There can be only one…..Fussey

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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

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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

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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.

Caistor 3rds Maintain Promotion Push

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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.

Rasen 2s Stroll to First League Double of the Season

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A balmy weekend saw the bowlers on top at Rase Park, for a change, as Rasen 2nds’ pace attack took advantage of a helpful pitch and humid conditions to run through a Keelby 2nds line-up shorn of its key cog; opener Andy Sharp.

With the sun beating down and the teams set to use the same track that Rasen had amassed 246-8 on the week before, Jeremy Slater won the toss for Keelby and lost no time in choosing to bat.  In retrospect, it was a decision that shaped the course of the game, but at the time, was one that either skipper would have made.

Bruce Roberts replaced Sharp at the top of the order with Tony Renney, with Roberts looking to re-discover the form that had brought him 90 against Caistor earlier in the season.  Rasen’s opening bowlers started in contrasting fashion; Dan Norburn steamed in from the River Rase end and made life hard for the batsmen from the off.  From the Pavilion end Aaron Wells welcomed Roberts with a pair of full tosses outside off stump that were duly crunched through the covers for a pair of boundaries as the Keelby stalwart’s railway-sleeper of a bat battered the ball.  Whilst Wells wasn’t ‘tapped’, he didn’t fire as he had in the last few games and only lasted five overs before being replaced by Darren Salmon.

Whilst Wells was struggling for rhythm at the other end, Norburn was finding the variable bounce and seam movement on offer to his liking, forcing Renney to prod the ball to short cover and then bowling Dan Bevis.  Salmon struck almost immediately, Dan Mawer edging behind after a promising, if fast, start and Rasen were truly up and running when Roberts, who to this point had observed from the non-striker’s end with something approaching disdain, top edged an attempted smash off Norburn to provide Rory Jackson with a steepling catch at mid-on, which the youngster snaffled safely.  The opener’s 24 was to be the only score in double-figures until M. Wade’s merry 11 at the end and had shown the value on offer for the batsmen but, unfortunately for Keelby, the rest of the line-up were unable to gain a foothold for long enough to emulate him.

Once Roberts fell, Salmon and Norburn worked through the rest of the lineup, backed up by a keen fielding performance that, for the first time this season, saw not a single chance grassed as well as some fine catching, in particular Richard Limmer’s diving effort at cover to dismiss Paul Parker.  Keelby were dismissed for 89 in the 24^th over.  Norburn finished with 5 for 29 and Salmon with 5 for 18.

As is so often the case in the second innings, whilst the demons in the pitch were still present, they were nowhere near as pronounced.  Salmon and Ivan Nash set about knocking off the runs with, seemingly, little difficulty until the former retired hurt with a pulled groin.  This gave Keelby a way in as Andy Richley struggled to get going, before being bowled, George Fussey shared the same fate, followed by Ivan Nash, who had looked untroubled to that point in his 28.

It was left to Richard Limmer (17*) and Rob Chamberlin to knock the runs off and see Rasen home in the 18^th over.  Rasen’s third win of the season sees them leapfrog Keelby and Hykeham and soar up to the heady heights of sixth in Lincs League Division Four.  However this season’s unbalanced schedule means that five of their last nine games will be against the triumvirate of South Kelsey, Caistor and Old Lincolnians, so they’ll be out to garner whatever’s on offer when they visit Brigg on Saturday for what the home team will surely be viewing as a vital encounter.

Alford do the ‘double’ over Rasen 2nds

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With a disjointed fixture calendar in June, Rasen 2nds travelled to Alford’s Well Lane ground looking for their first consecutive league win of the season after their victory at Keelby at the start of the month.  Unfortunately, for the second time this season, they were undone by a strong batting performance, as Alford again racked up more than 200, this time for only four wickets, rather than the five they’d lost at Rase Park.  423 runs in 87 overs for nine wickets.  Rasen’s young attack will be glad to see the back of the ‘Eastlings’ for this season!

