May 2023

Cheshire County Cricket League Div 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI – 216 all out Beat Davenham CC 1st XI  – 196 all out Ashton on Mersey bounced back from their poor start to the season to record a fine win on the road at Davenham. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Ashton lost both openers cheaply before Macca Hooton got the scoreboard moving with some aggressive shots. When Hooton went, James Lines settled in to play the innings-defining knock. Well supported by the Ashton middle order, Lines made the most of anything loose to post an impressive half century. Lines looked to be moving towards what would have been a well-deserved ton when his innings was cut short by an lbw decision. The Ashton tail wagged to add vital runs, taking the total past 200. Ashton would have been well satisfied with their final score of 216 as the last wicket fell in the final over. Sam Thoburn bowls Bowling honours were taken by Muhammad Abid who finished with 4-42. In reply Davenham got off to the worst of starts with opener Mike Rudd falling in the first over, with Mike Roberts holding a sharp catch off Jackson Noske. Matt Jamieson and Abid rebuilt the home reply, posting 78 run partnership before Jamieson was trapped lbw by Roberts. The crucial bowling spell was delivered by leg spinner Sam Thoburn who worked his way through the middle order, never allowing the home side to get on top. With support from the other Ashton spinners, Thoburn dominated proceedings to finish with figures of 5-50. The Davenham innings ended as Noske returned to claim the final wicket, allowing Ashton to celebrate a fine victory. Ashton will be looking to build on their success when they welcome Bollington to the Beets in the next league game. Ashton’s 2nd XI had the better of a draw at home to Urmston. Ashton 210 – 6 (Saeed Bhamjee 82 not out, Charlie Eaton 65) Urmston 148-9. The 3rd XI were beaten in a high scoring game at Cheadle. Ashton 199 -9 (Saad Alam 88, Saad Adeem 4-37) Cheadle 200-3 (Saad Adeem 121 not out, Max Davies 3-51)

Cheshire County Cricket League Div 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 108 all out Lost to Stockport CC 1st XI 112-3 Top image: James Lines Bats Ashton on Mersey’s dreadful start to the season continued as they lost heavily to Stockport on a difficult day at The Beets. Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Ashton got off to the worst of starts, with Stockport’s Mike Eley claiming a wicket from the first ball of the match. Eley continued to make the most of the new ball, reducing the home side to 19-3 before James Lines and Tom Scott began to bring some respectability to the scoreline. But with the total on 67 the Ashton effort fell apart. Eley removed Scott, and with spinner Mark Green inducing an error from Lines, the remaining Ashton batting failed to come to terms with the task. With the final 5 wickets adding only 27 runs Ashton could only post 108 on a pitch on which was full of runs for any side who had the skill and application to bat properly. Eley finished with well-deserved figures of 6-35. In reply Stockport cruised to victory inside 18 overs, helped by some shoddy fielding by the home side who dropped a number of catches. This was a poor effort by the Ashton team, who are now adrift at the foot of the table and in need of a radical rethink to kick start their season. Ashton’s 2nd XI brought some relief to the club by recording a fine win at Stockport, after bowling the home team out for 110 (Lee Heap 3-36) The Ashton 3rd XI lost to Bowdon. Bowdon 218 -8 (Rahoul Viinoday 62, Vaikkun Venkat 53, Charlie Eaton 4-33) Ashton 171-8 (Charlie Eaton 52)