James Lines flicks one to leg
Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2
Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 216 all out
Lost to
Davenham CC 1st XI 218 -3
Ashton once again tasted defeat as they failed to contain promotion chasing Davenham at the Beets.
Losing the toss and being asked to bat on a surface that gave early help to the bowlers, Ashton found themselves in trouble as the top order crumbled to 32-4.
James Lines led the fightback with a pugnacious 50, before falling after a rain break disrupted the innings.
The rain delays did little to help the Ashton cause, with the home team finding themselves struggling at 104-7. But skipper James Marshall and Mark Weighill dug in to restore some respectability to the score.
Marshall played excellently before falling in the final overs for 58. Weighill gave great support before also departing in the final push for an admirable 43.
The Ashton total of 216 represented a good recovery, although on a pitch which had lost its early venom, it seemed a very reachable target. The Davenham bowling honours were taken by Harry Garner who finished with 3-34.
Davenham’s response began in dramatic style, as Jackson Noske clean bowled both openers to leave the visitors rocking at 7-2.
But that was the end of the good news for Ashton as batters Regan Johnson and Jason Van Der Meulen took complete control of the game.
The Ashton attack failed to bowl with any control, with the exception of teenager Charlie Eaton, who once again showed his immense promise as an all round cricketer.
The rest of the Ashton bowling was hit to all parts as the Davenham pair put on 180 runs at better than a run a ball.
Davenham eventually strolled to a comfortable win within 30 overs, leaving Ashton once again pondering their lack of options with the ball which has blighted their season.
The 1st XI are now in deep relegation trouble and will need something remarkable in the coming weeks to avoid the drop.
Cheer was once again restored by Ashton’s 2nd XI who stormed to a win at Urmston. Urmston 84 all out (Jaskaran Cheema 4-13) Ashton 86-5
Ashton’s 3rd XI lost to Grappenhall. Grappenhall 230-6 (Iain Wright 94, Adam Heap 4-35) Ashton 116-9 (Stephen McKinney 46, Zach Tully 4-34)
Ashton’s Womens’ XI went down to a narrow defeat against Lindow. Ashton 92 all out, Lindow 93-8 (Naz Hancioglu 4)
James Marshall steers the ball through the gully