Alford’s total was constructed rather differently this time around.  Earlier in the season, an inspired Jordan Dixon had run amok, ransacking 80 out of an opening partnership of 104 in 17 overs in a May Day massacre.  This time around, it was a cerebral performance from Kevin White (61) that set Alford up for their total of 210 for 4, with the veteran’s calm presence giving the rest of the top order license to crack on.  White’s innings was a study of measured accumulation on a balmy summer’s afternoon as gave the youngsters from Rasen a master-class they’ll do well to remember.  As a result, it was all the more surprising when he hit a simple catch straight to cover from Rob Chamberlin’s first ball, but with Alford already 158 for 4 his work with the bat was done.

Rasen can look back on early chances missed, as a brisk 27 from James Stubbs should have been snuffed out in the first over and Gary Allis (21) was one of three chances grassed off the skipper’s toiling tweakers, before he’d made a start.  It wasn’t a day for missing chances in the field and Alford took advantage of a fielding performance that became more ragged as the innings progressed, concededing 35 extras which were to prove telling in the final analysis.  The visitors’ bowlers toiled manfully, but were unable to find a way through and did well to keep Alford to 210 for 4 from their 45 overs, as a brisk 41 not out from Harry McHamilton threatened to take the game completely away from Rasen.  McHamilton’s cover driving, in particular, was excellent and he pounced on anything loose to plunder six boundaries in his brief cameo.

Rasen’s reply got off to the best possible start as Richard Limmer and Darren Salmon took Alford’s opening bowling to pieces, sending the ball to all corners of the ground with attacking, but genuine, cricket shots.  The pair put on 76 in eleven overs before Limmer was trapped LBW by Kevin White for 30.  Salmon looked to crack on, timing the ball effortlessly over Alford’s fast outfield, but fell only a couple of overs later, sending a full toss from Dave Honman direct to mid-on.  With the run-rate not an issue Rasen looked to rebuild through Andy Richley and George Fussey, but whilst the pair got themselves in, neither could go on and it was left to Rob Chamberlin to carry the visitor’s hopes.

Chamberlin’s battling 42 held the second half of Rasen’s reply together, but once Fussey (19) played on there was little support from the other end as the young all-rounder was left to play a lone hand.  Once he fell to White, Rasen succumbed to 177 all out, 33 runs short of victory.  Alford’s wickets were shared around with two apiece for Aaron Wilkinson, Kevin White and Dave Honman, but it was Jack Wightwick’s looping spin that stole the show, bamboozling the lower order with his flight and guile as he took 3 for 25.

Rasen 2nds make the most of rain-affected encounter

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Saturday saw a typical Market Rasen 2nds Bank Holiday Cricket match:

• Rain? – check
• Players on holiday? – check
• Players working? – check
• Away from home? – check

as the Rase Park outfit travelled through the gloaming to Hibaldstow to play Scunthorpe 3rds. This was an encounter both young sides were keen for. Scunthorpe have had not trouble racking up the runs this season but, to this point, had only notched one win. However, Rasen were yet to make their mark in the W column for 2010 and both sides were keen to make the most of this, potentially vital, re-election clash.

Out in the drizzle Alan Pashley won the toss and chose to make use of the damp, overcast conditions and put Market Rasen in to bat and Rasen’s rustic opener, Richard Limmer, set about the home attack with gusto as he attempted to make the decision look a tad questionable. Playing with more circumspection than normal, Limmer quickly worked into his stride, unfurling weighty shots all around the wicket and had moved swiftly to 29 by the 6th over when he eschewed one attacking stroke too many and popped up a high catch to gully, leaving Rasen on 34 for 1.

Scunthorpe took this as a chance to try and get things back under control and M. Carnell and As Rampal, a former Market Rasen junior, reined the run rate back in. With Limmer gone, the pitch started to help the bowlers a little as well, with some lift off just short of a length and some lateral movement and both batsmen found themselves beaten on a number of occasions.

Fred Bacchus admires the footwork of Richley....

