ASHTON on Mersey firsts won their final game of the a truncated season without a ball being bowled after Upton conceded the fixture.

It meant attentions turned the second XI as they enjoyed a winning trip to Widnes.

After being asked to bat first, Ashton started steadily, despite having to shake off the loss of early wickets.

Skipper Josh Knowles set the tone for the middle-order acceleration, hitting a brisk 43 before some big hitting from Matt Bradshaw and a measured knock by Suhan Shetty saw Ashton post a good total of 173-7.

Thomas McRoyall was the pick of the Widnes bowlers with 3-39

In reply, the hosts started confidently but after Henry Blease removed opener Billy Webb, the introduction of Nishan Bhandary saw further wickets tumble.

A middle order fightback was snuffed out as Blease took the wicket of Alex Curlett and the tail was mopped up by spinner Raghu Tapal (3-16) to bowl out Widnes for 159.

Bhandary finished with excellent figures of 4-26.

Messenger Newspapers:

It completes a fine season for the seconds who were always competitive in the matches played. The thirds were well beaten by Bowdon in their last game of the season.

Batting first, Bowdon posted 249-6 with Sid Magadevan scoring an impressive 137.

In reply, Ashton were dismissed for 118 with Steve McKinney top scoring with 58 while Seth Champion took 5-17.

The club will now be hoping for a fuller fixture list in 2021.