing span so he can take down the bowler. Working his facial muscles to keep an innocent puppy face. He got his calculations correct. He executed his plan. Got in front of the bowler while keeping a solid posture to tackle anyone else coming his way. But the bowler got around him in time to take a good catch. Disappointed sighs can be heard. Shahabaz was out for a very well made 96 from 72 balls. Aliens greet him with cheers and handshakes.
With only a few overs felt, Universe boss (Sunil) was sent in to clear the boundaries. He lasted two balls with a strike rate of 100 before the bowler cleared his stumps. Shantha was in next and played a quick fire innings along with Crawford. Lieutenant Crawford reached yet another 50 in style. He soon fell for a well made 56. Marcus had to throw his cigarette at this point to hold a bat. He and Shantha played the rest of the overs out with both being un-scalped for 11 and 29 respectively. Aliens set a very respectable target of 251 which the opponent did not take very well.
After some arguments on the scoring and accusations about benan being cheeky with the score, Aliens took the field to defend their target. Dennis and Crawford opened the bowling for aliens but the opposition openers looked solid and fired away to a quick start. 50 came up on the board in no time when Dennis decided to relieve himself and Crawford of the pain. It was time to try on the spinners. Dave and shantha were brought in as replacement and showed character. Spun a few and darted a few in from both ends. With the opposition score reaching 70 in the 9 overs, Dave took a very good caught and bowled to get rid of one of the openers. He quickly followed by trapping the new batsman for a leg before. Aker was 87 for 2 at the end of the 12th over. Benan replaced Shantha at one end and quickly got rid of the remaining opener who was caught by Dave for a well made 44. Although Shantha was not in action as a bowler, he helped Dave get another wicket by taking a good catch to get rid of the new batsman. Aliens went in for drinks break at 15 overs with opposition on 115 for 4.
Benan came back with intent after the break and bowled with discipline. This frustrated the oppositions middle order who were already pissed with his scoring. However, Benan got to say the last word and cleaned up the batsman. The captain walked in and threatened the bowlers with his bat. He quickly made his 50 and had all intent to chase the target. Unfortunately, his team members didn't get the memo and kept losing their wickets in regular intervals. Three quick wickets (1 to Chris and 2 to Crawf), all of which were bowled, left the opposition at 209 for 8 at the end of the 27th over. With only 3 overs to go and 2 wickets left, the captain took up the responsibility and rejected singles. He tried everything to make it to the target but fell short to Crawford giving a simple catch to Marcus at the slips. He departed for a well made 61 off 40. With the danger gone, Dennis brought himself back to attack and cleaned up the tailender to show who is the boss. Aker was all out for 229 with 1 ball to spare.
Scalps:
Dave - 3 for 29 off 6 overs
Crawford - 3 for 36 off 6 overs
Benan - 2 for 30 off 3 overs
Chris - 1 for 15 off 2 overs
Dennis - 1 for 60 off 5.5 overs