Match Reports

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

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 3 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 238-9 Beat Winnington Park CC 1st XI 237-9 In one of the closest finishes ever seen by the club, Ashton maintained their lead at the top of the table with a crucial and dramatic victory over Winnington Park at The Beets. Batting first, Ashton made good progress with the top order all getting starts. The 95 third wicket partnership between Harris Yassin and Charlie Eaton was the bedrock of the innings but when both batters departed the innings stuttered. 4 wickets fell for just 6 runs and the large total which had been threatened looked somewhat distant. But some positive hitting from Sam Kingsman-Ali, Shasvat Kakkar and Kris Green allowed Ashton to reach 238 at innings close, a score perhaps 30 runs light of what might have been hoped for. Michael Dunning took the bowling honours with 4-34. In reply Winnington Park struggled in the early overs and with Zaheer Khan bowling with his usual control, the visitors looked well out of it when the 7th wicket fell at 144. But Jonny Wales was joined by Dunning and the pair battled back to bring the target within sight. Dunning was dismissed with just 12 runs needed, but with Wales still going strong the game looked beyond Ashton. With just 7 runs needed Green took Wales’ wicket thanks to a smart catch by Eaton, leaving  Winnington Park one over to get over the line with the last pair at the crease. Four singles were scrambled leaving two needed off the last ball with all results possible. Calm fielding saw only one run scored, leaving Ashton victorious by a single run. This was another terrific game of cricket in a season which has seen many such contests involving the resilient Ashton team. They remain 27 points clear of their title rivals with just 6 games to go. Ashton’s 2nd team continued their inconsistent season with a loss away at Winnington Park. Winnington Park 201 all out (Danny Westwood 51, Max Lilley 3-26, Zach Roberts 3-32) Ashton 168 all out (Matt Atherton 4-47) The 3rd XI went down to a 21 run loss against Didsbury. Didsbury 176-6 (Ruan Hamblett 50) Ashton 155 all out (Isaac Jones 4-35) The 4th team lost narrowly at Stockport. Ashton 180, Stockport 183-9 (Umer Saddiq 63, Sam Boyd 4-42). Pictured  Zaheer Khan bowls  Ashton celebrate their victory