Macca Hooton bats
Beat
Christleton CC 1st XI 201 all out
Ashton on Mersey produced one of their best performances of the season to deliver a vital win on the road against fellow strugglers Christleton.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Ashton got off to a flying start as Matt Rhind and Macca Hooton tucked into the Christleton opening bowling.
With boundaries flowing the Ashton pair put on a 150 partnership before Rhind fell for a splendid 71. But Hooton continued to destroy the Christleton attack, cruising to a superb century at almost a run a ball.
When Hooton finally fell for a magnificent 134, the rest of the Ashton batting order hit out, allowing them to post a mammoth total of 307 off their 50 overs
In reply Christleton soon found themselves in deep trouble as the Ashton opening attack of Jackson Noske and Charlie Eaton reduced the home side to 26-3.
The home side rescued some honour as Max Dunbavand and Joshua Morgan Jones dug in to graft out a hundred partnership for the 4th wicket.
But the introduction of spinner Mark Weighill snuffed out any hope that Christleton had of an unlikely escape. Weighill removed both set batsmen and worked his way through the lower order to finish with figures of 5-27.
Some late fight from Tom Wells delayed the inevitable, but when he was last man out for 41, Ashton could celebrate a famous victory.
Ashton have much to do in the second half of the season if they wish to remain in this division but this victory should put them in good heart for their upcoming visit to promotion candidates Marple in the next round of league games.
Ashton’s 2nd XI had the better of a drawn game against Cheadle Hulme at The Beets. Ashton 188 all out (Ryan Carey 55, Shir Wali 5-37) Cheadle Hulme 124-8 ( Sam Kingsman-Ali 3-37)
Mark Weighill bowls
