Author name: Ian Roberts

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 3 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 271 -6 Beat Barrow CC 1st XI 103 all out Ashton bounced back after a couple of difficult weeks with a dominant away win at Barrow. Batting first after winning the toss, Ashton got off to a bright start with Dave Patterson and Harris Yassin putting on 68 for the first wicket. When they went Charles Erasmus and James Marshall both passed 50 to drive the Ashton effort forward.  Some late hitting allowed Ashton to post an impressive 271, which given the inconsistent batting of recent weeks was a welcome return to form. In reply Barrow were rocked as the Ashton opening attack of Erasmus and Kris Green proved too much of a handful for the top order batting. The home team never recovered from their poor start and only some last wicket hitting got their total into three figures. Green was the bowling pick, finishing with fine figures of 4-27. The 168 margin of victory was an accurate reflection of the gap between the sides and Ashton will hope to take this form into the next round of games. Ashton’s 2nd team lost a high scoring game to Grappenhall at The Beets. Ashton 197-6 Grappenhall 199-5 (Zach Tully 84) The Ashton 3rd XI went top of their league with a fine win against Didsbury. Ashton 177-7 (Ashish Gupta 43 no) Didsbury 155 all out. Ashton’s 4th XI pulled off a great win at home to Langley. Ashton 132 all out (Hari Puthanvitle 50) Langley 109 all out (Ethan White 7-23)

Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 128 all out Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 128 all out Lost to Runcorn CC 1st XI 229-9 Ashton’s bright start to the season hit the rocks as they were well beaten by Runcorn at The Beets. Losing the toss and being asked to bowl first Ashton could be satisfied with their early efforts as they took early wickets to restrict Runcorn to 48-3. But Keiran Maher (60) and Nauman Akram (52) posted a 90 run 4th wicket partnership to bring Runcorn back into the game. Ashton failed to take the few chances that came their way and with Dave McNamara hitting a rapid fire 52 not out in the final overs, the final total of 229 looked to be an acceptable if not exceptional effort. With the ball Charlie Eaton again showed his tremendous all round ability taking 3-45. Ashton’s hopes of challenging the target were blown away in the opening overs as Akram blitzed the home top order batting to leave the hosts at 24-5. A mixture of poor shot choice and a lack of application by the Ashton batters fell well below what one might have hoped for from the league leaders. Eaton showed his teammates how things should be done, with a fine 50, but the rest of the batting lineup need to take a long look at their approach. Akram finished with 5-26 and his efforts both with bat and ball underlined the difference between the teams. The result leaves Ashton in third place in the league with plenty to sort out before next week’s trip to Barrow. Ashton’s 2nd XI brightened the mood with a fine win away at Oakmere. Oakmere 199-8 (David Purcell 56) Ashton 203-5 (Tom Scott 53) Ashton’s 3rd XI continued their fine season with a win over Woodley at The Beets. Woodley 118 all out, Ashton 121-3 (Mo Shadaan 43 not out) Ashton’s 4th team lost a match against Didsbury who had originally conceded the game but found enough players at the last minute to fulfil the fixture….Ashton 128 all out Didsbury 129-8. Pictured Dave Patterson keeps wicket Charlie Eaton bats 

Lost on DLS to Cheshire County Cricket League Division 3 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 111-6 Lost on DLS to Winnington Park  CC 1st XI 209 all out Ashton on Mersey lost their 100% league record in bizarre circumstances away at Winnington Park. Losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, Ashton lacked the control they have shown over the opening weeks of the season as the home opening batters posted a 62 1st wicket partnership. A fine catch by Mike Roberts split the openers and the Ashton bowlers started to regain some control against the hosts. Despite some heavy hitting, wickets continued to fall, with Jack Cumersdale justifying his selection with a splendid 5 wicket haul. The Winnington Park total of 209 looked within range of the strong Ashton batting line up, but rain began to fall as they started their innings and two early wickets fell as they were forced to play through a heavy downpour. When the umpires finally took the players off it seemed unlikely that the game would continue but the home team did not agree and several hours passed whilst the rain continued. The umpires took the view that the ground was fit for play at 6.50 which would allow the 10 overs needed for the game to count. Unbelievably, the Duckworth Lewis Sterns calculation meant that Ashton would need to score at over 9 runs an over for those 10 overs, a rate more than double either side had managed before the break. Unsurprisingly Ashton fell short, but not before an heroic effort which saw them finish just 16 runs off of the target. This was a day which did little to promote the joys of the game and Ashton will be looking forward to moving on to a better battle next week. Ashton’s 2nd XI moved top of the table with a win over Winnington Park’s 2nd XI at The Beets. Winnington Park 117 all out (Ryan Carey 5-23) Ashton 119-8 (Joe Gadsby 47, Matt Atherton 4-46). The 3rd XI’s game at Bredbury was abandoned due to the weather but the 4th team pulled off a splendid victory at The Beets. Ashton 241-4 (Rafay Qazi 67 no, Steve McKinney 60) Stockport 218 all out (John Lindsey 64, Steve McKinney 4-39, Keon Taleb 4-46). Pictured Jack Cumersdale bowls Hugh Gibbons bats