Ashton on Mersey Cricket Club

May 2024

Fraser Hay

Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 180-9

Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 180-9 Lost to Port Sunlight CC 1st XI 195-9 Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Fraser Hay Bowling Ashton went down to a narrow defeat against table topping Port Sunlight in a fine game of cricket at The Beets. Choosing to bowl first Ashton had early success as Fraser Hay and Charlie Eaton produced another fine new ball spell. With runs hard to come by the visitors were grateful to Lewis Davies who dug in to provide a stable base from which Port Sunlight could rebuild. With the middle order batting launching a counterattack through Simon Melberzs, Keelan Metzer and Wayne Greve, the Sunlight score rose to a competitive total. Melberzs fell for 44, but Davies carried his bat for a solid and invaluable 73 as Sunlight reached 195 off their 50 overs. Hay posted fine and deserved figures of 4-23 with spinner Mark Weighill picking up late wickets to finish with 3-29. In reply Ashton lost both openers early, but James Newton and Dave Patterson built a platform for the run chase. When they went, Hay took up the challenge with a well judged batting effort, but the rest of the Ashton middle order failed to fire. With three wickets falling for the addition of only one run Ashton were on the back foot, but Hay and Weighill maintained hope as they kept the required run rate within sight. But when Hay was caught for 43, Weighill and the tail could not quite keep up the momentum required. In the end the home team fell 15 runs short. Martin Naylor took the bowling honours with 4-26. This was a fine advert for the game and Ashton will be looking to turn good performances into wins over the coming weeks. Ashton 2nd XI lost on their travels at Romiley. Romiley 133-8 (Lee Heap 3-19, Max Lilley 3-33) Ashton 119 all out (Peter Stuart 4-17, Ethan Turner 3-19) Fraser Hay Batting

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Sam Thorburn bowls

Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 151 all out

Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 151 all out Lost to Ashley CC 1st XI 253 all out Pictured: Sam Thorburn bowls Ashton on Mersey fell to a heavy home defeat on a day when the quality of the visitors’ batting was the decisive factor. Opting to bowl first on a pitch which promised a degree of early assistance, Ashton’s opening attack of Fraser Hay and Charlie Eaton each produced fine spells which removed both Ashley openers. With Zaheer Khan and James Marshall picking up a wicket apiece, Ashley were struggling at 52-4 before Ammad Mushtaq and Jahangir Mushtaq came together to move the game decisively in the visitors’ favour. The introduction of leg spinner Sam Thoburn removed Ammad for a fine 50, but Jahangir continued to press the accelerator, taking advantage of anything loose from the home bowling. Ashton stuck to the task, but this was Jahangir’s day. When he finally fell to Thoburn for 115, he had taken Ashley to a strong position, and despite Thoburn mopping up the tail to finish with 4-54, Ashley’s total of 253 was a formidable target. In reply Ashton lost early wickets and despite a battling 80 from Macca Hooton, the home side never looked like getting close to the required total. With help from James Newton (29) and Marshall (26no), Ashton reached the 150 mark, but the inevitable defeat came in the 36th over. Ashton will look back on the match with mixed feelings. Several players were carrying injuries which impacted to a degree on the performance, but they will regret the number of loose balls bowled to batters well equipped to take advantage of those offerings and will feel that better application from a number of their own batters would have produced a closer game. They will be looking to get back on track next week against table-topping Port Sunlight. Ashton’s 2nd XI recorded a fine win away at Neston. Neston 144 all out (Rafay Qazi 4-33 Max Lilley 3-14) Ashton 145-8 (Ragesh Nair 41, Yousuf Bhamjee 40 no) Ashton’s 3rd XI also won their game against Romiley thanks to a great bowling performance by Imran Sadiq. Romiley 87 all out (Sadiq 7-6) Ashton 91-5 (Zach Roberts 43 no) Ashton’s Womens XI who play in a combined team with Woodley CC fell to defeat against Didsbury. Didsbury 144-7, Ashton/Woodley 119-8. Macca Hooton bats

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