Author name: Ian Roberts

Jamal Benzafar bats Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 158-9 Lost to Cheadle Hulme CC 1st XI 161-7 Ashton on Mersey fell to another defeat despite an improved performance against Cheadle Hulme at The Beets. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Ashton were rocked before a ball was bowled as one of their top order batsmen had to withdraw from the game due to a domestic emergency. The challenges continued as early wickets fell to the opening attack of Scott Howarth and Andrew Wylie. But the experienced Jamal Benzafar dug in to stabilise the Ashton effort. Benzafar looked set for a half century before unluckily dragging a ball onto his stumps on 47. Runs from Akash Patel and James Marshall allowed the score to mount but when Marshall was last man out with the score on 158, the total seemed below par. The excellent Howarth was the Cheadle Hulme bowling pick, finishing with 4-47. In reply Ashton struck early with Jackson Noske bowling a fiery opening spell, well supported by teenager Charlie Eaton. Cheadle Hulme were rocking on 57-5 before Aayush Singh Slathia and Sam Walker came together to turn the game in the visitors’ favour. Their partnership reached 80 before Noske returned to remove Walker. But despite a final wobble, Cheadle Hulme got over the line for a three-wicket win. Noske was rewarded for a fine effort with figures of 4-35. Jackson Noske bowls The loss leaves Ashton rooted in the relegation zone although they will take some comfort from their improved performance. They will hope to continue the improvement when they visit fellow strugglers Christleton in the next round of league games. Ashton’s 2nd XI lost their top of the table clash with Didsbury. Ashton 145 all out (Nigel Bellamy 4-23) Didsbury 151-4 (Tom Brady 63 not out). Both the 3rd XI and Women’s team lost.

Charlie Eaton bats Cheshire County Cricket League Div 2 Ashton on Mersey 1st XI 66 all out Lost to North East Cheshire 1st XI 320-3 Ashton crashed to another ignominious defeat with a woeful performance at North East Cheshire. Winning the toss and opting to bowl first on a pitch which promised to be challenging for any batsman, Ashton’s bowling attack totally failed to exploit the conditions. Rather than bowling a probing length to trouble the batsmen, a series of short and wide deliveries gifted runs from the start. To add to Ashton’s inept effort, when chances did come their way, they failed miserably to take them. Nine catches were dropped in what became a nightmare day for the visitors. The only bright spot came from teenager Charlie Eaton, making his first appearance for the 1st team this season, who showed his more experienced teammates how to bowl to get the most out of the conditions. North East batsmen Jayden Camp (147 not out) and Jake Reynolds (120) feasted on the offerings of the Ashton bowling, allowing the home side to declare at 320-3 off just 40 overs. If Ashton thought their day could not get worse, they were wrong. With the home bowlers simply using the abundant help that the pitch provided, they took two Ashton wickets in the first two balls of the innings. The remaining Ashton batting fell apart, with a real risk that they would be bowled out for an embarrassing  tiny total. But once again Charlie Eaton showed the application and skill lacking in the rest of the batting lineup to post a fine 41, being last man out with the score on 66. Charlie Eaton bowls Dave Oldfield finished with the remarkable figures of 5 wickets for 3 runs off 10 overs. Ashton are in deep trouble this season and can only hope that the return of some key players and an honest rethink from some of the so-called senior players will help rescue the year. The Ashton 2nd XI continued their fine season with a home win against Hale Barns. Ashton 227- 7 (Ryan Carey 54) Hale Barns 201 all out (S Jaiswal 111 not out).