Lost on DLS to
Cheshire County Cricket League Division 3
Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 111-6
Lost on DLS to
Winnington Park CC 1st XI 209 all out
Ashton on Mersey lost their 100% league record in bizarre circumstances away at Winnington Park.
Losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Ashton lacked the control they have shown over the opening weeks of the season as the home opening batters posted a 62 1st wicket partnership.
A fine catch by Mike Roberts split the openers and the Ashton bowlers started to regain some control against the hosts.
Despite some heavy hitting, wickets continued to fall, with Jack Cumersdale justifying his selection with a splendid 5 wicket haul.
The Winnington Park total of 209 looked within range of the strong Ashton batting line up, but rain began to fall as they started their innings and two early wickets fell as they were forced to play through a heavy downpour.
When the umpires finally took the players off it seemed unlikely that the game would continue but the home team did not agree and several hours passed whilst the rain continued.
The umpires took the view that the ground was fit for play at 6.50 which would allow the 10 overs needed for the game to count. Unbelievably, the Duckworth Lewis Sterns calculation meant that Ashton would need to score at over 9 runs an over for those 10 overs, a rate more than double either side had managed before the break.
Unsurprisingly Ashton fell short, but not before an heroic effort which saw them finish just 16 runs off of the target.
This was a day which did little to promote the joys of the game and Ashton will be looking forward to moving on to a better battle next week.
Ashton’s 2nd XI moved top of the table with a win over Winnington Park’s 2nd XI at The Beets. Winnington Park 117 all out (Ryan Carey 5-23) Ashton 119-8 (Joe Gadsby 47, Matt Atherton 4-46).
The 3rd XI’s game at Bredbury was abandoned due to the weather but the 4th team pulled off a splendid victory at The Beets. Ashton 241-4 (Rafay Qazi 67 no, Steve McKinney 60) Stockport 218 all out (John Lindsey 64, Steve McKinney 4-39, Keon Taleb 4-46).
Pictured
Jack Cumersdale bowls
Hugh Gibbons bats
