Return of the Series 1

I’m a highly excitable person, as anyone who’s had the misfortune to play inside the line of one of my ‘mysterious’ non-turning off breaks will know, but today saw me as giddy as a prep-school 12 year old who’s just been told he’s opening the batting on Saturday for the 1st XI. The reason was a long cardboard box with the Salix Cricket Bats logo on it. Back in early April I dropped my beloved Newbery Series 1 off at their workshop in Kent for some sorely needed reconditioning. Too many thick inside edges onto the pads. Too many regulation chances to slip. Too many leading edges back to the bowler. You probably get the picture with the edging… Not to mention a toe battered by digging oneself resolutely into the crease at the start of any number of brief sojurns in the middle.

It might have been replaced halfway through last season by a Salix Pod, a railway sleeper of a thing that masquerades as a beautifully weighted cricket bat, but there will always be a place in my heart for my Series 1. Long-handled, light as a feather, classically beautiful with a lovely grain on it, it’s a bat that is, to be blunt, far too good for the likes of me to wield. On the rare occasions that I have found the middle – generally when giving fielding practice it has to be said – the ball simply melts into the willow and speeds off into the distance with hardly any effort at all.

I can’t recommend Andrew Kimber and Salix highly enough. They’re not cheap, but the craftsmanship and care that goes into their work is obvious from even a brief visit to Butlers Farm and the bats they make really are awesome. And to top that off Andrew and his wife Victoria – who handles the design and admin side of things – are simply really nice, happy to help and efficient.

So, Salix advert over and commission pocketed, back to the battered Series 1… Sanded down back and front, taped up on that inside edge – apprently playing down the right line can be handy – and with the face covered in polyurethane to protect it from the few balls that are middled, the Series 1 is back and ready to terrorise the youngsters of Market Rasen Town Cricket Club when warming up for games and, who knows, perhaps the odd bowling attack along the way.

There can be only one…..Fussey

Scoreboard

It was James Fussey vs James Fussey at Hibaldstow last Saturday.

From the steel mills of Scunthorpe we had the 6ft 6in+ beanpole; James Fussey. Terrorising Rasen’s top order with some accurate fast (for Lincs League 4 – sorry James), back of a length bowling. Think Chris Tremlett, only not injured, with more hair and a decade or so younger.
13 overs, 6 maidens, 14 runs, 4 wickets

From the West Wold we had the 5ft 8in(ish) terrier; James Fussey. Terrorising Scunthorpe’s top order with his movement and guile at a decent pace – for a fourteen year old. Think Jimmy Anderson, only with a better seam position, 14 years younger (sorry Jimmy) and minus the twitter account.
12 overs, 6 maidens, 24 runs, 3 wickets

The pair of them put on a show for everyone else to admire at the windswept recreation ground as they proved themselves unplayable. Displaying the virtues of accurate seam bowling on a track that was helpful, but far from a bowling paradise. Unfortunately for your correspondent and his hitherto unbeaten men, the Scunthorpe Fussey and his colleagues came out on top.

Two young sides will take very different things away from this encounter. Scunthorpe 3rds will be looking for this to be the kickstart their season required, after two losses to Morton and Broughton 2nds. On the other hand Rasen will be looking to learn from the experience of letting a game that they seemingly controlled at the first drinks break, slip away.

Scunthorpe 3rds batted first, with Captain / ‘keeper / selector / coach Luke Blades opening up with youngster Dylan Hopkins. With the exception of the first over – where Dan Norburn sprayed the ball around merrily – the batsmen had to fight for survival, with Norburn and James Fussey making the ball dance every which way. Norburn beat the outside edge repeatedly and, on another, day could have had a hatful. However, when he looks back he may agree that if he’d pitched the ball up a fraction more then the batsmen would have been unable to play and miss as often as they did. From the other end James Fussey did everything but take a wicket. With movement both in the air and off the pitch the youngster gave a real masterclass in seam bowling, which was particularly impressive considering the way Norburn’s first over had gone.

Hopkins and Blades brought up their 50 run opening partnership in the 20th over with a sudden flurry of shots, as Norburn tired and the change bowling started to loosen Rasen’s grip on affairs. Unfortunately for Hopkins, the youngster’s vigilant 14 was ended on the stroke of drinks by Richard Limmer, to leave Scunthorpe 56 for 1 and the visitors confidently supping their squash.

