2024

Cheshire County Cricket League Div 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 83 all out Lost to Maritime CC 1st XI 294 all out Kris Green Bowling Ashton on Mersey fell to a heavy defeat to an impressive Maritime side at The Beets. Choosing to bat first, Maritime shrugged off the loss of an early wicket to attack the Ashton bowling at every opportunity. Batting with a freedom based on the confidence their League form had earned, the Maritime top order struck the ball cleanly and ran purposefully to keep the scoreboard ticking. The strength of the Maritime side was their depth of batting, proven by the fact that whilst no player scored more than 43, seven players recorded scores in the 20s, 30s and 40s, all at a high strike rate. The only Ashton bowlers who kept a lid on things were Zaheer Khan (2-37) and Kris Green (3-38) but even they could not stop the Maritime juggernaut racking up a mammoth 294. In reply, Ashton found the Maritime bowling and fielding of a similar high standard. A shell shocked Ashton lineup had no response to the excellence of the Maritime side, the innings crumbling to 83 all out. Maritime are by far the best side faced by Ashton this season and whilst the defeat leaves them in deep trouble in the League, there was little they could do on the day but applaud their title chasing opponents. Ashton’s 2nd XI also lost, away at Congleton. Congleton 152 all-out (Max Lilley 5-13) Ashton 117 all out. The Ashton 3rd XI could not lighten the gloom as they lost at Ashley. Ashley 189 ( Mohammed Zaman 57) Ashton 157 all out. Zaheer Khan bowl

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 151 all out Lost to Congleton CC 1st XI 158 all out Yousuf Bhamjee bowls For the second week in a row Ashton on Mersey fell agonisingly short in their run chase, this time away at Congleton. Choosing to bowl first on a poor batting surface with huge variable bounce, Ashton found the hosts in dogged mood as the top order batters ground out runs in the opening overs. Only the excellent Meet Solanki seemed at home at the crease but even he struggled to bat fluently. Ashton’s spinners worked through the Congleton middle order with Yousuf Bhamjee being the pick of the crop. Only some long handled hitting from tail-enders Guy Baxendale and Sean Cardell saw the total move towards respectability, and this last wicket partnership of 28 proved crucial to the game’s outcome. Bhamjee finished with 3-26 with Ed Faulkner backing him up with 3-43. In reply the Ashton batters struggled to come to terms with the conditions, finding themselves in deep trouble at 62-6. Dave Patterson and James Marshall steadied the ship with a grafting partnership of 48, but when Patterson was run out the game was in the balance. Marshall worked hard to bring the target within sight but when he was adjudged lbw with the score on 138 the task looked beyond the visitors. But a fine last wicket effort from Kris Green and Zaheer Khan took the total to within 9 runs of victory before a final ball kept low to dismiss Green. Ashton can be proud of their efforts over the past few weeks with several decisions not going their way. They will be looking to show how good a side they are in the final weeks of the season. Ashton’s 2nd XI kept their good run going with a fine win over Stockport at The Beets Ashton 228 all out (Ryan Carey 75, Suhan Shetty 68) Stockport 68 all out (Sam Thoburn 4-36). The 3rd XI lost at home to Bramhall. Bramhall 244-6 (James Day 88) Ashton 109 all out (Abid Noor 4-21) James Marshall bats

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 259-9 Lost to Stockport CC 1st XI 260-8 Top Image: Kris Green bowls Ashton on Mersey fell agonising short of pulling off a remarkable win over Stockport on a day of controversy and high drama at The Beets Choosing to bowl first, Ashton will have been disappointed by their early efforts in the field, as Zafar Jatoi and Brennan Wilson put together a fluent opening partnership. Only with the introduction of Kris Green did Ashton taste success, as the seamer removed both openers in a spell which reduced Stockport to 91-3. But the Stockport middle order feasted on anything loose from the Ashton bowling to keep up the run rate. Ashton’s efforts were not helped by a misinterpretation of the no-ball law by one of the umpires which, by the time he was corrected by his colleague, had cost Ashton three runs plus the associated free hits. This was to prove crucial as the game unfolded. With Danny Barber and Tom Facer hitting out, Stockport would have been happy with their final total of 260. Green was the bowling pick with a deserved 4-47. The Ashton reply got off to a stuttering start as Mike Eley bowled a fine spell to leave Ashton struggling at 36-3. But runs from Hugh Gibbons, Jack Cumersdale and Dave Patterson kept the home side in the hunt. Skipper James Marshall took up the challenge, posting a fine 50, and Sam Kingsman-Ali hit out to keep the target in sight. But as wickets fell, Ashton’s task looked daunting, and they went into the last over needing 19 to win. All looked lost when the ninth wicket fell off the first ball of the over, but last man Green produced some big hitting to take 12 runs of the next three balls. A scrambled bye left Yousuf Bhamjee needing to hit a six off the last ball to win the game, but his noble effort fell just inside the boundary to leave Stockport the winners by a single run. Praise has to be given to Eley who finished with figures of 4-31. This was a fine game of cricket played in great spirit between two good teams. The outcome being decided by events beyond their control leaves a sour taste, particularly given the position of the clubs in the league table going into the final weeks of the season. The Ashton 2nd team brought back a win from a low scoring encounter at Port Sunlight. Ashton 82 all out (Daniel Harper 4-19, Mathew Howard 4-38 ) Port Sunlight 47 all out (Ryan Carey 6-24). Ashton’s 3rd XI came up short at Didsbury. Ashton 133 all out (Max Davies 67 no, Aaron Grimbaldeston 5-25) Didsbury 134-4 (Zohaib Ahmad 58) Ashton’s Women’s XI (who play in association with Woodley CC) lost to Porthill Park. Porthill Park 75-4, Ashton 60-7. Sam Kingsman-Ali bats