THIRD-placed West Malvern slipped up with a five-wicket defeat at local rivals Hanley Castle and Upton in Worcestershire Cricket League Division Five.

Tony Hutchings took 4-9 from 2.2 overs in West's 101 all out before George Lechmere (33) helped Hanley to victory on 102-5.

Malvern lost by five runs at home to Droitwich Spa seconds after being dismissed for 142 in reply to 147-7.

Tom Fairclough claimed 3-18 for Malvern on a day when many sides were unable to play because of the wet weather.

Eastnor played out a thrilling tie with Bewdley seconds in Division Four as both sides amassed 264-8 and got 15 points.

Mohammed Munir (78), Suleyman Shah (56), Freddie Coleman (45) and Raheel Lone (37) were in form with the bat.

But Bewdley hit back well in reply despite 5-27 from Lone.

Eastnor seconds lost by nine wickets to Astwood Bank fourths in Division Eight after being restricted to 127-6.

Barnards Green earned a Birmingham League Premier Division Two winning draw against second-placed Leamington Spa in Malvern.

In a match reduced to 30 overs per side, Phil Harris (58 not out), George Rhodes (45) and Ryan Tongue (32) led Green to 191-6 after they were invited to bat first.

For the third week on the trot, Nabeel Asghar took four wickets for Leamington.

But the total proved to be too stiff a target and the visitors closed on 123-8 from 26 overs after the loss of four more overs due to an interruption after the match had started.

Jonathan Dovey was their tormentor in chief with 5-45 and Worcestershire’s Josh Tongue took 2-22.

Tongue started on the comeback trail after two months out of action with a nerve tissue injury in his upper arm.

Seventh-placed Green visit Oswestry on Saturday (noon).