HANLEY Castle and Upton remain in Worcestershire League Division Four’s top two after a convincing win over Old Elizabethans thirds.

Four wickets apiece from Tony Hutchings and Will St Leger-Chambers bowled the hosts out for 165 before Hanley reached their revised victory target of 117.

After being put in to bat, OEs made a positive start and got to 61 before losing their first wicket as Tim Leary was bowled by Hutchings.

Paul Shearman (29) holed out to Charlie Tippell off Hutchings before St Leger-Chambers dismissed Nick Pullan (8) and Howard Nicholls (5) to leave OEs on 106-4.

Once Matthew Leary (19) was seen off by St Leger-Chambers, Henley tore through the hosts with Luke Allen, who was St Leger-Chambers’ fourth victim (4-33) and Hamza Ali both failing to score.

Sam Ford dug in with a battling 25 before being trapped lbw by Hutchings who recorded stunning figures of 4-9.

Hutchings then performed with the bat as he scored 31 of his side’s first 35 runs before being bowled by Ali.

Rory Matthews (10) was next to fall with the score on 50 before Hanley lost two wickets in quick succession with Daniel Powell (22) and Olly Lewis (1) both going.

The match was in the balance with the visitors on 86-4, but they got the job done in the 24th over.

St Leger-Chambers (15) and Lewis Hobbs (18) were removed, but Tippell and Matthew Pratley secured the four-wicket win.

Hanley will now be aiming to close the 34-point gap on Bromsgrove when they host the leaders on Saturday (12.30pm).