Ashton on Mersey were left frustrated as rain brought a premature end to their run chase at Hale Barns.

Choosing to bowl first on a pitch which had plenty in it for the bowlers, Ashton struck early as Lee Heap and James Marshall reduced the home side to 19-3.

But with Joe Cooper batting sensibly, Hale Barns staged a mini-recovery before spinner Ed Faulkner entered the attack.

Faulkner tested the middle order and despite some heavy hitting from Ben Hicks the home side struggled to maintain momentum.

Once Ryan Carey removed Hicks and Faulkner accounted for the obdurate Cooper, Hale Barns had to rely on Rory Allan to try and set a target. Allan hit four sixes in his total of 45 before he fell to the spin of Ragu Tapal.

Hale Barns eventually subsided to 136 all out with Faulkner taking the bowling honours with 3-25.

In reply Mike Roberts and Akash Patel started well and looked untroubled as they set a good foundation for the run chase. When both openers fell, Faulkner took up the challenge. He was looking to orchestrate the Ashton effort when rain began which became increasingly heavy, eventually stopping the game with Ashton on 54-3.

This was a frustrating finish as Ashton would have felt well placed to challenge the target.

The 2nd XI clash between the teams at The Beets saw a comfortable win for Hale Barns.

Ashton posted 113-9, Henry Murray making 39, but Hale Barns eased to 116-2 thanks in part to Sanjeev Bhatia's unbeaten 47.

The 3rd XI went down to defeat to Didsbury who were indebted to Mike Renison who dominated the game.

He made 128 not out in his side's score of 230-7 before taking 5-7 to help reduce Ashton to 160-6.

Ashton's Women's XI lost a tight contest at Leigh. Leigh made 104-8, Amanda Gettins taking 3-12, before Ashton replied with 94-4, Beth Caunce making 43.