Cheshire County Cricket League Division Two
Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 239-6
Lost to
Cheadle Hulme CC 1st XI 241 -6
Top image: Ed Faulkner bats
With the Sunday games being washed out, Ashton on Mersey completed their 2024 season by welcoming Cheadle Hulme on a bright Saturday at The Beets.
Choosing to bat first Ashton lost early wickets as the Cheadle Hulme attack made the most of any early movement from the new ball.
But calm play from Hugh Gibbons and Ed Faulkner steadied the ship as the bowling became easier to handle.
When Gibbons fell, Fraser Hay and Jack Cumersdale supported Faulkner’s efforts, with Skipper James Marshall helping to increase the run rate at the end of the innings.
Faulkner remained undefeated on 85 as Ashton closed on 239, which was about par on the excellent batting surface of The Beets.
In reply, Cheadle Hulme took advantage of some wayward bowling from an Ashton attack that was hampered by injuries to their frontline bowlers. But when Sam Kingsman-Ali dismissed Ben Balderson and Cumersdale bowled dangerman Ashton Muir, the game swung back into the balance.
Jordan Potts (84) and Adam Wilde (69) dug in to keep Cheadle Hulme in the game, and it looked like they would get the visitors over the line.
A rattle of wickets created some late drama as Ashton fought back to put the jitters into the victory push, but some late hitting saw the game finally go Cheadle Hulme’s way with 10 balls to spare.
The second XI saw victory on Saturday away at Urmston. Ashton 206 all out (Sam Thoburn 53) Urmston 152-9.
Ashton can look back on a season where Lady luck on match days was often sadly lacking. A number of games saw them lose narrowly, and their overall performance and spirit could not be questioned. They remain in Division 2 for the 2025 season and will be looking to build on their fine efforts next year.
Sam Kingsman-Ali bowls
