ASHTON on Mersey paid the price for some ill-disciplined bowling as they fell to defeat in a high scoring game against Barrow at The Beets.

Being asked to bat first, Ashton lost both openers to the seam of Joe Williams, before Tom Scott and Ed Faulkner came together to record the innings defining partnership.

Watchful at first, both batsmen worked hard to get on top of the Barrow bowling, allowing them to prosper as the ball got older.

Scott produced an innings of solid quality to post a splendid century, finally falling for 103. Faulkner saw the innings through to the end, finishing on 66 not out in a fine total of 226-3.

The Barrow innings benefited from some lax Ashton bowling from the start, with extras being leaked on a regular basis. When skipper James Marshall took the first wicket the score had reached 59 with only 37 of those coming off the bat.

The middle overs saw Ashton pull back the game a little, with Henry Bleaze putting in a good spell, but Barrow kept up the attack through Maneesha Nissanka (50) and Jehangir Afridi (54).

As the target got closer some big hitting made the most of some further mediocre bowling and the visitors got over the line with nine balls to spare.

Ashton will be disappointed that they could not capitalise on the fine effort with the bat and will have to learn lessons ahead of next season.

Ashton 2nd XI cheered the club with a fine win at Neston. Ashton 181-9 (Josh Knowles 61, Will Taylor 3-9), Neston 167-7 (Raghu Tapal 3-34).