Christiania vs Aliens, SL (Div 1) Match # 1
AUSTRALIAN IN BALL TAMPERING SCANDAL
An eventful start to the season in Rommen on the weekend, with Australian opening bowler Damon Crawford (2/15) being warned by the umpire against applying saliva to the ball during the Christiania innings. After a lightning-fast opening spell including 2 wickets in his 3rd over, Crawford was warned in the field just before the imminent offence, and the call of "same old Aussies, always cheating" could be heard from the direction of Thomas Townsend's house.
The Christiania middle order began to settle, but Aliens captain Dennis stepped up in the middle overs taking 4/17, and Christiania tumbled to all out for 129 from 27 overs. Other wickets shared between Tom (2/41), Dave (1/30) and Benan (1/21).
The bowlers were helped out by some long grass in the outfield and some top fielding, including 2 catches by Avra.
The chase got off to a less than stellar start, with 2 golden ducks in the first over leaving the boys in blue at 2/1. Thankfully Damon and Pratik then put on 71 before Pratik fell LBW for 36, and Dave was in and then out in the same manner for 1, and Andrew Kirby kicking off his aliens career with a couple of nice shots before he got a bit too much onto a straight chip and was caught at long on. Dennis had a strong cameo of 21 before holing out, and when Damon fell in the nervous 40s the pressure began to rise as the tail was at risk of being exposed.
Fortunately, the steady hands of Simon (7*) and Marcus (5*) moved the total forward, and by the time Marcus played an unorthodox reverse leg glance through fine gully for 3 the game was all but over. A good win for Aliens, even if a bit stressful towards the end.