JACK Farrar was Tenbury’s unlikely batting hero as he helped his side to a slender one-wicket win at fellow Worcestershire League Division Two title-chasers Hanley Castle & Upton.

Plenty of runs from the top-order looked like steering the visitors over the line but a collapse then left the game in the balance until last-man Farrar hit out to claim the victory.

Captain Zack Yarranton admitted he had feared the worst against the side that started the day just a handful of points above them in the table.

“We were comfortable but then the wickets started to tumble,” he said. “Having been in such a strong position I really thought we were going to lose.

“But Jack has come in and was the hero of the hour, hitting a four to win the game.”

Yarranton won the toss, put the home side in to bat and then began ripping through the top order. He took 4-28 from his ten overs with Hanley Castle reeling at 35-4.

Ollie Price then struck 78 to galvanise the innings with William Barrell adding a vital 36no to take the home side to 194-8 from their 50 overs.

Yarranton added: “We had a slightly weakened side without Aaron Morris and Henry Anton but we got off to a good start. The ball was swinging a bit and I managed to get through the top order. At that stage we thought we might have had them for 120.

“But they dug in and we perhaps dropped our guard a little. In hindsight, I maybe could have saved a few of my overs until the end but I thought it best to keep going at the top order as I was flying.

“That’s where we missed Aaron in that he would have made it difficult for them and probably taken a couple of those key wickets. But at the end of their innings, we still felt that 194 was under par in the conditions.”

In reply, openers Keir Sellars and Andy Adams gave Tenbury the perfect start. But once Adams was trapped lbw for 23 and Sellars had been caught on 67, the jitters set in and it needed Farrar’s late contribution to see the visitors over the line.

Morris and Anton are back for next week’s match with lowly Old Elizabethans but others are unavailable, including match-winner Farrar.

Skipper Yarranton added: “OEs might be struggling but they usually have a lot of young players so are likely to get stronger now that exams are over and we have the holidays upon us.”

Tenbury 2nd made it a double over Hanley Castle & Upton, winning by 150 runs at Penlu.

Darren Thompson led the way with an unbeaten 77 with Alfie Watts adding 44 and opener Tom Pugh 28 as the home side posted 238-7.

Hanley struggled in reply and were all out for just 88 with Tenbury’s Ashley Wood taking 6-25 and Jamie Farrar 2-15.