ASHWELL suffered a two-wicket defeat to Eversden on Saturday. Ashwell lost the toss and were put into bat by their opponents. However, with the strongest batting line up seen so far this season, the team were confident of setting a challenging total. Mark

ASHWELL suffered a two-wicket defeat to Eversden on Saturday.

Ashwell lost the toss and were put into bat by their opponents. However, with the strongest batting line up seen so far this season, the team were confident of setting a challenging total. Mark Doughty (on league debut) and Ed Wainwright-Lee began strongly until Doughty went back to a ball that kept low and was bowled for 17. With Tim Moynihan joining Ed, a big score was still envisaged and the pair took the score along to 47 in the 13th over before Tim was caught lbw.

Ashwell never really found a steady partnership after that, with batsmen leaving and returning to the pavilion in regular succession. Only Martin Talks of the middle-order batsmen hinted at longevity, and his 28 not-out was to be the highest score for Ashwell as he ran out of partners with Ashwell finally dismissed for 121.

The unfortunate run-outs of both Alex Griffin and Graham Scott at the end of the innings in attempting to give the strike to Talks meant that six overs of Ashwell's allotted 45 went unused.

Ashwell remained positive after an enormous tea break but paid the price as Eversden got off to a flyer, despite Alex Griffin (1-32) clean bowling Eversden opener Shabaz for three. Matt Skelding replaced Griffin and bowled his full 12 overs straight through - taking 4-40. Martin Talks at the other end beat the bat time and again in his two spells, but was unlucky to have a catch dropped and to be denied two legitimate looking lbw appeals.

Talks ended with economical figures of 12 overs for 22 runs, but the crucial wickets were denied him.

Eversden's hard-hitting Hartop, stuck nine boundaries on his way to 46, but Graham Scott had him caught by Tom Wallace going for one boundary too many.

Scott went on to take 3-15 off his seven overs and, with Eversden faltering at 92-7, there was a real prospect of an Ashwell victory.

If it wasn't for a couple of missed catches or for just a few more runs, Ashwell might well have made it, but after the eighth wicket had fallen, Eversden's Ranner (17 not out) calmly saw them home at 122-8.

Next up, Ashwell entertain Somersham in the league next Saturday.