OUTCASTS 2NDS v MARKET RASEN 2NDS - LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

Outcasts 2nds promotion hopes were dented on August 2nd when they were beaten by a strong Market Rasen 2nds side at Hirst Priory, writes GLEN SANDS.
With the first team having no game Outcasts resisted the opportunity to strengthen their team opting for regulars who had served them so well throughout the season and they gave a very good account of themselves when setting a tough target of 185 for 8 in a rain interupted innings. Danny Hilton was first to go , bowled by the experienced Gary Bierlein for three then David Hobson and Matthew Teal took the total to 41 before Hobson went in the same fashion to Hilton having made 28. Teal was joined by Deol Singh and they added 50 to the score before the former was caught by Bierlein off Tom Boryszczuk for a well constructed 29. Charlie Mason and Andy Torr went cheaply and at 92 for 5 things were not looking good for the Priorymen but Mark Fletcher joined Deol at the crease and they offered good resistance when taking the total to 136 before Fletcher was out for 13 valuable runs. Deol went to a terrific half century then was caught on the boundary by Will Bradford off Luke Freeman for 70. Ian Fletcher ( 5 ) Jonathan Wroot ( 19 not out ) and youngster Arran Hawksworth ( 1 not out ) took the score to 185 for 8 by the end with Gary Bierlein taking 3 for 50 and Boryszczuk 2 for 34 for Rasen
Having taken an early tea when rain had interupted the Outcasts innings there was a quick turn around with Market Rasen setting off like a train , Matthew Travis and Boryszczuk putting on 30 in just seven overs only for the latter to sky a catch to Mark Fletcher off brother Alex for 13. Kevin Salmon joined the exceptional Travis and he too batted with purpose until he had also reached 13 and was caught and bowled by Deol Singh. Travis was within six of a rapid half century whenhe was quite spectacularly caught in the deep by Matthew Teal off Jon Wroot and for a flickering moment Outcasts might have thought they were back in the game but it was not to be as the big hitting Will Bradford , in his first Lincs League game of the season hit the ball to all parts along with George Fussey who adopted an aggressive approach from the start. Bradford eventually edged a ball into his stumps from Teal having made 35 but Fussey carried on regardless and he saw his team to victory with an outstanding knock of 59 , aided by Salmon who ended on 19 not out.
So the Isle side lost ground on table topping Cleethorpes 3rds and slipped out of the top two following Old Lincolnians win. They now have a week off to lick their wounds before welcoming Scunthorpe Town 3rds when they will hope to arrest this mini slump and get back on the promotion trail.