ROYSTON got the new season rolling with a six wicket win away at newly promoted Milton on Saturday. Skipper Matt Gillham won the toss and elected to bowl first on a hard dry track and the variable surface paid dividends after seven overs when a delivery f

ROYSTON got the new season rolling with a six wicket win away at newly promoted Milton on Saturday.

Skipper Matt Gillham won the toss and elected to bowl first on a hard dry track and the variable surface paid dividends after seven overs when a delivery from Chris Hootton (10-1-31-3) kept low and bowled Amphlett for nine.

The Milton openers were struggling to put bat on ball, but early season rustiness in the field cost the visitors unnecessary extras.

It took until the 19th over for another wicket to fall and the introduction of Gillham's (8-1-41-3) spin to shake things up, trapping Mohanraj LBW for 30.

Royston reasserted their control with Alan Hootton limiting Milton to only 36 runs from his 12 overs.

Gillham struck twice in an over thanks to some superb keeping from Paul Miller who had replaced the injured Bason behind the stumps and although the hosts then put together a 10 over resistance, the introduction of 15-year-old Toby Fynn broke the deadlock, his first delivery bowling Carey for 31.

Ashley Judge (4.2-0-17-3) came into the attack to great effect, his towering technique coaxing life and bounce out of the track and Clark was to be Judge's first victim, bowled for 10.

Hootton was re-introduced and struck in his first over when he bowled S Dye for a duck, he then struck again in his next over with a devastating yorker to remove L Dye

It was then Judge's turn again as he finished off Milton's line up, trapping Barton LBW for 13 and bowling Coston for two.

Milton finished on 179 all out.

Royston made a solid start with the bat with Ken and Matt Graham navigating the first 16 overs unbeaten setting up the innings with 69 before the first wicket fell.

Ken swept an effortless six off Nayar before he was bowled attacking across the line for 25 and Paul Miller came to the crease and unleashed a barrage of boundaries.

Two sixes were smashed as he cruised to a vital 50. However, he fell for 53 when caught at gully trying to drive through the covers.

John Bason replaced Miller but struggled to find any gaps in a tight field and then suffered a second injury, blocking a boundary bound ball with his arm.

Nayar (11-3-39-3) was the pick of Milton's bowling attack, and his spin caught out Matt Graham who was caught lbw trying to accelerate the scoring.

Judge failed to make an impression with the bat as he was bowled for a golden duck but Matt Gillham and Bason were able to steer past the winning target with four overs remaining.