An outstanding century from Simon Dimelow steered Whitchurch to their first win since returning to the Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division Three.

The Heath Road men bowled Lichfield for 207 out to confirm the win after setting a huge 318 to win at home.

Dimelow came to the crease early after openers Ed Watson-Jones and Salim Ahmed were dismissed cheaply and he set about the visiting attack almost immediately, scoring his 101 from 107 balls, including nine fours and three sixes.

He was eventually bowled by Tom Swift but not after he and Sam Ellis, who weighed in with 58, had put on a 133-run partnership for the third wicket, Elliot Bowen finished 33 not out while Ijaz Yousaf chipped in with 36 and Kristen Ali also scored 33.

Whitchurch even found time for three batsman to all be be run out, with Nadeem Ahmed and Connor Tinsley both facing one ball and Dan Bowen without facing, leaving Whitchurch 317-9 after their 50 overs.

James Wilkinson was the pick of the bowlers for Lichfield as he grabbed 3-45 from nine overs.

In reply, Whitchurch made an ideal start as stand-in skipper Daniel Bowen took out two of the top three batsmen in quick succession to give hopes of a quick finish.

However, hearts were in mouths when the middle order fought back strong as Jack Warren scored 73 from 94 before Yousaf removed him; Joe Seager was caught by Dan Bowen off Dimelow's bowling for 37 and visiting skipper Callum Heanan was not out for 45 from 45 balls.

But once he was dismissed, Lichfield's resistance crumbled as Dan Bowen and Ellis polished off the tail to give Whitchurch all 20 points.

The stand-in skipper finished with figures of 3-30 from seven overs whuile ellies grabbed 3-34 from eight. Back-up was ably provided by Dimelow, who capped off his brilliant day with 2-45 from 10 overs and Yousaf's economic bowling was rewarded with figures of 2-12 from six overs.

On Saturday, they host Milford Hall at 12pm.

n Meanwhile, the second XI were well beaten by six wickets on Saturday in the reverse fixture in Lichfield.

Batting first, Lancs skipper Evelyn Jones made 76, continuing her good run of form, before she was caught, while Dominic Freer-Carmichael fell two short of a half century when he was also caught.

The rest of the batting line-up struggled as Whitchurch limped to the end of their 45 overs to finish 201-8.

A century by Lichfield's opener James Foxley (114 not out) was enough to steer his side to the victory, with no other batters scoring higher than 15 while there were 40 extras from Whitchurch. Mike Ellis was the pick of the bowlers with 3-20.

Whitchurch travel to Milford Hall (12pm).