Whitchurch were edged out in their Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division Three clash at Milford Hall as the hosts squeezed home by four wickets on Saturday.
Daniel Bowen’s men batted first after he won the toss and opener Salim Ahmed set about the home attack with vigour as he powered his way to a fine half-century at the top of the order.
However, with top order wickets falling around him, it was not until the fourth wicket that Whitchurch were able to put a partnership together, with Ahmed joined in the middle by Kristen Ali, and the pair put on 56 together before Ali was dismissed for 30.
Ahmed kept chipping patiently away and he was given more support by Ed Watson-Jones as the pair put on 26 for the fifth-wicket before the latter was dismissed by Aaron Afford for 17.
However, Whitchurch were struggling at 115-6 before Dave Weaver arrived at the creases and he blazed away at one end while Ahmed stayed patient at the other, compiling 37 from 55 balls with six fours and one six.
The pair put on 53 for the sixth wicket before Weaver fell and then Ahmed was next man, and last man, out for 95 from 158 balls (12 fours) as he was caught off the bowling of Chris Dean as Whitchurch finished on 212-8 from their 55 overs.
In reply, Milford Hall made a steady but promising start as opener Michael Astley scored a very patient 59 from 101 balls at the top of the home order.
However, Ijaz Yousef struck to trap him lbw – one of four in the home innings as Whitchurch found the umpires in a favourable mood. Nadeem Ahmad dismissed Afford for 10 while Ahmed weighed in with the ball too as he clean bowled James Davis for 21.
But Christopher Becker came to Milford’s rescue with Astley as he scored 68 not out from 101 balls with nine fours, but two quick wickets from Yousaf gave Whitchurch hope.
However, home skipper Kevin Royce rolled into bat and saw the hosts over the line with a fine 31 not out from 51 balls as Milford finished 215-6 in the 53rd over.
Yousaf finished with 3-62 from 15 overs.
Meanwhile, in the reverse fixture at Heath Road, Whitchurch were beaten by seven wickets as Milford strode home comfortably.
The visitors inserted the home side into bat and openers David Brunyard and Eddie Lewis made a solid start, reaching 22 and 21 respectively before they were both dismissed by Rasun Gamage.
Luke Parker and Jack Batkin both fell quite cheaply but Sam Ellis took the fight to the visitors as he scored a fine 55 from number five.
However, there was no support around him and Whitchurch wickets fell cheaply as tried to push the scoring rate on. 
None of the home batters from six to 10 were able to make it into double figures but number 11 and skipper Mike Ellis weighed in with 11 not out as Ellis was last man to go, with Whitchurch dismissed for 156.
Gamage finished with 6-18 from 10 overs.
In reply, Milford were never in trouble as opener Dominic Afford was in fine form, smashing an excellent 90 before he was stumped by Lewis off Brunyard’s bowling.
Beth Blackshaw finished 37 not out for the visitors to see them to the win.
This coming Saturday, the first XI host Redditch while the second XI travel to face Bridgnorth’s seconds.