OLD Elizabethans got their season off to a very encouraging start with a 14-run win against county rivals Bromsgrove in a close fought friendly at the Memorial Ground.

Skipper Sean Cairney won the toss and elected to bat first on a good-looking pitch with a fast outfield.

Openers Simon Macey (39) and Jamie Boyle (50) had compiled a solid 95-run partnership inside 25 overs before the latter was stumped off Netherlands World Cup player, Alexei Kervezee.

Just 14 runs later, Macey followed his opening partner when he was caught by Matt Dallaway off Omar Ali.

Overseas player Sam McNally (31) and debutant Andy Hemming then added 27 before Hemming was bowled.

Cairney was the victim of an unlucky run out when the bowler deflected a ball driven by McNally onto the stumps.

Progress became slow but the home batsmen stuck to their task well and a brisk 59-run partnership between Matt Sprague (33 no) and Jamie Alford (25) took the total to 218.

Mark Evenson (2-40) and Kervezee (1-20) were the pick of the Bromsgrove bowlers.

Stuart Lockwood (2-23), the second of three debutants, struck early for the north Worcester side when he had Ali caught by Andy Stephens with the score on nine.

Sprague (2-49) cleaned up Kervezee and then took a sharp caught-and-bowled to reduce Bromsgrove to 31-3. Two further wickets fell cheaply and, at 58-5, the visitors looked to be in some difficulty.

However, a well crafted partnership of 92 between Dallaway (65) and Court (51) saw Bromsgrove's position improve significantly.

When Dallaway fell to Stephens (3-39) with the total on 150, a close finish looked more than possible.

Although wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, the visitors were closing in on their target and, with five overs remaining, both sides were in a position to win the contest.

Alford (2-29) and the third debutant, Ollie Griffiths, bowled well during the middle of the innings and, along with some sharp catching and out-fielding, increased the pressure on Bromsgrove.

The visitors lost their last three wickets for only nine runs to fall just 15 runs short of a winning total with only one ball remaining.

The OEs second team also won their friendly against Bromsgrove in a thrilling last-over finish. Nick Reade top-scored for Bromsgrove with 49 as the home side posted 197 all out.

A fine spell of seam bowling by Australian Steve May (3-13) on his return to the club restricted Bromsgrove.

At 23-3 it was time for the OEs to consolidate and Chris Pearman (58) and Chris Dale (29) then added 61 in 13 overs to put the visitors back on track.

Needing 57 from the final eight overs, wicketkeeper Mike Payne (36no) and May (39) took the OEs close, but it needed youngster Ed Ford to hit the winning runs in the final over.