Cheshire County Cricket League Division Three
Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 262-3
Beat
Barrow CC 1st XI 258-8
Ashton maintained their top of the table position with victory over Barrow on a day of batting excellence at The Beets.
Winning the toss and opting to bowl, Ashton seemed sluggish as Barrow’s batters attacked from the start. With the challenge of a lightning quick outfield, the fielding fell below the standards set by Ashton this year, and catches went down as the home team toiled.
Slowly but surely the bowlers dragged the run rate back, mainly thanks to a typically economic spell from Zaheer Khan who took 2-24 off his 10 overs.
The visitors’ batting kept up the tempo with 62 from Ben Stuchbury, who eventually became one of James Marshall’s 3 wickets.
The Barrow total of 258-8 looked a challenge, but on a fine batting surface it was within range if the Ashton batting performed to its potential.
And perform to its potential it did. Shaking off the loss of an early wicket, Charles Erasmus and Harris Yassin put together a superb 2nd wicket partnership which took the game away from Barrow.
Hitting the ball to all parts, the pair gave a virtually chanceless batting exhibition which brought them a 222 run partnership, the highest for the 2nd wicket in a 1st Team league game.
Both men went through to deserved centuries, Yassin falling for 105 and Erasmus for 103 as Ashton got home by 7 wickets with 7 overs to spare.
The win leaves Ashton top of the League with 4 games to go, and with the title within sight.
Ashton’s 2nd XI went down to defeat at Grappenhall. Ashton 147 all out (Ryan Carey 51) Grappenhall 148-5 (Sam Trumper 63, Ryan Carey 4-28)
The 3rd XI lost at home to Stockport Trinity. Trinity 206-8 (Imran Khan 62) Ashton 136 all out.
The 4th XI beat Langley away. Ashton 188 -9 (Jenny Walace 5-26) Langley 175 all out (Haris Qazi 3-14)
Pictured
Harris Yassin and Charles Erasmus return after their centuries.
