Author name: Ian Roberts

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 259-9 Lost to Stockport CC 1st XI 260-8 Top Image: Kris Green bowls Ashton on Mersey fell agonising short of pulling off a remarkable win over Stockport on a day of controversy and high drama at The Beets Choosing to bowl first, Ashton will have been disappointed by their early efforts in the field, as Zafar Jatoi and Brennan Wilson put together a fluent opening partnership. Only with the introduction of Kris Green did Ashton taste success, as the seamer removed both openers in a spell which reduced Stockport to 91-3. But the Stockport middle order feasted on anything loose from the Ashton bowling to keep up the run rate. Ashton’s efforts were not helped by a misinterpretation of the no-ball law by one of the umpires which, by the time he was corrected by his colleague, had cost Ashton three runs plus the associated free hits. This was to prove crucial as the game unfolded. With Danny Barber and Tom Facer hitting out, Stockport would have been happy with their final total of 260. Green was the bowling pick with a deserved 4-47. The Ashton reply got off to a stuttering start as Mike Eley bowled a fine spell to leave Ashton struggling at 36-3. But runs from Hugh Gibbons, Jack Cumersdale and Dave Patterson kept the home side in the hunt. Skipper James Marshall took up the challenge, posting a fine 50, and Sam Kingsman-Ali hit out to keep the target in sight. But as wickets fell, Ashton’s task looked daunting, and they went into the last over needing 19 to win. All looked lost when the ninth wicket fell off the first ball of the over, but last man Green produced some big hitting to take 12 runs of the next three balls. A scrambled bye left Yousuf Bhamjee needing to hit a six off the last ball to win the game, but his noble effort fell just inside the boundary to leave Stockport the winners by a single run. Praise has to be given to Eley who finished with figures of 4-31. This was a fine game of cricket played in great spirit between two good teams. The outcome being decided by events beyond their control leaves a sour taste, particularly given the position of the clubs in the league table going into the final weeks of the season. The Ashton 2nd team brought back a win from a low scoring encounter at Port Sunlight. Ashton 82 all out (Daniel Harper 4-19, Mathew Howard 4-38 ) Port Sunlight 47 all out (Ryan Carey 6-24). Ashton’s 3rd XI came up short at Didsbury. Ashton 133 all out (Max Davies 67 no, Aaron Grimbaldeston 5-25) Didsbury 134-4 (Zohaib Ahmad 58) Ashton’s Women’s XI (who play in association with Woodley CC) lost to Porthill Park. Porthill Park 75-4, Ashton 60-7. Sam Kingsman-Ali bats

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 198-6 Lost to Port Sunlight CC 1st XI 199-4 Top Image: Fraser Hay bats Ashton on Mersey fell to a narrow defeat against league leaders Port Sunlight on a day where the Cricket Gods were not on Ashton’s side. Losing the toss and being asked to bat first on a track which gave significant early help to the bowlers, Ashton struggled in the opening overs, finding themselves two wickets down with only 20 runs on the board. Mike Roberts and Fraser Hay steadied the ship, working hard for their runs with an outfield slowed because of morning rain. When Roberts fell, Hay and skipper James Marshall continued the rebuild, with Hay becoming more comfortable as conditions improved. After Marshall went, Lee Brooks joined Hay to push the score forward. Hay hit out towards the close of the innings, bringing up a splendid hundred in the final over. Given the  difficult conditions they had to cope with, Ashton did well to post a total just shy of 200. For Port Sunlight the bowling pick was Simon Melberzs who finished with 3 for 17. In reply the home side looked comfortable against the Ashton seam attack, but the introduction of spinners Mark Weighill and Zaheer Khan slowed the advance. Progress was slow although wickets were hard to come by. But some keen out-cricket  saw three wickets fall before the halfway stage. Wayne Greve played cautiously to keep the run chase on track, but the crucial moment came when Melberzs survived a strong appeal for a catch behind the wicket off Charlie Eaton. With other decisions not going in Ashton’s favour, the home side edged to a win with four overs to spare. Ashton can consider themselves unlucky to have lost this encounter, which could easily have gone their way had the calls fallen in their favour. The Ashton 2nd XI recorded another fine win as they entertained Romiley at The Beets. Ashton 208-9 (Lee Heap 59, Alex Napier 4-60) Romiley 125 all out (Bradley Snape 50, Rafay Qazi 5-32). Ashton’s 3rd team fell to defeat against a powerful Heaton Mersey side. Heaton Mersey 321 – 6 (Ismael Khan 106, Alishan Khan 69) Ashton 112 -9. Mark Weighill bowls