Ashton edge low-scoring affair
2:37pm Tuesday 29th April 2008
Davenham 37 all out
Ashton on Mersey 61 all outIN a match made for the bowlers, Ashton comfortably beat Davenham despite scoring just 61.
The previous week, the Davenham pitch saw 20 wickets fall for only 55 runs in the entire match, so it wasn't a surprise when the soft and difficult pitch was to prove a decisive factor in a low-scoring affair.
Having won the toss, Davenham didn't hesitate to put Ashton into bat and strike bowler Dean Jackson was quickly into the wickets bowling accurately and cleverly throughout on a pitch that made him unplayable at times.
Despite some steely late order resistance, the Ashton innings was soon over, finishing on a disappointing 61.
Although the first innings had an obvious demoralising effect on the Ashton spirits, they still had full belief that they had the bowling needed to win the game.
With such a low total to defend, skipper Mark Timms made a wise decision to not open with his usual pacemen Chris Roscow and Kevin Boyle, instead opting for the medium pace of Brad Giles and Andy Roscow who he felt more suited the sticky pitch.
The nagging lines and lengths of Giles and Roscow began to eat into the Davenham batting with the ball rising dangerously off a length.
Ashton's fielding was once again exemplary and despite an early chance going down in the slip region, catches were firmly held.
In the end, the pressure told on the young Davenham side, and they struggled to make half of Ashton's total.
Some industrious fielding from Martin Mosley saw both batsmen stranded at one end, with Dave Carter taking the bails off to seal the win and a full 25 points for Ashton.
Brad Giles finished with six wickets, Andrew Roscow taking two key wickets, as well as a late contribution from Matt MacGibbon with a wicket.
On Sunday Ashton went out of the Cheshire Cup courtesy of a bowl off at home against Chelford.
Pace twins Chris Roscow and Kev Boyle were once again entrusted with the new ball in an attempt to make destructive, early inroads into the Chelford line up.
They managed to do so to great effect, five wickets falling in the first 10 overs with both beating the edge of the bat on several occasions.
With Chelford struggling on 30-5, Skipper Timms was able to give first bowls of the season to new player Scott Weaver and spin ace Anthony Roscow.
At 54-7 the umpires decided that the inclement rain was too heavy and brought the players off.
With no change in the weather over the tea period, it was decided that the match would be decided by a bowl off.
With the score at 5-5 from two attempts each, the game went to sudden death.
Despite Ashton having chances to take the game, James Compton's valiant effort sailed just wide of the off stump and Chelford were awarded the game.
Ashton's young second XI, containing six of their under-18s team continued their excellent start to the season and are now second in the table after two matches as their 16-year-old debutant Alex Lett destroyed Davenham with figures of 7-35 off 10 overs.
Having gone for 12 from his first over, Lett got his line and length together to rip through the top order reducing Davenham to 53-7.
Only McNichol with 32 scored anything of note from the batsmen although Andy Simmons (19) and Adam Day (22) batted solidly towards the end to take Davenham to 105 all out.
In reply Ashton were cruising as Aidan Miners (52) and Mark Robinson (20) took Ashton to 85-1 before a bizarre batting collapse put the game back in the balance.
Seven wickets fell for the addition of only 11 runs as Charith struck with six wickets leaving Ashton reeling on 96-8.
However, some disciplined batting from juniors Mark Duncan and Alex O'Gara stabilised the Ashton batting before Charith dropped one short and young Duncan was onto it in a flash, dispatching the ball for six into the golf course to win it for Ashton.