Whitchurch have dropped to the bottom of the Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division Three after a heavy 100-run defeat to Handsworth on Saturday.

The visitors won the the toss and batted but Whitchurch worked hard to keep their promotion-chasing visitors to a challenging 220 all out as Elliot Bowen starred with the ball.

His 4-15 from eight overs was the pick of a home bowling attack that only conceded 19 extras in 42.1 overs, with stand-in skipper Daniel Bowen finishing on 2-50 from his 9.1 overs.

Simon Dimelow took 2-59 from 12 overs while Josh Wharton took one plus a run-out by Dave Weaver.

Bevon brown's 91 was the stand-out score for the visitors, batting at number seven, as he racked up 13 fours and two sixes to give Handsworth's final tiotal and air of credibility.

Whitchurch would have fancied their chances of chasing down their target and made a solid start as they reached 45 before Nadeem Ahmad was bowled by Kenrick Smith for for 19 from 37 balls.

However, Whitchurch lost two quick wickets as Dimelow was trapped lbw for just none by Kieron Buchanan and then opener Evelyn Jones, who found her rhythm, was also dismissed lbw for 30 without a run being added.

From there, it was all downhill as Whitchurch struggled to regain their momentum after a solid start.

Elliot Bowen came and went for 13 from 26 balls, while William Doerr hung around for 21 balls for 12. Wicketkeeper Weaver took 34 balls to reach 18, including three fours before he was bowled by Nasir Ali Khan.

The Heath Road's side lower order then succumbed without too much of a fight when skipper Bowen went for three and Ijaz Yousef for a six, but Wharton and Ivan Cornwell were both out without troubling the scorers as Whitchurch were bowled out for 119 inside 45 overs.

Brown back up his earlier efforts with the bat with 3-11 from 9.3 overs.

The second XI fell to a crushing defeat at Smethwick, who batted first to post a huge 298-1 from their 50 overs against the 10 players of Whitchurch.

Opener Hamza Shaikh scored 123 at the top of the innings and fellow opener Hassan Ali made 46 before he was caught by Richard Weaver off Molly Batkin's bowling.

That brought number three Zayan Kayani to the crease and he finished 91 not out.

In reply, Whitchurch's card made for sorry reading as they were bowled out for 58 in just 18 overs as many players struggled to get out of single figures, with the home side's Khayam Khan's 4-16 from nine overs doing the damage.

Meanwhile on Sunday, a discplined bowling display for Whitchurch third XI saw them hold off the challenge of their counterparts at Bomere Heath to record a five-wicket win.

Batting first, Bomere Heath wicketkeeper opener Matthew Hall finished 121 not out and was supported by Martin Hulme's 43 and Sean Joao's 31 not out, with Josh Wharton taking the only wicket as the visitors finished 218-1 from 35 overs.

In reply, Whitchurch posted 222-5 with Wharton leading the way with 46 at the top of the innings.

But the match winner was skipper Dave Marvell, who scored a fine 80 not out to see his side to 222-5 from 31.1 overs.