IT was a family affair as Ayr announced themselves as potential title contenders with a thumping ten-wicket win over champions Clydesdale on Saturday.

Skipper Andi McElnea and his younger brother Scott claimed four wickets apiece to set up the victory as an understrength Titwood side were bundled out for just 115.

Dale survived for just 36.4 overs in a match reduced to 43 overs as the McElnea’s went to work, Scott’s pace undoing the top order before the guile of Andi’s spin deceived a youthful middle and lower order.

There was also a wicket for the ever-improving Neil Smith who removed the visitors’ top scorer, Sheryar Awan having battled hard for his 35 while a run out completed a miserable day for Dale.

In the end Scott claimed 4-27 from his seven overs while Andi boasted 4-20 from eight.

The skipper said: “I think that may be the first time we have claimed eight wickets between us.

“Scott bowled well upfront and I think in the middle I bowled with good control.”

Michael Papps, the former New Zealand Test batsman, and Smith made light work of the chase, reaching the target in 28.2 overs as visiting captain Andrew Scobie used seven bowlers to no avail.

Papps led the way with a cultured 75no and Smith also improved his average with an unbeaten 35 while Basit Ali was the pick of the Dale attack conceding only 14 runs from his 8.2 overs which included five maidens.

McElnea added: “It’s definitely too early for title talk but we’ve had two good wins in the last two weeks.

“We’ve got a good squad and a nice camaraderie within the team and who knows what can happen?”

Ayr’s victory was enough to see them leapfrog neighbours Prestwick to go third top while in the only other match to survive Uddingston consolidated second place with a victory at Bothwell Castle that left Kelburne winless and rooted to the bottom of the table.

Batting first in testing conditions, Uddingston were made to work hard especially after the veteran Paul Hoffmann’s top team return was cut short when he was run out for a duck.

Worse followed when Anwar Hafeez and Amir Gul also departed cheaply and the hosts found themselves in trouble on 35-3.

However, Harmanjit Singh played one of his most important innings since his recent move from East Kilbride to stop the rot.

His 38 blunted the Kelburne attack while Gavin Bradley performed a similar role in compiling 51.

Both batsmen were victims of the impressive Michael Donaldson who claimed 3-19 as the Paisley side fought back.

However, an unbeaten 22 from Ross Lyons allowed Uddingston to post 152-8 from their 36 overs.

It proved enough as Kelburne’s top order collapsed to 42-5 in the face of tight Uddingston bowling.

There was a brief rally as Steve McLister and Dougie Wylie each contributed 22 but when the latter was last out the visitors had made just 99.

Adil Raza led the bowling figures with 3-21 while there were two apiece for Gul, Hafeez and Lyons.

The matches at Ferguslie, Greenock and Poloc were abandoned.