Author name: Ian Roberts

Cheshire County Cricket League Division Two Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 239-6 Lost to Cheadle Hulme CC 1st XI 241 -6 Top image: Ed Faulkner bats With the Sunday games being washed out, Ashton on Mersey completed their 2024 season by welcoming Cheadle Hulme on a bright Saturday at The Beets. Choosing to bat first Ashton lost early wickets as the Cheadle Hulme attack made the most of any early movement from the new ball. But calm play from Hugh Gibbons and Ed Faulkner steadied the ship as the bowling became easier to handle. When Gibbons fell, Fraser Hay and Jack Cumersdale supported Faulkner’s efforts, with Skipper James Marshall helping to increase the run rate at the end of the innings. Faulkner remained undefeated on 85 as Ashton closed on 239, which was about par on the excellent batting surface of The Beets. In reply, Cheadle Hulme took advantage of some wayward bowling from an Ashton attack that was hampered by injuries to their frontline bowlers. But when Sam Kingsman-Ali dismissed Ben Balderson and Cumersdale bowled dangerman Ashton Muir, the game swung back into the balance. Jordan Potts (84) and Adam Wilde (69) dug in to keep Cheadle Hulme in the game, and it looked like they would get the visitors over the line. A rattle of wickets created some late drama as Ashton fought back to put the jitters into the victory push, but some late hitting saw the game finally go Cheadle Hulme’s way with 10 balls to spare. The second XI saw victory on Saturday away at Urmston. Ashton 206 all out (Sam Thoburn 53) Urmston 152-9. Ashton can look back on a season where Lady luck on match days was often sadly lacking. A number of games saw them lose narrowly, and their overall performance and spirit could not be questioned. They remain in Division 2 for the 2025 season and will be looking to build on their fine efforts next year. Sam Kingsman-Ali bowls

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 168-9 Lost to Alvanley CC 1st XI 170-3 Top image: Macca Hooton bats Ashton on Mersey fell to defeat on the road at promotion chasing Alvanley, on a day when news of Ashton’s safety from relegation tempered the impact of the loss. Asked to bat first on a pitch which offered early help for the seamers, Ashton battled to cope with some accurate home bowling. Ashton’s season-long history of being on the wrong side of marginal decisions continued but with contributions from Macca Hooton, Fraser Hay, Jack Cumersdale and Dave Patterson, Ashton managed to post a respectable, if under par, total of 168-9. In reply Alvanley got off to a flyer as Jono Whitely attacked the bowling from the start. With Ashton hampered by injuries to their seam attack, it fell to the spinners to pull things back, and Zaheer Khan and Yousuf Bhamjee delivered. Bowling tightly and taking a wicket apiece, the spinners reduced Alvanley to 59-3 with runs drying up. But Alex Reid and Simon Gee played sensible cricket to ride out the storm and move the home side to within sight of victory. The pair saw the task through as Gee completed a fine half century in an unbeaten 111 run partnership which saw Alvanley keep up their promotion push. Ashton have been ill treated by the cricket Gods this year and it would have been harsh had they been relegated on the back of their efforts. With safety confirmed they look forward to enjoying the final weekend of the season. The 2nd XI just fell short in a run chase at The Beets against Maritime. Maritime 186 all out (Dhanura Kananke Ge 57, Max Lilley 4-37) Ashton 169 all out (Bilal Anwar 4-23) Ashton’s 3rd XI finished their season with a loss at Cheadle. Ashton 185 all out (Tom Stockton 48) Cheadle 187-4 ( Sairam Subbiah 67) Zaheer Khan bowls