ASHTON On Mersey demolished an understrength Prestbury side to maintain their 100 per cent winning start to the season.

Batting first, the home side took advantage of some wayward bowling to race to 50 before losing opener Pratik Kumar for a typically fluent 36.

Alex Turner and Alex O’Gara progressed to an untroubled century partnership before Turner fell for 93 to a stunning catch by Adam Phillips O’Gara fell for 66 as Ashton declared at 233-4 after just 38 overs.

In reply the Prestbury team never came to terms with the home bowling. Dan Higgins and debutant Isuru Perera reduced the visitors to 25-3 before spinner Mike Roberts ran through a bamboozled middle order.

Roberts finished with the remarkable figures of 6-16 as the visitors collapsed to 49 all out.

The in-form Ashton team look to be mounting a serious promotion challenge this season and next week’s trip to Runcorn will be eagerly anticipated.

Ashton’s second team made it a maximum points Saturday with an emphatic win at Cholmondeley. AOM 250-9 (James Lines 106, Mark Timms 49, Terry Atkinson 5-82) beat Cholmondeley 59 all out (Lee Heap 4-20, Mark Weighill 3-16).