David Brown strode to the crease and immeidately changed the course of the game. Scunthorpe’s number 3 quickly displayed the abililty that has seen him play for the Heslam Park outfit’s 1st team in years gone by to plunder a boundary-laden 30 out of a partnership of 53 with Blades for the second wicket, in only seven overs. The re-introduction of James Fussey saw Brown depart to a smart catch from Seb Darke but the momentum had shifted, it would transpire, irrevocably. Blades finally fell to Fussey as well for an obdurate 63. The 31 overs he battled through were to prove crucial in the final analysis, as they gave his middle order licence to thrash and Ryan Franklin (31) and Jack Harrison (23) did precisely that, the pair putting on 47 for the 5th wicket in 9 overs. A couple of late wickets from Andy Richley (2 for 30) and one for Jim Dodds, who enduced Harrison to sweetly pull the ball into the hands of a surprised, but grateful, Rasen ‘skipper at midwicket, meant that they had kept the home side to 180 for 7 from their 45 overs. But after the start made with the ball, it was Scunthorpe who were the happier at tea.

Rasen’s reply got off to the worst possible start. Not only did James Fussey (Scunthorpe edition) rip through the top order to reduce the visitors to 11 for 3 from 8 overs, but then Andy Richley ran out youngster Seb Darke two balls into the lad’s first Lincs League innings to leave Rasen reeling at 17 for 4 in the 10th over. A bit wet as he is, your correspondent managed to work his guilt off on the Scunthorpe change bowling. With Fussey and Oliver Davie (whose figures owe Rory Franklin a debt of gratitude) making scoring all but impossible, Richley and Tom Bradford feasted euphorically on the fare that followed, with Harrison and Mark Carnell in particular coming in for some savage treatment.

With the Rasen pair working their side back into the game and drinks impending, Richley managed to leave a ball that ducked back in and avoid his first 50 of the season, bowled for 47. The skipper’s departure did not signal the end for the Rase Park outfit, as Tom Bradford took up the cudgels to hit some impressive boundaries, including one six over wide long on that was quite magnificent. The ‘keeper added 31 for the 6th wicket in quick time with James Fussey (Mkt Rasen edition), before a rush of blood from the youngster saw Franklin clean him up, attempting another sweep.

Bradford continued merrily on his way, only to perish to that man Carnell for 32 with the score on 110 and with him went the slim hopes Rasen still possessed. The lower order hung in there determinedly, swinging at anything short or wide and keeping out the good stuff, but the top order’s frailties had left too much for the rest of the lineup to do and Scunthorpe wrapped things up in the 42nd over, bowling Rasen out for 144 to win by 36 runs.

Limmer’s All-round Efforts Rewarded

Rasen's heavyweight slip corden

Scorecard

This time last year, Rasen 2nds were in the midst of a frightful start to their Lincs League 4 campaign; played 4, lost 4.  What a difference a year makes. 2011 has seen MRTCC 2nds fly out of the blocks and they built on last week’s convincing win over Caistor 3rds with a comfortable six-wicket win over a depleted Hykeham 2nds.

With Rase Park receiving its first proper soaking in weeks an hour or so before the game, the toss was always going to be vital and, having won it, Rasen lost no time in inviting Stephen Roe’s Hykeham to have a bat.  With humid, overcast conditions to start the game and a substantial slip cordon – both in terms of numbers and combined tonnage – Dan Norburn roared in from the Gallamore Lane end and immediately had the ball hooping and moving at pace.

However, it was his young new ball partner; James Fussey, who made the first breakthrough, inducing Will Murray to steer a short ball outside off stump straight to the grateful hands of Liam Underwood in the covers.  This was the Lincolnshire U14 bowler’s first senior wicket for the club and the confidence this provided was plain for all to see, as the youngster turned in a sterling new ball spell, continually asking questions of the batsmen and despatching Roe with a ball that caught a thin edge through to the ‘keeper.  Fussey’s first spell left him with the figures of 2 for 19 from 6 overs and Hykeham in a hole.

