ASHTON-on-Mersey had to settle for a draw in a game dominated by the bat at The Beets.

On a superb batting surface and with one small boundary Ashton attacked from the start with Graeme Thomason (72) and Alex O’Gara (60) rattling up a century opening partnership at better than a run a ball.

The Ashton middle-order continued the attack and despite wickets falling, Will Pidgeon (48) and Tom Scott (33) enabled the home side to declare early with a hope of forcing a win. Adam Burgess (3-71) and Josh Hilder (3-86) picked up the wickets in the Ashton run blitz.

In reply, Disley soon settled for safety rather than glory and as hard as the Ashton bowlers tried a combination of dogged determination and a flat track allowed the visitors to reach safety.

Toby Carson benefitted from the use of some part-time bowlers at the end of the innings to post an entertaining 69 not out whilst the superb Isuru Perera took the bowling honours with 4-42.

The result leaves the Tacs Partnership Division One table tremendously tight with Ashton, Barrow and Lindow all within five points of each other.

Ashton will be looking to maintain their promotion push when they visit Runcorn next week.