Author name: Ian Roberts

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 3 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 257-5 Beat Bredbury St Marks CC 1st XI 150 all out Ashton retained their lead at the top of the table with an emphatic win at 4th placed Bredbury. Losing the toss and being asked to bat, Ashton lost early wickets on a surface that was giving significant help to the home bowlers. But slowly and surely Charles Erasmus and Charlie Eaton dragged Ashton back into the game as they posted the match defining partnership. The two paced nature of the pitch made stoke-play difficult, but both men worked hard to graft for their runs. As the bowlers tired, Eaton began to unfurl a range of innovative shots, whilst Erasmus played a watchful delight of a knock. Eaton finally fell for 68, having put on 150 for the 4th wicket with Erasmus, who kept going after the partnership was broken. Erasmus batted through to post a superb 102 not out, repeating his century of the previous week, although this ton was made in far more difficult circumstances. Ashtons total of 257 was far beyond the average score at the ground and the target for Bredbury looked very challenging. And so it proved as Kris Green and James Marshall reduced the hosts to 15-4.  Whilst the middle order tried hard, Ashton’s Ed Faulkner snuffed out any hopes of a fightback, taking 4-15 as Bredbury struggled to 150 all out. The win keeps Ashton 30 points clear at the top of the table with 3 games to go. Ashton’s 2nd XI struggled to a loss at home to Cheadle Hulme. Ashton 117 all out, Cheadle Hulme 118-4. The 3rd XI won a low scoring game at Trafford MV. Ashton 119 all out. Trafford MV 63 all out (Neil Manjoi 5-7) Ashton’s 4th XI lost at home to Cheadle. Cheadle 167 all out (Max Lilley 4-15) Ashton 100 all out. Pictured Charles Erasmus bats Ed Faulkner bowls 

Cheshire County Cricket League Division Three Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 262-3 Beat Barrow CC 1st XI 258-8 Ashton maintained their top of the table position with victory over Barrow on a day of batting excellence at The Beets. Winning the toss and opting to bowl, Ashton seemed sluggish as Barrow’s batters attacked from the start. With the challenge of a lightning quick outfield, the fielding fell below the standards set by Ashton this year, and catches went down as the home team toiled. Slowly but surely the bowlers dragged the run rate back, mainly thanks to a typically economic spell from Zaheer Khan who took 2-24 off his 10 overs. The visitors’ batting kept up the tempo with 62 from Ben Stuchbury, who eventually became one of James Marshall’s 3 wickets. The Barrow total of 258-8 looked a challenge, but on a fine batting surface it was within range if the Ashton batting performed to its potential. And perform to its potential it did. Shaking off the loss of an early wicket, Charles Erasmus and Harris Yassin put together a superb 2nd wicket partnership which took the game away from Barrow. Hitting the ball to all parts, the pair gave a virtually chanceless batting exhibition which brought them a 222 run partnership, the highest for the 2nd wicket in a 1st Team league game. Both men went through to deserved centuries, Yassin falling for 105 and Erasmus for 103 as Ashton got home by 7 wickets with 7 overs to spare. The win leaves Ashton top of the League with 4 games to go, and with the title within sight. Ashton’s 2nd XI went down to defeat at Grappenhall. Ashton 147 all out (Ryan Carey 51) Grappenhall 148-5 (Sam Trumper 63, Ryan Carey 4-28) The 3rd XI lost at home to Stockport Trinity. Trinity 206-8 (Imran Khan 62) Ashton 136 all out. The 4th XI beat Langley away. Ashton 188 -9 (Jenny Walace 5-26) Langley 175 all out (Haris Qazi 3-14) Pictured Harris Yassin and Charles Erasmus return after their centuries. 

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 3 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 243 all out Lost to Runcorn CC 1st XI 246-9 Ashton on Mersey fell to a narrow defeat at Runcorn on a day where injuries to the Ashton bowling attack proved crucial. Batting first Ashton made good progress with Charles Erasmus and Saeed Bhamjee putting on 111 for the first wicket before the dreaded Nelson claimed Erasmus for a fine 58. Bhamjee and Harris Yassin took the total to 151 but a clatter of wickets, including Bhamjee for a splendid 65, halted the Ashton Charge. Some late hitting by Sam Kingsman-Ali lifted the final total to 243, which looked (and proved to be) a little short of par. 4 wickets each for Matthew Dunbabin and Kieran Maher were the bowling highlights. In reply Ashton were already a bowler down after their lead spinner Zaheer Khan was injured in the warm up. And things got worse as Charlie Eaton had to be withdrawn from the attack with a side strain and Charles Erasmus was hampered by a blow to a finger whilst batting. All that put extra pressure on skipper James Marshall who responded magnificently, taking 6 wickets for 41 in his 10 over spell. That reduced Runcorn to 93-6 and Ashton scented victory. But Yassir Adnan and Dunbabin came together to post an excellent 98 run partnership for the 7th wicket to bring Runcorn back into the game. Ashton fought hard with the limited bowling available and the game was in the balance when the 9th wicket fell with Runcorn still needing 32 runs, but Adnan controlled the chase, getting his team over the line with 8 balls to go. His unbeaten 94 was a great effort and Runcorn deserved the win. The bonus points Ashton gained actually increased their lead at the top of the table as their nearest rivals were well beaten. They will be looking to avoid any further slip ups in the final 5 games of the season. Ashton 2s won a low scoring thriller at the Beets against Oakmere. Ashton 113 all out, Oakmere 64 all out (Dave Corps 6-16). Ashton’s 3rd XI won at Urmston. Urmston 170 all out (Steve Mckinney 4-38) Ashton 174-8 (Chirag Tapal 74, Nadal Shinod 5-47) Pictured Saeed Bhamjee bats James Marshall bowls