Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2
Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 250-5
Beat
Ashley CC 1st XI 249-9
Ashton on Mersey pulled off a fabulous win over Ashley at The Beets to keep their season alive.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Ashley shrugged off the loss of two early wickets to put quick runs on the board
Gautam Narayanan played fluently to lead the charge, but the introduction of spinner Yusuf Bhamjee slowed the run rate and wickets began to fall.
Narayanan eventually went for a fine 89 but a burst of scoring from Jahangir Mushtaq and Sabtain Baig took the score past 200.
Late wickets denied the visitors the large total they had hoped for and their score of 249 seemed about par given a fine batting surface and a rapid outfield.
Fraser Hay emerged with the best bowling figures of 3-55.
In reply Ashton got off to a flyer with Hay and Hugh Gibbons putting on a century opening partnership before Hay departed for 61.
Gibbons fell shortly after for 41 and the scoring slowed as the Ashley spinners pulled the visitors back into the game.
Ashton stuck to the task and led by teenager Charlie Eaton they got across the line. Eaton played with a maturity beyond his years to finish unbeaten on 64.
The win brings Ashton into a three-way race to avoid the drop, with tough matches ahead, but with hopes high that this win sparks a late revival of fortunes.
Ashton 2s were well beaten at Oakmere. Oakmere 206-8 (Ian Eaton 74Ryan Carey 4-24) Ashton 52 all out.
Ashton’s 3rd XI were defeated at Didsbury. Ashton 109 all out Didsbury 110-4 (Kush Patel 53)
Pictured
Fraser Hay appeals for an lbw
Charlie Eaton bats
