ASHTON-ON-MERSEY maintained their promotion challenge with a comfortable win over Malpas at The Beets.
Electing to bat first the home side stormed to a match-winning total thanks to centuries from the openers, Alex O’Gara and Ryan O’Brien.
Attacking from the start and flaying the opposition bowling to all parts of the ground, the pair put on 186 before O’Gara departed for a fine 102.
O’Brien carried his bat to finish on 104 not out as the home side declared after just 39 overs.
In reply the Malpas batsmen put up an excellent fight with opener Keith Rickett producing an innings of the highest quality.
But the Ashton bowling eventually got the upper hand with spinner Mike Roberts (3-25) leading the way. Rickett unluckily fell nine short of what would have been a well-deserved century, and with O’Brien completing a fine game taking 3-27, the home side got home by 87 runs.
Ashton remain third in the table with two games to go in the season.
The 2nd XI continued their fine season with a win at Woodford. Woodford 153-9 (Oli Chow 3-39) Ashton on Mersey 157-4 (Will Pidgeon 51 not out).
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