vs Sandefjord Super League (Div 2) Match 7
Toss:
In a rather unfortunate turn of events, Sandefjord won the toss and elected to bowl first. However, the day began with ominous signs as the weather report predicted a 100% chance of rain. This raised concerns among both teams, with Aliens and Dave, representing the Aliens cricket board, attempting to communicate with the Norwegian Cricket Federation (NFC) regarding the adverse weather conditions and the feasibility of playing. A 120 km journey awaited the teams, and it seemed inevitable that bad weather would disrupt the match.
Pre-Match Discussion:
The NFC, adhering to their rules, required all players to be on the field before the match could commence. Thus, Aliens and Sandefjord embarked on their journey to Sandefjord with heavy hearts. During the road trip, the players engaged in discussions about the match, the road, and their expectations upon reaching the ground, where the weather was clearly unfavorable.
Aliens Innings:
Despite the inclement conditions, Aliens batted first. The innings began in a peculiar manner, with the first ball yielding 5 runs due to a wide and four byes. The first over concluded with Aliens scoring 16 runs without any loss. However, the second over brought disappointment as Pratik was dismissed after scoring 4 runs. This resulted in Milton becoming the first-down batsman. The run rate slowed after the initial wicket fell.
In the 5th over, Dannis was unfortunately run out after facing 3 balls, a decision that was closely contested but upheld by the umpire. The momentum was further hindered when, in the 8th over, Milton was dismissed after accumulating a total of 9 runs, leaving Aliens at 42/3. Anshul, batting in the third position, took control of the match along with Crawford and built a strong partnership, eventually reaching a total of 77 runs for the loss of 3 wickets.
The Rain Disruption:
As Aliens' innings progressed, the rain intensified, eventually forcing the teams off the field. Seeking shelter, the players were met with an unfortunate accident as Bennon accidentally dropped Sandefjord's iPad, leaving the screen cracked like a spider web.
In an attempt to pass the time, the teams engaged in indoor games, using umbrellas, and balls, and gathered in a circle to catch.
However, the rain persisted, and the umpire, Damon Peter Crawford, finally decided that the match had to be abandoned due to the persistent downpour.