Ashton notch second straight

5:42pm Monday 5th May 2008

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Oakmere 185-6

Ashton on Mersey 186-7ASHTON on Mersey recorded a second consecutive win in a thriller at Oakmere that leaves them near the top of the early season table.

Ashton were unfortunate to lose the toss again and Oakmere wanted first use of the deck in order to post a commanding total.

Despite Chris Roscow bowling Paul Yearsley in the first over, it was a track which gave good value for shots and the firey opening spells of Roscow and Kevin Boyle failed to break through further.

Oakmere pushed along to 140-2 before Andrew Roscow accounted for captain Ian Eaton (59) and his brother Simon who scored 72 with some powerful hitting.

Some uncharacteristically slack fielding later on in the innings allowed Oakmere to get around 30 more runs than they perhaps should have but the Roscow brothers took three wickets each as the innings closed on 185-6.

Despite winning last week Ashton's batting has not looked solid in their two early season matches and 185 looked a challenging total.

But skipper Mark Timms held together the top of the order and at 44-3 was joined by fellow left-hander Brad Giles batting at number five.

Timms scored a steady 42 while Giles carefully stroked his way to a classy 56 and took Ashton to a position which gave them a chance.

From 145-7 when Giles was run out, Ashton still had it all to do, needing 40 off five overs - cue Chris Roscow and Boyle.

Roscow coming in at number eight took the match away from Oakmere with a flamboyant 36 not out off 23 balls.

Supported by Boyle, with nine from 10 balls, the pair ran excellently between the wickets and took Ashton to victory with four balls to spare.

In the corresponding second XI match at Little Ees Lane, the wicket proved difficult in the first 15 overs of both innings and it was to prove a day when gutsy and controlled batting was called for rather than boundaries.

Ashton were pleased enough at half time to restrict Oakmere to 114-9.

Alex Lett struck early, Mike Buckley taking out Clutterbrook with a short leg catch, but the home side had to be patient as Peter Jones and Dave Wood took it along to 64-1.

Despite the lack of wickets, Oakmere never looked like getting away and as they looked to push along, the wickets started to tumble.

Particularly tight bowling from Mark Duncan, Aidan Miners (3-27) and Gregg Gyves (2-16) pegged Oakmere back, Gyves also accounting for Jones who eventually was bowled for 55.

A late wicket for Webster and two run outs kept Oakmere down to a gettable total.

The reply was a disaster. Robinson was given lbw in the third over despite looking to have got well outside the line to veteran bowler Mike Cushion, and a procession of wickets followed.

Ashton's got it all wrong with their winter nets' approach to batting on a slow wicket which required discipline, concentration and a ones and twos' approach.

Paul Eastham hit 13 before giving catching practice to Percival while Pete Birch got to 16 on borrowed time before becoming one of six victims to the ultra slow spin bowling of Eddie Gibson.

From 51-9 Paul Bradbury (26) and Alex Lett put together a last wicket stand of 32, showing the batsmen how it is done on soft wickets.

The major positive to take from the game was the performance with the bat and keeper's gloves of debutant Bradbury.