At the other end, Dan Norburn was eager to join in the wicket-taking action, and did so in the third over, having Matt Scott snaffled at third slip by Andy Richley.  Norburn continued to beat the bat and was unlucky to see a couple of chances grassed in the slips.  The Hykeham batsmen looked to make the most of the chances they’d been given, with Matt Murray doggedly dropping anchor to support a pugnacious counter-attack from Mark Leverett.  The experienced all-rounder started circumspectly enough, but once he’d found the measure of the pitch and the bowling, he lost no time in despatching the cherry to all parts.  Norburn came in for some particularly severe treatment in his last over to ruin figures that would otherwise have been very tidy indeed, with Leverett smashing him for 14, with some mighty blows.

Rasen’s young side stuck at their task in the field as Hykeham’s 4th wicket pair started to build a partnership but, asa against Caistor 2nds last week, there was a noticeable drop in intensity that the side will need to work on going forward when the next wicket doesn’t magically appear.  Rasen rang the changes with the ball, with Jim Dodds and Paul Bett coming in for a little stick early on in their spells.  Bett was particularly unlucky to come away wicketless, beating Murray on numerous occasions, but the youngster stuck at his task and left the veteran without a scalp.

Richard Limmer reaped the rewards of Bett’s hard work, steaming in from the Gallamore Lane end to remove Murray, caught behind, and trigger a collapse that would see Hykeham lose their last 6 wickets for 36 runs.  Dodds’ left-arm seam asked some different questions of the batsmen, with his extra height and bounce when he hit the right areas keeping them honest and it was the veteran leftie who removed the danger man; Leverett, castling him for a battling 52 as he played down the wrong line.

With their tails up in the field, Limmer cashed in, tearing through the Hykeham lower order.  The all-rounder worked up a decent head of steam and beat the outside egde on numerous occasion.  With Mick Corden ready and waiting at slip, it only seemed a matter of time until the next chance came his way and, on this occasion, the game didn’t disappoint, with Corden flinging himself to his right to pluck the ball, one-handed, from the ether and hand Limmer his second wicket.  Hykeham continued to battle, but when Limmer picked up Jones, caught at cover, and then clean bowled Tyler Jelley with a ball that swung back from leg to take off, the visitors had 91 on the board and their last pair at the crease.

With plenty of overs remaining and the pitch drying out, Hykeham’s last wicket pair had some fun, putting on 23 before the return of James Fussey saw Phil Baker’s stumps uprooted and the innings ended on 114.  With the ball, the key men for Rasen were; Richard Limmer (4 for 9 from 6 overs) and James Fussey (3 for 31 from 7.1 overs), with Norburn and Dodds picking up a wicket apiece.

With the sun now out, the pitch and outfield dry, and a small total to defend, Hykeham had to make early inroads.  Unfortunately for Rasen the visitors did just that, removing Mick Corden for 0 as he steered a short ball from Phil Baker straight to gully.  With only the openers getting a hit last week, Rasen’s untried middle order could have been vulnerable, but Andy Richley joined Ivan Nash in a stand of 59 for the second wicket that seemed to put the home side well on their way to victory.  Both Nash and Richley played and missed against Baker and Leverett early on, but the pair dug in and were soon looking relatively comfortable, with only an ill-advised ‘quick’ single from Richley seeing the pair split thanks to some excellent fielding from Hykeham.

The skipper’s ill-advised flight of fancy over his pace – or lack thereof – sparked a mini collapse, as Nash holed out for what, to that point, had been an untroubled 36.  It was all the more surprising as Nash had looked set fair for another fifty after last week’s fine effort.  James Fussey then came and went without troubling the scorers and Rasen had slumped to 64 for 4.  Thankfully Rob Chamberlin (33 not out) and Richard Limmer (16 not out) got the job done, with Chamberlin unfurling a couple of delightful cover drives and both players hitting the cover off the ball whenever they were given the chance.  The pair saw Rasen over the line in the 22nd over to hand a 6 wicket win and 20 points to the home side.

Gnasher’s Maiden Ton Sets Up Convincing Win

 

Ivan and Rob take the plaudits

Scorecard

The latest edition of the A46 derby between Market Rasen Town Cricket Club 2nds and Caistor Town Cricket Club 3rds saw the home side romp home to a convincing ten wicket win on the back of Ivan Nash’s maiden Rasen hundred, as they made the perfect start to the season.