With the opening bowling seen off, Rasen looked to cash in on the change bowlers and, rather shockingly for keen followers of the side, did so with aplomb. Dan Quinlan, opening for the first time for the 2nds, was playing a gutsy innings. Playing and missing on a fair number of occasions but, when connecting, giving the ball a fair whack and, throughout, playing very straight. Andy Richley, trying to justify his place at 3 in the order, was playing a more typical knock, with nudges off his legs featuring heavily. Richley benefited from a mis-placed late cut bissecting the slip cordon causing only recrimination in the home ranks and played his share of false shots but, rarely looked completely uncomfortable.

Rasen reached drinks on 105 for 1 with Scunthorpe searching for answers. J. Coulbeck had found plenty of life and movement at a good pace, but hadn’t managed to make the breakthrough and Fred Bacchus had not been able to provide his usual level of control. However, the introduction of Josh Pashley dragged Scunthorpe back into the game, first luring Quinlan down the track to have him stumped for 33 and then getting the skipper to send a heave to mid-wicket straight up, and straight back, to the bowler to send him back on 47. With Rasen reduced to 114 for 3 the middle order had to stand up but, as with last week in the Cup, wickets continued to fall cheaply. With their tails now well and truly up and left-armer Jake Smith tearing in from the far end the next two batsmen fell without anything being added to the score and Rasen were 114 for 5.

Higgins lands another lancing blow through the covers

This brought Rory Jackson to the crease to join Chris Higgins and, rather than folding under the pressure, the pair added 82 runs in quick time with Higgins taking the Scunthorpe attack to pieces as he racked up 65 in 12 overs with 14 fours and a six. Punishing on anything short and unfurling a number of trademark cover drives, Higgins’ innings swung the momentum away from the home team as the drizzle returned and the ball became harder to control for the bowlers. Even more surprisingly, once he’d fallen to become the persevering Carnell’s second victim, Graham Charman proceeded to send the ball all round the park as he and Jackson added 34 unbeaten runs for the seventh wicket to take Rasen up to 230 for 6 after 45 overs. Charman ending on 19 not out and Jackson on 24 not out. Scunthorpe’s wickets were shared out equally between Carnell (2 for 72), Pashley (2 for 33) and Smith (2 for 23).

With only nine men able to make the trek to Hibaldstow and the drizzle returned, Rasen had it all to do in the field, despite their competitive total. Limmer and Aaron Wells opened the bowling for Rasen and met contrasting fates. Wells bowled two well-directed overs at real pace, keeping the batsmen on their toes. Limmer found less success, with the damp ball and conditions not to his liking and Scunthorpe’s opener Jake Smith looking like a man on a mission. It took the introduction of Richley for Rasen to break through, Limmer taking a fine slip catch to dismiss A. Yeadon. However, with the drizzle not abating and the wide open spaces between Rasen’s chosen men Scunthorpe cracked on. Joined by ‘keeper L. Blades, Smith punished anything loose from Rasen’s seamers. He was helped by his partner, Blades, who was giving the ball a good whack and the pair were taking the game away from Rasen until the rain came down. With conditions deteriorating, Blades holed out to long on for 27 and, with Scunthope 91 for 2 from 15.5 overs, the umpires brought the players off, with Smith on 51 not out.

With the rain seemingly bedding in for the evening the umpires called the game half an hour later to bring a premature end to what had promised to be an entertaining encounter. Whilst disappointed not to get to finish the game, Rasen 2nds can take heart from their highest points tally so far this season, 10, and will be looking forward to their visit to Keelby next Saturday and the hope that, one day, they might get to play a league game at Rase Park again!

Thanks to Rob Chamberlin for the photos.

‘Gnasher’s’ fine effort in vain

Last season, two of Market Rasen 2nd XI’s six league victories came at Christ’s Hospital School against Old Lincolnians, as a Rasen side, boosted by the presence of a few veterans, were able to take advantage of the Lincoln side two weeks in a row.

