ASHTON on Mersey began their 2014 season in sparkling style with a comprehensive win at Bollington.

Bowling first on a helpful pitch Josh Knowles soon removed Bollington skipper Richard Hough.

The introduction of spinner Mike Roberts heralded a middle order collapse and only some aggressive tail-end hitting from Julian McGovern took the home side to 113.

Roberts bowled with control and venom and was not flattered with figures of 5/39 In reply the Ashton openers Pratik Kumar and Graeme Thomason raced to the target.

Thomason was caught on the boundary for 40 but Kumar posted an unbeaten half century as Ashton won in just 18 overs (Kumar 62 not out) This emphatic win gives the Ashton team a great platform for next week’s home clash against Romiley.

Ashton’s 2nd XI fared less well in the reverse fixture with Bollington at the Beets. Ashton 159-8 (Akash Patel 54 not out, Ted Price 5-10) lost to Bollington 161-6 (James Heathcote 48, Price 39 not out, Matt Millward 3-37, Rob Hedge 3-45).