NASH'S FINE INNINGS IN VAIN

By Andrew Richley, Market Rasen CC

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 31st over for the loss of five wickets.
With a ‘bye’ week and Bob Welton Cup action to look forward to at Haxey on the 22nd, 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.