Friendly Match 7: Aliens vs Vålerenga
When: 31 August
Where: Rommen
Aliens - 199/2 (20.0 ov)
Vålerenga - 175/9 (19.4 ov)
Aliens won by 24 runs
Led by Openers Brilliance, Aliens registered another comfortable win over Vålerenga in a friendly T20
It was non-typical Norwegian weather (a perfect day for cricket) at Rommen cricket ground in Oslo. The Aliens were taking on Vålengra cricket Club in a friendly T20. Vålerenga won the toss and decided to bowl first. Dennis and Ankush opened the innings for Aliens. The first over starts with too many wides down the leg. After careful watch, our openers started taking full advantage of powerplay field restrictions. Dennis was continuing with the sublime batting form of his career. The openers gave us a solid start and had a fantastic partnership of 167 runs in 16 overs (One the best Aliens ever had in T20’s). Dennis scored 87 of 61 balls and missed his maiden ton by a few runs. Three huge sixes to long on region and an inside-out shot for 4 was the highlight of his inning. Ankush was the first wicket to fall for Aliens after scoring his first brilliant half-century. He scored 68 of just 47 balls. The boundary between the third man and point region and a glorious leg glance for a six toward square leg boundary into the trees was a treat to watch. Though a controversy happened when Ankush was playing on 30’s and nicked a ball to the keeper. The umpire Branson was unconvinced and not sure as he heard two noises. Ankush, of course, thanked Branson at the end for that. After Ankush’s departure, Damon joins the party and remains not out for quick 14 with 3 boundaries. The fielders were using more of their football skills rather than cricket to save boundaries. In the end, Aliens set up a very good target of 200 in their quota of 20 overs.
Dave M started the bowling for us and got rid of one of their openers in only his second over. Liaqat (the opener/ the gym guy) was in complete destructive mode as he hit some of our bowlers out of the ground. The key was to be patient and calm our nerves (message from the seniors in the hurdle), as we had a cushion of 200 runs on the board. They built a decent partnership of 94 runs in quick time and were maintaining the required run rate. Captain Dave K brought himself into the attack and broke the crucial partnership in his very first over. Then it was a show time for our Mr. wicket-taker (Arif), who took three wickets in an over and shifted the game in our favor. He ended up taking another 4’fers in his consistent spell of 4 overs. Peter W puts the last nails in coffins for the batting team by picking up 2 wickets and a run-out. In the end, the batting team was 25 runs short of the target. Aliens won another close and tight-friendly game. Overall, it was the game dominated by top order from the bat, and the result was decided by bowlers and fielders by being persistent and consistent.