"Two 99s Please"

The weather was perfect, the BBQ was fired up, the music was playing... It must be 2k draw weekend.

Market Rasen travelled to the LCG in a determined mood as they push for promotion. Lindum won the toss and elected to bowl first with Sam Nutall and Zac opening the bowling. This looked an inspired bowling partnership with Zac keeping it extremely tight one end with Sam steaming in and picking up three wickets at his end. Market Rasen looked in trouble at 21/3 after nine overs. This brought Rasen's two experienced batsmen into the fight and they dug in with a partnership of 166 before their keeper fell for 53 bowled by Dan Nuttal. Kempo took a wicket and Dan another two and there was also a run out. Throughout all this Market Rasen's captain stayed resolute, reaching 99 and ending up stranded at the non-striker's end on the last ball of the over. Or so we thought, as the umpires called a five ball over and everyone was heading off the pitch before this was realised by which time it was too late so Rasen decided to declare on 200/8. Some good bowling particularly from spinners Zac and Pranav, toiling in the heat for little reward alongside the Nuttal brothers claiming three apiece.

Whilst 200 was a good total it felt within the reach of Lindum, particularly with some potentially big hitting seniors in our line up. Unfortunately the first two big hitting seniors Dan and Max were out for 0 and 12 respectively. Aadil came to the crease looking to build on some increasing momentum and pull a nicely presented half tracker at precisely which moment DT chose to boom over the tannoy that free bar was now open, promptly leading to a top edge looping nicely to a Rasen fielder. This meant that Pranav and Aiden were at the crease looking to steady the ship whilst still keeping the run rate ticking over. Aiden had come to the crease and pretty much from the first ball showed aggressive intent with the majority of bad balls being dispatched promptly to the boundary. Pranav was caught and bowled for two with the stage then set for a Kempo cameo with Aiden to see Lindum home. Kempo struck his first ball sweetly for a four before leaving the next ball and being bowled by one that ragged a mile (i.e straight). Saad came to the crease and stayed around for some time allowing Aiden to keep Lindum just within touching distance of a possible win. Saad achieved his best ever score of 13 including two well hit fours before being bowled, but not before he had established a partnership of 50 with Aiden. Zac then came to the crease and Rasen obviously feeling the game wasn't yet won with Aiden still at the crease brought their bowling big guns on. Another useful partnership was formed as Zac rotated the strike nicely playing shots down to third man and throwing in a couple of fours. Sadly this partnership of forty something came to an end with the almost inevitable, questionable, LBW decision. After this Aiden was quickly running out of partners as he moved closer to a century and Lindum a slim, outside chance of a win. Sadly this hope disappeared along with the chance of a century with the dismissal of Sam Sherrif as he bravely face Rasen's big guns. Aiden was left stranded on 99, a knock impressive not only because of the total but the manner in which it was achieved. Hopefully this will spur Aiden onto similar knocks in the last part of the season.
A really competitive match with many positives for the Academy side. We know we have plenty of talent in the bowling department but it was particularly pleasing to see the way some batting partnerships were formed in this game with essentially two batting partnerships accounting for nearly 100 of Lindum's runs. The ability to form these partnerships is one of the keys to winning big games and a great bit of learning for everyone today.