Author name: Ian Roberts

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 120 all out Lost to Bollington CC 1st XI 121-1 Ashton on Mersey’s hopes of avoiding relegation were dealt a severe blow as ther fell to a heavy defeat at Bollington. Losing the toss, Ashton were asked to bat first on a deck which gave early help to the pace attack of Tom Horsfield and Harri Dickinson. A mixture of challenging deliveries and poor shot selection saw Ashton slump to 53-6 before Skipper James Marshall and Mark Weighill came together to post a battling 50 run partnership. When both those players went, the innings subsided to a disappointing 120 all out. Horsfield took the bowling honours with 5-55. The target proved no challenge to the powerful Bollington batting line up, with the splendid Andrej Yaksender blasting a quickfire 61 to see the hosts home in the 12th over. This was a mismatch from the start and illustrates how far Ashton have been off the pace this season. Results elsewhere keep Ashton’s hopes of survival alive but they are hanging by a thread. Ashton’s 2nd XI pulled off a remarkable win against Upton at The Beets. Ashton 106 all out (Sam Thoburn 32, Mike Roberts 30) Upton 91 all out (George Williams 47, Max Lilley 5-13). The 3rd XI went down to defeat at Bramhall. Bramhall 248-4 (Will McCue 101 Rakesh Patel 61) Ashton 144 all out (Finn Coburn 52). Pictured  Hugh Gibbons bats Fraser Hay Bowls

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