Whilst the sun continued to beat down on Rase Park, the stiff breeze out in the middle reminded everyone that this was still April, and jumpers were required by the batsmen to ward off the chill.  On another well-prepared wicket Rasen won the toss and elected to bowl and Dan Norburn repaid his captain’s faith, castling Alex McKitton with the first ball of the 2nds’ season.  With Lincolnshire U14 bowler, James Fussey, making his senior debut with the cherry at the River Rase end, Norburn and Fussey strained to make the most of their flying start.  Unfortunately they had figured without the flailing bat of Peter Jacob and the determined defence of Dave Gowshall.

From the moment he replaced McKitton at the crease, Jacob made his intentions clear, going after the bowling with gusto.  There were a number of occasions in the first few overs where, on another day, the young wicketkeeper would have been caught.  However, with the ball dropping into the gaps Jacob made the most of his chances and once into his stride played some sumptuous shots, particularly straight down the ground, where James Fussey, and later Jim Dodds, received some rather brutal treatment.

Whilst Rasen’s attack was creating chances, runs were coming at an alarming rate and it wasn’t until the introduction of Richard Limmer and Andy Richley that Rasen got themselves a foothold in the game.  Jacob and Gowshall had put on 112 in 19 overs before Limmer removed the dangerman, Jacob, caught in the deep as he sliced a lofted drive to Joe Stephenson for a rapid 74.  With Richley tying up the River Rase end and Limmer asking questions of the batsmen Rasen went into drinks more confidently than Caistor’s position of 128 for 2 might have suggested.

Dave Gowshall had laid anchor almost effortlessly for the first half of Caistor’s innings.  The veteran opener was happy to stop anything decent and quick to latch onto anything short and send it and in first Jacob and then Glyn Benbow he found partners that were happy to dominate the scoring.  Drinks though brought about a complete change of approach; Gowshall heaved across the line to a straight ball and found himself cleaned up for 34.

The following seven overs were to see another five wickets fall for 40 runs, with both sides carrying off their best IPL impersonations.  Limmer bagged his second, inducing Harry Capstick to drive too early and deliver the ball straight into the sure hands of Chris Higgins at short cover.  Meanwhile Richley was taking advantage of a gusting breeze to rip through Caistor’s midle order to reduce the visitors to 169 for 8.  Only a pugnacious 50 from Glyn Benbow held the batting side together with a range of aggressive strokes.

Finding themselves in a position of dominance Rasen stumbled, as youngster Kieran Brooker organised some defiant resistance, first with Benbow (58) and then with Ernie Allison to ensure that Caistor passed 200 and batted out their overs.  The youngster was the last man to fall, playing on to Limmer for an impressive 20 to leave Caistor on 213 all out in the 45th over.  With the leather, Rasen’s wickets were shared around between; Norburn (3 for 67 from 14 overs), Limmer (3 for 52 from 9.1 overs) and Richley (4 for 23 from 11 overs).

With a fast outfield and a delightful batting track Rasen started their reply knowing that if they batted for 45 overs they’d be there or thereabouts.  As it transpired things unravelled much faster than that for Caistor as Ivan Nash and Rob Jeffery set about the visitors’ attack with relish.  A steady start saw 55 on the board in ten overs and 138 at drinks.  From that point on it became a case of how many Nash and Jeffery wanted to accumulate personally and when Rasen would seal the deal, as they rolled remorselessly over a weakened Caistor attack.

Ernie Allison rang the changes with the ball as much as possible and Caistor willingly chased leather but, on this occasion, it was to no avail.  Nash, who came of age last season for the 2nds, carried on where he left off in 2010; brutal on anything remotely legside and unfurling a range of shots all around the ground.  He found the ideal foil in the experienced Rob Jeffery, with the senior man playing a more cautious game, but punishing anything short, particularly through point and mid-wicket.

Betweem them Nash and Jeffery led Rasen to a convincing ten-wicket win in the 35th over, with Loughborough student Nash on 126 not out and Jeffery on 82 not out.  The pair’s partnership of 216 is a new divisional record for the first wicket and, it is hoped, presages great things to come from Nash.

Whilst the result on the day was emphatic, Rasen will have to take heed of the warnings provided by Caistor’s batsmen, as on another day they could have found themselves chasing down 250+ and the home side will look to improve both their attitude and their consistency in the field in time for next week’s game against Hykeham.

