Lincs County League: Rasen Seconds stay top with Haxey win

The Bierlein brothers ran riot as Market Rasen Second XI stayed top of Lincs County League Division Three with victory over Haxey on Saturday.
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Home skipper Mark Atkins won the toss and put Haxey in, and the visitors made a decent start, reaching 61-2 as Scott Barlow and Harry Hunter led the recovery after Karl Bierlein took two early wickets.

And once Liam Entwhistle removed opener Harry Hunter, Gary Bierlein (5 for 20) took charge.

He ripped out Haxey’s middle order in a devastating spell, clean bowling three of his victims on his way to a rapid five-wicket haul.

Barlow remained undefeated on 53, but lacked support at the other end as Karl (4 for 39) returned to remove the final two batsmen and skittle the visitors for just 94.

Gary then took centre stage again as he opened the Rasen reply.

Despite losing fellow opener Dale Chambers without scoring, Bierlein took the hosts to within 18 runs of victory before he was third wicket down, bowled Atkins for 44.

Taylor Womack caused a few anxious looks as he took two quick wickets to leave Rasen at 88-5, but wicket-keeper Tom Bradford (25 not out) saw the hosts to their target by five wickets with more than eight overs to spare.

Rasen’s sixth win in eight matches leaves them top of Division Three by two points from Nettleham.

Haxey: 94.

Bowling: K. Bierlein 14.5-3-39-4; G. Bierlein 15-4-20-5; S. Williams 6-3-13-0; L. Entwhistle 7-1-13-1; D. Quinlan 2-0-7-0.

Rasen: G. Bierlein 44, D. Chambers 0, D. Quinlan 7, T. Bradford 25*, S. Williams 4, T. Baker 0, S. Bunn 2*, Extras 13. Total: 95-5.