ASHTON-on-Mersey recorded a comfortable win at Barnton to maintain their outside chance of promotion from Cheshire Cricket League Division One.

With the home side winning the toss and choosing to bat, Ashton’s opening bowlers Craig Stow and Andrew Roscow produced a probing spell, making runs hard to come by.

The Barnton batsmen applied themselves to ensure wickets did not fall, but the run rate struggled as Ashton kept up the pressure.

Paul Coot batted patiently to post a valuable 53 but the introduction of Ashton’s spinner Ed Faulkner accounted for Coot and wickets began to tumble.

Faulkner asked questions that none of the Barnton batsmen could answer, as he ripped through the order to finish with fine figures of 7-37 and the hosts closed on 145-9.

Chasing the modest total, Ashton’s openers Alex O’Gara and Mike Roberts produced a classy 70-run partnership to build the foundation of the innings.

O’Gara went for a well-made 40 but Roberts continued to stroke the ball around the ground, before eventually falling for 67.

By that stage the win had been secured and Ashton crossed the line with 10 overs to spare as they closed on 149-4.

This maximum-points win maintains Ashton spot on fourth, ahead of the visit of table-topping Stockport Georgians to the Beets.

The second XI lost a dramatic game against Lindow. Batting first, Ashton posted 284-8 thanks to 98 from Mark Timms and 50s from Isuru Perera and Lee Heap.

In reply, Lindow were struggling at 118-5 before a 100-run partnership between Pete Hodge and Will Beckley turned the match.

In gathering gloom the match swung one way then the other, but Lindow finally took the spoils, hitting a four off the last ball of the game to win.