EXCELLENT Astwood Bank are making light work of their Birmingham League Division Three rivals at the moment.

After overwhelming Worcester Nomads the previous week by a massive nine wicket margin, the Bank then blew Stafford based Milford Hall aside on Saturday by an emphatic six wickets.

The Bank removed Milford Hall for a modest 105 all out in 32 overs and then knocked off the runs in the space of 22 overs when they replied.

Combined bowling efforts of Mike Desmond (2-29), Tom Harris (2-26), Sam Thomas (2 for 19) and Dan Taylor (2 for 19) soon put paid to Milford Hall's batting.

The collapse was somewhat cruel on Milford Hall's Luke Ponder who made 62 not out while none of his team mates could manage double figures in the face of the Bank's bowling onslaught.

But the Bank didn't have matters completely all their own way in reply as they found themselves reduced to 36 for three at one stage.

Skipper Steve Adshead with 30 and Tom Underhill on 35 not out made sure there was no more cause for alarm as the Bank reached a winning 107 for four.

Former Leicestershire player Adshead said: "Our bowlers put Milford Hall under pressure from the word go and then as often happens, the spinners continued the good work.

"If I'm honest, the wicket became more challenging in the second half of the game as it went from being quite sunny to drizzly conditions, so it wasn't a complete walk in the park."

The Bank have also reached the regional finals of this season's National Village Cup after clinching a six wicket success over Dumbleton on Sunday.

That was after the Bank had chased down a Dumbleton total of 227 all out by reaching 232 for four in reply with five overs remaining.

Andrzej Jagielski with four for 39 and Tom Harris who took three for 35 proved the pick of Astwood Bank's bowling attack.

Opening batsmen Alex Robinson and Ryan Blakemore then laid the foundation for victory in reply by putting on 135 for the first wicket stand.

Robinson went onto reach 94 while Blakemore blitzed a further 58 before Tom Pegley added a belated 22.

Astwood Bank now face close neighbours Exhall and Wixford at the next stage of the competition in two weeks time.

Prior to that, the Bank entertain Lichfield in the Birmingham League at Sambourne Lane this Saturday (noon start).