OLD Elizabethans' good start to the season continued with a four-wicket win over Hatherley and Reddings in the Cockspur Cup national knockout.

Skipper Sean Cairney won the toss and invited the Cheltenham side to bat first on what looked a good pitch.

James Brinkley (2-4) struck with the first ball of the contest when he had Nally caught behind.

Brinkley then removed Yiend in the same manner with only 20 runs on the board.

However, Garrett (18) and Jennings (39) steadied the innings with a 62-run partnership before the former was caught by Simon Macey off Matt Sprague (2-41).

Garrett was bowled by Sprague without another run but the next pair added 49, leaving Hatherley and Reddings on 131-5 with 11 overs left.

The north Worcester side's bowlers stuck to their task well and managed to remove the last five wickets for the addition of only 37 runs.

Andy Stephens (4-24) and Jamie Alford (2-42) led the hosts to be bowled out for 168 with five balls of the innings remaining.

In reply, Macey (33) and Jamie Boyle got the visitors of to a steady start before the latter fell to Sylvester.

The loss of this wicket, along with accurate bowling, slowed the scoring rate, including an 11-over spell that saw just 20 runs added.

However, Chris Pearman (41) made the most of fielding lapses to produce a patient knock that others played around.

Progress continued to be slow and the visitors still required 50 off the last 10 overs.

The scoring rate improved when Cairney (32 not out) and Brinkley (20) came together to add 44.

Brinkley holed out in the deep but Cairney struck the winning boundary with nine balls to spare.

Stewart (2-26) and Gorick (2-32) produced the best bowling returns for their opponents.

The win earns OEs a trip to Gloucestershire side Frocester the weekend after next.