ASHTON-on-Mersey's first XI were frustrated in their Cheshire Cricket League Division One promotion push on a rain-ruined day at Hale Barns that ended in a draw.

Opting to bowl first under a threatening sky, the visitors had little luck in the opening overs as the Hale Barns top-order mixed fortune and skill to survive excellent bowling spells from Craig Stow (1-13) and Ben Johnson.

Joe Cooper, who top scored with 58, and Mike Hunter dug in to ensure the home team kept wickets in hand, but with the 100 only coming up after 30 overs, Ashton would have been looking forward to chasing a modest total.

But hampered by injury in the damp outfield, the Ashton change bowling was disappointing and Hale Barns hit out to accelerate rapidly in the closing overs.

Cooper fell with the score on 95 with 15 overs remaining when Dan Higgins took his wicket.

Hashir Dafedar (32) arrived at the crease and looked much more at ease with conditions, finding the boundary with regularity, while Hunter (44) continued to play doggedly at the other end.

The duo added 61 in quick time, but both departed in quick succession as the hosts slipped from 155-2 to 163-5, with Higgins (3-55) claiming two more victims.

Barns kept the momentum as Christian Dodson boosted the run rate considerably with an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls, ably supported by Ben Staniforth, who hit 17 not out from the same number of deliveries.

Having scored 47 from the final five overs, the hosts were full of confidence finishing on 204-5, but the visitors were handed a lifeline when the run chase was delayed by a bout of wet weather.

The overs available were reduced to 31 with no alteration to the runs needed under the much-derided league rules.

As it was, rain returned after six overs with just enough time to get a flavour of what Ashton might have done in a full run chase with them left on 30-0.

Ashton will be looking for better luck when they travel to Irby this week.

Ashton's second XI beat the rain and stormed to an excellent victory over Alvanley at The Beets.

Alvanley posted 155-8 with Ben Aveyard (55) top scoring while Graeme Thomason took 3-25, including a hat-trick, and Mark Weighill (3-28) contributed.

Ashton's 161-5 included half-centuries from Dave Patterson (56 not out) and Connor Kearney (54).

Meanwhile, Hale Barns' seconds produced a magnificent victory over Bredbury St Marks as they successfully chased a target of 182 to win thanks to Clive Collins’ unbeaten 56.

Chris Horsey scored 89 for Bredbury, but Younas Saeed claimed six wickets before Nick Lathbury (39) and Jordan Collins (32 not out) aided Collins to secure the win.