2nd XI 2011 Preview

Ivan Nash - Soft Hands. He moisturises...

Lincs League 4 will be lit up once more by the luminescent talents of Rasen’s second string in 2011. Having re-entered the league in 2009, the 2nd XI will be looking to continue their steady progress of the last two seasons (ninth in 2009 and sixth in 2010) with a tilt at the top four of the division.

The 2010 season saw Rasen forced to wait until June before they could notch a win, but once they were off and running the side thrived in the second half of the summer, only losing three more games to finish a comfortable seventh in the division. Last season’s success was built upon their batsmen, with Ivan Nash (319 runs @ 46), Rob Chamberlin (387 runs @43) and George Fussey (262 runs @ 20) all contributing consistently. Whilst the side have lost Fussey to the 1sts, Nash and Chamberlin both return in 2011 and they’ll be looking for support from veterans Andy Richley and Richard Limmer as well as youngsters Seb Darke and Will Sutton. On paper the lineup has the ability to mix it with the best the division has to offer and with a stronger pool of players to pick from this season, Rasen will be looking to be call on performers that are now experienced at this level – and higher – rather than having to throw another youngster into the breach.

With the ball Rasen will be looking to improve on last season. 2010 saw twenty-two bowlers used and whilst there were a number of outstanding performances from the likes of; Paul Bett, Luke Richards, Jonny Purkiss, Andy Richley, Dan Norburn and Darren Salmon, Richley (21 wickets @ 23) was the only one of those bowlers to feature regularly, with no-one else breaking the 10-wicket mark or sending down more than 60 overs. This season sees a number of boosts to the side’s attack:

1. Dan Norburn starts in the 2nds this term, looking to prove his ability and work his way back into the 1st XI’s starting lineup. His pace and incision will be vital as Rasen start the season.
2. James Fussey makes his full Lincs League debut – and the Lincolnshire U14 seamer is projected to be a mainstay of the side’s attack in 2011.
3. Veteran Paul Bett who shone brightly in three games for the 2nds in the middle of last season will be available for more games this year and his nous and experience will be invaluable.

In addition to this, youngsters like Sutton, Jonny Purkiss and Chamberlin will be looking to make their mark with the cherry as well as the willow and Richley will no doubt be sending down more of his filth.

So, on paper, Rasen 2nds start the 2011 season in rude health. Unfortunately, cricket seasons have to be physically endured and cannot simply be decided theoretically. Therefore it is certain that the other eight teams in the division will be looking to do their damndest to scupper whatever pretensions Rasen’s young side might have. With Old Lincolnians and South Kelsey 2nds gaining promotion in 2010, there is not a clear contender for the League 4 penant this season. Based on their form last year, Alford 2nds and Caistor 3rds will be confident about their chances of promotion and Keelby 2nds will be looking to kick on now they’ve acclimatised to life in the bottom tier. Of the relegated sides who’ve joined the basment division, Broughton 2nds look to have more chance of bouncing straight back up than do Holton le Clay 2nds. However, as Keelby and Caistor found out last season, promotion is not a given for relegated sides.

With their schedule balanced as it is – with Hykeham 2nds and Scunthorpe 3rds featuring home and away before the middle of June and five of their first seven games at home – Rasen will need to make a fast start in order to put themselves in contention for a top-four finish, starting with Saturday’s game at home to Caistor 3rds.

Here’s to a great season.

Wickets, Sunshine and 20 Points – Rasen 1sts Off and Running

Scorecard

Live Over by Over Blog

Market Rasen Town Cricket Club 1st XI’s Lincs League 2 campaign got off to the best possible start as Nettleham 2nds were brushed aside on an unseasonably warm afternoon at Rase Park. Relegated into Division Two in 2010, Nettleham got off to false start last week; losing to Haxey and their talented, but young, line-up were unable to make much of an impression on a clinical Rasen performance.

The balmy weather brought out a bumper crowd and the home supporters were treated to a dominating performance by the men in green. Close-season signing, Graeme Bell, took the new ball from the River Rase end and started the season with an anguished, but unsuccessful, LBW appeal against Dave Lea. This was the precursor to a hostile and accurate spell from Bell that would see him take 1 for 8 from seven overs. Will Bradford took the new cherry from the Gallamore Lane end and having loosened up with a leg stump half volley, that Mark Thornton clipped for one, Lea found his stumps splayed by a Jaffa and Rasen were up and running.

