Ashton spins Bridport to victory (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Ashton spins Bridport to victory

5:04pm Monday 29th June 2009

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JOE Ashton illustrated his importance by spinning Bridport to victory over Dorset League Division Two whipping boys Witchampton at Brewery Field.

Ashton returned following a four-week injury lay-off and made an explosive impact at Brewery Field, claiming match-winning figures of 8-37.

Evoking memories of his remarkable debut last year when he took 9-9, the tweaker bamboozled Witchampton as Bridport ended a run of three successive defeats.

Batting first, the home side posted 224-8 – their highest total of the season – before unleashing Ashton on an unsuspecting visitors’ line-up.

Joyous skipper Chris Backhouse, who weighed in with 56 and 2-26, praised his spin king before revelling in the success of his promotion to No 5.

He said: “Joe offers a lot in both the batting and bowling departments and has a wealth of experience and a great cricket brain and knowledge.

“He can bowl to a field and bowl to a plan and he is a massive player for us because we are much more dangerous with him in the side.

“Me batting at No 5 certainly gave our innings more structure and eased the pressure on the guys coming in later with runs already on the board.

“I’m going to continue batting up the order because I can control an innings if we’ve lost early wickets or come in and hit the ball hard if we’ve laid a platform.

“Everything was much better this week, the batsmen applied themselves and the fielding and bowling was much improved with only 11 extras conceded.”

Despite masterminding his side’s fourth win, Backhouse offered a note of caution and urged all players to attend midweek training, some of whom have been conspicuous by their absence.

“There are still a few people that are struggling for form at the moment and a few who aren’t coming to nets on Wednesday evenings,” he added.

“It’s no coincidence that the guys who are playing well are the ones who are practising every week.”

Backhouse had no hesitation in electing to bat and watched openers Martin Rowe (6) and Duane Gay (25) share a first-wicket stand of 45 in eight overs.

Wickets fell in a cluster but Backhouse and Idris Croft (26) put on a century partnership before Mark Smith scored an electrifying 30 not out to propel the total.

Ashley Nicholls (0-26) set the tone with the ball even though he finished wicketless, but there was no denying the irresistible Ashton, who reeled off 12 uninterrupted overs.

Scything through Witchampton’s bedraggled top-order, Ashton was well supported by Backhouse as Bridport captured maximum points, dismissing the visitors for 100.

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