When: June 23rd 2024

Where: Bærum

Aliens Ck 168/9 35.0 /35 ov

Stabekk A Ck 95/10 20.3 /35.0 ov

Aliens Ck won by 73 Run

See the scorecard at CricClubs

Aliens: 168/9 (35 overs)

(Anshul 49, Pratik 36, Hasan Imam 2-21)

The Aliens returned to the Rud baseball arena, scene of last week’s disappointing defeat, determined to make amends. Somewhat adapted to the slow outfield and pitch, Pratik and Anshul got the team off to a strong start, racking up a 50-run partnership for the second wicket in less than 10 overs. Pratik fell for a run-a-ball 36, as Stabekk fought back, taking Damon’s wicket soon after to reduce Aliens to 64/3. However another strong partnership, this time 47 runs between Anshul and Avra kept the Rud roller-skiers entertained. Anshul fell for 49, just as the team were warming their hands to clap a fine innings.

But, it wouldn’t be Aliens innings without a run out or several, so our final ten over charge was derailed by a number of comic interludes. Avra run out for 29 after taking a gamble, Erik run out for 7 following a mix-up, Tom run out for 9 after a stumble and Ankit run out for 4 after failing to find his accelerator. Aliens were running out of batters, but Benan came out at number 11 to clout the final ball for two and achieve the highest strike rate of the innings.

Stabekk A: 95 all out (20.3 overs)

(Tom 4-11, Gareth 2-12, Dennis 2-18)

168 seemed an imposing total, although the Stabekk openers got off to a lighting start. Abdul Sattar, with his idiosyncratic batting technique, launched two sixes in the first three overs – as many as Aliens had managed in their entire innings. Just as the roller-skiers were starting to take shelter, Tom hit one of those purple patches of form that swing bowlers dream of. The dangerous Sattar holed out for 19 for his first wicket. Next over he clean bowled the other opener and dismissed number 3, caught and bowled. Another wicket followed in his fourth over. Suddenly Stabekk were 31/4, and Tom had all four wickets to fall.

The next few overs saw a helter-skelter mix of wickets, dot balls, airy wafts and the odd humongous six threatening the athletes in the nearby stadium. Dennis chipped in with two wickets, before Gareth (two wickets) and Dave (one) helped share the tail-end spoils. Benan then completed his statistically perfect game with a spell of one wicket for no runs off 3 balls. 95 all out and a thumping victory by 73 runs. No Stabekk batters had passed 20, despite their five sixes in the innings. The season was back on track.