Will Bradford

Bradford’s second over saw the stumps spread again, this time Thornton perishing, playing on as he tried to cut a ball that was too straight for the shot. With Nettleham 4 for 2, shaggy-haired youngster Joe Naughton set about repairing the damage. Unafraid to play his shots, Naughton needed some luck to get going, but he was rewarded for his confidence with a string of boundaries and Bradford came in for some punishment. Naughton was particularly strong on his legs; his strong wrists flicking anything even remotely short into the on-side. It wasn’t until he was joined by Alex Willerton that he was joined by a batsman able to master the conditions and Rasen’s new-ball attack. Willerton showed some glimpses of class, particularly with his straight driving, but with the young pair keen to cash in on anything loose it was not surprising when Karl Bierlein – on for his first bowl of the summer – castled the left-handed Willerton on the stroke of drinks for 14. The fourth wicket pair had added 30 in 8 overs, but Bierlein’s breakthrough left Nettleham a perilous 47 for 4 after 15 overs.

With their tails up from the wicket before the drinks break an invigorated Karl Bierlein quickly picked up two more scalps in the overs following the break. Naughton was the first to go, caught and bowled for an aggressive 27. Nettleham Skipper, Martin Strawson, also prodded back to Bierlein in his next over and then Danny Lea fell to a slick catch by Ian Williams at first slip off the bowling of Gary Bierlein Rasen had reduced their opponents to 53 for 8 and a swift denouement seemed certain. However, Rasen had figured without the red-cloth cap, and broad bat, of Chris Dobbs who set about righting the innings with a mixture of idiosyncratic clips to leg and some cover drives which were far more pleasing to the eye.

The ninth wicket pair had put on 29 before Will Bradford was brought back into the attack and his impact was instant, prompting Dobbs’ partner to pop a catch up to Luke Richards at point. There was still time for Jack Neil to clear his front leg and cleanly smite a delivery from Karl Bierlein into the River Rase; however, this was simply the tail raging against the dying of the light. Bradford dismissed Dobbs for a determined 21 in the 32nd over to end the innings with Nettleham on 90. Bradford had led the way for the home side with 4 for 29 from 8.1 overs, backed up by Karl Bierlein (3 for 31 from 9 overs), Gary Bierlein (2 for 19 from 8 overs) and Graeme Bell.

The Brain Trust at Tea

Rasen’s reply began rapidly, with Graeme Bell and Jon Stephenson putting on 24 before they saw the need to take a single, in the fourth over. Bell was particularly keen to crack on, unfurling a number of crunching drives through the off-side, whilst Stephenson (27 not out) was more than happy to wait for the short ball and punish it. After six overs, Rasen had 48 on the board already and, the odd Jaffa excepted, the Nettleham was looking understandably ragged.

Determined not to go down without a fight, Strawson got his reward in the seventh over, as Bell played on, looking to smear the ball over deep mid-wicket. The all-rounder’s brisk cameo of 27 contained 6 fours, as well as a ‘2’ and a solitary single. George Fussey, making his 1st XI debut, carried on in the same vein, pulling and cutting two fours in his first couple of overs. Unfortunately the Lincs U16 batsman’s afternoon was cut short as Stephenson called for a sharp single that was, by the time both players had ‘ummed’ and ‘aahed’, simply not there. The brief flurry of wickets left Rasen 64 for 2 and lifted Nettleham’s spirits; however these were crushed mercilessly by Ian Williams, whose brutal cameo of 22 not out sealed the deal for the home side. Williams put the icing on the cake with a straight six that scattered the veterans watching at the long-off boundary.

One match does not make a summer and Nettleham’s team was talented, but rather young for this level, but if Rasen can turn in consistent performances in the same vein this summer then they must surely have a good chance of being in the frame for promotion.

A crowd! At Rase Park!

Rasen 1st XI vs Nettleham 2nds – Live!

Click on the link below to view all of the glorious live blogging action…

MRTCC 1st XI vs Nettleham 2nd XI

1st XI vs Nettleham Live Blog – Coming Soon

Team selection, weather and wife permitting I’m planning on tapping out a live blog on the first game of the season at Rase Park. This could be disastrous, or it could be mildly diverting for any keen followers of Lincolnshire League cricket who happen to be near a computer.

