ASHTON-on-Mersey maintained their unbeaten start to the 2015 season with an emphatic 72-run victory over Heaton Mersey at The Beets.

Choosing to bat first on a bowler friendly surface, Ashton had to work hard after losing early wickets to a lively Heaton Mersey attack.

The normally fluent Ashton top order were made to work hard for their runs and battling contributions from Alex O’Gara (27), James Lines (21) and Alex Turner (51) were needed to combat the conditions.

The lower order demonstrating Ashton’s batting depth the home side were content to finish on 159-9. Bowling honours went to Saqib Ali (5-56).

In reply, the visitors found the Ashton seamers in mean mood as Josh Knowles and Sam Timbs took early wickets.

When Dan Higgins removed Dom Gandy (38) the rest of the batting collapsed against the impressive Timbs.

Bowling with great skill and application, Timbs claimed a season best of 7-39 as Heaton Mersey slumped to 87 all out.

This maximum points win keeps Ashton second in the table with a visit to Poynton to relish next week.

The Ashton second team could not match the 1st team success as they fell to a 101-run defeat at Heaton Mersey. Heaton Mersey 166-9 (Ali Ahkbar 42, Ryan O’Brien 5-35) Ashton on Mersey 65 all out (Ali Shah 4-17).