HOSTS Prince Henry's beat Ashton-under-Hill in a battle of the Worcestershire Cricket Board Indoor League favourites.

They scored 127-5 before restricting the villagers to 118-3 in a nine-run victory fired by Tom Pilling (41 not out) and Simon Price (37).

Ashton got off to a good start as they dismissed the impressive Chris Ayliffe (10) and Elliott Thompson (7) by the end of the third over.

But Pilling, Price and James Nightingale (17) showed the Ashton bowlers, apart from Tom Archer (0-14 off three overs), were not to be feared.

At 66-2 from eight overs, the game still looked to be in Ashton’s favour but 61 runs were blasted from the last four by Prince Henry’s.

Ashton’s reply was hindered by the run out of the experienced Richard Cooper (0) in the second over. Jonny Cooper (37no) and Archer (26) recovered from the early loss but could never reach the required run-rate.

Apart from one over by Nightingale, the Prince Henry’s bowlers were on target, none more so than Mike Brown (0-22 from three overs).

Jonny Cooper returned to join Jack Perks (12no) with 21 runs needed from the last over for victory.

Pilling only conceded 11 runs and Prince Henry’s triumphed.

Redditch (137-5) beat The Boxmen (91-6) by 46 runs in the week’s other fixture.

Batting first, the town side began cautiously but, by the end of the fifth over, both openers were run out with the score on 48.

Chris Weaver (43) was at the crease and, although Greg Chinn (5) was soon run out, he found useful partners in Adam Gailey (13) and Dan Protherough (36no).

The final six overs of the innings produced 78 runs as Redditch set a competitive total.

Due to Aran Batchelor (42) and Ollie May (16), Boxmen looked well set to chase the 138 needed to win as the score reached 48-0 from four overs.

The introduction of Chinn (1-11) and Jack Roberson (1-13) changed the game as four wickets fell in two overs to leave Boxmen running out of overs and batsmen.

Despite Batchelor returning to the crease, the final score was a long way short at 91 all out.

The previous week, Dumbleton (54-0) beat Badsey (53-6) by six wickets, while Bredon (105-5) defeated Evesham Casuals (103-5) by one wicket.