Anyway, having no doubt completely sold you on the idea, click on the link below to be taken to a CoveritLive

Click Here

Captain Bunn Leads Rasen to Victory

Scorecard

West Halton Lane was the venue for Market Rasen Town Cricket Club’s 1st XI as their promotion push continued against Alkborough 2nds. Lying second in Division 2, four points ahead of Grimsby Town 2nds with only six games to play, Rasen ventured out onto the Isle of Axholme knowing that only maximum points would do. Their task was made harder by the absence of four regulars including; Ian Williams and Gary Bierlein who have been the mainstay of Rasen’s batting this season and Karl Bierlein, the division’s leading wicket taker. However, having drafted in some experience for the occasion (your correspondent excepted), Rasen’s enthusiasm was undimmed as the confidence provided by their last two bowling performances continued to run through the team.

With the rain ‘mizzling’ as the players arrived and covers still on it was immediately clear that it would be a vital toss to win and Rasen’s skipper, Simon Bunn, again found himself calling correctly and lost little time in offering Alkborough the opportunity to bat first.

Bunn took the first over and his teammates were unable to prise the ball from his hand as he turned in a remarkable spell of 20.3 overs, unchanged up the hill, to take 7 for 40. He had the batsmen in trouble from the off, getting the ball to seam and swing and Alkborough’s openers were reduced to fighting for survival. At the other end Dan Norburn backed his skipper up, tearing down the hill to deliver some fine swing bowling and keeping things tight.

With pressure at both ends, Jenkins essayed one drive too many and found himself cleaned up by Bunn at the start of the 5th over. Rasen’s skipper then sent Balderson Snr on his way in the same over, trapped LBW to reduce the home side to 9 for 2. Norburn then got in on the action, inducing two edges straight to a narrow gully, where Richley pulled off his best Andy ‘Chippy’ Clay impersonation to pouch both and further worsen Alkborough’s dire position. Tom Corden replaced Norburn at the top end and the youngster bowled an excellent spell. He should have picked up a wicket or two, as excellent line and length induced edges as well as beating the batsmen on a number of occasions.

Neil Gray was the only Alkborough batsman to appear capable of living with Rasen’s attack, playing with the soft hands that the conditions demanded and content to take runs where he could whilst he waited for the few bad balls that came along. He could only watch from the other end as his hard work was undone by the tireless Bunn, who snaffled the next three wickets to catches from Stephenson, Corden and Atkinson to reduce the home side to 89 for 7 from 35 overs.

Whilst Bunn had chugged tirelessly up the hill, the bowling at the other end, Corden and Norburn excepted, threatened to offer Alkborough a way back into the game as a range of full tosses and long hops were served up from Luke and Dean Richards that Alkborough fell on with glee as they veritably roared past 100. It was the return of Norburn that saw any fears that Rasen may have harboured laid to rest, as he ended Gray’s vigil, dismissing the opener LBW for a painstaking 46. Bunn cleaned up the tail in the next over to dismiss Alkborough for 121 in the 41st over.

Rasen’s reply was clinical and controlled, as Jon Stephenson (42) and Dean Richards (46) initially dug in and waited for anything loose, which they despatched with authority. As one might expect, Alkborough’s veteran seamer Russ Kirman led the way for the home side, giving little away and he was well supported by Jenkins, as they both caused the batsmen some initial trouble. However, with both batsmen setting themselves and proving comfortable putting the bad ball away Alkborough had to ring the changes, at which point Stephenson and Richards, in particular, cut loose.

Both players were particularly harsh on the spin of O. Kirman, who bravely continued to give the ball plenty of air, but was punished for it on this occasion; one on-drive from Stephenson being particularly delightful. Richards found the pace of S. Leek more to his liking as his favourite cut shot was fed regularly and the pair had put on 93 for the first wicket in 22 overs, before Richards was caught behind. Leek changed his angle of attack to the left-handed Richards, coming round the wicket, and got his reward immediately with an edge through to the ‘keeper. Stephenson then holed out to mid-on in the same over to cause a palpitation or two in the Rasen ranks. However,
Tom Corden was joined by Rob Jeffrey (18*) and the pair put Rasen back on course. A tight run-out decision left Corden back in the pavilion, a little bemused, but Rasen stuck to their task and cantered over the line in the 31st over to win by seven wickets.

