Whitchurch's topsy-turvy start to life back in the Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League Division Three continued after they were beaten at home to Milford Hall.

Batting first, Whitchurch struggled to get going despite both opener Salim Ahmed and number three Simon Dimelow both making starts with 20 and 16 respectively.

The Heath Road men limped along to 96-7 but an excellent 59-run partnership between Nadeem Ahmad (46) and Dave Weaver (20) gave Whitchurch some respectability in posting a competitive total of 160.

Kristen Ali also weighed in with an important 27 from 41 balls while Stuart Phazey's 4-37 from 8.4 overs was the standout showing with the ball for the visitors.

Whitchurch's hopes of victory were given an early boost when stand-in skipper Daniel Bowen and Elliott Bowen took two quick wickets to leave Milford 11-2, but Phazey's 79 and Chris Becker's 32 in an 103-run partnership took the game the away from Whitchurch.

Simon Dimelow added two more wickets but it was too little, too late for Whitchurch as they were consigned to defeat again when Milford reached 162-6 from just 27.1 overs.

Daniel Bowen took 3-46 from eight overs while Elliott Bowen took 1-24 from k his five overs, with Dimelow taking 2-35 from six overs; Ahmad and Ijaz Yousaf both finished wicketless.

The second XI were also beaten in the reverse fixture as they were bowled out for 88 with just 10 men at Milford.

Ivan Cornwell top-scored with 34 before he was bowled and he was the only player to reach double figures.

In reply, Harjivan Dhinsay's 32 not out was the pick of the home batting but he was supported by Michael Astley's 25 before he was bowled by Molly Batkin.

Mike Ellis grabbed tone wicket with James Marvell also running a home player out.

In the Shropshire County Cricket League Sunday Division Two, Whitchurch's thirds picked up a fine six-wicket win against Ludlow, who posted 293-8.

Tom Griffin scored a superb 120 not out with Josh Warton scoring 75 as they reached 294-4.