RELEGATION DOGFIGHT AT RASE PARK

By Andy Richley, Captain, Market Rasen 2nds

Market Rasen’s young 2nd XI tasted a bitter-sweet victory in their last league game of the season on Saturday, beating Alford 2nds by 19 runs, only to find that their fellow strugglers, Brigg Town, had gone to second-placed Stamford Homes and won, meaning that the Rase Park outfit must rely on Alford taking fewer than 4 points from their last game to avoid ninth place and re-election.
On a balmy, late summer’s afternoon, Rase Park basked in the sunshine as Market Rasen and Alford 2nd XIs played out an enthralling end-of season encounter. With Rasen looking to lift themselves out of the bottom two and Alford still not mathmetically safe, both sides had everything to play for.
Alford won the toss, putting Rasen in and Luke Robinson and Ivan Nash set about making the most of their opportunity. The pair were particularly harsh on Dan Poynton, as the young Alford bowler failed to find a full-enough length to prosper. The 50 partnership was brought up in the 6th over as the bowling was put to the sword. It was only the introduction of Paul Nickson that Alford break through, as Nash was adjudged LBW for 22 with Rasen on 56.
The runs continued to flow as Robinson opened up, punishing anything loose from the bowlers and repeatedly finding and clearing the boundary. However, wickets continued to fall and, with the introduction of Daryl Crowe, Alford found a bowler capable of stemming the flow of runs and taking wickets.
Robinson brought up his 50 in the 16th over, out of 91, before falling on the same score; LBW to Crowe. Undeterred, the lower order continued to fling the bat with some success, as Crowe continued to wheel away, picking off Rasen batsmen as he went. Only Luke Richards, with 20, was able to halt the procession of wickets as Alford dismissed the home side for 145 in the 33rd over. Crowe ending up with 5 for 16 from 11 overs.
With 57 overs available to them and a Rasen side in the field with an average age of 17, Alford resumed slight favourites, but were swiftly evicted from the ‘box seats’. As Rampal (2 for 36 from 10 overs) and Andy Richley opened up, combining pace and spin, and the pair reduced the visitors to 13 for 4.
This brought together Dave Honman and Crowe for Alford, who added 40 runs together, before Luke Richards (1 for 25 from 11 overs) bowled Crowe for 28. Wells (1 for 10) bowled the Alford skipper, Wilkinson, shortly after, to leave Alford 56 for 6 and Rasen on top, but with Honman joined by a keen accomplice in Allen, the veteran pair set about knocking the tyro fielding side off their stride. The pair added 50 and, with overs not an issue, seemed content to continue taking the game steadily away from Rasen.
The re-introduction of Richley (3 for 30 from 12 overs) and a fine spell from Luke Robinson finished the home side off. Robinson ensnared both Honman (48) and Allen (32) to finish with 2 for 10 from 6.1 overs and see Rasen to victory by 19 runs.
The win for Rasen and results elsewhere, have lifted them to eighth for the time being. However, Alford are only four points behind and host Stamford Homes on Sunday in a must-win game for both sides, so it will be next week before their future is known.