ASHTON on Mersey had the worst of a drawn game at Lymm Oughtrington Park on a damp and challenging day for the league leaders.

A delayed start due to the wet conditions saw Ashton choose to bowl first in an attempt to exploit a rain-damaged pitch. But once underway they found far more problems coping with the soggy footholds and a ball that soon lost its shine.

On Lymm’s small ground, opening batsmen Jonathan Fletcher and Mathew Carr took full advantage of anything loose, getting full value for their aggressive approach.

While Ashton rotated the bowling, nothing stopped the Lymm onslaught. After Carr departed for 68, Fletcher made the most of Ashton’s inability to take the chances he offered to post an unbeaten century. He finished on 121 not out as Lymm set a mammoth 231-3 for Ashton to chase.

In reply the loss of early wickets effectively killed the prospect of a successful run chase and Ashton settled for the pursuit of maximum batting bonus points.

A fine 50 from skipper Lee Brooks and some excellent late hitting from Akash Patel (26 not out) secured that goal as they reached 176-6, leaving the visitors to ponder on what might have been had their bowling and out-cricket been of a better quality.

The result still leaves Ashton joint top of Division One alongside Bredbury St Marks but they will need to re-focus in the coming weeks to maintain their title push. This starts on Saturday when they welcome Heaton Mersey to The Beets.

Ashton’s second XI had more success, recording a nine-wicket win against Christleton. They restricted Christleton to 158-8 before reaching 162-1 with Tom Scott unbeaten on 81.