ELMLEY Castle continued to close in on the Cotswold Hills Cricket League Division One title with a 13-run home win.

The villagers lead the way by 48 points with four games left and victory over third-placed Winchcombe also leaves them on the verge of guaranteeing promotion.

Opener Simon Corbett scored 44 in Castle’s 183-9 from 45 overs with Matt Casey taking 3-34.

Winchcombe were bowled out for 150 in 38.1 overs despite 39 from opener Eddie Huggett.

Steve Webb claimed 4-27 and Tom Attwood 4-30.

Ashton-under-Hill lost by 97 runs at home to fellow strugglers FISSC after being dismissed for 105 in 29.2 overs in reply to 202 all out.

Will Archer took 3-57 and Amir Ali top-scored with 34 for Ashton.

Third-from-bottom Bretforton were edged out by one wicket against second-placed Wellesbourne in the Premier Division.

James Icke’s 50 not out guided Bret to 168-8 from 45 overs and they tried valiantly to defend the total.

Dan Lamb claimed 3-20 but Wellesbourne eventually won with 171-9 from 44.1 overs.

Mid-table Badsey were beaten by five wickets against Kenilworth Wardens thirds in Division Two.

The hosts could only score 86-9 from 40.2 overs and Wardens won with 89-5.

The Lenches and Broadway both lost in Division Three after being skittled for 72 and 106 respectively at leaders Ashorne and Moreton Morrell and basement boys Earlswood thirds.

Table-toppers Bidford-on-Avon and third-from-bottom Fladbury both won in Division Four.

Bidford scored 240 all out against Henley-in-Arden and then skittled their visitors for 53 in a 187-run success.

Simon Rouse hit 65 and claimed 4-7 from seven overs while Tom Edkins got 42 and 3-4.

Fladbury won with a rain-reduced target of 117-8 in reply to 140-9 from visitors Exhall and Wixford seconds.

Brent McOmish took 3-25 and Ryan Dixon 3-27 before Chris Lloyd-Smith scored 31 in the winning reply.