2010’s first meeting between the two sides promised to be a rather different encounter, with Old Lincolnians top of the table, having won all three of their fixtures so far and a young Rasen side languishing in the bottom two, having failed to register a win. Whilst the weather did it’s best to halt Old Lincolnians’ run of form, a determined umpire and a quick-drying wicket put paid to any hopes Rasen might have had of an early afternoon with Jeff Stelling & Co..

With the pitch sodden on arrival, the chances of a match looked bleak. However, with a brisk breeze moving on the worst of the rain and offering to dry the pitch out, as well as both sides and the Umpire having turned out, the game was shortened to 36 overs a side and play commenced at 2.45pm. Old Lincolnians won the toss and inserted Rasen on the damp track, obviously keen to get the visitors’ brittle batting line-up to the crease in order to skittle them over before the rain returned.

The home side got the start they wanted with the second ball, as Richard Limmer was adjudged caught behind to Luke Jelly, with the scoreboard yet to start ticking. With Jelly and Tim Phipps extracting movement and bounce from the damp track, Rasen’s second wicket pair of Ivan Nash and Andy Richley set about digging in for the duration.

Nash’s fine, early-season, form continued as he kept out anything decent, whilst feasting on the loose deliveries that were offered. As usual Nash was particularly severe on anything short and ‘leggish’, but also unfurled some delightful cover drives. In contrast, Richley found himself becalmed, dealing, almost exclusively, in singles as the pair added 71 in 26 overs. Whilst neither batsman dominated during the stand, only one clear chance was offered, with Nash being dropped at slip off the bowling of Mike Savage, from a chance that was as easy as they come in that position.

Whilst Nash was to make the most of his chance, Richley failed to cash in on his steady start, perishing to Savage on 21, as he finally attempted to knock the ball off the square. However, the skipper’s demise proved timely, as it allowed the youngsters of the middle order to join Nash in opening their shoulders and setting a decent target. Darren Salmon (22) was Nash’s main accomplice as the pair set about the bowling, adding 55 runs in seven overs. Some savage treatment was handed out, with Old Lincolnians’ change bowling receiving rough treatment and even the usually parsimonious Lincolnshire League Secretary seeing his figures dented.

As the home side started to wilt a little in the field Nash moved through the gears and swept Rasen majestically to 145 for 4 from their 36 overs, helped by some lusty late blows from Rob Chamberlain. The innings closed with Nash having carried his bat for 89* and Old Lincolnians with more to do than they would have expected.

The home side’s reply saw contrasting approaches from their openers; Flint and Noble. With the pitch having dried considerably and the roller having been applied, the opposition skipper seemed happy to accumulate and wait for anything short outside his off peg, whilst Flint seemed keen to crack on – as appears to be the trend these days. Dropped twice early on, Flint went on to an enthusiastic 29 and his early bat-flinging ensured that Old Lincolnians were always ahead with regards to the run-rate.

Richard Limmer’s fine effort with the ball (3 for 38 from 12 overs) kept Rasen in touch, as the all-rounder ran in tirelessly to restrict the batsmen and offer enough movement to keep them honest. Unfortunately, as in previous weeks, the change bowling and Rasen’s catching – six chances grassed – meant that Rasen were unable to make the opposition batsmen really sweat. Whilst the attitude of the young side in the field was, again, commendable the only other bowler to tie the batsmen down for any length of time was Richley (1 for 27 from 9 overs). Led by an excellent innings from M. Duffy (47), who was ably supported by J Walieujukwick (30) – apologies if the spelling’s somewhat awry – Old Lincolnians knocked the runs off in the 31^st over for the loss of five wickets.

With a ‘bye’ week and Bob Welton Cup action to look forward to at Haxey on the 22^nd, Market Rasen 2nds won’t see league action again until the last weekend of the month when they visit Hibaldstow to take on Scunthorpe 3rds.

