Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2
Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 104 all out
Lost to
Maritime CC 1st XI 110 -2
James Marshall Batting
Ashton on Mersey fell to defeat on a farcical day at promotion chasing Maritime.
Heavy morning rain had left the ground sodden, with muddy areas across the square and the outfield. The pitch was water damaged and prospects for play looked slim as rain continued on and off through the day. But the home side worked hard to try and get the ground playable and their efforts should be applauded.
Despite their work, the ground remained treacherously soft. Remarkably, the umpires deemed the ground fit for play at just before 5pm, with both sides allocated 24 overs each to bat.
Ashton were asked to bat first on a pitch which still showed signs of the water damage, and it soon became clear that this was no surface for stroke makers, as the ball stopped and cut on a deck that could not be trusted.
Runs only came through hitting out and hoping for the best. Skipper James Marshall led the way with a fighting 36, but the rest of the strong Ashton batting line up was neutralised by the conditions and a lack of luck as aerial shots went straight to fielders who would have struggled to make ground had they needed to move.
Some tail order hitting by Kris Green got the score above 100 and the fact that only he and Marshall reached double figures shows the impact of the conditions.
In reply, the Ashton bowling was hindered by the wet run ups. The normally potent seam attack of Marshall and Fraser Hay needed a firm footing to perform as they can, and this was denied them by the conditions. The Maritime attack, based on spin and medium pace had been less hampered by the conditions, which may, no doubt, have influenced their enthusiasm to play.
Despite some early wickets the result was never in doubt as the Maritime batters hit out to win the game easily, with a rapid 50 from Kankanange.
This game should never have been played. Fielders could not run and it was only by luck that no-one was injured. Whilst the desire to get a game on is admirable, allowing a game to proceed as a reward for efforts at “mopping up” when the ground remained unfit for play was a dreadful error.
Ashton’s 2nd XI lost to Congleton at The Beets in another game impacted (although much less so) by the weather. Congleton 173-8 (Stephan Stubbs 64, Ayush Chakrabati 5-31) Ashton 128 all out (Owen Lees 4-25).
Kris Green
