Ashton claim GMCL Division 3 title with final day win

Ashton clinched the Greater Manchester Cricket League Division 3 title with an impressive 8-wicket demolition of closest challengers Prestwich 2nds.

Put into bat by the home side, Prestwich made steady progress until Hassnain Ashfaq was caught by captain Dan Hawthorne from Muhammad Zuhaib’s delivery to make it 45-1. 

The next two wickets tumbled for just one run, and although the middle order restored some composure, Prestwich still found themselves on 116-7. 

However, Ashton’s bowlers came up against stubborn resistance from Adam Cheshire and leg spinner Finlay Lester, who racked up 57-not out and 24-not out to rescue the innings and give the visitors a fighting chance. 

Sri Lankan pro Visha Chathuranga led from the front, thrashing 75 runs from just 31 balls, a knock that included 14 boundaries. 

So rapid was Chathuranga’s scoring that he was already on 21 by the time fellow opener Richard Taylor was out for a duck. The all-rounder departed on 88-2, leaving Bradley Wilshaw-Phillips and Ramis Mustafa to settle in and score 28 and 91, respectively, to push Ashton over the line and into the next season in style. 

Despite the defeat, Prestwich will join them in Division 2 in 2025, with Adlington claiming the final promotion spot. 

At the other end of the table, Denton St Lawrences 2nds will drop into Division 4 alongside Flixton 2nds and Heyside 2nds.