T20 Match 1: Aliens vs Sentrum Cricket Club
Anticipation was high for the season opener against Sentrum, but an air of slight trepidation surrounded the aliens huddle. With dark clouds on the horizon and Matthew ‘wash out’ Fentem in the match day XI, many were anxious as to whether the game would indeed be completed. However the weather held, despite a few flurries of snow and a brief 15 minute delay at the change of innings, and an exciting and intriguing game was able to be completed.
Aliens won the toss and put Sentrum, who were the favourites on paper, in to bat. As starts to the season go, what followed next, couldn’t be much better, D. Crawford castling P. Agnihotri with the very first pill of the season. The reporter has since forgotten many of the details of the remainder of the Sentrum innings, but does recall that Aliens put on a top draw fielding display on a tricky outfield, snaffling a supposedly uncharacteristic 3 catches (the reporter has been made aware that Aliens have previously not been renowned for their catching prowess). This coupled with some tidy bowling, meant that Sentrum never really managed to get going and ended up with a respectable, but by no means insurmountable total of 119 for 8, with D. Crawford, D. Peter and D. Kuhlwilm picking up a brace of wickets each and H. Singh and M. Lyon bagging 1 apiece.
After a slight delay for a passing flurry of snow, yes snow! Aliens set about their chase with aplomb, the required rate a manageable 6 an over. Openers S.Gazdowicz and M.Lyon kept above the rate until Gazdowicz fell for 12 with the score on 30. M.Fentem joined Lyon at the crease and the two continued to keep Aliens just ahead of the rate. However when Lyon fell for 21 with the score on 46, a flurry of quick wickets halted the Aliens progress. Joining Fentem at the crease, D. Crawford hit his first ball through backward point, but was out the very next ball guiding the ball straight to the man at backward point. And when Fentem feathered a late cut through to the keeper in the next over, Aliens were in need of some consolidation and a rebuild. D. Peter and D.Kuhlwilm set about the task effectively with some good running between the wickets and a fluster of boundaries. However some tight bowling and good meant that Aliens began to fall behind the rate, but when D. Kuhlwilm fell for 26, Aliens were still in with an outside chance. With 14 needed from the last over, and D.Peter and H. Singh at the crease, the game was poised of an exciting finish. Peter hit two boundaries early in the over, but ultimately Aliens fell agonisingly short, losing by 4 runs.
A great number of positives were to be taken from the teams first run out of the season. A high quality bowling and especially fielding display, and a solid batting performance, which only faltered through the loss of some quick wickets in the middle overs, meant that Aliens went toe to toe with an elite division side, boding very well for the remainder of what looks to be a very promising season.