Author name: Ian Roberts

Beat Stockport CC 1st XI 194-9 Cheshire County Cricket league Division 3 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 246- 7 Beat Stockport CC 1st XI 194-9 Ashton maintained their 100% league record with an ultimately comfortable win over Stockport at The Beets. Losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Ashton struggled in the early overs as Stockport exploited the favourable bowling conditions. Early wickets left the home side at 38-3 but Charles Erasmus and Charlie Eaton dug in to put together the match defining partnership. Shrugging off some breaks for rain, the pair prospered as the pitch eased playing some forceful shots as the score mounted. When Erasmus fell for a splendid 79, the duo had posted 123 runs between them to move the game decisively into Ashton’s favour. Eaton, who had turned 18 just a few days before, looked favourite to post a century but fell just 14 runs short of what would have been a well-deserved ton. Ashton finished on 246 – 7 which looked, and proved to be, well above par. The Stockport batting effort started brightly but only Zafar Jatoi showed any appetite to build an innings which might have threatened the target. Ashton’s fielding had a mixed day with several hard chances being dropped, but three run outs helped snuff out any prospect of a Stockport victory. When Jatoi went for a fine 88, the Stockport effort became somewhat confused as batters seemed caught between pushing for bonus points and ticking off personal goals. The final overs dribbled out and Ashton were well satisfied by their 57 run victory. The result leaves Ashton clear leaders in the early season table but with a clear knowledge that there will be harder challenges to come. Ashtons 2nd XI made it a double winning Saturday as they posted a 92 run win at Port Sunlight. Ashton 244-6 (Saeed Bhamjee 65, Jack Cumersdale 60, Sam Thozer 56) Port Sunlight 152-9 (Jack Cumersdale 4-20) . Sunday saw the Ashton 3rd XI storm to a 174 run win at home to Davenham. Ashton 270-8 (Ram Elangovan 104 not out, Sarveshkumar Yadev 50) Davenham 96 all out (Anirudh Raj Anil 5-34). And Ashton’s 4th team made it a clean sweep weekend with a 173 run win at Bowdon Vale. Ashton 246-8 (Rafay Qazi 96 not out) Bowdon Vale 73 all out (Ethan White 4-5, Keon Taleb 4-20). Pictured Charlie Eaton bats  Charles Erasmus bowls 

Ashton on Mersey Cheshire County Cricket League Division 3 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 77-6 Beat Warrington CC 1st XI 73 all out Ashton maintained their 100% start to the season with a scrambled win away to Warrington. Losing the toss and being asked to bowl, an excellent opening spell from Kris Green and Charles Erasmus restricted the home batters who found runs hard to come by. On a pitch which provided variable bounce, Ashton kept up the pressure with James Marshall and Zaheer Khan taking up where Green and Erasmus left off. Backed up by some fine fielding, the visitors strangled any hope of a home revival, bowling them out for just 73. Khan took the bowling honours with 5-20, including 3 wickets in his final over to wrap up the innings. In reply Ashton found it no easy task to cope with a pitch which if anything became harder to master with the bat. But the Warrington bowling lacked the discipline of the Ashton attack, with extras being conceded at a regular rate. Ashton stuck to the task and despite losing wickets regularly, they got over the line with 4 wickets and 25 overs to spare. The win keeps Ashton as the early season pacesetters in the Division but with a realistic view that work is still needed to hit their best form, particularly with the bat. Ashton’s 2nd XI fell to their 1st defeat of the season against Warrington at The Beets. Ashton 135 all out (Anees Umar 6-13) Warrington 139-7 (Ryan Carey 4-24). Ashtons 3s pulled off a dramatic win at Christleton, hitting a six off the final ball of the game to post victory by 1 wicket. Christleton 194-7 (Arnold Lobo 77) Ashton 197-9 (Mohammad Shadaab Saipillai 5, Ram Elangovan 52) Ashton newly formed 4th XI won their inaugural league game with a 5 wicket win over Prestbury at The Beets. Prestbury 92 all out (Keon Taleb 5-5) Ashton 93-5. Pictured  Kris Green bowls  Zaheer Khan leads the team off after his 5 wicket haulCC 1st XI 77-6