Meanwhile at Rase Park….

Scorecard

A reduced Rasen 2nd XI under the leadership of Shaun French, and inspired by Jonny Purkiss, stormed to an excellent four wicket win over fellow mid-table side, Morton. French won the toss and the Rasen attack, led by Purkiss’ 5 for 32, never let Morton get away and build the total they would have wanted. Purkiss was backed up by some fine fielding as well as keen bowling at the other end, particularly from Paul Bett (3 for 34). With Aaron Wells and George Fussey also turning in searching spells with the leather Morton were dismissed for 166 in only the 38th over.

With 51 overs to chase down the target Rasen’s openers might have been expected to take their time, but George Fussey (30) and Aaron Wells (29) attacked from the off, flaying the ball to all parts of Rase Park, putting on 47 in only 8 overs. The demise of Wells and Shaun French with the score on 68 put the game back in the melting pot, only for Rob Chamberlin (25) and Jonny Purkiss (61*) to put on 66 for the fourth wicket to take the game away from Morton. Purkiss shrugged off the loss of Chamberlin to continue his one-man crusade against the visitors from Gainsborough and lead Rasen to a comfortable 4 wicket win.

The wins see Rasen 1sts keep up their promotion push and the 2nds settling nicely into mid-table.

Caistor 3rds Maintain Promotion Push

Scorecard

Market Rasen Town Cricket Club 2nd XI made the short journey north to Caistor’s Brigg Road ground on Saturday on the back of three straight wins. However, Caistor lost no time in demonstrating to Rasen the work still to be done if they are to progress further. Both teams had a good blend of youth and experience, but it was Caistor’s players, young and old alike, who grabbed their chances as the home side eased to an 8 wicket victory.

Rasen won the toss and lost little time in choosing to bat on a track that, as one might expect following the weather of the last few weeks, was hard and true, with plenty of grass left on top to keep the bowlers interested. Caistor’s opening bowlers; Alex McKitton and Matthew Brown, found themselves ambushed by a brisk start from Richard Limmer who went off like a train. Unfortunately, as has often been the case this season, Limmer’s innings was cut short before it had really begun, caught and bowled by Brown for 18 with one ball of the second over left.

Shaun French and Andy Richley looked to retrench and found differing challenges from Caistor’s young openers; McKitton gave little away and found seam movement both into, and away from, the batsmen at a reasonable pace. Brown meanwhile offered the batsmen more opportunities, whilst getting some prodigious in-swing.

French mixed doughty defence with sudden bursts of savagery, with one swipe over wide long-on for four, off the bowling of Brown, standing out. However, once Caistor’s keeper stood up, French found himself rooted to the spot and inevitably fell for 17, edging a ball from Brown to first slip where an excellent low catch was held. Brown also dismissed Rob Chamberlin, caught off a high ball that the young batsman probably shouldn’t have tried to smear over the clubhouse and it was left to Richley to rebuild the innings with Tom Bradford.

Unfortunately for the visitors their skipper had to call for a runner, thanks to an injury to his hamstring and, as is often the case, the unfamiliar situation led to disaster for the batsman. Having looked in little trouble in accumulating 19, Richley called for a single and proceeded to wander out of the way, inadvertently leaving his crease as he did so. Not one to look a gift-horse in the mouth, Caistor’s ‘keeper whipped the bails off when the ball came back in with Richley still stood outside his crease.

On the back of this farcical dismissal Rasen succumbed to the wiles of Ernie Allison and Terry McKitton as the veteran duo rolled up the rest of the line-up for a mere 25 runs to dismiss Rasen for 105, with Allison snaffling 4 for 12 in the process.

In the field Rasen’s performance was mixed, as a depleted attack created chances that they were unable, in the main, to take. With Nathan Davies bedding down at one end, Dave Gowshall and Andy Pearson felt free to crack on and whilst they flirted with danger on a number of occasions, Rasen’s fielders, Rob Chamberlin excepted, weren’t able to back their bowlers sufficiently to make the target a challenging one.

Two wickets for Paul Bett were the sole reward for Rasen’s efforts in the field as the home side eventually cantered to victory and left the Rase Park outfit with plenty to work on.