T20 Championship (Div 4) Match 1 vs Asker
When: 15th May, 2022
Where: Stubberudmyra
Aliens: 148/7 (20)
Asker: 149/8 (19.5)
Asker win by two wickets.
Tariq stays cool to ace a tense chase for Asker
The allrounder scored quickly in difficult conditions, after bowling with venom to restrict Aliens to 148.
Asker 149 for 9 (Tariq 33, Jamil 31, Khayyam 22, David 1-15, Benan 1-20) beat Aliens Aliens 148 for 7 (Damon 70, Dennis 35, Shahabaz 19, Farhad 2-22, Tariq 1-22 by five wickets
Tariq cracked open the game for Asker with both ball and bat to take them to a tense win over Aliens with one ball to spare. He bowled with pace, using the length ball perfectly on a pitch with uneven bounce to return figures of 3-0-22-1 and restrict Aliens to
148. On a tacky pitch, Asker never really broke away from Aliens until Tariq hit three boundaries in the 20th over sealing the win with a flat six over long-on to end up with 33 off 16.
This was a gruelling match played in oppressive heat and humidity (Norwegian standards*). As a result, both teams struggled to keep time but were not penalised for slow over-rate.
If it doesn't swing, Just bowl length
With grass on the pitch and also given the history of Ikea furuset, it was a big toss to win for Asker. They expected swing, but didn't get any. While there was still seam movement on offer, Jamil bowled a surprise delivery to Milton. It was a brave change-up with third and fine leg both inside the circle, but the line was wide, which meant Milton had to fetch it. He managed just a top edge to the keeper.
Just as Aliens looked to make the most of the solid start, Farhad came back to get both Dennis and David in two overs. Anshul just couldn't come to terms with the pitch, falling behind a run a ball. He could hardly time any of his attempted big hits.
Aliens´s slow medium bowlers impress
The start of Asker's innings was hectic. Edges went past the wicket, their openers kept getting beaten on the outside edge, enduring the slowest powerplay they have had in T20s (probably). The ball kept fizzing around, but a flurry of boundaries in the last two powerplay overs kept Asker in the game. When the powerplay ended at 45 for 1, Asker were right in the game.
Spinners strike, Asker disrupt
Dave and Pradeesh kept the middle overs tight and made sure Asker were always under the required run rate. Asker improvised, sending Jamil in at No. 5. The purpose of that move is dual. They get to know how good Jamil can be when given more batting responsibility, and they also force Aliens to make a change. Of course all of this would only come to matter if if Jamil could overcome his ordinary record against spin, which he did by using his feet against Pradeesh to hit those boundaries and force Aliens to keep his last over in the bank.
Both sides hang in, Tariq heroics
Asker played the waiting game. Asker needed 32 runs off the last three overs. When Benan began the 19th, it was clear Aliens were going to try their best bets first. Benan conceded just five runs off the over.
Damon bowled the final over with 16 in the bank. If Aliens could keep Tariq off strike they had a chance, but Asker ensured that he was. Things got interesting when Damon bowled a dot the first ball. Tariq though coolly hit a finished the game with 6 6 4 to seal a very good win for Asker.