Cheshire County Cricket League Division 3
Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 205-6
Beat
Heaton Mersey CC 1st XI 200 all out
Ashton returned to the head of the Division after they came out on top of a titanic, nerve shredding clash at Heaton Mersey.
Batting first Ashton started well, with the new opening partnership of Tom Scott and Saeed Bhamjee seeing off the new ball.
Harris Yassin kept up the batting momentum and at 135-3 Ashton looked poised to post a substantial score.
But the home side fought back to take three quick wickets as the Ashton effort stalled. It was left to skipper James Marshall and keeper James Newton to put together an unbeaten 62 run partnership which allowed Ashton to set a target of 205.
The Heaton reply began in dramatic fashion as Charles Erasmus took two wickets in his first over. A spilled catch prevented an even better start for Ashton and Heaton rebuilt thanks to Daniel Ahmed and the ever-threatening Ibrar Latif.
The pair cruised to a 50 partnership before Marshall beat Latif’s defence to trap him lbw for 37.
Any hopes of a batting collapse faded as Ahmed, Muhammad Ali and Nachiket Verlekar batted sensibly to bring the target within range. At 181-6 with overs to spare, the home side looked firm favourites, but Ashton dug deep to battle back into the match.
A brilliant boundary catch by Charlie Eaton and some fine bowling from Charles Erasmus left the home side needing 7 runs to win when the 9th wicket fell. A run later, Kris Green burst through the defence of last man Daniel Heasley to leave the hosts stunned as Ashton claimed the win. Erasmus took the bowling honours with 4-40.
This was a great game of cricket which saw Ashton at their best. A team in the truest sense of the word, they are now well placed to push on with their promotion bid in the second half of the season.
Ashton’s 2nd team fell to a heavy defeat at home to Urmston. Urmston 264-5 (Ishaan Devaramani 74 not out) Ashton 107-9 (Craig Wilson 5-29)
Ashton’s 3rd team continued their great season with a demolition of Christleton at The Beets. Ashton 274-4 (Mo Shadaan 113, Vivek Tharaken 103) Christleton 28 all out.
Ashton’s 4th XI went down to a heavy defeat at Heaton Mersey. Ashton 91 all out, Heaton Mersey 93-4.
Pictured
James Newton Bats
Charles Erasmus bowls
