Market Rasen Sunday XI slump at Heighington

Winning the toss, the Rasen skipper James Snell invited the home side to bat, hoping to make use of the many bowling options at his disposal and on what appeared to be an interesting wicket to bat on.

Heighington’s openers, however, made use of home advantage and were able to build a steady start. The first wicket did not fall until the score had reached 61 when Rory Miller made the breakthrough.

This, however, failed to open up the batting line-up as Rasen would have hoped, and were not helped by several chances going down in the field throughout the 40 overs, some easier than others.

Some late hitting allowed the home side to finish on a probably over par 244-6 from their 40 overs, including half-centuries from top scorer Dave Orrey (77) and Ben Hargrave (53).

James Quinlan, Rasen’s leading wicket-taker so far in 2016, managed to add two to his total with his accurate left-arm spin and also took a well-judged catch in the deep to finish off the innings.

Of the remaining seven bowlers used during the innings, Charlie Scales, Nick Keast and Snell managed a wicket each, including a rather disappointing end for Orrey who was bowled by a slow full toss from the skipper.

Hoping to make early inroads into what appeared a challenging total on a now interesting track, Nick Keast attempted to set the tone with an early boundary before falling to a very sharp slip catch by home skipper Jim Reeson.

Rasen’s batsmen were unable to figure out how to master the low and slow surface.

Despite their best efforts, of an experienced middle order, which included Simon Bunn and veteran Andy Quinlan, only two batsmen made it into double figures, Scales and young Mark Bedford.

Wicketkeeper Bedford provided an exciting cameo late in the innings of six, four, caught, hitting the only six of the Rasen innings at a ground with a tempting short boundary on one side.

Rasen’s Sunday XI face two blank weekends before returning to action on Sunday, July 10.

Heighington: 244-6.

Bowling: N. Keast 7-0-46-1; C. Scales 6-0-31-1; A. Quinlan 6-0-28-0; R. Miller 6-0-23-1; J. Quinlan 7-0-46-2; B. Hawke 3-0-22-0; J. Bennett 1-0-8-0; J. Snell 4-0-34-1.

Rasen: C. Scales 9, N. Keast 5, C. Janney 0, R. Miller 4, S. Bunn 5, J. Snell 8, A. Quinlan 6, J. Bennett 0, M. Bedford 10, J. Quinlan 1*, B. Hawke 1, Extras 7. Total: 56.