Match Reports

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 198-6 Lost to Port Sunlight CC 1st XI 199-4 Top Image: Fraser Hay bats Ashton on Mersey fell to a narrow defeat against league leaders Port Sunlight on a day where the Cricket Gods were not on Ashton’s side. Losing the toss and being asked to bat first on a track which gave significant early help to the bowlers, Ashton struggled in the opening overs, finding themselves two wickets down with only 20 runs on the board. Mike Roberts and Fraser Hay steadied the ship, working hard for their runs with an outfield slowed because of morning rain. When Roberts fell, Hay and skipper James Marshall continued the rebuild, with Hay becoming more comfortable as conditions improved. After Marshall went, Lee Brooks joined Hay to push the score forward. Hay hit out towards the close of the innings, bringing up a splendid hundred in the final over. Given the  difficult conditions they had to cope with, Ashton did well to post a total just shy of 200. For Port Sunlight the bowling pick was Simon Melberzs who finished with 3 for 17. In reply the home side looked comfortable against the Ashton seam attack, but the introduction of spinners Mark Weighill and Zaheer Khan slowed the advance. Progress was slow although wickets were hard to come by. But some keen out-cricket  saw three wickets fall before the halfway stage. Wayne Greve played cautiously to keep the run chase on track, but the crucial moment came when Melberzs survived a strong appeal for a catch behind the wicket off Charlie Eaton. With other decisions not going in Ashton’s favour, the home side edged to a win with four overs to spare. Ashton can consider themselves unlucky to have lost this encounter, which could easily have gone their way had the calls fallen in their favour. The Ashton 2nd XI recorded another fine win as they entertained Romiley at The Beets. Ashton 208-9 (Lee Heap 59, Alex Napier 4-60) Romiley 125 all out (Bradley Snape 50, Rafay Qazi 5-32). Ashton’s 3rd team fell to defeat against a powerful Heaton Mersey side. Heaton Mersey 321 – 6 (Ismael Khan 106, Alishan Khan 69) Ashton 112 -9. Mark Weighill bowls

Fraser Hay strikes with the ball

Cheshire County Cricket League Division 2 Ashton on Mersey CC 1st XI 150 all out Lost to Haslington CC 1st XI 151 -6 Hugh Gibbons bats Ashton’s poor run of form continued, as they fell to a disappointing loss on the road at Haslington. Being asked to bat first on a pitch which promised help for the bowlers, Ashton started brightly with Hugh Gibbons and Mark Weighill putting on 54 for the first wicket. After both openers fell, the Ashton batting tried to consolidate their effort and whilst progress slowed, they were reasonably placed at 111 for 3 with 14 overs to go in the innings. But any thoughts of acceleration were snuffed out as the batting folded in the face of some accurate bowling from the home side. Ashton lost their last 7 wickets for just 39 runs to finish on a below par 150. Haslington all rounder Ben Istead took the bowling honours with 4-22. When Haslington batted, Ashton had early success as opening bowlers Fraser Hay and Kris Green, together with spinner Zaheer Khan, reduced the home side to 57-5. But several lapses in the field, with catches not being taken and overthrows being conceded, helped the home side recover and eventually prosper. Istead played with his usual class and in combination with Joe Goodier and Freddie Taylor he saw his side home for an ultimately comfortable 4 wicket win. Khan finished with three well-deserved wickets, but Ashton’s error strewn out-cricket was the defining factor in this game. The result leaves Ashton just one place above the relegation zone ahead of next week’s crucial clash with bottom-placed Mobberley at The Beets. There was better news for Ashton’s 2nd XI who won a tense home game against Haslington 2nds. Haslington 217 all out Gareth Collins 55, Max Ross 53, Yousuf Bhamjee 5-55) Ashton 218-8 (James Newton 48, Matt Rhind 47). The 3rd XI also brightened the spirits with a win at Romiley. Ashton 153-8 (Charlie Eaton 40 no, Zach Roberts 38) Romiley 90 all out (Imran Sadiq 6-25, Max Lilley 3-22).