ASHTON-on-Mersey made it three league wins on the bounce as they dominated proceedings at Prestbury in Cheshire Cricket League Division One.

With the hosts winning the toss and choosing to bat on a hot day, Ashton, as so often this season, saw opening duo Craig Stow and Josh Knowles produce a fine spell of fast bowling, mixing hostility with probing accuracy.

Prestbury were indebted to Stuart Burnell, who grafted hard to post a fine 50, before falling to Ashton skipper James Marshall.

Marshall, in tandem with Ed Faulkner, ran through the Prestbury middle order, who despite some lusty blows could not build partnerships.

Marshall finished with 4-50 and Faulkner 4-45 as the home side slid to a modest 131 all out.

When a wicket fell to the first ball of Ashton’s reply, Prestbury might have had hopes of an unlikely turnaround in fortunes.

But Mike Roberts (33) and Tom Scott (33) played some fluent shots to establish the base for what was to be a comfortable win for Ashton.

The innings was completed with an exhibition of attacking cricket from Faulkner, who rattled up an unbeaten 50 to allow Ashton to complete the victory within 20 overs when they reached 132-4.

Ashton will be hoping to take the momentum of the last few weeks into their next league game at Kingsley.

The seconds dominated their clash with Northwich.

Northwich were 73 all out (Dan Higgins 4-35) and Ashton made 76-1 in reply.

Sunday saw the third team fall just short at Bowdon, despite a fine century by Connor Kearney (102).

Bowdon made 182-6, before Ashton were 167 all out.

The Ashton ladies also found the going tough against Appleton.

They made 80-5 before Appleton clinched victory with 81-0.