OLD Elizabethans just failed in their attempt to force a win in an excitingBirmingham Cricket League encounter at Trysull Lane against Beacon.

The home side won the toss and asked OEs to bat first, a decision they looked to have miscalculated as the visitors added 47 for the first wicket.

Chris Pearman (29) and Richard Silk (22) played well with the ball jagging around early on but both openers fell with the addition of Steve May to disrupt the flow of the early good work. Nick Macmillan (33) and SamSmith (30) then rallied, adding 60 for the fourth wicket before OEs finished on 192.

In response Beacon faltered with several of the leading batsmen failing to capitalise on early form. Malcolm Smith (21) and Andy Green (26) took the home team to 82-4 at the half way point and a close finish looked on the cards. Beacon also looked well placed at 108-6 with 20 overs still to bowl but bowlers Steve May and Matthew Barton helped arrest the run rate.

Stuart Tipper took two wickets to leave the home side 45 to win from the last pair but they were unable to force the victory. They held out, though, with nine down.