Rasen Dodge Storm-Clouds, but not Defeat

Scorecard

The Bank Holiday weekend saw Lincs League Division 4 cricket return to Rase Park for the first time in 2010. The good burghers of Market Rasen had managed to control their enthusiasm for the event, but only barely. Alford and Rasen had fought tooth and nail for the last re-election place in 2009 and with both sides suffering contrasting defeats in their games so far in 2010 this was, rather tragically for the first weekend in May, a vital encounter. It was to be one that the more experienced lineup from Alford would, eventually, win with some comfort, emerging victorious by 62 runs and garnering maximum points.

With the storm clouds gathering and fresher conditions than had hitherto been encountered so far this season, Rasen won the toss and put Alford into bat on a track that was a little damp and looked as if it would reward bowlers hitting the seam. Unfortunately, the home side found themselves immediately under the pump. Kevin White and Jordan Dixon opened for Alford and in their contrasting styles they set about taking the game away from Rasen’s young side. Dixon crashed a quick-fire 80, teeing off at the first opportunity. Neither of Rasen’s openers were afforded the slightest respect as he set about dismantling the attack. Within four overs, Alford had raced out to 43 for 0, Rasen had dropped Dixon twice and White was yet to play a shot in anger!

With few options at his disposal, Rasen’s skipper, Andy Richley, brought himself on and, together with the spin of George Fussey, set about trying to stem the flow. The image of small dutch boys and dykes comes to mind though in retrospect, as Dixon continued to flail the ball to all corners of the ground. The umpire (Roy Sutton) managed to conjure up a brief shower at the end of the 10^th over, with Alford 77 for 0 and, in what could have been a mercy ruling, sent the players to the pavilion and the covers on.

After the resumption Dixon continued on his merry way, with White the silent partner as Alford forged to 104 before Dixon was the first man to fall for 80 (10 fours and 3 sixes) in the 17^th over. With the danger man finally dismissed, thanks to some fine glove-work from Rory Jackson, off the bowling of George Fussey, Alford suffered a minor collapse, slumping to 122 for 4 in the 22^nd over. This included a wicket for Luke Chambers with his first ball in senior cricket for Rasen. Unfortunately for the home side, Harry McHamilton (29) and Alan Irving (27 not out) steadied the ship, putting on 64 in 16 overs. McHamilton, in particular, was very strong off his legs and Irving’s studious effort was a lesson in crease-occupation for the young Rase Park outfit. J. Wood (25 not out) then joined Irving and the pair pushed Alford up to 213 for 5 in the 42^nd over before, conscious of the pendulous clouds, they declared. Rasen worked tirelessly in the field and rang the changes with the leather, looking for a breakthrough but, with the exception of Andy Richley (3 for 56 from 19 overs), were unable to restrain a strong Alford lineup.

In reply, Rasen put together their best batting performance of the summer so far. Unfortunately it was not enough to chase down Alford’s fine total. Aaron Wilkinson and Phil Fletcher both demonstrated the life that was available in the pitch, making the ball move around at a reasonable pace. Of Rasen’s top three, only Ivan Nash, again looking in good form, managed to make something of his start with Richard Limmer managing to nick an excellent delivery from Wilkinson and Richley flailing behind, needlessly, to a delivery from Fletcher. Nash, picking up from where he left off last week, was good value for his 34, but when he fell to Mike Smith, leaving Rasen 61 for 3, there was a lot for the young lineup to do. Fortunately, George Fussey again demonstrated his ability with a gritty, determined innings, batting 33 overs for 34. Eschewing the ambitious strokes that had led to the downfall of many of his colleagues, Fussey batted elegantly, and with composure, and whilst he was at the crease a glimmer of hope remained for the home side. Luke Chambers and Will Bunney both contributed some lusty blows and a quick-fire 20 from Rob Chamberlain threatened to un-nerve the visitors. However, Alford’s experienced attack never let Rasen get away and when Fussey was the ninth man out, for 34, in the 39^th over, the end came quickly enough. Alford’s skipper, Aaron Wilkinson, was the pick of their attack with a deserved 4 for 40, ably supported by Phil Fletcher (2 for 40), Kevin White (2 for 23) and Mike Smith (2 for 45).