Cricket News

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 218-8 Beat Romiley CC 1st XI 132 all out Ashton kept their season alive with a comprehensive win over Romiley on a wet day at The Beets. Losing the toss and being asked to bat, Ashton started brightly with Fraser Hay and Hugh Gibbons peppering the boundary as they went on the attack. Wickets fell which slowed the run rate, but teenager Tom Jenkinson kept a cool head to keep the Ashton innings on course. Jenkinson posted a fine 50 and with the tail wagging Ashton posted a competitive if not overwhelming total of 218. Romiley’s innings began in dramatic style as a wicket fell without a run on the board. Rain showers came and went but the umpires did well to keep play going as Romiley’s Isaac Willett hit out, but his effort was cut short thanks to a fine catch in the deep by Jenkinson off the bowling of Tai Khan. With Ashton hustling to get through the 20 overs needed to constitute a game if the rain became too heavy, the spinners took over the bowling workload. Led by Zaheer Khan, wickets fell to put Ashton ahead of the game and they managed to seal victory by 86 runs in the 27th over. Zaheer was excellent, recording figures of 4-23. The win takes Ashton off the foot of the table but they remain in the relegation zone with 2 weeks to go. The Ashton 2nd XI made it a maximum points Saturday, winning comfortably at Oulton Park. Ashton 251-8 (Tom Scott 113 not out Jack Cumersdale 46) Oulton Park 123 all out (Max Lilley 3-15, Finn Coburn 3-27). Ashton’s 3rd XI finished the season with a loss at home to Cheadle. Cheadle 273-8 (Zach Zafar 85, Sam Boyd 3-45) Ashton 106 -8 (in a rain reduced game). Pictured Fraser Hay bats Tai Khan bowls

The Over 40’s capped off a memorable season last night with another convincing win against Timperley securing top spot, promotion to Division 2 and a top of the table finish. Batting first, unbeaten 30s from Vivek Tharaken and Adnan Shafiq provided the bedrock for a total of 132. The early efforts of our guests to chase the target looked promising, but wickets from Parvez Mirza and Zain Ali snuffed out any hope of an upset. This season could have been a tricky transition but with a mix of established and newer faces, the team has gone from strength to strength led by the indefatigable Vivek Tharaken. With 10 victories from 12 matches, one defeat and one abandonment, the team can look forward to the challenge of the higher standard of division 2 with optimism and confidence. Big thanks to all players, who have represented the club with such distinction, particularly Vivek for his astute leadership and Gareth Tuff for his sterling work on and off the pitch. Special congratulations to Zain Ali on winning player of the season!