AFTER rain washed out the first week of action, Ayr eventually got their Western Union Premier Division campaign underway with a convincing victory at home to Greenock.

Skipper Andi McElnea won a crucial toss on Saturday and put the visitors into bat on a substitute pitch after the umpires decided that playing on the original would be too close to a large damp patch on the outfield.

New professional Kenroy Peters got his season of to a flier, aking a wicket in each of his first two overs and with Scott McElnea chipping in from the other end the visitors were soon reduced to 12-3, a position they were not to recover from as the Ayr bowlers continued to dominate and bowled them out for 84 with Andi McElnea finishing with figures of 4-2. In reply Ayr were never in any real trouble and reached their target for the loss of only one wicket with Anwar Hafeez (27no) and Andi McElnea (37 not out) seeing them home with more than 25 overs to spare.

Meanwhile, the Cambusdoon XI travelled to Paisley to take on Whitehaugh. Batting first they struggled on the damp pitch and were bowled out for 91, a total which seemed a little short, but some fine bowling by the young spinners Callum Henderson (3-17) and Harry Boyd (2-23) almost pulled off an improbable victory as the home team made their target for the loss of seven wickets.

This week sees Ayr travel to Paisley on Saturday to take on Ferguslie who have started off the season with two victories. On Sunday, range are the visitors to Cambusdoon as the 2018 Scottish Cup begins and on Wednesday evening they make the short trip to Prestwick to begin the defence of the McCulloch Cup. The Cambusdoon XI are at home to Meiklriggs on Saturday and on Tuesday night travel to East Kilbride to play Torrance House in the Midweek League.

Match Sponsors

Ferguslie v Ayr : Douglas Johnstone; Ayr v Grange : David Johnstone; Prestwick v Ayr : Clancy Consulting; Cambusdoon v Meikleriggs : AMC Landscapes