Alfas Seconds started their year with an early season friendly against the Intellectuals on the 17th Feb with Jack Perman leading his team out for the first time.
Winning the toss, Alfas decided to have a bat with Laundon and Perman heading out to open the innings. The teams seemed even after the 1st 10 overs, Alfas going at 4.5 an over but Intellectuals keeping one of the openers quiet and managed to get the other when first bowling change Shakeel got Laundon to chop on to his stumps. Perman did not last much longer, falling LBW to the same bowler and shortly after that, the first mix up of the season saw Muddy run out going for a run that was not on due to a game of yes, no, maybe, well go on then!
However, that wicket brought Muñoz to the crease to join the young captain Perman and together they showed talent aplenty to hit the ball to all sides of the ground on their way to a 50* each. Perman was the first to reach the figure, off 23 balls and Muñoz followed soon after, hitting his own off 30 balls, both batsmen retiring to give the rest of the team some chance in the middle.
Kieran Perman saw Tocher join him and together they put on a quick 30 runs before Tocher popped one up of returning opening bowler Husnain. Byrne was next in but called a run off a wide that did not turn out to be a good idea, Nix able to keep the ball from evading his grasp and throwing down the wickets.
Returning Jamie Roper then joined Kieran and together they saw Alfas through to the end of the innings, Kieran ending on 44* and Roper with 11.
No teas saw a quick turnaround and Faisal, having opened the bowling, came out with Zia to start the innings and start it they did! Right from the off, both batsmen came out with the intent to find the boundary and find it they did on a regular basis. 10 overs gone and the score on 77. Zia flew through to a 50 and stayed on, eventually falling for 84 when the brothers Perman combined and Jack took the catch off Kieran’s bowling.
Faisal fell shortly after and just short of his own 50, turning his back with a mighty swing that missed and hit his heel right in front of the stumps.
However, the Intellectuals were in touching distance by now of the target and with Khan going through to his own 50, the match was sown up 3 overs from the end and a good day out concluded with over 500 runs on the day and 4 50’s.
Special thanks to Peter Brett for coming down to have a look and ending up Umpiring the whole game!
Sporting Alfas CC
