ALFORD 2nds EASE TO LEAGUE DOUBLE

By Andy Richley, Market Rasen CC

With a disjointed fixture calendar in June, Rasen 2nds travelled to Alford’s Well Lane ground looking for consecutive league wins, in Lincs division four, 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 George 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.