NEW captain Cameron Murray hailed an all-round team display as Peter Stafford Trophy champions Kearsley started their defence with an eight-wicket victory over Atherton on Saturday.

They chased down 171 with almost nine overs remaining at Springfield Road, with Australian Murray adding an unbeaten 52 to two wickets.

And the former Darcy Lever man from sunny Perth, who has replaced Grant Cordin at the helm for 2018, said: “All the lads chipped in.

“They took it to us, but we stuck at it. To get off to a good start is very pleasing.

“We’ve got a bit to play for as the defending champs. We enjoyed our success last year and want to go a long way again. It’s exactly the same with the league. We want to push it as far into the season as possible.”

Murray and new Pakistani professional Imran Khalid, who claimed a wicket in a miserly six-over spell, shared an unbroken 132 for the third wicket to advance the chase from 40-2. Khalid plays his first-class cricket at home for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and hit 62 not out.

Murray added: “Everyone chipped in with the wickets, with Jack Berry getting three.

“As the season goes on, hopefully the results continue. I was confident we could have a decent season, but this has only enhanced that belief.

“As long as we bond together and play as a team, as we did at the weekend, I’m confident we will win games and do well.”

Kearsley travel to Little Lever on June 30 in their second Pool Four game, by which time their opponents will have played Saturday’s abandoned fixture against Astley Bridge – there were only five games played in all.

Meanwhile, in Pool Three, Horwich won an entertaining home clash with Lostock by four wickets chasing 174. Liam Bones took the new ball and claimed 4-32 before new skipper and pro Brett Pelser starred with 96.

The game was in the balance at 123-4, but the experienced South African shared a fifth-wicket stand of 49 with Chris Campbell (24 not out and two wickets).

Pelser, who has replaced Phil Ingram as skipper, said: “It wasn’t the most clinical game I’ve played in. It was a bit scrappy from both teams, with a lot of cobwebs blown off. But it was good.

“When I saw the state of the ground on Tuesday, I didn’t think there’d be much chance. Considering that, 170 playing 170 was a decent game.

“I definitely felt it could have gone either way with us four down. We have quite a young make-up to our side this year, so there was always going to be a bit of pressure on once we lost a couple of wickets. But the guys did well.”

On a personal note, Pelser added: “It’s always a nervous sort of worry at the start of a season, and you want to start well. But I’ve said loads of times – I know it’s a cliche – I would happily take no runs and us winning every week.”